.... and Running In the New Year (Jan. 1-7)

[roadie gal]

Another mile on the treadmill yesterday. My foot still feels good today. Maybe I'm beating the PF. I'm trying so hard not to push myself too soon, but it's so hard to do. It's funny because one of the things I emphasize with my patients is letting things heal and not trying to do stuff too soon. I'm my own worst patient!

[limewave]

I ran 8 miles this morning! That's the longest distance I've done in a long, long time. I felt really good. Almost pushed for 9--but didn't want to over do it.

iPods--I love mine for running. Can't wear the ear buds for the life of me. I have freakishly small ears and they won't fit. I like the traditional ear phones but with the band that goes more around the back of the head instead over top. And, I really like the ones with volume control on the wire--saves me from messing with the iPod when I'm running. I just clip mine onto my shorts or tights.

[froglegs]

10 slow, cold, wet, unpleasant miles. Did I mention slow? I think "shuffling" is the proper term. I don't know why I feel so crappy today. Oh well, at least I got the mileage in, that's the important thing (or at least that's what I'm telling myself).

[kelownagirl]

I get my orthotics on Thursday. Then I can start running again. Sigh. I'm tired of waiting.

[Grog]

Ugly weather this morning (as most recent days, and most coming days I'm afraid) but pulled myself out for my long run. It was sort of a rest week and my shortest long run until my coming half-marathon, that is 15 km and change. In the forest, it was just beautiful, I forgot about my little mechanical complaints (sore ankles, sore feet...) and just ran. I feel much better now.

Now on to Monster Month.

[OakLeaf]

Three minutes target race pace, three minutes recovery jog, repeats plus warmup and return run, total 5.4 miles yesterday. I guess this is a form of fartlek? It was a beautiful day.

I really struggle with an intermediate pace. My legs either want to go at their accustomed slow rate, or a hard run that I can't sustain for 5K (or even 1K, probably). Hopefully doing these short stints will get me used to the pace I want to run.

[indysteel]

Yesterday, I did my first run since--get this--1995. There's a group of people that I ride with who get together to run on Saturdays and Sundays during the winter. After a couple of months of feeling sort of left out, I met up with them yesterday. New running shoes and all. The group is rather motley in that some people run at a pretty good clip, some a bit slower, some do intervals and some just walk. Then they all meet up for breakfast and shoot the breeze.

I had planned on doing intervals but instead more or less ran with a few of the slower people. I ended up doing just under 3 miles. Considering the most anybody in the group does is 4, I was pleased. From there, I went to my usual spinning class but took it easy. I just wanted to keep my muscles moving. I'm sore today, but not horribly. It'll pass.

I'm not necessarily looking to get into running like I'm into cycling. I ran track and x-country for a couple of years when I was in H.S. but sustained a number of injuries. I ended up quiting it and my team cold turkey, something that has been the source of much regret. I ran off and on a bit through college and law school but never really came to love it. The fact that I had fun yesterday was a bigger accomplishment for me than the running itself. I think my attitude about myself as an athlete has changed in the last couple of years thanks to biking and yoga. I'm more of a "I think I can" girl than I used to be.