Motivation Monday: Moments…and what happens when running won’t be in my near future

I have to remember this.

I have to remember this.

I have to remember this.

 

Running is simply blah for me.

Motivation is not happening for me.

And training for this marathon simply just sucks.

I have no idea what happened last week, but I completely feel off the bandwagon of the Abs Challenge. <<
My 27 mileage week turned into a 14 mile week.
And my IT Band practically ripped away from my femur.

So, needless to say, this past weekend include 0 miles of running / biking /anything workout related.

I prepped for five weeks to ease myself into this training plan, but I’m afraid it’s still too much running for my body.
I’m afraid my IT band issue is going to severely flair up with 5 days of running and the addition of miles.

But I really want to run this marathon.

I’m struggling.

I’m almost burnt out on running. I’m almost burnt out on blogging.
And I just don’t know how to get back to those daily runs that make me enjoy life.

All I can think to do right now is ice, ice, ice, stretch, foam roll, ice, icy hot, and cut two of my running days a week for biking.

But… that little tiny pitter patter of running excitement is gone.

Have any of you ever struggled with this during training? Am I over training? Am I burnt out? Will I ever get it back?

I honestly think that my body is just simply tired from the last five years of running. Between pushing myself too much to not pushing myself at all—from ups and downs and highs and lows and crazy training cycles—to the stress of life and so much change—I think I’m just tired.

Which is probably why, if I make it through this marathon—which right now all time goals are out the window, I just want to finish—I’m going to take some time off.
And by time off, I mean severe time off.

A whole year.

I know. That sounds terrible. And frightening for me considering running helps me get through so much. But I don’t know how to get back to it the way I love it without stepping away for awhile.

I’m not going to go all sedentary and quite on you. I’ve still got my bike, which I really need to build a better relationship with, and the pool, and weight lifting—I’m going to hit this hardcore since my new dream is to become an Olympic Weightlifter.

But for now, I’m taking running one day, one step at a time. Like I said, I really want to conquer this marathon. If only to finish.
Forget the hardcore training, and the hills, and the tempo runs.
Maybe forget a sub-4 finish.

It’s about finding the moments that make me see how beautiful my life really is.

Passing the Baton: Seriously though…anyone ever really struggled with marathon training? What about IT band issues? How do you keep the pain at bay? How do you make it go away forever?!? Is that even possible?
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Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Find Strong.

Motivating Monday: Those little whispers

Today marks the beginning of my official marathon training plan.
No, I won’t be running.

Today is, actually, a rest day.

And I couldn’t be more thankful.

I’d be lying to you if I said I was super excited  to start this plan.
That I can’t wait for the race and wish it was tomorrow.

In all actuality, I’m terrified.

26.2 miles is forever.
It’s the distance between the town I grew up in and the town we drove to to get groceries.
I always fell asleep on that car ride, and now I have to RUN that distance?

Then there’s the fact that my long run this next weekend is 9 miles, and it’s my last single digit long run for, oh, 4 months.

I think I’m schedule to run slightly over a half marathon in a few weeks.
I’ve never run farther than 13.1 miles in life.
I run that distance as a race. Once in while.
Now I’m using it to train?

What. Was. I. Thinking.

Or at least that’s the kind of thoughts running through my head this morning.

I mean, I love running. I really do.
And I love that I’m coaching other women to run.
Heck, I’m plotting ways to get Music Man to start running with me when he gets home and to like it.

Yet, 26.2 miles frightens me.
16 weeks of training for that distance scares me.
The fact that I’ll be running probably around 500 miles in the next 16 weeks terrifies me.

But today, I’m starting.
I’m moving forward.

Because all those fears. All those phrases repeating themselves over and over and over in my mind.
Those are just lies.

Sure, I couldn’t go out tomorrow and run 26.2 miles.
But from everything I’ve read, and every marathoner I’ve talked too… I’m learning that if I follow the plan, I will finish.

And I’ve never not finished something I’ve started.

Today, I’m starting and I’m banishing those lies.

So check back with me in 4 months.
Or follow along on my journey.

Because even if I have to crawl across the finish line because my legs have given out on me, I will finish.
I have no doubt about that.

Passing the Baton: What whispers are you facing this week? Any fears you need to conquer?
________________________
Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Find Strong.

Motivating Monday: Recovery isn’t a stopping point. Just a pause.

I seriously didn’t mean for my lack of running the last half of the week to contribute to my lack of blogging.
But, there really wasn’t much going on in my world.

Just lots of sparklers and the best sugar cookies ever<<

  

The story is: I woke up Wednesday morning ready to relax and enjoy my cardio off day, except that I also woke up with a pain on the outer, lower side of my right knee.
Now, knee pain is completely new to me. I mean, I’ve had pain just about everywhere else except my knee in my 5 years of running.
So, I figured it was a good thing I had an off day.
I foam rolled some because I’ve slacked and my IT band has tightened up a little, and then I iced hoping for a better day Thursday when I was scheduled to do 5 miles.

I woke up Thursday still achy.
So I took another day off.
Repeating the recovery process.

Friday was 3 miles, but my knee was still sore and Music Man had some fun planned, so he told me to take it easy that morning and skip my run.
I didn’t even hesitate.

Then Saturday-long run day-rolls around. I was tired from the day before, but I had thought I could manage a run.
No. Such. Thing.
That 8 miles? Didn’t happen. My leg, though better, was still a bit achy and I really didn’t want to push anything.

So I skipped 16 miles of running last week.

Which is a lot if you’re training for a marathon.

I’ll admit. I was tired. I was cranky. And I was really bummed about not running.
But in my “process of recovery” learning, I was trying to understand that if I ran on the pain, I could not be running for awhile.

Skipping three days of workouts is better for the long run than missing weeks or months of running.

Wouldn’t you know that others agree?

Stop running for at LEAST two days if you feel persistent pain after running. If you feel pain after a run (deciding whether it is soreness or pain is up to you) then take at least 2 days off and if the pain isn’t gone then take another two days off.

(Hungry Runner Girl<< has a great post from last week about injury prevention<< and it’s a combination of her tricks and tips from Kara Goucher’s “Running for Women” <<)

I guess skipping out on a run or two due to pain isn’t a bad thing.
At least not for my body. Maybe for my mind.
And Music Man since he’s the one dealing with my crankiness.

But, I realized that recovering for a few days isn’t a stopping point for me.
So I had a little pain last week.
Did I cancel my marathon plans?

No.

1. Because it’s not some crazy, serious, life threating/leg debilitating injury

2. I am learning how to recover well

3. I am learning what pause means

Listening to my body as I run and taking time to recover is all part of enduring.

Yes, I would love to be able to run 6 out of 7 days a week, but my body isn’t built for that. At least, maybe not yet.
As I’ve said, running comes hard for me. It’s something I have to push myself to do.
But it’s also something I have to teach myself to back off from sometimes.

C’est la vie

The good Lord knows my life has been and will continue to be full of obstacles, just like my running journey.

That’s why I persevere.

And during or after each obstacle, I try to give myself some rest.
To step away from the issue. To find time to pray and meditate.
Often times I run.

But sometimes, I just have to forget about my finances for awhile. Or completely stop thinking about where our future will take us in four years, two years, next year.

All the while knowing that obstacle, that pain, is not a stopping point.
I haven’t given up.
I won’t give up.
I’ll keep running.

I simply—pause.

Passing the Baton: Do you find it hard to pause your training for a few days? To stop moving and just relax, ice, recover, and heal? What about in life? How do you get away from the issues that might be dragging your mind and spirit down?
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Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Life Faith.

Motivating Monday: Abs Challenge and Marathon Prep

It’s day 2 of Run to the Finish’s<< abs challenge, and I’m pushing through.

But I won’t lie. I definitely wanted to give up yesterday.

Day 1<< was really hard, especially for my weak core. I was only able to do 2 of the 4 rounds (which I don’t feel too bad because Amanda from RTTF said she started off slowly when she tried that challenge last month) but I did just run 7 miles before I attempted the workout, too.
And by the time evening rolled around, my body was tired from a week of building miles.

But today, I told myself I would push through.
And I did 2 rounds in a row this morning  of Day 2’s workout<< before I felt like my core had died.
But, I did two rounds, which means I still have two more to do before bed tonight and I WILL.
I’m feeling good today, not only am I building strength in my abs… but I’m building confidence in them, believing I can tackle the workout.

Right now, I’m “pre-training” for the marathon. I have this week and next week before my official training starts and I start to move past my high mileage of 25 miles a week.
Am I nervous? Scared my back/hammie/IT  band won’t be able to take it?

Yes.

But I’m building my core, nurturing my IT band, trying to incorporate cross training, conquering yoga, and trying to eat clean all to help me as I increase my mileage.

Basically,

And I think I’m going to adopt this mantra for my marathon.

I’m moving into unknown territory.
I’m going to start running more days a week than I have been the past couple of years. I’m going to start running longer training distances that I’ve ever done.
I’m going to *hopefully* be pushing my pace for some runs and sharing runs with a group of runners.

All to push myself. All to fall in love with running.

All to endure 26.2

Those goals and those miles encourage me to become stronger.
I have to try to become stronger. I have to want to become stronger.  I have to become stronger.
In body. In mind. In spirit.

Let’s face it. Isn’t that the definition of enduring?

Some definitions say “lasting” “durable” “patient suffering” “to hold out against”  “to suffer without yielding”

but one of my favorites it this:

en·dure
verb (used without object)
to have or gain continued or lasting acknowledgment or recognition, as of worth, merit or greatness (dictionary.com)

And I’m not saying when I go from this world that I want some great recognition of my name.
I’m saying that in my own life, I want to endure.
I want to know that what I’ve done physically/fitness wise has made me stronger. I want my fitness to have worth in my life. To have made me a healthy being. To have given me lasting strength of mind because I’ve finished 26.2, or 70.3, or whatever.

I want my endurance to teach me that I can run past anything because I have finished.

So this week, I’m physically busy getting stronger with the hope that mentally and emotionally and spiritually I’m doing the same.

Passing the Baton: What about you? Can you say you’re busy getting stronger in some area of your life? How does running/fitness metaphorically speak for you?
__________________
Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Find Strong.

Motivating Monday: The marathon

Well people.

This is happening.

I registered.

 

Talk about some motivation for my Monday morning.

My running buddy signed up weeks ago for this race, and I’ve been putting it off 1. for monetary reasons, and 2. because honestly, I’m plain scared.
26.2 miles is a LOOONG way to run. And I’m not always sure if my body can do that.

So, I found a 16 week plan  a couple of weeks ago that I think I can handle, and I started “pre-training” two weeks ago to get my body used to running more than 2 days a week.
I wanted to see if my leg could take it, (honestly, I wanted to see if I could take it) and so far, I’m falling in love with running again.

I had some IT band issues last week, but I’m resting, and icing, and foam rolling to help it.
And I’m not going to let it get me down.

And even if my running buddy is moving in a couple of weeks, I’m not letting that get me down either.
I can do this training.

Because this morning is HUGE for me.
I just signed up for my first marathon EVER.

Yes, I’m still a bag of mixed emotions.
I’m excited. I’m nervous. I’m scared.

But I’m ready.

And I think after the journey my life has taken over the last couple of years, and now that I’m here, now, at 25, seeking peace and joy, I’m ready.

And my injury, whatever the heck it is, despite flair ups and crazy days, it’s not going to stop me.
(Now, I’m not going to be stupid and run in tremendous pain…I’m monitoring it and acting smart.)

Because even if I want to try and qualify for Boston with my running buddy, I know full well that I might not make that goal time.
Doesn’t mean I won’t try though.

Because ultimately, this race is to test my heart.
I love running, I always have.
It’s time to clear my head, to breathe, to think, to pray, to wonder, to seek, to find….and my heart, it’s ready.

And this year…it’s the right time. It’s the time to train for a marathon.

Passing the Baton: Have you done a full 26.2, yet? If so, do you remember your very first race? What advice to you have? Any good motivation tips for the next 4 months? What is something huge you want to do this year that you’ve been scared to step out and do?
______________
Seek Peace. Choose Joy, Find Strong

Motivating Monday: I’m a distance runner

I never, ever thought I would say that.

Ever.

See. I ran sprints in high school. I HATED the mile warm ups.
Then I got to college and realized I wasn’t really athletically special, and with all the “free” cafeteria food, I wasn’t about to gain a billion pounds. (Which is why I cold turkey’d soda and I’ve never looked back.)

So one morning I went to the gym on the first floor of my dorm, stepped on a treadmill, hit the 5k trainer button, and ran 3 miles.

I did that for a million days in a row and eventually headed outside.

And then I finished my first half-marathon that Spring.

And now,5 years later,  I’m a triathlete, contemplating my first marathon, joining a running club, starting up a beginners running group, maybe organizing a 5k, and purely addicted to the miles I can tally up in a week hoping to sometime hit 50.

Crazy. Absolutely crazy.

It’s taken awhile, but I’m learned that it’s all in the name of endurance.
Nothing comes easy and nothing comes fast.

But it always comes at the right time.

And because in all honestly, I don’t know how to give up.

In running.

Or in life.

Just ask Wonder Woman.
I was the world’s most stubborn child.
I can’t even count how many times I got locked in my room.

If only she knew how much running calms me she could’ve just taken me to the track and made me run lap after lap.

Last week wasn’t the best pre-marathon-training week for me, but I didn’t give up.

I like Spring running.
I love Fall running.
But Summer running… I sort of love-hate it.

It’s the heat. It kills me.

But I’m determined. Even if I don’t have a running buddy to train with this fall. I want the marathon.
I want relentless forward progress to the finish.
Because that’s such a beautiful metaphor for life.
It’s not easy. It’s ridiculously hard, and it hurts at times, but there’s a finish.
Someday there is going to be a beautiful finish, and I want to be told “Well Done.”
I want to have run the race.

Today was supposed to be an off cardio day since I’m weaning my way into more run days… but I woke up early out of habit and I headed out.
3 miles in 25 minutes… not too bad in my book.
And I finished the miles, which is what counts.
Summer running’s got nothing on me this year.

So one day of training done for the week. Running group starting tomorrow. The Lincoln Running Club kicks off Sunday. Music Man comes home in 5 days.
It’s going to be a beautiful summer.

Passing the Baton: What’s on your docket this week to kick start summer? Starting a training plan? In the middle of one? What’s your next race? Should I be totally giddy and happy when Music Man comes home, or throw him off and act like it’s no big deal, then surprise him with something?  Ideas people! I need some crazy ideas!
__________
Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Find Strong.

Motivating Monday: Living Room Workout

I missed getting my train tickets this week, so I’m driving to campus.
Which isn’t bad because it means I have all the time in the world to workout after class, then head home.

But it didn’t happen today.

I have no idea how Monday hit me, but it did.
I am exhausted.

So I skipped the gym.

Seriously. That sounds lame even to me.

So I’ve made up my mind.
Since I’m not about to drive 40 minutes to hit up the gym, I’m thinking this will be my workout tonight.

Easy enough for some living room working out.
I’ll probably change up a couple, though, since I don’t have weights, but if I do several circuits…I’ll get a good strength workout in.

I’m learning that motivation is all about me.
If I don’t want to work out, I’m not going too.
But I’m also learning that just skipping the gym after class isn’t an excuse.
I can whine all day about not having a gym close by that I can afford, or not having  fitness classes to attend, but guess what.
I know how to lift, and I own resistance bands, a medicine ball, and a yoga mat.
That’s plenty of equipment to get in a workout.

And the park that’s only half a mile run from my house has a fitness trail with brand new equipment.

So even if today isn’t a cardio day according to my 5 week mileage schedule I built to get me to this marathon plan

NO EXCUSES.

Because if I ever want abs like this,

I’ve got to get my mindset right.

ps…I’d say I’ll probably never have abs like this, but if I tell myself that, then I’m just setting myself up for failure.

And motivation is all about burning excuses.

Passing the Baton: Do you feel crappy if you skip the gym because of some lame excuse you made? How you do motivate yourself to get moving at the end of the day? Do you go to a gym? Do you workout at home? If so, I need some good home workout suggestions (dvd titles welcome!)
__________
Find Strong.

Motivating Monday: Facing my Fears

 

Oh boy. I think I’m going to adopt this as my new mantra. Or blog title.
Can’t you see it?

Enduring: Facing my fears through running…and running….and running

I've been scared of a lot of things in my life.
Heights. Decisions.
Boys. Money.
The Future. Puppets.
Commitments.  Spending my life in school.
Quitting my job. Going back to school.
Running a full marathon. Choosing the right area of study.
Falling in love.
Change.

But you know how I combat those fears?

I often head out on a run.
It clears my head.
It makes me think.
It makes me stop thinking.
It helps me create.
It helps me see.

And it gives me endorphins which ultimately give me a high-on-life-nothing-is-going-to-scare-me moment.

And right now, I'm running.

I'm running in the mornings. I'm running in the evenings. I'm running double on the weekend. I'm running between classes.
I’m even running metaphorically.

Because I'm in this new uncharted territory. And I am in deep.

I'm scared I finally figured out what I want to do with my life vocationally but that I won't be good at it.
I'm scared to be in school for five to seven more years and not having a solid job (or time to work) during that timeframe to help us financially get through.
I'm scared to even apply to the school for the program I want to continue on in because the school is prestigious. And expensive. And it means I may have to commute. And what if I don’t get in?
I’m scared all the stress I used to have in school is going to resurface…and that Music Man will seriously think I’m crazy.
I'm ready to write my novel, but I'm scared to pen the words because what if no one likes it?
I'm scared of clicking the submit button on my marathon registration because that means I have to actually run 26.2 miles. And I have to figure out a way to turn the race weekend into a getaway weekend.

I'm scared of so many things right now, I often think I’m in the middle of a quarter life crisis. It’s real people.  Seriously.

But when I breathe, I ask myself, if I don't fight my fears head on, how will I conquer them?

In the entire, short first chapter of Joshua, God tells him to be strong and courageous three  times.
THREE.
I think I’m like Joshua. I really didn’t hear Him the first time. Or the second.

I have really got to start listening.

  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
                             -Joshua 1:9

Passing the Baton: How do you face your fears? Does running help you conquer them? What fears are you facing right now?

_____________________

Seek Peace. Choose Joy. Find Strong. Breathe Hope. Live Faith.

Motivating Monday: We Pause

Who kept the faith and fought the fight;
The glory theirs, the duty ours.
-Wallace Bruce

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
-Joseph Campbell

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree.
-Thomas Campbell

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them.
-Francis A. Walker

For love of country they accepted death...
-James A. Garfield

The brave die never, though they sleep in dust:
Their courage nerves a thousand living men.
-Minot J. Savage

Thank you

Motivating Monday: Beginning

 

I’ve found that in running, I hate the first few steps.
Always.
My body hasn’t woken up yet from either a night of tossing and turning, or in the afternoon it hasn’t shifted from working and being sedentary for the day.
To be completely honest, I never want to start running.
Not on tempo runs. Not on speed work.
Not even on races.

But once I do start, I usually don’t want to finish.

I find this motivation 100% appropriate for today because today also marked my first day back at college.
I’m attending college again to complete my teaching certification, (I have an English degree that I suppose I’ll put to use) but for the program, I am technically considered an undergraduate.  

Just call me that fifth year senior.

I wanted to start this summer to get classes out of the way, and I actually like intensive work. It’s a whole lot of work in a short period of time, but I like condensing a semester down to four weeks. More freedom that way.
If it all goes well, meaning I pass and get all the classes I need to take, I’ll be student teaching by Fall 2013, and hopefully finding a job shortly after that.
It all seems fine and dandy and exciting, especially to a life-long learning nerd like me, but when I woke up this morning, I did not want to start school again.

I wasn’t ready to go back as an “undergrad.”
I wasn’t ready for this whole transitional phase where I’m not settled yet.
I wasn’t ready for nights of homework and less blogging.
I wasn’t ready to be one of the oldest people in the classroom.
But you know, it turns out I wasn’t.

I found out in my Ed Psych class today that the average age of the college student isn’t 19 like I thought, but 26.

So, older than me.

I guess it just means that there’s a whole lot of people out there not afraid to start something new again.

Why should I be any different? I mean, I hate taking those first few steps when running, but once I do, I feel great.
I feel strong.
I finished something.

My hope, with teaching, is to share my passion of children’s/young adult literature, with middle schoolers and teens. I want to inspire them to love reading, to be passionate about words, and to not be afraid to imagine and create. One of my favorite books is The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (Probably because Macy is a runner!)
Macy, the protagonist, is dealing with the grief of losing her father, and over the course of the novel, comes to terms with who she is as a girl. Macy used to run with her dad, but she was the one who found him lying on the ground after he had a heart attack as she went to catch up with him on their morning run. Throughout the novel, Macy thinks a lot about her dad and the things he used to say to her. And it never fails that the same sort of line she remembers always comes to mind when I think about starting something new,

be it running

or training

or school.

You know the first few steps are the hardest part.

And in telling myself that so many times, I’ve learned that the other side of beginning never fails me.
The other side of beginning is beautiful.

Passing the Baton: What have you started lately that you were iffy about starting? Do you have trouble taking those first steps on a run? What’s your mantra to get your feet moving?
_______
Seek Peace. Find Joy. Breathe Hope.

Motivating Monday: Regret and Accountability

I initially set my alarm to get up and cycle this morning. After all, my triathlon training plan started last week.
When I woke up, I realized that it wasn’t yet light out at, which is ok for running, not so much cycling.

So I snoozed a couple four times, and then did some yoga instead.

Am I going to skip my cycling workout today, though, since I didn’t get up and do it?
No way.
It’s going to be another beautiful day, so I’m biking to work, and then two folding it by biking to the gym, getting my lift on, and biking home.
Biking  to work may be more casual than a training ride, but it’s better than sitting in my car for the two miles. At least I’ll be getting some kind  of workout. It’s the “extra” for the day.

I am by no means perfect when it comes to working out. In fact, there are probably more days that I sleep in then actually get up and workout. Except for running. Since I have an RB, it makes it much easier to get out of bed. But these days when I’m supposed to be swimming or biking… it’s been tough. I’ve been trying to be better about swimming because 5-6 am is the only time the pool is open for community swim, so if I miss it, I don’t get another chance.
But with biking, lifting, or even running, there’s always time for a second chance in the day.

And that’s what I tell myself if I hit snooze. I sort of give myself an ultimatum. If I’m going to skip my workout and sleep in, then I have to get my workout in before I hit the bed again . That’s all there is too it. No if, and’s, or but’s about it.
Some mornings, that thought really gets me out of bed because I know I won’t have time that evening to workout. But other mornings, like today, I realized me evening is fairly free, so I best be getting my cycling in then. And by combining it with lifting, then I’m keeping myself accountable because once I’m done at the gym, the only way home is on my bike.

Tonight, I’ll feel good. As long as I get my workout in. If I don’t, then it’s true… I do regret those days I don’t do anything when my training plan has laid it out there. It’s not always regret, but sometimes disappointment in myself. I’ve let myself down.

It’s Monday. It’s not a day to feel regret or disappointment from not working out. I know we all came off a weekend, and in my world, a good one, but it’s time to get back to the grind.

I’ll post my workout tonight and prove to you I did it.

Passing the Baton: What’s on your workout docket today? Do you have a set training plan? If so, what are you training for? Leave me a comment and let me know what today consisted of for you. We can work on this accountability thing together.

Motivating Monday:Banish the Fear

I ran today.
I know. I said I was going to take two weeks off to heal my lingering hamstring pain from the half, but, then I looked at my (hopeful) race schedule for the summer and today marked the beginning of my triathlon training.
Of course day one said I should run.
You should be proud of me though. I’m cutting back on distance, especially since I want to go for the full marathon this fall. I’m only training for a Olympic distance triathlon in July with maybe a sprint distance thrown in somewhere. If my leg keeps going on the upswing of healing, then I’ll shoot for the half Ironman next summer.
AND I took it easy on the run today. I would just like to cement the fact that I took 8—8!—days off of running. As much as I really wanted, and needed stress wise, to get out on the pavement this past week, my legs needed the rest more. So, I foam rolled, iced a bit (probably not enough) and did yoga. The training plan called for 30 minutes of easy running which I broke into 10 minutes easy pace (10 min/mile) 5 minutes walking, 10 minutes easy pace 5 minutes walking.
I had a teensy bit of pain at the beginning, but it usually takes about 10 minutes for my legs to warm up anyway, but I’m feeling good post run.
I am also definitely still going strong on the 30 day yoga challenge and my body is screaming a million thank you’s at me. Honestly.
Monday’s motivation is a little late today, but I had a super early morning. I  started my observations for my summer class, and wouldn’t you know it, but these high school kids get up and make it to first period by 7:15. Wowser.
I’m still in race-recovery mode this week, mostly mental by this point, and so today’s motivation stems from there.

Motivating Monday: We are enough.

I want to continue on from last Thursday’s gratitude post. But before I do, I have to tell you my results.
Time: 1:56.45  Overall: 1802/6758  FemalePl: 611/3709 Agediv: 104/618
And now, to continue:

Here’s the thing. I set a new PR for my half marathon distance, but I probably ran the worst race mentally that I have ever run. (More on this in my race recap later tonight.)

Motivating Monday: On Pace

It's race week.
Which also means it's taper week.
Ugh.
I like tapering my miles (taper = lessening miles run week before race) because it means I'm getting ready for the big run. But I also dislike tapering because sometimes it makes me lose confidence in myself. I feel that by running less miles, my body is giving up on me and won't be able to run the full race come Saturday.
I know. It's a bunch of crock.
That's why this morning I'm putting up two pieces of motivation.
Because I need it.

Whether I PR or not, this is what I want to feel

Motivating Monday: I'm not a quitter...just learning to rest

It was most definitely a whirlwind weekend.
Music Man and I traveled to see his family, which is about a four hour drive, for a late Easter and let me tell you, when you can't leave until after work Friday and have plans to be back by Sunday evening, that's a lot of driving for a little time.
And traveling never always messes with my running plans.

I was a good runner though and packed all of my clothes, recovery junk, and even my own running fuel.
But I definitely skipped my 10 mile run.

Am I upset or mad at myself for doing it?
Nope.
Am I going to make it up this week?
Nope.

Motivating Monday: Overcoming Doubts

As per every Sunday lately, I did my long run yesterday. And I think I’m going to do a little adjustment to last week’s long run.

Here’s the thing. I’ve been taking a break this week from running. Last week,  I was nine weeks into my training, and I was tired. The last couple of weeks had been busy at work, I had a lot going on in the evenings, and my body was just in need of dire rest. So, I slept in some last week, did more yoga than usual, and skipped over my morning runs. I just needed a break.

So I was a little nervous yesterday heading out on my nine miler. Now logically, I know that one week off will not set me back at all or cause me to lose any fitness, in fact, rest often brings me back stronger. But subconsciously, my mind was feeding me a bunch of crap about how there was no way I was going to be able to run nine miles. Especially since last week’s run was still sitting in the forefront of my brain, plaguing me with disappointment. And then once I headed out, my hip joint decided to flare up a bit.

Sometimes I just get tired of running with pain.
Most times I get tired of my brain telling me I can’t.
Often times I fight both of those battles every. single. time. I head out to run.

Motivating Monday: It's time to start

Well another weekend and another long run have passed.

Truthfully, I was bummed out all day yesterday because of my run.

It was another beautiful morning. The weather was perfect. I had gotten plenty of sleep and fueled up well. I was ready and excited to head out to run.

To stay on pace with my training, I scheduled 8 miles. Really, I wanted to push myself to about 9 because I have been feeling really good lately with my runs. Well, I headed out and started my running app on my phone that signals GPS and keep track of my mileage. Even though it was blue sky yesterday, it just seemed like the satellite and my phone were not connecting. The app kept freezing and essentially told me I was on an 11 minute pace. (Anyone want to send me a Garmin watch to test? I’d be happy too!)

I totally felt like I was running around 8-9 minutes per mile.

But after 1 hour and 22 minutes, I just stopped. I had been running frustrated the whole time not knowing my mileage or pace, but I totally felt like I ran close to 10 miles. So that excited me. I figured I had a good run under my soles.

Motivating Monday: Are you fierce?

My very first post I told you why I run.
It’s a growing list, or at least, I hope it will continue to grow. I’m sure there will be another round of burnout at some point in my life, or a new phase that limits my time for running, but I figure if I keep that list handy, then I’ll always be able to remind myself why I do it.
Or why I should do it.

So here’s to Monday and continuing to increase my miles:

source

Motivating Monday: Getting out there

Have you had finished a workout and said to yourself, "I wish I hadn't done that."
Probably not.
Although, I might have said that during high school volleyball practice when we were forced to run zig zags (back and forth's, lines, in and out's...) because we hadn't been practicing well. Back then I didn't know how much I'd enjoy running one day.

But now, I'm usually complaining before the workout.
Ok, I might complain after a workout, but it’s usually to my husband and about how sore I am, and even though it hurts it still feels so good.
But I never tell him, I really wish I just hadn’t run those [enter number here] miles, or I wish I just hadn’t got up early and woke up with yoga today.
Never.

Motivating Monday!

My long run this week was a 5 to 6 miler. I wanted to put in 6 miles, but I figured I would listen to my body while I was running to determine what distance I would end up with. Next week I’m supposed to cut back to 3 miles, so really if I ran 5 I’d have some leeway in the training for a 6 miler next weekend.

I thought there was a chance of rain on Sunday, so to get rid of any silly weather excuse to run outside, I switched it up and headed out Saturday for my run. It was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and I was tired from being up early that morning and putting hours in at work. Even though it was a beautiful day outside, I just did not feel like running.