I have named the stray Catahoula Cur "Callie." She ran the full 6 miles with me today, the 0.25 mile warm up, and the 1 mile cool down, for a grand total of about 7.25 miles. She was totally faithful to every step, but she was getting tired and hot at the end. We stopped briefly at mile 4 for a drink of water.
I love this weather so much, I may have to move to San Diego in order to enjoy the climate year-round. Anyone in San Diego need a medical transcriptionist?!
So, theoretically, based on the MarathonRookie.com schedule for a half marathon, I will 3, 5, and 3 mile runs next week, then an 8 mile run on Saturday, for my long run. After today, I am really looking forward to it, and I feel like it's actually possible! :) So pumped right now! Callie should be looking pretty good by Thanksgiving, as well, if she continues to run with me.
My husband may kill me, because she may have to come home with me tomorrow. She makes too nice of a running buddy.
And what I need is another dog.
He's really gonna kill me.
But at least I can outrun him.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Longest Run to Date
I ran/walked my longest total distance today, as well as ran my longest run, 4.44 miles. The Nike Plus half marathon trainer suggested this as my running distance for today. I must say it was wonderful! Most of that has to do with the location, the roads in and around First Baptist Church of Calhoun near my in-laws' home, and the mere fact that I wasn't running in circles on a track or a treadmill, which has been fairly standard for me until this week.
A sweet little Catahoula cur mix joined me just outside of my in-laws' property, and he enjoyed the run, as well. I counted 4 other dogs on my run today, and thankfully none of them chased me.
Crepe Myrtle Drive, behind the Calhoun Fire Station, is just beautiful, and I really enjoyed that bit of the run. Running on actual roads has led to more enjoyment of my runs. However, I'm a big wuss, and I need places with little to no traffic, so I would love some suggestions. As I increase my distance, I can imagine becoming more and more frustrated with the lack of local un-busy places to run. I hope I can make a trek to the Long Leaf Trace at least once a week between now and the half marathon. I am, as yet, undecided on a half marathon.
Thank you again for reading :)
A sweet little Catahoula cur mix joined me just outside of my in-laws' property, and he enjoyed the run, as well. I counted 4 other dogs on my run today, and thankfully none of them chased me.
Crepe Myrtle Drive, behind the Calhoun Fire Station, is just beautiful, and I really enjoyed that bit of the run. Running on actual roads has led to more enjoyment of my runs. However, I'm a big wuss, and I need places with little to no traffic, so I would love some suggestions. As I increase my distance, I can imagine becoming more and more frustrated with the lack of local un-busy places to run. I hope I can make a trek to the Long Leaf Trace at least once a week between now and the half marathon. I am, as yet, undecided on a half marathon.
Thank you again for reading :)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
History of my Bad Running
At the risk of alienating my poor Facebook friends and family who are not runners, blogging is probably a better alternative for recording my pitiful running endeavors. By blogging instead of updating my Facebook status, only those who wish to see the information need see it.
By way of history, I took up walking in March 2010, walking 2 miles per day on a cheap (read "free") indoor treadmill which was set to a permanent incline of 10%. I walked while watching TV after work and acquired a taste for several hinky TV series in the process.
Walking became necessary because, as a medical transcriptionist, I sit for 8-10 hours a day, sometimes as much as 12 hours per day during busy times. Suffice to say, after 3 years of sitting all day every day, my body began to retaliate. I developed joint swelling and stiffness in my legs and ankles. Even though I was not overweight, I felt "yucky" and continued to have joint swelling and pain throughout the winter.
After realizing I had also gained 10 pounds over the course of my transcription career, I thought it might be time for a lifestyle change, if only minimal. A fellow transcriptionist recommended Sparkpeople.com as a beginner's diet and exercise guide. Now for an embarrassing bit. The first day I tracked my nutritional intake, I consumed 3200 calories. I actually thought I was being somewhat careful, knowing all my calories and fat would be tallied at the end of the day.
The rest, as they say, is history. I lost 30 pounds through diet changes and walking over 6 months, and my wardrobe has been 2 times too large since. I went from a size 12 to a size 6, and I have maintained my healthier lifestyle, since. I am happier and healthier!
I decided to take up running in the fall of 2010, but the cold weather eventually got the best of me a couple of weeks into training for the Hobble Then Gobble 5-mile race. I eventually ran my first 5K in June 2011. I have run three 5K races, to date, and I hope to run a half marathon over the next few months.
On the subject of Bad Running, I pick up what information I can from the internet and buddies, but I don't always know the "right" questions to ask...or actually what the heck I'm talking about at all. There's a lot of guess work and hindsight involved in this process, for me!
It's true that walking and running are time-consuming, but it's also true that you don't much mind the time-consumption factor during and after most of your walk/run. It's fun! It feels good! You eventually find a way to work the "feel good" into your schedule and encourage your family and friends to do the same as a way of condensing activities (family time in front of the TV = running/walking time a day or 2 a week).
Please feel free to offer constructive criticism, advice, or other comments. I plan to use this blog as something of a running diary, and perhaps my friends and family can use this as a guide if and when they decide to take up the hobbies of walking and running.
Thank you for reading! :)
By way of history, I took up walking in March 2010, walking 2 miles per day on a cheap (read "free") indoor treadmill which was set to a permanent incline of 10%. I walked while watching TV after work and acquired a taste for several hinky TV series in the process.
Walking became necessary because, as a medical transcriptionist, I sit for 8-10 hours a day, sometimes as much as 12 hours per day during busy times. Suffice to say, after 3 years of sitting all day every day, my body began to retaliate. I developed joint swelling and stiffness in my legs and ankles. Even though I was not overweight, I felt "yucky" and continued to have joint swelling and pain throughout the winter.
After realizing I had also gained 10 pounds over the course of my transcription career, I thought it might be time for a lifestyle change, if only minimal. A fellow transcriptionist recommended Sparkpeople.com as a beginner's diet and exercise guide. Now for an embarrassing bit. The first day I tracked my nutritional intake, I consumed 3200 calories. I actually thought I was being somewhat careful, knowing all my calories and fat would be tallied at the end of the day.
The rest, as they say, is history. I lost 30 pounds through diet changes and walking over 6 months, and my wardrobe has been 2 times too large since. I went from a size 12 to a size 6, and I have maintained my healthier lifestyle, since. I am happier and healthier!
I decided to take up running in the fall of 2010, but the cold weather eventually got the best of me a couple of weeks into training for the Hobble Then Gobble 5-mile race. I eventually ran my first 5K in June 2011. I have run three 5K races, to date, and I hope to run a half marathon over the next few months.
On the subject of Bad Running, I pick up what information I can from the internet and buddies, but I don't always know the "right" questions to ask...or actually what the heck I'm talking about at all. There's a lot of guess work and hindsight involved in this process, for me!
It's true that walking and running are time-consuming, but it's also true that you don't much mind the time-consumption factor during and after most of your walk/run. It's fun! It feels good! You eventually find a way to work the "feel good" into your schedule and encourage your family and friends to do the same as a way of condensing activities (family time in front of the TV = running/walking time a day or 2 a week).
Please feel free to offer constructive criticism, advice, or other comments. I plan to use this blog as something of a running diary, and perhaps my friends and family can use this as a guide if and when they decide to take up the hobbies of walking and running.
Thank you for reading! :)
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