I set a new PR (personal record) earlier this month. I broke the 40 minute barrier! I ran the Wiggin’ Winter Dash in 39.30. My brother-in-law asked me to join him in this race for juvenile diabetes research; he was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. We did not run together. He’s faster than me for one and I’m still trying to build my endurance back up after my pregnancy-induced running hiatus. I did a combination of running and walking and I fully expected to cross the finish line in my usual 45 minutes. But when I rounded the street corner to the final stretch, I could see that the time clock was still in the 30s. I couldn’t believe it! I sprinted for the finish line. It was exhilarating! Not just because of the new PR but because I felt like I did something good for myself (exercise) and for the kids we were racing for (raising money for research). This is one of the reasons I like running – I could care less about the medals. The three races I participated in this fall … [Read more...]
Running Inspiration
I just want something beautiful -- Need to Breathe Last Saturday, I completed Week 5 of the Couch-to-5K program with a 20-minute run on the boardwalk at the beach. It was just what I needed. I needed something beautiful to carry me on the longest run I’ve attempted yet. I know that’s not very long and I didn’t run that far but it was an accomplishment that I didn’t think I would achieve. You see, it wasn’t my first attempt at a 20-minute run. Fresh off my 41-minute finish (40:59 to be exact – and I was aiming for 44) at the No Place Like Home 5K, I set out with confidence to conquer the 20-minute run at the end of week 5. Didn’t happen. I ran about 10 minutes and had to stop. I finished the workout with a combination of walking and running. I maybe ran a total of 15 minutes. Not good. On Friday, I went to the shore for a work event. There I met a fellow runner who suggested I run on the boardwalk. She had me at board. :) Not exactly an even surface, but at least it was … [Read more...]
