Even more Progress.

I've run 4-5 times (i think) since that last post. Two of those runs were over 6 miles. My knee hurts at about 1.5 miles, then it fades away in a kind of numbing way. Yesterday I could run as fast as an 8:15 mile without it hurting. I ran a 10k yesterday in 57 minutes. So I feel encouraged by that. I am still worried I won't beat my dad's time simply because of the hills, but I think I can run the whole thing. I'm not giving up on my goal yet, but I'm trying to prepare myself for some minor disappointment. Only time will tell...

Progress

I ran today and my knee hurt, but not bad enough to make me stop.

I walked half a mile, ran a very steady even 9:00-9:30 mile pace for 3 miles and then ended with a a bit of walking.

I felt really good. There were a few times, when my ipod was on a song that usually makes me pick up the pace, that I would try to go faster and my knee would hurt then. So, I'd just slow back down and keep going. It was hard not to go fast. I just like the feeling of having small bursts of speed. :(

I finished 3.75 miles in just under 37 minutes. So that's not terrible. Slow n steady, right?

When I got home, Troy told me to ice my knee. And next time I run, I'm supposed to apply a heat pad for 10 minutes before I hit the road. Hopefully, the "treatments" and taking it one slow and steady race at a time will help.

I hope so.

officially worried

i have hurt my knee.

About three weeks ago, after my stupid overly fast run, my knee started hurting about a mile and a half into my runs. So much so that I'd stop mid stride and yelp. It hurts really really really bad when I go faster than super slow. If I go slow, then it's okay. Not great, but okay.

So I took three weeks off - kinda cuz I was sick, the weather was bad, I was busy, I couldn't find the time, the knee thing...etc. Well, when I ran yesterday, the knee pain was still there. That's bad stuff. Oh, and I also ran with insoles at the advice of my trainer husband. No help.

So. Injured am I. My knee doesn't hurt at all any other time - solely when I run.

I'm sad. And worried. The race is only weeks away. What's a girl to do?

take it nice and easy I guess.

that's my best non-race time. Just to clarify...

24:16

That's my best time for a 5k! I'm pretty impressed with myself I must say. that's a smidge over 8 minutes a mile for 3 miles. Not too shabby...

Embracing the cold.

Yesterday I ran in 35 degree coldness. 6.2 miles. I just kept going. My goal was 5 miles, but I wasn't home when I hit the five mile marker so I just kept going.

I just got back from another quite chilly run - about 42 degrees or so. I wear gloves in the cold. I know I must look like a goofball, but they make all the difference in the world. And for some reason, I like to put half my hand inside my sleeve and hold onto it.

So, I'm feeling pretty good about my consistency. Since Christmas I've run a little over 20 miles. I'm a little worried my nike thing is or was lying to me, but today, to test it out, I went to the ASU track. I jogged a quarter mile to see what my thing said and it was dead on. Then I calibrated it and again it was perfect. But I don't know...I just think it's telling me I'm running farther and faster than I am. Because when I've mapped out things in my car, it's shorter than my nike thing is. Perhaps when you run you somehow go farther...no. That's the stupidest thing ever. Oh, well. Maybe I''ll try calibrating a whole mile...not just a quarter. I don't want to be tricked into thinking I"m faster than I am...

consistency?

four miles was my goal for today and I achieved it. It wasn't fast - about 38 minutes. But I am just trying to build my endurance up again. I want to get back to 6 miles by the end of next week. The weather appears to be on my side for that goal. Now if my schedule will just cooperate.

I ran twice at my mom's - once for about three miles and then one as "fast"- as- I- could mile. It wasn't terribly fast, but my ipod froze up and running without music is just torture for me so I decided to just get it done.

So I'm kind of back in the groove of things. Let's hope I stay here....

Three Months.

That's how long I have to train. And I just took the last month off. Between photo shoots like crazy, freezing cold weather, tutoring, troy's wacky work schedule and a number of other excuses, running just didn't happen. And what scares me...i didn't miss it too bad. It was like after Thanksgiving I just decided to stop and so I did.

But I still want to achieve my goal. And I still want to run. I want to make running a part of my life for the long haul. And I know there will be dry spells like this past month, but I want to keep finding a way back into it. I don't have a full proof long term solution right now, but I did go running today. I ran two miles without stopping and while I was a lot slower than I was a month ago, I still ran.

I'm going to try to find several races to compete in over the next few months to give me motivation and goals. I'm going to get some cold weather running gear because it's winter. If I'm gonna run, it's gonna be cold. And I'm going to keep running.

I crossed the 200 mile marker on nikeplus. That is pretty good motivation right there.
I want to hit 400 miles by the Capitol 10k.
I will.

Up and Running.

So, I'm as over the cold as I think I'll ever be. Well, almost. So I got up at 6:45 this morning and went running by the river. I love running on the river path. It's so pretty and for some silly reason I just feel more like a runner running on a path made for runners. Is that ridiculous?

The run was okay. For ten minutes of the workout, I ran one minute as fast as I could and then walked the next minute. My breathing, which is awful to begin with, was a little bit worse as I had to suck snot up my nose every five seconds and the cold made my lungs feel weird. It was C-O-L-D! So cold that after about 8 minutes i ran back to my car and put on gloves which helped.

So I am up and running once again. : ) Finally...

185 miles and sick.

After two weeks of mandated rest time by my trainer husband, my back is finally better. My friend seph and I came up with a way to help each other find the time to run so we ran on Monday and on Wednesday. And then I started not feeling so great. You know - scratchy throat, losing my voice, can't breathe out of my nose. So, I took Friday off. So since November 1st, i've run 5 miles.

sigh.

I just want to get back on track. So bad! This week will be impossible since I have family coming for thanksgiving, but on december 1st, I'm planning on resuming my regular workout. We'll see.

180 miles and injured.

I'm injured.
I accept it.
It's not a minor twinge of pain that fades anymore. Nope. It's sharp shooting stabbing sinister sciatic nerve pain on my left side.
I have to take a break from running or I might break. I hurt bad on thursday after my run. I didn't run yesterday. i ran two miles today...not wise.

I'm so sad. really. I just ran my 180th mile since august 1st. and now...i'm dunzo.

I'll be back. I'm giving myself a week. And then I'll hit the road again.

Oh, how I'll miss thee, sweet dear road. We will find each other again...we will!

for the sake of a new post title that doesn't make me cringe.

I'm writing this to get rid of the last title. Geez. triple yuck.

I have a goal of running at least 4 times a week, with each run being no less than three miles in distance. I need to work back up to 6+ miles really bad. And I need to find some hills.

The time is about to change so that should make things unusually challenging. But I will persevere! I shall. I will. I must!
Because, here's the thing: I really just love running now. I like having a goal. I like having time alone. I like the energy I get from running. And I like my body more. That's not a typically wise thing to say out loud, much less write so that it can be thrown back at you, but it's true. And the thing is, I've run almost 200 miles since august 1st. If i didn't like the changes i've seen something would be wrong, right?

so my doable goal:
4 times a week
at least 12 miles a week.
find hills.

set a goal and reached it.

Yesterday I had just a little bit of time to run so I set the goal of running two miles in less than 16 minutes. And I did it!

I ran 2.01 miles in 15:38!

I almost died afterwards, but, hey, i did it.

I AM still running...

Just not like I want to, used to, or should be.

I haven't run more than 4 miles in i don't know how long...3 weeks maybe?

Life just isn't letting me run. It'd be 5am or 9pm. Both are not an option due to safety(or my willingness to get out of bed at 5am), so i haven't been able to run.

I ran on Sunday - 5k in about 27 minutes. Monday - 4 miles in about 33 minutes. So, i'm sort of maintaining my speed, but my endurance is definitely suffering.

Four runs a week is my goal. I think troy has a lunch break today so I'm going to try to run then. we'll see. And then maybe on Saturday?

The one good thing - I miss it. So I don't feel like I'm going to just lose it all together. It feels great when I get back from a run. I just have to find the time! I just have to!

Erasing the Lie, part 2

My FAKE fastest mile: 7:58
My REAL fastest mile: 7:53

Uh-huh. : )

Only two miles in endurance, but both of those in 16:14.

The only lie left to erase - fastest 10k - 52:04

That one'll take a while...

Erasing the Lie.

My nike thing keeps track of my fastest, longest, and farthest runs. For the last three weeks or so I've been annoyed at my farthest(furthest?...) distance so far - 7.14 miles because that's from the Human Race which was, obviously, only 6.2 miles.

The only way to erase it - delete the run altogether which would be sad, or beat it.

So, yesterday I beat it. I ran 7.15 miles in 1:05:05. I nearly died.
Now, .16 of that was my walking warmup, so technically I ran, what? 6.99. Oh, geez. I just realized that. That's annoying. Crud.

Whatever. The point is when I look at my trophies I can look at 7.15 and know it's the truth. I actually ran 7 miles.
The first three or so felt pretty hard, 4 and 5 were a little easier, then 6 was like toying with possible death, and then after 6.2 it was like, "I'm going to beat that stupid 7.14 like it's nothin'!"
At 7.15 I pressed my "end workout" button and all but collapsed in a stranger's yard.

But I did it. I ran 7, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 MILES! I wonder if I could do 8...

Needless to say - no run today. : )

haphazard.

that word would sum up my runs here lately.

I run with no goal in mind. I sprint. I jog. I run. half the time i don't even know where i'm going to go.

I skip one day, then two...

I have no program.

I've run three times since my last post - a total of 10 miles. I haven't run a 10k since the 11th. I'll be doing that again on...?

But i'm not going to let the haphazardness get to me. When my husband works hours that change at a moment's notice...when I have a "job" that often requires me to be out at my normal running time....when 6am is pitch black...haphazard is as good as it's gonna get.

Today i did 3.8 miles in 30 minutes. I walked after i reached a 5k.
My lofty goal of a 24 minute 5k is way too lofty. Let's make that 26 minutes.
I'm going to start doing some form of at home strength training on the days i can't run.

going the distance

I have, according to nike, run over 100 miles since august 1st. Wow!

Last night I ran 6.2 miles and it literally felt like i had run 400 miles by the time i got back. Gaw, i hurt. My stomach hurt. Like queasy hurt. I think my big lunch at chili's was not happy about the running.

But i ran. I didn't walk any of the 6.2miles and I did it in under an hour. So success.

I know at some point i need to run farther than 6.2 miles to really increase my endurance, but geez. 6 miles is impossible. a step more than that and I might die.

I have a new goal i'm aiming for. It's pretty lofty. A marathon. NOT. um, the real new goal is to run the shannon 5k in 24 minutes. That's no more than 8 minutes a mile. I have three weeks to shave off 2 minutes from my best ever time. yikes. two minutes is a pretty decent chunk of time....

let the speed training begin!

rainy run

Troy didn't get off until 8:05 and with the cloudy rainy sky and all, it was pretty dark by then. But i didn't use that as an excuse not to run.
Today I needed to run.
The house seemed a little claustrophobic...grant was...fussy. To put it mildly. A little time away with my thoughts, even spent running in the rain, was much needed.

Due to the impending darkness, I attempted speedy. I ran a mile in 8:04! Two in 16:24. I felt pretty great the whole time. Running in sprinkling rain is kind of refreshing, and as stupid as this may sound, it makes me feel "hard core." Like i'm a runner no matter what. And when I think that while running, i run faster. Hey, whatever works.

I just didn't have it in me today.

I was going to run this morning before church. Totally didn't happen. I felt almost drugged I was so sleepy this morning.

So I ran tonight. I decided to run by the river again because it's just so nice. And I wanted to get away for a bit. I was feeling pretty good and was all set to run a 10k at least.

I made it to 5 and stopped and felt as though I were two strides from death. So I stopped my nike plus workout and then walked for one song. Then I RAN one more mile. For a good piece, or about 200 meters, my pace was a 7 min mile. But over all, I ran the mile in 8:40.

I really wanted that 10k today. But I just didn't have it in me.

My knees have been hurting when I'm done running...I need to remedy that...

One really cool thing - I am almost to my 100 mile mark. Since August 1st. Of course, some of those miles were lies, but that's a heck of a lot of miles in a little over a month.

6.2 miles. For Real.

I calibrated my nike thing yesterday on the asu track. Then I ran a couple distances to make sure it was accurate. It was.

So today I ran 6.2 miles. My time: just under 55 minutes. And I was hustlin'.
My average pace was 8:48/mile.

So, that's the truth after a month of lies from nike. It's not terrible. But kind of a let down from what I thought I was doing. But it's my fault for not calibrating it.

Hills are going to be my biggest challenge. I think I'll be running in the bluffs some.
And I need to do some speed training. And i should probably figure out if I have good form when I run...

But it was a good run today. If austin was suddenly flattened out, I could beat my dad's time today. But, uh, yeah, the hills will defiinitely be there on March 29th...

Bluffs. Here I come.

Where I rank with the world.

I ran by the river today. Man, it's beautiful there. And a nice cool breeze. I ran back and forth until my still-not-calibrated nike thing told me that I had gone 4 miles. So I probably did like 3.25. Tomorrow I'll calibrate it. I must. The lies it has been telling me for a month were giving me false motivation. I need to know the real deal!

On a side note I checked today and my official rank in the Human Race:
Overall (out of like 700,000 runners worldwide): 117, 296
In Austin alone: 3,540th
Austin Females: 1,126th.

Not bad right?
Not as great as I thought i'd do, and I can do better. This race was just to see what it's like. To have the experience. Now, now, i start training. For real.

6 months. Oooh, I am going to be one lean mean running machine!

Running in the rain...

That speeds you up too.

Also, dying of thirst helps.

That was my run tonight. Rain and terrible dessert-dry-throat thirsty.

See the perk of running 3.1 miles away from my house is that I am forced to run 3.1 miles back. No matter what. Rain. Thirst. cramps. complete and total exhaustion. It doesn't matter. You're still 3.1 miles away. The fastest way to get back - run.

TOnight I ran 6.3 miles. In like 52 minutes or so. Paula Radcliffe (marathonner) told me in her british accent that I had recorded my fastest mile - 7.58. Wowza!

I've run seventy miles since the first. That's C-Razy!

Today was my last run until sunday. I'm so excited!

The Key to Running Faster.

Run as the sun sets. The fear of being out in the dark will definitely speed you up.

That's what happened to me yesterday. I started running a bit late and ran away from my house until it said 3.1 miles, then I turned around and ran back. It started getting dark really quickly so I just kept running fast. My average pace was 8:20! Fear will do that to a person.

On another slightly unrelated note, the path I ran was great. It was generally flat, and down one great street full of beautiful houses that I love. They're very old and classic. I love them. So it was a nice distraction to stare at their splendor as I sweated every ounce of energy from my body.

Some Nike Plus Stats.

In 15 workouts, I have run 47 miles.

My average pace is 9.06.

I have a goal of running 80 miles in 4 weeks. I am 5.7 miles behind where I should be to accomplish that goal.

Another goal I have is to have 10 workouts under an average pace of 9 minutes in one month. I've done 4 so far.

And in a nike plus challenge with runners from literally around the globe, I am 7th out 17 to see who can run the most in 30 days.

In another challenge, I am 3rd out of about 20 beginning runners in the battle of fastest 5k.

If I haven't already said it, this Nike Plus thing is truly the coolest thing ever. I have never been so motivated to work out in my life. Dad would have LOVED it. It's just so easy to see your progress and to find new motivation.