Week 1: Done (Kelsey)

Well, today I ran my 3 miles, and thus came the close to Week 1 of Training. So in the last 7 days, I have completed 7.5 miles of running. So we're doing great! That means that if I do everything I ran this entire week, twice, without stopping, in one setting, I will have completed my half marathon..... Haha what have I gotten myself into? Sometimes perspective isn't helpful...

Today's run wasn't too bad. 3.09 miles in 35 minutes. I ran the whole way except for 2 brief periods that I took to try and stretch out my calves. And by brief periods, I mean probably about 10 seconds each. And they didn't help. My breathing was a little more labored today, which I think has a lot to do with the fact that my 3 mile route is quite a bit more challenging than my 2 mile route. I have to run up more hills, including THE hill, which is indeed quite the challenge. But I could still handle my breathing okay. It was my calves that were killing me. I even went and bought some inserts to try and help, but they didn't seem to do the trick. My calves were just CLENCHED the whole time, and I had some hints of shin splints, especially in my left shin, as well. My ribs are still a touch sore, but not as bad as they were two days ago. I also made the mistake of wearing a long sleeve shirt on my run. It seemed perhaps a bit chilly, and I was afraid it was going to rain, so I wore it to protect my iPhone mostly. However, it did not rain, and it just ended up making me really sweaty which also got my iPhone a little wet.

There were no bird attacks today. I even grabbed a stick a little before I got to the corner to swing at it, but there was no bird to hit, so instead I just looked like a crazy girl running with a stick. Better a stick than a tennis racket I guess? My 11-year-old nephew also went with me on my run, though he didn't run, he just rode his bike behind me. I had warned him about the bird, so after we rounded the corner with our safety still intact, he informed me he must be my good luck charm. Hopefully his luck will rub off and stay. 

I finally made my running playlist today. It goes as follows, though it is subject to change:

(I generally shuffle the playlist, so my runs consist of a combination of the following:..)
1. Diva by Beyonce
2. I'm Sexy And I Know It by LMFAO

3. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston

5. Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

6. Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar

7. Independent Women by Destiny's Child

8. Jumpin' Jumpin' by Destiny's Child

9. Survivor by Destiny's Child

10. Wobble by V.I.C.

11. I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston

12. Step by Step by Whitney Houston

13. Queen of the Night by Whitney Houston

14. Misled by Celine Dion

15. Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine (Just for Stacey)

I realize it is kind of a weird running mix. So we're gonna see how it goes. But I already know I like running to R&B songs (young and old, hence the Destiny's Child), and I feel inspired by power woman songs, and Eye of the Tiger is my giant inspiration song for all things challenging, so we're gonna see how the inspiring 80s ballad songs go. I can tell you one for sure, though, that is going to stay... Survivor by Destiny's Child. That one came on before "The Hill," and I think it is largely because of this song that I made it. I realize the song is about a girl being a boss after a break up, but the chorus says "I'm a survivor. I'm not gonna give up. I'm not gonna stop, I'm gonna work harder. I'm a survivor. I'm gonna make it. I will survive and keep on surviving," and MERCY is that inspirational when you're running your fat legs up a hill and your calves feel like they're going to burst out of your epidermis. No no, hill. You will not defeat me. Cuz I'm just gonna work harder.

Well, see peace out, week 1. Bring on week 2 :)