6 Miles

I did the "Cove" route this morning by myself. It's so COLD, but I loved it. It was nice having my alone time. I ran some of the way up to the church, but walked most of it. But on the way home... I ran more that I usually do with Sherri. I thought I did pretty good. :o) I never realized how busy it was up there with kids going to school and all... LOTS of traffic.

6 miles ~ 1 hour 8 minutes

6 Miles

Sherri and I walked up to the church up in the "Cove"... walked around looking at building lots for her and then ran home. Another "fresh" morning. This route is becoming a favorite. the walk up is a warm up, then the run home is fast paced. It's hard to talk going home, but we do pretty good.  :o)

6 miles ~ 1 hour 35 minutes

4 Miles

I left the kiddos home again this morning. I was suppose to go to Crossfit, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I've done something to my back. I don't think it's muscles... it feels like my ribs are being smashed and it only hurts when I'm sleeping. When I'm up and moving it doesn't hurt... but it makes sleeping in impossible without a heating pad and Advil. So I decided after getting moving this morning to go for a run. I ran the route that I usually walk with my friends. I ran down a beautiful trail to the edge of Herriman and then turned around and walked home. I guess I didn't do the "full" route, but it was still nice.

I love running and walking with friends, but there's something about being out on my own. Having "alone time". Every Sunday I ask the girls in my class questions... the last one I asked was "What moment have you felt the most alive?" I would have to say... running down some trail/canyon in the fall... alone.  :o) I felt very "alive" and happy. I can't give this up... even if I can't race (yet).

2.3 miles ~ 26 minutes (running...lots of running)
1.7 miles ~ 27 minutes (walking)

4.5 Miles

My friend Sherri and I ran down the canyon this morning. This has to be one of my favorite runs. Especially this time of year. To quote Uncle... it was real "fresh". There was more running this time. My legs have gotten a little better and felt great going down. Not much else to report...except my legs and butt are on FIRE from yesterday. I'm not going to be able to sit or go down stairs for a while.  :oP

4.5 miles ~ 55 minutes

Crossfit

So... I had no desire to go to Crossfit. My backs been hurting and I was so tired (not much sleep with this whole back thing). I was just getting ready to get in the shower when the doorbell rang... it was the Crossfit teacher. "Tell you mom to come down, we're doing something 'fun'," is what Gracen told me. So I was curious..."something fun". I got dressed and went down. NOT fun. We were trying to build up our ability to lift more on the "back squat". I mean I do love the back squat, but after my embarrassing bench mark I haven't been real confident. So this did NOT seem like fun. We did 8 sets of 4 at 80% of our maximum (I was suppose to do 90 lbs, but went to 80 because I hadn't been in so long). I am SO sore!! We did as many reps for time: run 400 meters, 12 pullups, 8 push presses. I think I got 7 (I don't even remember). I just tired.

5.5 Miles

We did the same route as last week. But this time, we walked up the canyon and ran home. We weren't SUPER fast, but it was a pretty good pace considering we walked half of it. It's so hard to get up and going when the kids are out of school. But I need to start running again. Snow Canyon is out of the question, but it doesn't mean I can't keep running so I'll be ready for SOME race next year.  :o)

5.5 miles ~ 1 hour 18 minutes

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Run when I can, walk when I cannot run, and creep when I cannot walk.

6.5 Miles

It was just walking... but it was 3 miles up the canyon and 3 miles down (with .5 of wandering around neighborhoods at the top). My legs were still a little tender, so this was as good as it was going to get.

6.5 miles ~ ?? minutes

Crossfit

We our "Helen" benchmark today...
3 rounds for time:
400m run (which I ended up walking)
21 kettlebell swings (35lbs)
12 pull ups (still on the purple band)  :o)

It didn't count towards my benchmark because I was walking... but I did it.

Running will start again on Monday. My outer muscles were really tender today. I'm debating whether I should go to the doctor again or not. I'm worried I have another stress fracture. Oh well... just keep on keeping on.

3.55 Miles

Well, shoot. I think running in my old shoes on Monday did something to my right leg this time. No problems at all with that outer calf muscle on my left leg, but the muscle DEEP under my shin on the right leg is killing me! I wore my compression socks and everything. Don't know what this new pain means, but I'll just keep plugging away I guess... BLECH!

There was a lot of walking this morning. Just not feeling it I guess... the pain didn't help with the situation either.  :oP   Oh well. No tears today.

2.8 miles ~ 34 minutes (run/walking)
.75 miles ~ 14 minutes (just walking)

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"... totally fits my Crossfit and running experiences.  :o)

Crossfit

It's been a while since I went ... but I'm glad I did. We did as many reps as possible in 20 minutes:
2 pull-ups/tire dips (pull-ups were with a black band... which is SO hard for me)
5 thrusters (which are squatting down and then lifting 35lbs above your head)
30 jump rope

I got 9 + my pull-up/dip combo and my thrusters... SUPER SWEATY today!

4 Miles

After a week of pouting, overeating and a lot of venting to friends and John... I decided I can't give up. I need to figure out what I'm doing wrong... figure out why I'm hurting and ONLY on one side. So, this morning I woke up at 5:00 and did some stretches, really focusing on my right leg. I did my usual route and after about 1.5 miles my right leg started hurting. So for the next mile I really focused on how I was running. It felt like I was running with my foot flexed (with my toes up) the whole time. So I started thinking about the "Chi" running that I read about... where you focus on relaxation, landing midfoot, and use gravity by leaning forward while you run. I also remembered what my PT said, I need to lift my heels "show the bottoms of my feet while I'm running". It totally helped! Now, to just remember all that stuff on Wednesday morning.  :o)  Now to begin the sneezing portion of my morning... I'm going on 15 sneezes in a row.  :oP

3.5 miles ~ 42 minutes (run/walking)
.5 miles ~ 7 minutes (walking)

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Look for little improvements every day.

$%@*@#*&%!!

That's right... SWEAR SWEAR SWEAR!! Actually I don't know if I should be swearing or crying. My 8 mile long run turned into a 2 mile limp/jog and a mile walking home cussing and swearing the whole way. WHY?!? Why can't I do this any more?!?  I'm just SO angry. I feel SO depressed right now. It's not my shins this time... it's some muscle that starts on the top of my right foot and goes up the outside of my leg. It was KILLING and I could not get it to stretch out this morning. I guess it's been going on for a while now, but I thought I was just my legs getting back into the motion.

All I want to do it run. I never thought I'd say it... but I do. I've never been able to accomplish anything as hard as running has been for me... but I did it! I did it on my own. I did it even though John told me I couldn't. It was something I was proud of. I've done 13 different races and LOVED every one of them... why can't I keep doing this?!? I just want to cry... and then PIG OUT on anything I can get my hands on.

All I keep thinking is SCREW IT! What's the point of even trying any more. I might as well just get fat and lazy, cause that's apparently all my body wants to do. This sucks!

I'm going to go shower, ice my leg and watch TV until the kids get home. And I'll probably go out again on Wednesday...just to prove I'm broken.  :oP

... but I don't want to be broken... I want to run. :o(

4.5 Miles

Went out this morning with a friend. It was SO chilly... I loved it! It had rained quite a bit last night... at least I fell asleep to the rain beating down on the roof. So it was pretty humid and chilly this morning. I think I would have had better time if I wasn't talking so much.  :o)  I did pretty good though. Not as much running as I usually do, but that would totally be my fault... too much talking.  :o)  My right leg is having a hard time getting warmed up. The last mile it felt great. But I don't have time to do a 3 miles "warm up"... I've got about 5 minutes to get my legs ready to go.  :oP  Oh well... I need to keep plugging along. I'll get there eventually.

4.5 miles ~ 55 minutes

5 Miles

Another walking and chatting day.  :o) 

4 Miles

I could not bring myself to get up this morning at 5:00, so I decided I'd run on one of my favorite trails after the kids left to school. Then the kids left... I could not bring myself to leave the house. The trees were about touching the ground and it started raining. I just wasn't in the mood to get stuck 3 miles from the house in the pouring rain. SO I hit the treadmill. BLECH!! I only lasted 2 miles then I just bit the bullet and went outside. It felt AMAZING! The wind and sprinkling of rain... I should have done my trail.  :oP

2.15 miles (treadmill) - 27 minutes (of PURE torture!)
1.85 miles - 22 minutes (lovely!)

"SONG OF THE DAY"
Could've Been Me - The Struts

7.15 Miles

Finally made it to another "long run".  :o)  A good friend of mine drove up the canyon with me and then we ran down and then took some trails until we got to my mileage I was suppose to have.  She was a good sport because she hadn't run more than 4 miles... but she kept up with me and my slow pace.  :o)  It was a beautiful morning and I'm glad we went. My right leg took a while to warm up, but after 2 miles it was fine. We did a lot of walking towards the end... maybe the last mile was walking...I turned my Garmin off while I was stretching and never turned it back on, so who knows how long we walked.  :oP   Thank goodness she started her timer on her phone. Any way... good run... good company...good for me.  :o)

7.15 miles ~ 1 hour 30 minutes

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Running must be the only aspect in life in which "It's all downhill from here," is literally the best thing you can hear.

Crossfit Day!

I forgot to post this morning... I decided to go to Crossfit. I was so tired and just wanted to go back to bed... but I went.  I guess the owner wanted to do a tribute to 9-11-2001... so in remembrance for the warm up we did 911 meter row, 20 sit-ups, 01 pull up. :o)  I kept pretty good timing with the rowing... 2:09 minutes per 500m.

Then we did 3 rounds for time (I finished in 15:23) "Helen":
400m run (I got back on the rowing machine... don't want to mess up my legs with sprinting)
21 kettlebell swings (26 lbs)
12 pull ups

Again, I wasn't the strongest, but I did beat the "competitive" one in the class.  :o) I didn't lift as much as her on kettlebells, and I had a band to help with my pull-ups, but I beat her time and I could tell SHE WAS BUGGED.  :o)  I'm the wimpy one in our class... but I was sure tough today!  :o)

5 Miles

Another chilly morning. I was so cold when I woke up... that changed within the first quarter mile.  :o) That's about the time my music died. I'm no good without music... or at least something to listen to. My running paces were a lot slower than they are with music. I didn't seem to walk as long, but my overall pace was a lot slower than usual. Oh well... I got up and went out.  :o)

5 miles ~ 1 hour 3 minutes

+5 Miles

Instead of going to Crossfit... I headed back out for some much needed "catching up" with friends. I miss seeing them every week at church. So we do the same route every time and just talk away.

5 miles ~ ??

4 Miles

It was suppose to be 4.5 miles this morning, but I was done at 4.  :oP  Plus, I want to go to Crossfit this morning...so I need a little more energy for that at least. I was so lazy this weekend. I was suppose to do my "long run" on Saturday, but I thought John and Carson were leaving early in the morning... but nope... they left at 11:00. Oh well, John needed help loading and packing up. I thought I'd do it Sunday morning before church... but nope... Gracen and I stayed up WAY too late with our Harry Potter marathon. SO, then there was Monday morning before Gracen got up... but nope... I was up most of the night trying NOT to puke my guts out. So here we are this morning... no long run, but a run none the less.  :o)

It was about 52˚ when I left... pretty chilly, but it felt SO good once I got going. I didn't do as well as I did on Thursday last week, but it felt good being out and moving. I need to realize that it's going to keep getting harder and I need to NOT wimp out. I need to keep at it! My shins are ok... my calves are sore, but they'll get over it.  :o)

3.10 miles ~ 37 minutes
.9 miles ~ 15 minutes

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"

Crossfit

I went to CrossFit this morning. It wasn't too bad, we did As many rounds and reps as possible in 20 minutes (5 pull ups, 10 push ups, 15 squats). I did okay... I know my arms will feel it tomorrow though. After everyone left I did something really stupid. Yesterday was what they call a benchmark, where you see if you have improved on how much you can lift. And yesterday they did my favorite lift, back squats. So after everyone left, I told the instructor I wanted to see if I could beat my weight. I had 115 lbs on the bar... I got down in my squad and I went too low and my knees kind of locked and I could not get back up. She told me to drop it behind me. When I went to do that, but I lost my balance and fell forward and it rolled over my neck. I don't hurt, yet, but I feel so stupid. Other than me trying to be tough, CrossFit was great today. I'm hoping for a quick run tomorrow, but we'll see. John is going camping and fishing with Carson.

4 Miles

It was a GOOD run this morning!! Windy, but good.  :o)  I ran further between breaks and my lap time was faster than it's been in a while. Not as fast as I've been in the past... but faster. I even SPRINTED up the big hill to get home... that's where my leg "popped" and I've been a little nervous to spint up it. But I finally did it this morning.

I really thought some more about what my friend told me yesterday. I'm glad I'm going to keep going. I need to not push myself for time... but mentally I need to know I didn't give up. The time will take care of itself. I may have to stop Crossfit for now, or at least push it to just one day a week (no running during the class... just strengthening). I'm going to call and talk to the teacher... see what she can do to help me.

3.5 miles ~ 42 minutes (run/walking)
.5 miles ~ 7 minutes (walking... but sprinting a 8:30 up the hill... WOOT WOOT!!)


"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
It never gets easier... you just get stronger.

5 Miles

Went on a walk with friends this morning. It was a little windy and I was worried about my allergies... but thanks to my allergy pills I survived.  :o)  I didn't think they'd work. It's always fun to get together with those ladies and just GAB. Since I don't get to see them at church each week... this is our time to catch up and let off some steam.  :o)  Don't know what I'd do without them.

I talked a little longer after the walk with one of them. She's been running for years... had injuries... started up again. She gave some good advice... JUST KEEP GOING! Don't give up. If you're hurt, rest... but don't give up. I've been really wondering if I'm going to be able to keep this running thing alive. My legs are starting to hurt again... not my shins, but a deep calf pain. I'm thinking it's just my legs getting used to the 3 day a week workout. It's also in the leg that "popped" during Crossfit a few months ago. I think I just need to use the roller on it and ice it... and keep going. I love the sport... I can't give it up now. I just can't.



5 miles ~ ??

4 Miles

This morning I waited until the kids left for school and then I hiked up a trail on the hill behind our neighborhood and then ran down the other side... past the reservoir... down some more trails home. It was beautiful! I was a little nervous about rattle snakes, but I didn't run into any. The view on that hike/run is amazing. It's one of my favorite "runs". They built a house right on the trail head so I had to find another way to the trail. The worse part was all the sage brush and sun flowers... I sneezed for about 5 minutes straight! I even took allergy meds before I left.  :oP

Hiking up was a little tough on my calves... they just wouldn't stretch out. They finally felt good about 2/3 of the way up. On the way down, my ankles were not very happy with all the rocks and the uneven trail... but I did pretty good as soon as I hit the paved trails.

It took longer than I'd hoped, but I did it.  :o)

4 miles ~ more time than I'd care to admit

6.78 Miles

Yesterday I went to Crossfit. We did jump squats again...my butt is killing me!! We also did push presses (squat down and then push 30 lb weights over my head as you stand up) and pull-ups 21-15-9 times. I finished all three in 8:45 minutes...so I did pretty good I guess. I am proud of my squats. :o)

I went running this morning and I'm exhausted! Today was not fast by any means...but I did it. Not much to report. I split up my time into 3 groups - warm-up - run/walk - walk. I guess I did this so I could feel ok about my time.  :o) Allergies are killing me... I sneezed for at least 5 minutes when I got home.  :oP

I need to remember not to push myself. I need to take things slow... which is why I walked so much today. My muscles are sore from crossfit on Tuesday AND yesterday. But I guess it's a "good" hurt. I'm being active and that's what counts right now. Speed and endurance will come with time.

.27 miles ~ 4 minutes (warm-up)
3.64 miles ~ 45 minutes (run/walk)
1.87 miles ~ 28 minutes (walk)

3.8 Miles

I went back to crossfit yesterday... OUCH!! I picked a hard day to return. I wish I remembered the title, but it was basically 10 different exercises, done in order, 50 x's each (150 jump ropes, 50 pull ups,  push press (30 lbs), kettle bells (26 lbs), tire jumps, burpees, knees to elbows, wall balls (14 lbs), back lifts, lunges)... all done in 35 minutes. I felt so wimpy. I still get vertigo, so burpees and wall ball was out... but I did the rest (-45 knees to elbows) and I was still the last one (I had the most to complete). Bad day to come back.  :oP  I'm so sore...
I was a little faster this morning... which was good. Although I reset my time when I started the walk home.  :o) But anything to make myself "feel" faster.  :oP  Not much else to report this morning. I can feel my allergies creeping up... 'tis the season I guess.

3 miles ~ 38 minutes (run/walking)
.8 miles ~ 12 minutes (walking)

3.85 Miles

Nuts... I thought I'd made the full 4 miles. Oh well... I was trying to be home by 6:30 so John could leave to work (he's just gotten out of the shower at 6:30...grrr). My average pace was SO slow this morning. There was a lot of walking. I need to keep reminding myself that I'm just starting out again... that I need to give myself SOME slack. It was a beautiful morning again. I'll be exhausted later this afternoon, but it'll be worth it.  :)  I'm glad I'm out running again. It feels good... even if it is as slow as it's been.

3.85 miles ~ 48 minutes


"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
As athletes, we have ups and downs. Unfortunately, you can't pick the days they come on.

3 Miles

Another beautiful CHILLY morning. I LOVED it! Also, another slow and steady morning. A little slower than Tuesday, but I'm still making it up all the hills running and only walking for one minute or less. No pain yet in my shins... they're tired, but no pain.

2.5 miles ~ 30 minutes (run/walk)
.5 miles ~ 9 minutes (walking)...although I did sprint up the monster hill at the end  :o)

5 Miles

Kids are finally back in school... so the walk with friends has started up again! I've missed those ladies! It was perfect weather and perfect company.

5 miles ~ ?? (talking the whole way...no idea the time)

3 Miles

I was so sad this morning... it's dark now when I start running.  I missed the whole "light at 5:30" season. :o(  Well, I started a schedule to be able to at least "finish" Snow Canyon. I'm not even going to try and beat my fastest time... I just want to run again. I did my best to keep up at crossfit and I was doing great until I got vertigo, which kept me out of class for a week, and now my pulled muscles in both forearms (sadly this injury was from water skiing...or better said being pulled on a tube behind the boat. I was NOT going to fall off, and now I'm paying for it). Since crossfit is out for a while, I thought that this would be the perfect time to start back on running. I only have 11 weeks until the race, but I think I can be ready... or at least close.

The run was FABULOUS!! Fall is in the air and the weather was perfect. I was nervous as how much running I was actually going to be able to do... and I did a lot. It was slow and steady, but there was as much running as I could have expected for a 2 month (or should I say 2 year) rest. I really need to keep this up... just a slow and steady pace. NO INJURIES!!

2.6 miles ~ 31 minutes (run/walk)
.40 miles ~ 7 minutes (walking)


"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
It makes you feel powerful, and that, if you keep trying, you can reach any goal.

AAARRRGGGHH!!

Now I've really done it!! Today at CrossFit we were doing laps. I decided to sprint the hill... half way up I heard a pop and my left calf cramped up. OOOOUCH!! I finished the 3 rounds, rowing instead of running... but this injury puts me at least 3 weeks behind the "running" schedule I figured out for Snow Canyon. WHY?!?! I'm just trying to be healthy and exercise... why do I keep getting hurt?!? SO much for the 4 mile run I was planning tomorrow.

Today we did 3 rounds:

400 meters (rowing for me)

21 kettle bell swings (20 lbs)

12 pull ups

Yesterday we did as many rounds in 15 minutes (I did 3 full, then tire jumps and dips)

5 snatch balance (20 lb bar... resting on your back, push it above your head and squat)

10 ring dips
15 tire jumps

33 minutes and counting

I had to go out this morning just to keep my muscles loose. I'm SO sore! I walked 20 minutes out of the 33 I was gone... I just could NOT get my legs to move. I'm headed back out later this morning for another walk with friends... so maybe I can squeeze in a bit more of a run.

Monday's crossfit workout... 150 jumprope/50 sit ups, 120/40, 90/30, 60/20, 30/10
Tuesday's crossfit workout... 30 front squats (40 lbs) and 60 push ups

33 minutes ~ 2.5 miles (so sad on time!)

32 minutes

My shins are pretty sore again. I just can't figure this out. I'm about ready to just throw in the towel.   :o(  I just want to be where I was 2 years ago. I want to be able to run down AF Canyon or Snow Canyon... my 2 favorite races. I want to do a relay and not be the slowest person in the van. THIS IS KILLING ME!! I have such great memories of running early in the morning, watching the sun rise... I'm not ready to give it up!!

On a positive note... I'm loving the crossfit classes.  :o)  It makes me feel strong...even though I'm pretty slow at the timed workouts... I'm DOING the workouts. The last one I was DRIPPING with sweat. I had to row 250 meters, do turkish get ups (lifting a 10 lb kettle bell above my head while going from my back to standing up straight to going back down to my back), then like a million burbees (which I absolutely hate)... but I did it all. We did back squats earlier... I really like those. My max weight was 80 lbs... which I know I'll be able to beat one day. I'm hoping that all this crossfit stuff will make me stronger and not a "jiggly" as Carson says I am.  :o)

I'm going to keep with the running/walking. I have to. I'm not ready to stop. I kept really good time when I was running... I've started from scratch and I need to give myself time... I guess.  :oP

28 minutes ~ 2.3 miles (run/walk)

4 minutes ~ .25 (walking home)

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"

Get going… Walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.

22 minutes

It's a miracle I even left the house this morning. My legs are KILLING me from the crossfit class. We did dead lifts and back squats... my legs are jello! I was pretty proud of myself though... feeling pretty buff... we all dead lifted 140 lbs. and then did about 40 squats with 40 lbs. on our shoulders.

So my run this morning was just to keep me moving so I didn't stiffen up. I ran the first mile... keeping between 8:30 - 10:00 minute mile. Then I walked the rest of the loop. I needed to have a little energy for another crossfit class. Here's hoping there's NO squatting this morning.  :)

22 minutes ~ 1.7 miles

36 Minutes

Still not as fast as I'd like... or as far... but I went. This week is going to be a little crazy with Youth Conference. Maybe I'll run while I'm up there...but probably not.  :)  Not much to report on this mornings run. The weather was BEAUTIFUL and I'm finding my love for early morning runs.

30 minutes ~ 2.5 miles (run/walk)
6 minutes ~ .33 miles (walk)

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting.

- Walt Disney

35 Minutes

Went out this morning with a friend. My Garmin was dead, so I have no idea how far we went, but it was just walking and talking. I've been going to a cross-fit class so I was pretty tired and sore by the time Friday came around.  :)  After our walk I did laundry got the kids out the door to school and then did the cross-fit class. Talk about TIRED!! I do love the rowing machines and being there with FUN ladies. I'm doing pretty good... I'm slow, but I can lift more weight than I thought. We'll see how that class will help with running. I'm hoping I'll have a nice back and arms by fall.  :)

35 minutes ~ ?? miles

34 minutes

Beautiful morning, but I'm so sore from the cross fit classes. This morning was a break from that kind of pain.  :)  Shins are feeling good. Nothing much else to report... other than I DID IT AGAIN.  :) And I'd so much rather be in bed sleeping... for some reason I did not sleep well last night. Oh well...

21 minutes ~ 1.75 miles (run/walk)
13 minutes ~ .75 miles (walk)


"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Running is real and relatively simple—but it ain't easy.

Let's try this again... 16 minutes

I started from 0 again. I just cannot give up this sport! I'm actually pretty angry with myself for getting so lazy and unmotivated. I really had EVERY intention of running the AF Canyon Half...but rain, off track kids, sleep, cross fit got me all sidetracked.  BUT I WILL RUN AT LEAST ONE RACE THIS YEAR! I'm aiming for Snow Canyon, but if something comes up before I can change my mind can't I?  :)

I did a morning run this morning. The weather had FINALLY dried out and really warmed up... so waking up early is my only option. I did my pathetic but necessary 20 minutes...actually 16. Not my fastest, but I did it. I'm hoping to keep doing this every morning... but it depends on what Cross Fit torture will cripple me (after squats last week it took 4 days to walk normal again). 

1.5 miles ~ 16 minutes

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"

Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us find out what we are made of.

Catch up AGAIN! 3.5 Miles - 42 minutes

I just don't have much to report. I'm a slacker having a hard time getting back to where I was a few years ago. I guess I just expect it to happen NOW not gradually... I feel the same way about loosing the weight I've gained since I stopped running... I want to drop it all NOW!!  :oP

So here's the catch-up:

March 21 - 3.25 miles ~ 43 minutes 

March 24 - 3.85 miles ~ 59 minutes... LOTS of walking. New shoes weren't working our like I'd hoped. I had to remove the heel shim half way through my run. I guess that shim is only needed in my "worn out" shoes. Thank goodness I ordered another pair.

March 26 - 1.50 miles ~ 20 minutes... I'm not sure what happened this day. But that's pretty sad.

March 31 - 2.5 miles ~ ?? minutes... I hit the treadmill this morning. Listened to a book online. It distracted me a little, but I need my music.

April 1 - 2.5 miles ~ treadmill again ?? minutes

April 3 - 2.5 miles ~ treadmill again ?? minutes

April 7 - 3 miles ~ I'm HATING the treadmill... but glad I don't have to run in 18 mile an hour winds

April 9 - 2.9 miles ~ 39 minutes

TODAY - 3.5 miles ~ 42 minutes... walked the last 8 minutes, but kept a 12 minute mile while I did the 2:1 run/walk. So, I guess I am getting faster. I love my new shoes, but they're working different muscles than my other shoes. I just need to get used to them. My next problem... I need to get something for asthma. I cannot breathe!! My lungs are burning and I can't stop coughing while I'm running. I keep thinking that it's just that my lungs aren't strong like they used to be... but I think I need to get it checked.   I LOVED my run today. Beautiful weather and I wasn't on the treadmill!! Although by the look of the weather, I'll be on there the rest of the week.  :oP

3.5 miles ~ 42 minutes

WOW!! 4 Miles - 53 Minutes

It's been a while since I wrote down my progress. I guess I felt like there was nothing to say. My shins started hurting again just before my kids got off track back at the end of January. So I took those next 2 weeks off. I started walking with friends on Mondays, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays until I felt like I was healed and ready to run again. I've only been going 2 days a week (run 2 min/walk 1 min)... started at the 20 minutes and have now worked up to 35 (so I've kept at it for 3 weeks). I'm hoping to go out "running" 3 days this week. I've still kept my walking dates with friends at least once a week (we go about 4-5 miles). That has kept me moving and motivated.

Today I started out for a 35 minute run... it was BEAUTIFUL!! Total tank top weather. I'm excited for summer!! I ran into a friend so I walked and talked the first mile. After that I headed out on my own I ran/walked for 30 minutes, and was about 2.5 miles from home (and at the bottom of a very steep hill), so I just walked home. I ran a little, but hills still get the better of me. I've been listening to books to distract me. I've enjoyed it so far, but I'm missing my tunes.  :o)  I need to update my music though.

So, all in all... I'M BACK!! Slowly but surely I'm going to get back to where I was... hopefully by June.  :o)

4 miles ~ 53 minutes

Rec Center

Did the elliptical and treadmill again today... but was done after 45 minutes. I just wasn't feeling it this morning.  There was just NO motivation. I just wanted to hop back in bed. Here's hoping Carson will sleep in this morning...he woke up just after I finished typing on Monday. It sure made for a LONG day.

25 minutes ~ 3.6 miles on elliptical
20 minutes ~ 1 mile on treadmill

Rec Center

First day of this kiddos being off track... so first day of waking up at 5:00 to get some sort of exercise in for the day. I'd forgotten that I kind of like getting up this early to run (or in todays case walk). It's nice to have it out of the way. I may change my mind later today when I'll require a nap or something.

This morning I did 20 minutes on the elliptical and 40 minutes on the treadmill. I did hills on the treadmill... which I kind of liked. Plus the TV wasn't working (it kept cutting out and was fuzzy), but if I walked on an incline of 11% to 15% it worked perfectly... so that was incentive to climb those hills.  :o) It was either that or watch walk the track.

60 minutes ~ ?? miles (forget to keep track)

4.5 Miles - walking

A friend invited me to go walking last Friday and again on this morning... I loved it! It felt good to be outside and moving. It was cold both days, but it felt great!

I still haven't figured out what's going on with my legs. It's frustrating to know what I'm capable of... that I can run... that I can run far... that I didn't quit even though it was hard getting to that point. It's killing me to have this injury that won't seem to heal, no matter how much time I take off...or change my shoes...or event change the way I run. I can't give this up tough...but I can't live with this nagging pain. I do have 5 months before the race I really want to run. So, I need to keep reminding myself to take it slow and do my PT exercises (even though it's KILLING me to not just RUN).

4.5 miles - 1 hour 15 minutes (both days)

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"

Don't try to rush progress. Remember–a step forward, no matter now small, is a step in the right direction.

– Kara Goucher

Rec Center

I went to the Rec Center again this morning after helping at the school. Did a little of everything...but I may have pushed myself a little too hard on the running end. I don't think these new shoes are helping. My shins are on fire!! I'm so sick of this!! I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I guess I'll be starting over again...just what I need...to stop as soon as I get started.  :oP

60 minutes ~ a little of everything.

Rec Center

I felt like I did a little of everything today. I went to the Rec Center as soon as the kids left for school. I did the Elliptical for about 10 minutes, walked on the treadmill for 10, walked the track with a friend for about 10 minutes, ran/walked (2:1) for 20 minutes, did the rowing machine for 10 minutes...just a little of everything...nothing too crazy. I loved it!  :o)  So... I'm hoping for a bit of the same tomorrow. Or at least 20 minute run/walk.

60 minutes ~ miles and miles.  ;o)

23 Minutes

Starting back after a 2 month break REALLY stinks! I didn't do ANYTHING during those 2 months but sit on my butt. My lungs are on fire... my legs did ok... my shins did great (no pain). So I went back to the "Return to Running" program my PT gave me... start with 20 minutes (running 2 minutes walking 1 minute) the first week and add 5 minutes each week (adding time to the running parts).

So I guess overall I did ok for the first time back. I tested out a new pair of shoes... a little stiff near my inside ankle bone, but I'm hoping the soften up because I LOVE the way they feel everywhere else.

"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us find out what we are made of.

1.81 Miles ~ 23 minutes