Ratcheting it up to run down.

Road ran on Monday and Tuesday, 3.5 and 4, in 39 and 44 (11:06 and 11:05).  Trail ran yesterday for 6.66 milies in 1:30, w/ Jen.  This was really slow and I felt like it was really hard.  Later in the afternoon I started getting sick - runny nose and getting tired.  Today I am really sick and exhausted - I guess I ran myself down and caught something.  Great...

Difficult week

On Monday morning while the dogs and I went on our morning walk, we found a very sick cat (that we thought had been hit by a car) between the end of our driveway and the road.  Needless to say, it took up my whole day while I took her to our vet and I didn't run.  I think I needed a slow week anyway.

I ran 3.25 on Wednesday and then a very fast 4.2 yesterday (Saturday) at the Slater Park paved trail.  Haven't done yoga in two weeks now....

Sookie (we named the sick cat) came back from the vet on Wednesday and has been taking a lot of my time because she is so neurologically impaired.

6th week from race

On Monday I ran 3 miles, then 3.5 on Wednesday - both on the treadmill and increasing my speed.

Yesterday (Saturday), I ran 5.5 miles on the trails at the Blue Hills with Lupe.  We kind of ran slow (because she keeps trying to stop and sniff everything...), but it went well.

Unfortunately, I got a terrible migraine headache afterwards and had to sleep all afternoon.  It totally sucked!

Increasing mileage/runs

I have continued to increase my run mileage in the hopes of being able to do more races (trail runs in particular), but also the 1/2 marathon in October.  Monday, I ran the same mileage as last Wednesday, in one minute less time.  Wednesday, I cut almost another two minutes (1:50) from that mileage and added another 1/2 mile.  Did my normal commute walking in addition to a couple extra morning walks with Bethany.  Yesterday (Saturday), did a "long" run of 4.5 miles in 51 minutes at Slayter Park - paved trail next to a river and lakes.  Today I hiked two slow miles with Lupe at the Attleboro Water Supply woods.

My knees have actually been feeling much better every day and the running doesn't seem to be affecting them.  I did feel them a bit after the hike today.  I also did some weeding in the gardens this afternoon, and tonight my lower back is killing me...doesn't feel good to bend over or turn.  Yikes!

First Race

On Wednesday, I ran 34 minutes on the treadmill and walked 60 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday. The running was very difficult all week because I was still very sore from yoga...those crazy groin stretching exercises...hard to lift my legs up to walk or run...

Yesterday was my first race ever. It was great fun - 4 miles (or maybe 3.66 since they cut it) of technical trails in Beverly Falls, MA. This was part of the North Shore Trail series. I did pretty well and ran it in 43 minutes (11:50 pace). Jen ran the 8 mile (or 7.34) in like 70 minutes.

I started off too fast, even though I was trying not to, but maintained it fairly well. This was the longest I've run in a few years.

Today, I went back to yoga and it was great!

Update:  Course was 3.65 and 7.3 (according to the updated website)

going to race

I found a trail-running race in Beverly Farms (North Shore) next Saturday and Jen said she'll run it with me. She is preparing for a 1/2 Marathon on October 9th - and I may go ahead and do it as well!

Today ran 25 minutes on the treadmill.

Fallout

This week my knees ached a lot but I managed to run twice, do an hour walk and start taking yoga. Well today (day after yoga), I feel like someone beat me with a bat. The yoga killed more than anything I have felt in a long time.

Also today, Bethany and I went and watched Jen at an all female triathlon in RI. It was a lot of fun to watch. Maybe I'll do it next year. In the meantime, I think I'll try doing some kind of race since I never have and it seems good motivation.

Jen coming in for the finish: