Just Keep Running

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Training for my first 10K has easily been the most soul crushing thing I’ve ever done. While I’ve been running (which I love) various 5K and getting out there three times a week to run the neighborhood, I wasn’t getting faster or gaining stamina. I started with Nike+ Running Coach program the runs got longer I was getting more and more discouraged with my times. I switched to interval training, using RunKeeper in conjunction with N+R. I’m thrilled I can now run 1/4 mile in 3 minutes, because it’s a 12-minute mile, but the one minute I need between the 3 minutes was shooting a potential PB (personal best) in the foot.

Not waiting to wimp out and knowing I can push when I need to, I ran my first 10K on Sunday at the Mt Olivet Sunrise Run and Pancake Breakfast (aka, Run With The Dead!).

I’m not gonna lie to you, Marge – it was tough, but not any tougher than any 5K I’ve run in the past. My main concern was all of my apps running simultaneously without hiccups. Here’s what I used:

• Zombies, Run! – fun, but my external playlist (Rock My Run) never lowered in volume so I missed most of the story and heard none of the zombie attacks.
• Rock My Run – I love this app. I’ve got a few favorite mixes and I love the music, but I’m not yet fast enough to finish before the music starts. I ran my last four minutes in silence.
• RunKeeper – I have a love/hate relationship with this app. I love that I can create my own intervals, but it gets buggy and sometimes will randomly restart intervals or mush them altogether so it appears I’m folding time.
• Nike+ Running. This is my power horse. If it’s not loading, I don’t run. It’s been racking the bulk of my runs since I started regular running in 2013

I’ve almost run the distance to family in Georgia or friends in Minneapolis.

So I ran my 10K, taking advantage of the rolling hills in Mt. Olivet cemetery, soaking in the scenery and feeling the light rain that had started around my 4-mile points. My goal was to do this run in 1 hour 18 minutes, and I did it in 1 hour 20 minutes.

I’m not unhappy with that.