Hello, 2009!

The first run of 2009? Not so great. I ran outside in a friend's neighborhood, and I just wasn't feeling it. It was cool, even though I didn't get started until 10am. My lungs complained through most of the "back" on my out-and-back. It was 2.25 miles, and I finished in about 30 minutes, I think. I walked more than I would have liked, but I did have some nice moments while I was running when it felt like it was all working and I could tell that I had picked up the pace.

My right knee is still hurty and my IT bands are achy, so I am going to see the doctor in a week, to get a referral for physical therapy/sports massage. Hopefully that will help. My deepest fear is that my knee will give out or become so painful that I am unable to run, so I am trying to be proactive. I realized that I have not been icing my knee regularly, like I was before, so I will have to do a better job of being consistent with the ice.

I ordered a Garmin 305! I am very excited to get it, and start seeing what it can do. I really want to run outside more in the coming months, and I love being able to see how far I have gone, and my pace, so I bit the bullet and ordered one. Squees of excitement!

The EP 5k is only 2 weeks away-- I am hoping to come in under 40 minutes this time. The chances seem good! Boot Camp starts tomorrow-- that should help!

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!

Nice and easy

Just a nice, easy run this morning-- of course, "easy" being relative. 3:2 for 35 minutes at 4.5:3.5, with 5 minutes of warm-up and 5 minutes of cool down. My right shin is sore to the touch-- I noticed it last night in bed-- but it didn't really ache while I ran. My left thigh is sore, though-- it might be from Boot Camp. I tried to focus on taking short strides and turning over my steps faster, something I was reaidng about last night in the Jeff Galloway 's 5K and 10K Running. It seemed to work-- I felt less impact and jolting as I ran. I will keep trying it.

I didn't use my inhaler today-- I forgot it in my bag in the locker room. And the run seemed to go well. I didn't wheeze, I didn't feel too out of breathe as I ran, but I did feel a little achy in the lungs and I coughed a little afterwards. But, still-- I would count that as a victory!

3/2!

Today's workout-- finally up to 3 minutes running, 2 minutes walking!

5 minute warmup at 3.3
35 minutes 3/2-- running at 4.6, walking at 3.4
5 minute cooldown at 3.0

12 minutes stretching after

My left knee bothered me some towards the end, and I could feel the tendons across the front of my left hip twanging, but all in all, a really good workout! It's starting to feel less effort-full and more natural. And I am not gasping for air like I was at the beginning.