As I started this journey of "living a healthier lifestyle", one of the my goals within my 20% project was to improve my overall long distance running as well as to participate in a running event.
For the past few months, I have been using the Nike Running App as part of my training. This application has a "Coach" feature in which one can choose different settings to help you train based on your own individual preferences. I set my application to help me train for a 5K. This training, which was a series of weeks, mixed walking, running, cross-training, and rest to help build my overall running and endurance, without overdoing the training to avoid injuring myself. As you can see in the picture above, the application records my runs (the distance and time). It also has neat features in which it notify's you when you have beat your own run times, set new records, and you can also add others who have the application to see their progress as well. I have tried really hard these past few months to keep with my training and I could happily say that I have made a good amount of progress.
This past weekend, I participated in the Hot Chocolate 5K Run, which promotes and raises awareness for the Ronald McDonald Charity. I participated in this run with two of my cousins, who are avid participants in running events, especially Disney Runs. They were also a huge part of my motivation to participate in this run and due to the fact I was pretty disappointed I missed out on their last 10K Tinkerbell Run at Disneyland, I was pretty excited to join them this time around.
As I went into the run, I had a pretty solid idea of my running habits at this time. I knew was able to successfully run a 5K with minimal stops, if none at all, within a the time span of 30-35 minutes. My goal was to run the entire 5K without stopping and to keep within that time limit of 30-35 minutes. To my surprise though, this course was not a flat run but more hills than anything! The entire first mile was entirely running up hill, followed by a great big hill in the second mile, and third mile was when I felt like I could actually catch a break.
Finishing the run, I felt great and pretty successful considering how much of it was uphill but because I knew I had walked more than I had planned during the second mile (up that gigantic hill), I was almost certain that I would not beat the time that I had originally planned. Again, to my surprise I was wrong. I ended up finishing my 5K in 30 minutes 02 seconds which was a 1 minute and 23 seconds better than my last 5K I ran in the previous month. After seeing these results, I was pretty thrilled and happy with my accomplishments with running. I am now even more motivated to continue running and shoot for better times and knock out a 10K this next time around.
Until next time, Happy Running!
-Marina
For the past few months, I have been using the Nike Running App as part of my training. This application has a "Coach" feature in which one can choose different settings to help you train based on your own individual preferences. I set my application to help me train for a 5K. This training, which was a series of weeks, mixed walking, running, cross-training, and rest to help build my overall running and endurance, without overdoing the training to avoid injuring myself. As you can see in the picture above, the application records my runs (the distance and time). It also has neat features in which it notify's you when you have beat your own run times, set new records, and you can also add others who have the application to see their progress as well. I have tried really hard these past few months to keep with my training and I could happily say that I have made a good amount of progress.
This past weekend, I participated in the Hot Chocolate 5K Run, which promotes and raises awareness for the Ronald McDonald Charity. I participated in this run with two of my cousins, who are avid participants in running events, especially Disney Runs. They were also a huge part of my motivation to participate in this run and due to the fact I was pretty disappointed I missed out on their last 10K Tinkerbell Run at Disneyland, I was pretty excited to join them this time around.
As I went into the run, I had a pretty solid idea of my running habits at this time. I knew was able to successfully run a 5K with minimal stops, if none at all, within a the time span of 30-35 minutes. My goal was to run the entire 5K without stopping and to keep within that time limit of 30-35 minutes. To my surprise though, this course was not a flat run but more hills than anything! The entire first mile was entirely running up hill, followed by a great big hill in the second mile, and third mile was when I felt like I could actually catch a break.
Finishing the run, I felt great and pretty successful considering how much of it was uphill but because I knew I had walked more than I had planned during the second mile (up that gigantic hill), I was almost certain that I would not beat the time that I had originally planned. Again, to my surprise I was wrong. I ended up finishing my 5K in 30 minutes 02 seconds which was a 1 minute and 23 seconds better than my last 5K I ran in the previous month. After seeing these results, I was pretty thrilled and happy with my accomplishments with running. I am now even more motivated to continue running and shoot for better times and knock out a 10K this next time around.
Until next time, Happy Running!
-Marina