Running Things on Thursday

I was pretty bad last week about pushing myself, but I got out there. On Friday or Sat morning (can't remember which), I did a short 2 mile run. It was hot & humid, and I had my son (5 1/2) in the jogging stroller, or I would have ran more. On Monday night, I went to my group Walk-2-Run at Dick Pond Athletics, and this week was alternating walking 3 minutes, and running 3 minutes. I decided to use it to build up my speed & endurance, so I ran fast (wish I had one of those GPS watches, so I know what pace I was running!) when we were running, and caught my breath when we were walking. A friend of mine (who in my mind is a weight loss expert) told me that alternating walking/running burns more fat than straight running (sounds good to me!), so yesterday I did alternates again. I walked 3 minutes, and ran like the wind for 3 minutes, alternating for 33 minutes. I mapped it out after I got home, and I went 3 miles, so that was 11 minute miles! Not bad for half of that being walking. I must have been going fast (for me) when I was running! I think my next run will be straight running for distance, and not speed.

I hate picking out songs for my Ipod. I sit in front of Itunes, and my mind goes blank. I'm lucky if I can come up with 2 songs. When I saw this, I was thrilled, and bought it.

I am quite happy with it! There's a song or 2 in there that I don't like, but for the most part, the are all great running songs! There's a lot of them that are not songs that I would normally listen too, like if I were driving in my car, but are great for running to. I also highly recommend this Ting Tings album:



All of my favorite running songs are on this album, and I love the whole thing!

Running Things on Thursday

I started running through a local running store's Walk-2-Run program last year at this time. When I say I started, I mean that I started. I have never run in my life, not even in high school. I thought it was a funny that these people thought that I would one day run for 5 minutes straight. I have now run several 5ks, including a mud run. I have run for 4 miles. I have run for 40 minutes straight. Running is the only thing that has helped me lose weight, since my son was a baby, and it makes me feel good (after I run, not during, lol).


Yep! That's me!

Anyhow, I need to keep myself accountable, and also I want to learn more about it, so i'll be posting about running once a week. I'll start at Monday for this week, since I can't remember it all from last week (though I did do a 40 minute 4 mile run last week... my best time/longest distance!).

This week's runs (I won't run 2 days in a row):

Monday: Ran with the Walk-2-Run group, 30 minutes of running (the last day of the session). It was hot & humid.

Wednesday: I only ran 2.7 miles, but it was 90 degrees & humid, i'm still getting over a sinus infection, I have seasonal allergies, and I was pushing a 5 year old in a stroller. There was a lot of hills, and little shade. A great morning run, all things considered!

My face gets beet red after running, except for around my mouth... kind of like a reverse clown face. It's awful, but it always happens after running, even in the winter. I did some Googling & there may be a link between that & low blood pressure. I'll have to look into that more. I was also occasionally getting headaches after running (also, talked about being associated with low blood pressure, but not proven or fact). I thought it was the most likely culprit, not hydrating enough, but I weighed myself before & after running, and came back 6 oz. heavier. That means i'm taking in more than i'm sweating out, so i'm good there. I also read low sodium, from sweating, can cause that. The last week, I have been putting a little sea salt in my after run milk (can barely taste it), and I haven't had a headache. It could be coincidence, but I think i'll keep putting salt in my milk.

Any pearls of wisdom for a new runner?