day 95

I am running in the 50 mile relay tonight on campus. I will most likely be running 3 legs of it for a total of 6 miles. The running shouldn't be bad, but I am hoping it doesn't get too cold out since we will be there till 2 or 3 am. I am in for a long night, especially with an exam tomorrow.

day 94

REST DAY! I can't even explain how excited I am that today is a rest day. I finished my last day of clinical today, will be studying and going to winter wonderland on campus tonight, and will hopefully fit in a very much needed 45 minute nap. I can feel that my muscles are a bit tight, so I will be stretching tonight as well. 50 mile relay tomorrow!

Day 93

Ran 3.5 miles today. Not a good day. Mentally could not run any further. Ready for this week to be over with. Good thing for a rest day tomorrow. I need to do something other than study and run. It is taking over my life...

day 92

3.5 mile run today in about 38 minutes. It was cold so my muscles seemed extra tight. It wasn't too bad of a run though. I did see an owl and 2 deer which was nice. I hadn't seen any wildlife on my runs in awhile. Now I am just going to stretch some more and make myself some chocolate milk before I shower and go back to sleep before studying for class.

day 91

I am back on track with following the training schedule, so today is a rest day following my long run yesterday. I really don't notice my legs being sore until I walk up or down stairs, but I will be stretching throughout the day and maybe relax my muscles in a warm bath later. The fact that I ran 8 miles last night, even though I stopped several times to stretch, is amazing to me. I can't believe I am definitely more than half way to running a half marathon. This is definitely a personal transformation for me.

day 90

Today I ran 8 miles in 1 hour and 27 minutes. This is a little bit slower of a pace than usual, but I ran with and talked to Jen the whole time. My legs were tired and felt like they did not want to move at all. I stopped to stretch several times, but the run seemed very very long.

day 89

Today was suppose to be crosstraining, but the gym closed early for the holiday weekend without me realizing it. Because I have an 8 mile run tomorrow, I didn't think I should run tonight, so I am just going to do some stretches, ab exercises, and some other exercises that I can do in my own apartment.

day 88

Today is a rest day! My legs are surprisingly not really sore at all today despite running the Turkey Trot yesterday. I am really enjoying my day off with relaxing, family time, and not much homework. I will get back into the homework and running tomorrow.

day 87

Ran the 10 K Turkey Trot this morning! 6.2 miles in 55:57! I think I did awesome and I am very proud of myself. The run was pretty hard and had some hills. The road was also slanted on the sides so I kept trying to switch between sides to even out the pressure on both my legs. It was also crazy running with 2500 people. There were people as far as I could see in front of me and behind me! I was shocked to see that many people there. Good run overall. Now time for relaxing with family and eating!

day 86

Today is a rest day. I am doing the 10 K Turkey Trot tomorrow morning. My leg is doing much better and not nearly as swollen or sore anymore. I will also be doing some stretching tonight and making sure I eat appropriately tonight and in the morning.

day 85

I only ran 2.5 miles this morning. I took it easy because my bite is still very painful when I walk/run. It is not getting any worse though, which is good. Still hoping it will be fine for running the 10 K Thursday.

day 84

So I got bit by something last night.... maybe a spider. It is red, swollen, very warm and right on my shin bone. It hurts throughout my entire shin when I step down, so I did not run today, but did 3 miles on the elliptical so it would be less weight bearing. If the bite doesn't get any better tonight, I will be going to the clinical first thing in the morning. I have a 10 K turkey trot run Thursday morning so this is not good timing. I should be fine by then though.

day 83

Today is a rest day after the long run yesterday. My legs are actually not sore or tight at all. They feel a little tired but that is about it. They will have some good rest and then if I have time Monday, I will run again on Monday.

day 82

7 Miles tonight! WOOO HOOO!!! It felt awesome. I stopped 3 times for about 30 seconds each time to stretch and once for a few sips of water. It was a very nice run and a perfect temperature out with a nice cool breeze. I did come across a huge snake though. It by far the biggest snake I have ever seen on campus. It really scared me and made my adrenaline kick in to get away from it. If I had to guesstimate, the snake was between 3 and 1/2 and 4 feet long. Overall great run! It made me feel wonderful!

day 81

Cross trained today. I did the bike for 5.5 miles in 20 minutes, followed by some arm weights. It was all pretty easy, but I was extremely tired. I would rather go to sleep than go to class, but I would never actually do that. I do feel good about my training at this moment though.

day 80

Had a great 3 mile run today. It felt really good and really easy. ONLY 10 MORE DAYS OF CLASS THIS SEMESTER! WOO! Hopefully when class ends I will have no problem fitting running into my schedule.

day 79

As the last few weeks of the semester are approaching, I am finding it more and more difficult to have the time to work out. 4 papers, a final presentation, and 7 exams in 3 and 1/2 weeks. I am hoping to find the time just to run as a stress reliever! Considering I began by talking about school work, today has been a rest day from running, but taken up by homework and studying. I am going to try to run tomorrow for 30 minutes and before class Friday. Muscle recovery and homework for the rest of the night!

day 78

Quick 3.25 mile run this morning. Stopped a few times to stretch, which I really think helped my legs. It was very foggy which made the run worse. It was very hot and sticky. I have decided that I do not like running in foggy weather for that reason. I was hoping to see some wildlife on the run this morning, but I think it may be too light out at this time from the time change.

day 77

Went for a quick and easy 5 mile bike ride tonight. I also did a few reps of shoulders and triceps. I was really tired and hungry so cut the weights a little short. It was also an easy day since I ran yesterday but it felt good.

day 76

I had my long run of 6.5 miles today! That is an estimate based from mapmyrun.com, but I have found the site to be pretty accurate thus far. I ran it in 64 minutes, which is also about right for a 10 minute pace. It was hard, but not too hard. I am trying to work on lengthening my stride in intervals, so hopefully I will be able to run my whole run with a longer stride soon. The weather tonight was also perfect for a long run! It felt great. Now going to cook a good dinner!

day 75

I took today as a rest day because of my cousins wedding. I need to do my long run of the week tomorrow after I drive back to Fort Myers.

day 74

I ran 3.1 miles today! Even though it was cold it was very easy and actually a very good run. I ran through my neighborhood back home and never realized how many hills there are. The hills definitely made it challenging, but the run itslef was very easy. This has been a weird week for training due to my schedule, so tomorrow will be another rest day. I did buy new running shoes today too! I have extremely high arches, but still run neutral, so that is good. I also learned that I drag my left leg a little bit and overcompensate with my right leg. I will have to learn how to adjust my running technique to correct this.

day 73

Today is an off day consisting of clinical, driving home, and hopefully throwing in a nap. It will be good to rest for the day. I am going to stretch my legs later tonight so they do not tighten. I am back home for the weekend, so I will try to run tomorrow night so I can take Saturday off for my cousins wedding. I am so excited for a home cooked meal tonight!

day 72

3 mile run today. It was hard and my legs were tired. I am going to take a nice warm bath to relax them tonight, even if I only have time to do it for 5-10 minutes it will feel awesome. I have so much going on these next few weeks, it will be very hard to fit in running. I am really trying to stay on top of things and stay organized, but more and more things keep coming up. Luckily, running is relieves stress. Tomorrow will be an off day due to clinical and driving home.

day 71

Woke up early to run this morning. This week is not my week, and today is definitely not my day. I woke up with a cold and can't breathe through my nose, which made running harder and my stomach was cramping for 95% of the run. I did run 3.5 miles though, so that is good. My legs now feel like mush but I have been stretching. I can really tell a difference in the tone of my legs. Yay for leg muscle. Time to lay back down until my medicine kicks in and then get started on a massive amount of homework.

day 70

Went to the gym today for a 7.5 mile bike ride! I also did all of the stretches that we did the other day in the HP lab, so it turned out to be a good workout. My schedule for working out is a little messed up this week because of the other things I have going on, so hopefully it will work out well still.

day 69

Ran 4.5 miles and speed walked another .25 miles. It was not an easy run and my body felt exhausted even though I tool yesterday off. I was also incredibly hot and sweated more than I usually do (which still is barely nothing). My guess is that I did the elliptical to many times last week instead of running, but my knee does feel a lot better so I think the few days off elliptical helped more than hurt.

day 68

First of all, my legs are so incredibly sore from going to the HP lab yesterday. I do not want to move. I have decided to take the day as a rest day since my muscles are sore just walking. I am also running short on time today as well and will be leaving for work in 45 minutes. Good day for a rest.

day 67

Woke up before the crack of dawn to go to the HP lab today. Even though I wake up this early almost on a daily basis for clinicals, it was extra hard to get up and go knowing it wasn't required. I am very glad I went though, especially since it was the first chance that I actually could go. I think it helped me out a great deal. I also ran from, campus, to the gym, and then back to my dorm for a total of about 1.25 miles. Very easy, slow run, followed by more stretching. I will need to stretch over the weekend or I know my muscles will tighten. No class today, so it will be a day of homework, rest, and cleaning the dorm. Woo hoo.

day 66

Today is a rest day! The knee that I banged pretty hard was bothering me a little bit today, so I am going to ice it and make sure to stretch really well. I may even do a couple sets of ab exercises since I've been eating cupcakes everyday from my birthday. I think that will help me a little bit without being a workout.

day 65

I banged the inside of my right knee the other night, and even though it doesn't hurt when walking, I realized that it does hurt a lot when running. (My assumption would be from the added pressure of running, because it also did not hurt when I switched to the elliptical.) So like yesterday, I did the elliptical for 3 miles. I actually think the elliptical is harder than running now, but it felt better on my knee. It is kind of weird though, because I barely have a bruise but it hurts to the touch because it is right on that bone. I will try not to run or aggravate it and just let it get back to normal I guess.

day 64

Went to the gym today and did 3 miles on the elliptical. I wanted to take it easy after the long run yesterday so I did. Other than that, it's my birthday today! woo hoo! So I am going to keep this short and just say that the elliptical went well and easy!

Day 63

After taking 2 days off, I had an amazing workout of a 5 mile run. I figured I could up the mileage to 5 miles since I did 4 miles as my long run for the last 2 weeks. I will either be a week ahead of the training schedule handed out, giving me more room to change things in case of a bad week, or I could do 2 weeks at 5 miles and then be right on track. I haven't decided yet. The run today though was actually pretty easy. I had no trouble breathing and felt like I could have run longer! Overall, great run.

Day 61 and 62

As I was in Orlando all weekend, I couldn't post yesterday so it will be a 2-in-1! Yesterday, I went to Islands of Adventure during the day and Halloween Horror Nights last night. Although I did not make it the gym and was unable to run, I did walk many, many miles around Islands of Adventure and Universal.

I was planning on going to the gym for 30 minutes after getting some homework done, but I am completely exhausted from my trip and am running on about 5 hours of sleep after being at a theme park from noon till 2 am. I am going to rationalize not working out and biking today (it was going to be a cross training day), by saying all the walking I did yesterday and last night counts for something even though it didn't get my heart rate up. I feel behind in my training, but my body needs sleep and I have to get homework done instead. My long run will be tomorrow.

day 60

This morning I ran what I thought was 3 miles outside, but it took me 39 minutes, which is 9 minutes slower than my usual 3 mile pace. It seemed really long, so I will have to double check to see if it was actually 3 miles again. It wasn't the greatest run ever and I thought it was very humid out. I will have a nice break this weekend and hopefully have a really good run Monday.

day 59

Ran 3.5 miles today pretty easily. I am hoping to increase my mileage of my long distance run up to 4.5 miles after this weekend! I know I can do it, it's just a matter of actually doing it. I wanted to do some weights today, but I had to get back and shower to get ready for work. Oh well, always another day. At least I am up and around rather than just being lazy.

day 58

I didn't have time to run or go to the gym today, so the day turned into a rest a day. I have not had a break since 5 am this morning and I won't be stopping till I go to bed tonight. I guess the week is going to be an only 4 day workout week. I have no idea how I am suppose to run/cross train and find time to do weight 2 or 3 times a week. I can barely find time to run for 30 minutes as it is. I feel like I could be doing so much more and so much better if I wasn't so busy with clinicals all the time. Feeling a bit discouraged. Oh well, not much I can do about my schedule. =/

Day 57

So today I went for a 2 and a half mile early morning run. It was very nice out. I was going to do 3 miles, but had to cut it short to get to an appointment at the wellness center. Turns out I have pink eye in both eyes! No wonder my eye has been watering and burning like crazy. Anyways, the run went well and was easy. And now that I have pink eye, I can't give flu shots at the health fair like I was suppose to do instead of going to class which was canceled for it. At least I have time to catch up on some homework before work now.

day 56

Today has not been a good day. I had every intention of going to the Human Performance Lab with Jen and Amber to go over the exercises, but I slept horribly last night and did not feel good upon waking up. I even almost didn't get up for my 8 am class. I did go to both of my classes today, but was more focused on trying not to fall asleep than anything else. I have no idea why I would be this tired. I decided if I took a nap I wouldn't get up in time to go to work, so I decided to go for a run to see if that would wake me up more and it kind of did. It was my long run of the week, so I ran 4 miles in 40 minutes. It went pretty well. Now time to go to work.

day 55

I was surprisingly sore when I woke up today and decided to take the day as a rest day. Even though I have class and work tomorrow, I am planning to do my long run of the week in between class and work. Overall, I had a nice relaxing day.

day 54

Today was a cross training day. I biked 5.3 miles in 20 minutes, which was a pretty slow place, but I was chatting the whole time. After biking, Jen and I attempted to do most of the exercises using weights as shown in class yesterday. For the most part, it went very well, but some of the exercises we would need more practice on and someone to let us know that we are doing it right. Pretty easy day though.

day 53

I went running in 59 degree weather this morning! Luckily, it warmed up a little bit because it was really cold. I went at a slightly slower pace today 1) because I was extremely tired and didn't feel like running and 2) I was talking to Jen the whole time. It was still a pretty decent run of about 2.5 miles. I am still really tired though, so I may just go back to sleep for 15-20 minutes before class.

day 52

Rest day! Woo Hoo! More mentally exhausted than physically, but I need a day to relax! Not much else to say.

day 51

I learned today that I can run 3 miles incredibly well right after eating chips and queso and only getting 4 and a half hours of sleep! I didn't think it was a very good idea, but I did it any ways. Surprisingly I felt completely fine for the full 30 minutes and even finished with very well controlled breathing and never once felt out of breath. It was actually a very nice run. Now I am starving and going to eat and going to bed really early!

day 50

I woke up this morning to find out that it was raining harder than what we would like to go running in. I almost just went back to bed but realized this was the only time that I could workout so I ended up going to the gym with Morgan and running for 30 minutes on the treadmill. It was actually not a fun run and I kind of wish that I had just stayed in bed. I kept getting side stitches, which I haven't been getting at all and I was just not into it today. Now, my body feels completely restless, but it may just be from being tired and knowing I have a ton of stuff to do today.

Day 49

I had a very good run today! I went to the gym and ran 4 miles in 40 minutes. This was my "long" run of the week, but it was fairly easy. Obviously harder than 3-3.5 miles like I am use to, but my breathing was under control the whole time and I didn't stop at all. I think I may create a general training schedule based off of the one posted on angel, but start it now rather than the beginning of November since I can easily do 4 miles as my long run of the week. This way, I will have more weeks to get up to 11 and 12 miles. I will be waking up for an early run in the morning.

day 48

I am very happy I was planning to take today as a rest day. I woke up this morning with my head feeling incredibly heavy and stuffy, a headache behind the eyes, and cold sweats. It's a good thing that all I have to do for the rest of the day is study for an exam tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to stay focused on studying. Back to running tomorrow.

Day 47

I went to the gym today to ride the bike. In 30 minutes, I biked 8 miles. I also did a few arm machines because I feel like my arms are incredibly week. My hamstrings feel a bit tight after the workout today and will be stretching some more tonight.

day 46

Today was an easy run day of just 2 and a half miles. One of our guy friends went running with us today. I went really well for me having him running with us because he ran at the same pace that I did so I actually had someone to talk to the whole time. I was able to talk without getting out of breath, but it also wasn't overly easy. We went at a nice 10 minute pace and had some good conversation. Overall, it was a nice run. I will be going to restorative yoga today too as part of the fit to serve class with Jessica Rhea. It is suppose to be very relaxing and focus on breathing, so it should be a nice wrap up to the week.

day 45

Went for a nice 3 mile run today. Like I said yesterday, I thing 3 miles is now my base and it is becoming easier and easier. However, I have been getting bored about 2 miles in and have really been wanting to just stop. Once I push through though, the last mile goes by quicker than the first two, which is a good thing. I can feel my legs getting stronger and they are not tiring out as quickly as they were even a week ago. I would really like a leg massage and am considering recruiting one of my friends to regularly give me massages. Hopefully it will work. I just need to think of an incentive!

Day 44

Today I had a really great 3 mile - 30 minute run on the treadmill. I felt like my breathing was perfect! I was not out of breath at all and could even talk while running, so I know I was at a good pace. 3 miles is getting easier and easier every time I go running and I believe 3 miles is now my base. My legs feel tired, but nothing a little stretching and massaging can't take care of.

day 43

Today is actually a very nice day out and not raining for the first time since I've been back home. Unfortunately, I slept incredibly weird and woke up with a very tight and sore left shoulder and neck. I would rather not move around quickly since it hurts and have moved around my weekly work out schedule to take today as a rest day and still get my 5 run/workout days in. Should work out fine if everything else goes as planned.

day 42

It has been raining at my house for the past 20 hours. Again I thought I was going to have to take a rest day since I don't have a gym membership back home, but luckily I was able to go to the gym as a guest for the day. I ran for about 35 minutes on the treadmill for a distance of 3.5 miles. It felt really good and I needed it. Hopefully it stops raining so I can get another run in tomorrow.

day 41

I was planning on running today around my neighborhood, but things came up, ate late, didn't have time, and the weather is kind of nasty out right now. I am going to try to sleep in a little bit tomorrow even though that is still only 8:30 for me now, unfortunately, and then run in the early afternoon since the temperature has been very cool out. The hardest part will actually forcing myself to put on my running shoes.

day 40

I went for a nice 2.5 mile run this morning. All of us were exhausted more so than usual for our Friday morning run. It took me about 30 minutes. The good thing right now is that the weather is getting so much nicer! I am super excited about the awesome weather we are having. Class was also really helpful today and I think the novice training schedule posted will work perfectly. I think that is exactly what I needed, because I have absolutely no clue how to schedule a training calender. Right now, I am very thankful for the long weekend to catch up some much needed R&R, even though I know I will still go on a run or 2.

day 39

Today was a very nice rest day. Not too much to day about the day. I was on my feet all day for clinical, but will be stretching later. I will be running in the morning tomorrow and then going home in the afternoon. I will have to map out distances in my neighborhood to give me a general idea of how far I have to go to run for 30 minutes while I am home. Hopefully I will be able to relax a lot this weekend!

day 38

Definitely was not in the mood to work out today, but I pushed through it and went to the gym anyways. The gym was incredibly hot and overly smelly today and was not a good atmosphere for working out. I ended up doing 25 minutes on the elliptical. I was going to do 30, but then I started thinking about all the things that I had to do that I decided to use my last 5 minutes to speed walk back to my dorm. This far into the semester and I am still rationalizing things with myself, although I have been better about not doing it. I really want to go swimming. I should have done that today. Too bad I didn't think about it in time.

Also, I mapped out the run yesterday and realized that it was not 2.75 miles like we guesstimated, but really just over 3!

day 37

Early morning run today. It was about 2.75 miles in about 32 minutes. The weather was incredible and I wish it was like this all of the time. My legs did feel a little tight but I stretched a lot after and now they feel better. It was a very nice run and at a good pace. I only stopped for the crosswalk and to retie my shoe. And now for some last minute studying before my exam later.

day 36

Today is a rest day, which is actually needed more for studying for a test tomorrow rather than recovery. I did walk from campus back to my dorm so at least I moved around a little bit today. I will be running early tomorrow morning. And now, back to studying so I can go to bed at a decent time to wake up and run.

day 35

Today I went for a nice and easy 2 and 1/2 mile run. I was going to do 3 miles in 33 minutes, but I didn't feel so well. Although it was at a very easy pace, I felt like I had to stop and sit down, which I did. Overall though, I am starting to feel better about knowing I will be able to do longer distances at an 11 minute pace.

day 34

I went to the gym today and really tried to follow the METs that are appropriate for me. I warmed up by doing a mile on the elliptical and then jogged 2 and 1/2 miles at a pace that put me at the top of my METs. In total, I did 3 and a 1/2 miles in about 38 minutes and I thought it was very easy. I didn't tire out at all, could easily talk while running, and never got out of breath. If I had more time, I felt like I could have gone at least another mile and a 1/2 at the pace I was at, which was around 11 minutes a mile. My legs also felt perfectly fine and didn't feel tired or heavy when I stopped. Overall, I have realized that the pace I have been doing has just been too fast for longer distances. I really just need to focus on the time I workout, rather than the intensity. The class Friday really helped me to realize what I should be doing differently.

Day 33

I did not go for a morning run today, which is probably a good thing since I learned that I have have been running harder than I need to be to get a training effect. In class today, we were in the lab, so I was able to get moving for about 15 minutes. Because I have been working too hard, I decided it wouldn't hurt to take today as a rest day as well, especially since I walked/lightly jogged in class for a little bit. Class was especially exciting today and I was allowed to try out the zero gravity treadmill. It is extremely cool and a great tool to have on campus, even though most people have no idea it even exists. And of course, I have some pictures!

day 32

REST DAY! wooo hooo! I think that pretty much says it all. I am going to let my body catch up on some relaxation time. I feel like I am exhausted by Thursday every week. I am just going to do more homework tonight and sleep in a little later than 6 am tomorrow. Yay!

day 31

First off, I signed up for the Naples Daily News half Marathon last night! Wow. Big step. It is definitely crazy to think that in 3 and a half months, I will be running 13 miles. This is something that I still have not entirely been able to comprehend. Oh well, I will get there.

As far as training today, I wet 3 miles on the elliptical. I am seriously so tired, I could have fallen asleep on it. Even on the walk back from the gym, I could barely keep my eyes open. It was really easy, and I planned on doing about 5 miles, but I was way to tired to go any longer. There really needs to be more time in the day. I am having trouble fitting in sleep, class, clinicals, homework, and training all in 24 hours. I am going to have to figure something out though, because I am exhausted all the time and there is no way I will ever be able to run more than 3 miles if I am always to tired to train.

Day 30

Woke up really early and ran the north access road to campus. I actually don't like running this 2 mile stretch and think I will not stray from the loop for a quick 2 mile run again. We are going to have to start waking up even earlier to add on distance so everyone can finish and still get where they need to be on time. I will not be looking forward to this. Overall, it was an okay run. I think I was more focused on the billions of things that I have to accomplish today rather than the run itself, but at least running is completed for the day!

Day 29

I went to the gym by myself today and ran 3 miles on the treadmill. I can easily do 2 and a half miles, but for some reason, that extra half a mile seems so much harder. I know I can do it since I ran the 5k, but it is still hard. The run was actually extremely boring today. I had my music, but I just got tired of it. I am going to have to figure out a way to spice up my running a little to keep me entertained, especially when I get to the point of greater distances. I am also planning on registering for the half marathon in Naples that is in January, tomorrow. This is a huge step. Training and running is one thing, but actually registering actually sets it in stone. I haven't even fully realized that I will be able to run 13 miles yet and I am registering for an event. It is kind of scary actually. But, I will most likely wait till tomorrow to register, so no worries yet!

day 28

I was finally able to get in the pool today! It felt amazing. I actually really miss swimming. I ended up doing 20 minutes of water running, which I still think is a bit difficult. It does work my legs really well though. I also swam a few laps afterwards. Not a huge workout today, but it was a good change.

day 27

This morning, I woke up and went to the pool to find out that it had been closed for a swim meet. So we took a consensus and decided we all wanted to swim and that we would take the day as a rest day and then come back Sunday. We were all really looking forward to swimming and deep water running so hopefully it will work out well tomorrow.

Day 26

Had a great 2 and 1/2 mile run this morning! I woke up thinking it was not going to be a good run because I woke up with a cold and an insanely stuffed nose. I still ran anyways and the running actually cleared my nose up a little bit. For the entire run, I was very focused on my breathing. I did not get a single side stitch and maintained control of my breathing to the point where I was not out of breath running. Although it takes a lot more mental effort to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, it is a much more effective way of controlling breathing when running. About a half mile into the run, Jen yelled at me from behind and right as I turned around, 2 deer were bounding across the road. It was really cool. I don't think I have ever seen deer on campus before. As I was running today, I also realized how much I enjoy the abundance of snails even though I have to watch out and avoid stepping on them. I did accidentally step on 1 today though and I felt really bad. I feel like they greet me every morning I run and encourage me to keep going, even though they are just sliming around on the pavement. It really was a great feeling run this morning. Picked up my spirits from this week a little bit. I have also realized how much I love taking off my shoes after I run. The feeling of scrunching your toes and stretching them out is incredible. It may sound weird, but I don't really know how to describe it. And last thing for the day, this little tree frog was waiting at my door for me when I got back from running. He is super cute. Here is a picture because I think he was really neat looking!

day 25

I planned to go swimming and deep water running today, but the lovely Florida weather decided it was suppose to downpour. So I went to the gym today after clinical instead. I am now planning to swim on Saturday, so hopefully it will not rain. This has really been a horrible week. I think the gym helped to clear my head a little bit. I did do 6 miles on the bike, a little bit of rowing, and a few ab exercises. Overall, it was an easy workout, but also a good one. By body feels great and I can tell my legs are getting a little bit of definition to them, which is awesome. I slacked on eating healthy a little bit this week, but that's not the norm for me. Run in the morning before class.

day 24

I took today as a rest day. It's only Wednesday and has already been a rough week. I believe I am more mentally exhausted than physically, but opted out of going to the gym anyways. I really just needed a day to relax and regain composure so I am mentally prepared to get back into training tomorrow and Friday.

day 23

Today, I did a 2 mile/ 20 minute run. The distance is absolutely no problem, but I had the worst side stitch I think I have ever had. Normally if I get them, they hurt and then they go away after a minute or 2 and I can run through them. The one today lasted close to 10 minutes and I actually had to stop for about 15 -20 seconds. I really need to start better controlling my breathing. Right now, it takes all my concentration to breathe through my nose. I am going to try to concentrate on this to the point where is becomes natural when I run.

day 22

Today I went for a nice 8 mile bike in the gym. Did it in just under 30 minutes and took it easy for most of it. It definitely loosened up some tight muscles. Working out is seriously the best form of de-stressor. I have been extremely busy the last several days, but since the 5k, I have able to concentrate on and get so much work done. Yesterday and today have been very productive school work days and I am going to go ahead and say that I owe it all to working out. It has decreased stress to the point where I can actually concentrate. Just another perk of training I guess.

Morning run tomorrow. It has actually come to the point (most of the time at least) where I don't completely dread waking up super early to go running. I expect it and know that I fit it into my schedule and so I do it. I'm getting better.

Day 21

Today was a recovery day after the 5K yesterday. Not much to say today. My body doesn't feel fatigued or sore, although I am a bit mentally tired. I am still pumped up from the run yesterday and am ready for more. I am hoping that I have time to go to a workout class tomorrow. If not, then I may just go to the gym for a little bit.

day 20

Day 20 and I did my first ever 5K race! I am very proud of myself! I finished 28th in 27 minutes and 26 seconds. I definitely beat the goal I set for myself. My legs are a little fatigued, but not sore, and they did not hurt while running. The biggest problem I had was with my breathing and cardio endurance. I think taking the cardio workout classes at the gym will help with this, so I will try to make it to the spin class Monday night. Tomorrow will be my rest/recovery today. I am still on a running high and really glad I ran the race.

Day 19

Tomorrow is the Kleist 5K race, so I decided to take an easy 18 minute 2 mile run this morning. There was a beautiful sunrise over FGCU and it was the perfect motivation as I rounded a curve of the loop. I will be stretching throughout the day to make sure my legs are nice and relaxed for tomorrow. I am extremely nervous but excited. This will be my first 5K ever. I would like to get as close to 30 minutes as I can, but anything under 35 would be great. I have no idea how long it actually takes me to run 3 miles outside. These times are complete guesstimates.

Day 18

Today is going to be an off day. I was going to to run today and prepare myself for the 5k that is 2 days away, but my legs are a little sore so I am going to stretch them tonight instead of running. Tomorrow morning I will do a light run and a lot more stretching so I don't overwork my legs before the race Saturday. I am getting nervous for it. I am hoping I will not psych myself out before it.

Day 17

I completely planned on waking up and going to the gym this morning, but going to bed at 3:30 in the morning prevented that from happening. Instead, I went after my 7 hour clinical. I think I needed it actually. I don't exactly know how to explain it, but I felt as if I needed to move and burn energy even though I was already exhausted. I ended up running 2.75 miles at a 9:40 pace. It felt really good.

Day 16

Another early morning run today! We increased our mileage today too. Normally we walk from the Honors dorm to loop and the run the loop. Instead, we stretched outside the building then starting running from the building, around the loop, and back to the building. It was about 2.5 miles. I am not exactly sure how long it took me. I know it was under 27 minutes, but I had to stop at the crosswalk twice and I didn't have a watch on today, so I was going off of Jen's watch and the time she got back (Which was about a minute after me). I did fall back asleep for about an hour after after getting back. It was impossible for me to stay awake while reading for class until I took this nap.

Day 15

Finally made it to a spin class tonight! I am really glad that I could make it. It was really hard, but it felt incredible. I think it was good for me to do an hour of cardio without stopping. I want to start doing cardio classes more often so I can get me endurance up to run farther. Overall, great day training wise. I am definitely seeing a change in the muscle tone of my legs! It awesome and I feel great!

day 14

Today, I went to the gym and had a good workout with Jen. I did 2.75 miles on the elliptical in 20 minutes, lifted some weights, and did some ab exercises. After eating, I went to the grocery store and carried 30 lbs of groceries up 3 flights of stairs. That was some hard work. My legs were burning. Glad I worked out today. I feel like it gives me energy to do other stuff, such as homework.

Day 13

Although I was not planning on it, today turned into a rest day. I slept in late, which was extremely needed, cleaned, did homework, and had to work. Really not much to say about the day, since no training was involved.

Day 12

Today was a great a day. I woke up for a 7 am run with Jen, Morgan, and Amber. Our other friend Tamara also joined us. We ran the 2 mile loop around campus. About 1 and 1/2 miles in, it started raining, which was actually very nice. I also completed the loop faster than I ever have, in 17 min and 10 seconds! I think it was because I had Tamara close by, who runs at about the same pace that I do, if not a little faster. Usually, I am up in front by myself, so it was nice to have her to keep up with. We also had our pool day today, which was a lot of fun. I actually think my legs felt the workout in the pool more than from my last few runs.

Day 11

Today is definitely an off day, which I had planned out all week. Another clinical day, so again exhausted. Didn't really do an extensive amount of walking or anything that would count towards training. Really busy day and about to leave again for a school event followed by a fundraiser. I will rest up tonight and get back on the grind tomorrow.

Day 10

Today I was absolutely exhausted. I was on my feet at the hospital for 7 hours today. However, I still went to the gym since it was not an off day. I am pretty sure yesterday was a fluke, since I was seriously struggling around 2 miles in. I ended up only running 2 and half miles. Not as exciting as yesterday, but I blame it on my exhaustion.

Day 9

I am actually super excited to write this blog today! I was suppose to wake up and run at 7 am this morning, but felt horrible. I was having cold sweats and felt nauseous and decided against running. So, I fell back asleep instead and woke up and hour and a half later feeling better. After class, at 4:45, I decided that I would see if someone would go for a run or to the gym with me, but no one one would go. I felt really unmotivated but finally just changed into some gym clothes and headed to the gym. Luckily there was a treadmill open. I planned on pushing myself a little today and set it for 25 minutes to do 2.5 miles. Usually I am exhausted by 1.75 miles, but 2.5 came and I wasn't completely exhausted. I ended up extending the time another 5 minutes and dropped the pace from 10 minutes to 8:22! I wasn't hurting or entirely out of breath at all! This was a huge achievement and couldn't have come at a better time. After this run, I want to run even more now! I am not sure why I did so good today, but I am really excited. I don't know if it was because I was listening to my ipod (which I usually don't when I run outside with others), because I was inside, because I had a lot of stress and frustration burn, or a combination of all of these. I just hope I will be able to keep improving without all of these factors. =]

Day 8

I went for a 2 mile evening run tonight. The humidity was horrible. I am still at a 10 mile a minute pace and still don't feel as if I can go any further. Hopefully it will start getting better. I am determined to train regularly and have achieved the mindset of doing so, but am still unsure of the distance in which I can achieve by the end of the semester. On the bright side, I can definitely feel that my legs are getting a little bit stronger! Another run first thing in the morning tomorrow. Woo!

Day 7

Today I woke up and decided to go to the gym with Jen. We didn't have much time because we had other stuff to do during the day, so we biked 5 miles doing rolling hills in just under 20 minutes, stretched, and then finished with some ab exercises. The bike was really hard at times, but felt great at the end. Tomorrow should be another run day, since most of the labor day weekend plans will be over.

Day 6

Yesterday was a much needed lazy rest day. I did, however, go to Gulf Coast Town Center and walk around for a bit. So, I wasn't a complete bum. Although I have people in town visiting, I will be going to the gym today.

Day 5

I am really not a morning runner. It takes all of my effort just to get out of bed. If it wasn't for the 3 others that I run with, I most likely would never run in the morning. It was very nice out this morning though, so I guess that helped a little bit. We ran the campus loop again today, but in the opposite direction. I like running this way better. It feels as if it goes by quicker. I did the loop in about 18 minutes today. Although I may be getting a little faster, I still feel as if 2 miles is my limit on distance. I really don't know how to increase my mileage without feeling as if I am going to drop dead. Hopefully I will be able to get past this point.

Day 4

Unfortunately, I was too tired to go to the cardio bootcamp fitness class today. I didn't think I would be able to make it through. Instead, I ran 2 miles on the treadmill and lifted some weights. I ran the 2 miles in just under 20 minutes, so it wasn't a very fast pace. I did not stop once, but my calf was cramping for the last 1/4 mile. I think I am getting better from the first time I ran a few days ago. This is exciting. I have a 7 am run scheduled for tomorrow. Hopefully it is not raining, since I don't prefer to run in the rain.

Day 3

I took today as an off day, after being exhausted from clinicals. I wouldn't consider anything I did today to be training, unless walking around the birthing unit at the hospital counts. I also didn't eat as healthy as I normally do and ate Chick-fil-a for dinner. It was free though so I guess that makes it ok. Good news about today is that my legs no longer feel the least bit sore! Tomorrow I will jump right back into training again, maybe with a group fitness class!

Day 2

Today, I went for a 7 am run with Jen, Carey, and Morgan. We went from North Lake Housing, to Lutgert Hall, out the main FGCU entrance, along BHG, and back up the other entrance into North Lake housing. This run was more difficult than yesterday. It was a good start to the day, but tired me out immensely. If it wasn't for Jen, Carey, and Morgan, I probably would not have woken up to run. I definitely need the motivation of others to make me wake up and run. I prefer afternoon/night workouts, so too bad Florida weather is not conducive to this liking. I guess I will have to get use to running in the mornings, especially since we plan to run again Friday morning. On the positive note though, I am not nearly as sore as I expected to be. My quads are a little tight and sore, but I don't notice it until I walk up stairs or squat to get something. I may, however, have to get new running shoes, since my arch on my right foot has been hurting when I run. Overall, I think I am doing fairly well. =]

Day 1

Today was the first official day of training. Unfortunately it was raining this morning and I didn't feel like running in the rain on the first day. However, myself, Jen, Morgan, and Carey decided to go the the 7pm spin class. We arrived to find that the spin class had been canceled for the night and (Jen and I) resorted to spinning 2 miles and running the 2 mile loop. We did not time ourselves, but it took us about 20-25 minutes. It doesn't seem like much now, but I am very proud of myself for running the entire loop without stopping! Woo hoo! I am making sure to stretch well and eat right and hopefully will be able to start running further and further!

Head Start

Although I have experience in running and cross-training, it has been several years since I have trained on a regular basis (even by weeks or months). Therefore, I consider myself to be starting at the bottom. I am hoping this class will enable me to increase my endurance and improve my physical fitness level. My main goal is to manage my time to fit in and stay on top of a training schedule. I would also like to be able to run in a half-marathon and finish. Right now, 13.1 miles seems like an impossible feat, and I am not sure how to gradually increase my stamina and strength to run this long. However, I ran 1.5 miles on the treadmill without stopping today. This is a start, and I will only improve from here. I plan on going for another run tomorrow.