Day 12

Daily distance: 3 miles
Weekly distance: 11 miles
Training distance: 40 miles
Pace: 10:18
Time/Temperature: 12:30 p.m., 45 degrees, overcast
Weight: 147

Guild-Hardy Trail

It was a gorgeous day for a trail run today!  I ran three miles then walked an additional five.  The three running was very difficult because it took about a mile to warm up and the entire first three miles is a gradual incline.  I am happy with the pace!

I am running this same trail tomorrow.  I am diverting from my training plan again, because tomorrow should be a 5 mile marathon pace.  And Sunday should be a 9 mile run.  Instead, I am running 14 miles tomorrow (that's the plan anyway) and will do the 5 mile pace run on Sunday.  I am looking forward to running with my new group of trail running friends again tomorrow!  

I was running in my old shoes today but thankfully I didn't slip.  The part of the trail I ran was not too steep so the tread didn't mess me up to badly.  I took my dog Austin and he really enjoyed the outdoor activity as well.  I decided to wear my heart monitor for the first time in months.  It was good to monitor my heart rate again.  I would run until I hit 180, then walk again until it lowered to 150.  It was really neat to see the progress from months ago on my recovery time.  It would take less than one minute for my heart rate to lower back down and that is a drastic improvement.  Concrete improvements like that can be very motivating!  I am enjoying the cross training that the trails are giving me.  I can feel it in my legs and that is exhilarating.

"Barring some medical problem, most people can run, but they are not motivated to do so.  Even if they want to start running, it takes courage to put on running shoes and step out on a sidewalk for the first time in front of friends and neighbors.  A lot of potential runners never get moving, out of fear of looking foolish.  They lack self-confidence.  They fear failure." 

Marathon - The Ultimate Training Guide

Hal Higdon

I have told countless people that anyone can run barring medical problems.  That if you can walk, you can run.  You may not run as fast or as far as other people, but you can run and you can get the same pleasure from it as us "runners" and before you know it, you will be labeling yourself a runner too.  Our bodies crave the movement, innately.   I have posted the link to the event that I am running tomorrow.  There are shorter distances available.  The group that is hosting the run has various runs throughout each week.  Please feel free to take a look and join the group.  I would love to welcome you and run with you.

Chattanooga Trail Runners