Another treadmill day

I was worried that by the time I could get all the way out to the trail that I wouldn't be able to get all four miles in before dark so I just went to the gym instead. Much better than my last treadmill day, but still slower than my average trail times, for some reason. When I'm outside I always feel like I'm shuffling along barely faster than walking speed but somehow I do more miles in less time than the TM, where I feel like I'm actually running pretty fast. Whatever, who knows. I did get out day before yesterday, and did 4 miles in 56 minutes, a new record for me. Yesterday was rest day, and somehow even though I knew I needed it I felt like I was being all lazy for not running or doing something. I did my planks and calf raises for the day (mostly so I wouldn't die on HabitRPG) but I felt extra lazy and extra fat all day. At least I don't feel quite so lazy today. I'm at 24 total miles run outside, I could have made it to Frederick, MD if I were really running. Which is kind of funny, since I actually went to Frederick today. I have finally run more than a marathon, even though it took me a few weeks to do it. 

3/21 4.0 56:00 15/80 o

3/23 4.0 58:00 16/82 t

24 miles total

And Just Like That

It's not fun anymore. I hope it will go back to being fun tomorrow. Today I was on the treadmill, hungry, hung over, tired, and very, very hot. I plan to run on the trail again tomorrow even if it's overpopulated because clearly I no longer enjoy running inside. I didn't even manage my new "minimum" of 3.1 miles because it was boring and it sucked. I've sort of hit the "this isn't doing any good and I'm not enjoying it anymore so fuck it" wall and all I can really do is try to push through by running tomorrow, and hopefully making up for the dismal day today by getting back up to 4 miles and actually enjoying myself again.

It's Getting Fun

I'm astounded, but this running thing is starting to get enjoyable. I actually feel better after a run than I did before. I think that's a really positive step to be able to keep this up. I've decided that my shortest runs should be 3.1? I'm using HabitRPG to help with my motivation and I get credit for doing any excercise at all, but I get extra credit if that excercise entails running at least 5k. I like my gold and fancy xp so I have been pretty good about getting all 5k in, except last week that one time. I got my four miles in yesterday, and my three in today and I'm feeling pretty fantastic. I don't have time to figure out where I could've run to after today, so I'll do it next time.
3/18 4 58:00 11/77
3/19 3.1 44:02 12/78
Total miles 20

It's Getting Better

I ran my full four miles today and it actually felt good! I set myself a timer for run/walk and totally babied myself. I should have run twice as long, no kidding. Even still I shaved two minutes off of my four mile time, and next outside run there will be way more running, or, at least, more at once. Since tomorrow is officially rest day I'm going to start weight training either tonight or cheat and do it tomorrow. Maybe if I do weights on "rest" day and on cross-train day ill be able to build more stamina faster than if I do it on a run day. That's the theory I'm working with anyway. So my total is up to 13 miles. Grand total, spread over several days, I haven't even completed a half marathon. I could have run all the way to the closest town big enough to contain a grocery store, and most importantly, I could have run all the way to the distillery sitting right down town
3/16 4.0 58:00 o 10/75 total miles 13

Post Race

So I "ran" a 5k yesterday in the pouring rain. Considering that it combined my three least favorite conditions in the entire world (cold, wet, and early in the morning) I'd say I did pretty well. 46:33 according to the chip in my little bib. Then I get on the treadmill this morning and somehow get my worst time ever of 51:00? I'm wondering how accurate the treadmill is. I keep upping the incline trying to simulate actual running conditions, but I'm not reducing my pace any, so I can't imagine any other reason why I should be getting worse instead of better. I plan to strap my phone to my arm next time I'm on the treadmill and see how far it thinks I've run based on the accelerometer. I also had a pretty crappy run on Wednesday that I can't remember if I've written about. I guess I'm doing okay if I think that 2 miles is pretty crappy. I need to strengthen my calves so that they don't hurt so bad and cramp up so much. I don't really want to mess with my current running schedule, as it is, to do strength training, but I think I could manage some calf raises a few times a week, and maybe start working in some squats or something. My treadmill miles from today don't count, of course, but if I add the two miles from Wed. and the three from yesterday to my grand, fantastic, majestic former total of four I'd have run nine whole miles! You can't get far from my tiny town in nine miles, the only place I'd want to go that I could have reached in that distance is 8 Chains North winery. I have a feeling that, for a few weeks or so, the only half decent places I'll be able to have run to will be wineries. So I shall celebrate with a good old fashioned glass of wine. Maybe even one from 8CN!
2.0 30:00 7/70 o
3.1 46:33 8/73 o
3.6 59:00 9/74 t
Total miles 9. Still pretty pathetic.

Outside and On Track

So I did manage my outside run today, although my buddy wasn't feeling particularly well and couldn't join me. I don't know if I run faster outside (hence not being able to run as long), or if my abnormally short legs throw the treadmill off, or what, but I did 4 miles in exactly one hour. That makes my 5k pace approximately 47 (I'm rounding up because 47 happens to be my favorite number, and I'd rather think I'm doing worse than I really am instead of better) which is a huge improvement from yesterday. I wouldn't say I enjoyed myself, but I will say I can see how the insane bunch that do, do. I still think its terrible and I hate running. Tomorrow is (merciful) rest day because a) everyone is entitled to one of them per week and b) Tuesdays simply are not a good day for me to do anything except work and sleep. If I had run to someplace instead of running back and forth on a bike path I could have made it to the Brunswick fire hall (not very exciting), to my running buddy's house (but not back) or, most importantly, to an excellent winery. I shall reward myself with a glass of wine, I think.
3/9 4.0 60:00 5k *47 6/68
Total miles actually ran: 4. Pretty pathetic, huh?

Second Day's the Charm

So I managed another run today, did 5.5 kilometers, and shaved more than a minute off of yesterday's 5k time. I'm feeling pretty good! Even though it's going to take me months to catch up to my originally stated goal of running more days than not this year, I think I'll manage my second stated goal of running a 10k much sooner than expected. The current "plan" is that I'm trying to run one at the end of May. I get a sparkly prize if I run the whole thing so I'm feeling super motivated as of now. (Let's see how long that lasts...). I've got a new running buddy to help keep me motivated, and now that it's no longer arctic outside we're actually going to run outside tomorrow! I'm using HabitRPG to help keep me motivated to make small healthier changes every day, and I'm pretty excited about my prospects for maintaining this momentum. I might even run a 5k this Saturday (with lots of walking mixed in, I assure you) to keep my spirit up. We shall see. With the hope and expectation of running 4 or 5 times a week I shall log off with my time and days run/days in the year count. I'll try to remember to keep doing it...
3.1 49:25 5/67
DC

You can't start again if you didn't quit in the first place

So I failed for like two whole months. It's not surprising for me. But I've started again, and I've run two days in the past week, and used the dreaded elliptical two more. Those two days don't count, of course, but it's better than nothing. So I've signed up for a 5k that's five weeks away. I plan to train to run the whole thing without stopping. If I can't manage five kilometers in five weeks I should probably just go ahead and kill myself. So here's to not feeling like I should be dead!