Tuesday May 30, 2006

38 minutes running
1 hour 15 minutes Yoga

Wow, it didn't feel that bad. My breathing was under control the whole time. I was definately ready to stop when i hit the 38 minute mark. But i think i ran as fast on the way out as I did on the way back. I think being consistent like that is good. I was also able to keep my form. Only during one section when there was no wind did it fell very unfun (don't think it's a word but it seems to fit.

Yoga was good. I feel like i'm slowly making progress and getting a little more flexible. Yeah! The teacher did a stretch that is supposed to help IT bands which is what i had pain from the last time i did the training for the 1/2 marathon. She said it's a good stretch for runners. I'll have to remember it and try and explain it to you. Probably easier over the phone then over email.

30 minutes 9:1 run:walk

I was TIRED today and before I took a nap I was convinced I wasn't going to run today and that that would be okay. But I took an hour nap and when I woke up I wasn't in the mood for running but I wasn't tired anymore so I figured, why not. So I ran and I had surprisingly a lot of energy and it wasn't hard, except the last minute. When I stopped I was feeling "ugh...." but by the time I cooled down I felt a lot better. I really like running, sometimes when I'm running and mostly when I've finished.

32 minute run around the neighborhood

It was nice out today it felt comfortable under the sun because it was still morning and cool. I had trouble with my breathing a couple times where i had a side ache up in my shoulder. But the aches went away when i concentrated on my breathing. I ran without the mp3 player because i wanted to just have a thinking run. Sometimes when the music is playing it's harder for me to think. I tried to focus on my running with myself more upright and did pretty good. I'm still a natural huncher.

31 minutes 8:1 Run:walk + 3 minutes running

Hard hard hard. Ugh. I am tired now and am wondering what I'm going to do once I need to run a couple of days in a row. I need the day of rest in between each day of running to feel normal again.

31 minutes 7:1 run:walk

Mentally wanted to go, physically didn't. I had some weird stomach pains that went away as soon as I started to run and came back right after. I wonder what that was about? It was hard at the end of this one. The last 7 minutes I was kind of dragging. Probably doesn't help that the last part of my route is on an upwards incline.

Oops. Just looked to see what my next run was and I was supposed to go straight to 8:1 today. Oh well. 8:1 day after tomorrow.

30 minutes treadmill
15 min. @4.8, 5 min 4.9, and 10 @5.0

For some reason this week i'm just not as into my running. But luckily for me i had the mp3 player and once "Golddigger" came on I was into it. I would like to up my incline. I thought i remembered someone telling me that an slight incline on the treadmill is more like running outstide. Since the ground is not completely flat like on a treadmill. We'll see. With the music though it really made the treadmill go by so much quicker. Good advice. I saw someone with an ishuffule. How do you wear your shuffle? Is the only option around the neck? Does it then bother you when you're running? Well i'm glad i'm done running for the day. But am very glad i've kept with it for this long. :)

30 minutes 6:1 run:walk + 2 min run
Also 45 minute easy bike ride

Another beautiful windy day - perfect for running. The sunlight was muted and sparkled on the waves. Still a little sick but determined to stay on schedule. I think last time I didn't drink enough water.

36 minute Run at the baylands

It didn't feel good until about minute 32. It was the first day i hadn't run with the mp3 player. It really is a lot easier with that thing.Weather was good just slightly warm and a good breeze. I still feel like i run pretty slow but i started to really get into a rhythm around 25 minutes. It felt like my form was natural and I didn't have to concentrate so hard on it. Is still feel like i hunch forward too much so the next thing to work on is pulling my chest up.

30 minutes 6:1 run:walk + 2 min run

Today I was still feeling a little funky but I read on Runner's World the following guideline for running when sick: If your symptoms are above the neck it's okay to run (runny nose, stuffy nose etc.). If symptoms are below the neck, not okay (body aches, chills/fever, chest congestion/infection). Since I've just got a little throaty, nose thing I went. I wasn't really into it but wanted to keep my schedule so I suited up. It was windy again today, very and on my way back about 20 minutes in it started to rain, not hard but enough to feel wet. I didn't mind; I like to run cold and the little rain cooled me off and then I was dried by the wind. Also on my run today I got the thumbs up by a random stranger, which also felt nice.

I had a goal fantasy while I was running that eventually I would be able to make it up the coast into the pine forests and that I would eventually run straight out there for an hour and that the B and the kids would come and pick me up.

30 minutes 5:1 Run:Walk

I woke up after an afternoon nap and went for a run. It was WINDY and nice. I used the shuffle again, because it's so easy. It's kind of unbelievable. I kinda feel like I'm cheating.

30 minutes 5:1 Run:walk

Used the shuffle again today. It was warm and windy - I love windy and I ran along the water which is just beautiful. It was an easy run even though I feel like I'm getting a cold.

Last night I went for a nice bike ride also along the water for about a half and hour.

31 min run on treadmill
15 min @ 4.8 5 min @4.9 & 11 min at 5.0

I had a little bit of a sinus headache and SO did not want to get up this morning. But i went and the running didn't feel that hard so that's why I upped my speed. When I upped it though it was harder to keep my breathing under control and I started to get a couple sideaches but was at last able to breath through them. There's a woman I see every Thursday morning who runs fast. I mean fast. It seems like she's sprinting the whole time. Usually she is a couple treadmills away so I've never been able to see how fast she runs. Well today her regular machine was taken. I watched her do about 20 minutes on the stair climber (by the way she'd probably been on it for about 30 by the time she got off). Then she came to the treadmill next to me. Well i was finally able to look over and she was running at 7.0 miles per hour! I was so proud of myself to get to 5.0 today (don't think i could run the whole time at 5.0). An inspiration i tell you. I will never be that speed but i thought it was pretty cool. She's a very fit woman.

38 minute run
1 hour 15 minute yoga

My form was pretty bad the whole run but i made it. It was not one of my better runs. I had to put golddigger on twice and unwritten twice just to get me through. It did help. My knees and ankles were sore for about the first 10 minutes and then got better. Hopefully next time it will feel like a better run. But as always when i'm finished i fell good.

30 minutes 4:1 run:walk in muggy 80º weather.

Talk about hot. Ugh. And it's not even summer yet, Yikes! I had to run during the day because I'm going to a movie tonight. I know I'd be dying if I didn't have something to focus on so I took the shuffle and it made it totally bearable. Ahhhh. Done.

May 14, 2006
33 minute run

It was so hot today so I was glad that I ran at 8pm. I used the mp3 player which was good. A nice change to the run. Although I think it did make me run faster at firs so at about 20 minutes I wasn't sure I was going to make it. But then at close to 30 minutes I started to feel strong again. I had to stop 5 minutes into the run to stretch the arch in my foot and my calf. The stretching hurt but once I stretched the running felt so much better. I really enjoy the feeling of being tired and exerting energy right now. I feel like I'm accomplishing something.

30 minutes 4:1 run: walk

It was WARM when I headed out at 9:00pm to run tonight. It was a good run. No cramping in the feet, no tiredness. Had to keep reminding myself to keep good form with my arms on the side, not across the front. While I was running this time I got to think about stuff instead of how much time I had left before I could walk again. I like the slow adjustment that this program is. Quicker than the 13 week and totally doable. Hello endorphins! I feel good.

Nope.

No running today. I didn't eat enough food; I'm tired. It's not going to happen.

33 minute Run 4.8 mph

Ran on the treadmill. Didn't feel good at first. My heart felt like it was beating fast. I had taken a sinus medication in the middle of the night for a sinus headache and I think I was still feeling the effects. But about 10 minutes in it started to feel pretty good. I focused on each 10 minutes. Which made it go by faster. No pain today! I had thought about getting an ipod shuffle but then thought I didn't really need it. But now I'm reconsidering. In the early morning it might get me moving quicker.

30 minutes 3:1 + 2 min run:walk

Wasn't energetic this morning but because we're going to a party tonight I had to run in the a.m. I thought I wouldn't make it since today was my first 3:1, but I did great. I may have run a little slower than usual, but I tried to keep good form. May do a bike ride later tonight if we're home early enough.

35 minute run
1 hour 15 minutes yoga

I wasn't necessarily looking forward to running today. It went alright after a bit of a painful start. Until i warmed up (about 7 minutes into it) my knees felt a little sore. I had a strange pain in my ankle for a couple of minutes but it also went away once i was about 10 minute into the run. It was a good run but the last 5-7 minutes were tough. I went 5 minutes longer than the last time and my breathing was difficult. My back is sore tonight and it might have been from those last few minutes. I think my posture was a little out of wack because i was so focused on breathing. But I felt good when i was done. I was really not looking forward to yoga tonight but after the run i didn't mind so much. I've decided tonight that i like doing the yoga after my run because i feel like I'm really stretching. I feel pretty tight after running even though i try to stretch afterwards.

30 minutes 2:1 - run:walk
15 minutes ab circuit
20 minutes yoga

I'm off schedule so I forgot I had to run today - actually I remembered earlier in the day and then forgot again. So after I put the kids to bed I suited up and went for a run. I wasn't feeling particularly tired or energetic, just kind of average. I made it through the run with out any trouble and I had a TON of energy afterwards. So when I came back I did an ab circuit and some yoga. I was surprised by how good I felt afterwards.

Saturday May 6, 2006
Ran 30 minutes

I ran outside around our neighborhood today. It was a good run. My breathing was good the whole time and i didn't get a side ache or feel like i was about to. I tried to focus on my form escpecially pushing of the ball of my foot. I was able to keep it up for most of the run. My arch on my right foot hurt for the first 10-15 minutes but got better after that. I think i should increase the time i run but i would like to get a little faster first. After my run, later in the day, my ankles hurt a little. I didn't mind because i like to feel like i exercised. By the evening it was better.

30 minutes 2:1 run:walk
15 minutes ab curcuit
20 minutes yoga

I was supposed to do 1:2 again today but I was at 1.5 once I realized it was time to walk so I just decided to switch it up then and there. 2:1 kicked my butt around 20 minutes in but I stuck it out and tried to "sprint" my last minute which consisted of me running up an incline as fast as I could. I posted the other stuff I did too because I think it will all contribute to the quality of my training.

I was supposed to run today and have tomorrow off, but I was beat all day and then after my nap when I had some energy, I didn't get home until after dark. Hopefully I'll be well-rested tomorrow.

Day 3 of training

40 minutes 1:2 walk/run + 10 minutes walk

I went a little over today but I had the energy and it was cool a little drizzly and windy outside - Perfect running conditions as far as I'm concerned. At one point I ran for 4.5 minutes before stopping to resume walking and that was after 30 minutes of walk/run.

30 minutes on treadmill at 4.6 mph (total of 2.5 miles)

I was very tired this morning so it was hard to wake up. But I made it in to the gym and ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The thirty minutes went by easier/quicker than the last time I ran on the treadmill but I also went at a slightly slower pace. I still had to push myself in 6 minutes increments. "Just 6 more minutes and I'm half way...6 more minutes and I only have 6 more minutes." I had someone on a treadmill in front of me which seemed to help. Last time I was next to elderly woman who was walking. The guy was running faster than me but at least I felt like I was exerting just as much energy. The one plus to doing this at 5:30 in the morning is that my exercise is done for the day.

Day 2 of training

I too ran along the water today. It was warm but the breeze always makes it more bearable. It was about 75º and I started running about 8:45. I did another 2:1 walk: run for 30 minutes, which was a bit harder than the last but still totally doable. My feet were cramping a bit, but I thought to myself, "come on it's only one minute - you can stick it out." And I did.

Tuesday May 2, 2006

Ran for 30 minutes near the baylands

It was warm outside but about 10 minutes into the run I was right near the water which gave a great breeze. My last 10 minutes which was away from the water was unfortunately really warm with little breeze. I didn't like that. I almost felt like it was harder to breath. Not sure if that was because of the heat or because I had been running for 25 minutes at that point. The run was difficult at first but once I hit 10 mintues it started to get a little better. Running outside is nice because there are things to look at and that helps to distract me from how long I've been running for.

Runner's World 8 week Beginning Runner's Training
Walk/Run 2:1 - 30 minutes

This was actually quite easy for me. I was surprised. I broke a little of a sweat but am taking it easy because I haven't really ran for about a year now. Last year around this time I ran a 10K in a little over an hour but after that accomplishment I sort of dropped it. I'm picking it up again, thinking about the 1/2 marathon with Mere but I'm not fully committed yet.

Running feels a lot easier if I keep my back straight (for me it feels like I'm leaning back, but I'm not) and also keeping my hands/arms on the side, not swinging across the front of my body. When I move out of this posture I notice running feels a lot harder.

Three more 2:1s this week and then on to 1:2s.