Mind the Gap

Oh hey,
Remember me? The girl who did run and also blog about it? What I affectionately like to call...runblogging. Yeah I'm working on forcing the two words together, what can I say sometimes I'm clever and other times I couldn't fit a 12 piece puzzle set together in under ten minutes (not experimented).

So anyway, I've been slacking HARD on the blogging but I've done well with the running. Ever since the 5K in April I kind of stopped blogging about running because I felt like I was repeating myself over and over again about distance and time and how my muscles felt and all that jazz. But sincerely who cares about that stuff?

Nobody. (Unless you're Kara Goucher blogging about running, she'd probably have a BUNCH of followers on her blog no matter what she was talking about...does she blog? Also can I find it and read it? ALLOW ME THIS INFORMATION!).

I'm just a normal girl that has a PR of 30'47" running 5K and hasn't been able to reach that time since I accomplished it. However, no matter I continue to run and run with hope that one day I will reach that time again and be able to run it without batting an eyelash. I would also like to go farther but for some reason I've been trying to perfect my 5K time and ability. I would love to get back to a base of 10K like I had been running about a year and a half ago.

I've found freedom in being wireless. No headphones, ipods, and no music. This has been beneficial but there are times, I must admit, that I wish I had something to bring me to that place of forgetting that I am even running the way music used to do.

I want to blog more but I'm not an organized person and personality test after personality test tells me that I am an abstract person. Therefore, my thoughts are abstract in the way that they are very fluid much like this particular blog entry. SO if you are a person who likes to read things that are a bit more sophisticated than a stream of consciousness about running then I'm not your girl.

With that said I'm just writing and running. Nothing special, but it's something...a place for me to word vomit all my feels about training, running, and all that comes with it.

Ok, well...that's all for now.
Bye.

This Week Running Activities

I know I haven't posted on here in a few days BUT here I am again! I have yet to sign up for another race because most of the races that are close to me are within a time frame where I cannot attend. This next month is about to get crazy for me so it will be great to find an opportunity to run much less race. This week has not been for naught however!

I rested Sunday, but on Monday I did some cross-training.Tuesday I ran a 5K where I felt like I couldn't breathe properly which is always the worst. Then on Wednesday I cross-trained which felt really good to work specific parts of my body but overall I worked almost every part, although I need to do more for my back muscles. That brings us to today where I ran another 5K which differed from Tuesday because today my breathing was on point but my calves were not happy, they weren't really too happy on Tuesday either. I feel like they are building because it's more of a burning pain and not so much an aching or sharp pain.

This weekend I am travelling to see friends who actually enjoy running! So I have been informed that we will be running four miles and then hiking, so this weekend is shaping up to be a physical one! I've put on the schedule to run 6K's next week but I might just run one or two more 5's and then hop on the 6K train. We'll see what happens but for now I'm hungry, I'm going to go eat!

Run hungry (in a motivational way of course) my friends!

Race Day for 5K

The day has come, and the race has come and gone. I am pleased with how everything panned out. The race started at 7a.m. and the course was not terrible, except for the massive hill at the end of it all. I started off slow and saw a slew of people bust out of the gate in front of me and I told myself not to sweat it and that many would slow down after going out too fast.

Of course I was never in this race to win, I was in it for the consistency of running and training. This morning was good in that I met my expectations of going out of the gate at a normal speed, keeping pace, speeding up later in the race, and recovering from the hill correctly and still maintaining my position in the race.

My time ended up being 32:22 and I felt really strong throughout the whole race and even overtook some people! I was very glad that the rain held off and the wind was actually helpful making the warmness a little more bearable. The most unexpected moment was when they called my name for first place in my age group! So that is pretty cool.

Now it's time to find another race...maybe a 10K this time?

Run on my friends!

5K Ouchies

Happy Thursday, today was my last run before the 5K race. I ran a complete 5K today and it was harder than I expected. Not the distance, the distance was not the problem, my legs were not cooperating. They had some pain and felt tired. Again, I know this could be an effect of raising kilometers too fast, but I still hate it. Also, I had a case of the side stitches, I call them "sticky ribs." It didn't help that I was being followed by a huge tractor for about a kilometer (My hometown is very rural).

Despite all the hurting and being followed by a tractor for so long I was still proud of myself. I did happen to time myself on this run (and may continue to do so). I'm not so focused on splits but my overall time was about 32:50. Without the pain in my legs and sticky ribs I feel like I could have made it in 30, but you don't get better with could have/would have/should have. I'm just glad that with all the painful distraction that I made it in the time that I did.

Tomorrow is a rest day before the race, I'll be doing stretches and rolling my muscles and of course eating! My sister and bro-in-law are coming here tomorrow so maybe I'll do a little skateboarding and other physical activities to keep my body loose and warm. I'm excited about the race!

Run...painless, my friends!

Feeling Stronger

As I write this I am still warm from my 4K that I literally just ran. I'm drinking my banana, clementine, coconut, with pineapple orange juice and a splash of lime juice smoothie. I had a fantastic run today. I was really able to push myself extremely hard today. I am proud of the run I just did because I started off slow, I didn't push it my first mile, but on my return I pushed the speed.

My legs felt great, there was no pain. As I increased my speed of course my breathing became slightly more rapid, and one thing I must confess is that I am a mouth breather when I run. So I may not be the most efficient breather when I run, the "in through the nose, out through the mouth" technique makes me feel like I'm going to suffocate. Anybody else have this problem?

It was slightly chillier today, the wind is coming from the north and for the first mile I was a little cold. All throughout this winter and now into the spring the wind just has not stopped or calmed, or at least that's how it feels. Of course the forecast for Saturday is a low of 40F and the race is at 7am with a chance of light rain. I'll be bundling up a little bit for this race.

But for today, it is beautiful and I felt great, and also I am proud of the run today. Tomorrow I go for the full 5K and then it's a rest day before the race. I'm excited!

Run strong my friends!

When All Parts Work Together

Day two, week two of (re)training! Today was a stark difference from yesterday. Yesterday I was feeling a little discouraged because of a run that felt slightly miserable in that my body was just heavy. It felt as if I were stomping the whole run and the weather was just awful, but today made up for yesterday's lack.

Today is sunny, and in the 70F's, a wildly beautiful day to do anything outdoors. I ran a 4K this afternoon and all was well. My legs felt strong, my brain didn't want to give up, my breathing was under control, my pace was consistent, and really that's all I'm asking for from a run. However, the problem started after my run, I just feel so tired now. It could be because I'm rising in kilometers too quickly (add one every two days) but I figured that this is for a 5K so it shouldn't be too bad. Well, it hasn't been bad, and most days I return energetic, but today I just feel tired.

With that problem in mind, I have definitely been eating enough calories as to not have my body feed off my necessary calories that keep myself alive. I have learned that if this happens it is a painful process to recuperate, but I know that this is not the case here, I would have to eat nothing for that to happen. Nevertheless, today was beautiful, my run was encouraging, and the rest of the week is supposed to be this wonderful as well so that makes me happy.

The 5K race is not very far away and I am enthused about it. I haven't run in a race for so long so I cannot wait to give it a go again!

Run confident my friends!

Running Like the Monday's

It's Monday again, and after a rest weekend I am excited to be back at my (re)training! I ran my second bout of 3K today, and this one was a little tougher than before. A part of me thinks that at this level two days off is a bit much, but I don't know, if you are an expert in this field (or just someone who knows leaps and bounds more than me please assist!). Is two days after five days of running short distances too much?

Here's why I ask; I felt really heavy today like my feet were just being thrown back down to the ground when on any other normal day my feet don't feel like dead weight. It's not like I calorie-d out this weekend, or just sat on the couch dissolving my muscles. Of course the weather was relentless today and could have had something to do with it, heavier rain, less wind, colder temps about 45F. So I got a little shower while I ran. I didn't have any pain, I was just heavy...maybe it was just a bad run day.

It's always funny when you live in a place where people don't get out and run or anything like that on a gorgeous day, much less a rainy and cold one. A person I know drove up beside me as I was running in my full on running clothes; tights with reflective pattern, running shoes, rain resistant jacket, hat, and ear buds. Still she asks out of the true and well-intentions of her heart "Do I need to give you a ride home? Are you okay?" It's odd to see anyone around here doing something so physically exerting on a nasty day like today. It was just funny because by all the context clues I was obviously okay and intentionally doing this on purpose, but still, it was nice of her to have concern.

Most of the rest of the week is supposed to be exactly the way Spring lives in my mind; sunny and in the 70F's. So I am excited to carry out the rest of the week hopefully running and feeling stronger. I've stretched and rolled my muscles so hopefully any tightness will loosen up. Here's to a whole new week with lots of possibility!

Run renewed my friends!

There's Patience in Resting

Oh dear, it's a weekend of resting my body. Today I'm already thinking about running, I want to run so bad! I know that resting this weekend is the right thing to do after five days of running (although they weren't extremely long(er) runs). I still know what over-committing to something can do to a body and that's why these days are necessary.

This weekend is for stretching those otherwise tight muscles and tendons. I've always had tight tendons in my legs, I can't even bend over and touch my toes without bending my knees. I also need to stretch my hips flexors, they are feeling a little wound up. So my body won't be running this weekend, but my mind will be thinking about it, taunting me with the idea.

It's a good weekend for stretching and the like anyway, the weather is not being so...subtle. It's cold again, and there are chances of rain, so inside with warmth, a yoga mat, and coffee I shall be. On Monday I do another 3K for my (re)training. Next week is only a four day run week since Friday will be another rest day before the race. All throughout next week I will be searching for another race in the 10K region, it would be great to find something in June since I will be gone all of May.

Well that's this weekend and a little of what I'm planning for in the future. I'll be going for a nice stretch now!

Rest/Run well this weekend my friends!

So Far, So Good!

Yes! I have completed my first full five days of (re)training for this 5K! I made a schedule and I stuck to it and for that I am very proud of myself and encouraged. Today I went for the 3K, I knew today would be a challenge because not only was it rainy and windy when I woke up this morning, it was (and still is) a quite chilly day. Water + cold = not wanting to run in it.

Above those challenges, still, was the biggest challenge in motivation yet, myself. I started off today not feeling my greatest and when the time came to decide to run or not, I timidly said to myself let's just go, okay? So I got myself up, put my clothes on and braved the elements. The wind was relentless, and I'm pretty sure my encouragement to myself was to say over and over again, "be as relentless as the wind!" It worked. I got mad that the wind was so very cold and strong, wisping flecks of rain into my face (I imaginatively took this as an insult) so I ran just a little bit harder.

As I ran harder, I took more and more control over my breathing and I felt like oxygen was successfully reaching every part of my body and I was running well. Even though my hands were red with cold and wind beating against them, and I couldn't really feel my legs, I was running with intention and purpose. I knew that this run would be my last for the week and I was glad that it was a challenging one so that I could earn the rest this weekend.

As you can tell from these blogs, I don't have PR's or anything. I'm not running for time, maybe one day I will, but for now it's all about feeling strong and confident in my strides and my breathing, pretty much just overall endurance and stamina. I actually don't time myself when I run, but I know I can run a 5K between 30-37 minutes. So as far as time goes, if I can keep it between those numbers I will be proud of myself. I guess I'm just glad to be here!

Run encouraged my friends!

No Rain and All Gain

Hello again, to all two of you who randomly happen upon this blog! It is day four of (re)training in hopes to feel strong at this 5K race I am attending next Saturday, the 4th. Today I ran another 2K. As I looked outside all I saw was wind and rain so then I finally said to myself that I will just have to be okay with the possibility of getting soaked for a short amount of time. Fortunately today is in the 70F's so any drenching that I would incur while running would at least be met with the warm air.

However, I did not get wet at all because there was no rain! I suppose the clouds had grace and kept the rain at bay. The wind, though, wanted to be my running buddy today and I was grateful because since there was no rain yet the ground is soaking and it is warm outside, humidity wanted to rear it's ugly head. Try as it might, humidity lost the battle in making my run a hot sticky mess. My running buddy. the wind, whisked away the heat rising from the ground, needless to say, I didn't mind the headwind.

So I got a little sweaty and I had my run-dance moves going with my music and I sailed through that 2K. My legs felt really strong, I sang almost the whole run which helped me not to exert my pace. Tomorrow is another day on this saga of running strong, and I begin my 3K's. I am excited to go a little longer and to be challenged more and more. I really feel like I'm beating my inconsistent nature and this blog (whether read by others or not) is really helping me to do so. I feel motivated and eager to run and that's a pretty good place to be.

Run happy my friends!

Today's Perfection, Tomorrow's Unknown

Today is a beautiful day, by now it's mid-afternoon and the sun is still fairly high in the sky. It's gotten up into the 70F's which is incredibly wonderful, this Spring has already made me feel like I'm waking up. I ran my 2K as my (re)training entails on the schedule today. It was lovely, I felt strong and excited, the sun was in my face and on my back but in the gentle way that only Spring can do. The Kooks played in my earbuds and I sang breathy as I ran and I just felt a lot of joy in my training and thereafter today.

But tomorrow I am wondering what I will do. It is supposed to thunderstorm tomorrow and also have the highest temperature of the week at 75F. I am not one to whine about running in the rain, but if there is lightening, there is a no go. I don't have a treadmill nor do I belong to a gym. So if lightening is a part of the storm tomorrow then I don't know what will come of my training. I'm hoping it won't be very severe and that I can pump out my 2K for tomorrow.

On the bright side, everyday that I run I'm feeling stronger and more energized like I used to when I was training harder and longer. I never realized how much I missed it and how these futile, spread out, spontaneous runs were of no use to me because I wasn't gaining anything from their inconsistencies. I feel like I'm back on the saddle and determined again, and that is a wonderful feeling.

I know that there will still be bad runs, and moments of lethargy, but here's hoping those are few and far between.

Run with joy my friends!

Feels Good to Train

Today is day 2 of my short and small 5K re-training. The race I am taking part of is a week from this coming Saturday. Many runners who run 5K on their easy days (as I have been known to do) would probably be asking why I am starting over, well if you didn't catch why maybe go read about how I'm Back at the Starting Line.

Starting back at 1K is both exhilarating and odd. It's great because it is so short that you can fly while keeping in mind where your body is and how your breathing feels. It's odd because all of a sudden you are done, that's it, training done for the day. I have been used to running for 30-60+ minutes when it comes to training so it's always weird to start ALL the way over.

So far so good, I felt stronger today than I did yesterday even though yesterday was my first run of this strange training. I am excited about the outcome of the race, it's my first race I will have attended in over a year, my goal is not to win but to feel strong throughout and hold my own. I know this training is good because I have a tendency to underestimate 5K's but what I keep forgetting is that there can be massive hills in just a short 3 mile distance and my body is not ready for massive and hills to even be in a sentence together much less something my body has to overcome.

Needless to say I am stoked on this training and the race. It's just great to get back out there with an actual purpose. I love running for just what it is, but when you have a purpose or goal it's just that much more tantalizing. If you are training for a race and have some training suggestions please comment below! I would love to hear from you.

Train well friends!

Back at the Starting Line

It's been a long time since I posted here, for that I apologize. I also have to be very honest in saying that I have been extremely inconsistent with my workouts and also my runs. My last few runs have been very unsatisfying, they have left me more tired and breathless. I could blame it on winter weight but it is probably more about my absolute inconsistent running routine.

Running inconsistently is futile and is really discouraging. My body just ends up aching for a few days and then it's hard to get back out there and do it because of the horrible-ness that was the last run. I'm at the point where I can't really believe I actually was disciplined enough to train for a half-marathon. It's possible that I trained out of fear of collapsing on the race course or seriously injuring myself. I was also driven because it was such a challenge that I never thought I would take on in my life.

So now I'm starting small again at the 5K level. I have decided to make a schedule and stick very closely to it. I have always had slight difficulty staying disciplined to something without having a very tangible goal. There is a 5K in April that I am going to attend. I will try to continue to attend races because I really do enjoy running, especially when in the act I feel strong, like I could run for days.

I'm hoping this blog will be updated more because I have been more disciplined as well as running in more races. It's been over a year since I ran my last race so I think it's time I get back to the starting line!

Run disciplined my friends.

A Normal Day

Today I ran for the first time since Friday. It was my normal distance of 5K, beautiful sunny day in the mid 50s. The wind was pretty strong and while climbing the small hill that I run, a headwind blew in very strong. But that was the height of my struggles with today's run and if that is all that's wrong with a run...I'll take it.

My calves are slightly screaming...but that's what happens when you don't run for a little while. They will be shouting in extreme pain when I take a rolling pin to them later. I hope to start increasing my distance soon maybe next week I will bump it up a kilometer. Eventually I WILL sign up for another half-marathon. The last time I ran one my goal was to come in at 2:30 and I actually beat that by two minutes! If I had my wish it would be to come in at 2hrs flat but I'll settle for 2:15.

Tomorrow will be a workout day as far as cross-training. If any runners out there are reading this and you have some workouts that are really crucial to your workout regimen please comment below, I would love new workouts.

Well, that's really all. No earth-shattering records or crazy stories to tell. That was my run. But in all honesty the only crazy stories I like to tell about my running experiences are the ones with the scenery. Scenery makes all the difference sometimes, like the time I ran not 50 feet away from a HUGE windmill on an island somewhere in Vienna. Now that was pretty cool. Other than that most crazy stories are sometimes not so good and those are the ones I like to steer clear of! Let's keep with the cool stories.

Hope you ran well today!

To Start With.

Hello humans!
Hi, my name is Emilie, and I like to run. I like to run, although sometimes I don't eat correctly or work out as much as I should as a runner. Sometimes I do cross-train (not to be confused with Crossfit) like I am supposed to, and some days I eat like a runner should. I'm super average, I have enough knowledge about the correctness of running and the correct lifestyle choices a runner should have to be dangerous.

My body is not teeny like you see a lot of professional long-distance runners, but I'm not a large person either. My life is not CONSUMED by running but I do like to do it often and surround my "diet" by it. The farthest I have ever run in my life was 13.1 miles, or as we endearingly call it, a half-marathon. I have only run one of those and I have been known to run a 5K in under 30 minutes (self-timing). I have also been known to run a 5K in over well over 30 minutes so believe me when I say I am not a cocky runner.

In this blog space I will be talking about my running experiences, it may be my normal run and how it went that day, and sometimes there might be something special like a race or a certain place I ran (Vienna, Austria anybody?) Or quite possibly certain unfortunate events like a dog biting my calf while running in a foreign land. Since my life is split up into two continents some posts might just be more exciting than others. If you are a runner too, let's not forget the best part...commiserating about aches and pains while running, talking about different approaches to running, or ways to improve.

I know there are a lot of blogs out there about running and there are people who know so much more about it than I do or ever hope to know. I just wanted to start a blog about the running experiences I have and possibly hear about some of yours in the comments. I'm just a normal human with no physical advantage but wants to take advantage of the physical while I still can.

Run day at a time.