Distractions

I feel like my running schedule has come to a screeching halt. I’m the tennis coach, and it is consuming all of my typical running time. Instead of running after practice or before practice, I’ve been telling myself that there isn’t enough time. Instead of running in the early morning hours, I’ve been staying in the bed. I feel a little bit like a failure, and I’m also really concerned about the half marathon I have in 17 days. I don’t know if I’m going to be ready, but I feel like I have to complete it to avoid feeling like a complete failure. I’ll beat myself up if I don’t complete it, but I’ll also beat myself up if I don’t have a “good time” from my perspective. Last week, while I was on a cruise, I completed a whopping 10 miles (insert sarcasm here). I will have tomorrow afternoon to run a long run or medium length run, and I will have Saturday and Sunday to complete longer runs, so I haven’t given up all hope. I just have to take one day at a time, and really focus on what I want to accomplish each day. If I don’t accomplish what I set out to, that’s OK. Tomorrow is another day.

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Time until Louisville Mini Marathon

#TimeUntil

New website!

I’m excited to announce my new website – bethruns.com!

All blog posts will be found at this new website. New blog post coming soon!

Fuel

I’ve been trying to be aware of fueling my body. I reread the book The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition by Matt Fitzgerald, and this time I’m applying what I’ve learned. I’ve never in my life liked oatmeal, but I decided to give it a try for breakfast. I’ve read so many times that runners prepare overnight oats for the week so I found a recipe. I actually like it. The trick for me is adding a few chocolate chips to the oatmeal after it’s heated up. I’ve also been eating better lunches – not great lunches since they are mostly frozen meals, but better – with more carbs and protein. I’ve just felt so much better during workouts. I don’t think I was eating enough carbs throughout the day to fuel my body. I was focused on right before the workout and during the workout (still am focused on that too), but I wasn’t taking into consideration the fact that my daily eating habits affect my workouts too. It isn’t enough to only fuel during the run. I completed 9.75 miles yesterday and 6.3 miles today, and I could have done more both times.

I think the time of day makes a difference too. Most races are early in the morning, and I rarely run early in the morning. I’m not really preparing myself completely if I don’t mimic the conditions of race day. I went out in the morning the last two days and felt great. Thankfully I’m a teacher (Did I really just say that?), so I have all summer to train at any time of the day. I’m going to have to be more of a “weekend warrior” over the next couple of months because I’m coaching tennis.

I had a really frustrating half-marathon in February, so I really started analyzing everything to find out why it was so difficult. I think I am starting to figure it all out. I know that some days are just going to be harder than others, but I want to try my best to make each workout successful. I’m more concerned about how I feel during a workout than about my weight now. Do I want to lose weight? Yes. I think my running would improve immensely if I lost a few pounds; however, that is not my focus right now. If I feel better during workouts, I will be able to do more which will translate into weight loss I believe. I was so frustrated with the half-marathon in February that I decided I wasn’t going to be ready for my first full marathon in April. It was a tough decision, but I think it was the right one. I think my first full marathon should be in the Fall because I would rather train in the Summer and Fall than in the Winter. I’m really looking forward to warmer weather this Spring and Summer. (I wish it would stop raining already!)

So, here’s to fueling my body all day every day. It’s progress and I am moving FORWARD.

Just real

This blog post probably won’t inspire anyone. I’m simply going to be quite real about my experience in a half marathon last weekend.

I traveled to Florida for a 4 day weekend to spend time with family as well as take part in a half marathon. I had trained for this day – in varying different types of weather, from snow to sun to rain, from cold to colder – and I was really excited about it the morning of the race. I had set a goal to PR this time – I wanted to be faster than 2:51, still slow, but yes, I’m slow.

At the start of the race, I was a little bit frustrated because I wanted to be very close to the 2:30 pacer, but I had a difficult time getting up to them in the crowd of people. I started out feeling awesome. My first mile was 11:06 and my 2nd mile was12:41 and my 3rd mile was 12:28. That’s pretty darn good for me! I was thinking I was for sure going to PR. Then I saw a group of people who were headed back after a turn around and I thought I saw the 3:00 pacer. I was crushed because I knew I was running faster than that. I was running faster than that, and I don’t know what I actually saw. It doesn’t matter because perception is reality. In my mind, I was failing. I felt defeated, and I couldn’t get that out of my head. I actually wanted to quit. But I kept going anyway, and I felt OK physically until about mile 8 where I hit the wall. It felt like I couldn’t control my legs. I had never had my legs “seize up” like that before. When I stopped to walk, it felt like my legs were going to give out. I felt like I was barely moving when I was running. (guess that’s the “marathon shuffle” I’ve heard so much about) My legs were aching, but I was determined to keep going. My miles kept getting slower and when the 3:00 pacer actually passed me, I was finished mentally. I actually shed a few tears. I ended up with an official time of 3:01 – 10 minutes slower than my first half marathon two years ago. I just didn’t understand. Then I thought that maybe that first half marathon time or distance was just a bit off. This standard that I’ve set for myself might be inaccurate. It was a smaller race. My other times have been within around 5 minutes of each other. So, what’s wrong with being consistent? I just really want to beat that first time!

I know that I should be proud of myself for being out there doing it. In fact, I should be proud and focused on my husband and my sister-in-law for doing awesome in the 10K! (Sorry Dan and Susan – I love you both!) But, I’ve been focused on feeling sorry for myself.

That time has passed. I have 77 days until my first (and hopefully not last) full marathon. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. It’s time to focus on training for April. So, let the pity party come to an end and let the focused training begin with improvements made to avoid hitting the wall and having my legs seize up.

Shew – feels good to get that negativity out!

Dreadmill

I used to prefer walking and running on the treadmill as opposed to outside, but now I prefer the outdoors. The treadmill has become so boring, and I call it the “dreadmill”. I listen to music, but I get so tired of just watching the time go by on the screen. I like moving towards something, like a mailbox or the end of a road. Today I tried to watch Netflix on my iPad while on the treadmill, but that didn’t work out. It fell when I was running, pulled the cord, and turned the whole machine off. I had to start my workout and time all over again. So, back to music it is. It’s just too cold to be outside – I’m not that hard-core. It really proves to me how much of a mental game working out is. The body believes what the mind tells it. It’s such a huge hurdle for me. I plan on getting back to being more intentional with my thinking. I’ve struggled the last couple of weeks mentally. Positive thinking does work – it has for me – but I have to be very intentional about it.

2 weeks until the Sarasota half marathon and 96 days until the Louisville marathon, so I can’t afford to miss a workout!

Damn dog

This past week, I completed 31 miles. I believe that is the most mileage I’ve had in a week so far. And, I’m not tired or sore.

On Monday (New Year’s Eve), I was coming around a corner that I’ve run down several times and a small dog started growling at me. Then it ran up to me and bit my calf – through my pants. I didn’t even have time to get my pepper spray out. I screamed “NO! GO HOME!” to the dog and ran away. After I felt like I was a safe distance away, I lifted up my pant leg to see the damage and a huge bruise had already formed and what I would describe as an abrasion from the bite. After a few expletives, I called my daughter and asked her to meet me with Neosporin and a band-aid. I had planned on going 8 miles that day, and I was only 2 miles in! Once I applied the Neosporin and band-aid, I called my doctor. It appeared as if I was in the clear. I was able to finish my 8 miles. It has continued to heal and I haven’t started foaming at the mouth yet – so I think I’m good. Damn dog.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I was able to complete 6 miles each day. I even did some yoga on Tuesday (trying to relax and get happy). On Wednesday, at a different location, another little dog tried to attack me. I have never seen these dogs before. It was growling at me and I took out my pepper spray. I screamed “NO! GO HOME!” and I actually said “I WILL SPRAY YOU!” Thankfully, the dog went one way as I went another. Damn dog.

Thursday was back to school for me, so of course I entered a deep depression and promptly got into the bed after school. (Sad but true.)

Friday was better so I was able to get in 2 miles even though it was raining.

Saturday was long run day (even though I really already had a long run on Monday), and I was planning 9 miles. I was also planning to run one different main road in order to get some more distance in. It’s not easy in a small town. That was a big step for me mentally – to be out where there are a lot more cars and people that could see me. (I know it’s all in my head and that people don’t really care that I’m out running – but my perception is my reality whether it makes sense or not.) I was able to complete my 9 miles bringing my weekly total to 31!

I’ve really started developing a running community on Twitter and Map My Run. It’s uplifting and inspiring to see other people who enjoy the same things I enjoy. That is a positive thing.