Evening 5K

I am normally a morning exerciser. I never in a million years thought I would say that - but once I got into the habit of getting my tushie out of bed, I actually like it! There's just something cool about putting in miles when most people are still asleep. Plus I love starting the day negative calories!

But Monday I just couldn't muster the energy to get out of bed. Hmmm. So I went out Monday evening for a short run - 5K - around the park where I ran my very first 5K race. Running that park brings back so many fun memories from a great day! It was my friend Angie's first race ever, my hubs and kiddo were there cheering us on, and I placed in my age group coming home with my first metal :)

All of those good memories didn't make for a good run however....this run was craptastic! I just felt like I couldn't get into a rhythm, my calves were hurting for some reason and then my knee. I can remember the last time I ran that 5K route, I finished the first lap at 14 minutes, then finished the second with a 5K time of 29 minutes. Lots has happened since then, you know, a little knee surgery and basically 6 months off from running.....but I still expected to be able to go out there and come close to 29 minutes.

Now that I write that.....that seems so silly. How could I possibly expect to be right where I left off? Duh. After throwing a crybaby fit when I got home, getting a very coach-like stern talking to from my hubs....I took yesterday off. And I might take today off too.

Hubs made me think back to just one short year ago when I couldn't even run 1 mile. And I was somehow happy with whatever pace I could do it in, just as long as the miles were there without walking. SO. Back to basics for me, back to right where I started last year. Starting over. I think starting over is actually harder than starting in the first place.

I'm not happy about it and letting go of what I could once do is hard. It sucks.

One thing I'm changing starting today - the watch is staying at home for the next month. Yes, a whole month. I have to get back to feeling accomplishment after a run - not beat down because it wasn't fast enough. 1/2 marathon training will start in about a month, so I have 1 month to get comfortable again & get it back. I've done it before, can I do it again?!

Sweaty Saturday

Holy moly it's so hot & humid! Ran outside early this morning to try to get a break from the heat, but it didn't help much. I know I will wish for this weather in January when I'm cussing the cold....but it's just almost too hot to run outside right now.

I really, really need to find some running friends who are at my pace or willing to slow it down for me - I don't like going it alone. Chit chatting is a great distraction for one, and it also keeps me going when I would probably walk if I'm alone. I felt like I wanted to try 6 today since earlier in the week I did 5 1/2. A little nervous since I haven't ran that distance since surgery, but I gotta try someday!

All went pretty well. I tried really hard to ignore the time and just enjoy being able to run again! I did have to walk just a tiny bit today - up a hill - just didn't seem like a good idea to push my knee on hill work. Not *quite* there yet.

Oh! I got a hydration belt! I know that sounded like I'm really excited about that - but the truth is I hate carrying anything with me on a run. But in this heat I really can't go more than a few miles without needing water. Felt a bit like a granny fanny pack, but hey, no more drinking from sprinklers!

This is what I got - it's pink - of course!
It's a Nathan hydration belt

I think I've decided on a fall race schedule :)

I'm going to run the Waddell & Reed 1/2 marathon in Kansas City, Oct 16. Then another 1/2 at the end of November - Gobbler Grind. I ran Gobbler last year, and as far as I'm concerned that race owes me a few minutes! During that race my knee starting hurting for the first time....came in 2 min slower than my first 1/2. Still happy with my time due to the hills and my knee hurting....but I really hope to improve my time this go around.

So! Two 1/2's this fall and maybe a local 10K this summer. My goal of a full marathon will have to wait until fall 2011 and that my friends will be Chicago! Oh I love Chicago.

Training for the fall 1/2 will start in July, I have a few more weeks to get ready. I can remember when I started training for my first 1/2 last year - I was just barely able to run 3 miles without walking. Since I logged 15 this week with 6 today, I think I should be in ok shape to start training next month. I'm SUPER excited to be training again! A schedule I can check off each day - ahhhhh. Love it.

The knee is holding up well! This week was a pretty big test - I ran M,W,Sa and did strength training Tu,Th, long(ish) run today and it seems to be fine!

:)

Wednesday Morning Run

Gina and I ran at 6 Wednesday morning, in the hot, humid messiness of June in Kansas. We did 5 1/2 miles, 9:05 average pace. WHAT?!?! Oh my goodness I was dying. That is much faster than my normal easy run pace, even faster than my race pace for crying out loud! We even walked some and still ended up with 9:05 average. WoW, Penny needs to come back to keep us on pace! LOL

Great run, zero knee pain. My quads however....helllllo. I can tell now what the Dr. was talking about when he told me I would lose alot of quad strength after surgery.

I ran Monday/Wednesday this week - Strength class on Tuesday/Thursday. I figured if my knee could get through 4 days of hard workouts and not be sore I could finally say I'm back.

So...........I'm BACK! :)
whoop whoop!
Long run Saturday coming up!

Monday...Tuesday....*yawn*

Wow this week is wearing on me already. Camp last week, out of town over the weekend....I'm pooped. My Monday started with a run a 5am. SNOOZE.....that is a 4:30 wake up and man, that is early. But! I ran 3 miles with absolutely ZERO pain during or after. WHOOOPIE! That is a first since surgery. Awesome. Pretty slow....3 miles, 33 minutes. But I'm trying really hard to remember that I am just happy to be running at all, and my speed will come back. Not that I really ever had much speed to begin with - I'm a 10 minute miler on a good day. So really, I'm not that far off!

This morning was strength training - wow - I was feeling the week break I took from weights. It's amazing how fast you lose it!

I'm thinking about my fall race plans now - of course I have one good run and *boom* I'm right back to "when's the next race". I'd really like to do another 1/2 in the fall, so training will need to start in a few weeks. I think I'm ready! :)

Rock Those Socks Girls!

This weekend was the annual summer festival in my hometown. I don't usually go back for this....people think it's awesome and actually come from out of town for this weekend....but if you grew up there? Yeah, it's lame. But this year was my HS reunion and the first time they had a race kicking off the day....so I decided to partake. Now that I'm older, I guess I can *kinda* understand why it's *kinda* cool.

I got a few HS girlies and my kiddo talked into doing it with me, but none of those girls are runners - not even walkers really :) So we decided we would do the 1.5 mile walk instead of the 5K. I don't think my knee is even close to race ready anyhow, and I thought the walk would be equally as fun as running.

We (well, I) decided we should wear fun socks and the girls were such good sports to go along with my craziness! Here we are rockin' our socks! Super fun day!

Great Run!

Got to run with Penny and Gina this morning! The air was super think and humid, but had a great run today! 4.5 - 5 miles - the farthest I've gone since surgery. =) Not sure if it was the run or the 4 hours of gardening at my office I did today, but my knee was hurting pretty bad by late afternoon. It seems to be better now though.

I'm so excited to start getting the miles back!

Decisions, Decisions.....

It's a tough choice! Which socks for next weekend's 5K???