15 mins. We got to the gym late today, so I only had time for that much. But it's better than nothing I guess. I had a brand new MacBook pro waiting for me at the post office I needed to pick up after the gym, so I ran my head off, in anticipation of geeky new computer fun awaiting me.
Maybe that's what I need to incentivize my running: expensive electronics as rewards. Ha. In my dreams.

So...apparently I've been kind of stressed out.
It didn't really occur to me until I realized I had been neglecting a lot of things I usually do. Like post to this site. The good news: I didn't completely stop running, even while stressed out. The bad news: I still........kinda hate it. And I would really, really like to not hate it.
However, what I did realize, is that I feel better during the day when I run in the morning, and that it's worth it for me to suck it up and put in my 2 miles (yes. Still only 2 miles) so that I feel more energized, and less like a sedentary hippo blimp the rest of the day. I'd say it's a pretty good trade off. So I shall persevere.

It took me a while to really love to run but the thing that motivated me the most was recording all the data from heart rate, to speed, to distance and no matter what one of those three areas always improved and it would set off a chain reaction of motivation me. Each person is diffrent though you just need to find your spark and stay with it. What made running fun for me was knowing I had a race coming up. Not that I could compete with the top runners but just myself and you really dont have to worry about coming in last because theres always lots of walkers that just walk the intire course. You should try to run a few of them thing i like the most is meeting new people. I have tones of fun running them :) Good thing is you can already run 2 of the 3.1 so thats a good start :) Some people cant even run that fare. Keep it up your doing great and the love for the sport will come your way if you stick to it long enough!
Steven Richardson 4/24/12 6:02 pm

Good to see you posting again.
Richard Stiller 4/24/12 6:12 pm

Thanks! This is one of the few places i can go and actualy talk about running. I am pretty much surrounded by people that hate it lol with the exception of race days.
Steven Richardson 4/24/12 6:28 pm

You can go to letsrun.com but this place is much more friendly
Richard Stiller 4/24/12 6:32 pm

As Steven had mentioned, you really should try and find a 5K race and focus on it. I think that you may be looking at running as exercise and something you "have" to do to stay in shape. Having a race in front of you should help change your motivation. Don't worry about your time for the 1st one because you can always improve on the next one. Go for it!
Roger Wright 4/24/12 6:52 pm

I was wondering about you. Some times we forget that when we are stressed the best thing to do is to get out and do a run. I think you are ready to go beyond two miles. Don't worry about the time, just go out and see how far you can go. You might be surprised...keep us posted!
Bob Anderson 4/24/12 7:17 pm

Running helps stress
Richard Stiller 4/25/12 9:03 am

Thank you all for your supportive words of encouragement! I am determined to make this work for me and appreciate the feedback and learn a lot reading your posts as well. I signed up for the Color Me Rad 5k this September in San Jose...but I wonder if running will be overshadowed by the freakish amounts of color powder being chucked at us. But hey, it's a run!
Katie Koeplin 4/25/12 5:14 pm

30:55
2 miles run, .5 mile walk/flail about tiredly

19:20

I believe I'm getting a bit faster. But still can't surpass the 2 mile mark outside running the full time.
I feel great for like the 1st 5 minutes, but after that, I want to turn around and go home or crumble on the sidewalk in someone's flower bed or in a nearby shrub.
If I look at this in a more positive light though, I used to loathe every single minute of running. Now, at least I like 5 minutes of it. So there's progress for you.
Can't say I love running yet. But I also can't say I absolutely hate it with all my being. I'd say, I still dislike it. But on the scale of "mildly annoyed by" to "detest with every ounce of the soul," I'd say that "dislike it" is much closer to the former.
:)

...but I'm calling it 3. And no, I didn't actually run the whole time. There was some ATM-ing and music store errand running in there too. But I ran for a little over 2 miles in all that.
I think I'm stuck at the 2 mile hump. I still kin of want to curl up in a ball at about 1.5 miles, so surpassing 2 seems like a stretch still, but I'm sure it'll click sometime.
I really hope so....

Are you liking it more?
Bob Anderson 4/3/12 11:59 pm

Just go another five minutes more next time.
Richard Stiller 4/4/12 7:47 am

23:05

22:43

25:00
So my new motivator is this amazing thing called The Color Run that'll be coming to SF in July. It's a 5k where you wear all white and run and at every kilometer, you get a different color thrown at you. It looks like an Indian wedding!!! And I love color and will definitely run for that! :)

They throw color at you? Like paint? Sounds interesting...
Bob Anderson 3/28/12 3:54 pm

sounds like fun!
Shari Mernett 3/28/12 5:31 pm

It's essentially like colored powdered sugar, I think. It sounds like a glorious mess! :)
Katie Koeplin 3/28/12 5:36 pm

It's an old Indian tradition. http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-around-the-globe/india-holi-the-festival-of-colors.html
Richard Stiller 3/29/12 11:30 am

That is pretty interesting!
Shari Mernett 3/29/12 1:37 pm

25:49
Had so much on my mind today with work that the time just flew by! Running today actually was a nice and anticipated diversion from work-related stuff. Even though I get discouraged sometimes by my lack of miles, I am encouraged by the fact that my endurance is slowly, SLOWLY increasing. Which is something. :)

Just keep gradually extending the minutes you run. The miles will take care of themselves.
Richard Stiller 3/27/12 12:58 pm

Sounds encouraging...this is one of the benefits of running. And when the time flies by...that's really good!
Bob Anderson 3/27/12 1:00 pm

24:00