FOLEPI-4 mile

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	10:08 min/mi	00:10:07
2.0 mi	10:39 min/mi	00:10:37
3.0 mi	10:36 min/mi	00:10:36
4.0 mi	10:27 min/mi	00:10:26

It was a nice morning to get out and run, sunny and 35 at race time. FOLEPI run was today...4 miles all down hill! Needless to say my time reflected it. I think my official time was 42:24 I. Even with that I was in the bottom 100...but again, I don't care...I did it.

I saw lots of people I recognized from other runs and was able to visit with a few of them. I saw Bill and Jackie and they are such encouraging people...just the simple words of, We are glad to see you are out running, that made me feel so good.

Still have a hard time getting my breathing regulated in my first mile and sometimes even after that, but then again, maybe today was because I was going a little faster than usual.

Running really is a stress reliever and helps clear your thoughts. I needed that today.

Busy week - 2 posts into one

This week didn't turn out quite like I had planned. For the first time I missed a "scheduled" day of running. And though I always said NO EXCUSES...this could not be helped. Though I did get out to run on Sunday if only 4 miles on a long day run, I had hoped and planned to get out more this week of Thanksgiving. Tuesday, my usual day to run, was simply not possible due to the complications with Grandma's health and mom needing my help with Dad and Grandma. Sometimes other things take priority and though I always try to making running a priority...it just was not possible this time.

I made sure I got out on Wednesday and went 3 miles before I went to Mom's house to help with Thanksgiving preparation. I knew if I waited I wouldn't get out...so I did make it a priority on Wednesday. I found a good 3.2 mile route and took it again today. The 3rd mile is in the park and I like the end of my runs to be in the park.

I signed up for usraodrunning today. I saw it on Facebook a few times and looked into it. I am not quite sure how it works, but I THINK you sign up to run a "race" on your own place and time and then you submit your results. It's the honor system I guess. I used MapMyRun to time my run today. In case they need verification of time I have it. I signed up for the medal and shirt. The Pie Gobbler event for November and the Reindeer Run for December. I hope I did it correctly or I am out $55 for the 2 events. I do like to support causes if I run, so I will have to see if this has any causes to support.

I am going to do the FOLEPI 4 mile run tomorrow it is supposed to be a little warmerso we will see how that goes. Today was sunny 35 degrees with a slight breeze, but over all pretty nice to run.

According to my schedule I am on Week 13 of my training and would be ready to run the Princess Half Marathon this Sunday...I am not quite there yet, but it push came to shove I think I could do it. WOW...13 weeks does make a difference in endurance and confidence!

Who knew?

.1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	16:09 min/mi	00:16:09
2.0 mi	14:02 min/mi	00:14:01
3.0 mi	14:03 min/mi	00:14:02
4.0 mi	14:27 min/mi	00:14:26
4.0 mi	40:40 min/mi	00:00:16

Who knew that the following words would ever come out of our mouth..."it feels good to get out and run today". We laughed when we realized what was said. Kelly had to take a week off of running to rest a potential injury. We took it easy and walked more than we ran...but when we did run it felt good to get out and exercise. We were going to go to the HS track and run/walk there in case her injury started flaring up we would be close to the car, but it was all locked up. I wanted to try to do the faster mile running and just wanted to try it on the track where I can better gauge where I am in the mile.

It has been a busy weekend so just being able to get out was good. The weather was too nice not to get out...a mild 55 degrees out. It was only a 4-mile loop today...again, who knew, that the words "only 4-mile loop" would be in my vocabulary a few months ago.

I am hoping to get out this week and try to run a little more if only for a mile or two at a time. Maybe I will try to get in a mile or two each day this week (including and especially on Thanksgiving day). I have a 4-mile run on Saturday so that will help me get ready for that as well.

Another week of training completed...not quite at the place I should be according to my training schedule but that is why I started training earlier than later... glad I did.

Running in the cold-not bad once I get out there.

1 mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	11:40 min/mi	00:11:40
2.0 mi	11:23 min/mi	00:11:22
3.0 mi	11:31 min/mi	00:11:30
3.0 mi	15:30 min/mi	00:00:37

I have been fortunate so far that I have only had a few days where it has been cold and I know there will be much worse days ahead. So far I have found that once I get out there it isn't so bad. The hard part is getting my mind set to go outside.

I find that when I am cold inside the house, it really deters me from wanting to go out and run. Once I am out it isn't so bad. The sun was shining and the temperature was 35 with some wind. I just made sure when I ran the wind wasn't blowing directly at my face for long periods of time. I found if I bob and weave thorough neighborhoods the wind is not as bad...or so it seems.

I did 3 miles today...which really only takes a few more minutes than 30 minutes and I feel as though I have accomplished more when I do 3 miles. Again, one of my rules is to not take shortcuts so I try to push myself at least one of the weekday runs to go longer, if it is only by a few minutes.

11-18-13 vs. 11-18-14

Last year at this time we probably walked several miles through our neighborhood in Washington going and helping family, friends, and strangers sort through the debris from the tornado that went through the day before. Today, I ran thorough the neighborhood again, I often run through it, but today it was a little more meaningful. Such progress! Here is a comparison from last year and then today during my run.

On the way to sister's 11-18-14

On the way to sister's house 11-18-13

From sister's house 11-18-14

From my sister's house 11-18-13

Today was cold and windy, but I am determined to run outside for as long as I can. I bundled up since the temperature outside was 19 and the wind chill was 7. I knew once I started I would be o.k., I just didn't know about how cold my face would get. Today's attire was 2-layers of pants-fleece lined leggings and running pants. 3 layers of shirts all long sleeved- a snug underlayer-Columbia running shirt and then wind breaker, gloves and a pull over hat/mask to cover my face.  The mask helped protect y face from the wind but it got to warm breathing so I had to pull it down a bit. If the wind got too bad I would pull it up for a while. After the first mile the gloves came off. I had plenty of layers on! Just getting ready to go with all the layers on started to make me sweat today.
Ironically, the first song that played on my playlist today was Summertime I just had to laugh. It's funny how all the songs play at all the appropriate time.
My legs were heavy today to start with, but then again they always are on Tuesdays.
I didn't go as far today as I had hoped, but I went 30 minutes. I was going to go the "long way" home to add some distance.  However,  I saw Mom and Dad coming home and they stopped and needed to talk...so I visited with them for a while and took care of some things at their house. After my "break" from running I ended up just taking the short way home...which was o.k. I still got in my 30 minutes.

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0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	11:27 min/mi	00:11:26
2.0 mi	11:44 min/mi	00:11:43
2.7 mi	10:48 min/mi	00:07:17

12K and Week 19 are in the books.

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DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	10:47 min/mi	00:10:46
2.0 mi	11:20 min/mi	00:11:20
3.0 mi	11:01 min/mi	00:11:00
4.0 mi	11:00 min/mi	00:10:59
5.0 mi	11:02 min/mi	00:11:02
6.0 mi	11:15 min/mi	00:11:14
7.0 mi	11:11 min/mi	00:11:10
7.6 mi	11:22 min/mi	00:07:03

I did it...my first 12K (7.5 miles)!!! I came, I ran and I conquered it! It was a small race attendance wise only 54 runners in the 12K. I finished 51st. 29/34 in the female division and in my age group 2nd...out of 2! :-/
I am really happy about my 11:17 mile pace...I was not anticipating or expecting to do that.

It was cold this morning...I forgot to look at the temperature when I left this a.m. but it is noon right now and 30 degrees. I wasn't sure how to dress and was told dress what you think you want to wear and shed a layer....so I did. However, I think I shed the wrong layer. I didn't have a layer next to my skin, I wore 2-long sleeve layers which were fine, but I noticed after I shed one of the long sleeve layer my stomach got really cold. After the race I was told I need an Under Armour layer...guess what I am going out to purchase later today! Another tip I received today was to walk through the water stations, it helps your legs and helps with the drinking of water. Really, it is only about 10 yards, if that. I did that today and it helped...if anything it was mind over matter.

Overall the run went well. The start of the run was a combined 5K & 12K run. Needless to say it thinned out when 12K turned a different direction. I really thought I was the last one in the group and I was OK with that today, but I found out a little later that there were 3 people behind me. I saw the two people ahead of me and were able to keep them in my sight. Eventually, I caught up to the one directly in front of me. She was doing a walk /run interval.  I think I had a pretty steady pace and eventually was able to catch up to her.



Her name is Michelle (pictured with me). We talked during our cool down and she did the Princess 1/2 Marathon last year...she said it was great and I will have so much fun. She did it with her girlfriends too, only they were turning 40.

I noticed that in mile 5 I had a tweak/discomfort in my left inside ankle. Once I started thinking and focusing on other things I didn't notice it the rest of the run. Maybe a little discomfort, but nothing too noticeable.

Glad this is in the books....I have proven to myself I could do it.
Week 19 is officially in the books!

Squeezed in the run

mi

0.5 mi

1 mi

5 mi

10 mi

DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	11:02 min/mi	00:11:02
2.0 mi	10:57 min/mi	00:10:56
2.8 mi	11:18 min/mi	00:09:31

I am a day late posting this...I had a busy day yesterday so I didn't have time to post. BUT I did get my run in and that was the important thing. I had an appointment at from 9-9:30 yesterday and then a haircut at 10:30 followed by an appt. for Dad in Peoria where I had to leave at 2:00. I didn't want to run after lunch...it never settles well so I squeezed my run in between 9:45-10:30. I just ran to my hair appointment. Good thing I did...what I thought was just a cut ended up being an appt for cut and color. If I had waited I would not have been able to run yesterday. So glad I did what I did...left the house at 9:55 ran for 30 minutes ending up at the salon.

Also, I had to run in the snow flurries...actually it wasn't too bad. I wasn't sure how to dress for the weather so I posted something on a FB group I belong to. Someone recommended runnersworld.com had an app that determines what you should wear in different types of weather. What to wear it was so helpful and spot on. I actually wore a bit more than I should have...after a mile I was ready to peel a layer, but I didn't.
This was helpful because I am running my first 12K Saturday in the cold so I was worried about how to dress for it.

The run was easier than Tuesday when it was so windy...but I still struggled, I did notice that my pace was a little faster so maybe that is why I struggled. I will have to sssslllloooowww down for the 12K...I don't need an 11:00 minute pace. However, yesterday it was a good thing...I went a little too far in the opposite direction of the salon and found I was going to be late if I didn't hustle. Lesson learned...don't wander too far in the opposite direction when you have a specific time to be somewhere. I guess that should be one of my "lessons" but I have lost track of what number I am on.

I tried taking a picture of running in the snow flurries, but it didn't turn out so I guess next time!

Next post will be after my 12K! Not sure how I am going to tackle that run. HOw far to run and then run-walk intervals...I will see how I feel tomorrow during the run.

Don't be a wimp!

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DISTANCE	PACE	ELAPSED TIME
1.0 mi	11:36 min/mi	00:11:35
2.0 mi	10:59 min/mi	00:10:59
2.7 mi	12:50 min/mi	00:09:17

This morning was cold, windy and little rainy. I can do cold, I can do a little rainy and I can do windy...but I can't do all three at once. So I waited to see what the rest of the day would bring and the little rainy stopped and the cold got a little warmer, but the windy stayed the same. Wind, how I hate you...I hated you during baseball games, track meets, and football games and driving and I still hate you now that I am running.

I was going to wimp out and run on the treadmill today but I decided that I really should save that for when it is brutally cold out not just a drop in November temperatures, for the record it was 33 degrees out. Which normally would be fine, but have I mentioned that it was windy too! I realized I prefer running mid-morning for several reasons. One of the main reasons is I don't eat a big breakfast and running after lunch even after several hours my lunch never settles quite right when I run. And I have more energy in the morning...I am not an afternoon person so much. Maybe that is why I never had much energy to workout when I worked.

My first mile was brutal...I wasn't even a 1/2 a block away when I realized this was not going to be easy. I was going up a slight hill and the wind was in my face....it's bad enough that my first mile I am always trying to get my breathing regulated then to add the wind to it too. The second mile the wind was at my back so it was a little easier, however I did end up walking for about a minute after I completed mile 2. I ended only going 30 minutes and not 3 miles today.

I realized I did not post my progress sheet on Sunday so here it is...better late than never.