How is it only Wednesday?! Every day this week has felt forever long and I am beyond ready for 5 o'clock on Friday to just be here already!
I'm 2 for 2 on my scheduled runs for week though, so that's a good feeling. Today I really wasn't feeling the whole running thing (mostly because my heart was set on the napping thing instead) so I basically bribed myself into running.
I went to my favorite trail in the general vicinity to get my miles in. I would run this path every day if it wasn't an hour away!
But if you are ever in Fayetteville, NC definitely check out the Cape Fear River Trail. It's 4 miles and super well marked. I don't know why I love it so much because it actually has some pretty crazy hills for,this area! But the boardwalk at the beginning/end has railings that are perfect for stretching your legs. For reals, I need,to document my post run leg stretching routine. I'm sure it looks absurd but it's quick and pretty much makes my hips love me again after I torture them!
Then I got to go have dinner at Texas Roadhouse, because steak is always a good option and my boyfriend and I have pretty much made that restaurant our go-to. Also this one is next door to a frozen yogurt shop. So that's basically all you need in life!
In other news, I've been fighting yt? ing with WiFi routers lie a maniac this week but finally have things sorted, a least for now, so hopefully life and this blog will get a little less sporadic by the end of the week!
Hope your week is moving faster than mine!
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Are you there groove?
I fell off the wagon. Hard. But I'm here and I'm back to making plans. Which is a great first step I think.
I am a perfectionist and I am competitive. In some ways this is great, but it poses a real challenge other times because if I don't feel like I am meeting my goals I get overwhelmed and burnt out pretty quickly.
So here I am after a rest, ready to create new and more manageable goals!
Besides, I love love love mega planning Monday!
On the food front I have pretty much nothing planned. I am moving soon so I'm really just attempting to live off my pantry stash so I have less to pack and carry.
Running: this week my marathon training plan officially starts! I'm using the Hal Higdon Novice plan. With a few tweaks here and there of course.
The week:
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 5 miles at race pace
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: cross training
Now for the particulars. I am aiming for a 10 min/mile pace. This might be a little overly optimistic but we will see what happens. I'm going to try it a few times and reevaluate at the end of the month.
Tuesday I am going to keep trying for a 9:30 average pace and Thursday will be more of a recovery run.
The big plan for this evening is to go check out my new place! Tuesday will probably be date night. Then the rest of the week should be uneventful until I head to Raleigh again Saturday morning for Hanks last lesson then watching racing Saturday night in Rockingham.
My biggest accomplishment this past weekend was (sorta) teaching Hank to take a selfie.
It's a work in progress.
Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
I am a perfectionist and I am competitive. In some ways this is great, but it poses a real challenge other times because if I don't feel like I am meeting my goals I get overwhelmed and burnt out pretty quickly.
So here I am after a rest, ready to create new and more manageable goals!
Besides, I love love love mega planning Monday!
On the food front I have pretty much nothing planned. I am moving soon so I'm really just attempting to live off my pantry stash so I have less to pack and carry.
Running: this week my marathon training plan officially starts! I'm using the Hal Higdon Novice plan. With a few tweaks here and there of course.
The week:
Monday: rest
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 5 miles at race pace
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 8 miles
Sunday: cross training
Now for the particulars. I am aiming for a 10 min/mile pace. This might be a little overly optimistic but we will see what happens. I'm going to try it a few times and reevaluate at the end of the month.
Tuesday I am going to keep trying for a 9:30 average pace and Thursday will be more of a recovery run.
The big plan for this evening is to go check out my new place! Tuesday will probably be date night. Then the rest of the week should be uneventful until I head to Raleigh again Saturday morning for Hanks last lesson then watching racing Saturday night in Rockingham.
My biggest accomplishment this past weekend was (sorta) teaching Hank to take a selfie.
Hope you have a wonderful Monday!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Battling the Runnning Blahs
I'll admit I go through phases - I will go for periods of time where I never want to stop running and it is the thing that makes me happiest in the world, but there are also times when I don't want to run and I can't talk myself into lacing up. I've been in one of those slumps lately but I think I am finally overcoming it!
So today I've got ten things that help me get back to running happy. (If you have awesome advice please share!)
1) Take a day off from life.
Remember last week when I had a mommy-doggy day with Hank? That was a big step in the right direction for me. It was a no pressure day just hanging out with the best four-legged friend I could ask for. It helped me get my mind back in a better place.
2) Run somewhere new or somewhere special.
I went for a run in Tampa and had a great time seeing new things and running through different challenges. Then this weekend I went back and ran part of one of the trails I used to run all the time but will never stop inspiring me. (No pictures because it started pouring buckets!) Both places made running feel more like a special adventure and less like a chore
3) New clothes/shoes
I like pretty things, it's no secret. I also think shopping is fun. And I just feel more motivated to go for a run when I have something new to wear. It's scientifically proven...or something like that.
The shoes are not new, but the skirt is. And I love love love wearing it so that gives me a little extra push to get out the door (and to do laundry lol).
4) Evaluate your goals and expectations
Many times when I am in a slump it is because I have set my expectations way too high and I get overwhelmed with trying to accomplish things. Despite having never run a marathon I somehow mentally went from wanting to just finish my first to wanting to finish in less than four hours. As great as it is to have goals, I was trying to progress way faster than what I could reasonably expect.
5) Set new goals if you need to
Expecting to suddenly be able to run several 8 minute miles in a row was doing nothing good for my confidence or motivation so I knew something needed to change. I've started setting smaller and more reasonable goals for my weekly runs that I can easily monitor and change as needed. I set goals for a gradual progression rather than a super-human leap in skill level.
6) Make a new playlist
Although I am slowly learning to appreciate running without headphones, I am very much a music lover and a new playlist can make a world of difference. I get sick of songs and my tastes change (sometimes rapidly) so it's great to give the playlist an overhaul. I use Spoitfy and love it to bits because it is so easy to change things up in your playlist (for free because you aren't buying all the dang songs!) or use a premade playlist. I tried out the Bollywood Workout one the other day and it was so much fun and totally different from my usual.
7) Sign up for some fun races
As soon as my work schedule for the fall is set I am signing up for a half marathon series and a Halloween 5k in Transylvania County. It's ok to be jealous...but the better option is to come run with me :)
I love running in races so this is an awesome way to get my motivation back.
8) Bring back the "star chart"
You know when you were little and you had a list of chores to do and when you did them you got a star and after so many stars you got a prize? Ok my family didn't do that and we just had to do our chores or get in trouble...but I'm borrowing the concept here. I am not above bribing myself to complete my runs. For example, this week if I do all my morning runs I am taking myself to a yoga/spin/barre class. I don't go often due to distance and cost so it's a fun reward and healthier than ice cream (which, ok, I eat all the time not as a reward).
9) Find some friendly competition
I love using the Nike + running app because it shows you how you are doing compared to your friends. I am competitive in a majorly huge way and will do anything to beat my friends at this game (or any game really) so it is awesome motivation to get at least a few miles in.
10) Don't run.
In the past when I have been in a slump, I let myself stop going for runs but kept going for walks. The secret was to always dress like I was going for a run though. I did this day after day until I finally just felt like running. If I have tried everything and still can't find the willpower to want to run I will resort to this. While it might feel like giving up, it has always brought back my love of running over time.
So today I've got ten things that help me get back to running happy. (If you have awesome advice please share!)
1) Take a day off from life.
Remember last week when I had a mommy-doggy day with Hank? That was a big step in the right direction for me. It was a no pressure day just hanging out with the best four-legged friend I could ask for. It helped me get my mind back in a better place.
2) Run somewhere new or somewhere special.
I went for a run in Tampa and had a great time seeing new things and running through different challenges. Then this weekend I went back and ran part of one of the trails I used to run all the time but will never stop inspiring me. (No pictures because it started pouring buckets!) Both places made running feel more like a special adventure and less like a chore
3) New clothes/shoes
I like pretty things, it's no secret. I also think shopping is fun. And I just feel more motivated to go for a run when I have something new to wear. It's scientifically proven...or something like that.
4) Evaluate your goals and expectations
Many times when I am in a slump it is because I have set my expectations way too high and I get overwhelmed with trying to accomplish things. Despite having never run a marathon I somehow mentally went from wanting to just finish my first to wanting to finish in less than four hours. As great as it is to have goals, I was trying to progress way faster than what I could reasonably expect.
5) Set new goals if you need to
Expecting to suddenly be able to run several 8 minute miles in a row was doing nothing good for my confidence or motivation so I knew something needed to change. I've started setting smaller and more reasonable goals for my weekly runs that I can easily monitor and change as needed. I set goals for a gradual progression rather than a super-human leap in skill level.
6) Make a new playlist
Although I am slowly learning to appreciate running without headphones, I am very much a music lover and a new playlist can make a world of difference. I get sick of songs and my tastes change (sometimes rapidly) so it's great to give the playlist an overhaul. I use Spoitfy and love it to bits because it is so easy to change things up in your playlist (for free because you aren't buying all the dang songs!) or use a premade playlist. I tried out the Bollywood Workout one the other day and it was so much fun and totally different from my usual.
7) Sign up for some fun races
As soon as my work schedule for the fall is set I am signing up for a half marathon series and a Halloween 5k in Transylvania County. It's ok to be jealous...but the better option is to come run with me :)
I love running in races so this is an awesome way to get my motivation back.
8) Bring back the "star chart"
You know when you were little and you had a list of chores to do and when you did them you got a star and after so many stars you got a prize? Ok my family didn't do that and we just had to do our chores or get in trouble...but I'm borrowing the concept here. I am not above bribing myself to complete my runs. For example, this week if I do all my morning runs I am taking myself to a yoga/spin/barre class. I don't go often due to distance and cost so it's a fun reward and healthier than ice cream (which, ok, I eat all the time not as a reward).
9) Find some friendly competition
I love using the Nike + running app because it shows you how you are doing compared to your friends. I am competitive in a majorly huge way and will do anything to beat my friends at this game (or any game really) so it is awesome motivation to get at least a few miles in.
10) Don't run.
In the past when I have been in a slump, I let myself stop going for runs but kept going for walks. The secret was to always dress like I was going for a run though. I did this day after day until I finally just felt like running. If I have tried everything and still can't find the willpower to want to run I will resort to this. While it might feel like giving up, it has always brought back my love of running over time.
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