Back To Running

Wow, I haven't posted in 3 weeks.  In that time I've been able to really increase my running distance.  Thank You, God!  On the other hand, I've scaled back on my running in that I'm not doing it five days a week like I was before the mysterious injury in January.  I'm still doing a 3.4-mile route and walking part of the way, but the walking portions are getting shorter and the running portions are getting longer.  Yesterday I ran 6 to 6-1/2 minutes at a time and walked for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, a ratio of roughly 3:1.  I've started running on grass when I can to lessen the impact on my ankles and knees.  I haven't been concerned with speed or how I look, just with getting back to running the whole distance.  Yesterday, though, as I ran past a bus stop on 49th Street near the end of my route an older gentleman started clapping for me!  He told me to keep it up but not overdo it.  That was encouraging! 

I walked or ran a total of 12,126 steps yesterday!  That's 5.7 miles!  My latest pattern is to run every other day and so far it's working.  On the days when I don't run I get nowhere near my goal of 10,000 steps, but that's okay.  I'm still moving more than I used to, and on those days I concentrate on working my arms and abs. 

There's a 5K race this Friday evening on Clearwater Beach that I might do.  It's run in the sand, which is something I've done only once.  I know I may have to walk part of the way, but that's okay.  It'll feel good just to do an organized race again.  We'll see.

http://www.clearwaterbeachrun.com/