A Journal for (not real) Runners

A new challenge: 1000 miles in a year

2009-11-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

My dad and I have challenged each other to run 1000 miles in one year. Sounded huge at first, but that is really just about 3 miles per day.

5 Miles

2009-02-26T14:08:00.003-05:00

I ran my fastest 5 miles year to date on the treadmill today. It was actually kind of easy after the first 2 miles.

Live Strong

2009-02-24T14:05:00.000-05:00

I have been using the dailyplate on LiveStrong.com and found that it helps me "want" to run because it increases the number of calories I can eat.

I ran 4 miles today on the treadmill which gave me about extra 450 calories which is like another whole meal...yummy.

3 miles

2009-02-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

I ran 3 miles today on the treadmill.

Keep on keeping on

2009-02-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

I was only able to run of 4 occasions during our road trip...I had hoped to run 8 times. But I guess I should be happy that I ran at all because I cannot remember running on vacation ONCE in my whole life before this.

Back on my feet

2009-01-30T20:17:00.002-05:00

So I have been running a lot since the beginning of the year. It is way too cold outside so I have been using a treadmill.
I have been building up to today with about 10 previous runs...but I am thrilled to say I ran 5 miles without stopping or slowing down!

Back into it?

2008-09-22T06:56:00.001-04:00

After a few weeks of combined work-stress and motivation-lack through which I successfully delayed any running activities, I finally ran again. As I am typing this it is still dark outside...which means I must have started running those two miles very early in the morning. Feeling good. Should run again tomorrow.

Either way its funny

2008-09-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sam is going through a period of great intelligence...at 3 years old he is acting like a mini teenager. Everything I say is not correct.

Maria was sitting in the drivers seat of our van and she asked me "how do you drive a car?"

Sam was nearby for my explination: "There are pedals and buttons and a wheel and they are all too far apart for kids to use. Cars are not made for kids to drive, they are made for big people."

In a very indignant voice Sam said "that's NOT right."

At first I thought Sam was complaining about how unfair the world is, but on second thought he was probably just telling me that my answer was wrong. :)

First post

2008-09-01T19:16:00.003-04:00

Thank you for inviting me to the group. I started running about 2 months ago, for the first time in my life. I had been a ballet dancer for 10 years before having my 3 kids, and so I never really needed any other sort of exercise, not to mention that fact that I HATED the idea of going for a run! But 7 months after giving birth to my third baby, I decided that I needed to do something to get me back into shape. I finally got up the motivation to start running. I do not know how fast I am now, but I know I am at least a bit faster than I started out. I usually focus more on endurance than speed... I am seriously not fast at all!
I usually only have about 25 to 30 minutes in the morning to run, while Peter is getting ready for work. I end up doing about 1.5 to 2.0 miles in that amount of time. I aim to run 3 to 4 times a week. Combined with a healthy, and somewhat calorie conscious diet, the running has helped me to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight!!! It also has been great for getting me up and going for the day, and even helps to clear my head once in a while. I do not like it at the time, but I always feel pretty great after a run.
I have not tried running with the kids, but I do like to take walks with them, 2 in the double stroller and 1 in the carrier. I am wondering if anyone knows where to get a good stroller that can go on unpaved roads and hold 3 children??
Anyways, thanks again for the invite.

Hello

2008-08-26T08:09:00.003-04:00

My name is Karen. I am not a real runner. Until a week ago I was not a runner at all. I think I actually hate running, but I don't know much about it, so I shouldn't judge. I have given birth to 3 kids in the past 4 years, and my body needs at least a little exercise. Not that I was in great shape prior to having kids, but now seems like the perfect time to get that ball rolling. So thanks for the encouragement, Jesse, and thank you for inviting me to contribute to your blog.

I just finished reading a book called Run For It, about a woman who sounds like me... hated running, embarrassed about"jiggling" (we'll leave it at that), and who just kept hanging on to those extra tens of pounds since adolescence. Her name was also Karen. The key differences between us are that now she has run 3 marathons and taught running clinics.

I do not aspire to running marathons. I aspire to being a) not at all overweight, b) self confident, and c) IN SHAPE for once in my life. I am pretty sure running as a lifestyle can really help me reach those goals. So here I am... posting in the public forum might just help motivate me out the door when I am not feeling like it.

In the past week I have run 3.2 miles (thank you, MapMyRun).

More consistent

2008-08-26T07:16:00.003-04:00

In the last couple weeks I have run a handful of occasions. Each one just before dawn--because any later than that and I cannot fit running in to my day. The distances are none too impressive, each about 1.5-2.0 miles. This seems be a distance short enough that I can rationalize it to myself enough that I do not resist putting on my running shoes. Once my shoes are on I actually look forward to bounding down the cool empty pavement, watching the sky slowly turn from a medium blue to aquamarine. One of these mornings when I feel I have more time, and I forget that I am intelligent, I think I'll go for a longer run to see the sky turn from blue to orange.

Plymouth Father's Day 10K race

2008-07-22T08:54:00.003-04:00

I finished a 10K in which I was happy with until I saw that 6 people over 60 years old beat my time. Goodness. I have a long way to go for long term fitness.

I ran!

2008-05-08T20:12:00.001-04:00

After being sick for a little while with a cold that made me absolutely exhausted I finally decided to run a little bit. I was only thinking about it so i called Sean to make me run because i knew that would be the only way i would actually do it. So i ran 2.2 miles but my hip hurt the whole time which im not quite sure why.

How far is too far?

2008-04-27T14:56:00.002-04:00

I couldn't answer that today. I ran nearly 7 miles, at a pretty brisk pace (not so brisk for "real runners"). Emily can vouch for me that I felt great the whole time. I actually feel like I could have kept running for a lot longer...but I don't my endurance to ruin my knees (which historically have had problems if I don't work my way up gradually).

Up to the library and back

2008-04-14T17:31:00.001-04:00

Emily came over again after school and we ran with the young-ins to the library for a quick return, and then right back home again. 3.4 miles in all.

4 miles

2008-04-07T17:29:00.003-04:00

Emily, my loyal running partner, came over and pushed one of my heavy kids for four miles after school today. I don't know how fast we went, but we went for distance today.

Studying? No

2008-04-02T19:03:00.002-04:00

I should have been studying for anatomy because of my test tomorrow... but inbetween studying i decided to have a short run to wake me up. I ended up running 1.2 miles, not much but it woke me up and made me feel better.

Small runs

2008-04-02T18:20:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday I wanted to run but it was too cold outside so i ran on the tredmill. The tredmill gets boring and i think everyone knows how that goes. So i ended up only running one mile. Oh well, it was something.
The next Day, Monday the 31st i ran outside for 2 miles. It was better :)

Easter Sunday run

2008-03-25T08:48:00.003-04:00

I finally ran after too long of a pause. As I mentioned I am not a "real" runner, and something as silly as a stressful month of studying for a securities license exam and working was enough to keep me from pounding the pavement. (oh yeah, and it has been cold here in Michigan, too).

Emily came over Sunday afternoon and we ran 2 miles. Emily has obviously been running more consistently than myself, but I would just like to mention for the record that I beat Emily up the big hill.

Running isn't as hard as I remember

2008-03-15T13:41:00.003-04:00

I went running again today. This time I went 2.7 miles. I wanted to go on but since I ran 4 yesterday I thought my body would end up hating me. So I thought it would be better to keep the miles down today. Jesse, want to come running with me soon?

Its getting warm!

2008-03-15T10:32:00.002-04:00

Three days ago I ran 2 miles. Yesterday I was going to run 2 miles but I couldn't stop so I kept going until I reached 4 miles. It felt great and I forget why I stopped running. I gotta keep this up now!...as long as it stays warm outside.

:)

2008-03-03T18:57:00.003-05:00

After a month of not running, one mile felt great. It was cold and the wind was hurting our throats and lungs but Jesse and I suffered through a whole MILE! Maria came along for the ride too. I hope to go out more often now that I am not tired and sick all of the time from mononucleosus. We'll post next time.

2008-02-09T11:20:00.001-05:00

After a meal, we were sharing ice cream together with the same spoon, Maria had a few bites and said, "I can't walk any more, stop giving me ice cream."

Tomorrow will be Better

2008-02-09T10:55:00.001-05:00

Last week i went running on the tredmill because it was too cold outside. I ended up getting really light headed so i only went one mile. Jesse and i are going to try to go running tomorrow though :)... if he isn't too busy.

Nice day, Heavy kids

2008-01-29T18:38:00.001-05:00

It was a drippy 40 degrees today, a perfect temperature for running. I had the kids today, so fitting all three into the jogging stroller is a bit tricky, but I found that two fit in to the front two seats, and a third can fit in the back compartment. It works out pretty well, it is just harder to push 100+ pounds around with me for 3 miles. Anyway, we did it.

Too Cold

2008-01-23T17:04:00.000-05:00

It has been unusually cold these last weeks, and I am just too much of a not-real-runner to go out there and freeze my teeth. I had planned on running with Emily on her treadmill, but she felt it was more important to get her hair cut than continue towards our goal. JK

Competing with the clock

2008-01-09T16:33:00.001-05:00

Today I decided it would be a good idea if I started wearing my watch again. The last few runs I didn't want to focus so much on my time, but man what a difference a watch makes. I know where all the half mile markers are along my route, as the run progressed I was afraid I wasn't going to meet my goals for pace so I convinced my legs to speed up. I was pleasently suprised that my average pace was just under 9 minute miles. I'll take that :-)

Best Run Yet!

2008-01-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday wasn't a great run. I felt sick the whole time but I ran at the same pace without stopping at all to walk like Jesse did :P. But he was a lot faster than me so he made up for it haha. Today it was 60 F! I decided that i would run first thing when i got home. I ran 3 miles today and it felt amazing! It is the perfect weather and i felt great the whole time without stopping. I didn't stop both days but I wasn't quite as slow today because I didn't feel sick! I hope its a warm day tomorrow also so that I can take advantage of it.

40 F is nice

2008-01-06T12:53:00.001-05:00

Today was a great day for a run. I ran 3 miles with Emily on Hunters Creek. After 2 miles we decided that it didn't seem like such a bg deal to run an additional mile...so we did. I'm glad we are not up to 20 miles yet, but we are slowly getting closer to our big audacious goal.

A cold day for running

2008-01-04T13:48:00.001-05:00

It is only 30 F outside, but I promised Emily that I would run at least 3 days each week. So Josh (safely in the Chariot) and I went for a run on our old route down snow-packed side roads to Haggerty to Hines. Down the hill was easy, but pushing myself and Josh up the hill without stopping to walk was harder than I remember. After I got to the top and walked a few paces the last 1/2 mile seemed like a real breeze. We ran a total of 2.2 miles today. A good stretch is what I need now...and maybe some psychiatric help (why is it that we are running in the winter again?)

It was too COLD outside

2008-01-03T13:11:00.000-05:00

I got all dressed up for running outside this morning only to find out that it was 15 degrees. I decided to give it a chance and took 20 seconds on my porch until I decided the treadmill was a better option. I watched the Andy Griffith show while I ran over 2 and a quarter miles. I don't see that you have run at all since Monday Jesse. It felt good besides my headache during the run. I will try to run tomorrow also.

The First Run

2007-12-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

My legs are shaky and tired after the 2 miles I ran today. It was my first run in over two months so it was hard but it felt great. I cannot wait until a get back into shape! Thanks for training for the marathon with me Jesse!

First Day

2007-12-31T13:30:00.001-05:00

I'll confess it has been a long time since I have last ran a distance of more than a few hundred yards. But I ran 2 miles with Emily this morning (after carrying a large oak armoire with my dad and Ben). It was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. It actually felt rather nice, except that my mouth always feels funny when gulping down cold air. After stretching my leg muscles feel a bit tingly, so I'll bet that I am going to feel this tomorrow.

Onward and upward!

A Big Audatious Goal

2007-12-31T12:56:00.001-05:00

Emily sent me a text and asked: "Do you want to start training now for a full Marathon in 2008?"

How could I resist such an offer of comradere during a potentially gruelling journey to the finish line of a full Marathon? We have run together in a measly 13.1 Mile half marathon, so we have some history of pounding the pavement. Now this is a whole new challenge. We have not yet picked the race that we will choose, but we will keep the blog updated as we progress in our training.