Monday, April 19, 2010

Sunday April 18th, 2010

RACE DAY!!

Okay so yesterday we ran the half marathon. We did it! We finished the entire race and I am so proud of myself and my wonderful running buddy. It felt so good to accomplish something so challenging. I feel like if I can do that can do anything!! Such a great feeling.

It was harder than I expected. By the last mile we were so sore that every part of my body hurt. I think if we had finished our training program it would have been a littler prettier but we still worked it out. My anke is pretty sore and I generally just feel like sitting on my butt for five days but otherwise I'm doing great! No more running for awhile! I need a break!

I could not be happier!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Week 9: Day 1

Run: 2.5 miles
Time: 25 min

Best: Just a little treadmill jog before my bootcamp class.
Worst: Didn't really have time to go any farther but I could have easily

Lesson Learned: I like my running shoes! I was running in my aerobics shoes and it was just not the same!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Week 8: Day2

Run: 8 miles (did you catch that?!?)
Time: who gives a crap- I ran 8 miles!! But it was around 1hr and 25 min with one bathroom break

Best: Um- yeah you guessed it finishing the run strong.

Worst: Oh man that was work but I had fun so who cares.

Lesson Learned: I offically got back together with running. I guess sometimes you have to give it a second chance.

Week 8: Day 1

Run: 3.5 miles
Time: 30 min (I'm guessing cause I forget to time it)

Best: I felt better about running again because as you know if you've been following this blog running and I went through a rough period for a week or so.

Worst: I fought for this one because I wanted to do it.

Lesson Learned: Never give up on something even if it gets hard.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Week 7: Day 4

Run: 4 mile walk with little mini-runs throughout
Time: 40 min

Best: It was a beautiful day out and there were birds chirping with the sun shining.

Worst: I keep feeling like I can't breathe. I start running and then get chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Lesson Learned: I'm not sure what I learned yet other than that I'm frustrated with this right now. I don't want to have to give up but it's like my body doesn't want to do this anymore. Annoying!

Week 7: Day 3

Run: Well it was supposed to be 7 miles but we only ended up running 3.5 of that
Time: 1 hr 20 min

Best: Getting back to the car and being able to sit down
Worst: It was so windy- like running into a wall. We could neither one breathe because of the wind. We were just forced to stop.

Lesson Learned: I feel like I'm breaking up with running. Really, lately it's been like no matter how far I try to go I can't do it. I don't understand why this is happening since we've been training and preparing to get to this point. I had even started to enjoy running and then all the sudden it's like I've just regessed back to couch to 5k style.

Week 7: Day 2

Run: 2 mile
Time: 21 minutes

Best: This was a treadmill run and there wasn't much to it...
Worst:

Lesson Learned: This was not the best week for me and running and since I didn't writ this right after the run it's hard to have perspective about how it went.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Week 7: Day 1

Run: 4.5 miles
Time: 49 min

Best: Running with Liz, running downtown, and finishing the run

Worst: We had to run into the wind almost the entire time. I just kept thinking whch way is it blowing because I want to go that way. No matter where we turned it seemed to be headed straight towards us. It was the cold bitter type of wind too...yuck!

Lesson Learned: It might be the cold bitter wind on the day of the race and f it is I'll know I can do it! Although I hope it's warner than 35 degrees in April or I will be one sad girl! Also, we decide to start scheduling little breaks for ourselves in order to develop the habbit at certain mile marks. We think this will help us actually finish the race. That is all that matters considering we are unconcerned with time.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Week 6: Day 1

Run: 4 miles
Time: slightly under 40 min

Best: It was a beautiful, sunny day...FINALLY! I went to a trai I haven't run in a while and it was a lot easier for me then I remember from last time.

Wosrt: I was still coughing and had a very runny nose. This needs to end pronto!

Lesson Learned: I get better even though I don't realize it. It does take time and patience but I get better!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Week 5: Day 4

Run: 6 miles
Time: 1 hr

Best: I DID IT!! Six miles, now that's more like it! It was very fun to run with Liz and I could not have finished without her!

Worst:35 degree weather...when is winter going to end? I had a cough, running nose, and blah blah blah...I still did it! ha!

Lesson Learned: Shut up and run- one foot in front of the other and tell myself to keep going and just never stop! :)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Week 5: Day 3

Run: 3.25 mile walk
Time: 45 min

Best: Not a lot but tomorrow is a new day.

Worst: This was the stupidest thing I have done to my body in a while. I was supposed to run 4 miles. I am sick with a bad cold and on cold medicine. I ignored that and thought I could run anyway- didn't want to miss a day. Well, I am not superwoman and a half mile into running my body gave up- tired and shaking. I went ahead and walked but I wish I wouldn't have because it was cold and I was too weak. I even got so frustrated that I thought about quitting training and I questioned why I was even putting myself through this. Very frustrating! I wish I would stop getting sick.

Lesson Learned: I need to listen to my body. The end.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Week 5: Day 2

Run: 2 miles
Time: 20 min and 30 sec

Best: It was over!

Worst: It's still too stinking cold to run outside so once again I was stuck in the crowded, hot, and run down fitness center. How annoying!

Lesson Learned: Some days you just have to get it done!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Week 5: Day 1

Run: 4 miles
Time: 40 min

Best: I recorded my fastest mile!

Worst: Okay so I was cold outside and bitterly windy so we decided to run inside at my apartment. The same treadmil that was broken the last time was broken again this time. Very annoying! So we decided to go to PSC to run.

Lesson Learned: Be flexible.

Today I registered for my half marathon. $54 later and I get to run 13.1 miles...seems a little odd to pay to run but it's all for a good cause. I'm very excited! April 18th here we come!! It's going to rock!!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Week 4: Day 4

Run: 5 miles
Time: 51 min

Best: My 4 year old nephew James heard about our half marathon yesterday and got really excited. He said "Aubt Lawre,how are you gonna run that far? I'm going to wait with water for you and Lizzy. Is she coming to visit? YES!!" It was very very cute! Then today he was pretending to run a race around the house. He made me act as the finish line. So when I went to run he insisted on running with me. I took him around the block but he cried when I wouldn't let him come the rest of the 5 miles with me. Oh such a cutie!

Worst: My brother tried to run with me and left me about 1.5 miles in. It was a pleasure to have him but I wish he would have finished the run with me!

Lesson Learned: If you need motivation and energy just ask a 4 year old cause they are full of it! Also, I must remember to maintain a child-like enthusiasm for running because it's way more fun that way!

Week 4: Day 3

Run: 3.5 miles
Time: 36 min

Best: The sun was shining just long enough for me to finish my run. It's days like this that make me feel blessed to be alive and healthy. I cannot wait for SPRING!

Worst: Had to stop to stretch out a crampy calf muscle... I must remember to drink more water!

Lesson Learned: Drink more water and it's not he best idea to have a martini at 10pm and run at 8am...oh well! I'm living life and loving it!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Week 4: Day 2

Run: 3.5 miles
Time: 37 min

Best: I felt confient and controlled. I ran this after teaching a step class because I'm a rock star! haha- no but I'm glad I could do it!

Worst: It was HOT in that gym!

Lesson Learned: I should take things to study when I have a treadmill run and a test!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Week 4: Day 1

Run: 2.5 miles
Time: We did keep track today but probably 25-27 minutes

Best: Running and chatting with Liz. We did't listen to any music but instead just took some time to catch up and jog.

Worst: The track is slanted in weird directions and caused us to both feel like out hips were out of alignment. Nothing serious- just had to pick a "worst".

Lesson Learned: I didn't mind running in McDonald arena. It's not as good as spring weather and sunshine runs but it will do. Certainly better than this cold, snowy crap! Sorry- that was more a weather comment then a run comment! :)

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Week 3: Day 3

Run: 4.5 mile run/walk
Time: 53 min

Today's goal was to do something. I've been sick with the stomach flu this week. You know, the kind that's so bad you feel like you've served your time for the next decade. So today I eased my way back into the workout mode with some morning yoga followed by a treadmill run (baby it's cold outside).
P.S. for those of you that follow this- I'm pretty sure I had the flu while completing my other runs this week- hence the complaints! See I'm not actually wimpy!

Best: Knowing that I'm healthy again!!! Never take that for granted!

Worst: I should have been at 5 straight miles this week but hey I have to listen to my body so I'm not too woried about it.

Lesson Learned: Even the most dedicated of runners cannot run with the stomch flu...must remember that on race day!

On to week 4...Keep on running! Oh and hey, we picked a race...more on that soon!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Week 3: Day 2

Run: 3.5 miles
Time: 37 minutes (which I was suprised/happy with. Considering the circumstances I thought I was much slower. That's almost my 10 min mile pace.)

Best: I felt strong and happy. I kept on running in those times when it would have been easy not to.

Worst: There was a lot of snow and ice on the sidewalks and the streets were too slushy to run in. Seriously people of Springfield, you've had how many days to scoop your sidewalks? I mean really!

Lesson Learned: It felt pretty cool to keep going and be "that girl", you know, the crazy one running. I mean, who runs in this weather? SOMEONE TRAINING FOR A HALF!! THAT'S WHO!!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Week 3: Day 1

Run: 4 miles
Time: Around 44 minutes (maybe a little less but I forgot to check)

Best: FINISHING!

Worst: Okay started by saying I finished because of the complaints that I'm about to list. If you hate complainers stop reading now... It was cold, I felt sick, I had shin splints, we were two days behind schedule because it snowed, we had to run in the snow, and did I mention it was cold!

Lessons Learned: I'm a big whiny baby sometimes! haha! But seriously I sucked it up and did it anyway and that's what counts! I'm proud of myself for not giving in and quitting because today was hard work!

Week 2- Day 3

Run: 2 miles
Time: just under 20 min

Best: I booked it on that treadmill. I felt powerful and confident and got done quickly.

Worst: It was on a treadmill which I don't really mind but I needed a worst and this was a great run! :)

Lesson Learned: Some days are great!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Week 2- Day 2

Run: 3 miles
Time: a very solid 30 min

Best:
- Running with Liz
-Running despite my shin splints: they hurt so bad that I ran faster to get done sooner, thus pushing me to pass my fastest mile...ironic!!
- Almost keeping up with the runner guys that passed us (I think they were surprised that we could stay on their tails

Worst:
- Getting shin splints...they suck!
- Running despite the oversized puddles that seemed more like lakes
Lessons Learned: the most unexpected things can make you better (ie shin splints)

Week 2- Day 1

Run: 3 miles
Time: 31 min (okay so I'm a day behind with my journal and I don't really remember but I'm sure it was around that)

Best: starting week 2
Worst: Running on the readmil because of the rain. What is this crappy weather about? I'm not a fan!

Lesson: I feel better about myself when I'm done.

Hey- only 11 weeks to go!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Week 1- Day 4

I have successfully finished week 1!! At this point I am so confident! I can totally do this!

Run: 4 miles
Time: 41 min

Best: The nice people in the workout room. You'll know why when you read "worst"!
Hearing Tiger Wood's voice at the end of my run telling me that I completed my fastest mile!! Go me! I've never thought I'd want to hear his voice. I was wrong- it sounded so good!

Worst: It was raining so I ran inside at my apartment on the treadmill The stupid thing randomly stopped after I had completed 1.8 miles. Yes, that's right, it stopped my flow half way through the run. Total bummer! But some nice girl, hearing my goal and seeing my sad face, let me use her treadmill to finish. The apartment guy's assumed cause of the problem...I was just going too fast. Let me assure you sir- I was NOT going THAT fast!

Lesson Learned: People are good. Even if something tries to stop me I have to find a way to finish the run!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Week 1- Day 3

So I feel silly blogging about running two miles but I know I'm on a journey here and this will be important somewhere down the line.

Run: 2 miles in 21 minutes

Best: Running somewhere I haven't in awhile. I ran through a park I used to love a fews years ago and it was a short run so that was nice.

Worst: To be honest- I sucked it up today! I know that this is bound to happen from time to time but I sure was not expecting it on my short run. I think it's because I knew in my head that I was only going to run for 20 min and so I didn't focus. I mean there are a million other excuses but ultimately it's about going on the next run cause this one is OVER!

Lessons Learned: Don't get ahead of yourself. Run in the moment and treat every run as a serious commitment. I need to own every step.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Week 1- Day 2

Run: 3 miles in 32 minutes

Best: Getting to run with my running buddy, Liz

Worst: Construction delays- We would have done it in 30 if it weren't for that bulldozer!

Lesson learned: Sometimes you need a friend to run with you

Today we started chatting about how long 13 miles really is and even after thinking about it I was still excited and feeling positive about making this commitment.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Day 1

Day one: 01/16/10

Run: 3 miles in 31 min followed by a 1.5 mile walk

Best:
- Getting to run outside after one solid month of torturous treadmill time
- The ducks playing on the frozen lake
- Smiling at friendly people on the trail

Worst:
- Forgetting my water at home
- Running into the wind on the last part of the run

Lessons Learned:
- I CAN do this. It's mental!
- I cannot quit something because I'm scared of it
- I control the run, not the other way around.
- I'm blessed to be able to run

Introduction

Hello everyone,

The purpose of this blog is to help me run a half marathon. This is a feat that feels overwhelming, scary, and challenging; so I've decided to do it. I've got 12 weeks, as I plan to run a race in the end f April. I know learning to run that distance is not always going to be pretty so I've decided to track my progress. If you have suggestions, motivational tips, or just want to encourage me please comment. Otherwise leave my sore, tired, winded self alone!

Here I go...