A super easy way to keep up with your old pal Katy is to subscribe to my newsletter!
MILESTONE!!
I ran 4.2 miles tonight. That is the farthest I’ve ever run without stopping. 44 minutes, so that translates to… let’s see… about a 10:30 mile. I’m very pleased with that; my goal is not necessarily to run quickly or to decrease my time per mile, but to increase my endurance, even if I’m doing 15 minute miles or whatever. If I can complete the half marathon in under 3 hours, I’ll be very happy.
I sprinted the last lap and a half to catch up with Brittney, and after slowing to a walk it felt like I was starting to have an asthma attack. It subsided after a few minutes of wheezing. Which reminds me, I should make a doctor’s appointment so she can reassure me that my body will be able to stand up to this crazy training schedule.
I was supposed to do 4 miles on Saturday (my long run day) but only did 1.5, on the treadmill. Sunday I did an additional 1 mile on the treadmill, then went outside and ran another 1.5. I don’t think that really counts, even though it adds up to 4. I felt really awful about myself all weekend as a result.
On the treadmill I have been running a 12 minute mile. I don’t know how I will ultimately feel about the treadmill. Right now we have a love-hate relationship. (I hate that I don’t love it.) The most I’ve been able to run on it is 1.5 miles. It feels much more difficult than when I run on regular non-moving ground. I seem to get hotter and sweatier, and I’m really unhappy and my muscles hurt and I tire out quickly and I’m always looking at the mileage gauge. Maybe it’s that I know I can step off of it anytime (with a surprising degree of difficulty; I have trouble balancing). I don’t know what it is. I’m not giving up on it though, ’cause it wasn’t exactly cheap. Maybe I just need to give it time and get used to it and gradually up my mileage on it.
I’m glad that Doc likes it and is using it regularly. Correction: will be using it regularly in the near future. He made the mistake of walking on it barefoot for half an hour immediately after getting out of a long soak in the tub, and the giant blister on the ball of his foot is the price he’s paying. Poor guy’s been hobbling around since Saturday morning.
I’m with you on the treadmill. Other people I know like them better because you can watch TV or something but I don’t like TV that much and I really like the different scenery thing you get running outdoors.
However, I did get used to it during my training. Eventually, I think you reach a kind of zen with the treadmill. It also helps to cover the display with your workout towel and make agreements with yourself not to lift it. Easier said than done, true, but it’s an idea.
And just for encouragement, I ran 13 miles on the treadmill once which was just under 120 minutes. So it can be done. Of course, people eat liver and onions every day but that doesn’t make it right.
Brett
Thinking of that blister just hurts … and I used to dislike the treadmill (still not my favorite) but I’ve gotten more used to it over time. I like watching boxed sets of TV shows on the treadmill. There’s something to look forward to each time.