the truth.

a 100% accurate definition. i love it!

Remember –
You are not a runner because of the race you ran, whether it be good or bad.
You are a runner…
…because you run.
Nothing more. Nothing less.

written by Kelly http://lovingtherun.com/motivation/more-or-less/trackback

pro..crastination.

yeah..procrastination. that's me when it comes to getting certain things done..like updating my blog. i just need the little voice inside my head to log on to my site here and and type away..while i sleep preferably. ha! anyway..yeah. where was i? oh yeah, procrastination!
i completed my fourth run schedule last week. i'm really proud of myself for continuing this "running schedule" goal that i started at the beginning of the year. i'm thankful for the friend that originally put the idea in my head to challenge myself 10wks at a time. and i'm thankful for my husband pointing out to me how far i've come in the short time that he's been back home. and with that since i've been going at it for so long i decided to take a week off from "the schedule" and just do whatever i wanted to do for workouts before i started on schedule #5!

the tally for run schedule #4 was 105.39 miles (i took an entire week for cross-training only so i could give my left foot/toes a little rest). with this past run schedule i also managed to run a 10k for the first time and actually did it a few more times before the end of the 10wks too! that in itself is more than i could have hoped for at this point.

the only thing i've been really pondering with the next 10wks is that the weather is going to be changing drastically and i've grown to love running not only outside, but at this particular path near where we live. it's going to really put a damper on my excitement, joy and love for running once the snow starts to fall and pile and pile and pile up. south dakota isn't stingy when it comes to winter weather, so i need to find something deep in my mental game book to keep me revved through the next 5-6 months!

ps..i've thrown the "who wants to run a half marathon with me?" statement out there to some friends..and i've gotten a few takers!  here's where you can check it out for more info if anyone from anywhere would like to come and take a south dakota marathon off of their "to run" list! http://www.brookingsmarathon.com/

cross-training.

i decided last week that i needed to take a detour with my run schedule and do an entire week of cross-training. i could really feel it in my knees that i needed a break. and no amount of ice and minimal recovery on the weekends was going to do much good. so that's exactly what i did. i did do a little easy running on monday, but otherwise it was all cross-training. i did ab, arm, and back work, rode the stationary bike, did my usual steep incline walk on the treadmill and circuits. it was a nice change of pace, but i have to admit that it was hard for me to take a break like that. i know that i did the right thing by listening to my body, but man..that inner voice in my head--she's a loud girl!
here's hoping that my cross-training week paid off by giving my knees the much needed break they were asking for.

PR's and RB's.

so happy to report that i ran another 10k today...AND...set a new personal record from the first one i ran last week! i improved by 3mins and 12 seconds. i'm not sure if it was due to having quite a few more carbs than i normally do last night or the weather being better..a bit cooler and not as humid or if my endurance and stamina are just getting better. but whatever it is or was it was wonderful. i love doing slower long distance running more than i do shorter, faster runs that's for sure. it's evident in my history of run schedules.

also the most exciting thing today (besides my new PR!) is that i got to have my running buddy with me (due to the holiday) and it was his first 10k and he kept up with me the whole way!!! SO PROUD OF HIM!! he's not usually pumped up for long run as much as i am, but he did it and did so well...especially since the new path that i ran on last week that i wanted to share with him was mostly up hill the last half of the miles. :) he was a real trooper and we barely walked at all. so overall i'm really happy with the second 10k i ran with an improved time and that i ran it with more ease than before.  plus, my favorite running buddy was with me this time and i got to be with him for his first ever 10k.

definitely a great day.

pretty path.

so happy! hip hip hooray! i just ran my first 10k! (yes, i meant for that to rhyme!)

the path that i ran on today was so pretty and even though it was foggy and quite humid, i ran past where i normally turn around and decided to go further to see what was up ahead..and i'm so glad i did. the path/trail (it's a paved bike path that goes all through the entire city) was so lovely. 

i know i've been running for quite some time now..2yrs and i have never competed in a race yet or ran more than 5 miles...but today I RAN 6.20 MILES. and it was great! i couldn't be more pleased with myself...well, i could..i would have liked to have done it in a better time, but that's ok. i'm happy i pushed myself further than i've gone before!  

the weeks are running by..

i'm done with another 10wk run schedule. i'm happy to report that i FINALLY ran over 100 miles in that time. that's a pretty big accomplishment for me! the exact total for the past 10wks is 108.61 miles. yay!!! so going back to the beginning of this past schedule it started out with me pulling some muscles in my legs due to starting some speed work. so i ended up cutting it out and replacing it with a short run and cross training. i'm proud of myself for running outside more than i ever have and even going outside when the weather hasn't been too pleasant. i'm feel proud that i've really enjoyed this particular running schedule more than the other two because i pre-planned each day instead of just leaving it up to whatever i felt like that day. having that structure was good for me because i only missed six workouts this last schedule..(out of 50 actual workout days!) i've given running alot of thought as the days, weeks and months have passed..i've thought about the reasons why i run (especially on the days when i'm just not feelin' it.), what things i should do differently, where i want to run, what running path i'm on what particular day usually sparks many different thoughts too. running allows my mind to wander, running allows my mind to be still even though my body still moving, to just focus on running and nothing else, to just "be"..i think that's why running alone is a good thing for me every once in awhile. it gives me the chance to just listen to my own breathing. it's quite peaceful, actually.

and now..on to another 10wk run schedule!

speed bump.

last week was the start of my new running schedule. and as i said before, tuesdays were the day that i would be doing my speedwork. it was very different for me and i'm not quite a fan of it yet. however, when i did my first 100m sprint it sucked and i felt a sharp pain shoot down my right thigh...but i still continued and finished out my 6. oh..and just to stick this in there--i did stretch, and did a good warm up of a 20min run, etc. but i've never run like this before and i think that's why i got hurt. either way, i iced it, rested, etc. anyway, it was still a bit sore when i warmed up with the 20min run this morning, but nothing major. so after that it was time for sprints. i was a little nervous to start because i didn't want to get hurt..i guess i should have listened to myself because that's exactly what happened. i started my first sprint and not even a few steps into it a shooting pain down the back of my left leg (which has been sore off and on for weeks now--i've been icing that too.) so i took a deep breath, talked to my running buddy for a few minutes and got myself together. i prepared to try it again, but planned to start slower and work my way up to speed. and just as last time, no more than another few steps into it i felt a shooting pain down my leg. but this time it was HORRIBLE and it was the top of my right thigh.
that was it for me. i called it quits. i know that i should have done that after the run, but i really wanted to stay on schedule. now, because of my eagerness, strictness, obsession, etc..i've hurt myself pretty badly. my hamstring on my left leg isn't that bad, but my quad on my right leg is terrible. it's sore just touching it. i've been icing both of them, taking aleve and trying to keep off of my feet as much as i can...which is almost impossible with my "job!" so..ever since then i've been researching as to what exact muscles i hurt, and what to do to "fix" them and to get back on my schedule as quick and painlessly as possible. i've come across quite a few links and sites explaining in detail how to take care of it by icing, resting, elevating and what stretches and exercises to do to help myself mend.. (btw..anyone reading this that has any suggestions, advice or whatever, please feel free to share!)
so with that..i'm not sure what to do tomorrow. should i run? should i take a recovery day? it also got me thinking that each set of my 10wk running schedules thus far i've encountered some type of injury or setback. the first set i broke one of my toes. i didn't break it by running, but by hitting it on a silly baby gate. so that injury wasn't running related. the last 10wks i hurt my heel somehow and now have plantar fasciitis..which i ended up going to the doctor for and got a steroid shot in my foot so that's pretty much a non-issue now. and now the most recent 10wks..i hurt/pull/tear (whatever you want to call it or whatever it is i did..) my right quad and left hamstring muscles. seriously? what the eff? i am a firm believer in the whole "everything happens for a reason" and definitely a firm believer in karma...so what gives God? universe? what kind of message or sign is this? how far do i read into this or do i just chalk it up to a typical runner's thing and get over it?
i'm at a loss right now. i'm just thrown off and feel really dumpy about it all. i feel like i thought i knew what my passion was and then the alarm went off, i woke up and realized it was all a dream. or that you really truly believe something, just to find out that it was all a lie. i feel let down, pissed off, frustrated, sad and confused.


more on this later..comments definitely welcome. thanks for reading...and no, this wasn't meant to be a pity party or a pitch for an ego boost...just me, clearing my head.




oh and ps..i was really proud of myself today for running despite the 35mph winds that should have deterred me. (and yes, that was my own ego boost..that was definitely deserved!)