So this fourth of july I’m doing a 5K that a few friends of mine, who are not runners, are doing.

I decided to sign up because I’ve been doing some speed training and wanted tos ee if it has really helped.

I have a problem, though. I don’t get warmed up until I’ve been out for a mile or so. Which means i’m going ot have to do some jogging before the race even begins if I want to go fast.

And I have to go fast.

Not because I’ve been practicing and want to see what I can do.

But because my husband bet me I couldn’t do it in 27 minutes.

Look, I’m one of those double dog dare ya girls. If you make me bet on something, if you say I can’t do it, if you say I won’t do it, then it makes me so competitive that my head spins.

I will do it.

27 minutes is fast for me. I’m not a fast runner, never have been, not until I started doing this speed training.

Today when I finished up my 7.5 miles I was going between 8.5 and 9 minutes per mile. Not bad. I’m hoping I can get to that speed-and maintain that speed-in this 5K.

I want to show myself what I can do.

Most of all, though, I want to show my husband that I can do it!

Hmmm, are all runners this competitive? I think we must be, considering that we love to compete in runs. Not so much with everyone else-I don’t care if the girl in the blue shorts beats me so much as I care about how well I do when I get out there. Am I keeping up with what it is I want to accomplish? Am I doing better than I did last time?

Running has always been about competing against myself. I guess that’s why I’m not a top runner-I suppose you have to have some of that competitiveness against others in order to win races.

I’ll check back and let you know how I do.

So, here we are, at the new place!

I’m going to take some time working on the design. For now, I’m still trying to get used to the new pad :0)

So I made it, my move, and I also made my long run today-7.5 miles. Longest one I’ve had in a while.

Now, I’ve been dreading my long runs, I have to tell you. I couldn’t figure out why, when they were so looked forward to back when I was training for the first marathon.

Honestly, the night before my long runs I would be so excited getting things ready: pack, drinks, gel, etc . . . Making sure the batteries were working in the MP3 player, getting everything all set up for the long run, that was so much fun. And then when I woke in the mornings I got so excited, so ready.

This time around I’ve had a difficult time getting into it. Wasn’t sure what it was. I was excited the night before, but on the day of I just couldn’t quite build up tha texcitement. I’d hit about 4 miles and then think, “When will this be done?”
Not today, and I figured out the reason why.

Today I headed to the beach. It’s 3.7 miles to get there, so I have to do it when I have at least 7.5 to run.

So this was my first beach trek since I started training again, and it was fantastic just to have a goal.

I figured out as I was running, and as I was truly enjoying the run, that the reason I had such a hard time in the past few weeks doing these longer runs was because I had no ultimate goal in mind.

Instead, I would head out knowing I had to do 6 or so miles and I would not have a place to go and a place to return to. Instead, I would run haphazardly down streets around my neighborhood.

Boring to do it for more than 3 miles or so, I can tell you.

Today I had a goal: To get to the ocean and back.

I had no problem getting there, and no problem getting back.

It was a great run, the first great longer run in a while. I’m looking forward to them again.

I think that’s the key to long distance running: You have to have a goal. At least, I do.

If you are having a difficult time with your long runs but you don’t have an ultimate goal, try making one. Plan your route in advance, figure out what you might see as you run.

I got my own domain name registered today and will be setting up on www.mamamarathoner.com in the next few days. Please update your bookmarks and visit me there, I would love to see you! By making this change I’m hoping to add some great touches to the blog, to make it more personal. I figured since I’m a web designer and I do blogs for other people, why not do a few on my own! (Hm, yea, it does make sense . . . )

See you over at the new pad!

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I remember when my youngest was a baby, before preschool, and I would load her up in the jogger, take her to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and jog its entirety-three full miles.

She hated that thing. The entire run she would scream and kick and cry to get out.

Now that baby is in preschool (ah, where did the years go anyway!) and I have another baby that I load up in the same jogger. She’s much better with it. She actually climbs INTO the thing! She enjoys her three mile, half hour or so run.

I, however, really don’t.

First off, I got the jogger at my baby shower, and I had chosen it but it wound up being the cheapest of the bunch. l have a difficult time turning it, have to really lift it off of the ground to make a turn, and the darn thing is just so stiff and uncomfortable to use.

Secondly, where we live in Southern California traffic is horrendous, and while our neighborhood has a few quiet streets, those that surround us are busier than most small town freeways. Seriously, everyone believes they have to go ninety from light to light, which is half a mile (I know, I have tracked it on my GPS).

I’m always terrified when I venture out to run on the streets to get from one track to another, because who wants to run three miles around one track-meaning about six full circles?

I could load it up and take it to the park, but again, it’s such a pain to do this. It’s heavy and awkward and really doesn’t fold up well.

I’m sure some of the more expensive joggers are much nicer. I’ve heard great things about the Bob. I just wound up with one that isn’t so great.

My advice: First, if you are going to run when your baby is an infant, try to do it while they nap. Much easier!

And if you can’t, find a stroller that works well. Do some research, read reviews and ask other runners. I have heard great things about the BOB stroller.  Expensive, yes. But if you can run with it and it is comfortable, totally worth the price!

I used mine from the time my babies were quite young by propping pillows and blankets up around them. Some joggers allow you to really recline the seat, so find out if yours can do this.

Consider the front wheel when doing a test run. Mine does not move or turn. Some people swear by those that do, some say that those that do aren’t as easy to maneuver on different surfaces. I don’t know, I have never used one like this. I wish that I could test one out to see.

Does the jogger have shade? Mine does, and it works well for my daughter. I borrowed a friend’s double for a while when the baby was born and it did not provide any shade, which was brutal for the girls. I ended up trying to tie a blanket in place but it kept falling off.

Always inflate the wheels. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started off without checking them and figured out halfway through a brutal run that the reason I could barely push the thing was because the tires were almost flat!

Make sure it has a storage place for your water. You really don’t need a down below storage unit unless you plan to jog to the store and stock up on groceries. But you will want a place to put your water bottle as you run, along with your keys and other essentials.

Make sure it turns easily when you test it out. Mine does not, and every single time I have to make a turn, large or not, I have to lift the stroller to do so.

Check the tires. Do they go along a straight path? Mine don’t. In fact, every few minutes I have to pick the stroller up and align it forward again because the wheels veer over to one side. It’s a hassle, and I always wind up with a stiff back and neck after the run because of how difficult this jogger is to steer.

For now, I only use it when I absolutely have to. All of the other times I wake early in the morning and run, so I can be back long before the kids rise from bed.

When I started running I was afraid of speed.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always wanted to go faster, I just couldn’t.

I’d kick it up a notch and feel like I might faint. My heart would pound crazily against my chest, I’d get really hot, I’d have difficulty catching my breath.

Well, after the marathon, which took longer than I wanted, I decided I’d like to start speed training.

Here is what I’ve discovered over the past several months:

1-My waist is smaller

2-I’ve gotten faster

The kicking it up a notch several timne sa week in training has definitely decreased my waist size (can I give a big shout out, yoo hoo!) Nothing was working on that damn cesarean pouch that had remained on my body after my second surgical birth (sorry guys, but it’s the truth . . . ) I do ab work four or five days a week, and that helps, but the speed work really took off some of that flabby excess.

My times have improved as well. I actually shaved about a minute off each mile at this point! And I can get to about 8:30 miles if I have to, at least for a shorter period of time.

So is it working? Well, I’m going to run my first 5K in many years next week, on the fourth of July, with some friends. My goal: Do it fast. As fast as I can. I want to see if all of this has paid off, and then I’ll come back and fill you all in!

So, how am I doing it? Basically I run four days a week:

Monday-4 miles

Wednesday-4 miles

Thursday-3 miles

Saturday-Long Run, depends on training schedule (Currently 7 miles)

On Monday and Wednesday I do at least 3-3.5 miles on a regular run pace, and then I spend the next half to one mile working on speed. I usually do several 500s as fast as I can take it, which currently is around 6:30, but has actually dropped into the 5s a few times!

On Thursdays run, this is all speed. I go out as fast as I can go for as long as I can go. I variate my speeds with this run, of course, starting off a bit slower until I’m warmed up and then, about a half to a mile into it, really pushing it hard. I’ll go as fast as I can for a bit, then slow it down and recover, then kick it up again.

This has really helped my times. I’m learning just how far and fast I can push it. I’m now working on building up that endurance, going faster for longer, which has been the tough part. I can sprint like hell-shoot, I use this skill to run away from my kids all the time (just kidding!), but putting it in the middle of a run and then continuing to run after pushing it like that is a bit more difficult.

Ah, why do I do this! I sometimes hit pause on my GPS when running and then forget to turn it back on. Always happens on my long runs! Today I THINK I did 7, but I had turned it off for I think about half a mile, so I ran 6.5.

Why don’t I just let the little watch pause itself like I know it will do?

It’s so hot here. I ran at 6 AM and I bet it was nearing 80. I don’t do well in the heat. I had to stop a few times, downed a bottle of water in the 7 miles, and felt like I had been hit by a truck after it was all over. I don’ t know how these people do it-you know the ones, the ones we see running at noon in 90 degree and plus heat. I would be dead on the sidewalk.

My friends are doing a 5K for the fourth of July and they want me t join along. It’s a fun run for them, ,as they have been training for this fo ra while. For me I konw it would turn into a speed thing. How fast could I do it? I would want to do it in 27 minutes but bet it woul dbe closer to 28 1/2. I have gotten faster during my speed training sessions. I think I might join up and see what happens. Of course, that competitve streak will kill me and it will probably be 100 degrees out that day lol!