Runs #20-24

Ran 5 miles yesterday!! Neat learning how the first couple miles are really the hardest. Once I warm up, I feel like I could just keep going. Excited to try 6 miles next Thursday!

Ran 2 this morning and really pushed myself to run faster here and there. I have been averaging 13 minute miles which is about as slow as you can get. I've been ok with that, but figure on my shorter runs can start pushing myself a little. I did 2 miles at 11.5/minute.

Excited for our first group run tomorrow afternoon! Then after we are all going to church together, sweat and all lol.

Run #18 & 19

On Tuesday I did 4 miles! And it wasn't that bad. The last few blocks I even had a burst of energy and ran fast! I ate one of the funky goo energy packs before I left and I think it helped. It also helped that it was like 60-something degrees, windy, and the sky and moon looked really cool.

This morning I ran 2. Was super easy. I am so amazed by the way the human body builds in stamina and strength. When I first started all this 1 mile was a challenge for me. Now 2 is a no-brainer!

And yesterday I had friends donate $385 dollars in a little contest I did where I'll draw a name for a free painting. I'm up to $505 now! I was having this little frustrated feeling like am I really going to be able to raise the whole amount, but now I have complete confidence! : )

Run #17

Got an idea for a painting on my 2-mile run this morning! : )

Runs #15 & 16

Did 2 miles the other night, and 3 yesterday. So excited that all of a sudden it is getting a LOT easier. Like I just breathe easy and run and don't feel like I'm going to die. : )

Run #14

Ran last night with Gianna. Ended up thunderstorming for a few minutes, was kinda cool!! Luckily she had a blanket to cover up under and ended up falling alseep. Was supposed to run 2 miles and ran 2.34 cause I felt like it! No foot problems at all. Loose shoes is the key for me! : )

Run #13

Had my first FUN run today!!!!!!!! I kept loosening my shoes along the way until they weren't even snug and this totally stopped the cramping/stress on my feet!!! Which goes along with the crazy book I'm reading, Born to Run, about crazy ultra-runner people who run 100 mile races and some of them in thin sandals. Some American went into the copper canyons in Mexico and got a group of tribal guys to come out and race. Got Rockport to sponsor them so they would run the first few miles of this Leadville wilderness race in the running shoes but then they'd meet them with their thin strappy sandals down the trail because the running shoes were too restrictive for them! So interesting. This book is so good I can't believe its not fiction and along the way its fun to google the people in it and actual see them!

And I've been trying to come up with fast music and do a 180 beat per minute pace like all the running experts talk about. Today I threw that out the window and listened to my Braveheart soundtrack music which is my obsession right now. This is slow, soft dreamy music. And it was MAGICAL!!!!! It was like my painting came alive in my head! And the sky was lightening with the glow of the approaching dawn and the stars were still out and it was truly joyful!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited to do more of this!!!! :o)

Run #12

Was supposed to do 2 miles today. I messed up and went a different way than the planned route and wasn't sure how far i'd gone and guessed. Ends up I only went 1.6 miles, but it was great, no foot cramps at all! And Gianna came along all bundled up. Made a little snack pack for her and brought a book :)