A Taste For Adventure

This past Saturday, I left my apartment building at 6:30am, pumped and ready for my 5.25 mile long run to the Welwyn Preserve Seashore and back. It was the first time running this particular route, so I was very excited. I had driven a slightly different variation of the route in the past, but I had mapped it out on www.mapmyrun.com. So I thought I was all set.

I run into the Preserve and down the hill to the shoreline. It was an absolutely beautiful, hot, sunny July morning. I'd eaten my Powerbar earlier, and had a packet of Gu and some Powerade Zero for the trip. But then, I made a wrong turn on Landing Road, and wound up in an industrial area of town I never even knew existed. I got completely lost. I couldn't figure out which way was up for about 45 minutes. And I loved every second of it. Instead of getting flustered, I just kept jogging and taking in the views. The different neighborhoods, the landscaping, etc. Ultimately, I did find a bus driver who was parked on the street and I asked him for directions. But I had not felt so full of adventure for a very long time. And I didn't know I was able to go so far. I wound up jogging almost 7 miles, in 80+ degree heat, and I felt awesome afterward. It gives me hope that once I get my speed up, I'll actually be good at this endurance running thing. For the time being, I'm just having fun figuring it out. :-)

Jumping Off The Plateau!!!!

My month-long weight loss plateau has finally come to an end! I lost 4 pounds in the past week, and it feels great to start losing again. I also did my first 5 mile long run last Sunday. I wonder if there's a connection? Long periods of low intensity cardio activity tend to burn fat more efficiently.

I am training for the Westchester Half Marathon on 10/10/10, so that gives me plenty of opportunities to do long runs on Sundays. Ultimately, I would love to build my mileage up to 6 miles 3 times a week, and a half marathon run on Sundays. That would be a little over 31 miles a week. That would be awesome, because then I would be able to bust out a half marathon whenever, and I could build up from there to train for a full marathon. Eventually. I'm amazed that my mind has opened up to the possibility that I can even attain these goals. But believing you can do it is the very first step.

Have a great summer weekend! Go outside and enjoy the weather, because winter will be here before you know it.