Running for Jen

I decided to go to the gym with my husband today and run for as long as he was going to be there.  I was pleasantly surprised to get 6 miles in as I thought we wouldn't be there that long.  I warmed up for the first couple of miles and then settled in at a 10:00 minute/ mile pace for the final four.  It had been two weeks since my last treadmill run.  

The sign at the bank read 26 degrees this morning.  It was cold!  I felt a bit sluggish out there.  I am not tired, but maybe my legs are still a bit weary.  I am not sure, but I am not going to worry about it at this point.  I was happy to get back up to 8 miles.  This was the first time since the marathon.

I ran approximately 5 miles this morning.  I left the GPS at home today.  My run was kind of impromptu.  My original plan was to run this morning, but then we had slept in until 9:30, so I didn't think that I would have enough time to run and get everything done that I needed to do.  My other thought was that I wasn't sure if running 6 days a week was too much too soon or if I was alright. After taking our dogs on our regular, weekly 2-mile walk to get the newspaper, I was about to get into the shower and felt guilty about not running.  I actually had the water on, but needless to say, turned it off and threw on a pair of shorts over my running tights (they would have fallen down otherwise), put my earband and gloves back on and went for my run.  Of course, I was happy that I went for my run, although I have yet to get done everything that I needed to do.  The work is not going away, therefore it will eventually get done. 

I am back to work tomorrow, although the students don't return for another couple of days.  Back to getting up before the roosters and heading on to the gym.

Back to getting up at 4 something in the morning.  I was happy to run at the gym, because it was freezing outside.  My run on the treadmill felt good.  It took me a couple of miles to get going to my regular pace.  I was able to maintain a 10:00 minute/ mile pace for the last 5 miles.

I felt a bit tired at the start of my run this morning.  I ran at the gym once again.  It took about 3 miles for me to get to my regular pace.  I stopped about a half mile short so I could get to work on time.  I had gotten up a bit later than normal, which is why I was off by a few minutes.  

I felt a bit tired this morning even thought got to bed by 9:30 last night.  I guess getting up at 4:10am doesn't lend itself to getting a lot of sleep unless I am in bed by 8:00pm.  It took about 3 miles for me to get to be typical pace of 10:00 minute miles.  I spent the last 4 miles at that pace.  Sportscenter and the news kept me company.

We got our first snowfall this afternoon.  It was light, but kind of neat.  We are currently waiting to see if anything else falls tonight.  This will also determine when and where I will run tomorrow.

Due to inclement weather, I had the day off.  We actually had some snow, although it wasn't much where I lived.  I chose to get some sleep, before my run.  I also chose to run outside, because I could run in the daylight.  It was freezing outside!  It was in the low 20's and with the windchill, it felt as though it was in the low teens.  I threw on not only the running tights and the long sleeve shirt, but I also added a sweatshirt and a windbreaker, running hat and earband.  I threw on anything that would keep me warm.  Once again, I chose not to remember the time it took me to run, but I did complete my goal of 7 miles.

It was cold outside, but at least it wasn't windy like it was yesterday.  When I got started, it was about 25 degrees, although it did warm up a few degrees.  At least it was sunny out.  It took me a while to get going, but I finally got into a groove and was able to get through all ten miles.  It wasn't pretty, but I felt good throughout.  

I was back out on the streets today.  It was a bit warmer than the last couple of days, although initially, I couldn't really tell. I was able to get 7 miles in, which was my goal for the day.  I felt good, which is all I can ask for.  I probably averaged about 10:30 minute miles, which included slowing down to blow the ol' nose.

I was a bit tired for this one, but alright.  I already miss not being able to sleep in.  It took me a couple of miles to get to my regular 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I felt good and kept myself occupied with the highlights from the NFL playoffs on SportsCenter.

I felt so tired today.  A part of me wishes that I had slept in, but that other side is glad that I stayed awake and went to the gym.  I did not get enough sleep last night nor the night before and I felt it.  I did not get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace until the last couple of miles.  I am going to take tomorrow off, since I have run the past 6 days.  Hopefully, I will feel a bit better on Thursday morning.

Today wound up going better than I anticipated.  I thought that I would be exhausted as usual, but I guess sleeping in the day before helped.  It took three miles for me to get to my normal 10:00 minute pace, but I was able to step it up a notch after that.  I wound up running the final 3 miles at a 9:50 pace.  It felt good to finally take it up again. 

I am hoping that tomorrow's run will be just as good, but I already know that I may need to finish earlier than usual, since I need to get into work to take care of a few things. 

My weight of 114.5 was post-run.  I had to recognize after I weighed myself that I am still not running as many miles as I was when I was in training, therefore the number was a bit higher than I would have liked.  I am also not eating any less.

I was tired this morning, but alright.  I just reminded myself that I would be able to sleep in the next three days.  I ran at the gym once again.  It took about 3 miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I then took it up to 9:50 per mile for miles 6 and 7.

I slept in this morning and it felt good.  I didn't get started until at least 9:15.  I did walk my dogs for about a mile or so prior.  It was very blah outside, but it wasn't nearly as cold as it has been.  Per the bank clock that I ran past, it was in the mid 40's.  The only downside was that it started raining during mile 8.  It never came down too hard, but it did make things a bit cooler.  I finished with a time around 1:42, which is pretty good considering what my past times have been on these runs.  I definitely felt as though I wasn't slowing down too often.  I also was able to avoid a bathroom stop, which helps too.  My goal was to hit 45 miles for this week, which I was able to achieve.

I was not in the mood for this run when I got started.  There was nothing wrong, I just wanted to sit around.  Nevertheless, I got out the door, and of course, everything went well.  It was actually very mild outside.  I overdressed for once, but not to a point where I was dying or anything.  I just had to hold my gloves for about 6 miles.  I was able to settle in fairly quickly and just tried to relax and enjoy the music I was listening to.  I finished in a little over an hour and a half, which I was content with.  No bathroom stops were needed, which is always a plus.

I was able to run outside today due to the day off.  It was a beautiful morning.  I was even able to wear shorts,  which was kind of nice considering how cold it has been. 

I had to limit this run to 6 miles due to time constraints.  It went well, although I was a bit tired.  

Today's run went well.  I was back at the gym on the treadmill.  It took a couple of miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I maintained this pace for the next four miles.  For the last mile, I increased the pace every two minutes by one.  

This run started out slow.  I was not in the best of moods due to a really bad day the day before.  I thought that I may have to walk, but realized that running wasn't going to be an issue.  It took getting through the first 3 or 4 miles ( I can't remember) to get to my 10:00 minute mile.  I ran the final two miles at a 9:50 minute per mile pace, which was a nice way to finish.

This was my first race since the marathon.  It felt a little weird.  I felt a bit out of breath at first, but finally got into a groove.  I was not able to check my pace during the race, because I realized on the way to the race that I forgot my watch.  I figured that it was a blessing in disguise.  I just tried to focus on how I felt.  Then I saw the hills.  This may sound a bit moronic, but I forgot that this could be hilly.  My last two races, which were the half and full marathon, were both fairly flat.  It is not like I haven't been training outside near my home, which has plenty of hills.  I guess I just had a bit of a mental block.  It was a long week at work, so I guess it caught up with me mentally.  Fortunately, I was able to conquer the hills and the cold (44 degrees) and PR.  It was only by 7 seconds, but a PR is a PR!

I decided to take yesterday off because I was sore, it was raining outside and because I usually take the day after a race off (especially when I am sore).  I decided then to run today in the hopes that the soreness would be gone and I would be good to go.  Well, the soreness was still there, which to me is a sign that I really ran hard on Saturday.  I still decided to go to the gym and run since getting up this morning wasn't too painful and I figured that I could run through it.  I did manage to run, but it was very slow.  I even felt the need to walk for a few seconds after each mile.  Since it was taking me so long to run each mile, I chose to stop at 5 miles, which time-wise was close to when I needed to be done anyway.  I will try it again tomorrow.

Today was much better than yesterday.  The soreness seems to be gone for the most part.  It took just over a couple of miles, but I was able to get to my 10:00 minute mile and maintain that pace for almost the last four miles.  I felt good, which is all I can ask for.  I had to shorten my workout from 6 to 7 miles so that I could get my dogs to doggie day care ( I know, it sounds pathetic) and so I could allow a student to retake a quiz at 7:30 am.

I ran this one on the treadmill.  I was a bit tired, but just reminded myself that Friday was only a day away.  It took me a 2-3 miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but once I did, I was able to maintain it the rest of the way.

Up early to run at the gym, which meant that I was tired.  I just told myself that I at least will be able to sleep in over the next couple of days.  It took 2 miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I maintained it for 3 more miles and then increased my pace to a 9:50 minute/ mile for the last 2 miles.

10 Miles - On the Treadmill!  This was not my initial plan, but it was cold, misty and just nasty outside.  I wasn't sure if the rain was going to pick up or not.  I took my dogs for a walk and even they were shivering.  I sucked it up, got changed and went to the gym.  My run went better than expected, as in I didn't hate it.  I am used to running there during the week, but I really look forward to my runs outside on the weekends.  I kept my pace very moderate as I didn't want my right leg to bother me as it does when I run faster on the treadmill.  I also ran it in two 5 mile shifts, because if I don't the treadmill will automatically go to a cool down after an hour.  Sportscenter and some really bad reality tv kept me company for the duration.

My weight of 113.5 was post-run.

It was cold this morning!  But, I was happy to get to run outside.  It had been over a week (5K) since I had run outside and almost two weeks since I had run outside near our house.  I was able to get 10 miles in, which was my goal.  I thought a lot about work, but was able to clear my head a little bit.  It was a really good run.  I finished in about 1:43.

I forgot to enter this in earlier this week.  I know that I got my seven miles and I don't recall there being any problems.  I am assuming that I ran my typical paces of warming up for a couple of miles and then getting into a groove at a 10:00 minute / mile pace.

I was in a foul mood for this run.  I was concerned that I was going to need to walk, but I am happy to report that I did run the whole thing.  I woke up totally stressed about work.  My run definitely helped me relax and of course, think things through.  I felt a bit better when I got to work.

I was back to the gym as usual.  It took a couple of miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I was able to complete the last two miles at a 9:50 pace.  I felt good, therefore, outside of being tired, I can't complain.

This run went fairly well.  I was back to the gym as usual.  It took me a couple of miles to get going, but I eventually got to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I was able to finish the final two miles at a 9:50 pace.

It was nice to run outside even though it was cold and blah out there.  I don't mind running in the gym, but I hadn't run outside since last weekend.  My run went well.  My mind was on work for the most part which helped the miles pass by.  When all was said and done, I finished in 1:46+.  No complaints.

I was able to run this one outside.  It was cold, but not unpleasantly cold.  I got into a nice groove, but I will say that it seemed to drag a bit.  I wound up using my husband's Ipod instead of mine since the battery was running low.  I also added a new street just to see if I would like it.  It didn't do anything for me, although it did allow me to skip a street at the end, which is always nice.  If finished in about 1:47:28.

I had to cut this one short due to a meeting at 7:30am.  I would have more details on this run, but it has been 5 days since I actually ran this one, therefore I don't remember what I did or how it went.

Today was a day off for me.  It was supposed to be a teacher planning day, but instead became a furlough day.  I took to the streets and got 8 miles in.  I felt pretty good and managed to finish in just over 1:26.  It was cloudy and cold.  This includes a stop where I met Gabby the dachsund and her owner.  Her owner started talking to me beyond good morning.  

These miles are actually walking miles not running miles.  We received 4 to 5 inches of snow yesterday, which is a lot for this area.  The 5K that I was scheduled to run today was cancelled last night.  My plan was then to get 10 miles in today instead, but due to the roads being icy, I did not feel it was safe to run or drive to the gym and run there.  My husband and I decided to try and take our dogs for a walk, which worked out fairly well.  We walked mainly in snow and over some ice on the sidewalks. When we came back, I decided to turn back around and just continue walking.  I walked just over 2 miles with my husband and our dogs and then went out for almost another 4 miles.  I even received a carnation for Valentine's day while I was out.  I stopped to use the restroom at the Chick-Fil-A.  As I was walking in one of the employees had a tray of roses.  I motioned to him that I was just going to use the bathroom.  When I came out and put my gloves back on, the same employee handed me a carnation and wished me a happy valentine's day.  I thought it was so sweet.  It made my morning.

It took me a bit to get outside, but of course, I was happy that I did it.  I needed to get a good 10 mile run in, which I was able to do.  The roads were definitely better than the previous day, with only a couple of spots to be cautious about.

I had today off due to President's Day, therefore I ran this one outside.  I didn't have the chance to run until after 4:00pm due to a dental appointment in the morning and the fact that I had a lot of work to do.  It was cold, but nice to run outside.

My run today was good.  It took a couple of miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but once I did, I was good for the next four miles.  This one was at the gym.

Back to the treadmill today.  My run was fine.  It took a couple of miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, which I maintained for the rest of the way.  I did notice that after mile 3, my right leg did start to feel a bit weak.  I just slowed to a walk for a less than a minute and went back to my run.  This usually helps for a little while.  If I recall correctly, I did have to slow down one other time for the same reason.  

I wasn't sure if I was going to get all 7 miles in this morning as I was feeling a bit sluggish, but fortunately, I was able to do it.  I ran at the gym, which is normal for me on a Friday morning in which I am working.  My right leg once again felt a bit weak, therefore I did have to slow down to a walk, but as usual, I went right back to my run.  It took a good couple of miles before I was able to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.

It was a beautiful morning for a run.  I decided to not go the way I usually do (I only have two ways).  I think I was getting a bit sick of it.  I wasn't sure if I would get all 10 in, but I did.  I took my time and finished in around 1:50.  I needed to run relaxed, which I was able to do.

Prior to running these 5 miles, I walked my dogs for 3.5 miles.  This is one of the reasons why I only ran 5.  I felt tired when I was done walking them, therefore the running part didn't go so well.  I almost turned around after the first mile, but pushed through.  It was a beautiful morning and I had a good night sleep.  I think that I am just generally tired and it caught up to me today.

It's Monday and a workday, therefore I was at the gym when it opened this morning.  I was able to get my typical 7 miles in.  It took a good 3 miles for me to get my legs up to pace and once I got there, that was where I remained for the duration.  The right leg once again felt a bit weak, so I slowed it down just briefly at the 3 mile and the 5 mile point.  

I was back at the gym this morning.  It is definitely taking me a while to get to a 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but I did get there after a couple of miles.  I felt alright, but tired as usual.  

This run was not pretty. I ran on less than 4 hours of sleep. I woke up at 1:30 in the morning and couldn't fall back to sleep. By 3:00am, I decided just to get up since I would normally get up in an hour anyway. I was stressed and tired. I did get six miles in, although they weren't very fast. I was able to get up to my 10:00 pace after at least a couple of miles.  Due to darkness at 5:00am, I did run the gym as normal.

I was back at the gym for the final workday of the week.  I felt decent, although once again my right foot felt week after a few miles.  I should probably have my gait looked at or talk to someone who may have a clue as to what is going on and what I can do.  It took 3 miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.

This run was terrible!  My work took over my mind to a point where I just wasn't able to clear it like I normally can.  The hills felt like mountains.  I walked a lot and I also managed to develop a cold (this started yesterday), which didn't help the situation.  It took me almost 2 hours to finish.  I was ticked up during the run and afterwards.  I considered heading home early, but I knew that would bother me even more, so I stuck it out.  It was sunny, but quite cold.

Today's run was much better than the one from yesterday.  My head was a lot clearer and I was able to get up the hills that felt like mountains yesterday.  It still took me over the time that I would have liked, but it was better than the previous day.  It was still cold, but sunny.

I was fortunate enough to run this one outside this afternoon. I thought that I would give myself a break and sleep in an extra 1:15, go in early and then leave work on time.  I was able to do just that and was out running before 5:00pm.  It felt great outside, probably in the upper 50's.  I even had shorts on.  I felt great when I started, but unfortunately the feeling did not last too long.  Getting up the hills was not pretty and I felt a bit nauseated.  I am sure that my body was just not used to running after work as I haven't done so in quite a few months.  I would like to do this at least once a week so that I can get the extra sleep and the additional day of running outside versus the gym.  By around mile 4+ and after a bathroom stop, the nausea went away for the most part, although my legs still felt a bit heavy.  My plan was to go at least 7 miles, therefore I am content with the mileage, although I had hoped to possible go 8 since I had the daylight hours.  I considered pushing it, but then thought to myself, that it wasn't necessary. 

I ran at the gym this morning just over 12 hours after starting my previous nights run. My legs felt it.  It took me 4 miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, which is ridiculous.  I am looking forward to taking tomorrow off so that I can give my body a rest.

This run was once again at the gym.  It took me a couple of miles for me to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but once I got there, I was alright.  I had contemplated stopping at 6, but knew that I needed to get to 7, which I did.

Today's run was similar to yesterday.  It took me a couple of miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I am still having issues with my right leg feeling weak.  I have started to temporarily slow at down at the mile markers to give my leg a break.  This tends to help, even if just for a little while.

I was happy to be running outside again, but I am not thrilled with how long it is taking to me to complete my mileage.  I did take one potty break and had to blow my nose a lot.  The hills tend to feel like mountains.  I am making an assumption that this due to a lot of mental stress that I am dealing with at work.  Once again, I am always glad to have completed my daily run, but it shouldn't take me 1:54 to do this run.

It was once again a nice day outside.  Sunny and cool.  Today was better than yesterday, but I decided prior to beginning that if I wasn't up to ten miles not to worry about it.  I woke up this morning tired, as usual, and not feeling too motivated to run.  I know that I always feel better once I get going, therefore, I got dressed, ate and was out the door.  I did stop after 8 miles and I am okay with that.  My goal is to run with no regrets, and I am content with what I did.  It is still not at the pace that I would like, but I just may have to deal with this for a while.

Another Monday at the gym.  I was planning on running 7 miles, but after two stops to the potty, I was limited to 6.  I was not thrilled at the time, but was okay.  I also felt a bit stressed about work and wanted to get their earlier versus later.  It took a couple of miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  Once I got there, I maintained that pace until I was done.

I almost thought that I was going to have to cut this one down to 5 miles, which would have not been cool.  My legs were tired and I felt beat.  The 6 hours of sleep per night during the workweek is not working well.  I was barely running at a 11:00 minute/ mile for the first mile.  By mile 3, I was finally able to get to my 10:00 minute per mile pace.

I was back at the gym today after a day of rest from running yesterday.  It took me a couple of miles once again to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  Once I made it there, I was able to hold that pace for the last 5 miles.

This is also a delayed entry.  I ran 5 miles at the gym.  It took me what has become my typical 2 miles to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I stayed at that pace the rest of the way.  Even though I was tired, I did feel relieved as I got some good news at work the day before.

I am a bit behind on my entries.  I did run 10 miles today and it went fine.  I was able to run in shorts, which made me happy.  Unfortunately, I still went through a lot of tissues along the way.  It took me just over an hour and 50 minutes to complete this run, which is slow, but it is faster than the past couple of weeks have been.  My mind was definitely on work at the start, but I did feel better, as usual at the end.

Since I am writing this 4 days after it took place, I started to become feverish by that afternoon.  I took some Tylenol 8hour that afternoon and evening.  I slept on and off for about 10 hours, but knew that it was not in my best interest to run. 

It is now Tuesday and I am hoping to do some type of physical activity tomorrow. My fever has gone away, but my head is now a bit clogged up.

I have been sick all week, first with a fever, then with a cold.  I really wanted to get moving, therefore since the weather was nice and I didn't feel like I was about to drop, I decided to get some exercise today.  I first took my dogs for a 2 mile walk to get me moving as well as them.  The fresh air felt so good.  My nose finally cleared up for a little while.  When I got back with them, I wanted to try running.  I decided to just run my normal first 1 1/4 miles of my normal route.  Unfortunately, it is hilly, which may not have been one of my smarter moves, but it was convenient.  It took me just over 12 minutes to get through the first mile, but I was happy just to be running.  My legs felt like jell-o, since my last run was on Saturday, even though I am on my feet every day at work.  I then ran another half mile to my house.  I was done when I got home.  I was tired.

 Even though the first 2 miles were not running miles, I included them because it was the only exercise than I had done since the weekend.

I signed up for this race about three weeks ago.  If I hadn't signed up for it ahead of time, I would not have run it.  I have been sick all week, first with a fever, then with a cold, which I still have.  The only other day that contained any kind of exercise was on Thursday.  I am feeling better, but I was not in race shape.

Fortunately, the race started at noon, which normally I would detest, but today it was perfect.  The late starting time allowed me to sleep in, which I did.  The weather was also beautiful, actually a bit warm for racing, but it didn't bother me.  I did my normal warm-up and new that this could be a bit challenging.  I felt tired after the warm-up.  The course had some mild hills, more inclines in my opinion.  I finished the first mile in 8:10, which is slow for me (there was a girl with a watch giving out times).  I left my watch at home, because I thought it would be better if I ran based on how I felt.  Before I got to mile 2, the effects of the cold started kicking in. I had to blow my nose multiple times and slowed down for some water.  Then at around the mile 2 marker the coughing kicked in.  My breathing felt labored.  I finished, but my time was over 2 minutes slower than what I have been doing.  I was a bit surprised with my 2nd place finish considering my time.  Placing did make me feel a bit better, though.  I knew not to expect too much today.  I was happy to get through the race without having to stop.  The only down side is that my record of PR's finally came to an end.  It was bound to end sometime.  At least I have a valid excuse.

I decided to get some rest this morning and run after work.  My legs were actually a bit sore even considering my slow pace on Saturday.  The only down side to my little plan was that it was cold and rainy when I got off work.  I still got out there and dressed appropriately.  It wasn't bad, although I think a turtle could have kept pace with me.  I just checked my watch for the mileage since the time tends to be depressing.  I also chose to run 5 miles as a way to ease my way back into running on a regular basis.

I was back at the gym this morning on too little sleep. The treadmill felt fast, therefore, I didn't push it.  My plan was to get 6 miles in, but was only able to get 5.5 miles.  I kept thinking that I needed to be at work by 7:30 this morning, although I could not remember what for, so I made sure that I was done running and out of the gym by 6:15am.  I also had to stop on more than one occasion for a potty break and blowing of the nose.  Yes, I know, TMI.  

So that I could get some rest, I decided to run after work today.  The only downside with my plan is that I got out of work later than expected.  The good thing was that I managed to get my run done in between rain showers.  I started out fairly well, pushing myself up the hills, but based on my time, I slowed down.  I did feel decent and it was nice not to have to blow my nose every 5 minutes.  The weather was mild and I think that I am finally on the road to recovery.  I was happy to be able to get 7 miles in.

I was back at the gym this morning. I felt fine running, but my speed on the treadmill was slow or it was in comparison to what I was doing a while back.  I was only able to feel comfortable at my 10:00 minute/ mile pace during the last mile.  Hopefully, with the additional sleep that I am trying to get and with my workload hopefully slowing down, things will get better.

I had a really nice run this morning.  It was sunny and cool, as well as quite windy.  I felt good and really noticed it when I was running the hills and not slowing down.  I need to get back to where I am pushing myself up them, because I know that doing so will make me stronger.  I finished in 1:46:03, which I am content with, especially considering how I have felt and ran lately.

When I got up this morning, I felt ready to go for my run, which was great, because the past few weekends, I have had to push myself out the door on Sundays.  I dressed for rain, because it was suppose to pour most of the day, which it did not.  I was rained on for a few minutes during my 7th mile, but that was it.  I felt pretty good and finished up in just under an hour and 50 minutes.  It was cool and overcast the whole time.

I decided to run after work so that I could get the extra hour plus of sleep this morning.  I was able to get off work on time and be out the door running before 5:00pm.  My legs were tired as usual during the first 2-3 miles.  They finally loosened up, but then the fatigue kicked in.  I found myself slowing down to walk every few minutes, although it would be for just a few seconds at a time.  It wasn't a bad run.  I think that I am just getting used to running after work.

I was back at the gym this morning.  I got my six miles in as planned.  I was tired when I got started, probably due to running last night and barely getting 6 hours of sleep.  By the beginning of the 4th mile I was able to get my pace up to a 10:00 minute mile without it feeling too hard.  I was content when it was all said and done.  I am now ready for my day off from running tomorrow.

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.

I felt better than expected while out on my run this morning.  I still had a headache when I got up which I am assuming is sinus related.  The headache did go away once I got out there, although the Tylenol 8-Hour may have had something to do with it.  It was mild and overcast, which made it a decent morning for a run.  The only downside was that I still have a cold, which meant I had to blow my nose every mile.  At least I could breathe while I was out there.  I was very happy to get through all 10 miles.  I had to stop a few times due to some uncontrollable hacking.  All in all, it was good run and I was happy to be able to complete it.

My run was terrible this morning.  I didn't feel so hot before I went out there, but hoped that once I got started that I would feel better.  I was okay, but would have to stop to cough or gag as the case tended to be.  It was also very humid.  I went out hoping for 10 miles as I did yesterday, but by mile 4, I knew that it was not going to happen as I already felt the need to walk.  I decided to call it a day and head home.  I have no regrets about decision.

I ran after work today and was very happy to get 8 miles in.  I am always hoping for at least 7, so needless to say I was happy.  I was also relieved to get this in since it rained almost all day.  It actually stopped raining on my way home from work, and didn't start again until the end of my last mile.  I felt pretty good although my legs felt tired during the first couple of miles.

Only six miles this morning due to time constraints.  I am typing this almost a week after I ran it and forgot how the day went (this is what happens when I don't put in my entries on a daily basis.).

I am not used to running on Wednesday's, but since this Friday is going to be a long one (school dance is that night), I decided to run this morning instead.  Needless to say, that means that I am back at the gym.  The run was okay, but I was only able to get six miles in due to having to stop every mile to blow my nose and throw my tissue away.  I didn't want to be gross at the gym.  Hopefully, the cold is making its way out of me.

I was back at the gym this morning.  I was concerned for a while that I would only get 6 miles in as I did yesterday, but I really wanted to get 7 in and was able to do so.  I didn't feel the rush to get to work since we were going on a field trip today and I was prepared to go.  I felt pretty good all the way through.  I did speed up the last mile by increasing the pace every 2/10 of a mile.

I decided to go my other route today versus my standard Saturday route.  It was warm and I wasn't sure of placement for my water bottle on my other run.  I haven't had my water bottle out with me all winter and realize that it is starting to get too warm to go without it.  The weather was a mix of sun, clouds and wind. I felt stressed due to the fact that our state standardized test results came out the previous day.  When I saw them initially yesterday, I was fairly upset and disappointed and that rolled over into this run (I have since looked at the numbers closer and I feel much better about them).  I tried to pay attention to the music I was listening to to focus my attention away from work.  It helped at times.  I will be happy when this school year is over in a couple of weeks.

From a time standpoint, this is one of the best runs that I have had in quite a while.  I was able to complete the distance in just over an hour and 48  minutes, which is about 6 minutes faster than what I had done the previous day.  Now, I still think that I should be down at least to 1:40:00, but I am hoping that once school is done, I will be much more rested, which will lead to better times.  The weather was good, sunny, but  a tad cool.  I also felt good, not nearly as stressed as I had been the day before.

I had a really good run at the gym today.  I started off feeling good and was able to finish strong.  For the first 3 miles I slowly increased the pace so that by mile 4, I was at a 10:00 minute mile.  I was able to finish at this pace, with the only breaks occurring so that I could blow the old nose.

I ran this morning, but chose to do so outside.  Normally, I would have gone to the gym, but due to time constraints, I thought that I would run outside.  It was nice and cool outside, which felt good.  It was dark the whole time, which is why I prefer to run at the gym at this hour.  I felt fairly safe, but I probably won't due this too often.  This is actually only the second time that I have run outside at this early of an hour.  I felt good the whole time outside of the nose running.

I was tired this morning after a long day of work the previous day, but I felt okay during this workout.  I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill.   I had to stop at 6 since I had a meeting at 7:30.  

I was back at the gym this morning.  Once again, I was tired but felt alright.  I was able to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace by the start of mile 4. For mile 7, I was able to increase my speed to a 9:50 minute mile and then a 9:40 minute mile to finish.  My legs definitely felt weak by the end.

It was a pretty nice morning for a run, although it did get quite warm out by the time I finished.  I crave sleep these days so I allowed myself to sleep in.  Unfortunately, that meant that I did not get out the door until 9:00am.  I actually felt pretty good for the first 7-8 miles, but after that the fatigue and the heat of the sun kicked in.  I felt strong going up most of the hills and really tried to push myself throughout.  I only have just over a week of school to go before I am off for the summer, therefore I should be well rested and fairly stress-free in the upcoming weeks.

It became very toasty outside today.  The temperature at the bank that I ran past showed 83 degrees and I was only a little over 2 miles in at that point.  It is getting to that point where I am going to have to start getting up earlier, especially for the 10-milers.  Today did not go as well as yesterday, but it wasn't bad.  The heat would start to get to me periodically.  I have started leaving a water bottle out there that I move throughout my run.  It is a bit of a pain, but necessary now that the warm weather is here.  I felt okay during most of the run, really trying to push myself up the hills.  I would say that the only lousy mile that I had was mile 10.  I was feeling tired and ready to call it a day.

I thought that I was going to have to cut this one short for a while, but thankfully, I was able to get the last mile in.  I ran into a work issue this morning that delayed my entry into the gym.  Normally, work wouldn't be a factor at this hour, but unfortunately it was.  My run went well.  I was trying to push it, because I knew that I was going to cut it close on time.  I almost stopped after 6 miles, but I hate to start the week cutting a run a short and I felt up to that last mile, so I went for it.  I am glad I did, although my leg was really feeling funky that last 1/4 mile.  I was able to get to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace going by mile 4 and I did take it up for the last mile.

I decided to run outside this morning even though it would be dark.  Since I felt okay last week, I thought that I would it again this morning.  It seemed much darker this morning.  The major difference was the lack of moonlight.  I adjusted my route so that I was running under more street lights.  Everything worked out and by the time I finished mile 4, the sky started to light up.  The weather was nice, probably in the lower 60's.

I was a bit tired at the start of this one, which took place at the gym.  My legs just didn't want to move.  Of course, after  2-3 miles, my body woke up and I was fine.  I got through all 7 miles which was my goal for the day.

Last day of work with the kids!  Of course, I was tired this morning, but there was that sense of relief too.  It took a couple of miles for me to get going on the treadmill.  I was able to get through all 7 miles with minimal issues (weakness in the right leg towards the end).

This run was not pretty!  I did not think that I would make it the whole way.  It was warm, but not that bad.  My legs felt as though they were carrying a few extra pounds.  I found myself stopping to walk quite a bit, not for very long, but often.  I will say that once I got up and over the last big hill, I actually felt better.  That is when I chose to go the distance versus stopping a mile short.

My original plan was to go 10 miles today, but I needed to get home and do some cleaning before my mother-in-law arrived from out of town.  I got up at 6:05, which I was content with, but felt that given the situation, I should stop at 8.  I felt alright, although I did feel the need to walk on occasion.  I had GPS watch issues yesterday, which I forgot to add to that blog.  I somehow managed to change one of the setting from miles to feet.  It bothered me to the point that I took it off yesterday and didn't bother with it today.  Since I was up early, the air felt pretty good at the start, but by the time I was done, it was starting to warm up.

This was my last 5:00am run for a while.  Today is the last day that of work for me, no kids, just grades and packing up.  My run went alright at the gym.  I had a bit more time this morning, but still only got 7 miles in.  It took me until mile 4 to get up to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace.  I know that I could have run after work, but did not know how tired I would be.  It was a smart choice as I didn't get home until after 6:00pm.

It was so nice to sleep in and then go for my run.  Today is day 1 of my summer vacation (although officially it is a furlough day).  I didn't feel as though I had much at the start, but was able to persevere.  I realized as I was running that there was that part of me that wanted to stop after 7 or 8, but realized that I had no valid excuse to cut it short.  Needless to say, I was happy to get all 10 miles in.  My time wasn't good.  I am hoping that as I get more rest, my times will start to get better.

I wanted to get anywhere from 7 - 10 in this morning.  I had a hair appointment at 11:15am and still needed time to shower and eat before I went to the salon.  I was able to get 8 miles in, therefore I was satisfied with the distance.  I won't be able to run again until at least Saturday afternoon since I won't be able to wash my hair (I can't sweat, which is why I have to wait to run).

This seemed like the first time in quite a while where I did not get 10 miles in on a Saturday where I was not racing.  It was warm, which is what I expected.  I wasn't able to get started until 2:00pm, because of the recent hairdo appointment.  I debated going to the gym, but just did not feel like going there.  It seemed like a production for some reason.  Needless to say, I chose to run outside.  The clouds that had been with us all morning decided to slowly move away.  It was hot when that sun was out.  When the sun did hide behind the clouds (not as often as I had hoped), it wasn't too bad.  I did feel a bit spent by the end, which is why I decided to run 8 instead of 10.

We had a late night last evening, but when I woke up this morning to let one of my dogs out, I noticed that it was overcast and not too hot.  I felt as though I would be better off staying up and going for my run, versus sleeping in.  I made the right decision.  I had a nice run.  I really tried to push myself, especially since I am racing tomorrow morning.  I felt much better today than I did yesterday.  I am still not satisfied with my time, but it was an improvement over yesterday.

Well, this race was better than the last one as far as time goes, but this is the first race since we moved that I did not place in my age group.  I knew the day would come, I just didn't know when.  Compared to my past two races, I did alright.  My time finally came down, therefore I am hoping that my times will continue to improve.  It was warm, muggy and it started to rain again during the last mile (it had been raining on and off all morning).  The course was a bit hilly, especially during the first mile, but I can't complain too much.  I finished the first mile in 7:30, the 2nd mile was somewhere between 7:40 and less than 8:00 (I did not hear the beep at mile 2 from my watch), with the last 1.1 in around 9:30, which means I slowed down big time.  I don't recall slowing down that much, but I do remember a lot of moaning on my part.  I did feel nauseated during the 2nd half of the race, which I thought was a good sign that I was working hard.  Based on my 26:07 time at the last race, I was happy that I knocked over a minute off that time.  Obviously, my goal is to get back to close to 24:00, which is where I was around this past January.  We will see how I feel in the morning, which for me is good sign as to how hard I raced.  

I didn't run yesterday because of the race on Monday.  My quads were definitely sore.  I took my dogs on a 2-mile walk instead.

I decided to run at the gym this morning for multiple reasons.  I slept in this morning, which meant that I by the time I got up and ate and then walked the dogs, it had become fairly warm outside.  Secondly, I was still feeling some soreness from Monday's race and thought that running on the even terrain of a treadmill would be better than the roads.  I also have my gym membership that I need to continue to use.  No regrets on my choice.  I started out walking for a minute because of the soreness, but found that it was actually easier to run than walk.  I never got up to my 10:00 minute/ mile pace, but felt that the 10:30 pace that I averaged was fine.  I stopped at 7 miles due to upcoming lunch plans.

I am very happy to report that I was able to get 10 miles in this morning.  I was hoping for at least 9, but felt good enough to go 10.  The weather held up.  It was warm, but overcast, so there was a nice breeze.  I felt pretty good for the most part.  I ran up and down all of the hills without stopping to walk, which I was happy about.  It is very easy to slow down and walk on the ascent.  I didn't feel too tired until the last mile to mile and a half.  All in all, it was a good day for a run.  

I did find it interesting that I still felt some soreness in my upper quads from Monday's race.

My plan was to get 8 miles in, which I was able to do.  I needed to leave the house today by 11:00am so that I could get to the airport, therefore I was under a bit of a time constraint.  The mileage went well.  I finished in just over an hour and 28 minutes, which is nothing to brag about, but it is an improvement over some recent times that I have had.  It was warm, especially by the end.  I am playing it smart by making sure that I have water available at various spots.

It was hot and humid!  I was in Florida visiting my friends.  As usual, we went for our Saturday morning run and breakfast.  It was great running with them again.  I really miss our Saturday long runs together.  The air was so thick, it was as if you could taste it.  The sweat was pouring off of me with barely six miles under my belt.  The last time that I was that wet from running, I was rained on.  Even my sneakers were soaked, which rarely happens unless I have been rained on or have stepped into a puddle.  Our course was 2 out and backs with drawbridges for hills.  Between the humidity and the talking with friends, the incline of the overpass didn't even phase me.

Once again, I got to run with one of my friends in Florida.  It was so nice to run and talk with someone besides myself.  It was so humid again.  We made sure that we started before daylight, but the air was so thick.  I was thankful that we chose to stop at 7.5 versus going any further.  I will be thankful to run back in Georgia when I get home.

I am back in Georgia and boy, can I tell the difference.  I had to get up earlier than normal due to a morning appointment.  There was a coolness in the air that was so pleasant.  It was still warm, but not suffocating and that bit of coolness was awesome.  I felt pretty good, although my legs do feel a bit tired.  Today was day 6 in a row, which means I am due for my day off.

I wasn't planning on running today.  When I got up this morning I took my dogs on a 2 mile walk and thought that the exercise was done for the day.  After scheduling a couple of appointments over the next couple of mornings, I realized that I would be better off running today.  So, at around noon, I decided to have my protein bar, get changed and head out the door.  Needless to say, it was warmer than it would have been if I had done this in the morning.  I will say that I must have a tolerance for heat, because it wasn't too bad.  It was warm, but I was able to run without any issues.  I just listened to my music, ran my mileage and went home.

I decided to run at the gym since I had an appointment early this morning.  I am glad that I did, because it was getting pretty warm, even at 9:00am.  My run went fine, although once again, I did feel that weakness in my right leg by the last couple of miles.  I kept myself entertained by flipping through Sportscenter and whatever programs are on in the morning.

 I am finally going to take tomorrow off and am looking forward to the rest.  My legs are tired and my knees are a tad achy.

I had a bit of a slow start for some reason.  It was a bit warm, but nothing out of the ordinary.  My goal was to get in at least 8 miles, which I was able to do.  I felt pretty good throughout up until the final mile, where I started to feel a bit tired.  I think the sun was finally getting to me as well since it was almost 11:00am.  I have really been trying to focus on not walking outside of a few seconds here and there or while getting water.  I am still way off from where I was last year timewise, but hopefully I will continue to improve.  I also chose to leave the iPod at home, something that I have not done in quite a while.

This is the second time that I have run this race.  This was the first race that I completed after our move to Georgia.  It is funny, last year I thought that the course was a tad hilly, whereas this year I found that it was the flattest one that I have run since the move.  It is interesting how training on hilly roads for the past year can really make a difference.

I felt a bit nauseated at the start.  It was also quite humid out.  My stomach was feeling a bit off this morning and then the nerves from racing just added to it.  Once I got going I felt okay.  I did start slower than I had during my previous race.  I finished the first mile in 7:50 and the second mile in 8:01.  After I saw my split for the second mile, I knew that I better get moving.  I also noticed that I wasn't feeling as lousy as I usually do at this point, which was not a good sign.  Needless to say, I stepped it up and felt as though I ran well for the last 1.1 miles as my finish time was over 20 seconds faster than my last race.  I also felt the nauseous feeling for the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile of the race. 

The first place finish as well as my time definitely left me feeling good afterward.  I may not have set a pr, but my time is starting to improve again.

It was a toasty one this morning.  I got started at around 8:15am and new it would be warm since I had walked my dogs first.  I contemplated going to the gym, but just didn't feel like it.  It was not awful and I picked the route that I thought would have the most shade.  I also made sure that I had water out there.  I did find out when I got home and read the paper online that we were under a heat advisory essentially for the week with temperatures in the mid to upper 90's with feels like temps in the 100's.  Happy summer running!

Due to an appointment this morning and the heat advisory that we are under, I chose to run at the gym.  I didn't get to the gym until 9:30, so I felt as though I made the right decision as the temperature was climbing.  My run actually went well.  At around the 2 1/2 mile mark I took the speed up to a 10:00 minute pace and kept it there.  I have been running so slowly these days that I really needed to do this.  The only issue that I had was with the weakness in my lower right leg.  When it felt a tad too weak, I just slowed it down to a walk for a few seconds.  The FIFA World cup kept me company through the duration of my run.

My plan was to run at least 8 miles, therefore, I was very happy to get 10 in.  It started out somewhat mild out, but it definitely warmed up as I was out there.  I felt pretty good and ran up all of the hills.  I kept walking to a minimum and only slowed down for water and one bathroom stop.  I am still not happy with the time, but I am very content with the distance.

I decided to run at the gym this morning  since I slept in and would not have started until at least 8:30.  When I walked my dogs I could tell that it was already starting to warm up.  I also thought that it would be a good idea, because my runs can get a bit monotonous outside. 

I felt pretty good and made sure that I was at a 10:00 minute mile by the time I was done with my 2nd mile.  I felt fairly strong, although I did slow down every couple of miles just to allow that weak leg of mine to regroup.  Once again, the World Cup kept me company throughout.

I had a really good run this morning.  I got up earlier than normal so that I could be back and showered in time for the USA World Cup match.  The good thing about getting up earlier is that it is a tad cooler out.  I was able to get started by around 7:15am, which is a big difference temperature-wise from starting at 8:00-8:15am.  I also purchased a new running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 305 and tried it out.  I briefly checked it out yesterday prior to running at the gym, but I really tried to utilize the features.  It was great!  I set it up so that I wouldn't drop below an 11:00 minute pace without it beeping at me and also had it so that it would pause when I did and so that I knew when I hit each mile.  I had my other watch set to do the last thing, but I am not sure if it could alert me when I was running too slow.  The watch picked up the satellites almost immediately.  I believe that since I had it alert me when I went too slow, having the feature allowed me to push myself a bit harder.  It beeped at me quite a bit during the first mile (I am assuming that this was due to the numerous hills that I travel on), but I did hit some nice periods, where I didn't hear it, which was nice confidence boost.  I ran almost the same course as I did the other day to see how the mileage compared.  This watch has me covering more mileage, which may be accurate since I would tend to lose the signal with my other watch.  This did not happen today.  I will try this route again to see how it works out.  I was also finally happy with my time, which was a 1:32:31, a huge improvement over my times the past few months.

This was not a good run.  After the first couple of miles, I could tell that this may not be a good day.  By the time I completed mile 3, I was spent.  I felt like it was me against the sun and I was not winning.  I got out too late, not starting until 8:45am and my legs did feel a bit tired.  I just wasn't expecting to have that poor of a run.  It was like a flashback to running in the heat in Florida, where the sun just sucks the life out of you.  My original plan was to go 10 miles, which is what I run just about every Saturday when not training for a marathon.  I was also excited about hitting 50 miles for the week, something I haven't done in quite a while. I knew at the start that I needed at least 6 1/2 miles to hit the 50 mile mark.  Once I got going and knew it was going to be a struggle, I told myself that 8 miles would be satisfactory considering how I felt.  I almost didn't hit that point, but fortunately I pulled it out.  I will say that I did walk quite a bit during that last mile to mile and a half,  forcing myself to at least run the flat and shady portions.  I had a really good run yesterday, today just wasn't my day.  Tomorrow will hopefully be better.

I woke up early this morning and decided to stay up and run before it became too hot.  Starting to run at 6:45am definitely made a difference, although I still felt the humidity.  I definitely had more energy than yesterday, but I wouldn't say that it was great.  I didn't feel the need to walk as I did the day before, which I consider a positive.  My minimum goal was 8 miles, therefore I was content with my mileage.

Since I didn't get out of bed until almost 8:00am, I ran at the gym this morning.  When I walked my dogs prior to leaving for my run, it was already warming up.  I wasn't too pumped up to run today, but of course, I did, and feel good about it.  Today was day 8 in a row, which is probably why I felt the way I did.  I am going to run tomorrow and finally take a day off on Wednesday, since I won't be able to run that morning anyway.  It took until completing 5 miles before I got myself up to a 10:00 minute / mile pace, which I then maintained for the next two miles.  I actually increased the mileage a tad during the last mile.

I got up early this morning (6:20am) so that I could run outside comfortably.  I should get up even earlier, but this was better than me sleeping in even until 7:00am.  I was out the door by 7:30am, which wasn't too bad.  I felt alright throughout my run.  I made sure that I planted water, which has been a huge help given the heat.  I decided to try out a new pair of headphones since one of the headphones died on my other pair.  They are alright, although one side slips.  Having my sunglasses rest on them seems to help.  Today was day 9 in a row.  I am looking forward to my rest day tomorrow.

THESE ARE WALKING MILES!!  I was unable to run yesterday and today due to a medical issue.  I considered yesterday to be my day off for the week, but did walk today in lieu of running, which was acceptable.  I enjoyed my walk today, although it definitely took a lot longer than running the same distance.  It was a nice change and I realized that the heat wasn't as much of a factor.  It was still warm, but I guess since I am not working as hard that the temperature didn't become an issue.  It was a very pleasurable walk.

It was nice to be able to run again after yesterday's walk.  I enjoy walking, but it is just not the same workout.  I got myself up by around 6:20 since I am flying out of town this afternoon.  Of course, getting up early, means it is a little cooler (or not as warm) when I start.  I felt decent although not great.  My legs felt fine (my butt was actually sore from the walking yesterday), but I just didn't feel as though my energy level was where it should be.  I was happy to complete my mileage without any major issues.  Hopefully, the weather in New York this weekend will be a bit cooler.

THESE ARE WALKING MILES!  I am in New York visiting my family.  I stayed with my brother and his family last night.  We always go walking the morning after I stay over.  The only difference today was that we drove to a trail and walked there with my almost 3 year old niece.  Because we brought my niece, we couldn't stay out there as long as we would have liked to.  The weather was gorgeous, especially compared to the heat and humidity of Georgia.  The trail was paved and flat versus our normal hilly route.  My brother walked the dog and I walked my niece in the stroller.  It was a very nice morning.  My plan is to go out for a run tomorrow morning.

I had a really nice run this morning.  It was definitely cooler this morning.  I got up nice and early, although I didn't think it would be that early.  I was up and out of the house by 6:00 am.  One of the positives of getting up this early is the lack of traffic near my parent's house.  It was really nice not to worry about getting hit by a car most of the time.  I felt pretty good which is why I went for 10 miles versus 8 miles.  I also had my new watch with me which allowed me to see what the mileage would be like.  The first part of my run was to my aunt and uncles house, which is about a mile, although my watch showed it was up to 1.36 miles.  I turned around and added an additional street before I headed back to my parent's house for some water.  At this point, I was at mile 4, I then went back out to my grandmother's old place, which would give me an additional 6 miles (3 each way).  I felt good and barely walked, only doing so when I got water and turned around.  I really tried to enjoy the weather and the music I had playing.

This was my last morning in New York.  I slept in a little later than yesterday.  It felt a bit warmer than yesterday, but not too bad.  I ran out to my grandmother's old place and on my way back, included one additional street so that I hit at least 7 miles.  I was a bit tired by the end, but felt okay for the most part.

I ran at the gym this morning and it was not pretty. I had to drop one of my dogs off at the vet first and thought it would be best to go to the gym given that it was close to 9:00am and sunny.  When I first started, I felt a bit of pain from where I had my medical procedure done last week and chose to really slow it down.  Eventually, I felt alright.  I increased my pace every mile and eventually got to a 10:00 minute mile by the last 2.

My run today was not quite planned.  I slept in and thought that today would be my day off and I would just take my dogs on a 2-mile walk.  As I was walking them, I noticed that it was warm, but very overcast and thought that I should take advantage of the lack of sun.  When I got home from walking the dogs, I changed, put on my watch and heart rate monitor (first time using the monitor) and went back out there.  I am really glad that I did.  It was warm, but I did not have the sun beating down on me.  I even started after 9:00am.  I felt pretty good throughout and finished in about 1:25:30.  Now I have the option of taking one of the next two days, if I so choose.

I was up before 7:00am and it was still overcast, therefore, I decided that today would be a good day to run.  It was a bit warm, but tolerable.  Unfortunately, I felt a bit sluggish and that weakness in my right leg was back.  I got through the workout, but obviously would have liked to have done better than that.

I have been on vacation for the past week and didn't get a chance to enter this prior to leaving. I do recall that I had a good run and remember that I was definitely looking forward to our trip to Chicago.

I attempted to run this morning, but there was only one treadmill in the fitness center of our gym at the hotel.  I eventually hoped on the elliptical until my husband was done, which wasn't even a half an hour.  I would have run afterward, but we were heading to Wrigley field and still needed to get tickets.

This was my first run in Chicago.  It took a while for my watch to retrieve the satellites.  I ran to the Navy Pier based on the instructions that were given to me by the front desk.  I missed my turn and wound up heading down Michigan Avenue until I hit Lakeshore Drive.  From this point, I went in the direction of the pier and eventually found it.  I ran to the end and then made my way back to the hotel.  I was only at 5 miles when I got to our hotel so I continued on so that I could at least get 6 miles in.  My legs felt tired even though the roads were flat.

Second run in Chicago and still my watch is having issues finding the satellites.  I guess GPS watches and skyscrapers don't go well together.  Today I ran to and around the Navy Pier.  After the Pier I ventured south(?) on Lakeshore drive, which led me towards the aquarium and Soldier Field.  From there, I went through Grant Park and back to the hotel.  It was warmer than I was anticipating.

This was the first morning that I stepped outside in Chicago and actually had my watch locate the satellites right from the start.  It was raining and it felt really good.  I ran through downtown to the Navy Pier, around the pier and up Lakeshore drive.  I then turned around and headed back around the edge of downtown.  I even came across the street that my husband and I had been on a couple of days before  for the World Cup.  

Following this run, I went on a chocolate tour.  It was awesome!

This was not a good run.  I knew that it wouldn't be right from the start.   I just didn't have the energy.  I think that I was wiped out from our trip.  I also know that I am carrying an extra few pounds  (there was a lot of good eats in Chicago, especially the sweets).  I took some Tylenol 8-hour before I started and just hoped for the best.  I told myself that if I needed to walk that it wouldn't be the end of the world.  The first 3 miles were the roughest, just feeling very sluggish.  After that things did get a bit better.  I did find some energy, but did find the need to walk on occasion.  When all was said and done, I finished and was happy about it.

I felt so sluggish this morning that  I decided to sleep in this morning.  I also think that I am getting a cold since I have to blow my nose fairly often.  Since I did sleep in, it was way too hot to run outside and I really wanted to get some exercise.  I decided to go to the gym.  I actually felt better than I thought that I would, unfortunately, I had to pause the machine every mile to blow my nose and throw my tissue out.  I was happy to get the workout in.

I had a summer retreat this morning for work, so I decided to get up at 5:00am and run prior to going.  It has been a while since I have had to get up early, but I will have to start doing this in just a couple of weeks, when I go back to work.  It was actually  kind of nice running this early.  I got outside by around 5:50am, which was later than I anticipated.  I thought that daybreak was still a bit earlier.  It was muggy out, but it was nice not having the sun beat down on me as I ran.  I felt alright.  Not great, but not bad either.  Outside of having to make an emergency bathroom break towards the end, I considered it a decent run and was happy that I got myself up to do it.

I was going into work today with a colleague and needed to be ready to go by 9:00am (at least I thought I did, she was quite late).  I got myself up by 6:00am and thought that I could get out the door without my dogs noticing, but they did.  I left anyway (i had already let them out), and had a lousy run.  My legs saw anything that looked like a hill and said forget it.  Due to time, guilt (for not walking the dogs and just a bad run , I decided to cut the run at 6 miles and head home.

I had a really good run this morning.  I was out the door by 7:30 and fortunately it wasn't too hot yet.  I was also trying out a new pair of running shorts (great purchase).  I did not feel the need to walk.  I ran up all of the hills (as I should) and felt pretty good.  I finished in 1:26:?, which isn't great, but I was just happy to feel good throughout.

When I was walking my dogs, I kept telling myself that due to the time (I slept in) and the sun that I should go to the gym.  Unfortunately, I just didn't want to go and decided that I would suck it up and run in the heat, even if it meant just running 6 miles.  Amazingly, in the maybe 10 minutes that I was home after walking my dogs to stepping back outside to run, the sky became overcast.  This made such a difference temperature-wise.  It remained overcast for the duration of my run, which made me feel strong enough to go 7 miles, which I did.  By the time I went outside, which was less than an hour after I got back, the sun was out.  I am not the most spiritual person in the world, but I guess that it was meant to be that I ran outside.

My run started out fairly well this morning.  I was out the door by 7:00am, which helped with the heat.  It was still warm, but tolerable.  I was good until about 7.5 miles in when I found ants all over my water bottle.  This is the first time that this has happened since I started planting my bottle.  Of course intelligent me went to pick up the bottle and was bitten by the ants.  I wanted to get the bottle open, which I did so that I could the bugs off my hands.  Then a few minutes later, right around mile 8, the last of vitamin c drop fell out of my mouth and onto the ground.  This may sound silly, but that drop helps when there is a lack of water.  On top of all this, the heart rate monitor that I got with my watch, kept slipping.  I need to adjust the length, but for some reason this has been rocket science for me.  I keep making it longer instead of shorter.  I made it to my goal of ten miles, therefore I was happy with my distance; unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the time it took me to complete the distance.

As I approach my last full week off, I decided to sleep in this morning.  Fortunately for me, the skies outside were overcast and I could run outside, even at 10:15 am.  It was warm, but it was much easier than it would have been had the sun been out staring at me.  I felt okay during my run.  I am starting to think that I need to change my mental approach to running, since my times have been much slower than where they should be.  As an example, it took me a little over 1:16:00 to complete 7 miles.  That is almost an 11:00 minute mile.  I have been well rested, although that will change when I go back to work.  

I got myself up early this morning so that I could run prior to going into work for a little while.  I was outside by 7:30.  It wasn't too bad, but the sun was on its way of creating some serious heat.  I felt alright again today and pushed myself up the hills, although once again I was not setting any record paces.  I was also happy to complete 7 miles.  I was ready to be done when I finished.  My hope right now is that things will improve this fall, when the temperatures will begin to drop.  Finish time was just over an hour and 17 minutes.

I got up at 5:30 this morning so that I could get my run in and get to work by around 9:30.  I don't officially go back for another week, but I wanted to get some more stuff done in my classroom and then take my last few days off.  The good thing about getting up early was that I was out the door by 6:10am.  It is definitely easier to run when the sun isn't beating down on you.  Unfortunately, I still felt a bit sluggish.  I also was not too intelligent, because for some reason I chose not to plant my water out on my route.  I guess my brain thought for a moment that earlier out the door meant less heat.  From a sun standpoint that would be accurate, but it is still very humid at the hour.  I am looking forward to taking tomorrow off.

It took a lot for me to get out the door this morning.  I knew that it was going to be warm since I chose to sleep in.  It was 8:30am by the time I got out there.  I contemplated going to the gym, but I wanted to take advantage of running outside while I still had the opportunity.  I told myself at the start that if I needed to walk, it was not going to be the end of the world.  I am happy to report that I felt pretty good all the way through.  My legs appreciated the day off yesterday.  I left the music at home once again.  

Today actually felt warmer than yesterday, yet I still chose to run outside.  I know that starting on Tuesday, my days running outdoors will be limited to mostly the weekends for a while.  Once again, I didn't get started until 8:30am, which is too late here.  I don't know what the official temperature was, but hot (low 80's at least) and humid pretty much cover it.  I felt alright for the most part, although mile 6 was a bit tiresome, probably because it had been awhile since I had water.  I was happy to be done when I completed mile 7.  Once again, I chose to leave the I-pod at home.

I wouldn't say that these miles were easy, mainly because it was so warm out.  I, of course, slept in again.  And, of course, I told myself that if I have to walk a little, it is not the end of the world.  I felt decent for the first 6 miles, but then started to feel the effects of the heat.  I definitely found myself taking some walk breaks during the last four miles.  It took me 1:50:+ to complete my run.  By the way, we are under a heat advisory until tomorrow night.  Our average temperatures during the day are in the mid-90's, with feels like temperatures in the 100's.  I did bring my I-Pod with me today.

I was able to sleep in a little bit this morning, but was happy to get myself up and out the door by 7:45am.  This is still too late given the heat, but it was earlier than I have been getting out the past few days.  It helped that the dogs went back to sleep with my husband.  I felt alright for the most part.  Needless to say, it was warm.  Temperatures are supposed to hit the upper 90's again today.  The only issue that I ran into today was that someone took my water bottle.  I am not sure if they wanted what warm water was left or they thought it was garbage.  I was almost done when it happened and there was only a 10 minute window in which the theft took place.  I guess that it was bound to happen.

This was brutal!  With this being my final day off before going back to work, I decided to sleep in.  I didn't get up until 7:30am and by the time that I got up, got dressed, ate and walked the dogs, it was just about 9:00am when I stepped foot outside to run.  I don't know officially if it was warmer this morning than it has been the past couple of days, but the heat just sucked the life out of me.  I knew things would not be good when I wanted to walk after mile 2.  I wound up walking quite a bit, especially during the last mile.  Days like this happen.  I just read a little while ago, that we are under another heat advisory until tonight.  Temperatures are scheduled to hit the upper 90's again, with the heat index around 110 degrees.  I will be back on my work schedule tomorrow, which means early rising for me.

Back to Work!  I was up at 4:30am so that I could get outside by around 5ish.  It was dark, but I wanted to see how comfortable I would be running outside at this hour.  It wasn't bad, but I did find myself looking over my shoulder from time to time.  I had a little flashlight with me that helped when I ran through the particular dark spots.  It was very nice not to feel suffocated by the heat of the sun, although it was still quite warm out there.  I could tell because at mile 2, I looked down at my watch using my flashlight and noticed that my arms were already shiny from the sweat.  I finished in under 11 minute miles (finally). Since today was day 6 in a row, my plan is to take tomorrow off and run again on Thursday.

Today was first day back at the gym in at least a couple of weeks.  It was alright for the most part.  I thought that I may have a shot at getting 7 miles in, but unfortunately, I had some stomach issues that limited my day to 6 instead.  I was also trying to get into work a little earlier since we were having an open house at 8:00am.  Outside of the stomach, I felt fine on the treadmill.

I was up at 4:40 this morning after a lousy nights sleep.  I chose to run outside instead of going to the gym.  Because I got up a bit later, I had more light towards the second half of my run.  Once again, I ran my four loops of 1.75 miles each.  It wasn't a very good run.  I was tired and I believe a tad stressed with the first day of school approaching next week.  There is always so much to do the final day of pre-planning and the weekend prior to the first day.  I did walk on occasion, but ran the majority of it. It was warm, but not awful since I wasn't dealing with the sun.

I was exhausted this morning.  Getting back to waking up at 4:30am really took its toll on me this week.  I decided to sleep in so that my body could rest up a bit.  Since it was so late when I got up, I decided to go to the gym with my husband.  He was kind enough to add on time to his workout time so that I could get my miles in.  My original plan was to run 10 miles, which is what I usually do on Saturdays, but I was satisfied with 8 mainly because I felt so sluggish this morning.  I have found that the one downside to sleeping in is that I tend to think about my running too much.  When I get up at the crack of dawn, I don't really give it too much thought.  I just get up, eat and head out the door.

This is one of the better runs that I have had in quite a while.  I felt good from the start.  I even reset my watch so that it would notify me when I ran too slow.  I wound up finishing in 1:45:01, which is a lot better than I have been doing.  I was out the door just before 8:00am.  It also remained overcast for at least the first 7-8 miles.  I did notice that with each mile after about the 5th one, I was starting to slow down.

I decided to run outside this morning so that I could get an extra 15-20 minutes of sleep and still get to work by 7:30 for our first day with students in class.  It was warm, of course.  This course is really not what I would call easy.  There are three decent hills that I am running per loop.  Initially, I had my watch set so that the alarm would go off when I ran too slow, but I turned it off since it seemed kind of loud at 5:00 in the morning.   Once again, my time was not good, but I felt okay.

I went to the gym this morning to run.  My run was okay outside of some stomach issues.  I had to limit my miles to 6 so that I could make a stop before work.  My stomach felt funky for a good part of the morning, but eventually, I felt back to normal.

I had a decent run this morning at the gym.  I was really tired, but fortunately my legs felt decent.  I took yesterday off, but I am still getting used to being back on my feet all day.  It usually takes a week for my legs and feet to get into the swing of things.  I didn't run very hard, but did take it up during the last mile since I am scheduled to run a 5K this Saturday.

Today's run was not so good.  I didn't feel bad, but I just wasn't moving very quickly.  I ran outside at just after 5:00am.  It was really dark this morning. I had my flashlight, which made me feel a bit more comfortable.  I was happy to get it done.

This race started at 10:00am, which was a bit late then I am used to, but it worked out better than I thought since we had gone out last night.  I was tired and it was warm, but I felt pretty good.  It was overcast for a bit more than half the race, but then the sun came out.  It then became very hot.  Mentally, I felt pretty good.  We got to the race about 20 minutes before it started and I am kind of glad that it worked out that way. It gave me less time to think about the race.  By the time I got my number and warmed up, it was almost time for the race to start.  Given the heat and humidity, I was happy with how I did.  I felt as though I ran my best given the weather and the fatigue from going out the previous night.

UPDATE:  I got the race results last night and learned that I actually finished 34th overall not 47th.