So, lo and behold, I had a race during my rejuvenated training regimen!
I ran three times last week - a mile (or slightly more) each time. This week I had a longer workout on Sunday. My boyfriend Alan and I took Honey (our dog) with us...we walked 1.5 miles, ran 1 mile and walked 1.5 miles. And then the rest of the week was busy with work and us celebrating Alan's birthday, so I did not get my mid-week run in, despite bringing running gear on our little getaway to St. Pete. Oh well.
This morning I got up at 6:30 am and since everything was ready and waiting for me, I was out the door and on the way to Busch Gardens rather quickly. I gave myself more time than last year, so I was not rushing to a parking spot and despite some traffic, it only took me about 10 minutes of waiting to get one. I had time to hit the porta-potty and ran into my keeper friends from Disney - Craig and Melaina - as well as co-workers Christy and Morgan dressed as wildebeest. We all chatted a bit before the race started and I got some quick photos as the start gun was going off, and then we were running through the park.
It was great to see fellow zookeepers along the way - staff from Bird Gardens, Myombe, Edge of Africa and Jungala. And it's always fun to run past the animals. Although I didn't stop to take any pics along the route - Melaina is a fast one! - I did see the cheetahs, flamingos, tortoises, tigers, alligators, and we heard the lories.
Despite a ~2 minute walking break (that Craig and Melaina were kind enough to join me on), I still managed an 11:01 pace per mile for a total race time of 34:08.1. So, it wasn't my best 5K time ever, but I'm pretty proud of myself for running almost the entire race with very little training.
I realize that even though I'm not seeing results NOW - other than being able to run more than a mile without completely dying - it will take time to see more results, i.e. weight loss. That is my primary goal at this point - to get healthier and lose some weight. I was pretty low during my marathon training. I hit 199 at one point, but I have now returned to my prior-to-marathon-and-possibly-worse state and I do not find it acceptable. I am trying to change my eating habits, but that is a lot harder for me than going for a 3 mile run. They are habits after all, and I am the pickiest of eaters. With time, and hopefully with resolve, I will be able to physically better myself.
I ran three times last week - a mile (or slightly more) each time. This week I had a longer workout on Sunday. My boyfriend Alan and I took Honey (our dog) with us...we walked 1.5 miles, ran 1 mile and walked 1.5 miles. And then the rest of the week was busy with work and us celebrating Alan's birthday, so I did not get my mid-week run in, despite bringing running gear on our little getaway to St. Pete. Oh well.
This morning I got up at 6:30 am and since everything was ready and waiting for me, I was out the door and on the way to Busch Gardens rather quickly. I gave myself more time than last year, so I was not rushing to a parking spot and despite some traffic, it only took me about 10 minutes of waiting to get one. I had time to hit the porta-potty and ran into my keeper friends from Disney - Craig and Melaina - as well as co-workers Christy and Morgan dressed as wildebeest. We all chatted a bit before the race started and I got some quick photos as the start gun was going off, and then we were running through the park.
It was great to see fellow zookeepers along the way - staff from Bird Gardens, Myombe, Edge of Africa and Jungala. And it's always fun to run past the animals. Although I didn't stop to take any pics along the route - Melaina is a fast one! - I did see the cheetahs, flamingos, tortoises, tigers, alligators, and we heard the lories.
Despite a ~2 minute walking break (that Craig and Melaina were kind enough to join me on), I still managed an 11:01 pace per mile for a total race time of 34:08.1. So, it wasn't my best 5K time ever, but I'm pretty proud of myself for running almost the entire race with very little training.
I realize that even though I'm not seeing results NOW - other than being able to run more than a mile without completely dying - it will take time to see more results, i.e. weight loss. That is my primary goal at this point - to get healthier and lose some weight. I was pretty low during my marathon training. I hit 199 at one point, but I have now returned to my prior-to-marathon-and-possibly-worse state and I do not find it acceptable. I am trying to change my eating habits, but that is a lot harder for me than going for a 3 mile run. They are habits after all, and I am the pickiest of eaters. With time, and hopefully with resolve, I will be able to physically better myself.
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