The Perfect Run

The conditions were perfect. 

Cloudy. 50 degrees. A slight breeze.  

At first it seemed chilly, so I put on another long sleeve shirt.  

Today I completed Day 31 of the Running 4 Fat Loss on Runkeeper.com. It combines intervals with tempo runs and long runs. Today was the longest run yet, 50 minutes.

I know where my pace needs to be on these longer runs, and where it needs to be for the tempo runs, which is my 5k pace. I know that I don't want to start out too fast because I will tire out before the end.

Running is easier when I'm thinking about other things... today it was about a lost 10 year old boy in our neighboring town who was missing. Where could he be? What happened to him? (Sadly, divers found his body this afternoon in the river. He had drown while fishing.)

I was also thinking about how far I've come since I started running again earlier in the spring. And after taking 10 years off running and starting again just last year, late June 2012.  Starting out, I could barely run a mile. Now I can comfortably run a 5k.

"Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go..."

Running has become part of my life. Three days a week, I lace up my shoes, check the weather and hit the trail. At first it was to lose weight, but it's more about health, fitness, and endurance. And improving my 5k race times!

xo, Cathy

Running Reflections

As my long runs grow longer (I'm up to 45 minutes) I can't help but reflect back on my first run. July 1, 2012. Day 1 of Couch to 5k is a 5 minute warm up walk, 1 minute run + 1.5 minute walk (repeated 6 times) then a 5 minute cool down walk. I remember waiting for those 1.5 minutes walks... they never came soon enough! And now I am comfortable running a 5k and am almost halfway through 5k-10k training. I look forward to run days. As much as I look forward to run days, this next week is a recovery week. Tomorrow I'll run 15 minutes and my long run later in the week is a 30 minute run. (Perfect opportunity for a 5k this weekend!)

Here I am with friends last Friday at Belding's B-Foundation Glow run/walk. The theme is pink, so of course we made pink tutu's! It was fun, my first night run. Had to dodge a couple dead animals, but the rain stopped just in time for the run! Looking forward to it next year.

Motivation is a fire from within; only you can light it.

Around the time I married my hubby, I stopped jogging. We moved into a hilly neighborhood and it was difficult. My drive to work increased, we had two puppies, and a lot to do with a new house. Over the years, I've tried to stay active by walking and golfing. But the pounds are adding up and I weigh the most I've ever weighed in my life. Lately, I've been thinking about jogging again, but with the extra weight I've put on and at my age, I can't just start running and expect it to feel good! After jogging a bit on the hiking trail at Interlochen on Sunday, I decided to start the "Couch to 5K" app that I've had on my phone for a while.

Week 1, Day 1

It was... easy at first, then quickly became a challenge! It seemed that when it was time to run, it was uphill. Remember, I said that my neighborhood is hilly?!

I'm going to repeat Day 1 again on Tuesday rather than advancing right away. Remember my weight and age comment?

Tomorrow, my legs will be sore and stiff, but it will feel so good! I also did something that I didn't think I'd do. Took a "Before" photo in my skivvies. This is one photo that I do not plan on sharing!

This app also has motivational quotes on the finish page. That's where the title of this post comes from.

Have a great week and I'll keep you updated on my progress!