Fall Running on Forbidden Drive

Without an event to train for
I allowed myself to take my phone on this run.
And it was a photo worthy outing. 

If you have been following my ramblings lately --- thank you for that, by the way --- you may recall I made a commitment to keep running. Not a lot but enough to maintain a level of get up and go that let's me run 3-5 miles.

It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since the OCNJ race. it seemed like a good time to run again. So today I tested myself and ran at Forbidden Drive on the Wissakickon creek. With 30 minute walk and 1 minute run intervals I managed 5 miles. Out to Valley Green Inn and back.

I believe there are a number of factors at play here.

I had great company. Maggi ran with me. I warned her at the start that I need to run my own pace and I'm slower than mud. She knows that and she knows she can move off from me and I won't be upset but I felt the need to say it out loud anyway. As it was we stayed together. The fact that she rocked a weight lifting workout two days ago worked in my favor. Thanks Maggi! It's been a long time since we ran together.

The weather was perfect. Low to mid 50s and clear skies. I probably should have brought cover for my ears. The creek and the fall foliage provided a beautiful backdrop to the run.

I am not training for an event. There was no pressure to complete 5 miles at all let alone well. But I succeeded on both counts. We set out to do at least 3 allowing that we could walk the last 2 if need be and ended up run/walking all 5. I won't say it was effortless (I'm not that kind of runner) but it was enjoyable and did not hurt.


Keep Smiling Keep Moving
-Paula

Half Done What's Next?

Mission accomplished. I trained, I ran, I finished. So what's next? Hiking. Lots and lots of hiking. Mostly trail hiking but some urban hiking too. Some of my favorite hikes are waiting for my return and a ton of new ones are out there too.

I'd like to try to maintain a 3 to 5 mile run/walk fitness as well. Training for the half reminded me that I don't enjoy the distance training. I have to admit, though, that it wasn't all horrible. There were days were the run felt good. Mostly the shorter ones :). So I plan to try to throw in a run/walk effort every few weeks. I'm done with distance running events though. If I do anything after this is will be smaller fun event like Laps for Lexi.

I'm also going to take advantage of the workout room at our office and try to get into a regular routine of body-weight training a time or two a week. As tired as I am after work some days, I always felt good when I went to our group boot camp sessions. And Maggi if you are reading this that was a not so subtle hint. ;) Only if you are so inclined of course.

Besides trying to hold my aging body together for the long haul, the only things left on my fitness bucket list are a trail race and an all day (or multi day) hike/walk. The trail race doesn't have to be anything major or fancy and it could easily be accomplished locally at Tyler Aboretum or Ridley Creek State Park. The all day (or multi-day) hike/walk is something I'd just put together for myself. Finding a friend or two to join me would be icing on that cake.

Keep Smiling Keep Moving.
-Paula