On the road again...

I just got back from my first run of the new year. It also was my first run ever in my Vibrams. I got them about a year ago and slowly started building my time in them by wearing them around the house and out and about. I wasn't sure if I wanted to run in them or not and even up until this morning, I still wasn't sure.

I was planning to hit a yoga class this afternoon, but the siren call of the sewing machine kept me firmly in my PJs sitting in my kitchen stitching away. Before I knew it, yoga wasn't going to happen.

Since it's been about nine months since I've run with any great consistency and with my plans of starting over with the C25K program, I figured today was as good a day as any to start. I went to grab my running shoes, and then remembered that they'd been rubbing some hot spots on one of my feet. FAIL.

My husband said "You're just going for a mile or so, why not use your VFFs?" Um, what? Wait, I had decided that I was using those for weight training, not running. Well, maybe....

So I did. My toes got cold. I can deal with that. I ran .2/walked .2/ran .2, etc....I also wore my Garmin just to see what my pace was. It averaged (when running) between 11 - 12 minute miles. I've *never* run that pace before. I could have kept going, but I didn't want to push it so I made myself stop every .2 miles. My last bit of running I maintained an 8:30 minute mile. And I wasn't sprinting. WTH???

So, either I don't know how to work my Garmin or my running has improved more than I realized. Maybe it's the shoes? Either way, today was a fantastic (although short) run (and pain free)!!

Starting Over

I went to the gym on Wed and again on Fri. Weights and Spin class. They kicked my ass, but it was awesome. I can't wait to go back again this week! After we returned from our trip, my weight was bouncing around all over the place, but it finally settled out at about 220. That is wholly unacceptable to me, so I dusted off my Livestrong account and punched in my numbers and have begun tracking calories again. Weekly weigh ins will return tomorrow! Stay tuned! I weigh just about the same as I did when I started this journey ~ so I had a hard time figuring out why this time I have almost 1000 fewer calories everyday. I started playing around with my account and somehow, some way, I must have accidently set my goals to "maintain" the last time I was counting. It makes sense. I didn't lose very consistenly or very quickly. I was never hungry and very very rarely did I go over my calories. Huh....well. I've had to make some changes this time. On the days that I don't work out, it's really hard to come in under my calories. I'm only letting myself have one cup of coffee on the days I don't work out and I make sure to get my green smoothies in. Then, I go from there. In injury news ~ my foot feels tremendously better. Before I was dealing with plantar faciitis pain, achillies pain & heel pain. Almost all of the time and it was excruitating after I was sitting for a while and had to get back up. I've back to the gym for half a week and my foot pain is almost entirely gone. My achillies feels great. I'm stretching my calf all day long and keeping it loose. My heel pain has completely disappeared. GONE. Evaporated. Nada. And my PF pain is still there, but it's very localized and when I walk barefoot is just feels like I'm walking on a marble. I know from experience that a little bit of ice and some massage can fix that right up. I haven't run in quite some time. I'm going to give myself another week in the gym with cross training and no running, then I plan to start slow and ease some running back into my weeks. I'm pretty sure the half marathon isn't going to happen. But there are lots of them all year long in these parts. I'll find one. I'll do one. I'll finish one. A few people have asked me why I'm so hell bent on getting back to running. They've asked why can't I just get my exercise from the gym since I seem to like the classes so much? Well, these people that ask me such things aren't runners. It's not about the exercise. It's not about getting a cardio workout. Running, for me, is about freedom. Serenity. Peace. It's about that high that I get after a great run. I've never gotten that high from the gym. Not once. I miss that feeling. I crave it. And I can't wait to feel it again!

I'm back and it feels........good?

*source*

I went back to the gym yesterday and headed to the weights class (Ultimate Strength). I got there a few minutes late and all of the 5 lb plates were taken to put on my bar. I typically use 10 lb plates for my legs and back and 5 lb plates for my arms & shoulders.

Considering I hadn't been to this class since Dec, I was planning on using 5 lb plates for the whole class. No go. Today, I'm walking like that poor woman above. But it's a good thing. It reminds me that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but that's good. I'm looking forward to it.

On another note, my foot feels fantastic today. I'm not limping at all ~ but I am hobbling because my legs are jello!! I'm going to hold off on running for at least a few more days, but I did buy some running books today at Barnes & Noble. Stay tuned for some reviews on those.

Pressing the Reset Button

When a weightloss blogger suddenly disappears you can pretty much bet the farm that she's not out partying it up about all of her successes. We bloggers, we're a pretty talkative bunch. We don't usually fall off the Earth unless there are things we simply don't want to share. My life got super crazy for about 3 1/2 weeks. Was it so crazy that I couldn't sit down for a few mintues and write out some quick updates? No. Was it so crazy that I couldn't make up some salads to have in the fridge to keep eating healthfully? No. Did I do either of these things? No. In the last month:

• We've gone out of town


• We planned an 8 year old's birthday party


• We rushed said 8 year old to the ER after he nearly cut his thumb off. (11 stitches is a lot in a little thumb!)


• We cancelled said birthday party because it's hard to go rock climbing with 11 stitches in your thumb.


• We rushed a dog to the vet after getting nipped by another dog at the kennel and developing an infection on his head


• I've had my husband home for 25 days (in a row). Fabulous ~ but it really wrecks my routines


• I ran a four mile run pain free


• I went to a support group for TBI survivors and have begun the horrible task of trying to get a referral to a specialist


• I've begun walking with a noticable limp and haven't been pain free in at least two weeks

And 5000 other things that I'm sure I'm forgetting......

I've used every one of those things to avoid exercising and eating properly. I feel like shit and I'm quite certain I look like shit. I'm frustrated because I can't run right now. My half marathon is 8 weeks away and the furthest I've run is 4 miles and I can't even run 2 miles without cringing right now.

I used that to completely throw in the towel for exercise. I know my foot feels better when I do non weight bearing exercise. I can ride the bike, I can swim, I can even do the elliptical, I can lift weights. All of those make me feel better and help my foot heal, but I drowned myself in pity and said fuck it all.

No more. It ends now. I'm pressing the reset button. I'm putting the half marathon out of my head for now. I will go to the gym and do what worked for me the last time. I'll take the strength class, I'll ride the bike, I'll take the ball class, I'll do spin, I'll swim. Anything but run. And when my foot feels better I'll run a mile. And when that doesn't hurt, I'll run two. And if by some miracle of God I can get my mileage up to 1o miles in the next 8 weeks I'll run that half marathon. Otherwise, I'll keep doing what doesn't hurt and eventually I'll get there. I live in Seattle for crap's sake ~ there are half marathons all year long around here. I'll find one and I'll do it.

The sun is shining today, it's a beautiful day and I'm sick of feeling sorry for myself. I'm back, peeps. I'm so very very back!

Running, Running, Running.....

I snapped this pic the other day after a 3 mile run in the sunshine. Sunshine, gooooooood. Yesterday was my first "long" run that put me in unchartered territory. 4 miles. GULP. Guess what, I did it. Guess what else, I ran the whole four miles. Yup, didn't even walk once! Now, my slow boat pace probably would've counted as walking in some books, but I just kept shuffling along. I know my speed will increase as my mileage picks up and to be honest, I'm just not that worried about it. I RAN FOUR MILES!!!!!

So, about those goals I set a while back....600 miles in 2011. Recovering from a stubborn injury wasnt' really part of that plan, but a goal is a goal. I'm currently at 16.31 miles for the year. By the time I'm finished training for my half marathon I'll be just over 200 (at the very minimum). That gives me 7 months to run about 400 miles. In other words, almost 60 miles per month. 15 miles per week. I can do it. Especially if I add in a few other half marathons to my list. :D

Some friends of ours have registered for the Las Vegas Half Marathon. We're considering it. How AWESOME would that be? I'll keep you updated.

Now I get it....

A few weeks ago I ran a mile without stopping. I haven't done if often in my life and I hadn't done it again since.

I read a lot of runner's blogs. One recurring thing I've noticed in all of the veterans blogs' is that they all say the same thing about the first mile ~ it's hard. Then their legs warm up and they find their grove and off they go to have a fabulous run.

I read it. Intellectually I understood it. I just never "got it". It seemed my legs never warmed up. Everytime I ran I was counting down until I could walk again. My legs burned and while I new it was good, and I even enjoyed it, it hurt.

Then yesterday happened. I walked up to the top of my street like I always do. I planned to run my 3.1 mile route along the water like I always do. I hit the timer on my watch and I started running. Like I always do. My legs started to burn and I was thinking of when I could walk, like I always DID. And then I said "f*ck it". I decided that I was going to run for the first mile. There was no reason I couldn't go at least that far. Afterall, I had just done it the other day, right?

I got to the fence post (which is a mile from my street) and I thought "hhmm, I'm not feeling so bad, I can run to the end of the fence." (just about 20 additional yards or so). Then I thought "well, I can run a little further, maybe to our old street." I got there and thought "Well, if I've come this far, I can go the additional quarter mile it takes to get to the park. Then I can walk a bit." I got to the park and a funny thing happened. My legs felt good. Whoa, what??? I was in a grove. So this is what they're all talking about?

So, at the park I thought what the hell....I'm going to run back to our old street and see how I feel. Guess what, I felt great! So I kept going. I got to the fence post...and kept going. In total I ran about 2 and a quarter miles without stopping. I finally puttered out a bit and needed to walk. I'd run about 31 minutes without a walk break. When I was doing the C25K program, the longest it had me run was 25 minutes and I wanted to beat that. I did.

I walked for 6 minutes and then started running again. Again, my legs felt great. I was in unfamiliar territory. I was high. I finally understood what all of those runners had been talking about and I didn't want to stop. I was enjoying my "fix" and I wasn't ready to give it up.

I got back to the street that leads into my neighborhood and I couldn't make myself turn towards home. I just kept running. I ran to the street that leads to the back end of our neighborhood. I was still feeling great and I knew I had that extra distance in me.

I turned onto the street and before me was a hill! My immediate thought was "Oh dear, what have I done?" But I remembered how great my legs felt and how amazing this feeling was so I dug deep and I ran up the hill. Let me say that again, I ran up the hill. Prior to yesterday, I simply didn't do hills. I was intimidated by them. But I OWNED that hill. It's now my bitch.

I ran around the block and before I knew it I was at my street. I wanted to keep going, but I know better and knew to finish while I still felt strong.

I came home wearing an enormous smile. I ended up running 3.5 miles in 51 minutes. My only walking was that 6 minute break in the middle. I didn't stop smiling all day!

I went to bed last night thinking "Now I get it...."

Long Runs

Boy, running outside makes all. the. difference. The sun was shining and I was running by the water. It was heavenly. I ran 3.1 miles today (it's quite handy that to the local park and back is exactly a 5K from my driveway).

I did walk some, but I ran way more than I walked and I finished strong. It was my "long run" for the week (sad, isn't it?) and from here on out, my long runs will be my longest run to date. My next long run is 4 miles and the furthest I've ever gone is 3.7 miles. It's getting exciting!

I had started to doubt whether or not this half marathon would really happen, but after today's run all doubt has been erased. Bring it ON!!

I Ran

I ran yesterday and that's about the most positive thing I can say about it. I wasn't even planning on going to the gym at all. I didn't want to face the treadmill. Then hubster called and said "have you been to the gym today?" "No", I said. Then he said "you know you're going to have to run at some point if you want to be ready for this half marathon." Yeah, yeah, yeah....but it's true.

I'm intimidated by this goal I've set. I know I'll get through it, but right now coming off an injury it's just plain scary.

So, I packed up the boys and headed to the gym. I intended to run 3 miles, but my legs just felt like lead and I was bored. I hate the treadmill. I lasted 1.81 miles and I think I walked about 80% of it (at least). It wasn't a good run. It wasn't really even a run. But the miles are in and I feel better about that.

Tomorrow I'm hitting the road. Hubs is back in town and I can run outside. Yippeeeeee!!!

Training Plan

So, I'm going to be officially staring my half marathon training next week. That gives me 15 weeks to get ready.

Coming off an injury, I have to play this smart. I'll be loosely following the Hal Higdon Novice Half Marathon Training Schedule.

I'm also getting myself ready to train for my first triathlon this year, so while I'm focusing on running right now, I have to keep swimming and biking in the back of my mind.

This is my plan for the next 15 weeks:

Run 3x per week
Strength Train 2x per week
Swim 1x per week
Bike 1x per week
Cross Train 2-3x per week

Cross Training will consist of classes at the gym (stability ball class, spinning, step class, yoga), additional swimming or doing a fitness tape in my living room. I will likely double up my cross train & strength days. I'll also rest at least one day per week.

Here we go. Wish me luck!

I Ran....

Today I ran. And I rocked! To be honest, I wasn't sure if running would be in the cards for me. This injury has had me so messed up in the head and so frustrated. Training for my half marathon starts in two weeks (I've bumped it up to next week) and I was so close to saying f^ck it. I was going to throw in the towel.

I decided to go for a run today and just see how long I could last before I had to stop and walk. I expected maybe three minutes or so. I laced up my Brooks and headed out the door. My neighborhood has a loop that is .8 mi and I thought, I'll go around once and see how many times I have to walk.

I RAN THE WHOLE WAY. Yup, the entire way. In fact, I ran down a side street twice to make it a nice round mile. Did I mention I ran it all? All of it. Oh and I did it in 12:01. I have NEVER run a 12 minute mile. In my life.....Ever.

I was so stoked. I've been on a complete runner's high ALL DAY. My legs feel alive. I can't remember the last time I felt this good.

My foot? Oh yea, didn't even feel it. Nothing. Nada. I stretched well after my run and I'll massage my calf tonight (rolling pin, anyone?) just in case. But it feels fabulous.

Half marathon? It is ON! Bring it, baby! There is no stopping me!

I know this to be true.....

I don't do artificial. I eat very little processed food, I don't do artificial sweeteners & I rarely wear makeup. I'm more of an all natural kind of girl. So, of course I was cranky when I decided to put my SuperFeet back into my shoes. They are an artifical foot, of sorts. Guess what happened after a week of having them in my shoes. I couldn't walk. Yup, you read that right. They made my foot worse. I knew in my heart of hearts that they weren't good for me. I knew that what I really needed to do was start slow and recondition my feet to handle the stresses of running. I tried to take a short cut. I tried to insert something unnatural into my life to do the work for me. It doesn't work.

It's going to require work. And time. Just like weightloss. Just like life. There are no shortcuts.

Is it Monday, yet???

Seriously, I can't wait for Monday. The last two weeks my life has been one big blur ~ and this weekend isn't shaping up to be any different. I never thought I'd be looking forward to a Monday. My life will still be crazy, but at least it will be my normal level of crazy!!

I've been to the gym three times this week and as of yesterday, I'm back to counting calories. Every last one of 'em. I had been putting that off because, well, I just didn't want to deal with the hassle of it. Strangely enough, once I started counting again, it seemed all of the stress connected with my eating went away. I knew I was counting, I knew I was accountable and suddenly the choices just seemed easy. If I wasn't accountable, it was too easy to make the wrong choice and then beat myself up over it later.

I've switched up my work outs a bit. I can't really do classes at the gym any more because of conflicts with the kids' activities. So, I was left to my own devices ~ could be why I put off going to the gym for so long. Hhhmm, I need to start trusting myself more. Wait until you hear about the new workout program I've been doing. I'm sore as shit. I've been walking like an old lady, but it's so freakin' awesome!!!

My foot is finally starting to feel a little bit better. Almost normal. So I ran, for one whole minutes, and guess what. My OTHER foot has started hurting again. I can't. friggin'. win. I give up (not really). I'm so frustrated. But I'm just gonna suck it up. I'm finished sitting around and waiting for my body to feel good.

The fact is, I'm big. I'm heavy. Running while carrying such a heavy load just hurts. So, I'm concentrating on strength training and other forms of cadio to take off some more weight before I dive into running again. But I'm dabbling in it a bit here and there to work my way back up. I'm training for this half marathon (June 5) come hell or high water. If I have to crawl across the finish line, I will. DAMMIT!!

So, I put my Super Feet back into my shoes. I hate them. They suck. They feel so fake and artificial in my shoes, but for now I need that extra arch support until I lose a little more weight and can ease some of the burden off my feet. It pisses me off....but I got myself into this mess. I have to put my big girl panties on and get myself out of it.

Boy 1 has a swim meet tomorrow. An hour and a half from our house. It's a two day meet, so I get to drive us back there on Sunday, too. Husband is out of town....he left tonight. Of course. So, since I have to get up at 5:15 tomorrow morning, I'm heading to bed. Peace out, internets!

A tough decision

I have to be smart. I keep telling myself that over and over again. Be smart. Dont' push yourself. You have the rest of your life to run races. Don't rush it.

Easier said than done. I'm an instant gratification kind of girl and if I decide I want to run a race, I want to run it tomorrow.

Remember that St. Paddy's Day race I said I was going to race? I even went and got myself a training partner, right?

I'm blowing it off. I start training for my first half marathon on March 1. I do not intend to put foot to pavement before then. I want to be in tip top shape for my training. I will do lots of cardio and strength training until then, but I need to pamper my foot. I need it to heel. So, I'm bowing (gracefully, I hope) out of the 10K on March 12. I'm not ready to be training for anything right now.

I have to take care of myself. I have to look at the big picture and do what's right for the long run. You have no idea how difficult this is for me. Big picture is not my natural first thought....Well, look at that. I'm growin' up!

FREEDOM!!!!

I showed up to my physical therapy appt today and told them that I needed to wrap this shindig up. Our insurance coverage changed as of Jan 1 and it suddenly got a hell of a lot more expensive for me to hang out with them. They're nice guys and all, but I'd rather save that money for race fees, ya know?

I told them that my family wasn't going to miss any meals and I didn't want to bail out on them prematurely but that I truly felt that I could do all of my therapy either at home or the gym and that I was getting antsy to simply get on with my life.

I expected them to suggest we pare down to one visit a week and see how I feel. They simply told me, I was right and that I could go home and just let them know in a few weeks how I was feeling. What? Really? Sa-wheet!

So, I suddenly had a child free afternoon and no plans. What would you do? I went to the local running store, of course. I've mentioned before about shoes, and how I wanted a pair of Vibrams, but I'm still in a fair amount of pain on the bottom of my heel. There's a decent chance that I've got a nice hefty bruise deep in my heel pads and possibly into my bone. I need some cushioning under there until that heals, but I'm still skeptical of those ultra fancy shoes that do everything for you but clip your toenails.

Enter these:

The Brooks Green Silence. It's their version of a minimalist shoe. Similar to the Nike Frees. I didn't care for the Nikes, but these felt amazing when I tried them on. I didn't buy them, but I'm thinking I should have. I won't be running right away anyhow, but when I do I'm pretty sure I'll be sportin' these bad boys. I just wish they weren't so damn ugly!

Trudging along....

Gosh, the holidays are over but my life just won't seem to slow down. Who pushed the fast forward button? Can you please UNpush it? Thankyouverymuch!!

I'm hosting a friend's 40th birthday celebration tomorrow and then, THEN, hopefully things will settle down. I'm not sure they'll SLOW down, but at least it will be my normal life stuff. Nothing extra. Oh wait, hubby's birthday is next week. Ok, maybe THEN....*sigh*

The candy is gone, the cheesecake has been pitched, the pies were given away and the only sugar really left in the house was a little bit of ice cream. I took care of that last night while watching the Biggest Loser. As much as the (staged) drama of that show kills me, it really does seem to light a fire under my ass.

I was completely unprepared for how much this stupid injury would derail me. I thought I was good. I thought I had things under control. I thought I knew what I was doing. I thought WRONG. It's humbling to be sidelined and forced to take a look within and see what's really going on. I feel like shit. Both physically and mentally. I'm beaten and broken. But I'm clawing my way back....I am.

For one, our insurance coverage changed on Jan 1 and my physical therapy just got a whole lot more expensive. I have no choice but to get better ~ NOW. My foot has actually been feeling a lot better and working out is helping now rather than hurting. So I know I'm close.

I already have to readjust my race goals for this year. You know that totally pisses me off, right? I'm giving up on January. The absolute earliest I'd be comfortable running a 5K would be the last weekend of the month ~ and that's pushing it. I can't get injured again. Boy 1 has a swim meet that weekend and I can't seem to find a local 5K anyway. So, maybe I'll do two in Feb. We'll see.

I am firming up plans for a 10K in March, though. Kristen D are you reading this???? It's in the Tri Cities! Jason's already talked to the inlaws and they are all prepared to have us as overnight guests that weekend. It's a St. Patty's Day run. I just can't remember the exact date.....are you up for it Kristen??? Let me know.

It's time to get over myself. It's time to get serious again.

2011 Race & Running Goals

Running: I intend to run 600 miles in 2011 (or more)

I have been thinking about my 2011 race goals for quite some time. I had visions of a long list of events that I planned to race, but the truth is: my life just isn't that neat and tidy right now. Life happens and you have to be flexible. It's a lesson I'm constantly reminding myself.

So, I'm going with a more generalized version of race goals.

I plan to run an event of some sort every month. Most months, I'm sure, will be a random 5K or 10K that I stumble upon. I do, however, have a few specific events in mind:

June 5 ~ North Olympic Discovery Half Marathon
*June 25 ~ Rock 'N Roll Seattle Half Marathon
July 16 ~ Warrior Dash, North Bend
July 30 ~ Federal Escape Sprint Triathlon
Aug 14 ~ Seattle Danskin Women's Triathlon
Nov 27 ~ Seattle Marathon (or the Half)

It's a lofty list of goals and I have every intention of completing all of them. Life happens and things change, but this is my starting point. I cannot wait for 2011. Great things are waiting for me. I just know it!

Out of Commission

Remember when I posted that I did the Thanksgiving step class? Well, what I didn't mention was that I fell in class. It wasnt' a big deal. I missed the step and then fell on my ass in total slow motion. I hopped right back up and finished out the class. No harm, no foul. Or so I thought.

My foot has been a little tender this week, but with the issues I've had, it seems it's always a little tender from time to time. I kept up with my workouts and didn't give it much thought.

I signed up for a challenge on The Daily Mile that I would run 50 miles in Dec, so after my strength class today I headed down to the treadmill to run for a bit. I lasted one mile.

My foot has been throbbing ever since. At first I thought it was plantar faciitis, but I've dealt wiht that enough to recognize that this is something more. It hurts all. the. time. Enough to almost make me cry. I've had to hobble around the house all afternoon. I can't walk.

My toes are a little numb and I can feel some numbness and burning up the back of my calf. I really really hope that I didn't do anything serious.

I'm so bummed out, but I have to listen to my body and take it easy over the next little bit. I'm hoping with some rest and ice this will heal itself quickly.

Shoes...

Remember a while back, when I told you about how I gave up my fancy running shoes and went bought a cheap, generic pair of Saucony's at Big 5? My totally neutral shoes that I fell in love with? You don't? Ok, well go back and read that post. It's ok....I'll wait

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You're back? Great! That's some good readin' isn't it? Ok, so it's been several months and like all good running shoes, mine have started to break down a bit and it's time for new ones. No biggie, Big 5 runs sales all of the time and I know I can find mine fairly cheap again. End of story, right? WRONG!

My husband has recently picked up the book Born To Run. He keeps spitting all of these facts out to me and he's told me on more than one occasion that I ought to read the book. "You'll really enjoy it" he says. Great. He bought the book ~ so I can read it when he's done, right? WRONG! He bought it for his Kindle. I, on the other hand, do not own a Kindle. Oh, he hints that I'll own one around Christmas time, but for now I'm screwed. I've got the Kindle app on my iPhone. It'll be a miracle if I don't go blind trying to read on that thing. Between the size and fact that it's backlit (Kindle is not, it's got "e-ink") my eyes feel like they are crossing after just five minutes.

So, anyway...as you know from the way I eat, I'm pretty much a naturalist anyway, right? So, I guess it's no surprise to me that my feet did not like the fancy smancy shoes and wanted a more neutral shoe, right? So, then does it shock anyone that now I'm looking to take it a step further? I went and tried on the Nike Free shoes today. They were comfy, but I didn't love them. After talking to the sales rep (who is also an avid runner and an aquaintence of mine), she suggested that the Nike Frees may not be the right shoes for me. She watched me run and said I'm not a heel striker (big no no for anyone, terrible for someone with my knee issues) anyway, and that I have a very healthy mid foot strike so she recommended I go one step further and try.......these:

Unfortunately her store was out of them (like most of Western Washington) and no one will be getting them back in until February. I'll just be getting ready to start training for my half at that time, so I dont' want to start changing shoe types then. I made some calls and there happens to be ONE pair of these in my size in my whole county. I'm heading there tomorrow to try them on. Aren't they flippin' AWESOME?!

Oh, I'll also be picking up another pair of my comfy neutral shoes as the Vibrams won't work for long distances until after my feet get adjusted to them. Nearly everything I've read about them online indicates that almost everyone uses these for shorter distance runs to perfect their foot strike, but uses a neutral running shoe for longer distances for the cushioning. I'm just getting ready to start increasing my distance beyond 3 miles, so I plan to do exactly the same thing.

Oh, and these supposedly kick ass for weight lifting shoes. Can't wait to see the looks I get at the gym! I sure hope they fit tomorrow!

Becoming a runner....

Ok, so five seconds after that last post, I actually remembered what I wanted to blog about. *blush*

I read about running looooong before I ever laced up my own running shoes. I remember reading about people doing an "easy three miles" or running tempo runs. I read about long runs and how they should be a few minutes slower than your race pace.

Hello, it was all Greek to me. Once I started running I got even more confused. In my world, you ran. You ran your slow, gut wretching, tear inducing, cry for Mommy pace. It was the only pace there was. I just couldn't fathom changing speeds based on what "type" of run you were going for. WTF? Just go run. In my world, I ran my heart out every single time. I ran until my legs simply said "F#ck You" and wouldn't go another step. I thought that was the way everyone did it.

This past Thursday I wanted to be able to run the full distance and not take any walk breaks. I thought about it and came up with the plan that if I wanted to do that, I needed to take it slow and not tire my legs out very quickly.

Whoa...hold the phone peeps. What did I just say to myself? I'm starting to talk like a real runner. When the hell did that happen? I wrote it off as a fluke and went along my merry way.

Today, the sun was shining (in November, in the Northwest) and my husband was actually home on a weekend. I took this as a sign from the gods and quickly laced up my running shoes.

I set out for a run, but wanted to push myself a little bit. I decided a few walk breaks would be ok in order to push myself harder. Wait....I'm sounding like a runner again. WTF?

**side note here, I wasn't sure if I wanted to run 2 miles or 3 miles. I was doing an out and back from my house and I figured I'd get to the 1 mile mark and then decide if I wanted to keep going and or turn around and go home. I got there (ran the whole way, thankyouverymuch, and started to walk a bit as I was trying to talk myself into turning around and going home. Then that song came on again and I realized the gods were truly speaking to me and subtlty wasn't their speciality. I went the whole 3 miles in about 41 minutes and hardly walked at all**

So anyway, after these last two runs I think I'm finally starting to get it. I'm making enough progress to have more than one pace. I'm finally "a runner"

It's Raining....

I live in the Pac Northwest. It's raining. Shocking, I know. It's the end of October, I should not be surprised. The rain in our area of the country is beautiful. In fact, as I sit at the kitchen table typing this, I can see the sun breaking through the clouds turning each raindrop into it's own prism crystal. It's breath taking. I've spent most of the day curled up by the fire playing Wii with the little ones.

I haven't run in seven days and today would be a glorious day for a run in the rain. Here's the kicker ~ I don't own any running rain gear. I know right! You'd think I was new to this area, I'm not. I just haven't gotten off my tush to pick up any rain gear yet. So, for now I'll make myself another cup of tea and just watch the rain come down. Maybe tomorrow I'll go shopping....