Body Transformation - Running
Before getting to my results, I am going to cover the three aspects that have contributed to my body transformation, which are running, other exercises, and diet.
The first of the golden triangle aspects of my body transformation is attributed to running. I would have to say that my interest in body transformation came from running and almost from RunDisney. As I mentioned in an earlier passage, my first half marathon was a RunDisney event in the 2016 Star Wars Half Marathon - The Light Side. I essentially only did this because I had friends that were interested in doing it and going to
Disneyland, which is obviously one of my favorite places because I am absolutely obsessed with Disney. However, I was in no means in the running shape. My half marathon time was 3:26:36, which comes out to being a 15:44 pace. I basically should have been swept up off the streets and should not have been able to complete the half marathon. Luckily, I had a lot of fun in doing this run. This led me to wanting to do future RunDisney events. So the next one I have signed up for is the 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side in April 2017. Not only did I sign up for the Half Marathon, but I had the dumb idea to do the Dark Side Challenge, which is both the 10K and the Half Marathon. Am I crazy? Slow 15:44 pace me, wanting to do back-to-back runs, I might be crazy.
December 2016
The registration sign up for the 2017 Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side was August 2016. However, even by November 2016, I still yet to start getting back into shape for running. However, on December 5th, 2016, I decided it was time to start back and getting into shape. During the month of December, running was tough. I ran outside a few times, but most of my running took place on the elliptical. When running outside, my times were not impressive. The most I would really run is a 5K aka 3.1 miles. I was running these 5Ks in like 35 minutes at a 11:15 pace. Not going to lie, December was very discouraging. I personally thought I was never going to improve. When running these 5Ks, I would slightly jog the first mile, and walk the rest. I thought to myself, could I ever actually run an entire 5K or not. At the end of December, I went to Disney World for New Years Eve. I knew I was going to have a lot of free time on my hands. I have been fortunate to be able to have been to the parks so many times in my life. During this trip, I was visiting a friend that recently moved down there to work there and family. During my free time, instead of going to the parks, I ran. I believe this was first initial turning point in my running training. I still mainly ran on the elliptical. However, I would go on the elliptical 2-3 times a day on the trip. Running 10K or 12K distances aka 6.2 or 7.5 miles. I would also mix in running outside for a 5K. By the end of the trip, I was able to almost run an entire 5K outside and at about a 30-31 minute pace.
January 2017
Encouraged from my improvement at Disney World, I continued on improving in the month of January. In the month of January, I had signed up for two official 5Ks in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Runway Run 5K and the Go Short, Go Long, Go Very Long 5K. Before going into the Runway Run 5K, I had yet to break 30 Minutes for a 5K. The Runway Run 5K was on 1/7/2017. Obviously with the race's name, the run took place on the runway of the Tulsa airport. The weather was very cold. It was 19 degrees outside. I thought to myself, it doesn't matter what I finish, this is my first official run and just do my best. By some miracle, I ran this race in 29:29 at a 9:31, I broke the 30 minute milestone for a 5K! For the rest of the month, I kept running outside occasionally and on the elliptical everyday. My second official 5K came up Go Short, Go Long, Go Very Long 5K. Again, by some miracle, I improved to a 28:25 time and a 9:10 pace. By the end of the month, I could successfully say that I could run an entire 5K. That is something I struggled with deeply in December.
February 2017
In February, my running only got more intense. During this month, I got involved in a three month program in Bartlesville called Run The Streets, as a mentor. This is a not-for-profit program that is meant to mentor high school students on running and finishing a half marathon. What a great opportunity since I was training for a half marathon too. There are about 60 high school students in the program and like 35 mentors. Throughout the month of February, I would do the Run The Streets runs which occurred on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays and I would do a run on my own on a separate day. So in total 4 runs outside each week. My separate run would always be the distance of my next upcoming race. So either a 5K, 10K, or 12K. Everyday in the gym, I would run on the elliptical. In this month, I had two official runs: Sweetheart Run 10K and Bartlesville Central Classic 5K. For the Sweetheart Run 10K, I was very nervous. During my practice 10K runs, I was running them in like 57-58 minutes, which was very good for myself at the time. However, I ran in the Sweetheart Run 10K in the previous year and had an awful time. The race took place in downtown Tulsa and had a few big hills. I was worried that I was going to have a 10K that went over an hour because of the hills. Also, my previous 10K for the exact same race last year was 1:21:06, which is a 13:05 pace, ouch!! Again, by some miracle, I ran this race in 54:20 at a 8:46 pace. The next official race was the Bartlesville Central Classic 5K, which I ran with Run The Streets. The problem with running with Run The Streets is that I have to keep pace with my mentee. Surprisingly, my pace had improved so much that I was ahead of most of the high school students. So with running with my mentee, I was actually running at a slower pace. My time for this 5K was 27:59, which is a 9:02. Still somehow that is still my best official 5K even running at a slower pace at the time, which amazes myself.
March 2017
Really my run training was the same, just increased mileage. Still doing 3 runs a week with Run The Streets, 1 run on my own, and running the elliptical everyday. My pace was improving drastically this month. I ran in 5 official runs this month: Big 12 Run 12K, Whiskey Run 5k, Westport St Patrick's Day 4 Miler, Run The Ville 10K, and Great Plains 10K - Longview. A lot of these official runs were back-to-back days to get myself physically and mentally prepared for The Dark Side Challenge. My run were amazing this month. I posted personal records for the following: Whiskey Run 5K - 23:30 - 7:35 Pace; Westport St Patrick's Day 4 Miler (Virtual Run) - 31:37 - 7:54 pace; Great Plains 10K - Longview - 48:23 - 7:48 Pace; Big 12 Run 12K - 61:12 - 8:10 pace. These paces were amazing and very encouraging and I was way ahead of my anticipated paces for these runs.
April 2017
The final month before the Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side. I only had one official run in the Clarmont Crayon Run 10K with Run The Streets. I wasn't really that focused on that run rather the longer practice distance runs that I had planned in this month with a 8 mile run and a 10 mile run. Still doing the same run training. 3 runs with Run The Streets a week, 1 run on my own, and elliptical everyday. On April 2nd, I did my 8 mile run. I had somewhat of an idea of the time I should expect on this run because a 12K which I practiced and officially ran before was a 7.5 mile run. However, I somehow did better then my 12K runs at least for a pace. I ran the 8 mile run in 65:17 at a 8:09 pace! But that is nothing compared to my 10 mile run on April 9th. I ran 10 miles in 80:45 at a 8:04 pace. I somehow had a better 10 mile pace then 8 mile pace.
Overall
At this point in my run training I cannot believe I far I have come along. I was barely able to run an entire 5K, let alone a 10K or Half Marathon. I had increased my overall time and pace by half or more from what I was running before I started. It is less then two weeks away from The Dark Side Challenge, I could not feel more confident in my running capability. This race will mean so much to me because it will be the first Half Marathon that I put so much time and effort to train for. As for my body transformation, I believe running was a crucial part. Running is a heavy cardio activity that burns most of my calories on a given day. In the official running calendar section, I will provide my ongoing running goals and running personal records.