Geez...

After a successful run on Saturday, Monday's run was very tough. I struggled to complete two miles. Very discouraging, I was feeling so strong on Saturday. I saw photos from the race and no doubt I was pushing it to finish. My mouth was wide open in every picture. Oh well...

Tomorrow is another run day. I am hoping I will do better -- I am not giving up! I know I can run -- certainly better than I could run two months ago. The rest of December I will stick with the 30 minutes run of the final week of the Couch to 5k program. In January I am planning to start the 10k training program in preparation for the Beach Blast duathlon in April.

I have signed up to run this Saturday again another 5k... I am not planning another race until February (possibly the Mardi Gras 5k in St Andrews) then the Duathlon in April. I will probably not race again until September. Summer are too hot and I would rather use my weekends for sailing, swimming and/or photography -- fun stuff. I will continue my training runs but save the summer months for playing in the water or hanging out with my camera.

Races are a good way to push myself. The training runs do not have the adrenaline rush of the races. Lining up with the crowds waiting for the starter gun --- this gets the psyche charged for action. My runs during the week help to build my strenght and endurance. Running is so hard! I am hoping that one day, the running won't be soooo difficult. I just keep going at it, my progress is steady -- from just a few minutes at a time to 30 minutes solid...!

Run for the Redfish

Well, I did it... ran the entire 5k without a single walk break. Wow. I ended up pacing with another runner and we talked most of the race. This did help take my mind off the actual running. Now I KNOW I can go 40 minutes without walking, that is so awesome. I am totally stoked. My goal is to now continuing uninterrupted runs but faster. I am convinced with some effort I can get better times -- 40:17 was my official time today. That's 3 minutes faster than what I did in March in the Seaside 5k. In March I had several walk breaks, so I know I can get better speed. My next run is Monday and the c25k schedule puts me in week 9 which is 30 minutes running 3x during the week. I plan to finish the month of December doing this schedule before starting the 10k program in January. Each day brings me closer to a more fit me.

Life is good...

week 8 day 2

This morning went really well. I have to say this C25k has me impressed with my progress. Staying with the schedule and not jumping ahead has made the difference. Twice before I have attempted to complete the C25k and I jumped ahead every time and ended up not finishing the nine weeks. This time around even with a cold throwing me off one week I have stayed true to the schedule and here I am having run 28 minutes uninterrupted twice now!

Saturday is the Run for the Redfish 5k in Panama City Beach. I had hoped to be finishing the 9th week on race day. Unfortunately, I am one week off of my plan. That's ok -- I will complete the 5k Saturday, I may even have to take a short walk break. Next Week I will follow the schedule for week nine and go from there. Depending on how I feel, beginning in January I may start the "freeway to 10k" program. I haven't decided for sure yet.

Race day is getting near...

Yesterday's run went really well...even though my c25k schedule has been thrown off after my cold last week. I had hoped to be starting week nine but instead I have only started week eight. 28 minutes uninterrupted running -- amazing. The county fitness test in October I could barely manage five minutes of continuous running.

The weather forecast is not looking good for tomorrow's run -- I may have to run on treadmill, rain is one thing but deluge is another. A serious storm front has entered our area and is expected to stay with us through tomorrow. I have managed eight weeks without a single treadmill day. I am feeling much stronger than I did at the beginning of October. Yesterday's run ended up covering 2.4+ miles -- only 1/2 mile more to complete the Redfish 5k. If all goes well, I should do my best time ever!