Git 'er done

I'm on Week 3 of my half marathon training (I'm one day ahead so doing Tuesday's workout on a Monday) which meant a 3.5 mile run.  I really wish that distance wouldn't still be giving me heart palpitations!  I mean, look, I really only started running again in the middle of June so it's no wonder any distance over one city block freaks me out. But I sort of thought that after a weekend of a 5.5 mile and 4 mile run that I'd look at anything in the 3's and just knock it out. Notsomuch.

After years of looking at running as a form of punishment (one toe out of place with my soccer coach as a kid and it was, "NANCY!!! DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY THEN GO RUN LAPS!"), it's really not a surprise that I'm having trouble getting over the mental block of running just being a sucky thing. Still, I'm doing it this time and if it kills me I'm going to like it. I don't have to love it but I WILL LIKE TO RUN. Sure, that may come the second I cross the finish line of the race and I may never feel it again but that's ok!

Let's focus on the positives of today's run. I accomplished some things today that I NEVER have done before! For the first time since I had my son (other than the day we flew to Disney in January), I set my alarm.  I jumped out of bed before I could even think about the fact that I didn't want to get up. Put my new running capris on and laced up my shoes (yes, i slept in my sports bra and running shirt - anything to reduce any excuse not to get out there and go!), sipped half a cup of coffee and headed out by 5:30! A year ago, being able to sleep til 5:15 was considered sleeping in! But now, my boy has been sleeping better and his wake up time is about 6:15 or so. So why did I run before Thomas woke up? I usually just stick him in the jogger after he's up for the day. Well, it is my DEAR friend Veronica's birthday today and I'm taking her out to breakfast this morning.  In the past, I would tell myself that I'd run after I got home....and then it would be too hot...so then I'd say I'd run after Thomas went to sleep...and then I'd just go to bed. Instead, I worked my run INTO my plans. I made it a priority. And I ran. I ran 4 miles (MapMyRun is telling me 3.99 miles...but come on!). Got home, jumped in the shower, drank a delicious glass of chocolate milk, and THEN Thomas woke up. He woke up to a happier, healthier mom who is ready to enjoy those pancakes that she truly deserves today!

Workout: 4 miles (ok, fine, 3.99 miles)
Time: 42.5 minutes
Next up: 2 miles or cross-train tomorrow

The Buffer Zone

According to the training plan, today is my REST day. Ha! Yeah, tell that to my 14 month old who wanted nothing of the words, "How about you lay on the couch with Mommy for a little?" My knees and shins are a little sore so I didn't feel like taking much of a walk today either.  So, Thomas and I headed to the playground for a little bit.  Sadly, he wanted NOTHING to do with the park! What?? He finally is able to walk and play down there and he just clung to me and cried like he was at the doctor's office. Only thing I can think of: Teething. Haven't had a new tooth in a while, the nose is a little runny, and the crabbiness speaks for itself.

I'm not quite ready to actually REST...yet. I'm one of those people that easily comes up with excellent excuses to not exercise.  After Thomas laid down for a nap, I stuck a yoga DVD in.  It's not running but it's not exactly resting either.  In fact, I'm guaranteed to be sore after this. I actually don't like yoga. Any class I've been to including prenatal yoga has been a total time-suck of hippy sunshine that I just couldn't stand. But this particular yoga DVD is one that I've had for YEARS and it feels more like a workout than "nurturing my body and soul".  Brian Kest's Power Yoga has a really quick 20 minute workout that will leave your arms and abs sore for at least a day or two (Ok, it leaves ME sore so for all you athletes just keep reading!).  The guy can get a little hippy-ish but really only at the end where you just lay there for a couple minutes - he calls it the "Buffer Zone" - between where you were and where you're going.  It's now an ongoing joke with my husband and I - when we're stressed or need to exercise we just tell each other to head on over to the Buffer Zone.

These next two day are supposed to be beautiful and I'm looking forward to running tomorrow without the jogger. Hubs will be home from work.  I may do the long run tomorrow instead of Saturday.  Week 2 of Hal Hidgon's plan has me only at 4 miles again so depending how I feel, maybe I'll do it Friday and Saturday like I did last week? We shall see. But for now, I need to REST.

Next up: Run tomorrow (either 30 min cross like the program says or 4 miles)