Three Little Birds

We are in week 3 of my half marathon training.  It's still hard to wrap my mind around that concept.  You see, I am all of 5'1" with a short torso and short legs.  There is literally about a half inch between my bottom ribs and the tops of my hips.  Nope.  This body was not built for running. But I'm running anyway. Justin and I are still tweaking our running schedules around each other's running schedules and our crazy life.  This week I ran on Wednesday morning and Thursday evening for my short runs.  Then my long run was on Saturday with Amber.  More on that later. Wednesday morning was a nice little run.  Since I didn't get up to the 4 miles I wanted the Sunday before, I did 4 miles that morning.  Walked a bit still but I can tell my endurance is improving.  Pretty little sunrise to start the day off just right! One thing I did try was my husband's Garmin running GPS watch in lieu of using the RunKeeper app.  I ...

Week 2 of my half marathon training is over, and I feel I've made some progress! However, thanks to the intense rain & storms we seem to have at least once a day (usually in the evenings, it seems)... and thanks to the heat & humidity of the evenings here in eastern NC... and thanks to having a fun little family at home that I don't want to miss a single minute with... I have decided I need to work in some early morning runs instead of my usual evening runs. Now, if you know me pretty well, then you know I am NOT a morning person and my husband has to drag me out of the bed each morning at the last possible second before being late for work.  So getting up early (say, 5:30 am) is TOUGH!!! But Tuesday morning I did it (although I hit snooze a few times and got up at 5:50am instead)... I have a goal to increase my "run-straight-through" mileage by half a mile each run until I am able to get back to my baseline of being able to run straight through 3 to 4 m...

Well I want to just start out by saying how much I love you guys!!!!  Amazing support and encouraging words. Thank you so much!!!  Also I wanted to just put a couple disclaimers out there... #1, please seek your primary care provider's advice before starting a new exercise program... #2, any photos taken during runs will be crap-quality due to using a phone :).... #3, push yourself this week beyond a limit you've set on yourself by saying "can't".  I have done 2 of my 3-4 runs this week. Not ideal. Considering I have 2 more days and it's the middle of the day at the beach so running today (in the heat and humidity) is outta the question!  Tuesday's run was with my friend Alicia, who can't be taller than 4'11" but who carries a pace of about 8:30 miles (super fast for a shortie like the both of us, and super fast for me especially!!).  My usual pace is about 10-11 minute miles right now (embarrassed to share, but told you all I'd be compl...

Yes you read that right.  And yes, I have lost my mind. Well maybe not.  But I have questioned that notion lately, ever since I decided my next big goal in life is going to be to run a half marathon. :) Here are the facts: I started "running" in 2009, when I started training for my first 5K, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k. I have no idea what sparked my interest in running! I trained for 3 months for that 5k, and finished, although in a miserable time of 45 minutes. :)  wow. I ran off and on (more "off" than "on") after that time.  I did not run another race until 2011.  My time was better. I ran another 5K in November 2012 after completing the C25K (Couch to 5K) program.  My best time at that point.  I was SO proud of myself. I joined the Rock Steady Running Club in Princeton in January 2013.  For the first time, I felt challenged to do better.  To push myself beyond my self-imposed limits.  And I was officially addi...