The Whole Neighborhood is Running!

When we moved here there wasn't a runner in site.  I remember feeling so sad that my running friends lived so far away.  It was devastating, actually.  Running with friends has become a huge, huge part of my life; and has been since the fall of 2001.  We were here about a year when I met a sweet, sweet lady around the corner who also happened to be a runner.  She ran in the afternoons, though, and I'm kind of shy when it comes to making new friends. Eventually, though, we got together one morning and we've been running in the mornings ever since.  I don't know what I would have done for the past three years without her friendship and company on these morning runs.

It seems that over the past few months runners have been coming out of the woodwork around here, which is so much fun!  My neighbor down the street has picked up running, and just this morning two other gals have joined our morning runs, too!  It's wonderful!!  There's also another lady in our neighborhood who is training for a half marathon in October.  Even if we all don't get out together, it is great to see familiar faces on our morning runs.

This morning I got in over three miles- that silly "plan" is so hard to stick to!! I know I'll regret bumping up the mileage too much before marathon training really gets underway, though.  We got in about five and a half miles, and our pace was VERY quick for the last two and a half miles.  (Like very, very quick, I kind of felt like I was running in a race, actually!)

Today is a big day because I am going to check out the double jogging strollers AND I'm canceling my gym membership.  I'm really sad about canceling the membership, but I just don't have the time to drive 50 minutes (total: there and back) a couple times a week.  It has been a burden to worry about how often I'm not going and how much money I spend on it every month.  I'm going to miss it, and the people, but it's not worth that monthly fee.  Plus, running is going so well (injury wise) that I really don't want to do much else!

A running first!

Saturday morning was CRAZY.  Nicholas got up around 5am and refused to go back to sleep.  Duncan was barking his head off in the crate. (SO, so, so annoying.)  And, of course, Michael got up somewhere around 5:50.  He was completely dressed and ready for breakfast by 6am.  Don't weekends mean anything to these kids???

I was supposed to meet a couple running friends at six for a longish run.  I had to explain all of the activity going on in my house because it seemed incredibly unfair to leave Josh with the boys who were clearly ready to play at six am.  (Josh was somehow sound asleep during all of this!)  

You know what the running girls said?  They told me to get Michael his breakfast and to load up Nicholas in the jogging stroller.  They were willing to run with a nineteen month old.  I was taken aback by their understanding, thoughtfulness, and kindness.  In fact, I really feel like I hardly pushed Nicholas.  (They even took turns pushing the little rascal.)  

Nicholas handled the run beautifully.  He didn't make a peep throughout the whole run, and we ran EIGHT miles with that kiddo!  It was such a beautiful morning.  I'm so blessed to have such dear friends.   

What a run!

For the first time since last Friday morning, I got outside for a run with a really good friend.  We ran for about 55 minutes, which I was so happy about.  The run was slick, but WoW!, was it ever gorgeous.  Not only are the trees still covered in snow, but we also were able to watch the sun come up over the mountains.  School was cancelled for today, so there was no rush to get home, showered, and dressed for the day.  This morning was one of those mornings that I absolutely cherish: it was breathtaking, peaceful, and rejuvenating.  I didn't want it to end, especially once that beautiful sun began to rise over our mountains.  Lots of people think I am crazy for running in the cold and so early in the mornings.  I think they're the ones who are crazy, though.  Who wouldn't want to watch the sun rise, catch up with a sweet friend, and fill your lungs with fresh air-  ALL at once, no less!

Honestly, I can't wait to get out there and run 18 miles sometime this week.  The schedule is WIDE open now, I can't decide which day would be best!!  Tomorrow's probably out, though, due to the weather.

Another Goal!

Marine Corp Half Marathon in May!  I'm thinking of bagging the half marathon in March for this one.  The thought of pumping before the half, pumping in the car, pumping in the hotel room just doesn't seem appealing to me at this time.  The more I think about the half in March,  I realize how much work and preparation it will involve and I'm just too lazy!  

This morning I had a great run with my neighbor.  She is really helping me get back into shape, which is awesome.  We ran a little over four miles, but it was a fast four miles!  Tomorrow we're going to run in the country, which means lots and lots of hills.  The hills are tough, but I remind myself while I'm struggling that my quads really need the hill workouts right now.  It feels so good to be out running again, it is one of my favorite times of the day.  

shuffling along..

Tuesday's Walk:

Distance: 1.89 Miles

Time: TOO LONG!!!  : ) 

Friday's Walk/Run:

Time: 60 Minutes

Distance: 4.0 Miles

Saturday's Walk/Run:

Time: 51 Minutes

Distance: 3.4 Miles

Sunday's Walk/Run:

TBD!! 

I've gotten plenty of exercise over the past few days,  though I didn't meet my goal of "R-alking" five days this week! : )  Oh well.  Each week I slow down just a bit more, which is a little bit frustrating.  If I increase the speed of the treadmill too quickly, I tend to get cramped up and then I have to take things back a notch, or two.  This usually means that I spend more time on the treadmill than what I had originally intended.  Yesterday was a perfect example.  My plan was to get in 30 minutes, which quickly turned into forty, then forty-five, and then fifty minutes.  

The treadmill has been so incredibly helpful with maintaining my fitness throughout this pregnancy.  I love being able to catch a TV show or two, and being able to run/walk at any time of the day.  It has been worth every penny, in my mind.  This evening I'm really just going to shoot for twenty or thirty minutes, depending on how I'm feeling. 

This week the running girls are having a birthday run for one of our friends on Wednesday, so that means I will get to exercise a little with the group!  Hurray!  My doctor's appointment tomorrow is later in the day, so I will be able to squeeze in a run/walk beforehand.  Hurray, again!!!  I'm going to do my best to get in some exercise two more days this week, as well. 

My current goal is run/walk the day that the baby is born.  Since it looks like the baby will arrive on the 10th of October via c-section, my goal is to run that morning.  I think I'm still on track to meet that goal.  Unless, this baby surprises us all, which could happen.  Right?

Lots of Exercise Today!

It's been a great day for exercising so far.  This morning I walked (QUICKLY!) with the running girls.  Because my legs are so incredibly short, I usually feel like I'm jogging beside the group when we walk.  It was so much fun to catch up with my friends and to hear their back to school stories, since everyone has school age children.  I'm so excited that I have just a few more weeks to go (five), so that I can start to join them on a regular basis again.  They have been so supportive with the walking and slow runs, which has been such a blessing.  I don't think that I would feel half as strong and positive as I do at this point in the pregnancy, without their support and friendship.  

After walking about four miles with the girls, I did some shopping at Target.  I had a delightful time, even though my hamstrings were feeling a little tight from the hills and the fast paced walking.  When I got home, the three of us (and Duncan) played out side for a bit.  For some strange reason, I asked Michael if he wanted to go for a walk.  Of course he did, so the four of us headed out for a short walk around the block.  The quick walk turned into a longer one, and before we knew it we walked a little over a mile.  

I'd say I've reached the walking quota for the day.  Though, if I received an offer to walk later in the day, I doubt I would decline.  That's the thing about exercise- once you start and you get a taste of its goodness, your body just craves more and more!  Tomorrow I'm shooting for run/walking early in the morning around the neighborhood.  The mornings are delightfully cool right now, it's hard to pass them up.