Easy 3-miler that became 4...

Went running after work today. I started later than normal, because I had a meeting after work, so I didn't wind up beginning my run until about 4:45. I spent a good twenty minutes before changing clothes trying to think of reasons not to run. It was too late, my head was a bit achy.... But I finally shrugged off those voices, changed clothes, and headed out.

And I am so glad I did. I was supposed to do an easy three miles, but at the 1.5 mile mark where I could have turned around for an even 3, I felt good and strong, so I kept going. I finished out the 4 strong, not gasping for breath. It was a nice feeling. :)

I will say, running slowly is very interesting. I have to concentrate on maintaining a slow run when my legs want to speed up. However, I know that if I let myself speed up, I will need to walk sooner. As it was, I finished all 4 miles running, even if it was ridiculously slow!

But I can't help but wonder.... is taking it slow going to do anything for me? It lets me run longer, so that's good, right? And eventually, with my speedwork and tempo runs, my slow pace will increase until it's not so slow. That's the goal, at least. SmartCoach thinks it can get me running a half marathon in 2:25 by the time October rolls around, so I guess we will see!

Speaking of speedwork -- Wednesday (or maybe Thursday - Wednesday is my birthday and I might need to consume mass quantities of wings instead of running!) is my first ever speedwork run. I'm a little nervous!

Off to watch The Voice. Happy Monday, y'all!

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Kelly Clarkson, 4 miles, and heading back to the gym!

How nerdy is it that I got geekily excited about 1) running again tomorrow (4 easy miles!) and 2) beginning speedwork and tempo runs? I'm not sure at the moment how to gauge my runs, so I'm going to be doing most of my tempo and speed runs initially on the dreadmill. Hopefully, I'll be able to become a little more better acquainted with my levels of exertion. Right now, my levels go from approximately "Hey, this isn't too bad" to "HOLY CRAP, I'M GOING TO DIE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, HELP ME" in a fraction of a second. I think I may be running too hard, even as slow as my mileage is. My easy runs according to SmartCoach are supposed to be run WAY slowly - 13:48 a mile tomorrow! I'm hoping that by slowing it down, I will also be able to run the entire way.

Here is my week according to SmartCoach:

I'm not sure why my dates are a little bit off. I typed my information into the plan on February 20, so I don't know why it's telling me my first week is February 13 - unless SmartCoach thinks I should've been psychic and anticipated this ahead of time! I'm using the times as rough estimates for my traveling, but I am also following a training plan that a super awesome friend created for me. Deanna works for Mizuno and is probably one of the most amazing runners on the planet. So I'm following her plans while keeping to suggested times from SmartCoach. It's good to mix and mingle, right?


I am doing the 4 mile run tomorrow, then starting off with the posted weekly schedule on Monday. My cross-training days will come from BodyRock.TV. I did a workout on Thursday of this past week that included burpees and reverse push-ups on a dip station and my back muscles are totally feeling it today. Love that feeling!

In other news, went to the Kelly Clarkson concert in Atlanta last night. LOVE that girl. She just always seems so comfortable with who she is and by God, she is not changing to fit what the media or what society feels she should be. I admire that a lot, and sometimes I feel so hypocritical, because part of the reason I go to Weight Watchers and workout like I do is because I want to fit into all these cute clothes, and I want to look cute, according to society standards. I envy that she could not care less.

But forget her appearance (because she's beautiful as anything, no matter her weight!), let's discuss her VOICE. The girl can sing. I would love to have the ability to sing well. I can be best described as a cross between a dying bullfrog and the squeaky sounds coming from a hamster's spinning wheel. It's so not pretty, and yet, I will sing loud and proud. I figure, if I know I'm terrible, I might as well own up to it.

Hope everyone is having a happy Friday!

I miss running. But trying something new next week!

I am taking the week off to recuperate from the half-marathon this past Saturday. And while it means I get to run on Saturday, it also means I didn't get to run today. I normally run on Wednesdays, so my brain definitely missed it today! Four miles on Saturday, here I come!

I am incorporating something new beginning next week... Thanks to Hungry Runner Janae, I am trying out Smart Coach, from Runner's World. You can input your time on your latest race (2:43 for a half marathon for me), the race length you are training for, the intensity of your training, and how long you want your training to be, and it creates a plan for you. My next half is 34 weeks away, so I've got quite a long training plan! BUT Smart Coach seems to think it can get me to finish the Diva Half Marathon in 2:24. Twenty minutes faster? That would be awesome!

So beginning next week, Smart Coach has me doing tempo runs and speedwork. I have never done either - all of my runs have always been either easy runs or long runs! Next week's tempo run is 4 miles, with a mile to warm up and cool down, and the 2 middle miles at 12:05 per mile. I haven't gone to the gym to use the treadmill since June 2011, but I guess I will be revisiting my membership!

Tomorrow - going to see Kelly Clarkson in concert! SO excited!