running recap – week one

This morning, slogging through rain and mud, I completed day three of the C25K. One week down, eight to go. I felt both empowered and aghast. Empowered by the fact that I had completed the week’s training, found a brisk yet comfortable pace for my running intervals, not injured myself, and not… well… not quit on myself. Aghast to think how far I still have to go, and at the idea that in eight short weeks I’m supposed to run for thirty minutes straight.

Today’s run wasn’t quite as quick as the others, but I’m chalking that up to two things: 1) RunKeeper shorted me by 14 seconds for some strange reason, and 2) I kept having to pussyfoot around mud puddles. We’ve been having some huge storms these last few days (I know those of you on the east coast are rolling your eyes at me, I can see you!!) and some areas on the path I run are getting close to impassable. The country kid in me wanted to run uncaringly through the mud,  pretending I was the star of my high school cross-country team or something. The suburban mom I have become decided to stay as dry as possible, seeing as I still had twenty minutes to go, then needed to stop and two different post offices, and drive home. Suburban mom won. Today.

Despite what the numbers say, I felt like today was my best run of the week. My breathing was easier, my gait was more natural, and I felt really good. My running intervals were averaging around the 9min/mile mark, which pleases me, although I’m expecting that to fall off next week as the runs get longer.