Becoming a Runner

That's right, I have retreated into nearly 'liking' the run.
I guess when you are "Mrs. #TeamRunDisney", the options are limited... Put Up, Shut Up & Sign Up.
And so I did.
Now, I am facing a vast array of new issues... My body parts are taking turns aching... I thank them for that. Every ounce of food that enters my mouth, is followed by the 'will this fuel my next run' thoughts... And most importantly, the 'do we take them or search for a sitter dilemna'..
I have run with my kids, I actually have only done TWO races without one strapped to my chest and two being pushed in a jogger. THAT is NOT EASY.
I did not expect the overwhelming need to find the next race 'high' to kick in SO QUICKLY.... Nor, did I expect mysel to feel so driven to WANT to get better, faster and further runs in...
UGH...
I have become "one of them"....

I have immersed myself.
The fastest way to learn ANYTHING is through TOTAL immersion. A running immersion works similarly. Of course, taking on too much running too quickly can lead to fatigue and injury, but if done right, a running immersion can help build your aerobic base into your week and train you to run while fatigued. Because, let's face the facts here... VERY few finish a race of any length without some fatigue.
I am adding mileage to your weekly running diet, with caution and certainly slowly. I have recently decided to add 15-30 minutes a day to a morning run AND throw in a nice mile in the evening but I am making sure I am still taking at least one or two days off from running so I don’t literally run myself into the ground. I like to replace those days with some nice relaxing P90X/INSANITY Hybrid activities...At the end of the week, I've built ample muscle and burned baby fat.

I am still trying to figure out what works for me... Most say to find a comfortable pace, or dive into the 'Run-Walk' method... Which has been working for me, however on shorter runs I always try to break the mold a little and attempt doing more fartlek workouts and vary the length of my hard efforts, run hard without looking at my iphone. Hard to the next stoplight, run hard to the next tree or run hard until I think it’s time to back off for a rest interval.

I run hills.
I love it... when I am done. Hill workouts can put some pizzazz in my runs, and I can already tell (in the THREE weeks I have taken running seriously) they can go a long way in building dynamic muscle strength that can come in handy when I'm fatigued and struggling to finish the last miles of the race, AND it makes the small-ish inclines in road races, a piece of cake!

Now, I want to be fast.
I have spoken to runners, trainers, fitness nuts and physicians.... I want to be fast THE RIGHT WAY. It's funny to say that they all have come back to me with the SAME information.. To run fast, you have to train fast.
Now, I am setting asside a day a week to "speed train" myself. I run as fast as I can for 3 minutes, then lower the speed (still a run) for 2 minutes and repeat for a half an hour. I, the queen of "no sweat" am a sweaty mess at the end.