Week 7, Wednesday

• Ran 5km along the Canal during lunch time with a co-worker.
• Total time to complete: approx. 33 min.

Week 7, Tuesday

• Ran 4 miles
• Total time to complete: 42 min.

This is a huge jump in my time to complete. I think the last time I ran 4 miles it was in almost 50 min. I know I did push myself a little harder to run a little faster. It wasn't too bad. And I can listen to music while I run now. I find I can do it comfortably if it's not really loud and it's just there for background noise; I'm not really listening to the music.

Week 6, Sunday

• 5 km race
• Total time to complete: 33 min. 07 sec.

OK so today I didn't actually participate in a 5 km race like the training schedule said I should but I did run 5 km and did it outside for the first time! What a beautiful couple of days we have had. Friday it snowed but on Saturday and Sunday it was over 10 degrees! I even went out without a coat on. It was marvellous!

The run was good too. I had a nice cool wind blowing on me. It was a little harder the last half because I was running into the wind; but at least I know what it feels like to run outside now. I was worried that it would be too hard. Let's see what the long 7 mile run will feel like outside next week (if weather permits).

I used a running calculator online to see what my projected time to finish the half marathon is: 2 hrs. 32 min. 04 sec. My goal is to run it in 2 hr. 30 min. so I have a couple minutes to shave off. Considering this was my first time running outside though, I'd say I didn't do too bad. I still have about a month and a half left of training. I can do it!

Here comes a new decade!

So I've finally joined the 30-year old club. The "baby" of the group has finally arrived. The company I work for lets you take your birthday off but since this was the last weekend before a HUGE project is due, I knew there was no way I could take the day off and totally enjoy it. It's a good thing I did too because I ended up having to stay an extra hour because something came up that if it wasn't caught, it would have totally screwed the project up and made us totally miss the due date. I did celebrate by having Sheldon join me for a sushi lunch and then the family, Jen and her boys joined me for a sushi dinner. That's right folks, I had sushi for lunch AND dinner! YUM!!

For some reason, people get teased about turning 30. I know I defintely bugged Sheldon about it. Actually I still bug Sheldon every year. But me, I'm embracing 30. I'm really excited about it because it's like a new chapter in my life. I've entered 30 in good physical shape (especially with all this running I've been doing) I am spritually on the right track, I'm working on improving some areas of my life, and I have a wonderful family and great friends who love me. How can I complain about turning 30 when it can only get better! Well, maybe tickets for the whole family to see all 3 musicals coming to town this year would top it off, but I'm not going to push my luck ;)

Anyways, my mother says I'm entering the "summer" of my life. I think that's what makes me so excited about what's to come because I LOVE the summer. However, I have observed that for the last 5 years, it has snowed near or on my birthday. Yesterday was not an exception to that rule. I don't know what it is? We could be having spring-like tempurtures and then BAM! it snows on April 4. Go figure. Like I've said before, Mother Nature has a cruel sense of humour. Look at all the snow we got this year. I don't think it will melt until May!

Anyways, I will take my birthday day off from work on Mon. Apr. 21. My friend at work was really smart and suggested I take a Monday off and not a Friday because knowing me, I would spend my Friday running errands and not actually relaxing and enjoying the day off. What a smart girl she is!

Well, I just want to end by saying I had a wonderful birthday and totally felt the love from everyone. Thank you for all the birthday wishes and cards. I'm going to go enjoy the new Sarah Slean CD Sheldon gave me for my birthday now. That was just one of the things he bought me...none of the other gifts were musical tickets though. Darn!

**Sheldon, I'm just being silly about the musical tickets. I know we can't afford them so don't go running out to buy them please or else I'll feel guilty. Yes, I know. Me and my guilt.

Week 6, Thursday

• Ran 4 miles
• Treadmill speed: 5 miles/hr
• Total time to complete: 49 min.

A call interupted my run with only 1/4 mile to go but instead of walking away after my call, I finished the last bit of my run. However, I upped my speed to get it over and done with and I think I pulled a calf muscle. Darn it!

On another note, what do you do when you really like your clients but absolutely hate their process in getting things to you late? I'm trying to break them of that habit, explaining what the process should be in order to get these projects done, but it doesn't seem to be working all the time. Any advice?

Week 6, Wednesday

• Ran 2 miles
• Treadmill speed: 5.5 miles/hr
• Total time to complete: just over 22 min.

Why has running 10 min. intervals become so hard?

Week 6, Tuesday

• Ran 4 miles
• Treadmill speed: 5.2 miles/hr; last 1/4 mile upped it to 6.5 miles/hr
• Total time to complete: just over 47 min.

My mp3 player battery died with over 1.5 miles to go. It wasn't too bad running without distraction but I definitely don't want that to happen again. I started to look at the time every minute which was torture. I'm looking forward to my 2 mile run tomorrow though. That won't take up so much of my evening.