Running and Walking

So I know I posted about my recent running adventures. I have recently found a track at a Community College near my apartment and it is perfect... and even better one of my co-workers lives in my apartment complex and wants to jog more, so we go together! Because I have a buddy, I feel safer going in the morning (when it's still dark) so I can get my workout in before work!

And today the cool Fall weather has finally arrived! So I took Allie for a nice loooong walk this evening. And I used my FitTrack App GPS to keep track of my pace and mileage. And I had a crazy discovery.

All of my jogs are still a combination of running and walking... 1.5 miles is the longest I've run consecutively, then I walk a bit and run again. I email myself my FitTrack results after each session to keep track of if I'm actually getting better... here is what I found:

One of my most recent runs I went 4.19 miles with an average pace of 10:47 (this includes my warm up, cool down, jogging, and walking between jogs)

Tonight's walk with Allie we went 6.43 miles with an average pace of 10:53

So why am I killing myself running? I walk so fast it averages out to almost the same pace... and I go longer because I'm not dying.

I still really enjoy the feeling I get when I run and how accomplished I feel. But it was also helpful for me to see this to know that it's okay if I just walk.

And on another note (not completely unrelated) how the HECK did Allie gain another pound since the end of August when we take 6 mile walks?!

Changes

Even though you might not be able to tell when you walk outside, Fall is officially here! This morning I went for a jog and it was before sunrise... Heat Index of 92 and 94% humidity. Seriously Fall weather, anytime you want to come would be awesome.

Although my favorite thing about Fall (the weather) is not quite here, many other things are! I love the changing of seasons every season, but there is something wonderful about the beginning of Fall.

After months of miserable heat and humidity and very little rain, there is a promise of relief! And as much as I love the relaxed days of summer, I also am a big fan of getting back on schedule with the start of Fall.

And the busyness has begun! Work is going strong, BSF started again last week and we are in full swing with our year at Youth.

I decided that my first change would be my blog design :) Decorating my apartment for Fall will come this weekend... and I am stocking up on supplies to make pumpkin muffins next weekend! I love fall baking (not that anyone should be shocked by this!). And I am excited to continue my jogging routine outside as the weather cools off!

On my walk with Allie tonight, there was a nice breeze and I was reminded of my awesome Creator who thought of seasons! A God who makes things new every day and gives us changing seasons to remind us of newness and give us a time to re-focus on Him. *Still I notice You when change begins* And I am braced for colder winds *I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come* You are Autumn*

Pies in a Jar follow up

So I had people ask me to let them know how the Pies in a Jar turned out. I finally baked one today and it is WONDERFUL! I baked one of the cherry pies and am currently eating it along with a mug of vanilla ice cream (yes I realize that is a Christmas mug and it's September... but I don't drink coffee so the only mugs I own are Christmas mugs).

I baked it at 375 for 50 minutes and it is perfect. I took it straight from the freezer (took the lid off) and put it on a cookie sheet in the preheated oven. So yummy!!

And I also decided to try out some 4 oz jars... so earlier today I made some pumpkin pies and blueberry pies. These ones are very little, but the jars were much easier to line with pie crust (since I haven't been able to find the 8 oz jars that are short and squatty) and I think 4 oz is a perfect individual size! :) Just thought I'd experiment a little with different sizes, but here are today's goodies:

I will admit that pie is probably not my favorite dessert... I would rather have cake usually. But I think these are sooooo cute and would make fun gifts. And on cold nights (which I am dreaming of today with our 103 degree heat index!) there is something wonderful about a warm dessert... especially one you wouldn't have to make up if you keep these stored in the freezer.

So for all who asked: the pies turned out GREAT! :) As I eat and share more of them, I'll let you know if any of the fruits or recipes don't work out as well as others!

Let me see if you can run it, run it

So I have recently started something new: running. Now I have tried to pick up running many times in the last 5 years or so. When I was in college there were several times that I tried to run on the treadmill or on the wonderful Bear Trail. And my senior year, our College Group's Community groups trained for a race and even with all of that I still could barely do half a mile.

Since graduating, I have tried at various points to build up my endurance through training programs such as the Couch Potato to 5k. I liked how I felt after I ran, but still pathetically I could never run for more than 5 minutes at a time. So I basically gave up on the idea of being able to run and focused on walking and other types of exercise.

Well at the beginning of August, I was on the treadmill at my gym and the program I was doing had a short jog in between the two walking hills and I realized I wasn't dying afterwards. So I tried a mile and made it! Since then I have jogged several times on the treadmill and built up to running 3 miles.

And today I jogged outside for the first time ever. There is a 2 mile bridge near where I live that is perfect for training and I ran 3.5 miles! There is nothing like turning on some fun music and just jogging! And it doesn't hurt that this was my view this morning:

I will still be continuing with my Kickboxing and Step Aerobics classes, but I am excited to add jogging into the mix too! And it definitely helps that I have sweet and encouraging friends who put up with me randomly texting and emailing my latest jogging accomplishments!