This past Saturday I did my long run - this time I set out to do 2 hours and 30 minutes AND I actually did it!!!! I made myself do an "out and back" run, that way I wouldn't wimp out when I ran past the house, like I did last time..... :-0! I ended up going 10.6 miles total! WOW!!! That is the most I have ever run, ever!!! :-)
The road I ran on is really lovely this time of the year. The leaves are just starting to turn colors and the road is a windy and somewhat hilly type road. I almost made it to the middle school where Chelsea went!
I kept track of my time by 15 minute intervals. I wanted to see what my 'splits' were for each of those intervals. I stayed mostly around the 13 min mark while jogging 3 min and walking 1 min. I felt really good until about 1hour and 50 mins. Then my legs started getting tired. I had to stop more often and stretch, but I knew I was getting close to home, so kept pushing myself. I thought about walking the last mile, but knew if I did that I wouldn't make it back in my allotted time.... It would take me a lot longer!!! So I kept running. My last two "splits" were closer to 14 mins!!! My legs felt like jello all day on Saturday. Yesterday they felt better, but my hips were a little sore. Today I feel almost normal again! It's nice to know I can recover pretty well.
I am running tonight with my group, so I'll see how I feel then. Only 5 miles tonight, but I am going to try and run a little faster - maybe 11 or 12 min mile average.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
My long run...
Today I ran 9 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Not bad for an old lady... :-) I did a 12 minute warmup of walking and a little jogging. Then I went into my pacing of 2 minutes jogging and 1 minute walking. I finished with a 15 minute walk as a cool down. That is the furthest (or is it farthest?) I have run so far. My legs were like jello when I was done......
I figured out I have run a total of 20 miles this week. That is the most I've run since I started running a year ago. I'm quite proud of myself. :-) I have run 180 miles since May. And that is only the runs that I wore my Garmin. I could probably add 6 - 10 miles each month for the days I didn't wear my watch. Wow!! I am impressed with myself... hahaha!
I figured out I have run a total of 20 miles this week. That is the most I've run since I started running a year ago. I'm quite proud of myself. :-) I have run 180 miles since May. And that is only the runs that I wore my Garmin. I could probably add 6 - 10 miles each month for the days I didn't wear my watch. Wow!! I am impressed with myself... hahaha!
Back with the group....
Thursday I got to run with my group again! YAY!!! The last time I ran with them was the beginning of August!! It was kind of strange because my two running buddies have decided to quit the group. :-(
So.... I parked at the Lowes parking lot, and jogged over to the "mother hills" (that's what Mark calls them) - a little over a mile away, by myself. These "mother hills" is actually a neighborhood loop. You run up and down a long hill, then turn around and run back up and around the loop. Then after a short rest, you go again. This time I only did 3 loops. It was starting to get dark and I was concerned about running back to Lowes in the dark! I made it back to the car OK, but felt a little uneasy about running by myself in the dark. I think next time I'll just park by the "hills" and warm up there.
It was great to see Mark again. He is encouraging me to run a 1/2 marathon. There is one in December, but I have a swim meet on the same day. So I'm looking at some runs in Feb or March. He sends out an email newsletter to everyone in the group with tidbits of information on running, eating healthy, updates on who is running in different races, how everyone's training is going, etc... Some of them just got back from running the Chicago marathon last weekend. It's a little intimidating to be part of this group. I'm just someone who is running to stay in shape and maybe participate in some local runs. And here he is trying to get me to do more.... hmmmm. And I'm actually considering it!!! The group does a long, slow (according to Mark) run on Saturday mornings. Today's run is 2 1/2 hours - 3 1/2 hours, depending on where you are in your training. They start their run at 6:00am - are you kidding me???? He has said I am ready to run with them, but, again, it's a little intimidating....and a little early. So for now, I will be running on my own on the weekends and run with the group on Mondays and Thursdays.
Coaching volleyball is over and coaching swimming has begun. Our first meet is a relay meet on Oct 31! Only a couple of weeks away.... Can't wait!!!
So.... I parked at the Lowes parking lot, and jogged over to the "mother hills" (that's what Mark calls them) - a little over a mile away, by myself. These "mother hills" is actually a neighborhood loop. You run up and down a long hill, then turn around and run back up and around the loop. Then after a short rest, you go again. This time I only did 3 loops. It was starting to get dark and I was concerned about running back to Lowes in the dark! I made it back to the car OK, but felt a little uneasy about running by myself in the dark. I think next time I'll just park by the "hills" and warm up there.
It was great to see Mark again. He is encouraging me to run a 1/2 marathon. There is one in December, but I have a swim meet on the same day. So I'm looking at some runs in Feb or March. He sends out an email newsletter to everyone in the group with tidbits of information on running, eating healthy, updates on who is running in different races, how everyone's training is going, etc... Some of them just got back from running the Chicago marathon last weekend. It's a little intimidating to be part of this group. I'm just someone who is running to stay in shape and maybe participate in some local runs. And here he is trying to get me to do more.... hmmmm. And I'm actually considering it!!! The group does a long, slow (according to Mark) run on Saturday mornings. Today's run is 2 1/2 hours - 3 1/2 hours, depending on where you are in your training. They start their run at 6:00am - are you kidding me???? He has said I am ready to run with them, but, again, it's a little intimidating....and a little early. So for now, I will be running on my own on the weekends and run with the group on Mondays and Thursdays.
Coaching volleyball is over and coaching swimming has begun. Our first meet is a relay meet on Oct 31! Only a couple of weeks away.... Can't wait!!!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
another 'almost' long run
Today was my day for a long run. My goal was to "keep in motion" for 2 hours and 15 mins. When I got up at 6:00am I checked the weather map - a BIG GREEN BLOB was almost on top of us. It actually had been raining for about an hour. It must have just been a drizzle here and there, because the driveway was hardly wet. So my dilema was "what should I wear?" I have a rain jacket, but it is long and kind of big on me. And the temperature was 59 degrees. So should I wear shorts and a t-shirt and just get wet??? Or should I wear a long sleeved shirt and take the rain jacket???? Well, that's what I did after much deliberation..... I ended up tying the jacket around my waist for most of the run and just getting somewhat wet. I only ran for 1 hour and 40 mins, though. It was just a little too much rain for me (I'm such a fair weather runner....hahaha). The good thing - I got in 6.5 miles. Not as much as I was supposed to get (8 - 9 miles) but at least I didn't wimp out and not go at all - that was definitely a thought that crossed my mind as I watched the weather channel!! :-) This is the last week for volleyball, so I should be able to get back to my regular running schedule next week.
Today is Nigel's birthday!!! We will have his birthday dinner tonight. I made him his favorite blackberry pie.... mmmm! He's getting a gaming keyboard for his present. He will love it, since he picked it out!!! hahaha!!!
Today is Nigel's birthday!!! We will have his birthday dinner tonight. I made him his favorite blackberry pie.... mmmm! He's getting a gaming keyboard for his present. He will love it, since he picked it out!!! hahaha!!!
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