Vanessa's Running Blog

Went on a 24 mile bike ride on a trail.  First bike ride for the year. I have been biking indoors on a trainer way too long.  Had a blast. Took my brother with me.  I wore him out.  He got a little whiny. At one point I noticed he was no longer behind me so I turned around.  I found his bike standing but he was lying on the ground next to it. I wish I took my camera.

 I had a ton of energy still when we got home so I did some yard work.  Can't wait to go on another biking adventure, next one probably alone, doubt my brother will go again.  O well I will just get to venture further.

Had a nice run around the neighborhood despite that it's very hot and humid outside.

Was going to run just for 45min but I had energy for 15min more.  I felt like I could have ran more but I had to go home and get some things done. 

Biked on a trail.  Was great fun.  Country scenery. Almost ran over a snake twice.  Turned around once I got to a river 23 miles down the trail. Stopped on the bridge over the river for a moment, was beautiful.  My energy going back wasn't the same though.  Heat got to me a little. Total the trip took me 5 hours. 

Easy run on the treadmill. 

Nice run around the neighborhood. 

Nice run around the neighborhood.  Was windy thought it was going to start storming. 

Longest distance I have ran so far.  Had lots of energy and still do.  I feel awesome!

Easy run on the treadmill.

Just biked a little.  Don't feel well today. Almost didn't bike because my leg and ankle was popping and hurting.  Oddly biking seemed to stop that.

Got a little run in before teaching a friend and coworker some exercises.  Proud of her, she has been losing a lot of weight.  

Knee and ankle popping again so I biked a little instead of running. Think I need todo a lot more cross training and strength exercises.  I tend to just run because running is my favorite.

Ran 3.25 miles at a 13 min pace. Immediately afterwords I bike 5.4 miles in 15 min.  I hadn't ran since last wen so it was nice to run again.  Took some time off because of the popping knee and ankle.  I think this week will be a good week.  I'm going to start doing yoga this week.  Thinking it will help me with my flexibility and strength.  Will help my patience too. Have tried yoga before, lost focus and patience because it isn't fast paced. I am determined to make myself this time.

Ran a easy two miles on the treadmill.  Felt tired today.  Wish I could get enough sleep. Overactive mind is never quiet. 

Ran 5.2 miles on a new trail with a friend during a heat advisory. My friend made a joke about the heat advisory being over once we were done and that it would magically cool down. Was a nice trail and run despite the heat.  

Meet a friend in the gym this morning.  Ran a easy 4 miles on the treadmill. For the last two min was running at 9min pace- that's fast for me. 

Ran at 14min mile pace on the treadmill for a hour.  First run in three weeks.  Felt good to run. Last week my right calf muscle just under the knee was swollen and tender to the touch.  Don't know what I did. Only thing I can think of is maybe I pulled it while exercising on my sliding board. Before that I hadn't exercise for a week because I was having pain in my left thigh.  Last week I kept a journal on my daily food intake on MyPlate Food Diary at livestrong.com and realized that I have a very low-fat and low calorie diet, 29 grams of fat or less and about 1,500 calories.  I remember reading in Runner's World that fat reduces risk of injury. Been a restrictive eater this past year and half to get the 50 lbs off and keep it off.  But I do realize now that I need to increase the amount of good fat and calories in my diet especially with the amount of exercise I do.  Need to sleep more too, always feel tied. Get hyped up on caffeine everyday to make it through the day, I want to break this habit.  

Finally got some much needed sleep last night.  Didn't feel the greatest when I got up, woke up with a headache and a stiff neck. Finally around 4pm I felt up to running and biking. I feel really good now.

Easy run on the treadmill. Felt tired today.  

Ran on a trail with a friend.  Was hot outside.  100 degree weather.

Great morning 8 mile run through a rocky and hilly trail through the woods.  Great fun!  The weather was nice too.  

Treadmill run. Change the speed and incline several times throughout the workout.

Trail run.  Ran in about a hour. Was fun. Wish I could have ran more but didn't have time.

Trail run.  Was hot outside.  Completed the first mile in about 15min, energy went down after that.

Ran two miles on a trail.  Weather was cooler today.  Got home and decided I wanted to run some more so I ran a mile around the neighborhood in 12min, that is fast for me. Flat pavement seemed effortless after running on hilly trail through the woods. 

A tough trail run through a stat forest.  Hills were a struggle for me, walked up those. Had my first trailing running wipe going down a heal, just scraped up my hand a little.  Energy levels went down after mile three.  Haven't quite found my food for breakfast before a early run. Anything with protein causes severe stomach pain.  Just plain carbs, don't last.  Found out during a 5k race oatmeal is bad.  

Went on a 3 mile trail run.  It is hot and humid outside, quickly wore me out.  Got back to my car eager to down my water, to find that I had not closed the lid down all the way on my water bottle and all the water leaked into my car seat.  

Ran through a trail as fast as I could. Trail was 1.35 miles and I ran it in 17 min. Got up the hills better this time.  Was hot outside.  Despite the heat it was a blast and beautiful.  Saw some rabbits, squirrels, butterflies, and at the very end I saw a flock of turkeys.  I love nature even though I ran through a spider web.  

Late evening easy run on the treadmill.

Had a fun 9 mile run through a forest.  It was a beautiful cool morning. Feel like I still haven't conquered the hills but I did better this morning. 

Ran 3 easy miles on the treadmill this evening. 

Did a 45min tempo run on the treadmill. 

Did a 57 min tempo run on the treadmill.  I have felt awesome this week.

Sleeping more.  Think I have figured out the amount of calories I need

per a day.  Eating more fruit and veggies. 

Easy 2 mile run on the treadmill. 

Did 8 miles of trail running through a forest.  Was great fun. Was a little concerned starting out because the last two days my left ankle and hip has been popping, doesn't hurt it's just annoying. Despite the annoyance I got through the trail in one hour and 50min.  That's fast for me. Was a great morning for a run.  The weather was cool.  Since it rained the last two days there was finally water in the creeks, they had been dry all summer.  I am thinking I am going to have to find some water proof trail running shoes and water wicking socks.  Current shoes and socks held the water. Had of few miles of hearing squish squish squish.

4 mile tempo run on the treadmill

Ran 2 miles on the treadmill before work and 2 more after work.

Ran 4 miles on treadmill 

Ran 13.5 miles on trails through a state forest.  Took me awhile but I did it. Was a perfect morning for it. 

 Ankle and hip had been popping this week was glad that it stopped before this mornings run.

Ran 5 miles through the neighborhood in one hour and 3 min. Yeah! 13% faster than usual!

Warmed up with a 15min bike ride, stretched, then ran an hour tempo run at a various inclines. Afterwords I stretched again.  Making myself stretched more, I have been neglecting  stretching. 

Lovely morning run through the trails in the forest.  Ran 14 miles at a slightly faster pace.  

Ran 3 miles through the neighborhood. Was craving a run.  Couldn't ignore it.  Now to get back to house work weeeeeee.

Ran a two mile tempo run.  Was tired all day.  Run woke me up for awhile.  Ankle and knee popping again, wish they would stop popping, is annoying.

Ran 3 miles outside, ran out of daylight, so I ran 5 more miles on my treadmill at home. Ankle and knee was good today.

Ran 15 miles on trails through a forest.  Was a great cool morning. Saw lots of deer, two of them scared me because at first I didn't know what was running through the woods.

When I got home my new trail running shoes that I ordered had came, can't wait to break them in.

A fun 4 mile tempo run on the treadmill. 

A two mile tempo run on the treadmill. 

Ran five miles through the neighborhood. Felt fast and strong. 

Ran two miles on the treadmill and then ran 3 miles through the neighborhood. Felt good today too. 

Ran 10 miles through the neighborhood. Energy down. Yawn. 

Ran 8 miles on the trail I will be running on  for a 25k trail race October 31. Was a sneak preview event. Energy was low starting out but I got a second wind and really picked up the pace at the end.  Felt good to run fast. Hadn't ran this week.  Have felt so zapped, down and anxious. Was dreading the 60 mile drive to the event.  Driving makes me anxious. I made it though.  Focused on keeping my muscles relaxed. Made a conscious effort not to grip the steering wheel too tight and to breathe slowly. Had the option to carpool but I wanted to get there myself so I would stop dreading driving there race day. Now that I have drove there once I'm not as afraid. Also wanted to drive because I hate feeling limited by my fear of driving.  I want to defeat it. I aspire to be a confident driver.  A few years ago I wouldn't have even considered driving 60 miles to run around for 15 miles with a crowd of people. If getting there hadn't gave me a panic attack just being around a bunch of people would have sent me into a panic attack.  Crowds aren't a issue anymore.  Little by little the fear list is growing smaller.  I'm a work in progress but I guess everyone is. Two years ago I was 50 lbs heavier and the maid of honor at a friends wedding. I got lost on the way to her wedding and had a panic attack.  Had to stop somewhere to recollect myself so I could drive. Showed up late, frazzled and embarrassed. Wasn't long after that I started eating right, exercising and running.  Running has seemed to dramatically reduce the amount of panic attacks.  I have only had 6 this year. I use to have about that many a month. There is a quote I like and think about a lot because I find it so fitting, "The more I run, the more I want to run, and the more I live a life conditioned and influenced and fashioned by my running. And the more I

run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become

the person I am." --George Sheehan, M.D., former RW columnist

Felt grumpy for most of the day. Didn't want to but I went to the gym.  Ran a 4 mile tempo run on the treadmill. Did some ab work and lifted weights.  I feel much better now. I love running. 

I was in a much better mood today even though I didn't get much sleep because I stayed up too late building a website. Ran four miles on the treadmill after work.  

Was cold starting out but it turned out to be a beautiful morning for a 10 mile trail run. I love nice weather and nature.  When I got home I felt energetic so I went for a 15 mile bike ride through the neighborhood. Now I'm hungry. 

Ran through the neighborhood. Was hot outside, strange for Fall. 

Ran a easy two miles on the treadmill. 

I was so tired today. I didn't get much sleep last night.  Have been thinking about a lot of things and writing. Was hungry all day too. Despite being tired I still craved a run after work so I ran a mile as fast as I could through the neighborhood. 

 While I watched my favorite TV show tonight I biked on my trainer and after that I did a lot of push ups. 

 Hopefully tonight I can sleep good so I can go on a long run tomorrow.

Ran 9 miles on the treadmill at different speeds and inclines. 

Ran a easy two miles on the treadmill.

Biked 35 miles in a event to raise money for various things. Was fun despite being nervous at times.  Started and ended in town.  That is the second time that I have rode my bike in the city, cars make me nervous.  Have always rode my bike out in the country. It was fun meeting and talking to new people.  I think it is something I will do again.

Ran a easy two miles on the treadmill.  Finally feeling better after a stomach bug I came down with on Sunday.  I hope it is totally gone before Sunday, that is when my 25K trail race is. I have been training hard since August.

Ran my first 25K Trail Run! It was fun! Turned out to be a perfect day for it. Wanted to finish in 3hr and 30 min and finished in 3hr 46 min. Not too far off. Was moving along pretty good until I had about 5 more miles to go.  Ankles were really hurting. I think I laced my shoes too tightly, loosened my shoes when I had about 4 more miles togo.  Despite the pain I ran the last mile quickly and ran through the finish line with a lot of energy. I can't wait to run this event again next year. Next year I will be faster!

Ran two miles through the neighborhood. Was great to run again, was craving a run.  Took a week off after my 25K trail run. Had attempted to run Wednesday but pain in ankle became too much, only made it an half mile.  Today had no pain on my run, just a little stiff. 

Ran a 60min tempo run on the treadmill. Stretched, lifted some weights, and stretched again. I love exercising. 

Ran a mile as fast as I could. Once my pedometer hit a mile, I stopped to check my time, 13 min.  Really thought I had gone faster than that.  After that I biked on my indoor trainer while my brother's cat stood on the front tire and with her paws on the handle bars, was quite amusing. 

After work I jogged on the treadmill for 30min, did 30 min on the elliptical and five min of weight lifting. After dinner I did a 8 min yoga workout for runners.  8 min felt like hours.  I can run for hours and it will feel like only about 30min has gone by.  Yoga is rough on my attention span and patience. But thinking I can survive 8 min mini yoga workouts throughout the week. Hoping it will make me more flexible and a faster runner. 

Ran a 3 mile tempo run on the treadmill. Then did some ab work.  It's Friday! Yeah! Weekend!

Ran 8 miles through the neighborhood. It's cold outside! I couldn't feel my fingers. My mac app said I ran at 11% faster pace. Yeah!

After gulping down water, a pop tart, and chocolate milk. I did three of my mini 8 min yoga workouts.  24 min of yoga that's a record for me!  My cat, still a kitten, climbed on my leg when I was stretching my leg on a chair. When I was in downward dog pose she climbed on my back. When I was sitting she climbed up onto my shoulder. The silly cat made yoga fun and entertaining.

Ran 30 min on the treadmill and then lifted weights.

Ran a forced slow two miles, I'm tired. 

Ran a easy two miles on the treadmill. I'm still tired. Haven't had a good nights sleep since last week. Can't fall asleep before 2am. Have been drinking a lot of coffee this week to get through work.

Ran two miles on the treadmill. Didn't want to but made myself.  Have a headache and feel tired.  Have felt tired for the past 11 days. Ugh.

Ran a 3 mile tempo run on the treadmill and then lifted weights. Had more energy working out today because I was hyped up on caffeine and a cookie. Still didn't get much sleep last night, making 12 nights with little sleep.

Ran a Thanksgiving 5K.  Was cold.  No PR was set, maybe the next 5K.

Ran a mile and a half in my new running shoes that came in the mail today.  I love getting new running shoes. 

Did 8 miles of trail running bright and early in the morning. Everything was covered with frost, the trees, leaves and grass, was beautiful. Felt a little slow and stiff, maybe it was the cold or the extra food I have been eating this week. Maybe even the lack of sleep lately. Still an awesome run despite feeling stiff and slow and the pain behind my right knee.  

Biked three miles and then ran four miles.  Love my new shoes. Didn't have any pain after running- Yeah! Didn't sleep that well last night, shock, shock, so I got hyped up on coffee all day. Hopefully tonight I will sleep well, tired of not being able to sleep.

Need seven more miles to join the 500 mile club. Tomorrow I will bike and run to get my last 7 miles.  Have been logging biking and running miles on a log sheet since the beginning of March, my goal was to be done before the end of the year. Seven more miles! Then I can send the form and log sheet off and I will get a t-shirt. Yeah! 

Ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then biked 5 miles on the stationary bike. I'm beat.

 I got on the scale this morning and to my surprise I had lost a few pounds.  I was expecting to see a few pounds more with all the extra thanksgiving food I ate and all the cherry cobbler and cookies and ice cream and hot chocolate.

8 mile trail run this morning. Once again I made the mistake of wearing too many layers of clothes. Running in cold weather is new to me.  Started out with a group but 1.5 mile out couldn't stand to keep the pace anymore. Running alone in the leafless lifeless woods was kind of creepy with the winter wind whistling through. Thought about turning back a few times. Is deer hunting season. Have silly thoughts about what if there is a hunter that wants to shoot people for fun. (I have seen too many movies). Some of the trails are surrounded by high hills. I find that I go into alert mode looking all around. Heard movement in the leaves. Sound got closer and it was just squirrel. Once I got back on the main trail had decided to head back to my car but changed my mind when I met up with someone and decided to run with her. I really pushed myself to keep up with her. My right leg hurts. Perhaps if I push myself to run at a faster pace every week it will become easier and will become a faster runner and actually keep up with the group.

Get kind off annoyed that I am so slow (average pace 13:52 min) and can't stand to run at a faster pace for long. Would think by now I would be able to.  Probably doesn't help that I don't hardly get any sleep. Probably wouldn't hurt to clean up my diet a bit and give up the caffeine so I wouldn't be as anxious and sleep better.

Ran around the neighborhood. Felt good. No pain. Sometimes I was fighting the wind. Enjoyed the wind when it was behind me. Was shooting for three miles but my little old neighbor called me on my cell needing to be rescued from a flooding toilet. 

After work I ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then did some weight lifting. Now I am eating baked tilapia and green beans, I think that makes up for the mocha frape, cappuccino, cookie and mini twix bars I had today.

Ran two miles on the treadmill. Did some push ups and lifted weights. Love how I feel when I am exercising and afterwords.

After work I went to the gym. I biked 11 miles, ran 3 miles on the treadmill, and then lifted weights. I still have energy! 

Ran 2 miles on the treadmill.

Ran 7.57 miles on the trial.  Wasn't cold to my surprise. Everything was wet. Few spots were slick, almost wiped out a few times.  Kind of enjoy the challenge of running the hills that are covered in leaves hiding the rocks, creates a fun challenge. Ran at a faster pace and set a PR for running through my Saturday trail routine.

 On the way home was thinking about how I should clean up my diet, that could help my running performance, so would getting more sleep which would require drinking less caffeine. Next week is a new week to start. Thinking calves exercises would be good todo throughout the week too, they sure do hate me on the trail. Wish it didn't get so dark so soon in the fall and winter so I could go on trail runs throughout the week too.  Treadmill runs aren't as challenging as trail running.

Ran 3 miles on the treadmill at a easy pace.  Biked 7 miles on the stationary bike and then sprinted another mile on the treadmill. 

Finally felt well enough to run. Last week I came down with a cold, drove me nuts not being able to run. Running effects my mood, in a better mood if I get my daily run. Ran two miles on the treadmill in my new shoes that came in the mail last week. I also did a mini yoga workout.

After work I ran two miles on the treadmill. Yesterday I started eating healthy again. Need to make up for all that holiday feasting I did. Today only bad thing I ate was a snickerdoodle and at least that was after I ran two miles. 

Ran 5 miles on the treadmill. Once I started running this evening I just wanted to keep running. I felt good today. Had a lot of energy.