As I ran a 5K yesterday after not having run for two weeks, I realized a couple of things:
1) I'm still trying to get used to running in colder weather. I like it, but it's just a different sensation in my breathing.
2) I need to run more than once every two weeks if I expect to run halfway decent.
3) Sometimes, you just need to start over.
So, while I don't have to start completely over (I can still run), I am going to dial things backwards in order to rebuild to where I was. I'll be going back on the Couch to 5K schedule in order to get back into a routine, and also to build my distance back up. I'm starting between 2-2.5 miles each run.
We'll see what happens...
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Running, Traveling and Everything Else
And again, there's been a lapse in writing on the blog. But, I swear, I've been super busy and I HAVE been running!
I've run in two more 5K races since I last wrote - Ele's Race on July 22 and the Chemical Bank 5K on July 28. I was supposed to run in another race today, but it was cancelled, but I have one on the calendar for Saturday in Escanaba!
I've also run my two longest runs since then (thanks Shawn and Dave for getting me past the 4 mile mark - IN THE DARK!).
This past week, I was in Kansas City for a work conference, which took up most of my time there. However, I did manage to get two runs in during my time there, and holy cow, that city has hills! The hotel I stayed at had running maps, and both times, I tried to do the 3 mile run, but had to modify it (first time because I went the wrong way, second time because the hills were CRAZY). My feet were sore by Thursday though, with all the walking in dress shoes I was doing.
I'm going to try to do a 5 mile run on Tuesday this week...my goal is to do one by September 2. I also have about 28 miles left to hit 100 miles by September 1. I'm not sure I'll make it, but I'm gonna try!
Maybe one of these days, I'll end up doing a 10K...
I've run in two more 5K races since I last wrote - Ele's Race on July 22 and the Chemical Bank 5K on July 28. I was supposed to run in another race today, but it was cancelled, but I have one on the calendar for Saturday in Escanaba!
I've also run my two longest runs since then (thanks Shawn and Dave for getting me past the 4 mile mark - IN THE DARK!).
This past week, I was in Kansas City for a work conference, which took up most of my time there. However, I did manage to get two runs in during my time there, and holy cow, that city has hills! The hotel I stayed at had running maps, and both times, I tried to do the 3 mile run, but had to modify it (first time because I went the wrong way, second time because the hills were CRAZY). My feet were sore by Thursday though, with all the walking in dress shoes I was doing.
I'm going to try to do a 5 mile run on Tuesday this week...my goal is to do one by September 2. I also have about 28 miles left to hit 100 miles by September 1. I'm not sure I'll make it, but I'm gonna try!
Maybe one of these days, I'll end up doing a 10K...
Monday, July 16, 2012
Whoops - it's been awhile...
I realized a few days ago that I hadn't written on the blog for a bit. Life has been CRAZY since I last wrote and I've been trying to adjust to some new things.
1) I switched jobs. I was offered a great opportunity that I didn't feel I could pass up. Since the first 5K, I had to wrap up things at my previous position, start my new position, and I'm now in week 3, trying to get acclimated to the new job.
2) I've been traveling a lot - for work and for Jaycees. It's been fun, but I'm not so sure my car would agree. ;-)
3) I've been trying to readjust my schedule to get up in the morning (gasp!) and run. It's been so hot during the days that the best time to run is in the early morning. For those of you who know me, I have NEVER been a morning person and I love my sleep. So this has taken a little adjustment.
I did run another 5K on July 7 (temperature reported right after I finished was 85 degrees with a heat index of 90). I finished slower than my first 5K, but with the heat, that was to be expected. I also hadn't done much running up to that. I took a little time off after the first 5K, so had to get back into the habit.
In the next couple of weeks, I'm signed up for Ele's Race in Okemos on Sunday this week and the Chemical Bank 5K in Byron Center on July 28. I'm hoping the weather isn't too horribly hot for either of these! I have a couple more scheduled in August and September...
My next goals are to run a 4 mile run by the end of July and a 5 mile run by the end of August. In doing so, I'm hoping to increase my intervals (this morning I did 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking).
New reports on my running schedule coming soon (now that I'm getting back in the habit)!
1) I switched jobs. I was offered a great opportunity that I didn't feel I could pass up. Since the first 5K, I had to wrap up things at my previous position, start my new position, and I'm now in week 3, trying to get acclimated to the new job.
2) I've been traveling a lot - for work and for Jaycees. It's been fun, but I'm not so sure my car would agree. ;-)
3) I've been trying to readjust my schedule to get up in the morning (gasp!) and run. It's been so hot during the days that the best time to run is in the early morning. For those of you who know me, I have NEVER been a morning person and I love my sleep. So this has taken a little adjustment.
I did run another 5K on July 7 (temperature reported right after I finished was 85 degrees with a heat index of 90). I finished slower than my first 5K, but with the heat, that was to be expected. I also hadn't done much running up to that. I took a little time off after the first 5K, so had to get back into the habit.
In the next couple of weeks, I'm signed up for Ele's Race in Okemos on Sunday this week and the Chemical Bank 5K in Byron Center on July 28. I'm hoping the weather isn't too horribly hot for either of these! I have a couple more scheduled in August and September...
My next goals are to run a 4 mile run by the end of July and a 5 mile run by the end of August. In doing so, I'm hoping to increase my intervals (this morning I did 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking).
New reports on my running schedule coming soon (now that I'm getting back in the habit)!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
There are awards?
An interesting thought came up in a conversation today.
In my 5K race on Saturday, I placed 662 out of 779 people. I was 51 out of 63 in my age division.
This got me to thinking...why do runners race?
I can't speak for all runners, but I can speak for myself (and we'll use the term 'runner' loosely here). I entered this race not to win the overall race or to win one of the three awards given in my age division. I entered this race to REACH A GOAL. I entered to cross it off my bucket list. I entered it as part of the overall goal to lose weight.
But most of all, I entered it to know that I could race a 5K.
So often, we hear that people only enter a competition to win. And when they don't win, they're disappointed.
Of course you're disappointed - you had no other reason to enter the race than to win. And when you come in 662 out of 779, you're going to be extremely disappointed. When you come in 4 out of 779, you'll be disappointed because you didn't receive a little trophy.
But if you enter the race to finish; if you enter it to reach a personal goal; if you enter it to take a step towards a bigger goal, then there is NO WAY you can be disappointed if you finish. And the best part? Even if you didn't finish, you still tried and made the effort. And I bet you learned something from it.
For all of you who don't think you can do something, or think that since you're not going to win, you're not going to play, I urge you to consider to think again. I told myself for years that I wasn't a runner and I finished my first 5K this past weekend.
Show the world what you're made of, and go out there and do it. Learn from it. And do it better the next time.
"No, maybe I can't win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he's got. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that. I don't know." - Rocky IV
In my 5K race on Saturday, I placed 662 out of 779 people. I was 51 out of 63 in my age division.
This got me to thinking...why do runners race?
I can't speak for all runners, but I can speak for myself (and we'll use the term 'runner' loosely here). I entered this race not to win the overall race or to win one of the three awards given in my age division. I entered this race to REACH A GOAL. I entered to cross it off my bucket list. I entered it as part of the overall goal to lose weight.
But most of all, I entered it to know that I could race a 5K.
So often, we hear that people only enter a competition to win. And when they don't win, they're disappointed.
Of course you're disappointed - you had no other reason to enter the race than to win. And when you come in 662 out of 779, you're going to be extremely disappointed. When you come in 4 out of 779, you'll be disappointed because you didn't receive a little trophy.
But if you enter the race to finish; if you enter it to reach a personal goal; if you enter it to take a step towards a bigger goal, then there is NO WAY you can be disappointed if you finish. And the best part? Even if you didn't finish, you still tried and made the effort. And I bet you learned something from it.
For all of you who don't think you can do something, or think that since you're not going to win, you're not going to play, I urge you to consider to think again. I told myself for years that I wasn't a runner and I finished my first 5K this past weekend.
Show the world what you're made of, and go out there and do it. Learn from it. And do it better the next time.
"No, maybe I can't win. Maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he's got. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that. I don't know." - Rocky IV
Monday, June 18, 2012
The RACE!
So, I'm sure one of these days I'll come down off the high of having finished a 5K. I realize it's really not a big deal to most people, but it is a big deal to me.
If you'd told me a year ago that I'd have run a 5K this past weekend, I would have said you were nuts. I don't run for anything.
My goal was to finish the Kalamazoo Klassic in 40 minutes or less. My STRETCH goal was to finish in less than 38 minutes.
The result?
36:36 minutes!!!
Now, in the scheme of things, I was 662 out of 779 runners. But, I WASN'T LAST!!!!
I'm really excited about this, and I've already signed up for Ele's Race on July 22. I might try to find something else before then, but my schedule is a little bit crazy, so I may just have to keep up a regular training schedule and keep pushing forward.
If you'd told me a year ago that I'd have run a 5K this past weekend, I would have said you were nuts. I don't run for anything.
My goal was to finish the Kalamazoo Klassic in 40 minutes or less. My STRETCH goal was to finish in less than 38 minutes.
The result?
36:36 minutes!!!
Now, in the scheme of things, I was 662 out of 779 runners. But, I WASN'T LAST!!!!
I'm really excited about this, and I've already signed up for Ele's Race on July 22. I might try to find something else before then, but my schedule is a little bit crazy, so I may just have to keep up a regular training schedule and keep pushing forward.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The week before the 5K
So the week leading up to the 5K ended up being a little crazy between quite possibly pushing myself too much one day, work and just life in general!
On Saturday, June 9, I was scheduled to walk for two hours for the Lansing Jaycees at Relay for Life. It's not my favorite track, as it's a dirt track, but I put on my running shoes and decided to walk, even though I'd thought about running a little. I was scheduled to be in Kalamazoo again during the weekend for their Relay for Life, and I was also going to run the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail with Dave. In total, I ended up walking/running about 9.85 miles. Needless to say, I took Sunday off.
Here's a rundown of what happened during the week:
Saturday, June 9 (walking):
6.05 miles
1:49:34 minutes
490 calories
18:07 minutes/mile
Saturday, June 9 (run):
3.80 miles
49:17 minutes
450 calories
12:58 minutes/mile
Tuesday, June 12 (run):
2.56 miles
38:13 minutes
270 calories
14:54 minutes/mile
Wednesday, June 13 (run):
3.10 miles
38:17 minutes
381 calories
12:21 minutes/mile
I really took it easy during the week, and I think that paid off. Look for the 5K update in the next post!
On Saturday, June 9, I was scheduled to walk for two hours for the Lansing Jaycees at Relay for Life. It's not my favorite track, as it's a dirt track, but I put on my running shoes and decided to walk, even though I'd thought about running a little. I was scheduled to be in Kalamazoo again during the weekend for their Relay for Life, and I was also going to run the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail with Dave. In total, I ended up walking/running about 9.85 miles. Needless to say, I took Sunday off.
Here's a rundown of what happened during the week:
Saturday, June 9 (walking):
6.05 miles
1:49:34 minutes
490 calories
18:07 minutes/mile
Saturday, June 9 (run):
3.80 miles
49:17 minutes
450 calories
12:58 minutes/mile
Tuesday, June 12 (run):
2.56 miles
38:13 minutes
270 calories
14:54 minutes/mile
Wednesday, June 13 (run):
3.10 miles
38:17 minutes
381 calories
12:21 minutes/mile
I really took it easy during the week, and I think that paid off. Look for the 5K update in the next post!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Weeks 10-11 - Almost there
Not that I'm not going to still have work to do after I finish my first 5K next week, but I'm getting kind of nervous for the Kalamazoo Klassic. I'm just trying to accept that I'm going to be slow and that I'll be successful when I cross the finish line.
One of these days, I'll have something more profound to say. Right now, I'm getting ready to head to trivia (and hopefully our team will post a decent score).
Since the last post, I've run a total of 12 miles. Here's the breakdown:
Saturday, June 2 (run):
3.20 miles
40:54 minutes
358 calories
12:45 minutes/mile
Sunday, June 3 (run):
3.11 miles
37:59 minutes
346 calories
12:14 minutes/mile
Wednesday, June 6 (run) - this is an estimate since my GPS screwed up. Luckily, my running partner's worked.
2.59 miles
32:53 minutes
289 calories
12:41 minutes/mile
Thursday, June 7 (run):
3.13 miles
38:43 minutes
349 calories
12:21 minutes/mile
One of these days, I'll have something more profound to say. Right now, I'm getting ready to head to trivia (and hopefully our team will post a decent score).
Since the last post, I've run a total of 12 miles. Here's the breakdown:
Saturday, June 2 (run):
3.20 miles
40:54 minutes
358 calories
12:45 minutes/mile
Sunday, June 3 (run):
3.11 miles
37:59 minutes
346 calories
12:14 minutes/mile
Wednesday, June 6 (run) - this is an estimate since my GPS screwed up. Luckily, my running partner's worked.
2.59 miles
32:53 minutes
289 calories
12:41 minutes/mile
Thursday, June 7 (run):
3.13 miles
38:43 minutes
349 calories
12:21 minutes/mile
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