Becoming a Runner

When it comes to running I have always second guessed myself. Am I really a runner or do I just wish I was? Can I actually run 3.1 miles (a 5k) without stopping? It usually takes me a mile to get into running. The first three minutes I am asking myself "Why am I running? Why am I doing this to myself?" In the first three minutes my body hurts. It is rejecting the movement in my legs. My body says "No! Stop running! Go back inside and lay on the couch, watch your shows..." I literally have to talk myself into running.

I think a person who thinks themselves a "runner" enjoys running. In training for my most recent 5k I didn't feel like a runner. I didn't enjoy running. Every run was difficult. I needed to talk myself through 3 miles.  When I ran my 5k I thought, "You know a half marathon is 4 times this and then some?" How on earth could I run a half marathon when I struggle running 3.1 miles. Even though it was tough I kept going in my training. I started running 3.5 miles as my regular run. My "long run" became 5 miles.  Then I ran 4 miles as my regular run. 

I had a hard time running 3.5 miles. That is only .4 miles more than my 5k, but I struggled with it. This week I ran 4 miles on Tuesday and 4 miles on Thursday. On Tuesday my 3rd mile was my fastest. I also felt the best during my 3rd mile. I felt as if I could run forever. Isn't that weird? One day running 3.5 miles seems impossible to me, and the next I am running 4 miles and feeling like I could go farther. Last Saturday I ran 5 miles. I went out too late in the day and it was hot. That made me slower and sweatier but I didn't feel exhausted at the end of the run.  I am feeling more and more confident that I can run a half marathon with the training program I am using.

 I cannot pinpoint the moment in which everything changed, but I have become a "runner". I enjoy running. I feel good running.  My body no longer screams "Stop, please, for heaven's sake stop running!" I get to a point where I think "I could run for a lot longer than this. Yes, I think I could run a half marathon!" Like I said before, it takes me a mile to get into it but after that I just go. I listen to music and sometimes want to start dancing but I save my energy.  Of course some days are better than others. On Thursday at mile 3 I thought "I hope I can make it home". 

Tomorrow I am running 6 miles, which is my longest run so far (or ever in my life!). I don't have a goal time to run the 6 miles. The training program I follow by Hal Higdon says not to worry about times in my training runs. And since this is my first half marathon I should make the goal to finish, not necessarily set a goal time to finish in. I am both excited and nervous to run 6 miles. I am excited because it is about the halfway point of a half marathon. I am excited to run 6 miles without stopping. I am nervous because I have yet to run that far my whole life. I am nervous to see how my body reacts to going that far, and how long it will take me to get into running. It is my first real long run.

I have read and heard to bring along sustenance on a long run. My friend told me about sport beans and gels. Essentially they are carbs and sugar and are supposed to give you a boost of energy when you are on long runs.  I went and got some sport beans (basically they are jelly beans) and a "shot blok energy chew".  The shot bloks have two servings, each 100 calories and provide 24 grams of carbs, 12 grams of sugar and also provide potassium. The sport beans are 1 serving packages of 100 calories and 25g carbs and 17g sugar.

I think I will try out the shot bloks tomorrow. I got the strawberry flavor. I will let you know how they are.  I am also open to other suggestions of food/energy boost to have on long runs.  I might try out a book on tape on one of my long runs as well.

Running is awesome! And I am proud to finally call myself a "runner"!

My 3rd 5k

Last Saturday I ran my third 5k. The town I live in had a free 5k so how could I pass it up? I should actually start by letting you all know that I am going to run a half marathon this summer. There. It is official and I can't back out now! I found a training program that starts off running at 3 mile increments.  So I needed to train up to running 3 miles at a time. I went back to the program I used for my first 5k. It is a four week program that gets you up to running 3.1 miles (or a 5k). It just so happened that I found a free organized 5k to run just a few minutes away.

Let's back track to my first 5k. I ran my first 5k last October here is Texas with my husband. This is the training program that I used to get ready for the 5k. I ran the 5k in 33:38 minutes.  In my practice run I ran it in 36 minutes so I was really proud that I ran it faster than I practiced. I felt good about it.

My second 5k was in Utah. We were visiting for Thanksgiving. I ran this 5k with my husband, sister in law and brother in law.  When I say I "ran" it with my in-laws in means we were all in the race. We didn't run together. I am a lot slower than them! My husband always stays with me even though he is faster. I really appreciate that. It was a lot colder in Utah than in Texas. It was pretty cold. I also had strep throat. And I should also mention that I could feel the difference in altitude. It is harder to breathe up so high.  I ran that 5k in 34:34. So about a minute slower than my first 5k. You know what though? I am proud of getting that time seeing as I had strep throat and was not feeling the greatest. To me that is an achievement, running a 5k.

And now back to my 3rd 5k. I am most proud of this one. I ran with my husband. My brother and his wife also ran the race. And a friend of mine ran with her daughter. It was so fun. I felt most prepared for this race because I have been working out pretty consistently since January. Like I mentioned before I went by that 4 week program I did for my first 5k to prepare for this one. I modified it to fit my schedule though. I was doing my runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  I ran this last 5k in 31:47. My best yet! I would love to get my 5k under 30 minutes. I am sure I will be able to. I am proud of the 31:47 though, I really am. It feels good to beat my other race times. It also feels good that I am not continually getting worse.

When I think about it, a half marathon is 4 times a 5k. 4 times!! I am not ready for a half marathon at this point.  But I will be come July. I am excited. I am excited to get my body in running shape. And I look forward to running 13.1 miles and doing it for myself. It will be a great accomplishment!

Run For Your Lives

Side bar for a moment.  Have you ever heard of the 5k obstacle race Run For Your Lives? It looks totally awesome!! You run a 5k but there are zombies coming after you as well as obstacle courses you have to go through. I imagine it would be a huge adrenaline rush. I would probably pee my pants.

I saw that there will be one in my area next year. It would be so cool to do. Downside is that it is uber expensive.  It is like $90 to run. That is insane for a 5k. Maybe one year I will do it.  I just wanted to share the link with you in case anyone else wants to shelve out the money and do it.

P90X

My dear friend Jennifer and I decided to be work out buddies.  We are going to workout three days a week together. It's really great because we live in the same apartment complex and we can motivate each other. I have done a few 5ks but would like to run more.  Jenn says she would like to run a 5k. So I found a 5k for us to run in March.  We are going to do a couch to 5k program together that Jenn found. It starts in January. To get a head start on working out we are going to do workouts together starting now.  Jennifer has the P90X program (google it if you want to know about the program) so we are going to try it out.

On Wednesday morning we started the P90X program.  We watched the "welcome" video that talks about the program and eating/exercise plans.  Then we did one of the cardio workouts. It seems like a really good program if you stick with it.  On the program it has you working out 7 days a week. I personally don't work out on Sunday so if I truly stick to the program I will only do 6 days a week.

I did the shoulders and arms workout today. It is an hour long weight lifting workout. It. Was. Brutal.  I really felt it in my arms.  I am not quite equipped to do all the exercises for arms.  I only have 10 and 25 pound weights.  I need a couple lighter weights to do some of these workouts.  The arm workout was crazy.  30 minutes into it I was like "What?! There are still 30 minutes left??!"  I was screaming in pain.  I was whining that I couldn't do it, then I continued on.  At 45 minutes the P90X guy was like "You can stop here or go on." Well if someone gives me the option to stop then I will. And I did.  They were doing some exercises that I didn't have the right weights for.  But the 45 minutes that I did do were crazy awesome. I really worked my arms.  I know I will feel it in the morning.

I am not truly sticking to the program.. They want me eating 2400 calories a day. They have some recipes and they are like 55g of protein and I just don't think I am at that fitness level yet.  I would gain weight and I don't want to do that. I want to lose weight.  I am going to stick to my 1300 calories for now and see how it goes. I may increase a little if I need to.

This program has a variety of workouts for all different parts of the body and also yoga and stretching. I really feel that even if I did this workout 3 times a week it would benefit me.  I'm going to try it out for a month and see how it goes.  I'm pretty excited to tone up my arms!