Running with the Pup...a new adventure!

So, we had taken a short hiatus and I am running again with the kids, but given the darkness already coming in around 7pm and the recent sightings of things less than interesting (coyotes or misbehaving dogs), besides my pepper spray, I wanted some additional reassurance.  So, we decided to take the dog!

Cleo is a rescue beagle.  We believe that she is about 2 years old now.  She was being used as a breeder from her first cycle.  We adopted her after her first litter.  She had heartworm, so we couldn't exercise with her for quite some time.  But, beagles are supposed to be great running companions for shorter rungs (5K distance), which is perfect when I'm running with the kids.  So, Cleo had her first run last night!

We did three intervals of 6 minutes each, with a 1-2 minute walk.  

• First interval, being a puppy and not sure what was going on, I had her on my right side with only about 18" of lead available to her.  She was so unaccustomed to the short hold, but it was needed to ensure that she didn't wander and end up tripping us!  First interval really caused my right arm to strain a bit, as I felt it first thing this morning.  But other than that, she was a trooper.  Also, it may have been due to the slightly cooler temps this week, but we were a tad faster than typical!
• Second interval, she was great!  Good pace, happy dog, 
• Third interval, she was dragging :) I kept on encouraging her just like I recall doing to the kids early on.  My son was even trying to make her happy.  She kept up, but was definitely slower.  

She ran a total of 1.5 miles (not including walking breaks),  Not bad for a dog that typically isn't too active.  Wow, did she sleep well last night!

Now, if I can find a headlamp that fits on her collar, that would be perfect!

Future Races

So, now that the kids have one 5K under their belt...what else could we do?  There is a ton of variety and the Canes Classic (which we just did) kicks off racing season down here in Florida!

Options abound...but these seem kid-friendly and local....leading up to the Disney race in April.  The Turky Trot, while 5-miles, is too local NOT to try.  They can walk it, if needed.  Fortunately, there is no cost to this one (just food donation), but there is also no medal.

• Color Blast 5K Run REGISTERED10/15/16
• Lakewood Ranch Boo Run 5K 10/29/16
• Turkey Trot (5 miles) 11/24/16
• Frosty 5k 12/17/16
• Ringing Bridge Run (4 miles) 1/14/17
• Falcon 5K February-ish (date not yet announced)
• Robinson Preserve 5k 3/31/17
• Disney Dark Side 5K REGISTERED 4/21/17 (I'll be doing the 5K with them and the Half Marathon)

Now, lets master this 5K thing!  Goal?  No stopping on 10/15!

Crazy Running Kid

My husband just asked the kids if they were running tonight?  My son says..."sure, lets do this!" ....and yes, we did just run a 5K this morning.  Maybe he really does have the running bug....or he just forgot that he was moaning about me torturing him DURING the 5K????

Kids First 5k

Prior to race day, they were both capable of running 27 minutes straight...looking back, I think they did great!  I was hoping that the energy of the race will push them that final step to finish the race non-stop, but hopefully running with me will force them to slow down and not run with the pack.

So how did they do at the Canes Classic?

My daughter ended up running with her friend from school, and his dad.  They didn't pace well and was far up ahead from the beginning, and then walked quite a lot.  She finished in 50 minutes.  She apparently complained a LOT during the race, but she was 2nd in her age group (out of two 10-11 year old girls), and received a medal.  Once we got home she put it on her "bling holder" and said that this is the medal that she is THE most proud of!

My son and I ran together...kept a consistent pace.  We did take a total of 5 1-minute walking breaks and finished in 44 minutes.  Note that every 1/4 mile there was some type of complaining such as "why are you torturing me so" and "are we done yet?".  But by the end, there was a big smile on his face.  He even sprinted the last 100 meters!

It was definitely harder than they expected.  85% humidity and 80 degrees...with sun (this race started at 8am).  After they finished, I just kept telling them that every other 5K will be easier than this one.  After all, they now have a PR!

We have officially signed up for the color blast run in October, per my daughter's request.  Its October 15th, so there may be Florida summer left...its a crap shoot. The humidity typically disappears right around mid-October, so cross your fingers for us!

We are C25K graduates!

We can all run 30 minutes...nonstop...in the Florida summer....in the high 80s and low 90s..where the
dew point is over 70....where the humidity makes it feel like 100 degrees.  Just imagine how strong and capable they will be in a few months when the humidity takes a break! Their body can actually work at running faster, rather than exerting all of this wasted energy on just keeping the body cooled! Just imagine at the end of November when their speed will be about 1-2 minutes/mile faster than it is right now...yes, thats the difference that we can expect!    Just imagine that when we sweat, the sweat will actually evaporate...oh its the little things!

We have inched our way from 1 minute running intervals (with 2 minutes walking) to 30 minutes nonstop.  This is quite the accomplishment!  I am so proud of these kids!  I really assumed that this was be torturous to get them up to this level, and I swear I thought that I would have to bribe them or kick myself along the way.  But, they were agreeable!  While not always thrilled...this has definitely become a nice routine for us.  We get to do something together, which has been great.  And, I get their ear.  They can't avoid me for those uncomfortable talks.  We talk about everything...and since there is no eye contact, we avoid the uncomfortable face, especially when talking about puberty or friends issues or school problems.  Mom is not intruding on a subject, but rather we are equals when we are together pounding the pavement.

So, whats the next goal?  Of course, we need to complete the 5k tomorrow.  While I do have a "45 minute" goal in my head (after all, we have never run 3 miles straight together), I just hope that they are proud to FINISH the race!  While most will be ahead of them, I don't think they will come in last. There is ALWAYS someone who finishes in an hour :)  And while this race caters to the local running community and high school track runners, there are always a few novices out there, so the kids won't be alone.

So, there is a 1-mile race next month...but there is also a 5k color run next month (same day)...and there is a 5k in November nearby as well, that will be a smaller race like the one tomorrow.  Once race a month would be great though Florida's race season...let's see if we can keep that up!

Running with Kids...Week 8

T-7 Days until our first 5k.

We nailed 20 minutes the prior week...and our challenge this week was to run for 27 minutes straight.  We started with 20+5, then 25, then 27.

The 20+5 was tough.  The first run was at 7 with my son..man, I just was NOT into it at all.  The second run was with my daughter at 8 (my son was on his bike for this one as neither I or he wanted to be left at home alone), but it was so easier.  Its amazing what an hour can make in Florida's sun!  The difference was almost refreshing!

Then, the 25....tough.

Then, the 27...tougher.  But, we did it!

Our protocol for this last week starts with this run:
Run 28 minutes

Then:
Run 29 minutes

Then:
Run 30 minutes


...and then then race!  We are all getting nervous now!

Running with Kids...Week 7

T-14 Days until our first 5k.

Its getting close!  I think I've finally figured out how to give me a rest, and how to ensure that the kids stick to their training without bickering.  Fortunately, I'm stronger now and can run farther, just like them...and the running almost every day with one of them has benefitted me.  This last week, I ran with my son, rested for 10 minutes, then ran with my daughter.  This ensured that I get a rest day between runs....and ensured that they both stayed with the plan...and ensured that I had more miles, which I want to do.

Every week, we are also running to the ice cream parlor.  One night, me and my son ran there, we had a little ice cream and then me and my daughter ran back.  Its an easy way for me to run/walk 4 miles (definitely more running than walking now!), but still not overburden them.  My son ran an entire mile without stopping, and my daughter hit 11 minutes....on the way back, we warmed up for 5 minutes, ran 11 minutes, walked for 4 minutes, then ran again for 10 minutes.  Nice!

Now, my daughter is definitely slower than my son, but given that she weighs 100 pounds and here is a scrawny 75 pounds, this shouldn't surprise me.  Time will benefit both of them. Maybe she will even drop a few pounds, but she really doesn't NEED to, but dropping a few will benefit her speed and her self esteem.  But, I know if I dropped 50 pounds, I probably could keep up with my son, as I'm sure in time that he will simply get faster!

Our final run this week was to attempt the 20-minute run...straight through, no stopping, with no concern with how slow or fast we were running.  I first ran with my daughter...she was slow, as expected, but she did great!  I rested for 5 minutes while my son was changing, and then we ran 20 minutes non-stop.  Ugh...he chatted the ENTIRE time about greek mythology and his breathing was still very easy, but man, I was being challenged.  I never recall looking at the watch this much!  But, this week is now in the books!

Our protocol for this week starts with this run:

Run 20 minutes
Walk 3 minutes
Run 5 minutes

Then:
Run 25 minutes

Then:
Run 27 minutes

Jealous of My Kids' Lung Power!

So, I'm running a LOT more than them...and every time I run with one of them, I'm simply just jealous of the fact that my breathing is so much harder than theirs.  So not fair!  My son can now talk constantly running for an entire mile while educating me on greek mythology (he absolutely loves the subject) while I'm huffing and puffing over here.  Oh, the joys of youth!

Running with Kids...Week 6

T-21 Days until our first 5k.

Last week went well!  In fact, the last run with my daughter was supposed to be 7-5-7.  First interval was 7 minutes, the second ended up being closer to 8, and then she said "why don't we run to the ice cream parlor and have daddy meet us there."  We ended up running the last interval for 10 minutes.  Very very pleased and now she KNOWS that she can do this.  With warm up and cool down, we did 2.4 miles in 37 minutes.  With very little effort NOW, we should be able to do a 5k in less than 45 minutes...which was subconsciously my minimum goal for them, although I would love to see them do it in under 40.

Our protocol for this week starts with this run:
Run 8 minutes
Walk 3 minutes
Run 8 minutes

Then:
Run 10 minutes
Walk 3 minutes
Run 10 minutes

Then:
Run 20 minutes

Wish us luck!

Half Marathon...too fast, too much?

So, there is an inaugural half marathon in 10 weeks.  Is it insane that I'm considering this?    Yes, it's crazy.  I know its too much too soon....and yet, that is not stopping me.

Is this too much for a long run every week?

Week 1 - 8/8/16 - 3 miles long run
Week 2 - 8/15/16 - 4 mile long runWeek 3 - 8/22/16 - 5 mile long runWeek 4 - 8/29/16 - 6 mile long runWeek 5 - 9/5/16 - 7 mile long runWeek 6 - 9/12/16 - 8 mile long runWeek 7 - 9/19/16 - 9 mile long runWeek 8 - 9/26/16 - 10 mile long runWeek 9 - 10/3/16 - 11 mile long runWeek 10 - 10/10/16Week 11 - Race Day


I really love the idea of participating in this local half marathon...it has strong roots in the organization.  It has strong support of the local government, and the route looks to be absolutely amazing...most of it water views.

And I heard that the bling is amazing.