Little things

While on a recovery run last week, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the trail I love to run (but worried I didn't have the ankle stability for) was finished and paved during my (forced) hiatus.

 It may be something small, but I was so pleased by this quarter mile section of trail that is now shiny and new!

Good deal on a great tool

Since day one of my running adventure, I have used RunDouble's Couch to 5k training app on my phone to log, map, and structure my workouts.
Couch to 5k (C25K) is an interval based training program that begins with the thinking that your fat ass is capable of reaching for the remote with out sweating, but not much more. The first work out alternates 30 seconds of running with 60 seconds of walking for 8 repetitions. Not so bad, right?
Working out 3 days a week over 9 weeks wasn't too demanding of my schedule and the gradual increase of time and distance really left me feeling successful and accomplished after (nearly) every run.
On the technical side, RunDouble continues to get better with each upgrade. I can use Pandora or Spotify, etc. with C25K running or use the in app music player. They have integrated lots of cool external features (heart rate monitor, an app to match your pace to the tempo of your music) and will calculate calories burned for you. The map and pace graph have been helpful tools as well. Visually, its not the fanciest, but functionally, it's spot on.
I won't lie, there are, still days that the GPS fouls up (likely due to the fact that I run in the woods) and I'd like to throw the whole thing in the (very polluted) creek. But since recent updates have increased GPS reliability, I've been much happier with the whole program.
I finished the free version of RunDouble's app (the first two weeks), then C25K, then C210k and am now using the half marathon training plan (but may look for something slightly more personalized now). To say that this was the best investment I have made in my running adventure would be a colossal understatement. Following the plan, I went from zero running experience to running a 5k in a (very hilly) race in just about 10 weeks. This weekend RunDouble's Couch to 5k app is only $.99, so you have no excuse for not getting up and getting moving.

Back in the game

I completed Half Marathon Wk 1 D1 (4.01 miles), in 01:00:11, pace 15:00 min/mile, with @RunDouble

I'm hot.

Longer run in my recovery series

I completed my run in 30 mins (2.59 miles), in 00:30:00, pace 11:59 min/mile, with @RunDouble

Today was my fiftieth run since starting my training.

I have increased my run time from 30 seconds to over an hour (when I'm not rebuilding my booboo ankle).

I have lost nearly as many pounds.

I feel great.

how i started running: a haiku

The shortest possible telling of my "how I started running" story. Enjoy.

sedentary girl
finds hidden runner inside
heart and body change