Running Update: 10 months in, 2 miles finally accomplished.

Yesterday marked an important day for me.
For the first time in my life, I ran 2 miles!
I know compared to the rest of the "runners" out there, this is chump change...
but for me it was a first in a lifetime thing.
2 MILES.
That means I'm only ONE mile away from marking a 5K off my bucket list.
I started running 10 months ago. I set off in May, beginning with intervals of walking/running at which time 5 minutes of running and I felt like I may collapse.
Now of course, this 2 miles I did yesterday was not race and I most definitely did not run them at any sort of quick pace. I ran them at my pace.
My average pace yesterday was: 12:25 min/mile.
I've been having knee pain still, despite the knee exercises I've been doing on my off days so I wasn't sure if I should even run yesterday.
But sometimes you just get fed up with all the things that hold you back. I know that pain is not something to mess with. I've been really careful with my knee as to avoid major injury, but sometimes...the excuses, no matter how valid just get in the way of making progress.
After looking over my progress since I got the MapmyRun app for my phone in October the other night, I realized I was consistently doing 1.5 miles about 3 times per week before my knee pain started.
Now I was doing only 1 mile about 1 or 2 times per week.
I decided that needed to change.  
So I set off yesterday originally just planning on doing my 1.5 miles again.
But something made me keep going. Something inside me said that 1.5 just wasn't going to cut it.
Although I endured some problems with my lungs and knees and had a killer ache in my side, I finished the 2 miles.
2 miles isn't much for most people, but its 5,280 feet closer to my goal of a 5K...and It's also proof that I am capable of much more than I give myself credit for.

Sickness>5K dreams?

It is the eve of my first ever 5K...
and I'm sick!
I came down with a head cold a few days ago which has now morphed into a head cold-stomach flu combo.
I am going to be so absolutely beyond disappointed if I'm not able to run tomorrow. I went and picked up my runner's packet last night with my shirt/number/free goodies despite feeling absolutely horrible.
I vowed to spend all day today resting/hydrating/medicating myself so that I'm up for the race tomorrow, but my symptoms only seem to be worsening.
I have been training for this race since MAY, only to have it potentially ruined by my body's inability to fight off illness. I am praying for a miracle. Hoping I'll some how wake up tomorrow morning feeling 100x better and be able to run it.
Nevermind the fact that I haven't actually been able to run 3 miles on my own yet.
I'll need a miracle in that regard as well.
I also have to work a full shift at my job after, so if by some strange luck I do some how succeed and am able to pull off running the 5K, I am not allowed to rest or celebrate that fact, I am to go straight to work.
Hmm... did I step in a pile of bad karma or what?

Running Update: Still hating it.

I completed my "3 weeks to 30-minute running habit" last week.
Took a bit longer than expected because of some lung issues I was having, but nevertheless I completed it!
The following day I decided to test my Post Office route (which there and back from my apartment is 1 mile) This was where I tested my original .4 of a mile when I started so it seemed fitting.
The results: I was able to run a mile!!!
Now, of course, by run I mean my pathetic attempt at it that looks much more like a jog/old lady shuffle.
But regardless, I did it. A mile!
For the majority of people this sounds like chump change, no big deal, but to me, that is absolutely amazing. I have never in my life ran a mile (How pathetic is that?)
But now, I can say that I have.
Originally, my plan was to continue on to the next phase of 5k Training but I've decided that, since I have the time, and my body seems to need more work, that I will repeat the last 2 weeks of the 3 week workout to ensure I'm ready for the 5K Training Schedule since that schedule seems pretty daunting and my body is still adjusting to this whole running thing.
I'm having some major issues with my lungs. I knew this would happen, it is a big part of the reason I've avoided running my entire life. I am making sure to be smart and not overexert myself and cause major damage or problems but it is rather frustrating.
With all my lung issues you'd think I were an avid smoker or something along those lines.
So 2 more weeks of this schedule and then I will being going to VEGAS the following week!! So I will give myself a little break in between, the the real torture will begin.

Also: Update on my shoes: the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11's
I have one word for them: AMAZING!! I had so much knee pain when I first started, I was sure it was something serious and could even prevent me from running.
But once fitted in the proper shoes, I felt the change immediately. The first few days running with them my knee was still bothering me, but in a much different way. I could tell that my body was adjusting to the shoes and the change in impact and support.
By day 3 or 4 of running that pain was completely gone and I haven't felt it even slightly since.
Granted, I have absolutely nothing to compare these to, since this is my first pair of running shoes but I must say, now that I know what actual support and comfort in a running shoe feels like, I can never, ever go back to hurting my body the way I was. Such a good investment!

My 5k idiocy

There are times, when I start to question my own sanity.  Lately, that has been my experience.
I recently got the brilliant (i.e. ludicrous) idea to sign myself up for a 5k race. 
I have never even ran a mile in my entire life...let alone 3. I am very inactive and despite being able to walk 3 miles (which I do about 3 or 4 times a week and is my only real form of exercise for the past oh, I'd say 10 years) I cannot run, if my life depended on it. Regardless, that did not seem to stop me from this idea of signing up for this race.
I at least had the decency to sign up for one that is not until September so that I can actually attempt to train for it with ample time. My current standing is that I can run .4 of a mile. And by run, I do not mean actually run of course. I am speaking on my pathetic attempt at a jog. Even still, I am at .4 of a mile. A 5k equals out to be 3.1 miles so I have my work cut out for me.
I've started a workout called "3 weeks to 30 minute running". I am currently on day 3 of it and already my knees are absolutely killing me, full on aching in my joints throughout the day. I know one thing is for sure, I am in dire need of some new running shoes.
What I'm currently working with (hence, the knee issues):

I need to figure out another option, that is not these. What I really need is something that is going to give support and cushion so I'm not getting the horrible knee pain and preferably do away with my shin splints, although I think that last part is wishful thinking. The other problem I'm having is how expensive running shoes are, good ones anyway. Spending $60+ on shoes is out of the question for my budget.
I'm such a cheap skate anyway, I usually only shop at Ross and never spend more than about $20 on any given pair of shoes, so my mind set on costs is that of a grouchy old penny pincher. I even looked at my faithful Ross store today, but I just don't think I will find a real, quality pair there. Also... I really want something wild and fun to motivate me on this crazy journey of attempting this 5k.
I realize it is not the color or style of the shoe, but the comfort and support it provides. I just feel like I'd be way more jazzed about self-inducing punishment of running if I were rockin something like this:

But alas, items such as these little gems would cost me well over $100 which is way out of this broke-living-off-student-loan's budget. A girl can dream though, right?

I have a mid term tomorrow that I really should be studying for. So why is it I'm instead writing about running shoes? Exactly. Procrastination at its finest.