A little pat on the back

So, I kind of figured that things would be different once I got my mile run under twelve minutes. I had been forewarned. My guess was that I would be bumped up to two miles 3-4 x's a week, or even a mile, then a two mile and so on. Nope. The sister-coach hit me with what seemed like an impossible feat - she wanted me to begin to run for 30 min. straight four times a week.

 

It began Tuesday evening. I made it home and to the track before sundown. There were mini soccer players practicing in the interior of the track. There were parents standing close by...on the track. There were also some runners and walkers at the track. The upside of this time of year is more daylight, the downside is everyone else is trying to take advantage of the extra daylight too. Therefore, there is an audience and I really didn't know how this was going to go.

 

Janelle had instructed me to go slow, and I did. I tried my best to concentrate on my breathing and ignore the others. As I finished my first mile I felt ok. My calves were beginning to burn, but that was to be expected. As I made it to the mile and a half mark I couldn't believe that I was actually still running.

My RunKeeper app is a God send. Every once in a while I get a reminder on time and distance every, and for the most part, Pandora has been running without interruption.

 

I hit 30 min. and though my legs were like jelly - I was proud of what I had just accomplished. I wobbled around the track a few more times to cool down, stretched again, called coach, and headed home. The official distance was 2.14 miles. I was certain that Wednesday morning I wouldn't be able to get out of bed, but surprisingly I wasn't all that sore.  In fact, after checking out the weather and realizing that Wednesday was going to be warmer than Thursday AND that Shawn would have a rare Thursday night at home with us - I decided to do it again the next night.  

 

Before I made it to the track Wednesday night, and while still on a momentum high from Tuesday night, I committed to the Out & Back Run that I had been considering taking part in for some time. The Out & Back Party Run is a 4 mile evening run in Philadelphia. After the race there is of course...a party ;). Now, I may not exactly be a passionate runner, but I love Philadelphia, we're always down for a party, and I welcome any excuse to get the hell out of Dodge! Bonus - my favorite cheerleader will be awaiting my arrival at the finish line. Race proceeds benefit the ALS Hope Foundation. I opted to set up a fundraising page as well and set a goal of $200. I am hopeful that the cause, the race, and the fact that a friend has agreed to join me in this endeavor will keep me on track toward a goal of running THE WHOLE 4 MILES at the end of April.

 

If anyone would like additional info. on the race, either to join or support me - check out the following links:

 

http://www.active.com/running/philadelphia-pa/out-and-back-party-run-2011?cmp=23-2

 

http://www.active.com/donate/ALS2011/VHawk

 

 

By the time I made it to the track Wednesday night I had already raised $50 toward my goal of $200, just that extra nudge I needed. My result: 2.13 miles in 30 min. Maybe I should be getting closer to 2 1/2 miles or more, but hey, at least I was consistent. Thursday night - I reveled in being home, preparing dinner and cozying up with my husband. I didn't miss my work-out one bit - there I said it! I did, however, get a status update from my sister:

 

Since my challenge to you in November:
You have completed 31 runs
2 5K runs
You have run 37.79 miles
You ran 9 runs in Nov, 10 in Dec, 7 in Jan, 3 in Feb, and already 2 in March.
You started walking a lap running a lap to complete a mile, you now run 2 full miles without stopping.
You can now see why I say running is the perfect exercise...you get to see so much in the line of results it's amazing.
Great Job Miss Thang, I love you!!!

 

^^She's great huh?!^^

 

Anyway, I know that I need to get more runs in monthly and I'm feeling more motivated than ever given the MAJOR accomplishments this week and of course the Out & Back on the horizon. So, it wasn't painful getting back to the track tonight. I had the track to myself which I love, it wasn't too windy, and things started off well. The RunKeeper notifications let me know my average pace in addition to distance and time. I knew that I wanted to speed it up a bit tonight. Things were going well until two consecutive phone calls  came through screwing up the Pandora and leaving me fumbling with my phone while trying to stay on track, literally. Even with the interruptions, I finished my 30 min with a total distance of 2.23.

 

Yes, that sound is me patting my own back, and with that, I welcome the weekend and at least one day off.