I Hate Running - Log 11: Running for Kenslee

I started running at a local trail last week because the loop I've been doing through my neighborhood has become less accommodating as my runn times are increasing. In order to avoid some nasty hills, I've been more or less running up and down a somewhat busy road. Now that I can run all the way up, and most of the way back down in one shot, I keep having to stop mid-run to cross. It's really been throwing off my groove, if you know what what I mean.

So, off I went to the Audubon Loop, starting at the Mill Grove Park, which is just a short drive from my apartment. I'm pretty sure it was love at first run.

Although it is parallel, and butts quite closely, to a main road, it is bordered on the other side by lovely meadows and walking paths. It weaves in and out of the trees so you don't always feel like you're running right next to the traffic and it's frequented by runners, walkers, and bikers, but never seems crowded. The trail also has just the right amount of gentle sloping hills that add some interest to the workout without making my legs feel like goo. I give two enthusiastic thumbs up - fine holiday fun!

In more exciting news, I have made my first big running-related commitment! My sister, Carlee, who trained for and ran her first marathon two years ago, has convinced me that if I really train for it, I'll be ready to join her to run a half marathon by May 1, 2011. More specifically, we'll be running the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati, OH.

I'm only slightly frightened by the prospect of being ready to run 13 miles in less than a year. But, I have an amazing reason to stay motivated: my niece, Kenslee.

Kenslee was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder earlier this year called Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD). In a nutshell, this means that her body has trouble breaking down and storing glycogen. It's not an acute disease, but it is something that she will have to deal with her whole life. Presently, her condition is under control, but there there is the potential for long-term affects to her liver and kidneys as well as a lot more unknowns as she gets older. More information on the disease can be found here.

But, what does this have to do with running the Half Pig? Since this disease is so uncommon, there are only a handful of fundraising opportunities directly associated with GSD foundations. So, Carlee thought, if we'll be running anyway, why not raise money for GSD while we're at it? Of course there are a lot of details to work out, but come May 1, 2011, one way or another, we will be running for Kenslee (I'll keep you all posted as more details develop). There is no better motivation than that.

I Hate Running - Log 10: Hot, Hot Heat

I'm going to keep my log short and sweet since I'm a bit late with it (plus, I'm squeezing this into my lunch break)... so, here is the past week's running in a nutshell:

Last Sunday (Challenge Day): In NY, I ran 15 minutes non-stop. Walked 5, ran 5, walked some more for a cool down.

Tuesday & Thursday: Did four intervals - ran for 7 minutes, walked for 2 with longer walks for warm-up and cool down.

Only got in 3 days due to a crazy schedule last week and I almost died in the heat!!! I'm considering getting my lazy butt out of bed early to run in the mornings when it's cooler since the heat isn't going away anytime soon, but we'll see (I'm not exactly what you would call a "morning person"... just ask the husband).

This week: Running 8 minutes, walking 2. 4 intervals.

I Hate Running - Log 9: You Can't Win 'Em All

I started out strong this week. Last Sunday, I ran for 10 minutes straight!! This was another one of the goals from my 31 in 31 list, and I was not expecting to accomplish it so soon. It kind of just happened: I felt good after 5 minutes (my time from last week), I felt good after 7 minutes... and, next thing I knew, I looked down at my watch and saw that I was 30 seconds away from 10 minutes. So, I went for it. And, I felt amazing afterwards!

Tuesday was also awesome. I went running on the Perkiomen Trail (a local trail along the Perkiomen River, frequented by runners, bikers, and dog walkers) with the Little Miss who got me into running: Amy @ Little Miss Moon Blossom. Even though she is amazing and is ahead of me time wise, she stuck to 6 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking with me.

The trail was beautiful, and having the company while running was fantastic. Very easy to forget about the time when you have someone to chat with. I even finished my run off with a long (for me) sprint over the one of the bridges back across the river.

Wednesday, though... well, that's a different story. Aside from the first couple days when my body was still pissed at me for forcing running upon it, I'd classify Wednesday as my worst running day so far.

I think my mistake was going to a local park with obnoxious hills (I didn't remember them being as terrible as they were!) on one of the hottest days so far this year. I was dead by end of my first interval. I managed to get two more in, but skipped out on the last one and walked for the remainder of the 30 minutes.

Despite Wednesday's set back, I'm still feeling pretty good about my progress. It is good to remember that not every run is going to be fantastic. Sometimes, you just have an off day, and that's not necessarily a bad thing (so long as they don't all turn into bad days!).

Next week, I'll be running 7 minutes per interval.

I Hate Running - Log 8: Breathing Easy

Last week, I made a last minute decision to add a fourth day into my running routine. Sunday is now going to be what I've decided to call a "Challenge Day" where I don't necessarily stick my schedule for the week. I'm going to use it as day to push myself a bit more and see if I can run longer, for at least one interval. Last Sunday, I made it to 7 minutes, which the longest I've run at one time so far!

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I did four intervals where I ran for 5 minutes and walked for 2 minutes.

The most notable thing about this week is that it's becoming easier and easier to breathe normally while running. Based on my breathing, I feel like I could keep going for a lot longer. The caveat is that my legs will now get to a point where they just don't want to go any further! But, I know that they will catch up soon - they're getting stronger every time I go out. I also took some time this week to map out run and determine how far I've been going. To my surprise, I've been running about 2.2 miles, which is a lot farther than I expected.

On tap for next week: Challenge Day on Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday my intervals will be 6 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking for 30 minutes total.

I Hate Running: Log 6 & 7 - A Love/Hate Relationship

I definitely forgot to do my running log last week. It was an amazing whirlwind of a weekend filled with impromptu visits with some of my very best friends -- blogging about my run was the last thing on my mind. And since this weekend is shaping up to be another busy one, I decided to get it done early, lest you think I've been slacking off ;)

As you may have noticed, I have endearingly termed my running log "I Hate Running" because I do... or, well, I used to. In reality, this weekly log is about the process of falling in love with running. I used to think I was just one of those people who would never be able to run. Now, not only am I running, but I'm actually enjoying it. Crazy!

Over the past two weeks, I have been noticing that I actually look forward to my running days. On my off days, I wish I was going running. When I get home, I feel like a million bucks.

Sure, I don't always love it when I'm actually out running. There are times when I have to fight with myself not end early because my legs start to feel like Jell-O or because it's really humid or because I have a blister. But, the thing that keeps me going is knowing that I will always feel awesome when I'm done.

Last week (week 6) my goal was to run 3 minutes and walk 2 minutes for 30 minutes total on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Wednesday, I ran for 4 minutes on a couple of my cycles and it was great! But, I also skipped running on Friday, which was not so great.

This week (week 7) my goal was to run 3.5 minutes and walk 2 minutes for 30 minutes total on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday was ok, I stuck pretty strictly to the 3.5 minutes. Wednesday was a particularly good day -- I ran for 3.5 for my first two cycles and then ran 5 minutes, 4.5 minutes, and 5.1 minutes. Today was a bit rough (SO humid!), but I managed to finish my run and pushed myself to run for 5 minutes on my last cycle.

Overall, it's been a good couple of weeks.

I feel like I can actually start referring to myself as a "runner" now. I kind of felt like a poser before because in reality, I was walking with some running thrown in. But, in the past 7 weeks (5 weeks, if you count my 2 weeks off with a bum knee), I've more than tripled the amount of time I can run at one time -- when I started, I could barely run for a minute straight and now I'm over 3 minutes -- and during the 30 minutes overall, I'm running more than I am walking. And, my running times will just keep getting better! That give me permission, right?

On another high note, I've lost 4 more L-B's since my last running log. That brings my grand total up to 11. Woot woot!

Next week, my goal is to run for 4 minutes and walk for 2 minutes, rinse repeat, for 30 minutes.

I Hate Running - Log 5: Back in the Game

This post is going to be short and sweet!

My knee is feeling great and my new Asics are lovin' on my feet. I got back into my running routine this week with wonderful results.

I was worried that I'd be back to square one, after two weeks sans running, but I am excited to report that I picked up right where I left off. I only ran twice this week, but both times I was able to run for 2 minutes and walk for 2. The last week that I ran, I was running 1.5 and walking 2, so I'm right on track. I also found a better loop around my neighborhood with far less hills, which has been a big help.

And for little more good news: I lost another 4.5 pounds this week! That is a grand total of 7. I'm feeling pretty stoked :)

For the week ahead, and I will be working on running for 2.5 and walking walking 2.

I Hate Running: Log 4 - Everything But Running

Once again, my running log is going to be lacking in actual running. But, it is about a few things that will help me once I get clearance about my knee.

Thankfully, it is feeling much better. But, I have not yet tried to run on it because I mistakenly thought my doctor's appointment was early last week, but it's not until tomorrow (Monday). If all goes well, I should be up and running again by Wednesday and back on schedule.

I am also looking forward to running next week so that I can test out my new running shoes. Check out these little beauties:

They are Ascis Gel Kahana 3 running shoes. They are made for stability and will hopefully help to correct my over pronation (which I suspect helped contribute to my knee problem). I am so excited to have a real pair of running shoes! (and maybe even more excited that I picked them up for nearly half of their retail price of $75 - sweet!).

As for my "workout" this week I walked for 30-45 minutes for 4 days and added in crunches and push-ups, which I have been doing nightly.

I also made some changes to my diet by upping my water intake (9-10 cups a day), and following a plan that's essentially a hybrid between the knowledge from The Food Lovers Fat Loss system and The Zone (thanks to my good friend Amy @ Brain Doodlies for all the info and advice about these plans! We did not actually order either of these systems, just garnered info from infomercials, books, and the interwebs).

The plan is not what I would consider a "diet". Instead, it's about learning to eat sensibly and get the most out of your meals by having foods that will give you longer lasting energy throughout the day. In a nutshell, I have been striving to eat a "fast carb" (bread, pasta, etc) which gives you quick energy, a "slow carb" (leafy greens, berries, grapefruit, etc.) which gives you long lasting energy, and a protein (chicken, fish, cheese, etc.) that keeps you feeling full, with each meal. I've also been watching portion sizes and having a small, approximately 100 calorie, snack about two hours after each meal to keep my metabolism up.

I love this way of eating because it's practical and it is something that you can do forever because you're eating real food. It's not a fad diet and you don't become dependent on any nasty meal replacement shakes or weird pills.

And the best part? I lost 2.5 pounds!!!

I'm itching to get back into my running routine and I'm sure that fueling my body properly is going to be make a big difference. And, if all goes well at my appointment tomorrow, my running log will have a lot more to do with actual running next weekend.

I Hate Running: Log 2 & 3 - Ups and Downs

I feel like a lot has happened (good and bad) since my first running log, which is crazy considering I'm only on Week 3.

The beginning of last week was fantastic! I was right on track with my Week 2 workout (run 1.5 min/walk 2 min) and even pushing myself to do 2 minutes of running on every other cycle.

I was really focusing on regulating my breathing (in through the nose, out through the mouth) and I have been amazed at the fact that I have not been losing my breath nearly as easily as I did the first week. Initially, I thought that was going to be my biggest hurdle, but I think the gradual increase in running (vs. just trying to run straight off the bat) has been much better for my body.

All in all, I was feeling really quite optimistic and excited last week...

Until Friday, that is. Grrr. That's when the pain in my left knee set in.

It was not just the typical, beautiful soreness that I've been experiencing post-run. It was sharp every time I stepped. I ignored it (which was dumb) when I first noticed it about half way through my run because I didn't want to feel like a failure. But, by my final cycle, I couldn't ignore it anymore and walked the last 7 minutes or so.

From what I've learned about running thus far, pain is not to be ignored, or pushed through. It means that something could be wrong and pushing it will only make it worse. I believe the culprit of the pain is my unsupportive old sneakers. Number one on my priority list at the moment is to acquire a good pair running shoes. Dan (who is a former cross country runner) also gave me a few pointers on my form, which may have also contributed to my pain.

As a result of the pain, I have been taking it quite lightly during Week 3, since even walking normally makes it hurt. I feel pretty bummed that I'm already out on the sidelines with an injury, but I want to make sure that I take care of it properly before continuing my training. Thankfully, I already have a physical scheduled for next Tuesday, so I can chat with my doctor about what to do with my knee.

This week, even though I wasn't running, I wanted to be sure that I was still doing something so that I don't get out of the habit of coming home, changing into my running clothes, and heading out. So, I filled my 30 minutes with extra stretching and light walks.

On Wednesday, I decided to walk to our local library, which ended up being closer than I thought and smack dab in the middle of a beautiful park with a perfect running/walking loop (you better believe I'll be taking full advantage of it). While I was there, I signed up for a card and checked out a book about preventing and treating running injuries and another book about stretching.

And now you can really see how much of a dork I am, because I was so enthused about finally finding the library and my selection of books, that I promptly called my mom to tell her about it and was practically skipping home while we chatted. I'm sure I had a big 'ole cheesy grin on my face, too.

All in all, even though my running routine has been interrupted, I feel like it's still been a productive couple of weeks. And, oddly enough, the fact that I'm sincerely disappointed about not being able to run is encouraging. If this would have happened to me any of the other times I tried running, I would have used it as an easy excuse to give up. But, not this time! As soon as I'm heeled, getting back out to run is going to feel so good.

I Hate Running: Log 1 - Just Do It!

I have been such a bloggy slacker the past few days. I started this post on Friday and somehow, haven't gotten around to finishing it until now. I blame it on the long weekend - and my awesome family for being so lovely and making me want to do nothing but spend time with them <3

Any how, as noted in last Tuesday's post, I started running and decided to keep a weekly log. It will be mainly to keep myself accountable, but I think it will also be great to look back in a couple months and see how far I've come. This week, I'm a tad late, but in the future, I'll be aiming to get this post up by Saturday (one of my "off" days). This initial post will also be a bit more lengthy than future posts, so you're off the hook if you don't feel like reading the whole thing ;)

Goals

I'm a notoriously bad goal setter, but I've realized I'm better at sticking to them when I don't look too far afield. For example, my ultimate and (very) long term goal for running is to run a marathon.

However, if this were my only goal, I probably would have given up already. So, I've broken it to little goal-ettes to help get me there:

1. Follow a hybrid of the 8 and 24 week plans from the book Beginning Running and be able to run for 30 minutes straight in about 16 weeks.

2. Run a 5K

3. Participate in the Broad Street Run (10 miles; either in 2011 or 2012)

4. Train for, and run, a half marathon

5. Train for, and run, a full marathon

I haven't established a time frame for goals 2, 4 and 5 yet, but once I figure that out, I'll post something.

I should also note, I did not start running just because I would like to run a marathon. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that my ultimate goal is get active and be healthy. I'm a huge exercise-phobe, but I also spend a ton of time complaining about how out of shape I am. So, I decided it was finally time to do something about it. I also owe a huge thanks to my good friend Amy because she made me realize that running is not as evil as I thought.

On the contrary, I've really been enjoying it thus far. I think a big part of that is because I now understand that I cannot go from 0 to 60 in a hot second. When I've tried running in the past, I would just run out of my front door, barely make it around the block, and declare myself a failure. But, our bodies were not designed to go from sedentary to marathon ready (or even mile-run-ready) over-night. Breaking it down into gradual steps makes running for any length of seem much more realistic.

Which brings me too:

Workout for Week 1

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Warm up - Brisk walk for two minutes. Workout - Run for one minute, walk for two minutes - repeat 10 times (or 30 minutes total). Cool down - walk for 2 -5 minutes. Stretch before and after.

Tuesday and Thursday: Light walk or hike for at least 30 minutes.

I have to admit Tuesday I did nothing physical. Although, I did chat about running for a long while with Amy (that's got to count for something, right?). But, other than that, I kicked week one's butt!

Biggest /Win for the Week

I could say that my biggest accomplishment this week was conquering the hills that plaque the neighborhood around my apartment complex. Or, I could say that it was bringing my running clothes to work last Wednesday and going out to run before the meeting that I had to stay late for. I could even say that my biggest accomplishment was when I fell in the mud an scarped my knee, but got up and kept going because I was only half-way done.

But, none of that would have happened if I didn't make the ultimate decision to get off my big 'ole butt and run in the first place.

Therefore, my biggest /win this week is actually getting up and running. There are so many reasons to not run, but I've finally exhausted all my excuses and made the decision to find the reasons to run. And for that, I feel pretty darn proud of myself.