Week 4 Day 1...

Yes I am still on a high from Saturday! I decided to venture out of my neighborhood tonight...I ran in the neighborhood next door to mine...it is a lot flatter! I get really tired of all these hills (even though I know they are good for my training)! Today I walked for 5 minutes to warm up then ran for 3 minutes, walked for 90 seconds, ran for 5 minutes, walked for 2.5 minutes, ran for 3 minutes, walked for 90 seconds, and ran for 5 minutes. Then I was supposed to do a cool down walk for 5 minutes but I decided to run some more. I didn't keep track of how long I ran but I did two more ran/walk intervals before cooling down. My Nike+ gave me these stats: 3.86 miles at an average pace of 11'15!!!

I thought I might have a hard time with the 5 minute runs but I kept telling myself that I ran a mile and a half Saturday without stopping and that was definitely longer than 5 minutes! Success is so sweet!!!

Azalea Trail Run!!!

OMG! I had sooo much fun today! And I am sooo addicted to this running thing! I am on such a high right now! :-)

Let me tell you how it all began...I rode with my friends LeAnn and Tanyr. They were also doing the 5K where as all my other running buddies were doing the 10K. I was so thankful to have friends to run with! Anyway, on the way there that morning (an early 6:30 AM) we ran over a poor bunny rabbit! It was either hit the car coming directly at us and kill us all or hit the bunny...I am actually quite pleased with LeAnn's decision to hit the bunny lol! We didn't know what this meant...was this some kind of sign? Were we all going to die from exhaustion out there or what??? We got there in plenty of time to make several potty stops and meet up with our 10K friends Katrina, Christina, Laura, Jennifer, and Terry. And let me say right now that Katrina, Christina, and Laura have made it a tradition to run races with their hair in pigtails...so yes I joined in! It was quite fun! Anyway, since their race started 15 minutes before ours we were able to watch our 10K friends start. Then it was our turn. I went into this race knowing I wouldn't be able to run the whole thing and would end up walking some (I thought a lot). I was so proud of myself! I ran and ran and we hit the one mile mark and I thought to myself, "OMG I just ran a mile!" I haven't ran that far yet since I started this running thing! I ran about another 1/2 mile and then stopped for a quick walk to catch my breath. Then I started back up! I ended up only stopping to walk about 3 or 4 times...and one of those times was because I sniffed water up my nose trying to drink and run lol! I was sooo proud of myself for keeping up with LeAnn and Tanyr and for running most of the race instead of the other way around! My time was 36:31!!! I thought that was pretty darn good for my first race ever! I am pretty pleased with myself!!! I can't wait until the next race...which I have decided will be May 1st...the Fiesta of Five Flags 5K in Pensacola!

I had to take a picture of this sign lol!


Me in my pig tails!!!


Christina, Laura, Me, Katrina, Tanyr, and LeAnn...ready to run!


All of us again with Terry and Jennifer added! Right before the race!


Me, LeAnn, and Tanyr at the starting line waiting to run!


The flag was waving right above our heads!


Us at the finish line...yay we made it!!!


All of us after finishing the race!

Another run...

And more success! I did Week 3 Day 3 and still NO PAIN!!! I had to run on my treadmill today because I have choir rehearsal tonight for our Easter musical. But I ran the week 3 day 3 plus some. My stats were 3.74 miles at an average pace of 11:29! Pretty proud of that time but I know it is so much easier to run on a treadmill than pavement. Anyway, I am excited about Saturday...and a little nervous lol!

Running SUCCESS!!!!

I decided tonight to try to run again! I decided to start at C25K's Week 3 Day 2. I did it! AND IT DID NOT HURT!!!! Yay! I am so excited because I am signed up to run the 5K Azalea Trail Run this weekend! I am hoping to be able to run a lot of it!

Anyway, I ran week 3 plus some! My stats were 3.52 miles with an average pace of 12:52! Not too shabby!

Spring Fever Chase!

Let me just say that I had an awesome time today!!! The Spring Fever Chase was sooo much fun! I went into it knowing that I was just going to be walking...even though my heart wanted to run. I went with my two best friends, Brittyne and Holly. We met another good friend, Caroline there. We had a blast even though we only walked. And I actually ran a couple of times (one of those times was through the finish line lol)...only for a few seconds but that's ok! And I only felt it a little in my knees so I am hoping that means I am on the road to recovery!!! We finished with a time of 32:24. So an average of 15 minutes per mile which isn't too bad for walking. I was proud of myself anyway! And next year....I am aiming to run the 10K!!!

About to leave!


Before the race: Holly, Katrina, Christina, Laura, Me, and Brittyne! Katrina, Christina, and Laura had just finished running the 10K!


Waiting to start! Holly, Caroline, Brittyne, and Me!

Another Walk...

I walked again today! I stayed inside on my treadmill because I had to walk during naptime since I have movie night with one of my best friends, Rhonda tonight! We are going to watch "Remember Me!" Can't wait! Anyway, I knew I wouldn't be able to walk tonight so I decided to use my treadmill. I walked 3.29 miles and at a pace of 14'52! That was a pace improvement from Tuesday! I finished the walk in 49 min. and 6 seconds. Not too bad for walking! Of course, walking on the treadmill is easier than being on the pavement. But hey at least I walked!!!

I am excited for Saturday! I am doing the Spring Fever Chase! I am doing the 2 mile fun run. It will be my first race ever! And yes, when I first signed up I was going to run it but I am ok with walking it tomorrow. And the next weekend I am doing the Azalea Trail Run in Mobile! This is a big run and I have always wanted to do it! I am signed up for the 5K and I hope to be able to run at least some of it. That brings me to some other good news...today I ran a few times inside the house just to test my legs. I have done this in the past (and yes I look like an idiot and my two boys stare at me like I am one) and my legs have hurt every time. Well, today my legs did not hurt at all!!!! So I am hoping that they are almost healed! I am still going to take it easy so that maybe next weekend I will definitely be able to run in the Azalea Trail Run!

Back On the Pavement Again...

Ok. I have not run for a week. NOT fun! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous...finally feeling like spring around here. But my legs were still hurting...and I had made the decision to rest them for a week. I thought the week would never end! All I could focus on was running again...and of course the pain lol! I woke up yesterday pain free!!! I was so excited! So I decided to try running and see what happened...a day early. I did not even leave my house...I just ran all over my house!!! My boys thought I was crazy! The sad thing is...running made my legs hurt again. I had been pain free all day, ran a few seconds in my living room and the pain returned. I was sooo upset! I don't know what is causing this pain but it makes me very angry!!! I boohooed to Andy when he got home. He told me (always the fixer) that I needed to just walk for awhile, that my body was probably having a hard time since I haven't been active in a while. He said he had read somewhere that if you wanted to start running you need to walk for at least 30 days (I think that's the number) beforehand. So I guess that is what I am going to do. WALK! Not run...boo! But hopefully it will allow whatever is going on with my legs to heal, I will still be off the couch doing some kind of exercising, and hopefully will be able to try running again in the near future. That is what I am shooting for!

So tonight when Andy got home, I WALKED out the door for my first WALK. I had a goal to walk about 2.5 miles. I beat that goal! I walked 2.86 miles and burned 301 calories (thanks to my Nike+ iPod program I know all of this information)! I did this in 44 minutes and 8 seconds. I walked at about a 15 minute per mile pace. What amazed me is that my pace when I ran last was about 13 minutes per mile. So I am not much slower as a walker lol! I knew I ran slow but jeez lol! Anyway, I am going to try to walk 3-5 times a week. Maybe one day I can still accomplish my goal to become a runner!

This weekend I am walking (notice I didn't say running) the 2 mile Spring Fever Chase in downtown Fairhope. I am doing it with my friend who also started running with me and is also having issues...hers are shin splints. So we agreed to walk on Saturday. Still, it should be fun and I am excited about it!

It's Beautiful Out There!

I am a little bummed today! It is gorgeous outside! Sunny, temp is in the upper 60"s...a PERFECT day for running. And I can't do it! I am still sore...although I think it is getting better with each day. It is hard to tell when I am at home. But when I am out and about and walking around at my normal fast pace, I am still pretty sore. Last night I had to make a dreaded trip to Wal-mart. My legs hurt pretty badly by the time I got home. Once I sat down and rested they eased up. Uggghhh! I just want to run! Why is that so much to ask???

Decisions, decisions!

After dealing with the same soreness yesterday (although it wasn't as bad as it was on Saturday) I have decided to rest for a few more days than normal...maybe even a week. I am just going to try to let my legs completely heal before running again. I made this decision last night and it depressed me so much! Andy was wondering what was wrong with me because I was acting so sad. I just feel bad because I have been so committed and so excited about running and now I am being set back. But I really feel like my legs need to be sore free before I run again. That way I can judge whether or not the new arch supports are helping solve the problem. It was hard to tell for sure when I ran on Tuesday because I was running on legs that were still sore AND I was running on a different terrain (treadmill) than what I have been. I am sooo hoping things are going to get better. I just want to enjoy running like I did the first week!!!

So I am not sure when I will run next...if I give it a week it will be Tuesday. If I am pain free on Sunday, I may give it a shot then. We will see!

Week 3 Day 1...Hopefully the Problem is Solved!

Took Hayden to the doctor this morning....he still has an ear infection but he also has bronchitis! Poor little guy! He had to get a shot plus another type of antibiotic to take the next 5 days. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. He has been pretty pitiful today.

I called Joe at McCoy's and talked to him about my issue. He said he needed me to bring the shoes in. So Hayden and I headed over there after his doctor's appointment. Joe watched me run in the shoes and said I was over pronating still. He said the shoes were a great fit for me but I needed some more arch support. So I now have orthotic insoles in the bottom of my shoes! I hope this is what has been causing the problems. It makes sense that my feet rolling in would cause pain on the inside of my leg like it has been.

I decided to run on my treadmill today since it was supposed to be rainy all day today. Let me tell you that I prefer pavement to the treadmill by a long shot! Running on the treadmill is VERY boring which in turn seems to make it harder for me. Today I had my 5 minute warm up and cool down walks, and then I jogged for 90 seconds, walked for 90 seconds, jogged for 3 minutes, and walked for 3 minutes. Then I repeated it. It felt a little better running today but I am still pretty sore. It didn't seem like I was aggravating the soreness as bad so hopefully the arch supports are helping. Time will tell I guess! I am proud of myself for making it through those 3 minute runs though! I was a little nervous about that!

Maybe It's My Shoes...

I talked to a friend tonight about the pain I am experiencing. She said it sounds like it could be my shoes. That frustrates me because I made sure to get correctly fitted AND I paid more than I normally would for a good pair of shoes. She suggested I call the guy at McCoy's and talk to him about what is going on. I am going to do that in the morning. They did tell me to run with my shoes a few times (just not to run in dirt or mud) and if I had any problems to bring them back. We will see what they say.

And to make things worse, Hayden had to come home from school today...he started running a fever again. We went to the doctor Saturday morning because he ran fever Friday and he had an ear infection. He was fine on Sunday (no fever) so we went back to school today. Obviously something is still wrong...I don't think the amoxicillan is working. So back to the doctor we go tomorrow. That is $80 in co-pays in the past 3 days...yay!

Week 2 Day 3...Ouch!

It was a beautiful day for running today! The temps were in the 60's! It was gorgeous out! But I had some issues today. I am still really sore under my knees. And while I was running today...it was hurting in that spot on both my legs. I probably should have rested another day. I say that because as I am sitting here typing I can barely walk. My left leg is worse than the right. It is also tender to the touch. It is painful...and I am thinking that is not good. Not sure what is going on but I am going to take some advil and ice my legs.

I am feeling very frustrated right now. I finally found something that I LOVE doing and now I am having some pain from it. That doesn't seem very fair. I am wondering if my muscles are just needing to get stronger. Or (and I know this sounds silly) if I am not running correctly for some reason. I talked to some of my runner friends and they advised that my legs may just be trying to get adjusted to my new shoes. I am hoping this is the case! I am not planning on running again until Tuesday so that gives me two days to rest. Hopefully this pain will be gone by then.

Week 2 Day 2...

I have had a little bit of soreness yesterday in a weird spot. It is in the same spot on both my legs...under my knee to the side on the inside part of my leg. Not sure why I am sore there this week and not last week. I guess my muscles are getting used to this running thing.

Anyway, I ran in the morning today. Andy informed me last night that he was going to have to work late tonight so I decided to wake up early and get my run in. It was a little harder for me. I am not used to running on an empty stomach. I did eat a banana and drink about half a bottle of water before I ran but it was still a little harder. Plus my legs were still sore. The good news though is that I made it! And it was beautiful watching the sunrise this morning! I plan on running Saturday afternoon again..will update then.

Week 2 Day 1...

Let me just say that tonight was the COLDEST night yet that I have been running! I was prepared though...I wore my yoga pants, a t-shirt, a fleece shirt on top, gloves, and a toboggan on my head! I was plenty warm...and that made it more enjoyable than the last time I ran in the cold when I thought my hands were turning into popsicles! This week I walked a 5 minute warm up and cool down, then I alternated 90 seconds of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for about 20 minutes. It wasn't as bad as I thought! I expected that extra 30 seconds of running to be more noticeable than it was. I also found a different podcast with hip hop music! I downloaded it from www.runningintoshape.com if you are interested. The new music made such a big difference! I found myself wanting to sing out loud...then I remembered I had ear buds in and needed to sing to myself lol! I've been running for a week now...yay!