Stephanie's Training - Week 12

Training Day #35 - August 9, 2010

Today is actually Thursday and I’m trying to think back to my Monday and Wednesday runs….the week has kind of ran together AND I’ve procrastinated in doing my blog!

Monday was my 35th training day. I can’t quite believe it. I’ve got to look back though and be really proud at how far I’ve come and those “running” with me. I was really hit tonight with what a TRUE journey this has been. Dedicating my body and my time to such a great cause does my heart good. We never know what life has before us or our loved ones. We can live life without hope and without faith and be bitter when life deals us a blow OR we can live life FULL of hope and with a SOLID faith in our CREATOR and turn to Him when life deals us an unwanted event. So many women are struck with breast cancer each year….a number I can’t truly fathom. My dedication, my sweat, my tears, my pain is only a small sacrifice for the thousands of women who have passed on, are dealing currently, or are proud survivors of such a vicious disease. Let me honor you!!!

Now with a tear in my eye, let me tell you of my success on Monday. It began as most of my training days have: weights and then onto the treadmill. I’m becoming rather bored of weights, but I know I need to keep up with them to help tone my muscles. But it’s hard to stay focused and do them for more than 10-15 minutes.

After the doldrums, Megan and I hopped onto the treadmills, entered “5K Loop”, and off we went. I warmed up with a walk for the first 4 minutes and then knew my next 5-10 minutes of jogging would be my usual struggle to find my groove.

I didn’t disappoint myself…….the next 16 minutes were a struggle. It takes some focus to find that groove, but I found it and wasn’t feeling too bad. It’s definitely getting easier to stay in the groove.

As I was reaching the 20 minute mark, I was having a two-sided conversation in my head: “You should keep running, don’t stop!” and “You should stop, you need a breather!”

Well, the first voice won. I’m noticing that it’s harder to get back into my groove if I stop for a short bit than to just push through the pain and lack of oxygen to gain my “second” wind. So I kept running…………

And kept running……

And kept running……..

Did I mention I was still running! :)

Now during all this running, my two voices were SCREAMING and arguing with each other (LOL!!)

39:22 That was my finish time…..AND I RAN THE WHOLE TIME!!!! WOO-HOO!!
What an awesome feeling!

Training Day #36 - August 11, 2010

Megan and I were joined today by 3 other members of our running “team”. Today we went to Columbia to check out the race route.

We all hooked up in the Hearnes Center parking lot, which we assume will be the general area of the “Start/Finish” line on September 19th.

The race route will take participants on a journey up and around the University of Missouri.

With great company in tow, we all set our pace. Walking was the pace today. We wanted to get a feel for the terrain. The “faster” gals set out about 2 blocks ahead of us “slower” gals, but all-in-all we finished just over an hour. It was a good thing, too……storm clouds were CLOSE and looming!!! We made it back just in time. :)

The route will be challenging (to me at least!). There are a few “hills”!

Training Day #37 - August 13, 2010

Tired today. Achin’ muscles today.

It was another humid morning so inside is where Megan and I trained today. Both of us were dragging today. I didn’t want to set my hopes too high today….Monday was long gone and I wasn’t sure I had it in me to run the whole time.

I was sore from the hips down. My knees were really talking to me and my ankles today were rather sore. I’ve come to accept the daily pains in my legs, but today…..not so much!

And because of my less than thrilling attitude, today’s blog entry will be short… and to the point.

Hopped on the treadmill, set out on a nice walking pace for the first 5 minutes, then kicked it in. I ran to the 20 minute mark and just had to take a break. Well, that “just had to” attitude bit me in the rear about 12 minutes later when I needed, yet again, a break.

I knew I should have just kept running and screamed my way on through the pain and oxygen loss.

I also decided I like Megan’s IPhone app that says the treadmill’s distance for a 5K is actually finished at approximately 2.9 miles.

I kicked in the last minutes in a jog and went to 3.0 and called it “quits”!

That’s it.

Not proud……..

Now where’s the Advil!