Four miles? Check.

Four miles doesn't really look impressive when I type it out. Not my furthest run. Never used to be much of an accomplishment at all.. BUT. I ran it outside this past Sunday am, and it was the furthest I've ran all year. And I finished easily - in fact it was the best run I've had since I started training. It was just under 70 degrees, super foggy, and slightly rainy (but just slightly, no chance of slipping). Also, I had a new pair of headphones and so for the first time in about 2 months I ran to music. Usually I consider myself a 'purest' when it comes to running, but it was definitely nice to have a change of pace!

Later that day I went kayaking with the yootz, and let me just say, my back is STILL aching. But that's a combo from my run as well - my back has the weakest muscles in my body, since when i'm not running or kayaking I have absolute terrible posture. Running improves that.

Yesterday was my recovery day, a much needed one, and so I attended my first ever Yoga class. It was absolutely divine in every way possible and a perfect recovery. It was a beginners class with more focus on simple stretches and less on positions that required much muscle use. There were a few moves that hurt - my abs simple shuddered at one point - but overall it was a great way to move my body, release some toxins, and feel more energized.

Today I am feeling super lethargic though. I tend to get this way on Tuesday since I don't have anything to do until six. Unfortunately I am no good with self control, and spent the entire morning reading a crappy novel in bed! Now I am battling the temptation of snacking my way through the afternoon while watching Law and Order reruns. But I have way too much schoolwork for that and way too much chubb for snacking!

Which brings me to my next task: watching what I eat from now until the race!! I need to get that under control again... Last week was pretty bad. If only I could keep up with recording it in my app..

Not to mention that I am due to run 3 miles today, and generally prefer to do that on an empty stomach! Not sure that I'll get around to it. But maybe, maybe.

Freedom's Run

Just signed up for the 10k! Yikes.. It's in 20 day's from tomorrow.

Up to Speed

Yes, the past few weeks I've still been struggling to keep up with my running schedule. A lot of it had to do with getting sick - its amazing how a bad head flu can effect ones energy days after it ends!

I think I am well over it now, but it prevented be from being able to move up from my three mile to my 3.5 mile run last Saturday. However, on Tuesdays run (which actually happened on Wednesday) I had good energy levels and no threaten of side stitches. I ran around the indoor track and counted up to 3.5 miles. I'm pretty proud! And felt great afterwards.

Yesterday I had extra time in the morning so I put in a bonus 2 mile speed interval around the track; tried to keep an even 6mph pace around the track, and pushing it out for one lap every half mile. After that I spent 20 minutes on the ellipticals to get in the habit of cross training after my easy runs.

Today was supposed to be my two mile speed workout, but since I do have some school work to get done, I may not get to it. I'm hoping to find time during my lunch break to do some hills (I've gotten extremely lax about running outside ever since school began 4 weeks ago).

Alsoooo, I need to sign up for that race. I am starting to doubt my ability to run a solid 10k. I mean, I know I can finish. I'm not sure that I'll be able to finish with ease though, which was my goal. But hey, I know I'd rather finish walking the last mile than to settle with the 5k.

I read in Runners World that it is more important when trying to improve endurance to be on your feet for a longer period of time, not necessarily to run more miles. So I think that if I can't run my 4 miles this Saturday, I'll keep running for at least forty minutes, no matter what. It takes 60 minutes of moderate exertion most days of the week to lose weight, so in about a month I should be at that level. I think over the winter I will keep it there - running for about an hour straight, and not try to push it further. Somehow I doubt once (if) I am in the program I will feel like doing hour and a half runs..

In other news, I need to find my old headphones/buy new ones if I am going to increase my time running indoors... I'm starting to get bored!

Trail Running

The past few runs have been pretty great - I took it easy and avoided hill running. Figured that since my race will be primarily flat that I'm in good enough shape to run some trails and enjoy. Today's run was beautiful, it was my two mile speed w/o, and running alone through the woods is incomparable to running along route 45. The trail is completely surrounded by trees, making it a green tunnel of sorts, and since it was a work day I didn't pass too many people. I pretended that I was a deer..

Motivation

Fears

I am slightly half way through training for this years Freedom's Run 10k and am starting to get stuck. Hopefully jotting down my thoughts (fears, motivations, wishes, etc) in this blog will be an outlet for my internal struggles.

This past June I made a commitment to myself to get back into shape in time for a certain race. I made a workout chart, taped it to the a kitchen cabinet, and day by day I 'x out my runs. Thursdays I keep for maintenance days, which was originally 1.5 mi; Tuesdays and Saturdays were my distance runs which started out at 1.5 and increase weekly by .25 mi.

I am now running 2 mi speed intervals on Thursdays and have hit 3 mi on my distance runs. Now that I am half way through training my methods are shifting to get in gear for a 6.2 mi race and am forced to up my workouts. Starting next week Tuesdays will be my maintenance day at 3 mi; Thursdays will be my short run at 2 mi; and Saturdays or Sundays will be my long run - starting at 3 mi and increasing by .5 mi every week.

For some reason being at the 3 mile mark is freaking me out, perhaps because it feels like a much longer run than a 2.5.. which its not. Part of it is that I am not as light as I was last year when running this distance so it IS more of a workout, but to be truthful, I was having these feelings of anxiety last year as well. And on a very regular basis. So I know from past experience that the key to confident running is not in weight loss (although that continues to be one of my goals).

I allow for a lot more flexibility in working out than I did last year, which has led to less panic attacks but also a less toned body. Hopefully I've found a middle ground where I can take my time and not stress myself out.