**sigh**

I haven't ran in a bit because I've been busy moving and setting up the new apartment. I had every intention of going for a run today, but it was just to freaking hot. I can't wait to get back running. If I can't run tomorrow, I might just do a workout in the apartment. I have enough room for it. Itching to get back to it!!

K

Starting again! LOL

I went running yesterday to the track, and I didn't get as much running in as I wanted, but I did run.  I walked for 5 mins (quite fast, LOL) then ran for 10 mins then walked for 5 (cool down).  I was hoping to do another run interval, but I just couldn't.  I knew I could have forced myself, but I don't want to cause any injuries, so I just let it be.  I went into it wanting to do 10, but told myself if I got too tired, out of breath, etc... then I would stop running after 6 or 8 (depending where I was time wise).  I was getting tired after 3 mins, but knew I had to continue.  LOL.  I wouldn't let myself stop after 3 mins.  I kept running, and started to feel less tired, and it became easy again.  The 9 min mark was hard, but since I was so close to my 10 min goal, I wasn't going to stop.  LOL.  I ended up getting a stitch early in my run (within the first 2 mins) but breathed through it and it went away, but I wasn't so lucky when I got the second stitch around the 8 min mark.  That one would not go away.  It got dull, but never actually went away.  I was hurting last night tho.  My legs felt like rubber until I went to bed, and my back and stomach were sore!  I took 2 advil before I went to bed and I'm fine today (well my back is a bit sore, but nothing major and I'm used to a sore back anyway).  Hopefully when I get running on Friday, I will be able to do another run interval.  I might go to 8 min intervals and see how I do with that instead of doing the 10 min interval and not being able to do anything else.  My goal is to do 10 min run intervals with a walk of 2-3 mins inbetween for the Fiddlers.  I would like to have 1 min walk intervals, but I do want to be somewhat realistic.  LOL.

Week 8

Done... I can officially run for 28 minutes non-stop. The first time was a fluke. The second time was an accident. But the third time, that is a pattern and makes it official :)

Today's run felt great. I just did the neighbourhood, but I made sure I did 5k. Although I am not sure about the time/distance/pacing, cuz the garmin was a bit wonky with the wind and the apartment buildings.

Gonna start Week 9 later this week!!!

Bridge to 10k

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Nothing really new. I'm still running though not as often. But I started the Bridge to 10k today. It was 4 intervals of 10 minute runs with 1 minute walks. It wasn't bad. I listened to Harry Potter on the run today. I don't know how I feel about that. I think I prefer music, but I will give it another chance because I like listening to the books. It just doesn't give the umph to keep running, but I did it and I kept running. The 10 minute intervals are easy. I didn't quite like the 1 minute walks. It was enough time to recover, but I was just like is that it? Only 1 minute to walk?? lol But it was good. I will continue with the B210k!

Week 7

So, I have been having a few bad runs lately. The main problem I have been having is that around the 5-7 minute mark, I REALLY have to go to the bathroom. However, when you are running at the trail, your options are very limited - the woods. Did some research last night, and found out that 20-50% of runners have the same issue - that the GI tract acts up when running. This topic was also included in my recent runners magazine.

Hubby and I wanted to go for a run tonight. We decided to go to Point Pleasant Park. My strategy was very simple go for a warm-up run around our apartment buildings. This may seem silly but I actually measured it today - starting at the front entrance of our building and going all away around both buildings and coming up across the stair path right next to the building, is 604 m. This distance could easily be extended if I went to the second driveway. So I walked around once and then ran once. This loosened everything up and I went back into the apartment, did my business, and then we went to the park. I also realized that there are several bathrooms at the park.

However there are HILLS!!! Man there are hills. I was able to do my 25 minutes. But I did have to pause the run for less than a minute while I walked up the 2nd big hill. I haven't done any work on hills, so it was pretty rough. But I survived - although halfway up the 3rd big hill I turned around and started my run back.

Week 7 is completed!!! Yay me... Now on to week 8... Oooo and tomorrow it will be one month until our big 5k. (and 7 and 1/2 weeks until the 10k).

Rough Week

Since my run last Thursday with K, I have had a hard time running. I attempted to go for a run on Saturday but my legs couldn't do it. I did at least go for a 6 k walk (plus a swim and some boating later in the afternoon). My legs were still pretty sore on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday were really hot. I attempted to go yesterday for a run up at the trail, but I just wasn't feeling it. My legs hurt, it was starting to get dark, and I just wasn't comfortable. I only ran about 7 minutes and then turned around and walked back. Even during the walk back, I could feel my heart racing. I also really had to go to the bathroom (i.e. pint of blueberries in the morning plus running don't mix). However one good thing did come from this - since I had to go to the washroom, I decided to go to the Tim's that I can see from the trail around the 2km mark. I never actually realized how far of a distance that actually is. And to think I actually go farther than that during my runs. So it made me feel really good about myself.

I chatted with K about some strategies to get be over this little hump. I am now on longer runs (25 minutes) and I really enjoyed the interval running. I was debating going back a week or even moving to the Bridge to 10k program. We decided that I would try the 25 minute run again and that I would reward myself with a non-food item if I completed it today. I am now the proud owner of a new pink hoodie from Walmart (it was on sale for $11) and the book "Chicken Soup for the Runners Soul". My plan for the book is to read it and flag the stories I am mostly inspired by, so that when I hit a block again, I can pull out the book for some motivation.

So I have proved to myself that I can still do the 25 minute run. I will be going again (hopefully Saturday morning) and I am going to increase the distance to about 7 km. Since the 10k is about 8 weeks away, I really want to work on increasing the distance, even if I am not running the whole thing. I want my body to be used to actually going the full distance. Doesn't matter how fast it actually takes me... Just matters that I am doing it....

Speaking of which I saw a great shirt from Nike: I will if you will (and then the Nike system). I liked it.

My Run Today

I wasn't going to run today because it looked horrible out, but it was raining so I said that I have to run. I haven't done a full run since Saturday so I was like I have to go out and do it. I was a little slower today because I haven't ran since Saturday, but I did it. I did the full 30 minutes. It was hard, but I did it. I only went to the end of the road and back this time because I have to take mom shopping for clothes to meet the Lieutenant Governor and I wasn't sure when she is getting home. Though I probably had time.
The arm band is a lot better for me because I'm not tempting to look at how much longer I have to go or to pause it. It's out of the way and it makes it complicated to look at it. I think after this week I'll start Bridge to 10k.

I'm trying to organize my room a bit for when I leave so that it's not a big mess when I take everything out. A lot of stuff is staying. I don't have room for it right now.

Exhausted

Okay so I finished week 9. I did my final run when I went away this weekend. Me and Rona went for a run and we got caught in the storm as you read already. lol! But the trail was nice before that. I liked running on it. The next day I went to visit the boyfriend for the weekend. I had a fantastic time! He was amazing in the play. He and the other cast members were so powerful. I ran out there on Saturday and did lots of walking along the beach looking for rocks. I tried to run today, but I just couldn't. I was so exhausted. My body wouldn't do it.

I am LOVING the iphone! It's a lot of fun running with music or books! I bought an armband so I don't have to hold it when I run. Today I put it in my cleavage. But that wasn't really working. lol. I'm going to do a few more weeks of 30 min runs before I switch to Bridge to 10k!

I enjoy running in the rain but....

I HATE THUNDERSTORMS!!!

Last night, K and I decided to go up to the trail for a late evening run - we got to the trail around 8:30. She wanted to go to the 3Km mark, which felt great during the run. As we were making our way back on the trail, it started to pour when we had about 2 km left. Didn't mind that too much... Until it started to thunder and lightening... (Not good for the phobia)... So we did some interval running back to the truck and we managed to do a 5.11 min / km. Sure we couldn't sustain it for very long but we were able to do it. Moral of the story, probably not gonna do a longer distance run so late at night on a trail that is not lighted during a thunderstorm.

However, it was the first time that I did a 25 minute consecutive run. It is scary to admit, that it wasn't that bad and I found it easier than the 20-minute run. The first 10-minutes were a bit tough, but once I was warmed up, I was fine and felt great. My pace was fairly consistent throughout the run. I only swallowed a few bugs. Both my legs and lungs felt fine.

On to week 7 of the program. I am thinking that it was a great idea to repeat the first two runs of week 5 and 6 before attempting the longer run. Although I am kinda sad that there is no more interval running until I start the Bridge to 10k program.

Going to be doing my own thing

I know I already mentioned it, but I figured I better post it as well.  I decided to do my own thing because I am just not enjoying the program.  I figure that not every single person that runs follows the program and they just do their own thing, so that is what I am doing.  I am setting myself some realistic goals so I won't injure myself.  I know I could skip a week or so on the program, but I am still not enjoying the actual program and I figure if I'm not enjoying the music, etc... then it won't keep me motivated to run.  I decided for my run on Saturday, I would listen to Harry Potter.  This way I can get lost in the story while running so I would lose track of time.  LOL.  It worked great for me.

On Saturday I decided to go to the track for my run.  I so love running on the track better, and will run more on the track I think.  Yes I need to be able to do hills, but if I keep running on my road, I won't be able to do the longer runs because of the major hills.  The little hills will be fine, but not the bigger hills. 

When I was driving to the track, I decided to try to run for 10 mins at a time, but once I got there, I got to thinking that was unrealistic right now, and I lowered it to 5 mins, then when I actually got to the 5 mins mark I was still feeling good so I decided to do 6 mins.  My legs could have kept going, but my lungs couldn't.  LOL  I was happy with the 6 mins, since my goal was 5.  I only walked for 4 mins then started running again.  I was going to walk for 6, but decided since I felt great, I would run again after 4 mins.  The second 6 mins one was hard.  After 4 mins, I was having to push myself to finish the 6 mins.  Since that was my goal, I really wanted to stick to it.  I do like that they have outhouses at the track, but I just couldn't bring myself to use them even tho I had to pee once I got there (and yes I went right before I left the house, LOL).  I only walked about 4-5 after the second interval then went home.  I felt great by the time I got home, but I was in a rush to finish packing and getting ready to go to the campground that I decided to just leave it at that for now.

Ceilidh and I went for a run today on our road.  She did pretty good, and with a little more excersize she will be great!  We only ran a total of about 3 mins, 2 of those mins was up the big hill (the one that winds me just walking), then we walked for a few mins and started jogging again.  She got a stitch in her side that just wouldn't go away after a mins, so we walked for a bit more then turned around and came home.  She is proud of herself for running what she did.  I think the next time I go to the track, I will find something special for Zach to do while Ceilidh and I go to the track.  This way I can get a little ahead of her and not have to worry about cars or anything.  Once I get too far ahead of her, I can turn around and meet her again.

Run 6.2 - Part Deux

I thought I would go for a nice morning run since I have the day off. I decided to go up to the trail since if I just do the neighbourhood, I really only do the amount on the program. But when I am up at the trail, I usually go to either 4 or 5 km. Today I decided to go 5K, since the last time I did 5K, was on this run cycle.

The run felt great. I was especially surprised with how good I felt on the last part of the second 10 minute interval. Pacing was good, and I shaved 3 minutes off my pace from the last time. So I felt really good about this accomplishment.

Song of the day: Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne. The beat was great and kept me energized throughout that part of the run.

Week....

9!!!! WOO!!

I did my first run of week 9 today. My pace is pretty decent. It took me to the store and then back to the middle of the two driveways for the church. I need to work on the pace a little bit, but I'm hoping for a 7 minute km. It wasn't bad. I had to stop twice. The first time because someone asked for directions (that happens everyday!) and then my shoe was untied. But I didn't have to stop because of anything I did. Though towards the end, my legs felt like a cross between sore and like jelly. But it was great being able to do it!

I thought I was going to have a hard time because I didn't run yesterday. I did run on Friday, but sometimes I find it's a little bit hard for me to run after taking a day off. This one wasn't bad. When I take 2 or more days off, it's a little tougher for me...That's why when I'm away this weekend...I'm still going to run!

I was talking with Rona and she said after she finishes the program, she's going to go back to week 1 once a week to work on the pace. I might try that. I can't wait to get up and start running the trail.

I'm itching for the 5k run though. I can't wait to run it. I'm going to do this I think for 2 weeks or so and then I'm going to start the Bridge to 10k. I definitely want to work on pace though. It's okay now, but it can be better!

K

I love late evening runs.... but I HATE BUGS!!!!

Since it was hot yesterday, I waited until 8:30 last night to go for a run. Ray came with me for safety. There were sooooo many swarms of bugs around that it made it very difficult to enjoy coolness of the evening.

The goal for this run was to be consistent in the pacing during the run intervals. I figure that being consistent now, will help as I progress to longer distances... (Remember the good old days, when the goal was just surviving the run)...

I kept a good pace throughout the run. Although I developed a huge stitch in my side as soon as I finished the last run interval and I couldn't breathe it out no matter how hard I tried. THEN, I swallowed a whole bunch of flies that I was gagging and almost had an asthma attacked, cuz I still couldn't breathe deeply because of the stitch. I managed to stretch out the stitch and then we hoped in the truck and went to Quiznos for supper (yummy beef and mushroom sub)...