Thursday, January 28, 2010

Muscles & callouses

I've been really upset about watching the numbers on the scale go back up lately after a year of watching them go down. However, I've realized that my weight has been stagnant for a little while and is now going back down, but slowly. I know that it is because I have been working myself much harder this past month than I have been for a long time. The muscles in my legs are pretty impressive. I'm proud of how far that I have come and how my body is changing in order to adjust to the changes that I am making in my fitness level. It's actually a little exciting.

I'm also still proud of the callouses on my feet, as strange as it may sound. I think that I'm just really impressed with myself right now.

My run went pretty well tonight, as far as runs go. I logged more miles than I usually do on the treadmill. (I have noticed that it can be really hard to keep running on the treadmill, because it's just not the same as being outside. Hmph.) I'd really like it to be above the low teens so that I can run outside sometime soon. It's only been a week, but I'm really lonely for running on actual pavement. Maybe it will warm up next week. We'll see. I don't think that's a likelihood in the next few days. I really should not be complaining, because this winter has not been too bad at all and I have gotten to log lots of miles outside in weather that hasn't tried to freeze my face into a complete sheet of ice.

Tomorrow is my other day off from running for the week, as I'm going to be working nine hours, combined with an hour of driving and two classes... So yeah, expect to hear from me again on Saturday evening, after I get back from work and run again.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 164.3 miles/82 days
To go: 835.7 miles/283 days

lack of progress.

I tried Powerade again tonight when I ran. This time, it had been refrigerated first, so it was cold. It was much better this time. For about five minutes, I felt a little bit nauseated, but otherwise, I was fine for the rest of my work out. Maybe it will be better. I can't really tell much of a difference yet, though.

I am definitely looking forward to the weather getting a little bit better again, so that I can go for longer runs. It's sad to not be able to log as many miles as I hoped to lately, but this weekend, I am going to try to do one or two long runs to try to catch up a little bit from how far behind I have become. I'm a little bit disappointed in my progress thus far, or lack thereof. As I look forward, though, I can see that things will change and that I will log more miles every day as I train for a full marathon. It's only natural that, at the end, I will be doing longer runs than at the beginning.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 160 miles/81 days
To go: 840 miles/284 days

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

powerade puke.

Ugh. Today was cold, windy, and miserable. Winter is back with a vengeance. I was stuck to treadmill running again, but tomorrow is going to be (slightly) above freezing, so I will be able to run outside again. So excited.

The good news, though, is that the treadmills are all fixed in the small gym at my apartment complex, finally. It's been four months or something since one of them has worked and another has been down for a few weeks less than that. Now I can even run on the treadmill when someone else is running, if the weather is terrible.

Hopefully, it'll warm up for good pretty soon and I'll be able to do ALL of my runs outside. I'm excited for that day... and for the day that I'm able to get a normal person's amount of sleep, while getting everything accomplished that I need to accomplish in a day. We'll see if that ever happens.

I'm still trying to do one or two long-ish runs every week so that I'm able to train to do half marathons and full marathons, including Goofy's Challenge. I also want to improve my fitness and be a really awesome runner by the end of all of this. Maybe when I am an awesome runner, I will simply be a more well-rounded, wiser person. Exciting. Maybe that's something that I'll think about, something that I will be able to figure out at the end. Only time will tell how this changes me.

So Runner's World totally lied to me. I read that drinking sports drinking while running can help to refuel (electrolytes, maybe?) moreso than drinking water while running can.. so I bought some powerade and took it with me today. HOWEVER, my powerade made me feel like puking the entire time that I was running and it was pretty much horrible. So I'm mad at Runner's World, but I still have plenty of Powerade. Maybe it will be better next time. I'm not going to just not drink the rest of the expensive sports drink that I bought. Hmph. I'll keep you posted. Promise.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 156.69 miles/80 days
To go: 843.31 miles/285 days

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Goals.

This entire year is going to be a huge journey of my life. Through running, graduating with my undergraduate degree, recieving denial and, hopefully, acceptance letters to graduate school, getting a job to pay for grad school (or maybe just life)...moving away, and more. I'll be running most days through all of it. I'm hoping that I will be able to continue running for the rest of my life. As long as I continue to make goals for myself, I know that I can complete them. I guess that it is a little premature for me to think about my demise, considering that I still have just under a year until Goofy's Challenge. After that, I'm sure I'll be to a point in my running in which I'll never want to give up.

I hope.

I'm going to officially sign up for Goofy's Challenge next weekend when I get paid. :) I think that I might be insane.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 153.54 miles/77 days
To go: 846.46 miles/288 days

150 mile marker.

Well the good news is that my shoes aren't as muddy anymore. lol.
Had a late night run. Long run, too. (for me.)
I need to have more long runs, because long runs help my endurance, while the short ones keep me running. I'd like to have more endurance. I'm working on it.

I have decided that I have to plan my days off from running or else I'll take too many off. Next week, I'm going to take Monday and Friday off from running. Some weeks, I'll take one day, sometimes two. Hopefully that way, I'll never end up so behind that I feel frustrated with the entire thing. Blargh.

Actually, I might run Monday. We'll see.
I'll keep you posted. ;)

Okay, I just realized that I hit 150. That's something to celebrate. Maybe I'll treat myself with some water. haha.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 150.44 miles/76 days
To go:849.56 miles/289 days

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

accomplished: longest run in 2 months.

Whoo. Exhaustion.
Today was simply exhaustion compounded.

I did finish my run, though, which I'm glad about. I intended to run about 7.5 miles and ended up running 7.6, which was sooo difficult today. I had to stop at a light for a minute at about the 6.5 mark, and I wasn't sure that I would be able to move again. It all seems to go pretty well when I continue to keep moving throughout the time period. It's just immensely difficult when I have to stop for a minute. My entire body was aching. It's better now, because I took a warm shower and am now relaxing with a glass of water. I know that I need to focus on stretching more, it's just tough to actually get in that habit. I've never been much of a stretcher, even when I used to work out in high school. I've also never exerted myself like I have been recently. I think that's a problem and I'm going to have to work at changing my lifestyle. I'm just not sure how to begin making such neccessary changes. It's not easy, that's for certain. It's just going to take me some time to get used to everything.

My run went pretty well today. It was pretty exhausting, of course. I ran further than I have at once since the half marathon that I ran in the beginning of November, so that was a big deal. I've noticed that, since I've been running more often, my lungs have gotten more adapted to running (which could be, in part, because there isn't as many pounds of fat layered on them, but anyhow) and I don't have to stop because of being short of breath. I still do stop and walk sometimes, but it's typically because my legs are getting tired. My walking periods are much shorter and further and far between than they were, even just a month ago. I'm fairly proud of myself about that, I must say. Anyways, I did have to stop some, but I completed my run in a fairly decent time, for me. I ran by this one guy several times (my usual route is just around this big block on my university's campus). He was much faster than me and looked more comfortable out there than I did. Someday, I want to look that comfortable. I want to actually look like I belong out there running. That is clearly going to take time.

There is some construction going on right in the middle of my running route, which is a little annoying. Today, less of the sidewalk was blocked than last time, so I just kept running through, during my first lap. Unfortunately, I didn't look down until my feet were literally sinking into mud. I had to leap out of the mud. Even my socks got muddy. Sick.

I don't know what is is about coughing once I get into a warmer place. I was outside and I didn't cough at all, but as soon as I got in my car and the heat started to work, I started to cough quite a bit. Now it has been an hour, so that has calmed down, but I've still been coughing some. It's kind of strange. I think it has something to do with the cold weather.. that's something that I should probably look up and read about, I guess.

So I researched a bunch of the options for running trackers like I said that I would. I really like the Nike+, especially because it has a capability to have some sort of a social networking function. I really like the idea to be able to connect to different people through it. I think that seeing how much other people are running will help to keep me on track. I'm going to get Nike+ with my next shoes in the next month or so... (new shoes.. will be sad)

I've also officially given up on going to Orlando and running in the Disney Princess half marathon over Spring Break. I'm going to save my money up to do Goofy's Challenge- the half on Saturday, followed by the full on Sunday. I think that will be sooo worth all of my hard work and it'll be a dream come true to finish it. I KNOW that I can do it. That is next January. I'm getting excited about it. I'm going to register with my next paychecks in two weeks, then I'll be committed. So exciting.

Muddy Shoes:





Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far:143.69 miles/73 days
To go: 856.31 miles/292 days

Sunday, January 17, 2010

finally a runner.

I decided that I'm going to have to plan my days out better. I almost took an entire week off of running, which was terrible. I don't have any valid excuses for it, besides getting into the school thing again. I really should not be dropping excuses though, because I'm committed to this, so I need to act like it. I'm going to. I'm just going to have to try harder and make a bigger difference or else I'm never going to finish. However, if I actually push myself, I'll both finish this goal and make a huge difference in my life.

I'm thinking about doing the Goofy's Challenge in the Disney Marathon (http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/events/eventDetail/detail?name=WdwMarathonDetailPage&pid=pip-0-0). It is a half marathon on the Saturday, followed by a full marathon on Sunday morning. That would be 13.1 miles Saturday and 26.2 miles on Sunday. Now, that's a huge goal. I realize that. I think that if I make a huge goal like that, it'll help me validate my longer runs when I really would rather just be doing something else. I'm not sure where my motivation is sometimes. I think that I really want to find a great race to do, but it's just hard right now. I need to do more research and whatnot... I just haven't. I've found a few races that I'm interested in, but it has been tough to find people to participate with me... or even travel with me. It's just a little depressing to have to go alone and lodge alone, then run alone and drive back alone. I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad. I need to join a running club or something. I just wish I actually knew more runners.

I've been thinking about the Nike+. It's getting closer and closer to time to get new shoes... and I really want some device that will be able to track my miles so that I don't have to fiddle with the obnoxiousness of mapmyrun.com. I've heard many positive things about the Nike+ ...most of what I have read seems really great. I just watched a few videos about it, actually. I haven't read much about other tracking devices and, of course, know that I am going to have to do my complete research before I make any such purchase. I guess I'm just wondering how to find information that is straightforward and unbiased. Is that even a reality? ha.

I've become completely immersed in running now. I read about running, think about running, talk about running... and run. I think that's not so bad. It might be okay to be a full blown runner. I guess I might be able to call myself a runner. lol. That's crazy to say. I guess it's a big deal, or something....

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 136.09 miles/71 days
To go: 863.91 miles/294 days

Monday, January 11, 2010

discouraged.

So, I guess in being completely honest here, which is part of the point of keeping a blog about a journey to running, I have to say that some days I despise the entire idea of going running. Some days, I just want to quit. I've quit a lot of things in my life, but this is one that I haven't quit yet- but it also has a completion date, so of course I have a point that I will get to so that I can just be done. However, today, I wanted to just quit running altogether and pretend that I never even began.

I sit in class and think about what time I'm going to run and how many miles (roundabout) that I'm going to complete. When I'm going to work, I think about what time I get off and when I'm going to hit the pavement. (I really like the sound of the phrase "hit the pavement," by the way.) I go to sleep planning my runs and when I wake up, I plan other things for the day, but I work out in my head when I am going to run.

I'm really discouraged about my running right now. I know that I can complete 1000 miles in a year, easily. I'll probably finish it before I have to. This all assumes that I will be able to stop feeling so discouraged and that I will start to enjoy running more. Right now, I have days that I really like to run, but other times, I really hate it. Today was a day that I really hated running. I probably should not have even run today, because I am so busy on Mondays, but I did. I was behind on my mileage from last week, so today I decided to continue trying to catch up today. I'm going to have to work out a routine, though, because I am absolutely exhausted.

I really want to sign up for a race so that I have a short term goal in mind. I just have not run one by myself yet, and I'm a little worried about traveling and lodging by myself. That's something that I'm just going to have to get over. Maybe I'll find some other running friends, too. My mom & roommate run with me, but it looks like it is getting difficult to convince them to do as many races as I would like. I will figure something out.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 131.13 miles/65 days
To go: 868.87 miles/300 days

Sunday, January 10, 2010

reality.

Today was much better than yesterday. My body didn't hate me nearly as much as it did yesterday. I actually got to complete my run, though it was only about half as long as I ran yesterday, but it was nice to be able to finish. Yesterday was just an awful run and now that today was better, I'm much more encouraged about running and the path to becoming a full blown runner.

In my Runner's World magazine that I was looking through from last month to look at the list of marathons that they have listed, I came across an advertisement for the princess half marathon in Disney World that happens to be during my Spring Break. I'm still sad that I won't get to run that race, because it looks like a lot of fun and I was excited that it fell during Spring Break during my senior year, but that's okay. I'll just do some training around here instead, while working, and I will save some money so that I can afford to run more races for cheaper prices, considering how expensive running in Disney is.

I'm back in classes tomorrow. I'm a little bit worried about how that is going to affect my running schedule. I really want to ensure that I keep up with my goal and continue to run as much as I have been over break, because it's really important to me that I get this goal accomplished. I know that it's possible and I KNOW that I can do it. I'm just worried that I'll slack off and put other things first. I do think that a number of things are significant and important, especially working and taking classes, but I want to put this up there on my priorities list, too. I'll just have to work out a feasible schedule for life. I think that's possible.

Here's to rejoining the real world.

Also, I just realized that I really screwed up on caluculating my days recently. Hmm..

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 128.06 miles/64 days
To go: 871.94 miles/301 days

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Today, my run sucked.

First I was too hot, then I was too cold. My body hurt and I could hardly move by the end. I did take a few days off of running, first because I was tired and then because I ended up working more hours than I anticipated. So today I ended up running a fairly lengthy run, which was more tough than I thought it would be. I think that I'm going to keep trying to run long runs, though so that I'm able to keep in shape and start training to run half marathons & maybe a full marathon.

The full that I want to do is in a year. I'm going to need to do some serious training for it, which means that I'm going to try to do at least one or two long runs a week- long being 6+ miles. Today I ran six and a quarter, so next week, maybe seven miles. Then I'll run several shorter runs a week, plus doing some cross training in the pool. (combined with some lifting and wii fit & wii active.)

I'm really itching to do a race pretty soon. I have, to a point, been looking into doing some races. I need to sit down and seriously pick a race that I want to do. Right now I'm looking at the Cleveland marathon/half marathon weekend. That's the weekend after my graduation, which means that I need to pick a shorter race sooner than that so that I have something a little sooner than I can plan to race. There's one on Feb. 20th that I was looking forward to in Indianapolis, but I need to find someone to go with me. I'd go with my roommate, but her foot is injured & I don't know if my mom is interested. Maybe I can just go down and stay with one of my friends that lives down there and then go to the race the next day. Hmm... that's definitely an idea! It would for sure save on money.

Good gracious, though, I'm sore. Maybe I should invest in some heating pads for my body or something.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 124.51 miles/63 days
To go: 875.49 miles/302 days

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

cold/sore leg.

Ugh. How do people get used to running in the freezing cold weather? I don't think that I will ever really get used to it. Cold, cold cold. Actually, it's not so bad once I get my body to start moving, but then when I stop moving, it's awful. When I made it back to my apartment tonight, I was frozen solid, almost. Then, I took a shower and my body got really confused. I'm still a little bit cold, but I'm pretty much warmed up at this point. I am definitely wearing layers though.

I've found myself counting down until it'll (probably) be warmer outside and I will be able to move more easily and without wearing as many layers. I do have to say that my running things that I got for Christmas really have done the trick, though. It's definitely a lot better than it would have been if I just went out in some flimsy sweatpants or something. So that's exciting.

Sadly, my right shin is starting to hurt. I'm hoping that it'll just heal without me having to take it TOO easy in the next few days. I first noticed that it was a little sore yesterday when I was running, but today it was worse and now I'm thinking that it's going to be sore when I get up and walk to bed. ughhh.. I was just so proud of myself, too, that I haven't really had a running injury yet. Too bad for me, I suppose.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 118.24 miles/59 days
To go: 881.76 miles/306 days

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

metaphor for life.

People say that running is a metaphor for life. I've considered that to be insane before. I've read quotations about it and I've heard people use running as a metaphor in person.

The first person that I really paid attention to who used running as a life metaphor was my favorite professor, who related running to writing papers. The metaphor actually worked well for me, though, sadly, I don't remember exactly what he said. I know that I stayed after class and discussed it with him a little bit, though. It was something about running, like writing, is easiest the first few miles, then it gets more difficult as you keep going. However, I think it is quite different. In my case, the first mile SUCKS the most. In both races that I have run, the first mile was the worst, well, particularly in the second half marathon that I ran, because I don't know the exact time of the first mile in the first race. I know that every time that I run, though, that first mile is the absolute worst. It's dreadful. It only gets better from that point on. Actually, I think that the first mile is worse than the twelfth and thirteenth miles in a half marathon, and maybe that's just me, but I don't know.

Anyhow, my professor isn't the only person that relates running to life. I've noticed it all over the place. Oprah says that running is like life, because you only get out of it what you put into it. That's true. Sometimes, though, it feels like I get a lot more out of running than I've put into it. The process of becoming a runner has definitely changed me as a person.

I just read "The Time Traveler's Wife"- which is a fantastic book, I recommend it to anyone. However the main character in the book, Henry, has to run for his life constantly. He finds himself in situations in which he has to literally run in order to survive.

I just think that it is important to see and understand all of these different viewpoints that the world shows us about running. We're always in a hurry these days, we're always in a rush. I've been that same person, trying to pack as much into one day as possible. Okay, so I'm still that person, working too much while in school, and pushing myself until, eventually, I won't be able to anymore, but that's not what I'm getting at. I really want to make an effort to step back and relax once in a while. I think that going out for a run is a wonderful way to relax. It's not about being first or beating the time that I had yesterday, it's about taking some time to myself, to relax my mind. All that there is out there is myself. There's nothing that I can do but continue to push myself forward, to propell myself until I get to my destination. There's something wonderful about running like that.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 115.56 miles/57 days
To go: 884.44 miles/307 days

Monday, January 4, 2010

still feeling like crap...

I'm really wondering when I'm going to start to feel 100% again. I couldn't finish my run today, because I started to feel really awful. I had some stomach cramps earlier in the day, but I thought I was feeling better, but when I was around the third mile of my run, the cramps came back tenfold. I felt horrible & almost couldn't stand up for a minute or two. So I went home. I'm hoping that I'll be able to actually run a more complete run in the next few days, because doing three and a half to four miles a day really feels weak.

On the bright side, I haven't been sneezing today and my nose is only half as runny as it was yesterday and the day before. ha. I guess those are positive things to think about.

My first three miles, before I felt like I was going to fall over, went pretty well, though. I had good timing and a great pace for the entire run. I hope that my races continue to go that well for the next ten months. haha. That would be fantastic. I really need to start doing longer runs, though. That's going to have to wait until I'm used to the weather being so cold... and hopefully it won't be too terribly long before it starts to actually warm up and feel decent outside. It will only be a few more months, honestly.

Tomorrow I'm going to to go wild and try to run four and a half miles! I mean, I don't want to have goals that are too extravagant or anything. I've got to start small in order to get to the point I want to. Maybe I'll make it to five, but that might be pushing it a little bit.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 111.06 miles/57 days
To go: 888.94 miles/308 days

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Today, I realized that everybody is correct in saying that running on a treadmill is dreadfully boring. Once again, I didn't run outside because it got too late by the time I got done with other things and I'm still not 100% comfortable with running in Muncie late at night. I think it would be easier if school was in session so SOME people would be around. Ugh. That's another excuse. Anyways, it is dreadfully boring to run on a treadmill too often. I think that treadmill running will have to be my back up decision, because running outside is much better. There. I said it.

Also, another thought that I had today... was that if I run really really fast, I tire out more quickly and have to take many more walking breaks, whereas if I run at a pace that is a little bit slower, yet more steady, I can run longer and end up running further faster. I'd really enjoy being able to get to a point in which I don't have to take any walking breaks at all, but that's not the reality at this point in my running career, I guess. I just think that I should be running more slowly so that I can run further, longer. That's my new plan. New years resolution? lol. Not so much, but anyways, it's just something to work toward.

I'm still sick. My nose is disgustingly dry from the overuse of kleenexes. It's gross. Today was better, though, so hopefully it'll be gone for good soon. I was better last week for a few days, but then it came back worse than before.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 107.36 miles/56 days
To go: 892.64 miles/309 days

Friday, January 1, 2010

a new year! ...sick...

Today I planned to do a "ring in the new year" race in Indianapolis. However, last night I started to get sick (again! ugh.) and decided that it would probably be best to not get up early and drive down and do a race in the winter. I'm a little bit disappointed, but not too upset, considering I spent most of today curled up in bed reading. I'll probably be more disappointed in the situation when I start to feel a little bit better. Like a true road racing addict, I found another race in February that I want to do. I'm going to look at my syllabi when the semester starts next week and see how it looks for that week and then I'll make a plan whether or not to do it. Right now, I'm leaning toward yes, but we'll see. It's a five mile run, so it will be accomplishable (even if I'm sick! ha.)

I did end up getting out of bed and going for a run, though. It was shorter than my last few, and understandably so. It was unusual, but I started to get chills before I was finished. Usually I have time to get into my apartment before I start getting cold. Typically, since I'm aware of it, I can get in the shower before I get cold and it solved all of the problems. This time... not so much. That shortened my run even more. By the time that I got up to my apartment, I was having definite cold chills, but I was a little overheated at the same time. Taking a nice, long shower worked that out, though. Eh. I guess that I should probably start taking it a little bit easier when I'm not feeling so well. It's not THAT necessary to run as long as I can, particularly when I'm sick. I'll keep that in mind, I guess.

I'm proud of myself, though. I've run several days in a row without too much of a lazy attitude. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep it up. I do know that as soon as I start to slack, it'll be more difficult to get back on track. Sooo... I'm just going to have to stay on top of it and keep running.

In other news, it's about a week until the Disney World Marathon/half Marathon weekend, which means that it's around a week until I can sign up to do the marathon next year. That's nerve-wrecking.

Goal: 1000 miles/365 days
So far: 103.28 miles/54 days
To go: 896.72 miles/311 days