Run #94

Aaaah, there is nothing like 2 days of gym running to make me deliciously appreciative of weather nice enough to run outside! 73 degrees and 73% humidity isn't ideal but it actually felt pretty nice. I took it easy for the whole run, and today was one of those days I just loved being a runner.

My left IT band is still tightening up on me a little. I stopped about 15 minutes into the run to stretch it, and I think that helped. It felt a little achy but not bad.

Also I have new headphones that I LOVED using for running. Earbuds fall out of my ears, and these were super-comfy and stayed on. Click here if you'd like to check them out.

4.98 miles, 57:32, avg. 11:33/mile

Run #93

I didn't eat because I have to get some routine blood work this morning, and this was a morning I felt like I really NEEDED to eat. So my energy was off.

Also didn't care for the treadmill, but I did a program that had some incline in it, and I do feel like that's important for keeping my body in shape so outdoor running isn't a shock to me when I can get back to it. So I'll still use the treadmill some, but I think I preferred the boring indoor track, where I don't have to push a button to adjust my speed! I'm sure my next treadmill run will probably be better when I have a little food (fuel!) in my body.

I cut the run short at 2 miles; I felt like that's what my body was telling me to do.

2 miles in approx. 23 minutes (preceded by 10 minute track warm-up walk.)

Run #92

The indoor track at the gym is small; it takes 11 laps to go one mile. And of course it's not as interesting as running outside. BUT I did like that I was actually going somewhere (even if it was just in circles!) instead of running on a treadmill. And the weather sure beat the icky humidity we've been having outside! So the rec center is a win. I may do some treadmill runs there too, for variety.

Approximate mile split times: 11:26, 10:35, 9:23! Woo hoo for that last, fast mile! I was excited about that!

Run #91

I was pretty miserable for much of this run. The humidity is just TOO MUCH for me. I'm joining the rec center tomorrow. Boring treadmill running is sounding positively DIVINE right about now. I actually walked for 2 minutes after I'd been running about 2 3/4 miles...just couldn't handle it. With this weather I couldn't seem to run slow enough to keep a handle on my breathing & energy level.

Repeating my mantra to myself: "Even a bad run is still a great workout." It was indeed a bad run. But it was also definitely a great workout.

3.41 miles, 38:24, 11:15/mile

Run #90

The run was okay. Energy level was okay. But it was just SO humid. (I think it was around 71 degrees, 90% humidity.) I think that really makes my pace suffer. But hey, it was 33+ minutes of good cardio, and I felt good about myself for sticking with it even though it was hard. I've been planning to join a nearby rec center to use their treadmills and/or indoor track on summer days that are too hot and/or humid, and I think it's time to go down and join!

Oh yeah, my iPod also ran out of batteries during my warm-up walk! I wish I could know what my pace would have been if I'd had my normal distraction of geeky NPR podcasts. Without that to listen to, I was thinking too much about how hard the run was!

2.96 miles, 33:19, 11:14/mile pace

Run #89

Wow, I felt great after taking time off from running! It had been 5 days since my last run, and I think that was really good for me. Since my knees have started bothering me a bit I have been doing a lot of research. I'm going to be focusing more on strengthening my legs (quads/hamstrings) AND hips.

I'm also not focusing much on speed, and I'm going to increase my distances more gradually (3-5% a week instead of 10%) at least until my legs get stronger. I'm also going to limit the interval training for now, only doing it occasionally. And I'm preceding every run with a 10-minute warm-up walk. Just going to baby my knees a bit while I also work on getting my legs stronger!

These are three articles I've found online that have been VERY helpful to me. I'd recommend the first two to any runners who may be having knee issues, or whose legs need more strength. The last article I'd recommend to pretty much every recreational runner.

Article on why hip strength is so important for the knees, along with resistance band exercises for the hips

Very simple quad and hamstring exercises to strengthen the knees (I talked to a running expert at a local store yesterday. He suggested I do 60% quads/40% hamstrings--3 sets of quads for every 2 sets of hamstrings.)

The 10 Laws of Injury Prevention

Warm-up walk: 10:06, .58 miles
Run: 30:07, 2.86 miles (10:31/mile)

Run #88

Hard run! There's a lot of uphill in the first 2/3 of this route, and when I turned the corner for the blessed downhill portion, which I was more than ready for...I discovered a headwind. That just made me mad!

Not sure what the temp was when I finished 25 minutes ago, but right now it's 71 degrees. Not so bad except when you consider the 80% humidity. Disgusting! I had trouble peeling off my shirt afterwards because I was so sweaty. Also, I pushed too hard at the end and felt like vomiting afterwards. Good times.

Oh well, I really am glad I ran this morning. I feel good now! And my knees (which were bothering me earlier this week) are doing well. But with summer approaching, I think I'm going to start running a little earlier. I'll probably try to leave around 6 on Saturday for my long run.

I told hubby, "I seem to have exchanged speed for distance." Sure, I can run way further than I could a couple of months ago, but my short runs aren't any faster. That being said, I am now able to push past the difficult parts of runs--and keep running, instead of walking. I think most of that is psychological, and I'm glad to be at that point.

Run #87...the fine line between compulsiveness & discipline

I was just tired today. I didn't want to get out of bed and considered skipping my run. But am I the only person who lives in fear of skipping a run? I know that's probably not entirely healthy. I know that skipping ONE run won't affect my fitness level.

But I'm afraid that if I skip, it'll be easier to skip the next time...and the next...and the next. I don't want to mess with the discipline I have because I know from experience how quickly I can lose that discipline!

Anyway, I cut the run short at just under 20 minutes, and I think that was a good compromise for a day when my body was telling me it needed some rest. The run was fine; I just wasn't enjoying it and never felt like I got warmed up to the point that it was easy. I need to get good sleep the next couple of nights so that Thursday's run is better!

1.76 miles, 19:50 (11:15/mile)

Run #86

I started with a 5.0 mile run to Starbucks. (Different Starbucks than before.... This is the third Starbucks I've incorporated into my Saturday runs!) The run was pretty good. My energy wasn't fantastic, but it was enough, and I ended up with that 10:55 pace I seem to keep hitting. (Total time 54:35.)

I had plenty of time to cool down and to recover with a smoothie. Hubby and kids came to pick me up, and we all went downtown for a 4 mile charity walk/run benefiting Water For People. Hubby pushed the kids in the stroller. My pace varied widely, from walking, to running incredibly slowly while Chickie (4 years old) ran with me, to running by myself at a pace in my normal range. The 4 miles took a little over an hour. I probably ran about half of the course. I was so proud of Chickie; I bet she ran 2/3 to 3/4 mile (with just one break in the middle to go potty)! She may be in better shape than I was when I started running!

It is a beautiful day to be outside! I absolutely LOVE starting my weekend with a long run! I used to be so lazy on most Saturdays, and I'd get kind of down in the dumps, sitting in my house wasting time. I still like to be lazy for some of the weekend, but when I start with a run, my mood is so much better!

Run #85: Interval training podcast

Whew!! More interval training. Warm up walk, then slow jog, then 7 high intensity intervals (:15, :30, :45, :60, :45, :30, :15), alternating with low intensity recovery intervals (most of which I walked.) Then cool down walk, and I tacked on a 10 minute very slow jog at the end.

Skip Orem's GetFitPod podcast #138.

30:25, 2.79 miles, 10:53/mile average.

Run #84

I had to go to CVS to pick up Mother's Day cards, so I ran there. Times were 21:13 (first two miles), then a break of about 15 minutes in the store, then 20:57 (last two miles.) I feel pretty good about it, considering my energy was low today and my upper body was sore/stiff from yesterday's boot camp. It really takes me a couple of miles or so to warm up, and I guess that's why I like longer runs better. I enjoyed the second half of today's run a lot more than the first.

4.0 miles, 42:10 (10:32/mile average)

Run #83

Oh, this was SUCH a great run! Wow! I planned to run 1:10 but I was just feeling so great I decided to extend it by a little over 10 minutes. I think I hit that "runner's high"! I took it easy the whole run, and it just felt amazing. Woo hoo!

7.06 miles, 1:20:39, 11:25/mile average