The best book club ever!

I have the best book club ever!  The ladies in my group all happen to be training for upcoming races and agreed to meet in a nearby park to run before we discussed "Red Shirts" by John Scalzi.   After setting the kids free from their jogging strollers and into the sunshine to play, we were able to stretch and chat.  It really helps the motivation to keep on training when like-minded people are around to spur you on!  I am surrounded by supportive people, some who run and some who don't. Whether it's offering words of encouragement or my fast and fit friends willing to keep pace with me, it is all tremendously helpful.  Some of those ladies are freakin' gazelles... and I'm pounding on the pavement like an ungraceful hippo!  Speaking of ungraceful...  I didn't actually do a full run today, but worked on a staircase on one of the park's hills to try and cross train for 30min.    

I found this workout clip on YouTube and felt inspired to get to work!  :)  Let's just say that Lu Jean makes this look easy, and it's fairly obvious that it isn't.  I have a lot of practicing to do.  At least I didn't trip over my own feet and barrel down the stairs...  I had some grim images in my head of this happening while I did the workout.  I'm such a klutz sometimes.    

What do you like to do to cross train?

Tomorrow is the final day of week one of Hal Higdon's half marathon training guide.  It's my  "long run" tomorrow of 4 miles.  I'm so ready to nail it!   After I ran 3 miles on Tuesday, I felt like I could do more, but it was time to stop.  I haven't ran though since Tuesday.  I want to slowly increase my weekly mileage by 10% or so...  I'll be at 7 miles total this week and will bump it to 8 miles next week... and if I'm feeling good then I might actually graduate from week 1 after repeating it 3 times.

Okay, so I'm totally increasing more than 10%, but my shins and knees aren't angry yet.  I think if I do take it slow and listen to any pain signals, it should be alright.  And what's a few more weeks?  I don't need to have this in the bag by 12-15 weeks.  I have time.   We'll see what happens!  Tomorrow's run could have me doubting again and repeating week 1 for the month of May.  I think the farthest I have ever gone was 5 miles last fall.  There is also the worry not to aggravate old injuries and just focus on getting stronger without causing more issues.   I'll keep you posted.

Right now, with the heat and sunshine... a bowl of peanut butter and honey ice cream is calling my name.  I know it isn't the healthiest of choices, but I have to indulge now and then or I'll go crazy!  Have I mentioned that I've lost 26 lbs. since New Years?  Every pound lost is 4 lbs of pressure removed from the knees.  Whoa.