Hello!
Today was my 6 mile long run, and I went to Terwillegar Park with my mom-in-law and one of her friends. I knew that one lap around it was over 2 miles so I decided to just do three laps. I did my three laps in 1 hour 30 minutes and it actually ended up being like 7.35 miles!
The scenery was really pretty. The park is a big loop and the Saskatchewan River runs around three quarters of it. There were big chunks of ice floating in the river and lots of Canadian geese. As I was running I could hear the geese honking and see the river running, and it was so peaceful. Instead of focusing on my time today, I decided to take my run nice and easy and just enjoy it and being outside. There is supposed to be snow coming this next week so it was nice to get out and enjoy the crisp air and a little bit of sunshine before the weather turns.
One thing I really love about easy long runs is the feeling that I could just go on and on. Once I get past mile 5 I feel like I just don't want to stop. Recently I have been wondering if I will really be able to stick with my running, and if I will really be able to run a marathon in May. Today helped me realize that I can do it. My run today was over a quarter of a marathon, I've only been back to running for like six weeks, and I felt amazing during my run! I thought to myself..."Why can't I do it?"
Hopefully I will continue to lose weight and that will also help me gain speed. If I stay consistent in my training, then it only makes sense that I will be able to actually complete a marathon. When I first decided to run a marathon I thought that I wanted to do it in under 4 hours. I'm not sure if I will still aim for that. I think as I get further in my training I will be able to tell if that is realistic for me or not. I don't want to be so focused on time that I don't enjoy the experience!
How is your weekend so far? I know Thanksgiving is coming up for you guys pretty soon, what are your plans? Thanksgiving has come and gone here a little while ago so I'm on to Christmas shopping and decorating!
-Hannah
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Off Tempo
Hello!
How is your week going so far? Mine has been pretty good. I realized that this week is my fifth week of my training plan, and the sixth week that I have been consistently running. I was feeling a little tired and down about working out but when I realized that I had been consistent for almost 6 whole weeks I was really happy.
Today's workout was a tempo run. The complete distance was 5 miles including warmup and cooldown, with 3 miles @ 10:25 pace. I started with a mile warmup, nice and easy, and did it in 11:14. I had a little bit of trouble keeping my pace on track for the 3 miles, though. Mile 1 was in 10:14, mile 2 in 10:44, and mile 3 in 10:19. I didn't time my cool down mile but I would say it was about 11:30 or 11:45.
I was actually really dreading todays run because of how Monday's run went, and because, as I said before, I have been feeling a little down about working out. Thankfully I always feel better after I run. It's really cool to see the progression of my mileage each week. I started out doing 6 miles my first week back to running , then 6 miles again in week one of my training plan, 8 miles week two, 10 miles week three, 12 miles week four, and this week (week 5) will be a total of 13 miles.
In have been tracking my runs this entire year in my training journal, even before I renewed my running commitment in October. My year to date total, not counting the miles I have done so far this week, is 78 miles. I have actually run more than that but wasn't tracking for a bit. It's numbers like that I need to be encouraged by, and I'm working on focusing on those things instead of just my weight!
I read an article recently about when to step back from the scale. I realized that I was becoming obsessive about weighing myself, and from now on I am going to attempt to weigh myself only once a week, on the same day. I think that will help me have a healthier mindset about my weight.
I hope you are all having a great week so far, and that you have some inspiring workouts!
-Hannah
How is your week going so far? Mine has been pretty good. I realized that this week is my fifth week of my training plan, and the sixth week that I have been consistently running. I was feeling a little tired and down about working out but when I realized that I had been consistent for almost 6 whole weeks I was really happy.
Today's workout was a tempo run. The complete distance was 5 miles including warmup and cooldown, with 3 miles @ 10:25 pace. I started with a mile warmup, nice and easy, and did it in 11:14. I had a little bit of trouble keeping my pace on track for the 3 miles, though. Mile 1 was in 10:14, mile 2 in 10:44, and mile 3 in 10:19. I didn't time my cool down mile but I would say it was about 11:30 or 11:45.
I was actually really dreading todays run because of how Monday's run went, and because, as I said before, I have been feeling a little down about working out. Thankfully I always feel better after I run. It's really cool to see the progression of my mileage each week. I started out doing 6 miles my first week back to running , then 6 miles again in week one of my training plan, 8 miles week two, 10 miles week three, 12 miles week four, and this week (week 5) will be a total of 13 miles.
In have been tracking my runs this entire year in my training journal, even before I renewed my running commitment in October. My year to date total, not counting the miles I have done so far this week, is 78 miles. I have actually run more than that but wasn't tracking for a bit. It's numbers like that I need to be encouraged by, and I'm working on focusing on those things instead of just my weight!
I read an article recently about when to step back from the scale. I realized that I was becoming obsessive about weighing myself, and from now on I am going to attempt to weigh myself only once a week, on the same day. I think that will help me have a healthier mindset about my weight.
I hope you are all having a great week so far, and that you have some inspiring workouts!
-Hannah
Monday, November 8, 2010
Change It Up
Hello!
How was your weekend? I was busy all weekend and didn't get a chance to post on Saturday after my run. I did a 5 mile run on my regular route. Before I started I was a little apprehensive, but I hope I don't feel that way every time my mileage goes up. Every time I start running, though, I know I am committed to running the complete distance.
I did mile 1 in 9:52, mile 2 in 10:35, mile 3 in 10:43, mile 4 in 10:45, and mile 5 in 10:35. I felt really good afterwards...like I had accomplished something. It has been a few months since I have run that distance so it's nice to know I can still do it! I really need to vary my running route. My knees were hurting a bit after my last few runs, and I think it is because the route I run is pavement and has hills. I decided that this week I would change up my run location and see if it helps.
Today I had a 2 mile run and I did it at the gym on the treadmill before I did my weights workout. What I wrote in my training journal will give you a little insight on how that went....I wrote, "I officially LOATHE the treadmill. I will not run on it again unless I absolutely have to!" I made it almost all the way through my run at a 10: 20 pace but had to slow it down at the end. I was really dehydrated and felt super weak, and I was also extremely hot and tired. It still doesn't make sense to me why it is so hard. A 10:20 pace outside wouldn't really be an issue. I told Kyle to get me a pair of spikes for my birthday so that I can run outside in the winter and hopefully not have to run in the gym. My knees haven't been bothering me today so I think that may be one positive thing about running on the treadmill!
I'm getting bored with my weights routine so I think I might try to switch it up a bit and try something new. My sister e-mailed me an 8 week volleyball conditioning workout schedule. I will probably start that soon and see how I like it. It might actually be good because I was thinking about joining a recreational volleyball team for the winter season.
And now for some good news.... I think I broke through my weight loss plateau!! My weight has gone down a little bit finally after a couple of weeks so I'm hoping I continue to lose more weight now. I think that 5 mile run on Saturday did the trick!!
Happy running, friends!
-Hannah
How was your weekend? I was busy all weekend and didn't get a chance to post on Saturday after my run. I did a 5 mile run on my regular route. Before I started I was a little apprehensive, but I hope I don't feel that way every time my mileage goes up. Every time I start running, though, I know I am committed to running the complete distance.
I did mile 1 in 9:52, mile 2 in 10:35, mile 3 in 10:43, mile 4 in 10:45, and mile 5 in 10:35. I felt really good afterwards...like I had accomplished something. It has been a few months since I have run that distance so it's nice to know I can still do it! I really need to vary my running route. My knees were hurting a bit after my last few runs, and I think it is because the route I run is pavement and has hills. I decided that this week I would change up my run location and see if it helps.
Today I had a 2 mile run and I did it at the gym on the treadmill before I did my weights workout. What I wrote in my training journal will give you a little insight on how that went....I wrote, "I officially LOATHE the treadmill. I will not run on it again unless I absolutely have to!" I made it almost all the way through my run at a 10: 20 pace but had to slow it down at the end. I was really dehydrated and felt super weak, and I was also extremely hot and tired. It still doesn't make sense to me why it is so hard. A 10:20 pace outside wouldn't really be an issue. I told Kyle to get me a pair of spikes for my birthday so that I can run outside in the winter and hopefully not have to run in the gym. My knees haven't been bothering me today so I think that may be one positive thing about running on the treadmill!
I'm getting bored with my weights routine so I think I might try to switch it up a bit and try something new. My sister e-mailed me an 8 week volleyball conditioning workout schedule. I will probably start that soon and see how I like it. It might actually be good because I was thinking about joining a recreational volleyball team for the winter season.
And now for some good news.... I think I broke through my weight loss plateau!! My weight has gone down a little bit finally after a couple of weeks so I'm hoping I continue to lose more weight now. I think that 5 mile run on Saturday did the trick!!
Happy running, friends!
-Hannah
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Easy Run
Hello!
Today was supposed to be an easy 4 mile run. I did just that--I took it easy. I thought about not even running today and doing it tomorrow instead, but I thought that it would be better for me to stick to my schedule if possible.
I was tired again today. I had gone for an hour walk not too long before I went running. Anyways, I tried to just enjoy my run without worrying about going fast and trying to compete with myself.
I did mile 1 in 10:43, mile 2 in 10:56, mile 3 in 11:06, and mile 4 in 11:26. I was trying to pace myself at about an 11 minute mile but wow my pacing skills are way off! I need to work on that so that I will be able to accurately pace myself when I race. I used to be good at doing a 12 minute mile pace consistently so I guess I will have to get used to doing an 11 or 10:30 minute mile pace.
I haven't lost any weight during the last week or so and I think I'm hitting a plateau. Bummer. Whatever it is I hope it is over with soon because it can get kind of depressing. It's no fun feeling like I'm not getting anywhere even though I am working out hard and tracking all of my calories. I'm thinking that I need to up the weight of my strength training a bit, and try to walk on the days I am not running. Hopefully that works!
I hope you are having a good week so far!
-Hannah
Today was supposed to be an easy 4 mile run. I did just that--I took it easy. I thought about not even running today and doing it tomorrow instead, but I thought that it would be better for me to stick to my schedule if possible.
I was tired again today. I had gone for an hour walk not too long before I went running. Anyways, I tried to just enjoy my run without worrying about going fast and trying to compete with myself.
I did mile 1 in 10:43, mile 2 in 10:56, mile 3 in 11:06, and mile 4 in 11:26. I was trying to pace myself at about an 11 minute mile but wow my pacing skills are way off! I need to work on that so that I will be able to accurately pace myself when I race. I used to be good at doing a 12 minute mile pace consistently so I guess I will have to get used to doing an 11 or 10:30 minute mile pace.
I haven't lost any weight during the last week or so and I think I'm hitting a plateau. Bummer. Whatever it is I hope it is over with soon because it can get kind of depressing. It's no fun feeling like I'm not getting anywhere even though I am working out hard and tracking all of my calories. I'm thinking that I need to up the weight of my strength training a bit, and try to walk on the days I am not running. Hopefully that works!
I hope you are having a good week so far!
-Hannah
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ups and Downs
Hello!
Today I had kind of a BLAH Monday feeling. I wasn't very excited about my 3 mile run. I was tired, so I did it immediately after I got home from the gym this afternoon because I didn't want to risk waiting until later and then possibly skipping it.
I did mile 1 in 9:56, mile 2 in 10:48, and mile 3 in 10:41. That snow last week fooled me. I keep wearing warmer clothes on my run and then I get really hot. The snow is all gone and the temps are slowly rising again so I need to readjust my running clothes.
My times were still good, but you know, sometimes you have runs that you don't enjoy. I felt better afterwards, just knowing it was done. I'm happy to get that out of the way, and hopefully on my Wednesday run I will feel differently.
How often do you have those BLAH workout days? What do you do...skip the workout or slog through it and hope for the best?
Hope you had a good Monday!
-Hannah
Today I had kind of a BLAH Monday feeling. I wasn't very excited about my 3 mile run. I was tired, so I did it immediately after I got home from the gym this afternoon because I didn't want to risk waiting until later and then possibly skipping it.
I did mile 1 in 9:56, mile 2 in 10:48, and mile 3 in 10:41. That snow last week fooled me. I keep wearing warmer clothes on my run and then I get really hot. The snow is all gone and the temps are slowly rising again so I need to readjust my running clothes.
My times were still good, but you know, sometimes you have runs that you don't enjoy. I felt better afterwards, just knowing it was done. I'm happy to get that out of the way, and hopefully on my Wednesday run I will feel differently.
How often do you have those BLAH workout days? What do you do...skip the workout or slog through it and hope for the best?
Hope you had a good Monday!
-Hannah
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