Running and walking and loving it...

I finally went running.

I don't know why I put it off for so long. I so enjoy it when I do it. I feel so empowered. So strong. So free.

I started out tonight about an hour before sunset. It was a little chilly out so I put on two t-shirts and my long workout pants. I had my phone in one hand, my water bottle in the other and my iPod on my hip.

I took a quick walking lap around the community to warm up. 5 minutes. Then out the community into the neighborhood to start running.

Of course, I started strong. I always start too strong. I tried to keep my pace steady, though, so I wouldn't wear myself out before I hit the 2 mile mark.

The sidewalks were empty. I figure by 7pm everyone's inside either finishing up for dinner, doing their homework, or getting settled in for the evening. I didn't even pass any dog walkers.

I passed two bikers (bicyclers, that is) just before the tunnel. I should have turned right at the tunnel, but I chickened out. If I'd have turned right, I would have racked up another mile before I could get home. But I was afraid my knee would start aching so I didn't want to chance it. I was also afraid that if my pace was too slow, it would be dark before I get home. And I do not want to be out after dark.

So I turned left at the tunnel and caught my second wind. I felt great. I got to a little over a mile, and darn it if my knee didn't start aching. Man! I didn't want to push it. I didn't want it to start hurting, so I slowed down. Or rather, that was my intention. I figured I'd start walking rather than running. But I wanted to burn some extra calories so I walked real fast.

The my fast walk turned into speed walking. I've never speed walked before. I felt so silly.

I have to admit, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to speed walkers. I've always thought they looked so silly. I always want to chuckle when I see a speed walker. It just looks funny to me, what can I say.

But I kicked it into high gear and I think my speed walking pace was quicker than my running pace. And I was able to keep my heart rate up between 155 and 165. Wow! I'd never walked with a heart rate that high before. It felt great!

But then I got to the part of the neighborhood where it becomes a major intersection where there's a grocery store and a Target and a BUNCH of trendy shops and lots of traffic. I started feeling self-conscious and started to turn around and head back the way I came so no one would see me speed walking.

But then I thought "Cara, you're being stupid". I'm speed walking and I'm proud of it. I'm burning calories. I'm out here doing it. No one else is! They're all driving by on their way from here to there. I, on the other hand, am out here exercising my butt off.

So I proudly turned the corner and picked up the pace. I speed walked the entire way home. My knee felt great. My HR was great. I never go tired or bored. Great run/walk!

I burned almost 700 calories, too! Woohoo!!

I've been doing great on my points this week. I'm hoping to just drop 6/10ths of a pound this week. That'll bring me to my lowest weight since November.

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