Running Thoughts

I wish I'd taken my little camera with me.  I hiked up Nellie Creek Trail past a gorgeous waterfall and then ran back down.   The Creede Mountain Run has a long section of vertical hiking in the first half, so I figured today's trail would help get my head around what I'll need to do.  Conserve, that's what.  Conserve energy and strength early so that I can finish.  It was all I could do not to run the flatter portions of today's uphill trail, but if I want to finish the 12 miles next weekend, I'll have to restrain myself so that I can run the last half.  

I got an email from Ruth (who conquered 18 miles yesterday!!) with a link to a blog with a link to a blog with...  You get the idea?  So, this chain of links led me to Jeff Galloway's book . I've mentioned before that when I allow myself walk breaks, my time ends up faster...go figure, I said.  Ruth had some interesting things to say about that topic that reflect the Galloway approach.  Scheduled walk breaks are a way to better your time, saving your legs for later in the run, says Mr. Galloway. You may recall that I'm to run a 12 mile mountain race.  (Mountain, being the key word)  You may also recall that it is in less than 2 weeks and that my longest long run lately has been 5 miles. It stopped raining.  I went out with thoughts of being lucky to accomplish 8 miles which is pushing it since I haven't built up to 8 lately.  I knew that the only way I'd make it would be with walk breaks.  I put my new watch on my arm and set out to prove to myself that I could do a...

I've lived here for several years, and I've found it difficult to make friends.  Oh, people like me and say hi and I like them and say hi....  But lately some other cool gals have found out that I like to run, jog, trot, crawl.  Suddenly, I have friends.  It's interesting the camaraderie between crazy people who lace up their running shoes.  I've been invited to run the Creede Mountain Run with these new friends .  And I'm going!  I'm planning to attempt the 12 mile run.  My longest run lately has been 5 miles, and the run is Sept. 5!!!!  I hurt my toe, had company, and had a week-long headache...all these things waylaid my plans to train.  But you'd better believe I'm going even if I have to walk it all!   If you read the description of the course, you know that the first part is an uphill climb.  The trail I took yesterday was just such a climb.  I walked/hiked up a mile and a half and ran/fell down it.  I was hoping to do the same thing tomorrow (minu...

Another goal met!  I investigated my second new trail of the summer today.   Some conditions that my Nike+ can't detect:  altitude steep vertical climbs creek crossings big rocks jumping over logs steep descents tripping blood losing 1987 Topgun sunglasses looking for sunglasses I found 'em!

Two Three-milers since I recovered from my headache.  I just haven't managed to blog about it... Some little things I've noticed:  Yoga makes my core tired and sore and if I run the next day, my posture is sloppy.  Yoga loosens my hips and makes me feel more relaxed when I run.  Short, quick steps allow more mileage than long, reaching steps and save my knees.  Jars of Clay have some great running songs.  My left foot feels weird and has strange callouses that my right foot does not.  Chapstick before a run is a good thing.  My sunglasses look like I should star in Top Gun.  More expensive socks last past one run.  Cheap socks get a hole in the toe first time out.  Running doesn't make a headache go away, but it takes my mind off of it.  Pink Emergen-C drink doesn't set well right after a run.  Gatorade does.  Water rocks.  Some days, my orange running skirt is my favorite.  Other days, it's the black one.  My little town gets quieter when school is about to start. ...

struggling with a headache the past few days...out of the game for the moment.  Back soon!

My 4 mile run yesterday was pleasurably enhanced by the fact that the raspberries are ripe!  I stopped and picked some on my way home.  They were sweet and yummy.  Take time to pick the raspberries.  :) Interestingly, my nike plus said that I ran 3.5 miles when I actually ran 4.  I think that all the work on form has changed my stride and I need to re-calibrate.  Maybe I'm faster than my plus shows....  Who knows?  I can't find my watch.  Again, the last time I saw it....my 10 year old..... Also interesting, on the last two runs, this song has come on my ipod just when I thought about walking.  So, I didn't walk.  Don't get comfortable.  

Aren't they swell?  I felt like a lightning bolt!  I ran so fast inside.  But on the outside, I'm still slow...haha!  So, there is the scientific proof that new shoes make you feel faster, and actual speed cannot be determined by a clock.  :) Last week was my 30 day mark of Chalean Extreme (weight lifting program from beachbody that I like so far).  So, this week is off as far as lifting, and I'm running only this week.  It was time to measure progress.   Weight...no change.  That's better than gaining!  I had been 5 pounds over...water weight fluctuation I guess. Lost an inch in my waist...whooohooooo!  That was unexpected...I have a harder time fitting into my jeans these days but that can be explained by the next measurement... Gained an inch in my thighs.  I'm sure it's allll muscle.  Beautiful muscle! Lost almost an inch in my hips. Lost .5 inch in my chest. Lost.5 inch in  my arms. Can't find my calipers to measure my body fat percentage.  The last tim...

Hello, Nature Lovers!  And thank you for joining me for today's Wildflower Report!  I'm thrilled to announce that 13 varieties of wildflowers were noted on today's 2 mile run.  Yes, that's right.  You heard it here first!  THIRTEEN VARIETIES!  Among these noteworthy blooms, rich colors flourished.  The color most frequently spotted was white, followed in a close second by yellow.  Purple also graced the day as did my personal favorite, a brilliant scarlet. Tune in tomorrow for a view of my NEW SHOES and to hear whether or not they increased today's speed.  What do you think?  Do new tennies actually create more velocity as you once believed as a child?  Find out in tomorrow's special (almost scientific) review.

(deep breath)...I know, I know...it isn't about speed.  BUT, when I set a goal, I want to move closer to it, not farther from it.  I've been trying to work on speed and run a 10k just even 1 second faster than my fastest.  I just get slower!!  Even when I feel like I'm faster, I'm slower!  grrrrr! I've been running hills and sprints within my runs.  I've been lifting weights and doing plyometric type exercises.  Do you know that on the days that I allow myself to have walk breaks, my time is better than when I "run" the whole thing?  It's. just. aggravating.  that's all. I crawled 5 miles today with hills and a long faster paced crawl in the middle.  I think I was passed by 2 turtles and a couple of snails.

A run was all I needed. My attitude either needed some prozac or a good run. How is it that 2 miles up and back down a mountain trail can completely change my outlook? I've been trying to get a run in all week, but had only managed my lifting workouts since Sunday. Lifting is good, but it isn't the same medicine that running is for me. Now, 4 creek crossings later, I'm looking at life through different glasses. Things that seemed impossible earlier today now seem completely doable. All's well. Forgot to mention that today's run was the same trail that I've taken before, but lost my way and had to turn back.  Today, I figured it out and kept going, so it was a new trail for me.  Remember my goal???  2 new trails this summer?  I'm on it!  1 down and at least 1 to go!

I know it looks like I've disappeared, but NO!  I'm still here!  And workouts are going great!  I'm on my last week of the first dvd of Chalean Extreme and I am excited about bumping it up a notch next week with the second dvd of workouts.  I took yesterday off from running.  My wounded toe wasn't all that excited about the 5 miles the next day.  So, I gave it a rest yesterday.  I hope to run 4 miles tomorrow, but have a lot going on.  A doctor's appointment about an hour and a half away for my son.  The doc is a cranio-osteopathist.  Funny, when we lived in Houston, I couldn't find one.  Now, we are in the tiny middle of nowhere and here she is.  So, I hope to run when I get back from that journey.  I tried to dream that I might do it early in the morning before I go, but then I got real.

5 miles today!!  I was planning to download my new runlist containing some of Ruth's songs, but I forgot!  So, I still have that to look forward to!  My little piggie made it through, although I felt it, the last mile especially. You may remember that I set a few goals about 3 weeks ago.  I want to run a faster 10k and I want to lose 5 pounds, all by Sept.  Well, so far, my speed *feels* speedier, but doesn't clock that way, and I've *gained* 5 pounds. Nice. I have had several moments of wondering why I'm still trying.  That tug-o-war idea that Ruth expressed on her blog a few days back...Then, I thought of when I was a kid actually playing tug of war, and I remembered that the game was the fun part.  So, I guess I'll just keep playing and enjoy the game of getting more fit.  Wanna play?

due for a 5 mile run...my gracefulness has caused me to postpone.  I'm hoping the toe will be up to the run tomorrow.  It looks worse today, but feels better. Fun news:  My hubby ordered me the new trail shoes I wanted!  Mine have too much cushion and not enough support.  He ordered me the Nike+ Zoom Structure Triax.  They've already shipped!!  woohoo!  And I think I'll go with the gals to the creede mountain run in September.  If I'm last again, well, I'm last.  I can run the 2 mile run if that's all I'm up for that day.  Or the 12.  Not the 22.  Maybe next year! Ok...I'll tell you, I wasn't running a sub-7 mile or fighting off a bear when I hurt my toe...I was gracefully getting into the jeep and stubbed it on the rail.  REALLY hard.