Podrunner

For those who run with iPods - or have an iPod and want to start running - I'm finding tremendous success with the eight-week Podrunner series.

It's a free podcast available on iTunes.

The "trainer" comes over music designed to help you keep pace. He says when to begin a jogging interval and when to stop. He also gives great encouragement.

I'm on week three and it remains challenging but achievable.

Wagon?

Something bad happened to me.

I can't explain it, but I lost all motivation to train for a 5K, all motivation to work out at all. I have plenty of excuses I can lean on, but that's a weak escape from saying I just didn't feel like doing it anymore.

I found a new podcast that should help out, and I'm starting it on Wednesday. I also have new motivation.

I wanted to be ready to run a 5K in Carolina Beach and then Knoxville. When I started training I would have been to the point that I could run it (the runs were over the last few weekends). I can't really go into details, but I had to scrap those plans. My training routine seemed to go with them.

I have new motivation: There is a 5K in Charlotte in August. We can't scrap plans for going if it is right in our back yard. 

So this podcast should get me back where I need to be (from coolrunning.com I think). It is a series of nine tracks and you listen to a different one each successive week. There is music and a man telling you when to begin walking and jogging. You're supposed to be ready in two months to run a full 5K. 

2x11

I continue to make progress running.

This weekend I did two miles in 22 minutes. The first mile was just under 10 minutes and the second was just over 12, putting my total at 22.

Not too shabby.

On a separate note, we have a Brad Norman challenge underway. For the entire month of March, there is to be no restaurant or fast food. Brad requested that we have one "cheat" each a week, but other than that we must cook or pack all food we plan to eat.

36 laps

People tell me that if I can do two miles that I can do three.

Yesterday I put that to the test. Inside the temperature-controlled Statesville Y, I grabbed my iPod (this is relevant later), a water bottle (this too) and a lap counter and commenced on the longest run of my life.

The first mile was a breeze. Jogged the entire thing.

The second mile was a little tougher. I had to alternate between a walking lap and three jogging laps.

The third mile was the toughest. I backed down to two jog laps for every walk lap.

So here's where the iPod and water bottle become relevant.

During the walking laps I grabbed the water bottle. I can't explain why, but I take a big swig of water and let it sit in my mouth for a few steps before I swallow it. That method must make me swallow a lot of air, because when it was time to run again I'd start burping. You can only burp so many times before you feel strange, and I started to worry that the burps would turn more sinister.

I discovered (with the help of my marathon-running ridiculousness family) podcasts from iTunes that were made specifically for running. I subscribed to two podcasts: one was the "Couch to 5K" trainer that tells you when to run and when to walk depending on which week along the 12-week program you happen to fall on.

The one I used yesterday was an hour-long mix by some DJ. The channel had several mixes to choose from based on beats per minute. I went with the slowest, since I run very slowly. It also served as a nice timekeeper. Whenever I'd finish a mile I'd check my progress through the mix for my time.

How did I do? I'm a little embarrassed to say.

What the heck: 36 minutes. That's about a 12-minute mile pace. Not great, but stupendous for someone who when she played varsity soccer in high school couldn't get ONE mile in under 11 minutes.

Run, Jess, run!

The plague is gone and it didn't completely destroy my base.

I ran last week (sorry I didn't update) and got through a mile before I had to walk a little.

Today I ran and got 18 laps down before I had to start intervals.

I noticed something strange when I stopped. I thought I couldn't run any more when I had to start intervals, but once I started walking something started aching in my side.

When I started running again it went away.

Any runners out there have insight into this?

Starting from scratch?

I am still in the clutches of a very gross sickness I lovingly call the plague. Although I think I limited exposure, I am afraid I'm back to Square One when it comes to my 5K training.

Just before the sickness, I racked up 18 laps nonstop. Now I can barely scale the steps at my house without wheezing.

Once I can breathe again I plan to take up my running routine. I'll let you know how far back I've fallen.

1.5 and still running

Stupendous news!

First, it needs an introduction. Media General offered $100 for employees who took a health assessment. Who doesn't want free money?

So it was appropriate that I use the health assessment money to get some new running shoes. I've been eyeing Nike Shox (which I call "boing shoes") for at least four years. A trip to Hibbett Sports on Broad Street and I came away the proud new owner of silver and white Shox.

I immediately went to the YMCA for my run around the track in my new shoes. It may have been mental, but it was like the track melted away and I was running on clouds.

Who knew boing shoes could be so effective?

Here's the proof: last night I ran 18 laps non-stop. That means 1.5 miles. I then walked two laps and ran the rest (total of 2 miles). I could have continued, too! It just isn't part of my training.

I'm excited about my progress, and just committed to my first 5K. It's in Knoxville in March.