I got up this morning and ran day 2 of the first week of Gateway to 8k. Beautiful morning. It was pretty humid, as mornings often are. That caused some squeaking in my lungs, but not enough to cause any problems.
My 4-1/2 year old son got up just as my alarm was about to go off to get out of bed. So, I asked him if he wanted to ride his bike while I ran. He loved the idea, so off we went!
About 30 minutes into it, he was asking when we'd be done. I gave him the option of going home and I would continue, but I don't think he liked the idea of me continuing without him. So, we kept going and he did wonderfully. He's biked much longer distances and this was at a very slow pace for him.
During the run, I got to run down a path that follows a creek. There are parts where people have planted native prairie flowers. Very nice. There were purple coneflower, black-eyed susans, and some other yellow flower that I don't know the name of. We also saw rabbits and even a few goldfinches. One yard by the creek had more traditional flowers. Not that they were ugly, they just seemed out of place. Petunias, gladiolas, impatiens, etc.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Missed a workout
I was due to run on Wednesday, but life interfered. I've been working on a project at work and getting very little sleep because of it. Running still holds a second place to sleeping in the list things I can do with uncommitted time, which in itself is pretty small. That's not to say I've never sacrificed an hour of sleep in order to run, but once I get to the 5 hour time frame, skipping sleep in order to run would be cutting into the bone.
I plan to run tonight or tomorrow morning.
I'll be visiting my parents this weekend. I'm already thinking ahead to where I will be running Sunday or Monday. The funny thing is, the housing area they are in is too small for me now. I'd have to circle around it multiple times. (I swear it's not the steep hills that are scaring me!) So, I need to find a path or something to run on. If I stay nearby but jog into other housing areas, I'd get into older areas that have sidewalks in poor condition and I'd probably have to cross some busy roads. I feel a bit self conscious when I'm jogging in place at a stop light and it takes my head out of my running dreamworld.
I plan to run tonight or tomorrow morning.
I'll be visiting my parents this weekend. I'm already thinking ahead to where I will be running Sunday or Monday. The funny thing is, the housing area they are in is too small for me now. I'd have to circle around it multiple times. (I swear it's not the steep hills that are scaring me!) So, I need to find a path or something to run on. If I stay nearby but jog into other housing areas, I'd get into older areas that have sidewalks in poor condition and I'd probably have to cross some busy roads. I feel a bit self conscious when I'm jogging in place at a stop light and it takes my head out of my running dreamworld.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Gateway to 8k W1D1
Today I ran the first day of "Gateway to 8k" from Podrunner Intervals and DJ Beatsmith. I did most of the Couch to 5k program using his "First Day to 5k" podcasts. I really like the music, as I probably was a raver in a previous life (or an alternate life?) - without the drugs, of course.
The run was fine. I anticipate the progress to be satisfying as it was with C25K. However, I'm still not completely convinced this is what I want to do. The runs are getting longer, and frankly, I don't have all that much time. Add on to it that the daylight hours are getting shorter at an increasing pace and I have reservations about running on my own in the dark. I do it sometimes, but it's not as relaxing as when the sun is shining because I'm on higher alert. The good news is that the "kids" are back in town. I live in a college town and summers are relatively sparse. The streets were devoid of runners and walkers at odd hours. Now, with the students back, there will be more people out and about. Maybe that will help some.
There is also the Podrunner Interval "Freeway to 10K" available. That goes up to 90 minutes, I think. The 8k program extends the running to 50 minutes, if I recall correctly.
I'm thinking I might do two days of G28k and then a day of whatever I want, maybe a 5k at an increased pace.
The run was fine. I anticipate the progress to be satisfying as it was with C25K. However, I'm still not completely convinced this is what I want to do. The runs are getting longer, and frankly, I don't have all that much time. Add on to it that the daylight hours are getting shorter at an increasing pace and I have reservations about running on my own in the dark. I do it sometimes, but it's not as relaxing as when the sun is shining because I'm on higher alert. The good news is that the "kids" are back in town. I live in a college town and summers are relatively sparse. The streets were devoid of runners and walkers at odd hours. Now, with the students back, there will be more people out and about. Maybe that will help some.
There is also the Podrunner Interval "Freeway to 10K" available. That goes up to 90 minutes, I think. The 8k program extends the running to 50 minutes, if I recall correctly.
I'm thinking I might do two days of G28k and then a day of whatever I want, maybe a 5k at an increased pace.
New shoes
Now that I finished the C25K program, I treated myself to some new shoes. They are Saucony Jazz II. Very comfy. The amount of padding is much increased over the pair I have been wearing, which are from Nike. I've heard a lot of good things about Saucony, so I thought I'd give them a try. Eventually, I'll make it down to the running store so that I can get fitted, but for now, I don't have any complaints. I've done the footprint tests, and it seems that I have a pretty neutral foot. I'm not getting shin splints or other pains, so maybe that's a good indication that I'm not too far off.
I say I treated myself to new shoes. Well, I actually got these from an online outlet store, so I got them for in the neighborhood of $36. BUT, I also ordered a bunch of technical running clothing. New sports bras, shorts, and shirts. I'll be sending some back, but I've got a few winners. I love quality technical clothing that performs well. I probably am not enough of a serious athlete to really need it, but I still like it. The one draw back is that I don't like to pay for it. So, I buy it on sale and get every one else's leftovers. That's ok. I'm not overly picky.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
First 5k Race
Today I completed my first 5k race. I've run 5k a few times at the end of the Couch to 5k program and afterwards. I ran in a 4k race previously. All that put together made this 5k less stressful. I knew what to expect. I knew where to pin my number and how to handle the chute at the finish line. The C25k shirt from Zazzle worked well. It's some special material, like microfiber or something. The day was nice. Not too warm yet in the morning. Clear skies. Slight breeze. Couldn't ask for anything better.
I started off the first mile too fast. I was feeling good and even passing people. At one point, I got stuck behind a group that was running just a bit too slow for me. So, I had to figure out how to maneuver out of that. Interesting. The type of thing I don't have to worry about normally! I finished the first mile in under ten minutes, which is good for me. Then, during the second mile, I started doubting myself. I had to slow it down some because I wasn't sure I'd have enough juice left to get through the third. But, as I made my way into the third mile, I started telling myself: "Just one more mile!" and it worked. Earlier this summer it would have been hard to believe "just one more mile" would be a phrase that would actually motivate me rather than make me want to slow to a walk right then and there. I had run the course a few times before in practice, so I knew where the finish line would be. I made a bargain with myself that I could keep the slower pace until after the hill if I sped up after it. So, I did and then at about 0.2 miles left, I kicked it into a full fledged run.
Official time: 31 minutes and 32 seconds
I had hoped that somehow I would get superhuman strength and finish in under 30 minutes, knocking around 3 or 4 minutes off of my practice times. That didn't happen, but I did improve my time.
Overall, I was 68th out of some where around 90 runners. Not great, but ok. They didn't time all the walkers and I was WAY ahead of them, at least. The winner ran something a little over 17 minutes. As I passed the first mile marker at a little before 10 minutes, I figured we'd be seeing the first fast runners coming by. The course was an out-and-back with the exception that the turn around is a loop. A couple minutes past that first mile marker, I did see that 17 minute guy on his way back. Some of those fastest people didn't look like they were having much fun!
I started off the first mile too fast. I was feeling good and even passing people. At one point, I got stuck behind a group that was running just a bit too slow for me. So, I had to figure out how to maneuver out of that. Interesting. The type of thing I don't have to worry about normally! I finished the first mile in under ten minutes, which is good for me. Then, during the second mile, I started doubting myself. I had to slow it down some because I wasn't sure I'd have enough juice left to get through the third. But, as I made my way into the third mile, I started telling myself: "Just one more mile!" and it worked. Earlier this summer it would have been hard to believe "just one more mile" would be a phrase that would actually motivate me rather than make me want to slow to a walk right then and there. I had run the course a few times before in practice, so I knew where the finish line would be. I made a bargain with myself that I could keep the slower pace until after the hill if I sped up after it. So, I did and then at about 0.2 miles left, I kicked it into a full fledged run.
Official time: 31 minutes and 32 seconds
I had hoped that somehow I would get superhuman strength and finish in under 30 minutes, knocking around 3 or 4 minutes off of my practice times. That didn't happen, but I did improve my time.
Overall, I was 68th out of some where around 90 runners. Not great, but ok. They didn't time all the walkers and I was WAY ahead of them, at least. The winner ran something a little over 17 minutes. As I passed the first mile marker at a little before 10 minutes, I figured we'd be seeing the first fast runners coming by. The course was an out-and-back with the exception that the turn around is a loop. A couple minutes past that first mile marker, I did see that 17 minute guy on his way back. Some of those fastest people didn't look like they were having much fun!
And we're off...
Ok, so the bloggers on the c25k.com forum have inspired me to create my own blog. Part of the reason is that I'm now finished with the program and I need to find direction so I don't let all my hard-earned running ability (as weak as is it is) flounder. I'd rather not have to repeat the program.
One of my goals is to speed up to run a 5k in under 30 minutes. I don't know if I want to extend my distance much. What I like about the 5k distance is that I can run it in a reasonable amount of time including warm up and cool down. We'll see, I guess!
One of my goals is to speed up to run a 5k in under 30 minutes. I don't know if I want to extend my distance much. What I like about the 5k distance is that I can run it in a reasonable amount of time including warm up and cool down. We'll see, I guess!
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