Friday, February 15, 2008

Run 15

Thursday's run was NOT fun. We ran up a hill, walked down it, ran up it, walked down it and so on. It was horrid, oh so horrid. Then to top it off, as we had just finished a run up the hill and turned around, a car came up behind us and it turned out to be a cop, turned out to be 3 cop cars, all of which pulled up to the house we were fixing to walk by. It was a little unnerving, so we headed to Megan's house to lift some weights. Thus ends the Thursday run.

Due to some unchangeable circumstances, we will do our 3 mile run on Sunday instead of tomorrow.

Run on,
Carmen

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Run 14

Today I ran a mile. I ran with Megan and Tracy. Set a PR. Broke 12 minutes!! 11:52. and I could have kept going @ the same pace. That is a fantastic feeling!! Not so great a feeling is that we are running hills tomorrow. Happy Valentine's Day to me.

Today's run and Monday's run have helped build my confidence as a runner. I not really do think that I can make it through the race.

Miles run: 20

Run on,

Carmen

Run 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13

Let's see if I even remember the past five runs enough to write about them.

The run on Tuesday was a one mile-r. As far as I can remember, it was a good run.
Then we ran 2 miles on Wednesday. We ran out one mile and then ran back. Set a PR for that one. Knocked a minute or two. That always feels good. Then Thursday we ran Wesleyan Drive, a mile. That one is always a killer because we end on a hill, a long hill.

Saturday's run was 3 miles. That's the furthest I've ever run before. Johnna and Connie ran with Megan and me. We didn't make great time, but we made it. I ran 3 miles. There were some moments of not wanting to continue, of me basically telling myself that there was no way I could make it, how could I think that I could run 3 miles?? It was a pure mental battle for the first two miles. Once I hit the third mile, the battle was won, and I finished strong. That was nice. But those first two miles were not cool.

Monday's run was two miles. I ran with Megan, Abby, Beth, Melissa, and Jewel. We did not make good time, but Meg and I increased our speed up the Wesleyan Drive hill, and I made good time up the hill. And it was the first time I didn't feel like I was going to die running up it. That was a great victory for me.

Running is funny. I like the before and after feeling of running. The knowing that I am going to do something good for myself and the knowing that I just did something good for myself is great. The actual running, for the most part, it is not so great. The thing that I am most proud about from Saturday's run is that for the first time I stopped relying on Megan's encouragement and made myself believe that I could make it past feeling awful and finish what I had started. I know that not all runs will be bad and not all runs will be good, but now I know that I can see it through to the end.

Miles ran: 19

Days to go before 5K: 19

Run on,

Carmen

Monday, February 4, 2008

Run 7 and 8

Thursday was cold. Cold and the wind cut like a knife, seriously. But we ran our mile. There were five of us for that run. We did the "backwards" mile from Thomas, down Fernway to Clayton down to Wesleyan, up by the library and back by the church.

Megan and I ran two miles on Saturday. It was a good run. The first mile was easy, and it wasn't until we were over half-way up the last major hill of the second mile that I really felt like I couldn't do it. But the blessing/curse of running with someone is that you can't quit. You have to keep going. So, I was able to push through and finish the two miles. And to top it off, I did it in four minutes less than I did last week. I'm pretty proud of that, I must say.

So, we will run tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday. It is a one, two, one that we are running. Then Saturday is 3 miles. I can't even believe that I run one mile, let alone any more than that. It may be a little premature and conceited to say, but I keep impressing myself. But I am so glad that I'm not doing it alone. It is so nice to have someone to run with so I can't back out of runs and to talk me through the rough patches when all I want to do it quit running and walk.

Miles run: 10

Run on,
Carmen

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Run 5 and 6

Monday was my fifth run. It was not the easiest of runs. Maybe I got to cocky; I thought I would knock it out of the park since is was one less mile than Saturday's run, but alas, it was a struggle.

Yesterday, I did some core exercises with the core ball. That was an experience. I seriously about killed myself.

Today was a good mile run. We went in the opposite direction from what we've been running, and it was a nice change. I still had some energy at the end, so I "sprinted" to the end.

Tomorrow will be another mile run, but we will pick up the pace.

Miles run: 7

Run on,

Carmen

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Run 4

We ran our "long run" today. 2 miles. Instead of running outside--because the weather forecast kept changing randomly--we ran @ the REC, on treadmills. It wasn't an awful run, but it was hot. We've been running outside in the cold, and to change to running indoors with heat was a bit difficult for me. But I did it. And was able to speed up at the end. To be able to see what pace I was running at and to change it if I wanted to and know exactly what I was speeding up to was awesome.

I told my parents today that I had used the Christmas money that was supposed to buy curtains and a bookcase to buy my running gear. They are very excited for me. I wanted to wait until I had run for a week before I told them, so it was for real and not something that I was "going" to do.

Five weeks until the Reedy River Run.

Miles run: Five

Run on,

Carmen

Pre-run food: Special K for breakfast; 2 slices of dried pineapple and a few soy nuts for snack previous to run

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Run 3

Today's run was not a walk in the park. It was very windy, and we ran down a hill, then up a hill, then down a hill, then up up up a hill. But, nonetheless, after it was over, I was happy that I had done it. Tomorrow is a rest day, and then a two mile run.

Tonight after we ran, we met up with Abby, Tim, and Beth to see Spirit of the Marathon. It is a documentary about several runners training to run the Chicago marathon. It was an inspiring and enjoyable look @ what I may be getting myself into.

Miles run: 3


Run On,

Carmen