So I had a rough day yesterday and I had not gone running yet, so I knew by 9pm it was time to take my "anti-depressent" and head off to the Recreation center to run on the track. For the first time since I started training, I had a running buddy! I found that by having a buddy I jogged about 3 minutes faster than I normally do, and I was fine! But it seems that when I push myself really hard I get stomache cramps... and I am not really sure why. I searched on the internet and some people said it was too much fiber and fat or consuming dairy before a run. Anyone have any more ideas? My 5K is in 4 days and I am really excited that my Mom is coming down to visit me and cheer me on at the finish line! (And take pictures of course...) I am also deciding whether I want to do a 5K on March 17 or not, so I guess I will decide after my race this Sunday if I am up to it or not.

It's been so long since I posted last! Here's the update! On Thursday I ran with my dog (Sully) and we went 2 miles! He actually did really well! So I continued to run with him. I ran with him yesterday for 1.66 miles and then again today for 3.2 miles. Today I decided, Okay, no matter how long it takes me I am going to get to that 3 mile mark! So I ran until I did! I actually went to a nice park (because I hate smelling the exhaust from cars while running down my street) and just ran through the woods back and forth (it was only about 1 mile around). I finally felt the runner's high! Which is good because there is exactly 7 days until my first 5K of the year! My goal this week is to eat a nutritional diet that will help me prepare for the race next Sunday. If anyone has any advice please let me know!

So I just got back from my run, and I am disappointed because for most of it my left shin felt like it was on fire!  I kept stretching it out but it continued to burn.  I began to think it was that it needed to be stretched out more because by the end of the run it was feeling better... so lesson learned, I should get a really good stretch in before my run.  Other than that, I went 3 miles!  Yay!  Hopefully tomorrow my shin won't be hurting and I can run the full 3 miles. 

On another note, I am putting my Aussie mix dog Sully (he's 1 and a half years old) through dog training so that hopefully he can eventually start running with me!  He has so much energy he would love to go running.  

Here is another button I created...

Fitness boot camp kicked my butt this morning!  I didn't sleep well and almost considered skipping boot camp this morning... but the motivation to keep training dragged me out of bed and off to the Rec.  It was definitely worth it.

My first 5k for my training is coming up on March 4, and I was thinking how I could somehow integrate my cause in my races.  So I will be creating buttons (which were $2 for a pack of 3 at Hobby Lobby) with different "logos" on them.  Here are some of my ideas:

 

Now I don't have Photoshop skills so I did use Paint to create these...  I would love to hear your opinions/ideas!

On another note, you may have wondered how you can help me on my journey...

As you know, I am training to run 26.2 miles to support the Nature Conservancy's work.

The Nature Conservancy is saving our most cherished places and protecting our resources to prepare for a future that sustains us all. We are racing against time to save these places and resources. We need them to survive. And that’s why I would appreciate your support towards my races by giving to The Nature Conservancy.

I've set my personal goal at $1000. So I'm hoping for your help to reach my goal. Any amount you'd like to donate will help. Consider supporting The Nature Conservancy’s work by donating:
$1/mile ($26.20)
$5/mile ($131.00)
$10/mile ($262.00)

And of course, you can give online safely and securely here.

Thank you for helping to make my journey to the finish line so meaningful. Your generosity will save our planet for generations to come.

Went out to run this morning at 7am!  I had a protein bar and headed out the door.  It was sprinkling a bit, which makes the run a little more exciting because I run faster to beat the downpour.  I have been trying to use training calendars in order to work up to a 5k, but they are all 9 + week programs, and I need to be ready in 2 weeks for my 5k!  So my activity today was to walk 10 min., run 8 min., walk 10 min. and that was it... which was not near enough running!  When I run on Friday I'll be sure to run more, walk less.

Some motivational pictures....

Just finished my first run with "Couch to 5K" and it went great.  I ended up running/walking 2.83 miles!  I really liked the RunKeeper app because it told me when my intervals were changing and all the stats as well.  My shoes were awesome as well :) I'm off to boot camp in the morning and then another run again on Wednesday!

You can view my stats from my run today here: http://runkeeper.com/user/runningfornature/activity/70712904?channel=web.activity.shared.facebook.auto&utm_campaign=SharedActivity&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=Ref

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." T.S. Elliot 

Some motivation...

I bought some new running shoes thanks to Luke's Locker in Dallas!  They sized my feet and looked at specific things I would need in a shoe based on how I run.  Getting new running shoes always makes me excited to go running again!

I joined advantage.active.com last week and it has free training calendars which kindly alerts me every day what my activity is for the day, and I get deals on almost everything running related.  I also joined RunKeeper, which is an awesome app for my iPhone and on the web.  I can have a "street team"and we can see each other's stats and races we are running.  It also has a GPS tracking on it where it tracks the route you're running (or you can choose a route beforehand).  For an extra fee, I can join RunKeeper Elite which is a live broadcast of my running route and anyone can see it online (I would use this for a race).  

I am planning on going running tomorrow morning with my new running shoes and will post how it goes!

“Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”

So the other day after publishing my blog, I received a text from one of my friends telling me what a great idea I have with this blog and that she is running a local 5K in March.  Of course, my first thought was that I was overexcited that some one had actually read my blog!  And then I went on to somewhat invite myself to run with her in the 5K.  We decided we would run together during the week (hopefully we can coordinate our schedules!) and we figured having some support would get us to our goals.  So I will somewhat be using the "Couch-to-5K" training in order to be ready (too) soon.

But on the topic of being ready, I have been going to fitness boot camp for the last 2 weeks and I have been loving it!  While we incorporate running into our work out routine, we have really only done one exercise where we ran a mile to determine our 1-mile run time.  Luckily we ran today!
I spoke to my Dad today asking him if he had read my blog of course, and I also asked him what kind of running shoes I should get.  So my goal for this weekend is to find some new running shoes!  He also told me that in order to run 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 35 minutes, I would need to run an 8 minute mile.  Even though it is only 4 minutes from my current time, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to eliminate those extra 4 minutes.  My Dad also suggested that I run with two of his experienced marathon running buddies (which is very intimidating) but I know it would be a great experience.  I went on to ask him if they went running at 4:00 in the morning (because he has been  known to do that frequently for as long as I can remember), and he said "No, 6am." and he went on to say "That is what it takes." And I know he is right.  Even though I have never been a morning person in my entire life, running in the morning is the best time of day.  My days are so busy that if I didn't get up to run in the morning I don't think I could find time.  So, through my 6am boot camp I will somehow merge over to being a morning person.  Somehow people do it right?

So on an end note, I have compiled a list of quotes that I will be posting around my apartment (and possibly my car) that will motivate me through my training.  Every time I make a post, I will be sure to incorporate a quote into it in hopes that it may motivate someone else.

All it takes is all you got.
--Marc Davis

So you may wonder why this blog is titled "Running for Nature." 

Well yesterday I was looking through my Facebook feed (no surprise there) and came across a post by Nature Conservancy.  They were asking if anyone would like to represent the Conservancy as a part of the Boston Marathon this year.  Of course, I am nowhere near ready to run a marathon but I thought, what a great way to represent an organization that I am passionate about by running 26.2 miles!  In doing this I can spread the word about the great organizations that are such a strong influence in my life.  After this thought I texted my Dad asking how to train for a marathon (he is a very experienced marathon runner and I have always looked up to him for that.)  His first response was "seriously?"  And he went on to tell me how I can slowly build up my endurance to run 26.2 miles.

My goal is to be able to run the Boston Marathon of (hopefully) 2013.  Before I get there, I am going to run 5K's, 10K's, and half marathons until I am ready.  Now I don't know if ya'll knew this but the Boston Marathon requires a time qualification to be accepted into the race, and the time is 3 hours and 35 minutes (for women).  In thinking about marathons I question myself and think how am I ever going to run 26.2 miles in that amount of time, or run a marathon at all?!  This is where my blog begins.  Through this process I would really appreciate support, enthusiasm, and encouragement, because I am going to need it!

Here is my inspiration for the beginning of my training.