Getting Back Out There

It feels good to be out there running again. After finishing Week 5 Day 3, the weather took a terrible downturn.. a week of below-freezing temps, ice and snow, and I was definitely NOT going out running in anything that terrible. After that week, we faced torrential downpours and, while I honestly CONSIDERED running in the rain, I did not go out at all. The week after that was Thanksgiving and my focus was set on creating a menu and not running.

I guess I don't have an excuse for the first few days of that next week. But when the rain let up and the sun came out last Thursday I was itching to get back out there and run. I did Week 5 Day 2 and it went really well. Matt also got back into running. He had to duck out for over a month - first due to a very painful infection in his rear end which took over two weeks to heal and then he got sick for a week, and then he injured his knee pretty badly while at work and that has kept him from running for three weeks. He's starting back at Week 3 and doing pretty well, though he's impatient to improve his pace. I keep telling him to stay at a slower pace to build his endurance but he's a bit stubborn!

On Monday I started Week 6. I had no issues! The run went well and I kept a pretty solid 14 min/mile pace the entire time, even though I, for some reason, chose to use my weight belt instead of my regular belt to carry my iPod. I was jogging with about 10 extra pounds around my waist and my legs were feeling it. That said, I didn't get tired or even consider stopping so I just see that as an accomplishment!

Today, I went out to do Week 6 Day 2. The program says to jog 10 minutes, walk 3 minutes and then jog another 10 minutes before cooling down. I left the weight belt at home, and was SO glad I did!

My problem was my pace. I started out going much faster than I usually go and it quickly became a problem. I knew I would be going farther than before so I augmented my route to accommodate the extra distance. By the end of my first 10 minutes I was breathing heavy, I had gone much farther than anticipated, my legs were burning and I was sweating. When I got home I checked my pace and found out I had been jogging at a 13 minute/mile pace - over a minute faster than I had ever done!

Needless to say, that three minute walk was a saving grace. I tried hard to control my breathing and at the end I stretched my quads and calves quickly before beginning my second jog.

I kept a MUCH slower pace - 14:23. Usually I say I could have done more, but I honestly don't think I could have. Maybe another minute MAX. I wasn't breathing heavy but my legs just felt dead.

Probably having done my 30 day Shred workout yesterday was contributing greatly to the state my legs were in. Even now, as I sit behind this keyboard, my calves are tight, my quads are sore and my butt is thanking me for the opportunity to sit.

But I feel awesome! Matt is out doing his run right now. I think I convinced him to move up to Week 4, but he seemed reluctant.

Sticking with the program, today marks the LAST interval-training day! Full runs from here on out starting with 25 minutes on Friday!

Can't wait!