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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Good News

Last night's 2.25 mile run with the Palouse Falls Beer Chasers was nice.  I jogged in the rain, and the cool breeze felt glorious on my hot face as I pushed my legs down the asphalt path and around the softball fields.  My first mile showed some improvement - a 9:51 pace.  I was really happy about that since it was nearly a minute faster than Monday's pace.  I don't expect this rate of improvement to last for long (obviously), but it sure is nice to feel like my body is already reacting to my attempts to get back into shape.

Another piece of good news is that I just signed up for my second half-marathon - The Rock 'n' Roll Half in Seattle, WA on June 25, 2011.  With Bloomsday coming up in May (7.46 miles), my training should be right on track for a half marathon in late June.  Yay!

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Slow and Steady Training

Monday's run of 3.11 miles was pretty good.  I couldn't run the whole distance, but after I walked the last half of my second mile, I ran my fastest mile in a while - 10:35.  Baby steps to Bloomsday.

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Two Miles

Yesterday my training plan said that I needed to run two miles.  No biggie, right?

Well, going on a two-mile run is not a big deal, but running two miles apparently is*...  I was breathing hard after only running a half mile, and at about 1.25 miles, I was SO ready to walk.  But, I pushed myself and ran the two miles at about an 11:30 pace.  (I didn't have my Garmin, but that's what it felt like.)  It was more difficult than I'd like to admit.
    
I learned something yesterday: I have gotten out of running shape.  I am not smiling as I write that.

But, before I get all gloomy, I want to acknowledge the positives: 1) I was successful in running my two miles, despite my hard breathing and side ache, 2) I still have more than a month before Bloomsday, 3) the weather is getting nicer for running, and 4) I have done this before. 

I want to re-iterate #4: I have done this before.  I know that I can get back into running shape; I went from only being able to run 60 steps to running the first four miles of Bloomsday to completing a freaking marathon.  I am not starting from scratch, and I know what I am capable of.

Now I just have to do it.



*When I go "on runs," I allow myself to walk when I need to.  But yesterday I chose to "run two miles," which meant that I wasn't allowed to walk at all.

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Monday, March 21, 2011

Increasing My Miles

These past few weeks have been pretty low-key for me and my running.  I have been very consistent about going outside and getting some exercise each day, but my miles have taken the form of jogging, walking, and hiking; so, while I feel good about keeping exercise a part of my daily routine, I haven't been working my lungs or my leg muscles like I used to.

But, Bloomsday is approaching again, and it gives me an excuse to start working a little harder than I have been.  I don't have a specific goal yet, but I do know that if I tried to go out there now and run 12k (even if I walked a good portion of it), I would hurt pretty bad; it has been a while since I have been on a run longer than 3-4 miles. 

So, in an attempt to increase my fitness level and decrease the pain I feel on May 1, I going to train for Bloomsday.  ... and I am officially starting that training today.  Here is my plan:

March 21-27: 14 miles
March 28-April 3: 17 miles
April 4-10: 22 miles
April 11-17: 8+ miles (I will be traveling and don't know how many miles I will realistically be able to put in)
April 18-24: 15+ miles (more travel...)
April 25-May 1: 20.46 miles

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