2/1 Training Begins…

… like every other time I lace up my shoes and get out the door.

I probably haven’t run this far continuously without more than a 1 minute walking break in between the 2 minute runs since May 2012 when I ran my last 5k race.

But you’ve got to start somewhere.

2.12 MILES OF A RUN and I tried to incorporate as many hills and long stretches of gradual inclines as I possibly could.

There was one 2/1 section of running I just wasn’t able to complete. I ended up walking the last 15 seconds or so of the running interval.

Doesn’t matter.  What matters is that I’ve got 25 days till I’m standing at the Pgh Marathon Relay Exchange waiting to run my 3.5 mile leg.

That photo is true – running has changed my life. It didn’t make it easier. Or more fun. Some days it made it more challenging and those weren’t the RACE days.

But after two years of being on this ‘running’ journey – there’s over 675 athletic miles on my body.

If that doesn’t make you feel gratitude, nothing ever will.

And I do…

I will keep saying it…

… for as long as it takes for me to believe it!

I’m tired today – I’ve had a busy week. A catch up week to really look at my life and re-evaluate what I want and how I like to feel.

I don’t like working out inside. But I do. I do it until I can get outside and do it better. STRONGER.

Don’t get me wrong, I still put that off too. The weather was nasty cold this morning. 16 degrees overnight.  I like running. I love the way it makes me feel, but running in the cold is just miserable.

TODAY'S 2.05 MILE RUN put me at 20.2 miles for the week.

I admit, 16 miles of that was biking.

Whatever makes me a stronger runner.

Tomorrow we rest and recover with a MASSAGE!

Doubt…

… I won’t deny that I haz it.

Thinking about the sweeper truck and staying at 14 minute miles with walking – not letting my Relay Team down. I admit it – it’s pressure.

Maybe I’m trying to play catch up with training. Or maybe I’m just trying to prove to myself that I’m not as out-of-training-shape as I think I am. That I still have the same passion that I once had two years ago.

Two years.

Honestly, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that short of a time since this physical madness started. It feels like I’ve been doing it for a LOT longer.

At any rate…

2.01 MILES OF W3D1 ON THE TRACK WITH 1 POUND WEIGHTS ON EACH ARM.

And today…

6.10 MILES OF BIKING WITH 50 AB CRUNCHES

Seems sufficient for now – I’m looking forward to a Massage Friday morning!!

Just a Wee Bit…

… of strength training. 

I need to break up the run and really work on other avenues of fitness to prepare for my Pgh Marathon Relay.

Last week, I completed 6.15 MILES on the STATIONARY BIKE.

I was actually able to get an 1.89 MILE OUTDOOR RUN in on Saturday afternoon.  I did hills. HILLS. I ain’t scared of no hills.

Yesterday was Easter and my family [and church family] insists on giving me candy and chocolate.  Yes, I over indulged. It happened.

I would like to keep my runs outdoors if possible and the weather looks as though it will warm up as the week goes along. But it was miserable, windy and cold [even snow about lunch time].  I knew I was going to the gym to get a work out in, so I figured I’d change it up a bit and do some biking.

After lunch, I was working and thought to myself: “I did 6 miles last week – I’m gonna do 10 miles today.”

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID. TEN MILES on the stationary bike. It was actually easier than I thought and I was able to adjust the tension to change gears every 1/4 mile while I was riding.

I haven’t done 10 miles on the bike since last August.

I also added 5 sets of 10 ab crunches on the exercise ball and some stretching.

GOLDEN for a Monday…