Running training - again

So it's been a while since I last posted about running.  Last time around, I posted about how I had decided to bail on the half marathon in a big epic depressing fail.  However, this isn't the end for me this running season -- I can still comfortably (but slowly) run a 5k, and I believe that I can work myself back up to a 10k that will (hopefully) go a whole lot better than the TYS10K did for me this spring :|

On that last half marathon update post, a friend posted a comment asking if I'd like to see her running training program.  I agreed, and received her training plans for both a half marathon and a 10k.  When I saw the half marathon plan, that was when I realized that I simply didn't have enough time/enough pre-training to manage a half this fall.  The 10k, however, is manageable.  It also includes great training in intervals and hills to help with speed, cardio and muscle endurance. 

After much debate, I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for a 10k run.  For the first time ever, I will be running the Oasis Toronto Zoo 10K in September :)

Friends who have run this one in the past tell me that it is challenging.  It has a number of hills (best described as "rolling hills" because it's not just one or two big hills, it's a constant up and down), and can be chilly because it's in September.  As much as I despise hills with a passion, I am up to the challenge.  I figure that it can only improve my running and make me better for a half next year.  I'm not expecting to beat my 10K personal best (1:12:29 from the Sporting Life 10K two years ago) because of the added hill challenge (SL10K is almost entirely downhill or flat), but I am definitely interested in the fact that I get to run around the lions, tigers and bears - and giraffes, monkeys, elephants (if they're still there) and other fantastic scenery!

I went for my first run in over a month late last week.  I had expected to be dragging myself through a horrible struggle to go even 2k, but I ran 2.5 in about 20 minutes, and wasn't gasping for air or clutching at my heart.  In fact, I ran a steady, slow pace with steady, slow breath for most of the way, something that was a bit of a struggle while I was in better running form.  There is hope for me yet!

To keep me motivated to actually follow through on this, and hopefully get some of you interested in getting more activity too, I will be posting regularly about training.  And, I will happily post other training info, such as cross training ideas and proper stretching (after all, I teach yoga too :P)

Also, this video is stupidly motivating and set me into a fit of full out ugly crying.  Yay runners!