Hill running

I'm not the fastest runner.

I wish I was more faster than I am,

but I know I may not be able to be the fastest.

I'm ok with that.

But as I have been working on increasing my speed

I have noticed that with strength training

and challenging my muscles I am able to run harder.

There is the dish by where we live.

A 3.5 mile hill run that is intense.

The first hills you run you start at 150 ft

and increase to an altitude of 580 ft.

Ya, I am panting by the time I reach the top.

It's a challenging loop that I aim to do every week,

and hopefully soon will be able to run twice in a row.

But as I have done my normal runs I credit my

stamina on those runs to the hill runs.

I will forever love hill runs!

Even if I curse for most of the run. :)

Running is a love hate relationship

I secretly have always wanted to be a runner.

I never truly got into it until I ran my first half marathon

in April of 2008.

I kept getting so surprised at how much further and further

I could go every week. It's amazing what our bodies can do!

I have noticed as I train for each race I do

sometimes it's like starting over...

only because running is fun and it feels good

and my bodies responds well weight loss wise by running.

but sometimes it is daunting.

It can be boring, hard, and challenging.

As much as it is a love hate relationship

I truly love running.

I love when I get stronger and am able

to push through the barriers that could otherwise hold me back.

I started speed work yesterday.

It was hard, but I survived.

Whenever I am working out and it's really hard,

I always think of what my SIL says,

"It's only for certain amount of minutes,

out of your 24 hour day, you can do it!"

Truth. When it gets tough i think,

it's only for 10 more minutes,

one more mile,

I can do it!