Back On The Horse!

After a month of injuries and illnesses, I FINALLY made it to the gym yesterday! Unfortunately I'm feeling worse today, so maybe I overdid it, but it still feels good to have gone. I ran/walked two miles and did some strength training. I don't know if I'll get back to the gym this week, but I'm planning to run outside with Nicki this coming weekend. A couple times per week is better than nothing!

Miles: 2
Time: 30 minutes

Miles on my Brooks: 28.5

Setback

Well, I was supposed to start my training program today but I'm already being set back by an injury! Hopefully I can get to the doctor later this week. Right now I am limping when I walk, so no running (or much walking) for me right now :(. I am bummed but I am also determined not to let it get me down or keep me from my goal.

Good Intentions

I had such good intentions of getting to the gym today, I even had a babysitter! But I was just so exhausted that I tried to take a nap instead (and naturally couldn't fall asleep). I am a little nervous about being able to get enough training in for the half marathon, but I'm trying not to worry too much about it. It's still many months away! Here's to better weeks of training...

A Beautiful Day

My friend Sarah came over this afternoon so I could sneak off to the gym. I ran outside for 1.5 miles (I think) and it was SUCH a beautiful day. I really don't like the cold weather, can we please have more of these nice days?? Then I went into the gym to work on strengthening my legs. As I started doing squats my right knee was hurting, so I decided not to push it. As I learned in Yoga, you always need to listen to your body. My knee was telling me, "No, not this!" so I listened :)

Miles: 1.5
Time: 22 minutes

Miles on my Brooks: 26.5

Pre-Training: Day Two

Well I made my goal for this week: I got to the gym twice! This afternoon my friend Jeanette came over while Lily was napping so I could sneak off to the gym. I ran/walked two miles on the treadmill. My knees were bothering me off and on, especially the right one, but I have no idea if it's because I was on the treadmill and not pavement or something else. Afterwards I did some strength training for my legs and stretched. All in all, a good day!

Miles: 2
Time: 30 minutes

Miles on my Brooks: 25

Half Marathon Pre-Training

Today I started what I am calling my "Half Marathon Pre-Training". Basically this is just me getting back into the swing of things before my official training plan starts on Nov 14. I have a history of knee issues and shin splints, so I want to start working now to prevent any injuries. Today I ran/walked 1.5 miles outside (what a BEAUTIFUL day, too!), then I went into the gym and did some leg strengthening exercises. Mostly I'm focusing on building up the muscles in my quads and hamstrings so that they hold my knees in the right place while I'm running. I'm going to aim to get to the gym at least twice a week.

Miles: 1.5
Time: ???

Miles on my Brooks: 23

Here We Go...

No miles to record today, but I just had to share that I finally signed up for a half marathon!

I did it yesterday before I could chicken out...seriously. The race is March 18, 2012. That means most of my training will be during the winter, and I'm honestly not sure how that is going to work out. I'm going to have to get creative. However, I chose this race because it is flat, not during the summer, and relatively soon (ie, not a year from now). I know I need some motivation to run and hopefully this will do the trick! I will be following this schedule as best I can:

As you can see, my training starts SOON! Here we go....!

I Did It!

This past Friday I took Lily for a walk, and ended up jogging for part of it! I wasn't planning on it, but it was cold and the best way to warm up is...well...run! I probably only ran for 1/4 mile, but it's a start!

Miles: 2.5 (?)
Time: 40 minutes

Miles on my Brooks: 21.5

Friday Morning Walk

Wow, it's been a while! I hope to get back to running/walking and posting on here regularly again, now that things are sort of settling down.

This morning, Lily and I met Holly for a walk! Lily rode in the stroller, of course :)

We walked three miles and took turns pushing Lily. It was chilly but I feel GREAT! I'm going to try to do this at least every Friday morning with Lily, and who knows...maybe I'll even start jogging some too :)

Miles: 3
Time: 45 minutes

Miles on my Brooks: 19

Running Solo

Today I knew I needed to get out there and just get running! None of my usual running buddies were available so I headed out to my "neighborhood", which is really the Corporate Research Center (CRC). I ran a loop that was just under two miles, although I did walk the last half-mile. My knees and shins did great and it was overall a great run. It was getting HOT by the end of it, though. The nice thing about the Huckleberry trail is that it's shaded. But when I'm alone, I'll take wide open spaces for security reasons. I'm just proud of myself for getting out there and Getting My Run On!

Miles: 2
Time: 27 minutes

Miles this week: 5
Miles this month: 5
Miles on my Brooks: 16

National Running Day

Today is National Running Day! I celebrated by going for a run, of course :). It has been 5 days since my last run and my legs could definitely tell: they were sore, tired, and unfortunately my left knee was bothering me a lot by the end. It was so nice to run with Nicki and Hannah tonight, though! I'm looking forward to our next GYRO meet-up on Friday :).

Miles: 3
Time: 40 minutes (we did some walking at the end)

Miles this week: 3
Miles this month: 3
Miles on my Brooks: 14

A Spontaneous Friday Afternoon Run

I wasn't planning on running today, but the weather was so nice and cool that when Holly called and suggested it I couldn't say no! We ran three miles on the Huckleberry trail. It was a great day for a run and I'm glad I went. I'm trying to enjoy these cooler days as much as possible because pretty soon it will be HOT. My knees and shins are doing great! Now it's my calves and hamstrings that are tight and tired for most of my runs.

Yesterday Michaela and I walked 1.5 miles as well. I just wasn't feeling the running yesterday. This week has been a record week for me! I don't think I've ever run 4 times in 5 days!

Miles: 3
Time: 38 minutes

Miles this week: 11
Miles this month: 20.5
Miles on my Brooks: 11

Three with Holly and Hannah

The stars aligned today and I got to run with both Holly and Hannah on the Huckleberry trail! We really pushed the pace and I was feeling it by the end, but we also ran up most of the hills. My knees did great, no pain at all! My legs were definitely tired by the second mile. I ought to be icing them right now, actually. Overall not bad, especially considering that this is my third day in a row of running! I don't know if I've ever done that before, actually. I'm so glad my knees are cooperating and I can do this!

Miles: 3
Time: 36 minutes

Miles this week: 6.5
Miles this month: 16
Miles on my Brooks: 6.5

Quicky Post

Michaela and I ran 1.5 miles last night, the farthest she's run in a long time! I'm so proud :). My left knee hurt a little bit and overall I felt tired, probably from running two days in a row. But all the little miles add up!

Miles: 1.5
Time: ??? (I had my Garmin but accidentally stopped it halfway through our run)

Miles this week: 3.5
Miles this month: 13
Miles on my Brooks: 3.5

New Shoes!

On Friday, Holly and I went to get new running shoes together. Last night I took them out on their maiden voyage :). They felt incredible! They seriously feel like I've been wearing them forever, no "breaking-in" period at all. For anyone who's curious, I ended up with a pair of Brooks Ghost 3.

Yesterday evening I met up with Hannah at the Huckleberry trail and we ran two miles. My knees did great! My calves/shins were tight and sore like usual but not as bad as they have been in the past. Overall it was a great run. I actually had my Garmin with me so I know my time! I also tried out my new hand-held water bottle. Now that the days are getting so warm and humid I've decided that carrying water with me is a good idea. Aside from the sloshing noises it worked just fine.

Miles: 2
Time: 24 minutes

Miles this week: 2
Miles this month: 11.5
Miles on my Brooks: 2

(Another) Three With Holly

It has been so rainy all day that I wasn't sure we'd be able to run at all! But luckily we started just as the rain ended and it stayed dry for us the whole time (although the pavement was very, very wet).

Tonight was a great run for me, probably the best I've had since the fall. I don't know what our pace was because I left my Garmin at home (for fear of rain), but I think it was a little bit faster than a 13 min mile. We ran the whole three miles with the exception of walking up two hills. My legs did so much better than on Monday! They were sore but I never needed to stop and stretch. My knees also did great! I am so, so proud of this run. I feel like I've made a breakthrough of sorts!

Miles: 3
Time: ???

Miles this week: 5
Miles this month: 9.5

A Cool Two

Today I knew I needed to get out there and run. None of my usual running buddies were able to run today, so I set out from the gym on my own and ran two miles. I did pretty good considering I was without someone to talk to, my Garmin (IT FROZE! No idea what's wrong with it) or my iPod. As I was sitting here typing this blog post my Garmin started making a weird sound, so I plugged it in to charge and that FINALLY got a response out of it (it didn't work before). Now it's charging. I have no idea what happened, I simply unplugged it last night from charging and this afternoon I found it frozen at 10:18pm.

Anyway, so without my Garmin I can't be sure of my pace, but I know it was pretty slow (probably around 13 min mile, since I didn't have any trouble with side stitches). Holly calls it my "heart rate pace": the pace I can keep up semi-indefinitely. I know this is the pace I need to be at to strengthen my legs so I can then move on to increasing my distance.

Speaking of legs, they felt like lead (as usual)! I stopped to stretch them a few times but man they were tight and stayed that way. Not just my shins today, but my calves and the muscles on the outside of my lower legs, between the knee and ankle. I'm icing them as I type this :). I am happy to report that my knees did excellent for the whole two miles, no pain at all! Maybe the exercises I'm doing in the gym are helping after all.

It was a beautiful day for a run in Blacksburg: overcast, cool with a slight breeze. All in all a very pleasant run. I'm proud of myself for getting out there and pushing through the discomfort.

Miles today: 2
Time: ???

Miles this week: 2

Three with Holly

Tonight I met up with my dear friend Holly for a run on the Huckleberry trail. It was a beautiful evening for a run and there were TONS of people on the trail (including a woman on crutches with a water bottle strapped to one of the crutches!). We stopped to stretch after half a mile due to my shin splints, but they were better after that. We ran another mile and stretched again before turning around. Right around mile 2 my left knee started hurting, but I was pleased that I was able to run two miles without it complaining! We also kept a good pace for me, right around a 13min mile. I've discovered that this is the pace I need to keep in order to work on increasing my distance. I did have some side stitches but nothing too bad and I just ran through them. We walked the last half-mile to give my knees a rest. All in all it was a wonderful evening and I'm really pleased with the slow-but-steady progress my knees and shins are making!

Miles: 3
Time: 31 minutes

Miles this week: 4.5