Runners UNITE! We've graduated C25K, so let's keep on going!

[corinnak]

That is so great Kim! Way to get out there! I can't believe it is toasty hot at 8am in New Jersey. Cause that is out of control! How did that more sleep thing go?

Today was a big day for me. I ran this morning, though much of the morning got away from me before I got started at close to 11am. It wasn't toasty hot, though. Pretty comfortable with a slight breeze and I managed to run 5 miles in 61:23. Very big deal for me as this is the first time I have run that far or that long. I was pretty tired by the end of it, though. I had looked at a map and decided that that road I had been on before where I stopped and turned around DID eventually connect up with a road that would take me back into town, so I decided to follow it the rest of the way and see. It was a good bit farther to the turn, but it worked out. And I got to run through a lot of nature preserve. Well, not through it, but next to it on the road. Very pretty, but a little creepily remote-feeling.

So, a shorter run on Wednesday and a 5K on Saturday morning. That is the current plan, anyhow. Unless the appliance repair man wants to come and fix the dishwasher on Wednesday, which he might, in which case, that run will move to Thursday!

 

[kimwim8]

I did it! I did it! I actually woke up & ran!!!

I know, it's no huge feat or anything. And I used to do it all the time only a month or two ago. But it's been a struggle lately. I did my "Kim" 2 miler and it was stuffy/toasty again - this time at 6am. NJ summers STINK!! But I did it and I did it in 23.09. So not bad at all!!

I will be going to the gym tomorrow at lunch and then running again on Wednesday morning.

Corinna - AWESOME run, my dear!! 5 miles and over an hour!!! That's some serious running!!! Do you take any walk breaks, or are you consistantly running? Either way, you ROCK!!

 

[corinnak]

Kim, that is brutal - 6am and stuffy! Your time doesn't seem to have suffered much, though.

I did take one little walk break at 4 miles - there was a drinking fountan and I stopped for that and then walked a little ways, maybe a tenth of a mile? And then picked it up again and ran the rest of the way. I still can't quite believe it. Only 3 more miles to add on to get to 13K!! Today, I feel tired even thinking that, actually!

 

[katerkat]

Oh my gosh, Corinna! Five miles! Good job!!

I still haven't run since last week. Um, really should since I have the Cherry Picker's Trot on Thursday. It's four miles according to the website but only 3.89 miles according to the actual roads. Supposedly the heat wave is going to break on Thursday - I really hope so!

The water park wasn't that exciting - it's just a little one in town with five big slides and a kiddie area. If we're still living here next summer I'm getting a season pass - Russ loved the kiddie area but we have to leave by 1-2 pm because the bigger kids were running wild.

 

[corinnak]

Well, ladies, I have to report that my legs and feet are a little on the sore side this morning. Not terrible, but I definitely feel that I pushed a little yesterday.

Kat - I hope that the weather improves for your run on Thursday as well. I can't imagine how frustrating this weather situation must be. Along with the chid care situation, that must make it pretty near impossible to get out there. It would be wonderful if temperatures were good for your race on Thursday. Mmmm. Cherries!

The water park sounds like fun, aside from the ruffian youth element, of course. We have a little water park near our house in Minnesota, too. I am a little sad to be missing most of the season there this year, rendering season passes an impractical idea. There is a small, un-themed lazy river that they actually let people walk in against the current during a certain time in the morning before park opening. I have never tried it, though! Do you think you will go again this summer?

 

[katerkat]

I had a really sucky run today and I am whining. So you all have to listen. It didn't feel that hot out (even though it was 85) until I started running. I was dying by the end and I didn't even do a full run! I was supposed to run 34 minutes accordng to the OHR, even though my last run was a full week ago so I'm not really on my "weekly" schedule. I made it about 16 minutes before I had to stop and walk. And then barely 5 minute increments from then on, with two minute walk breaks. Ended up at 38 minutes total, including the walk breaks and warm-up. So not really near 34 minutes!!

I was so hot that I stuck my head in my friend's shower to cool off. (She was watching Russ.) And then after dinner, we went on a walk with her and her son!! So after a good 5 miles today, I'm in serious pain. After getting Russ to bed, I had to force myself to do my chores - three trips to the basement for recycled boxes and trash bags because I cleaned a whole section earlier this week but didn't bring anything to the garage until Trash Night.

I want a husband back to do the trash!! I want to shower without a toddler's "help!!" I want to be able to run in the morning before it gets hot!!

Ah, I feel better now. Sorry y'all had to read that. I left my wine at my friend's house.

 

[corinnak]

Kat, we are here for the good runs and the crappy runs. I think everyone has the crappy ones sometimes and the next run is usually better. Yours sounds largely weather and situation related - 85 is very warm weather for running and it makes total sense that you would need a walk-break or two in there in that heat. I remember the little run from the swimming pool back to the tent site on that camping trip and I was astonished at how quickly I had to stop and walk, too. It is impressive that you pushed through like that. And 5 miles on foot is DEFINITELY enough to leave a person's feet tired!

You are amazing, forcing yourself through your chores like that after everything else. How long is your DH away for this time? I remember you saying something about him going again in October? My dad was in the army when I was growing up, but times were very different then, of course. It all sounds incredibly difficult - I know you have done it before, but it doesn't make it easy, I know!

 

[kimwim8]

Kat, we are here for the good runs and the crappy runs.

You're SO right, Corinna.

Kat - I'm SO proud of you for getting out there. It is really hard to getting started again after a little break. Believe me, I'm the queen of breaks. GREAT job taking that step. (and feel free to whine to us at ANY time! )

Nothing new to report from this end today. No run, instead I woke up with a lovely UTI.

 

[corinnak]

Ack - a UTI! That can really put a crimp in your plans. I hope you feel better soon, Kim!

I ran this morning. Dangerously close to afternoon, though. Actually, I finished up the run at 12:05. Very late start. My boy slept in. And then my Garmin was low on batteries and quit on me after 17+ minutes and a mile and a half. I realized it pretty quickly and decided on a time that I should run for, though. I had wanted to run 4 miles, decided the garmin had quit at about 15 (turns out it was more like 17:30, but close enough, right?) and so I needed to get a total of about 48-50 minutes if my average pace were to hold true in order to get about 4 miles. It was a good, if vague sort of run. At least my ipod shuffle did not run out of power! My next run is the 5K on Saturday morning! I am not sure how hilly the course is going to be - could be hilly! I will surely let you know.

 

[corinnak]

I take back my uncertainty! I mapped my run online and gosh darn it! 4.1 miles - wowie wow, I can ESTIMATE.

 

[corinnak]

Kat - I can't believe I forgot to wish you luck in your race and say that I was sure you'd do fine, especially if the weather cooperated. It's probably late now, but I hope you will tell us all about it soon!

 

[katerkat]

I'm doing better now - sorry I dumped on y'all the other day. I usually have one of those days every deployment (and usually it's a trash day too!) I think DH will be going back in October or November, unless he gets a training date - he's up for a three week school and a six week school if the dates ever work out. We're in the home stretch for this deployment - less than three weeks to go!

Yesterday I went swimming instead of walking/running to keep the stress off my joints. My arms are rather mad, as they don't usually get used during running! I'm still a bit sore today but I'm hoping to do little things to loosen up by race time! It's an evening race. My MIL is coming, too, and she's looking forward to the cherry picking!!

I will make sure to charge both my MP3 player and Garmin, Corinna!

Kim - YUCK! That will put a cramp in your running!

 

[corinnak]

Have a super fun run, then Kat! An evening race sounds lovely! I hope it is.

 

[katerkat]

I did it!! My goal was 45 minutes and I finished at 44:05, averaging 11:24 minute miles. Well, the first one was TEN minutes!! Second was 11, third was 11.5, and that left the last at really slow. I did managed to run that whole first mile going up and down hills at that pace. And there was a beautiful 1/2 mile going downhill on a slow grade in the shade, right at 2 miles. Of course, what goes down must come up... The last 1.5 miles was brutal - I did a lot of run/walk/run/walk. Why do they insist on putting all these races on hills?? I need to do the base 5K next year, guaranteed flat.

I have pictures but I need to upload them.

 

[corinnak]

Kat, that is awesome! You beat your goal! You didn't mention disgustingly hot weather, so I am assuming that situation has improved?

Amazingly, both of the "races" I have done so far have been pretty darned flat - I don't know why, but I have been lucky. Plus, it's the midwest. I am actually thinking I may be in for it tomorrow, though. Petoskey is a slightly more hilly environment - the potential is there, anyhow.

Hooray for pictures! I look forward to seeing them.

 

[corinnak]

My turn to whine a little. No run for me tomorrow. DH and DS8 were to arrive back here tonight on the 11:22 - late but do-able. In fact, their flight out of MSP was delayed to the point where they missed the second leg of their trip and are spending the night in Detroit. The gate agent in MSP evidently went ahead and rebooked them for tomorrow - on the same flight, getting in at 11:22pm. The whole point to flying out tonight instead of tomorrow on the one non-stop of the week was so that they could be at the neighborhood fair tomorrow afternoon. They will go to the airport in the morning and see what the possibilities are of flying out any earlier. The upshot is that there will be no one available to watch DS4 first thing bright and early tomorrow morning - the relatives have other plans for the morning a little later and I just wasn't prepared to attempt impose over that. I guess this happens sometimes, but it is a little disappointing. I wish I had a jogging stroller for this kid right now because I believe he would ride through a 5K with me at this point. But I don't, and that's just where it stands. There will be other races. I will need to find a way to get a run in either tomorrow or Sunday, preferably tomorrow, having skipped my run today to save up for a 5K that I'm not going to get to do. My DH and DS are even less happy about the situation than I am, of course. The layover was 45 minutes. They were delayed 30. I maintain my assertion that connection times of less than 1 hour are inadvisable. DH agrees, but makes exceptions sometimes and hopes for the best. I'm not sure an additional 15 minutes would have gotten them through the Detroit airport in time to catch the other flight, either. I have veered way off topic and it's late, so I am going to head to bead. I didn't even go pick up a Harry Potter book - tomorrow.

 

[kimwim8]

Kat - AWESOME job with the 4 miler! You completely ROCKED that race! Speedy quick times!

Corinna - I'm so sorry you aren't able to run in your 5k tomorrow. I know how much you were looking forward to it. Stay positive and you'll get that run in this weekend.

I'm gonna copy what I wrote in my journal about my run today...

This morning I went out for a run. Started out great. It was 65 degrees and beautiful. About 1/2 mile into it I rolled my ankle after stepping on a rock. OMG, did that hurt! I sat down & moved it around. Then I walked on it for a couple minutes and the pain was gone. So I continued on my run (after realizing I hadn't stopped my Garmin through all of this ) I ended up running (with a couple short walk breaks) 4 miles in 47.23. Really, really good considering my stop for my ankle and a couple walk breaks.

The bad news is....as soon as I stopped running - the ankle hurt bad. In fact, it hurts bad still. It's not broken or anything, I'm sure. So I'm gonna see how it goes and if it still hurts tomorrow I'll consider having it looked at.

Not great news, girls. Send me some pixie dust that this goes away really fast!

 

[corinnak]

So I did get that run in today. In the afternoon, of all things. And I got to the bottom of the big hill and had to go back up again TWICE. The first time, I started jogging and then realized I was only wearing one sports bra. I have to have the second one - it's the one with the support, after all. So I went back from that. Then I got to the bottom again and realized I had left my iPod in the charger. I could have run without that, but I wanted it, so I actually JOGGED back up the hill. I ended up with a little more than a 5K- slow. I ran for 40 minutes and was not pushing for speed at all as I was trying to save something for Monday, tomorrow. I will probably do something similar tomorrow morning and then go for a longer run on Wednesday, my LAST run of this trip!

Kim - I am sorry about your ankle - I saw in your journal that it is feeling better today - thank goodness. It is amazing what doesn't hurt when you are running, isn't it? I think it must be the endorphins. I am addicted to them, I think.

Not sure how much I will be around the next few days - we have a ton of packing up to do. Not the most fun.

 

[C_leen]

Hi ladies!

I started C25K week 8 this morning, so soon I'll be a grad too. I enjoy reading about your continued efforts!

 

[katerkat]

Man, Corinna, I'm sorry you didn't get to do the 5K! I hope your family joined you safely, eventually.

Kim, sorry about your ankle! Ouch!

Coleen - we'll be seeing you soon!

Oh, yeah, the heat - yes it finally broke! Actually, Thursday I woke up and it was 67 degrees (haven't seen THAT in a month!) and rainy - I thought it was a Kim race day! Of course, the day warmed up and it was about 80 and sunny when I was running. But not bad considering. I will enjoy the night time of the TOT race! (But not the humidity I'm betting.)

I will have pics in the next post, slowly uploading them!!