Guess who ran this week?!

After more than four months, I finally ran a real run, on the road. We had another nice Monday; it was sunny and in the mid 40s, so I decided I had come up with enough excuses not to do it.

I was cold in the beginning. I started running at almost 4 p.m., so the sun was going down and hidden behind buildings for a good part of the run. The thin hoodie and thin long-sleeved tee underneath were almost enough to keep me warm, but my head and hands were definitely chilly. Fortunately, I was able to put my hood up and keep my hands in my sleeves. And, as I suspected, I was plenty warm about a mile into it.

The bottom of my left foot hurt a bit only a couple minutes into the run, but the pain was minor, and I hardly thought about it. My knees did not hurt at all, so victory!

This run was not exactly my usual run. Instead of running up the killer hill, I started more than halfway up that awful section. Then I ran the rest of the first mile. I ran back to where I started, but decided to keep going until the bottom of the hill/where I normally start. Then I ended where I actually did start. So, yes, I did cover the same distance, but it was "out of order" so posting my times will be a little pointless. Ultimately, it took me 20:24, which is two minutes slower than when I last ran. It did the first not-quite-one-mile in just over 10 minutes, but to be accurate, I would need to add at least a minute for the section of the hill I did not run until the end.

Regardless, I am not discouraged. I was 40 back then, and I can believe four months of age once you get in your 40s makes a difference. And even though I have been swimming and doing Zumba, it is not the same as running, so it is nearly impossible to not have a drop off after four months without running. Plus, it was cold. Running in 60 degrees is a lot different from running in 40 degrees. When I was in my late 30s, I loved running in 40-degree temps, but now I much prefer the 50s. To think that a few years ago I ran in temps in the mid 20s is almost laughable. I am pretty sure I won't hit the pavement unless it is above 30 degrees for the rest of my life and I may just stick to the 40s and above. But never say never. [Worth noting, it appears the last time I ran in temps below 30 was in February of 2011, when it was 29 degrees. I last ran in temps in the upper 20s and 30s regularly in 2010.]

It still counts!

I last ran in October. Yes, it has been almost four months since I hit the pavement. Today, although I did not exactly run, I did jog up and down those 65ish steps 10 times, plus another one for good measure.

This school year, I think I have run up and down the steps no more than a half dozen times, and it appears the last time I did it was at the beginning of October. Since I had about 10 minutes to kill at the school today, and the weather was sunny and in the mid 40s, I figured I might as well make use of the day.

I started off strong and fast (for me), but quickly realized that was a bad idea, as I was gasping for breath after only one trip. Regardless, I pushed myself and made the 10 trips in 8:06. The 11th trip was just for fun. Not that it was!

I probably should have gotten out there and actually ran, but doing the steps was probably better. I have a feeling when I finally do run my usual route, my time will be high, and I will be disappointed. Or I will end up not doing the entire two miles, which will also disappoint me.

Even though I have not been updating the blog, I can assure you that I have been working out. I swim two to three times per week and I have been doing Zumba once a week for the last three or four weeks. I feel pretty good, but not great, when I work out three or four times a week. At least I am staying in decent shape. But I feel even better, and as if I am actually doing good things, when I work out five or six days a week. Unfortunately that does not happen too often. But I guess that makes the times when it does that much sweeter. Right?

Until next time.