235 days to go

Feeling good today. I got a boost of confidence running with Evren Saturday after we ran for 20 minutes and I still felt like I could do more. So today I challenged myself to run 2 miles without slowing to a walk. (I'm convinced there's a significant psychological element to this whole running thing. Sure, your body has to be conditioned, but I think there were times when I've "talked" myself out of running farther.)

It was really windy this afternoon, but most of the headwind was in the first half of the run...which of course meant I had wind at my back for a significant portion of the second mile. I didn't let myself slow to a walk until I got back to my driveway, which ended up being about 2.1 miles in 22 minutes.

View 1/23/12 4:23 PM in a larger map

237 days to go

Indoor running today. Hard to keep track of laps around the indoor track, but I think it ended up being about 5-10 minutes walking, 20 minutes running, 5 minutes walking, 5 minutes running before they kicked us off the track, and 30 minutes walking on the treadmill.

Running actually seemed easier than when I was running alone. I guess it was the fact of having someone else there to talk with as a distraction, as well as encouragement. And the spongy indoor track was certainly more comfortable than pavement...the frequency of the turns is the only down side. Better than running in the cold, though.

238 days to go

Well, I got to run 4 of 7 days in Florida. My last full day was busy with visiting the Kennedy Space Center. Then yesterday I was up at 3:30 AM to make my flight to Roanoke. Now that I'm home there's snow on the ground and a weird thing has happened. I realize I actually miss getting to run. Even if it's only a mile, there's still a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day that it'll soon be 2 miles at a time, then 3.1 (5K), and on from there. I know I can't wait until spring to get back to it, but if the weather keeps me from working tomorrow, I really want to get over to the Wright Field Fitness Center and use their indoor track.

241 days to go

Went to the beach yesterday after we dropped off Eric, Monica, and Wyatt at the airport so they could go home. I didn't get to run, but probably wouldn't have anyway. My lower back was pretty tight with a little pain. Felt better this morning after sleeping on an actual bed, but when I started running this I could tell my back still wasn't straight, so I walked instead. After walking a mile my back was starting to feel better and I was standing straighter. Beastie Boys - Sabotage came up on my iPod in shuffle mode and I knew I had to start running. I ran another mile, then walked 1/4 mile, and ran the last 1/4 mile.

View 1/17/12 9:24 AM in a larger map

243 days to go

2.55 Run/walk/run/walk/run

After 3 running days in a row, some of the muscles in my legs are starting to rebel.

View 1/15/12 7:51 AM in a larger map

244 days to go

Took it a little easier today. 1.3 run and .6 cool-down walk.

View 1/14/12 9:31 AM in a larger map

245 days to go

2.55 mostly jogging.
I understand Ohio has snow. Florida is just about perfect. First run, here. Finding my pace. It's feeling a little easier to jog longer distances.

View 1/13/12 9:20 AM in a larger map