Where I've Been and Where I'm Going

Since it's New Year's Eve, I feel obligated to write about what I've done and what I am looking forward to. First of all, I have to thank my husband for his persistence. If it weren't for the random day in August when he came home from working out of town and asked me why I wasn't working out, I might not be writing this right now. I didn't really have a good reason, as I had already done couch to 5K. I just didn't get any further than that, and kind of gave up all together. So, the next morning while he was getting ready for a run, I asked him to wait for me. And I went out and ran 3 miles. I haven't stopped since then. In the past 3 1/2 months, I've managed to run 157 miles. That's not really a lot, but for a non-runner-turned-runner, I feel pretty good about that. I've done six 5Ks and two 8Ks. I have consistently gotten faster with each 5K race. 3 miles is no longer a chore for me- it's actually pretty easy now. And this is only since August.I have been adding mileage so that I am running longer distances. Today I ran 5 1/2 miles without stopping- I never did that before. I've lost 16 lbs, and gained muscle and strength. I love shopping again and love the way my clothes look. Running is of course only partially responsible for this- a good diet is a big part as well.

So where am I going? I have a few more races on tap for the coming winter months. Just trying to beat myself each time. I don't care about the other people around me, other than that there needs to be someone slower than me. I want to run a sub 30 minute 5K. Not going to be easy, as I would need to run under a ten minute mile, and I have only done that once, for one mile. I am also getting ready to start seriously training for a half marathon. All of these training run have been getting me closer to that point. My plan is to run my first one in Rochester on May 1st. My goal: just finish, however long that may take me. If it goes decently well, I will plan to run the Buffalo half later that month, and eventually I want to finish under 2:30. Not speedy by any means, but again, for a non-runner turned runner, not an easy task. I want to stick with it. I've invested a lot of time and money into running, and I have no plans to stop any time soon. I'm happy with how far I have come and intend to take this as far as I can.

Confidence Builder

After last Sunday, I was in desperate need of some confidence. I ended up taking three days off to rest after that, since it was a busy week and I just felt like I needed it. I went to my office Christmas party during the day and we got out nice and early. I had planned on running my 3 miles outside, but it was pretty cold and windy and so we decided to hit the treadmill instead. I did the 3 miles, but it was pretty tough. Granted, it was after a full day and lots of food that I wouldn't normally eat, so I guess I am just glad I got through it. Friday morning we planned to head outside for a long run- however, when I got to the bike path I saw it was still not plowed. So, instead I headed to the gym to use the indoor track. I had a GREAT 5.25 mile run. I ran about 30 seconds per mile faster than my goal. I just felt good and strong throughout the run. It was a much needed confidence booster. I had another 3 miler planned for this week, but Christmas and food got the best of me, so here I sit on the couch blogging about running instead of doing it. I plan to add it to my three runs next week, since I am off most of it and will have plenty of time to get in an extra run.

What Am I Thinking??

What kind of person thinks that training for a half marathon in Buffalo in winter is a good idea?? I thought it was, but now I'm not so sure. I set out to do 6 miles today. It was cold (24) & windy (feels like 13). On top of that, I went all out on that 5k yesterday afternoon, and I felt like I had nothing to give today. It was by far my worst run since I started this whole thing. I cut it short to 4 miles and ended up walking big chunks. My legs were still a bit sore from yesterday and I think it was probably a bit ambitious to try to do a long run the day after a race. I just don't think I'm there yet. Add to that the cold and wind, and it's a recipe for disaster. I still plan to keep going, but I may have to re-evaluate my strategy.

Will Run for Coach

No, not a running coach... I mean a pink and purple plaid Coach bag. My husband told me he would buy me the bag I have been eyeing if I could beat my previous 5K time today at the Caroler 5K. I had a really bad run on Wednesday night and a really good run on Thursday night so I knew this could go either way. I was feeling decent and on top of that I was running with a friend who got into running about the same time I did. She is a bit faster than I am, but since she has been under the weather, she wasn't trying to beat her best time and decided to run with me. I was worried about this race because it was the first year they have done it and I am always worried about being last. But I decided that if my friend was with me then neither of us would be last! So we started out wayyyyy faster than I am used to. We came in at the 1 mile mark under 10 minutes, which I have never been able to do for even a quarter of a mile, let alone a whole one. The 2nd mile was tough- there was a big uphill portion. People in front of us were slowing down and even stopping, and it took all I had to zoom past them- if I didn't keep going, I wasn't going to make it! Anyway I also kept myself going with the thought that "what goes up must come down", so I knew I could make up time later on. We finished mile 2 huffing and puffing, an 11 minute per mile pace. This was 20 seconds slower than I was hoping for and I saw the bag slipping through my fingers. But, like I said, "what goes up must come down" and sure enough, it was time to make up for lost time. We flew down that hill at mile 3 and continued on pretty flat the rest of the way. I was feeling way better now and was able to pick up the pace. We finished the 3rd mile just over a 10 minute per mile pace, for an average pace of 10:28 and a total time of 31:44. Not only is this my fastest race, but it was faster by a minute and 46 seconds! I realize in comparison to the rest of humanity, I am still slow. But, since August, I have taken over 3 min per mile off of my pace and finished about 12 minutes faster than the first one I did this summer. I no longer feel embarrassed about my times and I think I can stop worrying about coming in last. I feel pretty decent, and certainly my new purse is helping  with that! I am feeling pretty good about my half marathon training at this point, and with a 6 mile run planned for tomorrow, positive thoughts and feelings are important! Thanks to my husband for offering great incentive to keep going, and thanks to Tina for not letting me stop. And thanks to Pat because he was there too, and he won a medal in his age group.

Sometimes Life Gets In The Way

So my husband has been great about making a training schedule for me, to help get me ready for a half-marathon. It's still early, as March is out due to previous travel plans (Viva Las Vegas baby!!), and there really isn't anything close by until May. I'm really just trying to build mileage and speed before I am officially in "training mode". But, I am having a hard time getting all of my runs and cross-training in. I typically have 3-4 runs scheduled each week, and then try to throw in another day or two of cross training (elliptical and/or bike) and weights. Last week I ended up bailing on on of my runs due to time issues. I did run twice this weekend, for a total of ten miles. Monday was a planned day off, and yesterday I had every intention of getting up at 5am to do the elliptical. However, it was my birthday, and I decided that I deserved to sleep in. I had a busy day at work and then lots of birthday fun planned at night with my husband, so I ended up having another day off. I have a 5k planned for Saturday afternoon, and my long (6 mile) run on Sunday. That rules out a run on Friday, as three days in a row is a bit much for me. Tonight I am going to see my friends and their new baby at the hospital, but I am really going to make an effort to get to the gym afterwards. Provided that I have no major traffic issues and get out of work in a timely fashion, it should work out ok. Not sure where dinner fits in but I will have to make it work. I have another bday dinner planned tomorrow night, which will make running difficult then as well. I only need to get in 1.75 miles tomorrow, so I am thinking maybe I can get up early enough to squeeze it in before work. I guess the good thing is that I am determined to do my best to get these workouts in, but I also have to accept that sometimes life gets in the way!

I May Be a Slacking Blogger... But I'm Still Running!

I have not been a good blogger lately.... a combination of being busy and not being sure that anyone is reading other than my husband. So anyway... a couple of weekends ago we trekked to Philadelphia so my husband could run the marathon. He randomly asked me the week before if I would want to run the 8k the day before, and I thought, why not? I had a 5 mile training run on my schedule anyway that I wasn't sure when it would fit in, so that worked out perfectly. Plus it gave me another shot at meeting my goal for 5 miles, which was to finish in under an hour. It was really a perfect day for a run, chilly but not cold, and sunny. We woke up super early, since the race was at 7:30am, in a strange city with difficult parking. I didn't really get to eat as good a breakfast as normal, since the hotel wasn't serving that early and apparently couldn't get me a banana. I wasn't prepared for that, but we ended up finding a Starbucks where I had half of a bagel. Good enough. Anyway I actually felt pretty decent during the run- they started off with the Rocky theme, and who isn't motivated by that? My foot was a little bit sore but I rested the entire week before and it was far better. I felt decent until about mile 4, when I started feeling a little bit pukey. I blame that on my early start, crummy breakfast and inhaling of orange Chomps. The Chomps usually work well for me, but I think it was too early in the morning. Must find a better morning energy supplement. Anyway, I finished the race, on my feet and I ran the entire way. I finished in 56:03, almost 4 minutes better than I had hoped. My pace was 11:14, which is still sllooooow, but for me, it was pretty good. I was very pleased with myself. It certainly helped to have my Dad, Karen and husband there to cheer me on. My sister and kiddies were there in spirit, still sleeping at the hotel, Can't blame them one bit!

Moving on to the Turkey Trot... I took the days off in between the races off, mostly out of lack of time and resting to get my foot feeling better. Thursday's weather was less than spectacular, chilly and rainy. Not pouring, but enough to be annoying. I was actually overdressed- I still haven't entirely figured out my winter running clothing and what I need to wear. I had my jacket and gloves off by mile 2 because I was overheated. I think my jackets are warm enough that I can still wear tank tops underneath. Anyway the wheels just kind of came off about that time. I started out running with a friend, under 11 min/mile, but I knew I couldn't maintain that. My feet felt decent, but my right calf was sore for some reason, despite my compression socks. Anyway I let her go ahead and I slowed down to a more comfortable pace, which ended up being around 12-12:30 pace for miles 2 and 3. Looking at my watch, I started fearing I wouldn't finish in under an hour. Originally, I thought I could beat my previous 8K time but now I was fighting to finish under the original goal. I ended up eating some Chomps around the halfway point out of desperation, and all of a sudden after the 3rd mile, I felt like I could speed up. Mile 4 I was able to get back to around 11 min/mile and for mile 5, I was right around 10:30. I ended up finishing in 56:55, 11:21 pace. I was happy I was able to pick it back up and finish under and hour, and also disappointed that I wasn't faster than the weekend before. The weather surely didn't help, and the 12,500 people around me probably didn't either.

Soooo what's next? I told my husband that if I could finish the Trot under an hour, that I would seriously consider training for a half marathon. Well, the day of the Trot, I said absolutely not. But, the next day I decided to go for it. There really isn't one I can fit in until April or May, so for now until mid January, I am just building base mileage and increasing speed as much as I can. I have speed goals now, so that should help. Thanks to my husband for making up a training calendar for me!! Yesterday was Day 1 of half marathon training- 5 miles. Funny how 5 miles has become the new routine for me. I have some new challenges ahead- I have never run more than 5 miles at a time, and I will be increasing my long runs to 6, 7 and eventually 8 miles. Longer runs will come up after January as well, but first I need to tackle these distances.