First Run Of The Year

And a horrible time, of course. 17:16. But I didn't push myself and it was morning, my worst time for doing anything. At least I got the season underway. I feel like I've forgotten how to move, even though I've been walking a lot at the gym and outdoors. It's good to be back at it though.

Who Needs Bootcamp? I Have Running

Been sick with bronchitis for the past few weeks and had to stop running entirely for awhile. Then I started back up with walking the dogs a 1.5 miles a few times. Now I'm back to running but my time is worse again. Tonight I tried doing sprints and after a mile I had really bad abdominal cramps and was puking in the bushes, but my body felt good half an hour later. When I don't run I feel all sloppy and pudgy, even though I don't gain weight. For the first time in a long time I'm enjoying autumn--the leaves are beautiful and the air is perfect for breathing. I hope I can run outdoors well into November.

Just like to skip the puking in the bushes, that's all. Kinda ick. :0

Still A Slowpoke

Cannot for the life of me get my time below one minute per tenth of a mile. I've been stuck there for about a month now and it's frustrating. I can feel myself running faster, but then I need to take more walking breaks because I tire more quickly. I guess I have to build up endurance--probably with longer, easy runs. I'm just so competitive I can't stop trying to beat my time.

Sunday I had awful cramps after running but today was good. I almost didn't go, couldn't drag myself out of bed after a nap, but after an hour of warming back up to the world I kicked myself out there and it felt good.

My First 5K

I finished in 33 minutes. Not as fast as I was hoping for, but still about my average pace of 10:30. I ran the first mile in 9:16 which is a minute faster than ever before, no doubt due to my competitive edge wanting to keep up with the pack, but I had to make myself slow down after that. Runners are a funny bunch, all jogging around unsociably in their fancy gear. Just my kind of sport. The winner ran the whole thing in 16 minutes. I saw him sprinting to the finish as I was heading into the middle of my second mile and a small, evil piece of me wanted to slap him. The rest of me was very happy for him, ha ha.

Anyway, I felt really good, no cramps or pain or such. I spent much of the way just ahead of the high school girls' soccer team and their coach, who happens to be the assistant pastor of the church where I work, so he was verbally dragging me along the last quarter mile to the end. Our church really needs to start a running team. There's at least six of us.

Of course, as soon as I crossed the finish line I came down with a cold. I kid you not, it was that instantaneous. I got all stuffed up, starting sneezing, and now I am in great cold form. Bother. But still, I want to put on my shoes and get out on the road again.

Two Days To Go

Forced myself to run today even though my meds have really screwed up my energy level. I drank sugary drinks beforehand and water but it was still hard. My pace sucked, which is frustrating, but I am getting longer strides. For the run, though, I'm going to keep it slow, at least at the beginning.

There is a 10K in October that the guys are running and I want to also (providing this 5K doesn't turn me off races forever). The high school girls' soccer team and Felipe are also running with us on Saturday, so we'll have quite the crowd.

Becky and I are taking tomorrow off. I'll probably just walk a mile or so. The race is at 9:00 in the morning on Sat and I never run in the mornings. I hate mornings. I detest them. I loathe them. I must go to bed way early on Friday. Bother.

I should probably jog half a mile before leaving home to warm up, since I doubt I'll get a chance to do that once we're there, although everyone except me forgot to preregister so we'll have to get there early anyway. And here I was worried that everyone else had already sent their registrations in and I was going to be the late one. Ha ha.

Justin loaned me a couple running magazines yesterday so now I get to read up on how I should have been training and where I can find super duper Teflon, titanium sports bras.

Gaining Distance

Ran my 1.4 miles today without a single walking break, first time. Poor Osito, he gets less and less rest as time goes by. I waited half an hour, then ran another 13 minutes without him, although I was more tired tonight than last night. Still, I feel so much better after having a four day break. I guess I need to take those once in awhile. I need to find a second sport to do on my days off. Swimming would be good, I suppose, but it's not free. Sigh.

My lungs feel different now all the time. It's like I need to breathe less or something. Weird. Maybe I've gained lung capacity? I know nothing about this.

On The Spur Of The Moment

Just ran for another 16 minutes after dark. It was great. I didn't take any dogs with me and I didn't try to figure out how far I was going, I just timed myself and ran through back streets. And I never once had to stop and walk! I wish they'd hold this 5K after dark. I seem to get extra energy then, I don't know why.

I guess it really does help to run a mile or so to warm up. I feel like taking a mile to warm up is a waste of energy, but actually it gets you going. Who knew?

Below 10 Minutes A Mile At Last!

Ran 2 miles tonight and finally dropped my pace below 10:00. Yay!!! I took very few walking breaks, despite a bad cramp in my side. The cramp eased up after about half a mile and was just a dull pain the rest of the way, so I was able to ignore it. I don't know if I'll have my pace down to 9:00 by Saturday, but I don't care. I'll be able to run the whole 5K, I think, and that in itself is enough to start with. I love running. I hope to keep running outdoors through November and buy a three month gym membership at the first big snowstorm. Hopefully that way I can keep it up through the winter and be ready for longer races next spring.

I guess there is another race the next day in Auburn that I could run, but I don't think I want to. Besides, taking Sunday off is not easy for me.

I was able to watch some of the Olympics marathon last night. I didn't see the finish, but I saw the first hour or so. Paula Radcliffe finished 15th place, a friend said.

Feeling Better, Finally

After a four day break from running due to gender imposed monthly illness (how about that??), I finally got myself back out there today. I figured I might do better thanks to the days off, and turns out I did. I beat my best pace by 15 seconds and my 1.4 mile time by 28 seconds and didn't even work that hard at it. This time I tried drinking a Pepsi beforehand--not that I think any of these little attempted tricks of mine actually change things, but it amuses me.

I talked to my psychiatrist this week about whether or not my meds could affect my running ability and turns out in a former life she herself was a runner. No, she said, the meds wouldn't have anything to do with it, but she wasn't at all surprised that I'm having so many abdominal cramps. "Oh yes," she informed me, "run ten miles and you might start peeing blood. I puked all over everybody after my first 5K. I can't wait to see pictures of yours!"

Such cheering good news. I do love my psychiatrist. She is one of the best mental health professionals I have run into. She doesn't give me any bullshit. I can tell her exactly how I feel and why and how overwhelmed I am and she just listens and nods and accepts it. She doesn't tell me it's going to get better or that I shouldn't feel that way or that everything is going just great. And she laughs, all the time, at every funny thing I say. She thinks I'm hilarious. No wonder I like her.

So, tomorrow I run 2 miles, then after that I have to hit 3 miles. Tomorrow, I must mail in that race registration. And I'm NOT going to puke!

I Never Thought 25 Seconds Could Make Me So Happy

I did it! I shaved 25 seconds off my 2 mile time this afternoon, running it in 20:59. That cuts my pace down to 10:30. Again, I felt really sick and figured I was making horrible time, so I guess I shouldn't judge success by how good or bad I feel. I had two dogs with me too, instead of my usual one -- I am babysitting a 2-year-old black poodle who is INSANE. He was exhausted after half a mile though, ha ha. Perhaps now he'll sleep and stop peeing all over my house.