Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I'm a runner!!!!

I finally did it! I ran 30 minutes without stopping! WOW! I ran with a good friend, and it was awesome! My family has also been in town for the last few days and coming with me for my runs. I realized I really enjoy running in groups or with another person, running solo isn't as much fun. Maybe I'll enjoy running solo sometimes, who knows. Anyway, I'm done with the program, and now I am going to start doing my own thing as far as running goes. I'm so psyched!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Slowwww

I know this is my second post complaining about my slow pace, but it must be done.
I am so discouraged, I feel like I will never run fast than 11min/mile, and that is killing my motivation. I know I've only been at this 3 months, but I feel like I should be going faster than this, people who are twice my age go faster than I do. And despite what I hear about running being an accessible sport, I really don't feel like I am a real runner, more like a jogger. I dont want to be a jogger. Im hoping once I can run 30 minutes straight (next week is the week!) I can incorporate tempo/interval runs and hill repeats into my routine to amp up my speed. I want to run far and fast, and nothing can stop me (except pregnancy, no Im not pregnant)

 Anyway, here's the end of my whine fest.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Run Like A Mother

So I received a bunch of books for my birthday from my mother-in-law (shes a doll) and one of them was a book called Run Like A Mother : How To Get Moving -Without Losing Your Family, Job, or Sanity and I haven't been able to put it down! Its a really great book, goes from the angle of what its like to be a runner and a mom who works or stays at home. I really appreciate the practical advice, along with the humor! It has had me laughing out loud more than once. It also is super inspiring, talking about how running has its highs and lows, and you don't always move upwards or even just cruise. Life can get in the way, but you can still run again even after a hiatus (read: pregnancy and childbirth) which I really needed to hear. So like I said, I'm still reading it, but I'm sure I'll be done soon enough.

Next after I'm done with RLAM is Sole Sisters: Stories of Women and Running and I will let you all know (hah, like all 5 of you who read my blog, or is that too generous a number?) how it is.


Monday, August 15, 2011

Whoopsie

Sorry it's been a while, I havent felt particularly inspired to post this past week for some reason. As far as my running goes, I started week 10 of the 12 week program, and ran 13/walk 2 then another 13, a lot of running for me. I had a horrible side stitch most of it, and I was so mad. Also my IPod Touch was messing up, kept skipping songs when I wasn't pressing anything...so meh.

Yes this post is mostly complaining, but I figured if I want to be genuine about this whole endeavor I better post about the crummy stuff involved as well.

Anyway, I hope that I fare better on Wednesday, I hate it when I have crappy runs, sucks my motivation a little.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Its too darn hot!

Yesterday I went for my run in the afternoon, and man was it hot! The asphalt was radiating heat big time, and the sun was just melting my skin. It was also hard to breath. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy yesterdays run a whole heckuva lot. On the bright side, I did run 27 out of 33 minutes, 1walk/9run 3 times. I rean 11 minutes instead of 9 like I was supposed to, that was pretty cool.

I've gotta say, I have really felt my endurance kick up recently. The other day I cleaned the office, moving big boxes of books, things like that, and I wasn't absolutely hosed! In the past I would do cleaning sprees like that and would be exhausted during and afterwards. I'm really glad that running has helped in ways I didn't really expect! :)

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Yuck

I went down to my usual spot to run, and I felt like a slug. It was so hot and humid, and my pace was super lame...But, I stuck through it, and I feel good about it NOW. Thats why I drag my butt outta the house, because more often than not I feel good about my run or good during my run. Its win/win!

New trail, new perspective

My hubby, B and I all went out to the West Virginia Pan Handle trail for a little run, I went about 2.5 miles. It was a really nice run because I could just focus on nature and not on how far/fast I as going. I felt like my pace was a little quicker towards the end, probably 10:30/mile. Thats an estimate of course, until I get my Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS (hint hint) 

Anyway, can't stay, dirty diapers call.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Quarter of a century

Today is my birthday. I am drinking Pinot Noir(its good for me) and my husband is making an epic meal for me. Life is good.

Oh plus I picked 13 tomatoes and 7-8 peppers of different variety, and a sunflower. Yay. ^_^

Super Mario cake ftw. I wish I could eats it.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Yay food!

I just got back from the Farmers Gateway Market, and man did I get some awesome stuff!

zucchini, flatleaf parsley, lettuce, blackberries(huge suckers!) purple string beans, sweet corn(non gmo organic of course) onions, free range eggs from my friend Rebecca (the chickens are gorgeous gals!) bread baked this afternoon by Whits End Homestead, golden beets, and...I think thats it.

I know this post isn't exactly about running, but as I'm sure you know, healthy eating is vital to running well. I used to buy local and organic out of fear of pesticides and their ilk, but now its so much more than that, there is a beauty in fresh food grown by people you actually know that is unmatched even in the most fancy Whole Foods store (and cheaper no less!).
Anywho, I won't preach too much about that, (off soapbox now).

Oh I also rain in a light rain this morning, it was so nice!

Monday, August 1, 2011

ADD running

When I started running this past June, I had heard about people who could run and let their mind just, wander. They weren't so focused on the fact they were running, and could put miles behind them without realizing it. I thought these people we either: insane or always going to be better at running than I am. Well, today during my run, I was supposed to walk 2 run 9 minutes do that twice and then wrap it up with walk 2 run 8. I totally screwed it up, and not because I couldn't do it either. I was trying to count the loops I did when I ran my course, so I could calculate how far I was going. Well, I ended up running for almost 14 minutes, because I forgot to look at my stopwatch.

Oopsies. I mean, HOLY COW? I RAN 14 MINUTES WITHOUT DYING? WHO THE HECK AM I???

I was needless to say, shocked. This may not seem like a whole lot to you crazy people who run 4-5 miles on easy days (Ill join you soon enough I hope) but lets remember, I started out running only 1 minute at a time, which was in itself a great feat for me.

I was hoping when I started this program I would get bitten by the running bug, I didn't expect to get bitten so soon! Its a huge stress reliever, I feel like my old self again, and it makes me a better wife and mother for sure. My husband knows this, which is why he watches B without complaint. Did I mention I love my husband and he is the bestest?

Well at any rate, I feel it would be best if I at least TRIED to run and walk like I'm supposed to during this week of the program, just so I don't burn out. Hopefully I can stop myself from ADD running until I reach the 30 minute nonstop run.

I see you 30 minute nonstop run, and I'm going to kick your butt when I reach you.