Running Thoughts

Tomorrow is the first official long run of my nike+ half marathon training!  I signed up for the 2012 nike+ half.  I'm excited.  This will be a challenge...fitting in the miles during winter/holidays/without far to run before snow is 100 ft deep.  If Ruth can run in circles, I can run back and forth.  :) Here's the registration page in case you're interested.   It's January 15th, 2012.  Run where you are.  I love it! I'm trying to eat 80% raw veggies/fruits.  I'm hoping for more energy, but am aware that my thyroid condition might interfere and I may have to stop and re-figure balancing the carbs/simple sugars with more protein at each meal....  Have to keep that insulin level even with hormone problems.  At any rate, eating more raw fruits and veggies is awesome for me. Six miles tomorrow, snow or sleet.

Stepping up onto box... Seriously, People, I like you.  I like your dog.  But I would like both you and your dog more if you were connected by a leash. Stepping back down... Snowy run.  Would have been fun if I'd had another layer and the afore mentioned dog and owner had done things differently.  3 miles. Still not feeling the energy promised of a raw veggie diet...haven't done it perfectly, but have done fairly well and I would like that energy now, please.

My imagination "ran away" with me as I left my house today wearing my Halloween Tee shirt, cute little skirt, and running shoes.  I decided the old mining road that I love to haunt must be spooky today, this spookiest of days... The creepy bare trees cast spooky shadows on my path....ooooooooooooooooo The leaves blew across the dirt road ahead of me whispering, "beware, beware!" Eyeballs in the dark, haunted cave glared out at me as I fixed my gaze decidedly away from that abandoned abyss that locals call "Hell's Kitchen." The wind whistled, "Go back, Go back" in unison with my usually friendly rock face, Mr. Three Mile Turn Around, who today, looks more like a monster.  eeeeeeeek!  I kept running, afraid to even turn around!  Today would just have to be 4 miles instead of 3. Bones!  Part of a ribcage lay before me as I wondered, "are they human?"  On any other day, I'd assume they were from a deer, but today.... Are tho...

I'm so excited that I just couldn't wait to post this!  I ordered some things from amazon.com.  (I love amazon.com)...I'm planning to scope out this website to get recipes!  The raw cocoa is exciting because I have medjool dates (taste like caramel!) ordered to be delivered tomorrow!  MMMMMM! Raw brownies!

I mentioned that I felt like I'd landed back on square one again and that I had some thoughts to share on the subject... I know how I ended up back on square one...Things happened to get in the way.  They were all good things, and as we all know, things DO happen.  My main goal way back when I started working toward a fit version of myself again was to keep moving toward my goals even when there are setbacks.  I've been true to myself and to that goal, and I'm actually happy to be back on square one.  I had a great freedom half-marathon in July, and I remember on one energized run right around that time thinking, "I'll keep running long, and a short run will be 5-6 miles all summer!"  Then, I got sick.  Then, we went on vacation.  Then, then, then.  And now...I've had the great opportunity to keep my goal of sticking with it no matter what.  To keep my promises to myself. My long run has become the length I thought my short run would be as ...

I set out to continue on my expanded week's plan.  Today would be 3 miles, but I've been really looking forward to my long run day and I was feelin' it today.  I reached my turn-around point (you remember him, Mr. TMT), said hello to the giant rock face and continued on, thinking, "well, flexibility is a good thing."  My new expanded week idea has lots of room for flexibility.  So, I ran my long run today which was intended to be 4 miles, but again, ...since I'm being flexible...I've also missed the big winding hills that are just past the 4 mile turn around point.  I flattened those, and turned around for a total of 5 miles. This brings this workout week to an end and begins the next one a mile ahead of plan.  Yay! And in honor of my little long run: Click Here HaHa!  That was my favorite as a kindergarten teacher...I hope I wasn't that obnoxious!

What is an expanded week?  Well, I seem to never fit in everything I want to fit in between long runs....for example, by the time I do yoga and insanity and run, I haven't put in enough weekly runs before my long run so it gets pushed.  Well, who cares?  If my workout week is longer, I have plenty of time to fit in all these things I love + rest and get in a nice, needed long run.  So, here is my 10 day workout week, (my expanded week): My week began on Sunday, Oct. 16th... Sunday: rest Monday: hills, (no yoga until Nov) Tuesday: push ups Wednesday: 3 miles Thursday: insanity, push ups Friday:  3 miles Saturday:  Push ups Sunday:  3mi or long run Monday:  either rest or long run (depends on Sunday), push ups (no yoga until Nov) Tuesday:  either rest or 3mi 10 days=1expanded week

Table of Contents: 1. Making Gains 2. My Expanded Week Theory 3. Fall Running/soaking it in 4. Standing on Square One 5. Re-evaluating Square One 6. Push-ups...Only 99 To Go! 7. Food I'm making gains!    I managed 3 runs last week, each 3 miles.  They were hard.  I walked some, but mostly went at a painful, slow running pace for this thyroid challenged gal.  I met up with this guy after a long time no see....remember him?  At first, he taunted me...which served me right after I'd snubbed him this summer for longer runs.  Now, I'm humbled and crawling (nearly literally) to him asking forgiveness. Then, yesterday, I kicked butt on some hills out by the lake.  What a great exhaustion! I have this Expanded Week Theory.   You are welcome to give it a try.  I'm not going to plan runs within a 7 day period, but rather within a 10 day period.  So, my running week just expanded to 10 days, and there is nothing you can do abo...

It's time, Folks.  Time to stop wallowing.  A while back, I reveled in feeling super fit and good about myself.  I was back in the 120's for the first time in YEARS and muscle was making a debut in my arms and shoulders.  Then it happened..unfair.  My prescription for my hormone replacement meds got messed up.  I went without it for 2 weeks.  In that 2 weeks, I gained an instant 10 pounds without even having the grand joy of pigging out and lounging around.  Getting back on my meds isn't enough.  It takes time to get it back into my system and balanced...so 5 more pounds found their way onto my once fairly lean frame. Well, fifteen pounds hurt my psyche and I've been wallowing in how unfair...very unfair.  And I'm done. Done wallowing.  It's time to gain back mileage that I've lost through lack of energy (Get thee behind me, unbalanced hormones!) and lose the weight I've gained. I've been inconsistent with my running.  I've b...

colors and a great runnin' buddy!

Autumn in my town is... inspiring breathtaking crisp warm golden refreshing My favorite. For these reasons, I am happy to be a runner.  I get to breathe it all in..deeply.  All because I get out there in it and run and feel alive.  My body loves it.  My brain loves it.  I need it.  Can't wait for my afternoon run!  I'll take my camera...

Twilight hangs over my blog. It's far past time to write of the miles and miles I've logged. A runner's high, a mountain sky. These are the things I love. It's far past time to write of the miles and miles under my sky above. A runner's high, a mountain sky. Thirteen point one, done. It's far past time to write of the miles and miles since then I've run. A runner's high, a mountain sky... These are the reasons for the miles and miles I call mine. After running 13.1 with Sara in July, I thought I'd keep building up the mileage...I wanted to run farther. Instead, I have cut way back on mileage, with the sole purpose of enjoyment being my run-master.  I've run some hill sprints and accelerations and fartleks and other running terms that represent speedwork...but mostly I've just run for joy.  It's been good.  I can still shoot for my goal of running farther than I've ever run.  In due time.... For now, I'm havin...

I spent my winter running to this guy, Mr. Three Mile Turnaround. I'd say hello. He'd welcome me back, maybe give me a wink. Then spring came and snow melted. Homeschooling schedule slowed. I began to wave at MTMT as I passed by. He'd taunt me saying things like, "Hey! Where ya goin'? You can't run farther than me!" But I did. He began to scowl at me as I forgot to wave all together. Yesterday, Sara and I had already passed him twice without my noticing him at all on our 10 mile run. Sorry, MTMT, maybe next winter...for now, 3 miles just isn't enough.

Been training and training for Ruthie's Freedom Run (13.1 miles of solitude) which I will run in my beautiful favorite running places around my home. I haven't, however, been blogging. I've taken pictures to blog...I'll shoot for getting that done, but in the meantime, you might like to know that I went for a long weekend in Chicagoland to meet a friend and I ran on the treadmill while there and worked out on the elliptical AND inspired her to workout as well! Whoo hooooo!

It's been so long since I got on here and posted that I almost forgot how to do it! In case you've wondered, I've been movin' and groovin' along...running and working out with the Insanity dvd's with some friends. I have re-evaluated some things and mulled some things over and had lots of bloggy things I wanted to say, but haven't. So, today could be a catch up day which feels too overwhelming with all the time that has passed or today could just be today, and that's what I choose. So, for today, I'd like to share some of my re-evaluation of myself in relation to running. I've had this list of races I thought I wanted to shoot for. I've posted it, planned, thought about it...anyway....the more I think about it, the more worried I get which I don't enjoy. I'm not a fast runner. I constantly try to improve and find ways to enjoy God's world as I run through it. That's really what running is to me. Improvement, enjoyment...

This sure puts a damper on my running plans... Can you read it? It says, "Mountain Lions Are Active In This Area." Then, it goes on to say what you should do if one attacks you...make yourself look larger by raising your arms above your head, back away, fight back.....I opted to get a camera. I'm certain that if one attacks me, fighting back won't save me, so I figure I can get it's pic before I'm the snack. Hubby bought me an iphone 4! That camera should work even better! So, if you are in the mountains, and you find an iphone, check the pictures...

Good news! I have been enjoying the Insanity...."insanity"...the workout called insanity. It's insane. Also, I ran the mile up the ski hill and back for a great, invigorating 2 mile run on Thursday...and I enjoyed every minute of it! I was tired, but the normal "I ran up a hill" kind of tired. So yay! I planned to run my long run today, but it's been my son's birthday weekend (12 years old) and I am exhausted. I'll run my 5 miles tomorrow. Here is the plan for the week: Monday: Long run (5 miles); Yoga Tuesday: Insanity; Run easy Wednesday: Insanity; Run (40 minutes) Thursday: Insanity; Yoga Friday: Insanity; Run (40 minutes) Saturday: Rest Sunday: Long run (6 miles)

I had all these bloggy thoughts in my head yesterday as I ran through about 6 inches of snow. ...Now, what were they? I recall thinking that 4 miles was going to be impossible. I was planning on 4 because my long run works best on Monday, and according to Ruth's plan, 4 miles was my long run for the week. I was right though, 4 miles got me into deeper and deeper snow, not actually impossible except that I had a time limit....it was slooooow going. And I was so tired. I recall thinking that snowshoes would have been in better order. I also recall concentrating so hard on picking the best path and not turning an ankle, that when I went home I was soooo not relaxed as I had wanted to be after a run. And tired, wow. I remember this one spot where I could hear the river trickling through the ice and that I thought how lucky I am to live where I do. I remembered being oh so tired from plowing through the snow, and wondering who it was whose footprints I could see. 2 other people l...

From Women's Adventure: Ann Mehl , gives us 10 simple ideas for running a more satisfying race...or life. This is something you simply must read! I'll give you a sample: 1. Stretch . Not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. Had I not dared to stretch myself beyond the one-mile distance, I may have never known my full potential. I ran my first marathon in Boston in 1993 to prove to myself that I am strong and capable. The marathon taught me that I could achieve anything when I put my heart and mind into something. Stretch yourself. Surprise yourself. Do one thing each day that scares you.... Go here to read the rest of the post. I'll admit that a marathon scares me. It's outside of my comfort zone. It's a stretch. I'm hoping to run one this year.

Wednesday: Areas of blowing snow and a slight chance of snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. That's what I'm up against for fitting a run into my Wednesday. Wish me luck.

knit a coffee cozy for a pirate-y friend AND go here to sign up to win free stuff! "Enter to win a $20 store credit to @PeggyAnn_Design on @OhSweetJoy's blog! http://tinyurl.com/2ddk985"

again... I'll be blogging soon, though....

Today was my first run in over 2 weeks. I was sooo sick. It took a while to feel mostly normal again. I've done "Insanity" twice, once last Thursday and then this week on Tuesday again. But I just managed a run today. Just in time to begin training for our little town's new race! I registered today for the Half, and ran 3 miles to get things rolling. It was about 20ish degrees outside and slightly windy on the way home. This should be fun. :) The race is May 22. I'm so happy that Ruthie plans to join me! More about Insanity.... It's insane. Really. It.Is.Hard.Stuff. I love it! It's put out by Beachbody which does P90X. It's a step up from P90X and doesn't require equipment, so some friends and I meet at 7am on Tues and Thurs to kick our own butts. Did I mention that I registered for the May 22nd race? :)

A review of my week's exercise: Last Sunday: Ran a few miles with a friend Monday: Yoga Tuesday: Recovered from migraine Wednesday: Ran about 3 miles Thursday: Insanity Workout, yoga Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Nuttin Hmmmmm...looks like my weekend could have been a little more productive! I have switched gears a little. I have been getting up early to do an Insanity workout on Tues. and Thurs. So, haven't been lifting after all. I really like the workout, but would still like to lift. It's hard to fit in everything I'd like to do. Plus, our little town is hosting a marathon and a half marathon in May. (Here's the link.) So, I'm thinking of running the half. You should join me!!

Today is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

I was so sore from new kinds of workouts! It made me aware of a couple of things.... 1. I lost some muscle during my cleanse I did a while back 2. Crosstraining is awesome! I've been just running and lifting. My two favorites. But now I plan to do this "insanity" workout on Thursdays (and maybe Tuesdays) as well. It's intervals of cardio/strength training...and very hard. I did it yesterday at 7am, and it kicked my butt in a big way! Between that and running and lifting, I've overcome my soreness. Now, I'm only a reasonable amount of sore in different muscles than before. I'm gaining my strength back!

2 workouts yesterday, 2 today! Haven't run though....so cold outside, and I've been wanting to try a couple of indoor workouts. One is P90X and the other the kinect (family Christmas present) "your shape." I was pleasantly surprised that the kinect was an actual workout! And of course the P90x was a good one. I also did yoga and lifted weights. My muscles are sore from both the kinect workout and the P90x. Use them differently, and expect soreness.

Each winter, I end up losing mileage...so now when winter comes, I just *plan* to lower my mileage. Then, I'm not disappointed. For example, last winter was the first winter that I just "went with it" and lowered my mileage purposely. So, when I managed a 9 miler one weekend, I felt like I'd gone above and beyond. The winters before, my mileage just dropped...busy with homeschooling, etc. in winter, and I was disappointed. This winter, I got sick and then sick again and then travels...so I'm thinking a long run will be 4-5 miles this weekend. So goes winter. Seems strange since it's actually my favorite time of year to run. I relish the cool air in my nostrils and throat. I can almost hear the snow crunching under my steps right now. Plus, I feel so tough....running in the snow and cold. I am tough. I am. As I look at the list of races I'd like to hope for this year, I feel really super tough. I'm not sure which ones I'll get to do or ...

Today was chest, biceps, and triceps day on the weightlifting front! I'm following the schedule of the Lean System Success Plan that I downloaded from isatoritech.com. I started it before the holidays and liked it, so I'm sticking with it. Yesterday, I ran 2 miles. 2 miles. That's better than nothing, I guess. I plan to run again tomorrow and lift..back and shoulders day. I like having a plan. I think that I'm going to follow a 21 day training cycle for improving my running and adding miles/time (more on that later in another post). And I'm so excited to see snowshoe running getting some attention! Look at this!!! Snowshoerunning and if you're interested, this!!! Runningsnowshoes Go here if you want to download the lean system journal. And here if you want to read about new year's resolutions on skirtsports.com.

A new year. What does that mean to you? I hope it means...well, hope. I'm hoping for a marathon this year. I think I'm ready to wrap my head around the time it will take to train for a full marathon. The truth is, I don't know if I'll ever KNOW that I'm ready. I lack the confidence to think it's even possible, but when I think back to when I huffed and puffed to walk up a flight of stairs and was more than 50 pounds overweight....and then think of where I am now fitness-wise...well, I want to try. Trying is what melted over 50 pounds and brought me through 3 half-marathons to where I am now, which is perpetually starting over. And isn't that what we do every day anyway? Start over? And isn't the new year a perfect time to start over...again? So, here I am starting over. Hooray for me! I plan to start over and over in 2011. I'm still working out whether I want to run an organized race or plan to run the distance in my own little world. I...

Here it is for your enjoyment....our family's 2010 slideshow... click here Have a happy 2011!!