For the last two weeks I've been training in earnest for my 5K that's coming up May 9, 2009. Yesterdays run was the best so far. Up to this point I haven't been able to find my rhythm and have really been struggling. I haven't been able to run more then half a mile before I have to stop and that half mile is the longest of my life.

Yesterday, I took my running gear to work with me, changed before I left and stopped at the park on the way home. The park is just gorgeous. It's the park where Hubby and I got married almost three years ago. There's a pond in the middle with a fountain and ton's of ducks and geese. Squirrels frolic in the grass and scramble up the huge oak trees that shade the grass area. There is a dog park that's fenced in for all the little (and not so little ) doggies to play and run free. But best of all there's a brand new walking/running track that runs around the entire park. They just put it in last year and it is fantastic. The trail/track is 1.44 miles long and is marked about every tenth of a mile all the way around and is mostly shady due to the huge oak trees. It's really pretty and so very relaxing. The trail only crosses the road in two spots and it's so nice to not spend my entire run worrying about getting hit by a car.

It was a bit breezy and cool yesterday when I started out and I was wishing that instead of my running skort that I had put on my long tights. But once I got warmed up the skort was perfectly comfortable. My new running shoes finally came last week and I think I'm determined to wear them out in the first few weeks.

So like I said, I've been having some trouble finding my rhythm. Normally I just zone out and run. Before I quit running a few months ago I was running 4+ miles without stopping and without having any problems. But since I started back again I just haven't been able to find that rhythm. I was starting out too fast and then being out of breath with in a couple tenths of a mile. Or my feet would hurt (I think that was due to my shoes being worn out and having trouble finding a pair that fit correctly). Yesterday, after I warmed up, I started out and my knees were killing me. It felt like every time my foot struck the ground that my knees were just grinding on the bones. I almost quit and went home but I figured I could give it a couple of minuets and see. I'm really glad I did. Once the joints warmed up, no more pain at all. I managed to run one full time around the park without stopping! I was pretty syked! But being cautious I took it easy the second time around walking when I felt the need. I still need to build up my stamina and speed.

When I ran the park on Tuesday morning I ran two loops around in 32 min's. Yesterday I ran two loops in 30:28. That's an improvement to say the least. I'm still not where I want to be. I'm hoping for a better time at my 5K then 30 min's. I'm not sure I'm going to get that since 1. It's going to be very crowded. This event brings in about 20,000 people. and 2. I don't have as much time as I would have liked to train for it. If i hadn't stopped running back in February I'd be able to breeze through it but that's not going to be the case this time.

Wish me luck! I'm going to need it. Race day is just over a month away! Hopefully I don't train myself into the ground!