I haven't written in a while because guess what...I haven't run in almost 2 weeks! I went to Denver for my PSO training for AmeriCorps Vista. There was a gym there and I was really excited because I thought I would be in there doing all of my runs plus some much needed strength training. I ignored the advice of Leah by not doing my Tuesday run in the morning before I flew out, thinking that I would do it that night in the gym. I didn't do it, nor did I excercise once in that gym. I saw that people did their workouts and I had my running clothes and shoes with me, but after sessions lasting from 8-5 with breakfast from 7-8 and dinner from 5:30-6:30, I was exhausted or just wanted to hang out with people instead of running. After I got home that Friday I was so tired and ended up skipping my long run on Saturday. It all pretty much went downhill from there and then it was Thanksgiving. I had really messed up here and knew I would pay for it on my next run.
This morning I met with Leah and some of the other Running Peeps to do our long runs (because our coach was going to have us do them Tuesday night and there is no way I would be up for 5 miles after being on the go for over 14 hours). Leah and I took off around 7:10am and kept at a really even pace which ended up being about 16:35/mi which is nice and slow. My feet were killing me around mile 2 and my muscles were yelling at me. I was super tight and needed to stop to stretch out my right foot (still no new running shoes). The good part is that around mile 3 I was feeling great and then mile 4 I was giddy. I was even saying to Leah that maybe we could do 6 miles like she wanted to, but we decided to keep to five. This was an excellent idea because when we had about half to a quarter left, I was tired. I felt great when we finished and we had breakfast at our meeting place and a much deserved chocolate milk (yay!). There were a few things that I realized that you can only come to when you've made a few mistakes: the first is that I should NEVER go that long without running. The weekly runs are there for a reason and I would have had a better run if I had kept up or even did one of them this week. Secondly, I love running. I was getting in a lazy mode where I almost didn't want to run anymore and was more interested in the status of saying that I am a runner. Now I could give a crap about that status and would trade it all for the high. Thirdly, I have picked up a bad habbit: when I feel good, I tend to speed up. I need to remember that my weekly runs are just that and not races. I just get caught up in the moment and the fun and need to refocus on keeping an even pace so I don't burn myself out. Well, I plan on doing my Monday run and getting back into the swing of things. Until next time, I'll be running.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
You Know You're a Runner When.....
I found some cute stuff online and some ideas from friends and my group to what bonds runners with other runners. Feel free to add to it!
1. When you get more excited by buying running clothes than any other apparel.
2. When you talk about running all the times and can turn any conversation into one about it.
3. When the ritual of laying out your running gear for the next day causes great satisfaction.
4. If you plan vacations/holidays around your running schedule.
5. When you have a seperate fund for race fees.
6. Even though you have made fun of fanny packs in the past, you now wear something that slightly resembles one and are proud of it.
7. When you and all of the other runners have a mutual understanding when you pass eachother.
8. When you don't wear your new race shirt after packet pick up because you believe you haven't earned it yet.
9. If your running buddies know more about you then anyone else (especially bodily functions).
10. When you find that your Friday night friends have changed (because you're in bed early instead of bar hopping).
11. If you are hungry for lunch by 9 am and you've already had breakfast.
12. When you are hungry all the time.
13. When you've tried all the fueling products like bars, beans, chops, and gels.
14. When you know exactly when your running shoes have died.
15. When running socks become your favorite thing to put on your feet.
16. When you choose a race based on the swag.
17. When you are not only unafraid to wear spandex, you wear it proudly.
18. When you know all of the trails and streets better than everyone else around you.
19. When moving, one of the factors is what parks and running trails are nearby.
20. If you have had a black toe or a toenail fall off.
21. If the highlight of your day is running.
22. If your car has extra running gear, shoes, or clothes just in case.
23. If you feel wrong and guilty if you have missed your run.
24. When looking at the weather, you see how it will affect your run.
25. When you are upset when you are sick or injured because they interfere with running and not that your body is harmed.
This is all that I came up with/found/got from friends. Hope you enjoyed them!
1. When you get more excited by buying running clothes than any other apparel.
2. When you talk about running all the times and can turn any conversation into one about it.
3. When the ritual of laying out your running gear for the next day causes great satisfaction.
4. If you plan vacations/holidays around your running schedule.
5. When you have a seperate fund for race fees.
6. Even though you have made fun of fanny packs in the past, you now wear something that slightly resembles one and are proud of it.
7. When you and all of the other runners have a mutual understanding when you pass eachother.
8. When you don't wear your new race shirt after packet pick up because you believe you haven't earned it yet.
9. If your running buddies know more about you then anyone else (especially bodily functions).
10. When you find that your Friday night friends have changed (because you're in bed early instead of bar hopping).
11. If you are hungry for lunch by 9 am and you've already had breakfast.
12. When you are hungry all the time.
13. When you've tried all the fueling products like bars, beans, chops, and gels.
14. When you know exactly when your running shoes have died.
15. When running socks become your favorite thing to put on your feet.
16. When you choose a race based on the swag.
17. When you are not only unafraid to wear spandex, you wear it proudly.
18. When you know all of the trails and streets better than everyone else around you.
19. When moving, one of the factors is what parks and running trails are nearby.
20. If you have had a black toe or a toenail fall off.
21. If the highlight of your day is running.
22. If your car has extra running gear, shoes, or clothes just in case.
23. If you feel wrong and guilty if you have missed your run.
24. When looking at the weather, you see how it will affect your run.
25. When you are upset when you are sick or injured because they interfere with running and not that your body is harmed.
This is all that I came up with/found/got from friends. Hope you enjoyed them!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Five Week Plan
I decided to make a wish list of races the other day and found so many that looked like a lot of fun. Texas has a lot of races, but more of them are in the Dallas area as opposed to Houston. I found a cute 5 mile race on December 11th called the YMCA Jingle Bell Run. It includes a 3 mile walk and a 1 mile kid’s race as well. You get reindeer antlers, jingle bells and a cool shirt for your efforts. I think I have talked my parents into doing the walk while I do the run. My mother had been doing really well waking every day, but has fallen off of the wagon as of late because she doesn't have anyone to go with (plus sleeping in is so much more attractive). I decided to implement a plan...a masterful, awesome 5 week plan. I made us both an exercise schedule that includes my designated runs with added strength training and a goofy pilates video I found on Netflix that is beginner friendly. I have my mom doing 4 walks a week making her Monday her "long walk" kind of like Saturday is my long run. I then have her walk 30 minutes on the other three days. Friday is our designated pilates day and I think it should be funny to see it happen. If you can imagine two grown women trying to do a video in a tiny spare room staring at the computer for instruction. I am also going to spend today coming up with a meal plan so I can actually shed some pounds instead of maintaining weight. I think I might get a little faster if I do.
On another note, Mom an I went out and did this 3.2 mile loop this morning. I ran the loop while she walked 25 minutes; turned around, and walked back to the car (she went 2 miles!). It was probably the worst run I have had in a long time. Sometimes running makes no sense to me. Saturday's run was beautiful again with frigid temperatures, clear air, feet feeling great and good running buddies. Today was humid as hell, my feet were killing me (need new shoes now), I was extra slow, and my left foot fell asleep like 4 times. At one point my feet hurt so much I wanted to start walking and then I remembered that running is a total mental game. The pain wasn't injury pain; it was "get some new shoes damnit!" pain. I just had to concentrate on the actual trail, make little goals for myself, and run through it. This is really an amazing lesson that I have learned since in the past I would have walked at the slightest bit of pain. On a brighter note, I finished in my normal amount of time and wasn't as slow as I thought. Also, I start 5 miles this Saturday, on purpose this time. Wish me luck (or endurance)!
On another note, Mom an I went out and did this 3.2 mile loop this morning. I ran the loop while she walked 25 minutes; turned around, and walked back to the car (she went 2 miles!). It was probably the worst run I have had in a long time. Sometimes running makes no sense to me. Saturday's run was beautiful again with frigid temperatures, clear air, feet feeling great and good running buddies. Today was humid as hell, my feet were killing me (need new shoes now), I was extra slow, and my left foot fell asleep like 4 times. At one point my feet hurt so much I wanted to start walking and then I remembered that running is a total mental game. The pain wasn't injury pain; it was "get some new shoes damnit!" pain. I just had to concentrate on the actual trail, make little goals for myself, and run through it. This is really an amazing lesson that I have learned since in the past I would have walked at the slightest bit of pain. On a brighter note, I finished in my normal amount of time and wasn't as slow as I thought. Also, I start 5 miles this Saturday, on purpose this time. Wish me luck (or endurance)!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Three Miles is Our Bitch
Happy November!
This is the start of a new month and a new training schedule. Tonight's focus was hills. I had no idea there were actually hilly places in the back of my town, but yep...there are. Leah had called me on the way there and thought the hills looked scary and thought we would die. Leah and I were the only ones doing 3 miles while everyone else did 4. We stayed pretty slow and steady the whole time and our calves were feeling good in comparison to Monday's awful 2 miles. Liz ran back to us and came with us to the hills. It wasn't bad at all. I thought it would be much worse than it was, but we correctly approached the hills and didn't attack them. We made it to the top, took that lovely decline for a few minutes, ran back up and turned back to the park. Unfortunatly Leah, pointed out to Liz that we only did 2.5 according to her garmin (stupid thing) so she suggested we run a little more. I know it was only a half mile more, but I felt so done. I did feel better after we finished, but we only made it to 2.85 before we needed to go back.
Right now I am a little sore so I see some rolling in my future of my calves, IT band, and feet. The good part is that my feet were awake the whole time as opposed to last week when I wiped out. So far, so good.
This is the start of a new month and a new training schedule. Tonight's focus was hills. I had no idea there were actually hilly places in the back of my town, but yep...there are. Leah had called me on the way there and thought the hills looked scary and thought we would die. Leah and I were the only ones doing 3 miles while everyone else did 4. We stayed pretty slow and steady the whole time and our calves were feeling good in comparison to Monday's awful 2 miles. Liz ran back to us and came with us to the hills. It wasn't bad at all. I thought it would be much worse than it was, but we correctly approached the hills and didn't attack them. We made it to the top, took that lovely decline for a few minutes, ran back up and turned back to the park. Unfortunatly Leah, pointed out to Liz that we only did 2.5 according to her garmin (stupid thing) so she suggested we run a little more. I know it was only a half mile more, but I felt so done. I did feel better after we finished, but we only made it to 2.85 before we needed to go back.
Right now I am a little sore so I see some rolling in my future of my calves, IT band, and feet. The good part is that my feet were awake the whole time as opposed to last week when I wiped out. So far, so good.
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