Brrr… It’s Cold Outside!!

I’ve been keeping up my training even as the temperatures outside have fallen.  The past couple days it’s been in the 30’s on my morning runs.  I took a couple days off this week since my knee has been bothering me, but was able to get back out there yesterday.  I didn’t run as fast and as long as I normally would have, but I at least wanted to see if I could keep going. I managed to get outside to run this morning as well, although I could tell my knee was still not quite right.

The Jingle Bell Run is next Sunday, and I want to make sure I can at least participate.  I’m not concerned about doing that well, it’s just one of those things I signed up for and want to be able to complete.  I’m hesitant to see a doctor about my knee, I’ve injured it before, years ago, and they always tell me to ice/heat it, take an anti-inflammatory (Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc), and strengthen my leg muscles.  I think I’m going to go back to the gym so I can use the strength training equipment to work on that, as well as with winter coming, I want to start using the track.  I’m still going to try to make it outside on days that I can, as I understand road running is much different than running on a track or treadmill indoors.

Happy running!

New Distance Record!

This morning I went out for my Saturday run, which has become regular in my schedule.  It was a little chilly, but that quickly went away once I got running.  My intent was to run 3.1 miles and see if I could improve my time.  While it’s not all about time for me, it is a way I can measure my fitness level.

Once I got through the 3.1 miles I decided to keep going to make it 4 miles.  I’m going to have to push myself if I want to improve, and I really want to do a quarter marathon next summer, and then a half marathon next fall.  I’m glad to say I got through the 4 miles in about 55 minutes.  My overall pace was 13:56 min/mi, which I’m very proud of.  I’m happy to be under that 14:00 mark that I was above for so long.  I did have to stop to walk a couple times, but overall I think I did a great job.

Since I accomplished 4 miles I’m confident that I’ll be able to do the quarter marathon in June.  By that time I should also be conditioned even better and ready to tackle the half marathon I have planned out.

Ran My First 5K

Today I ran my first 5K, the Get Your Rear in Gear – Milwaukee for the Colon Cancer Coalition.  My father died from colon cancer almost 13 years ago, so it meant something to me to be able to participate and work toward a cure.  I’ve been training to run a 5K since the middle of August, or so, and I’ve definitely seen improvement.  This was my first real race.

This morning the weather was somewhat threatening.  The race started at 8:30, and when I was leaving the house at 7:00 it was pouring pretty good.  It looked like there might be a break in the rain at some point, and a little rain never hurt anyone.

My running partner met up with me, and as she got in the car I said, “Are we crazy?”  I was kidding of course, but it was a little nuts, considering the weather was kind of crummy, but onward!

There were fewer people at the race due to the weather, but still a fair number turned out, which was good because it wasn’t too crowded.  When we started we took off pretty well, but not too fast.  I haven’t been able to run straight through a 5K yet, so I did have to stop a couple times along the way, but not too much.  We finished the race in just under 41 minutes.  I have yet to see my official time.

It was a great accomplishment and supported a good cause.  Our next race is in about 3 weeks, the Jingle Bell Run, to support the arthritis foundation.  I’m looking forward to it and hoping to improve on my race time.

Running at Night

Tonight I decided to try running at night.  I got home from work a little later than I’d have liked because I had to make a couple stops on the way home, and then I had to get my laundry done.  After all that I figured I’d go out for my run.  I got a couple new long sleeved running shirts yesterday that I wanted to try out.  I got all geared up, had my blinking arm band on, put the pepper spray in my back pocket (just in case, you never know..) my phone strapped to my other arm because I don’t have many pockets, and a flashlight in hand so I could see where I’m going next.  I live in a rural area without many street lights, and there are woods and farmland around.  I think I’m more concerned with the wildlife in the woods, there probably aren’t bears, but I’d hate to run into a coyote or something else like that.  Just the wind in the leaves, and not knowing what’s around me just freaks me out a little bit.  I made a half mile lap around the apartment complex and then came back in.  I figure if I go out again, I just need to do 6 laps for my 3 miles that I’m training for, but I think I’m going to try to stick to daylight.  As it gets closer to winter I know the days will get shorter, but I’ll hang in there as long as I can.  In December my gym membership picks back up, so I can run on the track in there when it comes time, I just want to keep my road running going too.

The Importance of Rest

Tonight when I went for my run I learned how important the day of rest really was.  When I started running in the beginning weeks I would run each night if I had time available.  Even if my legs were a little sore I would get out there.  I was doing alright.  The past couple of weeks have been a bit busier and I’ve been forced to take days off in between my evening jogs.  The latest example was this past weekend, I ran on Saturday afternoon, walked in the Susan G. Komen walk on Sunday, was busy on Monday, so didn’t get out at all, and tonight I was finally able to get out.  I was able to run further than I have since I started training again.  At one point I had to stop to retie my shoe laces, if I hadn’t done that I think I’d have kept going even longer.

I’m definitely proud of my achievements, and look forward to my run on Thursday.  Tomorrow will be another day off, and hopefully Thursday I do better than today!  Also, I have a new motivation, I signed up for the Get Your Rear in Gear run on October 13th, and I’m running it, my first 5k!  I’m really excited and want to make sure I’m able to run the whole thing, or at least most of it!

Keep on Running

Over the past week I’ve continued to improve in my running, my new shoes don’t hurt as much, which I’m glad it was just me and not the shoes.  I’m also building my endurance to keep on running longer.  I don’t currently monitor my time or pace while I’m running because I’m keeping time with my iPhone in my pocket while I’m running, but I really want to get a Garmin Forerunner 10, but I can’t find any in the stores around here.  I think it would be a great help and motivation to keep me going longer.

I walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure today.  This is the first year I’ve participated in these types of events and I really like them.  Seeing the people who have survived the things I’m walking/running for is really inspiring.  It also keeps me going when I think my legs hurt, I just think of what some of these people have gone through.

When I got home from the race I went looking to see if there were any other causes that interested me that I could race for.  I’m determined to start running these races, so far I’ve only walked.  I found one called Get Your Rear In Gear for colon cancer.  I would really like to run this one as it hits home in my family and it’s something I’ve supported for a long time.  The race is in 3 weeks though, and I’m not sure I’m ready to run that soon.  I was going to have my first real running 5k in November at the Jingle Bell Run.  I’m going to have to see how this week goes and if I can get up the nerves to sign up for the run.  I don’t think I’d have anyone else who would want to run it with me, so I’ll see how gutsy I end up feeling.

I’m going to keep on running as I’m determined to meet my goals.  I have a half marathon I want to run next year (Brewers Mini Marathon) and several 5k’s before then.  Just going to keep on running.

Accomplishments and Setbacks

This weekend I participated in the Al’s Run and Walk for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.  It was really something to see the turnout, about 14,000 people were there to run or walk to support the hospital.  I did the 5K walk, although there was also an 8K walk as well.  With this being one of my first walks I opted for the shorter version.  I finished it in about 50 minutes or so.  Once I got home from the walk I wanted to go for a run, although my lungs just weren’t seeming up to it, which really surprised me since I had gone for a run the previous morning and did great.  I’ve been getting over a cold, so maybe that has something to do with it, not just a head cold, but it’s been in my lungs too.

Tonight I also went for a run, although I ran into similar issues where I just couldn’t go as long.  I had eaten dinner around 4:30, and went out around 6:30.  I’m thinking I should have either waited to eat, or waited longer to run.  Tomorrow it’s supposed to rain, so I’m not planning on getting out to run since I have some things to get done around the house, but Tuesday I’m going to get out again, hopefully the outcome will be better.  I felt like I was doing so well for a while, and now I feel like I’m starting out again.  It looks like when I’m actually running I’m keeping a 12:00 min/mi pace, it’s just keeping that going without walking that I’m striving for.