Category Archives: running

Red Flannel Run… My First Race!

Posted on February 16, 2012 | 10 Comments

Last weekend I felt amazing. I ran in my first race (or fun run, depending on how you want to look at it) in eight degree weather. I ran three miles and it was glorious. It was an amazing reward for all the hard work I’ve put into running.

Results
Time: 29 minutes and 27 seconds
Place Overall: 402/970
Place Overall Women: 182/571
Place Age Group: 19/62

All of that explains the big smile on my face.

Basically I was in the top third, but I didn’t know that until later in the day. After the run I went home and out for lunch with my parents and Jason, and I was thrilled to have just finished. It was freezing cold outside and several people didn’t come to the race.

Before the race there was a lot of standing around inside the YMCA thinking about the race. My stomach was doing its own little workout, flipping around like a dolphin. Jason helped take my mind off things a bit, talking to me every once in a while. Five minutes before race time everyone left the warm lobby to stand at the starting line. I jumped up and down, ran in place, and then crossed the starting line. It was a rush at the beginning. I passed several people, but tried to run at a comfortable pace and not focus too much on speed. Jason popped up along the course every once in a while to take a picture of me on his iPod, and seeing him along the way gave me extra motivation. After all, I didn’t want him to take a picture of me walking and out of breath.

Not a super flattering picture of me, but the only one where my face is visible.

It all went by so fast, and when I could see the finish line I couldn’t help but think about all the runs I went on before this point. How I started out just running for thirty seconds and here I was, running for thirty minutes. I thought about all the weight I’ve lost along the way (more on that later). I thought about all those times I dreaded running the mile in school, and how amazed my gym teaches would be to see me out there running with a smile on my face. And even though it’s kind of embarrassing and I realize three miles is no big deal for a lot of people, I kind of felt like I might cry. I picked up my pace a bit and run across the finish line. I took off my chip, turned around, and walked towards the YMCA.

I’m already signed up for two more runs, one in March and one in June, and I’m starting Bridge to 10K. I think this one will always be special to me, and I was so glad it was in Downtown Des Moines. I think that just added to the rush for me. Here I was running by these places, these landmarks of my life. I ran by the State Historical Society (where I used to work) and the Capitol (a pretty noticeable landmark), and all of these other places I drove by all the time. It was pretty incredible.

If you’re a runner, do you remember your first race? Are any of you training for an upcoming event?

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Posted in 5K, personal, running

Book Review: Born to Run & A Running Update

Posted on January 27, 2012 | 3 Comments

While in India I read Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Ever Seen. The book has gotten a lot of attention for starting the barefoot running craze, and while I heard about it over a year ago I wasn’t very interested. Of course, when I finished Couch to 5K I had a lot more interest in running. And it was a great time to read the book, because I didn’t feel any sense of “Why can’t I run like that?” The answer was obvious, I can’t run like that because I’ve only been running for two months.

Of course, reading it in India was also an absolutely horrible idea because it made me want to run all the time. I would read and just feel my legs pulsing, wanting to run so much. The roads in India, at least where I was, were just not safe for running. It wasn’t even an option. So I lived through Christopher McDougall’s story and thought every day about how excited I was to run when I got back to Iowa.

So, back to the book for a bit. It’s the story of McDougall’s search for the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyons. This tribe is known for running hundreds of miles, barefoot, and never growing tired or getting injured. They are the ultimate superathletes. McDougall weaves this story into stories of ultramarathon runners in North America, whose stories are equally fascinating. What I loved about this book was that it separated running from a sport or chore we do to lose weight and running for joy. Running because that is what we are meant to do. We are drawn to do it.

There is also a lot of science behind running and McDougall writes about the anatomy of our feet in a way anyone can understand. And he really makes the case for barefoot running, mostly because as a runner he had a slew of foot problems and looked to barefoot as the solution.

I’m talking a lot about running, but there is more to this book. I think what I loved most about it was the writing style. It’s a nonfiction book, but the story and style almost reminded me of Jack Kerouac. I don’t think you have to like Jack Kerouac to like this book, and I doubt most people would even connect the two, but if you like stories about wild trips, crazy parties, and soul then you will love Born to Run. I think you’ll love it whether you’re a runner or not, and maybe by the end you’ll decide to run.

“You don’t stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running.” 

So, I’ve been back from India for about a week and a half now and I’ve had three runs. The first one was tough, really tough, because I hadn’t run in about a month. I was afraid I’d have to start all over again, but I was happy to find that running is a lot like biking. You don’t really forget how to do it. That first run I could only go 23 minutes and a couple of miles. Part of the problem was when I first went out to run I was so excited to run. I probably ran faster than I should have and this contributed to me tiring out.

Two days later I went for a run and my goal was simply to run longer than I did the first time. I went for 27 minutes and felt pretty good. I wasn’t focusing on speed, just on getting the time in and overall it was pretty successful. Just last night I went for my third run and it was amazing.

Probably the best run I’ve ever been on.

No, it wasn’t fast. I averaged a little less than 11 minutes per mile. But it was consistent, and after about ten minutes of running my legs were just set in motion. It was almost like I couldn’t stop running. I ran for 33 minutes and for the first time ever, in my life, ran three miles. I felt amazing and when Jason asked me how I was I just grinned.

The thing about running is that it’s not something I was ever good at and it’s not something I ever thought I would do. So when I do it and I do well it’s the best feeling in the world. It makes me feel fearless–if I can do something I never thought I would do and have success at it, then what else could I do if I got over the mental hurdle of I can’t do this?

And that’s what’s really stuck with me from Born to Run. Running is all about mental hurdles. The truth is that all of us are able to run and the human body is capable of amazing things if you just allow yourself to believe. So when I’m running and I feel tired, I just go back to Born to Run and think about everything that book taught me about the human body and our minds. Instead of focusing on how tired I feel or I can’t do this, I think about that book and things seem within reach. There aren’t many books that can give you that feeling, which is why I think this is worth reading.

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Posted in book review, couch to 5k, exercise, nonfiction, personal, running

C25K Week Seven Complete

Posted on December 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

I haven’t updated you all on my C25K progress in a while–mostly because it got a little screwed up. I didn’t run for about a week because I was so swamped with homework, then I skipped on of the runs and got back on track over the course of one weekend. Now I’m breaking all the rules and running like a madwoman so I can complete the program before I leave for India. I have on 28 minute run left (week eight) and then I’ll be on thirty minute runs. Honestly, as long as I get one thirty minute run in before I leave I’ll be a happy camper.

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Ash on Pinterest

It’s hard to believe that just two months ago I was huffing and puffing through a five-minute run and twenty minutes seemed impossible. Now I’m running 28 minutes and will soon be at 30. My actual running pace is a little over ten minutes per mile, depending on the route, so I should complete about a 5K in thirty minutes by the end of the program.

I am planning on running my first 5K in January! It’s January 28 at Winterfest in Amana, Iowa. This will give me a little more than a week to get back into running before I race at the end of the month. I never imagined I would sign up for a 5K, C25K is such an amazing program and I’d really recommend it to anyone. For years when I saw people running I thought, “They’re crazy,” and “I’ll never run.” Now I wave at runners when I’m out hoofing it and can’t wait to get out the door.

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Posted in couch to 5k, exercise, running

Couch to 5K Week Five Complete

Posted on December 4, 2011 | 3 Comments

This week kind of had me shaking in my New Balances.

I went from running five minutes at a time to eight minutes at a time to twenty whole minutes. No walking. It was intense and it felt like a big jump and I knew I was scared. I took off on my five-minute run Tuesday with some major self talk issues. This is too hard, this is too fast, my side hurts, I can’t do this. I managed to get through the workout but I was still freaked out.

Thursday came and I put off my run for quite a while, which meant when I eventually did get out the door it was kind rainy and dark. But I went anyway and thank goodness I did because that run was a religious experience. A personal breakthrough. It was amazing and awesome and I came home feeling like Wonder Woman. It was an eight minute run followed by a three-minute walk and then another eight minute run. On the first eight minute run I thought Look at you girl, you’re not even tired and you’ve come so far. The walk was nice but I was ready to run again after three minutes and I ran all eight minutes with no problem, no pain, and then I ran two more minutes just because I felt like it. I came home positively ecstatic. After running eighteen minutes one day twenty didn’t seem as daunting.

Yesterday was the big day and it was raining all day but it was okay because I felt like this girl:

I started running, still a little apprehensive, but I just kept going and before I knew it I’d really found a rhythm and had run a whole mile. And then two miles. And the twenty minutes were up but I kept running for about four minutes.

I couldn’t even run a mile in high school and last night I ran two. So to say I’m proud of myself doesn’t even begin to describe it.

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Posted in couch to 5k, exercise, running

Couch to 5K Week Four Complete

Posted on November 27, 2011 | 5 Comments

I’m almost halfway through Couch to 5K and with Thanksgiving I got some change of scenery this week. On Tuesday and Friday I was at my parents house in Altoona, Iowa, where I ran my first two runs of the week. Today I was back in Iowa City where I ran my normal route. I’ve always loved Altoona because it is so incredibly flat. Biking there is a breeze and I found out this week running was pretty great too. Since it’s so flat I could go a little farther and a little faster. Even so, my first two runs this week were incredibly sore. I did three-minute runs with a 90 second break after and 5 minute runs with a 2.5 minute break after. This is the first week where I ran the same amount I walked–which felt like I huge progress to me.

Today my run was amazing. On the five-minute runs especially I felt like I could go forever. Nothing was sore, my posture was great, and I discovered that as nice as it is to run on flat surfaces I actually enjoy the challenge of the hills. My route isn’t too hilly for being in Iowa City, but the little hills keep things interesting. Below is the route I take in Iowa City and you can see elevation on the bottom. There is 82 feet of climb on this route, although most of it is right at the beginning of my route since I live in a valley.

Compare that to my route in Altoona, with only 46 feet of climb.

I think the elevation graphs on the bottom give the best explanation for why running in Altoona is easier.

Next week my runs will  be all over the place. I’m going from 5 minute runs on Tuesday to 8 minute runs on Thursday to a 20 minute run on Saturday. I can’t believe I’ll be more than halfway in less than a week! I’ve noticed my third run every week is the best, so hopefully I’m feeling good next Saturday when I try to do my first twenty-minute run.

I’m traveling about 2.7 miles per workout and going about 12 minutes per mile.

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Posted in couch to 5k, exercise, running