I suppose this is officially my second week of running, since I started last Saturday. But with Monday being my "long run" day this time around, Thursday should be the start of my running week. So this will be my first full week of running. Perhaps I'll call last Saturday and Monday warm-ups, and this my official Week One.
Not that it really matters. Heh.
The driveway was dry, so I ran around the house. Nineteen laps at 2:2, which took a little over 36 minutes (I don't remember exactly because I forgot to stop my watch when I got done.) So, still around 18-minute miles. Hm. If that's going to be my speed, how long would it take me to finish a marathon? Seven hours and fifty-one minutes. Ack. I know I can do better than that -- if I can't beat my time in LA, I'll be sorely disappointed. Yes, I'm a year older, but I've also recovered a lot more from the cancer treatments and feel much stronger now. Meh. I've only just started. If I'm still doing two miles in 36 minutes by the end of April, then I'll worry. (And an 8-hour marathon would still be faster than my last Honolulu, which was something around 8:40.)
The important thing for now is to keep on doing my two-mile runs three times a week and eating right and not to worry about my speed. (Which of course I will continue to do, obsessively recording my time for each workout.)
But at least I know I'm being obsessive about it!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Run 3
Today's run was at the gym, since the driveway was still muddy from the rain and snow on Tuesday night. It was a bit harried and weird, as I totally misjudged how much time I'd need to get ready and do everything, so I left home later than I should have. Then my little keychain bobber didn't open the member door, even though I was quite sure my membership didn't expire until sometime in April. I didn't see anyone in the office, so I went ahead and did my run on the treadmill, thinking I'd check before I left and if my membership had expired, I'd pay the day use fee then. But by the time I left, staff hours were over and no one was there.
It wasn't till I got home from work that I had the chance to look up my membership agreement and see that it did, indeed, expire on April 3, so I didn't sneak into the gym and use their equipment without paying! I don't know why my bobber didn't work. Maybe they deactivate them a week before they expire in order to get you to come in and renew. I'm not going to renew, though. I figured it would be cheaper to just pay the day use if I need to go to the gym to run occasionally. Since I'm doing long runs on Mondays this time, I don't need to worry about getting in when it's unstaffed.
The run itself went well enough. The one thing I hate about the treadmills upstairs at the gym is that I totally shock myself every time I touch the metal handrails. I guess my gym clothes are too static-y. I ran for about 30 minutes, using a 3:2 minute run/walk ratio, running at 4 mph and walking at 3 mph. I might have also run a few extra minutes at the beginning, but after the first two five-minute intervals, I touched the rail at the same time I was touching the monitor to change the speed, and shorted out the display and had to start over. I know I did at least 10 minutes before losing my count, but I can't remember if I warmed up with a few more minutes before that or not. Sigh. Guess I need to wear rubber gloves when I use the treadmill at the gym!
So, I finished my first week of runs. I feel better already!
It wasn't till I got home from work that I had the chance to look up my membership agreement and see that it did, indeed, expire on April 3, so I didn't sneak into the gym and use their equipment without paying! I don't know why my bobber didn't work. Maybe they deactivate them a week before they expire in order to get you to come in and renew. I'm not going to renew, though. I figured it would be cheaper to just pay the day use if I need to go to the gym to run occasionally. Since I'm doing long runs on Mondays this time, I don't need to worry about getting in when it's unstaffed.
The run itself went well enough. The one thing I hate about the treadmills upstairs at the gym is that I totally shock myself every time I touch the metal handrails. I guess my gym clothes are too static-y. I ran for about 30 minutes, using a 3:2 minute run/walk ratio, running at 4 mph and walking at 3 mph. I might have also run a few extra minutes at the beginning, but after the first two five-minute intervals, I touched the rail at the same time I was touching the monitor to change the speed, and shorted out the display and had to start over. I know I did at least 10 minutes before losing my count, but I can't remember if I warmed up with a few more minutes before that or not. Sigh. Guess I need to wear rubber gloves when I use the treadmill at the gym!
So, I finished my first week of runs. I feel better already!
Monday, March 26, 2007
Second run
Did my second run today, this time with a 2:2 run/walk ratio (didn't use the interval timers, just kept an eye on my watch). I ran/walked for 19 laps, which took 35:24 minutes, for about 17.7 minute miles. Still slow. I think my increase in speed over Saturday's run is mainly due to running for two minutes at a time, instead of a minute and a half or so. Still a long way from 15-minute miles, but I've only just started running again, after a year of virtually no exercise. It's going to take a while. I think I'll stick with two-mile runs at no more than 2:2 for at least two weeks, and then see what my time is.
I've done some investigating into what it would cost to fly to Honolulu and stay in a hotel in Waikiki for three nights, and I think I could swing it for around $1000 - $1500, depending on which hotel I want to stay in, and whether I fly from Bakersfield or LA. I'm just about decided I'm going to do it! Hawaii, here I come!
I've done some investigating into what it would cost to fly to Honolulu and stay in a hotel in Waikiki for three nights, and I think I could swing it for around $1000 - $1500, depending on which hotel I want to stay in, and whether I fly from Bakersfield or LA. I'm just about decided I'm going to do it! Hawaii, here I come!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
I'm back!
Nearly a year since my last post...
This morning, I dusted off my running shoes and went out and ran/walked around the house for about 30 minutes. I didn't time my intervals, but just walked one lap, then ran one lap. I did 17 laps in about 32:35 minutes, which works out to about 18 minutes per mile. Pretty slow, but I haven't run in ages and I just wanted to get out there and see how it felt.
The impetus for my return to running was a letter from the AIDS Marathon listing their summer programs: Florence, Italy (erm, no way), Honolulu, and the Disneyland Half-marathon. Now, Disneyland was one of the races I was considering running in last year, and I got myself all enthused about doing it this year. But the same problem remains -- there's a 3.5 hour time limit, and I'm not sure I can run a half-marathon in 3.5 hours. (That's 16 minute miles, which, considering today's run, are not at all assured.) And, I'm not sure I can afford the $1900 fundraising commitment, seeing as how I'm a lousy fundraiser and would no doubt end up paying for all of it myself.
Still, I'd like to do another marathon or half-marathon this year. So I decided to go ahead and start running three times a week for half an hour or so for a couple of months, then when May rolls around (AIDS Marathon training starts May 18), decide if I think I can manage the Disneyland half-marathon or if I'd rather go for broke and do another Honolulu marathon, and whether to do it with the AIDS Marathon or on my own (and just write out a big donation to AIDS Project LA or some other worthy cause).
Anyway, it felt good to be out there running again. I'm looking forward to getting back into it!
This morning, I dusted off my running shoes and went out and ran/walked around the house for about 30 minutes. I didn't time my intervals, but just walked one lap, then ran one lap. I did 17 laps in about 32:35 minutes, which works out to about 18 minutes per mile. Pretty slow, but I haven't run in ages and I just wanted to get out there and see how it felt.
The impetus for my return to running was a letter from the AIDS Marathon listing their summer programs: Florence, Italy (erm, no way), Honolulu, and the Disneyland Half-marathon. Now, Disneyland was one of the races I was considering running in last year, and I got myself all enthused about doing it this year. But the same problem remains -- there's a 3.5 hour time limit, and I'm not sure I can run a half-marathon in 3.5 hours. (That's 16 minute miles, which, considering today's run, are not at all assured.) And, I'm not sure I can afford the $1900 fundraising commitment, seeing as how I'm a lousy fundraiser and would no doubt end up paying for all of it myself.
Still, I'd like to do another marathon or half-marathon this year. So I decided to go ahead and start running three times a week for half an hour or so for a couple of months, then when May rolls around (AIDS Marathon training starts May 18), decide if I think I can manage the Disneyland half-marathon or if I'd rather go for broke and do another Honolulu marathon, and whether to do it with the AIDS Marathon or on my own (and just write out a big donation to AIDS Project LA or some other worthy cause).
Anyway, it felt good to be out there running again. I'm looking forward to getting back into it!
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