Week 2 & an Awesome Giveaway!

First, let's take care of business.

Week 2:
Mon : 3 miles
Tues: rest day
Wed: ooops, I didn't run today
Thur: 3 miles
Fri: rest day
Sat: 5 miles
Sun: rest day
Total for Week 2: 11 miles (a little behind schedule on mileage, but feeling ok about that)

Sum it up:  Sat run was awesome.  The other days, not so much.  I'm remembering that my best miles are done after 3.  I've kind of always been that way - it takes me a few miles to get warmed up and feeling good.  This has me looking forward to my longer runs again :)  My Saturday run was a real confidence booster.  It left me feeling GOOD!

Ok now for the FUN! 

I will have a jewelry giveaway each week for the next three weeks!  YAY!!  Each will have the 13.1 theme since that is my race of choice.

First up is Metal Stampin Mama.  I am super excited to introduce you to her.  She has really cute stuff!  She can personalize, she is lightening FAST with delivery, & your item comes to you in beautiful packaging.  She even put a personalized handwritten note in the last package I had sent.  :)  I love that special touch.

Here is what you can win!  CUTE right?!

Details of this giveaway....
You must do a few things to be entered (you have a chance of 4 entries!). 

Leave me a comment for each one you do, I count each one as an entry.  #1 & #2 are required:

1.  Follow my blog, write a comment here telling me you do.

2.  Like Metal Stampin Mama on Facebook, write a comment here telling me you did it.  https://www.facebook.com/metalstampinmama

3.  Look around on her page & tell me your favorite thing.

4.  Have a Facebook page? Post a link to my blog & this giveaway. Now tell me you did it.

Easy Peasy!  Giveaway winner is announced Tues 8/21.  Good luck!  :) 

Training... Week 1

First week of training, here's how it went:

Mon - 0 miles.  Day 1, slept in.  Not a good start!
Tues - 3 miles with the dog.  Won't do that again.
Wed - rest day
Thurs - 6 miles - in the dark.  Won't do that again.
Fri - rest day
Sat - 5 early morning miles.  Good :)
Sun - rest day
Total for week 1: 14 miles

Sum it up:  Week 1 was challenging for me. 

Getting back into the routine of running, eating to run, finding time to run, finding a place to run, etc.  I live out on a highway, but only 1 1/2 miles from a great park for running.  I tried running from my house, but by the time I got to the park, it was time to turn around since I only had 3 on the schedule. 

Highway is NOT a good place to run - especially at night.  I couldn't get a consistent pace going because I was constantly hitting the ditch. 

Lessons learned this week:  1. Even though I would much rather run from my house, I need to drive to run in a safe place.  2.  The dog will trip you and break your face.  Dog stays at home.

Giveaway coming SOON my runner friends!  Jewelry!!  :)

I'm in!

It's been awhile since my last post.  Not much to say about running lately, other than I just haven't been doing it.  I am lacking the time, energy and motivation.  Summer is slipping by.  No excuses, it is time to get off the tush.

I decided what I needed to get it going was to register for a race, so I did today :)  This will be my 6th 1/2 marathon for the books.  Time to start training next week!

Enjoy a giggle, at my expense

I really had a blond moment recently & only my runner friends will truly appreciate the ridiculousness of it all. 

As endurance runners, you all probably know about Nuun Hydration products.  Well, I'm always searching for on-the-go hydration that doesn't upset my tummy, isn't too sweet, but does what it should do.  Hydrate.  I sweat alot, so I really need salt on my runs.

A friend of mine suggested I try Nuun.  I bought a cute little bottle of lemon lime.  Portable, easily carried in my belt, didn't take up much space - so far so good.

I couldn't IMAGINE why anyone would like these. 

I got home and threw them out.  Then called my friend and told her how awful those were.

She was shocked - she loves them & couldn't imagine why it was so awful.  We laughed a bit about it & decided, well, we all like different things - I guess that's why they have so many things on the market.  Left it at that.

A few days later I talked to her again, still puzzled at how she could possibly like them.  I described why I didn't like them....

"After 5 miles in the heat the absolute last thing I would ever want is to have to chomp up a chalky lemon limey tablet. It was like eating a pack of tums all at once."

 It then dawned on her that ....

What I didn't realize about Nuun is .....you have to mix it with water. I thought they were chewable tablets - not mix ins.   I chewed the stupid tablet without mixing it in water!

I guess I learn my lessons the hard way  ;)  I am entertainment for my friends that's for sure!

Spin Spin Spin!

Well, my hip paid for that 4 miler I did last week.  SO.  Plan B.  I rejoined the gym & have turned to spinning.  Running is going to have to take a back seat for now.

I am giving in to my injury at this point - not forever - just for now.  Spinning helped me lose alot of weight last year while I was rehabbing my knee - I know it's a great workout. 

I know if I try to jump back into running at this point I will be frustrated & hurting, & I'll quit.  I will run again, but I need to get back into low impact cardio, strength training & do some PT on that hip before I dig back into training.

Saw some of my old gym friends who were happy to see me back :)

Trying now to get the exercise habit back.  Got my buns up Friday for 6am class, Saturday 8:30 & today again at 6am.  I'm sleepy.  lol

It feels good to be back to doing something good for myself!  Funny how we forget to do that.  :)

Wednesday Morning Run

Well, I did it.  Got my buns up & out for a 4 miler before work.  My hip is sore & I'm tired .... but it surely was nice to see the sun pop it's head out this morning.  Have a great day friends!

Truth Is ....

I'm barely running anymore.
Or anything else for that matter.
I have gained pounds since my marathon in Oct.
I'm not saying how many.
My hip has bothered me since the marathon.
So has my knee.
I quit the gym.
I lost contact with all of my running friends.
I feel tired.
And I know why.
I haven't been eating right.
Or sleeping enough.

Truth also is this. In the last 9 months I have:
Gotten divorced.
Sold my house.
Moved out of that house.
Downsized to an apartment.
Started a wonderful new relationship.
Ran a marathon.
Quit my job of 16 years.
Started a new job.
Moved again.

Now I didn't make these lists to have anyone feeling sorry for me or to justify my lack of running & fitness. That second list is nothing but good.

But when I reflect on the last 9 months, I see alot of big lifechanging events there. Even if they are good - they are still stress. It has been very hard to focus on running.

I have been so hard on myself for not keeping up on my running. I ran 26.2 a short 7 months ago, and 5 is my limit today - and I'm super inconsistent in pace. Now that things are settling a bit, it's time to get back on track.

So .... today is a practice what you preach kind of day. If my friend came to me today with this list, this is what I would tell her:

Start over.
You had knee surgery, started over and ran a marathon.
You've gotten it back before, you can get it back again.
It won't be easy and it won't come overnight, but give yourself a freaking break. Not an ice cream break, just a break. ;)

Today I am starting over. Tomorrow my butt will be out the door by 5:30 am to run. No excuses.
Hold me to that people! It's time to get moving!