We are getting back there

Well, the running's been sporadic for a few weeks, due to head and MJ issues and just not adjusting to minor changes in my life. I swear I'm getting to be more sensitive to changes than the Royals are - and that's saying something. I mean, a few changes in the lineup and all of the sudden no one knows how to play like a team. 

This is probably why I fell in love with running so much. There's the comradeship of a team, but really, you are in it for yourself. 

Anyway ... after weeks of struggling, I went ahead and emailed PT and asked if I could come in for a tune-up. He said a year out from the last time he saw me was excellent timing so I went in. I explained that I was having more days of 4-5 whining from MJ than I cared for and that I felt the only way I could tackle it on my own was total rest, and I wasn't prepared to do that anymore. Plus, I am lucky enough to have health insurance. May as well use it. 

Several tests later, PT determines I simply have some soft tissue inflammation and that we can take care of that over several sessions, fine tune some things and give me a few more challenges so I don't get bored with my strength workouts. 

And with that, I started trying to get back to a regular running schedule again. Last week, I hit three days of running, two yoga/mobility days, and one strength day. The runs felt pretty good! It's been wicked hot and with MJ still being finicky, I ran for time (30,30,40) instead of mileage and it was the right decision. Keeps the mileage low and extending running time by 5 minutes will get me in the right MPW zone in time for 10K training in mid-August. After reading Peg's 10K RR, this one will be a doozy, but I'm looking forward to it. 

I've also been joining the Sports Bra Squad for more runs these days. I still get self conscious about it, but it's so hot and it's so much cooler without a shirt that I suck it up and do it anyway. I get annoyed with myself when I worry that someone is going to make comments loud enough for me to hear that "she should put a shirt on" but I never hear them. I try to tell myself that maybe I'm encouraging someone to love their body for what it can do, not what it looks like. I guess in the end, I'm at least encouraging myself to do so, and that's what matters  .

#sportsbrasquad

original post: http://community.runnersworld.com/blog/sportsbrasquad

This past Saturday was the inaugural International Sports Bra Squad Day - spear headed by blogger Kelly Roberts, who does a lot of writing about having a healthy body image, which you all know I really love. 

And yeah, there's some recent controversy surrounding this woman, including marathoninvestigation catching her "banditing" a few races. I put that word in quotes, because I don't think hopping in for a segment is actual banditing, unless you are using course resources, like water and porta potties - and I get that races pay to have roads blocked off, but please. Glass houses. Stones. Get my drift? Also, Kelly is sponsored by Oiselle and CEO Sally B calls Kelly a professional athlete, even though she does not run anywhere near an elite level. Again, I could care less. Sally doesn't call her an elite athlete and the word "professional" simply means you get paid to do something. What Oiselle wants to do with their money is their and their shareholders business. I highly doubt they would be blocking any doping investigation by USADA, so that's one up on another company in my book (burrrnnnnnnn).

Now that all that BS is out of the way ... 

When I heard about #sportsbrasquad day, I figured, why the heck not? I can do one run in a sports bra. And then I found out that a local running store was hosting a group run, and immediately put it on my calendar. 

The morning of, I found myself standing around with a bunch of women I didn't know (and one that I did know), all of us nervously waiting for the moment when we would shed our security blankets, AKA, those shirts. There were questions of "Are we really going to do this?", but the second the shirts came off, there were comments of "Your sports bra is so cute!" The transformation was nearly instantaneous. 

During the run, I found myself on my own - there wasn't anyone running my exact pace, but it didn't matter. I was running in a part of my city that I love, but live too far from to run regularly. In fact, it was the very area I nearly put in an offer on for a house, and was really sad to let it go (was at the very top of my budget). On the back half of the run, however, I came across the rolling hills that I always forget are EVERYWHERE and I kept thinking how they were really generous with including hills on this route and then maybe I didn't feel so bad about not living in that neighborhood. I nearly forgot I was running without a shirt, until I had to stop for traffic. But then, I just stood as confidently as possible - and quite frankly, I didn't care that much because it was SO humid and I was sweating buckets. 

By the end of the run, I was feeling pretty darn good - actually one of the first "good" runs I've had since hitting my head - and very thirsty, hahaha. The magical part, though, was all the women just hanging out and chatting without caring that we were all still shirtless. There were even photos taken! 

The start of the run. You can find me in the purple sports bra and capris - perfectly positioned between the street sign and the streetlight post.

My Sports Bra Squad. Only knew one of these ladies, but I like to think we are squad members now.

The take away message, though, is that regardless of what you think about Kelly Roberts, her relationship with Oiselle and some of her antics, is that creating a moment for all to embrace body positivity was exactly what I needed. I may be a regular member of the Sports Bra Squad.

I feel like a Salvage Title

original post: http://community.runnersworld.com/blog/i-feel-like-a-salvage-title

Y'all, I know that hitting your head is a serious thing, and the brain is a mystery, more sensitive than emo Mary Jane over here, but man, I'm losing my patience. 

Like many cars made in the 80s and owned by young people, I get that I haven't always had the best maintenance strategy, and even after major repairs, old habits die hard. The mentality that "everything should be ship shape" now means it's easy to let those bad habits of not stretching and gunning the engine and maybe doing some off roading when you really shouldn't slip right back in. 

And then when there's a hit to the engine, but it's still running fine, I thought, I'm young, I can recover from this easily. The service people don't make a huge deal out of it (perhaps they thought I was not so young and much wiser than I really am - after all, I was made in the 80s) and I just wanted to jump back to the usual miles, because damnit, I sat in the garage for so long just a short 18 months ago. 

Sometimes I forget that surgery did not make me a shiny, new model. I suddenly did not become a 2015 model - I'm still the 1983 model and even though I have relatively low mileage, the parts aren't that new and work on them doesn't make them 100%. Mary Jane, at her best, will likely only be 85-90%. Regular maintenance is still necessary, and engine work takes time, so again, I have to exercise one of the things I feel like I don't naturally have a lot of - patience. 

Last week, I tried again to get back into the routine of things. Strength training, rest, run with some hill repeats, foam rolling, mobility/yoga, lawn mowing and another run. I felt okay. The run with hill repeats was just plain stupid. It was wicked hot last week, and the day I wanted to run it was thundering and lightening in the morning, so I thought, well, I'll just run right around lunchtime before it gets crazy hot. 

Not the best idea. I know better. I just really wanted to run. The hill repeats felt fine (just 4x20-30 sec hard runs up a hill), but I had to take so many walk breaks on the way back. And, now that I think about it, running in the heat + concussion = big impact. I was tired the next few days. Like, really, tired. And then that exacerbated other symptoms, like irritability and loss of concentration. 

I really don't want to go back into the garage. I had big plans for this fall's 10K - lots of running, speedwork and being a boss. But getting there requires a good base, one that I am not confident I'll be able to get to now. I read that mild concussions can take up to three months to fully recover from, and that's probably when people take a lot of rest right away. So, that's frustrating, although it's my own fault. 

For now, I'm keeping the running to 2-3 days/week, with one day of strength, and lots of mobility and meditation in between. 

I'm so bored. 

Oh, and my vehicle? The 1983 Subaru DL 1800 Station Wagon. Practical, can haul a lot of stuff, but has a turbo and 4WD, so don't think it's a pushover by any stretch. And, it's pretty comfortable in nature and getting muddy while out for a drive. Sometimes, it thinks it's young, but there are a few rust spots here and there that definitely show it's not in it's 20s any more.

Travel. Wine.Food. Running.

When I decided to pursue a modified version of the traditional "50 states" running goal, I knew I would take advantage of work trips when possible and squeeze in a race. My work trip to Boise, Idaho, was no exception. 

And before you ask, yes, I paid for the extra night at the hotel and did not collect per diem on my "non-work" day. I'm irrationally afraid of breaking rules, and have no desire to throw bad karma out there. <--- Really just writing that for anyone who might actually know details of where I work and what I do and is really concerned about how public servants spend taxpayers money. Sir or madam, this one does it as responsibly as possible.

In any case, taking extra time to let my brain heal after hitting my head meant 1) of course I will still doing this race and 2) I would be taking it easy and run/walking and 3) barely having any wine, despite paying the extra $ for a commemorative wine glass and unlimited wine tastings. 

The race, themed as a summer night, took place on .... a summer night at a beautiful winery just south of Boise. I don't remember the actual temperature, but at 7 pm in the evening, it was still definitely above 80*. With the area being at just under 3,000' elevation, the 4 min run/2 min walk plan was sure to be a good one to not kill myself in 3.1 miles.

BTW, there was also a 10K and 13.1 option for this race. Yeesh.

So, the gun goes off, and I'm bopping along, getting in front of the usual walkers, except I think it was me who was in the wrong this time and had no idea how few runners there were in the full scheme of registrants. Eh, no mind. 

As we make our way out of the winery, I thought I had gotten a good thumbs up photo with the photographer. Instead, I got these two: 

Wayyy in the back.

Oh look! My ponytail! 

In any case, I was feeling the heat quickly. UGH. But the course was thankfully easy. I just kept going at whatever pace felt good, averaging 10:30-ish on the run portion. Not going to lie though, those walk portions were readily welcomed. It was just so darn hot and I was really thirsty. When I hit the aid station, I did the rare act and took both water and gatorade. 

Yes. It really was that hot. And okay, so I had also barely trained for this race. I wasn't racing. 

That is, I wasn't racing until there was less than half a mile left and I heard someone coming up behind me. With no one else nearby, there was no way I was going to let anyone pass me, ha! 

Hey guys! I'm running in a winery! I'm hot and miserable! 

The volunteers handing out finisher medals at the end were fantastic. Instead of awkwardly finishing by myself in silence, I was welcomed with cheers and smiles. It was one of the most fun finishes I've had in a long time. Afterwards, I immediately grabbed water and gatorade and drank both slowly as I went to grab my ID so I could get my wine glass (yes, EVERYONE needed IDs. I chatted for a minute with a 60 year old guy who had to get his ID, too). 

After I cooled down a bit (probably should have done a cool down jog, honestly), I enjoyed one small sample of the winery's rose, which was absolutely fabulous and I was very sad I didn't have room in my checked bag for a few bottles. Then, I grabbed a few bites of food - they had a spaghetti dinner, someone making grilled cheese and lots and lots of wine everywhere. 

Honestly, despite the heat, it was a really well done race. Small (which I love), good food (++), live music and just a fun, relaxed atmosphere. If I had been out there with friends, I would have stayed much longer than I did. 

A few more pics from the evening: 

Sweaty selfie with winery-themed manicure

Wine glass and finisher medal

The whole combo.

Beautiful flowers and the crowd at the post-race festival.

Final results: 36:09, 6/25 in 31-35 AG (had I been in pre-head hitting shape, could have taken 2nd in AG). Don't remember the other placings, but definitely top half. Like I said, a lot of walkers - and I think a lot did the 10K, too. Probably so they could drink more wine, LOL. 

Anyway, state 11 down, 39 to go! Would like to knock one more off the list this year, but probably won't happen, unless I do one of the neighboring states that I haven't done yet (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee). 

Finding the Mental Space

original post: http://community.runnersworld.com/blog/finding-the-mental-space

Honestly, I don't know how parents do it - take care of their family, run all these errands and then still get tons and tons of training in. I realize less sleep is probably a part of the formula for "getting stuff done", but my goodness, that is just a difficult sacrifice for me to willingly  make. 

For the past month or so, I've been waking up early and walking Jeff with my neighbor, whose two dogs were attacked by another neighborhood dog while she was walking by herself. That whole issue hasn't been resolved, and she was really upset, so I offered to walk with her. It's not been a huge disruption, but one change that I'm just struggling and struggling to adjust to.  Also, I hate to admit it, but hitting my head I think has taken longer to recover to than I anticipated. I just feel .... off. 

All of that basically has meant I haven't been running as much, and it also means I'm relieved my application to be the ambassador for a local triathlon didn't win. I still would like to have a reason to use my bike more, but right now I just don't have the mental capacity to train for a race. 

So, this summer will focus on maintenance, getting back to basics, and finding a group that I can bike with on the weekends. 

In other news, I'm thinking about getting Jeff a kitten. He needs a buddy and two dogs is more work than I'm willing to put in. 

Eliz goes to Urgent Care

Preface: If there is one thing I've learned since I started running is that life is very much like those rolling hills I enjoy running. Sometimes they are wonderfully easy, sometimes they are annoying as heck and other times I just want to lay down and admit defeat. Good thing I never take that last option. Also, this post was written a week ago. 

Ever since the surprise-awesome-5K, MJ has been bothering me a bit. Mostly, an inflamed hip flexor and the usual tricks - cold showers, ice bathing, foam rolling, massage, you friggen name it - were not working. So, I knew something was up. And I knew it was time to get back to basics and stop doing plyometrics, for goodness sake.

So, Tuesday, I went back to by good ol' hip and core routine and discovered it was a lot harder than it should have been. It's also disappointing, because I really wish those online workout programs would just do the trick for me (I really love working out and not having to think too much), but instead, noooooo, I have to do my specialized workout routine. UGH. It gets so boring after awhile, too. 

I digress. 

Here's where it gets juicy. Wednesday, I decide to workout at home and go back to my old lifting routine. I find the workouts on my phone and realize I need something to mimic the effect of lat pull downs. NOW, a normal, smart, reasonable person would think, I'll just do modified handstand pushups. Wicked hard (check the satisfying box), an inversion (check the yay! box) and reasonable (check the reasonable box). Instead, I grab one of my bands, look around my basement and see a hook in the ceiling that was probably used for a hanging plant. 

I'm going to stop you right there. 

Yes, exactly what you are imaging happened. Here's a lesson I learned that I really, really, really want you to learn as well without actually experiencing it: hooks that are secure enough for a hanging plant are NOT secure enough for band lat pulldowns. What will happen is that you will essentially slingshot a hook out of the ceiling towards your head and have it hit with such force that you have a gash in your head and a ringing in your ears. 

Needless to say, blood was soon gushing out of my head and I. Was. Freaking. The. EFF. Out. Thankfully, I did two things: put my hand firmly over the general area and did not stop putting pressure on it and called my neighbor who was able to come right over. She was able to help stop the bleeding and calm me down (during which Jeff thought this was an opportune time to try playing fetch) and then took me to urgent care to get things taken care of. 

The ladies at the urgent care were wonderful. I was so embarrassed that I just started joking about everything and by the end we were all laughing. A few of my favorite quotes from the visit: 

"At least I've never tried to fry a frozen turkey or set off a firework in my hand."

"We aren't going to shave your head."

"That stings!"
"The needle isn't even touching your head."
"But the liquid is touching the wound!"

"Do you feel that?"
"No."
"See? I don't even know why I went to medical school, I'm that good."

"Make sure we count how many staples we put in."
"I think it was six."
"Hmm ... one, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN! Haha, you missed one!"
"Hey, I hit my head!"

Sexy

So, yesterday, I took it easy, slept a lot, was walking a bit slower than usual, ate half a pint of ice cream and tried to convince my mom it wasn't that big of a deal and that I was okay (it's not and I am!). I gave my neighbor irises from my backyard as a thank you and had to withdraw from my spot at this weekend's 5K - which is part of a city-wide corporate challenge thing that happens every year. I'm terribly disappointed in that. I wasn't going to race, but with MJ and company flaring up anyway, it's for the best. 

It's been very much an up and down 2017 for me - my memory of 2016 is mostly so wonderful that it's really been messing with my head. I've had disappointments in the relationship department, financial surprises that have made me thankful I have an emergency savings account (although money aside, the stress alone of that is insane, especially as a single person and I have a whole new level of respect and compassion for people who spend their entire existence living paycheck to paycheck or worse), the damn eardrum rupture, some changes at work that I've really had a hard time adjusting to, and now this. It's all #privilegedproblems, I know, but it doesn't lessen my experience of it. 

But so many wonderful things have happened this year, too! Actually training for a 5k and enjoying it, finally meeting AB in person, a sub-30 and managing to keep TWO houseplants alive (that's fantastic for me, folks). 

In any case, yesterday was Star Wars day (I'll save the May the 4th jokes for next year), and after getting in bed Wednesday night and catching myself wondering if the year was over yet, I decided I didn't need a January 1 to start over with a good attitude. So ... yesterday was 2017.2 for me. 

Happy New Year! And hey, it's next year, so ..... 

How's your year been so far? Rolling hills? Pancake flat? 
Has it felt like hard race or an easy run?

Northland Half Marathon & 5K

After the slight disappointment of not hitting sub-30 in California with AB, I had two take-aways: 

1. I really need to start incorporating speed work and I'm ready for that.
2. One's mental state of mind is everything

I had signed up for this 5K as a spur of the moment - several friends were running the half marathon and I thought, oh hey, I'll just run the 5K, then hang out and cheer friends in as they finish. The day before, I was wondering why the heck I thought that sounded like a good idea. 

I hadn't been running a whole lot since California. MJ is a little cranky, and I keep trying to do plyometrics with my Daily Burn workouts for whatever reason. So, I'm perpetuating the achiness out of sheer .... idiocy, I suppose. All that being said, I thought it would be a good use of a tempo run (start that speed work!), and decided to aim for around 10mms. Quick, but not racing. Good. 

I get to the race early, do a long warm up, see my friends, say hi and good luck and realize it's way too warm for my arm warmers and jog back to the car to return with the perfect amount of time to pee and then get in line. This race had actual, flushing toilet restrooms at the start/finish, which was luxurious ... until one toilet got clogged. 

So, I line up, wait for the start and take off. After settling in, there is a duo that I tell myself to keep within spitting distance of - they are going nearly the perfect pace and I wanted to make life easy. Mile 1 ticked off in 10:08. 

Can you find me???

The course went out and up over a bridge, then down onto a hard surface trail. All the downhill made things pick up a little bit, and as we neared the 5K turnaround, I noticed very few people actually turning around, and very few women about my age. The wheels were turning and I realized it was one of those races where I may actually have a shot at placing well. Mile 2 ticks off in 9:50. 

So, I'm climbing back up the hill and bridge, thinking I'm tired and maybe I'll just go back to tempo, when a voice says, no, do it for AB. Give him the race he should have gotten with you in Cali. Well, when a voice tells you to do something for a running friend, you sort of just do it. Plus, I knew that most of the course was downhill from there. I decide to ignore my watch and just run. I pick up the pace and just keep going, "do it for AB, do it for AB." Naturally, I realize I should also be doing this for myself. I mean, I'm the one with the sub-30 to chase. And I'm just good of a reason to do this as AB is, so I just go. And go. And go. I'm not even sure what my time is, as I refuse to look at my watch. All I can think is, just give it your best effort (and don't let that woman you passed pass you back). I round the final turn and see the finish line, UGH, it looks like it's forever away. I see part of the clock, with a 2 in it and as it comes into view, I see the clock turn over to 30:00. I think I actually made some sort of frustrated noise out loud, but then I realize I'm the only person running for the finish line at the moment, so I pose for the cameras as I cross the finish.

PT would be proud of that straight line my hips are making.

I'm all annoyed until I stop my watch and look down at it. 

29:57

Holy shit, I think. What's the official time???

I get in line, give the person my number and he says, "okay, you got second in your age group." "I did?" I say as I take the slip he gives me. Then, I nearly forget about that part as I read the piece of paper: 

I looked up and around, as if there would be someone I knew to share the joy with and reached for my cell phone, which was in my car. Damn. Oh well. Instead, I shared a quiet, glorious moment, as I stood there, holding this tiny piece of paper close, grinning like an idiot. 

Then, I went and got some free beer and coffee. And of course, texted AB. 

Santa Anita Derby Day 5K

"How are you feeling?" Atombuddy asked me as we warmed up. 
"Nervous," I tittered.

It's not that I haven't wanted a PR before or chased down a goal. It's that I've never made such a statement to the Loop, nor asked a fellow Loopster to pace me. That's what happens when you do a vlog immediately after a disappointing run, though, and you are an emoter like me. Crazy stuff just comes out. It created a weight on my shoulders, though - not one I couldn't bear, simply one I wasn't used to - and I wasn't comfortable with it. Then again, no one ever said racing a 5K was comfortable. 

A day later, I was cozied up on the couch at Chez AB, a lovely B&B in Pasadena, California with great rates for residents of Loopville, writing in my Believe Training journal, with a serendipitous 4 week check-in. The theme of this check-in: Resistance. 

The start of the Santa Anita Derby Day 5K was in the parking lot of a mall. After a thorough warm-up, complete with striders, AB and I lined up at the starting gates. I anxiously awaited our turn to run through the 1930's starting gate for the Santa Anita Race Track. AB and I had worked out a plan: start slightly slower than goal pace, progress through mile 2 and finish with a kick at the end. 

"I always seem to have enough for a kick," I said. 

The wave start minimized the need for bobbing and weaving, and AB had me off to a hard but not uncomfortable pace - exactly what we had wanted. As we turned for the nearby arboretum, I couldn't help but wonder if I could sustain this. "Can I do this? I'm not sure. I guess we will found out. I can ... I dunno ... maybe I can't." Thoughts like these tumbled in my brain. 

"How do you feel?"
"Heh .... scared."

Mile 1: 9:31

Resistance: She's your inner critic, ruining your best intentions, pulling you into negative self talk, giving you plenty of excuses and leaving your mired in doubt. Your mind plays a big role in performance; resistance can stand in the way of goals if you let it. These self-sabotaging thoughts thrive on fear, procrastination, drama, distraction, fear of failure and indecision. Well, damn, maybe I should have done this check-in before the big race. 

As mile 1 clicked off below goal pace, AB was nothing but encouraging. "You just have to maintain this and you are golden," he said (or something to that effect). The pace felt harder than I thought it should. Or maybe it felt just right. Having never actually raced a 5K, how should I have known what to feel? Honestly, I sort of went off of Peg's and Bangle's blogs but they are crazy people, so who really knows how accurate that is?? As we rolled into a slight uphill, my pace slowed, I could feel it slowing and the doubts just taking over "I can't, I can't, I can't". Yet, AB was still there, dragging me along. I hadn't bothered to be completely honest about how much MJ had been bothering me that week. I didn't want the damn hip to be an excuse anymore, I was tired of it being an excuse, and yet there MJ was, making her presence known, not moving as fluidly as she should. Somehow, AB's advice of shorter strides helped and there I was, back in the game. 

Mile 2: 9:44

Looking back, one of the biggest components of a successful 5K is confidence. Man, if you don't have that, you are pretty much screwed. I know it sounds obvious, but it's one of those lessons I never really learned. This is what happens when you don't allow yourself to pursue greatness for fear of missing the mark. It's a lesson I eventually was going to need to learn. And there I was, learning it in Southern California. 

We crossed into the back area of the Santa Anita Race track, the smells of the tack pens reminding me of my childhoods at the county and state fairs in Iowa. AB keeps encouraging me, telling me that I can pick up the pace. This felt like the longest 3.1 miles of my life. I was getting told exactly what to do, and I almost responded "I'll try", but I thought no, no try, must do so I said, "Okay, let's Yoda this"; somehow I picked up the pace. AB says "You are at an 8:50 pace, you are doing great!" Immediately, I panicked. I got so scared and my brain started sounding alarms and it felt like my entire being wanted to run and hide. I slowed. I slowed and I knew sub-30 was slipping away and it was my own mental game to blame for it. I knew it, I could see it and feel it right then and there, but I couldn't overcome it. My legs were dead, I had no spring, but it was my mind that was holding me back the most. As we rounded the final turn to go onto the practice race track, AB was ready to gun for it. Ugh, I could see how much he wanted to race in with me to the finish, but I was swimming in sand, with people passing me left and right.AB literally dragging me to the finish. Photo cred: JunBlack13 (check out his Instagram for other awesome photos from race day) 

It was a crappy feeling, knowing the goal was slipping away. It was even worse knowing my pacer had done everything right and my own mental game was destroying all of his work. "I can still PR", a small voice somewhere in the back of my mind whispered, and somehow, I managed a small surge and crossed the finish. 

Mile 3: 9:41
Total time: 30:16
Average pace: 9:45 mm

 Later, as AB and I talked and I reflected on my own, I let go of all the weight I had been keeping on my shoulders. I finally got a PR, one that hadn't been broken in 4 years, and that is something. I am looking forward to the next cycle, when I can confidently incorporate speed work. 

But man, oh man, I couldn't help but see the irony of reading that 4 week trading journal check-in a day after the race. 

 Seriously. Self-doubt and fear, you are going out the window. Now that I've made you known, there isn't really anywhere to hide anyway. 

When You're Like, "WTF, Running?"

So there I was, on a roll, having some really good runs and wondering whether or not I should have just said, "Screw it" and done speedwork for this training cycle. 

Then I got sick and had to take a week and a half off. If that doesn't kill momentum, I don't know what does. 

Ever since, I've just been "meh" about runs. Sure, I got in 3 of 4 last week - Saturday, I just wasn't having it, so I did an at-home workout instead and still got the heart pumping. 

Sure, the runs were all fine. Tuesday was 3 miles in 34:59, just under 11:45 pace (easy, good); Thursday was 3.1 in 33:27, 10:42 pace (nice, comfortable effort) and Sunday was 4.3 in 51:11, 11:56 pace (another easy, yay). 

But I was over much of the running before it even started. Same with my strength workouts. Got them all in, made the effort, keeping the legs looking fab with lots of lunges. Maybe it's because MJ is a bit cranky and moody. First, she was all annoyed that we took so much time off and then she was annoyed that we were doing so much. Sometimes, I can't win with her. Sunday, I did skip the running group to trot along the crushed gravel path, which made her happy. I have a feeling another ice bath will be coming along soon. 

It's been a minute since I've just been "meh" about things. Then, I realized, this is legitimately the first real running training cycle I've had since I trained for the Dublin Marathon and the first real training cycle since I hired a personal trainer and stuck to a ridiculous training schedule for 13 weeks, which was over 2 years ago.

So no wonder I've hit a mental wall. I'm not used to this stuff. 

With that realization, I've been nicer to myself and to running this week. It's been cold and rainy and damp and who wants to run in that, but I've stuck to the plan and am just enjoying things. The goal 5K is a week from Saturday, so there isn't anything of substance I can do to prepare at this point (except pick out my race outfit). So, I'm just enjoying it. Today will be a progression run, because we are supposed to get rain all day and I'm just going to hide on the treadmill. I hate being cold AND wet. Ew. 

PS - ICYMI on insta, been cooking my way around Run Fast, Eat Slow and loving every recipe I've tried. 

Yummmmmmmmm

Now, if I can get the Running Fast and Eating Slow part down (I like to do the opposite, LOL)

EDIT and PPS: Thursday's run was spot on. Did a progression run on the treadmill because that's the only way I stay sane on the darn thing. Mile 1: 12:35, mile 2 (flew by!): 11:45 and mile 3: 11:06 (I dunno, that's what the TM told me). Done and happily sweaty by the end. Yay!

Weekly Recap

After the previous week's butt-kicking cold, I still felt less-than-normal Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I did do mobility work and probably should have stretched or did some yoga, but I didn't. 

So when Thursday rolled around, I just really needed to see how a short (and I really mean short) run would go. Hit up one of my usual trails for 2 miles. Figured that would be enough to see if my lungs were as good as I thought they were and a nice little test to see if I'd lost any fitness. 

And I hit 2.01 miles in 20:13. Not bad. 

Friday and Saturday were spent working in the yard, trying to get things ready for spring. Is it already time to spend all my free time in my yard again? And where did all these leaves come from? 

In any case, Sunday morning came really early and I got myself ready for Sunday Runday club. Our 7 AM start was delayed by 10 minutes by a quick but substantial rain; with the weather at 53* and windy, not many of us wanted to start a run in a cold rain as well. Naturally, Mother Nature got us back by doing the same thing about 15 minutes later. Thanks, lady, now my toes are wet. And cold. 

As one of the slower ones, I have gotten used to having the speedies run by me on their return on the out-and-back course. This time, however, I only encountered one. I guess it's evident we are in the peak miles of training programs; everyone seemed to be going long that day. Me? I was doing 4 and thankful that 4 felt like no thing at all. 

3.98 miles in 47:04, 11:50 avg

Based on those two runs, I'm jumping back in this week, with only minor adjustments to what I had planned. Yay!

Sick & Injured

I, have no run reports because I've been recovering from a cold that just kicked my butt this past week. Started out with simply a coughing, snot-fest and turned into something more. I ended up taking three days off from work and probably should have taken one more day, but I wasn't infectious at that point, just still exhausted. 

Oh well. 

And then I ruptured my ear drum with a Q-tip. Did you know Q-tips aren't recommended for cleaning ears anymore? I seriously had no idea, but the NP at the employee health clinic made me repeat twice "Nothing smaller than my elbow in my ear", LOL. 

I'm still recovering, as even chasing the dog around the house starts me coughing again. Naturally, it's a little disappointing, since I felt like I was really gaining some momentum towards that elusive sub-30 5K, but I have to be patient. The next three weeks will have to be adjusted, and tomorrow, I'll try a brisk walk at an incline to see how things go. 

the one where I actually write about running

So I'm one of those folks who is still running and doesn't necessarily post about it. I suppose that's because I feel a little silly, we went through all of that trouble to give Mary Jane a name and now I barely mention her. 

I mean, that's totally a good thing, but if all it took was naming her, I would've done that a long time ago.

The last running update was two weeks ago. Whoops. At least I'm better with WILFTB recaps, although, where the heck is Running Nole, who was one of the people who kept asking for it?!?!?!

Anyway, the week of Feb 13-19 looked like this: 

Monday: 3 miles (wrote about that one, a lovely little jaunt around my old stomping grounds)
Tuesday: Tactical Bodyweight Training speed session
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: unplanned rest day - felt like garbage 
Friday: Tactical Bodyweight Training endurance session
Saturday: 3 miles, mobility work
Sunday: 5 miles with running group

Last week I tried to be more realistic with my planning. Work is taking up a good chunk of my energy in a fantastic way that previous jobs never have, but on the flip side, I am drained at the end of the day, and was trying to get in too much for the sake of "following the program", which honestly is just silly. 

Monday: planned rest day
Tuesday: 3.02 miles in 37:18, 12:21 pace

This was a great run because I thought I'd try hill repeats that day. I had recently hung out with some old friends and we were talking about how the one thing I was really good at was hill repeats, and I thought MJ had been feeling good enough that I'd try them out. I had a hill in mind, and did a mile warmup, only to realize that the hill I'd picked wasn't that great because it was curvy and there were lots of people walking and biking that day. So, I kept on, thinking there was another hill coming up, but it was almost another mile by the time I got there. Oh well. 

Thought maybe I'd try for 9 repeats, since it was the number of months that I could not run after surgery. Ended up with 5 because I was totes gassed by then and still had to run back to my car. The first repeat, I started with a grin, looking at the hill as if to say, "Hello, friend, we are going to have fun today". The second repeat, I was doing while an older gentleman was walking and on my way back down, he chuckled and said to me, "You have some gumption." I laughed and thanked him. The third repeat made me question if I could do six more and I thought I'd see how the fourth went. When the fifth felt like I had slowed significantly (and Polar Polly confirmed I had), I thought, that's good. 

It seemed like it was a good workout and choice to stop then and there, when I whimpered out loud when I had to climb a different hill on the way back to my car. Still felt good to do a little work, though. And MJ was just fine - my hip flexor was a little sore, but to be expected.

Wednesday: TBT speed session (tabatas this round)
Thursday: mobility (really need to start running in the morning)
Friday: TBT endurance session 
Saturday: had a community meeting to attend and then lunch with my co-worker and I nearly didn't go for a run, but I figured I could get one in since it was a relatively nice day. It turned into a tempo run and then an impromptu 5K time trial, which came painfully close to my PR. I was really disappointed and talked it out for y'all here: