Day #2: CHECK!!

I woke up at 3:30 am (please put your eyebrow down!) and worked for a couple of hours. My oldest son came upstairs (where the home office is located) and we headed downstairs to start the breakfast-making-putting-uniform-changing-diaper-let-me-have-my-cup-coffee show.  After I dropped my oldest at school, I went to the park. I had an honestly hard time yesterday with the heat, so early morning run it was.

The morning was cool, but it could have been way cooler. After a guy asked me if the wheels of my car where of two different colors and I corrected him with a big smile: No, the ones in the back are just dirty, I stretched, and warmed up and starting running.

My right knee was hurting so I had no other choice but to go very slow for the first 1 ½ mile, after this, I was able to speed up, until I felt that I needed to start slowing down again (usually after 3 or 4 minutes once my heart monitor reaches 184), but then, all of the sudden this pretty, skinny with super good running attire decided to outrun me and …we just don’t do that, so my competitive side mixed with envy and jealousy decided to show her… you see me, now you don’t. And as I outrun her, I finished my 3 mile run and continue to run for another ¼ mile and finished the last ¾ mile by doing the 1-1-1 minute intervals (as yesterday).

It was good, it was tiring, it was rewarding. Today was a good running day! Oh and the pretty girl? I finally saw her again on my post stretch work out and yes, I smiled (nicely) to her.

Best Song in my Ipod today?  Fireworks from Katy Perry!! 

DAY #1 - CHECK!

DAY #1

So right after I wrote about the Challenge, I started having doubts (excuses), but I brushed them off, put my running shoes on and drove to the park. The sun was burning me and there were probably 4 other people doing exercises (not running I may add). It was that hot.

I did my first 1 ¼ mile and had to do a  quick bathroom trip and continue for the next 1 ¾, when this was done I did the last mile as

1 minute walking

30 minute slow pace

1 minute high speed

30 minute slow pace

1 minute walking

It was pretty good and finished the four mile, tired, sweating, dehydrated, but hey, I finished.

First day: check!

Wondering: What is the best food to eat after a work out? Today was yogurt and fruits, I read somewhere (Running World maybe?) that is was good. It felt great. But what else I can eat right after the run that is refreshing, filling, and most important that it tastes good!.

Below is the picture that resumes the whole run

30 DAY CHALLENGE : 3 MILE EVERY DAY!

Starting TODAY! 30 days of sticking to a 3 mile every day no matter what!   I am thinking this is the inspiration I might need, so here it goes. We start today and in about a hour I will start my first 3 mile at the park.

Its hot so it will be a great run. I will be posting through the 30 days challenge. 

I am not a happy camper. It seems that for every four / five day of consistent training comes the meltdown of letting go.  I believe I am doing plenty taking into consideration that I work over 40 hours a week, that I have a husband that also work and that is a priority in my life, that I have to young sons under 5 and that I live in a home with 9 other people (we are in the process of moving to Houston and we sold our house and are currently living with my Mother-in-law and sister-in-law and on top I try to put my work out on top. But is hard, I am tired (exhausted), I don’t like been away from my kids after I finish work or they come back from school and after waking up at 3:30 am to get my work done by 2 pm well, is overwhelming.

What makes me happy? Running!, yes is a great escape to clear the mind, body and soul. But on what time? As I try hard to figure this one out, I am keeping myself motivated. I failed to do the half marathon in October here in New Orleans, but I am determined to do the Houston one in January.

Can we have more hours on a day? I urgently need some more!

Keep on running, keep on moving…

Oct 17^th, 2011.

Room for Improvement...

        

Me!

Does Speed matter?

I am a slow runner… I am not ashamed, but not happy or proud either. Whenever I am below the 10 m/minute range I feel as is somebody is chasing me and I am running for my life, which is tiring and not fun. I can sprint, but just for one minute top four, more than that and nope, is not fun.

But I do want to run faster, so I am trying different approaches, following some advises from experienced runners and hopefully I will get there.  

 My goal right now is to keep a 45 minutes run at a pace that is less than 10:30… so far I am at 10:22 but hey, is less than 10:30 right?