I BROKE 4 MILES!

And that was just the running! Well, running for me is 5-6.3mph (12-10 minute miles approx), which may be a light jog for others! .5 miles was the cool down.

This time on the treadmill, instead of using one of those annoying set programs, I set my goal at 4 miles.  I need to do this every time I jump on a treadmill.  The time goes DOWN! How amazing it felt to see only 7 minutes left, only 4 minutes left! Instead of the OH-EM-GEE I've been running for HOW long??  AND if I sped up the treadmill, the time left would SHRINK! How nice! :)

Okay okay, I've been meaning to get out and run outside, but it was nice to have that time at the gym to read some of my book!

Some things I've come away with from the first 19 pages of the book:

• Women have come into the sport of running in herds! Men's running history has been filled with a competitive nature while women find more camaraderie running with friends, training partners, etc.
• The most important investment in your running gear are your shoes.  Expect to pay at least $80 for a good pair.
• Since shoes are the most important investment, go to a specialist, not a big box store!  Go to a running-specific store, like Super Jock n'Jill in Greenlake. They know shoes! In fact, you can have them watch your stride and evaluate you to make sure you get the exact right shoe for you, your foot, and your training. That's where I purchased my Brooks and special insoles.
• The next most important investment for women is their SPORTS BRA8765t43w! That's right ladies, support YOUR ladies! I'm not that well-endowed, but I have heard from some other more lucky ladies that it sucks to run because it is painful/uncomfortable/etc. You no longer need to run with two bras, there are amazing sports bras out there that wick, stick, and pick up those lady lumps into something much more manageable! (And pain-free!)
• They also had advice on buying or not buying chronographs, heart rate monitors, gps, etc. Mostly unnecessary, although I do tend to use my Nike+ quite a bit!

On my 4+mile treadmill run today, I was mainly distracted from the time by the fun and informative book I was reading, so I only paused for a sec when I noticed my knees start to ache a bit.  I keep hearing horror stories about painful injuries that take VERY long to recover, so I stopped for a little bit to stretch out. (Remember, no bouncing when stretching, it can cause WAY more injury!)

I seemed to loosen up a little, but now I am sure I'm going to seek out a family doctor who is familiar with Sports Medicine and/or running.  I'm slowly becoming sure that the Vibrams are great to strengthen your feet, but most likely NOT good shoes for long distance the more and more I research into the topic.

I may use the Vibrams on my 2 mile days to keep the muscles strong, but anything longer than that, I think I will start training in my super supportive Brooks with additional insoles that support my feet/arches perfectly.

Now it's way past my bedtime.. I need to wake up in 5 hours to drop off the hubby at school then get to running around Seattle for a change!