Yesterday I ran ten miles. I did to break in new shoes. I don't have time to go slow breaking them in, so I figured a long run was the way to go. i have one blister on the ball of my foot, but I put some DoTerra Melelluca oil on it and didn't feel it at all when I woke up this morning. It's like it wasn't ever there!
I'm also quite pleased, my joints feel great (benefits of forefoot strike) and my calves aren't even hurting today. I had still planned to do my tempo run with Garren setting the pace, but it got to be 90 degrees and the only time we had left to do it was after the kids go to bed, but we can't very well both leave the house and leave the kids. So I decided to do my core work out today and then I'll do my tempo run on Monday morning since G has off.
So here's my core workout as per my marathon training program. I'm glad I'm finally getting over my irrational fear of my core splitting open :) There's a cycle. I'll first tell you what the exercises are called then I'll write the details about the.
Push ups- two
sideways hip dip, right arm- ten
triangle extension, right arm support- hold for ten seconds
plank- 30 seconds
push ups - two
sideways hip dip, left arm- ten
triangle extension, left arm- hold for ten seconds
plank- 30 seconds
push ups- two
Then repeat that two additional times.
Then:
Leg extensions, right leg- 30 seconds
leg extensions, left left- 30 seconds
abdomen tap- ten, five per hand
plank- 30 seconds
repeat till each has been done three times.
Then:
Vertical hip dip- ten on each sides three times.
Last:
Shoe lift- side to side ten times, front to hip ten times, arm extended upwards then down to should ten times
Repeat two more times.
And you pretty much are done with life after that. ;)
Push-ups- everyone knows what a push up is. I had my sister who recently went through basic training teach me a real push up. She had me put a tissue box under my stomach and told me to go down that far then back up. Yah. . . I crushed the tissue box. . . I'm improving.
Sideways hip dip- Support yourself on your right or left arm with your arm extended. Then extend your legs so your feet are kind of stacked on top of each other and your body is kind of triangle shaped. You let your hip fall and pick it back up to where your body is straight again only using your abdominal muscles. Yep, pretty sure this one will give me a hernia. Then you can switch and do it with your left arm supporting.
Plank- Support yourself on your toes and forearms. I have to clasp my hands together still. Not sure yet if that's counter productive or incorrect form, but I have to do it. For some reason it keeps me from wanting to scream, which usually comes around 23 seconds. :)
Triangle extension- When you are in your hip dip pose you just extend your other arm up and hold that position for 20 seconds or so. You need to keep your body aligned and straight and not allow your hips to dip.
Leg Extensions- Lie on your back and bring your knees up. Keep your shoulders down to the floor (this is important to keeping form). lift your hips as high as you can then extend right or left leg. hold that position for 30 seconds. Do not let your hips dip down. You must stay in a straight line from your shoulders to your toe. Then do it again with the other leg.
Abdomen tap- In push up position, tap your belly button alternating hands. Form is important on this one. You mus stay straight and not tilt to the supporting arm. You must stay in the same position as when both hands are placed on the grounds and supporting.
Vertical hip dip- lift one foot off the ground and allow that hip to fall below center. Then lift it back to be square with the other hip using only your abdominal muscles.
Shoe lift- Hold your shoes, one in each hand. Lift starting from hips going up no high than your shoulders, like a butterfly. Then for the front, extend your arms out to the front and lower your hands down to the hips. Then extend your arms as high as you can and lower them to your shoulders in just an up down motion. Do each of those ten times with three reps. The purpose of this is actually that when your muscles are flexed to hold the shoe it strengthens the muscles all the way down through to the top of your abdomen. It strengthens similar muscles to the ones you use in push ups. You don't need weight or heavy shoes as the point is not to build muscle but just to strengthen those muscles. Try doing those motions without the shoes in your hands and then again with the shoes in hand and you will feel that there is no muscles being worked simply by doing the motion. Your hands must be flexed.
Other change I made today, increasing berries and other water filled fruits like watermelon in the diet. It's a great way to stay hydrated. Your muscles actually absorb more of the liquid in berries and other fruits whereas water tends to go straight through you. So you can stay hydrated without having to go to the bathroom all the time :)
Happy Saturday!
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
"Run a Ragnar Relay," they said. "It will be fun," they said.
Flash Back Friday: Ragnar 2014, West Virginia Appalachians! It rained and poured constantly. But it was amazing.
Campsite. Something wicked this way comes, I believe was the original caption of this photo.
Sleep? The question mark was appropriately placed.
Me and high school friend, Adam. I hold him responsible for making me into a Ragnar Junkie.
After a downpour. you can see the mud churned up.
You can see the trail churned up here, too. This is the beginning of the trail right out of the transition tent.
Our campsite during a downpour.
Campsite after the downpour. It stayed like this the rest of the time we were there.
Team mates! Best team ever! We had such a great time! We had to hold down our canopy after we watch several tumble down the road beside us in the storm. We also had to relieve the canopy of the water it was holding by pushing up on it from underneath. Adam, TWICE, did this while I happen to be walking underneath the border of the canopy to get underneath it. I was wet the ENTIRE time. So was everyone else, though. Good times.
And all for the medal! It's a great medal!
Back to the present :) Bought new shoes today. You can see an image of them on my instagram! Yep, I got an instagram. I've never cared to have one before because. . . I guess just because I don't live my life on the Internet. But it makes uploading things to the twitter (@MelRunTheWorld) a lot easier. It is a lot easier to keep followers up to date on the latest training, products, etc. My instagram is also MelRunTheWorld.
Anywho, I got Under Armour Speedform. They are amazing! I wanted something designed for forefoot strike and this was pretty much the only one available. 90% of shoes are made for heal striking. I'm telling you, forefoot striking is the best way to go. Since I have switched I haven't run a single mile below 10:30. (I still have to stop and walk sometimes on my long runs. . . so that messes up my time a little bit. But when I am actually running I've been averaging 9 minute miles. It's the way to go.
So I got these shoes today. And to break them in I did a ten mile run tonight. It took me two hours, but at least the shoes are ready to train in. My ONLY complaint about them is that there is NO arch support. But the thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE about them is that they make leaning forward feel natural instead of forced. I love them. But the arch support is going to be an issue since I have flat feet. So I need to figure out what to do about that pronto!
Today's run was great. It felt natural and it felt effortless. I didn't feel totally worn out at ten miles, but I feared blisters since the shoes were new. So I called ten miles good enough for one day. Plus my husband wanted to go to a football game tonight, so I couldn't stay out all night. he eve came home early so I could do my run! Marathon training is truly a family affair.
The run. . . After 1.5 miles I felt a pull in the arch of my foot. I pulled off to the very inner lane of the track to slow down. I starting crying because I felt defeated. But then I had the thought that since I was doing my long run tonight I didn't technically have to run again till Monday. I had planned to do a tempo run with my husband as my pace setter tomorrow, but I don't absolutely have to. So I decided to keep knowing knowing I could take the weekend to recover. I took a moment and stretched it out. I cried out of frustration and pain again. But then I got to running and didn't even feel it anymore. I didn't feel it again until mile 8. And even then it wasn't severe pain. It was just a dull little pull feeling. Kind of cramp like. Nothing I couldn't run through. So I finished and then went home to eat bananas and read bedtime stories to my kids. I got a little emotional when I got home too because I had really decided to just call it a day after I felt that pain. And then I ran another 8.5 miles after I had decided that! I felt like I conquered! Mind over matter! I did it! And I feel great.
Now it's time for some lounging, drinking kool aid and catching up on True Blood :) I should clean up my house from the fun fay I had with my daughter (who hasn't started school yet). But lying on the couch is going to win this time around.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
A lot has changed in the last 24 hrs
First things first, today's run:
Short run because I have lots of work to do tonight. I originally didn't have lots of work to do, but a few things have popped up so now I have a lot to do.
Ran 5k, lovely weather, just perfect. Wished I could have stayed out longer. My calves are killing me from yesterday's run, but once I get moving I don't even feel it.
My mystery abdominal pain is lessening. So I may not go to my doctor.
No EDS pain today except in my fingers, but there isn't a whole lot I can do about that.
Okie dokie. So did my research on the NYC marathon. If I want to use that as my olympic trial marathon I have to run a marathon before Dec 31, 2014. And even then, it isn't guaranteed I'll get in. They've already excepted all they're competitors and are now onto charity runners and "regular people." The latter two gets selected by lottery. But I just think if it's meant to be then I'll get chosen. If I don't then this wasn't my year. But anywho, I found a few races later in the year. I have decided to run the Richmond, VA marathon for my qual race on Nov 15th. I'm a tad nervous because my current program is structured for the race to happen the first week of January. So I am not sure if it's going to work out. But I am at least going to give it a try.
So tonight I have to make three more training videos because I'm about to hand off all my work to someone else. (I hired three people last week. I might hire two more, but I can't think about that right now :)). I am up back up to eleven subcontractors and I think managing them is going to be quite enough without any of the construction end of the business in my hands.
There was another race later in November, but it didn't work out with my social life ;) My birthday has become a very sad occasion for me ever since my 2011 birthday. Something happened that day that has just tainted my birthday for me. It is no longer a happy day, but a day of grief and great personal sadness. I have forgiven those who hurt me on that day, but they still have not accepted responsibility or even acknowledged how much they hurt me. Even though my birthday (Nov 16th) is still two and a half months away, even thinking about it coming up gives me so much anxiety. I hate it now. I don't even want it to come. My sister knows how much this hurts me. So I am flying out to her in San Diego and she is taking me to the Bastille concert to celebrate my birthday! I wouldn't have it any other way! I have a hard time spending my birthday with my husband because it was his family that hurt me. And he knows what they did and knows how much it hurt and is fine with me celebrating my birthday with my sister.
So anyway, I will be leaving for that early morning Wednesday, the concert is Wednesday night, then my sister takes me back to the airport after the concert. it's going to be the best 16 hours ever! haha! But that's two days out of training. So the end of November races are out for me. The Richmond one is perfect because it's the day before my birthday. So I'll have plenty of distraction from my sadness. And we used to live near Richmond. So I am hoping that on my birthday (Sun the 16th) that we'll be able to take our kids to where we lived for Joshua's first year. I think that would be a fun way to spend the day. Plenty of distraction. Hopefully see old friends. Maybe we'll even go to church in the Bennetts Creek Ward!
I do think running on the 15th of Nov will work out even though it doesn't necessarily work with my current training plan. I think I have a lot of anxiety and a lot of grief I'm still dealing with as my birthday approaches that I will be able to work out in these intense training sessions. Put those feelings to good use!
On Saturday I will be running a tempo race. My husband is going to ride his bike (with kids in the trailer) at a speed of 8 miles per hour and I am going to run behind him. Hoping to do that for a 10k. I won't stop until I've done 5k, but I'm hoping to hold out through 10k.
I am looking into getting a personal trainer to help me with my form and strengthening my core muscles. I'm a wimp when it comes to my core. After two c sections and an appendectomy I have an intense fear of splitting open and having all my inside fall out of me. I've gotten better and have been doing tons of core workout lately. But I'm pretty sure it isn't enough for what I am about to put my body through. Have to step it up. At that point, I'll be making more detailed records of exactly what I'm doing. Follow my twitter @MelRunTheWorld. And I'll be getting an instagram soon since I just figured out what that is. haha! And I guess it goes together if you want to have a twitter and post images or something. I don't know. I'm so dumb at the Internet.
Peace out, y'all! Thanks for reading! I hope to inspire people as I progress. As of Tuesday of next week, both my kids will be in school during the day and I will be ramping up the training schedule! Look for it if you want to join me and follow along.
Short run because I have lots of work to do tonight. I originally didn't have lots of work to do, but a few things have popped up so now I have a lot to do.
Ran 5k, lovely weather, just perfect. Wished I could have stayed out longer. My calves are killing me from yesterday's run, but once I get moving I don't even feel it.
My mystery abdominal pain is lessening. So I may not go to my doctor.
No EDS pain today except in my fingers, but there isn't a whole lot I can do about that.
Okie dokie. So did my research on the NYC marathon. If I want to use that as my olympic trial marathon I have to run a marathon before Dec 31, 2014. And even then, it isn't guaranteed I'll get in. They've already excepted all they're competitors and are now onto charity runners and "regular people." The latter two gets selected by lottery. But I just think if it's meant to be then I'll get chosen. If I don't then this wasn't my year. But anywho, I found a few races later in the year. I have decided to run the Richmond, VA marathon for my qual race on Nov 15th. I'm a tad nervous because my current program is structured for the race to happen the first week of January. So I am not sure if it's going to work out. But I am at least going to give it a try.
So tonight I have to make three more training videos because I'm about to hand off all my work to someone else. (I hired three people last week. I might hire two more, but I can't think about that right now :)). I am up back up to eleven subcontractors and I think managing them is going to be quite enough without any of the construction end of the business in my hands.
There was another race later in November, but it didn't work out with my social life ;) My birthday has become a very sad occasion for me ever since my 2011 birthday. Something happened that day that has just tainted my birthday for me. It is no longer a happy day, but a day of grief and great personal sadness. I have forgiven those who hurt me on that day, but they still have not accepted responsibility or even acknowledged how much they hurt me. Even though my birthday (Nov 16th) is still two and a half months away, even thinking about it coming up gives me so much anxiety. I hate it now. I don't even want it to come. My sister knows how much this hurts me. So I am flying out to her in San Diego and she is taking me to the Bastille concert to celebrate my birthday! I wouldn't have it any other way! I have a hard time spending my birthday with my husband because it was his family that hurt me. And he knows what they did and knows how much it hurt and is fine with me celebrating my birthday with my sister.
So anyway, I will be leaving for that early morning Wednesday, the concert is Wednesday night, then my sister takes me back to the airport after the concert. it's going to be the best 16 hours ever! haha! But that's two days out of training. So the end of November races are out for me. The Richmond one is perfect because it's the day before my birthday. So I'll have plenty of distraction from my sadness. And we used to live near Richmond. So I am hoping that on my birthday (Sun the 16th) that we'll be able to take our kids to where we lived for Joshua's first year. I think that would be a fun way to spend the day. Plenty of distraction. Hopefully see old friends. Maybe we'll even go to church in the Bennetts Creek Ward!
I do think running on the 15th of Nov will work out even though it doesn't necessarily work with my current training plan. I think I have a lot of anxiety and a lot of grief I'm still dealing with as my birthday approaches that I will be able to work out in these intense training sessions. Put those feelings to good use!
On Saturday I will be running a tempo race. My husband is going to ride his bike (with kids in the trailer) at a speed of 8 miles per hour and I am going to run behind him. Hoping to do that for a 10k. I won't stop until I've done 5k, but I'm hoping to hold out through 10k.
I am looking into getting a personal trainer to help me with my form and strengthening my core muscles. I'm a wimp when it comes to my core. After two c sections and an appendectomy I have an intense fear of splitting open and having all my inside fall out of me. I've gotten better and have been doing tons of core workout lately. But I'm pretty sure it isn't enough for what I am about to put my body through. Have to step it up. At that point, I'll be making more detailed records of exactly what I'm doing. Follow my twitter @MelRunTheWorld. And I'll be getting an instagram soon since I just figured out what that is. haha! And I guess it goes together if you want to have a twitter and post images or something. I don't know. I'm so dumb at the Internet.
Peace out, y'all! Thanks for reading! I hope to inspire people as I progress. As of Tuesday of next week, both my kids will be in school during the day and I will be ramping up the training schedule! Look for it if you want to join me and follow along.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Pain :(
I'm back at it! I ran a 10K tonight in 1:12. I wasn't really going for my quickest time, but I did get some good practice in running while having to go to the bathroom REALLY BAD. It was pretty extreme!
I've been dealing with continuous abdominal pain since Thursday of last week. I have to go to my doctor, but I don't want to because everyone says, "It's because you have EDS" and no one every has any answers anyway. Frustration! But whatever.
As of this week I am no longer working during the day at all. Not even work emails. I do some work in the evenings. It's 9:30 and I'm about to put in an hour or so. But my work load isn't demanding anymore. It was a bad week at work, though. Lots of complaints for the seamstresses. I think everyone was maybe getting complacent. I think everyone is just getting too comfortable. So I have to put out some fires there, but over all I think I'm in a good state of mind to start focusing and really buckle down on my training.Next week both my kids will be in school. It will be a great time to start the hard stuff! Drills, drills, drills! Looking forward to seeing what my body actually can do!
Oh and I ran .75 miles at a 5:30 min per mile pace. Getting faster!!!
I've been dealing with continuous abdominal pain since Thursday of last week. I have to go to my doctor, but I don't want to because everyone says, "It's because you have EDS" and no one every has any answers anyway. Frustration! But whatever.
As of this week I am no longer working during the day at all. Not even work emails. I do some work in the evenings. It's 9:30 and I'm about to put in an hour or so. But my work load isn't demanding anymore. It was a bad week at work, though. Lots of complaints for the seamstresses. I think everyone was maybe getting complacent. I think everyone is just getting too comfortable. So I have to put out some fires there, but over all I think I'm in a good state of mind to start focusing and really buckle down on my training.Next week both my kids will be in school. It will be a great time to start the hard stuff! Drills, drills, drills! Looking forward to seeing what my body actually can do!
Oh and I ran .75 miles at a 5:30 min per mile pace. Getting faster!!!
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Long Runs= Funny Tan Lines
I've nearly killed my calves this week working on my speed. So I decided to take both today and tomorrow off. I tried to take my kids to the Salem Red Sox game, but we got rained out. So I took them home and decided to do a run for today anyway. In the rain. It was good! I was feeling so comfortable. just running at a steady pace. Last night I did a quick short run, three miles. first was under 8 minutes the second and third were just over 8 minutes. So I've really been picking up my speed! But then today I tried to run at a comfortable speed and got to a steep hill. . . my calves gave up the ghost. Muscle failure! They just completely went on strike! Well, only my left one. Hobbling home, I had lots of time to think about how rest is a good thing. Breaking out the doTerra tonight!
Long runs do make for funny tan lines.
Long runs do make for funny tan lines.
Running with the sun on my left, I guess. . .
Sorry for the gross pic. Post rain and fast run. :) This tan looks funny because sports bras go inward toward your neck and down the back. But regular shirts, or for example the dress I'll be wearing to church tomorrow are more open to the shoulders. So this tan is going to look awesome! haha
Well, I may take a few days off. Now that I know I have the speed thing figured out since I have perfected forefoot strike, I am feeling comfortable taking off till probably Tuesday. May do some drills on Monday night. Then I am going to focus on distance.
Peace out y'all! I got this! Now that I am super comfortable at 8 minute miles, I might make NYC marathon my goal instead of Boston :) Have to see how I do on distance next week.
M.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Best mile yet!
I took Sunday and Monday off to get over my feminine problems. Then I tried to run yesterday and it turns out I wasn't quite over it. I googled what runners do and it said they just take birth control so they don't have periods! I'm not going to spend money on something I don't need (tubal ligation means I don't need that)! So I don't know what I'm going to do. I am going to ask my doctor for suggestions. I'm also going to see what he can do to treat the endo. It's getting worse and worse.
So I went out tonight. I was supposed to do a difficult run tonight, 4x800 at marathon pace with 3 minut recoveries inbetween. but since I haven't run since Saturday I just wanted to do an easy maintenance run. So I started and I was feeling good and comfortable and my watch said I'd run a mile. So I looked to see how long it took. . . 7:31! POW! And when I hit that point the song on my iwatch (i don't know what it's called so I call it my iwatch) was the same song that was playing when I pulled out of my marathon. I was like, take that as me flippin' you the bird, stupid injury! Normally at that speed I'm spent after a mile. But I felt really good and ran the rest of the 5k, no recovery laps or anything, averaging 8:20.
I have more to write, but I also have to make seven roman shades tonight so that I can go camping with my family this weekend. :) So off to work I go.
7:31 is Boston worthy. I think this is getting to be a realistic goal!
So I went out tonight. I was supposed to do a difficult run tonight, 4x800 at marathon pace with 3 minut recoveries inbetween. but since I haven't run since Saturday I just wanted to do an easy maintenance run. So I started and I was feeling good and comfortable and my watch said I'd run a mile. So I looked to see how long it took. . . 7:31! POW! And when I hit that point the song on my iwatch (i don't know what it's called so I call it my iwatch) was the same song that was playing when I pulled out of my marathon. I was like, take that as me flippin' you the bird, stupid injury! Normally at that speed I'm spent after a mile. But I felt really good and ran the rest of the 5k, no recovery laps or anything, averaging 8:20.
I have more to write, but I also have to make seven roman shades tonight so that I can go camping with my family this weekend. :) So off to work I go.
7:31 is Boston worthy. I think this is getting to be a realistic goal!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Not happening.
Reporting to you again from the comforts of the living room fort as I watch Sherman and Mr. Peabody with my kids and husband. :)
So today was supposed to be a long run. I never go far from home in case of emergency and because I haven't yet mastered running long distances without having to go to the bathroom all the time. My goal was to do 15 miles. Actual: 6.5 miles. :( sad day. . . . . My kids had a birthday party today, two of them, actually. . . The parties started at 1 pm. I did manage to get up at 10 am and work until noon, but at noon all I could manage was enough strength to brush my daughter's hair for the party. Then I laid down in bed because of horrendous cramps. But I had told myself I'd be running at 1 and 1 was coming up. So I pulled myself out of bed and took way took long to get dressed. I dragged my bruised and bleeding self to the track and started running. It wasn't bad! I immediately stopped feeling the cramps. It only took about a quarter mile and I wasn't feeling it anymore. I knew this would happen, I don't just pile pain upon pain upon pain. So everything was going great until three miles when had to go home for "fem-hys," as my dad calls them (feminine hygiene). Then I set back out. It was great. I finally hit my stride at mile four. I felt amazing and was actually running 6:53 per mile at one point for a little bit of distance. It was amazing. But then it all happened again. Super soakers in abundance and nothing can help this heavy bleeder. Sad day. So at mile six I thought I was going to have to go back home. But I knew one more trip back home and I'd call it quits for the day. I tried to stay out telling myself that I had read about marathon runners who mess their pants and still finish the race! Surely I could do 3.75 more miles. But I couldn't. I called it quite at 6.5 and then spent an hour cleaning the crime scene out of my pants. And now I'm going to google how other girls train while on their periods. There must be a way! Athletes train every single day. How do they do it? Or maybe I'm just one lucky girl who bleeds heavily CONSTANTLY for seven days.
But anywho. . . I did some of my run on the trail this morning. I like to do that every once in a while. One thing I like about running is that it strengthens my testimony of God and how He created this earth. On the trails I see so many beautiful things and think to myself, "How can anyone believe this happened by accident or was just a coincidence?"
Back to it on Monday. Sunday's are my day off from training. I have a bunch of new drills to do that I'll write about on Monday. Back to a rousing session of lying on the couch.
M.
So today was supposed to be a long run. I never go far from home in case of emergency and because I haven't yet mastered running long distances without having to go to the bathroom all the time. My goal was to do 15 miles. Actual: 6.5 miles. :( sad day. . . . . My kids had a birthday party today, two of them, actually. . . The parties started at 1 pm. I did manage to get up at 10 am and work until noon, but at noon all I could manage was enough strength to brush my daughter's hair for the party. Then I laid down in bed because of horrendous cramps. But I had told myself I'd be running at 1 and 1 was coming up. So I pulled myself out of bed and took way took long to get dressed. I dragged my bruised and bleeding self to the track and started running. It wasn't bad! I immediately stopped feeling the cramps. It only took about a quarter mile and I wasn't feeling it anymore. I knew this would happen, I don't just pile pain upon pain upon pain. So everything was going great until three miles when had to go home for "fem-hys," as my dad calls them (feminine hygiene). Then I set back out. It was great. I finally hit my stride at mile four. I felt amazing and was actually running 6:53 per mile at one point for a little bit of distance. It was amazing. But then it all happened again. Super soakers in abundance and nothing can help this heavy bleeder. Sad day. So at mile six I thought I was going to have to go back home. But I knew one more trip back home and I'd call it quits for the day. I tried to stay out telling myself that I had read about marathon runners who mess their pants and still finish the race! Surely I could do 3.75 more miles. But I couldn't. I called it quite at 6.5 and then spent an hour cleaning the crime scene out of my pants. And now I'm going to google how other girls train while on their periods. There must be a way! Athletes train every single day. How do they do it? Or maybe I'm just one lucky girl who bleeds heavily CONSTANTLY for seven days.
But anywho. . . I did some of my run on the trail this morning. I like to do that every once in a while. One thing I like about running is that it strengthens my testimony of God and how He created this earth. On the trails I see so many beautiful things and think to myself, "How can anyone believe this happened by accident or was just a coincidence?"
Back to it on Monday. Sunday's are my day off from training. I have a bunch of new drills to do that I'll write about on Monday. Back to a rousing session of lying on the couch.
M.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Flash Back Friday!
Flash Back Friday! Race day memories.
For whatever reason, today I was thinking about race day for the Dublin half. My mom and I were stretching and getting ready to leave the apartment. My dad said, "Shall I run out and get you guys some raw meat to eat for breakfast?"
One of my favorite memories. Dad is always so supportive of my mom and I running :)
So, today was kind of a bummer day. My uterus just wasn't going to have any of it. Ran a mile 11:10 and started bleeding profusely! It was terrible. I did quite a few drills in (jumps, lunges, etc) but not very much running. I took my kids to the park and did my drills while they played. Then they played in the long jump sand box when we went over to the track for me to run my whole ONE MILE! woo hoo! Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to do my long run (15 miles). I am going to go to my doctor. my endometriosis is getting to be pretty wicked. After each of my kids was born they scraped all of the tissue out with a shovel type thing since they were in there anyway. but now that it's been four years, I think it's all built back up again. it's pretty freaking awful Spent all day in bed and on the couch, then took three motrin. When that kicked in we went outside to play at the park and the track. Now I want to go back to bed again. . . Garren is out doing his run, so it's the perfect time to go to bed!! ;) Garren is really taking it seriously. I'm glad. I signed up for that half and thought he'd have the same attitude about it as he does everything else: "This year I'm going to floss my teeth more!" "I'm going to come home from work earlier." "I'm going to ride my bike to work." Yah. . . . but he said, "I'm going to start running to get ready for this half. And HE IS! I'm very happy for him. I think he will like the results and I hope it helps with his stress.
Anyway, I'm going to go cry myself to sleep. My kids half two birthday parties back to back tomorrow and I think that's when I'll do my long run. Crossing my fingers my uterus cooperates. I've got to figure out how to train while dealing with feminine issues. Ugh!
For whatever reason, today I was thinking about race day for the Dublin half. My mom and I were stretching and getting ready to leave the apartment. My dad said, "Shall I run out and get you guys some raw meat to eat for breakfast?"
One of my favorite memories. Dad is always so supportive of my mom and I running :)
So, today was kind of a bummer day. My uterus just wasn't going to have any of it. Ran a mile 11:10 and started bleeding profusely! It was terrible. I did quite a few drills in (jumps, lunges, etc) but not very much running. I took my kids to the park and did my drills while they played. Then they played in the long jump sand box when we went over to the track for me to run my whole ONE MILE! woo hoo! Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to do my long run (15 miles). I am going to go to my doctor. my endometriosis is getting to be pretty wicked. After each of my kids was born they scraped all of the tissue out with a shovel type thing since they were in there anyway. but now that it's been four years, I think it's all built back up again. it's pretty freaking awful Spent all day in bed and on the couch, then took three motrin. When that kicked in we went outside to play at the park and the track. Now I want to go back to bed again. . . Garren is out doing his run, so it's the perfect time to go to bed!! ;) Garren is really taking it seriously. I'm glad. I signed up for that half and thought he'd have the same attitude about it as he does everything else: "This year I'm going to floss my teeth more!" "I'm going to come home from work earlier." "I'm going to ride my bike to work." Yah. . . . but he said, "I'm going to start running to get ready for this half. And HE IS! I'm very happy for him. I think he will like the results and I hope it helps with his stress.
Anyway, I'm going to go cry myself to sleep. My kids half two birthday parties back to back tomorrow and I think that's when I'll do my long run. Crossing my fingers my uterus cooperates. I've got to figure out how to train while dealing with feminine issues. Ugh!
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Stuff
Just updates today. Ran 6.2 exactly last night. The footstep into my back yard toward my back door made it exactly 6.2. I'm taking today off because my monthly friend has come to visit and I am quite a profuse bleeder, unfortunately. I need to figure out what to do, though, because in two weeks I step up my training even more to only one rest day a week (Sunday) and I can't count on my visitor coming on Sunday :) No biggy, though. Today was a just maintenance distance run (5 miles). Tomorrow is a tempo run, which will be my first at marathon pace. I'm a little nervous but trying not to psyche myself out. But for now, it's time to relax and have a movie night with my babies as I write to you from the blanket fort in the living room.
I signed up my husband and I for the Disneyland half marathon. I sent him out to run two nights ago. He came back after 5 miles and said, "Sooooooturns out I'm not ready for a half. Or even a 10k. . . ." He then took a shower and passed out on the bed! :) I'll be signing up my kids and both garren and I for the 5k this Friday.The picture below was form our last Disneyland race. My sister made everyone race shirts. We got the Mickey silhouettes with our names in Disney font from Miss Morgan Designs, a fellow etsy seller. I do have to add that I have lost a ton of weight since this picture was taken. :) Look for more pictures from our Disneyland race next time.
As for my struggles this week, I have new updates on those. I've been getting better about the runners diet. In the evenings I look through the Runners World Cookbook and just get some ideas in my head for the next day. Then, when it is meal time, I am not just grabbing what's readily available. I've made spinach and egg fritata, peanut butter oatmeal, and several other enjoyable meals. I'm getting the hang of it.
I signed up my husband and I for the Disneyland half marathon. I sent him out to run two nights ago. He came back after 5 miles and said, "Sooooooturns out I'm not ready for a half. Or even a 10k. . . ." He then took a shower and passed out on the bed! :) I'll be signing up my kids and both garren and I for the 5k this Friday.The picture below was form our last Disneyland race. My sister made everyone race shirts. We got the Mickey silhouettes with our names in Disney font from Miss Morgan Designs, a fellow etsy seller. I do have to add that I have lost a ton of weight since this picture was taken. :) Look for more pictures from our Disneyland race next time.
As for my struggles this week, I have new updates on those. I've been getting better about the runners diet. In the evenings I look through the Runners World Cookbook and just get some ideas in my head for the next day. Then, when it is meal time, I am not just grabbing what's readily available. I've made spinach and egg fritata, peanut butter oatmeal, and several other enjoyable meals. I'm getting the hang of it.
I'm hoping to bring my kids with me tomorrow to the track. When I run at the gym I always try to have them run at least a half mile of it with me. At the track by our house there is a sand pit for the long jump. They like to play there while I do my drills. Tomorrow will be a tempo run and I hope they'll run a bit with me.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
A surprise!
Today's weather: awful and rainy. Joints reminded me of this all day. Thank you joints for keeping me informed. But I ran anyway. I was surprised. I will preface this by saying that i have slept a total of 8 hours in the past two nights and am starting to really feel it today. I went into this run very tired. I did a couple of practice laps to practice my forefoot strike. Man, it is so hard for me to get that just right since I've been running without doing it all this time. After a few practice laps I started running. My joints were achy, I was sweating profusely for some reason after only a short distance and I felt like I was gong slower than molasses.
One thing I REALLY need to get over is that I tend to not even finish a run at the point I realize I'm not going to meet my goal. I realized today I wasn't going to meet my 10K goal at the 6thK. I was already at 41 minutes. I told myself I needed to finish anyway. When I got to 8 k I was at 52 minutes. Then I realized I did my math wrong at 6k and I totally could have finished in an hour! But I let myself get down about not reaching my goal and I slowed my speed because of that. I really need to get over that. And pronto! That, or get better at math :) I was so surprised at the end of my ran that i was actually running at my goal speed even though it felt like I was trudging through molasses. I think (I HOPE) this means I got my forefoot strike down. I think my legs have been sore as I have been trying to use the different method of running and I was just feeling tired. But the proper running style helped me maintain my speed! What a great day! Then I picked up my kids at child watch and ran a half mile with them on the track. They are freaking fast. I couldn't keep up (really. I wasn't just being nice and letting them win).
In other news: I registered my husband and I for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in May at Disneyland! It will be his first big race! "Find your inner pixie" they tell him in the confirmation email. hahaha. I'm sure he's going to love that! Later this week I will be registering my family for the family 5k run so that my kids can do a race as well. :) We did that one as a family in January and it was the neatest experience.
Short term goals modified:
1) 10k in an hour
2) teach my kids good running posture and correct style.
As for nutrition, nailed it today! I hope to be able to keep it up!
Tomorrow is conditioning day. Woo hoo. . . Haven't heard back yet from the Roanoke Elite Athletes Club yet. Maybe later this week. We'll be running as a family now in the evenings and on Saturday's so my husband can get ready for his race too!
Super Sad about Robin Williams today, too. Super Duper sad. I felt like I understood him. I have been so depressed that death sounded as nice and peaceful as a vacation sounds to some people. A drink, maybe. A good book. a long hike. Or whatever makes you think of pure R and R. I would put my head on my pillow and think that death sounded nice and peaceful. That was just in recent years, but I no longer associate with the people who made me not able to live in my own mind. And I am okay now. I actually started running around the time this was happening and found that it helped me cope with the grief these two individuals had put me through. But when I heard he had committed suicide all I could think about was the time when there was so much going on in my mind that I could't live with in there. I couldn't exist as a human being with what was in there, and for a while I wasn't! I was a robot! I hope he has found peace from whatever was plaguing his mind. I was able to find my peace, but it took 2 and a half years. Two and a half years of utter sadness, disappointment, damage, you name it. But I finally found my peace. I kept waiting for these individuals to accept responsibility and thought that was the only way I would find my peace. but I found it through my Savior, Jesus Christ, and through making healthy changes to my life like running. I do feel sad for the families of people who don't understand what it's like to live in a mind plagued by obsessive thoughts that are out of control. But I myself can understand the ones who hurt themselves. I'm not saying it's okay or that it's right. I'm just saying that I know. And I hope he has peace now. I didn't think I'd ever live another day with peace in my mind and in my heart. And I do now every day. But it took a long time and I did a lot of damage along the way.
One thing I REALLY need to get over is that I tend to not even finish a run at the point I realize I'm not going to meet my goal. I realized today I wasn't going to meet my 10K goal at the 6thK. I was already at 41 minutes. I told myself I needed to finish anyway. When I got to 8 k I was at 52 minutes. Then I realized I did my math wrong at 6k and I totally could have finished in an hour! But I let myself get down about not reaching my goal and I slowed my speed because of that. I really need to get over that. And pronto! That, or get better at math :) I was so surprised at the end of my ran that i was actually running at my goal speed even though it felt like I was trudging through molasses. I think (I HOPE) this means I got my forefoot strike down. I think my legs have been sore as I have been trying to use the different method of running and I was just feeling tired. But the proper running style helped me maintain my speed! What a great day! Then I picked up my kids at child watch and ran a half mile with them on the track. They are freaking fast. I couldn't keep up (really. I wasn't just being nice and letting them win).
In other news: I registered my husband and I for the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in May at Disneyland! It will be his first big race! "Find your inner pixie" they tell him in the confirmation email. hahaha. I'm sure he's going to love that! Later this week I will be registering my family for the family 5k run so that my kids can do a race as well. :) We did that one as a family in January and it was the neatest experience.
Short term goals modified:
1) 10k in an hour
2) teach my kids good running posture and correct style.
As for nutrition, nailed it today! I hope to be able to keep it up!
Tomorrow is conditioning day. Woo hoo. . . Haven't heard back yet from the Roanoke Elite Athletes Club yet. Maybe later this week. We'll be running as a family now in the evenings and on Saturday's so my husband can get ready for his race too!
Super Sad about Robin Williams today, too. Super Duper sad. I felt like I understood him. I have been so depressed that death sounded as nice and peaceful as a vacation sounds to some people. A drink, maybe. A good book. a long hike. Or whatever makes you think of pure R and R. I would put my head on my pillow and think that death sounded nice and peaceful. That was just in recent years, but I no longer associate with the people who made me not able to live in my own mind. And I am okay now. I actually started running around the time this was happening and found that it helped me cope with the grief these two individuals had put me through. But when I heard he had committed suicide all I could think about was the time when there was so much going on in my mind that I could't live with in there. I couldn't exist as a human being with what was in there, and for a while I wasn't! I was a robot! I hope he has found peace from whatever was plaguing his mind. I was able to find my peace, but it took 2 and a half years. Two and a half years of utter sadness, disappointment, damage, you name it. But I finally found my peace. I kept waiting for these individuals to accept responsibility and thought that was the only way I would find my peace. but I found it through my Savior, Jesus Christ, and through making healthy changes to my life like running. I do feel sad for the families of people who don't understand what it's like to live in a mind plagued by obsessive thoughts that are out of control. But I myself can understand the ones who hurt themselves. I'm not saying it's okay or that it's right. I'm just saying that I know. And I hope he has peace now. I didn't think I'd ever live another day with peace in my mind and in my heart. And I do now every day. But it took a long time and I did a lot of damage along the way.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Joining a team!
I've decided to step it up. I have inquired with the Roanoke Elite Athletes team to see what is required to join!
I have set a limit for myself requiring myself to be able to run 8 minute miles before I start investing in this. Today I ran one mile at 9:48, then the mile after that was 9:18 and I ran them comfortably! I could have kept going but it started raining and all the possums and racoons came out. . . I'm not gonna mess around with them. . . . I set this goal for myself because it is very possible that with my joint disorder it may be physically impossible for me to do faster miles. So I need to first see if it is physically possible before I spend money to get better at it. Tomorrow my goal is to run a 10 k in 58 minutes. I get better and better each day! It's amazing!
Current Long Term Goal:
1) Qualify for Boston and/or NYC marathons
Current OUTRAGEOUS long term goal:
1) Qualify for Olympic National Trial (hey, shoot for the moon, right?)
Current short term goal:
1) Run a 10K in 58 minutes
2) Master the forefoot strike
3) Figure out this runners diet!
4) Find a nutritionist
Current Struggles:
1) Runners diet while also managing Hypoglycemia and extremely low blood pressure
2) left foot giving me a little grief. Twingy.
Triumphs:
1) Psoas muscle doesn't feel weak anymore. I didn't even think about on today's run at all.
2) Miles feeling super comfortable below ten minutes.
3) Ran a quarter mile at a six minute per mile pace. . . then wanted to die. . . . but still triumphant in my book!
Here's to ending a good training day! Hopefully tomorrow I'll be a little better about the diet. . . Today I was washing 1 cup of blueberries for a snack and thought a brownie was a good snack to munch on while washing my blueberries. :) Discipline, Melissa. Discipline!
I have set a limit for myself requiring myself to be able to run 8 minute miles before I start investing in this. Today I ran one mile at 9:48, then the mile after that was 9:18 and I ran them comfortably! I could have kept going but it started raining and all the possums and racoons came out. . . I'm not gonna mess around with them. . . . I set this goal for myself because it is very possible that with my joint disorder it may be physically impossible for me to do faster miles. So I need to first see if it is physically possible before I spend money to get better at it. Tomorrow my goal is to run a 10 k in 58 minutes. I get better and better each day! It's amazing!
Current Long Term Goal:
1) Qualify for Boston and/or NYC marathons
Current OUTRAGEOUS long term goal:
1) Qualify for Olympic National Trial (hey, shoot for the moon, right?)
Current short term goal:
1) Run a 10K in 58 minutes
2) Master the forefoot strike
3) Figure out this runners diet!
4) Find a nutritionist
Current Struggles:
1) Runners diet while also managing Hypoglycemia and extremely low blood pressure
2) left foot giving me a little grief. Twingy.
Triumphs:
1) Psoas muscle doesn't feel weak anymore. I didn't even think about on today's run at all.
2) Miles feeling super comfortable below ten minutes.
3) Ran a quarter mile at a six minute per mile pace. . . then wanted to die. . . . but still triumphant in my book!
Here's to ending a good training day! Hopefully tomorrow I'll be a little better about the diet. . . Today I was washing 1 cup of blueberries for a snack and thought a brownie was a good snack to munch on while washing my blueberries. :) Discipline, Melissa. Discipline!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Why I am choosing running over pain meds
Yes, running takes time. Yes, running is boring. Yes, running doesn't always feel great.
Why do I choose that to manage pain over pain meds? Because my family has a predisposition to addiction and pain medication abuse.
Last month we took a family trip to Norther Arizona where we rented a cabin for a week. Halfway up we stopped a McDonald's in Payson, Az for lunch and bathroom break. Since there were so many of us, we chose to sit at one of those long booths that has chairs on one side of the tables and a booth on the other. My sister sat right in the center of the booth to save our seats. She started acting weird. She just had this look on her face. My younger sister and I were wondering if she was hungover or something. Then we watched her try to take a straw wrapper off and she couldn't do it. My other sister said, "I think she's on something." Then my brother came over with his trays of lunch for his daughters and sat them on the table. My sister said to him, "These seats are saved," as if he were a stranger. My brother didn't say anything. I guess he thought she was joking or something. He just went and rounded up the kids. But then she started staring off. My dad came over and sat down with his lunch. He asked if she was okay and she kind of started bobbing back and forth. There was an urgent care across the street so we sent my other sister over to get a wheel chair. I sat next to her and asked her some questions. She tried to tell me something but it was all slurred. I think she was in the middle of having a seizure. My sister got back at this point and told us that urgent care wouldn't see her. They said if we brought her in that they would just call an ambulance because it sounded like an overdose. I asked her something else and she was completely unresponsive. So I told my dad it was time to get her to the ER. My dad was scared out of his mind and said that maybe we weren't supposed to move her. And I insisted that we move her and get her in the car. So from center of this long booth, I sat next to my sister and pushed her inch by inch out of the booth. My dad and husband were at the end of the booth ready to catch her while my brother was out pulling up the car to the door. My dad and husband got her arms over their shoulders and proceeded to walk her out of the McDonald's. At this point her son started to notice something was wrong and freaked out a little bit. I made him stay with me and he kept saying, "I want my mom! I want my mom!" They got her in the car and took her to the ER. By then she had stopped seizing and was able to tell them she took three somas that morning. She said one she took by accident and just grabbed the wrong pill. Given her history I'm not inclined to believe it. I want to. But I just can't. They kept her at the hospital for monitoring and the rest of us siblings drove to the cabin with all the kids.
It was very scary. It was very nerve wracking to have to make decisions for her when we didn't know what was going on exactly. It was sad to watch her son watch all of this. And then when we drove home from the cabin a few days later we didn't even want to stop there because it gave us anxiety (it's one of about two places to stop in Payson). She's fine now, but I wonder if it caused any brain damage.
People with addictions and abuse think they are only damaging themselves. But they aren't! It affects everyone around them! It's a very selfish thing to do. Take care that I am not saying everyone who takes pain meds is selfish. I am saying if pain meds are abused it affects everyone around that person!
I know that my pain will get worse and that I will likely need to find other methods of pain management. I know that pain is very real. When I say these things about not taking drugs, etc people assume I don't know what their pain feels like. I know pain! Trust me! Four years ago I was walking with a cane and a walker! I still can't do certain motions because it takes me out for an entire day (whatever motion you do when scrubbing something like a bathtub or floor kills my hips for a few days no matter how good I feel from running). I know what it feels like to be in pain.
I can't make a lot of promises where my health is concerned because no one knows that future. But I promised my husband that night that if he ever had to take me to the hospital it wouldn't be for a drug overdose. I am going to ride this for as long as possible. As long as running keeps me pain free I am going to do it. And because I have witnessed on several occasions my families predisposition to addiction I will not pain meds. Even if I have to run for hours a day in the pouring rain, bored as heck, whatever. . . I'm not taking drugs. I will never be the source of that pain to my family.
Please remember, anyone reading this, that this is a personal declaration. I am not judging anyone or trying to say anything about anyone's method of pain management. This is my personal choice and it is based on my experiences with my own family and my own EDS III. I am aware that everyone situations are unique and I am not judging anyone. I am only saying that in as far as I can control it, I will do what I can to not make my family worry about me or have to take me to an ER from a Mcdonald's!
I will run myself right out of this world before I make my children or husband watch me sell all my hopes, dreams, personality, life and everything else to a prescription.
Why do I choose that to manage pain over pain meds? Because my family has a predisposition to addiction and pain medication abuse.
Last month we took a family trip to Norther Arizona where we rented a cabin for a week. Halfway up we stopped a McDonald's in Payson, Az for lunch and bathroom break. Since there were so many of us, we chose to sit at one of those long booths that has chairs on one side of the tables and a booth on the other. My sister sat right in the center of the booth to save our seats. She started acting weird. She just had this look on her face. My younger sister and I were wondering if she was hungover or something. Then we watched her try to take a straw wrapper off and she couldn't do it. My other sister said, "I think she's on something." Then my brother came over with his trays of lunch for his daughters and sat them on the table. My sister said to him, "These seats are saved," as if he were a stranger. My brother didn't say anything. I guess he thought she was joking or something. He just went and rounded up the kids. But then she started staring off. My dad came over and sat down with his lunch. He asked if she was okay and she kind of started bobbing back and forth. There was an urgent care across the street so we sent my other sister over to get a wheel chair. I sat next to her and asked her some questions. She tried to tell me something but it was all slurred. I think she was in the middle of having a seizure. My sister got back at this point and told us that urgent care wouldn't see her. They said if we brought her in that they would just call an ambulance because it sounded like an overdose. I asked her something else and she was completely unresponsive. So I told my dad it was time to get her to the ER. My dad was scared out of his mind and said that maybe we weren't supposed to move her. And I insisted that we move her and get her in the car. So from center of this long booth, I sat next to my sister and pushed her inch by inch out of the booth. My dad and husband were at the end of the booth ready to catch her while my brother was out pulling up the car to the door. My dad and husband got her arms over their shoulders and proceeded to walk her out of the McDonald's. At this point her son started to notice something was wrong and freaked out a little bit. I made him stay with me and he kept saying, "I want my mom! I want my mom!" They got her in the car and took her to the ER. By then she had stopped seizing and was able to tell them she took three somas that morning. She said one she took by accident and just grabbed the wrong pill. Given her history I'm not inclined to believe it. I want to. But I just can't. They kept her at the hospital for monitoring and the rest of us siblings drove to the cabin with all the kids.
It was very scary. It was very nerve wracking to have to make decisions for her when we didn't know what was going on exactly. It was sad to watch her son watch all of this. And then when we drove home from the cabin a few days later we didn't even want to stop there because it gave us anxiety (it's one of about two places to stop in Payson). She's fine now, but I wonder if it caused any brain damage.
People with addictions and abuse think they are only damaging themselves. But they aren't! It affects everyone around them! It's a very selfish thing to do. Take care that I am not saying everyone who takes pain meds is selfish. I am saying if pain meds are abused it affects everyone around that person!
I know that my pain will get worse and that I will likely need to find other methods of pain management. I know that pain is very real. When I say these things about not taking drugs, etc people assume I don't know what their pain feels like. I know pain! Trust me! Four years ago I was walking with a cane and a walker! I still can't do certain motions because it takes me out for an entire day (whatever motion you do when scrubbing something like a bathtub or floor kills my hips for a few days no matter how good I feel from running). I know what it feels like to be in pain.
I can't make a lot of promises where my health is concerned because no one knows that future. But I promised my husband that night that if he ever had to take me to the hospital it wouldn't be for a drug overdose. I am going to ride this for as long as possible. As long as running keeps me pain free I am going to do it. And because I have witnessed on several occasions my families predisposition to addiction I will not pain meds. Even if I have to run for hours a day in the pouring rain, bored as heck, whatever. . . I'm not taking drugs. I will never be the source of that pain to my family.
Please remember, anyone reading this, that this is a personal declaration. I am not judging anyone or trying to say anything about anyone's method of pain management. This is my personal choice and it is based on my experiences with my own family and my own EDS III. I am aware that everyone situations are unique and I am not judging anyone. I am only saying that in as far as I can control it, I will do what I can to not make my family worry about me or have to take me to an ER from a Mcdonald's!
I will run myself right out of this world before I make my children or husband watch me sell all my hopes, dreams, personality, life and everything else to a prescription.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Running with my MIL and ditching the headphones.
My mother in law is visiting :) I was going to go for a run and she wanted to come along but just to walk since I was going to the track. Today was a successful day for several reasons. One being that I successfully convinced my mother in law to run the Disneyland family 5k in May with us :) I didn't think she'd go for it but she said, "Yes! Sounds fun! but only if it's for fun and I can walk some of it." I'll take that is a confirmed YES!
I had another success tonight. Well, I guess it wasn't a success, but I am extremely please with the result and was happy enough to call it a night a little early. So I went to the track to do some drills to strength my psoas muscle and do a few other things. Then I decided to work on my fore foot strike and my foot placement, etc. On my first quarter mile that was just practice with foot placement I did 400 meters in 2:20! So I wondered how well I could do if I was really focussed on it. My goal has been to do 400m in 2:00. So I tried it again and did it 2:04!!! I was content and called it a night! It was also pouring down rain. I was surprised my MIL stuck it out as long as she did in the rain.
One change I've made this week that has helped a lot has been to ditch the headphones! I found that I would run and get discouraged every time a song ended. I'd beat myself up because if a song ended it must have been around three minutes and I hadn't gone very far! So I ditched the headphones and just focus on counting my foot strikes and hearing my feet hit the pavement. It keeps me focused and keeps me from getting discouraged. It has been an amazing change! I didn't think I'd be able to do that because I have OCD and tend to have obsessive thoughts. If I don't have music to distract me I tend to pick something to obsess over until the point of anxiety. Of course, anxiety doesn't help anyone's running. . .
But I haven't had an issue yet. I think running has also helped me keep my OCD in check. It's been helpful in so many aspects in my life. Everyone should run!
I had another success tonight. Well, I guess it wasn't a success, but I am extremely please with the result and was happy enough to call it a night a little early. So I went to the track to do some drills to strength my psoas muscle and do a few other things. Then I decided to work on my fore foot strike and my foot placement, etc. On my first quarter mile that was just practice with foot placement I did 400 meters in 2:20! So I wondered how well I could do if I was really focussed on it. My goal has been to do 400m in 2:00. So I tried it again and did it 2:04!!! I was content and called it a night! It was also pouring down rain. I was surprised my MIL stuck it out as long as she did in the rain.
One change I've made this week that has helped a lot has been to ditch the headphones! I found that I would run and get discouraged every time a song ended. I'd beat myself up because if a song ended it must have been around three minutes and I hadn't gone very far! So I ditched the headphones and just focus on counting my foot strikes and hearing my feet hit the pavement. It keeps me focused and keeps me from getting discouraged. It has been an amazing change! I didn't think I'd be able to do that because I have OCD and tend to have obsessive thoughts. If I don't have music to distract me I tend to pick something to obsess over until the point of anxiety. Of course, anxiety doesn't help anyone's running. . .
But I haven't had an issue yet. I think running has also helped me keep my OCD in check. It's been helpful in so many aspects in my life. Everyone should run!
Monday, August 4, 2014
Returning after healing
I injured my psoas muscle earlier this year. Apparantly, that is a pretty significant injury. I kept thinking it just needed a few weeks to heal. But it took forever. I finally felt like I could really run at the beginning of July. So I got back at it and it was hard. Anything before that was just maintenance running. I'm now ready to get back at it and really work on the speed.
It was very discouraging to have to go through the healing process. Accepting that you are a human being and have limitations is always hard. Especially when it interferes with goals. Big goals. I had been aiming for the Boston marathon of 2015, but qualification on that is about to close. I'm now shooting for 2016. My muscle feels very weak right now and I feel prone to injury there. But I was in Arizona for the past three weeks at my parents house and worked on strengthening that muscle A LOT. So tonight I'll get out and see what I can do!
The biggest thing that will be helping me out with my goal is peace of mind. I have almost completely turned over the business to my seamstresses and my Administrative Assistant. Before when I would run I would worry about the mounting work or what emails I had to return to. But the business is almost functioning entirely without me. I still have a few specialty items I need to teach some of the girls how to do. But after that I'll just be "owner." :) And I can focus more on my family and my goals.
Headed out for a fast run in about 20 minutes. Let's see what I can do!
Stay tuned. . .
It was very discouraging to have to go through the healing process. Accepting that you are a human being and have limitations is always hard. Especially when it interferes with goals. Big goals. I had been aiming for the Boston marathon of 2015, but qualification on that is about to close. I'm now shooting for 2016. My muscle feels very weak right now and I feel prone to injury there. But I was in Arizona for the past three weeks at my parents house and worked on strengthening that muscle A LOT. So tonight I'll get out and see what I can do!
The biggest thing that will be helping me out with my goal is peace of mind. I have almost completely turned over the business to my seamstresses and my Administrative Assistant. Before when I would run I would worry about the mounting work or what emails I had to return to. But the business is almost functioning entirely without me. I still have a few specialty items I need to teach some of the girls how to do. But after that I'll just be "owner." :) And I can focus more on my family and my goals.
Headed out for a fast run in about 20 minutes. Let's see what I can do!
Stay tuned. . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)