Why I Love Running #1

I've decided that every time I have a bad run or workout I'm going to come home and blog about a reason I love running. I ran 3 1/2 tonight, and it sucked.

So the first reason I love running is the definition that it gives to my legs. I've always had strong legs, but running just gives me those toned looking lines on my calves and the definition in my hamstrings. Oh and did I mention that I love the feeling of walking and the muscles flexing as I walk after a nice long run? Amazing.

It's working. I feel much better now.

Long Run One

I'm following a training program that has me running 3-4 days a week. One easy short (3-5 miles) run, one interval short run (3-5 miles), and one long run (5-12) and then I can do an easy (2 miles) run or cross train on the other days. I recently picked up spinning, which is great for cross training so I'm going to do that instead of the fourth day of running. Long runs for me are by far the hardest to get in and are definitely the most important. So today I told myself I would run outside of my long run (5 miles) and finally got around to it at 4:00 PM. I got all geared up with Under Armor, my no slip belt for my keys, and my IPOD with the perfect running playlist and headed out to the Mt. Vernon trail.

I ran a little over six miles (a little over an hour) and finally felt like a runner for the first in over two years. I ran out and back (eight songs out and nine songs back) and when I got back to my car, I felt like I could've kept going, which is the best feeling in the world. The first mile was the toughest (like it always is), but I just kept telling myself 15 more songs, 14 more songs, etc. And I made it. One long run down, seven to go before the half.

Getting Back on the Treadmill

I've been at my parent's house for the past ten days, and it killed me. I was pretty active (walking around an amusement park, 2-on-2 volleyball, racquetball, and basketball) but I didn't get any running in. And I got more than enough sweets in.

So yesterday started yet another new beginning for me. I ended off the year with a bang (and some gummy bears) and am ready to start this one off even better (and minus the gummy bears). Nine weeks from Saturday I'm planning to run my fourth half-marathon, and I'm really doing it this time. No more excuses this time. I wrote out my schedule and am going to stick to it. Albany, GA here I come.

I'm going to try and update this blog as I continue my training to keep me both motivated and tracking my progress. I ran 3.1 (I always try to run at least 5K) on the treadmill today while watching Friends and the GAC country music countdown. The run itself was okay, not great, but I made it. It was the first run back after a two week break, and I'm glad I did it. I'm going to dinner tonight and then down to the gym for some cross training... then a five-miler tomorrow. One day at a time. I'm going to do it.

Spinning Myself Silly

I went to my tenth spinning class today. People tell me that it just gets easier, but it definitely wasn't easier today. The teacher was mediocre, and the music was awful. It was basically just techno music with no words for the entire hour. Some people may feel like that's energizing, but I just got bored. I was sitting there watching the sports conditioning class going on and just hoping that the class would end. Let's just say it didn't motivate my best efforts. I will not be going to that class again.

Oh but I did get rewarded for my hard work. We splurged and got pizza for dinner (healthy pizza), and when I got there I found out that Tuesday is buy one get one free day. Score two pizzas for me. Good thing I stuck out the mediocre techno obsessed man.

Georgia or Bust

I've tried this before, but I'm serious this time. My half-marathon training begins today and ends in 14 weeks in Albany, GA at the Snicker's Energy Bar Half-Marathon followed a week later by a cruise (not a bad reward/motivator).

My training is going to include three days of running (two normal runs and one long run), two spinning classes, and two days of strength training a week. I've been doing almost this same plan for the last four weeks and now I just have to up the mileage with my Saturday long runs.

I'm going to try and make this blog what I started it to be, a running journal. For now, I'm going to get dressed and go to the gym for my first day of training.

My Perfect Running Playlist

I’ve already posted about how good music can make such a difference in whether or not I can through and enjoy a workout. I base my satisfaction with spinning instructors on their choice of music, and I can just keep running if I have good music. I did a Google search looking for running playlists, and a lot of the stuff I found was either older music or slower. Not quite what I was looking for. I’ve got some good song that I love to run to but have been looking for new stuff. I’ve added a few new songs to the playlist and decided to organize my playlist into “intervals.” Most of the time I run one song at my slow pace, one song at a medium pace, and one song fast and then repeat. I decided to make the music match my interval paces. So I did. And I don’t like to listen to the same songs all the time, so I created a 52 song playlist (17 songs at each pace) so I can just go to my playlist and start running. Here’s what I came up with. They go in sets of three (slow, medium, fast). I’ve put stars by my all-time favorite running songs. If you’re looking for good running music, those are the ones to go for first. And if you’re wondering, this is about three hours total of music.

1. Almost by Bowling for Soup
2. Don’t know the name- Track 5 on Lisa’s CD J
3. *Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne

4. I Miss You by Blink 182
5. Too Good to Be by New Found Glory
6. *Move Along by All-American Rejects

7. Over You by Daughtry
8. Tell Me That You’re Alright (not sure who sings this, Lisa’s CD again)
9. Pump It by Black Eyed Peas

10. N.J. Falls Into The Atlantic by Senses Fail
11. When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls
12. *Rompe by Daddy Yankee

13. Here by Hello Goodbye
14. Dirty Little Secret by All-American Rejects
15. Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira

16. Low by Flo Rida
17. Counting the Days by Goldfinger
18. **I’mma Shine by Youngbloodz from the Step Up Soundtrack (if this doesn’t get you going I don’t know what will)

19. My Happy Ending by Avril
20. Up Against by Taking Back Sunday
21. Shake It by Metro Station

22. Freak Out by Avril
23. The Young the Hopeless by Good Charlotte
24. Misery Business by Paramore

25. All the Small Things by Blink
26. American Boy by Estelle
27. See You Again by Miley Cyrus

28. 1985 by Bowling for Soup
29. Disturbia by Rihanna
30. Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy

31. Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood
32. Sugar We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy
33. Crazy in Love by Beyonce

34. Save Tonight by Eagle Eyed Cherry
35. Better Life by Keith Urban
36. *Red High Heels by Kellie Pickler

37. Sophomore Slump or Comeback by Fall Out Boy
38. Womanizer by Britney Spears
39. Check On It by Destiny’s Child

40. Somebody Like Me by Keith Urban
41. Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
42. So What by Pink

43. Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
44. Hot N Cold by Katy Perry
45. That’s What You Get by Paramore

46. Ohio (Come Back to TX) by Bowling for Soup
47. Single Ladies by Beyonce
48. *If You’re Going Through Hell by Rodney Adkins

Not Too Bad, Not Too Good

Last week I was just too busy to get any workouts in. I did some weights on Monday and played competitive volleyball for a good hour on Saturday (and wow am I sore!!), but that's it. It definitely showed at my WW meeting on Saturday (I stayed exactly the same).

So this week is going to be better. I went and ran 3.1 today and felt great. I've already got a workout scheduled with my friend on Weds night and am going to a spinning class right after work tomorrow. This weekend I'm meeting up with friends in NYC and one of those friends is the one who initially got me into running. I'm planning on at least one run while there with her.

I picked out a new half-marathon to train for, it's at the beginning of March in Albany, GA and sounds like a great one to try for. It gives me a month to get back in shape (I'm getting there now) and then start training hard in December. It means a lot of treadmill running or freezing outside, but I'm determined to make it this time. Thanks to inspiration from my friend Melanie, I'm going to be tracking the number of miles on my sidebar along with the amount of minutes I've worked out total.