a good run.

well i've finally gone and done it. i've decided to run my first race... a 5k, which is 3.1 miles. so today i started "training". i'm using that word loosely and lightly though i intend to take it seriously. i don't really care so much about the race. the decision was based more on the fact that i needed some kind of motivation and concrete goal to get me running again.

isn't it funny how doing something new is such an immense learning experience... especially on the front end? even though i've been running off and on for about a year now, i still have so much to discover. this morning produced several glitches and several opportunities to learn about how i like to run.

i'm following a pretty stringent schedule of running five days a week with rests on mondays and fridays. but i want to track my mileage. however, i forgot to download an app that would allow me to do so last night. so this morning i woke up early, geared up, and got out of the house. that was my first accomplishment. i was worried about the cold (it was only 28 degrees this morning), but that ended up being a non-issue.

so i got outside and realized i didn't have my mileage app. frustrated, i decided to just use the couch to 5k app i had already downloaded for the morning. but it consists of walking and jogging which i feel like i'm beyond at this point. i also accidentally turned off my location locator which would allow my mileage to be tracked and didn't want to waste the time trying to figure out how to get it back on! ugh! sometimes technology is more restrictive than freeing!

i was determined not to be defeated or frustrated on this very first morning of training. so i simply turned on my music, chose a path that i could easily track later in my car to determine my distance, and started running.

it was lovely. i was surprised to find i didn't tire at all during the 30 minute run, and i really didn't want to stop when my time was up. i had no idea that all that spinning at the ymca this winter would be so helpful! i also discovered that i had run 2.5 miles! this is the longest i've ever run without stopping and it seemed so easy. woo hoo!

now about the gear... first of all, is there some kind of invention for runners to keep the snot off your face while running? if not, i'm going to come up with something! that's probably why the run was so easy this morning... my mind was occupied with creating super absorbent nose cloths for runners! ha!

i've discovered that i love, and i mean really love, compression pants. there's nothing worse than feeling like your pants are going to fall off when you're running! my mom bought me a pair of therma-fit nike compression pants, and they were perfect. warm, but not too warm. tight, but not too tight. i think i'm going to have to buy several more pairs!

i also have a nice long sleeve nike running shirt with a hood which was very comfortable. i had that hood on and then put my fleece jacket also with a hood over that. it kept me snug and warm during the run until about 3/4 of the way through when my head got a little too warm. but when i pulled my hoods off, my ears got too cold. i also didn't like that i couldn't really move my head around much with the hoods on. so we'll have to fix that!

on top of that, i have a super warm pair of mittens that kept my hands perfectly toasty. again, cold wasn't an issue as i had expected it would be. of course it wasn't windy at all. i imagine wind would put a nasty twist on things! but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

ok... enough about all of this for now. don't worry. as i've said before i have no intention of turning this into a running blog, but i thought i should at least document my first day! cheerio!

Comments

[Libby]

Good job on the running! Here's a website I like to use to plan my running routes: http://www.usatf.org/routes/map/
You can also use mapmyrun.com It's just an easy way to plot out a course and find the mileage, too. You can also save routes and look up other saved routes in your area.

I've been running for about 10 years and love it. I really prefer running in cold weather and in the mornings when it's still dark. Before I got pregnant I would run 4 miles pretty much every MWF at 5:30am. 30-40 degrees with no wind is perfect running weather to me. It might be a little chilly starting out, but you warm up and if you have the right gear like you said, there's no problem at all. I like to wear an ear warmer because I can't stand my ears being cold but can't stand something on my head, so that's a happy fix for me.

Happy running and good luck on your 5k!

Libby :)

[Sarah Jane]

Thanks for the tips, Libby!!! I really appreciate it. Its always easier to get good tips from those who have been doing things much longer than trying to figure it all out on your own! I was wondering if you were still able to run some with you being pregnant. Thatd be hard to give it up all together!

[Libby]

Yeah, I haven't been doing much exercise at all the past 7 months. This baby does not like any kind of up and down movement like running! I try to walk 2 miles a couple of times a week, but that doesn't always happen. I teach a toning class at the downtown Y once a week that I'm still doing. It's not too bad teaching it and being pregnant, but I do cut back on some of the exercises. I'm looking forward to my first post-pregnancy run!