Week 7, Day 46

I have no excuse for my three week absence from my blog...I'm still running...and have made some changes. I realized that it was pretty stupid of me to follow the same training program as last year and expect different results. So I've decided to switch to an advanced program, still created by Hal Higdon. I now have an additional day of running each week (six days total); one of which is dedicated to speed work. In total I will run 50 miles this week, culminating in a 16 mile run on Sunday. I find myself actually praying for a little rain on Sunday, just to help me stay cool. So...I'll report back at the end of the week - hopefully with my first long run successfully under my belt.

Week 5, Day 29

This weekend was hard...13 miles on Saturday, 6 miles on Sunday, 3 miles on Monday, and 7 miles today. Out of the last four days, surprisingly, the short 3 mile run was the hardest. It was well over 80 degrees that day and the route I took was totally in the sun. All I could think about was getting home and eating a popsicle!

I'm also very upset to report that my lucky hat has been stolen. It's a Nike visor that I've run with for at least five years. While running this weekend I took it off and stashed it along the road in some bushes, planning on retrieving it later in the day. When I came back - it was gone. It's not unusual for runners to shed clothing during a run. You may start off with a jacket and later, feel too hot for it. Or you may start out carrying a water bottle and choose to do without. Or, like me, you may decide that your hat is causing you to sweat too much. I was careful to slide it under the branches and took careful note of the nearest house. But, it's gone. I walked up and down the street several times looking for it. Who would want a worn out sweaty hat? Gross! I can only hope a sweet baby deer or turkey has taken my hat back to his nook in the forest and is using it to pad his bed.

Week 4: Day 25

Last night I attended my first running class at Playmakers in Lansing. They have developed a running program called Good Form Running and have been teaching it for a few years now. According to the instructor the shoe company New Balance has bought the rights to the program and is taking it national soon. Anyways, the premise is that your running form should mimic the form you would have if you were running barefoot. One of the keys is to land on your midfoot and not on your heel.

It's so hard! Haven't we always been taught to run heel-toe?? One of the reasons I love to run is because unlike tennis or golf, you don't have to practice - you just do it. We've known how to run since we were two years old - running is supposed to be easy - all you have to work on is endurance. But now, I have to actually practice.

Today was my day off for the week. Tomorrow I have a 13 mile run to tackle, so I know I'll have plenty of time to work on my form.