lovin' the early runs/nice and easy

Monday, June 3o:
It's funny how I honestly can't remember what happened Monday and it's only Thursday...I think it's coming back to me. I was sick on Sunday so I figured running Monday morning probably was too soon. My Monday night Chris came home from work sick, so I took care of the boys and Chris went to bed early, thus no run that day. No prob, I'll do better the rest of the week!

Tuesday, July 1:
6:40-7:15 a.m.
35 minutes (5 min. warm-up, stretch, streets east of house, found quiet neighborhood Lynette told me about--I'm excited to run there! 30 minute jog)
2 miles (best guess)
86 degrees (felt so good!)
Jogging stroller
Nice and easy

The boys were up and Cooper was fed, so Ian gets cereal and off we go. We headed east of our house again and I came across that neighborhood, so we went around there for a little bit then headed back home. I'm excited that we found a good, quiet place to run. I hadn't been sure how to title my runs, since lately they've been pretty slow. But since my book has motivated me and helped me see that it's not the pace, it's getting out there and putting the time, not necessarily the miles and the speed, I am okay and am going to call these runs, "nice and easy". And "easy" isn't bad or slow, like I was feeling bad about. I feel good when I'm done, I'm out there, I am getting the time in and I'm doing it. So who cares how fast. I'm building and getting better!

Wednesday, July 2:
6:20-6:55 a.m.
30 minutes (5 min. warm-up, stretch, 25 min. nice and easy)
Jogging stroller
2.5 miles (best guess)
84+ degrees (this is WHY you go early in Vegas!!)
Mostly south of our condo; kind of did a loop going east and then back around west to the house

I was seriously so proud that we were BACK before 7:00!! Amazing. I really am loving getting up and going. It's funny because later in the day I actually have to remind myself I went running that day! :) Seriously, sometimes it fills like another day, but it is so nice to get so much done and feel so productive. Chased a whole ton of bird on the side of the road--it was awesome! Found some fun little pockets of houses that I'm excited to show Chris. There really are some nice little places over here on the east. "This place is a hole!" (that's for you, Chris!) Also had a funny experience. We were finishing the run past a business (teacher's insurance agency or something like that) and this lady had walked across the street and as we ran by, she said: "I'm proud of you!" I just smiled and she said: "That's not easy!...You make the rest of us look bad!" Then this nice, black man was talking and smiling at the boys, commenting on the two of them in the stroller. It was fun. And people say Vegans aren't friendly! :p LOL.

Thursday, July 3:
Chris keeps thinking I get up and run without him, but I did try one morning to wake him up and he said he wanted to sleep (he says he doesn't remember that, so I've told him he needs to tell me the night before if he wants to wake up and go and then I need to know how hard to try and wake him up). But this morning Cooper was up before 5 a.m. and went back to sleep (luckily! he was so sad and tired when he woke up!). Ian was up at 6:10 a.m. so he and I could have gone, but I opted not to. I read on Hal Higdon's training schedule for the beginner 5K to rest the 2 days before (I don't feel like a beginner really, and hadn't been following his or anyone else's training anyways, but figured it wouldn't be a bad thing to not push it too hard the day before). I seriously feel lazy though not doing anything. I really had hoped to at least get out and walk this morning. Obviously I really need to work on my attitude and not be hard on myself when I don't exercise every day. The book I am reading, No Need for Speed, has a training schedule for beginners that has you running three up to four days a week and he says you shouldn't feel like you have to run/walk everyday, that's it's okay to cross-train, too. I obviously have quite a few mind myths I need to get over. Then I get on my friend's running blog and really feel like I'm lazy or that I suck! :p Not really. But it's just hard not to get discouraged and feel like I should be doing more, instead of celebrating the efforts and progress I've made and know that it is different for everyone and I need to be happy and content with where I am, instead of comparing myself to others. That is another thing from this book--he talks about not running and killing yourself--the whole no pain, no pain theory. So after reading that, I went on a really nice run yesterday morning. I didn't push myself, it was just pleasant. I wasn't winded or sore when I got back. I really enjoyed myself. My thinking really is gonna need some adjustment, as well as I need to stop comparing and focus on me and increasing my abilities and focusing on my goals instead of others.

I am excited for the run tomorrow morning. I hope the boys will be okay and that things work out getting the boys up, fed and out there on time and with time to spare to get ready. More to come on our race! I really think it'll help me to be out there with runners and do a race, since it's been over a year since I last did a race! Yay!