Run Run Run Otis Lee

Since last summer, I've been struggling with running.  I'm not struggling with the physical act of running so much as I am with making the time for it.  Often when I do seem to have the time, I don't have the energy.  I manage to get back on the wagon for a couple of runs, and then something happens that it all goes to hell again on me.  

The last time I was "on the wagon" I managed to visit the treadmill twice, and then BB got a nasty head-cold, and I got the blocked duct.   Over the following few weeks, the blocked duct returned a few times and BB got a second cold, this time in his chest.  

Things have settled down now (knock on wood); once again I've climbed back onto the wagon.  Wednesday night I picked up on week five of the Learn to Run program.  I ran 8.5 kph, walked 5.5 kph, with an incline of 0.5.  In total I covered 2.901 km, and (supposedly) burned 241.2 cal.  I know that running on the treadmill is much different than actually pounding the pavement, but being a numbers kind of gal, I really like being able to track this sort of stuff.  I find it motivating.

After Wednesday night's run, I had a little conversation with a friend on Facebook.  She's an avid runner who trains for real races, and runs real distances, beyond my piddly three kilometres!  She suggested that I sign up for the 5k on Mother's Day so that I'd have a goal to help keep me motivated.  She seemed to think that I'd be able to work up to the 5k by then.  I did the math, but running at 8.5 kph would give me a real bad time, and I can't stand the idea of embarrassing myself in public like that.  If I'm going to do it, I need to be able to do it in a respectable amount of time.  

I visited the Running Room's website and found a 5k in town at the end of May.  The best part is that it benefits the food bank.  I'd like to try to work towards entering it.  I know I should sign up so that I'll be more likely to stick it out, but I don't like the idea of wasting the 35$ if my running goes to hell again.  

Last night I managed to visit the treadmill again.  I jumped ahead to week six of the Learn to Run, increased my running speed to 9.0 kph, walked 5.5 kph again, and kept the incline at 0.5.  This time I covered 3.180km and Mr. Treadmill said I burned 264.7cal.  

I really felt like I was pushing myself last night.  Normally I'm listening to my music and skipping through the songs, but last night, I wasn't even noticing the songs until they were finishing up.  They were just background noise to keep me moving, and help drown out the annoying noise of the treadmill.

When I was participating in the running programs through the Running Room, I seemed to do a much better job with my breathing.  I'm finding that I'm not doing so great with it now, so I need to keep working on it.  

As the days continue to grow longer, I'm hoping that I'll be able to head outdoors to run again.  I'll miss being able to track my stats (I can't afford one of those fancy Garmin-type devices!) but if I want to enter any races, I definitely need to be practicing outdoors.

My current running playlist includes:

9-5 - Dolly Parton  (I love this song for my warm up.  Even though I've known it all my life, I fell in love with it while I was pregnant, and it's been one of my favourites ever since.)

The rest of the songs all play on random.

Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel

I'm Still Standing - Elton John

Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

Cumbersome - Seven Mary Three

Little Green Bag - Tom Jones & Barenaked Ladies

I Can't Dance - Genesis

Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani

My Humps - Black Eyed Peas (This one didn't play last night, and the last few times I've actually skipped it... It's been on my playlist since we got the treadmill, and I think I'm getting tired of it.)

Kryptonite - Three Doors Down

Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim Remix) - Beastie Boys

It's an eclectic list, but I've been enjoying it.  I think it will soon be time to mix it up a bit though, remove a few more songs and add some new ones.  

On a side note, when we were kids my brother had the Cabbage Patch Kids album that Run Run Run Otis Lee was on.  I listened to the album this morning (thanks to the link that is found in the title of this post), and am surprised that I still remember all the words to the songs, even though I haven't heard the album since I was a child!  Memory is a wonderful thing.  :)