Back On A Program To Run Like Hell

Oh, I suppose I am long overdue for an update on actual running, huh? I was just sitting here thinking about how I desperately need to redesign my blog page, but feeling completely overwhelmed by the thought of committing to something. (If any of you have any interest in designing a layout for me, let's chat.)

So, what's been going on?

Well, I feel like I'm back on the horse and loving it, that's what. I rediscovered the joy of being back on a program instead of the "let's see how far I can go" plan. I decided to give Bridge to 10K (B210K) another go, and I friggin' love it. (Click here to read about my first foray into B210K.)

Here's a little refresher on B210K:

Table snapshot from Bridge to 10K site. Click on it to make it bigger.

I've completed Week 1 once, plus one abbreviated day (half of one of the days of W1). I attempted W2D1 earlier this week, but I'm not quite ready for it (I only got through 2 of the 3 rounds).

Despite realizing I couldn't complete W2, I feel great! It didn't phase me at all that I couldn't finish it; I just planned to get back to W1 next time. Ah, I've missed the joys of workout checklists! I just can't believe I went so long without using one of my handy "tell you what to do" apps. No wonder I was in a slump for so long. 

OK, so there's a slight chance the change in weather could have something to do with it. And I'm not obsessing over a book at the moment. And I have a bit of pressure to run at least two weeknights out of the week since I'm helping a coworker get on the running train. (BTW, said coworker even got her mom to join her for W2D1 of Couch to 5K yesterday. Woohoo!) 

The stars are just aligned at the moment.

Which leads me to my next update ...

I'll be running a race I've always wanted to do! One of my favorite newbie runners (I believe he started very shortly after me) has finally committed to running a 5K, and he's chosen the Cincinnati Run Like Hell! And I'm totally joining him. Yay for running at night through the ghetto and a cemetery, and yay for Halloween runs! 

Image from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation site.

I believe I'll be joining the "team" an old friend of mine created in her toddler daughter's name, just to raise awareness. (There will be a website involved with opportunities to donate how you see fit, but no pressure. More on that later.)

And I think I already have a costume idea, but I'm not committing to it until I find the supplies to make it happen. As if running in running clothes isn't difficult enough ...

So, there's that.

On an entirely different note, here's a funny-to-me story ...

I got into a little verbal kerfuffle at the gas station earlier this week because of a moron driver impolite driving behaviors. Wouldn't you know, the jerkface tailgater fella with whom I was kerfuffle-ing thought it would be a good idea to pick on my by way of a certain magnet on the back of my car.

The magnet on the back of my car. Image borrowed from here.

Big stupid dummy Silly boy shouted, "You're a little big to have a 13.1 sticker on your car, aren't you?"

Heh heh ...

I'm going to pretend the kerfuffle ended there. Let's just say I don't take insults as sheepishly as I did when I was a child. Or heck, as sheepishly as I did a few years ago.   (evil grin)

So yay for running! Get to it, folks! This is the BEST time of year to run and there's NO time like NOW to get started.

Leave Your Tips On The Table, Please!

I'm hoping you all can help me out. Well, help me help someone else out, actually. And really, it'll help LOTS of people. Soooo ... help.

I know I've been slacking drastically when it comes to blogging, but I've actually been running! Up until this past weekend, I was only getting two runs in per week, but I'm back on the program, y'all, and training for a race (more on that at a later date), so I'm all good. 

I've been slacking because I got big-time hooked on the book I was reading and couldn't bring myself to put it down when I should be updating you all on my progress. (For you historical fiction fans out there, or just fans of a really good story, you must read Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. SO GOOD!)

Anyway, back on track ...

Tonight I helped a friend get started on the tried-and-true Couch to 5K (C25K) program. Mr. C25K -- my buddy, my pal, the reason I succeeded in becoming a runner. And I know the reason some of you have become sucked into this torture device we call running.

So, calling all runners! 

New runners, old runners, seasoned runners, expert runners, runners who still don't know what they're doing but know they're getting better at it. And also those of you who have started, stopped, started again or decided to move on to something else. 

I want to hear from everyone. This won't take too long, unless you want it to.

You've been reading this blog for a while now. Okay, so maybe just this one time. Or maybe since I started it last spring. You know I've been up and down and WAY down and everywhere in between. I've learned as I went, read advice, asked for your advice, and shared advice.

Well, now it's your friggin' turn! I want your tips.

Let's help new runners, like the friend I ran with tonight, together! No matter what you think of yourself and your level of expertise when it comes to running, you've got something to offer -- more than you think. So dish it up! Let's hear it!

What one thing, three things, ten things can you offer as advice, wisdom or even just a random musing?

Whether it's something you discovered on your own, read about in a book, magazine or website, saw on this blog, or whatever -- I want to know what helped you. Was it a goal? A mantra? How did you keep yourself going?

What about finding your stride? How did you figure out how fast to run or how slow to run? How big or small your steps should be? How did you conquer breathing issues, if you had them? Leg cramps? Overheating?

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome and how did you do it?

Why did you keep going? What made you want to throw in the towel -- all eight times it happened?

Do you find it helps to read books or magazines about running? Which ones?

I think you've probably heard my number one tip, and I think it's got multiple parts: 

Take it easy on yourself. Don't kill yourself because you think that's what you're supposed to do. Listen to your body and let it dictate how to proceed.

So, for the benefit of this beginner friend, and for the benefit of any other beginners or soon-to-be beginners out there, hit me with your best shot. Leave me one tip, or a list, or an essay. Whatever you like. First thing that comes to your mind.

I know you're all busy, so really, just leave one thing you can think of if you like.

And don't worry if someone else already wrote it. Write it again.

So, whaddaya say? Leave your tips on the table ...

The Week After The Pig

Well, I think the best way to let you know what the last week has been like is to take you through a day-by-day replay. You seasoned runners know how your body reacts to big challenges, but I know there are folks who read that don't know anything about it, so I'll cue you in on how my body reacted. And of course, as promised, it's a long one. Riveting I'm sure, but long.

Background:
In case you aren't a loyal follower of my blog (shame on you) or you haven't been subjected to my in-person and/or Facebook whining, let me fill you in. Last Sunday, May 1, I participated in and completed a half-marathon in the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. It was my first half-marathon, and about 8 miles in to the 13.1 miles, I declared it to be my last. It was an extremely painful experience. Rain + hills and hills and hills + under-training = ouch. But I finished. Read all about it in my blog post here, written Sunday evening after the race.

Monday:
I totally made it through a day of work, y'all. And I didn't do it from the comfort of my couch, which was my contingency plan. Yes, working from home would have been a really easy option considering what my body was doing, but something made me want to go in. I wanted to say, "HA! I'm here! I survived! I made it and I made it to my cube! Look at my nasty feet!" Granted, I probably would have gotten more work done if I had worked from home; I spent most of the day recalling the Pig's terrible-ness to the wonderfully supportive folks in my department. But they donated to Fernside, so they deserved to hear the full story, right?

Monday was an extremely wobbly and wonky-walking kind of day. My feet felt bruised on the bottom, my toenails hurt (more on this in a bit), and my hips--OHHHH my hips! They were very sore and stiff, which prevented me from making fast movements (like getting out of people's way as they walked quickly down the hallway). Sitting down was very comfortable. Taking the first few steps after getting up? Not so much. The surprising thing was that my "usual" pain spots didn't hurt. My lower back was peachy keen--no problemo. My legs felt just fine.

Another surprise was the sore muscles in my middle and upper back and shoulders. See, during the last mile-ish of the Pig, I was in so much pain (feet and ankle) that I was completely clenched from my fingertips, up my arms, across my shoulders, and down through my legs, all in an effort to alleviate the pain.

No worries, though. I lathered Biofreeze all over myself for the second night in a row, including on my legs. (For future reference, Biofreeze on your legs at bedtime makes for a FRIGID hour under the blankets. Talk about shivers!)

Tuesday:
I made it to work again on Tuesday, and I wore my gym shoes in the office again (one of the benefits of tearing your feet to pieces in a half-marathon). My shins started to feel a little cramped. My feet still felt really tender on the bottom and my toenails continued to hurt. But, the nails weren't falling off. Both Monday and Tuesday, there were several times where I would have preferred the nails to fall off, because surely it would have been more comfortable than what I felt. My two big-toe nails were throbbing (or rather what's under the nails).

Despite the feet/nail issue, I was moving just a bit better. I still hobbled when I got out of my desk chair, but it took me far less time to loosen up and walk more smoothly. Still couldn't change direction quickly, though, and my hips were still sore and stiff. Shoulders/back = still sore.

Tuesday night, while I was sitting on my living room floor going through some paperwork, I was playing with my feet (as I'm sure we all do when we sit on the floor) when I felt a mysterious stickiness on my toes. What the ...?

As I yelped into the phone when I called my BFF Jeff (a seasoned dancer and therefore feet-issues-quasi-expert), "MY TOENAILS ARE LEAKING!"

Oh yes, that's right ... leaking toenails.

I'm sorry, did you just eat dinner? Oops ...

I don't know if I figured it out Tuesday night or Wednesday, but I deduced that I had big fat blisters under my big-toe nails. Really? Blisters under my toenails? Talk about a new experience. Not on my heel, not on the bottom of my foot, not on the side of my toe. No. Under the toenails. The leaking and discomfort has continued through until today. After trimming my nails last night (while trying to NOT cut the blister skin), the pain has decreased greatly. And I only leaked once today that I know of. Blech.

Wednesday:
I had plans to work from home Wednesday because of a mid-day appointment, so I didn't have to endure another wobbly day in the office, but I did do something pretty impressive Wednesday evening. I ran! Yay!

I knew that my body was ready. And I knew that some marathon recovery plans included a light run on the third day. So I hit the pavement. I planned to meet my cousin, Autumn, at Veterans. She wanted to get started on Couch to 5K and I knew that I could handle those intervals. Well, I got to the park about 10 minutes early and decided I'd take a few laps around the small loop (about a quarter-mile loop). I most definitely ran at a good, quick clip around that little loop. Twice. And it felt good. I felt my knee tweak at first (something that is still plaguing me and terrifying me), and my stride was a little wonky for the first lap, but I eventually found my legs and pounded the laps out. I also did the 2-mile (30-minute) workout with Autumn, who did a great job, with no problem. Yay!

Thursday:
Got better. Toenail pain increased. Nothing spectacular.

Friday:
Only sporadic wobbling, back/shoulder pain gone, toenails hurt worse and still oozing. So, I decided to head to The Little Clinic to rule out/determine infection and to find out how to treat the bad boys. An antibiotic prescription, 3 packs of bandages, and a monster bag of Epsom salt later, I walked out of TLC in the Kroger store and went about my business.

Saturday:
All other race-related pains are gone by this point. I soaked my feet a few times and put my running shoes on and hit the pavement again. I set out to do two miles of "speed work." I only did one. But that one mile was FAST! I so wish I would have timed it.

Sunday:
Soaked the feet some more. The toenails were still oozing. I headed out for a day with Mom on Mother's Day and finished the day with a 3-mile run at my pre-race pace/effort. I was a little bummed at my finishing time (41 minutes), but then my mom reminded me that it was my first run like that since well before the Pig. In that case, I'm totally happy with the time.

And more importantly, I'm so ready to run some more.

Future:
I feel like I'm on the cusp of some kind of breakthrough here. Now that I know I'm happy with 5K races and maybe the occasional 10K, I want to focus on improving my times and effort at those distances. I want to do hills and speed work and focus on my form (which, according to an article in this month's Runner's World, isn't so bad). I'm excited about what's ahead of me.

After that heinous half-marathon experience, my biggest victory at this point is that I still want to run. FOR THE WIN!

Bridge To 10K: W1, D2 -- And My Race Schedule

Little victory: After my original running plans for the day were delayed for another time, I still got my butt off the couch and went for a run. Not an easy feat considering the weather. The temperatures climbed throughout the day from just below freezing to the lower 40s, but the wind and precipitation were pretty unpredictable. But I decided I could handle it, and since I took two days off (and because next week will be a roller coaster of weather and really unreliable), I went big.

Today I returned to the Bridge to 10K program. The app is now my favorite app ever. (Here's the link to its iTunes page.) I've had the app since early last fall but had only used it 1.5 times (one failed attempt, one successful attempt). Within the last month or two, I purchased the GPS add-on for $1. Best dollar ever spent. Like the iMapMyRun app, the app tracks your progress geographically. Here's a shot of my run today.

The purple pins mark the miles, the red and green pins mark my start and finish.

The app also does what the Couch to 5K app did: pipes in and tells you when to warm up, run, walk, and cool down. Like C25K, it beeps at halfway. Unlike C25K, it also chimes in for each running segment to tell you when there are 5, 2, and 1 minute left.

Today I did Week 1, Day 1 -- Warm up for 5 minutes, then run for 10 minutes and walk for 1 minute, repeat the 10:1 intervals 4 times, cool down for 5 minutes. That's 53 minutes. Woohoo!

Now, the app also has a nice journal feature where you can record a general "how do you feel," the weather, the path, and other notes. And, best of all, it keeps your stats straight. iMapMyRun does speed and pace, but this app breaks your pace down into walking segments and running segments. AMAZING!

Here's the journal screen.

Check out my run pace, y'all! I'm thrilled with that!

Okay, enough of my sales pitch. Go get the app if you're shopping. (I think it'd still be a good app for iPod Touch users, just sans GPS.)

It was good run! Gloves, headband, slimeys + running pants, "under armor" shirt + long-sleeved t-shirt (the usual winter wear). Because of the wind, I also wore my windbreaker (doesn't breathe AT ALL), which kept me super toasty. At one point I thought it might be too much, but yeah, no more sweat than in the middle of July. Thrilling, no?

Today I had to do something I haven't done since fall: I yelled at myself to get through my last interval. I think I've been pooping out too early lately because I haven't been yelling at myself enough. Well, let the yelling begin! I'm ready to bring the pain this spring.

Now I just have to wait for this next bout of winter to pass. I'm a pessimistic Cincinnatian, so I'm betting on one more winter storm before we can call this season over. It's okay, I can wait.

20 more days until Daylight-saving Time begins!

Oh, and here's the promised race schedule for this spring:

March 12 - Emerald Miles 5K
Caitlin and I picked this run because it meets a pre-birthday goal for her and because it's cheap. The Hearth Mini Marathon is the following week (which includes a 5K) but is incredibly expensive as far as 5Ks go in my experience. I know it's a good cause, but we have economic concerns to deal with here. Anyway, even though the Emerald Miles run is downtown, it seems like a good path. It stays on the Purple People Bridge and within the boundaries of Sawyer Point. No downtown streets. Blech. Unfortunately for my efforts of not disappointing myself, Caitlin has me wanting to finish this one without walking. Time to work on some hills! (For those of you that don't know, if a race goes across a bridge over the Ohio, those bridges are rather beastly hills, so be prepared.) Oh, and my co-worker's husband, Matt, might be joining in on this one too since he's rocking C25K right now. Fun fun!

The Purple People Bridge. I don't know this person, but I stole this awesome photo from this blog.

May 1 - Cincinnati Flying Pig Half-Marathon
Oh lord, here it is. I'm still completely petrified to do this but I still strongly feel like I need to do it. I'm guessing I'll be doing it alone too, which is sad. It'd be nice to have company the whole time ... it would probably make the 13.1 miles go much quicker. But it's expensive and it's long, so I can't really force anyone to join me. And I don't need anyone, right? Right? Psshhh... I do expect a cheering section of at least 1 somewhere along the course, hopefully at the end (cough, MOM, cough). If anyone wants to stand with her, I'm sure she'd appreciate the company. =)

May 21 - Forest Hills 5K
This one holds a special place for me for more than one reason. First, it's in my hometown. Not just Cincinnati, but in the neighborhood I grew up in. It supports the schools I went to. Alumni get a discount. WOOT! Second, last year was the first year for this race and I was too scared to do it. It would have been my first. Well, I'm not too scared this year. I'm all over it!

There they are, the next three races! Eeek! Should be fun!

So, that short post turned into a novel, and not a very exciting one. Sorry about that. Thanks for reading!

Racing Daylight: Intervals

First announcement:
It is now late enough in the new year to run in a park after work! Yay daylight! Well, assuming I get home and get there quickly. I gave it a go today and headed to TQL. I figured it has the least trees (none) so nothing could block what daylight was left. I had plenty of time.

Second announcement:
I'm still trucking on this "run every day" thing that I'm attempting. I started Saturday and have managed to get out every day. Yes, it's only 4 days and yes, yesterday's run was HORRIBLE in so many ways, but I've done it.

Third announcement:
Yesterday's run was HORRIBLE! It was way colder than I thought it was, probably due to the wind. I went out without my gloves so the wind froze my hands. It also froze my leg muscles. My shins and quads were rock hard, inflexible, and burning. I only did one lap around the parking lot, and didn't even really finish that. According to my iMapMyRun app, I did about .75 miles before I pooped out and tried run-walking. Ugh.

Fourth announcement:
I will not be completing my "run every day" challenge because I'm skipping Friday and going to Joseph-Beth Booksellers to meet/get a book signed by The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. YAY! I'm okay with missing a run for that, and I'll make it up over the weekend.

Fifth and final announcement:
I did something different for today's workout. I tried what seasoned runners might call "speed work." For me, it's probably like normal people running. I went back to Week 1, Day 1 of Couch to 5K (run 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds, repeat) and ran "fast" for 60 and walked/jogged for 90. It was fun! It was definitely challenging and I felt like I did when I started running about a year ago. I'm not doing it to gain speed in my running, but as a way to build new muscles and possibly lose some weight. I got the idea from the most recent issue of Women's Health.

So yeah, that's what's up. That and Jeopardy is awesome this week! Ha!

No Cavity And More Redeeming Runs

Good news! I don't have a cavity! Turns out it was just a particularly pesky piece of food. Gross.

Thus my first ever New Year's resolution: FLOSS EVERY DAY.

So far, so good. I have flossed every day this year! WOOHOO!

On to a quick running update. I've had one not-so-hot and two good runs (including this evening) since my last post. It's hugely helpful that we got a bit of a heat wave here in Cincy. The rain and heat got rid of all the stupid snow just in time for a few days off after Christmas and for the New Year's holiday. Tonight was the first nighttime run I've had in a long while. I kind of missed it, in a strange way. When it's dark, it's easy to not get wrapped up in how much distance you have left to cover. It's easier to stay focused on what's right in front of you. Step by step by step.

I was battling some sore feet tonight, but the discomfort lifted somewhere around mile 1.5 (out of about 2 total). I wish that would have gone away earlier, but oh well.

Let's see ...

Oh, I may have been talked back into signing up for the half-Pig. And I may have, in turn, talked that person into doing it as well. It'll be a huge step for both of us. I'm still scared though. I don't like being so close to the possibility of failing. I just need to come up with a race-day plan. A good, solid plan and not a semi-winging-it plan. Any help you can offer on that kind of plan would be greatly appreciated.

And now, I'm going to try to ward off my post-run-shivers with a hot shower. Brrrr!

Oops, almost forgot ... Congrats to my pal, Matt, for completing the first day of Couch to 5K (and hopefully the second day tonight)! Yay Matt!

The C25K Initiative: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I can honestly say, with no exaggeration, that I never thought yesterday would have happened, especially more than 10 months ago when I started the Couch to 5K program.

Well folks, this is a picture of what victory looks like:

Well, pretend I remembered to take a screen shot of the app when I actually finished the program, instead of the next day. Elapsed would say 40:00 and Remaining would say 0:00. It happened, I promise. See the green check mark on 9.3?

On Monday, December 6, 2010 at approximately 6:45 p.m., I, Beckey, the author of More To Love Running, ran for 30 minutes straight and completed the Couch to 5K program.

Omigosh! Ahhhh!

Okay, okay, wait a minute. Not only did I finish the program, but I finished the program on a treadmill. On a treadmill running next to some dude I didn't know. Running next to some dude I didn't know who didn't have headphones on and therefore could hear me huffing and puffing and hear my thundering steps.

We're talking HUGE victories here, people!

The most amusing part to me is that I didn't even get a chance to celebrate yesterday because I was busy being a Beckey Crocker failure. I came back from the workout room to the task of making hoards of red velvet cupcakes for my work's holiday bake-off. Let me tell you now that I HATE baking on weekdays. There's a reason: if something goes wrong, there's NO recovery time.

There is, however, an extremely helpful mother. I didn't have sugar or cupcake papers. I was soaking wet with sweat, still in my running clothes, and exhausted. My loving mother rescued me, though, and delivered the sugar and papers. Whew. Thanks mom!

So, this day after my baking almost-catastrophe, and after the cupcakes are iced, I'm officially giving myself time to get excited about my accomplishment.

I FINISHED! WHEEEE!

Er ... now what?

Warm Goopy Feelings In Week 9

I love, love, LOVE the warm goopy feeling I get after running. Actually, it sets in immediately following any physically demanding exercise. I sit down after a run and I just want to melt away. It's so relaxing.

I firmly believe that there's no better way to relax your mind AND every muscle in your body than to beat the hell out of it. Sometimes it's hard to remember this excellent side effect of running, most notably when it's 26 degrees and dark outside. I forgot about the warm-goopiness today. I was too scared of the potential for black ice in my parking lot and of the equally frightening potential for yet another running failure.

Well, good news. I'm currently in the warm, goopy post-run stage and I didn't encounter any ice to get here. Ladies and gentlemen, I just completed a Week 9 workout of Couch to 5K (run 30 minutes without stopping), and I truly did it this time--without stopping!

[applause]

Thank you, thank you ...

Actually, I was seriously starting to doubt if I could do it at all, at least until the weather warmed up. My body is just not dealing with the cold very well. I feel like I've gotten used to the cold much quicker in years past, but maybe I'm getting old. Or maybe the cold just got here much faster this year? Who knows. What I do know is that I've been miserable in the mornings this week. I just can't seem to get warm, inside and out. I don't think it helps that my winter coats are like tents on me now and let all kinds of cold air up inside of them. BRRRRR!

(Who wants to buy me a new coat?)

My co-worker and fellow running newbie passed an article along to me today. The blog is for marathoners (and desperately needs to be proofread), but I think we can all find something to help us cope with the cold.

Here it is: Top Winter Marathon Training Tips

And I'll also share a link to Runner's World's website, which is FULL of info. There's so much on there that I don't think I'll ever get through it all, but it won't stop me from trying. By the way, the magazine is pretty fantastic. I recommend it. This particular page has links to all kinds of extreme weather articles/blogs, etc.

And, here's that one: Runner's World Running in Cold or Heat home page

So, that's all I have today. Don't give up through the cold stuff, and PLEASE don't let me give up either. Special thanks to the person who bargained with me this afternoon to make sure we both ran. I really truly appreciate it, and all the warm, goopy feelings I got because I took your challenge. =)

By the way, have I ever talked to you all about what happens after the warm goopy-ness goes away? No? I get absolutely freezing cold, complete with shivers. Sad, freezing Beckey. I want the warm-goopies back! And a heated blanket.

Busy-ness And Bad Runs

Who's a bad blogger? I am!

Sorry for the delay. Turns out I actually had things to do for once. Shocker!

Let's see, since my last post, I've:

• Tried and failed to complete Day 3 of Week 8 of Couch to 5K (non-stop 28-minute run)
• Shopped for Thanksgiving groceries
• Prepared cornbread stuffing and pumpkin spice whoopie pies for Thanksgiving
• Celebrated Thanksgiving
• Shopped for a Christmas tree, lights, and ornaments on Black Friday
• Assembled and decorated my new Christmas tree
• Hung lights on my balcony
• Hung the first picture on my walls
• Cleaned my apartment
• Ran with Caitlin Friday afternoon (Week 8, Day 3 repeat, but didn't run nonstop)
  
• Visited with old friends on Friday night
• Went to my 10-year high school reunion
• Ate breakfast at midnight-ish
• Ran by myself on Sunday afternoon (started Week 9, but didn't run nonstop)
• Cooked "homemade" (with a spice pack) Cincinnati chili
• Had dinner with my mom
• Went through the Holiday In Lights using my free pass from the 5K
  
• Returned to work after a 4-day weekend
• Watched Scrooged
• Started a new book (The Help)
  
• Started Season 1, Disc 3 of Big Bang Theory

Whew! So, as you can see, while my schedule prevented me from blogging, I still ran. They weren't great runs, but they were runs. In fact, I'd call one run a bad run, one a blah run, and the other an okay run. Haven't exactly had a victory in a while, now that I think of it. Though, this seems to be a common theme among my running friends--at least those who are relatively on pace with me. My guess is that the dark and cold is affecting me more than I want to admit. What about you guys? Do any of you seasoned veterans have any tips on staying in the game through the winter, even if it's something simple?

I need a success, though. I really do. I mean, I'm far from throwing in the towel for the season, but I'd like to finish with a feeling of accomplishment. It's been too long. I plan on getting out tomorrow after work and knocking out my first 30-minute nonstop run. Ugh, unless there's ice. I don't know how to deal with that yet. Again, suggestions?

Thanks for hanging with me through the boring posts. I'll get something exciting up here soon.

Oh, would anyone like to write something? Anything? The floor is yours! (As soon as I figure out how to set it all up, that is.)

Email me! moretoloverunning@gmail.com

Your Permission, Please

I was just on the brink of making a decision to stray off the C25K plan this week, but I stopped. I'd like to put the issue out there and get your feedback first.

I'd like to step away from Couch to 5K Week 8 this week to prepare for my race this coming weekend. I just registered for the Holiday in Lights 5K and I'd like to run it in intervals instead of trying to run the whole thing.

Issue 1: It's a 5K. I've only run "straight" for 28 minutes, roughly 2 miles. I'm fully confident that I wouldn't make it 3.1 miles without stopping, but would end up walking the last mile and feeling negative about the whole experience

Issue 2: It's a challenging, hilly course, as described on the website. Hills = my enemy.

So, what are your thoughts? May I practice intervals for my two runs this week instead of proceeding with Week 8 workouts? I'm thinking run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute intervals might be good. That's what Jeff Galloway recommends.

Please pipe up. My last ventures off "the plan" haven't gone so well for me, so I feel like I need permission from rational, detached thinkers.

New Week, New Computer

The day is finally here, my friends! I got a new computer! No more excusing myself from keeping this here blog updated because of a wonky machine.

Plus, it has a friggin' webcam. I mean, really? I have a webcam? You mean I can do crap like this?

Scary Beckey bubbles.

Sad-eyed, fat-lipped Beckey.

Really easily distracted Beckey.

Shrunken head Beckey (my favorite).

New evil character for Super Mario Brothers Beckey.

I'm-wearing-a-watermelon-hat Beckey.

Confused Beckey.

I'm-sweaty-because-I-just-finished-Day-1-Week-8 Beckey.

Excellent segue, Beckey!

So yes, I just did my first Day of Week 8--a 28-minute run (up from 25 minutes last week). This one was difficult, folks! I'm not entirely sure why it felt so much harder than what I've been doing this week while running through my neighborhood, but it did. My theory is that the quick twists and turns of the neighborhood help keep these longer runs from getting boring. Otto Armleder did not have that feature this afternoon. Also, I ran the second half of my workout against a pretty stiff wind . I could actually tell that my body was working harder to move forward. Not fun.

So, that means I only have 5 Days left in the Couch to 5K program! I can't decide if I'll linger on the 25- or 28-minute runs for a little longer than is required. I have a feeling I won't, simply because I'm anxious to cross the C25K finish line.

Let me interject here and say, if you had asked me back in February/March if I thought I'd finish this program, I would have laughed in your face. Today, I'm just going to try on my graduation cap and rehearse my proud/happy/tears-of-joy face.


Later gators!

Running In The 'Hood And A Survey

First and quickly, I returned to Couch to 5K today and knocked out Week 7, Day 2. AND, I did it in my neighborhood. I think this is the first time I've run in a non-park outside of race days. It went well! It was dark, but my neighborhood (a fancy parking lot) is moderately lit, so it wasn't bad. The only hazards I ran into were low-hanging, bare branches and uneven concrete every once in a while. I did the 25-minute run pretty easily with only minimal leg pain. I definitely have a firm grasp on my breath control, though, which is crazy to me. I guess the cooler air is really helping. I almost let myself go another 5 minutes (which is two "Weeks" away in the C25K plan), but talked myself out of it.

STICK TO THE PLAN!

So, enough of that. Here's something a little fun ... a survey!

Oh, blog survey. Thank you for rearing your head and reminding me of my very early college years when me and my friends from high school would pass survey upon survey to each other through email. I actually really loved those things and miss cracking up at how funny my buddies were. They were always a very welcome distraction from silly school work.

Anyway, one of those high school buddies, Anne over at thefitbridesmaid, tagged me in this survey game. She gave me 8 questions to answer, then I create 8 more to pass along to 7 of my fellow bloggers. Like the old survey days, I promise to answer most questions indecisively. Here it goes!

1. Salty or Sweet? Yes please!
2. What is your favorite movie of all time? Psshhh ... ONE? Yeah right. Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Mary Poppins, The Big Chill, Old School, Mean Girls, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Pride & Prejudice, Footloose, Dirty Dancing ... ohhh, I'm sure there's more!
3. If you could go anywhere in the world (that you haven't already been), where would you go? I've never been anywhere, so, uh, everywhere? Either London or somewhere like Hawaii if I have to pick.
4. What is your favorite physical or personality trait about yourself? Well, my legs are shaping up pretty nicely now that I'm running. Personality wise, I like that I can make fun of myself and of course my amazing sense of sarcasm.
5. What is an ideal Saturday night for you? Couch? What? Oh, ideal Saturday nights ... a moderately chill evening with close friends. But I can dig an exciting night out every once in a while. =)
6. What is your favorite color to wear? I'm learning to wear colors. I love a good black shirt and some jeans, but I have a few new favorites -- my red sweater and my green long sleeve shirt. Whee colors!
7. Cats or dogs? You really need to ask, meow? Cats rule and dogs drool.
8. Name a food/recipe that you recently discovered. Well, this isn't an exciting answer for me. Usually I'm full of ideas, but I have two things to share that both involve hamburger. Mmmm ... burgers. First, a shout out to my new favorite burger joint, Gilpin's Bagel and Deli on 7th Street in Downtown Cincy. Steamed ... cheeseburgers. HELLO! Delicious, goopy cheese. Mmm. Second is a "recipe" I've been using a lot. It's inspired by the Pioneer Woman's recipe for fried round steak. Super cheap, super easy, super bad for you, surely. I make it pretty similar to this recipe, but I have it with sauerkraut. Mmmm again!

So, that's it for Anne's questions. Now I have to make up my own and "tag" my fellow bloggers. I apologize.

I tag:

• Tad
• Mal-Pal
• Ryan (aka Dafonz)
• Gina H-McH
• The Ritzmanns
• Princess Erin
• Jan with all the free time

Questions:

1. Name an approaching event you're really looking forward to.
2. What TV show is your favorite guilty pleasure?
3. What are the first three radio presets in your car?
4. What's the last thing you cooked from scratch?
5. Describe your most embarrassing school yearbook picture.
6. What book are you currently reading and what book can you recommend to your readers?
7. What's your adult beverage of choice?
8. What's your favorite sport activity to participate in? To watch?

There you go! Have fun!

Lunken And Letting Myself Off The Hook

You're lucky, folks. You're lucky I've had some time to get some caffeine, eat some Taco Bell, and ingest some sugar after my run this morning. Otherwise you'd be reading a bunch of woe-is-me crap. Okay, actually, you might still get some woe-is-me crap, but it's less that it would have been earlier. I apologize in advance.

In case you didn't catch on, this morning's run was a big of a bust in my mind.

Let me tell you the positives first, so I don't get off on the wrong foot.

• I finally got around to tackling Lunken Airport Playfield Trail (sorry, there's no good link to the facility)
• I finished a little more than 3.5 miles
• It was a beautiful (but cold) morning
• I got an early start
• I had one good section ... must have been downhill
• I saw deer
• I selected appropriate attire, despite my initial indecision
• I took lots of pictures (see below)

"Welcome! This is going to suck!"

Contributing factors:

• Longer distance than I've ever done (the loop is 5 miles)
• I didn't get home until a little before 2 a.m. (pre-time change) last night
• I had two big, fat, delicious beers last night
• I had three days worth of carbs between 7 and 11 last night

So, what happened?

I pooped out. I guess it is important to work up to distances instead of just diving in, because my body just wasn't having it. The previous night's activities may have had something to do with it, but I'm not sure how much.

Allow me to introduce you to Lunken Playfield Trail. It's a 5-mile loop around Lunken Airport. It's mostly flat, with only two quick hills (one up, one down, of course). I've only ever done it on wheels (bike) and only two or three times in my life. I'd been planning this run all week and elected to do 5 minute runs and 2 minute walks.

The beginning was rough. I actually considered turning around and going backward, back to my car and the warm hoodie inside it. But I pressed on. I'm glad I went the way I did though; I chose to head down Wilmer, getting the crappy part (next to the road) out of the way first. Otherwise I would have been "enjoying" the scenery of a busy road on my walk of shame back to my car.

Here's a closer shot of the map, in case you want to follow along.

The turn up Kellogg wasn't too bad. It was long, though. This is really the first chance you get to look out over the airfield to see just how long you have to go. It's not a cheery sight. On a positive note, the portion closest to Kellogg (where you can actually hear the cars zooming by on the other side of the trees), felt really good! I think this was around mile 1.5 or 2. So, still within my normal running length. I don't know what happened; I still hold that it was probably downhill or something.

Then I turned the corner again and faced the LLLLLONG stretch of concrete that goes down the Little Miami River side of the airfield. Geesh. It's long.

It may have been halfway-ish down this portion, just past the 3.5 mile marker, where my body gave up and my mind was in no condition to argue. I cut one of my running intervals short a little, and when it was time to start running again, I went for about 5 steps and let my legs stop me.

Nope.
Done.
Finito.
Nein!

I did some thinking on my run, of course.

I concluded that I'm neither ready for nor do I want to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Race (10K). I also really don't think it makes sense for me to do the half Pig in the Spring, either.

I concluded that, while I am perfectly capable of finishing those two races, even if it means walking for the rest of the race because I'm not ready for the distance, I will not be happy with myself, nor feel any sense of completion or victory. If I set out to walk the races, that'd be a different story. I'd be happy with myself. Id' feel accomplished. That would be a part of the plan. But no, I don't want to do it unless I'm ready. I don't expect that I'll ever be able to run an entire 10K or an entire half marathon, but I do expect that I'll be able to hold my own with run/walk intervals like I do with 5Ks now. I'd rather give myself another year (hopefully) to gradually get better, gradually increase my distance, and gradually increase my running intervals so I can complete those runs to best of my ability, without giving up halfway through.

I also concluded that I'm hard on myself. I'm expecting improvements, performance, and distances of myself that people in better physical condition can't accomplish. I need to cut myself some slack and enjoy those little victories that I love so much.

I'm letting myself off the hook. I am a 29-year old obese woman who has only been running for a little over 8 months. I can't compare myself to people that are considerably fitter than I am. I can't expect my progress to move as quickly as others, even if we all started at the same Day 1, Week 1 of Couch to 5K. It took me months to get through Week 1 and Week 2 and Week 3. Why on earth should I expect myself to be ready for a 10K in two weeks or a half marathon in 6 months?

Am I making excuses? It doesn't feel like it to me. I'm not going to stop running, that's for sure. I like it. I'm enjoying myself. I love seeing myself progress through C25K (and soon Bridge to 10K). I feel better and I feel better about myself, so why would I stop? It's only when I try to go to fast, aim too high too quickly, or veer off my training programs that I get down on myself. (Today was "off the program," and look how crappy I feel about it now.)

I have a rough winter ahead of me, beginning with the demise of Daylight Saving Time last night. I don't want to spend that time beating myself up about the half Pig and how I'm not ready for it. I want to use little victories to gently nudge me through the dark, cold months. Day by day. Run by run.


Ooookaaayyy ... Sorry if I killed your mood. Had to get that off my chest.

And now for some pictures! Wheeee!

Quittin' Time - On the back stretch, approximately 3.5 miles into the run.

A view of the airfield.

Part of the backstretch, looking toward the river. Sweet sun stripey thingy!

In the distance is the hill coming down off the backstretch and into the golf course area. It's a steep one!

More airfield, from the golf course side.




I believe that is green #7 and tee #8.

Boring airfield picture.

Incoming! I love when the planes come in!

Sweet.

We don't want the riff-raff mixing with the golfers, now do we? By the way, I almost got bopped in the head by a poorly-aimed drive. And I didn't do the golfer a favor by throwing the ball back on the fairway. Take THAT, bad golfer!

The wonderful mile markers that are along most of the trail. Pretty sure they need to put them everywhere though.

The new-ish P&G hangar near the end of the trail.

Thanks for listening, folks. Have a great week!

Bridge To 10K: Getting Ready To Jump

Guess who just dowloaded the Bridge to 10K app. Yeaaahhh ... me.

I'm not technically finished with Couch to 5K yet, but I only have to add 5 minutes to my run and I'll be ready to roll.

So, what is Bridge to 10K? It's the next step in the Couch to ___ program. Instead of taking you from a stagnant couch potato state to running form, it assumes you've finished C25K and picks up where you left off.

That means Week 1, Day 1 of B210K is no walk in the park. It goes like this:

Warm up 5 minutes, run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, repeat 4 times, cool down 5 minutes.

That's 53 minutes for those of you who are counting. Up from an average of 30 minutes on C25K.

Well, if you can't tell by now, I'm really starting to panic about the Thanksgiving Day 10K coming up. 6.2 miles. That's a long way. That's longer than I've ever gone. Do you think one of the 34,000+ participants would carry me to the finish line if I didn't make it? Hmmm ...

Most importantly, I need to decide if I can justify buying the race tshirt. It is, by the way, the only reason I do these runs. And fess up, it's the only reason anyone does these things. Hello, trophy!

The Little Miami Scenic Trail: Pictures!

I'm feeling extremely lazy and uncreative today, so I'm not going to write a lot about my run this noon-ish. I tried a new trail: Little Miami Scenic Trail. It's a 56.4 mile trail that starts in Newtown at the Little Miami Golf Center, my favorite place to golf. (Okay, so it's the only place I've ever golfed, but it's my favorite.)

I elected to start about 300 feet down the street from the golf course at the Bass Island park/parking lot.




Here's where I started Week 6, Day 2 of Couch to 5K (Warmup 5, run 10, walk 3, run 10, cool down 5). FYI, no hunting on the trail.




The tunnel under Newtown Road. The roadway above was strikingly thin. Weird.





Here's the beginning of the stretch along Wooster Pike (Rt. 50). It was a great day for a run. 65-ish degrees, half cloudy/half sunny.





There are signs posted along the way about trail and river history. I ... didn't read any of them. But I did read the first sentence of this one. Apparently this path used to be a railroad.

Here's the foot bridge and road bridge over the Little Miami River.

The river. If you look closely you can see lots of ... discarded tires.

So, Day 2 was more difficult than I anticipated. I think there's some value in doing these long runs on paths you actually know. Then, you know what to expect and where to start waiting for Mr. C25K to pipe in. This was my first out-and-back experience on this program, so I was just huffing and puffing and waiting and waiting for Mr. C25K to say "walk now" and then "halfway" so I could turn around and head back. The second 10 minutes was easier because I knew what to expect and had a good idea where I was going to be finished.

I may have to do some self-coercion tomorrow to get myself out to run. I think the lazy bug bit me this weekend. Blah. Running is hard. [wink wink]

Did I Leave You Hanging?

Ah, I'm sorry. I probably owe you all an update after leaving you all hanging on Saturday afternoon. I think as running becomes more and more a part of my life, it becomes more difficult to remember to get on here and tell you all what's up. Plus, you've all been so wonderful in answering my questions and sharing your own insights, I feel like I'm so very close to knowing everything.

Okay, maybe not.

Maybe I'm just lazy. That's more like it.

So yeah, big day Saturday. As you probably read, I completed Week 5, Day 3 of Couch to 5K. The day's plan read like this: 5-minute warmup, then jog for 20 minutes with no walking.

Uh, hellooo! That's an awful big jump up from Day 2's 8-minute jogs and 5-minute walks. Yikes for sure. Too bad I did it anyway!

WHEEEEE!

I was going to say I've never felt a bigger feeling of accomplishment, but I know the day I ran for 5 minutes straight was a pretty huge deal for me, too. But still, the 20-minute run might just take the cake. We're talking bigger than graduating college, folks. I didn't have to work very hard for that. This was hard.

But oddly, it wasn't as hard as I anticipated months ago when I peeked at the C25K Weeks and Days to come and found that first 20-minute run creeping up on me. A few posts ago, I talked about how 8 minutes may have been the threshold I needed to conquer in order to do these long runs. I thought, perhaps, that after 8 or so minutes of running, nothing could hurt worse and my breathing couldn't get more difficult. I think I was right.

My co-worker asked me today if I felt like I could've kept running after the 20 minutes was up. (This is the same co-worker who is kicking my butt in the endurance factor. He also felt similarly about the "threshold theory.") While I certainly didn't want to keep running on Saturday and didn't think twice about the option during or after my run, I'm fairly confident I could have kept going if I tried. I was tired and thirsty and my gum was pooping out on me, but if I pulled over for a quick sip at the water fountain, I totally could have gone another quarter or half mile ... maybe.

I think I'll stay curious for a little while longer. Until Mr. C25K tells me to move on.

Speaking of C25K, I have sunny days ahead. This will be the first time I will not be repeating a Day of the program! And I'm pretty sure I will be going 1-for-1 for a while now. See, Week 5, Day 3 (the 20-minute jog) leads into Week 6, Day 1 (warmup 5 minutes, run 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 8 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 5 minutes). Wow, that one's complicated. But it's easier! Well, easier in that it's not longer runs -- just shorter walks. I've been saying for a long time now that I can stand to walk for shorter intervals. Looks like Mr. C25K finally agrees.

So, here's my plan: Continue to Week 6, Day 1, then straight on to Day 2, then straight on to Day 3 (a 25-minute run) --all this with the exception of my buddy runs, as necessary.

Wow.

Pretty sweet, folks! This is huge progress! After Week 6, everything's a long run with no walks. It's getting scary now!

So what should I do about two upcoming 5Ks? A friend of mine is getting me into the Who Dey 5K on her VIP status =) and I'll be doing the 101st Annual Thanksgiving Day Race on, you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day. Should I try a long run or plan for run/walk intervals? These courses are almost definitely not as flat as Armleder Park is (the scene of the 20-minute crime), and I am most definitely not conditioned for hills of any sort, sadly.

I know this is a few weeks away, but it's worth thinking about a little, right?

Oh, a few more things to mention about Saturday's run before I sign off:

• I hit a few big milestones during that run.
• It was my first time over 8 minutes.
• When Mr. C25K piped in and said "halfway," I may or may not have squealed a little, realizing that I just ran for 10 minutes.
• I passed the mile marker, which means I ran for a mile without stopping for the first time ever.
• I didn't look at the clock once until about 4 minutes from the end of the run.
• It didn't really get difficult until about 3 minutes from the end.
• The lack of anticipation during the 20-minute run was peaceful. I set out knowing that the first time I'd hear from Mr. C25K was when he said "halfway," then I wouldn't hear him again until I was finished.
• I started running, looked ahead of me and around the 1.9-mile loop and thought, "I'll probably run the whole way around. I just about did.
• This one's not related to Saturday, but I ran with Caitlin on Sunday and she did her first 8-minute runs and said, "That was awesome!" when we finished the first interval. You go girl! Day 3 is right around the corner!

Okay, that is all for now. I'm excited to see where I'm headed! How about you?

More Week 5, Day 2 - No Sweat

No sweat. Really. My hair was dry after my run tonight. I'm confused.

This doesn't mean that my face wasn't soaked through the run, but dry hair. Weird.

Anyway, I did Week 5, Day 2 of Couch to 5K again this evening. Yaaaay! Well, I guess the second time around warrants less celebration, but I'm still really happy about it. I'm also slightly discontent because I'm itching to move up now. I was so, SO close to trying Week 5, Day 3 tonight (5-minute warm up then jog for 20 minutes with no walking). I talked myself down from that though. I'd like to try it on a second or third day in a row of running, like maybe on Sunday.

Holy cow. I may run for 20 minutes in a row on Sunday. Is anyone else baffled by this? Do you experience similar disbelief with your exercise-related successes?

Moving on ...

I've been talking to my fellow beginner runners lately about "getting the bug." My theory is that "the bug" is what makes you keep going. You may or may not have tried running or another physical activity before and didn't follow through. I know I have. I even tried C25K once before and promptly quit.

But in my own experience, and in observing others' experiences, I'm seeing this itch ... like running finally found a way to bite and leave a mark. A mark that makes you WANT to run, that causes you to actually look forward to your next run, and that makes you a little upset when you unexpectedly have to miss a run or can't get around to running for a long time.

I've also mentioned on here how I think writing about running and talking about running with friends is a huge contributor to my success. Well, my theories were just confirmed by Women's Health magazine. Check out this blurb out from page 29 of the October 2010 edition:

"You'll be more motivated to move if working out is part of your self-image, says a study in The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. So, if you identify yourself as a runner, you'll be more inclined to lace up your sneakers than someone who sees herself as a couch potato. 'In fact, we found that people were more likely to engage in longer bouts of exercise if they saw physical activity as a core part of their identity,' says lead author Lindsay Duncan, Ph.D. Don't consider yourself athletic? To get into a fitness frame of mind, buy workout-specific clothes or post Facebook status updates that reflect your latest physical feats."

So, what does this have to do with my theories? Well, when I started C25K this time back in late February/early March of this year, I remember thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh, I'm running. I'm a runner!" I knew I could keep it up and I wanted to. I was bitten. Bitten by the running bug the instant I gave myself that label. Then the itch got even worse when I started talking to other people about my running.

"What have you been up to?" my friends might ask.
"Actually, I'm running!"
[shocked faces from both of us]

I think it's important to have your own definition of being a runner, too. Certainly you're not going get off the couch and step out the door into marathon training. (I mean, I personally skipped right over marathon training and stepped into awesomeness. But whatever.)

What does being a runner mean to me? Why do I get to give myself that title?

To me it means that running is hard. I'd rather walk, yes. Actually, I'd rather sit on the couch. But after I run, I feel good and I know that when I run again, I'm going to feel good again. Having that insight that running = good is being a runner. Being a runner means really wanting to make it to that next tree, even though Mr. C25K says you can stop now. Being a runner, to me, is saying, "Yes, your legs hurt, but you're not going to die. Suck it up and keep going because your body is stronger than your mind." Looking forward to getting better is being a runner.

Are you a runner? What does being a runner mean to you? Is my description of "the bug" the same for you? Why do you keep going? Share the love with those who read this and may be looking to get started themselves.

Thanks! And pass the itch cream, please.