A Year of Running

JANUARY 2010 started off with my no longer fitting into my largest jeans and thus was the start of a new running plan. The plan was to run every day of the month, and the hub got me started off on the first two weeks. Now I will mention that the plan was that he was to stick with me, running at least a couple times a week, but that didn't exactly happen.....although he did continue to be ever present in my head. In fact, I still hear him cutting me a deal that I can go as slow as needed but walking and stopping is not permitted! :)

FEB 2010 included about two weeks of slowing down or decreased activity, but March is when I began working full-time with my skinny coworkers. Nothing says motivation like working with thin, assertive women.

MARCH-JUNE 2010: Pretty much ran at least 5x a week, but only covered about 1-2 miles each outing. When I started thinking about total mileage in early June, it dawned on me that I really hadn't covered all that much ground...somewhere in early April I wore out my shoes and suffered from shin splints. New shoes took care of the splints and the running continued without much of a missed beat. And by mid June I was back in my slimmest pair of jeans.

----Pause for a bit of running history here-----------

I've never been much of a  true long distance runner (although somewhere in my mind I've wanted to do some sort of mini-to-full triathlon). I ran cross country my senior year of high school just to prove to myself that I could in fact do it, but the highest mileage I ever ran in one day was 7 miles. In the last 10 years I've had bouts of becoming enamored with running again (mainly when I wanted a quick drop in fat--nothing slims you down like 1-2 weeks of daily doubles.....well until you turn 26 and your body suddenly doesn't respond quite as fast as it used to.....). When I was teaching high school health, I ran frequently after school to shake off the day but also because I knew I needed to be a healthy role model for my students. However, most of these outings have always been 2 miles or below...

Three other lil' fun running facts about yours truly: 1) I almost always run better WITHOUT headphones 2) I always cover more distance when I run with a friend and 3) Being from a hilly area in rainy Oregon, I have always hated running indoors on treadmills and preferred instead exposure to various weather and terrains....

---------BACK TO PRESENT RUNNING TIME---------------

JUNE-JULY 2010 is when I changed my goal in an effort to increase total mileage. Quickly it went from covering 5-7 total miles, to 7-9, and then on to 7-11. The end of July with these great turn-outs and the fact that running started to feel easy, I decided to take off a week to rest my body.

AUG 2010--getting back into grove after taking a week off was not fun. The month itself was somewhat shot due to the family events that unfolded that particular month, however running definitely still happened just back to 3-5 outings per week with an average of 2 miles each outing. At least two weeks though I still made the overall mileage goal.

SEPT 2010: Back covering original 7-11 miles although occasional treadmill running is getting thrown in more frequently. By this point, have discovered that treadmill running allows me to go farther (5K) which transfers into an easier time and increases road distance to nearer 3 miles also. By this point, I've beat my high school PR (personal record) and the new PR is just under 26 minutes. By end of month, shin splints returned with a vengence.

OCT-NOV 2010: Try to run through shin splints as I start to think it's just because I'm starting to pound out the mileage/outings again. I finally think of overall mileage since the last new shoes and I purchase a replacement set. Within 3 runs, shin splints are gone--amazing what shoes can do! Carrying on with 3-5 outings and about 11 miles a week. Somewhere in the summer I mastered running with one dog/leash per hand, and the gals eagerly look forward to our outings. I'm able to tackle the 2.5 loop I've created pretty easily with the dogs in tow.

AND THEN NOV-DEC 2010: Somehow, someway last week I mastered 20 miles split between 6 treadmill and outdoor runs. While some people get excited about 20 miles in one day, I was pretty stoked that I made 20 miles in a week. And for the first time in a LONG time, I have a committed running buddy who I meet on the gym treadmills after work. While treadmill running might not always be my favorite, I'm much more motivated now that I have a friend. And let me tell you, if you want to be motivated and pushed to go further than you thought you could, take up running with a good gal pal who is trying to get back into shape after having an adorable kiddo! ;)

For someone who can easily become bored with the same work-out plan and who doesn't consider herself an actual runner, I can hardly believe I have stuck with running for just about a full 12 months. I'm not entirely sure I'll stick with just running after our move home, but I'm honestly excited to see what I can accomplish with what's left of our time here. While this might seem a little downerish and I'm not entirely sure how people might perceive this, one of my primary motivating thoughts when I'm struggling to keep going another mile is to think of those individuals I work with or personally know who would love the opportunity to be able to flex their muscles and pound out another mile along the pavement....

So to quote the Gingerbread Man "Run, run, run, just as fast as I can!" :)