I run.

I am a runner.

I run.

If you read my log on week nine you will see that I declared I could do this.

Turns out I can’t always do this.

But here’s the kicker.  I am OK with this.

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I had been sick.  I mean really sick.  The time between my runs was thirteen days. 13!

I didn’t even realize this until I looked at my run log and counted the days.

Week 10 runs were supposed to be three 15 minute intervals with one minute of running between.

So after almost two weeks of no running, or any exercise, I was unable to complete the work out.

OK, let me clarify.  I was unable to run the entire time allotted for running.

I ran the whole 15 minutes during the first interval.  During the second interval I think I made it about 10 minutes before I had to walk.  After that I would run until I couldn’t, then I would walk for a minute or two and run again.  I did this for the whole time interval.

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When I was done I thought “I failed” and “I cheated” but I realized those are inaccurate.

I did not fail because I did not quit.  I might have slowed down but I did not quit.  It is not cheating to listen your body and knowing your limits.

I thought I would go back Monday, but decided that I needed a break and will go back on Tuesday night.  After that much time off, I need to ease myself back.

Just. Keep. On. Running.

C25K interval information can be found here

I run.

I am a runner.

I run.

I realized something on my run last night.

I CAN DO THIS!

I will be running an 8K race in one month. ONE. Month.

But it’s ok, I can do it.

It took me five days to get back to the gym due to our Snowpocalypse of 2014.  I didn’t think I could run for 40 minutes.

I had been craving a run all weekend but when the time came I was afraid.  I was afraid I would be set back due to my lack of running.

So I tied my shoes, put in my earphones and hit start.  And I ran.

This was the last day of doing 10 min intervals with 1 min run between, repeating 4 times.  At the end of the first 10 minutes I did not walk.  I knew that I could run 30 minutes with out walking, I did that weeks ago, so I told myself I would go at least 20 minutes.

At the end of 20 minutes, I did not walk.  I really wanted to walk at 25 minutes, but I did not stop.  I had to make it to 30.  As I was pushing myself my mind cleared and I knew that I could do it.  I can run the 5 mile race next month.

It won’t be fast, my current pace is an 11 min/mile.  But I can do it.

I walked for two minutes after the 30, then ran for 10, walked for 2 and then did my cool down.

Monday’s run time

Keep. On. Running.

C25K interval information can be found here

I run.

I am a runner.

I run.

from http://quotesnsmiles.com

This was supposed to be the I completed week 9 post.  But I didn’t.

Today we got some bad weather.

The snow isn’t so bad, but the ice is horrible.  So I didn’t get to the gym and the super low temps aren’t conducive to me running outside.  The wind is blowing like crazy dropping the temps down to single digits.   It’s ridiculous.

But I will share that week 9 brought back intervals.  And added 14 minutes to the run.

So the plan is to run for 10 min then walk for one.  And repeat for a total of four times.  With the addition of the warm-up/cool-down, that brings the total work out time to 54 minutes.

Sunday’s Run

Stopping for a minute is hard.  Really hard.  I found it was easier to continuously than to stop and start again.

I needed lots of coaching from myself.

10 minutes seemed long, telling myself only three more songs.  Not as long.

One step at a time. Left foot. pound.  Right foot. pound. Left arm forward. Right arm forward.  Breathe in. Breathe out.

Keep. On. Running.

Wed’s Run

C25K interval information can be found here

Happy Running