It's A New Year

I'm not going to lie. I totally forgot I made this blog until this morning. Yikes. So we went home for Christmas and I got some good runs in. Then Daniel completely surprised me with a trip to New York City the week of New Years. It was magical.

I was reading my previous posts, and the one about my Timex being unreliable is funny, because Daniel gave me a really nice Fitbit for Christmas. How did I live without this thing? I was super obsessed with my steps the first few weeks. Now that we are back into our routine I have no expectations of hitting 10,000 steps a day. But one day in NYC I hit 32,000!

My runs in NYC were amazing. Our hotel was on the Upper West Side about 3 blocks from Central Park. I had never run there, and it was spectacular.

Does life get any better than this? I'm completely obsessed with NYC. This is the Jackie Onassis Reservoir. 

The first day I ran a 4 mile loop around the park. Another day I realized there was a running path around this lake, but it was only 1.5 miles.

Then one morning I wanted to run up to Harlem, see Columbia University and the Apollo, and run back down to the east side and see where Jackie O. lived. I thought it would be 3 miles or so. It ended up being 6.35. Oops. Awesome run though.

I also walked from downtown to our apartment 3 times. The longest day it ended up being 7 miles. I walked a lot, and I loved every second.

We got back to Dothan, and just getting back into our little routine made my depression flare. Before I talk about that, I'll say that I made some pretty lofty (for me) goals for my running. I want to run a half in April, and also run 1,000 miles this year. Then I had this grand idea to run 37 miles for my 37th birthday. I knew I couldn't do it in one day, or even two, so I said I'd run 7.4 miles a day for 5 days over a week. After the second 8 miler, I was done. 

This contributed to my depression. I was so tired and so distraught that I couldn't do it. It made me reevaluate my running. I realized I was trying to constantly compare my running to the girls I follow on IG who run marathons and run 10 miles for fun. That's not me. So I got off IG and told myself to give myself some grace. So no more obsessing with running. I'm just running for fun and fitness (and maybe a little for my sanity). I'm still going to train for the half in April. Only one long run a week...I think I can handle that. 

I start training for the half today. Mondays are my rest days, and today I have 2.5 on the schedule. That sounds perfect. I think I'm more of a low-mileage hobby jogger anyway.

So here's to actually reaching running goals, and staying healthy and happy in the process.

Who Do I Believe?

While we were home over Thanksgiving I lost my watch for a few days (it ended up being stuck in the couch). I downloaded the Map My Run app on my phone to use in the meantime. My watch is a Timex Ironman, and it's an inexpensive GPS watch. Which means it's not always reliable. One day I decided to use both my watch and the app while I ran. And my time and distance were different. I've done it several times since then with the same results.

This is my watch (duh). 2.85 miles in 32 minutes. This alone tells me my watch is the one that's wrong. I'm a slow runner, but not that slow.

Much more believable. I guess I'll be using my phone from now on since Garmins and such are outside my budget. I'm wondering about all those times I used my watch alone! Sheesh!!

When Daniel isn't working and I can run, I go to a park in Dothan that has a nice trail. I run slower here than on the road, but there are hills, and I hope I'm getting stronger.

There's a cool workout area at the park where I run. I haven't used it, but it looks cool.

I always feel better when I stretch after a run. I use the same stretch routine we used in the aerobics class I took in 9th grade.

After my run on Monday I ran a couple errands, but I was so hungry. We eat at Chickfil way too often, but never for breakfast.

This was soooo good.

The kids and I are heading home today. I'm dropping the kids off at my mom's and going to Fayetteville. I'll be able to have a few good runs. Hoping to end 2018 with a bang, and looking forward to reaching my goals in 2019.

Extra Rest Day

After my long run on Tuesday my knee hurt more than usual. I iced it and rested, but it still hurt. I ended up taking an extra rest day on Thursday to give it time to feel better. I'm really scared that running long distances will aggravate it, and I'm going to mess it up training for this half. I could do a whole post about how messed up our healthcare system is, but I'll spare myself.

I'm just going to press on and try to train smarter. Runner's World posted some good strength training exercises to do to keep injuries at bay, so I'll try those. They include jump squats, planks, burpees, and mountain climbers.

This morning Daniel didn't have to go to work, so I took my run to a trail here in Dothan. It seems like the only times I go to this trail are when it's raining, so there are always tons of puddles to navigate through. There are also hills, which are not my best friend. Obviously I go slower on the trails, which brought my average pace to around 11 minute miles. I did 3 miles, and there was a hill on the last tenth of a mile. I often read on girls' instagrams how they dry heave during tough workouts. This one wasn't too tough, but I almost dry heaved at the top of that hill. I feel like a real runner now!

My knee hurt a little during my run, but it hasn't been too bad since. I'll just keep on plugging along, and trying to keep my mileage low, except for my one long run each week. Now if I could just get my nutrition under control.

I don't have any pictures to share with myself, so I'm going to post some funny running memes.

I have a friend from high school who runs, and this made me think of her. Actually, she can't do anything without telling Facebook or Instagram allllll about it.

I love this. Really, this is so true for me. All I've wanted to do for a long time is run, and something always seems to get in the way.

This is me most of the time.

This too...

And one more, because I love Napoleon Dynamite.

Unintended Long Run

I'm using a plan in a booklet I got when I subscribed to Runner's World. I subscribed for several years, but stopped when we became gypsies. They've since changed their layout, and I'm not a fan. Glad to be saving that $20 a year. But I digress... This booklet has plans to go from running 3 miles to running 6, then 6 to 12, then 12 to 20. I'm currently working my way up to six before I start getting into the meat of the long run.

Today I was only supposed to run 2 miles. I was feeling a little motivated (which doesn't happen often), so I set out for 6 miles. I ran the first 3 miles straight through. Then I came inside to check on the kids and get some water. The last 3 miles had several walk breaks. I used to think that was bad and made me weak. I've read one of Jeff Galloway's book about running, and he is a huge advocate of the walk break. If walking for a minute every once in a while helps you go farther, go for it!

I've also heard something I'd not heard before in some podcasts I listen to. I listened to an interview with Mirna Valerio, who is a kick-butt plus-sized ultramarathoner (that's right, she runs upwards of 100 miles for fun!!). She's very open about how hard she works, but she is definitely a back-of-the-packer. And that is awesome for me, who is also very slow. She used the term "time on your feet" a couple times, and I've really taken that to heart. It doesn't matter if a workout doesn't go the way you planned; it's miles in the bank either way!! I also heard another ultramarathoner, Jes Woods, say the same thing. So today I knew I wouldn't be able to do 6 miles nonstop. But I just wanted that time on my feet to add to my miles for the week. I need to condition my legs to withstand those high miles, and walking is a great way to do that.

So, back to my 6 miles.

This is how I've been logging my miles for the past few years. I just ordered a training journal, so hopefully I'll be more organized and goal-oriented. I wanted to go slow today, so that 10:53 average was perfect for me. The only worry I had at the end was my knee. Toward the end of the run my knee started hurting just a bit. I'll need to ice and rest when I can.

I got back and did just a little bit of work with the bands. Then I stretched and did 2 planks, one for 40 seconds and one for 30 seconds. Trying to build up on those.

I've never used any kind of supplements, but I saw this at Target and decided to try it. It's ok...it tastes fine, but it doesn't dissolve very well. So I went with regular chocolate milk today.

I bought this at Publix yesterday, and I made it for lunch today. It tasted super salty, but other than that it was pretty good. I made some Jiffy corn muffins to go with it. We'll see if that will keep me full this afternoon. I'm absolutely terrible at knowing what and how much to eat and even if I've eaten enough during the day. Maybe that's why I have a hard time managing my weight. I want someone to take everything I like (I'm kinda picky) and make me a runner's meal plan. Wishful thinking...

On another note, I had to have a conversation with God today about my running. I had to confess to my coveting, jealousy, and ungratefulness in my life. I follow several serious runners on Instagram. They are constantly showing all of the gear they have, the treadmill runs on fancy at-home gyms, and the races that require plane tickets, hotels, more gear. It all gets very overwhelming for me. I find myself wanting all that stuff and contributing my lack of progress with not having it. I asked God to forgive me and realized that everything I have is enough, more than enough. I'll do me with what I have and with what God has graciously blessed me with. It is well with my soul. I needed that kick in the butt this morning.

Tomorrow is a rest day, then 4 miles on Thursday. One day closer to  meeting my goals, and happy with the 6 miles I banked today.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

A Decade Later...

In 2009 I was one year into my marriage, not working, and living in a camper in Paducah, KY. Daniel was super busy doing tree work, and I was bored out of my mind in a city I didn't know. I went to the library one day and found a magazine called Runner's World. I sat in the library and read the magazine cover to cover. That day I decided I wanted to be a runner.

Nine years later I'm still a runner. However, I'm not near the runner I want to be after running for so long. A few months after I started running I ran my first 5k. I've only run a handful of 5ks since then, my last one in 2015. I have stopped and started over too many times to count. I have had a few injuries, 3 pregnancies, moves, bouts of depression, the loss of a child, and currently a gypsy life where I'm alone with a 5 and 7 year old everyday.

This is from the last 5k I ran in 2015. It holds my current race PR of 31:40.

Last year I was running consistently. We moved to Indy for a few months and I signed up for the Indy Women's Half Marathon. It was to be my first half. I trained so hard. I ran after Daniel got home from work, I ran my long runs on Sunday on the Monon. I was so excited every time I hit a new high mileage...9 miles, 11 miles, 12 miles. I had never run so much in my life, and I was killing it. Then a hurricane (Irma, I think) hit Florida, and Daniel left to work there. I continued to train as a single parent, but it was not to be. The day of the race came, and I had no babysitter. I was beyond devastated. 

I actually pushed these two on some of my runs. It was brutal.

One afternoon I had to run around a school parking lot while they ran around and played.

I ended up running the half marathon around the campground where we were staying. I think I finished in two and a half hours. I really wanted to run that in downtown Indy, but I was pretty proud of myself. However, a couple hours later my right foot was in excruciating pain. With no insurance I went to an urgent care and had an x-ray. Story of my life, it was nothing the doctor could see. It lasted a few months, so I lost all my fitness. Another story of my life.

Fast-forward a year, and I am running consistently again. And I'm motivated. I have a plan for 2019. It's going to be my year. I can just feel it. So here goes....

Run the Birmingham Half on April 14, 2019

Run the Indy Monumental Marathon on November 9, 2019

I hate putting big goals out there (even just for me). I'm so bad at not following through. I really want it this time. The ONLY thing standing in my way is my knee. On July 3 while I was sleeping I had a night terror. I jumped up and across the bed. When I got settled back to go to sleep, my knee was throbbing. Again, no insurance, and I'm not taking that chance that the doctor won't know what it is. I sat out a few months, then I realized that my knee doesn't hurt when I'm running, only sitting. So I'm running, and it hasn't been an issue. I'm just worried about the longer runs. I haven't run more than 6 miles on it. So I guess we'll see.

So, there it is. I'm cranking it up a couple notches this year, and really trying to make some goals and dreams a reality. I know it will be hard. I know I'm going to be tired and more cranky than usual. I know I'm going to have to be creative to get my miles in. I know I'm going to have to figure out fueling. I have a long way to go, but I know I can do it.

This blog is really for me only. Although this blog is out there on the Internets, I don't expect, or even want, anyone to read it. It's for me. It's a way to record my progress, see what is and isn't working, and just have record of all my hard work that I can go back to in the future.

So, here's to an awesome 2019!!

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:7

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 43:31