Aug. 11th

Multiple days to report:

Aug 9 - 5 min/0.25 mi warmup then 1 mile in 12:32
Aug 10 - 5 min/0.25 mi warmup then 1 mile in 12:56
Aug 11 - 2 min / 0.10 mi warmup then 1 mile in 12:33

I've been kinesiotaping my shins and so far, just from these workouts all on the treadmill, I haven't had any problems with my shin splints! Thank goodness! But with finals, I just don't have very much time to devote more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Thanks for reading!

Aug. 8 - I'm BACK!

So, I realize it has been a month since I've posted. Due to a lot of family matters, I have been extremely busy and stressed out. Also, I've been struggling to meet my fundraising goal so I've focused more on that aspect than the actual training. But I'm now going to take a backseat on the family stuff until classes are out on August 20th so I can focus on finals and trying to get more runs in. I think I'm going to try to run 1-2 miles at a time but maybe twice a day. I realized that once the mileage increased, I was discouraged because it would take me 45 min or more at a time to complete it and I didn't have that time in one block. So, maybe if I can break it up for a little while, I can build back up and get back on track. Today, while I was trying to will myself out of bed, I told myself that I was going to run as soon as I got up. And I did. My shin splints (distal medial calf) had been so severe and weren't ever healing but after taking all this time off, they finally don't hurt anymore. Also, my ankles have been really sore as well. I noticed a little bit of left ankle soreness while running today but nothing too severe. So today's running data: Total 1.25 miles; 0.25 mile walking warmup at 3.0-3.5 mph; 1.0 mile at 4.5-5.0 mph for 13:06. On my next run, I'd like to repeat this except increase the distance 0.10 mile. I think I'm going to try that instead of the intervals. Wish me luck! And please donate! (I signed the recommitment contract, so I'll be donating the remainder in October for whatever is left of my fundraising goal, which is $2500 right now. Please help!)

July 4th/6th

July 4th:

I ran the "Macklind Mile" with my dad. It's an all downhill run for 1 mile. They give you a chip so you know how fast you ran. I was hoping for under 12 min and managed to complete it in 11:02! I finished 226 out of 251 women. Not back for only starting a couple months ago!

July 6th:

I ran down to my mom in the nursing home. According to iMapmyrun, it was 1.20 miles. The way there was completed in ~18 min and the way back to my apartment was ~20 min. I ran most of the way there too! I felt great! Until the way back. My silly calves (medial soleus muscles bilaterally, I'm fairly sure) are absolutely dieing! They were still a little sore from the run on Saturday, but I just tore them up going uphill and pounding on them on the downhill. So, I soaked them in Biofreeze and put on some ice packs. Hopefully they will be better soon!!


Miscellaneous update:

The hydration pack that I exchanged worked wonderful tonight! It takes a little getting used to but once your get you pace, it fits nicely! I love having water whenever I need it! Also, the bake sale raised over $209!!! That was absolutely incredible! Thanks again to everyone that brought baked goods and/or helped out in any way and to everyone that supported the LLS by buying or donating that day! (In no particular order, a super big thanks to: Jenny, Jenny, Kristen, Abby, Michael, Andrea, Hannah, Brad, Ali, & Angela!)

So much to do in so little time! Thanks for reading!!

June 29th

Today, I ran from my apartment to my mom in the nursing home! It's the first time I've ran outside in quite a while. It was really great to have the wind in my face. Unfortunately there's a lot of hills along the way. Actually, that's probably really good but it made it much harder! The distance there is about 1.23 miles and I ran there in ~18 min and ~20 min back (2.46 miles total). Obviously, it's more uphill on the way back. Also, I bought a Nathan Trek hydration pack to carry a bottle of water and my phone and keys. However, literally 30 steps out the door and the buckle broke! I was already set to run so I just tied it and made it work. I'll just have to exchange it tomorrow but I really liked having water all along the way, even if it wasn't really too hot outside at 7pm today.

Tomorrow is the back sale so I've got to get the last minute details ready for that! And I have a big midterm on Wednesday that I haven't started studying for yet. Hopefully luck will be on my side, yet again. I've got to be using up my all my luck for this trimester!!!

Thanks for reading!!

June 27th

Sorry, it's been a long time since I've updated. We've been in midterms at school and I haven't been feeling well. But I'm finally back to normal! So I had a few minutes and decided to do a short run. So I did 1 mile in 13:46 with 3 min/2 min of 5.0/3.5 mph. Since I missed quite a few runs, I'm going to build back up a little at a time. I have a lot of stuff going on with my mom and grandma's health as well as the responsibilities of being my mom's legal guardian. Regardless, I'm back in the game and should be getting back into my routine. However, my fundraising isn't going so hot right now. I was on a streak for a bit and now the donations have halted. I have a bake sale coming up on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll make quite a bit from that. I have to have $1,300 by July 24!! If you read this, think about contributing even $5 or $10 if you can! It all adds up and really keeps me motivated to keep running!!

Oh yeah, I'm on Facebook now too! Please add me so I can keep up updated on my efforts there too!

June 15th

It seems that every run just gets harder and harder but I always do more and push myself farther! So, this evening I ran 3 miles in 40:49! I had intended on 4 miles tonight but once I hit 2 miles, my body felt like it weighed a lot more than usual. Here's the breakdown:

5 min - 5.0 mph
2 min - 3.5 mph
5 min - 5.0 mph
2 min - 3.5 mph
5 min - 5.0 mph
2 min - 3.5 mph
5 min - 5.0 mph (~2 miles here)
2 min - 3.5 mph
2 min - 4.9 mph
2 min - 3.5 mph
2 min - 4.8 mph
2 min - 3.5 mph
2 min - 4.7 mph
2:39 - 3.5 mph

In total that is 14:39 walking and 26 min running! Woo hoo! Even though I didn't reach the distance I had planned on, I think I had a pretty darn good workout! Now time for a shower (since I'm already soaked as usual) and a little epsom salt bath then ice maybe. I'd love to hear some recovery strategies from my readers. What do you do and in what order directly after you run?? Leave a comment!

P.S. My new socks are incredible! I should have gotten them a long time ago, or rather at least when I started. I've currently been wearing Drymax Light Mesh running with no-show tab. They get 10 out of 10 stars!

June 14th

Well, it appears that I took the whole weekend off. I didn't intend to but other things like schoolwork kept me a little preoccupied. Regardless, I was planning on doing 3 miles today and catching up tomorrow with the long run of 4 miles. However, once I got on the treadmill, my weekend of unhealthy food choices caught up to me. I chose to only go 2 miles (on the schedule for last Thursday). And it took me 29:58. Obviously not a big accomplishment but at least I got a workout in today. I have a big "Psychology of the Athlete" paper due soon and not having any sports experience is posing a problem. I'll be back into the swing of things tomorrow and I'll catch up like I always do. I never seem to do the correct workout on the right day, except for Wednesdays at Queeny Park. Anyway, that's it for now. Off to try to solve my non-sporty dilemma.