May the Miles be with You

Happy Global Running Day! Since I dove deep into the world of running, something stood out to me that I hadn’t noticed before. I started connecting with people in the running community, locally and all over the world, regardless of language barriers, race, religion, etc. I realized how united we are. Running is like a universal language (similar to happiness), that allows us to relate to one another and better understand each other. We all know the sense of accomplishment when we cross the finish line. We all know how hard it can be to roll out of bed and go out on an early morning run, when it’d be much easier to stay snuggled in bed. Although it is still technically a ‘competition’, runners always seem to be extremely supportive of their opponents, cheering and motivating them to keep pushing strong. I am so happy that I’ve discovered this ‘new world’ and urge you to do some discovering for yourself!


Curious about Global Running Day? So far, over 2 MILLION people have pledged to run in over 177 countries, wow! Head over to the Global Running Day website HERE and pledge to run. Curious about participating in this event? Well, the site describes, “Global Running Day is a day for people around the world to celebrate the joys of running. Participation is easy—just pledge to take part in some type of running activity on June 1, 2016. It can be a solo lap around the block, a long run with friends, or even a game of tag with your kids. The key is to share your passion for the sport and inspire others to get moving.” While you’re at it, why don’t you download the FREE app CharityMiles?! Simply choose one of the charities listed and get moving, either select outdoor or indoor activity for the GPS. Due to their various sponsors, a donation is made simply by you moving and grooving! This app isn’t just for running; you can have it on for your daily life and help others at the same time.

Nice trail run to finish off the month of May!

Yesterday was the last day of May, so I wanted to write about my mileage and training!

Week 1: 1-7: 27.21miles
Week 2: 8-14: 35.81 miles including GBRC track practice
Week 3: 15-21: 27.39 miles including Heart and Soles Fun Run
Week 4: 22-28: 26.19 miles
Week 5: 29-31: 7.58 miles
Total miles for May: 124.28! 

At the Greater Bellingham Running Club track practice, our usual coach was on vacation so we had a member taking the lead. First we did a half mile warm-up, high knees, running backwards, speed walk, and leg swings. Then, we did one lap of strides on the straights and jogging on the curves. For our main workout, we partnered up with someone around the same 5k pace as us. My friend and I alternated between running a 400m lap and timing the other person, resting the duration of their lap. We did a total of 10x400m laps averaging between a 6:30-6:40 min/mi pace! After, we did a half mile cool down followed by a 1:45 sec plank, and 40 sec side planks. Whew! That was an amazing workout that I highly recommend to anyone trying to focus on speed, consistency, and endurance! 


On May 21st I made a last minute decision to do the Heart and Soles Fun Run with my friend. It was held at the beautiful Glen Echo Garden in Bellingham, WA. Heart and Soles partnered up with Team Grace to raise awareness and money for the Hydrocephalus association with Seattle Children’s Hospital. Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and there are many different forms of the disorder. It is rare and there hasn’t been much research, so there aren’t many options for treatment. Luckily this event helped introduce us to this disorder and gave us information on ways we can help. The race was laid back and unofficially timed, with cool temperatures and rainy weather to remind us that we’re in the Pacific Northwest. There was either a 2.81 or 4.81 mile distance to choose from, my friend and I did the 4.81 miles. Right off the bat we were heading up a decent hill, only to realize that the course was mainly like a roller coaster going up and down. I was surprised at how I had been struggling with my breathing, but I also recognized that it was a fun run, not the Boston Marathon! I finished in38:37, averaging 8:01min/mi pace. 




There's only ONE thing holding you back from getting outside and moving...that's YOU! 




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