Half Marathon Training: Days 4, 5, & 6

Day 4:
Was supposed to run. Didn't. Planned on doing it on Day 5.

Day 5: 
Was supposed to run. Didn't.

Why? Excuses. Thursday was understandable because the day didn't quite work out how I planned. So, I said I would run Friday instead. But I didn't. And Amber sure called me out on my BS. (Thanks, Amber) I NEED someone to call me out on my BS. My excuses got me to where I am in the first place: overweight and slow.

Day 6:
Saturday's are designated to long runs. Majority of people have Saturday off from work (like me) so it is easier to set aside time to do a longer run. I had a plan for the day and I sent it to Amber in the morning so that she could, as usual, keep me accountable. My morning was going to be consumed by helping Andrew replace all 88 elbows on a piano (yes, pianos have elbows) and it is a hell of a job. Very physically demanding and time consuming. It took us 4 hours to do.

See? Elbows!!! 

After we were done, we headed to my parent's house to get the kiddo and I planned on doing my long run in Taylorville. After we ate, I played with Carson in his ball pit, and then we laid on the couch and watched some Mickey Mouse. All I could think in my head was "I don't want to go run. I don't want to go run." Soon followed by "Amber will kill me if I don't. I'LL kill me if I don't. I committed to this so get up and do it." So, I went into the other room to change into my running stuff and headed out the door.

My first quarter mile was done at a very easy pace because my 85 year old grandmother went with me. (Go Grandma!!) We walked a little loop around the house and then she went inside. I had my mom's dog Fiona with me because Lord knows she needs the exercise. That dog made it 0.75 of a mile and then started to DRAG behind me. So, I took her into the house and grabbed Mia instead. Nope. That didn't work either. I said "Screw you dogs, you suck at walking" and went back out on my own.

I ran a couple loops around my parent's house to get up to a mile and a half and then I decided to venture out a bit. I ran to the bike path, ran it to Highway 48, turned around and went back, decided to do it again, and then hopped on 48 to go back to my parent's house. By that point I was at 3.75 miles and I was NOT going to stop with only a quarter mile to make it 4 miles, so.... I did the loops around my parent's house again until I got to 4.

Mile 2 was at 14:46 Pace. WOO!!!

I.did.NOT.want.to.run.

I am SO glad that I did. 

Those are the runs that are usually the best. Your breathing is spot on. You don't have any aches or pains. You feel in the zone. The weather was perfect. It was the best run I've had so far and I'm hoping I have more like it. When I was finished I was in the best mood. That's what I've missed about running. I always finish and feel wonderful. Refreshed. Empowered knowing that I did something to better myself.

You can all see from days 4 & 5, however, that it is incredibly easy to get off track and just stop all together. That's what happened to me. One day I didn't run. Then another day passed... and another.... and another..... until I ended up here...... back at my heavy weight and back at square one of running.

I am back at it though and that is all that matters. Looking forward to Day 7.