Wait, what?
I like structure. I might suck at motivating myself to get out there and run, but when I have a training plan in front of me, I follow it. Sure, with time I learned what works for me and can tweak things here and there for my training, but I still need to see a schedule. On paper. With numbers. And I need to check those miles off my calendar.
So after deciding to sign up for a 10k that I am in no way in shape for, I of course went over to my friend Hal Higdon (ok, so he has no idea who I am) and checked out his beginner’s 10k plan. Let’s not mention how his plan is 8 weeks long, and my time frame is only 2.5 weeks. But though I’m at a beginner’s endurance, I’m not really a beginner per se, right? After all, I have ran over 30 races, with over a third on the double digit mileage, so even though I’m out of shape, I still call myself a runner.
Oh, and did I mention how I broke out in hives? And how it hasn’t gone away? And I’m now on prednisone? (Which sadly, is not that type of steroid…) Just like last year, I have a horrible reaction to prednisone, I’m a bit “off” most of the day, you know when you’re there but not really there? So I’m tired all day, and the hives are just now finally improving a bit. Luckily, most of the VERY noticeable part is hiding under clothes…
But onto the running 4 miles in the time it takes me to run a half marathon. And yes I RAN it. NO WALKING. The last time I ran this much, was with Erin on my last run with the group a couple of days before leaving DC (I didn’t blog about it, but I got 5.5 miles in), but I did blog about my last 4 miler in DC, and gosh, looking at those pictures again, I ache for those trails…
So I hopped on the treadmill with the goal of running 3 miles, but after a (very slow) mile, I was sweating profusely and breathing hard, despite having the AC pumping and the treadmill fan on (damn you prednisone!!!). It was TOUGH. So I hopped out. I took a break. I went on the computer, I ate dinner, even took pictures of myself after the sweat dried out.
And then I went back for one more… I put the elevation back at zero (I had run at 0.5 for the first mile), and when I hit the end of that mile I decided that I could finish the 3 miles. I even sprinted for the last quarter mile at a 8 min/mile pace with the 0.5 elevation back on!
I was sweaty… but decided that it wasn’t over yet. I went outside, walked Lily, and then was back for a final mile, sprinting to the finish again, this time at the last tenth of a mile.
And I finished 4 miles! Definitely sweaty. Yes, I’m totally posting a sports-bra picture here, you can almost see the hives on my chest – my stomach is really the worst part, where the hives are almost purple, I was trying to avoid the sweat factor not to make the hives worse. (And as you can see I still love my Moving Comfort Fiona, even if the company never gives me anything free to review… I think the one I’m wearing is 5 years old…)
Sure I took breaks, but I got the distance done in one day, and in the end, 4 miles in 2.5 hours is still better than if I had given up after that single miserable mile… (And I should add that the first mile was the only miserable one!)
The treadmill proof! (If only the total calories part was accurate…)
And Lily as usual wouldn’t let my post-workout sweaty face alone…
This Sunday I’m off to Cebu for a couple of days to celebrate my birthday (I’m freaking old already), and I’m hoping to get a couple of miles in down there too.
And I still owe pictures and reviews from both Coron and Moalboal, so that is coming soon!
WAY TO GO!!!! I love Moving Comfort bras too! They’re the only kind I own.
Same here, it’s the only one that keeps the jiggle in place! People always talk about the Champion ones from Target, and those I can wear at home, but if you have any boobage, there’s no way they’re enough!
I really love the moving comfort fiona bra too!! Happy Birthday! Mine is on Tuesday. When is yours?
Happy Birthday to you! Mine is on Sunday. I’ll be too old 🙂
You go girl!! Seriously, a lot of people would’ve just given up! but you didn’t! You finished it out and then some! 🙂 You rock!! Lily is so cute lol… my dog does that too… we have a miniature yorkie lol… and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🙂
Aw, thanks! And yeah, I couldn’t give up because I knew giving up would mean making that 10k that much harder. Some times you just have to suck it up!
(And yes, Lily is adorable!)