Here we go again....

Well, this morning Becky was back and my friend Chris joined us.  Chris is an avid runner who recently got cleared to start running after an injury so slow and steady was appealing to her :-)  (I'll take what I can get).

We did 3 min run/1 min walk uphill both ways and if felt like it.  My strategy is to keep my head down and not look to see how much longer the hill is.  It was a hard run today - but except for the last hill I ran the all of the 3 minutes (20 sec break on the last hill)!!!!

It is definitely easier to do with friends that hold you accountable, because let me tell you if I was alone I probably would have walked a lot more up the hills than putting my head down and pushing through.

I registered for my half marathon so I am one step closer to my bling and I still have 6 months to go. :-)

A new "running" partner

Today is a gorgeous day  - it was in the low 30's and not a cloud in the sky.  Becky was not able to join me for a run this morning, but my 15 year old gladly stepped up to the challenge.  I wanted to run outside and do another 1 1/2 min run/walk, 3 min run/walk to make sure my success of completing that on the treadmill wasn't a fluke.

Ethan and I set out for a 5 minute brisk walking warm up and we got to the top of one hill before we had to start running.  For the first 1 1/2 minute run uphill Ethan took off like a gazelle and only looked back when he got to the top of the hill.  We continued the run up to the movie theater (flat land) and I kept my slow but steady pace not wanting to inflict the wrath of shin splints.  

I wouldn't say Ethan "ran" with me.... He was up ahead....way ahead....

But I had someone to run with me and keep me accountable so it is all good. :-)

All by myself...

Yesterday I had to work all day.  I had grand plans of going to the gym for a cardio day on the way home, but the Atlanta traffic and long drive took all the excitement out of that prospect.  Today was a running day anyway and Becky said if it was 20 or below we should do the treadmill since none of our races are in that kind of weather (Races.... like we have that many planned LOL).

But, Becky had a family emergency so I was on my own.  It was in the mid 30's this morning, but it was sleeting and snowing - so the treadmill it was.  I pulled up my C25K app and it started a new week - week 3.  This was where I ended my running 2 years ago when I got it in my head this would be a good idea.  So, there is that mental block that it is make it or break it time.  The workout consisted of a 5 minute warm up (1 1/2 min run/walk, then 3 min run/walk) twice and a 5 minute cool down.  That is 3 minutes of straight running TWICE!!  Ugh....

I did it!!!  :-) :-) :-)

I know that it was only the treadmill and honestly I am not sure I could do it outside,  but it was a good boost of confidence.  Saturday is the next run day - so that will be moment of truth.

I got new compression sleeves but running on the treadmill I had no one to show them off to :-)

Nothing makes a run easier than new gear :-)

Leg Day :-)

I love leg day - I think that is kind of weird since most of the guys at the gym rarely do leg day - they are always working upper body.  But, on the plus side that means I get the Smith Machine without any arguments :-)

I injured myself during a hike last May and got sidelined until winter, so I focused more on weightlifting than cardio until January.  Now that I am running (and I use that term loosely) I have to do higher weights and less reps on leg day.

So, I put on my sparkled Converse and killed it :-)

I follow the workouts provided through Fighter Diet and tweaked it a bit to hit my goals.   

"Hate me now, thank me later"  the famous words Becky told me after our 25 minute run this morning.  My shins are still yelling at me from our trail run this weekend so we ran on a fairly flat area (hard to find in the North Georgia mountains).  But, I still made it - 2 minutes walk, 2  minutes run.

Back at the gym after our run I rounded out my Apple Watch calorie goals on the elliptical and an ab workout.  Now I can sit on my duff and work for the rest of the day :-)

One day closer :-)  And tomorrow is a not run day :-)

Here goes nothing....

So - I am an AT section hiker - love it.  I love the solitude of the mountains and the challenges of a 17 mile day or a 65 mile section hike.  I have been hiking for 4 years, section hiking for 3, so far I have 600 miles under my belt and am in Virginia - the state that makes up 1/3 of the AT...so I will be there for a while.

My favorite section of the AT so far has been the Smokies that border TN/NC.  The Great Smoky Mountain National Park gets the most visitors than any other National Park - that says something to the paradise it offers.

Well, The GSMNP just started offering a half marathon in September last year.  I couldn't do a half marathon last year because I was recovering from a hiking injury, but I can this year!!!  Let the running begin.

I tried to run a few years ago and did too much too soon and hurt my calf muscle. So, this year I am following a plan my running friend Becky created - similar to the C25K app to start.  It has been 3 weeks and I am not loving it yet, but I have to say that it is easier than when I started before.  I just want the finishers medal. Let's see how this goes...

One step at a time.