Running outdoors

Normally I run indoors but decided I wanted to try running outdoors.

Prior to my run yesterday I had only run outdoors once and that was the Bastille Days 5k run.

Yesterday I decided to run outside and learned a lot of things.

1. I need to get a fuel belt. (I had not even heard of these before yesterday when I asked questions in my rookie running team.) Thanks for all the great responses!!!! I will need to get one of those because I just held my water bottle for my run and that was a pain.

2. Running outdoors is a whole lot different than running indoors. It is a much better workout although you go slower. It is a better workout due to running in the heat, the hills, and running against the wind.

3. I need to make sure I take my allergy medicine. My eyes watered pretty bad during part of the run.

4. I brought my ID with me but never thought about the medical card. Next time I will bring that also. (Another thing I learned from the rookie running group).

5. Wear sunscreen. I did not wear that and while I did not get burnt if I would have stayed out any longer I probably would have burned.

6. You have to pay more attention to your path to avoid the bumps, cracks, branches or anything else you may trip on.

7. I walked a lot more than I thought I would but went further than I thought I would. Although I really want to get a garmin now or something else that will track my distance and heart rate.

8. I would like to have a running buddy. I get a little worried running by myself.

All in all it was a good run and I calculated it to be about 9 miles - although with all of the curves in the path it was probably more like 10 miles. My time was poor but I was expecting that since I knew I would have to deal with hills and wind.

I cannot wait to get a fuel belt and run outside again next weekend (if the weather allows).