Winter running's been going well. I have to say, I kind of like running in colder weather. Mind you, I haven't gone for a run in minus 30 yet.

I must be addicted to this whole running thing. I haven't gone for a run since Wednesday, and I'm craving it. Luckily, I'm running tomorrow morning, so I'll get my fix ;)

Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Happy running,

Sarah

Winter Running

So I went for my first real winter run. And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it was actually kind of nice. It was a few days ago, when it was snowing and the snow was staying on the ground. I ran more slowly than I normally do, but I still kept up a decent enough pace. I was worried about the ground being slippery, but it was fine - the only place it got kind of slick was at intersections (especially at smaller streets where the pavement sloped downwards).

It was peaceful.

And when I got home, I had a nice cup of chocolate milk. Which of course is an excellent post-run snack, since it has all those good things your muscles need, like protein and carbs, etc. And of course, it helps that it's tasty ;)

And here I was, all worried beforehand that it would be too hazardous to head out for a run when it was snowing. But it wasn't - in fact, it was great. I can't wait for more winter running.

I find it ironic that I was fine while running 5k in the snow, but the next morning, while walking slowly to work, I completely wiped out.

This is how running makes me feel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNtFtm9--co&feature=player_embedded

New post-run meal.

I threw together a meal tonight using leftovers - when I realized it could be a good meal for runners, I figured I'd post it here:

Penne pasta
pesto (to taste)
crushed tomatoes, canned (to taste)
cannellini beans (to taste)
crushed peppers (this depends on how spicy you like your food - I put in about a teaspoon)

The pasta is great for carbs (yay energy!)

And again, I'm not a nutritionist or anything, but I'm pretty sure that the beans paired with the crushed tomatoes make for an easily absorbed source of iron.

I just made this for my dinner, but if you wanted to make this as a post-run meal, I bet adding some chopped hard-boiled egg or some veggie ground round would add a tasty source of protein.

Happy running,

Sarah :)

I accidentally set my new Garmin Forerunner to Venezuelan time.

But then I fixed it, so it's all good.

I've taken it out for one 'test drive' so far, and it's my new favourite thing for sure.

I have a new toy!

A Garmin Forerunner 305, to be precise.

I can't wait to learn how to program it and take it with me when I run  :D


I'm charging it right now, as I type. I'm going to play around with the different functions and set everything up tonight. I'm not the most tech-savvy person, but I'm hoping to figure out at least the basics before my 5k(ish) run tomorrow.

And I don't care that the design is slightly old-school. I think it looks pretty cool, and it isn't any bigger than, say, a standard dive computer. And yes, that was a random scuba diving reference (I love throwing those in there).

With my new little toy I can keep track of distance, pace, heart rate, etc.

This is very exciting.

mmm...protein...

It's a good idea to always have a bit of protein after a run, to help repair muscle tissue.

I usually either have a glass of chocolate milk or a hard-boiled egg after I run, but I made a salad yesterday that I think I might try again sometime as a post-run snack:

Baby spinach
Grape tomatoes (throw in a few to add colour and taste)
Flaked light tuna (the one in water, not oil)
Almond slivers
Honey dijon dressing

Try and enjoy!

It's easy to throw this together, it's really tasty, and it's a source of protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, among other good and healthy stuff. I'm not a nutritionist or anything, so I don't know how much there is per serving, but who cares? It's tasty!  :)

It's funny. When I started running this summer, I was happy just to finish each run. If I could just keep running until each walk break, I was thrilled.

When I started, 5k seemed impossibly far away and out of reach.

About halfway through the Learn to Run Clinic, on a heavy humid day, the group went about 3 kilometres. I had pushed myself as far as I could, and I thought I wouldn't increase my distance and endurance in time for my first race. And when I did start to slowly increase my distance, my knees would sometimes get sore towards the end, when I got tired and my running form got sloppy.

But I learned more about how to run properly. I worked on my running form. I experimented with it and improved it - shortening my stride, focusing on my posture and alignment, and thinking about my feet landing softly.

And I worked on increasing my strength and endurance. Each week, the group went slightly further than the week before. I was still a pretty slow runner. And the heat and humidity of the summer didn't help with that. But I did get myself to a point where I could run 5k, and I did it in time for my first race. And not only did I finish that race, but I finished feeling great (if a tiny little bit sore) and with a huge smile.

Then I started the 5k clinic. And maybe it was the confidence of getting this far, or maybe it was the cooler temperatures of fall, but I started enjoying and looking forward to each run, and I got faster. I'm now halfway through the 5k clinic, and for the past couple of weeks, I've been running way faster on my practice runs than I ever did when I first started.

Yesterday, for example, I ran about 4 and a half kilometres in about 27 minutes. This works out to about 6 minutes per kilometre. Of course, many people run faster than that, but for me this is huge. This is way faster than I thought I'd be running at the moment.

I feel fantastic after each run. Sometimes if I'm tired, my knee or hip might get sore towards the end of a run, but at least I know why. And lately, I've fixed my running form to the point where I run pain-free. I feel amazing and strong and I sound like a broken record when I say it, but I really do feel great.

Of course, I'm mindful of the stresses that running places on the body. I always make sure that I have at least one full rest day between running sessions. I make sure to stretch properly after each run, and I always grab something with protein after running. If I do feel pain during a run, I'll slow down or start walking, and will give myself an extra day or two before I go for another run. I've found something that I love to do, and my fitness level has improved hugely over the past four months. I'll do everything I can to be smart about my running and to avoid injury.

When I started this running blog, I chose the tagline "From Couch Potato to Marathoner". I figured that would be good motivation for me, and something to strive for. But it felt kind of presuming of me. I could barely run for 2 or 3 minutes at a time when I started this blog. But something has changed between then and now. I'm nowhere close to being able to run a marathon yet, but it now seems entirely possible.

I feel like I can plan ahead to next summer and next fall. Instead of this being some kind of pipe dream, I can now see myself getting there - I can see myself becoming a marathoner.

I plan on training for a 10k over the winter. I'm leery of ice but I won't let that stop me (I'll likely run much more slowly, though).

I'll train for a half-marathon in the spring, and then if all goes well, I plan to train for a marathon after that.

Hopefully, by this time next year I'll be running my first-ever marathon.

And that's a pretty cool thing.

Halloween

Yup, I dressed up as a pace bunny for Halloween. Sad, I know.

:)

I was good and squeezed in a run tonight.

I ran 4k in about 26 minutes. Not the fastest pace I've ever run, but pretty close. I usually tend to run slower when I run on my own, but tonight I ran close to my race pace! A bit slower, but pretty close.

And the best part is how great I felt throughout and, more importantly, afterwards. I was able to run the whole 4k quickly, at a fairly consistent pace, and I had no knee pain at all!! That's been my biggest thing lately - working on improving my running form so I don't get any pain.

Plus, I felt amazing all through the run :)

This morning was cold and rainy.

Perfect day for a run :)

Sometimes a training day doesn't end up happening.

I was really looking forward all day to going to my 5k clinic tonight and going for a run, but something came up that had to be dealt with right away.

That's ok, though - I'll join in the Wednesday night practice run. Since I missed the clinic tonight, I don't know what pace we're up to this week. I'm pretty sure it's still two sets of 10:1.

Also, I've said it before in person, but I wanted to repeat it here online: I'm so grateful for all the people I've met over the past three months - both instructors and fellow newbie runners.

Who knew that I'd now be at a point where I really want to run - I look forward to it, I enjoy it, I feel bad if I miss a running session.

I'd especially like to thank Islay and Stephen for being such amazing co-instructors of my Learn to Run Clinic - they helped me get off the couch and get active. Their enthusiasm, encouragement, and knowledge of the sport have helped motivate me, and have helped me get to the point where I can see myself continuing to the 10k, half-marathon, and eventually the marathon.

And Deb - my instructor for the 5k clinic - is really great too. I've only taken two clinics so far, but from my experience, the calibre of instruction is top-notch!  :)

So even though I wasn't able to run tonight, at least I only have to wait till tomorrow.

Pace Groups

We're up to two sets of 10:1 this week in the 5k clinic. This isn't anything new. What is new, is the fact that I now seem to be fast. Or at least, fast for me.

It must be part of the whole build-up-and-then-taper-slightly thing, but it feels kind of like a light switch has been turned on. For the past three months or so (since I took up running), I've always been towards the back of the group.

Today, we set off on our group run, ready for a good workout. There's a long hill right outside the Running Room, and I thought for sure that many other runners would pass me right from the get-go. Instead, I found myself setting the pace - for the first time, I was at the head of the pack!  How on earth did that happen?!?!

After a few minutes there were two of us way ahead of everyone else. After a while, we wondered if we'd taken a wrong turn, or if we'd missed our walk break, so we turned around and ran back a bit and caught up with the rest of the group (it's a very hilly and windy route, so it's easy to lose sight of people in a larger group). Turns out that yes, we'd missed our walk break by a bit, but Deb (our fantastic instructor) counted off the minute for us, and then we were off again.

The second half didn't go quite so well - you see, I have the bad habit of striding too wide. When I'm trying to go fast or catch up to someone, or when I'm distracted and not thinking about my form, my stride gets way too wide, my hips start to drop a bit, and my knees get sore.

I really have to work on that. I did so well on the first set of 10:1, but I went back to old habits in the second half; and, lo and behold, my knee started to get sore. Rather than keep running and have my knee get more sore, I ended up walking the last couple of minutes, but that's ok - I'm all about injury prevention wherever possible.

In fact, my personal mantra when running is "shorter stride, shorter stride, shorter stride..." I do actually tell myself this when I'm running if I've noticed that my form is getting sloppy. Pain sucks. I try to avoid it.

In other news, Deb put us into pace groups today, and it turns out I'm in group A!!  This is very exciting. I'm not used to being a fast runner. When I heard that, I felt like doing a little happy dance. I'm such a keener, lol.

Of course, the practice runs aren't about competition (unless it's with yourself); it's about becoming a better runner, and meeting and running with a great group of people. But I've got to say that if I'm competing with myself, I'm doing pretty well - it feels so great to not only be able to keep up with the group, but to be able to be at the front of the pack. At least for part of the run, anyway.

And here are a few things I've learned so far:

Hills are fun. No, really. It's a challenge to get up them, but it's so satisfying when you make it to the top successfully. And when you run downhill, it almost feels like you're flying. This has been fun so far, but I imagine it will be a little scary when there's snow and ice. And yes, I fully plan to be one of those crazy runners who goes out for a run in all seasons, regardless of weather.

Reflective bands are good. I bought a pair this weekend, and was so excited to be use them for the first time tonight. And then I forgot them at home. I'll revise this point that I've learned: reflective bands are good, and useful if you actually bring them with you.

Water is important. I always try to drink enough water before and after a run, but I should probably think about bringing water with me when I head out - especially if I'm starting to run faster, and eventually further. I got myself one of those fancy four-mini-water-bottles-on-a-belt-type-things. It's high time I started bring it with me. Plus, the water bottle belt has tons of reflectivity on it, which is a bonus.

Sleep is important. If I want to be successful as a runner, and if I want to be productive during the day when I'm working, I need to start getting enough sleep.

And on that note, I'll sign off. It's way past time for bed.

Happy Running,

Sarah :)

Run for the Cure 2010

I made it to the goal race for the Learn to Run Clinic - woohoo!!

This was my second 5k race, and also the largest - this year, there were around 30,000 participants at the CIBC Run for the Cure.

Myself and a bunch of other people from the Learn to Run Clinic were there, freezing cold but excited and ready to get going.

Learn to Run clinic, pre-race (please note, we are freezing)

I'm amazed we were all able to find each other and meet up that morning - with 30,000 people milling around, this was pretty impressive.

The weather was absolutely perfect for running - it was cold, so it wasn't great beforehand, but it was perfect once we got going. There was no wind, and no rain.

Myself and others from the Learn to Run Clinic went right to the front of the line. It was pretty cool to be waiting for the race to start, with 30,000 people right behind us!

people milling around before the race

right at the starting line

right at the starting line - please note
the 30,000 people behind us

When the air horn signals the start, and everyone takes off, it's normal to run really quickly, and that's exactly what I did. Other people had the same idea, too, and within a few seconds there was already a large crowd ahead of me.

But that's ok - I had two goals for this race: to beat my personal best (of 33:33), and to see if I could run the whole 5k with no walk breaks.

and we're off!
(was running while taking this photo)

I had to stop once for a few seconds to tie my shoelace. It was kind of like being on a highway, except with thousands of fast runners instead of cars - I had to look over to make sure I wasn't cutting anyone off, and had to make my way over to the side before I could stop to lace up.

Apart from that brief moment, and walking for about 10 seconds while drinking water at the 3k mark, I met both of my goals for the race.

I started to slow down a bit by the end, but I ran the whole way, with no walk breaks!

And I ran the 5k in less than 30 minutes, beating my personal best by nearly 4 minutes!!!!  :D

outside Convocation Hall, where we met up post-race

crowd milling around, post-race

tree-lined walkway, U of T campus
(in the background, you can see
thousands of people walking
south on St. George)

Learn to Run Clinic, post-race
(please note, we are tired and happy,
but no longer freezing)

U of T campus
crowd milling around, post-race

crowds milling around, post-race

me, post-race  :)

To truly get a sense of how many people participated in Sunday's race: I had finished the race, a bunch of us had stuck around for about half an hour or more, and when I left the site, there were still thousands of people walking along the route.

walkers, westbound on Bloor Street

walkers, southbound on St. George

walkers, southbound on St. George

more walkers

more walkers, plus dog

my pretty running shoes

I must really be liking this whole running thing.

Last week was one of the first cooler-weather runs that I did.

On Monday, it was cold, rainy, and dark by the time the group headed out. We went a slightly different, longer route than normal. There were about two ridiculously long hills thrown in there, too.

And you know what?

I had a really great time! :)

Islay and I even sprinted the last little bit, which was a fun way to end the run.

I'll be starting the 5k clinic this upcoming week, and I'm feeling really good about it. I think it's the best decision for me right now, and I'll work up to 10k and beyond after I've finished up the 5k clinic. I also plan to get back into swimming laps; I'd been doing that when I first started running, and it made a big difference.

On another note, I'm running my second 5k race tomorrow - I'll be at the Run for the Cure, along with several thousands of other runners. It isn't officially timed, so it won't be like the Yorkville Run, which was chip timed, but I'm looking forward to experiencing the energy of running with so many other people.

Can't wait!

Wow - tomorrow's the last day of my Learn to Run clinic! Hard to believe. I feel like I can take on so much more now than I could when I started. I feel so much stronger.

Now that I'm starting to work on increasing my distances, though, I really need to pay even closer attention to my running form. I went for a run on Wednesday with the group, and when I got tired my form got all sloppy - I was landing almost flat instead of on the balls of my feet, and my knees got sore to the point where I almost had to walk the last kilometre or so. I didn't - I kept running, but only barely.

But on the plus side, it was the furthest distance yet for me - about 6.5 km!!  :)

But yes, I really need to focus on proper alignment and proper foot placement so I can keep running injury-free.

I've also decided to opt for the 5k clinic. I want to build up my strength and endurance, and I also want to consistently have good running form before I start increasing my mileage (see above).

I can't wait for the next clinic! And luckily I won't have to, since it starts this week - yay!!

Tons of running (but not too much) is in the forecast for this week.

I can't wait to go for a run tomorrow.

That is all.

Ok, here comes the self-doubt. I've been planning on signing up for the 10k clinic, and I'm still leaning towards doing that, but now I'm starting to wonder if I'm getting ahead of myself.

I'm sure this is a normal part of moving up in running distances, but I'm still a pretty new runner. Do I have a solid enough foundation to move on to the 10k level? In about two and a half months, I've moved from 0k to 5k. That's a pretty good start, but I've read that a lot of overuse injuries happen because of moving too far, too quickly.

So yeah, I'm trying to figure out whether I have a solid enough foundation to go for the 10k clinic, or whether I should sign up for the 5k clinic to really get myself ready.

Hmm...

Well, I have another week or two to decide, so I guess that's a good thing.

I'm still leaning towards the 10k clinic, but I want to be sure that it's the right decision.

We had a great run yesterday - we did about 3.6k in less than 30 minutes, and this was including some hills. I'm signing up for the 10k clinic which starts in early October. I've heard that there's hill work in the 10k clinic, so this bodes well.

I also figured I should use my coupon before it expires, so I bought some running-related gear. I've done without a water bottle during the Learn to Run clinic. This of course is not the best idea in the world, but I always made sure I'd had plenty of water before and after every run.

Now that I'm moving up to the next level, I can't really get away with that anymore. There are a few options. I could go with the holder designed for one large water bottle, or with the multiple-bottle holder. Since I plan to keep going to the longer endurance runs (to the half-marathon and marathon levels), I'll eventually have to get the more fancy multiple-bottle holders, or whatever the proper technical term is.

So, rather than get a cheaper one now, and have to spend more money to upgrade a few months later, I figured I'd splurge and get the fancy one now.

So that's what I did - I got one of those belts that have four small water bottles. They're designed to not get in the way of my arm movement, so they won't feel like they're in the way. When I got home, I still had my running clothes on; I tried on the belt and once again practiced proper form running back and forth (barefoot, since I was at home). I may still be a beginner, but I'm starting to feel like I can call myself a runner.

And yes, you read that right - I spent part of my Friday night trying on my new-and-fancy-running-gear and practicing proper running technique.

Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am a nerd.

Happy running  :)

We had a guest speaker at Monday night's clinic - a chiropractor who specializes in helping runners. He gave a great talk on running technique, and had us all try taking a few steps with proper alignment (and with proper foot placement).

This will really help my technique, and will help me in my goal of keeping injury-free.

When I got home, I practiced running back and forth, barefoot. It's remarkable what a few little adjustments can make.

The Learn to Run clinic is nearly over, and as of Monday we'll be up to 10 minutes running to 1 minute walking. It's pretty cool to think that eight weeks ago, we started off doing 1 minute running to 2 minutes walking, and now I can say "5k? Sure - let's go!"

I feel good. I feel strong.

Made it!

I did it! I ran my first-ever 5k race!!!  :D

And it even went much better than the practice run earlier this week. When Islay, Fil, and I ran the route on Tuesday, it felt really long. And it was really long, for me - it was the longest distance that I had run yet. I'd felt pretty good at the beginning, but I really needed the walk breaks around halfway through, and my legs had started to hurt a bit towards the end.

But this morning, I felt great. Maybe it was the energy of so many other runners. Maybe it was my nervous excitement about my first race. Maybe it was even the delicious cream of broccoli soup I had eaten the night before. But I felt great.

Even before we'd gotten to the site of the run, I was starting to feel the excitement. As we approached Avenue Road, I saw the pylons were already set up for that corner of the race, and I felt like a kid in a candy shop. Then we turned onto Cumberland and I saw the huge start/finish line - I was so excited.  All of this was for us! The roads were closed, there was music playing, there were hundreds of runners getting ready.

The organizers setting up.

The race was chip timed, which meant I wore a stylish ankle-bracelet-type-thing that started timing as soon as I ran across the starting line, and stopped when I'd finished the race. It's pretty cool to know exactly how fast I run.

The three of us just before the race started. Note the stylish ankle bracelets.

The closer we got to 9:30, the more I just wanted to get started. I still wasn't sure what kind of time I would make, but I couldn't wait to find out. A few words from the organizers and sponsors, then the air horn sounded and we were off! Well, it took a few moments to get out of the starting gate, but then we were off!

The plan was to run the race doing a pace of 7:1 (7 mins running to 1 minute walking). I was good and stuck to that plan when the first minute of walking came around, but I felt so full of energy that I only did another minute, maybe minute and a half of walking over the course of the race, so I ended up running most of the course.

I was annoyingly peppy and cheerful.

I cheered at the starting line, I cheered at the surly police officers who were keeping the course clear of drivers, I cheered at the volunteers, I cheered at the water we were given around the halfway mark, and I cheered at all the distance markers.

Woot! We're at the 3k mark! Woohoo - we've made it to 4k! We're almost at the finish already - yeah!!

I'd kept a pretty steady pace, but started to pick up speed around the last 1/2 km, running south on Bay Street. Since I'd already run the course on Tuesday, I knew how close I was to the end. 

And then I turned the corner from Bay onto Cumberland, and could see the finish line. What an incredible feeling. I ran, picking up speed until I was sprinting towards the gate. They announced my name on the loudspeakers as I approached the line, and the crowd cheered. I had no idea that they do that for races - I wasn't expecting it at all, and it felt so incredible. I felt almost like a minor celebrity for those few brief moments as I gave it my all and crossed the finish line.

Me holding up my finisher's medal.

When I first started the Learn to Run course, I thought there was no way I'd be able to run a 5k race in 35 minutes or less. I would get winded just running half a block, and this was only about 8 weeks ago. And today, not only did I do my first 5k race before the end of the running clinic, but I finished in 33:33!

I've joked about it before, but it's true that no matter what my time was, it would automatically be a personal best (since, you know, this was my first race). And I couldn't be happier with it.

And that was with those couple of brief walk breaks thrown in. And I could still carry on a conversation if I'd wanted to, which means that I can definitely beat my personal best if I push myself.

Of course, I was ecstatic when I finished the race (and at 33:33!!) But the feeling wasn't limited to just this morning - I have been on a high all day.

I can't wait for my next race!

Yup. I'm addicted.

Tonight I will sleep very well.

Taking it easy today, since I ran 5k yesterday. I have one more run to squeeze in before the race on Sunday. It'll either be tomorrow or Friday.

I haven't quite decided where it'll be, but I'm looking around to find somewhere picturesque and/or historic - and I'll be relying on Google Maps to figure out the approximate distance.

Pics and commentary to follow.

Countdown to my first race!

I ran 5k tonight in preparation for this Sunday's race!!!!!   :D
Can you tell I'm excited?

Many many thanks to Islay and Fil (whose company made tonight's run easier and much more fun).

I've also learned that it's considered bad luck to run a race while wearing that event's shirt. I'm a theatre-type, and am well-versed in superstitions of the stage, so I'm pretty excited to start learning about superstitions for running. And I will make sure that I wear something other than the snazzy new Yorkville Run t-shirt (I'll save that for when I sign up for the 10k clinic and need more running clothes).

It feels pretty amazing to know - not just to guess, but to actually know, that I can handle running 5k. I'm now looking forward even more to this Sunday's race.

So yeah, I'm feeling pretty fantastic tonight. Tomorrow I will be sore.

Labour Day Weekend

Despite the lack of a practice run this weekend, it has still been a pretty active few days. I managed to get a dive in, despite the really crappy weather - my friends and I lucked out and the rain let up for long enough to get in the water (a little over an hour north of Toronto). Oh yeah - for anyone who doesn't know, I scuba dive; and diving seems to have a way of creeping into conversations of mine all the time, even when there's no logical connection. Yes, I've even brought up the subject during job interviews.

So be forewarned: I'll be throwing in scuba diving references here and there. That's just the way it is ;)

Anyway, I didn't run this weekend. So I'm behind in my training. But tomorrow I'll be running the actual course of the race, to get a feel for what it will be like.

Speaking of which, I can't believe how soon the race is - it's this upcoming Sunday (September 12). I'm a little nervous, but mostly I'm just excited.

I'm already planning on signing up for the 10k clinic as soon as I've finished the Learn to Run clinic. Am I getting ahead of myself?  ;)

At the rate I'm going, I'm going to have to work extra hard to earn some extra $ to get myself another pair of running shoes. Well, ok, I'm exaggerating a little - I only got myself my nice new pair of running shoes back in June, so I should be ok for at least a little while. And my knees and hips aren't bothering me, which would be a telltale sign. Still, I might pop into the store sometime soon to ask about when I should get myself a new pair.

And not to sound like a broken record, but I'm feeling pretty great.

Yes! I managed to squeeze in a run tonight! Woot woot!

Once again I missed the group run today - I didn't get home in time to get ready and then head out to the Running Room. It was also so incredibly hot today, and I hadn't been drinking enough water throughout the day, so it probably wouldn't have been a good thing to head out for a run right after work.

But I really wanted to keep up with my training, so I made sure I had some pasta for dinner (yay carbs for energy!) and I made sure I drank enough water.

I decided to try to run to a Starbucks before they closed for the evening (time-based motivation!) I picked a Starbucks that's about 2.3 km away, so I'd be heading back before I got to the end of my run.

The Starbucks was closed by the time I got there, but that's ok - I'd been looking forward to an over-priced yet tasty iced mocha, but it's just as well that I saved my money. It's a great thing that I don't smoke, and I rarely drink, since I spend far too much of my limited budget on fancy espresso-based drinks. Mmmm....iced mochas.....

Anyway, I've discovered that the first few minutes of a run are the hardest. When I first set out, it seemed onerous and I wondered whether I truly felt like going for a run tonight. But then I kind of hit a stride and - strange as this might sound - it started to feel easier as I kept going. I'd finished 3 sets of 5:1 by the time I got to the Starbucks, and I did one final 5:1 on the way back. I felt like I could have kept going, but I figured I shouldn't push it too far - my goal is to get fit, and to do so injury-free. I did, however, walk the rest of the way home, so I was on my feet and moving for nearly 5 k. I'm hoping this bodes well for my upcoming race on September 12!

Today is a rest day, so I'm taking it easy. I plan to swim a few laps over the weekend, and my next scheduled run is on Monday. I'm not feeling ready to do 5k yet, but I know that my fitness is constantly improving (even if it's only by small amounts).

When September 12th rolls around, I'll do the 5k at whatever pace I'm up to at that point (ie: there will be walking involved).  I'm pretty sure I'll be up to 6:1 by then - 6 minutes running to 1 minute walking.

cool photos and neat local info coming soon!

Ok, so I'm going to be running mostly with my group, of course. I run longer and push myself harder when I'm running with others, and I plan to attend every class.

But there will be some weeks when I can't make it to the free Wednesday or Sunday runs. When that happens, I'll need to run on my own and I plan to use those times to go out and explore the city.

I'll be doing a little research into different areas of the city, and will use Google to plan my route (so I'll know the distance that I'm running). And I'll also be bringing my camera with me - I'll be writing about each route, and posting photos as well.

I can't wait until the incredible fall colours!

Stay tuned  :)

plugging away

I just did 5 sets of 4 and 1s today with my running clinic!

Five weeks ago, I couldn't have done that.

Crap - I slept in today, and am now behind on everything I planned to do.

I had been planning on going to a free group run this morning, but since I missed it I'll have to make up for it on my own.

It's an overcast and drizzly day, so I'm not overly interested in going for a run outside. Wimpy-sounding, I know. Maybe when I'm a better runner, I'll be more hardcore, and if today were my actual running class, I know I'd go and run regardless, but today I just don't feel like I have it in me.

I also haven't had my coffee yet, so that could be why I'm not in the best mood ever.

Maybe I'll go swim some laps at an indoor pool. That way I'll still get my cardio in.

I need to start being much more mindful about keeping up with at least three running or swimming sessions each week. And the reason for that? I've signed up for my first-ever running event!  Eek!! And yay!

So now I'm officially training for my first 5k race. It's coming up soon, in mid-September. So I really can't fall behind in my training if I want to get into proper shape by then. It does feel pretty good to have such a solid goal in front of me. When I'm out running, I know I'm working towards a specific event.

And this race sounds like a lot of fun. It's apparently a new race, and is a charitable event, with proceeds going towards a project of the YWCA. It's a cause that I'm very happy to support in my own small way. Plus the race will be taking place right when the Toronto Film Festival is in town, and the event organizers are promising that there will be celebrity runners participating.

For anyone who's interested, here's the website: www.yorkvillerun.com

So yeah, I can't fall behind in my training.

Halfway through the beginner course.

I'm about halfway through the beginner Learn to Run course. Last week, we were up to 3 and 1s (basically, 5 repetitions of 3 minutes running to 1 minute walking). I don't know what we'll be doing this upcoming week, but I'm pretty sure it'll involve 4 and 1s.

On Wednesday's run, I noticed for the first time that the running sections seemed to go by slightly faster and slightly easier than in the beginning. Or at least, it seemed that way for the first half of the run. By the second half, I was starting to slow down a bit and was lagging towards the back of the group.

But the first half of the run was pretty cool - my instructor suggested that we take shorter strides, go on the balls of our feet, lean forward, and really pump our arms to get up any of the hills. I tried that and felt like I practically flew up the hills!

I'm really loving my running clinic - the other runners are so fun to talk to, and are a really enthusiastic bunch - we all cheer after we finish each running section, saving the biggest cheers and high fives at the end when we all celebrate another successful run.

And the best part is that each run is progressively getting longer (not by much, but you definitely feel it when you're out there running). I love the fact that my endurance is improving each time I hit the pavement.

About a month ago, I was so out of shape that I couldn't run half a block without getting winded. I first started swimming laps, and then in late July I started running.

I figured I couldn't keep being so cavalier about my health. I tend to put off exercising when I'm busy (which is pretty much all the time). So I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic, and am now nearing week 5 of the course.

Of course I'm still out of shape. But I've started to notice small changes. When I'm late for work and am running for the bus or the streetcar, I don't get winded. I still get annoyed when the TTC driver ignores my waving and just drives off, but I don't get out of breath (or at least, not as much).

Pretty cool.