Longer and taller

Yesterday my goals were to run to my gym, workout with weights and then get a ride back home. Well the run was fairly miserable. I've walked it and biked it before and I don't know why I figured that running it would improve anything. It's a bad route for a pedestrian. Then for some unknown and unexpected reason my stomach was hurting me so much. I think my 5 mile running goal was maybe 3.5 or 4 in reality. Although I had a grand time getting in a full circuit of weights. My abs are sore today. My arms and back are tight. I feel stronger and taller.

I really didn't want to beat myself up too much about that run bc I have the ten-mile beast awaiting me on Sunday. I am forcing myself to be optimistic about this. That's the only way, I'll walk out alive.

Think positive thoughts for me!

Going strong.

Last week I ran 18 miles, finishing off with an 8.5 mile run at Kensington on Friday night. That one was a tough one! Thankfully though I feel really good. I gave myself 3 days of rest before running 4 miles last night. My goals for this week are the 4 I did yesterday, 5 tomorrow and then 10 this weekend. Doing well so far. My hip hasn't complained recently! I finished off my time at the gym last night with some ab work and then a bunch of lower body weights. I am feeling tight today, but in a healthy, refreshing way.

Keepin' at it!

My 100th post!!

Well I don't have any grand or eloquent statements to make with this big benchmark of a milestone. So...I'll leave you with this clip of myself from when I jumped off the cliffs at the park where I went for the Reggae Fest in August. Enjoy!

The Glory of Goal Setting

Woohoo!

My next article and I am proud of it.

Check it out here.

(Shout out to my little brother with this one!)

Would you feed your dog a cup of coffee and a doughnut in the morning?

Check out this hoot-filled interview with Jack Lalanne, a 92-years-young exercise buff.

Although I have to differ with him---I think I may be the most important person on this Earth ;)

It's all found here.

Sorta makes you think about how you're taking care of your most priceless possession. Don't ya think?

Cue Chariots of Fire music

Tonight I am striving to run 8.5 miles. That will be the most miles I have ever run in one day of my life. I'm a bit scared but a bit excited. I am breaking it up into smaller segments for perspective. For example, I know I can run 5 miles. So I will do that. Then I will have to run 3.5 to be done and I know I can do that. So, hopefully my mind plays tricks in my favor. It's a bit hot out there but I'll dress appropriately, stash some water and be ready for it. Wish me luck!

Goal Accomplished: 6 miles on the trails!

Isn't this one exuberant little fella? Doesn't his perkiness just jump off the page? I found this picture on the internet and had to insert it into this post. The reason is because when I finished my run and (amazingly enough) even during my run this is how I felt. I'm sure I didn't look so luscious or smell so fragrant, but I was pleased with myself.

I think about the kind of people I admire. They are the ones who throw their bikes in the back of their car and head out "for the trails." The people who go kayaking on a Sunday afternoon. The ones who are thrilled by setting up a tent during the summer. We all have different ideas of "cool." I want to be someone who has a crazy day and goes running outside for the thrill of it---the sweet earthy cathartic release of energy. That was a goal for me.

Well yesterday I did it! I was determined to work my long day, guzzle copious amounts of water, eat well and psyche myself up. I went to Island Lake Recreation Area and ran on the yellow-marked 6 mile trail. It was incredibly challenging. It was 80 degrees yesterday. The mosquitoes were out. The downhills were steep. The uphills were steeper and the whole path was littered with ruts and roots and rocks and stumps. Did I mention the hills? It was brutal and i was gasping for breath but I was so happy with myself.

Around one curve, the route opened up to a large meadow on my right and I thought to myself that I wasn't dreaming. That I was really doing this. I didn't let my schedule, timing, the weather or other people become my excuses for backing out. I ran sans i-pod to be more cognizant of my surroundings. I felt this organic connection to the earth and the ground. I was so glad to have escaped the smog and congestions and sounds of car horns. I didn't worry about sidewalks dead-ending unexpectedly. Luckily, I mostly had the trail to myself and I relished in the experience.

The thought that really captured my attention was this exciting belief in myself that I could see an accomplishment through and be a better person for it. My heart burst a little bit for the experience. So whether you're toiling away with papers to finish a degree, playing the same chords to master a song, mustering the courage to quit smoking, or pushing yourself out of bed when you don't feel like it...every little step puts you one giant bit closer to seeing something through. Continuous improvement---it truly is a beautiful thing!

The (not so interesting) shoe conclusion

I felt that my experience at a certain local running store might have been a bit rushed since I came in so close to closing time. Also, I think I was guilty of not disclosing to the staff member all of my running issues.

Therefore, I decided to give it another go at a different store when the worker might have more time to spare. I lucked out by being the only customer in the store! The employee John was extremely patient and helpful and knowledgeable. I discussed my tendonitis, my training schedule, my goals and my heel lift. He never once made me feel like an inept runner not worthy of his time. He said he wasn't a marathon elitist and I appreciated that!

He thought that with the race being only a month out that I really shouldn't switch shoes. I kind of thought for a minute that I really don't do that much running to have it make that big of a difference but then I let that thought slide. After all, I am training for a real event and 13 miles is a serious accomplishment. Sometimes I need to remind myself of this fact!

His other suggestion was that I might be wearing a size too small. I gave in to his expertise and went with my same shoe model in an 8 (up from a 7.5, but still a narrow fit). This should fix my recurring problem of blisters.

So, hey, it's not the most stylish shoe but when you are a serious runner, you have to confront bigger issues.

Yes, you are beautiful.

Thoughts on running shoes

I realize that the most significant point of a running shoe is to keep you injury free. It's not to make you stylish. Although, I guess if you happen to luck out with that, well, then lucky you. Is it just senselessly superficial of me to even care about this point? I can stick with my Brooks which have been great, but the new model is no more appealing than the previous. I could also go with the Asics if I wanted but they pretty much look just like the Brooks. At Running Fit they offered me a 3rd choice in a New Balance style but unfortunately they didn't fit well with my heel insert. In the end, I'm sure I'll go with one of these two choices because I know my feet will be happy. Guess I'll just have to get a new running outfit, if I'm looking for style.

Sometimes you should just hit snooze

Check out my latest article for Her Active Life by clicking here

Just about a month to the race!

Last week's recap---

Monday: The worst run ever, probably not even 2 miles
Tuesday: Grrreat bike ride
Thursday: 4 treadmills miles that were harder than pulling an obese man off from a couch
Saturday: Pull off 7 miles without even stopping*

*Man alive! How does that happen? I don't know.

Goal for the week: New running shoes. Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

4 miles and the gym

I ran 4 miles at the gym yesterday and it seemed harder to stay focused than ever before. I mean I literally had to will myself to remain in motion. It was weird. I know that 4 is something I can easily do. It seems short. It seems enjoyable. Something was out of sync last night. I'm gonna blame it on poor food during the day, or rather not enough food. Yep, time to go to the grocery store tonight. How can I expect decent output if I am not dealing with proper input?

I did manage to slowly and brutally eek out the 4 miles. Then I did a satisfying circuit of all over weights and abs.

I've got a weird tightness in my right leg and I plan to soak in a hot bath at my first chance.

Then, depending on circumstances, I'll aim for 7 miles on Saturday.

Wheeeeeeee!

Jason and I went bike riding on the 6 mile trail at Island Lake on Tuesday night. Although, from where we parked to the trail and back, it was more like 11 miles altogether. It was an incredibly fun thing for 'working out', especially in light of my devastating blunder the previous night. I also enjoyed not having to worry about tweaking my hip. Although, I was worried about crashing, spinning out of control, rolling off a cliff into some deep wooded hole and flying off into a nasty black muddy pit. Man, that fear gets your blood racing! It was totally challenging for me and probably way harder than my current skill level...but, how else does one learn? Jason was super patient and helpful without being annoying or pedantic. Hopefully, I didn't drag him down too much! I would definitely do it again! I also have to get my butt out there for running on the trails! Good times.

The worst workout ever.

Yesterday my goal was to run 7 miles. I actually was in pretty good spirits. I figured the run would be tough, but it's something I could accomplish.

I decided that since the weather was alright that I should try and run outside. (First mistake. I should have gone to the gym. Experiments are not for long runs.) I'd been meaning to check out a couple of parks down 275S and figured this could be a fine time for that.

Well I left work at 500 and that's probably the worst time for traffic. I think that 94E will be sorely congested so I take a more circuitous route which really eats into my time. Then as I am quite close to the park, there is a massive detour that sends me practically back to Ann Arbor, winds me and 300 other cars through some dinky towns with 4 lights that only send about 4 cars through at each turn. The annoyance is only slight at this point. I am trying to tell myself to chill out. I knew it would take a while to find the park.

It's now about 615. I have been in the car for 75 minutes and there are still no signs for this park. WTF, for sure. I finally find it and realize that it could not be more poorly marked. It's not in my head.

Now it's 630, I enter the park and the one day I'd like there to be someone in the booth, there isn't! Okay, a map would have been nice at this point.

I drive around this rather unexciting park looking for the so-called paved trail. At one point, I think I find it but actually it's a long walkabout path for a playground. Annoyance is starting to morph into aggravation. I get back in my car and continue driving around.

I don't like that there really aren't many people at all. It's scary enough to be a female in unfamiliar territory, let alone rather empty territory. To top off my frustration, there is nothing redeeming about this park. It's vacant. There's a lot of black top. I am thoroughly unimpressed.

I finally make out what seems to be the path. I park and at this time it's about 645. My aggravation is climbing a steep crescendo at this late point. Since this drive took much longer than I figured, I wasn't prepared for the gnawing feelings of hunger. Aye aye aye!!! Now, I'm pissed off from sitting in my car, fed up with this park and starting to get hungry. Terrific. Just terrific.

So I start plodding along waiting for some swell of athleticism to dwarf my personal frustrations. I think that maybe I can channel this raging energy into the best workout of my life. I hold onto that hope for about a mile. Then I see the path and it has to cross a major road!! What nitwit planned that!!! I tell myself to just go with it, see it as a mere obstacle but nothing to overwhelm my determination. I keep trying to tell myself positive thoughts. . . but then. . . nothing. . . nothing.

Call it the wall. Call it the pms monster. Call it a bad mood on the wrong day in traffic.

I was done. I was hungry. I was swatting mosquitoes. I was in the middle of nowhere. I was thinking it would take me 45 minutes to return home and by then it'd be 8:00 and I had nothing productive to show for my day. The frustration turned annoyance turned aggravation was now a full rage. I pictured myself as a tea pot and then steam boiling over my head and the whistle is just blaring and shrieking.

That was it for me. I couldn't even run back to the car. I turned off my iPod and walked back like the sorriest sulking twit ever.

Better luck next time.

In honor of Newton's first law

A body in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force

I had fervently been itching for a serious workout. I have been a bit harried lately with different stressors and, unfortunately, probably taking out that frustration on the least deserving of my friends. While I could probably call them poor suckers and keep pouring on the pain, I decided that'd be a quick trip to the nobody-loves-me station. Therefore the best antidote seemed to me to get my booty in the gym and sweat out all my pent-up energies.

Working longer hours, getting up earlier than farmers and feeling restrained for fear of injury are all factors that can lead to a stifling of positivity and an increase in negativity. I guess I was being acted upon by outside forces (or maybe that was just my excuse).

That being that, I ended up at the gym yesterday after about a 10 hr work day but still feeling pretty energized for a vigorous workout. I ran 5 miles. Although, I did alternate those miles with weights and stretching and abs. I felt strong and invigorated after all my upper body exercises. I felt exhausted but in a totally refreshing way after my lower body circuit. My core was burning. The sweat was flying. It was marvelous!

Afterwards, I iced my hip area.

Today I still feel good. Only about a month until Mexico! This half marathon might actually happen! I'll see an old friend tonight!

A body in motion... I need to stay that way.

Where should I be?

Well for my huge group of 5 readers, you probably know that I've been fearing a recurrence of the dreaded hip problem. Subsequently, I think that maybe I only ran once during the past week. Then I followed that up with some weights. I just get so nervous.

Over the weekend I was at my cottage up north. I decided to go for an easy run on Saturday afternoon. I didn't map out any route ahead of time. I didn't take a watch. My goal was to just have a relaxing run and see how my hip was feeling.

It was a very nice run. I didn't cross paths with any cars. I only came into contact with 3 people on ATVs. There were no stray dogs. I had fun taking different wooded paths to a dead end and then turning around to take the arm of a different path. By the time I had returned to my cottage, about an hour had passed. My guess is that I covered about 4.5 miles, but I really have no way to be certain of that. I followed up the run with more strength training.

On Monday I walked across the Mackinaw Bridge with my family and maybe about 40,000+ other people. That's a 5 mile span. Then I tacked on another mile or so on each side to cover how far we parked from the starting line. I'm sure we all walked at least 7 miles that day. The weather was heaven sent. We were truly blessed to have such a brilliant sun coupled with an easy breeze off the water.I did draw issue with my tennis shoes. I was not keeping a rigid fast pace. I was never running, so why the blisters and soreness? Man, I desperately need a new pair.

This re-cap brings me to today. It's Wednesday morning and I have ambitions of working 10 hours, going to the gym and then, after all that, driving out to Troy to pick up a bridesmaid dress. I'm not sure if I should try and run 5 miles, keep to a tolerable 4? or longer? It's hard to say. And my week is so busy (with already getting up at 5) that I don't even know when I will get in another chance. I looked at the calendar and I only have about 6 weeks until the Marathon. Will I really be up to running for two+ hours at a time?

So much to think about. I'm very tired from not sleeping well. But if I pound too much coffee today then I'm just dehydrating myself for the later run. I really have too many things on my brain. Perhaps the run will be the cathartic outlet I need? Sometimes, I just don't know.

Motivation in teamwork.

You can read my new article here.

I personally think suitable adjectives were omitted in the editing process, and some new punctuation was oddly inserted. I think it contributes to subtle changes in meaning. That being said, read on.