I started noticing something a few weeks ago that really got me worried. Back pain. Not a "oh no, I can't even stand up or get out of bed" kind of pain- but a twinge. I initially thought it was my mattress- so hubby and I flipped it. Then I thought it was my feather bed on TOP of the mattress- so we flipped that too. Then I thought it was my chair at work...on and on I went.
Well, I think I finally figured it out- the back pain, as well as the pain I had experienced in my behind, and pain I had in my lower leg.
Let's see if you can figure it out- here's an excerpt from my running log:
June 27
Distance: 3.07 Duration: 29:21 Pace: 9:37
July 3
Distance: 3.51 Duration: 34:01 Pace: 9:41
July 6
Distance: 6.25 Duration: 1:01:44 Pace: 9:55
July 20
Distance: 5.86 Duration: 57:03 Pace: 9:44
Do you see it? Ok, ok, I'll tell you- I'm treating far too many runs like a race! My goal pace for my next half marathon is 10 minutes, 40 seconds per mile. And, while I've only listed 4 sub-10 min mile runs up there, believe me, there are a lot more. So, does that mean that suddenly I'm a 9:55 per mile runner? NO! It means I'm going way too fast, way too often!
I've found that on the mornings that I run 10:20-10:40, I have the most energy, AND- no back, butt, or leg pain! Interesting, right?
So, I've got to just keep reminding myself that, especially in this case- this is a marathon and not a sprint- literally!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Halfsies
A few weeks ago, July 1 made an appearance (this blog entry is FAR overdue- I've been busy!). That day marked the half way point of my one year race to a thousand miles, so to speak. If you've been tracking me (see the widget over there on the right- that's up to date), you'll know that although half of my TIME is up, I'm still about 40 miles away from completing half of my mileage.
So, here's the thing- I'm a control freak so, it would make sense that I would lose it over the mileage gap that I have to make up for. Interestingly enough, I'm not worried about it at all. Weird. It's not that I don't want to meet my goal of running a thousand miles this year. I just seem to have more confidence in myself, and in the fact that I'm absolutely going to get there.
Honestly, this is new for me. Sure, I KNEW I'd graduate college and I KNEW I'd complete my Master's Degree- but this goal is different. Those goals played on the strength of my intellect and ability to understand concepts. This goal has to do with physical and mental strength and stamina. And this goal has to do with the wherewithal to get my butt out the door, and onto the roads, no matter how fatigued, sore, or "over it" I might be. In other words- school was fairly easy. Running, still not so much.
So why am I not freaking out?? I just think I'm turning a corner. I trust that my body is fit and capable. More important, I actually LIKE what I'm doing. I look forward to my 5:15 AM runs and use it as a time to clear my head, and have some alone time. I also look forward to my short runs with my hubby, who is coming back to running after an injury. Not only do I get to spend time with him, but I get to spend time with him doing something I like...or maybe LOVE?
As of today, I have 537.89 miles to run to reach 1000 mile by New Year's Eve. I'm trusting myself that I'm going to get there. Further, I have a very detailed training plan laid out for the next five months. What, you thought I'd just go by the seat of my pants? Yeah- I trust myself- but, come on, I am still the most controlling of control freaks!
Until the next!
So, here's the thing- I'm a control freak so, it would make sense that I would lose it over the mileage gap that I have to make up for. Interestingly enough, I'm not worried about it at all. Weird. It's not that I don't want to meet my goal of running a thousand miles this year. I just seem to have more confidence in myself, and in the fact that I'm absolutely going to get there.
Honestly, this is new for me. Sure, I KNEW I'd graduate college and I KNEW I'd complete my Master's Degree- but this goal is different. Those goals played on the strength of my intellect and ability to understand concepts. This goal has to do with physical and mental strength and stamina. And this goal has to do with the wherewithal to get my butt out the door, and onto the roads, no matter how fatigued, sore, or "over it" I might be. In other words- school was fairly easy. Running, still not so much.
So why am I not freaking out?? I just think I'm turning a corner. I trust that my body is fit and capable. More important, I actually LIKE what I'm doing. I look forward to my 5:15 AM runs and use it as a time to clear my head, and have some alone time. I also look forward to my short runs with my hubby, who is coming back to running after an injury. Not only do I get to spend time with him, but I get to spend time with him doing something I like...or maybe LOVE?
As of today, I have 537.89 miles to run to reach 1000 mile by New Year's Eve. I'm trusting myself that I'm going to get there. Further, I have a very detailed training plan laid out for the next five months. What, you thought I'd just go by the seat of my pants? Yeah- I trust myself- but, come on, I am still the most controlling of control freaks!
Until the next!
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