Much Improved Time

16 DAYS TILL THE RACE

Body very sore.  Went out for a real light 15 minute jog this morning.   But the notable training came from a couple days ago. As you can see from the high quality picture below I'm extremely close to my goal of 5K under 25 mins.   Off by just 4 seconds. 

This weekend I'm going to switch up my running area and try doing some hills in an attempt at expanding my Cardio ability.   It still has only gotten slightly easier, it hurts and feels so unnatural to run for any length over 8-10 minutes.  There I said it.  Take that Jogging Community and your Damn Short Shorts.



FINAL GRADE - B

A Step in the Right Direction

19 DAYS TILL THE RACE

Over the past few days I was down in Delaware to fulfil my Father's Dying wish  of attending his family's Reunion.  Unfortunately he was too ill to make the 10 and a half hour drive but I went down and made him proud.  Along the way I stopped in Philadelphia and went for a light jog.  My route ended atop these stairs.  Cross that off the Ol' Bucket List.

While on the trip I got up most mornings to go for a light 15-20 minute jog.  Today I ran 4 Km's in just over 20 minutes!   That's close to the pace and my goal of finishing the 5km's in under 25 minutes.

I find that the first 10 minutes of my Runs are the absolute worst.  I want to stop and my lungs and legs hurt the entire time.  Then after the 10 minutes my mind set changes from "I want this to end"  to "Gotta keep Running, Don't Give Up".   I really feel like if I stop running then there was no point of having to endure that horrendous first 10 minutes.


If the "Runner's High" is feeling light headed and close to Vomiting.  I feel that almost every time out.  

Tomorrow morning I'm going to make another attempt at 5K in hopes that I'm in and around the 25 minute mark. 



FINAL GRADE -   C +   (finally seeing some improvements!)

Training Day 4 - Interval Running?

24 DAYS TILL THE RACE


Yesterday I tried "Interval Running" which basically consisted of running lightly for 5 minutes than at "Race Pace" for 15 minutes, then back to light jogging for 5.   I have no idea what "Race Pace" means as I tried to go faster and that did not last very long.  I basically just ended up jogging lightly for the entire 25 minutes.   I realize at the moment I only have one pace and it's "Survival Mode".   Not very fast, just at a speed that allows my body to continuously move in a Jog Like Motion.

I'm starting to feel more IN with the jogging community.  I noticed a couple joggers as they past gave me a shorten hello sign with their hands.   I found myself doing this to a few of my fellow joggers at the end of my workout.  Feels good to be part of this new community.  Although I can't help but feel as though they are all experiencing this "Runner's High" while I'm trying not to constantly Vomit or fall over due to Exhaustion.


FINAL GRADE -   D +

Training Day 3- Wind Sprints, Terrible Decision

25 DAYS TILL THE RACE -

I typed into google "How to Train for a 5K Race".  Every training schedule was geared towards 8 Weeks of training, because I don't have 8 weeks I decided to customize my own.   One of them suggests you mix it up and not just run 5K everyday.  Today I decided to do some 40 Yard Wind Sprints.  I figured this was more my style as a shorter speed runner.  The only good thing I can say that came from running these wind sprints, is that it made me miss jogging.

I managed to find an area of grass near my place and I put on my Baseball Cleats for better traction/performance. After doing 20 Wind Sprints in the morning rain I had nothing left in the tank. I felt like a Rugged Warrior, that feeling didn't last long as I vomited in a Parking Lot on the walk home.   I was so damn light headed.  (I should also note, I have no idea what excatly a "Rugged Warrior" is or feels like.  But I imagine these Animals would enjoy Wind Sprints in the Morning Rain)


Hopefully this will prepare me for tomorrow where I will attempt to run some "Interval Running".  No idea what exactly that means, but I have it written down for Wednesday's Training and it sounds rather legit.



FINAL GRADE -   D (I figure you can't score higher than a D when you Vom in public after Running)


It should also be noted that I can barely walk and every muscle in my legs hurt.  But as a Rugged Warrior, I'm not complaining, just simply making note of this.  THis pain that I love so much. 

Training Day 2 - Where is this 'Runners High' I hear about?

26 DAYS TILL RACE DAY-

So I learned a major lesson in long distance jogging, pacing is key.  Had a nice slow and steady pace and pushed myself farther than I ever have before.  A record amount of time that I have ever Ran without Stopping.  I have no idea why people put themselves through this everyday and how they can even enjoy it.  None the less a HUGE step in the right direction. Finished 5K in a total time of 38:14.  I Still have alot of work to do in order to get my time under 25 minutes.

I need to look into how I can jog with a water Bottle, any tips or ideas would be more than appreciated. Got ridiculously thirsty on the run.  Im willing to try anything other than wearing a Phanny Pack.


Also, something I learned today.  If your going to try running 5K.  Run 2.5K then turn around instead of just running straight 5K in a direction that is away from where you need to get back to.  I nearly collasped when I was done then I had to walk 5K back home.  Not a good time.  I am an idiot.  


FINAL GRADE -    C-  (A for Big Time Effort)


Also, I should include my convo with my Father today

Me: "Hey Dad, I'm Going to try and run in a 5K race in a time under 25 minutes to raise money for Cancer"

My Dad: "25 minutes? You were never good at running long distances.  Wouldn't it be easier to just grow a Moustache again?"

Day 1 - Attempt at my first 5K time

Today was my first day of Running and it did not go very well. My goal is to run the 5K race in a time under 25minutes.  Now I'm concerned that I might not be able to even run the entire 5K without stopping.

I have no idea how people do this everyday, and how these people even enjoy doing it. After running for a while and feeling like my heart was going to explode my IPOD came on to tell me "You have travelled 1 Kilometre".  This was very disheartening, My Body and I seriously thought I was damn near at least 3 or 4 K at that point. Two things have now dawned on me.  1) I have no real concept of distances. 2) Even in my younger High School track days I never ran more than a couple Miles without stopping.  This is going to be a crazy challenge for me.  As you can see from the Pic to the right I stopped running just after a Kilometre and a half.  

Worst part was after having my ears feel like they were going to explode.  Not sure why they hurt so badly after the run, I googled it and it's a real thing that happens to people sometimes.  check it:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/372504-why-do-my-ears-hurt-when-i-exercise/

Right before I stopped running, a group of people waiting for a city bus genuinely looked concerned at the faces I was making, I realized how light headed I was and came to the conclusion that the first day of running might not be the best day to collapse on the street.  Things can only get better.  I'm going to look more into what types of things I should eat in the mornings before a run to gain any type of edge.

FINAL GRADE :     D -

DAYS TO THE RACE:    30