run a 5k

coming up in November. I’m pretty sure I can get back into it in time… I just need to start soon (i.e. today).

[As a sidenote, the above is the first time I have written the date in the New Year!!! Wow.]

So I have decided that every Sunday I will sit down and summarize what I’ve done weekly with this, because I really do want to be able to just run and run and run.

So, after not running for weeks, I went yesterday and went a fair amount, all the way through the neighborhood running, then walked/jogged in alternation back home. Which is pretty good, for me. I’m going to start on Week 7 of the Couch to 5K thing, I think, and see if that’s more at my level. I had a lot of success doing it last spring. I’ve picked out the dates that I’ll be running races, and hopefully I’ll even increase this to “run a 10K” afterward, by March. For now, though, I think I’m doing well. I stretched a lot afterward, because my lower back was really hurting, which hasn’t happened ever. I think I should have stretched beforehand, but I forgot.

So, for this week, minigoals:

1) Stretch before every running session, stretch a little bit once every day even on non-running days, I can already feel my legs getting mildly sore after just that

2) Running 3X

3) Stretch after every running session

:)

After taking nearly a semester off from running, I’m ready to be back again…!!! I’m going to go running this evening and see how I do. I’ve worked out very, very sporadically this semester, so I’m not expecting much, but I should be able to do at least a mile without getting tired (as opposed to a year or two ago..at which point, I could barely run a block without getting all outta breath).

Maybe

Or

And beyond…

I tried running yesterday, and it’s been so long that I barely made it past 2 and a quarter miles… but I also didn’t have my real running clothes or my iPod armband.. so, that’s my excuse for now. :)

Ran a little over 2 miles this morning. I’m going to start walking, at least, on a daily basis, and running 3x a week again. :) I want to finish this!

for the first time in awhile on Saturday, and still did about three miles, which is good. I need to find another race to sign up for, since I didn’t actually get to run the one I signed up for…

On the post-workout high from this morning…
Despite being unfathomably sore…
I signed up for my first 5K !!!!
It’s April 19th. Which gives me 10 days to keep it up. I figure, I’m at the level I need to be at, I’m just scared because it has the word “race” in it a lot…
But this one doesn’t actually call itself a race. ;) It benefits Students in Recovery (alcohol or other drugs) so I found it pretty appropriate. I saw it at the health center last time I went, and it caught my eye, but honestly what convinced me to do it was someone announcing it during sorority meeting, and one of my friends signing up (although she’s just going to walk it).

SO excited. Although I’m wondering, can I wear my iPod…? I’d have to adjust to running without music.

:)

So. I’m almost there!!!

about 3x a week, but then I started taking more and more time off, and the weather keeps getting hotter. I could only run about two miles today (although the trail I took was pretty hilly) before I started walking, but I walked a long time.

Tomorrow morning, starting a 4-week boot camp that I hope will help me get my abs and arms stronger, as well as keep me running a fair amount. I know I just need to pick a race to set this goal and really make it obtainable.. maybe I’m scared to?

I can’t believe I’ve already been doing this for nine weeks… it feels like I just started. I had to walk a few times during the run today, because I’ve been sick and I was really tired, but I think that’s all right. I mean, I gave it my best shot; I ran the full time all three times last week, so I’m going to try and go easy on myself until I recover from this cold. But I’m really excited. I talked with my mom about investing in new running shoes if I keep this up, because I don’t want to be causing harm to my joints and all…

Time to actually pick which race I’m signing up for, I suppose?

Of training is going really well! I’ve started running outside sometimes, but the trail right by my house is ridiculously rocky and especially now that I’m running for longer duration and kind of getting more tired, I’m really afraid of turning my ankle or something. Plus I don’t carry my phone with me when I run, so that’s not exactly safe, especially since it’s a little bit of an obscure park… The kind of place my mother would probably die if she knew I ran alone in but I only go on pretty days when there are lots of other crazy runners out as well.

I can NOT believe how much I have grown to absolutely love running.

It’s marvelous.