Heather's Running Journal

This is my first day of becoming a more serious runner.  I am training for a 10 mile race in October.  Colby is helping me steadily reach my goal - running it in 8 minute miles.

It's hard when you have a nursing baby who still wakes up at random hours in the morning.  This morning I walked for .4 miles as my warm-up but then had to feed Landon.  Luckily I was able to run my goal of 4.1 miles until I had to get him again.  I ran them in 8:27.  I then cooled down for another .4 miles at a walking pace.  I felt great at the end and could have kept on going but I'm working up slowly so I don't get injured or get burnt out.

I went to bed last night at 10pm and stayed away from sweets (except for a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the afternoon) yesterday.  Hopefully tonight I won't have a child come in and sleep with me for an hour because of a scary dream.  But kids are on kids for a short time, right? 

I was able to run at 5:45 this morning.  I warmed up for 5 minutes than ran for 4.25 miles between a 8:27 and 8:20 minute mile.  At the end I realized that was too fast.  I need to be around an 8:30 mile for now.  I ended up bruising my big toe under the toenail because I was wearing different running shoes - I won't do that again!  I cooled down for another 5 minutes before stretching.  What I learned from today - slow and steady is how I need to build up to my goal, and stick to the same shoes!

Today felt great.  Waking up at 5:45 on a Saturday morning was as bad as I thought.  Going to bed early is key.  I started off my 4.25 run at a 8:34 mile and after 2 miles went down to a 8:27 for the next 2.25 miles.  At the end I felt great - like this is a good pace for the next little bit.  My only problem is now the toe that I bruised (under the toe nail) - the bottom of it is so raw.  How does this happen?  From the cotton socks or just the way I run?

Average Heart Rate: 160

Max Heart Rate: 173

Ran for 4.3 miles this morning.  Landon woke up right in the middle so I had to feed him for about 15 minutes before I could finish the last 2.3 miles.  That was kind of a bummer since I wanted to go straight through but I felt really good all through it all.

Speed: 8:34 for first mile          8:27 for last 3 miles

Average Heart Rate: 137 (I did have to restart up again after nursing)

Max Heart Rate 169

A great early run on the treadmil.  Ran 4.35 miles at a 8:27 pace.  Felt great the whole time.  No baby interruptions!

Avg Heart Rate: 138

Max Heart Rate: 173

Stayed away from sweets so far this week.  Feeling good.  Good thing cherries and blueberries are in season!

Felt great this morning.  Started off running at 8:34 but it felt so slow.  Bumped it up to a 8:27 pace but even that was feeling too easy so bumped it up once more to a 8:20 and that felt great.  I did only run for 3.1 since I'm going for a longer run tomorrow.  No interruptions and strong finish.

Avg Heart Rate: 159

Max Heart Rate: 167

Up a little after 5:30 to run my longer run for the week - 5.5 miles.  Started at a 8:40 pace and by the last two miles I was down to 8:20.  I felt good at the end - I think I was just getting bored and SO hot and stuffy in my garage.  (Didn't have the fan this morning and GA even at 6am is to dealthy humid.)

Avg HR: 147

Max HR: 174

Interesting how your mind works.  If you tell yourself you're only going to run so far then that's all your body will allow.  I need to tell my body I can run 6.5 miles when I'm only planning on 5.5 and I have a feeling that will make pushing it through the end much better.

No babies waking up!  Successful run.

Felt great this morning running on the treadmill.  I felt like I could go another 4 miles at this pace.  Increase distance first before speed.  Keep this (running 4x a week) for this week and then add another day or increase mileage a little on the 4 days.  I enjoy weight lifting 2x a week so I'll probably add mileage on the days I run.  Feeling good!

Pace: 8:20

Avg HR: 154

Max HR: 169

Ran on the treadmill at the Hilton Head Resort.  Such a great vacation!  I didn't have my HR monitor but it was a good run, just SO hot.  Ran 4.5 miles at a 8:19 pace.

Ran on the BEACH!  :)  Loved it.  Beautiful sunrise.  I actually ran a lot faster off of the treamill.  Again, no HR monitor.  My avergave speed was right around an 8:20 probably.  THere were times I was running sub 8 so I had to watch my pace to slow down.  Oh, I wish I could run on the beach every morning.

First long run today outside GA.  It was rough.  Started at 5:45.  It didn't get light until 6:20ish.  I ran around our big circle twice then on Arrowhead then onto the Riverwalk.  A LOT more hills than anticipated.  That's what made it hard.  It took me the rest of the day to recover (basically for my insides).  Next long run = no hills for now.

1mi 9:06     2mi 9:12     3mi 8:50     4mi 8:53     5mi 9:37     6mi 9:34  

Avg HR 161

Max HR 175

Back onto the treadmill.  Felt good today just tired calves throughout the whole run.  Ran an 8:20 pace though and felt great.

Avg HR 155

Max HR  168

Felt really good this morning.  Ran an 8:20 pace and it's starting to feel easy/very comfortable.  I feel like my body and heart are getting use to running now.

Avg HR 134

Max HR 166

Walked an additional 1/2 mile combined to warm up and cool down.

Ran less distance today to prepare for my longer run tomorrow.  Felt great.  8:20 pace.  On treadmill.

Avg HR: 144

Max HR: 164

Ran outside early this morning on the trail that runs along Dixie.  It's not as hilly as my last Saturday run but definitely had some good ups and downs.  On my way back I pushed it up the first hill and felt so good doing it and realized I was needing to push myself more as I ran.  Nothing too much but more than I was doing.  Then I realized I was running a sub 8 pace.  Maybe that was too fast?  Maybe not?  My calves are tired but my insides are not as torn up as last Saturday that's for sure.

Avg HR: 164

Max HR: 176

1mi 8:37     2mi 8:54     3mi 8:38     4mi 8:08     5mi 7:33     6mi 7:51

mapmyrun says my distance was in the top 25% and my average pace was in the top 10%!  :)

I'm upping my speed this week.  Moved up to a 8:06 pace  It was a little fast (not too bad) the first two miles, but by the end it felt normal and really good.

Avg HR: 130

Max HR: 166

Run was great this morning.  The first mile I started at 8:36 and worked down to 8:13.  The last mile and a half I ran an 8:06 and felt great at the end.

Avg HR 152

Max HR 169

Started off at about an 8:34 pace.  3/4 of a mile in I was down to 8:13.  The last mile and a half I ran at a 8:06 and felt good.  

Avg HR: 156

Max HR: 169

Ran alongside Dixie Road again this morning.  It was SO HUMID.  99% humidity.  I was running in clouds at 6:15am - crazy.

1mi 8:33     2mi 8:25     3mi 8:21     4mi 7:52     5mi 7:48     6mi 8:07

Avg HR 166

Max HR 175

I felt really good by the end.  The first two miles I had to work up my running desire but by mile 4 I was feeling happy and good.

Another early morning on the treadmill.  This run felt great.  Ran first 3 miles at a 8:13 pace (took 1/2 a mile to get there).  Ran last 2 miles at an 8:06 pace.  Felt strong at the end.

Avg HR: 153

Max HR: 165

Had a little more trouble towards the end - just having to push through a little more than on Monday.  Maybe it was because Landon was crying and I needed to use the bathroom? Ha.  Ran first mile between 8:34 and 8:13 to warm up.  Ran next two miles at 8:13.  Last two miles at 8:06.

Avg HR: 157

Max HR: 172

Started off just planning on 4 miles but the run felt so good I went another 1/2.  Took the first 1/2 mile to run up to a 8:13 pace.  Ran 8:13 for 1.5 miles then 8:06 for 3 miles.  Felt really good - like I could bump it up a notch.

Avg HR: 152

Max HR: 163

I'm visiting my dad in Ohio. Today was my long run. It felt so nice to not be running in Georgia! I wasn't dripping wet from heat and humidity within the first 5 minutes. I started at 6am and finished a little before 7.

Avg HR: 165

Max HR: 174

1mile 8:11. 2mile 7:44. 3mile 7:59. 4mile 8:00. 5mile 8:01. 6mile 8:16. 7mile 7:56

I felt all and all really good. As you can tell a little after half way through I was getting cramps and struggling a little but I focused and pushed through and then felt good again.

I tried to go running yesterday (Monday) morning at my dad's house but it was storming so I had to go running this morning instead.  I ran around his neighborhood again and back into Marcia's.  I think I started off too fast - my first mile was a 7:58 pace.  So by mile 4 and 5 I was feeling it.  Kind of crampy and really had to keep motivating myself to keep going.  I ran between a 7:58 and 8:11 the whole time.  It was so humid.  100% was what the weather said.

Avg HR: 170

Max HR: 180

I'm back home.  Running on the treadmill.  The first mile I ran between a 8:34 and 8:13 to warm up.  Miles 3, 4, 5 I ran an 8:06 pace and felt really good.  I dropped down to an 8 the last 1/2 mile.

Avg HR: 158

Max HR: 171

Great run on treadmill.  First mile worked down to a 8:06 mile.  Ran next 2 3/4 miles at that pace and the last 1/2 mile ran an 8:00 pace.

Avg HR: 159

Max HR: 168

Ran outside in GA this morning.  Humidity is so so so miserable.  97% this morning.  It was so thick and hot - it made running miserable.  That and the fact that I had to use the restroom my whole run - with no bathrooms nearby.  I was hoping to run 7 miles but I hurt too bad and had to stop at 6.59.  This run on Dixie is hilly and with the weather - it is a harder run than my last week 7 milers in Ohio.  So I feel okay making it 6.59.

Avg HR: 169

Max HR: 180

1mi: 8:20    2mi: 8:26    3mi: 8:33     4mi: 8:15     5mi: 7:57     6mi: 7:57     .59mi: 7:41

Good run this morning on the treadmill.  First mile was my warm up running up to a speed of 8:06.  The next mile I kept this pace then miles 3 and 4 I ran at an 8:00 pace and mile 5 dropped down to a 7:53.  That 7:53 felt good today and by my average HR I think it was a good pace.

Avg HR: 156

Max HR: 168

Another good 5 mile run on the treadmill.  I got down to an 8:06 pace pretty easily and quickly within the first mile.  Then I ran at an 8:00 up until mile 2.  Then for miles 3-5 I ran at 7:53!  Feeling good!  My Heart Rate monitor was off because it's rubbed my skin raw so I was adjusting it during my run which I think threw things off because this is what it said at the end:

Avg HR: 159 - I believe this.

Max HR: 203 - Crazy.

Great morning run on the treadmill.  First warm-up mile down to an 8:06 pace.  Changed down to an 8:00 pace from mile 1 1/2 to 4.  Then the last 1/2 mile ran at a 7:53 pace.  I should have run at that pace a lot earlier on but for some reason I was thinking this needed to be a slower run because of my longer run tomorrow, but that wasn't right.  Oh-well.  It was a good almost easy feeling run.  Just get a little bored on the treadmill.

Avg HR: 155

Max HR: 165

I think this shows it was a pretty smooth sailing run.

I chose to ran on the treamill this morning.  

1mi: down to 8:13     2mi: 8:06     3mi: 8:06     4mi: 8:00     5: 8:00     6: 7:56     7: 7: 47

Avg HR: 156

Max HR: 169

I felt really good this run.  My lower back has been hurting a little lately while running on the treadmill.  Not sure if that's normal because of the pounding?  

I forgot to enter my running details and it's Friday. I'm not wearing my HR monitor because I need to let me skin heal where it rubbed it raw. I know this was a good run on the treadmill though. Around an 8:00 mile pace.

1mi- Down to 8:06. 2mi- 8:00. 3mi- 8:00. 4mi 7:53. 5mi to end- 7:53

Felt great. On treadmill.

Easy run on the treadmill.

1mi - Down to 8:06     2 1/4mi - 8:00     3 1/4mi - 7:53     4 1/4mi - 7:47

Still no HR monitor but the skin is healed now so it'll be back on tomorrow.  

Ran outside this morning. A tough run. Had to stop three times - first because I was dying after three hills, second because I was being chased by dogs, third because I had to tie my shoes. My legs felt so heavy the last two miles.

1mi: 7:58. 7:58. 8:11. 7:06 (stopped and walked for a minute and GPS picked up where I started again). 8:00. 8:00. 8:51. The last .65 mile stopped at 8:28 pace.

Good run on the treadmill.  My calves are sore, but not enough to stop me from running.  No HR monitor because it rubbed me raw again on Saturday.

Ran down to an 8:00 mile pace for the 1st mile.  For the next 4.5 miles I ran between a 7:53 and 7:47 pace.  Felt good and a little tired at the end.

Early run on the treadmill.  Felt really good today.  

First mile ran down to an 8:00 pace.

Miles 1 to 1.5 down to 7:53pace.

Miles 3.5 - 5.5 ran 7:47 pace.

Only 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night because of Landon.  Poor guy.  :(  This run still felt pretty good even with a tired body.  On the treadmill again this morning.  Took the first mile to get down to a 7:53 pace and kept this pace the next 5.5 miles.

Avg HR: 165

Max HR: 176

Ran outside this morning on the River Trail.  It was good until I hit some hills which slowed me down quite a bit.  You'll see it in my paces.  I felt good though at the end.  Tired yes from running 7.5 miles, but I wasn't hurting or in any pain.

Avg HR: 144                   Max HR: 181  (I did stop my monitor for a bit because I had to pause for about a minute after the hills and I forgot to turn it back on for about 15 minutes so I don't know how accurate these numbers are.)

1mi - 8:10     2mi - 7:29     3mi - 8:00     4mi - 8:01     5mi - 8:40

6mi - 8:22     7mi - 8:08     .5mi - 7:57

On the treadmill.  Overall a good run.  Nothing out of the ordinary to report.  No HR monitor becuase of my skin burn still.

Ran down to a 7:53 for the first mile.  Kept this pace until mile 3.5.  For the last two miles ran a 7:46 pace.  Was pretty tired at the end.  Not sure how far I could keep the 7:46 pace up.  7:53 feels really good right now.  Like I could run that for the whole 10 miles maybe.

First mile down to 8:00.  8:00   7:53   7:53   7:53 (.5mile)  7:47  on treadmill.  My body was so tired this morning waking up and for the first little while of this run.

Down to 8:00    8:00    8:00   7:53    7:53    7:53

Good run.  Felt good the whole time.

Ran outside along Dixie.  Sun's not rising until close to 7am - pushes my runs back a bit on Saturday's, but hopefully gives me more rest.  Felt really good this run.  Tried harder to focus on enduring the run at a good pace instead of focusing too much on my speed.

8:20    8:25    8:13    7:51    7:51    8:06    7:45    7:36    Avg pace = 8:01

Miles 2-5 were on rolling hills.  The last two miles were flat.  I liked this run!  Felt good and accomplished at the end.

Woke up this morning so dizzy.  That's never happened before.  It kind of affected the way I was feeling to run but overall I was able to pull off a good run.

Down to an 8:00     8:00    8:00    7:53    7:53    7:53

Today was such a good run! I'd say it felt easy. Not sure if it was just a good day or if my body is getting use to this pace and distance. Maybe a little of both? Loved it though and felt like I could have finished the 10 miles at 7:53.

Down to an 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53. 7:47

On treadmill.

Down to 8:00     8:00     8:00     7:53     7:53     7:53/7:47

Couldn't go running outside because we left early for the Atlanta temple.  I wasn't feeling well.  My lower right abdomen is bothering me.  I felt like my insides were shaking around.  At 5 miles I had to stop.

Down to 8:06   8:06   8:06   8:00   8:00

After taking two weeks off I hope I'm back in business! Pain issue still not resolved but I barely felt it during my run today so I'm taking that as hopefully an okay sign. I didn't push it since I took 2 weeks off but my run today felt great. I ran mostly between an 8:13 and 8:06 the last 4 miles. I'm going to try hard to listen to my body and not worry about speed. I just want to be able to run this 10 miler in less than 5 weeks!

Great run! Between a 8:13 and 8:06 for the last 5.1 miles.

Another great run. Between a 8:13 and 8:06 the whole time.

Felt great! First 5 miles at a 8:20 pace. Next 1.5 miles at a 8:13. Last 1.5 miles at a 8:06.

Ran between a 8:13 and 8:06 from miles 2 to 5 1/2. The last 1.5 miles ran a 8:00 pace. Felt great!

Down to 8:13. 8:13. 8:13. 8:06. 8:06. 8:00. 8:00/7:53. 7:53

Felt great!

Down to 8:13. 8:13. 8:13. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. .5@7:53

Tired at end but good run!

It's been a couple of days since I've run this but it was on the treadmil and at the end I felt good - a little tired.  I think this is how it went:

8:20   8:20   8:20   8:20   8:20   8:06   8:06  8:06   8:00  8:00/7:53

Ran outside in the dense fog.

8:05    8:23   8:25   8:00   7:51   8:04   7:54   7:46   Avg = 8:02

Felt great at the end -  rough after I had stopped for a minute, but great while I was running.  The music I listen to defintely helps at times!

8:13. 8:13. 8:06. 8:06. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53/7:47

Felt great. I just need good music and picturing my family cheering me on at my first race and I'm good to go! Had to push through at the end but I felt really good and I need to now mentally tell myself I can run sub 8:00 and be ok.

8:06. 8:06. 8:06. 8:06/8:00. 8:00/7:53 7:53/7:47. 7:47

Felt great!!!!

Inside run because I didn't have much time in the morning since we were leaving for the zoo. I can't remember all my split times but I started at 8:20 and finished at 7:47 and it felt good. Just tired legs by the end.

8:06. 8:06. 8:06. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53. 7:53/7:47. 7:47

Had to stop a few times to tie my shoes and use the bathroom but at the end I felt strong and really good.

Only had time to run 8 miles this morning because of doctor's appointments.

8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53/7:46. 7:46

Felt really good at the end. Just tired legs a little.

Did 10 miles today because Colby will be on a camp out tomorrow morning and I never sleep well when he's gone. On the treadmill...

8:06. 8:06. 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53 7:53/7:46. 7:46/7:39

Felt excellent at the end but had to stop once to tie my shoe and once to use the bathroom.

Avg HR: 167

Max HR: 182

8:06. 8:00. 8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53. 7:53. 7:53

Felt really good. Had to stop once for the bathroom. Really hope that doesn't happen on Saturday. So excited the race is this weekend!

I can't remember my times but I started at 8:00 and ended around a 7:40 pace. Decreasing my mileage to get ready for Saturday. 😀😁🏃🏼

8:00/7:53/7:47. 7:47/7:40. 7:40

Very anxious and excited for tomorrow!!!!!

RACE DAY! 7:49 avg my app didn't record my run 🙁 But it was such a great race. Finished top female and 1st in age category. Great race. Miles 7-10 were hard but I pushed through. All the training paid off. I can't wait to run my next race!

I can't remember my paces but I started at an 8:00 and ended at a 7:40ish.

8:00. 8:00. 7:53. 7:53. 7:47. 7:47. 7:41

Could have kept going but had to get the morning going...

Sick with a cold

TOFW

Training for a 5k in two weeks!

8. 8. 7:41. 7:41/7:35. 7:35. 7:53. 7:53

It all felt so good until I went back up to a 7:53. Then I started feeling tired and my calves sore. I felt great during the faster portion. I guess my body started feeling it when I gave it a little rest from pushing it.

I can't remember my splits because I'm recording a day after-the-fact. I know I started the end of Mike 1 at an 8:00 and I think I ended my run at a 7:41.

I'm adding a day of running to my week. Only 3 miles for today and I'll gradually increase this as the weeks go by.

8:00. 7:53. 7:47

Felt super great.

Started at 8. Last two miles was down to a 7:41. Trying to focus on not running so high on my toes/feet.

Started at an 8:06. By the last two miles I was down to a 7:41. Felt good but had to stop at mile 6 to go to the bathroom 😕😠😁.

I can't remember my splits because this was a couple of days ago but I started at an 8:06 for a. Outlet of miles and ended at either a 7:47 or 7:41. Felt good. Had to take a bathroom break at mile 6.

Great run! Started at 8:00 but quickly was down to 7:47 feeling like this is my new average pace. Finished strong the last three miles at 7:41.

I'm writing this a week later so I can't remember anything about this run.

RACE DAY! My first 5k. Came in 2nd top female and 1st female for 30-39year olds. Averaged a 7:06!!!!!! It was hard and I pushed myself the whole time but I did a pretty good job for my first 5k. Came home with a turkey!

Great run. I don't know my splits but I know the last two miles I was running a 7:35.

Another good run. Had to use the restroom around mile 6. The last three miles I was around a 7:40. By the last 1/2 mile I was down to a 7:30. Legs are feeling tired.

Started off around an 8 and ended around 7:35

My board stopped working this morning. 😡 So I don't know my exact pace or my distance. I think I started around an 8 and ended around a 7:40. I felt really strong at the end - just getting kind of bored on the treadmill. Netflix wasn't working today either. Good thing for music and conference talks! And no bathroom break needed!

Screen still broken but probably started around an 8:06 and got down to a 7:45ish. I'm getting kind of bored doing the same run.

Needing a change. Needing a little break. Only ran 5 miles because that got me more excited about running than thinking of going 8+. Screen still not working but probably averaged a 7:41 most of the time. My body felt great the whole run.

In Utah!

I took 9 days off because of traveling to Utah and coming home and recovering and also getting bored of running on the treadmill.  My treadmill screen is also still broker but Brother Kirkendall took it to try to fix it.  I don't know when I'll get it back.  :(  Since today is Saturday I was able to go to the gym and run.

I started out with an 8:00 mile to warm up.  Then next 6 miles I was between a 7:53 and 7:41.  I went do to a 7:35 for maybe 1/2 a mile but I felt like I had to go to the bathroom too bad so I bumped it back up a little and could make it to the end.  

My legs are sore and tired.  9 days off is a long time I'm learning.

Brother Kirkendall took my treadmill to check out the screen.  We've ordered a new one so I won't have my treadmill back until the end of the month.  Thank goodness for block leave so I can go to the gym in the morning before Colby has to be at work.

I can't remember my details of this run but I know I was SO SORE in my calves after the first mile so the next 5 miles were painful.

8:06 warm up  8:00  7:53  7:53   7:47/7:40ish

warm up at 8:00  then 7:53  7:47   7:41    7:35

Good run!

My treadmill is back and fixed!!!!!! 😊😊👍🏻👍🏻

8:06. 8:06. 8:00. 7:56 7:47

8:06. 8:00. 7:53. 7:47. 7:47

Felt a lot better today than yesterday. After taking almost a month off/being non-consistent, I think my body is warming back up again.