Penquins unite!!!

I started running in June for the first time. Never ran in my younger days. Believe me, there is hope. I had a 6 mile long run today. It was my second longest run since I started. I had to take a week off due to sickness and I have been playing catch up until today.

Like other Penguins, I am slow. My run today took over an hour and a half. Add an extra thrity minutes for warming up and stretching. But I feel a year from now I will be able to run some marathons and that is exciting.

The most important thing to me is doing something most people think is impossible. I am improving my health, losing weight and feeling good about my new passion.

The weight loss really excelerates the longer you run. However, don't try to increase your speed. Running slow takes more work. Once you get your endurance down, the speed will follow. Just be patient.

Penquins unite!!!

Good luck on your race tomorrow, Kate!  Just start off a little slower than you think you should, so you don't burn out quickly.  You're going to have adrenaline going, and a lot of people take off too quickly.  The good side of that is you'll probably run a faster time than any of your previous training runs.  I was running 12:30-13:00 min/miles before I ran my 5K this year and finished the race sub-12.

I have my very first 10K coming up at the end of September and my first half marathon on November 1st.  It's kind of stupid, but I'm extra nervous about the HM because you have to run an average of a 15 min/mile, or they pick you up and cart you to the finish line!  I know I'll run slower than my 5K pace, but I suppose I deserve to be picked up if I slow down that much.

It all started for me (this time) with the C25K in late January!

Just back from my 5k. They didn't use chips and I think the timer said I finished at 36.48 but I hit my garmin when I crossed the start  (way back in the pack!) and finish lines and I clocked 36:12, so just around a 12mm.   I kept pace with and talked to a woman running her first 10k (used same route with 10k's running it twice) which I think was very helpful in keeping me steady. I intentionally go slow to start and pick up when I'm well into the 2nd mile. I'm ecstatic about my time. My goal was to come in under 40, and only dreamed of 35. Now I have something to work towards. I don't see myself ever going faster than 35mm but who knows!. Some of the people who started out like bullets at the gun struggled to finish so I know I paced myself successfuly.  Funny thing was when 2 of the 10k runners lapped us! Serious runners

Day after 5K: no let down. No soreness. Slept very well. Actually looking forward to more training. It has me psyched!  If I don't I'm afraid I'll let it fade.  i'm going to download Gateway to 8k ~ looks like the kind of workout I'll like.  Mix it up. I really don't intend to do the 8k but I'm hoping this will strengthen/improve my 5k time. Not that I don't like being a penguin, but I also noticed that a 59 year old acquaintance won her division coming in at 26 minutes. Didn't even know she ran! Kind of has me inspired to shave a few minutes off my time. We'll see.

I was talking to a young (30ish) girl in the office today and she is an occasional runner and might come with me to the fun run on Wednesday. I really think it helps to have someone else to run with.  I just want this to be fun, not serious. I do however have a new goal. i just saw the official race results and to my horror, an 88 year old man beat me!!!!! Only by a few seconds. I saw his picture and it sure looks like this wasn't his first race so I shouldn't be too horrified.