HomegirlRuns

I Totally Ran Outside!

So, I may have mentioned that I joined a running group called Black Girls Run. The Austin group is so supportive and for a long time I was a lurker on the Facebook page...months before I ever joined a run. A friend of mine joined the group and basically told me one day that I was going to join a run. Unable to come up with a suitable excuse, I agreed. 

It was an early morning run on a Saturday at Ladybird Lake aka Town Lake. I hadn't run in a couple of months and was nervous about running in front of people and passing cars and not looking like Sanya Richardson. Confession: I run on a treadmill in the Cardio Movie Cinema at the gym, because it's dark and everyone is watching the movie, and it's easier for me to believe that nobody is looking at me. I really had to step out of my comfort zone to hit the trail that day, but I did it. There was only one incident with a dog...my biggest fear of running outside...but he only darted out of the water towards me en route to his owner. I almost peed myself, and so did my running partner. We didn't realize we had run into the leash-free area on the trail. Trust, that will never happen again. After our run, we went to the Juice Bar for wheatgrass shots and smoothies. It was a perfect morning.  Highlight: One of the runners recognized me from my vlog! She was like, Iknow your face and your laugh--where do I know you from? It was awesome. 

I managed to run two miles and walk two miles back at a relatively decent pace for my first run outside. Austin runners are such cheerleaders! Twice when I slowed to a walk and was obviously fighting for my life out there, I had runners pass me and say, "You're doing great--keep it up" or something similar. Perfect strangers!

I can't say that I will never run out there again. I imagine when the weather cools a bit, a run on Town Lake will feel a lot less like death. I'm not sure when I'll make it back out there, but I am committed to my treadmill runs once again. Saturday I ran two miles and watched the first half hour of Batman Begins. Going for another one today.

Still waiting to experience the runner's high everyone keeps talking about. I'd probably have to do more than two miles to get there, huh? Wish me luck! 

Lights of Love 5k 2011-Ronald McDonald House

I ran my second 5k on December 2 at NIGHT! It was so much fun. Unlike my the course for my first 5k, this one was completely flat. I knew that going in and I was fully prepared to increase my time significantly in this race. Minus the hills and peeing BEFORE the race, this time I was going to see how fast I could run an easy 5k outside. Yes, I only train inside because...you know...dogs, mainly. Anyway, the route went through a super-charming neighborhood called Mueller. I have friends who live there and the route passed right down their street. So far, I'm two for two running 5k's with nobody I know there to cheer me on, so I was thrilled to know I'd see familiar faces smiling and cheering for me. 

I made it to the starting line about eight minutes before the race. I exchanged pleasantries with the people around me and then turned on my iPod. When the race began, Kanye West's "Workout Plan" was playing. What a fun song to start a run too. I was so into vibing off the song and starting strong that I forgot to start my Nike+ app right away. I have yet to record an accurate 5k time on my Nike+ app, but third time's a charm. So I turn on my app and not long after Dirk Navinsky congratulates me for starting another run for consecutive weeks, the app tells me that I have completed half a mile at a ten-minute per mile pace. I haven't run a ten-minute mile since I started running. I was still feeling great, so I kept the pace pretty easily until after 1.5 miles. According to the app, I had run a 10 minute mile and was on track to do it again, but I was beat. Pacing is something I hadn't read up on, but I was sure that I started this race way too fast.

Komen Austin Race for the Cure 2011

Homegirl's first 5k & outdoor run is in the bag! 

I totally did not train properly for it. Mostly because my first run went so well. After covering almost 2 miles in less than 30 minutes, I was like 'Pshhh 5k? I GOT this.' Only I didn't. After not training for the 5k, I still ended up running a 12'52" (12 minutes, 52 seconds) mile to finish the race in just over 40 minutes. Considering that it was also my first time running outside (I only run on treadmills because...you know...the dogs), I am actually satisfied with that time. Still kicking myself because it could have been so much better.  I was holding out on putting this post up with hopes for an official finish line photo, but a search for my bib number over at Brightroom.com, the official race photographers, turned up not one photo of me in action. I was chip timed though, so there is some official record of my first 5k. A Facebook friend of mine told me she saw me running on Fox News Austin, but I couldn't find the video. If anybody else does, please send me the link. I'm rambling. On to my official race report...

I'm SO Ready For 5k Training

First of all, I ran 1.9 miles in 27 minutes at the gym yesterday. Ok. That technically qualifies as more of a "jog" than a "run", but the point is I did it for 27 minutes straight! And I only slowed to a walk because of muscle soreness that from cardiovascular fatigue (Is that even a phrase? It sounds appropriate.). I had set the treadmill for a 45 minute run, but after 27 minutes keeping between a 4 and a 5 mph pace, I ended up walked the remaining time, because I had SO not paced myself. Which is ok because my purpose yesterday was to see how long/far I could actually run without stopping. If you recall, the last time I tried this I only made it 8 minutes because I had to pee.

Anyway, I am happy to know where I stand as a beginning runner now. I will be busy at work looking for articles and workouts about pacing. I am sure there is an app for that. If I can run 1.9 miles in 27 minutes as a newbie, I know that with training (and with my 8 ft. stride--I know that because of my track days in grade school), I will be more than ready for a Thanksgiving Day 5k. At some point, I should probably run outside...since the 5k will likely be held outside. I found a track that will likely be leash-free dog-free and will give it a go as the weather starts to feel more like fall. 

In the meantime, I will stick with running at my gym. All the way on the back row, on the elevated treadmills with the ten inch flatscreen tuned in to Food Network TV.

I CAN run! Also, I Am Crushin' On A Thugged Out Chef.

So I finally broke in my running shoes...the ones I bought months ago before I was rear-ended and benched from my workouts for  one month. After that month, my workouts resumed, but I never worked up the nerve to actually go for a run...for a couple of reasons:

1. I have been working out at my gym for about 3 years now. No way was I going to get on the treadmill for a run for the first time in forever, and look like I am struggling. I am confident with all other forms of cardio I do. I get down in Zumba. I drop it low it Body Jam. I go miles upon miles on the elliptical. But I was intimidated by the treadmill. So I avoided it.
2. I downsized from my former dream sports bra and haven't been able to buy another one. Those things are not cheap. And as long as I could double up and wear two sports bras at once, I couldn't justify spending $65 on a great one. Still don't have the bra, but now that my boobage is less obscene, doubling up on bras does the job for now. 

My friend and I decided that we would run a 5k this year. Our plan is to run in one of the Turkey Trots in either of our towns, since we are just a few hours away from each other. We talk almost every day and I had grown weary of saying, "Naw? I haven't run yet, but Imma run today." Knowing good and well... So this weekend when I swiped my membership card at the front desk of my gym, instead of taking my usual route straight back to my elliptical machine and tuning into Food Network on the tiny flat-screen, I took a right turn past all the weight machines (which I have yet to use) and into the cinema cardio room for the first time. 

When I walked in, The Social Network was playing on the movie screen. I was glad I chose to take my first run in there, because the room was dark and everyone in there was too busy watching the movie to care about how awkward my run was or how many times I had to stop running to catch my breath. So after I climbed onto my machine and my eyes adjusted to the dark, I started my warm-up. I kept increasing the speed until I was at a pace of about a 13 minute mile. And I ran. Two minutes passed, then 4 minutes, then 8 minutes. I could not believe I was still running, and could totally keep running...if I did not have to pee so bad. So I slowed my pace and speed-walked the rest of the mile on the treadmill before speed-walking to the bathroom.

Leaving the bathroom, I glanced over and saw that my favorite elliptical machine was free and could not resist hopping on. And boy and I glad I did. I got to see Chef Shehu Fitzgerald win on an old episode of Chopped and OMG, why is a tatted up manly man, with NY accent and using profanity and working his magic around a stove so sexy to me? Watch this Youtube video I found of him and ask yourself the same question...

And do not judge me for coming home, googling him and then following him on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Disclaimer and for the record, I am married to a Carribean man with a beautiful accent and who is an amazing cook. He has no tattoos, but I am equally affected when he is weilding a skillet. So do not judge me, obviously accents and culinary skills are my thing. lol I digress.

I was so surprised that I could run for 8 minutes straight. I had considered that doing Zumba and dance-cardio 5 days a week would condition me for running somehow but for someone who could barely run 3 minutes a few months ago, 8 minutes is huge. If I had peed before going in there, I am sure I could have run a whole mile. I am confident now, that I can run. I can run! :) 

I will not be doing Couch to 5K to train for November. I started it a few times in the past, but I think the pace was too slow for me. I will, however, be on the lookout for some sprinting and conditioning drills to see if I can complete the 5 k (run 3 miles) in a decent amount of time. 

Now that I am feeling more confident, I might actually brave the risk of being chased by a dog and take my run outside.