916 left to go!

I ran 3 miles last night non-stop for the first time in about 2 months. I was sweaty, and it was very cool. I ate a greens salad and green grapes before I left work. Then I took the metro to the WSC. It was a great start to the new season of running.

This morning I saw many runners. One runner glided - something about her posture was very fluid, and she didn't move much. She was faster than the others, maybe because it seemed like she used so little energy. I wonder if that was Chi-running. Her running style looked like the Kenyan main runner in The Spirit of the Marathon.

919 left to go!

Yippee! I ran. I ran on the new treadmill at my apartment complex. I planned on using the stationary bike for 40 minutes and then run a mile. Unfortunately, the stationary bike is broken. So, I just ran the mile. It's a good thing I joined the gym even though I haven't been in a while.

I can't say it was smooth sailing, and I can't say it was painful. It was just a mile after all. It was a time to love sweating, and a time to get back into the feel. My left knee hurt a bit, so I was working on my form. I would like to attend a Chi Running workshop, and they come around here every so often. I hope to attend one next year. We'll see.

When I get up to 3 miles comfortably, I'll attend the Silver Spring Pacers Tuesday fun runs. It's right near my gym, so I can leave my stuff there, and then pick it up when I'm ready to go. I have goals, I have charisma, I am me!

Getting inspired

It's been a while since I last ran, but I'm slowly getting inspired. A big way for me to get inspired is to see all of the runners after or before work just running down 17th near the White House. I feel like such a slacker because I'm not one of them. I may ask my boss if I can come in late so that I can work out at my apartment complex. What is interesting is early in the year I asked if I could come in early so that I could work out at my apartment complex. I just can't get it right . . . or is it I just couldn't get it right? I will be inspired! One day I will run even though it may be somewhat painful the first time after over a month. Oi! Ok, that's been said, now it's time to move on.

920 left to go!

It was a good solid run until the last half mile. For that good part I was thinking that I will tweet that the run was as necessary as a smile on a face. It still was a good ingredient of a day as it's good to sweat. However, I threw up afterwards into the garbage can near the parking lot of the gym. Now I know what was bugging me that last half mile. Unfortunately, I threw up in front of a woman obviously waiting for someone. I hope I convinced her that I was ok.

I'm pretty sure I threw up because I ate too close to the run, and as I'm not a relaxed runner (which means my stomach was tight), the food needed somewhere to go, and it could only go up. It was a learning experience that's for sure. I used to be concerned if I didn't eat close enough to my run. This was definitely too close as I figured out the gym was closing earlier during the summer months, and I timed my dinner for a latter gym time. Three to four hours is probably a good time to run after a meal. Before that the food doesn't have the chance to slide down and break down into the energy I need.

923 left to go!

OMG! I LOVE my twin's work out place because it has the coolest stationary bicycle. It's like a video game, and today's video included many hills. I was switching gears left and right. I worked at it, and that boosted my confidence for my run. There is also a sit-down-and-twist your back type of machine. It's awesome! I started faster than usual, but it didn't last long. It will last long . . . I really worked it during part of the bicycle exercise.

925 left to go!

I'm dog sitting, and my twin was able to get guest passes for her gym. I did another day of trying 5 minutes there, then some weight resistance, and then 10 minutes here, and then weight resistance, and then ran a mile. There was a part within the run which wasn't exactly a runner's high, but I just felt like I was running efficiently. It didn't last long :), but it was a great comfortable feeling.

I know I can do 3+ miles no problem, I just psych myself out what with all the gaps because of heat or what have you. Soon this one-mile or 2-mile run on the treadmill will not be included. It will be 3+ miles, baby!

Part of the running year, 2010, is food. I'm definitely hitting the nail on the head this week. I'm eating many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans. My twin's juicer is being used 2x's day, and I'm eating a nice salad of red lettuce, green lettuce, spinach, garbanzo beans, pecans, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. It's very good. I can just FEEL my body heal :) I think balsamic vinegar is the way to go, fyi.

926 left to go!

To get back into the swings of things I implemented my twin's strategy, and went from machine to machine.

5 minutes on stair climber
20 reps on a weight resistance machine
10 minutes on leg arm moving thing
20 reps on another weight resistance machine
15 minutes on treadmill
20 reps on another weight resistance machine
20 minutes on stationary bicycle

By doing this I realized how much I like to run more than other machines/activities. There just seems to be a freedom with running even on the treadmill. I still worry that I'm going to hurt my neck because I look at the news when I run :)