Run or Dye [for Daylight!]

Today, I ran a 5k fun run for Daylight Center and School.

In rural Kenya, nomads practice "sapana," a rite of passage empowering men to make decisions for their community. During this ritual, young men are "painted green" with goat refuse. At Daylight, we want to encourage these nomads to empower both boys and girls to be leaders in their communities with another rite of passage: education. So as a symbol of joining the Daylight community in this mission, a few of us got painted at Run or Dye!

After waiting in the cold for about an hour and a half, our wave finally started! I sprinted out the starting line, and then walked for a minute or two to warm up my cold ankles, then I ran then entire 3.1 miles. Thank you, again, Brianna, Emilie, and Kari for doing this with me!

Also, special props to Emilie. Our group didn't want to ride back in the buses (and have to wait in another long line), so while Brianna and Kari rode to brunch with some of our awesome fans, Emilie and I ran another 1.5 miles to brunch!

So, in all, I ran 4.6 miles. Whoo hoo!

Run/Walk 2:1 Endurance Intervals

I think endurance training was a success today! I ran 5.9 miles before my knees and hamstrings started complaining and I stopped.

I completed 23 sets of 1-minute run and 2-minute walk intervals in 69 minutes. This means I was only running a third of the time, but I still managed to average an 11:41-minute mile! But as I've stated before, the objective is distance, not speed, and I am very happy with my 5.9 miles today.

Worse case scenario, I just do endurance intervals for my leg of the marathon relay...

Flying Farmers

Yesterday, I get a text from my friend Danielle that says: "Do you run? Alex is trying to get a relay team together for fargo marathon." I'd never considered a relay for a marathon before, but that seems like a way more likely accomplishment in my life than running a full marathon by myself. So I ask her when it is. ...it's May 18th, less than 4 weeks away.

I was finally persuaded into signing up with the relay after being assured it was just for fun, and it would be fine if I ended up walking most of it.

This morning I woke up to a flood a texts deliberating over what our relay team name should be. It was finally decided: Flying Farmers. I won't even get into why that name does or does not fit.

I decided it would be a good idea to see where I'm at, running wise. It's been almost a full year since I've consciously exercised!

This morning, I ran 3.1 miles in 38 minutes...then walked the 2 miles more home, since I was a bit optimistic when I plotted out the route I was to take. Our puppy Byron came with me. It was his first time on a run - ever. And I was surprised. He never lagged behind! New running partner?

Each person in the relay is responsible for 6-8 miles, which means, I'm just barely half-way to the minimum distance right now.

To avoid injuring myself, I've developed a training schedule. The objective is to gain miles, not speed. If you do both at the same time as a runner, it is a recipe for injury!!!

• 04/24 - Run (nonstop, easy pace for as far as possible)
• 04/25 - Stretch yoga (to relieve those sore muscles!)
• 04/26 - REST DAY
• 04/27 - Run/Walk 1:2 (alternate 1-min. run with 2-min. walk for as far as possible or up to 8 miles, whichever is less)
• 04/28 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 04/29 - Run
• 04/30 - Stretch yoga
• 05/01 - REST DAY
• 05/02 - Run/Walk 1:1
• 05/03 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 05/04 - RUN OR DYE 5K FUN RUN
• 05/05 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 05/06 - Run
• 05/07 - Stretch yoga
• 05/08 - REST DAY
• 05/09 - Run/Walk 2:1
• 05/10 - 30 min. Aerobic Dance or Swim
• 05/11 - Run
• 05/12 - Stretch yoga
• 05/13 - REST DAY
• 05/14 - Run/Walk 3:1
• 05/15 - 30 min. Swim
• 05/16 - Run/Walk 4:1
• 05/17 - Stretch yoga
• 05/18 - MARATHON RELAY RACE DAY!!!