I had to run two counties over, but I finally did run!

Unless you count jogging in place in the pool for five or six minutes at a time or running up and down the steps about a month ago, up until this morning, I had not gone running in seven weeks. Wow.

I have thought about running a few times here and there the past few weeks, but as we all know, the road to hell (or in this case, the road to being out of shape) is paved with good intentions but not much else. And although I have been keeping up with swimming a few times a week, it just isn't the same; I really missed running. So finally this morning, when I thought the temps were in the lower 60s, I figured now was as good of a time as any to get out there (there being Indiana County, where my running shoes most recently hit the road last summer, I do believe).

I ended up running about 3.1 miles in just over 30 minutes. Although a 10-minute mile is nothing to brag about it, I can take some comfort in that it has been almost two months since I last ran. Plus there were quite a few hills and curves along with the blazing sun. One road worker along the way told me it was too hot to run (my guess is the temps were in the 70s). I agreed, but said when you have not done so in over a month, you just have to do it.

My left knee hurt a bit for most of the run, and the hills were not easy. But I made it through the entire run without walking, which I feared I would, considering my few runs during this past spring were all under three miles.

Which reminds me: About a month ago, a few moms talked about running the Great Race in September. I ran the 10k two times at the beginning of the century, and I would probably feel defeated if I could run only the 5k. But at this point, I would be happy if I could manage that. We'll see.

Let's just hope another month does not go by before I have a running report.

My longest run since, well, a long time

Yesterday, I ran (well, mostly jogged) up and jogged (perhaps closer to a fast walk) down the 65 steps in the school lot about 22 times. I felt it during and after, but just not enough to give myself a day off today. With that in mind, this morning I decided to try a longer run, without pushing myself speed-wise.

I did not time my first (usual) mile, though it was probably around 11 minutes. The middle part of my run was on Greensburg Pike, which I used to run on when I lived in the Forest Hills/Chalfant area. I sped up a little during that part because I noticed two senior citizens running at about the same pace as I was; there was just no way I was going to let grandma and grandpa outpace me! Fortunately, there are no killer hills on that road, just some smaller up- and downhills, and I ended up running that leg of the journey in under 25 minutes. I tried to take a slight advantage of the last, mostly downhill mile (I again passed the grandparents), though that mile still took me about nine minutes to complete.

I ended up finishing the run in 45 minutes, give or take a minute. When I measured the jaunt, I was happy to see I ran almost 4.5 miles. I am guessing the last time I ran that far was during the Great Race in 2002 (I actually ran 6.2 miles, since I ran the 10k).

The thing about running races, at least for me, but I bet for most people, is you don't really need to run that distance on a regular basis. If you can run close to it without taxing yourself too much, then you will probably be fine to run farther. This entire summer, I ran 3 miles only twice, and yet I managed to run the 3.1 5k on Saturday just fine.

Anyway, I felt pretty good at the end of today's run, confident I can run even farther next time. So much so, that if I were going to be in town on September 26, I would so be running the Great Race (at a very slow pace, mind you). I guess I will just have to try to get in some more longer runs, for my own satisfaction.

Slightly better run

Knowing that the Run Around the Square is just nine days away meant I had to get out and run again this week. This morning I ran the same route I did on Sunday, and fortunately it went a little better. I finished the around 2.7 jaunt in just under 27 minutes, shaving over a minute off my time from four days ago. As I was coming up the last hill, I looked at the stopwatch on my phone and saw that I was almost at 26 minutes, so that gave me the motivation to push myself. I just hope I can find that same drive next weekend.

I also wish I remembered the course for the Run Around the Square. According the race packet, the first 1/2 mile is through Regent Square's streets, which are pretty flat, and the second 2 1/2 miles are through Frick Park's cross-country trails. Honestly, the only trail part I remember from 2002 was when someone handed out shots of beer or champagne (people along the Great Race also hand out one or both of those beverages). I thought that was so cool, so I grabbed one. Not sure if I will be so eager this time, eight years older and all...

Regardless, it might be a good idea to run on some type of trail before the race. Not sure where; I just don't know Frick Park that well to feel comfortable enough to run around there alone. The few times I have walked there with my kid, we do so for no more than 15 minutes one way; I am always afraid the trail will end up being five miles long, and she will get tired.

Hopefully, I will feel motivated enough to run Saturday morning. I want to get in two more runs before the race; three would be ideal for me, but probably not realistic.

Almost there.

Layers. It's about layers.

When I was hanging out at my favorite local coffee joint a few weeks ago, the owner was talking about his friend who wears layers when he runs in cold weather and then peels them off as he gets warm. I have enough trouble running with my keys, my cell phone, and now my mp3 player. How in world can I remove and somehow carry clothes when I get warm?!

Yesterday, I had my first run as a 38 year old. I am happy to say I ached less than I usually do, but I was so cold to start my run, I might as well have been in pain. It was in the upper 30s, and I ran wearing my lined workout pants and a long-sleeve shirt and thin hoodie. I kept my hands in my sleeves, and my hood up. My upper body, save for my head and hands, was too cold. But by the time I reached my halfway point (at almost a mile), my body warmed up just fine.

I ran in the Great Race or the Race for the Cure one year when the starting temps were probably in the lower 40s. I recall one guy discarding his long-sleeve shirt by the time the race started, and I wondered if he came back for it later, or if it was something he left, never to see again. I can't imagine doing either. But at least he did not have to worry about lugging extra attire.

If I am going to keep running in the cold (and for western PA, that is pretty much the next four months), I need to figure out how to dress better. Eliminating a few keys and/or my cell phone probably would not hurt either.