5 Miles

My first time running 5 miles

It wasn’t pretty.  I stopped a couple times and took a water breaks with my new water belt.  That took a little getting used to.  The first ¼ mile water keep splashing on me because I didn’t know the top could close more.  It's nice, right?

BUT I RAN 5 MILES!!!!!  It must be something about putting your goals in writing.  Last night, I actually had trouble sleeping because I was thinking and mapping my route to get to 5.  I fell a ½ mile short when I got to my house so I stopped and ran another ½.  I’m now at 75 miles.  I’m ¾ of the way through my goal.  There are lots of fractions going on here.  Wouldn’t be awesome if I could finish my 100^th mile in Prague?  Another secret goal.  

70 miles, losing weight and a kale smoothie

I’ve run 70 miles as of today.  Today was two outside and one on the treadmill.  We are having a major heat wave.  It was so hot and humid and I ran before 7 a.m. Yesterday, I accomplished a lot.  I ran 4.25 miles.  My longest to date.  I ran from my house to the high school (at 6:30 a.m.), ran around the track for a mile than ran home.  I am usually not a road runner (scary).  

I have lots of mini goals.  I also have secret goals.  Shhh!  My one secret goal is to run 5 miles.  My secret secret goal is to run 6 miles!  I’m proud of myself my getting myself up in the morning and running.  It’s summer, I’m a teacher and it’s super hot - it would be pretty easy to sleep in and take it easy. 

Next subject, weight gain.  Last summer I was thinner, skinner and my clothes were fitting better.  I have been running like crazy for the last couple of months. I have not been losing anything and actually gaining. What the heck?  People say oh, maybe it is  because muscle weighs more than fat.  Not in the booty!  So…back to Weight Watchers Online. Darn.  Funny, when you start writing down everything down, it does make a different.  I’ve lost 3.5 pounds in two weeks.  GO DEB!  We’re leaving next week for Prague.  Can I run in Prague??  So excited for a wonderful trip with my husband.  Going to try to stay reasonable with food.  Maybe, but how often will I be in Prague?  I’m going to eat whatever I want!   But while I’m still here…

This morning I made a kale, peach, blueberry, and banana Greek yogurt smoothie.  I’ve been thinking about a kale smoothie for a while.  I know weird, right?  I stopped at a local produce stand yesterday and they had a huge bag of kale of for $1.50.  I took it as a sign.  I may have used 3 leaves.  There might be lots of stuff with kale this week.  Pasta with kale, kale chips… who knows?  Pinterest may be involved.  The results of the smoothie:  Tasty!  I might try a little more kale next time but I was a little scared. 

Here’s what I did:

I used my magic bullet and put in

5 ice cubes or so

¾ cup Greek yogurt

a handful of blueberries

one banana

one peach (could have been a bit ripper)

3 kale leaves

Mix, mix, mix.  Pretty good.  

As I continue my challenge, I can see 100 miles and probably more.  It has been one of the best things I done for myself to keep my motivated.  

1/2 Way There! 50 of 100 miles

I got to 50 miles tonight!  Wahoo! Yippee! And Hallelujah!  I had a little difficulty around mile 33.  I hurt my back vacuuming.  Vacuuming, I say.  I could have been playing some Candy Crush, reading a book or really anything but I was vacuuming.  I was out for a couple days then onward!  I got to mile 33 right before vacation.  I was 1/3 of the way done.  My goal was starting to seem kind of attainable.   I have all kinds of mini goals.  My next was to run 10 miles while on vacation.  We went to South Carolina:  flat land and beautiful.  I rose early each day and even set my alarm.  I had to get out early before it got too hot.  First day: 3 miles. Second day: 3 miles. Fourth day: 4 miles!!  Four miles in a row without stopping. (The flat part really helped.)  So, I thought I was cool, super cool.  We got home and I had 43 miles under my belt: my running belt. Ha!  Only 7 more to go.  I got up early on Sunday and went to my to one of my favorite trails.  It’s 2 miles around.  Yep, I did it twice.  4 more miles.  It took me awhile and it was hard ‘cause there are lots of hills.  Now for the last 3 miles of the 50.  I went to my to another place I love but the hills, oh the hills.  I was slow but as my dad would say, I got’er done.  So here I am, with 50 more to go!  Bring it!

My 100 miles of summer

Summer Running Challenge

I wanted to keep myself motivated this summer.  I’ve seen some challenges lately.  30 days of squats.  Push up/ sit up challenge.  I thought I’d make up one of my own, just for me.  However, I did Google to see if other people had done this.  The first thing that popped up was “run 100 miles in a day”.  WHAT?  Seriously?  I thought I was doing something here, way to burst my bubble, Google.  Ok, whatever, this is for me!  So, I got myself going.  I printed off a hundreds chart and got my box of crayons. Ready. One day, when I got back from my run, my daughter asked if I’d like her to color in my chart.  No, thank you, honey, I’m going to color ever space!  I’ve done 20 miles with 80 more to go.  As I ran tonight, I wasn’t thinking mile one, mile two, I was thinking mile 18, mile 18.25, mile 19. I’ve run early, I’ve run late, I’ve run on vacation.  It’s keeping me going.  One mile at a time.    

On a side note, it’s funny how bad I may want a cookie, beer, s’more, ice cream before a run and how I want nothing to do with it after.  

It's National Running Day

Some reasons I might be a runner

I know it's National Running Day – June 5^th

I have clothes for running- shirts, shorts, pants, shoes, and socks.  I especially like the running socks.

I may have swallowed a bug or two when running – maybe even tonight.  Spit, ick, swallow

I have a running app or 3 on my phone.

I schedule my day around when I can run

I have a running belt – enough said!

I follow running sites on twitter and facebook.  My new favorite FB site is WRC  - Women’s Running Community

I have a blog basically about running.  I never thought I’d have a blog and if I did it would have nothing to do with exercise or running.

I run through pain (now) - stitch in my side, knot in my calf, throbbing bunion.  It kinda goes away as you run.

My norm is 3 miles.

I have running preferences.  I hate the treadmill, will do the track, and love paved trails and sidewalks.  Scared of the road.

I think about running races.  

Am I a "real" runner?

I was talking to a “real” runner at my daughter’s softball game.  You know, she runs 4 ½ miles a day.  She runs ½ marathons.  She does hikes with her family.  A real runner.  I made some comment about not being a real runner…yet.  She said flatly – Have you bought running shoes to run in?  Yes, I answer.  Well then, you’re a real runner.  

Building Stamina

When 3 miles becomes the standard instead of the goal

Stamina has been in my vocabulary a lot this year.  I started doing a new program at school called the Daily 5.  Implementing the program has helped to teach my students to build stamina by practicing reading and writing.  It has lots of other great stuff and it has been wonderful for my class this year.  Never did I think my first graders could read for 20 minutes in a row without stopping – real reading.  It was the same with writing.  And that brings to my own stamina – I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to run a 5K again.  I just couldn’t run 3 miles in a row.  I always did three miles but there was always a lot of walking.  I would run but when I’d get to those hills, I’d walk.  With the Color Run looming upon me I had to push through.  So one day I ran up those hills.  I pushed myself from 2 miles to 3 miles. The first time I ran three mile in a row without stopping I wanted to tell everyone and this was very important. 

3 miles.   In a row.    Without stopping.            Real Running

Running is hard for me.  Today, I ran 4 miles.  Then we went to pick up our son from the skateboard park and I did another 1.5 miles.  Perhaps, I overdid it.  More than perhaps since I can hardly move now. 

The Color Run was so much fun.  I did it with some buds from work.  I ran it 31.03 which I was thrilled.  I would of loved to do it 30.59 but that’s okay.  It was actually untimed.  I used My Map My Walk App.  My husband has agreed to run the 5K with the Baltimore Running Festival in October.  Our cute Under Armor training shirts came today.  People have said oh, you’re going to get so into this…you’ll want to do a Half Marathon or Marathon.  NEVER and NO WAY.   But maybe a 10K…