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Sunday, November 29, 2009
November was such a blur - I didn't run or strength-train as much as I would have liked to, but I still ran my 5k and I feel like the exercise and self-care I did manage helped me get through this emotionally difficult month. I still have moments, but I am feeling some forward momentum now that is helping to keep me going (at least until winter break!)
But life goes on, and so here are my self-challenges and associated goals for December:
1. I will run 3x per week! (Ha, I know, persistence is key. But I think I can actually do this this month if the weather cooperates!)
a. Week 1 - Run 35 minutes
b. Week 2 - Run 40 minutes
c. Week 3 - Run 42 minutes
d. Week 4 - Run 45 minutes
Next Race: First Run New Year's Day 5k in Burlington, VT - January 1st, 2010!
Goal: Run in less than 36 minutes.
2. Strength train 2x per week
a. Week 1
b. Week 2
c. Week 3
d. Week 4
And lastly, I want to be at 200 by the New Year. That means buckling down on my nutrition (as usual) and keeping my fitness minutes up!
Okay, wish me luck!
Friday, November 27, 2009
I was a little bit disappointed, as well as surprised. My iron levels have always been spot on, with the Red Cross folks telling me numerous times that my iron levels are great for a woman my age.
But I made an appointment to try again next Saturday, so until then I will be thinking about my iron intake and as usual focusing on staying healthy.
I can't believe it is the weekend already! Have a week and a half of school to get myself through, and then the winter break is here (something else to be thankful about). I do have some work to do over this weekend to be prepared for the coming week, but it should be too much.
I decided that I am going to run a 5k on January 1st to bring in the new year in style! What can I say, these races are just so addicting - I love having these goals to work toward. I hope to train consistently over the coming month and be able to run this next race in 35 or 36 minutes. It is an "easy" (aka mostly flat) course right through the middle of Burlington, and I hear that people dress up in costumes and have a ton of fun. I invited my sister to run with me, though she needs to check and make sure she will be off that day.
Anyway... just checking in! Feeling a bit... scattered... tense... strange? But hanging in there nevertheless.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Of course I did it! This was my first solo race, so I am pretty proud of myself for following through. I wasn't nervous at all once I arrived. Sorry, no pics this time!
It was a beautiful day - about 50 degrees here in Burlington, with a slight breeze, and partly cloudly but with a little sun poking through here and there.
The course itself was nice - I had a general sense of what it would be like from talking to my internship supervisor, who has run this race before and also ran it today (she cheered as I crossed the finish line!).
The first 1.5 miles were pretty straight forward - a gentle downhill, and then fairly flat. At the half way point we turned onto a dirt path, which was fun (slight sarcasm - I am not a girly girl by any means, but I felt bad for my shoes as I was running through a bit of mud! I made the woman ahead of me giggle because I kept saying "ew...EW!".). At about the 2.3 mile mark we looped back around onto the path we had started on, and let me tell you, that gentle downhill was not as gentle going back up!! I took two shorts walking breaks - about 45 seconds each - because my thighs were burning and I was starting to feel slightly dizzy from exerting myself so. But then I caught a glimpse of the last .1 mi to the finish, and I ran my little heart out across that line.
I finished in 38:15! Considering the walking breaks and the, let's just say inconsistent, month I have had, I am very happy with that result. It is practically identical to my last race time of 38:03.
This race was also neat because there were just so many more people than in my previous two races - at least 200 it seemed! It was nice running alongside other people who were chatting away happily.
Another neat thing was that I didn't finish last! And I actually passed a handful of people. Winning obviously doesn't matter to me, but it is definitely a different feeling when you can keep pace with some other people and when you are not the last one to cross the line!
And to top it all off, I ran/walked the 3 miles home. I am feeling really good right now, really accomplished.
Thank you all for all the support! Happy Thanksgiving!
Patti
****My running related fitness milestones to date:
6/8/09 - Ran .5 miles in 7 minutes
6/20/09 - Ran 1 mile (!) in 14.5 minutes
7/19/09 - Ran 1.5 miles in 18 minutes (5mph pace!)
8/8/09 - Ran 2 miles in 28 minutes (4.3mph pace)
9/26/09 - Ran my 1st 5K - The "Under the Tree" 5K/Hartland (VT) Christmas
Project!!! 3.1 miles in 40:30!
10/18/09 - Ran my 2nd 5k! Four Paws for Lacey's Cause 5k in South Burlington, VT - 3.1 miles in 38:03!
11/26/09 - Ran my 3rd 5k! The 33rd Green Mountain Athletic Association Turkey Trot @ UVM - 3.1 miles in 38:15!
*******Future plans:
A few more 5ks in the spring, working up to a few 10ks in the fall! My sister is planning to do these with me, which makes me happy.
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