200 Days of Running

I was so excited about my pink socks that I bought last night, I put them for my run this morning.  They looked so pretty and I was so happy with how nicely they fit.  They didn't seem as tight as what I had wanted, but I was really looking forward to this run. I had seen in the last week an entry in the group that said something about doing a one mile speed run every month to see if you're making progress or not.  Today was going to be the day I thought.  I can do this. Morning sunshine I started out with just me, I didn't take the dog with me.  She's been pulling and causing some pain in the low back area.  My pace was looking good out of the gate.  I was cruising right along with a pace of under 10 minutes for a mile.  And then the shin pain started agin.  I had made the half way point so fast that I hadn't really noticed most of the run.  All four minutes at that point.  I was doing so good.  The pain was getting wo...

Today, I was able to try my theory that I am able to run better and with less pain with my compression socks on.  I am very glad that I tried this, I was feeling bad about running yesterday with how much I was hurting, it was a dark few moments that were going through my head. Sundown... I was glad to run this evening.  Not only that, I got to run with my best friend, Vanessa and that always makes for good times.  We talked about doing 5, but, without water, there was no way that was going to happen.  We went for 2.73 and made it in 33 minutes.  I couldn't be more pleased with the pace today.  I can't say that it was a bad run, it wasn't at all.  We had taken the dog with us, and while I would have liked to make it a longer run, it just wasn't going to happen today.  The sunset was lovely over the lake and we made good time.  Again, I'm so happy about my run today.  I can't stop raving about how great it was.  I just felt g...

I have hit a milestone that I have not hit since I was in boot camp from than 16 years ago... I have done a running streak for 14 days now.  Would be longer, but I took a day off that first week before I made the commitment to do this. Things I have gone through thus far.  I still should take my thyroid medication even if I don't feel like I need it.  I still need it.  I have been going for short socks durning the summer time since I want to have the sunlight on my legs and not have weird tan lines.  It looks like tan lines are in my future as I didn't have as many problems with my shins with them on as I do with them not on.. Compression socks I mean.  They help a great deal with how my legs feel and from that, are able to work properly.  Which means I now need to find the cash flow to purchase some more of them.  Thinking about the 5 for $100. They are so going to be worth it.  Just have to make due with the few pairs that I have right no...

For today's run, I felt much better than I had yesterday.  I didn't hurt, but I also didn't sprint out of the door today.  I chose to take it easy and go slower today so I could actually keep running.  My shins are still sore, a side affect of the need for new shoes, and it's hard to find the ones you want 4 months after they have been discontinued.  However, with a wonderful stroke of luck, I have found a pair in my size.  The last of them in the store ever... But, I did try the new ones, the upgrade version if you will, and I think in another month or so, I will have them as well.  Maybe I won't wear them out so quickly... if you think that 407 miles is quick though. Meanwhile, back at the bat cave.  I  never  turned off my alarm that was set from last week to get up and go run.  It goes off around 5.15 and I have been able to hear it and then actually get up and get ready to go run.  So that was a good thing.  I didn't wan...

This morning, I found it most difficult to roll myself out of bed to go run.  I instead laid in bed until I couldn't stay any longer, drank two cups of coffee and had enough time getting ready to blow dry my hair.  A feat of which I don't usually do in the summer time because it's way to hot!  But I did.  And I thought I looked most lovely in my new shirt and fresh looking hair. Part of the reason why I didn't run had to do with the fact that my shins are once again giving me trouble.  I don't like this one bit.  I decided to wear my soccer socks/my version on compression socks. It takes me from being able to run with ease at a comfortable pace to feeling like I'm a snail trying to race a Gila monster.  It can be quite quick when it's needed but, other than that, not so much in the speed department.  I guess if he's hungry though, he can move.  Anyhow, I took off this evening thinking it wasn't going to be the best of runs, but, it will mak...

This morning, I was so hoping for a wonderful run.  That was not the case for me today.  I felt heavy and slow and not into the run at all.  However, since I committed to doing this challenge, I am going to take it very seriously.  I have not been good at completing anything I have set out to do in the realms of taking care of my body.  I have set many goals and have yet to reach them. I don't want to fail at this one. So, out I went.  I had the intention of doing my full loop so today, since I knew it wasn't going to be the best run, I set out with the goal for this run, how long does it take on a bad day?  The answer was more than an hour.  I hate that I was feeling like this.  The hard work to that I had done only to finish with an unsatisfied feeling of knowing that I could have done better. Smoke on the horizon To start with, there was a lot of smoke in air.  In the first photo that I snapped, you can see a line across th...

Today I was so happy to be outside and running again.  The air, though filled with smoke from a fire, was sweet in my nose and the trees and birds danced and sang to me.  It was wonderful.  I had planned on getting up early and doing a good long run.  That didn't happen.  Guess it had to do with the fact that I was gone all week and it was my first night home in bed.  I missed my bed.  So instead of a morning run with the Yolandi Dog, we slept in and just enjoyed the morning.   For the run today, I chose to go by myself.  I wasn't well liked when I got home again.  I took off around 6:45, thinking I would be able to get a good 4-5 miles before the sunset and dark.  I was wrong.  I got to the trail head and started off.  Doing two full loops around the actual Big Spring area, I started my longer journey to the lake.  Today was somehow suppose to be about running shirtless in my sports bra, so I did.  It was a f...

This morning was going to be my last in Phoenix. I am happy about this so I get up and immediately start getting ready to go run.  I get myself dressed and get down to the little gym and realize I have it all to myself for the last day.  I look at both of the machines and realize that I would like to use the elliptical for this mornings adventure. So, I step on it and start doing my thing.  I wanted to watch whatever was on TV and just zone out.  Sadly, the TV wasn't receiving a great picture so I turned it off.  I am moving pretty hard and I am thinking about the first times I had used one of these machines.  I was in the Navy and a lot of the time, I would be standing on one next to my best friend, Judi.  If I closed my eyes, I could feel the ship moving as I'm trying to get my sweat on.  I think of the yellow lights of the little gym place.  I think of the vampire hours we had worked.  Seems fitting since my husband is now on vampir...

If you hadn't noticed a reoccurring theme, I am not a huge fan of running on the treadmill. I had to use it while serving in the navy. It's not like there is a place to run underway that's out of the way of daily operation so treadmill it was. And I thought I had gotten pretty good at running whilst the ship is listing. Makes it a challenge to run like that. This week however, there is no listing ship and no outside weather to enjoy. It's been about 113 all week. No I haven't lived it. And if I have to hear it's a dry heat, I may have to bitchslap someone. The morning came and up I go to make sure I did my miles. I got three in today, which is better than the two I have been hitting for the last week or so. The goal is to hit around 5 on a daily basis. I have a loop that I like to run so that's going to be my goal for a while. I want to see where I'm at with it and how quick can I become. I thought about the Navy today while running. I thought of t...

On this beautiful Wednesday morning, I got up and was very pleased to find I was the only one in the gym this morning. Good thing, there are only a treadmill and elliptical in there. I was glad to be alone. I had my music and my water and I was on it. Stated by hitting a good pace. I like it around 12 minute mile. I'm usually pleased if I can hit under that, but todaybit was steady for me. I had turned on the power for the built in tv on this machine though, I didn't have any volume. The movie was an older version of King Kong. It stared Jeff Bridges and a very lovely looking woman though I cannot for the life of me remember her name. I will remember it later. I like watching movies, this one wasn't too bad. I wanted to go for a nice long run, but made it two miles. I noticed the time and that was what did me in. I wanted to make sure I would be at the office building before we got started. I was pretty pleased overall with the run, though, I feel like I can be doing bett...