Running: My journey so far.

Happy Easter everybody! Sorry I have been MIA for the past few weeks. Blogging has just taken a backseat to...well, life! I'm back though, and here is my running story.

I did it.

I ran 3 miles, without taking a single break to walk or rest.

I loved it.

Two months ago, if you would have told me I could run a 5k I wouldn't have believed it. I had written it down as a goal- but that's all it was. A goal, a dream. When I signed up for my first 5k and began the Couch 2 5k plan, I couldn't run half a mile! WOW that program works. I used the C25k app up until week 6, and then since it was just running miles, I decided to (loosely) do the same thing on my own. 

Only went to Week 6 on the app.... But I did the rest on my own (;

I ran up through Week 6 on a treadmill at the local YMCA. It was just way too cold in the Illinois weather (and sometimes too snowy!) to comfortably run outside. I highly recommend starting on a treadmill! While it is boring, you can watch TV or get some reading done during the early weeks of the Couch 2 5k program. It is also nice to know how many miles you did-so you can brag to all your friends (;

For the past week, with temps in the 40's, I've gotten the chance to run outside. WOW, it's a little bit harder! However, I discovered, much to my surprise, that I love road running. I love smiling at people, feeling the breeze, and the sense of accomplishment that doesn't come from the treadmill. I see why people call it the Dreadmill now...

When I ran those three miles, I pushed past the little voice telling me to slow down or walk, to cut out the last part of my run, and I just did it. I believe they call the feeling I experienced a runner's high. I felt like I was on top of the world. When I looked down at my ipod (I have been running with nike+) and saw 3.02 miles and 28 (TWENTY EIGHT!!!) minutes, I was ecstatic! I have never run that fast in my entire life. I had beat my goal pace for the Mother's Day 5k on the very first time I ran a 3 miler!

I think you can say that I have officially fallen in love with running. (:

My running shoes!<3

My first official 5k is the Sprint for Spastics and it is a week from today- I am so pumped.
I'm hoping to come in under 30 minutes, and that 3 mile run makes me very confident in that goal (:

Wish me luck!!

-Emily

A good start.

I've been two weeks in to the Couch to 5k program: and I am so excited.

It's only been TWO WEEKS but I can already see myself improving. I can go longer without feeling tired, and I am running slightly faster. The biggest improvement is that my legs don't hurt when I run now. During and after the first run, I have to admit, they hurt a little! Not a bad hurt, but the kind of hurt that happens when your muscles are working hard and then have to repair themselves. (I think.... Health class, did I remember that correctly? Haha!) These improvements are only little ones, but they keep me motivated to keep this up. 

How do I do it? I get up at 5:15 Mondays and Fridays and I go with my dad to the YMCA. Normally I get up around 6:30 or 7, so I thought getting up at 5:15 would be impossible...... But Pinterest was there to save me! (: I found some tips for getting up early. The ones I like and have used the most are:

1. Pack your gym bag the night before. 

2. Sleep in your workout clothes or have them right next to your bed.

3. Turn on a light as soon as your alarm wakes you up.

and the most important....

4. GET SOME SLEEP (: I go to bed between 9 and 10 the nights before I'm going to get up at 5:15. This is really the most important part to getting up early!!

Surprisingly, I'm not tired the days I run. In fact, by the time I get to school at 8, I am much more awake than I would normally be! My energy seems to last all day too. Also, maybe it's just luck, but I seem to have a more positive outlook on the days I work out in the mornings. (:

Have you tried the Couch to 5k program?

What motivates you to run?
What are your tricks to getting up early?
Are you happier on the days that you work out?

Have a marvelous day!

Emily