Boot Camp-- Completed!

The Holiday Express Boot Camp is done! I missed 2 sessions due to a bout of food poisoning, but I made it to the final day, which was an Amazing Race-type thing. I was last--dead last-- but I still finished, and on a queasy stomach to boot. I heard people say that Boot Camp was "fun", which was not the word I would have used while I was doing it. "Challenging", "boundary-stretching", "an accomplishment"-- those are the words I used, but on the other side of it, it actually was *fun*! So I signed up for the January Resolution Boot Camp. January 3- January 31 I will be wheezing along 3 days a week.

My first run post-Boot Camp was a revelation. I did 45 minutes, some 3:1s followed by 3:2s when I got tired, for a total of 3.64 miles, including my cool-down mileage. For me, that is awesome! And I ran so much easier than before Boot Camp-- my breathing was much less laborered and I didn't check the time as often (the harder it is for me, the more often I check the time).

I ran outside on Christmas Day with Sarah, and it was such a good run! We did 2.75 miles in about 30 minutes, and I was able to run for a half mile at a time. My pace wasn't too shabby, either-- Sarah said it was 11:30, which is possibly the fastest I've managed so far. I can see why people run in groups or with buddies-- it really pushed me to run faster. It was much more interesting to run outside, and the time went by faster. My Saturday run on the treadmill felt tedious by comparison. But I did manage 5:2s on Saturday, and that was great.

My right knee is still bothering me, off and on. It mostly hurts *after* I run and not during. My IT bands are bothering me, too, mostly on the left side. My left hip flexor is twanging as well. Waaaah. I have to find a physical therapist/massage person pronto-- I'd much rather not develop a major injury and be out for a long time to heal.

The EP 5K is coming up soon, and I am looking forward to it-- I think there's a good chance that my time will improve significantly!