so let me put your mind at ease... i have been running and i have been doing pretty well. the month of november was very good. i upped my mileage to 5 miles and i try to do that once a week. my typical schedule is 3 miles, 4 miles, 5 miles... and if i get an additional day i'll do another 3 mile.
on thanksgiving morning we ran a 5 mile event (the turkey trot in dayton). it was AWESOME! i realized that i really like running longer distances. i'm able to settle in and relax; something i still have yet to do with the 3 mile. it's weird, i'm not sure why i can get into a better pace with the longer distance. it seems to be totally mental too.
there were so many people at the turkey trot. over 7000 were expected and i'm guessing there was at least that many there. i quickly fell into my own step. britt and i decided to run our own races in light of what happened last time. we each had different expectations and it was just best to attack the day alone. my three goals were: finish (of course), don't walk, and don't panic. it's safe to say that i was able to do all three with ease. my panic came when i first woke up in the morning because it was pouring down rain and windy as all get out. i just knew it was going to be freezing as well. then i stepped outside to find it a mild 53 degrees. not too shabby. all in all it was good run...
the preparation was different too. training for the ghostly gallop was all uncharted territory. i had no idea what to expect and i was totally new to absolutely everything. training for the 5 mile was interesting. i took on the philosophy... "one more rock". on my route each rock is 1/2 a mile. so every time i increased my run by a rock i was actually adding a mile to my run. 1/2 a mile out, 1/2 a mile back... its also become quite a comfort running in the pitch black. now that the sun goes down so soon it's almost always dark when i run. i feel like that helps a lot with the "blind run" issue that i had during the 5k.
speaking of blind run, in preparation we had to run in jamaica. we decided to do so that last full day we were there and it was very difficult. if not for the obvious, who wants to run while they're on vacation, but also for the hills. jamaica is very mountainous and the course we run was riddled with very steep hills. i made it 30 min that day and threw in the towel. i do feel though that that run prepared me well for the 5 miles on thursday.
my biggest problem now is motivation. i'm not scheduled to run anything this month. and i gave myself permission after the 5 mile to eat whatever i wanted for the weekend, which has turned into a week... i can feel a major difference in my stamina and energy. time to get back into the mindset of "garbage in garbage out". without the proper fuel i'm worthless. i ran 3 miles the tuesday after the turkey trot and it hurt so bad. i could feel every soda i drank and every burger i ate. i ran another 3 miles today and although a bit better, i'm still not up to par. not ever close.
monday starts a new goal... i'm going back to running every other day without exception. it's when i give myself permission to relax is when i decline in motivation. my ultimate goal is that while on vacation in california the week of christmas that i run each day.
i've yet to run each day and i'm not sure how my body will react. i do know that what i put in my body will directly effect how i feel and how motivated i am.
i've finally started seeing differences in my body. things are fitting better. i have more confidence in myself because i know what i'm capable of. i'm starting to really believe in myself more... all things i did not expect to get out of this at all. but i'm happy... i'm very happy for the transformation...
i'll keep an update going of the month. in january i hope to participate in another event. i'm looking for a 5k so if anyone knows of any please let me know.
;)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
39:20...
well, i ran my race. i have to say it was not at all what i expected!!! this whole time i've been training i have had it in my mind that all this practice and all this hard work was going to make for an easy run today. boy was i wrong!! it was really hard... i had to fight for every bit of that run this morning.
i started off feeling pretty excited. everyone was pumped up and super happy to be out there. there were high fives and shouts of encouragement all along the start. then of course the crazy runners broke off and the walkers and beginners started to move into their pace. britt kept asking me if i was ok and i thought that i was but i got tired pretty quickly.
we rounded the first corner and i realized that i was breathing pretty hard and i was pooped. britt was getting frustrated because i was going rather slow. he said that it was slower than our usual pace and i immediately got upset. i then could not calm myself down to save my life.
then came the worst thing ever... HILLS! the guy that told me about this event was specific that there was no hills. BULL SHIT! there was one that lasted for almost a quarter mile. it sucked.
the first time i ran the 5k in training, i panicked for several reasons. 1-it was a blind run. once i got past the half way point and realized that i have worked so hard and now have to go back i totally freaked out. 2-i couldn't find a rhythm. 3-no matter what britt said to me to try to get me thru it i took it as an attack and i just wanted to fight him. 4-my emotions got the best of me and i couldn't rationalize anything. all the above lead to me just fatiguing way too fast and having to struggle thru the whole thing.
this morning i did the exact same thing. i was lost cuz there were no mile markers. i had no clue where i was or how far i had to go. the course map was not laid out so great at registration so i didn't know what to expect. my mind kept playing tricks on me and i had trouble focusing. once that set in, i couldn't listen to britt. i knew he was frustrated and everything he said to me was the wrong thing... that's not fair to him cuz he was trying so hard to lift me up. (sorry babe!!)
all in all, the hardest part was all mental!
so where does this leave me? well, i crossed the finish line. i pushed all the way even though my legs felt like they weren't moving. 39:20... my best time yet. hills and all i made it across that line with an acceptable time.
4 months ago when i began this journey i would have never thought that i could do this. 4 months ago i was worried about increasing my intervals to 5 min let alone running for 39:20. 4 months ago i didn't know what it meant to push myself through fatigue and mental ambush to finish something that not everybody can do. what were my reasons for doing this? oh ya, because i can... well today, i did...
here's to the next opportunity!!!
i started off feeling pretty excited. everyone was pumped up and super happy to be out there. there were high fives and shouts of encouragement all along the start. then of course the crazy runners broke off and the walkers and beginners started to move into their pace. britt kept asking me if i was ok and i thought that i was but i got tired pretty quickly.
we rounded the first corner and i realized that i was breathing pretty hard and i was pooped. britt was getting frustrated because i was going rather slow. he said that it was slower than our usual pace and i immediately got upset. i then could not calm myself down to save my life.
then came the worst thing ever... HILLS! the guy that told me about this event was specific that there was no hills. BULL SHIT! there was one that lasted for almost a quarter mile. it sucked.
the first time i ran the 5k in training, i panicked for several reasons. 1-it was a blind run. once i got past the half way point and realized that i have worked so hard and now have to go back i totally freaked out. 2-i couldn't find a rhythm. 3-no matter what britt said to me to try to get me thru it i took it as an attack and i just wanted to fight him. 4-my emotions got the best of me and i couldn't rationalize anything. all the above lead to me just fatiguing way too fast and having to struggle thru the whole thing.
this morning i did the exact same thing. i was lost cuz there were no mile markers. i had no clue where i was or how far i had to go. the course map was not laid out so great at registration so i didn't know what to expect. my mind kept playing tricks on me and i had trouble focusing. once that set in, i couldn't listen to britt. i knew he was frustrated and everything he said to me was the wrong thing... that's not fair to him cuz he was trying so hard to lift me up. (sorry babe!!)
all in all, the hardest part was all mental!
so where does this leave me? well, i crossed the finish line. i pushed all the way even though my legs felt like they weren't moving. 39:20... my best time yet. hills and all i made it across that line with an acceptable time.
4 months ago when i began this journey i would have never thought that i could do this. 4 months ago i was worried about increasing my intervals to 5 min let alone running for 39:20. 4 months ago i didn't know what it meant to push myself through fatigue and mental ambush to finish something that not everybody can do. what were my reasons for doing this? oh ya, because i can... well today, i did...
here's to the next opportunity!!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
2 days left...
well, run31 fans the 5k is on saturday and i only have one run left before the big day. i find it pretty amazing every time i run how far i've come. i hit a mile marker and i think, "wow, i used to be dying here" or "it used to take me twice as long to get to this point"... how i've improved. but this saturday will be the true test. i'm so unsure of what to expect. what's the course going to be like? how cold is it going to be? what should i wear so that i'm comfortable and not distracted? how early should i get there? aaaahhhh.... it's just another day on the pavement... right?
it's very gratifying to think how far i've come. i really didn't think that i would make it to this point. i was sure that i would either throw in the towel or never even be able to run an entire 5k. now i find myself craving the runs. on nice days i think of how much i want to get out there and go. i crave the outdoors. there are certain points on my normal course where the scents change. some not so nice... but others are amazing. the flowers, the animals, the sunsets... and some evenings the moon... last week we ran a 5k by the light of the moon. britt forgot his watch and there was no way to tell how i was doing. it didn't matter... the run was awesome! those are runs i crave...
on the nites when its difficult, i've been able to learn how to stay calm and focus. my goal for saturday is to do just that. i have to remember not to get caught up in the excitement and pace myself. i've started to understand what that means so that i can push the last half mile pretty good. i know what my best training times have been so i'm hoping to at least match those.
thursday i have one more run then my plan for friday is a long and relaxed yoga session. i've been kinda sore this week and my runs haven't been stellar. i'll do a mild taper just so that i'm fresh on the day of. sleep has been a big factor this week. just can't seem to get enough... so hopefully the rest of the week improves...
wish me luck ... i'll post pics!!!
it's very gratifying to think how far i've come. i really didn't think that i would make it to this point. i was sure that i would either throw in the towel or never even be able to run an entire 5k. now i find myself craving the runs. on nice days i think of how much i want to get out there and go. i crave the outdoors. there are certain points on my normal course where the scents change. some not so nice... but others are amazing. the flowers, the animals, the sunsets... and some evenings the moon... last week we ran a 5k by the light of the moon. britt forgot his watch and there was no way to tell how i was doing. it didn't matter... the run was awesome! those are runs i crave...
on the nites when its difficult, i've been able to learn how to stay calm and focus. my goal for saturday is to do just that. i have to remember not to get caught up in the excitement and pace myself. i've started to understand what that means so that i can push the last half mile pretty good. i know what my best training times have been so i'm hoping to at least match those.
thursday i have one more run then my plan for friday is a long and relaxed yoga session. i've been kinda sore this week and my runs haven't been stellar. i'll do a mild taper just so that i'm fresh on the day of. sleep has been a big factor this week. just can't seem to get enough... so hopefully the rest of the week improves...
wish me luck ... i'll post pics!!!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
32:00....hello i'm improving!!
i said in the last post that i was working on letting go of time in order to be able to measure my progress... well tonite was certainly progress. i decided that sense i ran 3.18 miles on tuesday i was going to drop back the distance tonite to 2.65 and push it a little harder and try to improve my time from last week. my best time on the shorter distance was 34:08. tonite i ran that distance in 32 min flat...
so far this week has been a major success. not only did i run another 3.18 miles on tuesday and drop 35 seconds, i approached it with a much different mindset and was able to accomplish a huge goal. the first time i ran the 5k i had a total melt down at the half way point. i got to that rock and realized i had worked so hard to get there and now i have to go all the way back. that did not sit well with me and i panicked. so this last time i just wanted to get through it as relaxed as possible. i decided that i was only going to focus on what i was doing at that given moment. i was not going to look ahead with a sense of completion until i got to the end. it doesn't matter how i got there, just that i got there. each breath was necessary to fuel my legs with the energy to keep moving. each half mile i completed was another step closer to the goal but it only matter what i had completed up to that point.
i got to the end of the run and britt told me that i had dropped 35 seconds. what a sense of accomplishment. i had managed to stay calm and focused and get to the end and improve. awesome...
so tonite i lacked a bit of energy so i decided to back off my distance to get a win under my belt. i was tight and sore from tuesday. i completed my first mile in a decent time, pretty consistent with what i've been doing lately 12:50. i knew that in order to maintain i really had to focus on every step. so i dropped my shoulders and continued to breath... a friend gave me a tip the other day. every time you feel like you're going to panic or back off your pace, take a deep breath and hold it for a second or two. then let it out in the rhythm you're accustomed to. it gave me the chance to collect myself and refocus. very helpful... as i continued the run tonite britt gave me half mile updates on my time and i seemed to be keeping a good pace, even with negative splits. at the end of the run when i'm most tired and really wanting to be done was when i felt like i needed to dig down and go for it. i sprinted the last 100 yards and made it in 32 min flat...
i can honestly say that i'm very proud of myself... i got my win.
the big day is rapidly approaching and i'm ready and excited...
looking forward to your thoughts... please share your experiences with me, cuz i need all the help i can get. ;)
so far this week has been a major success. not only did i run another 3.18 miles on tuesday and drop 35 seconds, i approached it with a much different mindset and was able to accomplish a huge goal. the first time i ran the 5k i had a total melt down at the half way point. i got to that rock and realized i had worked so hard to get there and now i have to go all the way back. that did not sit well with me and i panicked. so this last time i just wanted to get through it as relaxed as possible. i decided that i was only going to focus on what i was doing at that given moment. i was not going to look ahead with a sense of completion until i got to the end. it doesn't matter how i got there, just that i got there. each breath was necessary to fuel my legs with the energy to keep moving. each half mile i completed was another step closer to the goal but it only matter what i had completed up to that point.
i got to the end of the run and britt told me that i had dropped 35 seconds. what a sense of accomplishment. i had managed to stay calm and focused and get to the end and improve. awesome...
so tonite i lacked a bit of energy so i decided to back off my distance to get a win under my belt. i was tight and sore from tuesday. i completed my first mile in a decent time, pretty consistent with what i've been doing lately 12:50. i knew that in order to maintain i really had to focus on every step. so i dropped my shoulders and continued to breath... a friend gave me a tip the other day. every time you feel like you're going to panic or back off your pace, take a deep breath and hold it for a second or two. then let it out in the rhythm you're accustomed to. it gave me the chance to collect myself and refocus. very helpful... as i continued the run tonite britt gave me half mile updates on my time and i seemed to be keeping a good pace, even with negative splits. at the end of the run when i'm most tired and really wanting to be done was when i felt like i needed to dig down and go for it. i sprinted the last 100 yards and made it in 32 min flat...
i can honestly say that i'm very proud of myself... i got my win.
the big day is rapidly approaching and i'm ready and excited...
looking forward to your thoughts... please share your experiences with me, cuz i need all the help i can get. ;)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
okay people i'm posting...
wow! who knew that so many were waiting with bated breath for me to post again. it is true, i have been running. it's been a bit less scheduled then before when i began this journey. my life schedule has been hectic and i've had to really make a concerted effort to get out and run. when i get home from work i only have about 1 hr of light left and although i don't mind running in the dark i like to get started before the sun goes down. it's all mental and makes no sense...i know.
so here's all that's happened in the last month. i officially made it the distance. 3.18 miles completed this past tuesday in 40:30. the time is merely a benchmark and i remind all that are also trying this along with me that time should not be measured unless you can handle it. here's why...
i spent the better part of september rather frustrated with this whole thing. i was finding reasons to not run and i was disappointed after every run. there was no progress that i could see or measure. i run with britt and he was super frustrated with me. we sat down and talked about what was different or what why it was so tough. remember this summer when it was so hot you could barely breath sitting in your car with the air on? this was worst... we came to the conclusion that we had different expectations out of the runs and we were not on the same page. he was coming from coaching soccer and was in a very competitive mind set and i am not viewing this as a competition. as a coach myself i totally understood his thinking and we were able to regroup and refocus what our runs were going to be. i can't say it's not ever frustrating any more, but i know now that he is totally on my side and that his words are encouraging. i'm able to push myself harder now because progress is still a large part of my goal. but i ultimately had to let go of the time so i could use it to measure my progress.
so let's talk progress. i have tried something new. all in the spirit of getting out there and experiencing life. britt and i went mountain biking today. he really wanted to try it and found a trail really close to us. i was nervous but game. i can honestly say that had i not been running the last few months there is no way i would have been able to even think of doing this with britt. i am so glad that i have made the decision to open up my opportunities. it was very difficult and there were moments when i needed to stop and rest or walk or whine... but i got through it. i used muscles today that i didn't know i had. i could tell my legs were strong enough to handle it though and that made me feel really good. it was the unknown that gave me such an adrenaline rush. not something that i'm used to. not something that i'm comfortable with. pushing myself out of my comfort zone was the whole purpose of this mission to begin with.
i have seen progress in every day things as well. this idea that it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, it's the getting there that matters. every time i get out there i have the opportunity to get there. it's a mindset that drives me and settles me every day.
only 3 weeks til the 5k. i'm getting very excited and yet the unknown makes my heart beat when i think about it. it won't just be me and britt running on the trail in the dark with no one around and no one to say "who's the big girl pretending to run". instead it will be hundreds of people all staring. or will it be like today... a community of people all running in the same direction just to get there. in 3 weeks i have the opportunity to find out...
so here's all that's happened in the last month. i officially made it the distance. 3.18 miles completed this past tuesday in 40:30. the time is merely a benchmark and i remind all that are also trying this along with me that time should not be measured unless you can handle it. here's why...
i spent the better part of september rather frustrated with this whole thing. i was finding reasons to not run and i was disappointed after every run. there was no progress that i could see or measure. i run with britt and he was super frustrated with me. we sat down and talked about what was different or what why it was so tough. remember this summer when it was so hot you could barely breath sitting in your car with the air on? this was worst... we came to the conclusion that we had different expectations out of the runs and we were not on the same page. he was coming from coaching soccer and was in a very competitive mind set and i am not viewing this as a competition. as a coach myself i totally understood his thinking and we were able to regroup and refocus what our runs were going to be. i can't say it's not ever frustrating any more, but i know now that he is totally on my side and that his words are encouraging. i'm able to push myself harder now because progress is still a large part of my goal. but i ultimately had to let go of the time so i could use it to measure my progress.
so let's talk progress. i have tried something new. all in the spirit of getting out there and experiencing life. britt and i went mountain biking today. he really wanted to try it and found a trail really close to us. i was nervous but game. i can honestly say that had i not been running the last few months there is no way i would have been able to even think of doing this with britt. i am so glad that i have made the decision to open up my opportunities. it was very difficult and there were moments when i needed to stop and rest or walk or whine... but i got through it. i used muscles today that i didn't know i had. i could tell my legs were strong enough to handle it though and that made me feel really good. it was the unknown that gave me such an adrenaline rush. not something that i'm used to. not something that i'm comfortable with. pushing myself out of my comfort zone was the whole purpose of this mission to begin with.
i have seen progress in every day things as well. this idea that it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, it's the getting there that matters. every time i get out there i have the opportunity to get there. it's a mindset that drives me and settles me every day.
only 3 weeks til the 5k. i'm getting very excited and yet the unknown makes my heart beat when i think about it. it won't just be me and britt running on the trail in the dark with no one around and no one to say "who's the big girl pretending to run". instead it will be hundreds of people all staring. or will it be like today... a community of people all running in the same direction just to get there. in 3 weeks i have the opportunity to find out...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
whoa... been outta the loop for a bit
well, i'm back. i haven't even had time to get on and keep you all updated on my progress.
things have been pretty good... i was able to complete my first 25 min run on friday last week, then on saturday i busted my toe and was out of commission until tonite.
i had a pretty intense day and i was completely jacked up when i got home. i ran another 25 min and now i'm excited because i was able to calm myself down and decompress from the day. for some reason this is the first time i have been able to use my run as a way to come down from my day. i was so full of energy and it was annoying and i got to use that during my run and it felt great.
here's the weird thing... i'm improving from a time stand point but not the feeling of being tired as soon as 3 min in. but i'm getting better and i can feel it. my stride feels so much more loose and my legs have more energy. i've gotten to a point where i can control my breathing when i start to freak out and want to stop. Britt has figured out that when i get frustrated and start to... well panic... he reminds me to control my breathing and my pace then picks back up.
so although it's been a while since i've left any words of wisdom i'd still like to hear what others are up against... the weather is changing which has made a world of difference for me. i'm not running with a golf bag on my back any more, so how's it treating you.
glad to be back in the running... hahahaha!
things have been pretty good... i was able to complete my first 25 min run on friday last week, then on saturday i busted my toe and was out of commission until tonite.
i had a pretty intense day and i was completely jacked up when i got home. i ran another 25 min and now i'm excited because i was able to calm myself down and decompress from the day. for some reason this is the first time i have been able to use my run as a way to come down from my day. i was so full of energy and it was annoying and i got to use that during my run and it felt great.
here's the weird thing... i'm improving from a time stand point but not the feeling of being tired as soon as 3 min in. but i'm getting better and i can feel it. my stride feels so much more loose and my legs have more energy. i've gotten to a point where i can control my breathing when i start to freak out and want to stop. Britt has figured out that when i get frustrated and start to... well panic... he reminds me to control my breathing and my pace then picks back up.
so although it's been a while since i've left any words of wisdom i'd still like to hear what others are up against... the weather is changing which has made a world of difference for me. i'm not running with a golf bag on my back any more, so how's it treating you.
glad to be back in the running... hahahaha!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
could i actually be a runner...
its been a while since my last post... i've been a bit busy but no worries i've still been keeping my schedule...
last nite was my second run of the week. the weather was perfect and i finally felt like things were ticking. i've been really trying to figure out how to open my stride and it hasn't been easy but i've been getting some tips from some pretty good people. my awesome coach has been out of town... ugh!!
so here's what i've learned. i've been shuffling alot, especially when i'm getting tired. my friend who's a track coach suggested that i work on getting my knees up. here i've been trying to kick my heels back. well all week this is what i've been doing... popping my knees up with every stride... at least most of them. i'm still trying to develop the consistency. i can say that it is helping. last night i was able to actually improve on my time from earlier in the week by almost 2 1/2 minutes... not too shabby....
here's my schedule this week... and leading up to the next few weeks...
day 1: run 5 min walk 2.5 min run 8 min walk 3 min run 5 min
day 2: run 10 min walk 3 min run 10 min
day 3: run 22 min
i'm working up to a consistant 25 min over the next several weeks... shouldn't be much longer
i hope that all of you are out there running too and if you're getting anything out of this please let me know... i love all the encouragement it really helps...
last nite was my second run of the week. the weather was perfect and i finally felt like things were ticking. i've been really trying to figure out how to open my stride and it hasn't been easy but i've been getting some tips from some pretty good people. my awesome coach has been out of town... ugh!!
so here's what i've learned. i've been shuffling alot, especially when i'm getting tired. my friend who's a track coach suggested that i work on getting my knees up. here i've been trying to kick my heels back. well all week this is what i've been doing... popping my knees up with every stride... at least most of them. i'm still trying to develop the consistency. i can say that it is helping. last night i was able to actually improve on my time from earlier in the week by almost 2 1/2 minutes... not too shabby....
here's my schedule this week... and leading up to the next few weeks...
day 1: run 5 min walk 2.5 min run 8 min walk 3 min run 5 min
day 2: run 10 min walk 3 min run 10 min
day 3: run 22 min
i'm working up to a consistant 25 min over the next several weeks... shouldn't be much longer
i hope that all of you are out there running too and if you're getting anything out of this please let me know... i love all the encouragement it really helps...
Friday, August 20, 2010
starting to go the distance...
"You have to wonder at times what you’re doing out there. Over the years, I’ve giving myself a thousand reasons to keep running. But it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
-Steve prefontaine
i couldn't have said it better myself. my best friend posted this last night and it rings so true. those of you that know me know i analyze everything... i mean everything. when i began this i wanted something that i could say with confidence... "it is what it is"! i chuckle when i think of that old Nike logo "just do it". but how true is that? it doesn't matter if the run is good or bad it only matters that i do it. my goal from the beginning has been to get out there and just do it.
last night i finished myy 2nd run of the week. if you remember i'm up to 2 intervals of 8 min with a 5 min walk in between. both nights i was able to push that last interval to 11 min 30 sec. several things played a factor in that last push. the first night there was no humidity. my trainer keeps telling me... "wait til you run and you're not wearing the weight of the world on your shoulders". everything was different, i could breathe, i could feel my legs (at times i wished i couldn't), i was fully aware of the whole experience. it all felt very good so i kept going because i had no inclination to stop.
the second night, the humidity was up a bit and my legs were recovering from the last run. my energy was down, but it had been a low energy day in general. still i pushed myself. i kept thinking to myself, if i was able to push on a good day and i had success with it, why should i stop on a bad day? it hurt, i was tired and i really wanted to stop. but i have moved forward up to this point and i can't move backwards because it's hard. boy was it difficult. everything inside me wants to stop... but you know, i'm actually fearful to give in to that feeling.
i don't know what that is. do i choose to keep going out of fear alone? i hope to come a conclusion on this because it does worry me. my fears stem from always... stopping...
no time to be afraid i guess... this weekend i take on my first 20 min run. i'm actually very excited... so i will keep you all posted.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
how many weeks is this...
Well, i have completed the week at the most difficult intervals yet. i feel like this has been a total mental milestone. tonite felt pretty darn good. my feet were hitting the pavement instead of shuffling along. my breathing was labored but i knew, for some reason, that with every step i was doing it.
my mother asked me today, "Why are you doing this?". it came more from a "why would you want to do something like this?" How simply my answer came... "because i can". that was it... there's no other reason. that gave me so much energy as i was running...
tonite i got out there just because i can and it felt wonderful...
i'm pretty excited to go into this week. my intervals change to 8 min runs/5 min walks 2 times... i'm actually really excited to get this week going because i'm rapidly coming up on my first 20 min run. by this time next week i should have gotten thru it as long as the weather cooperates. i'm not going to attempt it in this humidity. i'm choosing to set myself up for failure...
needless to say i'm pretty proud of myself right now. i know that i'm improving and that's more impactful for me right now than anything else.
my mother asked me today, "Why are you doing this?". it came more from a "why would you want to do something like this?" How simply my answer came... "because i can". that was it... there's no other reason. that gave me so much energy as i was running...
tonite i got out there just because i can and it felt wonderful...
i'm pretty excited to go into this week. my intervals change to 8 min runs/5 min walks 2 times... i'm actually really excited to get this week going because i'm rapidly coming up on my first 20 min run. by this time next week i should have gotten thru it as long as the weather cooperates. i'm not going to attempt it in this humidity. i'm choosing to set myself up for failure...
needless to say i'm pretty proud of myself right now. i know that i'm improving and that's more impactful for me right now than anything else.
Friday, August 13, 2010
runnig through the sore...
friday night and what am i doing... blogging about running... wow living on the wild side.
shew, last night was difficult. my calves were aching so bad i could barely get off the couch. i can honestly say it felt like my muscles were all dried up... i don't know if it was dehydration or what's that called... lactic acid... i don't know but it sucked!!! now, i had a thought tonight when i got back from my run... the first few weeks i was eating bananas like crazy... i probably was eating 2-3 a day. i haven't had a banana in 2 weeks now because i've been too busy to go to the store. sad i know...
so i had a friend contact me and ask me a few questions about what she's experienced in her runs in the last few weeks. i'm so glad that people are starting get into this... she said she's been having problems with here knees. she was able to go out for 7 days then had to stop because of how bad they hurt.
here's what i learned... when i just started this i had to accept the fact that even if i wanted to "keep going" i had to give my body time to catch up with my mind. that principal would come in handy when my body wanted to quit and my mind was trying to push through the fatigue. as i have increased each interval i have experienced different "hurts" and "aches" that are brand new to me... i have to figure out how to stretch something or rest something. for someone who has practiced yoga for 4 years now i really thought i had a great grasp on stretching. i'm finding out that i have to adjust in order to focus on what needs it the most. rest is so important... i've learned that even if i want to run today, if it's an off day then i need to allow myself the time to recover so that i can progress tomorrow.
my brother asked me if i was doing this for a better sense of awareness... tonite as i was running and the humidity was so thick i was "wearing the air" i found such energy in those words. it was like the trail shortened and my stride opened and my lungs didn't burn as much and then... i ate a bug!!! i swear i'm a magnet... but it didn't matter. i pushed just a little bit more and i made it to my goal with a new found confidence in this week.
so as everyone gets out this week, please let me know what you're experiencing. if you have a route you like or a interval you enjoy or even a song on your ipod that motivates... please share.
shew, last night was difficult. my calves were aching so bad i could barely get off the couch. i can honestly say it felt like my muscles were all dried up... i don't know if it was dehydration or what's that called... lactic acid... i don't know but it sucked!!! now, i had a thought tonight when i got back from my run... the first few weeks i was eating bananas like crazy... i probably was eating 2-3 a day. i haven't had a banana in 2 weeks now because i've been too busy to go to the store. sad i know...
so i had a friend contact me and ask me a few questions about what she's experienced in her runs in the last few weeks. i'm so glad that people are starting get into this... she said she's been having problems with here knees. she was able to go out for 7 days then had to stop because of how bad they hurt.
here's what i learned... when i just started this i had to accept the fact that even if i wanted to "keep going" i had to give my body time to catch up with my mind. that principal would come in handy when my body wanted to quit and my mind was trying to push through the fatigue. as i have increased each interval i have experienced different "hurts" and "aches" that are brand new to me... i have to figure out how to stretch something or rest something. for someone who has practiced yoga for 4 years now i really thought i had a great grasp on stretching. i'm finding out that i have to adjust in order to focus on what needs it the most. rest is so important... i've learned that even if i want to run today, if it's an off day then i need to allow myself the time to recover so that i can progress tomorrow.
my brother asked me if i was doing this for a better sense of awareness... tonite as i was running and the humidity was so thick i was "wearing the air" i found such energy in those words. it was like the trail shortened and my stride opened and my lungs didn't burn as much and then... i ate a bug!!! i swear i'm a magnet... but it didn't matter. i pushed just a little bit more and i made it to my goal with a new found confidence in this week.
so as everyone gets out this week, please let me know what you're experiencing. if you have a route you like or a interval you enjoy or even a song on your ipod that motivates... please share.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
perspective...
hey people... i invite you all to read some of the comments about last nite's post. one aspect of this journey has been that i would be able to pull on some of your strengths and encouragements... and most importantly your accountability. i know that i was able to draw some serious motivation from scott's post...
thanks again to everyone and the comments that i get regularly...
thanks again to everyone and the comments that i get regularly...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
well things this week have been a bit crazy. my schedule has been different so i've had to modify running to fit my hectic changes... after sunday's run i really didn't want to get back out there. i was so nervous to get back in the saddle that it took everything to get out there...
i'll be honest... i don't even feel like blogging because i feel like i'm just going thru the motions... ah ha!! the story of my life. i get to a certain point in every journey, where i just start to go thru the motions. so what to do...
there's no room for resting this week because i'm moving up in intervals and times. only a few more runs left and i'll be doing 20 min without stopping. the last 2 runs have been totally mental. i've wanted to stop... and for no other reason but to stop. then i'll get a huge burst of energy that lasts a few minutes.
so help me out people... is this the reality? i want this probably more than i did when i started but it's all sinking in. this is not easy at all... hhhhhmmmm....
ok, someone told me that you build a habit eventually. maybe it's not going thru the motions but continuing to build the habit... each run i have to push myself just a little bit harder... so i suppose in the spirit of this journey i don't know if i want this to get easier yet. i want to keep growing and not plateau...
here's to the next run... i'll keep you posted.
i'll be honest... i don't even feel like blogging because i feel like i'm just going thru the motions... ah ha!! the story of my life. i get to a certain point in every journey, where i just start to go thru the motions. so what to do...
there's no room for resting this week because i'm moving up in intervals and times. only a few more runs left and i'll be doing 20 min without stopping. the last 2 runs have been totally mental. i've wanted to stop... and for no other reason but to stop. then i'll get a huge burst of energy that lasts a few minutes.
so help me out people... is this the reality? i want this probably more than i did when i started but it's all sinking in. this is not easy at all... hhhhhmmmm....
ok, someone told me that you build a habit eventually. maybe it's not going thru the motions but continuing to build the habit... each run i have to push myself just a little bit harder... so i suppose in the spirit of this journey i don't know if i want this to get easier yet. i want to keep growing and not plateau...
here's to the next run... i'll keep you posted.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
not feeling it tonite...
so i can honestly say this has been the hardest week ever... what am i doing wrong? every run feels worst than the last. my breathing is erratic and labored. my legs feel fine and i want to open my stride but it's like i have a tie around my thighs and i just can't. i've heard talk about this wall that runners hit. i'm not so sure i can call myself a runner yet and not to under estimate myself too much but someone please tell me what it feels like... then please tell me how to dig down and push thru it. tonite i wanted to quit so bad and then... I ATE A BUG!!
here i am gagging and choking on this nasty bug and trying to catch my breath and push thru the intense urge to quit. i must have looked like an idiot... i couldn't even tell Britt what was wrong, i just kept on spitting... it seems funny now but at the time, not so funny.
here's the breakdown i ran this week...
3 min run 90 sec walk/5 min run 2:30 walk
twice...
i know that doesn't sound like anything but seriously, i have struggled like nothing else.
so what did i accomplish this week because this is not supposed to be about me belly-aching and feeling defeated. this was all started in the spirit of what i know i can do not what i'm not doing...
so here goes... not once this week did i skip a run. even when i wanted to stop i kept going. it hurt like hell sometimes but i pushed thru it. i have completed an entire month of consistently running 3 days a week. someone told me when i started this that it would take 21 days to build a habit, well i made it 30...
for those of you that are following along... here's this weeks breakdown. now my trainer tells me that we are going to take it one day at a time and if one day needs to be repeated than we will but here it is...
tues: 5 min run/2:30 walk (3 times)
thurs: 8 min run/5 min walk (2 times)
weekend: 20 min run no walk
again i'd love to hear if anyone of you are running along with me. i know some of you have said that you're at least getting out there and moving. i can't tell you how happy that makes me. part of this journey has been the realization that we only have a limited amount of time to actually get out there and enjoy these opportunities. i don't want to waste it any longer...
here i am gagging and choking on this nasty bug and trying to catch my breath and push thru the intense urge to quit. i must have looked like an idiot... i couldn't even tell Britt what was wrong, i just kept on spitting... it seems funny now but at the time, not so funny.
here's the breakdown i ran this week...
3 min run 90 sec walk/5 min run 2:30 walk
twice...
i know that doesn't sound like anything but seriously, i have struggled like nothing else.
so what did i accomplish this week because this is not supposed to be about me belly-aching and feeling defeated. this was all started in the spirit of what i know i can do not what i'm not doing...
so here goes... not once this week did i skip a run. even when i wanted to stop i kept going. it hurt like hell sometimes but i pushed thru it. i have completed an entire month of consistently running 3 days a week. someone told me when i started this that it would take 21 days to build a habit, well i made it 30...
for those of you that are following along... here's this weeks breakdown. now my trainer tells me that we are going to take it one day at a time and if one day needs to be repeated than we will but here it is...
tues: 5 min run/2:30 walk (3 times)
thurs: 8 min run/5 min walk (2 times)
weekend: 20 min run no walk
again i'd love to hear if anyone of you are running along with me. i know some of you have said that you're at least getting out there and moving. i can't tell you how happy that makes me. part of this journey has been the realization that we only have a limited amount of time to actually get out there and enjoy these opportunities. i don't want to waste it any longer...
Saturday, August 7, 2010
back in action...
sorry run31 fans... those intense storms this week thru my Internet for a loop. to answer every one's questions... yes, i've been running all week, just as scheduled. it's funny that i wasn't able to blog this week because this has truly been the hardest week so far...
tues was very difficult for me. it seemed as though everything was distracting me and frustrating me. i didn't have any of the energy i had last week and i was even annoyed with the process/breakdown.
thursday i was bogged down. i met with my trainer that day and she could tell things were off. she said i looked beat down and i was. it was very difficult for me to separate the run from the other stuff on my mind. it just seemed like one more thing that i was going to fail at... she talked thru my whole run. my pace was better starting off but as i entered into my last interval i could feel the weight of everything i was carrying with me just pulling me back and welling up inside. i'm not sure if any of you have ever experienced it, but i started crying. my body couldn't fight it... i just let it out. the harder i fought the harder my run was... i wanted to quit.
my trainer then started to say all the things to me that i was saying to myself in my head... "you can't do this", "you're not good enough", "you're to big", "no one thinks you can get this done, so why try"... as i listened to it, i realized how much of a lie all of that was. i WAS doing it, i am good enough... and i'm worth the effort and energy...
i started to open up my posture, my shoulders went back and i started running against the opposition... i felt alive!!!
there's nothing more defeating than all the bull-shit i tell myself on a regular basis. i started this journey to get to know me better and to find out what i'm capable of. i know i can do so much more than what i give myself credit for. why do i hold myself back... well in that moment i was able to let go and run. how simple...
this week was not about my body... it was completely mental and overcoming the lies that i have lived by. each day is a reminder to believe in myself... at what point in life to we have to remind ourselves to believe???
tues was very difficult for me. it seemed as though everything was distracting me and frustrating me. i didn't have any of the energy i had last week and i was even annoyed with the process/breakdown.
thursday i was bogged down. i met with my trainer that day and she could tell things were off. she said i looked beat down and i was. it was very difficult for me to separate the run from the other stuff on my mind. it just seemed like one more thing that i was going to fail at... she talked thru my whole run. my pace was better starting off but as i entered into my last interval i could feel the weight of everything i was carrying with me just pulling me back and welling up inside. i'm not sure if any of you have ever experienced it, but i started crying. my body couldn't fight it... i just let it out. the harder i fought the harder my run was... i wanted to quit.
my trainer then started to say all the things to me that i was saying to myself in my head... "you can't do this", "you're not good enough", "you're to big", "no one thinks you can get this done, so why try"... as i listened to it, i realized how much of a lie all of that was. i WAS doing it, i am good enough... and i'm worth the effort and energy...
i started to open up my posture, my shoulders went back and i started running against the opposition... i felt alive!!!
there's nothing more defeating than all the bull-shit i tell myself on a regular basis. i started this journey to get to know me better and to find out what i'm capable of. i know i can do so much more than what i give myself credit for. why do i hold myself back... well in that moment i was able to let go and run. how simple...
this week was not about my body... it was completely mental and overcoming the lies that i have lived by. each day is a reminder to believe in myself... at what point in life to we have to remind ourselves to believe???
Sunday, August 1, 2010
singing in the rain...
so saturday i went for my 3rd run of the week. as you all know this week has been pretty amazing so i was actually excited to get out there and go. my trainer wanted to run with me because i was trying a new thing... running in the morning instead of after a full day of work. it also was pouring down rain. she nothing of what to expect and boy was i confused...
first of all, i got started when the rain was just starting so it wasn't too bad. then as i got into my second interval it was raining really hard. i noticed that i felt heavier, my feet were tired and i just didn't have the same energy level that i'd had all week. what the heck!!!
i was getting really frustrated... i started to doubt myself big time... so i was really glad she was there to spur me on.
it didn't occur to me that the rain made my shirt heavy and my shoes fill with water. i felt like i was running in jello... i told her how frustrated i was. then she told me what next week is going to look like and i got even more discouraged. after that run, how could i possibly move forward. tuesday and thursday made me feel safe, i don't want to get away from that.
so she knew i was frustrated so when i was done with all my intervals and huffing and puffing she said she wanted to test me. she was going to start the clock and i was just to listen. she wouldn't tell me how far or how long. we were at the end of the trail i run and headed back to my house, a leg i typically walk because of the uneven sidewalk. she said "go" so i started... 8 steps in i almost fell flat on my face... my biggest reservation running that stretch is that people driving by can see me...
well i caught myself and kept on going. i ran while she chattered on... i just kept on going. surprisingly i seemed to have a bit more energy than i did during my intervals. so i just kept on going. i ran past my house and down a side street. my shoes were squishing and i just kept on going. she told me to turn then all the sudden she started to count down from 10... when she said stop i said i can keep going... she showed me the clock and it said 5:01!!
after all that frustration with the whole run i accomplished the longest run i've ever done in my whole life... i did it tired, wet, and sloshy... i did it frustrated, feeling defeated, and unaware... point is i did it. i proved to myself that i can push... even in all the success from last week i was worried that maybe it was getting too easy. then with the rain i felt i had to push harder than any other time i've run... but then with that last go... i now know that i can push through even the frustration and struggle.
so here i am... today is an off day and tomorrow is yoga. and all i can think of getting out there and getting started. i'm entering into week 4... holy cow!!! i'm starting week 4. i didn't think that i was going to make 3 weeks, well i just finished that.
as much as this is all about my journey... i still would love to hear about others. are you running? what things are you finding as you run? i don't even care if you've been running your whole life... what things have you experienced this week as you go out? what's the weather like where you are and how has that effected your run? what things are you dealing with this week that you may have taken into your run? let's get out there together...
i'll keep you all posted on next week... things are about to get very interesting... it's time to start working towards that 5k!!
first of all, i got started when the rain was just starting so it wasn't too bad. then as i got into my second interval it was raining really hard. i noticed that i felt heavier, my feet were tired and i just didn't have the same energy level that i'd had all week. what the heck!!!
i was getting really frustrated... i started to doubt myself big time... so i was really glad she was there to spur me on.
it didn't occur to me that the rain made my shirt heavy and my shoes fill with water. i felt like i was running in jello... i told her how frustrated i was. then she told me what next week is going to look like and i got even more discouraged. after that run, how could i possibly move forward. tuesday and thursday made me feel safe, i don't want to get away from that.
so she knew i was frustrated so when i was done with all my intervals and huffing and puffing she said she wanted to test me. she was going to start the clock and i was just to listen. she wouldn't tell me how far or how long. we were at the end of the trail i run and headed back to my house, a leg i typically walk because of the uneven sidewalk. she said "go" so i started... 8 steps in i almost fell flat on my face... my biggest reservation running that stretch is that people driving by can see me...
well i caught myself and kept on going. i ran while she chattered on... i just kept on going. surprisingly i seemed to have a bit more energy than i did during my intervals. so i just kept on going. i ran past my house and down a side street. my shoes were squishing and i just kept on going. she told me to turn then all the sudden she started to count down from 10... when she said stop i said i can keep going... she showed me the clock and it said 5:01!!
after all that frustration with the whole run i accomplished the longest run i've ever done in my whole life... i did it tired, wet, and sloshy... i did it frustrated, feeling defeated, and unaware... point is i did it. i proved to myself that i can push... even in all the success from last week i was worried that maybe it was getting too easy. then with the rain i felt i had to push harder than any other time i've run... but then with that last go... i now know that i can push through even the frustration and struggle.
so here i am... today is an off day and tomorrow is yoga. and all i can think of getting out there and getting started. i'm entering into week 4... holy cow!!! i'm starting week 4. i didn't think that i was going to make 3 weeks, well i just finished that.
as much as this is all about my journey... i still would love to hear about others. are you running? what things are you finding as you run? i don't even care if you've been running your whole life... what things have you experienced this week as you go out? what's the weather like where you are and how has that effected your run? what things are you dealing with this week that you may have taken into your run? let's get out there together...
i'll keep you all posted on next week... things are about to get very interesting... it's time to start working towards that 5k!!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wk 3... new territory
Tonight was inspiring... on a few different levels! this was the first night that i had to run ALONE! i was extremely nervous about running by myself. i didn't know if i was going to have the same drive that i've had when someone is next to me pushing me... running next to me just for me.
but... what i discovered tonight... i'm the one running for me... no one can push me any harder than i'm willing to push myself. i got farther faster and with more ease than even Tuesday night. there were moments during my run... scenery, animals, smells... that awakened me and made me realize that i'm doing this and it's all me!!!! i couldn't help but smile... i was running for me...
there was something else that i realized tonight...
because of the intervals that i did i ended up with a rather long walk home. it's been a long time since i've spent some well-needed "me time". i had a rough day, but i think i'm starting to notice that thing that everyone talks about... i was able to just gain a little perspective, some sense out of my frustration. the weirdest thing... i wasn't even thinking about anything. i was just taking it all in. it was like i was seeing things thru "new" eyes... wow! it was pretty amazing.
if i get nothing out of this whole endeavor, i think i've gained a better sense of self. allowing myself to just be...
bring on the next opportunity...
but... what i discovered tonight... i'm the one running for me... no one can push me any harder than i'm willing to push myself. i got farther faster and with more ease than even Tuesday night. there were moments during my run... scenery, animals, smells... that awakened me and made me realize that i'm doing this and it's all me!!!! i couldn't help but smile... i was running for me...
there was something else that i realized tonight...
because of the intervals that i did i ended up with a rather long walk home. it's been a long time since i've spent some well-needed "me time". i had a rough day, but i think i'm starting to notice that thing that everyone talks about... i was able to just gain a little perspective, some sense out of my frustration. the weirdest thing... i wasn't even thinking about anything. i was just taking it all in. it was like i was seeing things thru "new" eyes... wow! it was pretty amazing.
if i get nothing out of this whole endeavor, i think i've gained a better sense of self. allowing myself to just be...
bring on the next opportunity...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
week 3... omg!!
Well run31 fans... i was dreading this week and so i've been thinking about it, preparing my mind for what was to come, eating better, drinking constantly... and all i have to say is OMG!! I'M SO UNBELIEVABLY PROUD OF MYSELF!!! tonight was the best run i've had since i started 3 weeks ago today...
when i started this i didn't think i could do it at all so i started running 1 min intervals with 90 sec walks... last week seemed like a huge jump to 90 sec runs 1 min walks.
tonight i actually ran more than i've run ever in my whole life and i felt GREAT!!!
here's my break-down...
90 sec run/1 min walk
2 min run/90 sec walk
2:30 run/2 min walk
rinse and repeat total of 4 times... all in all i ran for a total of 24 min for a distance of approx 2.75 miles running. that doesn't count the walking it did...
i'm extactic right now... sunday i was very discouraged and worried that i wasn't improving! tonight i realized that even when you have a bad run... or a bad day... that it's only as bad as that run lasts. the next run is a new opportunity to improve... huh that sounds familiar... :)
i wish i could convey how stoked i am right now... but that's the beauty of this whole thing i guess, as much as i share with all of you there's still a piece of it that all mine. this feeling of excitement, this confidence that i can do this, this choice to move forward... it's all mine...
thanks for everyone that is starting to follow me, because your encouragement and your accountability is truly awesome... here's to a week of pushing myself...
when i started this i didn't think i could do it at all so i started running 1 min intervals with 90 sec walks... last week seemed like a huge jump to 90 sec runs 1 min walks.
tonight i actually ran more than i've run ever in my whole life and i felt GREAT!!!
here's my break-down...
90 sec run/1 min walk
2 min run/90 sec walk
2:30 run/2 min walk
rinse and repeat total of 4 times... all in all i ran for a total of 24 min for a distance of approx 2.75 miles running. that doesn't count the walking it did...
i'm extactic right now... sunday i was very discouraged and worried that i wasn't improving! tonight i realized that even when you have a bad run... or a bad day... that it's only as bad as that run lasts. the next run is a new opportunity to improve... huh that sounds familiar... :)
i wish i could convey how stoked i am right now... but that's the beauty of this whole thing i guess, as much as i share with all of you there's still a piece of it that all mine. this feeling of excitement, this confidence that i can do this, this choice to move forward... it's all mine...
thanks for everyone that is starting to follow me, because your encouragement and your accountability is truly awesome... here's to a week of pushing myself...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
wk 2... day 3
well... today was tuff. i really didn't want to get out there and do it today. i didn't run friday or saturday because of the intense heat but i knew i had to get out there tonite. i pump myself for it all day and then when it comes down to it... i really wanted to back out. this is a constant choice... every interval was different. the first 4 felt great... i was taking it all in. then the 5th hurt and my breathing was labored. #6 i couldn't catch my breath and i wanted to stop really bad. by the 7th i was tired and then 8 i found my wind again.
the little things seem to distract me right now. obviously, since i'm new to this, my form is certainly not perfect. everyone tells me that will come in time. first i have to concentrate on the times... but i'm clunky and cumbersome and i know it right now. the improvement from thursday is that i did feel opened up in the chest as opposed to heavy and overheated.
i did eat better the last few days... concentrating on every 2 hours and drinking constantly. i don't know if 48 hours is enough to see a difference or a change. so i'll keep moving forward with that one...
here's my interval schedule for this week... just in from my trainer... :)
Run 2 minutes/walk 90 sec
Run 90 sec/walk 90 sec
Run 2.5 min/walk 90 sec
Run 90 sec/walk 90 sec
rinse and repeat...
i know i can do this, but right now i'm nervous too. it's a different sense of nervous. failure is completely up to me. i only fail if i chose to not try. every time i see a new round of intervals they look so daunting... but then i get out there and realize my body is capable of so much more than i have ever allowed it to do. i have told myself for years that "i can't". the truth... i absolutely can, but will i chose to... in this moment... ABSOLUTELY!!! here's to tomorrow!
the little things seem to distract me right now. obviously, since i'm new to this, my form is certainly not perfect. everyone tells me that will come in time. first i have to concentrate on the times... but i'm clunky and cumbersome and i know it right now. the improvement from thursday is that i did feel opened up in the chest as opposed to heavy and overheated.
i did eat better the last few days... concentrating on every 2 hours and drinking constantly. i don't know if 48 hours is enough to see a difference or a change. so i'll keep moving forward with that one...
here's my interval schedule for this week... just in from my trainer... :)
Run 2 minutes/walk 90 sec
Run 90 sec/walk 90 sec
Run 2.5 min/walk 90 sec
Run 90 sec/walk 90 sec
rinse and repeat...
i know i can do this, but right now i'm nervous too. it's a different sense of nervous. failure is completely up to me. i only fail if i chose to not try. every time i see a new round of intervals they look so daunting... but then i get out there and realize my body is capable of so much more than i have ever allowed it to do. i have told myself for years that "i can't". the truth... i absolutely can, but will i chose to... in this moment... ABSOLUTELY!!! here's to tomorrow!
followers
those of you who have been able to become a follower of my page... how did you do it? britt's been trying to get on for a while now and we keep screwing everything up... anybody have any suggestions or tips?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Week 2... Day 2
Ugh... this week has been really tough. it's extremely hot and humid and my body just feels every step, every breath. i've had to remind myself to eat today and didn't get to eat as many times as my trainer would like... translation... very little energy...
so here's the crazy thing... i've been a coach for way too many years and for all that time i've pounded the importance of diet. eating to fuel the body and the movement... why can't i get that for me? there in lies the choices i suppose... i have to choose to get up and run but i have to choose to fuel and prepare all day!!! huh... what a concept...
so goals moving forward... eat consistantly all day... small meals to give me the energy i need to choose to run...
so here's the crazy thing... i've been a coach for way too many years and for all that time i've pounded the importance of diet. eating to fuel the body and the movement... why can't i get that for me? there in lies the choices i suppose... i have to choose to get up and run but i have to choose to fuel and prepare all day!!! huh... what a concept...
so goals moving forward... eat consistantly all day... small meals to give me the energy i need to choose to run...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Week 2... and so it really begins
Today was the start of week 2 and I have to say it was pretty difficult... i have gotten over the "can i do this", "will it hurt", "i'm scared to try"... blah blah blah. but today was the physical change so to speak... my legs felt tired and cumbersome and uncomfortable.
as of right now, i'm doing interval training right now to work myself up to a continuous run. last week i did 1 min runs to 1:30 walks. tonight i started 1:30 runs to 1 min walks. shew... what a difference. and i didn't feel the difference until the middle of my run. last week it was the high of just completing it. today i got caught up in "how far did i go", "how's my pace", "man, my legs hurt". my trainer encouraged me to just focus on the time.
so tonight i accomplished a run for a longer period of time. on my next run i will focus on just the time... getting past the change and not worrying about my pace or my distance...for right now. baby steps i suppose...
so if anyone actually reads this... i'm curious to hear how you got started running. what made you change your thinking and chose to succeed... or just try something new?
as of right now, i'm doing interval training right now to work myself up to a continuous run. last week i did 1 min runs to 1:30 walks. tonight i started 1:30 runs to 1 min walks. shew... what a difference. and i didn't feel the difference until the middle of my run. last week it was the high of just completing it. today i got caught up in "how far did i go", "how's my pace", "man, my legs hurt". my trainer encouraged me to just focus on the time.
so tonight i accomplished a run for a longer period of time. on my next run i will focus on just the time... getting past the change and not worrying about my pace or my distance...for right now. baby steps i suppose...
so if anyone actually reads this... i'm curious to hear how you got started running. what made you change your thinking and chose to succeed... or just try something new?
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Introduction to Run31
Welcome, to Run31... let me share a little bit about myself and why I'm doing this. I turned 31 this summer and realized that if I put my mind to something I could do anything. I also realized that of all the things that I have accomplished they have been because I have chosen to do them... and I've never let anything stand in my way. I have, however, allowed myself to believe the self-destructive lies that I have told myself on things that I have chosen not to do. For my whole life I have refused to live healthy. Oh, I've dabbled in things... I've "worked out". But I've never pushed myself... I've never accoplished a goal.
So here begins my journey. I have decided that I am going to learn how to do the one thing that I have always said I hated. I'm going to learn how to discipline my body to run...
Right now my goal is to run 20 min 3 times a week. I'm not going for a specified distance at this time and I'm not looking to win the Chicago Marathon... I'm merely looking for that sense of accomplishment each day that I run nothing more. As time goes by I expect my goals and my successes to change. I even anticipate some struggles and failures...
I invite anyone who has ever wanted to remind themselves that they can do something by choice alone to join me... it doesn't matter what it is you are wanting to do. Right now running is my journey, share with me what your journey is...
So here begins my journey. I have decided that I am going to learn how to do the one thing that I have always said I hated. I'm going to learn how to discipline my body to run...
Right now my goal is to run 20 min 3 times a week. I'm not going for a specified distance at this time and I'm not looking to win the Chicago Marathon... I'm merely looking for that sense of accomplishment each day that I run nothing more. As time goes by I expect my goals and my successes to change. I even anticipate some struggles and failures...
I invite anyone who has ever wanted to remind themselves that they can do something by choice alone to join me... it doesn't matter what it is you are wanting to do. Right now running is my journey, share with me what your journey is...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)