My First 7 Mile Run

I've been doing much better lately.

I've been out running almost everyday since Thursday.

I think I did:

Thursday 5 miles (mostly walking)

Friday 4 miles

Saturday 2 miles

Sunday 2-3 miles (walking)

Monday 7 miles.....Yay!

Yesterday, I did my first 7 mile run...!  All by myself.  It was not too bad.

It is much easier to go with someone, but I just wanted to go at that moment, because I was too stressed out.  

It was a very nice day, and it felt so good.  I did 1 min/1 min.  My legs were hurting a little later, but today I feel fine.  I still feel very tired after I run .....and just want to take a nap.  I don't know if it is a good thing or not.  I guess I just take my time to get stronger each day.

I think today I will take a break and do a cross training....maybe Core Rhythms!

Items for Running

The weather is getting nicer and nicer, and I had a very good run today with my running friend.

We did 2 min/1 min run/walk for about an hour or so.  I think we covered around 4-5 miles.

Yesterday, I went walking with my another friend, and we ended up doing 1 min/1 min run/walk for about 5 miles.  It was very good.....nice day, too.

It helps to do it with someone.  For me, it is difficult to run by myself.  I do it when I don't have the time, or can't find someone to run with.  It is always very helpful and encouraging to run with someone, and it also makes it fun!

There are certain items necessary for running.  The very first item I purchased was my running shoes.  I think I mentioned it before, but I lovet his store...."Fleet Feet"!  I got my first running shoes there, and I love them.  They were about $100 so not too cheap, but not too expensive either.  It helps to have a pair of comfortable shoes to run in.

The newest item I just got is a hat.  I used to wear a regular everyday hat, but when I get sweaty, it is kind of bothering to have a hat that stays wet.  So I got this hat.....it is supposed to stay dry and you can wash it in the washing machine.  Also, it is very light weight.  

There are other items I want....but I guess I'm going to wait.

Gymboss Interval Timer

Eariler this week, I went to Fleet Feet and purchased a Gymboss Interval Timer.

According to my running friend who uses Jeff Galloway method, it is probably better to run/walk a long distance.   Run/walk (I usually do  1 min./1 min.) will help you avoid injury and record faster times.  

Jeff explains, " by using muscles in different ways from the beginning, your legs keep their bounce as they conserve resources. When a muscle group, such as your calf, is used continusously step by step, it fatigues relatively soon. The weak areas get overused and force you to slow down later or scream at you in pain afterward.  By shifting back and forth between walking and running muscles, you distribute the workload among a variety of muscles, increasing your overall performance capacity.....Walk breaks will significantly speed up recovery because there is less damage to repair.  The early walk breaks erase fatigue, and the later walk breaks will reduce or eliminate overuse muscle breakdown."

I had no idea that "walking" was allowed when running.  I walked sometimes when I got tired, but I always felt like I was cheating.  I feel so relieved now to find out that it is OKAY to take walk breaks.

This Gymboss Interval Timer helps when you are doing your run/walk.  It beeps according to your set up, and tells you when to walk and when to run.  I used this a couple of days ago for the first time, and it worked great.  It is very small, and it can be clipped onto your clothes or on your belt.  It tells you how many intervals were used so I could even figure out how many minutes I was out there running (walking).

I now feel that maybe....maybe it's not possible to run the half marathon.

Flu.... and then bad weather...

Here is my excuse...!!  The week started out with my son coming down with the flu.  I started to feel sick a little so I stayed in most of the week.

The weekend came, and it was nice.  In the high 70's.

He started feel better on Saturday so we went to his baseball practice just to watch.

I wish the weather stayed like that, but after Monday, it went down to 40's.

Today it was around 36.....cold again.

I went running a couple of times, but that was it.

I cannot use weather as an excuse, but when it's raining like today and yesterday I cannot go out.

Well.....hopefully I can go back out soon.

Oh, one thing to note...I got the Gymboss Interval Timer!  It works great.

I did 3 min run 1 min walk for about 25 min. and covered about 2 miles.

Yay!

Not feeling so healthy today....

My son has been sick since Monday.  He went to school, but started to feel sick so called me to be picked up.  The school nurse took his temperature, but it was only 97.  We got home and he went to bed, and I checked his temperature.  It was 102!!  Poor baby.

He was just very congested and didn't feel well.  

Now today is Wednesday, but he was still having about 100 degree temperature.  I took him to the doctor's and found out he has the flu....:(

This is the first time for him to have the flu.  We've been fortunate; we've been always healthy.  I never thought about getting flu shots either.  Well, maybe we need to start.

Now we are both on medication.  I don't think I have it, but didn't want to take a chance.

So....no running for me today.  Just spent time with my son which was kinda nice.

We had some snow over the weekend, but it looks like it is getting warm!!  Maybe the spring is near??  I hope so.

Getting healthy day by day

It's been a month already since my last post.  I feel I'm getting better and stronger day by day.  

Yes, I'm still running.  Actually, I'm doing a lot better.  I'm running or cross training almost every day.

A couple of months ago, I ran into this lady who I used to take cardio class with.  I have not been to the cardio class for a while, but I learned she was still going and also she started to run about a year ago.  She was telling me how great it has been and she was hooked on running.  She told me to come back to the cardio class and also I should start running with her.  I thought about it, but never went.

Now about a month ago, I ran into her again.  This time, I decided to give her a call and join her.  I've gone with her a couple of time so far, and it has been great.  It's so nice to have someone to run with.  She taught me a lot of stuff about running....how to start and to train.  I'm actually thinking about running a 1/2 marathon in April.

We'll see what happens.