Purpose, I Have One.

I am officially registered to run my first half-marathon.  This morning I slapped down the entire $40 for registration.  My wallet felt lighter (not that it's a steep entry fee) and my mind felt heavier (as I needed to decide on a training program.  I will be running the Hidden Treasures Half-Marathon on September 25th.  It's a small race, only about 140 finishers last year (inaugural).  This comes only two weeks before the Army 10 Miler too!

I've been debating the training and have settled on a combination of other programs that I like.  I'm going with a 12 week program, which started this week.  Other than training for the races, my goals for the training program are to successfully integrate both run/walking and full running as well as focus on some speed work.  I'm still planning it out in Excel, but once I've put the finishing touches on it, I'll post it here for accountability (Jen, I know you'll hold me to it!). 

It feels good having another training program to follow.  I only hope it goes smoother than the marathon training earlier this year.   

A New Day

  Congratulations to Mrs. Runners Bug for completing her first 5K using the run/walk method! 

She ran the Baltimore Women’s Classic this morning and is already looking at future races.  She was a bit disappointed in her time but for someone that hasn’t been running for very long, it was a great accomplishment.  She’ll only improve from here. 

On my end of the running spectrum there’s not much to say.  I’m still taking a reprieve from running and have only gotten in a couple of runs that last three weeks.  Tomorrow is my return to it, I think, and will be prepping up for a not-to-distant race as yet to be determined.  I had planned on the Pikesville 5K as my next race, but on Friday I had a consultation for laser eye surgery, and now I’m scheduled for PRK surgery on the 8th, a mere two days before the race.  For those that don’t know, PRK is an alternative to traditional Lasik.  Instead of the laser slicing a flap on the cornea, with PRK the top layer is scrubbed off.  Typically there is a 4-5 day recovery period which, for some, may cause pain and extreme light sensitivity.  It’s probably not the best thing to run a 5K while drugged up and being blinded by sunlight.  Therefore I’m on the look out for another not-to-distant race.  Also, I’m about 95% certain I’ll be running a late September half-marathon. There is one on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that looks like fun.  Plus we can make it a weekend spent at the beach! 

My Walking Break

This week as been a non-run week. Instead, I've focused on walking.  Every day this week I've taken a lunchtime walk around the lake.  As of today, I've logged 9.4 miles walking just on my lunchtime.  Today, I maxed my lunch and walked a whopping 3.3 miles.  One might say I was nuts, out there in the heat of the day (today was 94F with a real feel of 102F), but it's actually quite enjoying to me.  I'm a heat addict.  I still run a small heater by me at night.  Yeah I know..... weird huh?

Running you ask?  Well I've definitely had it on my mind.  I imagine next week I'll get back to it.  I just wanted to clear my mind for a bit after having an orthotic induced case of shin splints.  The Pikesville 5K is coming up soon and I've got to get back into the swing of things.  It's a decent course and I'm hoping to PR it. This will be my first repeat race so I'm looking forward to blowing my previous time out of the water. 

I Haven't Run Since...

"I haven't run since..."

The dreadful words any running blogger hates to type.  In a sport where rest is a key component to a healthy well-balanced program, why is it so taboo to admit you're taking time off of running?  Is it a fear failure?  Or could it be your  embarrassed to admit a monkey wrench in your plans caused you to miss something? Who knows!  I'm sure its different for everyone, and each particular instance.  For me, at this particular instance, it's because I've just not been into running since the orthotics incident(link).

I ran Friday, short but decent.  Saturday was family day, Sunday I spent most of the day digging up the backyard to level it for a patio, and today, well, I got in a 1.55 mile walk, but I doubt I could have run anyway.  I'm sore from all the digging.  Running, however, has just not been a priority.  I can definitely see it too. 

Before and during marathon training, I was focused on running and loosing weight.  I did well. I dropped from about 218 down to 195 and plateaued.  after the marathon, I slowly started gaining again.  A little here, a little there.  I attributed it to stopping the long distance and the fact I had a bunch of work trips and eating out.  Well it's continued to the point I'm back up to 210.  Time to stop kidding myself that I slipped only slightly and focus on the pounds.  To begin with, I've got to get back on to my calorie tracking.  Yeah, it's not the best method, but it was really working for me.

Yet, I've had little interest in running lately and find myself struggling to get out there.  It's not that I'm burnt out.  Quite the contrary, I've taken several breaks from running lately, but my moxy is just on empty.  I think I need to focus on other pursuits for a bit and let the pot simmer. 

I don't plan to stop running or blogging, but to stop stressing about any of it.  Who knows, maybe this funk will lift next week and I'll be rearing to go.  For now, I'm just going to chill.

Besides running, what other ways do you escape and destress?

I'm a Morning Runner

At least today I am.  I was able to get 2.38 miles in before starting work. Definitely better than waiting until lunch time.  It helped that today is my short day (8 hours instead of 9).  I simply got up at my normal time and brought stuff to shower with afterwards.  The run itself was good too.  9:03 pace. 

I haven't had any shin pain the last few runs.  It appears the pain was caused by the orthotics, which have been sitting in the same location for the last few weeks.  Frankly, my feet have been feeling great too!  I've started doing some light Achilles stretching as soon as I wake up and it seems to help.  Basically, as soon as I'm conscious, I dorsoflex my feet on and off for about 15-30 seconds each.  I do this 3-4 times depending on my mood.  Also I try to do it throughout the day, whenever I think to. 

Lately, I've been having headaches.  Mostly when sitting at the computer.  I'm thinking it's due to my eyes so I scheduled an appointment for this evening.  My last exam was roughly 3 years ago so I'm over due anyway.  If my prescription hasn't changed, I guess I'll make a doctors appointment and see what they say.  This has happened before on a few occasions and it's always been the glasses so I'm 99.99% sure that's what it is now.  We'll see.  

A Hot One

I got a short run in this afternoon.  And by short, I mean less than a mile.  It was really hot out (99F) and the sun was a blazin'.  Too hot for a run so I stopped after one lap plus a little extra.  It wasn't much of a run, but I really needed it.  Also, I've not been feeling the best since Sunday.  Headaches and such.  I'm starting to think it might be my glasses. Guess it's time to get my eyes checked again.

With the heat out in force, it's time I rethink when to run.  Early morning would be best.  I'm going to attempt to get up earlier and run when I first get to work.  We've got showers in the office so I can run and get cleaned up afterwards.  I'm no morning person, and usually only wake up enough to get to work.  Wish me luck!

What do you do to wake yourself up early?

May Recap

May was a month of transition.  I ran my second race of the year and PRed for 5K.  I received and subsequently stopped using custom orthotics.  I've focused on increasing daily stretching of my Achilles tendon and calf muscles in the hopes that shin pain from the orthotics will subside, and I've managed to get in a few runs as well.  Not near as much as I'd have liked, but some. 

Healthwise, I continued back down the path of least resistance, meaning I failed to track and focus on my nutrition and have continued to gain back some weight I lost during marathon training.  I'm starting to feel the lethargy creep back in.  Time to kick it in gear and get back on the healthy side of life. 

June Goals:

• Increase my mileage back to a decent level (12-15 miles a week)
• Increase flexibility through stretching
• Track nutrition and return to marathon training diet
• Run at least one race

What do you do to get back on track?