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

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.

Day 21

Luma at Miller Outdoor Theater! How can you pass that up? Well, we for sure didn't. I was so glad something was happening at MOT while Mom and Mamaw are visiting. We packed up our picnic basket (facon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. YUM!), our chairs, and a blanket - and prepared for a night under the stars. 

Anyway, that pushed our run to Sunday. And boy was it a tough one! It was our furthest distance yet - 6 miles! I can't believe I actually ran 6 miles! That's just crazy. It took me 1 hour 12 minutes to finish. Evan lapped me once and finished about 4 minutes earlier. He sent me a message today telling me that the BH Cross Country team ran it this morning in 47 minutes. 

I was very very sore and tired afterwards, but today I'm not sore at all. We're doing great!

Day 21 (1 hr 12 min)

jog 4 min. walk 1 min. x 6 miles

Day 20

My morning job interview drained most of my energy today. It would have been nice to know the aide job was for the kids with severe behavior issues, before I went. Anyway, I was very disappointed when I left. I didn't cry, though. So that's new for me.

Band practice was great today. I got all of my energy back and more from a great afternoon on the field. So, I was pumped by the time we got the track to run. 

Even though our run was shorter today, I had a hard time. I'm still sore from Tuesday. Plus, today my feet were really tired and kept getting stitches in my side. I made it though. I think I ran about 2.5 -3 miles.

Day 20 (40 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 4 min. walk 1 min. x 6

walk 5 min.

Day 19

I AM SOOOO TIRED. Yes, today wore me out. My feet haven't been this sore in a while. 

We ran after band practice at the track near Evan's school. I ran a little over 13 laps (around 3.5 miles?) in 42 minutes. I don't feel like I was going much slower than normal, but that time sounds like I was. We decided not to run together today and run at our own paces. It was actually nice. I had time and space to think.

I really wanted us to run together and do all of our training together, but it just doesn't make sense if our "comfortable" paces are different. Why didn't I think of this sooner? Anyway, I'm pretty sore and very tired.

Day 19 (52 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 6 min. walk 1 min. x 6

walk 5 min.

Day 17-18

Okay, so it was bound to happen sooner or later. We totally flaked (twice) on day 17. Thursday was the last day of summer band for Evan, and the kids had to be at practice early for pictures. So, we decided to run on Friday.....then the lighting came. The rain never came down, just sprinkles, but it was looking treacherous. So, we went out to eat instead.

We started running our long run on Saturday, and two miles into it, I made Evan so mad he had to go in and get away from me (or can I blame my alter ego?) FYI....in case you didn't know already...men and women communicate very differently. I'm not saying which way is better...yet. Sometimes the forms of communication just aren't compatible. I guess Evan hit a wall. I did finish my 5 miles. On my own. At my nice steady pace. Done and done.

Day 17 (1 hour)

walk 5 min.

jog 3 min. walk 1 min. x 5 miles

walk 5 min.

Day 15 - 16

Our Sunday long run started off well, but I'm still getting aggravated with my slow pace (compared to Evan's). We finished and at pretty good time.  My knees haven't bothered me since last Sunday, but my hips have. Evan said today it's my hip flexors that need to be stretched or worked more. 

Today's run was our most running time. I stayed at a steady slow pace while Evan stayed several feet ahead of me turning around backwards every now and then to let me catch up. I hate that it aggravates me so much that he's always ahead - but it does. We decided to try to meet halfway on our pace to stay together. I hope we can, but I have a feeling we're going to end up training separately. We'll see. 

Day 15 (52 min)

walk 5 min.

jog 2 min. walk 1 min. x 4 miles

walk 5 min

Day 16 (52 min)

walk 5 min.

jog 5 min. walk 1 min. x 7

walk 5 min. 

Day 14

We've entered Phase 2 of our training, complete with really sore back and tight hips. I don't like this. After Tuesdays run, my back has been so sore. I'm blaming the running, but maybe it's because I've been so lazy lately. I know I can blame my hip on the running though. Slowly, my right hip has gotten tighter and tighter the further we get into our training. I need to figure out some kind of stretch or strengthening exercise to help loosen it up.

We were supposed to run on Thursday, but put it off a day. I think my BEhind weighed a ton because I could not pick my feet off the ground. I wasn't tired or out of breath during our run, but my legs did not want to work. I don't know what that was about. Back is still sore, but my knee wasn't bothering me...um, okay?

Day 14 (32 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 2 min. walk 1 min. x 8

walk 5 min. 

Day 13

Tuesdays run was tough, but not so much because of the running. This week was a bad week emotionally, and Tuesday was the lowest point (or highest point depending on which way you look at the grid). I was already feeling completely defeated by life. You know, the whole jobless - can't even get an interview- mess. Tears trickled down my face for most of the run. Every upsetting thought punched me in the stomach as Evan ran one step ahead of me. I couldn't catch up. Couldn't keep up. And, that was just another blow to my already weak body. I made it though. Evan slowed down and kept me going. I won't lie and say I feel great because I finished the first training day of Phase 2. I'm still bothered that Evan's pace is always going to be quicker than mine. So, we can never truly be our best together. But, for now (for this race anyway), we'll be sticking together.

As for the job thing. "Everything happens for a reason" is getting old. 

Day 13 (46 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 3 min. walk 1 min. x 9

walk 5 min.

Day 11-12

Phase I - Done and done.

This week was a "recovery" week. So the last two training days were a breeze!

Day 11 (30 min.)

5 min. walk

2 min. walk 2 min. shuffle x 5

5 min. walk

Day 12 

5 min. walk

2 min. shuffle 2 min. walk x 3 miles

5 min. walk

Day 10

It's getting serious now.

Day 10 - (40 min.)

walk 5 min.

jog 3 min. walk 2 min. x 6

walk 5 min.

Basically, we jogged/walked 3 miles in 30 minutes. We're on our way to records or something. And.....even though Evan keeps telling me this, and my pants keep proving this, it has only come to my attention today....My waist is getting smaller.

The big bummer, though, is I still don't have a job. Texas, what's your deal? It's my phone number, isn't it?

Day 8-9

What should my action figure name be? Today, when Evan and I were running, I told him how I picture myself running. I think of one of those figure drawing dolls or action figures. My arms and legs can only rotate forward and backward while the rest of body stays the same. It makes me laugh when I think about it.

Today's run was not funny at all. It was the hardest yet! We decided to run this morning so we wouldn't be running before we went on our picnic to Miller Outdoor Theatre. Running in the morning to me is 8 or 9. We didn't get out the door until after 10:30. I don't know if you know this, but it's hot in Texas!!! I was burning up! I didn't think I was going to make it because I was so hot and didn't have any energy (even though I ate my spinach last night!)

We did make it though. We jog/walked 5 miles this morning in about an hour. We're averaging 12 minute miles, which Evan keeps saying is a good pace for walking/jogging. We did have to stop halfway through and get some water and a little AC for a few minutes. Then, before our last mile we took another water break. Never again will I run between 10 and 5. 

No problems today. My knees, ankles, and feet were fine today. We were jogging a little slower than Tuesday so that might be the reason. I've been trying to stretch my hamstrings and quads a lot before and after running. So, maybe that's helping.

Day 8 - (34 min.)

5 min. walk

2 min. jog 2 min. walk x 6

5 min. walk

Day 9 -  (1hr 10min.)

5 min. walk

2 min. jog 2 min. walk x 5 miles

5 min. walk

Day 7

Maybe you don't know this about me. I'm a teensy bit competitive. Okay, actually I'm really competitive, but I think I hide it enough to seem only teensy. Well, tonight I a hard time hiding it. 

Day 7 - 45 min.

5 min. walk

3 min. jog, 2 min. walk x 7

5 min. walk

Evan constantly walks faster than me. Everywhere we go. He tries to pay attention to it since I've pointed out how much it annoys me, but he's trying to meet all my other demands. Poor guy can't keep up. Oh yeah, I also try to hide my bossy and demanding tendencies. 

Well, tonight that one step ahead of me was making me crazy. With each lap I was getting more and more annoyed. So on our 6th rotation, I spent my whole 3 minutes making sure I was a step ahead of him! We kept getting faster and faster because I would get in front then he would speed up to keep up. Then, I would try to get ahead again, and he would catch up. By the end of just 3 minutes we were both breathing hard. Good grief!  I just wanted to be ahead one time.

Right foot at ball of foot inside, a little pain. Sharp pains but only for one rotation. Toes  felt a little numb. Knees are hurting tonight.

Days 5 & 6

I don't like blogging everyday, or even every other day....obviously. 

We have now completed 2 long runs (and 2 weeks of training). Yesterday, after only 2 miles, I was already beginning to wonder if I can actually make it 13 miles! I'm not getting discouraged, though. I'm just preparing myself for the hectic plans to come. Right now it's only our bodies getting in the way of running. We are both on summer vacation. Yes, we do have some work to do, but our schedule is very open. Soon we will both be busy with our jobs (that's if I actually get a job!) and it we will actually have to make ourselves get outside and run. I know there are going to be days that I come home and just want to crawl into bed and never come out. I'm just getting ready. But Hey, 2 weeks! Yay!

Day 5 (31 min.)

5 min. walk

1 min. shuffle 2 min. walk x 7

5 min. walk

Day 6- long run (1 hour)

5 min. walk

1 min. shuffle 2 min. walk x 4 miles

5 min. walk

(a few sharp pains in right ankle/heel for about ten steps)

Days 2-4

So I'm a slacker at keeping this blog thing everyday. So what!

Evan got back from his last DMA of the summer and I got him on board with the training schedule. So, we started our first run together. Slow, slow, slow. Evan gets very frustrated with running slow, but he's been a good sport. Today was our third day running together and I think we're off to a great start

Day 2 - 28 min.

5 min. walk

1 min. shuffle 2 min. walk x 6

5 min. walk

Day 3 - long run / 3 miles

5 min. walk

1 min. shuffle 2 min. walk for 3 miles

5 min. walk

Day 4 - 38 min.

5 min. walk

2 min. shuffle 2 min. walk

5 min. walk

Another awesome event also happened. I think Evan has decided to become a vegetarian. I'm so excited about this. We never really had a problem eating together, but I do always feel like the odd kid out. Now, I think we will both be eating a lot healthier. And be more of a team. I was also starting to think about how we would raise our children...when the time comes. Would we argue about what we were feeding them, but now I might not have to worry about it at all. It feels really good to be on the same page sometimes. I'm so excited about us doing  these things together.

Day 1

I haven't worn a watch in 3 years, but I put one on today. I'm officially a runner.

Today's plan: 34 minutes

5 min. shuffle

1 min. shuffle, 2 min walk x 8

5 min. walk

It turned out to be a little more than 2 miles. So, it wasn't bad since that's what I've been doing for the past month. I have to say, though, I don't much like shuffling. I feel like I'm not doing anything. I mean, I feel like I should be going faster. I do, however, like being able to breathe. Normally I'm out of breathe while jogging and I start concentrating on when I'm breathing in and out. I didn't even have to think about it today. That was nice. 

*Everytime I think about breathing...you know, the kind they tell you to do while running, in through the nose and out through the mouth....I think of Heather Rutkowski. She told me once that she couldn't run because too much concentration on breathing was hard for someone with asthma. Weird that I think about that.

I was at 1 mile (apt mile) at 13 minutes. That sounds okay for a beginner. Right? Breathing was good. Legs were getting a little tired and my right knee started to feel swollen, but not hurting. I think a pat on my back is in order.