Week 8 term 3

I went for two runs this week.  The first was after school.  I wasn't really in the mood but my little dog looked at me with her big brown eyes that said, "you need to take me for a run!", so I put on my shoes and headed out of the door.  It only took a couple of minutes and I was in the zone.  We just had a short(ish) run because it was quite late really, but it was a good one.

Earlier in the week I had been reading my Runner's World magazine and there was an article about a guy running up a hill, just to make sure he still could.  With this in mind, I made myself plod up the hill and was very satisfied that I can now consistently conquer this final challenge of my runs.

The second run was with my awesome kids.  We did the 12 minute run to check our fitness progress and I found that I have improved by 1 and a quarter laps!  Yayyyyyy.

Catch up to term three

Okay, I admit it, I've been a bit slack at updating this.  Rest assured I have been running!  This week I started with a 7 kilometer run at the gym on Sunday.  I chose the video of the grand canyon run so I could pretend I was running all through the interesting rock formations in that area.  The video includes images of these really cool mushroom/toadstool shaped rocks.  Apparently, they are made by the wind and sand wearing away the softer rock and leaving the harder rock behind.

There is also a section named after someone called Ebenezer Bryce.  I always find this amusing because Ebenezer is one of my favourite names and Bryce is the Principal at our school so it makes me think of him every time I run this course.  It also makes me want to start calling him Ebenezer but I don't think he'd get it, and would just think I had gone a bit crazy.

My second run was in the morning before school.  It was hard getting up earlier to fit it in, but I felt great all day because of it.  I'm really pleased that I can now run 7 kilometers.

My next goal is seven and a half!

Week 8 term 2

This week I have only managed to fit in one run so far - it has been a very busy week!  Never mind, to make up for it, we went for a run along the motorway and back.  My handy dandy Garmin told me this was five and a half kilometers although I'm pretty sure it's only five.  My poor legs have been a little sore ever since which is weird because I'm sure the motorway run has fewer hills in it than the two laps around the block?!

Week 7 term 2

A very satisfying week this week.  I went for a few runs with my little guard dog and this time she wasn't so lazy.  We managed to do two laps on two runs AND run up the big hill.  The third run we were a little pushed for time so we only did one lap - I think Noco was quite happy about this!

Week 6 term 2

This week I didn't manage to go for a run at the gym.  The weekend was jam-packed with writing assignments and visiting friends, and attending my course.  By Tuesday I was feeling quite 'antsy' so I put my guard dog on the lead and we set off for a run together.  Two times around the block and then I am very proud to announce - ALL THE WAY BACK UP THE BIG HILL.  I haven't been able to run up that hill for a few years so I am very proud of this achievement!

Wednesday came along and I decided I needed another run.  Unfortunately, my guard dog was not so energetic.  We got to the end of the first lap and she stopped and looked up the hill toward home.  "We're not finished," I said but she just looked at me, then back up the hill.  It was quite cold and getting close to dinner time so I bowed to her judgement and we set off up the hill.  It was a little harder this time, but we still managed to run the whole way up.  Super Satisfying!!!

Week 5 term 2

I only managed a run at the gym this week.  I wasn't feeling so good and had to take a day off school, so I thought I had better not go out running in the cold.  Instead I spent some time reading my running magazine Runner's World.  It is full of inspiring stories and good tips and always makes me feel like going for a run.

Week four term 2

This week I went out for one run at the gym and two runs around my neighbourhood.  The neighbourhood runs were particularly enjoyable because my little guard dog came with me.  She loves to run and always gets very excited when she sees me put my running shoes on.  With her running along ahead of me, I felt like I could run faster and further.  Very satisfying.