I recently started running again, which is really exciting and really frustrating at the same time. The exciting part is that I'm finally able to RUN again. The frustrating part is that I'm SOOOO SLOW.
After our recent wedding, my husband and I joined a gym and set the goal of running a marathon together. I've run one half marathon before, but never a full, and he's never run any kind of long distance race. We thought this would be a fun way for us to stay fit and spend a little (ok, a lot more than he realizes having never run a distance race before) of quality time together.
We've been running on the treadmill at the gym for a few weeks now and (finally!) yesterday we decided to venture outdoors for a run. For those of you who don't know, I stopped my last blogging/running experience due to a knee injury turned back injury that prevented me from running the last half marathon for which I signed up. We haven't been running outside because (1) I was trying to break my body back into the idea of running and the treadmill puts a lot less stress on my joints and (2) it's been ungodly hot out recently so running outside has just been out of the question (DH works outside so the last thing he wants to do after an 8-10 hour day in the 100+ degree weather is run outside... and I've never liked the summer sun very much anyway, being the pasty, translucent skin color that I am).
After running outside for the first time, I'm feeling pretty good! I know it's going to be a process and I'm going to have to slowly work the outside runs back into the routine. I can run 3 miles on the treadmill without any pain, but yesterday's 3 mile run outside leaves me with some lingering knee and back discomfort. I will probably only be running outside 1 day each week until I can run outside without pain. I've done it before and I'll do it again! However, this time will be different because I'll strengthen my core to prevent injury (and hopefully get some sweet abs).
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"What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on
the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives
us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate."
-John Bingham, running writer and speaker
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Today's Plan
- Short warm-up run (1 mile in 10 minutes)
- Strength training (arms, shoulders, abs, and back)
- Short cool-down run (1 mile in 10 minutes)
