Still Running

So far so good... It's been a long slow progression but it IS a progression! My farthest run so far has been 5 miles. It was GREAT! It wasn't easy. I'm sucking wind but it was so good to really be running. I felt like I could have gone on forever. However, the best decision was to stop. I know that I don't ever want to be where I was in October/November again.

I ran in Washington, DC in February. It was the first time I'd run outside since November. It hasn't been worth the time it would take to get dressed for the weather here to run such short distances. The weather in DC was perfect...oh except the 40 mph winds! I ran with my friend Tony. He's the one in the Mt. Hood report. We are on a committee - it's how we met. I ran alone Thursday after my plane landed and was able to check into the hotel. Tony ran with me Friday and Saturday morning. Saturday was perfect. The wind had died and the grey sky had openned up. We ran to the Lincoln Memorial then over to the Korean Memorial. Tony says he wants to show me something there. The marble wall has faces of soldiers etched into it. He points one out and says "we have every reason to believe this is my dad." How cool is that??? From there we retraced our steps back to the hotel.

While I was there I was supposed to run 2 miles on Thursday and 3 on Saturday. As you read, I ran 3 times... oops! And they were ALL for longer distances. Tuesday I had intended to only run the 2 miles. I took my normal route out then over to the Mall around the Washington Monument. However, the Health Summit was being held at the White House and I needed to get through the lawns. This caused a deter that eventually added almost a mile. Friday we ran just over 3 miles and Saturday it was close to 4 miles. I was sore - almost icebath worthy! But I was sooo excited to have been running that the soreness was almost a badge of honor! It was mostly my thighs. I was glad to just be running.

I've done a few runs since I've been home. I'm doing ok at 3 miles. I am working on changing my foot strike. It is more of a forefoot strike like when I'm running barefoot (which I had to stop in November since it wasn't helping the situation get better - it wasn't worse either - just trying to get better) It is so much easier to run that way that my lungs can't seem to keep up with my legs just yet! But it will get there. The 3 miles yesterday and 5 miles today show me that things are improving. The breathing was easier for a bit but as the distance increased the lungs got tired. I know they will be fine soon too.

Believe,
bat