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Becoming a Runner: Challenge Complete!

I’m finished! I did it!  I completed my 30-Day Beginner’s Running Challenge, and am only about 2 weeks late in reporting it to you (we've had a crazy couple of weeks in the Newman household, so please don't hold it against me)!  It took me a little more than 30 days to complete… More like 44, but who’s counting, right?  I’m a little disappointed that it took me longer than the intended 30 days, but I’m still so proud of myself for making the decision to change my lifestyle and to make myself a runner.  I feel better about myself, I have more confidence in my abilities, and I truly enjoy running now.
In the end, it took me 6 weeks (and 2 days) to complete my challenge.  Going into Week 6, I had 5 runs to finish.  I only ran 3 days that week, which is why it took me 2 days into Week 7 to complete the remaining 2 runs.

Here’s what I did for Weeks 6 and 7 (January 25 – February 2):

Day 36 (1.25.15): Rest
Day 37 (1.26.15): Rest
Day 38 (1.27.15): 1 ½ mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 2 mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 24>>
Day 39 (1.28.15): 2 mile jog/ ¼ mile walk, 1 ½ mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 27>>
Day 40 (1.29.15): Rest
Day 41 (1.30.15): 1 ½ mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 ½ mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 28>>
Day 42 (1.31.15): Rest
Day 43 (2.1.15): 3 mile run <<Make up from Original Day 29>>
Day 44 (2.2.15): 3 mile run <<Make up from Original Day 30>>

Here are my notes from Week 6 and 7:

Day 36 :  Rest 

Day 37:  Rest

Day 38:  Tilton joined me for this run (my parents are staying with us this week, so we had someone that could stay at the house with the babe), and it was awesome having a running partner!  It was COLD (32 degrees but felt like 25), but it was a good run.  I think we motivated one another to keep pushing, and the run seemed to go by much faster.  We were able to carry on a conversation through most of the run, which shows that I’m definitely in better shape because I could never talk while running before.

Day 39:  Tilton joined me again today, and it felt even better than yesterday’s run.  It feels awesome to be able to run with Tilton (who, if you didn’t know, has been a runner pretty much his whole life) and actually feel like I can (somewhat) keep up with him!  For the first time ever, I feel like I could actually be good at this running thing.  My right knee started really hurting during the last 2 minutes of our run—I’m not sure what I did—so I’ll probably have to take tomorrow off to rest and “recover”.

Day 40: Rest

Day 41: I had to run before work today (I’m working the late shift), so this was an earlier run for me.  It was cold, windy, and a little rainy, so my breathing was tough today, but I pushed through and felt great afterwards. 

Day 42: Rest

Day 43:  I had to run before work again today, so I woke up to run at 7:30am—by far my earliest run yet!  I really pushed myself to improve my time this morning, and I finished in 32:49 (less than 11 minutes/mile), which for slow-poke me, is awesome!  I was really pumped when I saw my finish time!

Day 44:  Today was my last run for my 30-day challenge, and boy does it feel fantastic!  I was off work today, so Tilly and I went for an afternoon run after her nap.  It was the hardest 3 miles I’ve ever run (that extra stroller weight killed me), and without a doubt, the slowest.  But who cares, I’m finished!

This challenge was an amazing way to start my journey toward becoming a runner, and I’m so glad that I stuck with it, even when I fell of track here and there.  Thank you to everyone who encouraged and motivated me along the way!  You guys are amazing and I couldn’t have done it without your help! 

Now, it’s time for my next goal: training for and running the Kentucky Derby Half-Marathon in April!

Until next time…


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