I’ve started running regularly again.  Nothing too far yet.  Generally, around two miles.   I run on the treadmill at the local YMCA.  I currently set the time for 20 minutes and my pace to 6.7 mph (9 min/mile).  Then, I set the workout to rolling hills so it varies the incline from 1-4% over the 20 minutes.  It doesn’t really work me too hard, but I have to let my body get used to running again.  The plan is to keep the overall time the same for a while and just bump up the speed until I’m running around 8 minute miles or less.  Once that happens, I’ll start increasing the overall time to increase my mileage further.

I’ve been running on and off for the last couple of years.  I think the main problem I have with sticking with it is that I don’t really have any motivation.  The few races I’ve run in the past don’t require much training to prepare for so it’s easy to skip the workouts.  Therefore, this time, I’m setting a loftier goal.  There are a couple of half-marathons in the area this May and I’m going to run in at least one of them.  There is one in Green Bay in mid-May and one in Madison on Memorial Day weekend.  I’m not sure which I will shoot for yet.  The Madison one might be too close to when I leave for Missoula so I might have to do the Green Bay one.  In either case, a half-marathon is long enough that I can’t just wait until the month before the race to start training and expect to do well.  After all, I have to beat my Dad, brothers, and sister-in-law’s best times. :)  Bragging rights are important!