Running Update: This Week's Plan and Race!

Photo credit: Real Simple

I have been reading  a lot of runners'/running blogs lately, and I realized it has been a while since I've done a running update. Yes, I have been running regularly, two-three times a week, at my own pace, at my own low mileage.

While I am not "in training" for my upcoming 5K races, I am trying to steadily increase my mileage by 10% a week while really focusing on running those miles -- not walking -- and improve my breathing and stamina. This is what my plan looks like for this week:

Total mileage: 7.3 miles
Monday = 2.2 miles @ 12-minute pace
Wednesday = 1 mile @ 10:20 pace
Friday = 1 mile @ 10:20 pace
Saturday = Run, Walk or Crawl for Cancer 5K! 


I hope to finish the 5K in under 35 minutes. I think I can do it if I stay mentally positive and focus on breathing well. Wish me luck!

There are a few other 5K's in the book over the next few months:

• Butterfly 5K on August 21st
• Ocean's Run 5K on September 25th
• Amica 5K on October 15th

These are really just motivators to keep me on the road and pushing for improvement. I hope to be able to whizz through the 5K by October. After that, I will start training over the winter for my first 10K and half marathon, which will be next spring/summer. After THAT... well, I'm not ready to say what comes after that yet. :)

Any of you pounding the pavement this summer? What races are you doing? If you don't run (which I don't blame you in the least for!), what are you doing to stay active this summer?