5k Tomorrow!

Tomorrow morning I am going to run in a 5k!  It's been AGES since I've run a 5k, so this should be a great change of pace.  My heel is still bothering me, but I figure that I will be fine since the race is so incredibly short.  : ) It'll be over before I know that it has even started, at least that's what I'm hoping.  My goal for tomorrow is to a run a 22 something...We'll see if I can do it, the boys are coming to cheer for me which might help me run a little faster!  

13.1 Lessons Learned!

A few lessons learned from Sunday's half marathon experience:

1. Do not run everyday in the week leading up to the race because something is gonna hurt after the race and linger on throughout the next week.  My right heel is killing me, I ran six miles yesterday and I'm back to limping around on my toes.
2. If you need new shoes, buy them prior to running the race.  This goes back to #1, my heel really hurts!  
   
3. Buy yourself a post race treat, whether it's a hot cup of coffee or a donut (or, BOTH!) and enjoy the ride home.
4. Wear a watch because believe it or not, there may not be one single clock on the course.  Not one.
5. Relish in your soreness the next two days.  Sounds crazy, right?
6. Have a mantra while you're running.  While running on Sunday, I kept telling myself "Use your arms, take it easy, and enjoy the moment."  It really worked and helped me to relax and reminded me to look around.
7. Even if it's raining, a cup of cold water down your back feels really, really good at mile ten.
8. Drink!  Walk through the stop if you have to, but drink, drink, drink!
9. Think about something that brings you happiness while you're running.  I thought about my boys and how much I couldn't wait to walk in the door and hug them, even our dog!
10. Smile for the camera.  Flash a peace sign if you'd like...
11. Do not over-dress!  I had on a long sleeved shirt, which I took off around mile four because I was so hot.  Due to my lack of planning and thinking, I had to move my number down to my shorts, remove the shirt, and situate it around my waist.  Total pain!  
12. Use your arms up the hills, give your legs a break.  
13. SPRINT to the finish line.  Pick out a person you'd like to pass, especially someone of the same gender/age group.
14. And, since there is a .1 ~~~ Give a pray of thanks for having a healthy and fit body.

Better Day

For the past two mornings I have been able to escape from the babies and run a little bit.  Thank goodness!  I love them, but I really need just thirty minutes to myself to start the day.  The rain and a sick little one certainly make for a long day.  This morning my running friend and I got in a little over five miles in forty-one minutes.  Hurray!  I felt fantastic, not tired at all!  Maybe I'll be able to pull out a 1:50 half marathon in two weeks?  Maybe--if the course is not insanely hilly and as long as it's not incredibly hot and humid.  This weather has been fantastic for running, I love running in spring rain. It's a great start to the day.  I am hopeful to get in another five miler tomorrow morning.  We'll see!  

Frustrated with running.

Running has been really frustrating lately.  I'm tired!  Normally I run in the mornings, but I've been so tired lately that I just haven't been able to drag myself out of bed.  I wanted to do a long run on Sunday morning, but the thought of getting out of bed before seven o'clock made me want to cry.  So, I listened to my body and enjoyed the extra few hours of sleep.  

This weekend I ran in the AB 10k, which was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I didn't even try to race it because I know my body just isn't ready yet.  It was great to get in six miles, but I was completely annoyed with myself for the rest of the day for not at least setting a goal.  

For some reason I am planning on running in a half in just two weeks.  I'm going to set a goal this time and even wear a watch.  We'll see how it goes.  A good goal at this point would be something around an hour and fifty minutes, or so.  I haven't run that far since the last half, but I'm still going to try my best.  

Now that tax season is behind us, I'm thinking that I will be able to get out on a more consistent basis.  At least I'm hopeful for that because right now I feel completely frustrated with myself, even though I haven't had a full night sleep since last spring some time.  I'll sleep again one day, right?