Definitely back into the groove

So it's been a while since I've been in this space, but I must say my healthiness journey hasn't lacked. I completed the Crescent City Classic 10K in late April. I didn't complete it in the time that I wanted, but I did it despite the excessive heat that morning. Since then I've completed a 5K in mid-May and numerous runs just to keep me on my healthiness journey.

I just checked my stats and as of today, June 30th, I have 208.24 miles. The end of June 2010 found me with 163.12 miles. I'm 45 miles ahead! Sweet!

I've tried to embrace the treadmill since it's been excessively hot. There were two days over the past month where I ran in the evening and it was brutal. Brutally difficult! If I'm going to log miles during the workweek, it's going to have to be at the gym on the treadmill. Not ideal to me, but there are some benefits. I think the treadmill will help me developing a consistent stride and with my pace.

Yesterday I did a 30 minute interval run: 1 min at 6.0 speed and 1 min at 5.0 speed. That was my first time pumping the treadmill up to 6.0. I was pretty impressed with myself! I'll continue to do the interval run as such and gradually increase the time for 6.0 speed. It can only help!

I'm still going to run on the road, mainly on Saturday & Sunday because I'll get out early in the AM. I wish I felt comfortable running early in the AM during the week, but I just can't see getting out there when it's too dark. Must stay safe!

Anywho, just wanted to provide a brief update on my running.

Back into the groove

So last week was a wash regarding returning to training due to illness. I'm all better now and I've already gotten my week started off right by heading to the gym earlier today. I got in 50 minutes of cardio by completing 40 minutes on the elliptical and 10 minutes on the bike. It felt really good to be back in the gym after 6 days away. I thought it would be difficult to accomplish what I planned on doing, the 40 minutes, but it wasn't at all. Impressive!

My plan for this week will include weight training in the morning and running in the evening (if the weather cooperates *fingers crossed* I really don't want to run on the treadmill). I'm 4 weeks out from my 10K, and I need to step up the training. No half-stepping. It is likely I won't be able to run the entire 10K due to my lack of training, but I want to be able to run at least 4-5 miles. We'll see....

Changing it up

I've been really bored with my workouts lately. So bored, that I haven't been doing much weight training at all. I've always like weight training, but I haven't really been into this year at all. Therefore, I need to change it up. Starting this week I'm going to switch to 3 days of weight training in the morning, 2 days of cardio in the morning (the elliptical or bike), and 3-4 days of running outside.

I really need to get back into serious weight training as I think it helps with the running. I recently read an article in Fitness magazine where a lady training for a marathon incorporated weight training to build her upper body strength for endurance during the marathon. I never thought about that! Reading her training for the marathon helped me to realize the importance of weight training in my overall routine, not that I didn't know it wasn't important, but I just wasn't focused or into.

I have a 10K I'm participating in next month, 5 weeks away. I have the opportunity to really make a difference if I focus over the next 5 weeks. That's my goal. To really focus.

CCC 10K Recap

I was a participant in the Crescent City (New Orleans) Classic 10K this morning. This was my 2nd 10K this year and my pace today was slower than the first one. No matter, it was the completion that was most important! Right? :~) Of course!

From Healthy Every Day

I completed this race the same as the other one. My plan was to do this one the same way as the last:

run 3 km
walk 1 km
run 3 km
walk 1 km
run 2 km

It didn't quite workout like that due to the sheer number of people. From where I was in the pack, it took me 6 min. to get to the actual starting line. Once there, I really couldn't get a good running pace until well into the 2nd km. I probably should have just walked the 1st km. There was a lot of people and a lot of walkers. Nothing wrong with walking, but it was extremely hard to maneuver around them at times. I walk as well, but I move to the outer portions of the street so as not to be in the way.

The first time I did a 10K was the Peachtree (Atlanta) Road Race. One good thing about the Peachtree is they encourage the walkers to stay to one side of the roadway. The Crescent City organizers should do the same.

I think the slow start really prevented from keeping a good pace. The other 10K I did, in February, wasn't quite as crowded and it thinned out pretty fast.

Overall, I'm still excited about the finish! I mean, that is what it is all about! Finishing what I start and I did it!

Mardi Gras Mambo 10K

Below is the image that is on the t-shirt participants in the Mardi Gras Mambo 10K received.

10k race #

Here's my race # from this past Saturday's 10K:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

40 miles

Thought I don't set resolutions, I do set goals for myself. I've decided to get 40 miles of walking/running for the month of January. That's less than 2 miles a day. Thinking about it that way makes it feasible since I generally try to get in 3 miles per walk. Of course, there will be some days that I can walk due to inclement weather or activities that I'm involved in. Overall, I think it is a goal that is attainable. I've connected by Nike+ account to twitter & facebook so that I can track my progress publicly.

I started today off with a 3.74 mile walk so I'm well on my way!

10Ks

Last night I bit the bullet and signed up for two 10K events in the coming months. I really want to get back into walking/running and this is the best way to do so. A friend of mine posted (on Facebook) that she was doing the Crescent City Classic 10K in New Orleans. I stated that I would consider participating and I am! While browsing the Active.com website, I found a 10K in my city, the Mardi Gras Mambo 10K. I'm doing that one as well! Eek!

The last time I did a 10K was in 2007 (the Marine Corp 10K). I did a few 5Ks early in 2009, but that's about it. Well, I'm back to it. My goal for 2010 is move, move, move. In order to do so, I have to do something that will get me moving. Therefore, participating in 10Ks and 5Ks will commence in the coming year.