I Have No Interest In Another Marathon (Right Now)

Good Morning!  

I finally got back out there this morning and I already feel like a new person.  

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be but it still hurt.  I am feeling a lot better even though I am still hacking up a lung and really congested.  Plus the sneezing has started, really can we just move on now sickness you are done here.  On the other hand it was such a nice break!  It was refreshing to go to bed and not feel the stress of making sure I get at least 6.5 hours before the 5:30 alarm.  I stayed up late and didn't really worry too much about it, it was a really nice break.  

Now after a couple weeks of downtime I feel excited to set some new goals for the fall and get into our new routine.  We start preschool next week and the girls will be going 3 days a week!  Part of me is sad to be saying goodbye to my early morning runs while the other part of me is excited to create a new routine.  If I had a running partner I would be more apt to run in the dark mornings but I won't run alone in the dark.  I have two little girls and a husband waiting for me to come home and it isn't just my life I am messing with when I put my safety at risk.  Please be alert and be safe if you run alone in the dark!  

Light yourself up! 

I don't want to just leave you hanging because I am sure you are dying to know what my fall running goals are, here you go! 

Fall Running Goals 

- Hit 100 miles each month for the rest of the year 

- Break my current 5K PR by Thanksgiving  

-  Run with friends and a group more often, I am missing that part of running 

- Run a 10+ mile run each week

- Accept that I don't like running marathons and really don't want to sign up for another one in the near future.  This is a something that I struggle with and I need to get to a place of acceptance.  It isn't that I can't run another marathon but I am just not willing to give that much time to the training right now.  I am constantly harping on this but it is important to me that running stay fun and enjoyable.  Right now I have two little girls at home and for me personally running a marathon just isn't in the cards.  I will run another marathon in my lifetime but not right now or probably even in the next year.  I realize it is a strange goal since I am basically saying I am *not* going to do something, but accepting my current limitations is a goal of mine.  I am glad I have one under my belt! 

I also have a personal writing goal that does relate to running but isn't actually me running.  I am working on a few pitches to some running magazines, local papers, etc.  Writing has always been a passion of mine and since I've started running I have found myself even more excited about it.  It is probably because I have that time while I am running to think about different topics and run them through my head before getting them down on paper.  I am not trying to keep anything a secret from you but I don't want to jinx anything, I am superstitious, like it really makes a difference! :) 

Enjoy the run!        

   

Vacation Running Anxiety

Hi!

We've been home for almost 48 hours and settling back into a routine has been the best feeling.  I ran yesterday and today and have felt great about both of my runs.  

This morning I did just over 5 miles and was excited to see my comfortable pace was just around a 10 minute mile.  I remember when I first started running I was averaging close to 12 minute miles so I feel really good about my progress.  Fueling is starting to become an issue for me and something I am going to need to start playing around with but that is for another post! 

In other good and fun news I actually won something, weird I know!  A few weeks ago while I was at Fitbloggin'13 I entered a Twitter contest with The Laughing Cow.  I really didn't plan on winning and had actually forgot all about it until last week when I found out I was a winner, woop!  

I think cuddling up to the Laughing Cow got me extra points!  

Not really.

I could not remember what it was the winners would receive but I assumed it would be along the lines of cheese.  

Am I smart or what?! 

I tried all of these flavors during the break at Fitbloggin'13 and surprisingly my favorite was the Queso Fresco & Chipotle.  Normally I am a White Cheddar girl and while that is yummy too I really liked the spice on the Queso.  Plus it all came in a nice little lunch bag that will really come in handy this summer, score!  

You are probably asking what any of this has to do with the title of this post, the answer is nothing, I just wanted to share the fun news with you first.  Okay onward to what I really wanted to talk about, what I call Vacation Running Anxiety.  I really do not think there is a form of anxiety out there with that title but let's just pretend there is for the purpose of this post.  

We have been traveling a lot and while it is great to get out and see the country and all that jazz I find myself completely unable to get out and run while we are away from home.  It isn't from lack of motivation or even the desire to get out there because I have both of those things.  I find that I am plagued with anxiety and the idea of running around a strange new place by myself completely freaks me out.  When I am running at home in the light of day I am completely at ease even though I still run with my pepper spray and no headphones, stay alert people!  I always try to run "scared" but I still feel very comfortable running around town.  I pass by a lot of other runners and walkers and people walking their dogs, everyone is very friendly.  I know which streets to avoid because theirs dogs scare the crap out of me and I have a general idea of how far I am from home in any given area.  On our most recent trip to Northern California I headed out for a run Tuesday morning just to see what I could pull off.  

This was all I could muster, ugh.  I think that the heat and elevation played a part but I know 75% of it was my own anxiety.  Every sound would send my heart racing, if I heard a dog barking I would jump 10 feet I can just imagine what I looked like from someone's kitchen window.  It takes me a while to feel comfortable to any new area and I think our short little 1 week trips are not enough time for me to reach any sort of comfort level.  It really bums me out because it means my mileage for this month will not be anywhere near where I would like it to be :( but that is just something I'll have to let go.  I was able to take a yoga class with my mom so the week wasn't a total loss!  

What am I going to do about it you ask?  I could hide under a rock and never leave our hometown again (I can hear Katie cheering) but that is not realistic.  What I need to start doing is locate a gym in the area that we are traveling to and ask about a discounted rate for the time I'll be there.  Or better yet try and book a hotel that has a gym with a treadmill.  Even better yet would get some of my family members to start running so I have some running buddies when I come visit *hint*hint*.  I am pretty much planning on making Joey my running buddy once he graduates from boot camp, no excuses now!  Minus the whole commitment to the Navy, yada yada yada.  

What do you think about vacation running anxiety, is it something that affects any of you? 

Do you like The Laughing Cow cheese wedges? 

- I have loved their cheese forever!  

       

Change Is A Good Thing

Good morning!  

Yesterday was a run day and I know at some point I should making my runs more specific.  You know easy run, speed work, etc, but I just like to run.  While I was at the gym yesterday morning I knew I was going to shoot for a 10 in front of my pace, even if it was 10:59 average pace.  It took a lot of restraint to keep from jumping up and down when I looked at my stats and saw this: 

Happy Dance!  That is a good pace for me and I was really excited to see I could average a number like that.  It was the boost I needed to show me that speed work WILL get me where I want to be.  

After I got home it was time to get ready for our day ahead, we had story time at the library, lunch with Daddy and some errands to run.  If we are going to get dressed and be out we might as well make the most of it!  Since we don't have an entertainment system in our rental the girls have been falling asleep while we are out and about.  So I do what any normal mother would do and get myself an iced coffee, hang out on Pinterest and take pictures.  

Yesterday was a good day for a few reasons, but FINALLY finding the only Starbucks drive-thru in Michigan was the biggest highlight.  They have Starbucks here, don't get me wrong, but this girl needs the drive thru if she is going to get one.  I can't justify unbuckling both girls, tromping through the cold and then having to re-buckle both girls for a coffee.  Iced Coffee no sweetener light cream made for a happy girl yesterday, that and the napping cuties behind me.  Sarah can breath I promise!       

Sunday was our Sesame Street Live day and the girls had so much fun!  The Grouch is Jesse's favorite charactor, Sarah seemed pretty excited to see him too.  As you can see all Katherine wanted to do was push that glowing button, don't worry she got her chance.  

This morning I decided to take a run rest day and will do my CLX Abs instead of my Burn 3.  I also wasn't able to go to the Barre class because they totally changed up their schedule on me, so I'll go this weekend.  See, write everything in pencil because it will change, it is the only thing certain.  

Also this Saturday February 9th is the 2nd Annual Virtual Run for Sherry.  This race is put on by her cousin and fellow blogger at Shut Up + Run.  I wish I had some pals to run it with but I'll be doing it on the treadmill Saturday morning, but I am grateful I can do that.  My Father in law and both of my Brother in laws work in Sidney MT and Williston ND.  I remember when Sherry first went missing and my heart sank, along with every other runner out there I am sure.  I know how tight those small communities are and what an impact her death had on their lives.  I'll run Saturday in memory of Sherry and hope our nation can get a grip on the senseless acts of violence seen everyday on our women and children.  

Let me know if you plan on running in the virtual run for Sherry!       

Anyone else find they have to change up their workout/running schedule during the week?

Do you have a lot of drive thru coffee places where you live? 

- Oregon is coffee headquarters, I didn't realize how spoiled I was! 

Running in the Dark

Good morning!  Just finished CLX Extreme Abs while waiting for the sun to come up!  Its now to late to head out for a run so I'll be busting out a few miles on my treadmill later today.  Lately I've had some anxiety about running in the dark, so has Jess.  So I thought I would wait till close to sunrise annnnnd then 7 AM rolled around so I nixed my outdoor running plan and put on my AB workout.  Luckily I have my treadmill and can get in a few miles later today.  I can kill two birds with one stone and watch some of The Spirit of the Marathon on Netflix.  I watched it many months ago but I want to watch it again since the marathon is less than 2 weeks away, its like runner's Rocky.  If you haven't seen it I really recommend watching it even if you aren't doing a marathon its so inspirational and moving plus its free on Netflix Instant, score!  

I was able to have my favorite breakfast this morning and I made myself a sad version of a pumpkin spice latte, not the same but also not 5$ so I think I still win in the end. 

I really should look into food photography, I think I have a gift, no?  

Since I wasn't able to do my outside run this morning because of my own fear of the dark it really got me thinking about other runners out there.  Fall is here and winter is never far behind especially in the Northwest and that means dark mornings, do they bother you at all?  I ran Monday in the dark and I was more nervous about tripping over something I couldn't see more so than being attacked.  Maybe because of where I live I have a false sense of security or maybe it was because I passed so many other runners but I never got scared.  I also run with pepper spray, am lit up like a Christmas Tree and always have my cell phone, not like any of those things would thwart a would be attacker honestly.  I have thought about a headlamp because I must add to my cool factor for the purpose of being able to see whats ahead and on the ground, but I wonder if that would do anything to fend off someone trying to hurt me?  I hate the idea of living my life in fear but I also have 2 little girls to think about and anything that happens to me will affect them.  Its not just me out there in the dark running I have a family at home I need to think about.  It seems like a personal preference but it got me thinking and my instincts this morning told me to stay home so I listened.  

I would really love some other opinions on this, what do you feel about running in the dark hours?  

Do you carry pepper spray or any other type of personal protection?  

Headlamps?  

- I can hear Katie cackling at me right now...