Week 3.1 - Day 2 & 3; Week 4 - Day 1 & 2

I'm sad I didn't have time until now to post a running update. The details from each run have a tendancy to blur together.


Week 3.1 - Day 2 & 3

These were on 4/25 and 4/27. Both days were really hot and both nights were much warmer than I had been used to - day 2 hotter than day 3. They were the first days that I had jogged when it wasn't fairly chilly out (I only go out at night). Day 3 was tough and I was sweating. I don't usually sweat a lot - just how I am - and since I have been jogging in cold temps, I didn't sweat much at all. Day 3 was SWEATY! :) I didn't mind, it was just a lot different than I had been used to so far.

I took River with me on the warm up walk on day 2 but left him home for the rest since he was still sick. I took him with me on day 3. Sometimes I think he is completely bored and unhappy on our runs. I wish I could ask him whether he'd prefer to come with or stay home. He is getting better and better at staying right with me (he knew how to "heel" before I started running but it's different to behave on a leash, going varying speeds, in traffic, etc.) but still is jumpy when he hears weird noises. One day I know he's going to bolt at an unexpected sound, trip me, and cause me to fall on my face. Not looking forward to that...

Both days I worked on going a bit longer distance than I did the day before. I wasn't really struggling to hit the 3 min jog mark so I figured I'd work in a little more speed. I ended the last 3 min walk right at my driveway on day 2 and passed my driveway completely on day 3. I went 6 loops / 1.8 miles on both days. On day 3 I was doubting my ability to jog for the 5 min interval for the next week, so I decided to push on that last 3 min jog to see how long I could go - I got to a little over 4 mins with some struggle. That gave me hope that I'd be able to go on to week 4.


Week 4 - Day 1 & 2

Holy crap I can jog for 5 mins straight!! :) Seriously, it still seems silly to say stuff like that but it's so far from what I was doing 7 weeks ago, that it's hard to believe.

Week 4 is:
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes); Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds); Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes); Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes); Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes); Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds); Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

I took River on day 1 and really tried to pace myself. It went really well and I never thought about giving up. The beginning is definitely tough but by the end I get more energy back and really start to enjoy it. Well, I should clarify, it still sucks the entire time, I'd rather be eating a yummy dinner in front of the TV, but I don't feel like I'm going to die by the end. And, if I don't feel like I'm going to keel over, then I'm happy to be out there and proud of myself (which, for me, equals enjoyment).

On day 2, C came with me and I left River in the house. C hasn't been with me since the week 2 instruction so she did not complete all the jogging intervals. This is not a stab at her or anything - she did great for not having gone out for a couple weeks. It did make me feel good though that all my running has actually been doing something for me. She got a cramp in her side - I don't want her to get hurt because of me - so I told her she should just walk. I jog slow enough that she can keep up if she walks fast (hah I'm so slow...). I haven't ever gotten side cramps, not sure what causes those or if you can just push through them.

Week 4 starts to increase the total time out walking/running. I get well into the 6th loop at the end of the second 5 min interval with this new week. Both weeks were 7 loops total / 2.1 miles. Still having to push myself to actually get out there but am still so happy I went, every time.


A few more updates
I got so tired of my one pair of sweat pants falling down during my runs that I went out and bought some new exercise clothes. I found 2 pairs of pants, one grey and one black, and a pair of capri type pants that are black with a pink racing stripe down the leg. Yay for "petite" length pants that I don't have to roll up! (I'm about 5'4" and have a hard time finding the correct length pants). I also found a hooded, zip-up sweat shirt that I can wear if it's raining or too cold for just a t-shirt. I wore my new clothes for the first time on week 4 - day 2 (the grey pants) and they are so much better than what I was wearing before!

My legs have been hurting a little more lately. Not my knee - which I'm still so grateful for - but my shins and most notibly my left thigh. My shins aren't too bad, mostly just tender to the touch, getting better the more time passes from my last run. I figure the shin thing is just normal muscle pain. My thigh however has hurt for at least a week now and does not seem to be getting better. It's not normal muscle pain as I know it - it's deep in there, under the muscle(s) that I can manipulate if I were to rub my thigh. It's not tender to the touch but instead makes me wince if I move my leg in a certain way. Walking in high heels (today) makes it hurt as well. I'm just going to keep running through it but I wanted to note it here in case it gets worse.

Someone has mentioned (without prompting) that I look like I'm losing weight. I hope I do but really I haven't lost much. I think I feel like I have but I can't tell if it's all in my head or not. My clothes aren't any looser or anything.

So far, so good though! Tonight will be week 4 - day 3. :)