Brooks, Bridges and Breathing

Ok, I tried out my Brooks today aaaannndddd.....I LOVE THEM!

 It was like running on a cloud. I haven't taken a rest day since last Saturday and it really caught up to me today. I just wasn't feeling it. Although running with the Brooks did make it a little better. Yesterday, I decided to get an official time for my 3.1 miles. As I kept checking the time, I forgot and didn't look until I was about 5.17 km and it was at 33 minutes. So I rounded it down to 31 minutes even and will try to PR from there. Today, I was so slow, I didn't even bother with trying to PR. In fact, I didn't go as far as I usually go and and got back to my car at 4.32 km. And it took me 47 minutes to do it. I do have to give myself leeway because yesterday I ran alone and today I ran with the jogging stroller and Liam. So I definitely am faster without the stroller.

Today, while picking up my shoes from the running store, I realized that the love of my life works there. Haha. It was the guy who fitted me for my shoes. He gave me a discount on the shoes. Uh, hello! Totally into me! Ha, I kid. Although I would totally be ok with that. ;)

I still haven't signed up for the 5k. I think I am super nervous about the course. I mean, it's super easy but the slant of the bridge is my biggest worry. I don't want to come in last because of the damn slant. Ha. If I'm lucky, the race will start on the opposite side and I will get to run down it. Fingers crossed!

Here is a picture of the course, sort of. The two bridges on the left is what we have to run across. Down one and up the other. Its a lot longer than it looks. Dreading it! Who knows, it may be a whole hell of a lot easier than I'm thinking. I hope so!

Today while running, I noticed how loudly I breathe. I mean, its loud. I never paid close attention because I always listen to the radio on my phone but dang. I need to get my breathing under control haha. 

Been thinkin...

I got my Brooks today! I can't wait to try them out later! I also got some sweat bands and a Gu. I have been hearing about them on other blogs and the guy at the running store said they were good, so hopefully I'll like them. :)

I did a little research on the run that I'll be doing in June and the course looks a little...not easy. It's actually a flat course because we are just running across 2 bridges downtown but one of them has a slight angle that is torture to just walk up. I haven't signed up for it yet because I'm not sure I want it to be my first one. I think I'm going to start training on these bridges to see if I can do it without walking. Hills are always the worst part for me when I run and I am trying to get better but I have to walk up them. Hopefully, the course will start at the top of the bridge and I can run down the slant. That would be a whole lot better haha. The race does have a 5k fun run but I want to get a time and everything so I can PR my next race.

I'll post later and let you know how my 1st run with my new Brooks go! :D

5K training fail

Ha. Ok, so every time I run, I go the same distance which is about 6.5 km but today I wanted to find out how long it would take me to do just 5 km. And then PR from there. So, as I was out, I decided to turn around at 2.5 km and head back. After doing so, I realized my distance wasn't measuring the same on the way back and it should take me longer to get back to my car. Well, it didn't help the fact that I took a little detour on the way back also. Completely forgetting what I was doing. So, I got back to my car at 4.32 km. I kept telling myself, "I'll just pass the car and turn back around." Nope, when I saw the car, I was done. Ha. So I will have to try again tomorrow. That's if I can walk tomorrow! I am so sore. I know I need to take a rest day but I feel like I'm flaking out. Oh well. :)

I also am really excited to be getting my Brooks on Friday! I can't wait to try them out! Oh and I almost forgot to mention I almost got attacked by geese! I kid. Although they were probably thinking about it. There is a part of my run where there is a ramp that leads down to the water and some grassy area around it. Well, the geese and their new goslings love to chill right here. I hate it, because they poop on the sidewalk and it drives me crazy. They always hang out on the sidewalk too, where I have to run and they always hiss at me when I pass them. Trust me, I am more scared of them than they are of me. Haha. 

Well, I am going to clean out the refrigerator even though it is 11 pm because Liam and I have been sleeping it till 10:30 am lately (bliss!)  and I don't want to do it tomorrow. :)

Burned 432 calories today..that's what's up.

My awesome mom is going to be buying me some actual running shoes Friday and I didn't know where to go to have some fitted. Well, I discovered that my not so little town actually has a running store downtown and I couldn't wait to check it out. Liam and I went today so I could get them fitted and what not but I had to put them on hold until Friday. Bummer. Buuuut, I found the most perfect shoes.

They're Brooks and I love them! I'm not sure if this is the exact shoe because I found them on Google images but the ones I put on hold look very similar to these ones.

The guy had me walk back and forth and he measured my foot and what not. He had me try a bunch of different shoes. Nike (which was my 2nd fave), Saucony, New Balance. I also liked the New Balance but the Brooks were just the most comfortable one. I was instantly in love. He let me walk around the block with them haha. My journey to becoming a runner is underway! 

Later in the day, my mom babysat fro me so I could train a little for the 5k without Liam. I don't know if I am jogging farther but the app on my phone is still recording a longer distance. Today it said 6.5 km. And I apparently burned 432 calories. Wha??!! Awesome! I also PR'd today! By 1 minute haha. But I'm getting faster! :D

Did I ever mention how excited I am for my 1st 5K?!?!? :)

Where I run

Thought I'd show you guys a glimpse of where I jog. 

 This is over a little fishing bridge. I love jogging over it because it's so rickety and loud and just fun to run over haha.

 This part runs along a main road and a street on the other side with historic houses on it. Love it.

 This is the view from the little fishing bridge. It looks out right onto the Tennessee River. Most of the sidewalk runs along the river and it is just beautiful.

 This picture looks all warped because I didn't slow down to take the picture haha.

I like this part because it's surrounded by all woods.

That's basically what it looks like when I jog. I have been doing a lot better on my running. Although I think my running app was way off today. I ran the same distance but for some reason, it said I went a lot farther. Usually I run about 5.75 km but it calculated 6.52 today. Oh well, burned more calories so I'll take it haha. 

I have been doing some research on upcoming races and I found a couple I want to run. The main one that will be my first one is called the BlueCross Riverbend run in June. Some other ones I want to run are the Firecracker 5k. That one is in July. And some other ones I would like to attempt are of course the Susan G. Komen race for the cure 5k, the Jingle Bell 5k, the Turkey Trot 8k and the Karen Lawrence Run 4 mile. There are some other ones along the way that don't have the details posted yet like a mud run and a pie run. I am so excited. I hope to be able to do a half marathon by next summer. :)

 

Did I mention I lost 4 pounds this week? Holla!! I recently gained like 6 pounds back of the 11 I lost and was completely bummed but I think I set my mind straight and am back on track. So I am offically 190. Hey, I'll take it. 

I've been super sore these past couple days and am just famished when I finish a run. It also doesn't help that it's almost 100 degrees outside and the heat just sucks all of my energy out. I need to take a rest day but I feel like I'm flaking out so I may just walk on my rest days.

I'm gonna run a 5K!

You read that right! I am so super duper excited about it. My mom is paying for me to register for my first 5k and a new pair of running shoes as a Mother's Day gift to me. She's awesome like that haha. The race is called the BlueCross Riverbend Run and its in mid June. Did I mention how excited I am?! :D 

Today, I started officially training for it. I have this app on my phone that tracks my distance, speed, calories and what not. I usually walk about 5.75 kilometers every time and today I PR'd by 1 minute! Ha. I ran a lot more. Still not 100% running but it's kind of hard to run up hills pushing a jogging stroller and a 25 pound toddler haha. Hopefully my mom can watch him some days so I can train without him. 

Yesterday I took Liam to a local event called the 'Running of the Chihuahuas'. It's a cute dog event sponsored by a local radio station where they race chihuahuas and have some bands come perform. I was actually excited because I got to see Boys Like Girls and Outtasight. Liam was of course excited because of all the dogs his size haha. One of my mom friends was there with her family and we hung out with them for a while. Then my aunts showed up. My aunt Terry breeds chihuahuas and she couldn't miss this event haha. They brought 2 of her dogs and we let Liam hold one. 

Cute! Liam was at first, really unsure about holding her, but he eventually warmed up to her. :)

This week will be a super busy week for us. I will be training all week and running lots of errands. Hopefully, we can squeeze a few meetups in. I'm so broke so we will only be going to the free ones haha.