It's been quite a while since I've provided an update on my running situation so I thought I'd bring those interested up to speed. As you may recall I started doing the cool running Couch to 5k program at the first of the year. I completed that program and then went on to do the Hal Higdon Spring Training program, which prepares you to run a 10K.
I'm happy to report that I completed the HHST program and decided to go ahead and keep going with the Hal Higdon Novice Supreme program, which continues to the spring training program to a full marathon. Today I completed week 14, which culminates with a 7 mile run. The 7 miles went fine and although my thighs are plenty tired and sore tonight I didn't really have any problems energy-wise or with any kind of pain in my body during or after the run. Again, this is the farthest distance I've ever run in my life, which is pretty neat. I'm going to be bummed when I have to stop saying that.
I started riding my bike to work a few weeks ago and I think that the bike riding has actually helped me with the running. Since I started I've cut my three-mile run by about 2 minutes. It also helps because the ride adds about 550 calories to my daily calorie burn, so I'm hoping it will help me lose my tummy. Up to this point it seems like my body has had no trouble adapting to the running while holding on to the stomach.
When I started running I worried the most about my ability to keep my breath, but surprisingly that's the last issue I have to worry about now. I can run just about as far as I want to without worrying to much about my breathing. The biggest limiting factor to how fast I can go is really my muscles.
