Let the running season begin! September Running

Bike Chick, that is the attitude I am trying to take, and I've always thought of my running as cross training. I am a cyclist, and that's always going to be my #1, until I keel over.
I ran today! I went out to walk, started running and ran almost the whole way down and up my hill (a whole 2.4 miles). Of course, seeing the woman who walks her dog off leash (with the dog running ahead) who then screams at us for almost running the dog over in both our cars and bikes, made me run faster. I am going to just take it as it comes. I'll never do a tri, because I really dislike swimming and I have a great fear of not being able to touch the bottom. That doesn't bother me. This is the time of year I usual run, so we'll see.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

And it never gets easier. I'm progressed to clapping push ups and unassisted pull ups and dips.

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Ugh. My Fitness Center is having a "Battle of the Fittest" competition this month. Each week, we have a new "challenge." Next week is # of push ups in 1 minute. I'm totally dreading it. If there is one thing I absolutely detest - and cannot do to save my life - it's a push up (to say nothing of pull ups and dips...yikes). :(

Did 3 miles this morning is a slight mist of coming rain. Was nice, but it's totally dark now when I start my morning runs. I really wish I were a faster runner. I think I must be resigned to being a "jogger" and not a "runner".

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Originally Posted by Bike Chick

I ran the Upper Midwest Warrior Dash over the weekend. Holy cow, what fun!!!

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I've heard that it's a blast. They had one here in Portland a few weeks ago. Maybe next year!

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Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas

I've heard that it's a blast. They had one here in Portland a few weeks ago. Maybe next year!

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Susan, you have to do it next year. It is a lot of fun. You will so enjoy it.

It's great to read this thread and see what everyone is doing.

Awhile ago, I think I posted that I badly injured my left ankle tendons in June, so I was sidelined from anything weight bearing for about a month. I was happy to be able to walk the dogs, go on long hikes again. Didn't think I would run again.

Just about every year, my DH and I have participated in Arlington County FD/PD's Memorial 9/11 5K (they were first responders at the Pentagon). It's an emotional event for us. Some years, I walked it, some I ran it. This year I intended to walk it. Once past the start, I started running, slowly and gently. No ankle pain. Ended up being able to push it pretty hard the last half of the race and finished w/a better time than my DH. I really wanted to pass the woman wrapped in the "Don't Tread on Me" (Tea Party) flag and wouldn't you know, I left her in the dust! haha!!

I'm back to running, just twice a week. I have to be really careful about not running on severely canted surfaces and be very diligent in doing my ankle PT strength/stretch routine (anyone's interested, check out bodyworksmd.com -- Dr. Klion's ankle DVD really did wonders in my recovery---my podiatrist didn't prescribe PT).

It's so great to be back to it. I might eventually increase to three times a week, and I'm working on using Chi running (re-reading the book, ordered the updated DVD and am considering taking a one-day clinic).

Swimming and biking are my primary activities, but it's really nice to have the option to run. Don't know if I'll ever get back to running 1/2 marathons (my old favorite distance, back in the day), but for now, I'm content to get in two 3 milers a week, injury-free.

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Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas

I've heard that it's a blast. They had one here in Portland a few weeks ago. Maybe next year!

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Yeah, I tried to get you to sign up with me to do it but you had other plans (I think it was a PBP thing!). ;-)

Selkie - good for you for running again and taking it easy!

Last night I managed 2.5 miles on our brand-spankin-new treadmill. It runs like a DREAM! OMG - sooo worth what we paid for it. It's a HUGE difference from the old one! I was ready to keep going but glanced at the clock and had to cut it short and get some stuff done before bed. Had I known that I'd be up half the night due to the coyotes anyway, I might have kept running. ;)

This morning before work, I did 3 miles at an easy pace outside. It was GORGEOUS out, so I'm still super pumped.

I also decided that I'm going to challenge myself to run every day in the month of October. I'm waiting until then because I've got more travel to the east coast this month and those days are just too long to consider running. October is predominantly west coast (and Texas) travel for me, so I should be able to make it work. Can't wait!

Since I'm having a "hate" relationship with the bike right now, I have started running. Well, more of a slow jog. I do it for 30 min and alternate walk/run with each song on my ipod. During my work stretch, I'm inside on the treadmill, and on my days off I go run around the local lake. I really hate it but want to love it. I've never been an athletic person, and because I'm not "in shape" it's really difficult and making me not enjoy it. I hope to at least tolerate running some day because it's such good cardiovascular exercise.

To make everyone else feel good about their times, today I did 2.8 miles in 30 min on the treadmill

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Bike Chick, that is the attitude I am trying to take, and I've always thought of my running as cross training. I am a cyclist, and that's always going to be my #1, until I keel over.

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I totally hear you, Crankin. The bike will always be my #1. I loved it from the beginning. It's taken 2 years to finally enjoy running. Hang in there and keep at it.

VeganBikeChick, you keep at it as well. Good job.

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Originally Posted by VeganBikeChick

Since I'm having a "hate" relationship with the bike right now, I have started running. Well, more of a slow jog. I do it for 30 min and alternate walk/run with each song on my ipod. During my work stretch, I'm inside on the treadmill, and on my days off I go run around the local lake. I really hate it but want to love it. I've never been an athletic person, and because I'm not "in shape" it's really difficult and making me not enjoy it. I hope to at least tolerate running some day because it's such good cardiovascular exercise.

To make everyone else feel good about their times, today I did 2.8 miles in 30 min on the treadmill

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A friend asked my DH how I was liking running (asked as they were both out on a long bike ride that I opted not to do in order to get in a "training" run for some event I was doing). He thought about it, and replied, "I think she wavers between ambivilant and hating it." That about sums up my running. It's something I do because if I can't ride or don't ride, I need to do something or I'd go crazy. Signing up for events just gives me focus and a reason to get my butt out the door.

BTW...that time on the treadmill equates to a 10:42 minute per mile pace. In my book, that's pretty darned good! :cool:

Thanks, BikeChick and 7Rider. Your encouragement helps me a lot! Getting ready to go around the lake...just waiting for the stomach to settle down a bit...

Here's a quote I just read in this month's Running Times, quoting James Shapiro's Meditations from the Breakdown Lane:

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Quantification is worth noting and enjoying, and wrestling against with all your might, but some days, most days, what does it have to do with anything, with the sound of the wind or the color of the rain clouds blowing down from the north?

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All I can say is that the running is so different from cycling and it is a nice break. It's something I can do in 30 minutes and all I have to do to prepare is put on my running shoes. I don't enjoy it as much but there are rewards.

One day last week I left for a 6 mile run before the sun was up. It was a brisk 45 degrees with the promise of fall in the air. When I turned around at 3 miles and headed back home, the sun was peeking over the trees. It was a beautiful morning and a wonderful way to start the day. I was breathing hard, sweating and feeling grateful to be alive. It's those mornings that make me want to keep running.

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Originally Posted by Bike Chick

All I can say is that the running is so different from cycling and it is a nice break. It's something I can do in 30 minutes and all I have to do to prepare is put on my running shoes. I don't enjoy it as much but there are rewards.

One day last week I left for a 6 mile run before the sun was up. It was a brisk 45 degrees with the promise of fall in the air. When I turned around at 3 miles and headed back home, the sun was peeking over the trees. It was a beautiful morning and a wonderful way to start the day. I was breathing hard, sweating and feeling grateful to be alive. It's those mornings that make me want to keep running.

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Agreed :-)

I did a 7 mile run yesterday. My new goal is to break into the 7:30/mile pace for the 10k next spring. After a warm up I attempted to do 1 mile intervals at 7:30s. I managed one mile at 7:35 then took a 2 minute recovery. Halfway into my second interval I got really nauseated. From then on it was 1/2 mile intervals. Next week I may try and do 3/4 mile intervals.

I went out to walk this morning. I don't know why, but I started running, even though I am definitely sick, with a sinus thing that is going to require a trip to the doctor, after a week. So, I felt like crap, but it had nothing to do with running!
I ended up running for about a mile and a quarter and then walked back up the hill for another mile.
Now I know why I felt so awful after my ride on Wednesday. Duh. I'm sick.

Did 5 miles after work last night. My plan had me doing 6 with 4 at tempo, but when I did my first tempo mile, I realized that Wednesday night's weight workout was getting to me. Ugh. That's what I get for blowing off weights for the past 2 years! ;)

So I cut it to 5 miles at an easy pace. I am also doing my long run on Saturday instead of Sunday, so I figure a little less mileage leading up to it was probably in order.