Turkey Day run coming up

Our annual family participation (ok, semi-annual for those of us who shuffle between families) in the St. Clare's Cardiac Classic is coming up. I was making progress toward my goal of running it with no walking breaks, but have been sidelined for a week with shingles. I did run an easy one mile today, so maybe if I can shake these by next weekend, I can get back on track (haha). And if I do have to take a walking break or two, it won't matter that much. I have been in the cheering section for several years due to injuries, so being able to run it again this year will be its own victory, regardless of how long it takes. Keep on running!

Making Progress -- sort of

Ran a 5k on the 21st. Just two quick walking breaks -- at each water stop. Took 4:30 off last year's fastest 5K, so really pleased with that. Fastest 5K in six years. Not bad for someone who has reached "senior" level in running terms. However, have put on 8 lbs. since winter. Wah. Need to find enough balance somewhere so I can run at least three days a week. Funny, took so much time off by essentially running just once a week. The secret must be to adopt a kid from Ethiopia and then spend your days chasing him. I had a bad mommy moment in the race though. It was a woman's run, so it becomes my one "this one's for me" race for the year. However, a small boy said, "Me too!" when I announced I had a race. So we let him run as a bandit with Daddy. He made so many people smile, it was totally worth it. But he went out like a rabbit and started tiring close to the halfway mark, plus he had run back to find me, so added considerable distance. I was running completely within myself, consistent pace each quarter mile. Eventually he couldn't keep up any more. "Mommy, wait" he pleaded. I kept going. I feel so bad. Daddy stayed with him, but I still feel bad. He finished about seven minutes behind me. Was it ok for me to be selfish this one time, or should I have responded to that plaintive "Mommy wait!"? Sigh.

Karen Chimes In

Ok, just got this thing figured out, maybe. I'm supposed to be running a mile race today, but it's outside and it's really cold. Wah. I was going to just run a training run around the neighborhood instead, but I'm feeling so chilled that I might just stick to a walk on the treadmill. I can't run on the treadmill (yet) because it's on a permanent incline that got my heart rate up to what seemed like 200 after just a few minutes. Just not ready for that kind of hill work yet. It would be nice to have it set at no incline so I could actually run, but we're thinking that ability might be broken. Walking uphill constantly is quite a workout anyway, so I might as well do that. Thanks to Easter, I've gained back three pounds of the 10 I lost since Jan. 5. NO MORE JUNK FOOD IN THE HOUSE!