I can't sleep, so I figured I'd come on here (it's been awhile) and give an update.
Last Sunday was my first race ever! 5K and it felt so good. My goal was to run the whole way without stopping - ACCOMPLISHED. I'm still not really working on speed, as I'm running at somewhere between an 11 and 12 minute/mile pace. I'm glad to have the first race out of the way and I made sure to get the t-shirt to prove I finished!
** Funny side story: on my way home from the race I was driving, with my race number still pinned to my shirt and I guess I must have been kind of excited because I got pulled over for speeding. I was clocked at over 10 miles over the speed limit and was really bummed...only to find out that the cop was going to let me go with a warning! (Not sure why, but I'm thinking it's because he saw my outfit and didn't want to ruin my day after I just ran in a race?? - I'm thinking maybe I should carry around the race number just in case I get pulled over again...any chance it might work twice?? Lol.)
Anyways, back to the running. I took Monday off this week because after the race I also played soccer for a couple hours and thought my body could probably use the extra rest. The plan was to go 4 miles (for the 2nd time) on Wednesday, 3 miles on Thursday, and 6 miles (for the FIRST time ever!!) on Saturday...EEEK!
This was a big week for my training. I was assessing my training plan and in order to be ready for the 10 miler at the end of September that I want to do, I needed to log that long 6 mile run THIS week to be on schedule. I was so intimidated and nervous, but with my ipod on and my mind right, I even managed to exceed my goals!!
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: 4 miles
Saturday (Today): 6.5 miles
I'm super happy with my training this week and hope the success continues! I do want to caution myself to not get too crazy though and stick to the plan as much as possible from here on out because I really don't want to risk injury...
(During my run today I probably had the will and mental stamina to carry me through 9 miles...thankfully I stopped, I'm pretty sure my body would not be too happy about that!)
**Another side note: Since I started running this year I've been getting side aches almost every time I run and it's a real bummer. I've been looking online and asking around as to what I can do to prevent this from happening. On a couple websites I heard people saying that sometimes the reason people get side aches is because they breathe out when their right foot hits the ground (most people's side aches are on the right side) - they said something about how since most of our organs are on the right side, breathing out when our right foot hits the ground causes a lot more stress on the organs which leads to the side aches...so for the last few runs I've been practicing (although not the whole time, cause it's hard work thinking about your breathing and intentionally doing it differently than you would naturally!) breathing out when my left foot hits the ground....AND.....POOF! - NO SIDE ACHES! (Is it all in my head? I don't know, but I'm going to continue to practice this new way of breathing!)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
I DID IT!!
I didn't want to get up.
I hit snooze for an hour.
It was hot.
It was extremely humid.
The air smelled of moldy pond water.
BUT I DID IT!
3 miles - DONE :)
I hit snooze for an hour.
It was hot.
It was extremely humid.
The air smelled of moldy pond water.
BUT I DID IT!
3 miles - DONE :)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I need to get my butt in gear!!!!
After leaving for vacation (to the wonderful state of Oregon) about a week and a half ago, I have completely fell off my training wagon. I got all of ONE run in while I was gone and since I've been back I've only run once...and it was a pitiful run too.
I keep telling myself every night that tomorrow is going to be different...and then the alarm clock goes off....and all I can think about is more sleep. Being on vacation took a lot out of me because we were constantly going going going...and then when we got back I couldn't get to sleep at a decent hour because I was used to being two hours behind...ugh.
NO MORE EXCUSES!
Today my plan is to get in the bed by 10:30.
And I'm setting my alarm for 7:00.
I WILL get up, put my workout clothes on, tie up my tennis shoes and get my ASS out the door.
(or at least that's the plan)
I'll check in tomorrow on whether or not I was able to do it...
I keep telling myself every night that tomorrow is going to be different...and then the alarm clock goes off....and all I can think about is more sleep. Being on vacation took a lot out of me because we were constantly going going going...and then when we got back I couldn't get to sleep at a decent hour because I was used to being two hours behind...ugh.
NO MORE EXCUSES!
Today my plan is to get in the bed by 10:30.
And I'm setting my alarm for 7:00.
I WILL get up, put my workout clothes on, tie up my tennis shoes and get my ASS out the door.
(or at least that's the plan)
I'll check in tomorrow on whether or not I was able to do it...
Friday, July 8, 2011
Let's start at the beginning...
4 years ago I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro (highest peak in Africa).
On the night of the summit, I was feeling very sick, very tired, very cold, and very sleepy. I was climbing ever so slowly, switchback after switchback up the relentless scree beneath my feet...until I wasn't anymore.
Before beginning the climb I had told myself that I would not, under any circumstances, turn around unless one of the guides ordered me to, unless the altitude sickness had become too dangerous for me to continue...
Well, I made myself into a liar that night. The words, "I don't want to continue" came out of my mouth, almost against my will and then before I knew it, my body was moving downward, quietly crying along the way - back toward the Kibo Hut where I would cry some more and dwell on how disappointed I was in my body, but more than anything I was disappointed in my mind.
I had already proved to myself on this hike alone, that my body could often do way more than my mind believed it could. I had pushed my body past limits that my mind had put in place, but when it came to that final summit, I couldn't do it.
I was devastated. I vowed that I would one day go back and make it to the top.
I've been thinking more seriously on getting back there to finally reach my goal and around the same time I was thinking this, I found myself at the (sidelines of a) finish line of a marathon in town. I was watching the runners come in, watching their faces as they crossed the line. I was moved (almost to tears) by the support of the volunteers handing out water and the fans cheering everyone on from the sidelines. Marathons are so powerful to me. Every runner has a different story, their very own reason for why they run, for why they put themselves through the training, the sweat, the black toes, the swollen ankles, and the aching knees.
It was then that I decided that I wanted to run a marathon too. It could serve for me as training for my body but also, and probably more importantly, my MIND. Perhaps after completing my very first marathon, my mind would be ready to face that mountain once again, and hopefully then, I can finally conquer it.
And so that is my plan.
On the night of the summit, I was feeling very sick, very tired, very cold, and very sleepy. I was climbing ever so slowly, switchback after switchback up the relentless scree beneath my feet...until I wasn't anymore.
Before beginning the climb I had told myself that I would not, under any circumstances, turn around unless one of the guides ordered me to, unless the altitude sickness had become too dangerous for me to continue...
Well, I made myself into a liar that night. The words, "I don't want to continue" came out of my mouth, almost against my will and then before I knew it, my body was moving downward, quietly crying along the way - back toward the Kibo Hut where I would cry some more and dwell on how disappointed I was in my body, but more than anything I was disappointed in my mind.
I had already proved to myself on this hike alone, that my body could often do way more than my mind believed it could. I had pushed my body past limits that my mind had put in place, but when it came to that final summit, I couldn't do it.
I was devastated. I vowed that I would one day go back and make it to the top.
I've been thinking more seriously on getting back there to finally reach my goal and around the same time I was thinking this, I found myself at the (sidelines of a) finish line of a marathon in town. I was watching the runners come in, watching their faces as they crossed the line. I was moved (almost to tears) by the support of the volunteers handing out water and the fans cheering everyone on from the sidelines. Marathons are so powerful to me. Every runner has a different story, their very own reason for why they run, for why they put themselves through the training, the sweat, the black toes, the swollen ankles, and the aching knees.
It was then that I decided that I wanted to run a marathon too. It could serve for me as training for my body but also, and probably more importantly, my MIND. Perhaps after completing my very first marathon, my mind would be ready to face that mountain once again, and hopefully then, I can finally conquer it.
And so that is my plan.
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