7.27 miles~~had to prove it to myself...

Well, so much for getting more runs in during the week.  My hours at work were long and homework and projects kept me occupied the rest of the nights.  So running was hard to do.
Today is Sunday and I decided since I couldn't get out and run every other day, that I had to do more today.  I headed out planning on doing 5 miles, but I ended up pushing myself and going farther.  When I reached the turn around point for 5 miles, I decided that I could do more (I do an out and back run usually).  Then I made it to the 3 mile point and went a little farther.  I was feeling pretty good at both points, but when I reached the 3.5 point, I realized that I still had to go back the way I came.  I turned around.  
It was hard, but not impossible.  I can tell that I am not as in shape as I was a year ago.  I have to try to get out there and run at least 3 times a week to stay in shape. Tammy and Shelly are also talking about running the Disney Princess Half Marathon again in February.  They've invited me to go again. We all completed our first half marathon at Disney in 2013.  So this would be a great race to do again.  I just can't decide if I can fit this in my schedule.  I do like a challenge though....

4.51 miles~~June is half gone!

Today is Sunday and I decided to get out and run before doing a ton of homework.  You would think that without having students I would have more time to run.  But instead, I feel like I have less.  It could be because I am working longer hours and have taken a class that is a semester long course to be finished in six weeks.  Yes.  That might be it.
But I did get out and kept a 12:44 pace for the run.  Must get more runs in and get myself motivated.  

3.58 miles...

Three miles seems to be my standard number.  I really don't want to run less than three.  Somehow that seems like I would be going downhill and backwards from all my hard work.  I really don't want to do that.  I want to maintain or improve.  Not go backwards.  

I ran 3.58 miles and had a horrible pace.  It was very humid.  I told myself all day while I was working that I was going to run.  Of course, with my bad luck, storms were headed this way.  Chris, Sarah, and I headed out to hopefully beat the storms and get some miles logged.  As I was running back to the house, it started sprinkling.   Luckily, we made it home before the storm hit us.  I wore my new Skoras again, and had no issues again.  I am able to wear them without socks and no rubbing what-so-ever happened.  So I might have found my new favorite shoe.  We'll see after I logged a few more miles in them. 

find them at skorarunning.com

6.6 miles

Ok.  I'm doing a little better, it has been only 4 days since the last run.  I'd rather it be every other day, but that's ok.  I got out and logged 6.6 miles.  My watch stopped at 4.6, but I was on the way home, so I knew the distance back home.  I don't have a total time, but that is just fine.  

I love weekend runs when I can get out there and got farther.  It just feels good.  I wore my new Skoras again today, second day.  No blisters, no rubbing, no pain.  Yea!  Why did I want new shoes?  Well, Vibrams are great, and I love them, but they only have a few millimeters of cushion.  So my balls of my feet take a beating.  The Skoras have 16 mm of cushion, and that does make a difference.  Of course, this is only the second day, but so far, it looks good.  Another pair to add to my shoe repertoire.  

3.76 miles~SKORA shoes

Today was Tuesday.  After working all day (and telling myself that tonight I was running) I came home to find my new shoes had arrived.  I have been looking for a new pair to try.  I have a pair of Altras, which are ok, but not what I really need.  I have an issue with my heels, and some shoes will rub and cause blisters.  Since I take forever to heal on my heel (sorry, I couldn't resist) it isn't good.  I actually take a while to heal anywhere that I have sores, cuts, abrasions.  I've gotten myself checked out and it just seems that this is how I am.  I do have very thin blood, so I'm not sure if that is a part of it.
But I digress.  I ordered a pair of Skora Fits the other day.  They are barefoot running shoes that have a stretchy upper and a rounded heel.  I put them on and they felt great.  I hate to say anything too soon, so I just decided to run with them and then see how it is.  It actually felt very good.  I didn't get any blisters, nothing rubbed, and running and walking was easy.  I need to try them out for a few more runs before I make up my mind for sure, but right now, they seem to be a good pair.  
Oh, I did log 3.7 miles in about 48 minutes.  Pretty slow, but I didn't run the whole time, so a decent day.  

3.37 miles~~that's it?!

Ok.  Not sure what is up with me.  I should have been able to get in a longer run today.  I didn't work, so that can't be my excuse.  Ok, but I am a little bit crazy.  I finished my semester of classes and then decided to take a summer course.  It is a full semester course that I am taking in six weeks.  :-0

So today I spent hours doing a lot of reading for my class.  I had hoped to get in more than 3.3 miles, but it just didn't happen.  So I should be happy I got out there and ran 3 miles.  

4.8 miles~~Hump Day

Well, it was a work day, but I made it out to run.  I got in 4.8 miles at a okay pace.  I ran it in 1 hour.  It feels so good to get out there and move.  It has been 10 days since my last run.  10 days too long.  I would love to get back to every other day of running.  With classes and exams lately, that has been difficult.  While I love taking classes and learning new things, it does take a toll on my free time and running time.  I seem to do better when I tell myself all day that I am going to run that night when I get home.  Provided the weather cooperates, I usually get out there and run when I say that.  Hopefully it won't be another 10 days again! 

4.68 miles~~a gorgeous day

It was a gorgeous day today.  And it is Mother's Day!  Chris served me breakfast -- my favorite, a cheese, spinach, and pepper omelet.  Also a side of bacon and biscuits.  He is so sweet to me!  Then I waited a bit so my food would settle, did some darning and such.  

We headed out after suiting up.  It was very sunny, so Chris put on his arm sleeves and I put on sunscreen.  I've been growing my hair out, and it was actually long enough today to put in a small ponytail under my cap!  Little victories!

I ran/walked about 4.6 miles.  At times it was pretty warm, but the breeze always seemed to pick up when I needed to be cooled off.  I tried running up all the hills, but that was probably not the best idea since it wore me out.  I haven't run as much as I was doing a year ago since classes take so much time.  I hope to get more running in over the summer and somehow keep it up when classes start again in the fall.  

6.05 miles~~Sunday

It is another week later and I didn't get to run again.  It has been a busy week with papers and projects due along with a final in one of my classes.  I was a bit slow today, but I tried to just move and enjoy the weather and the beautiful spring flowers and blooms.  

I logged 6.05 miles and kept a pace of 13:14.  I ran and walked today, but at least I got moving.  I ran down towards 231 and make it to the curve right near the end of the road and then turned around.      
The big hill is the hardest part of the run, especially when I go longer distances.  I am tired by the time I get there, and getting up it is really hard.  I used to be able to run down and up the hill going out and then down and up coming back.  Right now, I am back to running down and up going out and going down....and almost up on the way home.  (it is a down hill with an uphill right after it---so it is tough).  

Hopefully I can run sooner than a week from now.  We'll see.

It's been a while...but 6.04 miles today

It has been two weeks, I feel so sluggish!  Classes and life just interrupted and running wasn't in the timeline.  
But today, I got out there and ran 6.04 miles.  Up and down the hills.  But I did it!  My pace was 12:39, not to fast, and not too slow.  I hope I can get out and get in a few more days a week to run.  This is hard just running once or twice a week, or running only once in two weeks!  Somehow I will get in more runs.

I am still fighting a little ache in my heel where the tendon or whatever connects to my heel.  It never hurts while I am running or walking, but hurts later.  My doctor gave me a new cream (a trial he is participating in) and it seems to help.  But the cream is a bit sticky, so I don't always put it on as often as I should.  I probably need to just stretch much more when I am done running.  That would probably help.  I also need to find time to do Stretch X again.  That would feel fabulous.