I am my own worst enemy

I didn't run today. I was hungover from a party on Saturday and just couldn't get myself to lace up the sneakers. This is very disappointing, but I have to look at the bright side and realize I did run 29 days this month.

Before heading to Boston

1 mile before heading in to Boston for the weekend. Its remarkable to me where I can find 10 mins to quickly exercise.

Things one should not do on a full stomach

Run 1 mile. Next time, remember to run before dinner.

Snow squall

Its warm outside, but the snow is starting to stick, so I ran 1 mile on the treadmill. It was easy, except for my eldest daughter begging me to stop b/c the treadmill was too noisy.

Long intervals

3 miles today.

I ran for .5 mile at 5.7mph, then .5 mile at 6.2 mph, for a total of 3 miles. Felt pretty good.

Are these long intervals or short tempos?

Turtle Tuesday

I ran 1 mile today.
I was a little sore from the gym yesterday, so I ran the mile at 5.7 mph. Just a little slower but felt much easier.

Gym Monday

When I arrived at the gym, it was close to the start of the Pilates class and initally I told myself I'd just skip the class and run. Then some part of my brain spoke up and rationed since I was already out of the house, kids in bed, shouldn't I do Pilates anyway, then do my quick run after?
So, for a change, I ran after Pilates class. Which was exhausting but I felt pretty strong. There were a few random steps where it felt like my knee might pop out of joint but I think its because the rest of my leg muscles were exhausted. I did 1 mile in 9:54.

Will I really pump iron?

I went to the gym and set up my profile and machine settings in their fancy weight machines. I know I have to be lifting weights at this point in my life to increase bone density and other important stuff. Strength training will also help with my endurance while running. Lets see if I can work that in with my schedule.
I ran 1 mile today after the weights.

Habit forming

I ran for 3 miles today at the gym on a steady 6.0. I walked in between the miles for a minute or two just to break it up.

I have now run for more than 21 days. It takes 21 days to make a habit, so I am officially now in habit of running every day.

TGIF

I did the mile, slowly. I was tired. My knees are a little achy and I decided this would be a "rest" day.
Its probably time to put together a schedule for distance, speed, and slow days so I can mentally and physically prepare.

Tomorrow will be distance and I'll develop a plan then.

An alarm-ing result

I did it! I woke up at 4:30am to run my mile. I have work commitments today, so I had to get up early if I wanted any hope of doing my run.

Best brain candy

"Models of the Runway", the show about the models from Project Runway, is my new favorite exercise show! There's no way I can stop running while watching pin-thin models fight over the bathroom mirror. Total motivation to keep going!

I ran 1 mile today.

A close race

The MA Senate race results are riveting. I was on the treadmill for 40 mins tonight waiting for all the results to come in.

I realized that a warm up followed by some light stretching seems to be the key to success. Who knew?

I walked on a big incline for 1 mile, ran for 1 mile @6.0, 1 mile with 6.0/6.5 intervals.

Hike hangover

I ran the mile today at the gym and followed it up with a Pilates class. Everything hurt during the mile. The hike on Saturday on snowy terrain was a little tougher than I thought and my shins, feet and arches were complaining today. It was a struggle to finish the mile, but I alternated between slow and stupidly slow speeds and completed it.

Intestinal distress

I really, really didn't want to do this run today. My stomach was achy, I felt out of sorts and tired. I started to run and felt great! It felt like just the thing I needed. Then I felt like I was going to vomit. I finished the mile and ran to the bathroom. I didn't actually throw up, but didn't feel any better afterward. I think its the remainder of the stomach virus thats going around.

Hiking

We spent the weekend at the AMC Lodge at Mt Cardigan in NH. I didn't "run", but I did a fairly intense 2.8 mile loop in the snow. I'm counting that as I was more out of breath than when I'm normally running.

Almost only counts in horseshoes

I almost made it out of bed this morning with time to run, but a crying baby disrupted my sleep last night. I ran around the building today at lunch. Wearing my casual Friday clothes. Its about a mile around the building. At least I got outside today!

Bending your mind around

Most of my running experience has involved training my brain to be calm during the distance. Now, I'm training my mind to be patient while running faster.

1 mile at 6.0 with some 6.3 minutes in the middle. Easy peasy.

Tomorrow is a test, I'll have to run first-thing in the morning if I want to get my run in. I already laid out my clothes and sneakers, shouldn't be too bad getting up at 5 to run.

Not a leap year!

Whew, I don't want to have to run a day more than necessary. (Is that counter-productive to the goal of this entire resolution? Probably.)

Sick baby

I was home today with a sick and whiny baby who just wanted to be held and then put down and then picked up again.

I skipped breakfast, without realizing it, ate poorly, drank no water, basically set myself up for failure.

I ran a mile on the home treadmill at 6.0, but was counting the minutes. I didn't have bounds of energy tonight that I have had in the past few days, and its clearly due to eating badly all day.

Tomorrow is a new day, time to dust off and get back on the horse.

Rest.

I decided I really did need some rest and I have a stomach virus, so I took today off.

Speed workout

Had a great run today. All day I was thinking "maybe I should be resting a day a week, maybe today is the day to rest." Then Jeff said his indoor soccer game was pushed back an hour so I jumped up and hit the gym.
I did a mile on the elliptical to warm up, followed by speed repeats for 2 miles on the treadmill.

Now that I know my pace, I know I can push it a little.

I did 5x(1 min @ 6.0 mph, 1 min @ 6.3 mph), then walked for 3 mins and repeated the repeats.
My right knee was talking, but not much pain.

I decided to stop doing the same thing and expect different results. As Nike says "Training is the opposite of hoping".

Its all about pace

I was reading Runners World, trying to figure out some good new treadmill workouts, and most of the workouts discuss pace in relative terms: 20 seconds faster than your 5K pace, 30 seconds slower than your marathon pace, etc. Which made me wonder: what is my pace for those races? I have certainly run plenty of 5 and 10Ks, I should know my pace.

Here's what I was able to find from Google:
Date/RaceName/Distance (miles)/Pace
2002, Halloween Hustle, 3.1, 9.41
2002, Race to stop global warming, 5, 11.25
2003, Beach 2 Beacon, 6.2, 9.51
2003, James Joyce Ramble, 6.2, 9.54
2005, Ras na Eireann, 3.1, 10.56
2005, Turkey Trot, 3.5, 9.58
2006, Beach 2 Beacon, 6.2, 10.03
2006, James Joyce Ramble, 6.2, 10.04
2006, BAA Half marathon, 13.1, 10.26
2007, Westborough 5K, 3.1, 10.42
2007, Marathon Sports 5 Miler, 5, 10.27
2008, Westborough Police 10K, 6.1, 10.08
2008, Wobble Gobble, 3.1, 10.06

It looks like I'm right around 10 minute miles for 5K and 10Ks, on average. There are some exceptions and outliers on this list, some 5Ks were just a cold-turkey start with little training. There are several races missing from this list, but this is good enough. I'm annoyed that I didn't run a single race in 2009, especially when you consider I ran 2 in 2008, the first just 14 weeks after I'd had a baby!

Uphill climb

Ran a mile and then did 5 hill intervals for another mile. I was feeling it in my abs the last 2 intervals which is good. I definitely could have done another mile, but needed to get back home.

squeezed in

Quick mile on the treadmill before dinner. It was easy.

wanted to skip it

I think Friday runs should be done in the mornings, because I really really didn't want to run tonight. But I did a slow one before dinner.

A little pep

My sneakers finally feel good, so I think I'm getting the hang of it! Did a quick mile today while the baby was napping. I didn't even lose my breath. Which means its time to add some complexity.

Also- this is a milestone day! A whole week of running! Time to celebrate? Maybe at 30 days...

Slow and steady wins

Didn't really feel it, but did the mile anyway.

A little motivation

Here's me after finishing the BAA Half Marathon in 2006. I had an awesome run that beautiful day. I couldn't walk for the next 2 days, but it was so worth it. I wore my Finisher medal for 3 straight days.

Biggest Loser

Walked uphill for 2 miles while watching the premiere of the Biggest Loser. Ran 1 mile in 9:45. My right knee is a little achy, might have to rethink the inflexbility of the goal. We'll see tomorrow.

Good news! No leap year in 2010!

Quick

1 quick mile today, plus a few mins of warm up, cool down, and stretching. Jeff had soccer so I had to get back. Felt good.

Beat boredom with intervals

2.5 miles. Mile 1 easy, then intervals for the rest of the mileage. Ran 1 min at 5.7, 30 sec at 6.1, 30 sec at 6.5. Did that 4 times.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Did 1 mile fast on the treadmill, then walked for a 1/2 mile, then ran at 9 min miles for 5 minutes while Khloe Kardashian got married. Long live the E! Channel.

Today felt much better. I drank more water yesterday and this morning, which helped. My shoes/feet are feeling better too. I warmed up on the elliptical for a mile so being warmed up make the faster speed on the treadmill more tolerable.

Day 1. SUCCESS!

Ran 1.5 miles today on the mill. I guess I coulda sucked it up and ran outside, it was warm enough (30's), but I ate terribly yesterday and drank last night and I wanted conditions where I could declare victory.
So. Day 1 down. 364 to go.

Note to self: figure out if this is a leap year.