In the spring, when I first committed to running a 5K, the thought of actually running the entire course with no breaks to walk, seemed like a unattainable goal. I had set in my mind a course of action to just take it slow and see what happened. I promised myself that I wouldn't get upset if I wasn't able to run the entire course by the time the race got here.
Yesterday, I am proud to say, that unattainable goal has been reached! I was able to run the entire 3.1 mile course on only my 2nd try. I had been running a mile, then increased that to 1.5 miles. Yesterday, as I was running, I knew it was the day that I was going to run the entire 5k. It had rained earlier in the day and when I set out on the road, it was overcast and about 84 degrees. The little reprieve from the 95 degree days we have had, really helped my endurance. We ran around my neighborhood which has many more shade trees than in town, even though there are more dogs that chase you!
I have also been altering my diet to see how it affects my running. I had a terrible time when I first started with side cramps. My doctor informed me that my sodium levels were very low and that I needed to increase my salt intake. I began drinking a small Gatorade 20-30 minutes before I run. I haven't had a side cramp since. I am also taking a multi-vitamin and a ginseng supplement. I have also added South Beach Living's energy pack to my diet about 30 minutes prior to running. Its a small pack of nuts and soy clusters that is designed to give you more energy. I have to say, its made all the difference in the world.
I don't want to say what my time was, because its embarrassing. I will say this, it was under 45 minutes. I really want to increase my pace because I don't want to be the last person to finish, but for now, I am happy with the fact that I know I can just FINISH!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
1st attempt at 3.1....I must love self torture!
Today was my first attempt at running the entire 3.1 without stopping to walk. I've started to think I might be obsessed with self torture. I had to take Will for his 2 year check up this morning and after a trip to the mall for a new pair of running shoes, we stopped at Chick-fil-a. On the way home, I started getting worked up about making my run and I decided I MUST do it when we got home. Never mind I had just ate, and it was 95 degrees at 1:30 in the afternoon.
I've been running in my neighborhood this entire time, but today we decided to run in a new place. If you've never attempted to run in the mid-afternoon, in the middle of summer in Georgia heat and humidity, you should really give it a try. Its has a drug like effect, hullucinations and all!
I felt okay when we started the run. However, right before the 1 mile mark, I started to realize that 1. this route was a lot more hilly than my usual route and 2. my new shoes were a lot heavier than my old ones. Have you ever had your thighs, calfs, arms, skin (from the beating sun) and lungs burning at the same time? Not fun. As the road went on, I started to get my second wind and thought that I was actually going to be able to make it. Then I hit the 2 mile mark. The heat was SOOOO bad. I kept thinking: "I've given birth....I can do this!
I know I looked like a complete moron that last mile, running through town like a dying turtle but I wanted to reach my goal (which started out to avg. pace at around 11 minutes/mile, but ended up just finishing without puking) so I kept trucking. I had never been so happy to see the inside of a recreation building in all my life. When we got back to the rec, I just laid in the lobby on the cool tile floor until I could get my breath back! HAHA
I was very proud of my progress. Even though my time was really slow (avg. 12 min/mile) I still managed to run 95 percent of the course. Considering I just had to take a month off due to some heart stuff, I'll take that. Now, all I have to do is manage a pace where Anthony doesn't have to struggle to run slow enough to not run off and leave me!
I've been running in my neighborhood this entire time, but today we decided to run in a new place. If you've never attempted to run in the mid-afternoon, in the middle of summer in Georgia heat and humidity, you should really give it a try. Its has a drug like effect, hullucinations and all!
I felt okay when we started the run. However, right before the 1 mile mark, I started to realize that 1. this route was a lot more hilly than my usual route and 2. my new shoes were a lot heavier than my old ones. Have you ever had your thighs, calfs, arms, skin (from the beating sun) and lungs burning at the same time? Not fun. As the road went on, I started to get my second wind and thought that I was actually going to be able to make it. Then I hit the 2 mile mark. The heat was SOOOO bad. I kept thinking: "I've given birth....I can do this!
I know I looked like a complete moron that last mile, running through town like a dying turtle but I wanted to reach my goal (which started out to avg. pace at around 11 minutes/mile, but ended up just finishing without puking) so I kept trucking. I had never been so happy to see the inside of a recreation building in all my life. When we got back to the rec, I just laid in the lobby on the cool tile floor until I could get my breath back! HAHA
I was very proud of my progress. Even though my time was really slow (avg. 12 min/mile) I still managed to run 95 percent of the course. Considering I just had to take a month off due to some heart stuff, I'll take that. Now, all I have to do is manage a pace where Anthony doesn't have to struggle to run slow enough to not run off and leave me!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
"Get That Piano Off Your Back And RUN!"
I was always an athlete. From a young age I took an interest in sports. I was good at hand, eye coordination. I was good at catching, throwing and hitting. However, when it came to running, I was a steps behind everyone else........literally.
I've always maintained that if you see me running, you better run too because something must be chasing me. Playing softball as a youngster and teen, I would study base running techniques. I would study ways to cut down on steps or get a head start because my speed was a disadvantage. Not only did I not run FAST, my endurance was suspect as well. I was frequently found in the back of the pack with the fat chicks and the ones with injured legs. Needless to say, I was comfortable letting running remain something other people (other CRAZY people) did.
My wonderful husband began running a few years ago when I was pregnant with our son. He wanted to get in shape so that he could do all the fatherly things that come along with having a son without getting winded. He has developed into quite a runner. Part of me was jealous because he had mastered the art of running that had so long eluded me, but the other part was happy it was him and not me that was gasping for air in the driveway after having run several miles.
This spring a family member suggested that we run in a 5k race. Several people in the family had committed to doing it, and being the competitor I am, I couldn't stand to be left out. So thus it began.....my love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with running.
I've been running for a few months but have had to take long breaks off due to illness. Just last week, I have rededicated myself to running and having myself ready for a 5k in September (EEP!)
Many seasoned runners who happen upon this will laugh at my mile times and my struggles, I am sure. But hopefully there are some of you out there who read this who will feel better about their struggles with fitness because they can't be as bad as mine! Or maybe, hopefully, it will inspire someone it get off the couch and give running a try, because if I can do it, anyone can!
I've always maintained that if you see me running, you better run too because something must be chasing me. Playing softball as a youngster and teen, I would study base running techniques. I would study ways to cut down on steps or get a head start because my speed was a disadvantage. Not only did I not run FAST, my endurance was suspect as well. I was frequently found in the back of the pack with the fat chicks and the ones with injured legs. Needless to say, I was comfortable letting running remain something other people (other CRAZY people) did.
My wonderful husband began running a few years ago when I was pregnant with our son. He wanted to get in shape so that he could do all the fatherly things that come along with having a son without getting winded. He has developed into quite a runner. Part of me was jealous because he had mastered the art of running that had so long eluded me, but the other part was happy it was him and not me that was gasping for air in the driveway after having run several miles.
This spring a family member suggested that we run in a 5k race. Several people in the family had committed to doing it, and being the competitor I am, I couldn't stand to be left out. So thus it began.....my love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with running.
I've been running for a few months but have had to take long breaks off due to illness. Just last week, I have rededicated myself to running and having myself ready for a 5k in September (EEP!)
Many seasoned runners who happen upon this will laugh at my mile times and my struggles, I am sure. But hopefully there are some of you out there who read this who will feel better about their struggles with fitness because they can't be as bad as mine! Or maybe, hopefully, it will inspire someone it get off the couch and give running a try, because if I can do it, anyone can!
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