Run for Babies 5K

This was a challenging race! The winds were averaging close to 20 mph throughout the event. The course was pretty decent (except for the section by the fuel depot - strong chemical odor) but the winds made it wicked hard! I was very surprised to learn I placed 3rd in my age group. I won a ribbon -- more bling! I felt so beat up when I crossed the finish line. Waiting for our times to be announced was tough -- thank goodness my young friend, Stephen (6ft tall and 19) graciously stood in front of me as a windbreak. I am so glad to finish this race... now I am sufficiently motivated to keep training for the next race in April.

This race was so hard I could not maintain the running pace -- I ended up walking a lot. Tomorrow I will not run, but Monday I get back in the groove towards maintaining the 30 minute continuous run. The Couch to 5k program really works, and it is possible to back up in the program if there are any setbacks. My sprained ankle was exactly one month ago. I restarted the C25k at week 4 two weeks ago getting ready for today's race. My ankle did not give me any trouble but my endurance is waaaaay off. I know as I keep going with the training I will recover my strength.

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.

week 5 day 2

Today's run was a challenge, the weather was very windy and damp. Tropical storm Ida passed by Tuesday morning, we had a bit of rain & wind but overall not too horrible for a storm. Today was a holiday but I did not get up early and go running as I usually do. In fact, I did not get my run until almost 4pm. The winds at this time were around 17mph -- I made it all the way through the run! My legs were throbbing when I got home. The Forerunner said my best pace was 10:25min/mile -- I'll say that was the tailwind effect :-) Friday is my next run -- W5Day3 is a 20 minute continuous run... this will be hard but I know I can do it! Running is still very hard for me but I keep going forward - plodding away. Step by step - I am getting stronger and with a tailwind I am getting faster ;-)

Tried something new...

Tried a new mp3 file for Week5 Day1 run yesterday -- somehow I missed the verbal cue for the walk between 1st and 2nd run so I ended up running 13 minutes!!! I really did run 13 minutes without a walk break. Tomorrow is W5D2 run - I will go back to the podrunner mp3 file and hopefully I will get the walk cue since tomorrow's run is 8 minutes runs. I really don't want to overdo it like I have in the past. At least with this run I know I am improving... I will keep slugging away. I managed to use my Garmin Forerunner to track my run -- appears my best pace was an 11min/mile (wow!) Now I must admit there was a decent breeze going and occasionally this would be a nice tailwind. If I could keep an 11min/mile pace I would ecstatic!

Monday, Monday...

Actually, pretty good day so far. Week 4 started today instead of yesterday, lots of things did not go as planned. Poor chubby Lab did not get to go running after all. This morning was fairly cool and the sun was up early. I thought with the change back to Standard time we would be dark later... but I was wrong. Last week I running in the dark for half of the run but today it was reasonably bright before I even started and I had even left the house early.



Today's run was more challenging than Week3 but still very doable. When I did the C25k before I used the treadmill at the gym and I was able to reach the 25 minutes running without a walk break. However, I had done so much of my training on the treadmills when I tried to do the distance on the path outdoors I did very poorly. This time all of my training is being done outside and I am just now starting to feel a little bit stronger. I noticed today there was a few times I had a strong stride going in my run segments. My insecurity as a runner at times threatens my determination, fortunately, I have thus far managed to keep going for it. I feel so sloooooow and yet I know I have not been the last person to cross the finish line in any of my races. I CAN DO THIS!