It’s been a while since I did a running post, and I would love to find out how everyone is doing. I know a few of you are taking it pretty seriously, and a few are still thinking about it. I’ve been so impressed with the progress you’ve made, especially since you’ve started from the very beginning. Some of you had never run at all until a few months ago. I hope you’re beginning to understand the running addiction. I don’t know how many addictions could be called healthy, but running for sure is.
I’ve been gearing up to do a few races this year. I signed up to run a 10K in Massachusetts, with Elizasmom and her mom, and probably some other bloggers I’ve never met. That will be in the end of March. I get to visit my brother nungnung as well, and it will be my first time in New England. I’m hoping to run it in less than 50 minutes, but we’ll see.
I’m going to run the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon in May. It’s the biggest half marathon in the country, with 35,000 entrants. My cousin Liz and my aunt Barbara will be doing that one with me. I hope I can finish that in less than 2 hours. I finished my first half marathon in 1:47, but the first three miles were pretty steep downhill, so I’m sure I ran faster than I would on a flat course.
I’m also going to enter the Air Force marathon in September. I think my goal for that will be less than 4 hours, but again, we’ll see. I have no idea what it will be like to run 26.2 miles, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be happy if I cross the finish line.
I’m basing my goals on my recent running times, and on the times from races I ran before I was pregnant with Kiki, in 2005. The other day, I ran 3 miles in 26 minutes, which is better than my last 5K, even though I wasn’t racing. It probably made a difference that I was on a track, but it didn’t seem as hard as I thought it would be. Today, I ran 7 1/2 miles in blustery 35 mile an hour winds, and I finished in 1 hour and 13 minutes. I ran some hills, but the wind was really what made it hard. I thought I would get frostbite on my nose, since the wind-chill factor put it at about -5 degrees. I kept putting my mittens over my face until my nose and cheeks thawed. It was exciting. When I got home, I thought I would not be able to move the rest of the day, but now I feel fine.
So how’s your running? I’d love to hear any progress you’ve made, any races you’ve entered, any gear you’ve purchased, anything that makes you motivated, anything that you hate, anything. I’ve discovered that talking about running motivates me, whether the person I’m talking to loves running or hates it. I love running.
February 11, 2008 at 10:21 am
Well *I* am very motivated because all of you who are running this thing with me are FASTER than me, so I’d better get with the program!
I was actually thinking about making team shirts where all of yours said “hare” and mine said “tortoise” but that doesn’t quite fit with the story so I’ve abandoned the idea for now.
I go up and down with my running, although the race is a great motivator. The other thing I find is that anytime I can run outside, I do soooo much better than on my usual indoor slogs on the treadmill. I go farther, faster and feel less tired. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the treadmill is where it’s at for me most of the time, but looking ahead to those outside runs keeps me going, because I have to stay in shape so I can DO the outside runs when I get that rare chance.
The other thing I keep forgetting and then remembering is that my priorities need to be 1. run as long as possible 2. run as far as possible and a VERY distant 3. run as fast as possible. I keep getting caught up in trying to go fast, and getting discouraged and getting demotivated, until I remind myself it’s NOT about speed. And then I’m fine again for a couple of weeks.
February 11, 2008 at 10:32 am
WOW 3 races schduled so far this year!! I am having a hard time just walking. I have been going to an orthopedic Dr. for 3 months now with plantar fasciitis. Even with medication, foot splint, and stretchng exercises, it is getting worse. We’ll be cheering you on in spirit. GO SARAH
February 11, 2008 at 10:42 am
Oh! This spring I am gonna do the local icebreaker 5K… I am shooting for 40 minutes or less (and you thought YOU were slow EM!)but i am looking to do a 10K as well… we’ll see. I also have fertility goals that I am trying for as well.
On Saturday I ran 3.5 miles OUTSIDE and loved almost every minute of it, even though I was running on quads that I had burnt out the day before doing “burnout squats.” (to say nothing of my pecs, biceps and triceps… all burnt and screaming) Looking forward to more outdoor runs this weekend in St. George.
Yeah. I’m hooked.
Slow like peanut butter, but I love it!
February 11, 2008 at 10:46 am
… and a race in Mass? I ACHE with jealousy! ARRRGH! I have been having New England dreams lately, and if this race was happening in the fall, I don’t think even the third trimester would keep me from coming too.
I am full of it of course, but I still ache. Do you know that I have never seen Maine except for in the deepest clutches of winter? Sigh. Sigh.
Sigh.
February 11, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I am not hooked, I probably never will be, but I do it. I exercise through sheer force of determination, and never because I like it–that has ever been the case for me (hey, I think we have found our mirrors: nursing and running.)
That being said, I haven’t run in a week since I contracted the flu. I pretty sure I have the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed millions. I can’t even stand for more than 5 minutes, so I’m pretty sure running is out of the question.
February 12, 2008 at 7:28 am
Elizasmom, I’m soooo excited for the race! I think T-shirts would be awesome, but don’t be so sure about me being any faster than you. I am wishing for a treadmill right now, as shards of ice are falling from the sky, though I completely agree that running outside is so much easier in every way. Also, you should make yourself a training schedule on runnersworld.com. You can tailor it to your own times, and it gives you a variety of workouts every week, so you’re not always trying to go farther or faster than you did the last time you ran.
Toni, I’ve never had plantar fasciitis, and I hope I never get it. It sounds terrible! I hope you can get it fixed.
bonthemama, You are so awesome! I think your progress is incredible. It took me about a year after Kiki was born to get to where I could run for 3 miles. I like how you threw in that bit about St George, just to make us all jealous. Because I am.
Azucar, I wish I could make you better! And I wish I could promise you that you will someday love running. To quote the old guy in the marathon movie, “Some people talk about a runner’s high. The only runner’s high I ever get is when I stop running.”
February 12, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Ok, I need some advice and have some advice. First, the best thing besides my running shoes I bought is my Polar heart monitor watch. I have been using it since the beginning of my running. It is such a great motivator for me! It keeps track of everything I need to know, from heartrate, to calories, to fat, etc. I pay some attention to the calories and fat
, so I know how much candy I can eat later.
But I love the fact that my heart rate is much slower now when I run, than it was two months ago, and a lot more consistant.
I do need some advice from any women who have had kids and find it difficult on the bladder when they run. At this point in my running I’m getting a bit discouraged because if I run any longer than 20 or 30 minutes, I pretty much wet my pants. blah! I think I’ve resolved to look into surgery, because I’ve done all the kegels possible and it’s not changing a darn thing. Sarah, remember how I was going to try a race this weekend? Well the day before I ran 3.5 miles, to see if I could make it in a race. I ran great, except that my pants were completely soaked! I know, I’m sorry I should spare the details, but I know I can’t be the only one out there with this issue. Help anyone?
February 12, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Karee, I’m so glad you love running! About the bladder problems, though, I have no answers. I’ve never had that happen to me. I can say, though, that elite runners don’t ever stop in a race to pee. They just go in their pants if they have to.
My only answer would be to make sure you have black tights or shorts on, so nobody would notice. I mean, everybody is all sweaty, anyway. Plus, I can seriously say that nobody is looking. Would it help if you just stopped every 2 miles and found a bathroom?
February 13, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Is stealth bragging, I know! Tee hee!
February 13, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Stealth bragging? Where?