Learning to Run: Week Seven

That's right, we've hit week seven of our eight week beginning runner's training program. Things ramp up this week with Tuesday being a running rather than a rest day. Here's the schedule for week 7:

Monday (check!) - Ran 20 minutes, walked 1 minute, ran 12 minutes.
We were actually supposed to run 9 minutes at the end after the 1 minute walk, but we were feeling ambitious and tacked on 3 more minutes. It just seemed silly to stop halfway up that final hill. Take that hill!

Tuesday (check!) - Ran 20 minutes, walked 1 minute, ran 9 minutes.
This run felt awesome yesterday. Scott and I were in lock step the whole time, and the run felt challenging but in a good way (not an is-it-time-to-walk-yet way).

Wednesday (tonight!) - Run 22 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 7 minutes.
Yeah, forget running 21 minutes, we're skipping right to 22 minutes, cause I'm almost a not-beginner now, and not-beginners push it!

Thursday - Oh yay, there is one rest day.

Friday (back to work!) - Run 24 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 5 minutes.
There we go skipping minutes again. Not-beginners only believe in even numbers... ignore that 5 I guess.

Saturday (then on to week 8!) - Run 26 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 3 minutes.

In week six and now in week seven I've definitely noticed a change in enthusiasm in myself for running. While before I was giddy about the next run, I now just generally look forward to them. I think the novelty has worn off a bit, and now the more sustainable "Yes, I'd like to run, it makes me feel good" feeling has set in. I had the same experience when I first started working out at the gym. In the beginning few weeks I would get excited about the elliptical. I'd be at work and think, "Man, I wish I was on the elliptical right now." And you know what? That's not exactly healthy. But eventually that wore off, and going to the gym was less like ice cream and more like broccoli; good for me, made me feel good, but not something to indulge in.

Week seven has also brought about a slightly troubling bit of foot pain. The top of my foot has started bothering me, and through my friend Sian and Google's help I'm tentatively self diagnosing the problem as extensor tendonitis. I'm hoping that it was just caused by me tying my laces too tight. In my mind tight means secure, stable, strong (like having tight ski boots or skates) but in running tight is bad (guess who's still a beginner?!). The more my foot has hurt the tighter I've tied my shoes, probably exacerbating the problem.

Now that I know that my shoes need to be looser hopefully my foot will stop hurting. That's how I fix health problems: try to stop making it worse, then ignore it till it goes away. Luckily, Scott knows a little bit more about what he's doing and has prescribed we stick to fewer hills and that I ice my foot after we run. "If you don't take care of this and be careful you could be out for weeks," him and his voice of reason said. I plan to take his advice.

In final running news, I've bought more running clothes (I do admit, the outfits are a fun bonus in this experience). More specifically, I've bought a trendy new running skirt (see picture above). It's a skort, but made in running material. I'll admit I don't exactly get it. Yes, it's kind of a cuter look, but won't it look ridiculous to run in a skirt? Hard to say. I bought one anyway. If they start pointing and laughing at me on the trails I may have to rethink this decision. I'll keep you updated.