in the past couple of months i’ve taken up a new hobby… running. my goal has been to compete in a couple of 5k’s by the middle of the summer, but it wasn’t looking like that would be a possibility. i was facing some major challenges: shin splints and my inability to get my distance beyond 1.5 miles.
well, i’ve experienced a major milestone in my quest for the 5k this past week after some great advice from seasoned runner jon ferguson. you see, i’d been running for speed, getting my mile time down to around 8 minutes (a major accomplishment for someone that hasn’t run in quite some time) and by the time i got to the 1.5 mile mark i was done. there was nothing left to give. so jon suggested i pace myself better… run slower miles. and it worked! i’m now up the the 2 mile mark and am looking at making it to 3 miles by the end of the week! which means my first 5k run should be just around the corner. i’m going to shoot for a late july 5k race just to get one under my belt and then i’ll start working on time. maybe next year i’ll shoot for a half marathon… but we’ll have to see about that!
i’ve really enjoyed running. it’s been a great way to get my mind off of things, it’s given me extra energy that i didn’t know i had, and i’ve gone from 240 pounds to 212… i don’t fit in my pants anymore, they’re all too big! (i swear someday i’m going to be walking and my shorts are going to fall around my ankles—yes, i wear a belt but i’m out of holes in the belt. it barely does it’s job!)
so here’s to a new hobby… running, and the races to come!
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- the workday from hell.
- Jesusland
- ben folds’ observations…
- technical difficulties.
- the trinity: “rainbow”, “ark”, and “dove”?
I hope I am there to see the pants around the ankles, if you know what I mean. Wait do people still read this…..
ummm… i’m scared.
LSD. Long, slow, distance to get the miles up. You can do some interval speed work like 110′s to improve your speed. Sprinting some hills would also be good for speed work. Tracy knows all that. She hated the 110′s she had to do as a warm down afer races. If fact she & a couple of other girls used to hold a little back during the race so they would have enough energy left to make their 110 times in the required warm-down. Remember, you are married to a former distance runner who was really pretty good. She should be able to help you with some things. You guys should run together.