slow runnners, step into my time machine... (long)

I've done this before, posting about my progress on the run. Its a pat on my own back, but I remember reading about the progress others were making and it helped me persevere. Hopefully, my (continuing) story of learning to run and of eventually gaining some (relative) speed will help you keep you moving forward...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2004!!!!

Jan, 2004 - Three months after the birth of my second child, I make a New Years' resolution to drop some of my left over pregnancy weight. Having never enjoyed running I decide to take up - RUNNING! Ordered some clearance trail runners and a heart rate monitor and eagerly await their arrival.

Feb, 2004 - I start 'running', but most of it is walk/run/walking. Can't afford a treadmill or a gym membership, so I run around the neighborhood. Manage to work up to almost 3 miles, but still have to walk a lot. Most runs are 1-1.5 miles. Ran about 10 miles for the whole month with the longest run being 2.89 miles @ 13:50 mm pace. I recruit the help of my brother, Pete, who has done several 1/2 marathons.

March, 2004 - Finish my first 5k in 36:29 (11:45 mm pace). Pete runs too, slowing down to stay with me for the first few blocks, but then takes off at his regular pace (also see June 2005). . I really wanted to run the whole thing, but had to walk part of the time. Despite this, I still logged over 30 miles of running w/ an average pace of 12:36mm pace, including my first 6 mile run/walk. Sign up for my first triathlon so that I can spend time swimming and biking (which I have always loved), instead of focusing just on (awful, slow, painful, slow, disappointing) running.

April-May, 2004 - Start running with the girls in the jogging stroller. Late April I end up with 15 stitches in my left leg while on vacation. Have to take a couple weeks off from running and biking, but still manage to get in about 35 miles over the two months at an average 12:45mm pace. Overall average pace slows a bit with the injury and the addition of 100 lbs of resistance.

June-July 2004 - Keep running, but don't make the time to log anything (kicking self now). Early June I finish my first 8 k in 55:15 (11:06 mm pace), including some walking. Bought some 'real' running shoes at the local running store.

Aug 2004 - Finish my first sprint triathlon, the Brewhouse short course, in 1:23:47. Complete the Brewhouse 2.5 mile run at a 11:19mm pace, including some walking. For the month, my average pace is 12:29mm (including runs w/ the jogging stroller). Cover about 30 training miles.

Sept 2004 - Finish my second sprint triathlon, the St. Croix Valley short course, in 1:34:47. Complete the St. Croix 4 mile run at a 11:19mm pace and run the entire time, walking only at water stops (note that I still wasn't any faster than when I walked part of the time at the Brewhouse!). For the month, my average pace is 11:58mm (including runs w/ the jogging stroller). However, I cover almost 68 miles in training miles, including one run of almost 9 miles. I also finished a trail 5k, but since the course wasn't accurate (under 5k), my 'fast' results are misleading. I celebrate my 32nd birthday and sign up for my first 1/2 marathon trail run (despite caution from my brother and some other seasoned runners like the Bear ).

Oct 2004 - Finish my first 10k, the Autumn Woods Classic, in 1:02:44 (10:05mm) AND my first half-marathon, the Big Woods Trail Run, in 2:23:22 (10:56mm). Log about 38 training miles, my average pace is 10:58mm, including runs with the jogging stroller. Start to believe I could actually run 10 minute miles. Finish off the month with a trail 5k 10:08mm pace.

Nov-Dec 2004 - Take a couple months off from training. Still get out for some runs and do some spinning on the trainer, but I don't log and am not consistent. Of the 10 lbs I lost during the tri season, I gain back about 5 lbs over the holidays.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005!!!!

Jan 2005 - Realizing that, despite all the training and racing I did, I still have not lost the weight I wanted to. Start training again on January 2nd. Race the Frigid 5k (running on snow and ice) while still recovering from the flu and finish in a disappointing 34:48 (11:12mm pace). Resolve to run sub-10. For the month, my average pace is 11:07mm, all runs on snow, ice, and/or salt covered sidewalks (hey, now all our extra money is going towards a new bike and race fees, so still can't afford a treadmill or gym membership). Cover about 18 training miles.

Feb 2005 - Finish my first indoor triathlon, the Tri-U-Mah w/ fellow BT'er, Kelpeng (Kelly). In the alloted 30 minutes, I run 3.2 miles (9:32mm pace - SUB 10!!!!), and a bonus, I don't kill myself on the treadmill! For the month, my average pace is a slow 11:59mm and I cover about 28 training miles. Start raising funds for Team Lung.

March 2005 - Finish my second indoor triathlon, the Duluth Clinic Training and Fitness Center Tri. In the alloted 30 minutes, I run 3.3 miles (9:09mm pace). My mom also races and runs part of the 30 minutes! For the month, my average pace is a speedy 10:22mm, including a few runs w/ the jogging stroller, and I cover about 36 training miles. I order two more pairs of running shoes. Start counting calories.

April 2005 - Finish the Running Opener 8 miler in 1:15:42 (9:28mm pace), and the Get in Gear 10k in 56:19 (9:03mm pace). For the month, my average pace is 10:02mm, including a runs w/ the jogging stroller, and I cover nearly 62 training miles. Run sub 9 minute miles on two training runs, including one where I ran 8:09mm for a 2.9 mile run.

May 2005 - My husband and I finish the Oakdale Duathlon in 1:33:30. I run the first 3 miles at a 8:01mm pace and the last 3 miles at a 8:26mm pace. We win the Co-ed Team Division (out of 3 teams). For the month, my average pace is 9:49mm, including a runs w/ the jogging stroller, and I cover nearly 70 training miles.

June 2005 - Finish the Garry Bjorklund Half-Marathon (my second half-marathon, but my first on roads instead of trails) in 1:05:27 (a 9:30mm pace). My brother Pete runs too, this being his 5th Bjorklund. I slow down to stay with him for the first few miles, but then take off at my regular pace (also see March 2004). Pete sets a PR, but his baby sister still beats him by 6+ minutes. For the month, my average pace is 9:41mm, including a runs w/ the jogging stroller, and I cover about 39 training miles. During a brick workout, I run 7:44mm (although that was only 3/4 mile run).

July 2005 - Finish my first sprint of the year, the Minneman, in 1:21:01. Complete the 3 mile run at a 8:52mm pace and win 3rd place Athena (out of 19). Join the County Cycle Triathlon team. Finish my first ever long course, Heart of Lakes, in 2:23:46. Complete the 5.6 mile run at a 9:18mm pace and place 10th/31 for my age group. For the month, my average pace is 9:34mm (including runs w/ the jogging stroller). Half my training runs are sub 9 and I cover about 35 training miles (so far).

TODAY - I LOVE RUNNING!

It isn't always easy. In fact, on many runs, the first couple miles still make me want to turn around and go home. However, I now look forward to runs more than I do swimming and biking, something I never thought would happen (just like I never thought I could ever like or love running, or ever run faster than 12mm). My husband bought running shoes, my 4 year old has done several fun runs, and my toddler does laps around the house. We are all happier and healthy (and faster), for the choice I made just 18 months ago. I would never have been able to progress if it hadn't been for Beginner Triathlete or for mixing up my training by focusing on triathlons. Had I set my goals on just running, I would have probably ended up injured, and would have certainly burned out.

Though training (swimming, biking, running, and strength training) and counting calories, I've lost 30 lbs from where I was last fall, lost 8" off my abdomen, 6" off my waist, and am at a healthy BMI for the first time since before I became a mom. I fit into clothes I thought I would never wear again...and before I knew it, even those clothes were too big. I have more energy, more patience, more speed, and more endurance.

If you are happy with 14 minute miles, 13, 12, 11, 10, but dream of getting faster...just come back to this thread and look at what happened to me in just 18 months. It doesn't happen over night, but you will get faster and you will probably fall in love with running along the way. I am in no way a speed demon, but I know now that if I stick with it, I will (hopefully) continue to improve. If I can do it, so can you!

Check back next June for - THE MARATHON!



Edited by autumn 2005-07-25 1:05 PM