Getting Out the Door Is the Hardest Part

Sometimes inspiration just comes out of nowhere and that is what happened as I tried to think about something to write about this week.  I was off work all last week and was hoping to get a lot more running in than I did.  It turned out that even after being thankful for being injury free last week, I have a sore knee right now and I'm giving it a little rest.  I still ended up running almost 24 miles last week but it was spread out over more runs that I normally would have done during a normal week.  I survived the Thanksgiving holiday too without gaining any weight and that's a good thing.

I know I have talked about motivation in previous post and that is the main reason I continue to keep this blog and the fact that it keeps me accountable for what I do.  A couple of weeks ago I didn't even post and I could have used that as an excuse to just quit and not blog anymore.  I got back on it and here I am.

This can be applied to many areas in our life but since this is my running blog I will cover it with that in mind.  Just because you don't run for a few days doesn't mean that you can't pick back up where you left off.  You need to keep a positive attitude because it's easy to just say, "Well, I missed yesterday so I'm just going to take another day off."  That was one of the things I was struggling with this past week.  Every time I ran my knee would start to hurt.  Sometimes it was 3 miles into my run and sometimes it was even farther out.  I would take the next day off and rest.  The next day would roll around and I used the cold as an excuse not to get up early and run.  I knew I wasn't going to be able to run 350 so I just stayed in bed.  The more I thought about it, the more a knew I needed to get a run in.  I ended up waiting until after 3 o'clock and put my running clothes on and headed out the door.  That saying "Getting out the door is the hardest part" is true.  If you have started a routine and have slipped a little, get back out there.  Once you warm up and get into your "happy place" then you'll be glad that you did.

Another area that you can apply this to is dieting.  Although I don't follow a diet (I call it a lifestyle), it is easy for me not to make good choices.  When I go out to eat, I try to determine beforehand what I'm going to order and stick with it.  Sometimes though, I get in the restaurant and change my mind and I order something else that isn't good for me.  Does that ruin the whole week?  No! I just pick right back up where I started and when I eat next, I choice something that is good for me.  Just because you wreck one meal doesn't mean you have to wreck the whole day or week.

If you are planning on starting a healthier lifestyle at the beginning of next year, you should make today the start.  I hear people say, "I'll start tomorrow" or "I'll start next week" and I say, "Why don't you just start right now?"  It seems tomorrow or next week just never gets here for them.  You can start today and make a big difference between now and January 1, 2013, and you will be that far ahead of the game.

Thanks for stopping by again this week and I'll see you again next week.

I'm Thankful for...

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, I thought I would share with you what I'm thankful for.  The first thing that I'm thankful for is that ability to run.  I was told a long time ago by my friend, Joy, that running is a gift.  She is so right! I know people that can't run for all sorts of reasons.  When I hear of another runner that can't run because of injury, I'm thankful that I'm not injured.

Speaking of injuries, I'm also thankful that I have been injury free for the last year.  Last November I was running and twisted my ankle and was unable to run for two or three weeks.  Although I hit the gym during that time to use the stationary bike, it just wasn't the same as being outside to run.

I'm also thankful for the many people that running has brought into my life.  I could try to name them all but I'm sure I would leave someone out because some I see more often than others.  They have all continued to provide me with motivation and encouragement.  Since I "joined the group" back in June, I feel that my running has greatly improved and the friendships I have built are the best.

This past week I was on a self imposed rest period.  Even before running the half down in Tupelo, I felt that is was time for a rest.  I was going to go back to running this past Saturday but I didn't get to run because I was still on the road at the time.  I got up Sunday morning and went out for a nice run.  It wasn't as long as I had planned because after the first 6 miles or so I started having pain in both knees.  I stopped running at 8.25 miles and walked the rest of the way home because I couldn't run without having lots of pain.  I'm sure the pain was caused from worn out shoes.  Thankfully I have still have the new ones that I bough back in August.

Thank you for stopping by this week!  What do you think about the new design?  Your comments are welcome.

The Last Event

Had another great week of running but I was a little disappointed with my time in the Shake Rag Half.  I started out my week by getting a good 7 miler in on Monday morning before I had to leave out for work.  When I returned home on Friday, I ran a very easy 4 miles.  The reason I say it was a "very easy" run was because I stopped about two and half miles in and talked to some friends that live on the route that I took.

I really shouldn't be disappointed with the Shake Rag because it was all my fault.  I didn't do something that I should have.  I got up early to make the drive to Tupelo and only ate a bowl of cereal before I left.    About 15 minutes before race time, I had a GU gel.  That is what I did before my half two weeks ago.  The thing I didn't do this past Saturday was I just didn't eat enough.  I felt really strong the first 9-10 miles of the race but then I started getting really hungry and then I my energy level just when to nothing.  I had to walk most of the last two miles but I did run across that finish line!

About three and a half miles into the race, I was approaching a left turn.  I glance down once in a while to see the road but mostly while I run, I look straight ahead so I can breathe better.  As I approached the turn, the toe of my shoe caught the pavement (I think it was broken and had buckled up) I stubbled and was about to hit the ground when I regained my balance.  I think I heard the police officer yell but when I raised up, I raised my hands in the air and said, "I'm alright!"  I thought it was funny and I'm glad I didn't hit the pavement.

My official time was 2:45:38.

I really enjoyed seeing my friends on the course on their way back and getting to cheer for them.  Especially Jenni Lambert, who was running her first half.  Another good thing to see was my friend, Rob.  As I was coming in toward the finish line, I looked up and recognized him and that made me feel a lot better.  I almost didn't recognize him because he was all bundled up in a jacket and hat.  Rob, thanks for being there!

We, the runners, couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day than we had.  I'm not sure what the temp was at the start but when I looked at the weather at 5:30am it was 39 degrees and it was supposed to be 51 at start time.  I'm so glad the cooler weather has gotten here and maybe it will stick around for a little while.  I guess the hot weather is out friend too because it helps us to be able to run faster when it does cool off.

Since the Shake Rag was my last event of the year and one of the reasons I started writing here again, I had thought about ending it again until I start training again for another race.  I'm not going to do that because I think I have so much more to share with all of you while I'm still on this journey.  I really no longer feel that it's a journey but a lifestyle.  I've enjoyed getting to where I'm at even though the road has been hard at times.  The hard times are really what makes us stronger and gives us the determination to keep going.

One last thing before I go.  This past week the date for the Andrew Jackson Marathon, Half, and 5K was announced.  It is going to be on March 16, 2013.  Right now I'm planning on this being my first event of 2013.  This is where I did my first 5K and I had a great time.  You can read about it here.

Thanks for stopping by this week!

The Hills Are My Friend

After thinking that last Sunday was going to be the last do for me to run during October, I got to run on the 31st.  I got to run just over 10 miles on a route that wasn't so runner friendly.  Tupelo's Ballard Park is a great place to run but when you have to get there too.  I had to leave my car keys at the house so I couldn't drive.  I ended up running down there, about 3.5 miles, and made a round and then back.  It was a nice day for a run too.

On Saturday, I went out to 350 to give the hills my best.  It had been a while since I last ran on 350 and the hills kick my butt.  As Jeff and I were running, we were talking about how much I hate the hills but I do realize that they are my friend.  After finally making it to the water stop, we decided to go up the ridge road where it is a little easier to run.  We went all the way around and came back out on 350.  On the return trip back to the car is where the hills really got to me.  The first 11 were really good but the last four weren't so good.  It was still a great 15 miler.

Next weekend I will be running the Shakerag Half Marathon along with some of my friends from the Lunatic Fringe group.  We will have to see if I can run it as fast as I did the Life Without Limits Half.

Thanks for stopping and if you haven't already, please checkout the RoadID link at the top of the page. I wear one of these every time I go out and run.  Wouldn't leave home without it.  If you ever have an emergency, it could very well help save your life.  See you next week!