I Need Remedial Running!

I was reminded this morning, while trying to run, that "Girls Just Want to Have Fun!" but I wasn't having fun!  I wasn't having any fun at all!  Today was really hard.  Actually, this week has been really hard!  My runs have not been easy - not that I am expecting them to be easy, but I would love for them not to make me doubt that I can ever be a runner.  Yes, I know... If it was easy, it would be called your mama.  Um... I mean... If it was easy, everyone would be a runner.

I wasn't able to complete the running portions of today's training plan.  I did some of the running portions, but gave in to the need to walk more than half the time that I was supposed to be running.  It was a beautiful morning, though.  I met a new neighbor who was also out for a walk and learned some new things about the neighborhood, namely that the elementary school is likely to be closed.  They will no for sure next week.  I didn't go there, but did go to many Halloween parties and other activities there with  people who did, so it makes me sad.

It was almost 60º and sunny, as you can see.  I have the day ahead of me and plan to do some yard work (I already stacked some firewood) then we are cooking out with family for the first time this year.  This evening, more time with family around a small campfire (the reason for the firewood).  

So, even though my run didn't go the way I would have like, I'm looking forward to a great spring day and I'll think on whether I should repeat this week of my training plan, or just try to move forward.

Running Outdoors

Beautiful morning for my first run outside this year.

Yep... First run outside this go-round.  I have been doing all of my running at 5:15 am on the treadmill in my living room, which is why I haven't written here... it's a treadmill run and there's not really much to talk about.  It's been feeling good.  I missed a couple of days last week because I had a cold, or allergies, or something, but I picked up right where I left off this week and didn't miss a beat.  

We are in Battle Creek for the weekend, so today's run was going to have to be outside, or I was going to have to go to Planet Fitness and use the treadmill there.  I didn't want to do that, and it was a beautiful morning (albeit chilly, at 35º and a little breezy) so I headed out in the lovely residential neighborhood that I'm staying in, and really, really enjoyed it. I saw more cars than I usually do in my own neighborhood (when I'm not in my living room) and went on some streets that I've never been on before, despite having grown up in the area.  

I ran a little faster and a little further than I have on the treadmill, which tells me that I am not pushing myelf as hard as I could when I'm running in my living room.  I had some great music and my cool down finished about 5 minutes from the house, so I had a little more time to cool and stretch than I do before work in the morning.  Plus, I stopped to visit with my mother- and father-in-law.  I was very happy with today's results.  My clothes even coordinated - which never happens at 5:15!  Tomorrow is Easter, which means a day of family time.  Looking forward to that.  Back to my early morning run on Tuesday, and I'm looking forward to that, too - but not quite as much as I'm looking forward to the time that it's light enough in the morning for me to go back outside!