Thursday, February 14, 2013

Quality not Quantity

I'm still running every Tuesday night, doing speed work with a great group of women. This past Tuesday we did 5 1/2 miles total and it felt great! It's crazy that at this time last year I wasn't running at all and when I started again in March, my long run was 3 miles. Now I'm running over 5 miles on a random week night!

When it warms up I plan to take Jack with me to run with them on Thursdays for an easy run. Back in October I was running no less than 3 times a week and most weeks got in 4, sometimes 5 runs. Now I'm only running twice a week but they're quality runs that I know are making me stronger. And I crave them. I can't wait for the next run. My legs are itching to get out there. In fact, it's not terribly cold today (in the high 40's) and I considered taking Jack tonight. But we have special dinner plans for Valentine's Day and I'm not going to disappoint him (or take him out in what is sure to be colder than anticipated weather!).

I seriously can't wait until I can add a Thursday night run and make it 3 runs a week, but I think running less often is making me a better runner. I look forward to it more. Before, my runs were about quantity not quality. I don't plan on taking Jack for little 1, 2, or 3 mile runs during the week just because "I have to get in a run". I'd rather take him to the park and chase him, push him on the swing, and go down the slides. All of which won't be tracked, logged, or trying to figure out how many calories were burned.

Don't get me wrong...I love burning calories. But getting in 3 good runs a week and doing a workout at home in the mornings, is plenty of calorie burning for this busy mama! On Tuesdays run alone I burned over 600 calories! And last Saturday I ran an extremely hard 10 miles for a burn of over 1100 calories!! Plus every morning this week I've gotten up to do a Jillian Michaels workout (mostly Ripped in 30), burning over 200 calories with each workout.

Now if all you have time for (or if you're just getting started) is a 1 mile run, then please do it! As long as your moving, you're doing great! When I first started running I always ran 1 mile and nothing more. Then I started running the 1.25 mile loop around the lake that I still run at today. I can remember the day I ran over 2 miles on a treadmill and I thought it was so cool. And it was. I'm just at a different level now. And you will be too.

Running still isn't easy for me. I always need to warm-up some before I find my stride. And at times I make noises that aren't pretty! On Saturdays run I was one of six female runners. For the majority of those 10 miles I was looking at their backs. It was hilly and hard. 3 of them looked like they were trotting along like it was no big deal. And they were doing 13 miles! But you know what? As hard as it was and as much as it sucked (and it did!), I enjoyed those 10 miles. I don't run because it's easy; I run because I can. And I love (almost) every minute of it.

You don't have to be fast and you don't have to go far. Just go out and run. You won't be sorry!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Facebook!

I've done it! I made the leap and created a Facebook page. Please check it out for up-to-the-minute information that you're life won't be the same without! :)

https://www.facebook.com/AdventuresInRunning