Reinvigorating My Running

My runs lately have been less than inspired, just checking them off of the list of things I have to do each day.  Sometimes that happens, and its okay but it was nice to be able to have some time to give myself a kick in the pants today.

It started with the email I got last night…

So that was pretty exciting, very far away, but exciting!

I spent some time this morning before heading out for my run reading Runner’s World which always inspires me and actually spent a decent amount of time stretching (go figure).

And guess what? I had a great run.  It was hot and humid and by the end of 10 miles I was ready to be done, but it was a good one.  It is crazy how much taking 30 minutes to prep your mind and body to hit the road will make a difference in how it goes!!

I know I won’t take as much time before my long run tomorrow but I will certainly take more time than it takes to shove a banana down my throat.

Good luck on your long runs tomorrow everyone!!

Mini Goals

Last week on Facebook a Runner’s World article popped up that couldn’t have been more perfect for me to read. Click for Article

I am especially in need of a goal in my life right now. Nothing big or crazy but something! I met all of my huge life goals in a matter of 2 weeks and now I feel slightly lost. This six week commitment will be perfect.

The challenge is to pick a number of miles you want to run in 6 weeks (I picked the amount I did in my best month of running this year and averaged it to 6 weeks).  I landed on 250 miles (which may be a little ambitious but we will see).

Then you commit to doing this same amount of minutes of stretching in that time.  This comes at an incredibly appropriate time since I am still trying to shake this hip/groin this I have going on.  (Sidenote: we did some dry needling in our capstone seminar today and I think it may have really fixed the problem.  We will see tomorrow morning when I run!)

Lastly, you add a 0 and commit to that amount of pushups in that time.

The final product for my 6 week goal:

250 miles

250 minutes stretching/yoga

2500 push ups

Bring it on….who’s with me!!

When to Rest Up?

As a runner, I find it almost impossible to not run two consecutive days.  Sometimes though this is a necessary evil.  For the past three days, I took COMPLETE rest!  It felt so terrible yesterday, but during my run today I realized how much I benefitted from it.

I have a Garmin watch so it keeps track of all of my runs and I can look at them in calendar form.  I had not taken two consecutive days off of running since the week after the Savannah Marathon (early November).  Since then I have run another marathon, a half and am getting ready for another half in about a month.  My legs were just in pain, agony through my run Thursday and I knew I was going to have to take some time off the road.

There is a difference between letting the lazy devil in your head take over and recognize the need for rest.  The way I felt today running proved to me that I had made the right choice.  I ran at a fairly easy pace for about 7 miles and literally felt myself smiling the whole time.  I am going to roll out my legs with “The Stick” later to make that good feeling last for a while.

My key signs that I needed a small break:

• Pain in my legs for 4+ runs
• Complete and utter desire not to go (I love going so that really meant something for me)
• Decreased intensity had no bearing on discomfort: taking it easier should have felt easier but it didn’t

I have always been scared to take a break for fear of losing fitness, even though I know it is impossible to lose that fitness in 3 days.  Moral of the story people: listen to your body and your mind!!  Running is supposed to make you feel good, you should want to go and you shouldn’t be in excruciating pain while you are doing it.  If any of these are true for you, your brain and/or your legs could benefit from a short hiatus.

Also, if complete rest isn’t possible, try yoga or spend a longer than normal amount of time stretching (or using The Stick)!