back on the wagon after the holiday...

I missed my first scheduled run yesterday [even though I completed a SUPER short run on my "rest day," Sunday]...yikes!  That aside, I had a great run today at the gym!  I performed at a new best pace of 11:49/mile, beating my previous best pace of 12:04/mile--so I'm improving, which I am really excited about! I think I could have done even better, but I left my good earphones at home, and had to use another pair I had in my car--they kept falling out of my ears, and I kept having to put them in, which was a bit of a distraction....grrr, but I won't complain about my improving time! :]


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Treadmill

Distance:  2.55 miles

Time:  30:06 minutes

Pace:  11:49/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  2.6 miles

Time:  30:06 minutes

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  34.8 miles

Time:  7:20:34

guilt got the best of me

So my guilt of not running with the team this morning got the best of me...like bad.  I have been thinking about joining a gym to be able to cross-train--our coaches recommend cross-training 2-3x per week, and my apartment gym isn't really sufficient for what I want to do.  I also want to be able to take classes like Body Pump and Zumba!  


So...tonight I joined 24Fitness!  It's only $30/month (no contract) and I figured the money I previously would have spent on Starbucks and fastfood per month is now going to my gym expense!  Pretty good trade off, I think.


Anyway...I was planning on doing my run Sunday morning, but I was just sitting on the couch tonight and I figured why not do it now!  So I went to my new gym got on the treadmill and ran a 5K!  I should retract my previous statement about hating treadmills because tonight was literally my BEST RUN EVER!!  It was my best time for a 5K, best all around pace (12:04/mile), and I didn't have shinsplints, which is such a wonderful thing!


So today ended up being a good day! :]


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Treadmill

Distance:  3.12 miles (5K)

Time:  37:38 minutes

Pace:  12:04/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  10.6 miles

Time:  2:13:18

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  31.2 miles

Time:  6:38:44

missed my team run! :[

So I missed our team run today, and I honestly couldn't feel more guilty!  Reg, one of my pups, got sick last night when I got home around 10PM.  I thought he was feeling better, but this morning around 4:30AM he started pawing at the door to go out, which he doesn't do unless he really needs to go.  I was super tired and not planning on getting up until 6AM, but I took him out.  We came in, I got in bed, and he started pawing at the door again, so I took him out again, and again, and then again.  Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep.  Our run starts at 7AM, and I honestly could not get out of bed. We were suppose to run 40 minutes, which is a little longer than it takes me to do a 5K, so tomorrow morning (which is usually a rest day) I will be running a 5K before I go volunteer at 10AM.


I spent all day feeling really guilty about not going to my team run because I really enjoy them, but mostly because I felt like I was letting everyone down.  I WILL NOT be missing another one!

it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

I ran at Wash Park for the first time today.  My knees/legs/shins really loved the cinder path!!  Turns out Wash Park is where everyone runs, walks, bikes, rollerblades, etc. - no matter what day of the week or what time of day, there are always a ton of people!  It's fun for people watching, but most of all I have found that when there are other people running it makes my run more bearable.  If I'm walking and someone passes me, it encourages me to start running again, which is good! :]


I only did one lap, but 1 lap = 2.58 miles, so that was good for me!


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Washington Park

Distance:  2.58 miles

Time:  33:11 minutes

Pace:  12:52/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  7.5 miles

Time:  1:35:40

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  28.1 miles

Time:  6:01:06

rainy days are for treadmills

The weatherman last night said it wasn't suppose to rain until around noon today, so I planned on waking up early to get my run out of the way.  Well, clearly he's no James Spann (for those of you from Alabama), because it was pouring when I woke up at 8:00am - like really pouring.  I haven't run in the rain yet, and I wasn't about to start today.  I contemplated trading tomorrow's "rest day" for today...and that was the plan until this afternoon when I started feeling guilty.  I have done so well following my schedule exactly, so I didn't want to screw things up now!  Around 6:00pm I decided to get on the treadmill at my apartment gym.  I didn't realize how much I hated treadmills until today.  I mean, they are great for walking I guess, or for those people that can run for long distances at the same pace, but for me who is experimenting with the walk/run method - not so fun!  Lots of adjusting speed...ugh!  I have decided I like running outside better, I just need to find more cinder trails.  My shinsplints were hurting pretty bad today during the run, so I walked most of it, so I guess it was more of a walk....whatever it was, there were 30 solid minutes of it! :]


RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Treadmill

Distance:  2.37 miles

Time:  30:51 minutes

Pace:  12:59/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  4.9 miles

Time:  1:02:09

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  25.5 miles

Time:  5:27:55

Mondays are not my friend...

For some reason, Monday runs are always hard for me, but today was particularly hard... I couldn't get out of bed today, which meant that I did my run around 11:30am...not a smart idea.  It was SO HOT outside!  I did more of a walk/run today, which didn't hurt my pace as much as I thought!  I am thinking about maybe doing the walk/run program.  Coach Mike says that it is a really good route to go for beginner runners and some people that utilize the Galloway method finish in faster times than some who try and run the whole time; so, I am definitely considering this!

RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Highland Canal Trail

Distance:  2.51 miles

Time:  31:38 minutes

Pace:  12:37/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  2.51 miles

Time:  31:38 minutes

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  23.1 miles

Time:  4:57:04

My body hates me...

End of Week 2:
We had our second group run + clinic this morning!  We met at the Platte River trail @REI bright and early at 7AM!  We ran down the Platte River trail headed toward Invesco Field, made a lap around Invesco, then headed back to REI.  I started out well, surprising myself by being able to run a full mile without stopping.  I know this doesn't seem like much to most people, but this is HUGE to me! :]  I slowed down around Invesco and only ran a bit on the return due to terrible shinsplints!  I went to Runner's Roost earlier this week and bought compression socks which help with recovery, but haven't worn them during the run yet.  The person I spoke with at RR told me that the pain is probably impacted related and due to the fact that I just started running [in other words, my body hates me and is revolting against me.....ugh!].

We had a stretching and injury prevention clinic for about 30 minutes after our run.  I talked with Coach Mike afterwards about my shinsplints and he is going to email me some information and exercises.

When I got home I did a bit of strength training, then took a long nap! :]

RUN DETAILS:

Route:  Platte River Trail

Distance:  2.75 miles

Time:  36:22 minutes

Pace:  13:14/mile

WEEKLY TOTALS:

Distance:  10.7 miles

Time:  2:17:54

MONTHLY TOTALS:
Distance:  20.6 miles

Time:  4:25:26

First Group Training Day...

End of Week 1:
So we had our first group training/run Saturday (5/14) morning at 8:00 AM!  I don’t know who ordered the cold weather, but it was definitely 37 degrees and overcast (gross)--which doesn’t do much for one’s motivation to get out of bed and run!  Nonetheless, I showed up!  I didn’t really know what to expect, but when I got to our meeting spot, there was a tent set up with bagels, fruit, gatorade, etc. and Coach Mike + TNT Staff + our Team Captain + our Mentors were there!!

This was my first group event because I missed Kickoff due to the Furry Scurry, so this was my first time meeting everyone!  So many inspirational people!  I am the youngest in our group and one of the few who has never “run” before.  

We started out with announcements and a mission moment where a team member shared their connection to someone suffering from Lymphoma :[ , then we jumped straight into the timed 5K (to determine what endurance group we will be training with).  I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever run more than 1 mile at a time, so yeah I wasn’t excited about 3.1 miles (and being timed at that)!

I surprised myself by being able to run the majority of the time.  I finished in 37:31, with an average  pace of 12:05 min/mile.

[5/9 - 5/15] Total Weekly Miles:  9.9 miles

Beginning of Week 2:

This morning I ran the same trail we did our 5K on - the Highland Canal Trail.  I ran for 30 minutes, having to walk some of it due to shin splints!  OUCH!  Never experienced a pain like this!  I ended up running 2.52 miles, with an average pace of 12:26 min/mile.

It’s almost 10PM and the shin splints are still hurting...tomorrow should be interesting...ugh!

Hanging in there...

Beginning of Week 1:

As promised, I will keep you updated on my training...Week 1 tells me this is going to be a long and difficult journey.  I am currently running at a grueling 13 minutes/mile (yikes!), meaning I have a long way to go! 

I met with my training mentor, Marissa, tonight!  She offered some encouraging thoughts and advise for a running novice such as myself!  She (a non-runner) and her sister ran the Nike Marathon last year and raise over $8,000!!

She is trying to convince me to run the full marathon instead of just the half.  I told her I would wait and see how I am doing/improving in a week or two; we’ll see!

I can do this, i can do this, I can do this...

Saving Lives in 13.1 Miles...

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, I moved to Colorado this past July to pursue my MBA in Health Administration!  Since moving here, I have met some wonderful people and have really been enjoying life in a big city!  Unfortunately in late December one of my closest friends and mentors from Colorado passed away very unexpectedly.  She holds a special place in my heart not only because she was a wonderful, selfless, and caring person, but also because she ran the rescue where I got my second dog, Reg, so in essence she found and rescued my best friend!  I was with Dawn only two days before she passed and she said something to me in conversation that has since impacted my life significantly.  She explained to me that since starting the rescue, she came to realize life is not about material things; it’s about helping people (and animals) and making a difference in their lives no matter how big or small.

Dawn’s passing caused me to realize that life is so precious and we often take it, and the people in our lives, for granted.  I am determined to change that for myself and, as a result, am taking on challenges that have previously intimidated me.

So now what?  Well, I am going to run the Denver Rock n Roll half-marathon!  Why?  Because running a half marathon is on my “bucket list”, but more importantly, to benefit others and make a difference in someone’s life.  

I have joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT) program!  TNT is a fundraising program that benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Each year, they train 35,000+ runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes for the event of their choice (marathon, ½ marathon, century bike ride or triathlon).  The group has excellent coaches who provide a daily training schedule, advise on gear and nutrition, organize group runs, offer track workouts and keep the motivation level up with regular communication. 

In return for their training and support, I have pledged to raise money to help fund research and support for blood cancer patients and their families.  I have personally committed to raise $2,000 prior to the Denver Rock n Roll half Marathon on October 9!  

Here are some facts about the diseases and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), who will benefit from my fundraising:

• LLS’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. 
• Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children, yet it affects 10 times as many adults! 
• Every week 2,200 new people are diagnosed.  In that same time frame, 1,050 patients lose their hard fought battle. 
• Research sponsored by LLS has been the catalyst for the effective treatment of Hodgkin’s disease, lymphomas, and breast and lung cancer. 
• Money Magazine has rated the society as one of the top ten charities in the US because more than 75% of the funds spend by the Society go directly to benefit research and patient services!

Please help support me in this challenge by generously contributing to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!  No donation is too big or too small, and they are all 100% tax deductible!

If day one of my training is any indication, getting across the finish line is, for me, quite a personal challenge (let’s be honest, I have never been a runner); however, my personal challenge is certainly nothing compared to what Kim and many others face everyday.  I cannot make it without your enthusiasm, caring and financial support!

So I can track my fundraising, please mail (or make online) your contribution by July 8.  Of course, if you need more time, I will be accepting donations until we CURE blood cancers!  I really appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress!

How to Donate:

• Cash and Check donations can be mailed to me (checks should be made out to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) - if you need my mailing address, email me at christie.cotter7@gmail.comand I will send it to you!
• Online donations can be made on my Team In Training Website:
  http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/denver11/ccotter 

Please also keep in mind that many corporations have matching programs and will match any donation you provide.  It’s an easy way to double your contribution!  

Thank you in advance for your consideration in supporting me in this effort.  If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me, or check out the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society web page at www.lls.org.

Sincerely,

Christie Cotter