Love the body God gave you, please!

Friends! I have something important to say today!  Love the body God gave you, please!

This is a really hard thing to do, I know. I have been known to say “I hate my body” repeatedly.  But I don’t really mean that I actually hate it.  I just don’t like how it is functioning at the time of that proclamation.

You know how sometimes someone’s behavior really makes you mad?  You don’t all of a sudden hate the person right?  You just don’t like their behavior at that moment.  I’ve been known to say to my daughter “I love you, but I don’t like how you are acting right now.” And it’s true!  So I think we need to think of our bodies this way too. 

Finding beauty in failure

So my half marathon is in 19 days. Yikes!  And I’m feeling like a failure a little bit.  My farthest run so far has been 7 miles.  And I need to run almost double that.  I was running on Sunday night and feeling pretty defeated, but I ended up finding beauty in failure, and not feeling so bad at the end.

I was running down by Lake Michigan and it was a beautiful night!  I wasn’t planning on running that early, but the radar was showing a nasty storm on the way, so I left dinner in the oven and headed out.  (Don’t worry, my husband was home 🙂  There were a lot of people at the lake, and many of them do not yield to anyone on the path, so that was frustrating.  And my legs were feeling good, but my lungs were not!  We had gotten home from camping earlier in the day and I am sure I was not hydrated enough.  I didn’t drink much while camping because the water was kinda gross.  We refilled our bottles at a water fountain and it tasted bad.  Even when I made it into coffee, I could still taste the nastiness.

I was coming up to this spot where I sat, and by then I was walking, and I was thinking all kinds of negative things…but then I looked out at the lake, and the lighthouse and thought “what am I being so negative about?  Look how far I’ve come and I am not giving up! And look at the beauty around you!” And it was such a beautiful sight, and a beautiful thought, amidst my thoughts of failure.

I’ve had some scheduling issues with running, and some illness along the way, and I’m getting a little nervous.  I know introducing new shoes this close to the race is probably not good, but I was really having a hard time with the other shoes. Today my foot has been aching. Horribly.  Not plantar faciitis aching, but just an awful ache.  I am assuming this is me getting used to a less supportive shoe.  I’m used to the other shoes, where there was a TON of support.  And while these new shoes have support, they have a lot less. I made sure to wear supportive shoes today (sneakers, in the summer, yuck!) and that helped.

I can drop my race distance down to a 10K if I need to, without penalty.  And it’s tempting me right now.  Especially since my doctor confirmed that I have a cyst on my ovary.  Running with that is pretty painful.  And it will be worse for the day of the race because I will have my period and that’s when cysts are the most painful. There is nothing the doctor can do about it, I just have to hope it goes away, or bursts. I’ve had one burst before. It was not a fun experience.  But I find myself hoping for it to burst so I can run my best!  I know, it’s crazy, but I REALLY want to run 13.1!

My plan is to run at least 3 miles with each run this week, and get in some longer runs when my daughter goes to school. I will have 3 hours to run after I drop her off so I will be able to get some nice long runs in.  If I can get in at least a 10 mile run, I will keep my registration at a half marathon.  If I can’t manage that before the race, I will drop down to a 10K.  And I will not eat another Snickers until I run 13.1…

How do you deal with failure?

From Running Funk to Running Groove!

I’ve been in a bit of a running funk lately.  I had a few bad runs, wasn’t feeling too great and have had a hard time staying hydrated.  So I arranged to meet a friend for a run on Wednesday.  Our plan was to run outside, around the lake at my gym, while my daughter played in the daycare inside.  But it was raining.  I thought I could run if it was just sprinkling, but then I thought about how my phone could get wet.  And I can’t run without my phone because of the music and the fact that it tracks my distance.  So we ran inside.

This was the first time I ran with this friend, but I knew we would run about the same pace because I can see her runs on Facebook.  We started out pretty strong, under 10 minutes per mile.  Somehow I got into a running groove on the track!  Inside!  That never happens!  I knew I was in a groove when I didn’t like the song that came on, but I didn’t want to interrupt my running my moving my arm over to skip the song.  It is a simple gesture, but I was afraid it would break my groove, so I just got into the song and let it motivate me to run faster.

We finished a little slower than we started, but we had a lot of people to run around.  Because it was raining, there were a lot of people walking on the track.  There were 2 groups of 3 people side by side that were walking so we had to move around them a lot.  It’s a pretty small track, so when it’s busy, it can be rough running.

But we did it!  We ran 3 miles, and I felt good about it!  My plan called for 3, so I was on track for that.  When we started out and were feeling good, we thought we would do 4, but then stopped at 3, which is fine with me!

It feels so good to be back in the groove!

Can you tell I was a little happy about my run? Lol!  Excuse my super red face- I get REALLY red when working out!

Have you been in a funk lately?  Or a groove?

A run is a run, is a run

I’ve been struggling with running lately!  I have to keep telling myself that a run is a run, no matter how bad it is! Even if it sucked really really bad, it was still a run and still an accomplishment!

We were on vacation last week in Hilton Head, SC and I managed to go out for 4 runs.  It helps that my husband brought his tri bike and was out biking and running himself, lol!  We had to take turns, so he would get up early and go out and I had to wait for him to get back.  There were other adults around, but we didn’t want to impose and ask them to watch her, so we just took turns.

We arrived on the island on Saturday and I ran on Sunday.  That was a good run.  I ran 3 miles- it was slow, but steady.  I saw a lizard, a squirrel and a white bird that I couldn’t identify.  I also saw a lot of other runners and walkers.  They didn’t smile back at me when I smiled at them- that’s so frustrating!  Smile at me, lol!

Monday I went out for another 3 miles.  It was tough because it was getting warmer our each day we were there.  I went running in my new compression shorts and sports bra that I got for free from Old Navy.  My friend received the Crowd Tap  campaign that gave us each a free top and bottom from the active line.  I was a little self conscious running in that, but I saw other runners dressed the same, so that helped.  My sister told me I was crazy, because skin jiggles, lol!  And it did, but that’s ok, it kept me cool! I somehow ran past the road we were staying on, so I was glad to have Google Maps on my phone!

Wednesday I had a bad run.  My foot fell asleep really bad and I couldn’t really feel it.  I didn’t think it was that safe to be running on it like that since I couldn’t feel the impact and wasn’t sure if I was using correct form, since I couldn’t feel it.  So I quit at 2.29 miles and walked the rest of the way back.

Friday was bad.  I didn’t even make it a mile. I think I was tired and dehydrated.  I told myself to push through it, but I felt like my body was telling me to stop, so I did.  I was disappointed in myself, but also proud that I knew when to stop and not push it to the point of injury. I slowly walked back and then enjoyed our last day at the beach.

Now I am home and I’ve asked someone to run with me on Sunday because my training calls for a 4 mile run and I know I won’t make it through that run without someone there with me. It’s so much easier to get through a tough run when you have someone to chat with.  Even if it makes the run slower, it’s still more pleasant to have someone there.

Hopefully having a running partner will help me out of this running funk I seem to be in!  I’ve had more than a few bad runs lately and I need to turn that around!

Have you been in a fitness rut before?  What did you do to get out of it?

Running on Pins and Needles

You know that feeling when a body part falls asleep?  It’s like pins and needles poking into you over and over again and it’s awful!  My runs have included a lot of pins and needles lately and it’s frustrating!  At about mile 1.7, my left foot falls asleep.  And it stays asleep and gets worse and worse as I keep running.  When I stop, it’s even worse!  Because then it starts to wake up!

Has this every happened to you?  It’s the same foot I have Plantar Faciitis in, and I have that under control as long as I don’t heel strike and I don’t go barefoot.  But now it’s falling asleep!  It happens no matter what kind of socks I wear.  So I’m turning to Pinterest for some ideas on how to lace my shoes.  I’m not sure if it will help, but I’m ready to try it! If this doesn’t work, I am going to have to go see a chiropractor to see if that can help.  Actually, I know it will help, I’m just trying other options first. My insurance “covers” chiropractic care, but it’s not a lot, so it’s an expensive visit for me.  I totally believe that chiropractic care is the way to go, I just need to make it more affordable.

I met someone who was on crutches not too long ago.  When I asked her what happened, she told me her foot fell asleep and she tried to walk on it.  So an asleep foot during a run makes me nervous! Especially since I am increasing my mileage and have signed up for a half marathon.  I don’t think I could run that far with my foot asleep!

I found this great pinned blog post on tieing your shoes for different foot problems.  I think I will try the one for when your shoes feel too tight. Hopefully that will help!  My last run was BAD!  I ran so much slower than normal! I even walked from mile 1.32 to 1.44 because of a side stitch.  It was hard for me to decide to walk, because I remember when I was doing the Couch to 5K program, that it was always harder to stop and start than it was to just keep going.  But the side stitch was bad, so I walked and stretched my arms over my head for a little bit.

My knee has also been hurting me too, and I think that’s just from increasing my running, so I am taking it easy.  I am not that focused on time and being faster, I just want to run the distance, so if I need to slow down and let my body get used to more miles before I work on being faster.

It’s a good thing I know what a good run feels like, because runs like this would probably make me want to stop all together.  But everyone has a bad day, or an off day, and I know it will get better again!  Next week I will be running at the ocean, so maybe if I do a run or two on the beach, I will get my motivation back!

What do you do to get your motivation back after a bad run?

It’s official! I’m registered for my half marathon!

I did it. I pressed “register” on the half marathon race.  On the last day of the discounted pricing.  Because I was like ohmygoshcanIreallydothis????  I even asked a few friends if they thought I was crazy.  The consensus was yes- but that they knew I could do it- so I’m doing it! I posted on Facebook that I registered and 21 people liked it within an hour!  How’s that for a supportive group of friends?  It’s AWESOME!

My husband was laughing at me the other day and asking if I remembered telling him I would only ever run if I was being chased.  Of course I remember- that was when he started running races.  I remember his first half marathon.  He must have signed up awhile before he told me, and then all of a sudden he was like “oh, I’m running a half marathon this weekend” and I was like ok.  I didn’t think about going to watch him, until the morning of the race.  And I didn’t tell him I was coming, so by the time I navigated to downtown St. Louis, found parking and made my way to the finish line, he was home.  Total wife fail on that one!

So anyways, my husband predicts that in two years time I will have a triathalon bike like his- only pink- and it will be set up on the other side of our bed on an indoor trainer like his, lol! I don’t know, I don’t think I’d ride that far unless….lol…why dig myself that hole when it’s always a possibility, right?

And now that I will have longer runs, I am thinking I might want a Garmin like my husbands.  Nothing as big as his, I am not a fan of things on my wrist and do not wear watches normally. I want something that will track my run and my heart rate.  I found this cute one on Amazon so I might have to save up for it 🙂

(#ad) Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS Watch (Pink/White)

Of course it’s pink- isn’t it cute?  Lol!  I am thinking I will need one of these since my phone battery can’t last more than 5.25 miles (it promptly died after my 8K, right after I finished), so maybe if I just use music and not an app that tracks me, it might last longer.  I can’t run without either music, or with someone to talk to.  (You don’t know how many times I wanted to tap someone in the Shamrock Shuffle and ask if they wanted to chat while we ran 🙂  My sister tells me I’m crazy…)

I know I can run a half marathon, but I know it will take a lot of work!  I have my 18 week training plan all set in my calendar, and now I need to find something to do as strength training on my off days.  I recently bought a hula hoop and can spin it continuously for 3 minutes- that strengthens my abs right? Lol!

Do you have a good strength training workout?

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I really AM a runner!

“I really AM a runner!”

That is what went through my mind today, shortly after I finished a run.  I got my daughter ready early and arrived at the gym at 8am- which is the earliest I can drop her off in the kids area- and set out on an outdoor run.  My phone said the weather was not that warm, and I was wearing capris and just a tank top with a light jacket- but I was NOT getting on the treadmill.  When I thought about the treadmill today, I started saying “I can’t do it.  I just can’t do it mister” in my head, but of course I was using Jim Carey’s voice from Ace Ventura, lol!

I have a new playlist loaded onto my phone.  My husband has a playlist called “beats” that he uses for when he needs some good fast moving songs.  I had no idea what was on there, I let him load it on and never looked at it until today.  The music kept me going pretty fast!  I only skipped a few songs (I wish when I skipped them it would tell me that later so I could delete them!).

I run faster outside

I run faster outside.  It’s the truth- maybe reading while running on the treadmill slows me down?  When you are running outdoors, you are sometimes distracted by the scenery, but for some reason it motivates me to run faster!  I normally run close to a 10 minute mile, but my first mile tonight was 9:08!  It was my fastest mile ever!

I couldn’t wait to go outside!  I was counting the minutes until my husband would be home so I could run out the door and get in a good run! I decided to run around the lake outside of my gym and it was a beautiful place to run!

I was running alone so I took a picture of my shadow 🙂

I am MORE than “just” a Mom!

I’ve been struggling with something this week.  Am I more than just a Mom?  Have you ever thought this?  Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a mom.  I also wanted to  be an environmental lawyer- and that didn’t happen!  But I am a mom now, and I have been for over 3 years now.  I remember that while I was on maternity leave, I would dream that my husband would come home from work and say “good news honey, you can stay home and not take her to a daycare where strangers will watch her”- but it didn’t happen.  Not until she was 8 months old anyways, and he lost his job and we moved for another job offer.

Since then, I’ve been “just” a mom.  She depends on me for everything, even though she is pretty independent, so I keep thinking of myself as “just” a mom, but I am MORE than that!

Fitness after Sickness is Hard!

We’ve been sick this year a lot! And it’s really impacted my fitness goals, in a negative way.  When I am taking care of my sick toddler, I am drained of energy, but am still able to work out as long as time allows (if my husband makes it home I can go, but I can’t leave her in the gym daycare when she’s sick).  Once I get sick though, it’s hard for me to bounce back quickly! And it’s hard to get my motivation back! First we had a bad cold, then the respiratory flu which turned into a sinus infection for me.  And then this past week we had the stomach flu!

I am very envious of my husbands ability to be sick one night, and then on his bike or running the next.  I think the added work of taking care of a toddler, while I am sick, just really wears me out!  We don’t sleep, we barely eat, and it’s exhausting!

We have been sick 3 times this year, and it’s only March 4th.  She was actually sick right before Christmas too, so that’s 4 times within 3 months.  It’s very tiring!  Hopefully we are done with the germs for awhile.  I’ve been spraying Lysol everywhere and using Clorox wipes on every surface!