Rookie on the Run

The Jingle Bell 5K was tons of fun!  I had the perfect running partner, one of my favorite San Diego attractions as a backdrop, no rain, and a personal record ! My Running Buddy Bonnie turned out to be an awesome running buddy.  She is a faster runner than me (but then, who isn't?!) but she was kind enough to stay at my pace for most of the race.  Bonnie finished the Las Vegas marathon the week before so she said she didn't mind an easy pace.  Let me clarify- an easy pace for her... not me! She didn't try to get me to talk.  I explained to her that I hate talking while I run and she was so cool about that!  She didn't ask me questions or say anything that required a response.  I like to talk when I'm not running... but when I'm running, talking is not fun because I can't breath.  I like breathing better than I like talking. Balboa Park The entire race took place in Balboa Park.  I love Balboa Park!  If you've been there, you kno...

Just hear those shoe bells jingle-ing Ring ting tingle-ing, too Come on, it's lovely weather For a 5K together with you Outside the sun is shining And no one is whining boo-hoo Come-on, it's lovely weather For a 5K together with you Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up Let's go Just go with the flow I'm running in a 5K and I'm slow Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, it's grand Just saying I ran We're running along with the song Of a So Cal wintry land My cheeks are nice and rosy And sweaty, smelly am I I'm running in spite of my heel pain and I'm hoping I don't cry Let's take the road before us And sing a chorus or two Come on, it's lovely weather For a 5K together with you There's a post-race party in the Park this very day It'll be a wonderful start to my Saturday I'll be running the course they've set without a single stop I don't care if my heel hurts so much I have to hop Hop! Hop! Hop! The...

Sunday with Rudy in the Park Rudy and I had a good run today. We went five miles on the trails at a local park. The weather was amazing! It was nice and cool and cloudy. Perfect! There were plenty of hills to remind me that I need to run more hills. There were enough flat areas to remind me that, yes, I can run and breathe at the same time. For the first four miles things were going great! Slow, but great. A view from one of the hills at Kit Carson Park Another view from a different hill I was trying to get a picture of this hill because it was very steep. You can't really tell from this photo, though. I decided I would push myself for the last mile in order to bring my average pace down. Or is it up? Anyway, I wanted to go faster. Rudy was reliable and let me know when I hit the four mile mark. I picked up the pace and my plan was working well. Until mile 4.1, when my fussy heel decided to pitch a fit. Ow!! My heel never feels pain-free but usually it is a low-gr...