Workout #40

I mostly walked today. My knee is still bothering me, and I feel like I need to get it feeling better before I run on it much more. The running bothers it, so I really felt like my body was telling me to back off. Hopefully I can figure out what to do about my knee so I can get past this roadblock quickly!!!

2.85 miles, 36:30.

ETA: Sounds like this might be what's wrong.

Run #39: 5K

3.1 miles in 34 minutes even

This was by far the easiest long run I've done! I think the Monday boot camp is really helping my legs feel stronger, which makes a huge difference. I was surprised my pace was slower, not faster, than usual. But while I still want to get down to 10:30 and then 10:00, it was a huge victory to me today, being able to run so EASILY. I still challenged myself; I just felt strong!

I do have a knee that is bothering me a bit. I'm running through it, and it's not bad at all; I just hope it gets better, not worse.

Run #38: 5K

I am so glad I got back out there today! After Wednesday's unmotivated short run/walk, I didn't run Saturday since I had to be somewhere at 7. So I ran today, on my 5K neighborhood route. It was a good run! I pushed myself but didn't feel awful.

Looking forward to seeing what my time was, I pushed the button on the stopwatch as I stopped running--and the stopwatch started. Yep, I'd failed to turn it on in the first place. So I'm figuring it was probably a pace of about six minutes a mile.

(I wish!)

Based on the time on the podcast I was listening to, I think my time was good, but I don't know if it was my best or not. We'll see how I do Tuesday. Hubby is changing his workout schedule, so I am too--it'll now be Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays or Sundays for runs, and Mondays I'll still do the boot camp.

Run #37: Short run/walk

I went under 2 miles today, a little over 20 minutes (pace 11:20 per mile.)

It's been a rough week emotionally and my head was NOT in the game today. Decided on a short run with some walking breaks. It was not a great workout but at least my heart rate got up and I did SOMETHING on a morning I didn't want to get out of bed, much less run.

Run #36: 5K

Another 5K! I routed a 5K map through my neighborhood. (Saturday's route was mostly outside the neighborhood, on some busier streets.) In my neighborhood I can take my dog without worrying about traffic since I can stay on sidewalks the whole time (except when crossing streets or going around annoying cars parked at the ends of driveways, covering the sidewalk. Grr.)

Yes, I'm still running with the dog, some of the time. I'm trying to focus on watching him more so I don't trip on him again.

Today's pace was 10:48 per mile, almost exactly what it was Saturday. Maybe another plateau, but what I found at my last plateau (a little over 11:00 per mile) was that after a few runs at that pace, I was able to improve my pace without really trying. So my body just needs to get a little stronger to get down to 10:30 and then down to 10:00.

This route included a lot of hills, which I've decided I kind of like. The uphill parts are so hard! But the "break" downhill is so nice.

Another boot camp this morning! I hope I did enough squats & lunges at home to prevent me being so sore afterward this time.

Run #35: My first 5K!

I didn't go to the 5K I'd planned to run. We are having a birthday party for my daughter at 11, and even though it's a small party, I just had too much to do. (The 5K was a 40 minute drive from my house.) Instead I used Daily Mile's mapping software to map out my own 5K. In fact, it was a little further. A 5K is 3.1 miles, but I got mixed up and mapped 3.2 miles instead.

I ran it, the whole way! I did it in 34 minutes 28 seconds, which is 10:46 per mile. That's my second-best all-time pace. I'm pretty happy with it; I'd like to get down to 10:30 soon, but just getting past the fear of a 5K was a huge step--next time I'll know I can do it and maybe I'll be faster.

I'm really proud of myself!

Run #34

So, I went to a "boot camp" workout Monday. I plan to go every Monday if I can work it out with my schedule--it's ladies-only, and it's free, including free childcare.

What's not to love?

My thighs answered that question Tuesday. I had no idea how many times a day I have to get down on the floor with my kids--and back up again--until my burning, post-workout quads counted for me. Not to mention the stairs.

I'm so glad I ran today, though. I was not running for speed today. My legs were still sore (though thankfully less than yesterday.) My goal was just to keep going, so that I could loosen up those muscles. My pace was over a minute per mile slower than it had been on Monday, but that's okay. It was a nice, fairly easy run, and my legs felt a whole lot better after the run than before it.

I think I'd better do some squats and lunges before next week's class though. The pain is worth the gain, but I'd prefer to feel a little better next Tuesday!

Next run...my first 5K on Saturday!