My legs are wrecked

I finished C25K W1D3 today!... But I think I've wrecked my legs.

Let me remind you that my last day of running any length at all was Aug 29 so I've started over with the C25K plan.  While training over the summer I built up quite a running base.  I was running 4 miles a few times a week, so my heart and lungs were strong and in good shape.

While my heart rate and breathing were not a problem during the last week my legs were hurting.  It's hard to believe that I could get in this bad of shape in 3 1/2 months but I'm glad that my problems are just in my legs.

I've done the warm-up walking routine and I've stretched afterwards so the only thing I know to do now is to add stretches before my workout.  I might even look into some compression socks but I don't know much about compression so if you're reading this and can help me out please comment. :-)

Starting Over

Cool Runnings.... I think I love you!
Actually I love who ever created the Couch to 5K running plan  for beginners.

I haven't run since August 29.  There really isn't a good logical reason for my lapse in exercise like an injury or illness.  Nope, it was just pure laziness, lack of motivation, maybe even a little of me thinking that I just didn't have time to run.  Yeah, I know those are all only excuses and pretty lame ones at that even.

I'm not sure what spurred my need for "sucking air" but something sparked me last week to take a walk at lunch and it felt good.  So good in fact that I did it again the next day.  After that those Kentucky rains set in and with the winter solstice coming, the sun has been set before I got home in time to run. (more excuses)

I started running during the spring of 2010, right before my birthday.  Everything went great all the way through week 7 then I quit when the weather got warm.  I started over for the first time last spring bound and determined that I wasn't going to quit when the weather got warm.  I bought dri-fit shirts and shorts, lots of powerade and even one of the coolest things I've ever seen, a frog tog towel.  I even ran my first 5k after completing the C25K plan.  But...I ended up quitting once school started.  (refer back to my list of excuses)

Well, this morning I went back to the C25K plan and started over once again with week 1 day 1 and felt absolutely great at the end.  I've had so much energy all day. There really isn't a good enough excuse to not exercise, so my plan is to follow the plan one more time and see how far it takes me.  Who knows maybe I'll graduate to Gateway to 8K or even the Freeway to 10K plans.

I LOVE my Nike Shirt! ! **Review**

I'm loving running in my bright yellow shirt so much I'm showing some love to Nike and thanking them for designing such a wonderful piece of clothing.

I bought my shirt at the local sporting goods store "Hibbett's" for $20.  It was on sale, down from $25.  I never pay full price for ANYTHING! ! !

I picked yellow since it was the brightest color they stocked. Since I'm running outside and on the side of my road, I'm trying to be very visible to drivers.  School buses are yellow for a reason ya know :-)

Since I'm running for a couple of different one of which is to lose a few or 10 pounds I bought a size XL.  As soon as I pulled the tags off and wore it for the first time I realized that I could have got a L and been ok with it but it's just habit to get the XL.  It's cut to be a little loose and it's a bit stretchy so it has some give in it. It is in no way one of those compression type shirts.   I don't usually like tight clothes.  It's a bit longer than I expected it to be.  I like this since it covers my hind end a little more than some other shirts I've bought.  If you wear those low rise pants this shirt would be perfect for you.

This shirt is so light and thin it's like wearing nothing at all.  You can see my bra through the fabric but it's not inappropriate.  The dri-fit material dries almost before I get home from my run.  It is always dry before my shorts are.  In fact, when I do the laundry, I just hang it up in the utility room and it's completely dry in less than 5 minutes.

If you'd like to get one for yourself go to
 http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-380508/pgid-222149 

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

100% Humidity doesn't always equal rain

This morning, like always, I checked the weather before heading out for my run.  The Weather Channel "Local on the 8's" said 79 degrees and 100% humidity.  Holy Moly! ! !  Was it raining with the sun shining?  Nope!  Just overwhelmingly HOT! ! !

I grabbed my blackberry and headed out anyway.  My planned 4 miler 4:1 walk - run ratio turned into a walk - walk ratio.  I hadn't even finished with my warm up section when I was realizing that I should have brought some water with me.

Some tips to help when running in the heat:

• Wear light weight light colored clothing.
• Be sure to take your sweaty clothes off when you get home. (Funky Fungi like to grow in warm wet embarrassing places)
• Wear a cap or visor to help keep the sweat out of your eyes
• Last but not least.... take some water!

What are your best tips for running in this heatwave that is sweeping the country?

If you are exercising outside in this weather.... please be careful! !

Air Pegasus+ 28 Review

After several missed runs I finally have a pair of running shoes.

As some of you may remember I have been having trouble with shoes.  I have bought 3 pairs and now have sent one pair of Vomeros back to Nike in hopes they would replace them as defective.  I mailed them to the Memphis Plant on June 14 and got a product voucher on Saturday June 25.  That's pretty fast service if you ask me.  I was leaving Sunday for a teacher conference so I spent some time in the malls trying on some shoes and deciding which Nike shoe I would order once I returned home.

I picked the Nike Air Pegasus + 28.  It felt like a glove when I put it on.  The flywire system allows for a snug fit but also enough room that your feet don't feel smothered in running shoes.  They are very breathable which is a good thing on all these hot summer runs.  These shoes have the same sole system as the vomeros and a segmented crash pad that allows for some totally awesome cushioning.

It might be that I picked the volt red version but I think they are fast and feel great on my feet.  I ordered them on Tuesday 5pm and got them Thursday 2:30PM.  Just in time for a quickie test run and a full test run on Friday.  I don't think I've ever had this kind of service with ordering anything online before.  And to beat the quick shipping, Nike offers a 30 day run test guarantee.  So if you order a pair of shoes from them online and get them and they aren't exactly what you expected you can send them back for an exchange up to 30 days past the order date.

My legs were a bit tired but that could have come from all those missed runs.  They felt like the pillows that I had in the vomeros.  I'm very pleased with these shoes and have learned that I need to buy a back up pair so I'm in the market for something else,  got any suggestions??  :-)

I want to go Strapless! ! !

Now get your minds out of the gutter! ! !

I started my fitness/workout/running journey in late February 2011.  I bought some shoes, then bought some better shoes, got some warm clothes to run in and the hubs talked me into a HRM.  I ended up with a Polar FT40.  I thought it was wonderful the couple of times I wore it.  Then the new wore off and I began to hate it.  I couldn't stand the strap.  All I could focus on was that strap around my chest.  I put it up under my bra strap thinking that would make it seem more natural.  I've worn a bra since I was 12 so wearing a bra is pretty natural to me.  I guess I probably only wore it 4 or 5 times, 6 tops.  I wear the watch a lot but not as a HRM.  So, needless to say I have a lot of money tied up in a "watch".

Well, the other day, I was reading through my google reader and saw that a blog I follow is giving away a HRM from sportline. Part of the entry requirements was to go to the website and tell what you learned.  All I can say is I was floating.  They have really pretty pink ones, cool white ones and some that actually look like a real watch.  And the best part, the coolest ones (at least in my opinion) are the ones without the chest strap.

So needless to say, I have listed my Polar FT40 with the flowlink on ebay and as soon as it's sold I'm buying one of those strapless HRM's.  I can't wait. :-)

100 miles!

Woo Hoo! ! !  I'm so excited.  I've finally hit the 100 mile mark on dailymile.  I joined and logged my first run on March 25th and have had the 100 mile mark as a goal ever since.

I keep reading other blogs and always take a look at their dailymile gadget.  Some of them are absolutely incredible.  Some of you out there actually run 100 miles in a week, OMG!

Well, since I've completed this goal I've decided the next one will be running a 100 miles in a month. That should take me a while but I'm one of those people who needs a goal to always push towards.

Do you have a running goal you would like to share?