Category: oops!

Running out the funk

So, yesterday’s girls night was cancelled and it was just downhill from there. The day started so good, and I was just in such a funk by the end of it 😦 If I had had my running clothes with me, I probably would have gone for a run, but I didn’t. When I got home, I had no desire to go to the gym that I pay for but never use. I was in a funk and a treadmill wasn’t going to help it.

This morning was tough and the funk was still around. Trying everything to get over it, I pulled out a really poppy upbeat, possibly annoying CD from forever ago for my commute. Why is it that I can’t remember why I just went to the kitchen, but songs from some Swedish pop band from 12 years ago, I know all the words? Anyways, it kind of worked.

A coworker and I started the morning talking about donuts. I really wanted a donut but was not about to go buy them. She was in the same place. It’s easy to have willpower when the food is unavailable. However, our customers must be mind readers. Around lunch time, a customer brought us a dozen donuts. Sweet! Since I didn’t pig out last night like planned, I had a donut. It was so good! Until I choked that is. Seriously, who chokes on a donut?!

My running friend was unable to meet me today, so I left work intending to run 3 miles with a few hills. No flat trail. The route was one that I had run numerous times before so I know it well. Hit the one mile mark and heard silence from my Nike app, hmmmm. So I check my belt… I never hit start!!!!! Well crap!

WTF (fyi, check out this website, pretty cool!)

So I finally hit start and kept going. Ever have a run that just feels right? It’s not about how fast or how slow or how far. It’s just those times when your breathing is right and easy, your legs feel good and it all falls in line? Today I got that 🙂 Got to the turnaround point and thought maybe a little more. Hit 3 miles and 4 and kept going. Hit 5 and figured I better head back to the car. I wasn’t hydrated properly and my pre run snack was a second donut! But I felt like I could keep going.

Nike had me at 4.56, so adding in my mile goof up, that brings me to 5.56. Not bad for a funk filled hump day. Maybe it was the sugar of the donuts that gave me an extra kick, (ha!) but I think I may have out run the funk! Hope everyone else is having a funk-free week!

Wardrobe oops!

Sunday marked 10 weeks to my next half marathon and 8 weeks to my next 10K! If I didn’t have such high PR hopes (goals) this might not be so nerve wracking. I have a 5K planned as well, but that is just for fun 🙂 I finally have some friends running with me!!!

Sunday I headed to the track to get in a few miles. I ran a pretty good 5K and decided to try some quarter mile sprints. Ha ha, that was funny. So on the first one after I restarted the Nike app, it said that I completed it in 1:42, so that would break down into a pace of 6:48 per mile. Yeah, ummm, no. I almost started crawling after that, I was breathing so hard. I completed another one but not at that pace. All in all, I ran 4 miles.

Then I went and helped my mother clean up and get the tennis courts ready for the new school year and season. There was a crank (holds the net up) that tried to kick my butt, however, I had a hacksaw and I won!! I then completed some really slow ladders. I managed to do them right this time but very slowly, I had to count out the foot work! But perhaps, I got a little more sun than I had anticipated, oops.

After work, I hit the park to get in a few miles. Having run Saturday and Sunday, I normally may have taken today off, but I am having a girls night tomorrow, and I am planning on Eating 🙂 So had to get a few preemptive miles in.

Ever have one of those days where everything fits all wrong? Yeah that was me today. I set out from the car with the belt that I have been trying to break in. Yeah, no thanks! It was either riding up my waist or down below my but but managing to pull my shorts up at the same time. What? I began the run in perfectly respectable shorts that tried to turn into racing briefs. Umm, Shalane Flanagan I am not. So to anyone on the path tonight who saw way too much of my upper thighs, I apologize. The belt was driving me so crazy, I actually stopped at my car at the first pass and switched to an armband. Luckily, I keep lots of spare gear in my car 🙂

I pulled a nice 3.5 miles at a good pace actually. Which was all I could take, the sports bra was so not friends with my sunburn.

So Monday run done! And good times planned for tomorrow, hope everyone else has something to look forward to this week!

Anyone else ever have wardrobe issues while running?

I blame it on the gum, or lack there of…

If I had known how icky today’s run was going to be, I would have whined a hell of lot less about Monday’s 10 minute miles. Seriously, I need to go back in time and stuff a sock in it.

Work today was crazy, but then again the 1^st always is, so I can’t really use that as an excuse. But I want to! After 2 days of being a Slacker, I was ready to run, so I decided to throw some hills into my run. But again, I can’t use that as an excuse. I was just sloooooow. I had a new playlist ready to go and my new Yurbuds, (still liking them by the way, but that cord is freaky long). As I was running, I noticed that my new tunes sounded like the Supernatural soundtrack 🙂 I even ran past a cemetery. But even AC/DC couldn’t speed me up 😦

Today’s run was just all wonky. It was just shy of 90 and I didn’t take water. Stupid move #1. I was half a mile into my run when I realized I forgot my gum. Stupid move #2. I don’t know about anyone else but I have to chew gum when I run. It helps me feel less thirsty and just makes the run seem easier. I realize that it’s all in my head, but I wanted that piece of gum!! I pushed through for 4.5 miles but I was just done.

30 Day Squat Challenge — Done and Done 🙂

So on July 30 I successfully completed a squat challenge. It started you at 50 on the first day and by the end of the 30 days, you completed 250. I found it on Pinterest, but I know that it can be found on other sites as well. While part of me thinks it may have helped my running, I am not sure that I like the other effects. Of course I wanted to tone my legs, but now I can’t decide if they are toned or scary, hehe. I am not really happy with how my clothes are fitting right now and the only thing I changed was adding the squats. Eeergh!!!!

I had previously tried to complete both a push-up challenge and a plank challenge in June but failed both about 12 days in. Again, found them both on Pinterest I am trying to step up my cross training and strength training because I know that I should but it is so hard for me to follow through. I have numerous dvd’s as well, but rarely ever use them. In fact the last time I used one; it was a Spartacus workout and it hurt to walk for days after that 😦 Sad I know. I tried downloading the Nike Training App to my phone, but it requires more space than I can spare on my phone. I have no idea what is taking up so much space, seriously what the hell is other?

I think I will try the push up challenge again in August, not sure about the plank. The idea of building up to 5 minutes is intimidating as hell. I have tried looking for another interesting one to complete but so far nothing has jumped out me 😦 Anyone else have ideas or challenges to share?

I run, why can’t I do this?!

Apparently working in a town that rarely gets above 72 has killed my heat resistance. Living in a town that averages triple digits in the summer makes that a problem. Today’s workout was only around 90, but holy hotness I was dying.

Hit the track with the intention of doing 5 miles. Ha! I maintained race pace for 2 miles, then did some speed work for the remaining 2 miles, completing only 4. I think I finally started to notice a difference in my running after 27 days of squats. Running the straights, I felt like my legs were working more efficiently even if the heat was kicking my butt. Of the course, the breeze didn’t pick until I was done running. After running, I decided the grass looked nice and comfy 🙂

So my mother was there too, having absolutely no problems with the heat. Then she spends most of her time in it, she’s the tennis coach. Before we left, she challenged me to do some ins and outs? Umm, do what now? So we went over near the tennis courts, where I saw ladders painted on the ground. I got it now.

So she demonstrated. I thought, “sure no problem”. Ha!! I couldn’t even complete one. So it’s an in then out pattern with each foot, so 1-2 in, 3-4 out, repeat. I kept turning it into hopscotch! She does it 5 more times and I fail every time. I thought I was somewhat coordinated, apparently not 😦 It was a good thing no one else was around, because the more I messed up, the more colorful and vocal I became.

New goal, complete these damn ladders. Will attempt it again next weekend, fingers crossed! Anyone else have problems with these or is it just me?

Frustration leads to…

After the great race on Saturday morning and the festivities later that night, I made Sunday a very lazy, slacker day. Got to say, it was very nice. 🙂 Official chip time was also announced- 57:17, hell yeah!!!!

My left ankle was fighting back on Monday so I decided to take another rest day. I figured that since I had a split volleyball schedule, I could hopefully get in at least 25 minutes of running between matches. It wouldn’t be a lot but I figured it would be an easy jaunt that would test my ankle.

I have to say that I love the camaraderie of the running community. 🙂 The majority of runners I meet are good people and they are just as excited as you are when you do well at a race. I wish I could say that holds true in a women’s volleyball league. By the end of the first match I was so frustrated I was going to scream. So I lost the knee pads, changed my shoes and ran it out. Oh and I was wearing these socks-

Perhaps running when frustrated or angry is not best idea, at least not when the goal is to take it easy. I set the timer on the Nike+ app for 25 minutes and was off. My ankle protested for about half a mile and then it was quiet, woo hoo! Brought in my first mile under 9 minutes, oops. That’s not easy. Slowed down a little and kept going.

Turns out I didn’t know the area as well I thought, got a little turned around but worked it out. Towards the end of my run, I saw a crowd a people a block ahead but thought they were just bbq’ers. Nope! It was a drug bust or probation, didn’t get close enough to read the vests. Turned around when I figured out there were about 10 cops and 3 police cars milling about. So, yeah, that’s a new one. I ended up doing shy of 3 miles in 25 minutes. So maybe running cranky is a good thing. Who knows but I’ll take it!!! And I played the next volleyball match in much better mood:)

The good thing about my training plan is the flexibility, so this week, I am adjusting my two week day runs to Tuesday and Thursday. Starting today, I am on vacation until next week, so yea for morning runs!!! Today I did a little shopping in a nearby town and came back with some new running gear. Always exciting!

I also ate my post-race reward meal this afternoon. After most every race, I go to the same restaurant and get a burger. However after Saturday’s race, scheduling made that impossible so I postponed until today. Oh so yummy 🙂

So what about everyone else? Any post-race traditions?