I’ve been reading Galloway’s Book on Running (thanks Jason at My Angle for the book recommendation) and it mentioned slow twitch verses fast twitch muscle fibers and how some people are just genetically predispositioned for faster running to come easier and some distance running comes easier. I hope I am getting that all right, but anyways I am definitely a slow twitch girl. I think the reason I never liked running when I was younger because kids are conditioned to think run for speed and nothing else. I am slow, but you know what I can run for a long time without getting tired. I got on my treadmill planning to do 5 miles and honestly had to do a good amount of self talk to get myself down there. That and drink 2 cups of coffee because I was just dragging this morning. I stayed up too late. Anyhow on to my run.
I get on my treadmill and the first mile went easy today. Usually the first mile is the hardest part of my run for me. For whatever reason (maybe the extra coffee) I felt great during the first mile so I start thinking I think I’m gonna go for 6! I start the second mile and start thinking okay, maybe just 5. Five is good, right? About half way into my third mile I am feeling really good again and start thinking “Nah, I’ll go for 6. Six is good!” Anyhow about that time my 2 year old boy comes trotting down the stairs with a pull up in his hand. Now, anyone who has ever potty trained a boy knows the first step for them is recognizing the need to go after they go. I’m thinking great I am all into my run I don’t want to stop. So I tell Leo go upstairs and find daddy. Note to self: Make sure daddy is awake before you go on your run. Keep in mind I have 6 kids and my older kids were up. Usually I let hubby sleep in on Saturdays and my bigger kids can keep an eye on Leo, but my teen & preteen boys do not do diapers! I suppose I could make them, but it’s all good daddy usually does diapers just fine. (If he didn’t we sure as heck wouldn’t have 6 kids.) So I am thinking Leo’s all good hubby’s sure to get up. I get back into my run and about 3 or 4 minutes later Leo is back downstairs. So at this point I start hollering at the top of my lungs expending a whole lot of energy trying to get one of my kids to hear me and get them to come downstairs. Finally, my oldest heads downstairs with the “What do you want?” attitude I love so much. I tell him to wake up dad and tell him I am running and to change Leo please. Well, that thankfully took care of that problem, but by then I used a lot of energy screaming and my focus was gone for a bit and I start thinking back to “5 miles is good, right?”
Fast forward to middle of my 3rd mile. I am feeling all good again. I look at my heart rate. It’s good. I am not feeling tired. My legs don’t hurt so I start thinking maybe I’ll do 6. I keep running, slow and steady. Hit the 4th mile and think definitely going for 6. The fifth mile went easy, and was confident that I was doing 6 today. I will admit to looking at the distance on my treadmill a whole lot more often than I normally do for the last mile, but I really felt good. For the last 1/4 mile I even felt good enough to kick the speed up. I feel so good now! That was an awesome run for me and it hit me I am almost half way to a half marathon. By next week I should be able to do half of a half marathon and I still have until April to get ready! I am making a speed goal of 2:45 or less for my half. I’d love to do 2:30, but we’ll see where I am at a little further into this before I set any goals faster than 2:45. Oh and I even made sure to get a good snack after my run too. It’s hard for me when I am working on losing weight to eat as much as I am supposed to, but I really want to do this and I know in order to do it I need to eat and fuel my body so I got a good healthy snack right away to make sure I didn’t wind up being short on calories at the end of day.
Oh and one last thing if you’ve read this far. Sorry, had lots of time to think on my run. The weather! Look at the weather for the week!!! Snow, snow, and more snow!
7 day forecast from weather.gov
Today…Snow. Snow accumulation 4 to 6 inches. Near steady temperature in the lower 20s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.
Tonight…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows near 15. North winds 5 to 10 mph becoming light.
Sunday…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Highs in the lower 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows 15 to 20. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Monday…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. Highs in the mid 20s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night…Snow likely. Lows 5 to 10 above. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Tuesday…Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs 10 to 15. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Tuesday Night…Numerous snow showers. Lows zero to 5 above. Chance of snow 60 percent.
Wednesday…Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs 10 to 15. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Wednesday Night…Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Lows zero to 5 above. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Thursday…Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs 5 to 10 above. Chance of snow 50 percent.
Thursday Night…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows near zero.
Friday…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Highs near 10.
I am really irritated with that! It looks like I am going to be stuck to the treadmill this week. We are totally buried right now. This is the worst winter I’ve seen in a while. Go figure I decide to run a half marathon and the weather wants to try and stop me! I am determined though and will hit my treadmill this week and hit the outdoors as often as I can when it isn’t snowing. I got until April so I should be able to get enough outdoor time. (I hope.)
That’s why I moved to Las Vegas, from upstate New York. No snow here. Suppose to be in the 60′s this week.
Now don’t hate me for that.
You’re making great progress though. I wish I could run like that. I easily get bored myself and I think that’s why I can’t run. Do you get bored and how do you conquer that?
Keep it up though your doing an awesome job and you should be proud of yourself. I know I am!
Sometimes I get bored, but not usually. My mind wonders around a lot. Only the first mile is really tough for me. As for living up north, that’s my hubby’s doing. He loves it up here and all his family is up here and I love him enough to deal with the crappy weather.
Great and fun post. Great job on going that 6 miles. I think we have a possible marathoner on our hands now, you wild and crazy girl you. Fantastic work and I am glad you like the book. As I have said before, I read it, and read it, and read it. I love it. It motivates me and tickles my research muscles. Thanks
Ugh; that’s a lot of snow in the forecast. Makes me want to avoid my walk just thinknig about it (and I’m nowhere near you!!)
But really, you are motivation. I was sitting here, thinking of excuses to avoid my measly 30 minute walk tomorrow. Reading this though? I suppose I’ll suck it up and go
You and Alyce sure do kick out those miles! Both training, too. Six miles is awesome! All that snow sucks
. Here it’s below 0 for the next few days 
. I hate cold! We should move south by Rob. Well, guess even he’s had snow… can’t win!
Way to go!
Yes this winter is back to the good ole days (it was fun when we were kids) . Snow every other day almost.
Hang in there.