Winter running

ice on one of the ponds in our neighborhood

Despite weather in the mid-20s this week, I've actually gone on walks 4 times! Why didn't I manage this in previous winters? I blame it on the frigid arctic wind blowing across the open fields and right through me. All the trees around here block most of the wind, so while it's still cold, I'm not being blown all over and I don't have to deal with the wind chill factor.

Monday: 1.5 miles
Wednesday: 2 miles
Friday: 2.5 miles
Saturday: 3 miles

No running yet- I haven't run since the race on Thanksgiving, but the walks feel good.

How does LMS stay warm? I bundle her up, wrap a warm fleece blanket around her, then put the water proof rain/snow cover on the stroller which blocks any stray wind and keeps her body heat in. She stays nice and toasty :)

Turkey Trot

When I was in high school, various members of my family would run a 5 mile Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. We also had a Friday morning Turkey Carcass run that we participated in. I actually missed the first Turkey Trot I signed up for because I got hit by a van while doing a quick run the evening before. No broken bones, but I certainly wasn't in any position to run a 5 mile race the next morning.

In any case, I graduated and moved half way across the country to go to college, and with one thing or another I haven't run a Turkey Trot since my senior year in high school. A few weeks ago I googled local races and found a 5k that's just 10 minutes away. Even better, they allow jogging strollers!

It was on the cold side Thanksgiving morning, but the race was fun. It was the first time I ran a race pushing a jogger, but I didn't do too badly. The first half of the race was nice mixture of flat and downhill. The second half was a lot of uphills, so I had to do some walking then, but I still managed to finish the race in 35:05. Not the best time I've ever run, but really good for pushing a 4 year old in a jogger up a bunch of hills.

LMS had fun, but kept asking to get out and run. She's been riding in that jogger since she was 3 or 4 months old. I think we're approaching the end of its usefulness. Next year she'll be old enough to participate in the half mile kids' fun run that's before the 5k.

Do you run a race on Thanksgiving?

Women's 4 Mile Race

This morning I ran my first race in more than a year and a half- the last time was New Year's Day 2009. I was a little concerned about the course because the course description kept talking about hills, but ultimately the slight inclines couldn't hold a candle to the hills I've been running while pushing a four year old in a jogging stroller.

And can I say how much easier it is to run when not pushing said four year old in a jogger? Holy cow! What a difference! It's been at least 6 months since I ran without her, so I'd forgotten what it's like. In training, I only managed to run two or two and a half miles during my four and four and a half mile walks. I knew I could finish a four mile race, I just wasn't sure that I could run an entire four mile race.

Other than a short distance (a hundred yards, maybe) between the mile 3 marker and the water table, I ran the entire race! Yay me! And I only walked that section because I couldn't catch my breath- I still don't have my inhalers worked out properly, so they helped, but not quite enough.

Because I was able to run almost the entire race, I also finished a lot faster than I thought I would. I wasn't really sure how long it would take since I didn't have any real benchmark to go from, but I definitely wasn't expecting to finish in 42:32 (that's a 10.6 minutes/mile pace).

Making the whole experience even better, my shins didn't bother me! This is HUGE- being able to run a race without my shins killing me is something I've been looking forward to for a loooong time.

Several of my friends also ran the race, and LMS was able to stay with their husbands and kids while I ran, which really made the whole thing possible. I left my camera with LMS, and she tried to get a picture of me, but my camera is a piece of crap and way too slow. So instead of me, here's a picture of the people behind me:

and a picture of me while we walked to the starting line, waving to LMS:

Apparently one of the husbands got some good video of me waving to LMS as I ran passed them to the finish line (they were a couple hundred yards from it), but I haven't gotten a chance to see it yet.

I enjoyed the course and I'd like to do this race again next year :)

Good hard run

Today I did 4.5 miles, and I ran a little more than 3 of those miles. It kicked my bum! It was a bit cooler (70's) than it has been (90's+), but still hot and humid, and I can tell that I still have a ways to go to get in shape.

Admittedly, I am running up and down lots of hills while pushing a 4 year old in a jogger, but I'm still not in shape. I think I need to start using my inhalers again, too :(  I hate being dependent on medication, but I could tell I wasn't getting enough oxygen, so I'll have to use them.

I've got 3 weeks till the 4 mile race, and I'd like to run the whole thing, so I need to start ramping up my training. I'd also like to start increasing my weekly mileage so I can run a half marathon in November.

Today I ran a mile

It's been a really long time since I ran a mile without stopping, especially while pushing LMS in the jogger. I can't say I was fast, but I did it. And aside from being very sweaty and out of shape, it felt good.

I've got just over a month till the four mile race, so I need to focus on getting my mileage up and making sure I'm prepared. Today was encouraging.

Off-road running

Thursday we went off-roading on our walk. It's beautiful out here. The view looking forward:

The view looking back:

I did run for short distances, which reminded me how much I enjoy running on dirt trails, especially if they're flat :)

I finally replaced the battery and recalibrated my pedometer, so I have a fairly accurate idea of how far I'm going now.

Saturday I went for a 3.5 mile walk, and managed to run about 1.25 miles of it. I broke the run up into four different sections, and it was definitely a good workout.

I'm sticking to walking/running three days a week, even though I am tempted to run more- it feels good to finally being running again, but I know if I push it too hard, too fast I'll just end up injured again. I really don't want that to happen.

Running Shoes

In my ongoing quest to get in shape and lose weight, I've been walking again, and have even managed to add in some running.

As per goal #50,  I've been looking for races to participate in. Registering for a race is one of the best ways for me to stay motivated in my workouts.

Saturday I registered for the local Womens 4 Miler that will be held the first Saturday in September. I'm excited- I haven't run a race since New Year's Day 2009. As usual, I'm trying to be careful to avoid shin splints- they're the reason I haven't run any races in so long.

Since my running shoes were pretty old and worn out,

I decided it was time to get some new shoes:

I love new shoes! The old ones were feeling saggy and lopsided. The new ones feel so good- nice and firm and supportive.