Day 32

Today was a tough day, but we did it. We jumped up to 10 minutes of running. I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep my 5 min./half mile pace, but I did (plus or minus a few seconds). I ran 4 miles total. Mile 1 was around 9:35, Mile 2 - 10:00, Mile 3 - 10:03, Mile 4 - 10:04. I can't believe it. My knee started bothering me a little near the last lap of mile 3, but I was able to finish without a lot of pain. 

Day 32 (44 min.)

shuffle 5 min.

jog 10 min. walk 1 min.

walk 5 min.

Day 31

We've had a slack week of running. Tuesday, it was raining and neither of us really wanted to run anyway. Wednesday and Thursday I wasn't feeling well. Stomach virus I think. We finally ran today, but it wasn't much. 

We decided to go back to last weekends training and start this week over again. The first few miles were surprisingly fine. I was staying at a good pace, a little under 10 min./mile. The last lap of my third mile, though, my knee started hurting. We were supposed to run 5 miles, but ended up stopping after Evan's 3 and my 2 and 3/4.

Day 31 (35 min.)

5 min. shuffle

5 min. job 1 min. walk x 3 3/4 mile

What's in a name?

Avery Lee Johnson

That has been my name for the past 30 years. In a few months, though, I'm supposed to change it. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean, that's my name. I love my name. I don't really know what I'm going to do.

Dear name,

I'm so sorry I took you for granted for so long. I didn't realize how much I loved you and just how much you have meant to me these past 30 years.

Love always,

Avery

Avery Lee Doyle?

Avery Johnson Doyle?

Avery Lee Johnson Doyle?

Avery Lee Johnson-Doyle?

Adult literacy tutoring

Today was my second day as a literacy tutor, and it was so much better than the first. Well, I felt better about it today anyway. 

Last Saturday was difficult because I hadn't met my students yet and didn't know what to expect. I went into the session with all these ideas of lessons and practices we could do, but the ladies really weren't interested. Or, so I thought. I left the library very unsure of myself and my abilities to help my students. 

Today was much different. Only one lady came today and we got a lot done. She told me that I was doing a good job. We were  able to talk a lot, which is what she wants to be able to do.

We've started a list of new words. When we come across an unfamiliar word in the lesson, we just add it to the list. I'm feeling a lot better about this.

Day 30

Go speed racer! Go speed racer! Go speed racer, gooooooooo!

Tonight I was running less than 10 minute miles! Awesome! I had a little bit of knee pain about the third mile, but it stopped after a few laps.

Day 30 (48:25 min.)

shuffle 5 min.

jog 5 min. walk 1 min. x 4 miles

walk 5 min.

literacy tutoring

Today was my first day of adult literacy tutoring. I'm not really sure how it went. I have two ESL students. They are very nice ladies, but we all have a little trouble understanding each other. 

I planned to have the ladies describe and set goals today, but I couldn't quite get them to understand what I meant. All I know is they want to communicate better in English. But, since they don't communicate well yet....I have no idea how they felt about the session today. I mean, they said it was good, but we did talk about antonyms today!!!!

Day 29

Day 29 (40 min)

shuffle 5 min.

jog 5 min. walk 1 min.

walk 5 min.

Day 28

Day 28 (46 min.)

shuffle 5 min.

jog 8 min. walk 1 min. x 4

walk 5 min.

I finished 3 1/4 miles.

honeymoon reservations

Today, I finally made our hotel reservations. We were hoping to go to Mexico again, but when Evan's parents got a good deal on Disney tickets. It just made sense to go to one of our most favorite places. 

I'm so so so excited!! Every time I start making plans for a Disney trip, I just get so excited! I love that place. I'm so lucky that Evan loves it as much as me....maybe even more!

Day 27

Awesome run tonight!!! I think I can finally call myself a runner!

I could have wimped out today. I wanted to earlier too. I wasn't feel very well and definitely not in the mood to run. But, once I got started, I just had to finish. Tonight, I decided to shuffle instead of walk for my warm-up. It definitely helped. My first couple of laps were great. I think because I was more warm and loose than if I had only walked. 

I finished my first mile in 10 min. 15 seconds. My third mile was the hardest and slowest, but I made up for it running my last lap in a little over 2 min. 5 miles in 52 min. 22 seconds!

Day 27 (52 min.)

shuffle 5 min.

jog 4 min. walk 1 min.

walk 5 min.

Day 26

Boo Day 26!

I've got to get out of this slump. My legs just don't want to work. It takes me a couple of laps before my legs start working properly. I think next run I will shuffle during warm up instead of walk. Maybe that will be a better warm-up. The run was pretty short, but my body acted as though I had been running all day.

Day 26 (35 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 4 min. walk 1 min. x 5

walk 5 min.

Day 25

Tonight wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I didn't try to go fast and I'm really glad about that. I felt really good afterwards....and not too bad during. My pace did slow down quite a bit from Saturdays run though. I ended up running a little over 4 miles in 48 minutes. Not bad.

Day 25 (59 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 6 min. walk 1 min.

walk 5 min.

Oh, and no foot pain today. Hopefully that's gone now. I need to remember to wear better shoes on subbing days. Tomorrow is 2nd grade/ half day....wish me luck!

Day 24

New shoes change everything! Okay, not really, but today's run was pretty great. And....it could be because of my new shoes right? Tonight was the end of our recovery week. I'm too scared to look at next weeks schedule. I cut 18 seconds off my time. I know that's not a lot, but it's a start! I'm now running/walking 10:56 minute miles. hahaha!

Day 24 (54 min.)

5 min. walk

2 min. jog 1 min. walk x 4 miles

5 min. walk

new running shoes

My wonderfully generous grandmother bought me new running shoes today. I actually went to a running store and got "fitted" for new shoes. It was a really interesting experience. At first, i was a little intimidated being in a specialty store like that. But, now I have shoes that will be good for me. Now hopefully this shooting pain in my right foot will go away. Ready for a run tomorrow! (After we get Evan's new shoes! Shhhh. It's a secret.)

Day 23

What's the deal? This week was supposed to be an easy week, but I just don't feel like running. Thursday's run was a total joke. I was such a flake. Evan even had a hard time finishing. It wasn't that we were tired or that the run was even hard. I think it's just been a weird week and were both out of it. I have a feeling the next few weeks is going to be a test of will power. Will we keep going or head back to the couch? KEEP GOING!!!!

Day 23 (40 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 2 min. walk 1 min. x 10

walk 5 min.

Day 22

Tired feet and sore legs.....My legs and feet were already tired from standing all day in the classroom, so running didn't do anything to alleviate them. I'm running at about a 12 min./mile pace. We're still early in our training so I'm too worried about it. Evan is going a lot faster than me. He's going to be waiting around for me to finish from now on (on our long runs).

Day 22 (40 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 4 min. walk 1 min. x 6

walk 5 min.