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.