4.62 miles ~~ COLD breeze but sunny

Okay, it is March 29, almost April, and I was COLD on today's run.  Of course, Chris says I am always cold, but that is beside the point.  It was sunny, but the breeze was very chilly.  

It is spring break, so after working on projects around the house, I hit the road. I should have worn a jacket, but I didn't.  Luckily I warmed up a bit as I got running.   I wanted to go 5 miles, but the wind makes it a bit harder.  I logged 4.62 miles and kept an 11:32 pace.  That is faster than the last two runs--I think I was trying to get home to warm up!  

I actually ran my second mile in 10:59, just under 11 minutes!  If I could do more of those, it would be great.  Of course, I am still running on the roads around home and the hills are the killers.  I keep telling myself that the hills are strengthening my muscles and making me stronger.  I sure hope it is true!  (It is)

3.75 miles after work

I am back to shorter runs after I work.  Even though I work pretty close to home (half an hour) I just can't seem to get longer runs in after work.  I think part of it is just being tired from working all day.  I really do enjoy getting out and doing something different from my work.  Running helps clear my mind, solve issues, and destress.  It is the motivating myself to come home, deal with the animals, check mail, then suit up and get outside that is hard.  Once I am out there, it is easy and I enjoy it.  It is getting out there that is hard.

I ran 3.75 miles today and kept an 11:47 pace, very similar to last run's pace.  If I can just keep this pace up for a longer time, or speed up some on the shorter runs, I would feel like I was making progress.  Of course, when I look at what I was doing a year ago, I have definitely made progress.  I downloaded a spreadsheet created by David Hays that I adapted to my use.  He has an incredible amount of information that you can track, but I started small and just created a spreadsheet that tracks my races.


Here is the link to his spreadsheet: David Hays spreadsheet

  

5.53 miles ~~ weekend run

I like running on the weekends, because I can usually fit a longer run in than I can during the week.  That is, if I don't plan too many activities or jobs to do.

It was a beautiful day today with the sun shining.  I've missed the sun and the warmth.  Sometimes it seems like spring will never really get here...but I guess spring is the ups and downs in weather.  I ran 5.53 miles near home and tried to push myself a little more than usual.  I kept an 11:46 per mile pace, so it was better than the last time I ran.  I've been wearing my Vibrams most days I run and having very little pains or aches.  I've also been trying to stretch a lot after I run, and that seems to really help.  My breathing has been great, if I take my inhaler before hand as I should.  

I haven't been in a race since the Disney Half Marathon, and I am starting to miss that.  I do like the excitement and energy that races and events have.  Luckily, we have one planned in a week or so.  I just hope the weather is nice!  

3.1 miles

Well, I have been a little lax in blogging lately.  No real excuse, except life jumped in! I had spring break, but as usual, I planned more things to do than I actually had time to do.  But I did get a lot done.  So the next couple of posts are posted late, but I've put the correct date for my runs.

I ran 3.1 miles today in 38 minutes.  Not my best time, but I never seem to do as well with my runs around home as I do when I am in an actual race.  I guess the excitement gets my adrenaline going and I just do better in races.  I averaged 12:27 per mile.  I have been tired lately, but that is probably because I just finished Book Fair last week.  That is an exhausting week and takes a lot out of me.  I am almost back to my regular schedule, so I can get back to my regular running.  Snow days seem to be interfering too.  It is hard to be motivated to run when it is 30 or 40 degrees outside and wet and slushy.  

Even though I was slow, I ran!

5.46 and sunny!

Work this week has been very hectic and busy.  I had Book Fair this week, so my days were much busier and longer than normal.  I came home  every day exhausted, so thinking about running was not a real option. 

 It was supposed to rain and thunderstorm all day today, so it was very iffy whether or not I would be able to run. It rained pretty hard in the morning, but then the sun peeked out.  I was able to dress quickly and get out there and run.

I ran a total of 5.46 miles with a little slower pace than my last run, keeping it at 11:58.  I wore a rain jacket in case it started to rain, but ended up having to take it off and tie it around my waist.  I haven't had a day at home that was that warm, so this was weird!  I did push myself and ran as hard an fast as I could the last 3-5 tenths of the run at a 9:45 pace. But I don't think I could keep that up for a whole mile!

I was so glad I could get out and run.  Waiting a whole week to run was hard--I didn't like not running all week, but that is how it is sometimes.  So long as I get out there and can pick it back up, it's good.

5.21 miles--great pace

This has been an interesting week.  I've been busy at school with Read Across America and activities for the students, then we had a heavy snow on Tuesday night, closing school for two days.  We also lost power for three days, making running almost unthinkable.  I couldn't imagine running and then not being able to take a shower!  While we have a generator that powers our well water pump, it does not power the hot water heater, so cold showers would be excrutiatingly painful.  

Luckily, we were able to get power restored on Friday night, so I could run today. I ran 5.21 miles and kept an 11:36 pace.  It was still a bit cold but it felt good to get out and move.  The house had been pretty cold without power (we have a wood stove, but it doesn't heat the whole house).  Knowing that I could come home and take a long warm shower after running was satisfying and motivating.

At this point in my current running career, I have logged 450.3 miles on the road.  Amazing.

5.55 miles

I was able to get out and run today for a 5.55 mile run.  It has been a week since my "big" event, so this seems like a short run compared to 13.1 miles!  I tried to push myself a little more and was able to run at an 11:37 mile pace.  I wore my Vibram Five Fingers (and just learned that you say it Ve brums, not Vi brums...) and toe socks and felt great.  

My breathing has been doing great so long as I use my inhaler before I run.  I have been so lucky and not gotten so sick that I've been down for days.  I had the one week bout that kept me from running for a few days, but it didn't get so bad that I had to call into work or anything like that.  So running has done one of the things I wanted it to do, it has made me healthier.