Miles are miles. And if you think that one gets tired of starting over again and again, you're right. One of these days I will find a happy place. It seems like with every step forward, I take two backwards. Part of it is life.
This morning's run felt okay. I felt like I was going too fast from the beginning. My pace ranged from 9:50min/mi to 11min/mi. It should be closer to 11min/mi throughout. My attempt to slow down were thwarted by another round of oncoming rain. I did get my run in, mostly dry. And it's already finished for the day. Now I don't have to think about it and obsess over it and feel bad for myself that I didn't do it. That's what I've been doing for the last few weeks, and it has sucked!
Monday, September 16, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Full Crazy Downgraded to Half Crazy
Well, by this point you're probably wondering why I haven't been logging very many miles lately. You're also probably wondering how I'm going to run 26.2 miles in December. The short answer to the last question is... I'm not. It's been a struggle for me this entire year to hit the pavement running. Life happens.
The last time I felt okay about running was in late November of 2012. I had already crossed the finish line at the Bass Pro Fitness Cohick Half Marathon and I was gearing up for the St. Jude Memphis Half. I just remember wanting to get St. Jude finished with so that I wouldn't feel the pressure to run more. I regret pushing myself to that point. It was late in the fall and I was battling high ankle pain. I wasn't even sure if I could run another half, but I did! While it wasn't my best time, it was the best experience of any race that I've participated in. The pressure to log the miles, the anxiety of another race, and the stress on my body built up enough for me to not enjoy running as much as I used to.
It was most certainly time for a break. I needed it. But I didn't anticipate it would happen like this. I didn't want it to. And I'm finally realizing why it happened like this. I was so bored with life after moving back to Missouri from Oklahoma. Thankfully, my friend Leslie kept me entertained while I got back on my feet. While training for Joplin (my first half marathon), running is all I thought about. I wanted to run more and more and I wanted to experience the next step. I was running so much that I double dipped several times... running my normally scheduled training miles and then sneaking in a few more miles here and there. Race day finally came and I loved it.
I loved running so much that I didn't want to do it anymore. I wanted to take a short break and enjoy my summer and see how much I missed it. I miss it. A lot. And it's driving me crazy that I can't break this funk that I'm in. I've been on the very edge of breaking out of it a couple times, but it digs it's gnarly claws back in to me and pulls me back. I need help.
So, this dream is being shelved once again. One day....
The last time I felt okay about running was in late November of 2012. I had already crossed the finish line at the Bass Pro Fitness Cohick Half Marathon and I was gearing up for the St. Jude Memphis Half. I just remember wanting to get St. Jude finished with so that I wouldn't feel the pressure to run more. I regret pushing myself to that point. It was late in the fall and I was battling high ankle pain. I wasn't even sure if I could run another half, but I did! While it wasn't my best time, it was the best experience of any race that I've participated in. The pressure to log the miles, the anxiety of another race, and the stress on my body built up enough for me to not enjoy running as much as I used to.
It was most certainly time for a break. I needed it. But I didn't anticipate it would happen like this. I didn't want it to. And I'm finally realizing why it happened like this. I was so bored with life after moving back to Missouri from Oklahoma. Thankfully, my friend Leslie kept me entertained while I got back on my feet. While training for Joplin (my first half marathon), running is all I thought about. I wanted to run more and more and I wanted to experience the next step. I was running so much that I double dipped several times... running my normally scheduled training miles and then sneaking in a few more miles here and there. Race day finally came and I loved it.
I loved running so much that I didn't want to do it anymore. I wanted to take a short break and enjoy my summer and see how much I missed it. I miss it. A lot. And it's driving me crazy that I can't break this funk that I'm in. I've been on the very edge of breaking out of it a couple times, but it digs it's gnarly claws back in to me and pulls me back. I need help.
So, this dream is being shelved once again. One day....
Friday, August 23, 2013
2.2 miles - Friday 8/23/13
Since week 4 starts Monday, I've been having a few doubts as to whether or not I can reach my goal. It's been really tough getting out the door to log the miles. When I do log the miles, it's stop and go, some walking. I don't really know what to think. I should be running 6 or more miles already, but I can barely do 3 and feel extremely sore after 4.
Eating hasn't been much of a challenge. I've been doing well. That includes buying my veggies at the farmer's market and not eating out other than the occasional date with my pretty lady. I haven't yet eliminated everything that I need to, but it's a work in progress.
If anything gets me through this training, it's going to be the love and support from friends and family and being held accountable by my running mates. I sooooo did not want to run this morning. But I made a date with one of my running friends because I knew it was going to be hard for me to get out the door. It worked! Although, he pushed me this morning. We ran a lot faster than I had expected.. it was still a good run. The fact that I ran also made it worth it. I'm supposed to run again on Sunday, and I'm wondering if I should make myself do it, or make it a group run. I'm pretty confident that I'll be getting out the door Sunday to log the miles.
After Sunday's run, I'm moving to a run/rest schedule. Run a day, rest a day until I can get in my groove. December is really close. I start feeling a little anxious when I think about it. I realize it's 14 weeks away, but that time will fly.
Eating hasn't been much of a challenge. I've been doing well. That includes buying my veggies at the farmer's market and not eating out other than the occasional date with my pretty lady. I haven't yet eliminated everything that I need to, but it's a work in progress.
If anything gets me through this training, it's going to be the love and support from friends and family and being held accountable by my running mates. I sooooo did not want to run this morning. But I made a date with one of my running friends because I knew it was going to be hard for me to get out the door. It worked! Although, he pushed me this morning. We ran a lot faster than I had expected.. it was still a good run. The fact that I ran also made it worth it. I'm supposed to run again on Sunday, and I'm wondering if I should make myself do it, or make it a group run. I'm pretty confident that I'll be getting out the door Sunday to log the miles.
After Sunday's run, I'm moving to a run/rest schedule. Run a day, rest a day until I can get in my groove. December is really close. I start feeling a little anxious when I think about it. I realize it's 14 weeks away, but that time will fly.
Monday, August 19, 2013
3 Miles - Monday 8/19/13
I've been back and forth on whether I want to blog about my training or not. So, after today's run... I decided that if one person takes something away from my screw ups then it's totally worth it.
I'm on the verge of getting out of this funk that I've been stuck in for the last 8 months. Vacation has been nice to me, the scale has not. I can't really remember my thinking behind deciding to take a small break from running. Life gets in the way. I've been logging more miles recently. That's progress. I just feel like it's going to take a lot of work to get back to where I used to be. Baby steps is my goal for now. My body is adjusting and my endurance is growing.
This is the beginning of week 3 of my training schedule. For now, most of my runs during the week will be 3-5 miles. I'll slowly add miles on the weekends and just hope that I can do what I set out to do a long time ago. A full marathon is NOT out of the question. I don't care if I have to walk a mile/run a mile... that St. Jude Marathon medal is MINE come December!
I'm on the verge of getting out of this funk that I've been stuck in for the last 8 months. Vacation has been nice to me, the scale has not. I can't really remember my thinking behind deciding to take a small break from running. Life gets in the way. I've been logging more miles recently. That's progress. I just feel like it's going to take a lot of work to get back to where I used to be. Baby steps is my goal for now. My body is adjusting and my endurance is growing.
This is the beginning of week 3 of my training schedule. For now, most of my runs during the week will be 3-5 miles. I'll slowly add miles on the weekends and just hope that I can do what I set out to do a long time ago. A full marathon is NOT out of the question. I don't care if I have to walk a mile/run a mile... that St. Jude Marathon medal is MINE come December!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
4-16-2013 (Day -1)
It turns out that waiting three months to run 2.5 miles after running 12 miles, I'm not as out of shape as I thought. It's safe to say that I've missed the spring running season but I'm still going to run at least a 5K and a half marathon before it gets ridiculously hot outside. And then I'll shift my focus on St. Jude in December. So you could say this is "Day -1" since I'm not really training for a specific race yet.
The three month vacation has come to an end. Now it's time to focus on what I'm eating, how I feel after running and dedicating the time to something I love. Getting into a routine is key for me to get anything done. I've thought about how I'm going to transition for the last 2 weeks and I think I have a plan in place. From grocery lists to bed times and not hitting the snooze button, I'll be taking in life in stride once again. Eat, sleep, breath running!
Here we go!
The three month vacation has come to an end. Now it's time to focus on what I'm eating, how I feel after running and dedicating the time to something I love. Getting into a routine is key for me to get anything done. I've thought about how I'm going to transition for the last 2 weeks and I think I have a plan in place. From grocery lists to bed times and not hitting the snooze button, I'll be taking in life in stride once again. Eat, sleep, breath running!
Here we go!
Monday, February 25, 2013
A New Year, Another Starting Line
With every new year, people make resolutions. Some of those might be silly, others might be a good idea but impossible to achieve. And then there are those that are a mix of both. My new goal has been simmering in my head for awhile now and I'm excited to be tortured. It's not something I've told a lot of people but if you know me personally, you know how on fire I am to do this.
My goal for 2012 was to complete a half marathon before I turned 30 years old... I finished three in 7 months! In February, I started training for my first half. Ambitious to get out the door and hit the streets, I was ready to log some miles. I gave up alcohol and soda, two of my favorite addictions, and focused on eating right. Eating right is one of the most important things in not only training for any sort of road race or sport, but living a healthy lifestyle as well. After training for my first half, I remember the nerves leading up to race day, mile 8, and the feeling I had after crossing the finish line of my first half marathon. It was similar to that of my first 5K, but yet a totally different experience. It was great! I loved every second of the 2 hours and 30 minutes it took for me to run my first half. I didn't want it to end. I shut off my iPod and pulled out my earbuds when I rounded the corner to the beginning of my last mile point one. I wanted to hear every single person at the finish line in the crowd cheering on some random stranger as they crossed the finish line. What an incredible feeling. I bowed my head and threw my arms up in the air. The crowd was ferocious.
They say runners that run half marathons are only half crazy.. It's time to prove that I'm full of crazy! 26.2 miles on April 28, 2013! I hope you'll join me!
My goal for 2012 was to complete a half marathon before I turned 30 years old... I finished three in 7 months! In February, I started training for my first half. Ambitious to get out the door and hit the streets, I was ready to log some miles. I gave up alcohol and soda, two of my favorite addictions, and focused on eating right. Eating right is one of the most important things in not only training for any sort of road race or sport, but living a healthy lifestyle as well. After training for my first half, I remember the nerves leading up to race day, mile 8, and the feeling I had after crossing the finish line of my first half marathon. It was similar to that of my first 5K, but yet a totally different experience. It was great! I loved every second of the 2 hours and 30 minutes it took for me to run my first half. I didn't want it to end. I shut off my iPod and pulled out my earbuds when I rounded the corner to the beginning of my last mile point one. I wanted to hear every single person at the finish line in the crowd cheering on some random stranger as they crossed the finish line. What an incredible feeling. I bowed my head and threw my arms up in the air. The crowd was ferocious.
They say runners that run half marathons are only half crazy.. It's time to prove that I'm full of crazy! 26.2 miles on April 28, 2013! I hope you'll join me!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Multi Purpose #lamehashtag...
After further consideration.. I've decided to expand the lame hashtag blog to include a few personal topics. Rather than just posting a few pics of random things.. Maybe I'll include some fun DIY home projects that has found a place on my honey do list.
Also, one of the subjects will be running. I recently decided to start training for a full marathon next spring. I just finished my 2nd half marathon with one more in December. After a short break, I'll start journaling my progress.
If you have any suggestions.. Feel free to email me! I'm on the twitter too! @fosterbrandon
Also, one of the subjects will be running. I recently decided to start training for a full marathon next spring. I just finished my 2nd half marathon with one more in December. After a short break, I'll start journaling my progress.
If you have any suggestions.. Feel free to email me! I'm on the twitter too! @fosterbrandon
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