Day 21: Rest

Today is a rest, but I continued the blog-tour with Brother and Sister-In-Law. Specifically, showing them the pit bull with the almost-too-long chain at the end of the block, and the half-naked-pissed-off-tweaking-meth-head around the corner. Yes, nothing says "Oh, she's not so paranoid after all," as going for a nice leisurely walk, and seeing a guy come running out of the next house, walking - nay, stomping - in such a way that you know he is pissed, even before he jumps up and punches the street sign, like the maniac he surely is. Of course, the guy sitting on the porch told us, "He's just mad, he'll be ok in 15 minutes." Oh sure. THIS neighbor talks to me. "And this is the part of the tour where you learn to quickly make a decision and change your route!"

We walked around quite a bit, and after that point, fairly uneventfully, so it was good to get a nice bit of exercise in.

Tomorrow is walk 5, run 7, walk 5. I'm still hoping to walk the 10K route, and just take off in the middle (obviously on a flat stretch) to get my 7 minutes in. Hopefully walk an hour, run 7 minutes, walk an hour won't screw my training too bad!

Day 20, Finally: Rest.

Today was a rest, and we're hosting Brother and Sister-In-Law for Memorial Day weekend. While we were out on the town this afternoon, I pointed out some of the landmarks from my runs. Like, the main road I run, the main hill I hate, the other hills that I hate (none of which looked so imposing from the security of the car), the angel statue, and the Rapist Corridor. Turns out, I wasn't so incorrect about that name, as the consensus was that I should never run there again. The outhouse I thought I saw? The consensus on that was that it was a meth lab, which makes much more sense. I did enjoy doing a blog-tour.

I recently learned Brother, who was in cross country in high school, ran a 10K at our hometown festival. He just told me the story of how he sprinted into the finish, and promptly puked in front of everyone. When you're a new runner like me, you learn a new lesson every day. Since he called me a wussy today, I am sharing his 10K glory with the world!

Tomorrow's another rest. Tuesday is a big day: interview in the morning, then I think I'm going to walk the 10K route to see what I am truly up against. The only way I can visualize the win is if I check out this route!

Day 19: Better Run Girl

I really do not see how I'm going to fit in running once I go back to work. I can't get out of bed to run on a Saturday morning when everything I know is telling me, you do not have time to lay around in bed all morning! You have to run before the hill people get up, run so you can get to the store before the rest of the people get there, blog so you can clean the house because you have company coming. And don't get me started on the heat. Hours later, I drag ass out of bed and start getting ready.

So today was a walk 5, run 7, walk 5, and I was nervous about it. My knees are a little tight (not really sore, just, well, tight), I'm tired, I have a headache, it's hot, and 7 straight minutes borders on the asinine. So I set my poor little mp3 with next to no music on it to random and set out. If nothing else, hopefully the music will distract me. I took a slightly different route, kind of opening up my circle today. As much as I liked the route on Day 17, I fear all the dogs that way.

Getting close to run time, I turn on the tunes. Starting with a little Beethoven is pretty awesome. Way better than I expected for running. The next song I didn't know, and couldn't see on the screen, but I think it was an Atmosphere song. It was kinda funny, but didn't inspire my running much. I was running along my normal route at this point, and while I felt like I was running as slow as possible and still call it a run, I got winded really fast. I'm stuffy today, anyway, so that doesn't help. There's no breathing through the nose option on a day like today.

I knew I had a long way to go, but I finally checked the clock and I was only about 3 minutes in. Well, so I'm about halfway, and I'm not totally dying. I figured my time would be up close to the end of the street, at my hill. If it wasn't, I would totally head down hill, away from home, because there's no way I'd have enough umph in the 6th minute for an uphill.

Next song was a mashup from the Glee soundtrack - Yay Glee! The lyrics kind of cracked me up, "Better run girl, you're much too young girl.." The right music definitely makes this whole process less painful. I was hoping the song, the street, and the 7 minutes would all end at once, but as I got closer to death, I mean, the end of the street, it wasn't looking like it would happen. I decided to cross the street and turn back towards home, avoiding the hill nicely.

Now I was running into the sun, had to muster the strength to say hello to the mailman, and was just tapped. I knew I was in the 6th minute, but the song ended and I just couldn't do it. I checked the time like 4 times during the 6th minute. I knew I had to be really close, but I quit running anyway. Then I started counting. I counted to 3 and the alarm went off. So I stopped two steps shy of the goal. That makes me mad, but I am counting it as a success anyway. My next run is a repeat of today. I do feel like it's taking less time for me to get my breath back once I start walking, so I suppose that's an improvement. I also took a few steps before putting my hands on my knees (I kept my head up though!) and I didn't feel quite as dizzy today. Which isn't to say that I felt safe, I just never consciously reminded myself how to dial 911 if I started to go down.

My head is killing me, and my right thigh is definitely a mess...I'll be sitting down and it feels like I can't move/lift my right leg (or maybe I can, but it's going to be really painful). This is the "twinging" I mentioned on Day 17 - it's been going on for awhile, off and on.

Well, gotta get ready for company - happy Memorial Day weekend!

Weather: 77, Sunny, no wind, 50% humidity
Time: 10am; Walk 5, Run 7, Walk 7
Distance: 2.11K (1.31m)
Elevation: +33.4/-34.1/net -.7 ft
5K/10K: 48:15/1:41:59

Day 18, 2: Rest

I woke up today, looking so, so forward to the 10K in October. Why? Post-race massage. I didn't know about these until I was reading up on the RNBNBBQ10K. I still don't know the "rules." Like, if I drop out early (say, at That Hill), do I still get a massage? Is it free? Really? How nasty would massaging sweaty runners be?...ew. Anyway, I'm starting to understand why this is a feature. I'm just freaking sore. Like tired, sore. Like, man, I could use a free massage, sore.

First thing I did when I actually got out of bed was look out the front window to see if there truly is a hill across the street. I mean, how did I never notice it?

While eating a delightful double chocolate muffin from (cacao) this morning, I pondered the items in the box. I also pondered if it still counted as breakfast if it was double chocolate and tasted so good it approached being a cupcake. But a muffin is breakfast in my house, no matter how chocolaty!

Back to the box. In addition to treats, I received a (cacao) baseball cap and t-shirt. This makes me think that I am officially sponsored by (cacao)! Yay! My first sponsor! I'm not sure they know, but I got treats and clothes, I'm counting it. I plan on using it in the race. If I'm wearing a t-shirt with a giant cupcake on it, I think I can fool at least one or two racers into questioning what they're doing with their life when they could be at home eating cupcakes. 1,997 more to figure out how to defeat. (Running is all a mind game, right?!) Seriously, as if skinny girls don't get enough hate aimed at them, I am one day going to give an award speech that goes something like, "And I couldn't have made it to this point in my running career without Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes, Cake Truffles, and everything Double Chocolate from my friends at (cacao) sweets and treats."

This afternoon, I sat down on the couch to text my new sponsor (yeah, we're friends, I'm not pimpin a stranger!), and fell dead asleep for two hours. Not sure what I had done so far today (see above for a detailed list of the day's events) to warrant such a lengthy or fully-committed-to nap, but it happened. And I decided to listen to my body and skip a workout today. Granted, I haven't done yoga all week, and that upsets me greatly, but clearly I need a rest. And I have seven straight minutes to run tomorrow. Till then..

Day 17: Nothing like the first time

Let's see...I didn't run this morning. I spent all day wishing I had, but in the interest of not adding more stress to a busy morning, I didn't push my luck by squeezing it in. It was bloody hot today, and it was a long, largely fruitless day. I had a big lunch. I had a big supper (pizza from Shakespeare's...and one of the best ones I have ever had there...and I've had a lot...)..and a second Mt Dew (gasp - I haven't had 2 in one day in eons!)...I was sweltering hot all day. It was hot when I got home.. My legs hurt, both because I was rocking heels (that also hurt my feet) for the first time in a month and from all the thigh work from the ballet dvd. My thighs got worse as the day went on, and I regretted more and more not squeezing the run in. I also had a post on facebook from a local running store asking how people are surviving in this humidity. I fear for my life.

Today's task: Run 4 minutes, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5.

When we got home, the neighborhood was abuzz and the last thing I really wanted to do was run past all these people. I waited until I feared I'd be running in the dark, and then set out. Well, tried to. Since today started with a run, I wanted to leave right when the clock ticked over. Finally, after multiple technical difficulties, all systems were go. I didn't have a particular route in mind, but the route I took on the original Day 17 was out because there are WAY too many kids in that neighborhood in the evening. So I basically went straight out my front door and kept going. Sadly, this resulted in a quick uphill I wasn't expecting and nearly sent me into a panic. But, I got over it..or at least halfway, until there was a side street, and I jetted off that way. I swear, no matter what direction I go, it's uphill. Bizarre.

Anyway, I'm back on my favorite main road, and doing pretty well, even though I felt like my pace was a little fast. I was breathing really well..albeit a little too Lamaze-like, but it was working. I checked the clock about 2 minutes in - not out of total agony, more hopeful curiosity. I was running west, so I had a lovely sunset to look at, which was fantastic. I can't usually see the sunset from my house (apparently because there's a hill across the way), so this was great. I thought I'd be a morning runner, but I'm not so sure.

When the walk alarm went off, I had to do some quick calf stretches. My right calf has been super tight, and was cramping, as was my right thigh, which has also been not so much cramping, as twinging, the past couple days. I visualized the banana sitting in my fruit basket at home. Once I settled into my walk, I was trying to pace out the distance in my head, so that I could get home at the right time, and I would avoid all hills. My hill at the end of this route that I've run around several times now was going to hit during the walk and I was STOKED about that. I don't mind walking up the hills. I actually shared multiple hellos with neighbors, who were ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Well, I again mis-estimated my distance and was stuck once I started my second 4 minute run. I was coming to a point where my options were all hills. I was on a plateau, if you will, and I could either run downhill (this was my first thought), but then I would hit that dastardly uphill that killed me in Day 15. Or, I could just go uphill, and I really didn't think I could do it. It would be a pretty sharp uphill, too. Argh.

As I ran towards the intersection of hill and hill, I got my first flavor of what being in a race is like. There were like 5 cats lounging around on the street I was on. And they all took off ahead of me, as if we were running together, when they saw me coming. Except for one orange one who just laid there and watched me go by, as unimpressed as one can be with a starter runner.

Once I took my attention off my kitty competitors, I focused again on the impending doom of the hills, and guess what? The street I was on didn't end, it just turned into a gravel "road" across the hilly street. SWEET!!!! This, again, is what I love about this area - I've lived here for 5 years and have been walking past here regularly and never noticed this little lane.

So I wave goodbye to the hills, and stay on my plateau down Rapist Corridor. Yeah, no sooner than I decided to go down the gravel road, I feared for my life. But what is running if not playing a little Russian Roulette...I mean between the lack of oxygen, the too fast pulse, the dizziness, the loose dogs and the creepy neighbors, it really is a gamblin' girls game - on the best days.

I've voiced many of my fears here so far, largely consisting of snakes, worms, and their inbred cousin, the slug. Here's another fear: Hillbillies. This lane offered a gauntlet of terror for me: definite opportunity for snakes with all the overgrowth, dogs running at me from all directions (all chained, it appears), broken down cars, omg is that an outhouse?, and gross, that was a dead something in the lane. This, an otherwise charming little route, would have been far less scary in the middle of the day, instead of at dusk.

When I got to the end of the lane, it thankfully connected to a street, where I saw a very large dog trying to determine if I was going to get any closer to his house. He probably was chained, but I averted my eyes and stayed on my side of the street. I was getting a little winded by this point - I had checked the time coming down the lane, again around the two minute mark.

I came to the next intersection and my options were these: Across the street was a house with a beware of dog sign stuck to the front of the house, very close to the sidewalk (but no sign of said dog). Or, I could stay on my side where two little dogs were up ahead in a front yard. I was sure they, too, were chained, so I stuck to my side, even though it required mounting a wee hill. Those little fur balls most certainly were not chained and they were not happy. Luckily, I don't think they had ever seen a runner, so they somewhat tentatively barked along at me until their owner came out. Geesh.

I crossed the street to avoid some Hillbillies practicing MMA on the sidewalk, and my alarm went off. I DID IT!!! And I wasn't keeling over in agony!

As I walked home, on the part of the loop I take regularly, I spotted a huge angel statue in an upstairs window in one of the creepy old houses around here. Husband has told me not to take my eyes off such things, due to his Dr. Who watchings, but I was a wee freaked, and averted my eyes immediately.

I made it home precisely on time, and sweet mother, there's a box from my favorite bakery, (cacao) sweets and treats, sitting under the mailbox! Totally didn't notice that on my way out, but now I am certain this was the world's most perfect run. Not just because the first version of it was 20 degrees colder, and it was raining, and there was no sign of life (that's actually a good thing), and I didn't complete the time, and I felt like I was dying for most of the run. But, because I got to run to the sunset, WALK uphill, race with cats, see a new area, where I didn't die, I survived loose dogs, the angel statue, and hillbillies, I felt good (although my knees and thighs got angry at me later), had (I believe) my best race time predictor, and got treats at the finish line. (cacao) specializes in baked goods made with alcohol... and, again, alcohol and jazz are the reasons I run. And maybe to keep away from the weeping angels from Dr. Who (because they're fast, unlike zombies, people).

"He conquers who endures." (Persius)

Weather: 77, Sunset, No breeze (at all), 66% humidity
Time: 8pm; Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5
Distance: 2.1K (1.3m)
Elevation: +68.9/-75.6/net -6.7 ft
5K/10K: 45:57/1:37:07

Day 16, Take 2: "If ballet were easy, they'd call it football."

Oh boy. I should have just rested today, but in the interest of working out at least six days a week, I broke out my ballet conditioning dvd . I bought the dvd when my ballet class ended and I think I've only played it once...it's 50 minutes long, which is just a long time commitment for me to workout. I've been wanting to work it into my weekly workout routine, though, because I freaking love what ballet does for the shoulders and back...I mean, try holding your arms either out to the side or above your head for an hour. Nevermind the plies, tendus, passes, attitudes, ronde de jambes, and releves that are happening on the bottom (by the way, working out en francais is so much more elegant than in American, or Sanskrit for that matter).

So, on a day when I was tired and unmotivated, I broke out a 50 minute ballet workout. If you have never done a ballet workout, I dare you. I freaking dare you. I have never done anything so hard. Oh, and this dvd was a lot easier when I did it after I had been in the ballet class and was somewhat used to the pain. And by a lot easier, I mean, I remember how hard it was to do then, so I'm surely going to die today. Worse, I fear not being able to get out of bed tomorrow, much less complete my 8 minute run! I can tell that the yoga and running has helped with some of the strength and balance, but I'm convinced you have to be made of steel to be able to do every minute of this workout. It's relentless. I definitely had to ice my knee afterwards. You know it's a bad sign when you have to pause the dvd to take tylenol 10 minutes in...oy vey.

Well, as I mentioned, tomorrow is a run 4, walk 5, run 4, walk 5...I have interviews tomorrow, so I either have to get up super-early, or run tomorrow night. My guess is that I'll be running tomorrow evening.

Day 15, Take 2: "I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday."

Today, everything went right. Well, the stuff that didn't, didn't matter. Like, I didn't get up when I wanted to. I woke up a couple of times, but didn't get up. I knew it was going to be hot again, so I definitely wanted to get this over with. I'm still really sore from yoga two days ago...the top of my knee, where I fell, still hurts, and...to put this as delicately as possible....physical activity was not something I was remotely interested in today.

However, I was definitely eager to give this Walk 5, Run 6, Walk 5 another go, and I gave the whole thing a lot of thought. I was thinking I would try to recreate the original Day 15, with the mp3 and the hills. I have a better idea of where the finish line should be, so I wouldn't be so disappointed when it was nowhere near where I expected. I was definitely leery of those hills at the start, so I decided I would turn off before the hills and run down the side street, turning around when I got to the end. The side street is pretty short, flat, and I like running it, so why not just turn around and head back home down the same street. I like this idea.

So, I know I swore off the mp3, and I'm all for hearing the sounds of nature on my run, blah, blah, blah...Let's face it, I live in a town. I'm listening for loose dogs, drunk bums, and runaway cars. None of which is it going to really help to hear coming. So, I queued up my favorite song again, set it to repeat, because I could jam to that song all day, and knew that I didn't even have to get through it twice and my run would be over ("You" is 3:14 long).

I couldn't believe how tight my calves were when I stretched this morning. Youch, definitely needed the stretches!

Alright, off I go, with just 1 glass of water down. (I'm concerned water with no food is causing side cramps, but I had to get going.) I immediately regretted wearing a black tshirt. Holy skin cancer, it's gonna be hard to keep this up all summer. I'm no longer worried about my glowing shoes - my legs are surely blinding passersby now.

So I set off with a variation of the original day 15 in mind. As I came up the walk hill, just before the run, I heard a terrible lot of noise ahead. Sure enough, when I crested the hill, the road I had decided to turn off on was closed while trees were being cut down. I looked ahead to the drastic down then up that I did on Day 15, and decided I just couldn't do it. So I made a quick turn toward the busy road I have been running frequently.

Well, when the alarm to run went off, I was actively trying to dodge a douchebag hillbilly with a lawnmower that clearly wasn't interested in letting me get around him on the shortest route possible. So, I was running too fast. Argh! I tried to slow down, but I felt like I was probably going too fast the whole time.

I love listening to music when I'm running!! If I'm dancing while I run, do I have to run as far?? I definitely felt a smile creep across my face a couple of times (early on, of course). Posture felt good, route felt good, sun at my back felt good. I wasn't sure of my route, and I was still on the first play-through of the song. I took a turn off the main road, so that I could go around the block, hitting the big hill at the end of the block from the top (basically, it took me two blocks of gradual uphill running to dodge a one block sharp incline).

By the time the song got through the first time, I was getting a little tired... Hey, upside to playing music? The panting isn't so loud! Sure, everyone else within a block can hear it, but I can't, and that somehow seems to be helpful.

When I finish the downhill, I head into the sun, the way I came. Geesh, I don't remember running downhill, but I am definitely going uphill now. I was getting close to completely running out of steam, but I knew I had to be getting close to the end. I checked the time on my phone, and I had less than a minute to go. I usually fare pretty well when I have less than a minute...anything more and I get discouraged. So I put my head down, and kept going until the alarm went off. I ripped the ear buds out, shut the alarm off, and put my hands on my knees. I have got to stop doing that, because when I stand back up, the dizziness is almost too much to bear. I felt like I had just completed a race. I cannot believe I made it through the 6 minutes!

I wanted nothing more than to sit down today, but in the interest of not completely ruining my 5K/10K time predictor, I kept going. It still took me an extra couple of minutes to get home, but I survived. After all, I only quit jobs and things I know I can't do...I'm still not convinced that I can't do this. I was thinking about how I am far less concerned now about snakes, slugs, worms, sex offenders, kids, people, traffic, and far more concerned about hills...I need to scope the route of the 10K in person and see if there are any other giant hills I need to be worried about.

As soon as I walked through the door, I slammed back a couple of pain killers, and put the ice pack directly on my face. Oh, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I can't believe no one came out of their house to make sure I was ok on the walk home. I had forgotten just how red my face gets when I workout! Oof. Bright red face, on my bright white body. I look like a glowing candlestick. Anyway, I've never been so happy to apply ice, especially to the top of my knee. I was going to have oatmeal for my post-run meal, but went with a nice cold milkshake instead.

Thank goodness tomorrow is a rest. Looking forward to giving the Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5 another go...it was impossibly hard last week, but I actually did fairly well with it (at least, I almost got all 8 minutes of running in), so I'm eager to see what happens in two days.

Weather: 71, sunny, no wind, 74% humidity
Time: 9am; Walk 5, Run 6, Walk 7
Distance: 1.96K (1.22m)
Elevation: +54.9/-55.3/net -.4 ft
5K/10K: 49:30/1:44:38

Day 14, Take 2: Rest In Peace

Today was a well-placed rest day, for sure. That yoga workout yesterday didn't give me the normal 24 hours to feel it - I am in AGONY! My abs, all over, my armpit area (what muscle is THAT?!!)... I woke up with a headache, surely due to staying up too late reading Lost analysis and then sleeping in a sweltering hot room. I also fell on the stairs last night, chasing a cat, and landed, hard, on my left (the bad) knee. Thankfully it isn't too bad today, but it hurt dreadfully last night. Oh, and: something bit my arm. I noticed it right away Saturday morning - it looks like a bug bite, but hurts like HELL! I mean, it wakes me up when I lay on it at night! Oh, and it's 90 bloody degrees today. Tomorrow may mark the start of me getting up early to run due to weather. Yuck. It was also supposed to be a perfect rest day because I was going to re-watch the entire series of Lost, now that it has Ended. Given that the ending really didn't explore prior happenings on the show, I'm now thinking I won't do it. I have an interview on Thursday anyway, so it's interfering with my Lost marathon schedule. Maybe next week. I did make it out in the ungodly heat to deliver a package to the post. Got some sun, some weight bearing exercise. Got to dodge an apparent strung out bum in my alley. Having an all around wretched day, but at least I don't have to run.

Day 13, Take 2: Namaste & Get Lost

Today I wanted to do a different Yoga workout, so I went back to an old standby from FitTV, Third Eye. This one is a brutal arm workout, that gives you about 24 hours before your abs are on fire top to bottom and side to side. I really like it, but haven't done it in awhile. This is the "fun" pose that you do over and over and over: side plank.

Tomorrow is another rest day, and it will be a total rest day - a walk to the post is the most I have planned for physical activity.

I'm in a bit of a rush to get this post in, so I can shut down all means of communication with the outside world. Between 6pm and 11:30pm tonight (at least, depending how much we pause the dvr), I will be utterly unreachable, as it is the series finale of my favorite tv show, my obsession, Lost. I'm rockin my Dharmaville Motor Pool tshirt. My Sun tea is brewing (ironically, nay, sadly, the Sun went away as soon as I took it outside). The smoker is getting Smokey in preparation for Husband's boar meat, which is marinating, my veg burger (so L.A.), and the jalapeno poppers, which I plan to eat 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, or maybe 42 of.

May they end it in a way that lives up to the rest of the series....which I plan to start watching beginning to end tomorrow. (That is: Beginning, to past, to almost end, to way past, to now, to sideways, to gotta-be-glorious end.)

Namaste.

Day 19: Feels a lot like Day 12....

Saturday, and it's supposed to be hot. I definitely wanted to get up and get my run over with early. Perhaps the pasta I had for dinner last night will help with the walk 5, run 7, walk 5 assigned for today? Since I was in a bit of a rush, I only had about one cup of water before leaving, and no food. Today was the first day for running in shorts and the first day for a pony tail. Absurd that the last run required layers and a stocking cap and today I'm going to be sweltering first thing in the morning.

Off I go, down the busy road, trying to estimate where I should turn to get the timing right to get home. My knees were hurting this morning, especially when I started running. I'm sure it's due to the lack of grass running I've been doing. The pain helped with what I had been focusing on the whole time I was getting ready: run slow, really, really slow. Seven minutes seems like an eternity to me. I toyed with the mp3 player before I left, but until I get more music on it, I didn't want to mess with it.

I was doing pretty well - running slow - I remembered to focus on the arm swinging. I was breathing better, overall feeling better. I didn't feel the need to check the time, nor did I want to. Seven minutes was going to be a long, long time, no point in looking. I turned off the main road so that I could come back the route I went on the 5 minute run, which I couldn't believe I finished - and was my last successful run. I had to run downhill when I turned off the main road, which takes a lot of concentration to not go too fast, and to not fall on my face.

When I turned on the next street, it was back uphill. Hills are my mortal enemies. I get totally psyched out by the slightest incline. Now I have to check the time. And, great, I'm only 4 minutes in. BALLS! There is no way I can make it 7 minutes! I had really just started with the panting, but I didn't feel like I had it in me. So I decided to stop at the 5 minute mark. This would put me where I was supposed to be last Saturday, when I screwed with the schedule and haven't completed a run since. It will give me two days off, and I'll be restarting week 3 as if this week never happened. :( I'm not thrilled, but I have seen on other blogs that this is a rough week, so I know I'm not alone.

So, at 5 minutes, I started walking. I was totally tapped out, but the five minutes did not seem as bad as it did last week. So...maybe I'll be able to hit the six minutes on Tuesday, after my rest days.

On my walk home, I went by a garage sale. I fought the urge to totally stop, but I did ask the price on an item as I went by. Of course I had no cash, but I went home and got Husband and we went back. We are now the proud owners of a wheelbarrow, which should come in handy for getting me from the 10K course to the car/ambulance/hospital in October. We decided we would keep yard saling, so I didn't have a lot of icing time before we went out. My left shin was hurting pretty bad and got a little of the ice, along with my knees. I again ran all pavement today...

Husband told me he had read a great training exercise is to run barefoot in grass. No way. There were slug trails all over the place this morning, glistening in the morning sunlight. I'd like to rank the order of my despisal of worms, snakes and slugs. 1. Snakes. 1. Worms. 1. Slugs. Sick, I hate them. I even hate when the bugs have half eaten a slug and left its body (?) for me to leap over, which I did multiple times today. Sick.

Okay, so two days of rest, then I'll be back on Tuesday with a walk 5, run 6, walk 5.

Weather: 66, sunny, no wind, 80% humidity
Time: 9am; Walk 5, Run 5, Walk 7
Distance: 1.78K (1.11m)
Elevation: +45.6/-47.4/net -1.8 ft
5K/10K: 51:52/1:49:39

Day 18: Relax!

This evening the rain cleared out and my husband, dog and I took a walk. It was a fairly random route, but roughly along the same path as a couple of my runs. I definitely notice a lot more of the nice things about our neighborhood when said neighborhood isn't spinning. There was a junior high-ish age kid practicing his trumpet out in his front yard. Kinda nice to hear that as we walked around the block...also a reminder of the goal of running past the jazz musicians in Oct! Our walk was about 1.86K (1.16m).

I also got in the Seated Twist Series from FitTV again. I hope it does better for my lungs on the 7 minute run tomorrow than it did for the mess of a run yesterday. The "hard" pose in this series is a half lotus forward fold and it is sooo easy for me, that I am either doing it wrong, or (if this is really good for the lungs) I should be breathing better. They make a big deal on the video about only going forward half an inch if that's all you can do, but I can touch my face on the floor.... See how this guy is sitting, now picture him leaning straight forward like this, but with his hands on the ground. That's what I'm doing. The chickies in the video are basically sitting up like the guy. Whatever, I just want to be able to breathe so I can get through seven minutes tomorrow.

I've noticed yoga is a lot easier lately. Not sure if the suddenly bulging leg muscles are helping, or if it's just so much easier than running that even the hard stuff seems easy now. I do think the strengthened legs are helping with my balance, which I am thrilled about.

Enough. Till tomorrow, when we find out if I move on to week 4, or start week 3 over!!

Day 17: Running Between Raindrops

Oh boy. Today is Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5. I've been looking forward to this one. And we all know by now what happens when I get excited about a day: EPIC FAIL. So, I tried to check my excitement, thinking maybe it really does lead to me over-exerting and then the fail..

It's raining today and it's going to be off and on, but I wasn't too worried about that. When I was ready to go, it had stopped raining, but it takes me a looong time to get ready. I am not one who gives a flip what I look like when I workout. I do, however, want to be dressed comfortably and appropriately for what I am doing, and I never, ever want to be cold. I also don't want to wear a shirt that I particularly like, as it will come home a stinky mess. So after much tooling around getting dressed (read: digging clothes out of the hamper from prior runs), doing my stretches, and setting my alarms, it was raining. Fairly hard.

Well, I had my Under Armour and a t-shirt on and that thing definitely does wick away the water. I wish my way-too-long-bought-for-yoga pants wicked away water. Halfway through, I felt like I was running with sponges on my feet. But, I get ahead of myself.

I didn't have a particular route in mind, but I was aiming in the general direction of the non sex offender route. I take off up the alley, phone up my sleeve, hoping to keep it dry, and it's really raining pretty hard. I can't believe I'm doing this. I don't even like to get out of bed when it's raining, and here I am running through puddles, dodging raindrops and worms. (I.Hate.Worms.) I felt like I was going at a good pace, and was covering good ground, and was really digging running in the rain, but I hit an uphill in the last 30-40 seconds, and it was brutal. I'm starting to get concerned that 4 or 5 minutes is the max I can do!

I was wandering about the neighborhood, panting like a fat dog in July, when it was time to take off again. Ugh, like 4 steps in I found out how hard it is to start running again after walking. I only made it two minutes, until I stopped. I mean, stood on the corner with my hands on my knees, mouth hanging open. I've been watching other runners lately, and they do not seem to struggle like this. Granted, I have some good stretches, but most of the time I must look terribly pained. Anyway, I didn't stop long, for fear of dying in a very low traffic neighborhood, so I started walking.

I really don't know what you're supposed to do with these training plans when you can't complete them, but after walking two minutes, and regaining my breath, I took off again. I made it about another minute and a half...I was trying to make it to the end of the block, which should have been the 2 minutes, thereby getting a total of 8 minutes of running in. I told myself it was mental. I told myself there was no physical reason I couldn't do this. I started counting. I told myself no one ever died from running.

Wait, yes they do! I stopped, and walked the last 3.5 minutes home, wondering if I should switch to a different couch to 5K program. So far week 3 has consisted of not running 6 consecutive minutes, and not running 8 minutes with a 5 minute break in between (and barely getting through the first 4 minutes). And my next run has 7 consecutive minutes. I don't see anyway to complete that, but I will again try...as that is the end of the week, if I can't do it, I'll definitely have to repeat one of these weeks (last week? this week?).

I noticed today that my shoes are definitely not waterproof...ew...I went entirely on pavement, water, and mud today, unless you count where grass covers the sidewalks, which is pretty significant around here. I've learned that curbs are my enemies. I can NOT lift my feet up when I come to one. I got home sopping wet, and crawled into a nice hot shower, only to get out and ice... My right foot is achy. Another old injury that has flared up in the last few runs. Today was the first day I got a side cramp, which I used to get all the time when I ran...that needs to quit, or I'm going to.

Once again on the brink of quitting, I plug my distance and times into the calculators and get the best times so far, by a couple of minutes. I know I'm not even covering half the distance, but I had 45 minutes to do the 5K as a lofty goal, and I'm at 47 now? I guess I'll keep going, and try not to beat myself up so hard. Maybe I need to eat some raw eggs before I run? Or quit, yeah, I'm quitting before I eat raw eggs.

Weather: 58, showers, breezy at 11mph, humidity 96%
Time: 11am; Run 4, Walk 5, Run 2, Walk 2, Run 1.5, Walk 3.5
Distance: 2.04K (1.27m)
Elevation: +62.9/-58.7/net 4.2 ft
5K/10K: 47:24/1:40:13

Day 16: Rest is for the unhealthy

Got the call from the doctor: I am officially a 100% healthy vegetarian running yogi-to-be. I still need more vitamin d, but she wasn't as concerned as last year. She suggested doing more weight-bearing exercise. Such as: walking, running, and yoga.

Today I walked to the post and the market (can't wait for the garden to start producing), which was a 2.7K (1.68m) loop. While walking, I actually had several friendly interactions with neighbors. They must like walkers better than runners...or maybe I'm hallucinating that I am speaking to them from the lack of oxygen while running...or maybe it IS just the shoes..

While walking about speaking to the neighbors, I was reminded that there are a handful of sex offenders in our neighborhood, and maybe I should map them out when I get home. First, I am against the sex offender registry, and all the info online. Second, it's not that I'm particularly worried about them, as most in our area are elderly child molesters. But, since the info is out there, and it's not like I am a FAST runner, it would probably help me map my running routes. Of course, they are scattered all over the area, but one of the routes I have run is sex offender free! Woo-hoo!

I also did another FitTV yoga workout today - The Seated Twist sequence. It's supposed to workout the lungs, so I figured it was a great option for helping my running. Today was the first time I've done this particular workout - if you have access to FitTV, I highly recommend this particular episode of Namaste Yoga.

Till tomorrow - if I survive the eight minute run, I'll let you know!

Day 15: AKA Blow me.

Lesson learned: On the days I'm excited about running, I suck. On the days I violently wish to avoid running, I kill it. Discuss.

Today met me with another increase: Walk 5, Run 6, Walk 5.

It's warm today, thank goodness, because my long pants are all muddy. I did things a little different today, and I'll be promptly abandoning these. First, since I don't know which roads go through and which are dead ends, I decided to map my route ahead of time today. Not that I necessarily had to stick to it once I got out there, but I was excited about the route I chose. I hadn't walked or run a good chunk of it, so I didn't remember just how hilly part of it would be...

Second, I decided to pack my mp3 player. It's cheap, so I can't do playlists, but I queued it up to one of my favorite "you go girl" songs, and checked the next song -- it's not one I know, but should be upbeat and the two together are 6:14 long.

I did all of this because I was worried about the 6 minutes. Not like I was worried about the 5 minutes, but I know I'm getting into the lengths of time that are going to take more mental work for me to get through. I thought mapping the route would be good, because it would give me an idea of the finish line I was aiming for. I thought the music would be good, because it's just two songs after all!

Off I go. Everyone is out and about today. Is it a holiday? I mean, every two steps, more people. No hellos were shared by anyone today.

It's about time to run, so I pop in the ear buds and turn on the mp3. Alarm! I'm headed downhill, trying to run slow (which I think I was), trying to get the tunes going. It said it was playing, but there was no sound. Screw it, I can't mess with this - I had run a block without paying attention to anything. So I gave up on the music, and spent the rest of the time worrying I had screwed up the mp3 by recording Conan's show on it (at a high volume).

Well what goes down, must go up, dramatically. Big, long hill. I was in the grass now that I could pay attention (I only ran in the grass about 30% of the run today). I was doing alright, but the hills just freaking kill me. I ran a bit further, and started checking the time. I was 2 minutes in. Damn, keep going. Round the corner, which is where I had expected the finish line to be, and I was nowhere near. I just couldn't get my breath today. It wasn't burning, it just didn't seem to be feeding my body. 4 minutes in? Screw it, I cannot do it today - I had gone about 2 blocks further than where I first wanted to stop, so that's good...But not only did I not hit my target, I didn't even hit my last target! Dammit!!!

So now what? Do I go back and re-do today? Do I re-do last week? Do I (I like this one) quit? I spent part of the long walk back thinking about how I suck at everything and I've always known I suck at running, so I'm not sure how I ever thought I was going to enjoy this.

My next run day is different: It's Run 4, Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 5. That's EIGHT minutes of running, but only 4 at a time. I've kind of been looking forward to this one, because I think I can do this one more easily than a day like today (famous last words). So before I got home, I decided that I would just move ahead with the schedule. If I can't do the next one, I'll start again at today, I guess.

By the way, I sat down when I got home and the mp3 worked fine. Whatever. It's called moldy fig for a reason.

Weather: 69, mostly sunny, no breeze, 56% humidity
Time: 2pm; Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 7
Distance: 1.69K (1.05m)
Elevation: +92.1/-93.4/net -1.3 ft
5K/10K: 51:38/1:49:09

Day 14: Rest Day

The only workout I did today was a workout of my patience. It was a day full of errand-running and dealing with incompetents.


I saw my doctor and pending the blood work results, I'm apparently quite healthy. She did question my weight loss, but was satisfied that it was on purpose and that I wasn't planning to lose anymore. Now I can officially say that I have seen a doctor before [really] getting into running.


I did check out some sports watches, but I couldn't figure out how to work them, lol. I'm sure, right now, about 7 watches are beeping wildly at Target.

Day 13: On Not Giving Up

A recap of the last 5 hours: We got home from the world's most amazing trip to Tulsa (I guarantee I am the first person in the history of the world to say that), after driving all day in the rain. I kept hoping we would drive out of it, but we never did. When we got home, I checked the hour-by-hour forecast and it was 80-100% chance of rain all night.

Remember when I said I hoped for the chance to run in the rain so that I could prove I wanted to be a runner? Today I determined that I don't want to be a runner. It's too cold, it's raining, and I am exhausted. I haven't had much to eat today, and almost no water. No way. I already messed up my training plan, but I'll just start over, I don't care, I'm not doing it, and that's that. Tomorrow I have appointments all day and probably wouldn't be able to fit in a run, thereby fully screwing my schedule. I'll deal with that tomorrow, undoubtedly by giving up on this completely.

Besides, the main thing stopping me was the fact that there is no way I can run 5 straight minutes. There were too many increases too quickly, and I've done nothing but dwell on the fact I can't do 5 minutes. I can't, I can't, I won't, I quit!

I started reading up online about the show last night...may I direct you here and here. I checked in on my facebook pals. I checked my email. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I finally checked in on my fellow bloggers, my source of inspiration, and I immediately started feeling like I was going to run. By the time I got to Miss Netherlands' blog, where she gave mine a compliment, I knew I was running. I went back and re-read my posts, and unbelievably, it wasn't raining when I finished.

Alright, but I'm dressing proper. Long pants, Under Armour purchased for snowboarding weather, long sleeve tee, and stocking cap. (I won't let frost bit ears be an excuse!) I meant to add a windbreaker, but just realized I forgot it, thankfully, as I got a little carried away with the layering!

Here we go. With nothing but negativity, I head out along the path from my last run. I'm still a little leery about running through the grass of people's yards and as this is a nicer area, it occurred to me maybe running through the grass in the less nice areas wouldn't leave me at so much risk of being chased out of someone's yard. So, I veered off course, when I spotted some nice grass, and, oh, downhill, if I must! Guess what? Running downhill does not help me with my issue about running too fast, especially right at the start of my running. I ran through the grass for a couple of blocks, but it was so wet, it was slick and giving me problems, so I thought I better stick with pavement today. I still managed about 50% in grass.

I was positive I wasn't going to make it today. Oh, great, and there's the church bus. The one packed with SCREAMING kids that yell out the windows at people as they drop off kids. Thankfully, it didn't stop near me.

I checked the time and at that point had only gone two minutes. There was just no mojo today, but I was going to give it a little more, and know that I could stop and be very happy with getting up and doing what I could today. I mean, this was the type of run where it didn't do any good to think about where I was going (I was basically circling back to our house), or my posture, or anything - it was a long run for me and it was going to suck.

Unbelievably, I kept running, and knowing I was getting close, I realized that I was actually going to do it, and there I was, smiling like a loon, with too many layers of clothes on, running no faster than a newborn learning to walk. ALARM!! If I had the energy, I would have busted into a happy dance. As it was, I actually felt a little light-headed and faint.

I was almost back home, so I had to make an odd loop to get my walking time in, and I ended up coming up an alley from Day 3. And here comes the neighbor with her dog from Day 3. (Daily dog update: they were barking at me from all directions, but I didn't even have the energy to look around for my safety, I just kept going.) When I got to her, I made eye contact, and maybe I was smiling (still, from my accomplishment), but I was in so much agony, I wouldn't swear to it. Regardless, we SHARED hellos!! I was so excited, I even said hello to her dog who was trying (unsuccessfully) for the second time to kill me, which made her laugh (me saying hello, not the attempted murder by doggie)! Well, this has been a successful trip all around.

Guess what, when I got home, my shoes were a muddy mess. That's right - it WAS the glow that was preventing people from seeing me!! (I think I would rather blog about shoes than running.) Ugh, and my pants were soaked and disgusting, too - I was so busy concentrating on not being able to finish, I apparently didn't notice just how filthy I was getting.

My right knee started hurting a bit while I was running. Usually it's my left knee that hurts, but I iced both, and my neck, shins, and ankles when I got home.

Weather: 57, cloudy, no wind, 96% humidity
Time: 7pm; Walk 5, Run 5, Walk 5
Distance: 1.67K (1.04m)
Elevation: +43.9/-42.9/net 1 ft
5K/10K: 49:02/1:43:39

Day 12: Thoughts on converting a run day to a rest day

I woke up today in Springfield, MO, at a motel that didn't have any sign of a workout room. I toyed with running laps around the outside of the motel...I seriously considered running the halls as it was a long, two story, thickly carpeted motel, with stairs at each end. But, I was worried about upsetting other patrons, so I stuck with my plan to switch up the rest days.

After arriving in Tulsa, it was pretty clear our Inn was not going to have any workout facilities, either. And there was no way I was running around in this neighborhood, never mind the humidity in Tulsa! Fine. This is fine. Rest day.

While waiting for the doors to open for the Conan show, we walked around the downtown arts festival, Mayfest. We walked, and walked, and walked. We crossed the train tracks twice, which consisted of a long humpback bridge. I'm definitely counting all this as a workout. (I think it was about 2.55K (1.58m).)

I even got in a short run, across the parking lot, to get the lithograph out of the car to have Conan and LaBamba sign it after the show!

Day 11: Rest is essential to prepare for zombies and Coco.

Yesterday, while doing some running research, I found out that some people run to be prepared for the zombie apocalypse. This seems like the perfect, ultimate proof to my point: Fast walking is just as good as running! Why do you have to RUN to get away from the zombies!? Their bodies are falling apart as they amble along - I'm pretty sure a good saunter will save your brains just as well as a run, and you'll be able to fight them off better, because you won't be panting like a dog! Ugh, whatever, I want this shirt.

As I have mentioned, I may or may not get to my running tomorrow, as I'm off to see Conan on The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour. Conan is my hero. I cannot wait to see him! Just in case, I did make room in my suitcase for my bulky running shoes. Hopefully I come back with both of them. However, if there's a tornado, or even if the power just goes out, we should be able to not only find the shoes, but light our way to safety.

I was going to wait to post this until after I did my yoga, but frankly I am waaay too excited for yoga today, so my big workout on today's relax day was just a walk to the post office (on which, every tiny dog between here and there wanted desperately to kill me - sadly for them the strings tethering them ensured my safety).

Day 10, part 2: The Run

Today, things did not go exactly as planned. As usual, I was excited it was a run day. As usual, I told myself I would feel great after my run, so why put it off. As usual, the weather broke, at just the right time for me to get outside. As usual, it took me another hour to get it together and actually go. OK, so everything went as usual, but my plan is to actually GO, not spend an hour psyching myself up to do something that I want to do!

The weather is kinda icky today - humid, some sun, warmer than the last couple run days...I went with long pants anyway, even though after I felt so heavy on my last run, I wanted to be weighed down as little as possible. My compromise was a t-shirt instead of a light sweatshirt (thank all things holy for that decision, because I got HOT today). Here's the rub: The idea of me running was to get up, get dressed, have something to focus on, and...I wore the same t-shirt I slept in last night. It's only a matter of time till this little experiment goes up in smoke.

I'm still kind of trying to figure out what is so great about running. To me, the appeal is in the competitiveness of it, doing something new, doing something better (or faster) than you have done it before. To which, I say, I can achieve in my pajamas, in the house, with a book. Or a pair of knitting needles. Or in the kitchen, trying out new tasty recipes.

Whatever, Day 10: walk 5, run 4, walk 5 (that's a minute up from the last run, and double the original run time).

I took a similar route as Day 5, after noting the amount of flat grass running it offers. There were a few people out...some were right where I started running, which I think made me run faster to start, to get away from them. This is the peak of my anti-social behaviour: I am actually Napolean Dynamite'ing away from people now. In spite of my constant commentary to slow the f down, I knew I took off fast. Running slow has just always seemed stupid to me - I'd rather be walking fast. But that's not the point of this, you're running now, whether you like it or not (and I don't, presently). At least my feet didn't seem to be unable to come up off of the ground today - that's a huge improvement over two days ago.

Passed a walker, said hi, nothing. Fine, I hate you too, brother. I'm about on my last day of trying to be pleasant to people I encounter. It's either run away, or look away, because it's quite literally a waste of my energy to try and be pleasant.

Oh, hey, and it's been raining like a mother, so my pants are a lovely muddy mess. Shoes - magically, whiter than ever. Maybe people don't say hi, because they can't see me for the glow my shoes create?

I ran, again, about 60% in the grass today - I could've done more, but in some areas the grass was just too tall and I have a deathly fear of snakes. Plus, what's with all the water meters? I was dodging them like phone poles today.

The running was getting painful as I came to an intersection - I was at my final minute and I could run downhill (away from home), or uphill (and not have to deal with traffic). Uphill I went. Stupidest decision I've made yet. Here I go, again, visualizing climbing the stairs. That actually really does seem to help, but that's going to be a freaking long staircase up Providence in Oct...

So most of the final minute of the running section was uphill, but I made it. I added a minute to my run!

Back home I trudge - it took me 8 minutes to get back, due to a miscalculation on how much further I should run to compensate for that extra minute. Close to home, I actually had a neighbor be pleasant, and apologize for blocking the sidewalk with their car. I'm not sure pleasant cancelled out rude, but at least I know I'm not running around invisible.

So, with my new handy-dandy tools, I present the data on today's run, then I'm off to make a mid-mo muffaletta that my husband, the best chef ever, left for me, and sit with an ice pack to watch my daily 90210.

Temp: 65 degrees, 14 mph breezy, 84% humidity, mostly cloudy
Time: Noon; Walk 5, Run 4, Walk 8
Distance: 1.72K (1.07m)
Elevation: +34/-57.4/net -23.4 ft
Note: That hill at the end went up 15 ft...the goal hill is 47.4 ft...
5K time: 53:50
10K time: 1:53:47

Day 10, part 1: The numbers so far

I started today doing some research while it was pouring down rain this morning. First, I'm probably not going to get to run on Day 12 (Saturday) like I'm supposed to. I was trying to find out what others suggested for switching up their rest days..I know you should only run every other day, but the plan I am doing puts two rest days together at the end of the week, so my Sunday and Monday this week should be rests. I'm thinking I run today, Thursday, then rest Friday and Saturday, run Sunday, rest Monday, then I'll be back on schedule. I'll just be alternating my Day 12 run and Day 13 rest, but still keeping rest days between each run. My research told me, don't deviate from the schedule, not for one second. So...I will certainly try to get my run in on Saturday, but if I do, it will be on a treadmill, and I hate that idea.

I also found a website where you can easily track the distance that you went. I'm super excited about this. I put in my previous routes, but realized I don't keep an accurate time of my walking, especially if my 5 minutes at the end leaves me a couple of blocks from home, like it did on Day 5, so it's still hard to compare day to day distance improvements. There's also a graph for elevation change. Maybe at some point I'll be motivated enough to figure out how to insert that into my blog, but for now, here is the data from my first four days:

Day 1: 1.31K (.81m); Elevation: +16.1/-16.6/net -.5 ft; Time: 12 mins
Day 3: 1.08K (.67m); Elevation: +35.4/-32.4/net +3 ft; Time: 12 mins

Day 5: 1.5K (.93m); Elevation: +19.5/-37.7/net -18.2 ft; Time: ~15 mins
Day 8: 1.53K (.95m); Elevation: +17.9/-30.7/net -12.8 ft; Time ~14 mins

I calculated the race times for these days, and the two days when I was in the most agony (1 and 8) had the best times. :( I'm going to assume that means I was running too flipping fast those days for this stage in my training.

Here are the times for 5k/10k:

Day 1: 50:59/1:47:47
Day 3: 1:02:49/2:12:46
Day 5: 55:04/1:56:24
Day 8: 50:18/1:46:20

Ouch, spelling it out like that makes me want to quit.

Oh, and I looked up the stretch of the RNBNBBQ10K that I fear the most: it's .35K (.21m) with an elevation change of +47.4 ft, promptly followed by a flight of stairs to cross the pedestrian bridge. Foul. If I make it until October, and anyone comes to see me race, there's two things to note. 1. I don't want anyone standing along this stretch of the course - this will be me at my most unglorious, and 2. I do want someone within a few seconds of this stretch, as this is most likely where I will quit and demand a ride home.

Anyway, now that I have these tools, I'm going to try to keep more accurate time, so I can get better data going forward.

Day 9: Relax

I once again tackled the Revolved Triangle on my relax day. I think I've had just about my fill of this one for awhile. My right shoulder, which I injured several years ago, and often is the alarm that I've gone too far in a yoga position, got all sorts of defiant mid-way through the workout. When you can't raise your arm above your head, there's not a lot of yoga'ing you can do... especially when you're doing balance positions and getting that arm up (or out) is keeping you from falling into the corner of the coffee table.

So, I half-assed my way through the last bit of the workout, and headed to the ice box to chill the shoulder. Don't worry, it always gets better quickly, but it probably means I'll be too chicken to try the Revolved Triangle again in two days, unless someone cares to sponsor a shoulder surgery?

Day 8: Why is the room spinning?

Day 8 should be easy; after two days rest, I re-do the last run (walk 5 mins, run 3 mins, walk 5 mins). If I had re-read my blog, which is the point of all this, I would've remembered that I wanted to follow the same path as last time, before I had walked two minutes in the exact opposite direction. To my credit, I started my walk with a bit of a headache - enough that I went ahead and took some tylenol before departure.

I took a route that I have often walked the dog - it's quiet, ahem, at least in the middle of a school day, and there's some really pretty houses. Like the rest of my part of town, a lot of alleys and dead ends. When my friend and I drove around on Saturday, we noted a lot of flat grassy areas over here, so I thought I'd give it a try.

It was actually disturbingly quiet today - no people, no dogs, only a couple cars. I kinda liked it, but one block of this neighborhood is really beat up, and it definitely felt post-apocalyptic, especially on a grey, damp day like today.

Anyway, my run alarm went off right in the middle of an uphill block, right at the end of a big patch of grass I thought I'd be running through. So I stayed on the sidewalk to start, visualizing running up a flight of stairs, hitting a foot on each stair as I went up. My shoes must've gained some weight over the two days off, because my feet literally weighed a thousand pounds today.

At the top of the hill, I turned and ran the next block in the grass between the sidewalk and the street. It was narrow, but it was flat and even, so I was doing alright. The power line poles were on this side of the street, so I had to keep dodging those...I'm sure I looked like an idiot, but I didn't see a single soul, so oh well!

Running in the grass definitely felt better on my legs today, but I'm curious how the ground being soaked affects things. Like, seriously, my feet were hardly coming up off the ground. Am I just that tired today? I don't feel any more tired than I have been...Was it the two days off? Maybe, but that's just how it has to be... Do I just need to get used to running in the grass? Well, it's not like the concrete springs your feet back up in the air, so I doubt it...

Whatever it was, I pooped out early today. It wasn't so much the burning lungs, as I simply couldn't get good breaths and every step took way more strength than it should have! I checked the clock, and I hadn't even gone two minutes. I was fairly certain I wasn't going to make it today. I think not making it the full two minutes on day 1 has given me a lot of motivation, though, because I don't want to miss the time again.

Thankfully, I started running on a slight downhill, and hit a grassy area again. I was counting my exhales, as counting is generally what I do to take my mind off of something horrid like this. Unfreakingbelievably, the alarm finally went off, and I could walk again. I would say I ran about 60% on grass today, maybe a little more.

I'm not sure what I was doing "wrong" today, but when I stopped to walk, I thought for sure I was going to puke. My stomach was killing me. I haven't really been eating properly for awhile, but I will go ahead and note that today I got out of bed around 10:30, had some dry multi-grain cheerios, and a mtn dew. I had just a little water to wash down the tylenol - usually I get at least a full glass in before I run. (Side note: It's my last day for multi-grain cheerios, as they have dead animal bits, which makes me horribly sad.)

I panted the rest of the way home, waved to the neighbors, who ignored me (I hate humanity), and crawled in to the computer chair, where I sat down, terribly dizzy. Also, again with the freezing ears? I will wear earmuffs, but it's nearly 60 degrees, I don't think I need more crazy looks! Anyway, I got a glass of water, and the ice pack (just to be safe) for my knees, hammies, and head, and called it a day.

A note on the weather: Apparently if anyone needs to have an outdoor activity, let me know, and I'll schedule my run for that time. Not only did it not rain, but the sun came out when I got home.

Thursday I add another minute of jogging. I just can't wrap my mind around it. In one way, 4 minutes seems like nothing, but based on the three minutes I just struggled through, it seems quite impossible.

Time: Noon
Temp: 58 degrees, 14 mph wind, 78% humidity, cloudy (Is the humidity why my legs wouldn't come off the ground? It's like running in a swimming pool out there today!)

UPDATE: I went downtown to do some shopping this afternoon. I passed a van that had "Go Cubs Go" and "Race for the Cure" written on it. It also had the local high school team's bumper sticker on it, so I just assumed that the Cubs were a kid's baseball team, or something, because there aren't a terrible lot of Chicago Cubs fans around here. To pay for my purchase at the first shop, I pulled out my Chicago Cubs wallet, and the shop owner asked me about it. Upon hearing I was indeed a Cubs fan, he said, "You shoulda been at the 5K this weekend! A bunch of us came dressed in our Cubs stuff and walked it - we painted the van and everything!" Really? I was floored. I only know of one other Cubs fan in town for one thing, and I have never, ever been told I should be in a 5K (not that it matters 2 days later). Interesting.

Day 7: Preparing to run in the rain

I'm not clear on the reason why, but I've never seen someone running with an umbrella. I understand the wind resistance aspect of it, and you can't really properly swing your arms, but it still seems better than just running in the rain outright. Contrary to running with galoshes on, I would think running with an umbrella would even improve your training experience. Plus, tomorrow I'll be running just three minutes out of 13. I am seriously considering running with the umbrella. Alternatively, I'm also seriously considering running at the gym.

Today was yet another relax day, so I did that aggravating Revolved Triangle yoga workout again. I noticed progress already, but I will keep doing this one until it gets better. I've been able to do Warrior III for a long time, but it takes some serious focus...which, frankly, is not the reason I practice yoga. If I look like those weightlifters with the sweat and the grimace and the veins bulging, just to get into a posture, then I am not breathing or relaxing like I want to be. I understand the Revolved Triangle better today, too...just not quite hitting it.

Till tomorrow, I leave you with this advice. Do not, I am serious: Do NOT google image search "weightlifter." Don't do it. You know the grimace I'm talking about, don't make the mistake I did and go looking for it. It's not worth it.

Day 6: Relax like you mean it!

Day 6: 5K day! No, not for me, but a friend of mine was in it, it was in my town, and I thought it would be a good chance to check out how these things work (Oh, did I mention I've never even been to a race?)... I even got up on time! Not like, up for a second, but up out of bed! But, I decided not to go. Apparently, I'll just wing it on race day.

Meanwhile, I did not a single other form of working out today. Probably unwise, since I felt totally great physically - I'll definitely keep icing my knees after future runs!

The day was not a total loss, though, as my aforementioned friend took me around town to give me some tips on where to run. She ran cross country for the local high school, so she had not only some great locations to run, but knew the distances and even a good training hill. Granted it'll be awhile before I take that (gasp) 15 mile loop, or even the 1.5 mile loop, but I will get there a whole lot faster running on the luscious, soft, grassy areas she pointed out!

I'm not looking forward to another rest day tomorrow, but I know it's important to rest. Oh, and it's supposed to rain all week now! Goody!

Day 5: It's a cold day to stay out another minute!

Day 5, or the day of facing a lot of reasons why I don't want to run.

1. It's Saturday, there's going to be a lot more people, dogs, and kids (purposely listed separate from people) out and about today. I woke up at 7, thinking maybe I could get this over with before too much activity started.

2. It's Saturday (not that it matters much to me these days), and so I woke up again at 11. So much for beating the neighborhood awake.

3. It's not raining, but it's a whole lot colder than it's been for awhile..

4. I got it, we'll go to the gym. I can run on the cushioned track, no dogs, and no cold wind. After several miscommunications, it's now 3:30pm and I still haven't run. I have to get into a better routine.

OK, so I still have a lot of hurdles to getting into doing this everyday. It doesn't change the fact that I still want to do it. It's Day 5, and I'm adding a minute to the run today. This is my first add, unless you count that I didn't complete the 2 minutes Day 1, but did on Day 3. Whatever, today is walk 5 minutes, run 3, walk 5.

I bust out my cold weather clothes (boo), pack a Kleenex in my pocket (something tells me this is going to be one of those gross days that make running as unappealing as possible), preset my phone alarms, and do my stretches.

I'm going to attempt going down the busier road today. I think if I start off going that way, I'll be mostly walking through the rough part, and can start running when I feel safer turning off of it. Plus, there's going to be people everywhere today, so it simply won't matter.

Off I go. Pit bull, check, Meth Head, check. Busy road, people everywhere, check. Something different today: fabric softener filling the air. :)

As I was walking, I was a little worried about my ankle - it feels a little wobbly. Yep, I start running and the first couple of steps made my ankle crack. I think (hope) that was all it needed to do, because it felt better afterwards. I stayed on the busy road about a block longer than I had planned in my head, because it was pretty empty, the sidewalk was nice and clear, and I wasn't sure what I'd encounter when I veered off. But I was running straight into the wind, and I already felt like I had taken off too fast. I kept trying to slow myself down, because three minutes seemed like it was going to be a struggle. I was, however, managing some really deep yoga breaths. That surprised me, but it didn't last long.

When I finally did turn off, I ran straight into a lawnmower, and here come the allergies. Well, trying not to sneeze does take one's mind off of how much longer they have to run. The sidewalk ends, and several more dogs are barking their heads off. I really fail to see the appeal of running through neighborhoods. The alarm! Yay! I'm walking!

I got a wee further away from home than planned, so I walked about 6 or 7 minutes to get home, and, ew one Kleenex is not enough. Please let it warm up again quick, This. Is Nasty. And my ears hurt, so bad, like a solid frostbite. The pain was absurd.

Then, to add insult to freezing cold injury, today was the first day I broke out my ice pack. My left knee, which was already a wee bad, but improved from riding the exercise bike, seems to be bearing the brunt of the force of slamming down into the concrete on these trips. It's not been bad, but it was hurting pretty quickly after I got home, so I put the ice on it. I put it on my right knee, too, just for good measure, then back to the left...slightly worried about this.

Overall, I didn't mind the route today. I may do it at least one more time (before my run time increases again), just to see if I make it any further. I'd like to be able to track my progress against distance, but since the time changes every couple of days, maybe I'll just keep running willy nilly around town until I'm actually running several miles at a time anyway.

It may just be me (or the very shortness of the runs so far), but I don't have too much time to dwell on the time I'm out there, when each intersection poses a does-this-go-through-does-it-look-too-scary-does-the-path-look-too-broken-up-are-there-dogs-are-there-meth-heads series of questions to answer. Wait, is that the appeal to running through neighborhoods?

The next two days are rest days, so I'll probably be doing some yoga and ballet workouts, which I may or may not post about. I will definitely be back on Tuesday to record my attempt to run through forecasted scattered thunderstorms.

Time: 3:30pm
Temp: 55 degrees, 15-25mph wind, 46% humidity, cloudy

Day 4: Relax!

Relax, indeed. I'm kind of bumming around today, but I feel good - not really sore at all. A little sore in the thighs, but it's not slowing me down like two days ago.

I did a fittv yoga workout today - "Revolved Triangle." I frequently focus my yoga workouts on arm and ab strengthening, but I thought it may be wise to focus on the legs a bit. I hate this workout. I don't really know what it's working out, except my ability not to punch the tv, or smack my face on the floor.

Warrior III is my nemesis and I don't see how I'll ever do the Revolved Triangle properly. I'm going to keep doing this workout on my relax day for awhile, because this is definitely something I need to focus on.

In other news, there's rain in the forecast. It's sick, but I kind of hope I have to run in the rain. If I do it (especially while it's still a little chilly), I'll be proving to myself I really am going to stick with this. We very well may see tomorrow!

Being a bum did allow me time to read one of my favorite blogs, which just happened to be about a race today...Check it out and see how a 61 year old woman ran a 10k in 48 minutes!

Day 3: Walk 5, Run 2, Walk 5

Today I did things a little different. First, I didn't have all that stuff to worry about carrying (although that left me a bit without purpose or direction). Second, I did all the stretches from my running for dummies book properly before leaving. Third, I set the alarms on my phone to go off so I wouldn't have to keep looking at the time (difficult to see in the bright sun, besides being a distraction). Three alarms, three different times to set - it's perfect. I preset all the times based on when I thought I would be leaving, and then quickly adjusted them when I was actually leaving.

I set out with a negative outlook. I didn't really want to do this today, but more because I was afraid I wouldn't make it the full 2 minutes again, and that would probably be the end of my running endeavor. I started off with an uphill section and was thinking about how I probably wouldn't want to keep doing this if I had a job, because I'd have to do it so early in the morning, because the only way I can do this is if no one's around. Of course, there were a ton of people out today which made me consider part of the reason I don't want regular townspeople seeing me is because they're all out of shape lazy hillbillies and I think they look down on me for being in shape. Well, that's not a very good reason for me to not run, so...

The alarm goes off and I take off running. I'm trying to go slower than I did on day 1, good posture, arms swinging, head up. Having brand new, ridiculously white running shoes keeps the eyes up - it actually hurts to catch a glimpse of the shoes in the sunlight!

Without a gameplan for where I was going, I realized suddenly that I was going to be doing my running on a busy road with a high chance of people sitting out on their porches. I spied what appeared to be an alley, and when I got to it, checked to make sure it went through. Risking loose dogs in backyards, I trucked through the alley to the next side street. So far, so good. Running down the side street, my posture suffered somewhat from having to watch for bad footing. Then, my alarm went off. I was sure it was the snooze on the 1st alarm (because I didn't turn it "off," I realized too late), but checked, and my two minutes were up. Now that is more what I was expecting two minutes to feel like. Not that I thought I could've gone too much further, but my lungs weren't on fire like day 1.

So, I slowed to a walk, said hello to a neighbor who ignored me, and enjoyed the walk home. I love all the passageways and alleys in our neighborhood. They pose a lot of issues and potential problems, but I think they're neat, and assuming no loose dogs, rude neighbors, or violent criminals, I may continue running through there. Lots of twists and turns if something pops up ahead that doesn't look comfortable.

I got back to the house too quick, and had to circle around our alley..I can't help but wonder, despite how easy today was, if I'm gonna be able to add a full minute in two days! I guess we'll find out!

Time: 1pm
Weather: 65, breezy, 47% humidity, sunny (AKA: GLORIOUS)

Day 2: Rest Day!

I'll start with waking up, and the searing pain I felt on the sides of my knees. (Oh no, not my knees, and not after one day!!) Now, we can discuss the pain in my shins, calves, thighs, ass, abs, back, and head. OK, these are not all related to running, but suffice it to say, I was walking around like a 90 year old all day. Brutal. Note to self: I don't care what Flo-Jo says, you're stretching before your next run.

Thankfully the pain in my knees went away quickly, and the rest of the pain wasn't too severe..I'm considering riding my bike to the park to run on the grass for Day 3. I still don't have a helmet, though, and since bike riding is something else I haven't done in years, I really probably should get it first. We'll see.

My goal is to workout everyday, but all I accomplished today was walking (slowly) to the post office, which is not very far away. But, aside from having one tiny ferocious dog come after me in my alley, it was good to get the walk in anyway.

Looking forward to Day 3!

Day 1: Tuesday, May 4th

This is it! Today I start my running program! I'm very excited! Only...getting out of bed doesn't interest me at all...and once I'm out of bed, getting dressed doesn't interest me at all. I'm unemployed and I had to run around all day yesterday and I want to sit under the blankets and watch tv all day. Which is why I am doing this..

So, I finally get out of bed. I sit on the couch for awhile. There's a lot of psyching up that has to go on, and that pisses me off, because I was so excited about this!

Part of my problem is that I carry a lot of stuff everywhere I go. Day one consisted of walking 5 minutes, then running two minutes, then walking 5 minutes. I was going to be out of the house for 12 minutes and I nearly had to pack my old-lady-in-the-big-city cart. (Come to think of it, I should have because it has a seat!!) I was asked what I needed to carry, and here is the list: my ID, key, phone (which is also my only functioning timepiece), notepad, and pen (I was waiting for a very important call that I didn't want to miss, and would require notes). I also thought I should have a plan of where I was going, so I decided to run to the library - thinking it was about the proper distance (it was), and to return a library book that I've had for five years. Yes, five. And the most offensive thing is that I never read it. And I already had my own copy. So I was packing a library book, also. Once I figured out how to carry all this, I was pretty jazzed and took off out the back door.

What's that you say, aren't you going to mention doing the stretches that Flo-Jo taught you? No. I finally got myself psyched up to go and forgot to stretch. More on that in tomorrow's post, for sure. Speaking of Flo-Jo, she mentioned that it was a good idea to keep a runner's log, and although at this point in time, I don't see the need for it, I can see how in the future I will have wished I had kept one. (Although it would take me until Day 3 to actually start writing it!)

I'm headed down the alley, and I feel good. It's breezy, the sun is out, it's the perfect temperature. I have to keep looking at my phone to check the time, and it's hard to see in the sunlight...Of course, I forgot to bring my sunglasses..But I'm about to be a runner and none of this is getting in my way. It was around 9:30, so the town was pretty dead, which is good because I was headed to a busy area..Probably not so smart for someone as self-conscious as me on Day 1.

Well, the time had come, and I take off running. I'm trying to focus on the proper posture, and pushing off with the balls of my feet (something I never had focused on before). It was hard to swing my arms very effectively with all my luggage, but I tried. Within about a block, my chest and lungs were already burning. Now hold on! Two minutes of running was supposed to be so easy!! I dropped the book off, smiled at a woman who was clearly petrified of me by the book drop, tried to avoid contact with the creepy meth head at the end of the block, and rounded the corner to return home. I was seriously concerned at this point that I was about to die, and I still hadn't gone two minutes? I was panting like I had been running for days! (Which is why when I was asked what all I had to carry, my answer was a defibrillator and a lawn chair..man, I wish I had thought of my cart!) I finished that block, and I felt I had to stop, even though the two minutes weren't quite up. I think I just took off too fast..I didn't feel like I was full-on running, but I definitely think I should slow it down for next time. I also need to figure out something to keep better time than my phone.

I walked back and amazingly did not feel like an utter failure for not finishing the two minutes. Instead, I was quite pleased that I had gotten up and done it (and returned that pesky library book).

I got home, and did some half-hearted stretching and called it a success (Flo-Jo, for the record, says you can stretch before, after, or even later in the day). So, later in the day, I also did some yoga, which I had also been avoiding since the middle of April. I was feeling pretty awesome, which I thought was odd given the utter lack of running I actually did today!

I love the support and advice my friends have given me so far! It almost makes me feel like this is normal, and not quite as crazy as I think it is!

I can't wait to run again, but I will not veer off from my program which insists on a rest almost every other day. Something tells me I will still have an update tomorrow, though..

How did we get here?

Well, I actually just finished Day 3 and have decided I am definitely going to blog this experience, which I had considered, but didn't think I would really do (and I may not continue)...Now, I'm going to backtrack and record some thoughts leading up to today.

Since the end of last year, I have been working out regularly for the first time ever. In researching workouts and weight loss information, I saw several training plans for starting runners. I thought they looked interesting, because they start out so small/slow and build so slowly. I kept bouncing the idea around in my head, but didn't see me ever getting around to it, as I was barely squeezing in my workouts anyway...and, more so, I have never been a runner. I tried, for a bit in college. I actually got some decent shoes and ran pretty regularly, but never got any joy out of it at all.

I've also been reading other people's blogs (I've been very bored this year) and one in particular is this girl who is doing a couch to 5K training program. That is the type of program I had seen previously, with the gradual increases - the idea being that someone who has never been a runner can run a 5k in 8-10 weeks (depending on the website you use). Her blogs are funny, sometimes painful, but definitely make running sound a lot more pleasant than I've ever considered it.

The final moments leading up to me deciding to run went something like this...after working out regularly since December, I abruptly stopped around April 20th. A week later, I worked my last day, abruptly, at my job. Two days later, I decided that I would either sit around in total unemployed depression, or I would find something to focus on. And since I no longer had any form of an "I don't have time" excuse, it was settled. I'm going to be a runner. (And a thief, totally stealing my friend in the Netherlands' idea..although she blogs about all sorts of thoughtful things, and I plan to use this for tracking my running pretty exclusively!)

So that was Friday and a few things had to happen before I strapped on my running shoes and ran a marathon. First, remember those shoes I got in college? I still have one of them. It's in great condition, what with me giving up running pretty quickly, and the loss of the other one. I keep assuming it will turn up, and as they were expensive and barely used, I refuse to A) Get rid of the lone shoe and B) Buy new shoes - because it will turn up eventually! Second, I had to find out just what a marathon was.

So, over the weekend, I did some research. I know there are 5Ks all the time, but it doesn't appear that there are any between Mother's Day and October around here. Oh, and the one in October is a 10K. So, I knew a marathon was 26 miles and an absolute ridiculous concept, but what is a 5K? It's 3.1 miles and they're usually run in about 30 minutes. Well, if I can do that in 10 weeks (you know I went with the longer training program), why couldn't I do a 10K in October?

How about, why would I ever WANT to run 6.2 miles?! Well, it's the only race on my radar for one thing. It's also part of the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival in Columbia, which I am mortified to say we haven't attended yet. Oh, and they're going to have musicians along the route, and the prizes involve wine. I'm just saying, if I'm going to be a runner, jazz music and wine is the carrot in front of my nose. So, heck yeah, I'll be ready, I'll do a 10K in October. (Remember, friends, I still have one shoe and am now winning wine at a 10K in five months.) Let's check out the course. Holy leg cramps, Batman, does that say you are going to be running up Providence hill, by the football stadium!? You've walked that, dear, and it was one of the worst physical experiences you have had. And it took like an hour. You are not going to be in the RNBNBBQ10K.

OK, so, fine. Skip ahead to Monday. I have no race to plan for, but seriously these things happen all the time, so I'm pushing ahead. I have to focus on this. I have errands to run in Columbia on Monday, so I head over to ye olde Shoe Carnival and pick out some cheap running shoes. I tried on several pairs, and was running up and down the aisles testing them out..this was exhausting. This is never going to work out. Oh, did I mention I opted to not wear socks for this event? Yep, always thinking ahead, but never thinking about socks. I did the best I could, and headed out with my shiny new shoes.

My errands took me downtown, where I happened upon a parking space so quickly and, gratefully so large, that I had no choice but to snatch it up. I was parked right across from Get Lost Bookstore (my favorite name, ever) and vowed to stop in there on my way back to the car. There was a cart of $1 books outside the store, and wouldn't you know it? Running for Dummies, written by Flo-Jo herself was on the cart.

I read pretty much the whole book on Monday (I admit it, I skipped the 16 page color photo tribute to Flo-Jo), and armed with a new pair of shoes, proper stretches and a training program that started out with only two minutes of running, I couldn't wait to go on Tuesday!