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. 

Aggravation

To Whom it May Concern:

Please help me to stop being angry about situations I cannot control (as my body shakes with intense anger and exasperation).

I am so frustrated, I could pull my hair out. I am existing JOBLESS yet completely qualified to do a multitude of jobs, while I witness other people getting paid to do their jobs poorly. Normally, I can overlook this. I can leave my annoyance in the grocery store parking lot after witnessing the teenage banter between the check out girl and the bag boy. I can forget about the clueless receptionist with her equally clueless answers when she has been given the task to answer phones...and questions. There are many occasions that have left my memory, but tonight I am furious. I am so angry to see someone do a job poorly and get paid for it when that particular job should have been mine to begin with! 

FYI Little Miss CGI: It is not okay to text message while you are getting paid to do something else. It is not okay to bring a friend with you and let them do your job. It is not okay to waste 1 hour and 45 minutes of a two hour job. 

I'm angry. I should be able to let it go - just let it be what it is, but I can't. I wanted that job and I am furious that a great situation with so much potential is a total fiasco and no one will do anything until it's too late to save it. Booooo to you!

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