Week 3

Time to start the week 3 post. This Saturday, we'll be running 1.5 miles on the trail. My goal for this week is to be able to run 2 miles, and to walk 2.5 to 3 miles.

Monday...running. Nola and I got out and ran this morning, for 1.5 miles. I increased the running time to 40 seconds, keeping the 1 minute walk break. Nola even ran ahead of me twice, and in all, it was a good run. 2


Tuesday...walk. We walked 2 miles today. Nola was slow at first, but that's her usual sniffing everything till finding an appropriate potty spot routine. It felt good to be out, although I found myself wanting to stop after half a mile. With everything going on at the office for now, I'm having a daily battle with depression. Walking and running helps. It really does. If I weren't active right now, I'd probably be a puddle of teary mess at home this morning. Instead, I'm braving it and am at work. The not knowing is stressful, and combine that with the hostility from a certain co-worker, you get nearly unbearable. I'm stronger than this though, and everything will be alright, job or no job. No matter what's going on emotionally and mentally, I'm going to keep up with the physical, and I finished the 2 mile walk. Besides, the other aspects will follow along, or so the hope goes.


Wednesday...run. 45 seconds, 1 minute walk intervals. Nola was SLOW. I'm beginning to think that it's too much for her, but I'm going to give her another chance on Friday. On this last shot, I will bring incentive for her, i.e., hotdog, and maybe that will get her moving. I know she can run, but this morning, I spent most of my energy encouraging and pulling on her leash. She simply didn't want to, and now, I'm exhausted while I should feel energized. In spite of it though, we ran 1.5 miles. I think. It might have been 2 miles. I had to focus on keeping her up to speed, even though I wasn't running fast, and I may have lost track of a loop. There was no rhythm in this morning's run, and that's unfortunate because with the stress at work I really needed that today. Oh well. I'm not giving up on her yet, and even if the run wasn't what I dreamt it would be, it still got my heart going.


Thursday...walk. We walked 2 miles today, and I'm rethinking the plan to run tomorrow. Yesterday's activity of keeping Nola going did not help my knee, and I can feel it today. I'll just have to listen to my body, but walking another 2 miles tomorrow won't be a bad thing.


Friday...run. Nola's last shot. I'll see how she does, and if she drags again, I have to face that she's just too old to run with me. I don't want her to be old yet, and I hope she keeps up. 45 seconds, 1 minute walk intervals. -- Okay! We did half a mile with the running interval, and Nola kept up. Encouragement with a treat is the trick. So, we 're going to keep trying together. After the running, we walked an additional 1.5 miles. 2 miles total today. Woohoo! That's over 12 miles this week.

Saturday...run 1.5 miles. Done! Overall, it was a good run. My legs are starting to feel stronger, and my thighs are already sore from the run. This is the first time I've had any soreness since starting the class, and it's not bad, just enough to remind me that I'm doing something good. The only bad parts of the run were the humidity and finding out that my running buddy is moving to Flagstaff in 2 weeks. However, I'm happy for her. She got a great job and will be able to pursue her MBA.

Sunday....Nope. This was a recovery day from the night before. Oh, well. Back at it for the rest of the week. The bad part is that Sean and I smoked Saturday night.

Side note: There's a crosswalk on the trail I walk with Nola, and it doesn't matter if I press the button that causes the crossing light to flash for drivers. I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly been hit by drivers who will slow down just enough so that I think they're going to stop, only to speed up and drive through the crossing anyway. I'm not sure of what I can do about this. I could throw rocks at their cars, but then take the chance of the rock bouncing back and hitting me or my dog. Let's not forget that it's probably illegal as well, and they could potentially press charges even though they nearly hit me. Although it would be funny to argue that they couldn't have seen me, because if they had, they would have stopped. So, maybe I'll start taking a pic of their cars and jotting down the license plate number. That way, I'd at least have car identification if anyone ever does hit me or my dog. --- I called 311 about this, and they're reporting it to the Metro department. Maybe they'll update that blinking yellow to red. Case # 97352

total distance this week: 11.5
mileage on these shoes: 25

Week 2

Despite what many fanatics may believe, the end is not nigh. Bill (Nye) is fine, and this post will be full of my running report by the end of next week.

Monday, walked 2 miles with Nola.

On Tuesday, I kept the previous goal of 1 mile. Running 30 secs , and walking 1 minute. This time was a little more difficult. I got tired quicker and sweated more, but it was also later in the day with a higher heat index. However. Nola did not slow down, and she even ran ahead of me for part of the lap.

Wednesday, reading "Running: Getting Started" by Jeff Galloway. I walked 1.2 miles with Nola in the morning, approx 25 minute walk.

Thursday...Nola and I did two laps around the pond this morning (the pond is a 1/2 mile loop). It was very humid, and hopefully that weather produces some rain soon other than making runners sweat. Obviously, I got a good sweat in, and the breeze (and shower later) was a gracious treat. On treats, I took a hotdog for Nola also, and this worked really well. When I had a bit of hotdog in my hand, she kept up to my speed, smiling the whole way. We did the recommended 30 seconds of running and 1 minute of walking. It took us a little over 30 minutes, including warm-up and cool-down walks of about 8 minutes. My legs are a little tired now, but aside from that, I feel pretty good. I noticed a little boost in other things this week, too. ;-)

Friday....walked 1.2 miles with Nola. It was a slower walk because Nola stopped to sniff often, but I take responsibility for that. :-)

Saturday...class. We ran 1 mile at 30 second run and 1 minute walk intervals, with a warm-up and cool-down of 8 minutes each as always. It felt good, and get this. I was at the front of the pack!


Sunday...I walked with Nola for 1.2 miles. Aunt Flo came to visit bringing along her imps, Pinch and Cramp. Their visit is not welcome, but I pushed through it and walked anyway. Exercise does help, however counterintuitive that may be when, in the moment, I just want to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea.

Random. I want this tattoo on my arm. Of course, better than this image. I found this tattoo here, https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKReoDKucxYX5vLD_DzA4-Y66-zGrr1h5CEIxAfaSWpmcO6QXOqyUMmzHzEbBUs824ZywywvDiIrRd9dOtTJn2yhWh_Q8cMkN4Tun0cO8PM8Gi12eDHUr6iDj6nmmId6Oj3gdxgABuaY/s400/Dog+tat.jpg, and then modified it to say Nola.

total distance this week: 10.5
mileage on these shoes: 13.5

Week 1

Last Saturday marked the beginning of a brand new routine for me. Running. The RunTex class went 1/2 a mile, running 20 seconds and walking for a minute. It was easy-peasy. :-)

On Sunday, I stepped it up and ran 1 mile. Running for 30 seconds and walking for 1 minute. Nola even went with me, although she was a little slow. Afterwards I felt great!

A good first week, and I'm looking forward to class in the morning! Bring on week 2!!

Total distance covered: 3 miles

Starting somewhere

New beginnings. I've started running. Correction. I've starting running again, but with full intention this time. Granted the only other time I've attempted running, it lasted less than a month. If I can get past that point, it'll something completely new for me.

A friend convinced me to sign up for a running class for beginners, and so far, it's been a great experience. We're starting out slow, running mixed with walking, and it's more walking than running for now. At the end of 10 weeks, I should be able to run 5 miles. Woo!!

Here's my running journal.