7 days, 3 dogs, 1 high five.

5 people I saw today-
- 2 girls i saw at the start of my run, saw them twice- gave me a high five
- a couple walking 2 dogs drinking starbucks and looking stuffy
- the owner of the west franklin b&b pruning the flowers in the yard
- someone cleaning out their garage with a leaf blower
- someone smoking a cig and sweeping the sidewalk on sheppard


So holy shit- i've made it to day seven of running. 

Today i went out with no plan and ended up running from my house to davis, to monument, to roseneth, then back home again.  it felt soooooo good.  I'm excited for the fall to come.  That's when I'll start to get longer runs in. 

Today was 2 miles, i probably could've gone further if i hadn't of turned around at davis.  I just kept giving myself little milestones to make it to.  the street light, the boulevard, robinson, then after then i just made my mental mark so i turned around.  next time it will be campus and back.  that's 5 miles!

so my weekly miles is.....2.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2, 1.4, 2= 11.9 miles! 

WOW!  okay, the number to beat next week is 12.  I can totally do that!  :)

So this morning I decided to buy a new regina spektor album to listen to.  I'm been testing it out before I buy it for a couple weeks and knew that I really wanted to treat myself to a running treat.  So, I figured out how to do so and put it on jason's ipod which i hope he is okay with.  it was so wonderful to run to some emotional music to take my mine off of running and let it calm down.  though on the flip side after i got back home and was cooling off right before writing this i started to think about my dad and then right after, my mom.

i really never thought that i would be as affected by her death as I am.  I've been having a really hard time recently with it all.  I just feel so stretched and stressed and just over all out of control of things.  Which is why I think I'm latching on to this running gig.  It gives me something concrete to hold on to and feel like I totally control.  I guess that's a good thing.  It's almost been 6 months.  Today I was fiddling with my earrings and lost a screw backing of hers and I got upset at myself.  A little piece of metal which is forever taking refuge in the couch (I think). 

I called my dad to say hi.  It had been too long.  Since the memorial.  I invited him down for his birthday to go out to dinner- he then informed me that he'll be in Las Vegas at a golf tournament- for 10 days!  YIKES!  I hope that's a fun time for him.  He needs it.

Well alright- time to go cry in the shower while getting ready for jason's parents visit this afternoon.

12 miles- i'm amazing.

Day 5 and 6.

Forgot to post yesterday.  It was good!!!  Jason started day 5 by giving me my running rva coffee mug! He told me that he was proud of me for making it to day 5.  I am proud of me too. 

So my work day was the pits and came to Jason on my break near tears- ugh! But hopped on the treadmill and made it worth it!  Did 1.4 and some sprints, I finally reached the zone out phase.  It was beautiful!

My legs aren't sore anymore and I cam tell that I'm just getting into the zone more-  it feels so good.  Today was 1.3 and did some 7.5 sprints at the end. It makes me feel so strong. 

Tomorrow is day 7!!!!

Day 4 of 365

Eep! I almost went to bed without writing.

Despite really painful and tight calves I ran today.  After in meetings for the past 3 days, at 4 today I headed to the gym while everyone was out getting dinner. 

I walked .1 mile then ran 1.2.  I was at a slow speed and at a -.5 decline so my calves could have a respite and it worked.  I felt good running.  Tuned everything out for a while and it actually turned into 2.2 mile run and in the end some 7 mph sprints.  Afterwards I made sure to stretch really really really well.

Still a bit tight- but Jason rubbed them tonight- so a bit better!  After heading back for meet the teacher night, coworkers in the hall gave me a thumbs up for going. It made me feel really really good, and proud. 

Day 4 check!  No top 5. Will contintue tomorrow for day 5.

Day 3. Ugh...

CALVES ARE TIGHT AND HURTING.

WENT FOR QUICK MILE AT LUNCH.

I STRETCHED.  CALVES HURT.

TIGHT.

HELLO EPSOM SALT BATH. 

COME TO ME.  HELP MY CALVES.

WAH...

tomorrow is day 4! :) going well! Feeling good!

2/365

Okay, today brought Monday- ugh! Jason had set the alarm for 6am because I figured I would get up and get my run out of the way first thing.  Plans shifted when I heard the alarm and felt so comfortable in my bed.  I also realized that work was done at 5 and I had a meeting at 630...hmmm just enough time to work out! So I skipped the am run!

I'm glad I did.  I was thinking about the run all day while I was sitting in my chair for our professional development day.  Make that day 1 of 3.  Ugh!  So after we got out at 5 to 5 I headed up to the gym for a workout! Got on the treadmill- warmed up for 5 minutes walking then ran 1.2 miles! :). Felt good- I was playing with the incline and went from 0 to 3 to -3 to 12.  It mixes it up enough that I don't get too sore.  Just when I feel my muscles giving up i hit the button AMD work different ones!  After cooling down I hit the stairmaster for 10 minutes interval making it up 23 flights- then stretched out really well.  Due to lack of stretching yesterday resulting in sore muscles.

Along with the 2 mile bike ride to and from work I'd say it was a good day.  I also got my watch tracking stuff today. It said during my workout I burned nearing 800 calories, which is way off from the machines.  Amazing, so tomorrow will bring day 3...I'm still in it to win it!

5 things to smile about

a. Fast bike
b. Waking up
c. Breakfast with Jason
d. Actually anything with Jason
e. Texting with katie.  I miss her dearly.

Self commitment.

Today was day one of 365 days of running.  I've decided with all the other stresses that have been going on in my life I need to slice away some time just for me.  100% for focusing and working on me and my life.  The best way to do this is not lounging on the couch or going out for drinks it is going to be putting aside some time everyday to go for a little run.  My stipulation is just at least a mile.  it would take like 10 minutes. Easy peasy. 

I decided to buy a watch to help me- it was a cheap new balance heart rate monitor watch that keeps rough track of my calories, steps, heart rate (when it wants to cooperate) and time.  I was really excited about it when it got here, I have yet to have to accurately record my heart rate while I'm out running or biking which is really frustrating but I'm not giving up quite yet. 

So today, Jason goes out with me and he said we'd be doing about 1.5-2.5 tops on this route.  About .75 miles in a get frustrated at the damn watch and stop and walk to figure it out, that's when I see that the watch is saying .75- it just didn't seem right.  So we start running again and we get stopped by some people asking directions and I take the opportunity to check the watch again- no HR but now it's saying 1.8 miles and it makes Jason and I both laugh.  "It is so off!" So we finish the run and my watch is saying I burned 575 calories and went 3.19 miles.  I decided to return the watch- while Jason looked up our actual mileage.  Then he was surprised to report that the usa track site he uses to track runs said that the route we took was 2.9 miles.  Not so off.  I was jogging in place while we gave directions and we crossed the streets a couple of times so I'm wondering if that logged as distance even though it wasn't actual distance.  It wasn't as off as I thought it was.  I also was impressed that it was almost 3 miles.  Made me feel better about needing to take a walk break here and there.  I can do 3 though without stopping.  I know it.

So thus begins my year long blog about my running.  My rules- at least one mile every day.  Inside or outside.  For 365 days, no breaks.  My goals are to get to the easy point in running and enjoy it as a place to take out my stress.  A place just for me.  No one can touch it.  Rather controlling I s'pose.

Okay MegAnne- this is a big commitment to yourself and your body and your sanity.  Work through all your shit via runs and time for just you.  You will be a better person for it in the end!

Day One- check!

5 things I've made this week-
- fancy water.  cucumber and mint water- yum!
- pizza crust.  whole wheat
- almond and coconut challah french toast- DOUBLE YUM!
- spaghetti sauce
- salad with kale and cabbage that Jason actually eats!