Can You Believe I Ran 5 Miles?

I know I posted this quote before, but it felt so appropriate today.  I just need to replace one word. ...the idea that I'd ever go 5 miles seemed impossible.  And of course it was until I ran 5 miles.

I was preparing for my long run a week ago Saturday and decided it would be nice to run down by the Bosque instead of in my neighborhood.  So I drove down there and I was glad I did!  My Last long run was three miles and for some reason this one was suppose to be about 5 miles.  I have never ever run 5 miles, and I wasn't sure I could do it, but I was willing to give it a try. I was only .6 miles into my run when I decided to change it to a two mile run.  My whole body hurt and it just wasn't going well.  Around a mile and a half I decided I should go ahead and make it a 3.1, my body still hurt but I was feeling better.  When I hit 3 miles I decided to continue and run for about 4.25 miles, my body was feeling better.  Around 3.75 miles I decided I was to close to 5 to stop so I ran 5.17!  My feet felt like they were broken, but I finished.

Not only did I run 5 miles, but my Garmin (watch that tracks my running time and distances) tells me it was my fastest 5K yet.  That really surprised me because I hurt most of the 5 k portion. I felt must better around 3 miles. My question is did my body really start feeling better at three miles or does it just go numb to the pain??

It blows my mind that a 10K is only 1.2 miles more than 5 miles.  My goal was to be able to run a 10k by January.  I can't see a reason why I wouldn't be able to run one by June now.  Now I just need to speed up to a snails pace and I can run a race!

I Ran My 1st 5K

I ran my first 5K (run/walk/run)  today and I am so excited.  The 1st half of the 5k I was little worried I wouldn't finish, however, the last half I rocked it, I could have gone further!  My first mile was 16:15, so I figured my last mile would be around 18. However, I was so happy to see my last mile was 16:42.  I was happy to be that consistent.

One of my first goals was to run a 5K and I thought I would run in a 5K race. When I started looking at races I realized that I am so slow I didn't really want to go run around other people.  Then one day I saw this T-shirt (see above) on the internet.  I loved it, so I bought it for accomplishing my goal, I felt like it was very fitting for my running ability.

I think it was interesting today.  I ran at a 20/40 pace, and my pace is almost exactly the same as it was on 15/45.  I am not discouraged right now because my goal is to go further both in total distance and in time of continuous running. I am heading in the right direction on both of those.

3.1 down 10 miles to go!

An Interesting Thing Happened When I Upped My Run/Walk Ratio......

Today, I wanted to increase the time I ran.  I wanted to go from 20 minute runs to 30.  However, I realized I didn't have time to do a 30 minute run.  I do a warm up and a warm down and then I have to get home and that takes 5-10 minutes more.  So basically in order to run 20 minutes I am gone between 30-35 minutes.  So I decided to up my running ratio instead.  I went up from 15sec walk/45 sec run to 20 sec walk/ 40 sec run.  I was worried about running the extra 5 seconds.  When I started I was only running 10 seconds at at time and I was having a hard time with it.  Then when I went up to running 15 seconds at a time, that extra 5 seconds felt a lot longer than 5 seconds. At the same time you reduce your walking time by 5 seconds.  I was worried this time about the same thing happening.  I was also worried about not having enough walking time to recover before I ran again. The 1st 5 minutes was hard and of course I wondered if I made the right decision in upping my ratio. The second 5 minutes I settled in and did much better. I discovered something interesting at this point, I felt good while I was running, my legs didn't hurt, my breathing was fine, and I felt good. However, as soon as it was walking time, my legs hurt, my breathing was heavy, and I felt bad.  What is up with that?  I know I couldn't have gone out and just run 1.5 miles straight so why did I feel bad while walking, but not running?  Anyone have any thoughts or ideas for me.

Running up That Steep Hill Looks Fun.....

They built a new multi-purpose trail at the top of the Mesa and I have been driving by it for a month.  I really want to run up the hill and around the top. My husband did it about a week ago and he said it was 5 miles round trip from my house. The problem is I am only running around 2 miles. I got this bright idea on Wednesday and I drove to the bottom of the hill.  I estimated it would be about two miles up the hill, around the top, and back (by the way my estimate was spot on).

The picture is from the bottom of the hill.  You can't see the top, but it is .6 miles from the where I am standing.  That is right .6 miles! What was I thinking! It took me about 5 minutes to get to the top of this picture. And for the first time ever I had to miss a run (meaning I had to walk though a run segment).  I wondered if I was going to be able to actually finish the whole run. I realized this might have been a huge mistake.  However, I didn't miss another run.  I got to the top totally exhausted.  I couldn't remember why I thought this was a good idea! The first half of the loop at the top was hard, because I was so tired. But I got a second wind during the second half of the loop and I was ready to run by the time I started back down the hill.  I do love going down hill, so that was fun.

In the end my time was not good, 34min 20 sec for 2 miles.  I know some of you are thinking you could walk it faster than that. However, I think I might try to run it once a month with the goal of just being able to do it faster each time.

2.5 Miles Down 10.6 To Go!

I let my son borrow my running gloves this  morning so I ran a little later than normal.  It was still cold, but my fingers didn't feel like they were going to freeze off. Todays long run was good.  I struggled from 21 minutes-31 minutes and then I was fine again.  That is a good thing to know. I could have kept going when I hit my target distance.  However, I have had too many times where I have over did it exercising and then had to quit. I am trying to stick to my program.

My long run a whole 2.5 miles.  I only have to figure out how to run 10.6 miles further and increase my pace from 15 sec/45sec run/walk to a 1min/1min run/walk. I have 13 months to do it in so I should be good.

Running makes me feel better

Wow, I  have had a lot of obstacles lately. I have been sick, I have had scheduling issues, family issues, just one thing after another.  The thing is I still keep planing my runs wether they happen or not. I was suppose to go running last Wednesday, but my husbands work schedule did not allow it.  That was okay because I thought I would just run Thursday instead.  Well, that didn't happen either.  However, an interesting thing happened Thursday, life started getting really stressful and I wasn't handling it as well as I would like and I thought I wish I had run. I had made the realization that running makes me feel better, not while I am running at that point I feel like I am going to die. But after I run I feel better and I handle things better.  Therefore, I am running on Monday.

I am a Super Duper Slow Runner

Today was my long run, 2 miles.  Okay stop laughing, it was long to me.  On Monday and Wednesday I run for 20 minutes plus warm up and cool down.  But on Saturdays I do a long run.  This week it is 2 miles, next week it will be 2.5.  Anyhow,  two thirds the way through the run I started to have labored breathing, and my legs started to hurt.  I looked at my phone app and it said I was at 1.6 miles which is what I usually run on Mondays and Wednesdays.  My body knew I had reached that point and it said it was done.  I kept running and I got my best time ever!  Yes, some people walk as fast as I run. But that is okay, I am happy I am doing well.  I am hoping in a week to bump up my walk/run ratio from Super duper slow to really really slow:-)

I like this meme because I am slow, I have a low run/walk ratio, and I have a hard time considering myself a runner.  However, I feel that it is a mindset I have to change.  I do run, therefore I am a runner.    I am a Super Duper Slow runner!