woo hoo for me!!

I've wanted to recap my training for a while now, and kind of share where i'm at. I just finished week 5. i REALLY wasn't sure if i was going to be able to do it on time, because i was sick most of last week and didn't get in my work outs.

I persevered and tried to keep my work outs on target this week if it killed me. at times, it really felt like it would kill me, ha!

About 2 weeks ago, when i ran 4 miles (for the first time on the training outside), i knew it was a big moment for me. if i couldn't run 4 miles outside, i didn't feel like i would ever be able to move past the 3 mile mark.

Well run 4 miles i did....SLOOOOOWLY!!!!

Last night......was a defining moment in my running career.

I RAN 5 MILES OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

at least....i think i did. I run out at the lake sometimes, and i find it impossible to read the maps (i actually got lost last night), so i ran for about 63 minutes. I'm assuming if i didn't hit the 5 mile mark, i got extremely close. It was reallly reallly hard. I hydrated all day (about 10 glasses of water) and i had an immediate side stitch for the first mile or so. and believe me, it wasn't because i was running too fast.

should i mention that the temperature was 90, with heat index of 95??? yeah.........

I ran SO slow. whenever i run a new longer distance i run really slow because i'm afraid i won't make it. as long as the walkers aren't passing me, it's considered running, hhahahahahahaha!

also, lesson learned....i started my run too late in the evening. it was after 9 by the time i finished and i didn't appreciate being in the dark at a park alone.....i'll have to start earlier next week, esp with running further. but death by heat stroke is not the way i wanna go......

To prepare for my 5 miler, i geared up. there's actually a nice  little running store nearby, with pretty nice people that work there. I bought this:

it was a total impulse buy. I like pink, but i would've preferred another color or something on it. and the black stripe is the tag. i was so excited i forgot to take it off. i did need a running hat, because running with sunglasses weirds me out, and i currently have 3 pairs of sunglasses that are all messed up in some way/broken. and this was really comfy to wear.

and also this:

p.s. i wore it wrong the first half of the run by just putting it on my fingers....which led to them cramping up and me hating this water bottle. but then i realized i was the problem and started wearing it like a normal person. ALSO, i learned that running in high temp's and drinking lukewarm water is not my idea of a party.

note to self: freeze the bottle first or put in lots of ice!

 

 

i knew i couldn't make it 5 miles in sweltering heat without drinking water. Supposedly i run by 3 water fountains on the lake trail. i have NO idea where they are. I looked for them the whole time i was running and didn't see one. i'm pretty sure the whole online map thing is a scam.

and yes, i'm sore today. i've never been sore from running, until now. but my legs hurt. and i like it!!!

i love knowing/feeling that i pushed my body to new limits and more than it has ever done before. it's a great feeling!

a year ago i wasn't even running a mile!!! love love love it!

next week is 6 miles and i can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!