Taking the scenic route

I live in a beautiful area. Since I started running I've gained an increased appreciation for the gorgeous views that are right outside my door. Last time I ran along the route that I consider "most scenic" I snapped a few photos with my camera phone.

This is the view starting out, and heading south. I'm about five minutes from my front door.



This is the view to the east.



A little further down.



This is about the halfway point for a 30 minute run. When I can smell the manure I know it's time to turn around.



Heading home, looking east.



And looking west.



I have to admit that it's a pretty amazing place, goats and all.

Friday run

This morning I ran for 45 minutes and went 3.3 miles. I was tired but running felt good.

I ran 45 minutes today, estimated my HR at 135 (no Garmin), and went 3.04 miles.

I ate an hour ahead of time (string cheese & chocolate milk) and felt pretty good. A little tired.

Tired legs

I ran tonight for 30 minutes, at 145 HR, and went 2.1 miles.

My legs felt tired, which was unexpected. I did fine and I'm glad I ran but I expect to be a little sore in the morning. Going to use some arnica tonight & hopefully wake up feeling great.

Monday run

I ran for 45 minutes, and tried to keep my HR at 135 although it wanted to go higher. I went 3.07 miles.

Tonight I ran for 30 minutes, went 2 miles. I took my pulse at the end and my heart rate was 150. I was shooting for 140 without the HR monitor.

I had intended to run for 45 minutes but our power was out all night & I was concerned about the kids being able to entertain the babies in the dark. They were arguing when we got home so it was probably a good thing we cut it short.

I'm still feeling pretty lousy, so maybe it's nothing to do with running.

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I read in Chi Running that you can evaluate your run based on how you feel afterwards. If that's true, this was my poorest run yet.

I usually run in the evenings but I needed to go this morning, which meant that my legs were tired before I even left the house. I ran for 30 minutes, trying to keep my heart rate at 140. As it turned out it hovered between 145 and 150 the whole time. I ran 2.07 miles.

After last night's run I was nauseated the rest of the evening. I still felt poorly this morning so I didn't eat anything before my run. I was quite sick by the time I finished my run this morning, and that's when I remembered I didn't eat dinner last night either.

And to top it all off when I took off my shoes, I had Left socks on both feet. ;)

The good news is it can only get better tomorrow when I run.

Tonight's run

3.29 miles
HR 145 bpm
45 minutes

It was work but I felt good.

I ran 45 minutes tonight. I went 3.2 miles.

I didn't have the heart rate monitor when I went running tonight, but I did take my pulse twice. My target heart rate was 145 & my pulse was 150 the first time and 140 the second, so I think I was about on target.

I ran for 30 minutes & felt really good but I only went 2 miles. Oh well, at least I felt great.

I ran 45 minutes tonight and went 3.11 miles. I headed out too late, it was dark which made me nervous. I probably won't go that late again.

Ran 30 minutes with my heart rate at 145. I went 2.27 miles. I need to start running earlier in the day. I felt worse than death when I got home and I think it's due to the heat.

Nice and easy.

45 minutes. 3.16 miles.

Nothing to see here.

I didn't run today because I positively did not feel up to it this morning and the day just got crazier from there on out. Tonight I feel like I am coming down with something which just can't happen right now.

I have been very hungry these last few days, too. It occurred to me today it's probably because I've been running more frequently than before.

Happy foot.

My foot's not bothered me at all the last two days. Yea!

This morning I ran outdoors for 30 minutes. I tried to keep my heart rate at 145, which I was mostly able to do. I went 2.06 miles.

No goat, no hayfever, but I was a little tired & it was hot.

I usually run past the gas station & each time I think about stopping in and buying myself a treat.

Can I keep it, mom?

I ran for 45 minutes today. I went 2.78 miles. I tried to keep my heart rate at 135, unsuccessfully for the most part.

And then a goat followed me home. Seriously, right up to my back door.

June 9. 2007

Today's assignment: run for 30 minutes at 140 beats per minute

I struggled to keep my heart rate in the right spot but it was a good run. I went 2.25 miles.

June 8, 2007

This morning I ran for 45 minutes with my heart rate at 135 bpm. I went 3.09 miles, which is more than I ran on Wed so I was pleased.

June 7, 2007

This morning I ran for 30 minutes indoor at the local high school track. My assignment was to keep my heart rate at 140 beats per minute. I ran 2 miles. I could feel my foot a little more than yesterday but it was ok. In the past I've stopped running at the slightest twinge because I didn't want to make it worse, but that hasn't happened.

I felt pretty good.

Starting out

My first assignment was to run for 45 minutes, keeping my heart rate at 135 bpm. I generally run around 155, which I know is too high but I've found it nearly impossible to bring it down to my goal of 145.

I'm already a slow runner, so to bring it to 135 bpm I was jogging so slow that I think it would have been faster to walk. It took some real effort for the first 1/2 mile or so. But once I found my groove I started to realize just how good I felt.

I love to run, and I nearly always feel good but this was something else. I felt like I could have kept this pace forever. I could have carried on a conversation, which never would have been possible before. I didn't even feel a twinge in my foot until I was about a 1.5 miles into it, and it never got bad.

It still would have been easier to pick it up and move a little faster, but it was a good lesson to me to actually feel what running at 70% of my max heart rate should feel like. I forgot to mention, this is the first time I've run without any headphones either. In the beginning, this would have been impossible for me. (It wasn't until I got my iPod that I could actually stand to run at all.) But it wasn't bad. I just spoke an encouraging mantra, varying it with each lap around the track so that I wouldn't lose count.

I ran 2.75 miles in 45 minutes.

Coach

I've got a running coach. And I'm really excited.

Disheartened and disappointed

I’m more than a little bummed about my foot. I thought I was being so careful not to do anything that would result in getting injured. (Although I did forget to take my calcium pills most of the time.) I stopped running every day. I was good about not upping my miles too quickly. I ran slow. And then for reasons that still remain unknown to me, I woke up one morning and could hardly walk.

So during the last few weeks I’ve only run 3 times. Each time I stopped running after the first mile or so, because my foot was starting to hurt. The frustrating thing is that I’m not sure my foot is any better now than it was when it first happened. I can feel my fitness level dropping. Even that first mile is tougher than it was a few weeks ago. (Yes, I know I can go to the gym and use the stationary bike, and I do intend to, but getting to the gym requires much more effort than stepping out my front door, and it just hasn’t happened yet.)

I am missing races I had wanted to run, and DH is stepping up his training to prepare for a half marathon soon. Meanwhile, I can’t run around the block yet.