Running Update

Sorry for the long hiatus in posting.

After completing the 5 mile run, I attempted an easy 3 mile run several days later. My body just rebelled.

I realized that I had been pushing my body way too hard. The mileage was just going up too much too fast for me. I had previously been averaging 6 - 8 miles a week - total. The first week of training I did 12 miles. The second week I did 14.

I chose to halt my training program for the half in the interest of not injuring myself. Seeing as though I have no health insurance, and make little money, doctor visits and x-rays, etc., would NOT be a good thing.

However, I did find something else which would allow me to continue to run, but it also caused me to have to scale WAY back on my mileage level. I found barefoot running.

My very first barefoot run took place near the end of July on a treadmill. I ran 1/4 of a mile. I liked it, but felt kind of awkward running on a treadmill barefoot. My next barefoot run was outside on the sidewalks running throughout the office complex where the gym that I work at is located. I started with 4 minutes. I chose to use minutes instead of distance because I have nothing to measure distance, but do have a sportswatch to measure time.

Slowly, I have added time each week to my runs, and am now up to 12 minutes. I seriously love it! I probably could have increased my time/distance faster than I did because I am the type who is constantly kicking my shoes off. But the mantra of barefoot runners is to take it slowly in order to avoid TMTS (Too Much Too Soon) injuries. So far, I have not had any blisters, and just a few growing pains from my feet strengthening and expanding to where they should naturally be. (And yes, I have stepped on a few rocks/pebbles with no harm to my feet.)

If you would like to learn more about barefoot running, a great place to go is Runner's World Barefoot Running forum.

5 Mile Long Run

Thank goodness for a little rain to cool things down!

I arrived at the clubhouse a few minutes before 7 a.m. In my head I was going on and on about whether or not I should even be attempting to do 5 miles. Two days off seemed to have alleviated the worst of my aches and pains, so maybe I was ready to go again.

Finally, a little after 7 a.m. we were off. The temperature was right around 75 degrees with a nice cool breeze.

There were all of 5 people in our walk/run group. 3 of them wanted to do the run 1/walk 1 pace. I stayed with the pace leader doing the run 1/walk 2. There was a lady behind us walking who had fractured her big toe while pumping gas earlier that week - the gas nozzle fell on her foot. Ouch!

Shortly after getting started, we came across a group on the side of the trail. One of the ladies had been sick during the week, but still wanted to try for the run. Unfortunately, she became lightheaded pretty quickly, and had to turn around and go home.

We kept moving on, and eventually caught up with the 1/1 pace group at the first water fountain. We left ahead of them as well. :D Before we came to the turn around spot, we had to cross the path of a race that was taking place. As we were crossing, the top 10 runners in the race were passing by. Then, it was on to the bridge.

The bridge was a freaky thing. Once you got a little bit out on to it, it started to bounce and sway. Finally we made it across, and hit the second water fountain and took a minute to stretch.

2.5 miles to go and I wasn't feeling too bad at all.

We got going back at the same time as the 1/1 group. In fact, the whole way back, except for the last .75 mile or so, we pretty much were keeping up with them. One time I felt like my left hamstring was getting tight, so we stopped on the side of the trail and I stretched it a bit.

Then we got to where the bench was (about .75 mile from the finish) and I sat and stretched for about 20 seconds or so. We both ran the last 3/10's of a mile to the finish.

Yay! I did 5 miles! The longest I've ever ran in my life. The best part was that I didn't feel totally exhausted at the end. I ate a poptart on my way home, and finished off my G2 drink plus more water.

When I got home, I did take a cold bath for awhile (didn't have ice) but then had to shower and head to church. According to sparkpeople, I used up 773 calories. The 5 mile run took us a total of 1 hour 27 minutes and 55 seconds - or approximately a 17:30 mile.

Next week we do the 5 miles again -- so now I know that I can do it!