My biggest issue lately has been getting out of bed. I have been exhausted so much that I don’t know if I’m coming or going. So much in life is going on.
However, my resolve to continue to use weights and run and do my leg exercises has not waned. Last week was killer. For no reason other than my heart is sad with missing my little one. She has moved to the other side of the country to try living with her dad for a spell. She’s not having the best time. And me, knowing that I can’t just run right out and grab her is sad because I know she’s sad. And homesick. And asked me why I let her do it. 😑🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
So I slept a lot more than usual last week. This week, I have changed my attitude a bit and managed to get up and go out three of the four days so not great but not terrible. We did get a lot of pretty photos.
This morning
I upped the weights last week. And I upped how many reps I’m doing. I looked at my week off as a kind of reset for me. This week we were back at it. 10 pounds and 15 reps. Two sets was all that I do, but I feel like for now, I’m doing good. Focused on things that matter. Keeping my knee limber, taking the dog out daily for her walk/run, and doing my daily journaling. It’s a great way to start the day. At least when I get out of the shower, I feel amazing. Then the morning comes. And it’s a crap shoot for work but it’s life. Daily. For now.
There is much in the works for life right now. I am loving my journal time in the morning. Gets me thinking and starting the day with a smile is nice too. It beats the alternative of getting up and reading the news. That’s enough to make anyone sad and cry and angry and raging… I digress. Besides it’s quiet and there is no one else around and coffee is fresh. And I do love fresh coffee. Mmmmmm… After thinking in the morning, then I get to do my exercises and my leg exercises and I’m loving doing that. I start sweating pretty quickly. And then I get to go run. I like to go out just before sunrise and see all the animals. Today I saw three deer 🦌 and some cats 🐈⬛ and birds. Of course the dog and sometimes we see other animals. One week I saw a family of raccoons 🦝 and then two days later, I saw three more raccoons 🦝 at the neighbors house eating the cat food. They were so cute!
Anyhow, more coming in the works these days. With the right to speak your mind being taken I have decided to start a podcast. I’m not going to be silenced. Not sure what I will do it on, but I have some ideas. Most a running hiatus kind of thing but it could go further than that. Equipment should be here soon so there’s that. I’m thinking I’ll do four episodes before I start posting them. Give myself some time and see how it’s received with an audience. We shall see. Have a great day friends. It’s autumn 🍂
Since my most recent injury, the knee, I have learned that when it comes to things, stretching may be the thing that I need. Ugh!!
Welcome Spring
As a runner, I know that stretching after a run feels amazing. A good long run, a long stretch session, hot shower and I feel like a million bucks! I know that I should stretch before running too. Therein lies the problem. I like to run in the morning. Before work which I have to be there by 7. So in order for me to get up on time and get a good run in, I have to be up and out the door before 5-515 depending on the distance. This means for me to be up and ready to get out the door I have to be up and moving by 4.30. And I can totally do that. I’m so down for that. But then, adding in the injury to the equation is where I’m having the problem. I have to now be up and stretching actively by 4.15. And for me I don’t get dressed to do my stretches in the morning so one would think that it would go faster. It doesn’t.
This morning, I had my alarm go off at 4.15. It does this daily. And then at 4.30 my phone wakes up. And then at 4.42 the alarm goes off again to get me out of bed. And then, as a last one, the alarm goes off at 5.15. If I haven’t gotten out of bed by then, it’s when I will get up. I don’t quite understand the issue I’m having these days. I want to go out and do more miles but something inside me is keeping me from it and I am not liking this. Stupid knee!
Spring has sprung – Saturday
The worst part isn’t that I don’t get up, it’s that my beautiful girl thinks I hate her and I don’t want to take her out anymore. And that couldn’t end further from the truth. But she’s not always up for going out and doing the run that I want to do. I keep thinking I’ll find a solution but I have yet to come up with one. In my mind I keep thinking I’ll get up and take the dog for a nice walk. She’s not up for a lot of running these days but we can swing two miles in the morning. And then when I get home from work, change, stretch and then do my long runs. In my mind this works perfectly. If it wasn’t for all the things that have to get done when I get home. Like putting the clothes away, doing my language lesson, writing once in a while, check spelling, make sure the kids are safe while playing and do anything that Thomas might need help with. Then dinner, dishes, and take five minutes for myself.
Sundays walk with the dog
I feel like these are all excuses but for me it’s not an excuse. I know that the time I have in the morning is likely the only time I will have for myself all day. And I know that my relationship with time needs some work (stupid ADHD), but it feels like there is t enough time to get it all done, every day. I miss so many things and I miss the sunrise. I will work on this week and check back in. Who knows, maybe something wonderful will happen and I can manage my time much better with less worry.
Buried under inches of snow the day before
Alright… time to start the day…
Sunday before the walk… looks like a spider died on my head 🕷️
There are days when the sun shines brightly, the birds chirp happily, and the dew on the roses is picture perfect. These days are almost spiritual in nature and all seems to fall into place. Your heart rate, your pace, the way you breath and the muscles in your legs make you feel like a well oiled piston in moving perfection. Truth be told, most mornings aren’t like this.
There is this legend among runners of something so mysterious and legendary, some go their entire runnings lives and never have it happen to them. It’s called runner’s high. It is elusive and hard to explain to those who have never had it happen. A good way to describe it I guess would be a reference to Harry Potter. The feeling of the good luck serum. Like you are invincible and everything is burgeoning with life. I would have to say that I don’t feel this on a regular basis. It’s more like an transient few hour or so of being high on life.
For me, this isn’t something that I experience often, but, when I do, it’s glorious. It feels like knowing everything and not knowing anything at the same time. Your thoughts are scattered yet in perfect synchronicity with nature. It’s unlike most natural feelings you can understand. Again, the best way to describe such a phenomena is holy.
The sad truth is that I only get this every once in a while. It’s not an everyday thing. Not even close. Though, on a good day I feel like a million bucks just after I get out of the shower. I can feel my body lighting up and I feel as if I am in control, if even for just a moment.
10NOV2024
Wow, that’s so very poetic.. I do like how I write, so I guess going with the next one in the book of prompts is going to help me get back to those kinds of whimsical feelings of five years ago.. But let’s take a little inventory of where were we five years ago.
We were still in the days before Covid-19.. If you can remember back that far as it seems 2020 was really 10 years ago. Thomas was driving for Copperstate, my grandmother was still alive… So were a few others that are now gone. I was still talking to Hanna, who I was thinking about this morning. It’s been almost two years exactly since I last heard from her… My heart broke when she and I stopped talking. Like broke broke. Piper was in Jr. High, and Silas wasn’t even a thought yet. Close, but not quite. I was working at the bank. I miss the people I worked with, but, I don’t miss feeling like it was too much all the time. I was a Jr. Banker at the time. It’s so weird to think of how far I have come since that time. Even to think about how far we have come as a group is quite interesting.
Anyhow, I wanted to start back with going through old thoughts and just getting them out there again. This one was hard to follow. The last time I felt that runner’s high, Kelsie and I were doing a 10K, we had just hit three miles and I felt amazing! Both of it did in fact. It was just about a month before I got hurt.
Surgery was a little more than a week ago, and so far I’m able to bear a little weight on it to walk. I’m supposed to start PT this week, but I will have to get onto the website to find out when.. I hate that I deleted the emails that had the appointments for the first three visits in them. UGH!! Not to mention I can’t even find my phone right now, it’s not like I could do much even if I wanted to… hmmm… Hold Please… Never mind, I got it now… good thing I have my photos on the computer.
That’s all for now friends, have a great day, night friends 😎🤩❤️
Ok… Firstly, I looked through my book of prompts today and couldn’t find anything that I really wanted to do, and then I remembered me trying to stay committed to something I said I was going to do.. Unlike everything else I have tried and never finished.
10November 2035
It’s getting to be that time of year when I like to run when the sun is about to come up and there about that time.. I love the smell of the fireplaces with a little bit of the smoke hanging in the air. It’s been cold the last couple of weeks, which is normal. I took off this morning for the run just thinking I was going to do a nice easy five miles. That was not the case.
As it turned out I did 8 miles and it was such a beautiful sunrise! Along the way I was able to focus on life and I started to do a trip down memory lane. I started going back to the time when I was able to retire. I thought about how once we were able to sell the idea and the system, we were able to buy the house and land where we are now, but I was able to retire and take a nice little vacation. That vacation was amazing and that’s when we bought the van. We had actually bought the van and then took the train out to pick it up and then we were able to just go have an adventure together.
It’s weird to think about how much fun we have had in that VW van since then, as well as how many miles we have put on it. We have gone so many places, see the ocean a bunch of times, been to many different parks and got to do so many things together. I love that we have this place that we can always come back to. Where the kids are so close and I don’t have to wonder if they are doing alright because I get to see them all the time. It makes my heart so happy to be able to have that for the family. We have good days and we have bad days but it’s all good. I wouldn’t want to be with any other group of people than then ones that I am around all the time.
We have got to see Ella graduate from high school, Piper and Kelsie graduate from College, I got another degree and my masters, Thomas got his masters, it’s been a good thing that everyone of them have been able to further their lives by getting more education. As I kept running today, I thought about how wonderful it is to see Silas do so well in school as well as choosing to play an instrument and not only that, but he’s so good at it. He’s got dedication that’s for sure. I admire it and strive to be as dedicated and committed to playing my violin and trumpet as much as he does.. Have to lead by example. And with both of us in the symphony, it’s such a fun way to be able to do something with him.
Without a doubt, the best part of today was the nap after getting back from the run. I have really loved getting up early to stretch before going out and it’s such a huge help, but getting to do it in a meditative state afterwards, makes me feel so damn good. Then the shower and food and coffee and snuggles from Thomas make the day start off so well that the nap that comes around noon is so incredibly delicious.
Anyhow, dinner tonight is with the kids, salad and baked potatoes. Simple, delicious. Followed of course by something super sweet, strawberries and blueberries. Time to get papa up, he’s so cute when he’s sleeping 😎❤️😁
If you are not aware, the Ides of March are a special day for all of us. The day changed how our modern world operates and how we can be so cruel and yet survive to see another day. In the year 44 BCE, our friend to Rome, Julius Cesar was stabbed to death, by his friends. They feared he was going to be a king and that simply could not happen. The last to stick a knife in him was Brutus. Rumor has it that he may have been Cesar’s illegitimate son. And he had been forgiven by Cesar for trying to fight him on the battlefield. The show Rome was a great adaptation of the whole thing. However, not to overshadow the killing thing, Cesar had brought together Rome and the people. They loved him. This changed how our now modern world works. This was also the day that my husband and I decided on for our anniversary. Why did I have to decide what day it was? The first year together came around and neither of us could put a finger on the exact date so we went with the Ides of March.
Snow on the trees at night
That was March 15. It’s now April. I think April fools day was not so great for me. I dropped my breakfast shake and it went all over the counter, got to work pissed off because I couldn’t make another one, that was the last of the fresh fruit. No toast for me either as I needed to be walking out the door, I’m grateful Thomas was there and he cleaned it up. Had sausage and crackers for breakfast. Decided I needed some more coffee. Had to hit up Walmart for it. Got there and there was no almond coffee creamer. Like none at all. Motherfuckers!! Opted for some Lemonade with blueberries. One of my most favorite flavors together. And through all of that, I’m sitting at my desk sneezing like crazy. Something is setting off my allergies really bad. I also bought some Ben & Jerry’s for lunch. Got done with lunch and went back to my office. Misty came in and she was kind enough to give me some Sudafed. I then asked my boss if it would be ok if I left early. She didn’t get back with me until about thirty minutes before I left. I ended up leaving 12 minutes early.
So pretty
Got home and I knew Kelsie and the kids were going to be over so I got home and they were doing quiet time. I love being around Kelsie. She’s such a sweet and kind person. She’s a great kid! We went to the bank to get some cash and when we got back it was time to clean up and go home. So instead of crawling into bed like I had wanted, I went downstairs and helped and hugged and said farewell for the day. Sat down on the little love seat. Thomas and I stared at the TV. 📺 Willy Wonka was on. Both of us snuggled down on our respective couches and slept. For three hours. Wow I needed that. When I woke up, the movies home screen was on and playing the music to one of the songs was playing. The one about no place like pure imagination. Yeah. The one Gene Wilder sings.
Got back upstairs and crawled into bed again. I was out before ten. What a day! As for getting anything done, I did run the day before. And let me tell you I got home from my 4.69 miles and within minutes of being home it began to sprinkle. And then it rained most of the day until it started snowing. And it dumped six inches of fresh snow on the ground. I love that! Thomas and I went for a drive that night just to go and see. It was beautiful.
Lunch. And dinner
As for forward progress, it’s moving at a much slower rate than what I want it to happen. With the kids over so much I haven’t really taken my sewing machine out to do anything. And I had to purchase a new one!! I’m still going over all the stitches but I’m loving it a great deal.
For my running I’ll admit that yesterday didn’t happen. Miles are increasing monthly so that’s a bonus. I had hoped for a hundred mile month for at least ten months this year. Maybe I can hit 9 months of the year and just pick up extra all that I can. I’m currently sitting at just over 200km for the year. I want to hit 1024 and make my challenge goal. Would love to hit it long before that because that’s only 612 miles. I wanted to hit 1000 miles this year. I can still make it. Just need to get up and go in the mornings. And I’ve been loving sleeping in. But I miss the sunrise so it’ll be starting up again with morning runs here soon. And I’m going to want to start to do my loop again. So I’ll have to work on that a bit. Oh and I have a race/run this weekend. It’s up here at the park and it’s four laps around the park for this year’s Tilman Run. I love the shirt this year too. And it the runs 20th year. Seems like twenty years ago was lifetimes ago. Huh. 🤔 it was at least Pipers life time.
Finished the run
It’s weird to think of 20 years ago. We were still rebuilding as a country from the attack on the twin towers. I was still serving in the navy. So many possibilities lay in front of us all. Life was so very long ago and far away.
Anyhow. The loop is going to have to happen many times over now. I’m excited about it. I like that area. And I got new running shoes. They work well on the dirt but not as much on the asphalt. I’ll keep wearing them. But I will start doing more trails. Hoping to get more miles in this month than last. I think I need to get myself moving in that case 😁😎🤩
This afternoon, while I was preparing lunch, Little Gotro came downstairs and stated that she would eat, but she was cleaning her room. How am I to stop that? She said it just got to a point where it was just too much. FINALLY!!! She has done it. Gotten to the point where it gets so bad that you have to stop everything you thought you were going to do and clean up your mess. I had to do that yesterday too, but it was more like a whirlwind named Julia came through and needed to pick up her mess.
The last more than a couple of mornings, I have managed to get up before work and do a work out. The last two days, I have run before doing the workout and I can say that I will make sure to do the workout before the running. I have been feeling like the new dose on my meds was making me not so happy. And truth be told, I was getting upset with myself because I was allowing myself to do whatever I wanted and not do anything to help keep it balanced. Since the time I thought about this, it was a blizzard out last week. Not like some snow and shit, but a real blizzard. Complete with howling high winds and snow blowing sideways making large drifts along the sides of houses and trees. It was so snowy out that our clinic was closed for a day. The roads were frozen and the temperatures were below zero. I don’t run in those kinds of conditions. But I knew that I needed to feel better so I got myself out of bed and I went downstairs and got my DVD and went back upstairs and started to do a short 24 minute workout. I’m thinking this would have been Thursday morning. (It’s now Monday afternoon, President’s Day). Got up Thursday and Friday morning to work out. I got up Saturday, Sunday and Monday to do that workout following a two mile run. Tomorrow it will be workout and then a 2 mile run.
Sunrise at my house
I thought that doing the run first would be easier for me and the dog since she doesn’t have to be in here for that. She’ll be upset in the morning when she realizes that we will be going running after workout. But, for this week, we are only working on 2 miles. The goal at this time is to be able to get to run those two miles without walking, and stopping only due to the dog having to sniff or pee or take a poo. I’m ok with stopping for that but I want my body to get back to where it was a long ish time ago.
The run itself yesterday was so nice. Slow pace but I wanted to maintain the pace throughout the entire run. I was just about a full km when I had to walk due to seeing a young family with a puppy off the leash coming towards us. Then shortly behind them was an older gentleman with a dog off the leash as well, much more well behaved than mine is. But again, I don’t run by situations like this. Too many times I have had a dog charge me and The Yolandi Dog and so we are very alert while passing other animals like that. We get closer to our turnaround and there was another dog just running in the road, doing what he wanted. So we turned around. And then getting back to our neighborhood, we saw the second gentleman again and decided to not go down that road. I hit time on the watch and get the dog inside and off of her leash to see that I have .09 to hit my two mile mark. So I take off around the parking lot. I have a new fastest mile. 15:46:12 is the new record for this watch. The watch is brand new, got it on Friday. I got a Garmin of course, this is a Vivoactive 4S I think. Yup. That’s what the box says. I like how I am already getting so used to this one.
Yesterday at the lake
For the run today, I found it to be a little harder than the one yesterday. Again, I am pretty sure that I really should have warmed up more before running this morning and that would have made a big difference. Hindsight being what it is, I went out this morning, and I was feeling a little more stiff than I wanted to be. I could feel the shin splints wanting to come on, it was not the funnest, and yet, I was loving every moment of it! Both of my legs were hurting evenly and you have no idea how much that made me smile. You see, dear reader, when I was first starting to run after my injury, I was only getting pain in one leg for shin splits. I didn’t want to over do it. But, I wasn’t having any of those problems in the right leg. As you can see now, I am very happy about having those in both legs. They are starting on equal ground now. Not only that, I find that when I do the squats and lunges, it feels like it’s helping to stretch that leg properly as well as help it strengthen and find that balance with the other leg. You know what would be epic, I good hard massage a long bath and about 12 hours of sleep… That would be so lovely.
My new watch also tells me what my body battery is at. Since I got it and have been wearing it, my body battery has been sitting right at 5. I had it as high as 25 this morning after finally feeling like I got a restful sleep, and now it’s sitting pretty at 9. Might have been the nap I just took as well. For my afternoon snack, I went with some cold cereal. Nothing sugar coated and I didn’t add any sugar to it either. Just some almond milk and honey nut Chex. I like how crunchy they are. I would say that I’m trying to go a little bit lighter on the sugar, so I had some protein toast fro breakfast after working out, though tomorrow, I might opt for something with a little more umf to it. I had two slices of toast, one with butter the other with butter and peanut butter. For lunch, I had some crackers at my parents house and came home directly and ate my sandwich and two pickles. From there I took a nap for an hour. For my afternoon snack, I had my bowl of cereal and now, I’m eating a small bag of gummy bears. So much for working on less sugar. I’m just so hungry right now and I had a bag of gummy bears… I am ashamed 😔 I’ll get over that, don’t worry. I might have some apples in the fridge or a cucumber. Who knows at this point. I might opt for ice cream later. I have way too many of them, might combine some for a milk shake with dinner… that might be fun 🧐😎
I am working on me because I want to. Not because I feel like I need to be someone of influence or statue, but just a lady who wants to feel her best. I am not giving up coffee though! I know that I will always carry some weight on me, and that’s ok with me. Thomas loves it as it is. My best friend doesn’t think I look bad so why should I tell myself that either. I don’t look bad. But like everything other area of my life, it could always use some improvements. I am a work in progress, forever striving to be better than the woman I was yesterday. …. there went the last gummy bear…. Oh well… They were delicious!
On Friday this past week, I was able to go out for a short walk. Made it to .70 miles that day. But I noticed that I was a bit cold. And then it hit me as I started to look all around. Today was the day. It’s the day the air turns from summer breezes to autumn chills. That north wind came up again, and now here we are.
The Honey locust tree is turning yellow
As I sit here, it’s 6 days until the official start of fall. My favorite time of the year. It only lasts but a few short weeks and it can be skipped altogether as it had last year. Went straight from summer to winter.. Or was that the year before???🧐🧐 Anyhow, last year I was not able to enjoy it very much. I was training for my marathon on my birthday and then got sick from running it.. on my birthday. Got a nasty sinus infection and was down for about a week and then I had surgery and that took me out of the game for quite a while. I wasn’t able to enjoy those crisp mornings when it’s chilly but you still end up sweating to death from the run itself. Those are the best kind of runs in my opinion.
The grass and weeds have started to turn
This year will be a bit challenging. Since I am two weeks post hamstring tear, I am only able to go as far as I can walk, slowly. Walking is still a bit of a challenge for me, and I try not to compensate for it, but, I can feel it when I’m done. I will still be going out in the morning, though, not like I like to. I will be doing more body work and core stuff as I try to just gain strength in the muscle group. I have a bag that I will be utilizing as well as going back to doing my plank challenge when I am able to. I like doing some weighted twists as well to help with the mid section. I am focusing on that because, well, I have discovered that not being able to move from my bed very much the last two weeks, I have a very super slow metabolism. So while I lay in bed, legs outstretched, one on a pillow to keep from having some serious pain, my body is just saving those calories for to work off at a later date. Ugh! I had just bought a smaller size jeans no less!! And two new pairs of pants for work.
I will still be up at before the break of dawn to get my walk in and then get a small workout in. I know that I will be doing the same in the evening. My husband has graciously offered to help me and work on a few things like dynamic movement and calisthenics. I want to come back better than I was. I want to get a better race time, though, no races on the horizon for me. I find it’s hard to get out there and just go when I have nothing to work towards. I’m a rewards kind of girl and I love the medal at the end of the race. Not too sure how I will get to the next race at this point. I’m working with a lot of things. Going out and doing shit costs money and whole lot more than it used to a year ago, I’m not so sure I can swing this kind of fun again. It’s ok. There are lots of races to sign up for here soon. Not sure when I will be able to get out there again, but, I know it’s going to be with a better time on my 10km’s and my 15km’s.
So pretty last night
Now, it’s time to get that warm spice feeling in the air, make some pumpkin pie stuff and all kinds of other things. Yeah, not a long post today, and I have been thinking about fall since Friday as well. Guess my thoughts on running as a female took it all out of me (I only edited and added photos today. I have to give the writing a day before posting. I’m not that great at spell check the day of, I tend to read what I am thinking it says, rather than what it’s supposed to say.) and that was a lot to say about it. Will those words fall on deaf ears? Most likely. The men in this world who attack and kill and rape women are not likely readers of my blog. I could be wrong, but, not likely at this point.
Anyhow, hope you, dear reader, have had a lovely beginning of fall this week. It’s in the air. I can feel coming in the air. The leaves are slowing changing, and then in a week or so, it’ll all be right there in the middle of the changing of the trees as they shed their leaves. The oak trees around here are usually the last to come into bloom, and then one of the first who start shedding the leaves. The honey locust tree is the one that actually changes first. I can’t wait. Hot chocolate with my husband and my baby, sitting around watching old movies.
Hope your hump day, dear reader, sees only sunshine and smiles.
I will be the first to tell you that I am not super stellar at being motivated in my personal life. At work, I tend to move and want to learn more, pushing myself to do better so I can, I guess, climb the ladder. I am not a fan of working. I feel like I have been working for the last 26 years, and I am not a fan of it and I no longer wish to work in the traditional sense of what I do. I perfer the comfort of my home, listening to my favorite writing music and putting my fingers on the keyboard and letting my mind wader as I type. I hit backspace a lot 🙂 While I am in my socks and yoga pants and slippers, sitting in my home feeling the composers pain as the tones of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor beaten into a pipe organ come flying into my ears, I don’t want to do anything. Not house work, not dishes not cleaning, and unless I am pushing very hard to finish a month with one hundred miles or more, I don’t like getting up in the morning and working out.
Alas, it’s now week four of marathon training. The first two weeks of training went fairly well. Got my long runs in and I was starting to have a good flow for it. And then last week, I slipped a bit. Monday wasn’t bad at all. Tuesday I had a schedule change and this became my early day. I got home thinking I was going to be able to change and then get my run in, likely pushing it close to my violin lesson. I instead had a discussion with my husband about the current cover of Runner’s World Magazine. The headline is talking about women and how many are harassed while running.
Needless to say, I didn’t leave the conversation with good feelings. Not like I was angry or anything, but, when trying to explain to someone I know intimately that I felt so inarticulate with my words, I was crushed. I want to make a living out of, essentially, explaing to others how I feel, and this was a huge blow to me. How will I ever be able to do that, if I can’t even express my thoughts to my husband, my best friend? It didn’t sit well with me. The run didn’t happen, though the lesson did. I came home in a funk and I couldn’t shake it. This lead into Wednesday. All day I was off. I couldn’t let it go, didn’t know what to think of it. And then, to make me feel especially good, I had a customer tell me that at my age, there wasn’t any real changes I could make that would allow me to be able to move out of the area, even if I wanted to. I’m stuck. Wow.. That made me feel really good. That night, my husband was the most wonderful man. He held me and loved me and didn’t judge me and wasn’t angry that I was off. I felt so validated. Thursday morning comes along and I didn’t run. I wanted to, but, a few contributing factors had left me feeling like I was getting sick. There have been prescribed burns going on in the area for the last three weeks and with little to no wind, the smoke settles in the trees and air and it gets in your head making you feel like you’ve been hit by a train. I slept in, and I was so glad for that. Friday, I was still not feeling good. Saturday I had planned the long run, 10 miles, but, that just never happened.
Sunday came and I was prepared for it. I had my new water bag out and ready to go, my bag packed with treats and fuel for the run. Everything was ready, and since I was leaving early, I figured I would miss the church crowd. Had my route planned and everything. I was going to run to the stop light and cross and head into Pinetop. From there I would run until I got to 3.8 and turn around. That was going to give me 4 miles left when I get to the stop light. It was more like 3. Now what? I hadn’t planned that part of it. So, I winged it. I was half a mile from home which meant I would need 2.5 miles, which is 1.25 miles one way. Off I go down the road, thinking, I wouldn’t be too long. It felt like an eternity.
3.8 miles from my house is The Lion’s Den… The end of town… before the country club.
I have managed to do pretty well on my workouts since then. I made a giant training calendar and it’s in my room and as the days go by, I mark off another workout completed. Without even realizing it, I am nearing the end of my first four weeks of training. I am surprised how quickly that went by. I am shocked is more like it. Who would have thunk it?
Sunlight through the yellow leaves
There is always much talk about cross training in my running groups on the internet. I have come to love so many of the people in these groups. It’s a place to be able to say what is on my heart and weighing me down without a lot of judgement. To be fair, I don’t like to air my dirty laundry on the internet. I have from time to time used my blog as a forum to bitch about work, but, after only hours, I have taken them down again. I don’t like to do that. There is such a thing called privacy. Not that I don’t tell people how far I ran today on the daily, but, my private life, I have a hard time talking to others about stuff that is none of their business. I have learned the hard way in my life to know that what gets written down can always be seen. If I don’t want the public to know, I don’t put it to pen, or fingers to keyboard. <<<<SQUIRREL>>>>>
One of these things is not like the others…
Cross training… There is a lot that can be said about adding some basic weight training to the running. I used to own a weight program and I loved it, but, I couldn’t find it. I knew that for this race, I was going to want to do some serious cross training to help me get into better shape for this race. I want to finish in 6 hours. I know I can walk 30 miles in 8 hours, I am pretty sure I can do 26.2 in less than 6. And by adding the weights, it will help me to tone up more and develop more muscle definition. Like in my legs.. I love my legs!
For this part of it, I wanted to find a good running plan and combine it with the weight training plan that I already have. I am using the methods described in Run Less Run Faster for the running portion of it and ChaLEAN Extreme for the weight part of it. I like how they work together. Three days of running and three days of weights is where I have settled into my plan. I noticed at the end of the second week, I was feeling like my pants were fitting a little nicer. Last week, not only did I let the voices in my head win the battles, but I ate shitty food to go with it. Fried pickles and beer were among the favorites that I had. Along with ice cream, lots of good chocolate ice cream. I knew I was going to have a hard time running on Sunday, but, it was ok. I wasn’t going to quit just because I had a bad few days.
Tomorrow will be the last workout in the Burn phase of the weights. I am so thrilled that I am able to say I have finally finished a full month of this training plan. Bought it years ago, like, before I met my husband, and had all of the workout written down so I could track and I have never made it past the third week in this. I was proud to see that yesterday as I was marking what I was able to lift and how many reps.
Thus far, with only a few days of setbacks, I am pleased with the progress so far. I notice that while I can’t run as long as I want, I have to have some sort of discipline in it, I feel like my legs are so much more powerful. Yay, squats are working! With the winter setting in slowly, I am glad that I’m not trying to kill myself with a ton of miles every day.
Watch out Phoenix Marathon, I am coming for you…… I am going to beat this training cycle.
The Morning High Runner 