28 Minutes and a Honk

Did you know running can help you with your self-image? I didn't. During three of my last four runs, I've either been whistled at, honked at, or some combination of both. One was particularly funny because the passenger leaned over the driver to honk the horn and wave out the driver's side window. It always makes me laugh because I KNOW I don't look my best when running. Hot, sweaty, red face, hair plastered to my face and neck - that only begins to explain how I look when running. But, I guess it can't be all bad if guys are willing to wave, whistle or whatever. I'm taking it as a compliment and leaving it at that!

Last night I ran the 3.5 mile portion of my loop at "race pace" to see how I'd do. I was hoping for 30 minutes. I walked for 6 minutes as a warm up. When the 3.5 miles was up, 34 min and 18 seconds had passed. When I back off the 6 minute warm up, that puts me at 3.2 miles in just over 28 minutes. WAY COOL! And, I think I could have done better than that but I needed to know the feel of the pace/cadence I was setting. Once there's about .5 mile left, I want to give it all I've got; running the last .5 flat out. I need to reverse the course and try again. The way I'm running it now, it's flat or down hill in the beginning and the uphill and flat portions come at the end. Since I don't know what the course will be like for the race, I want to make sure I can make my time either way. But, based on last night I'm confident that I can clear 30 minutes regardless. I did a circuit run for the last 1.5 miles of the 5 mile loop - alternating running and walking. All in all, I think I ran 4 of the 5 miles. But, it totally kicked my butt!! I burned over 600 calories in that hour.

I'm not sure if it was lost water weight, burning the 600 calories, or that same silly pound I've been playing with for a week; but I'm down 1.6 pounds from yesterday. Today, 5 pounds from my ideal weight and 3 pounds to my "safe range". I'm lifting tonight with Renee and will probably run again tomorrow night. Thursday's running goal will be for endurance versus speed. I'm targeting to run 4.75 miles - on my way towards 5 miles in one shot.