Thursday, July 24, 2008

Training Update

OK, I'm reeeally behind...

I have been running, just not posting.

Up in Michigan over 4th of July weekend, I did run, but didn't get up as early as I wanted to, and the trail was not as long as advertised, so I only ran 1 1/2 miles. It was pretty though, and dirt/grass so it was soft on my legs. I'll do it again the next time we're up and take more time...maybe even run from the house to the trail, and back.

Week of 7/7 - I think I ran at least once, but I don't remember. I'm getting old. =)

Week of 7/14 - 3.5 miles at the gym Tuesday and Thursday, no long run on Saturday because we went up to Bowling Green to pick up Allison and then Andrew's second birthday party at Splash Zone (www.ntprd.org/splashzone).

This week - 3.5 miles at the gym Tuesday and today. 5 miles scheduled for Saturday, which I WILL do in the morning because we'll be in Toledo all evening for a business seminar. At least the weather has cooled down, so I don't have to get up at dawn to be able to run outside. Bike trail, here I come...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Training Run 7-2-08

I think 3 miles is my limit for morning runs at the gym, at least until I get faster. 6 am seems to be my earliest possible time for getting up, which puts me at the gym between 6:15 and 6:30, which leaves me about an hour (including the run, stretching, and potty break) before I need to head home and jump in the shower in order to get to work on time. The gym opens at 6, but I'm just not there yet.

So, I got up at 6 and was out the door by 6:15 to do my old familiar 4-mile road route, the hilly one that goes from the house to Bechtle Avenue and back. Going out I was really careful to rein in the speed and make it an EASY run, especially since most of the "out" is downhill and I don't want to get injured. I took short walking breaks at each mile, mostly due to traffic lights. Coming back is uphill almost all the way, so I focused on consistent effort, not necessarily consistent pace, and made sure I was running easy on the few flat and downhill stretches.

I definitely notice an improvement in my fitness and endurance, since this route felt much easier than it did the last time I ran it. Total time was 45:58, just a hair under 11 1/2 minutes per mile.

One more gym run this week, and then I'll take my shoes and my watch and run for time up at Mom & Dad's. 5 miles scheduled, I'll figure on 28 minutes out, 28 back. Haven't decided yet whether I'll just run in their neighborhood (it's REALLY hilly) or drive to a park. I may look up their local running store (www.playmakers.com) and see if they have a Saturday morning group I can hook up with.

Training Run 7-1-08

OK, so the 7-mile run didn't happen. I think I obsessed too much about where to do it, and got paralyzed in the decision-making. I also think I need to go out and do my weekend run first thing on Saturday morning, before other stuff gets put in the schedule...because otherwise it'll get crowded out. Not that I don't have time at other times in the weekend...but the longer I put it off, the easier it is for some other activity to look more appealing.

3 miles in the morning on the treadmill at the gym. Man, do they need to invest in air conditioning. I wore a running tank and it was soaking wet at the end of my run...might as well have worn a bathing suit. Still, I was able to set the treadmill at 5.5 (slightly under an 11-minute mile) and get through the whole run.

I got asked twice by other gym people if I minded if they changed the TV station. I was OK with both, neither one was the TV I was sort of watching, but I still thought it was funny. I'm still not really familiar with what's on at 6:30 am (though it appears to be mostly infomercials) and so I don't really care what I'm watching...it's just something for my brain to do besides think about being hot and sweaty and running.

I do like starting my day early (though I don't like the getting out of bed at 6 am part, especially when it wakes up Andrew and makes him cry) because I feel so much more organized...whether I am or not...and I'm all the way awake by the time I get to work, instead of trudging in going "where's the coffee"... =)