building up mileage... but
I tried to follow the schedule to build up to 5k, but it just kept feeling so easy. Two weeks ago I just did it and I haven't looked back since... at least until today. Every session my average heart rate has been consistently dropping 2-5 bpm. It's crazy how much progress I've been making. On Sunday I went for 35 minutes of straight running. It's insane. I was actually starting to increase my mileage!

...was increasing my mileage. Every day I run something else is sore. I managed to calm my back down by actually using my upper body instead of keeping it absolutely straight. I had no idea that would help. My IT band has been doing great since I started taking shorter strides and stretching it whenever I felt tightness. But now my calf is pulled or strained or something. My hip isn't too happy either. If it's not one thing it's another.

It's time to take a few days off to recover. I might try some light spinning for the rest of the week and see how I feel after. Further reenforcement of how much harder running is on your body than cycling. I'll start doing some proper warm-ups and stretching, then some post-run stretching from now on. At least I've learned why it's so important.

returning to form
As a result of getting back into training mode I've managed to drop six pounds of my winter blubber. Four more and I'm back where I was after the ride to Montreal. It looks like the time I go on the ride this year I might actually get close to my body fat percentage goal. Awesome.

in need of a new goal
I'm starting to think (or at least I was before today), that I need a running goal. A 10k is definitely extremely doable, and I'm sure I'll be able to hit one of those early in the season. Hell, I did one when I was 12, and this time I think I can do it running the whole time. So I thought a half-marathon should be a doable challenge. Then I looked up marathon training, and I'm intrigued.

According to this plan, I only need 16 weeks to go from 14 miles total mileage per week to being able to finish a marathon. I'm already doing 9 miles. The Toronto Marathon is about 28ish weeks away. That gives me three months to go from 9 to 14 miles per week.

Maybe I'm crazy, but that looks totally doable. Wow.

[a couple hours later...] After doing some reading, maybe I should build a bit of a base first. Most things I've read suggest spending six months before really ramping up distance or speed to avoid injury. Since my body seems to be em-oldening [you know, like embiggen] its self lately maybe I'll see if I can run without injuring myself before trying anything like that. Haha.