Running for Jen

I was initially going to run after work today, but due to a variety of things that I was going to need to get done and since I was concerned about my energy level after work, I decided to run in the morning at the gym. (It is a holiday for me right now and I am on a limited diet through Tuesday, which is why I was concerned about my energy level.)  I felt pretty good when I woke up and was able to get going without issue on the treadmill.  I thought that I was only going to be able to get 6 miles in, but I was able to get in that one more mile.  I was feeling good and time-wise, I was alright.  

I was back at the gym this morning.  I had a very strange feeling in my left leg when I got started so I had to get myself down to a walk and build myself back up.  After about a mile, I started feeling normal again.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to fit in 7 miles this morning and I was right.  I am not unhappy with the six, it is just always nice if I can get 7 miles in.  Due to my slower pace and a couple of potty breaks, 6 miles is all I could do.

I slept in this morning after a lousy day at work yesterday.  By the time I got up, got dressed and walked the dogs, I didn't get started running until after 10:30.  It was on the warm side, but I am not complaining.  It is nice to run outside and not be cold.  I felt alright for most of my run.  Unfortunately, by the time I got to mile 7, fatigue kicked in.  I really do not think that it was the heat, although I do believe that I was a bit dehydrated when I got back.  I just had a hard time maintaining the run and I am convinced that once again it is due to my temporary change in diet.

It was another warm day outside, although still quite nice.  I thought that I may only get to about 7 - 8 miles today, so I was happy to still feel decent during those last few miles.  I did feel the need to walk every now and then, but I am not going to stress over it.  It is what it is and I am okay with that.

I was back on the treadmill this morning.  I plan on moving this workout to the afternoons, but since I am still on a special diet due to religious until tomorrow, I thought that I would hold off until the latter part of this week  to go back to running after work.  I just tend to feel very tired by the end of the day, especially since I can't eat what I normally do.  I felt pretty good during my run and managed to run the last four miles at my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.

I was back on the treadmill this morning.  I was tired, but was up to pace by mile 3.  I felt alright and could have continued if time permitted.

My plan was to run outside after work today.  Unfortunately, mother nature did not like the timing of my plan.  It was raining hard when I left work and continued to do so until after I got home and changed.  Therefore, I went to the gym, which I have not done after work in I don't know how long.  I was fine, but I really don't like it.  It was so crowded, although I was able to get my favorite treadmill.  The sun also decided to come out while I was in there, which was a bit disappointing.  I felt fine alright although every now and then I felt a bit nauseous.  I was able to get my pace up to my 10:00 minute mile after about 2 1/2 miles.  During the final mile, I took it up every 2/10 of a mile just to get my legs moving since I am racing on Saturday.

I was back at the gym, just 12 hours after my previous run.  I was a bit tired, of course, but good otherwise.  I ran the first 3 to 4 miles slower than my 10:00 minute pace, but did hit that point afterward.  The funny thing is that even while I was running, I couldn't remember when I got to that 10:00 pace. I just know that it was somewhere around that point.

There were a couple of 5K's going on this morning.  I picked this one because the other race indicated that the course would be challenging.  The race flyer for the race I did didn't describe the course.  Now I know why.  It was hilly!  I thought that the area that it took place in might be, but I was not expecting this.  The course took place in some of the local neighborhoods, which as I said, was a challenge, but I was able to push myself up and down each climb.  My time was terrible in my eyes even considering the course, although I did speak to a guy at the race who said that his time was about 2 1/2 minutes off from his best, which did make me feel a bit better.   Even though that I was not a big fan of the course, the post race was very good.  Bottled water, bananas, homemade sweets and some good 80's music.

I was not planning on running today since I thought that I would be sore from yesterday.  I felt a little tightness in my quads, but nothing that really bothered me. While my husband and I were on a two mile walk with our dogs, I just felt like I needed to do something.  The day was beautiful and I didn't want to waste it.  Since my husband needed to get to the gym soon after we got home, I decided to just run about 3 miles.  This way, we wouldn't have to leave our dogs alone too often today.  It was nice, although I could have gone another mile or two.  I am just glad that I got myself out there.  I was feeling kind of shlubby ( I know, not a real word).

I was going to run after work today, but one of my colleagues needed me to cover for her at a school dance.  I felt pretty good on the treadmill.  I was able to get up to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace after 2-3 miles.  I was not sore at all from Saturday.

I was back at the gym for 6 more miles today.  I wanted to run longer because I felt kind of blah, but time didn't permit.  The workout itself was good.  I am looking forward to getting some sleep tomorrow.

My original plan was to run after work so that I could sleep in, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it would not be a good idea.  I needed to bake and pack when I got off work.  I made the right decision as I didn't get home until 6:00 pm.  My run was good.  I ran at the gym and got to my 10:00 minute./ mile pace after about 2+ miles.  Sportscenter and the news kept me company for the duration of my run.  

This morning was my final run at the gym prior to spring break starting.  I am so tired and am looking forward to getting a good night's sleep before I run.  My treadmill run was fine.  I was able to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace by the start of mile 3.  It felt good to get this run done so that I could get on with my day, which was going to be a long one as I am flying up to NY right after work.

Spring break has officially begun.  I arrived in NY last night and drove to my parent's house.  I decided to fly in yesterday so that I could sleep in and then run this morning.  It was wet out after raining all of yesterday.  I rained a bit on my during the first few miles, but not to a point where I felt rally wet.  I had to get a bit creative to get 10 miles in since I normally go about 8 for a long run when I visit.  I added an additional part of one street and whole other road, which got me to 10 when all was said and done.  Running in Georgia has definitely helped with running here as this area is quite hilly.  The area is called Rockland for a reason.  It was nice to be able to start my vacation with a good night's sleep and a run.

These were walking miles.  I need to know how I can track these miles separately.  Whenever I visit my family in NY, I usually stay and my brother and sister-in-law's house Saturday night.  On Sunday morning, we get up and put his dog on his leash and go walking.  We did the same this morning.  It was cool out but nice.  My brother lives about a half an hour north of my parents and it is really hilly.  We got about 4 miles in.  My butt was sore the next morning.

I had a great run this morning.  I got up earlier than I anticipated and decided just to get out the door and run.  I was a little concerned about the traffic since I am still at my parent's house in NY, but it went well.  Needless to say, I made sure that I was just very careful on the roads.  It was one of those runs where I wish I had my watch to see what kind of pace I had maintained.  It was nice to feel good the whole time.  It was cool out, probably in the 40's, which meant my nose was running as well, the only downside of the run.  It was sunny and just a great morning to run.

This was my final run while in NY.  I am heading home this afternoon.  I wasn't sure if I would have time to run this morning since I got to bed later than I planned last night.  I let my body decide and it chose to get up with the sun, which was just before 6:00 am.  Waking up at this hour allowed me to get my full 8 miles in this morning and still be able to take my time getting ready to leave.  It was cool once again, probably in the low to mid 40's and sunny.  Outside of my nose running, it was a beautiful morning to run.  I felt good and seemed to manage a good pace throughout.  

I have been taking Wednesday's off, but since I have a dentist appointment on Friday and am trying to take full advantage of sleeping in, I decided to work out today and take Friday off.  It was a beautiful day for a run.  Temperatures were in the low to mid 50's.  It was so nice to sleep in and run from home.  I adjusted my route as I went along so that I could stop for a potty break.  It wasn't necessarily a change in scenery, but it was a bit different as far as where I was running which miles.  I finished in just over a 1:26:30, which is fine with me.

Once again, a beautiful day for a run.  Temperatures are again in the 50's and sunny.  I ran my normal route and enjoyed it.  I felt good.  The only negative is that I am continuing to keep Kleenex in business.  My time was a just a tad slower than yesterday, but this was also my 8th day in  a row without a break from exercising.  I am looking forward to resting tomorrow, which is also my last day off until the school year is over.

I unexpectedly ran at the gym this morning.  It was pouring rain when I got up and it did not look as though it was going to stop anytime soon.  Rather than wait and see if it would stop, I just got myself ready to go to the gym.  Of course, as I was driving over to the gym the rain lightened.  After about 2 -3 miles, my husband arrived to tell me it was nice outside and that I could finish up out there.  At this point, I was already in a groove.  My run went well.  I felt good, although it felt extremely hot inside the gym.  I just felt as though I needed air those last 3 - 4 miles.  The NFL draft kept me company for the duration of my run.

My run today was ugly.  It took everything that I had to get out there.  I took my dogs on their two mile walk first to get the morning paper.  When I came back, I got myself back out the door as soon as I could.  It was warm although it looked as though it was going to rain, which it never did.  I just didn't have the energy nor the desire to run today.  I think it was because I am going back to work tomorrow and not looking forward to it.  Needless to say, I did get out there, but it was a struggle.  I was okay during the first 6 miles, although I did have an issue with my watch.  I inadvertently stopped it right after I started, which I didn't realize until I was about 1/2 mile into my run.  It ticked me off, so I just turned off my watch.  At around mile 4, I decided to turn it back on so that I could monitor my miles at the end.  I told myself initially that I would be happy with whatever mileage I ran, but once I got going that wasn't the case.  I wanted to get in at least 7 - 10.  When I got to mile 7, I started to feel a bit wiped out.  I decided to just do 8 and call it a day.  I walked a bit of those last couple of miles.

I am sick, again!  I have a combination of a cold and what feels like a mild fever.  It has taken everything that I have just to get to work the past few days.  I believe that I caught this while visiting my family last week in N.Y.  I planned on running Monday afternoon, but I was spent when I got home.  I pretty much felt the same on Tuesday.  Today, I wanted to at least go walking, so I put my dogs on their leashes and we walked a good couple of miles.  Walking may not come close to being the same as running, but I needed to do something.  I felt very blah.  The walk was good and did clear my nose up for that period of time.  It was a beautiful afternoon and my dogs seemed to enjoy the walk

I still don't feel that well, but wanted to try and run today.  I was able to complete 4.5 miles, but they were definitely a combination of running and walking.  Anything that resembled a hill, felt like a mountain.  My head started pounding at first, but the pain eventually subsided.  I also had a few minor coughing fits along the way.  Fortunately, it was a beautiful afternoon to be outside.  I prefer to get my runs in during the morning hours, but I feel my worst in the morning.  The combination of my head being stuffed up and our house being cold is not good when trying to get going in the morning.  Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow.  I will say that whether it is running or walking outside, it is the one time that my nose is not stuffed up.