Moving that mileage marker up each day or most days when not sidelined with injuries or ailments!
I couldn’t be more excited to have healthy legs back underneath me running. It was 4/4/24 when I really felt pain free on my runs. Almost a month after my injury. Glad to have that injury behind me for now.
I ran in Jamaica. First out-of-country run. I was excited about running internationally. The weather. The views. The overall ambiance. Island time is just a lot different than my daily norm. Stepping out to see what’s around the world is something I value. It fuels me. My runs were short but I ran by the ocean. It was a beautiful way to start the day. I ran on vacation. This may be a new normal these days. The pavement was an uneven stone when I ran. My knees didn’t like it so much but it’s not as bad as running on cobblestones. No matter the terrain, running along side the ocean is blissful. All the shades of blue in the water. The birds flying around you. All of the scenery is beautiful.
Crumbl Cookie 5k mid month. I survived. I also worked extra hard on recovery and stretching to prepare for my CrossFit competition. Happy to say the comp was completed. Still not exactly 100% physically. I guess that comes with aging, but not giving up on competing. Never resting long enough to heal all the aches so just plugging along to see what my body allows.
Now while running I need to shift my cross trainingmindset a bit. Tennis playoffs is the first week in May. The date is approaching fast. Yes that’s right. Paddle sports is also my jam. Tennis includes a different kind of running. Linking hand eye coordination with what your arms and legs do. Many cognitive skill sets firing on all cylinders. Short running spurts. Pivots. Strong legs are needed to plant and avoid injury. This is crazy considering my past several weeks of recuperating. Will my tennis performance lag due to my other training? I’ll let you know next month. Stay tuned.
10k prep is underway. Not as many miles of recent or that I had planned out, but I’m going to stay positive. I read to break the race up into 3 segments trying not to go out too hard. Staying consistent and leaving room at the end to finish strong. I’ve never really had a game plan for a 10k so this is going to be interesting to see how it works out for me. Maybe I’ll try this method on this race and intervals on the next 10k for comparison.
I squeezed in the Crumbl cookie 5k as mentioned above. The allure of this race was a Crumbl cookie waiting for me at the end! I wanted to ensure I didn’t drop my cookie since last race I dropped my cupcake getting my time verified! No joke the cookie was a big part of signing up with a few pals so not dropping my reward is important. This race was gross. It was full of hills and slanted pavement. Two of my least favorite elements when running. My first mile was slower than usual. In the race I was a little mad about it. Into mile two I found my stride and settled in. That led to a faster mile. I finished strong despite the hill climb to the finish. Fun with friends is always an added benefit to races.
April mileage wasn’t noteworthy.
Just over 120 miles logged this year to date thanks to a few setbacks.
1st international run in Jamaica.
1 mile pace now seems irrelevant as I build mileage and do other things. However my best 5k is 36:54 this year which I am excited about. A big improvement from 1 year ago.
I have a little bit of running fever. Am I good at it yet? Nope. Am I learning to enjoy my solo time running? Yes. Am I motivating others along the way? I believe so.
I got the next set of shoes In the rotation. Same Brooks for running, just a different color. Maybe one more pair for the fall. Time will tell. I did find a slight flaw in my last pair. After getting them wet in a puddle the inner big toe piece because an nuisance when running. Good thing for the next pair in rotation. Also second pair of Nike free metcons for in gym runs and short distances when cross training. Sticking with the black theme as well. I also prefer to use feetures brand socks. Not too thick but definitely the ones that cover my heel so I don’t get blisters. These socks are worth the premium I pay for them, but they have good sales throughout the year which also helps.
Equipment tidbit: this one has a safety focus. Light up vests for my running group. Many run in the dark at 5am. One runs in the woods when it’s dark. Neon lights help pave the way for our group keeping us safe. So excited we all have them. They look cool, too. I had fun lighting up myself for a little night jog this month. Light weight is also key.
Oh the end of month came and I was teeter tottering on getting my knees checked. My left knee was just a bit wonky after my competition. I bit the bullet and went to see the doctor. I needed a cortisone shot in my left knee. Not what I wanted or expected but I rolled with it. A few more forced days off. A few tweaks in the coming months to reduce risk while I heal and still allow for running. Wish me luck. You can see the battle wound that was hidden behind the bandaid for the day. I should mention getting old sucks. Your body needs to be handled with care at times over fifty. Be aware of signs your body gives you. Don’t wait until you are 100% out of commission before seeking help. Rehabilitation is part of being an athlete and so is mentally overcoming shortcomings.
Biggest accomplishment so far:
Signing up for a marathon
Biggest fear so far:
Completing the marathon.
Mental mountain: learning to adapt to limitations that appear despite wanting to go the extra 10 miles.
What I want to improve on in next three months:
My distance or time out for a run in one swoop. Can I go for 3 hours or more? How far can I go? Can my legs hold out?
Questions I need to keep asking Is my nutrition dialed in? For now the answer is I’ve slacked a little as of late. Not off the rails but not dialed in. Need to make this a priority before summer’s end to be in peak nutrition state for fall.
Is it better to run one mile or none at all?
My last bit of business for the month was mapping out my next 12 week training plan. The real start to marathon training. Putting running at the top of the priority list to make sure I’m ready on the actual day of the marathon. My first time ever planning this much for a race. Let’s see how it goes. To this point I just practiced.
I don’t even know where the time has gone. I can’t believe that I’m writing that I enjoy the running now. I look forward to it in a way. Whether I’m tired or not doesn’t matter. I’m enjoying the challenge. The thrill of a race. The anticipation of can I do it. Of course how long can I go with my two feet. It’s definitely exciting and I’m so glad I decided to document the process as I’m having a blast looking back. Even a week ago seems like 5 years. Heck I even enjoy the air runner now.
Three solid months of running and overall fitness. Funny my annual physical was this month as a coincidence. This means I get to see how I fare with the good old doctor. Such an important life step as you age. Making sure the girls (boobs) are healthy. No bad cholesterol. Blood pressure and other vitals holding firm. The whole dog and pony show. I passed with flying colors. Yeah me!
The first day of the month I almost didn’t run. It was the first week of the CrossFit open and my body was worn out. Then on a whim I ran a mile at 5pm. 3 months ago I wouldn’t have consider that an option. Today it seems like a necessity. Crazy! I had a great week leading up to week two of the CrossFit open and my DEKA competition. I felt physically strong and healthy. Then the curve ball hit.
First injury was logged on 3/7/24 after CrossFit open workout 24.2 around 7pm. A bad landing on a double under was all it took to jack up my left Achilles, calf and knee. A trip to the hot tub didn’t help. KT tape eased the pain but the injury was still there. Leg sleeves. Ice. Rest day by force. Not a happy girl on this day before a big competition. Limited mobility for a big run, lunges, burpees and high box step overs is not good. My run cycle was broken at day 26 pissing me off a little more. A let down of sorts. One day before my competition. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. It wouldn’t be so bad if my competition wasn’t with a partner. That way I wouldn’t feel so bad. Life moves on. I will compete broken! At least my colorful KT tape might make me smile a little.
DEKA Fit competition held in Knoxville, TN on March 9, 2024. Less than 48 hours post injury. A few miles to run and continuous stretching of my will for almost a hour. I wasn’t sure I could do it at 8am. What an adventure. A little travel. A few friends. Some hard work. A little running mixed in. A bum leg to fight with. 100 percent adrenaline to finish the event. A good health check on where I stand on my fitness journey since this was a decathlon event with running built in. Nothing beats that live competition. Race or otherwise. I tend to thrive in competitive environments of all kinds, however today was about completing the competition since I was injured. I also had a chance to try light therapy on my injured foot prior to my event which I think helped.
Earning my medal had new meaning as I fought hard to get it. Even beat my anticipated time by a few minutes. My partner was great working with my injury which helped. Again I wasn’t sure I could compete let alone finish. Somehow I finished. Onto to more training as I heal.
Just when my Achilles started feeling better my right knee decides to not cooperate. Then a head cold. Out of commission for four days and I’m not happy. Putting emphasis on stretching and rest while my body mends and while I kick my head cold. Not fun at all. The weather outside is beautiful yet I’m not moving outside like I would normally. The frustration builds. I was more upset that I couldn’t run than my body was injured. What an irony.
Failure seems to be on my mind. I’m failing to do what I want to because my body isn’t cooperating. I want to run. My legs aren’t ready. I want to breathe freely but my sinuses are stuffed. My lips are chapped. My mental strength is dwindling. It sucks to be in a state of blah. If I had a dollar for every time I sneezed this week I’d be rich! 24.3 the last Open workout is on the horizon. I’ve been out of commission all week. I may have to throw in the towel on this one to preserve myself long term. Another let down but maybe the smart choice. Jury is still out on this one.
I put in the effort for 24.3 in the Open. Not my best showing but I showed up. I showed up for me. I walked some in the coming days. I rested more than usual as well. I focused on healing. My mind. My body. My ego. All of it. Being off my routine has taken a toll. My eating is off. My sleep is off. Each day I’m getting closer to 100% but I’m not there yet. I still have a visible injury in my left calf. I’m moving better but my gait is off.
Celebrating milestones was important this month. Passing 100 miles run even after my injury was a quiet celebration for me but yet a big one in my mind. I fought so hard for those last 10 miles. It took many more days than it should have. Again if it was easy everyone would do it. For that reason I celebrate me.
End of month 5k knocked out to check off a box on 3/30. I proved to myself I can do hard things. A little time crunch to catch my flight but I still ran to say I did it. A quick trip to Jamaica for my first out of the country run. A much needed break from reality based on just reading above. My time was 37:49 for the 5k. I didn’t have expectations here since I’m still recovering from my injuries and now allergies. I was excited to see how I progressed in my running in the first 90 miles until I got hurt. Guess my progress will be validated on my next race. A few friends in tow always make it better even if we don’t have the same pace we still cheer for each other for getting out there on race day. Photo ops at the end to celebrate is also a must do.
I somehow slid a 10k Super Mom race into the calendar for May. A little Mother’s Day gift of sorts to myself. Just another training exercise to test me and gauge my progress as I near the halfway point of the year. Also it will mark a larger run for me to see how I hold up. Hoping to squeeze in another race day 5k before May as another health check. I can’t even believe I’m actually doing this and enjoying it. Seems crazy when I reflect back.
While we mention cross training I do most of my training in Nike Metcons. The Free version for 2024 to help with running workouts and air runner intervals on days I don’t want to change into my running shoes. These are also what I compete in. Lifting, box jumps, short runs, rowing, etc. They have been a great shoe for me. Light enough in weight but also enough cushion for short runs. I of course have two pairs in rotation which keeps me happy. Current day these white shoes are much dirtier as they are used 5-6 days a week.
Over 106 miles in 2024 so far.
I got stalled at 90 miles while I battled a tough cold. This nearly broke me!
I didn’t quit yet.
I battled my first injury. Ironically not running.
I had to mentally manage being out of commission with a sickness and injuries.
Let me repeat that. I didn’t quit yet!
I’m growing as a person and loving the challenge and the experience that goes along with it. Enjoying time with fit friends. Milestones. Memories. This journey should show any person they can do hard things and train themselves to be better. Documenting this process has been so gratifying. It’s also an experience I’m sharing with my small group of fit friends and our bond and connection has grown immensely. Another unexpected benefit that I value.
I ran in 3 states. Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.
Missed my fourth state due to resting from an injury. Guess that makes me a busy girl this month. I’ve also been training with a girl in her 20’s. Just keeping up at my age is another big celebration in my mind. Finding that person to push you is so good for the soul.
My mindset is locked in and focused on improving my running pace, distance and overall fitness. I seem less focused on my one mile time although I like to check in here and there to see we where I am. I seem to like a 5k as short and faster run, although I’m really not fast. I’m building my distance in my training runs focusing on slowing the pace down to endure longer. I might have been a 200 meter girl when I started the year. Now I’d say my comfort zone is a 5k. My pace but nonetheless I’m not bothered by a 5k. I can do it and not be knocked out for the day. That’s yet another celebration.
Best memory so far is really witnessing the rippling effect of my running project. The cascading of others running, supporting and cheering for you as you tackle something big.
Worst memory so far has got to be my first non running injury and cold at once.
Shoes update: loving my Brooks. No plans to change, just add shoes in rotation as the mileage builds.
Weather changes means more daylight. More pollen. Warmer days to run outside. Less rain. No gloves needed. Just a new climate to train in I suppose.
I thought I’d add an equipment tidbit this month. I have already mentioned the importance of shoe quality and the running vest. Now I’m going to talk about a stopwatch/interval counter. The reminder to run/walk at preset intervals to not lose sight of pace and goals. Such a great tool while training on longer runs. This is critical for somebody liek me with attention issues. A beep or vibration that doesn’t drain your music battery or cellular service. The most helpful and easy 5 mile run I did on my first usage. Highly recommend.
Balancing life is getting harder. Work travel. Busy events schedule. Personal travel. Fit adventure travels. Eating on the go. Busy season is here, but I can run anywhere which is great. Balancing the run and the travel. Just making the time and doing the work.
I’m currently getting ready for my next CrossFit Competition in April. The Festivus Games. A trio of three working hard to compete against others. None of us are extreme athletes yet all of us are committed to being the best version of ourselves in the competition. Lots of training on the front end for certain movements while keeping up with miles to run. Again to keep up with my strength training vs solely running. Another health check of sorts to see where I am on my fit journey. A little benchmark. No running in this competition but I can see if 100 days of running or so has helped my cardiovascular fitness and/or endurance. Fingers crossed!
As I move into April, I’m looking to increase my weekly mileage in preparation for longer races. That 10k is just around the corner. Making sure I can keep my focus for the duration. I’m going to have to find tasks to practice on the keep my attention for six hours while taxing my body to its limits in a marathon this fall. Little by little I’m working toward my running goal. How many miles will I achieve this year?
300 miles?
500 miles?
700 miles?
more?
Guess you have to follow me for a few more months to find out the ending of my story. Or maybe it’s just the beginning of something bigger.
My goals this year have me embracing the idea of a racecation…seeing the country (and maybe the world) by traveling to great races all over.
The first installment of racecations took me to Little Rock, Arkansas for the Little Rock Half Marathon. I had several firsts on this trip…first half marathon in 5 years (and second half ever!). First time in the state of Arkansas. First half marathon of my racecation series. And to make it extra special, my oldest daughter ran her first half marathon with me, along with her long time best friend (who also ran her first!)
It may seem like a random race to travel to, but once we figured out that my daughter’s friend could make it work (she lives not far from Little Rock), it all came together. I had earmarked this race because it was rated high based on crowd support, organization, fun, a not-super-hellish course, cool medals / swag, and a generous time limit. I am definitely a “back of the pack” runner by most standards, and freaking out about being taken off the course for moving too slow is something I don’t want to worry about.
I’ll be writing about several races this year, so I’ll focus on the highlights of each:
This race has a different theme each year. The current theme is dinosaurs which was a little funny, but I loved how the expo and all the local neighborhoods embraced the theme with enthusiasm. People ran in dinosaur costumes. Some of the pacers were dressed as Flintstones. The medal, known for being exceptionally large and heavy, was a sparkly triceratops. Easily a favorite.
There were great groups and signs along the way. Even a lipstick stop at the end where a well-known sorority was handing out lipsticks to make sure your finish was picture-perfect. The course was relatively flat. I loved running over the bridge, which also allowed us to cheer for the faster runners and wheelchair racers who were on their way back over as we made our way across.
I have been training with the Galloway run-walk-run method. The group of people running near me were in the same vein. It was pretty cool to hear a chorus of beeps and bells throughout the run and see people of all shapes and sizes getting their run on. I felt like I was in the right place. The weather was awesome, cool but not cold.
I had a great race and loved being congratulated by my daughter and her BFF at the end. They enjoyed their time together…it’s fun to see the two of them as girls who enjoy taking on adventures and challenges together too. Fit and adventurous friends are the best! Such great memories.
The only downside to this race was actually the town. Little Rock didn’t seem to have too much to do. There were hikes and caves and outdoor sports, but we couldn’t really take advantage of those since we were saving our strength for the race. We did enjoy Arkansas cheese dip after the event and an ice cream flight. I would 100% run this race again! Next stop: Disney!
Month 2 is complete and I’m still reaching for new milestones. I can’t even explain how excited I am about how far I’ve come in such a short time. First in-person race completed. The Hot Chocolate 5k on 2/4/24. This seems like a lifetime ago to me and why I am so glad to have this blog to reflect on. Rain and wind in the forecast but warmer than it’s been lately. I guess it wouldn’t be exciting without battling the elements. Just one week after my virtual 5k. I originally signed up for the cool swag bag and to run with friends well before I set a running goal for 2024, but it definitely puts miles in the log book and gives me another 5k time to catalog. Great start to the month and I’m content running a 5k currently as a race day event while I still focus on my 1 mile time and just improve my running overall. Longer distance races can come in time, when I feel I’m ready and my body is prepared. 20 gym pals teamed up for this run which made it so much fun! Too many pictures to post here but so many memories. Lots of celebrating at the end and maybe some great hot chocolate.
My 5k time was 37:37 on 2/4/24. I almost forgot how slow the start of a race is with all the people and the weaving you have to do to get around the swarm of people at the start area. Definitely wasn’t a straight line to mile 1. Bloody lady after a face plant before mile one was sad. An ambulance, fire truck and police car dodging runners at a cross street. Me being one of them was new for a race day. Just a day in the city on race day I suppose. So much fun with a group of friends and a repeat from 2020 for a handful of the same people. Chocolate at the end to celebrate. Can’t complain about that. Definitely cold before and after but hot during the actual race. Cute purple skirt for a little flair, a little glitter on the face to sparkle, and a great play list to go go go. Great Sunday run-day was had by all. Ready for the next one.
Maybe I’ll work my way up to 10k or 4 miler on race day, but for month two we are sticking with the 5k and hoping to build up to that half marathon I signed up for in November 2024 with a few friends. This month I will also be faced with a new challenge. Training for the DEKA Fit competition in Knoxville, TN in early March. This is a unique competition with 10 fitness segments with running built into it. A 5k will be completed in conjunction with the 10 fitness segments. Luckily I will have a partner to divvy out the work with but this will be another test of my running and overall conditioning. More to follow on this next month. Lots of interval training this month with a few longer runs built in.
My 1 mile pace was 9:57 on 2/6/24 on the air runner. Hard to believe but no outside elements I suppose.
I ran in just one state.
I ran 19 days in a row. This seems so crazy to me because never would I ever have expected to be this consistent when I started.
I ran over 40 miles this month. A goal I scribbled on my calendar that seems like a stretch was now a reality. I did it!
I’m at a year-to-date total of 76 miles.
I did my first longer run (4.5 miles) in a vest with water. That was new and took some getting used to. The sloshing of water was definitely a new distraction.
I ran intervals with friends a few times a week and really enjoyed settling into a rhythm. I feel like my breathing and pacing is improving. Run at an easy pace. Run for longer, slower. Simple concept. Harder to apply when you live the fastest girl in town lifestyle. Walk without dropping my heart rate too much in between intervals. I felt like I could endure for a while. I didn’t test my theory for maxing out, but maybe I will in the coming months. This seems like a good approach for me when tackling large mile runs and most likely my game plan for my big races. Continuing to work on my strength in cross training as well. Added a few sprints at the end some days too. I can definitely feel a change in my endurance now that I’ve been running more. Shoulders are thinning out a bit from the running, but I’ll never have the runner physique.
I also focused my training on 500-meter segments to better prepare for my competition next month as well as improve my run times by focusing on interval training in a 500-meter distance chunk. Then fatiguing myself with weight bearing exercises and continuing with the run/work scenario. Slightly different form of intervals that were noted above with a run/walk scheme. Just a little training shift this month I suppose. Still progress no matter which way you look at it. Every step is forward no matter which way you look at it. Unless I’m doing backwards lunges which I loathe.
This is my birth month. 52 wise/wise ass years behind me. I was aiming to hit 52 miles by my birthday this year as a mini-milestone. I was already pleasantly surprised I went over 30 miles last month which meant I was over half way to 52. I ended up with 67.75 miles by my birthday. I actually hit 52 miles on 2/12/24 and I was over the moon excited. I was definitely pumped and felt so much accomplishment just to get here, let alone achieve the goal early. So much encouragement along the way. My fit friends texting or getting together to run. My pal who gives me motivation notes to view for each mile I complete. The list goes on. I am truly one lucky girl just having the ability to run. I know some pals who would love to run but can’t for one reason or another. For that reason, I’m motivated to move because I can.
Self-discipline is something worth writing about. Not everyone has it engrained in their soul. I can’t do this subject justice exclusively in this post, but many work at it. Some need more of a checklist to stay on track. I’m definitely self-motivated. I work and rework my plan and offer myself rewards for efforts. I celebrate milestones and I try hard not to compare myself to others. My journey is unique to me. Keeping the focus on what I can control keeps me disciplined. I can always help others. I can show others how I stay on track. What I can’t do is the work for others. That’s the difference. A self-disciplined person can work hard solo. To improve themselves. No strings attached. No comparison needed. They can make the finish line without something or someone pushing them over the line.
Another footnote for this month is I’m officially signed up for my first full marathon in Savannah, GA in November 2024. 6 friends participating along side me and a few more thinking about it. Different paces but a common goal of completing the marathon. Not too far away and the same month I have a half marathon so hopefully my body can withstand both. I guess my half marathon is now my training run for the marathon. Here we are month two into my running project and I’m signed up for my first marathon. What’s next? Here’s to making memories and achieving milestones. One step at a time.
And for those who want to know why, it’s because I can and I have the will to tackle the challenge. I’ve never set my mind to running thus running 2024 was a good goal for me to take on. Time will tell how I fared. How my overall fitness was impacted. I have hope that I can endure the grueling 26.2 miles and earn my medal. Maybe I’ll make it two marathons to hit 52 miles for my year of 52.
Since I’ve now signed up for a few races my medal rack seems a little crowded. Retail therapy to the rescue. I now have a 2024 race bib display and medal rack mounted and waiting for each and every bib and medal I earn this year. It’s gonna be a great year of running. It’s gonna be fun to flip back throught the medals and bibs at year end to reflect on my accomplishments. I can feel the success in my soul/sole already. I’m doodling on the back of each bib with my race time and splits to see how I improve in time. A fun data point to look back on in the years ahead.
The end of February also marks the start of the CrossFit Open. An annual event that I partake in. Year 8 for me. Some years are better than others but I put my best foot forward each time. 3 weeks of testing my strength in the CrossFit world while balancing running and training for the DEKA Fit competition. Never a dull moment over here. Moving. Training. Writing. That’s my agenda for the immediate future. And for curious minds, I work full time. This means I train at 6am, nights, lunch breaks, weekends and whenever my schedule allows. The balance is also part of the challenge this year.
Balancing strength training, work, family, paddle sports and running isn’t for the weak at heart. That’s for sure. Almost forgot to mention I’m eating clean to make sure my body is fueled to endure the demands I’m putting on my body. On top of that I’m making sure to take time to get a massage and pedicure at regular intervals to keep everything in sync. I’m also not forgetting to spend time stretching. A very important step to continuing to build those miles. Busy life.
Stay tuned for what’s lurking at the end of the first quarter.
Month one is in the rear view and I far exceeded my expectations. 34.25 miles accumulated. I ran 26 days out of 31. I even ran 15 days in a row at one point. Never in my wildest dreams did I have that as an expectation. Eleven more months to go and so many adventures are on the horizon. Who would have thought I would be so into running after 1 month. Certainly not me!
The start was bumpy. Day one running at midnight in Colorado. Cold. Dark. Unforgiving. I could have been done with one run. Just quit. That would be easy. And trust me I thought about it. Just a bizarre start to my adventure, I guess you could say. A flight home gave me time to pause and think about my game plan for the coming days. A regrouping of sorts. Time to think about my why or why nots.
I got a half mile in the next day. It was effort but nothing to jump up and down about. The next day I rested. My body was still recovering from travel. The day after I planned to run but life got in the way. I was beginning to get discouraged way too soon. Even having the realization of how hard my task to myself was actually going to be gave me a taste of humble pie. Training myself to do something I don’t want to or even like to do takes a lot of self talk. Over and over again. One step. The .11 miles running around a building at the gym to accumulate a half mile seemed tedious. The hill that seems like a mountain was on the other side of the building. I had avoided that hill many times. A mental block of sorts. All of it. Repeat the self talk. You can. You will.
It was Friday. I was full of excuses. My body was achy from CrossFit. I asked a couple of family members to run a mile with me. No takers. It’s cold. That doesn’t sound fun. Why? That’s what I heard. I grabbed my AirPods and said I’m doing it. I just said I had to. I eventually want the words I utter to myself to be go now. No hesitation. For now I will settle for self talk because I’m trying to form a running habit. Holding myself accountable. Just this journal is a portion of accountability.
I hit 1.5 miles on that Friday. I set a small personal best for my first mile which is really what I’m focused on as I grow as a runner. Not sure if that’s the most effective focus but it’s what I’m working on at the moment. I walked some to cool down but all in all I was happy with my distance and productivity especially getting out there mid work day, alone. Battling the elements wasn’t really an advanced thought. The wind is just gross on a cold day. The wind may be your friend running one way but the way back it’s a slap in the face. Harsh as it comes.
I ran 4 days the first week for 3.75 miles.
I signed up for a virtual 5k.
I ran an impromptu 5k on an air runner on a rainy day. For no reason. Who am I? I guess this will be my air runner bench mark time. I didn’t really plan to do this but I guess it’s now a data point. Go me! 7 miles accumulated in week 2. Yes, I am celebrating myself at every little milestone. 19 miles by the twentieth day of the month. Is this really happening?
I actually completed the virtual 5k by month end with a time of 38:58. I had to fight a lot of wind on this day as well. It was brutal in spots. I was excited to see my mile times were evenly dispersed when I reviewed my Apple Watch. This was a big win for me that I didn’t think was achievable. I guess this will be my 2024 bench mark 5k race time and my split times. Although I think a virtual race is slightly less significant due to it being self monitored versus say a chip time in an in person race. I did get a race bib for my 2024 collection so it does count as an official race. Still miss the hype of the crowds on race day that normally get you going faster.
My 5k time was logged after my first month of committing to running. A first and best official race time for 2024. It will be great to see where my 5k time ends up at the end of 2024. My last official recorded 5k time was 45:18 minutes back in May of 2023. A more hilly course and no training leading up to the event which means I should have improved but it definitely feels good to give myself a baseline 5k time to work on over the year. I also had an unofficial 5k park run time of 42:52 back in August of 2023. Definitely good to have some progress points to refer back to.
I ran in 2 states (Georgia/Colorado).
I ran in the cold.
I ran at the park.
I ran in the city.
I ran at midnight.
I ran alone most days. This is where the biggest growth is for me. Putting in the work when nobody is watching. Striving for better, solo. Getting up the courage to go alone. This can be scary at first but empowering in the long run. Getting punny here.
I ran at 6am with my crazy friend! The smile is also before the run. The red face was definitely the after look with no smile. The darkness of the photo reiterates the wee hours of the morning before the sun rises.
I ran inside on an air runner, more than once.
I ran stairs and liked it.
I learned that music can distract your mind from running if you can sing along to the soundtrack. For me this is important for pacing as well as going further before stopping. It also helps to maybe run for a song length estimating the time elapsing. This is exactly why I have a new running playlist thanks to a dear pal who keeps me on track. I also snagged a good running play list from the virtual 5k group as an added bonus.
My 1 mile best pace was 11:31 on 1/5/24.
My 1 mile pace dropped to 11:11 on 1/10/24.
Not every day was a personal best, but every day I had some sort of effort towards my goal. Writing. Reviewing. Running. Planning. Taking steps every day that will keep me on track. And don’t forget running isn’t my sole focus. I’m also active in CrossFit and paddle sports like tennis and pickleball. All of which are in full swing making me work hard to balance life and fitness goals.
I also made a visit to the local running store to make sure my feet were equipped properly for my hefty goal. Enter a new pair of shoes. My first pair of Brooks. I tried several other brands but decided on this one. We shall see how it goes. Not so excited about the color but we will see if the performance is a winner.
First run in the Brooks was decent. Cushiony but firmer than the ASICS. On we go to month two. February. The chocolate month. The Hot Chocolate 5k is on the books with friends which will be yet another 5k time to catalog. Let’s see what month two looks like for me. I’ve already come so far in such a short time. Feeling confident after month one even if the confidence is short-lived when I look at the big picture.
I also pulled the trigger on signing up for a half marathon in November of 2024. This goal is getting real, quick. Another fun fact is I’m taking pictures along the way to document my journey. And boy is my running face a sure sign of distress or pain as my friend noted. Hopefully that will change in time.
Happy to report month 1 was a success. Keep following to see where this journey leads.
2 Chicks and a blog 