Recovering from a Rough Run

Good Morning,

This blog has a bit of a different tone from the last one, after a great week of success I went out on my 6 mile long run on Sunday and it was one of those runs that was rough from the start. 

My legs felt like lead, my shins sparked with the old familiar feeling of shin splints and even a mile felt like an eternity.  Oh and I had to pee the entire time.  Sounds super right?

About mile two my legs started to lighten up a bit but by that time I was worried about my shins so I was walking part of every single mile and getting sadder by the moment.

I notice that when something like this happens in my head I start to play a dialogue of how I am going to tell this story of my awful run to my husband.  This time I stopped myself from writing a sad story before the run was even over!  I started repeating a strong/light mantra in my head and focused on not stamping this run as terrible before it even ended.

That helped a bit, at least my head felt better even if my bladder and shins did not.  I told myself I was awesome for trucking on then I focused on keeping an eye out for moose.  I had two moose encounters on the run which got my heart beating fast!

At mile six I stopped running and stopped my watch which read an embarrassing 14 min/mile average pace and I took a big breath and gave myself a way to go.  It may have not been an awesome run but I did it, I finished 6 miles - well 7 by the time I got to the car, slight miscount there! 

I am really proud of myself for not only finishing but for also keeping a positive head about the run.  While it is still hard not to look at my training schedule this morning and doubting the process, I know that tough runs happen.  Its not the end of the world, it doesn't mean that I am not going to be able to run my race, it just means it was a tough day.

I have a few days of cross training/weight lifting coming up and I am hoping my new shoes will arrive during this time and I can fend off the dreaded splints.  I will look forward to my next run knowing it will be much better than last weekend :)

How do you deal with tough runs?  Anyone else struggle with letting them get you down?

A really old moose picture I took at the Conservation Center - but isn't it neat!

Swim Breakthrough & Kickass Brick

Good Morning,

I hope you all are having a great Friday, I am super excited for this weekend and am loving the warm weather we are having up here in Alaska - it is supposed to hit 55 today!!!

Before I get to the future fun I want to share an awesome achievement I had with you all.  It started last Friday at my swim class, something just felt like it clicked.  I have really been trying to reach my arms out and get that early catch with a strong straight forearm that doesn't wobble through the water.  I also have been thinking about my kick, I think its very weak which stems from it originating from the knee. 

So, last Friday I was felt like I got in a groove with some good strong forearms and an awkward but solid hip kick.  I told my husband after class that I think I made a good breakthrough because I just felt like I was on top of the water more but I wasn't sure.  Well this Wednesday at my technique class we did a 15 minute swim for distance in which our instructor would also mark down our 500m time.  So out I went trying my new technique not really sure if it was doing any good.  I was alone in the far lane so at times I couldn't even see people but when we finished and my coach went down the line telling us our times she got to me last and said "Kayse I think you made a big breakthrough" My heart just jumped and then she told me my time was 11:05!  To give some perspective I think one time I got a time that started with an 11, otherwise my fastest 500m in a race is 12:50.  I cut off about 45 seconds from my time and got very close to a time that starts with a 10!!!  That was my big goal that I didn't think I would reach this season.  I am so stoked and proud of all my hard work - making progress is awesome!

I also had a great weekend last weekend in terms of exercise.  On Saturday I did an impromptu brick workout with my husband.  We took our bikes out to a local high school which has easy access to the trail that is along the highway.  This trail is often used during races and is fairly flat so is a great spot to do some speed work on the the bike.  We left planning on training separately but ended up biking pretty close because I was killing my speeds.  My average speed was 15mph but I had some solid 20s on the way back where I got down in third position and just let it all out.  It felt amazing!  Well until I came home later and realized my lady parts felt like the
y had been hit by a baseball bat repeatedly - note to self - remember to use my bike shorts next time.

Need more bikes

After the bike I went out on some very hilly trails to work through that terrible feeling when you run after biking.  Not having any experience in this area I still maintain I think its close to what an epidural must feel like.  I know I have legs and I know they are moving but I can hardly feel them!  My trail run was 2 very slow miles on soggy hilly trails but it was good.  I was so proud of myself afterwards!

Snow free trails are so lovely!

The fun continued on Sunday with my first long run of the season.  It was only 5 miles and it was harder than it should be, but I did it and now I can move on to 6 miles next week!

First long run done!

After this exciting and successful weekend my week wasn't the best in terms of exercise and nutrition, lots of excuses that I will spare you from but suffice it to say I can do better :)

Foam rollin with Parks and Rec

This weekend however I am really excited to run my first race with my 4 year old nephew.  We are doing a 3k together on Saturday.  Then he is going to help me get things ready for my husbands birthday game night also on Saturday.  I think if I clean the house tonight after swim I can get a brick workout in between the 3k and the game night. 

My goal photo - looking good and strong Kayse!

Finally for the weekend its a long run (only up to 6 miles right now) and lots of work.  I have a project due on Monday that I have not had time to get to.  I am hoping that a miracle will happen and my new running shoes will come in before my long run on Sunday.  I tried on some cushy Aasics yesterday and loved them.  Unfortunately they run narrow so they had to order me the wide size.  If they don't come in before this long run they should be in before my race next week.  What is that you say about not trying something new for a race?  Ehhh whatever I have done it before...and it didn't work.  OK so I'm not a quick learner :) 

Happy Running!

The Important Things in Life

Hello,

I had intended to write this post about my progress on my goals but all I really want to tell you about my goals is that I am making progress and feeling good.  Am I hitting every mark? No.  Will I make my super strict weight goal before I turn 30?  Probably not, I didn't leave any room for error.  Is this important? Kinda.  But in the long run will it matter if I weigh 10 pounds less than I do now?  Not really. 

Why all the questions?  I have had one of those weeks that puts life in perspective a bit.  Without going into too much detail in a span of a week I found out a 2 year old relative was feeling a bit sick over Easter weekend and when his mom took him to the doctor on the following Monday they were told to go straight to the hospital because he has Leukemia.  Now their life and the lives of their other three kids has been turned upside down by transfusions, hospital stays and chemo.

The next Monday I signed onto Facebook to learn a friend from High School was driving with her husband and 8 month old baby when a large piece of concrete fell on their truck and killed them all instantly.

Life is so precious and can change in a moment.  I know that one moment I could be obsessing about how much my life would be better if I just lost 30lbs and then the next moment I could be wishing to be back in a space when my biggest issue was a jean size. 

I want to be the best me I can be, but I don't want to waste time fretting over things that are so insignificant in the long run.  I know I am very lucky that some extra weight is honestly the biggest issue in my life.  I am fairly certain that means my life is pretty smooth and I am extremely grateful for that.  I stress out over if I will be last at a race when I should be happy that I am able to participate in these events.

I will always continue to live the best life that I can live and love as much, and as hard as I am able, but I will also take time to enjoy the present and give myself a break once in a while.  In the end all my anxieties probably wont matter and I dont want to look back and wish I was nicer to myself and enjoyed life more.

Thank you for stopping by :)

Loving life

Week 2 Update

Hello,

Week two is complete on my plan and I am definitely starting slow but I would rather start slow and ramp up then start fast and fizzle out. So here is to consistency!

I didn't weigh myself this week because I started to obsess a bit and I am a firm believer that numbers are not everything.  But I have been running more and thinking about race plans this week.  I got a great workout at CrossFit this week so exercise has been ramping up a bit.

Anyone up for a slow fun run while listening to This American Life?

Food on the other hand has been tough.  Does anyone else have a hard time keeping themselves focused when their life seems unfocused?  My work is still a bit nutty and while I love it and want to be amazing at it, I still need to have my own  life!

I did make a bit decision this week which may seem a bit counter productive but stay with me, I quit my running team.  For two seasons now I have been running with a women's running team which I was actually a board member for last year.  But this year I decided that I was going to separate myself from the team.  Last year the team got quite a bit smaller due to some other local running options opening up and it seemed like the folks that remained were all fast.  Every time I went to practice they would try to pair us up to run together but nobody would be my speed so I would just feel awful about holding people back, or they would write paces on the board and mine wouldn't be listed.  I know I am a slower runner but the team was supposed to be open to all.  I just got tired of feeling bad about myself every week.  I had to avoid a handful of practices which were off the track because I couldn't run with everyone else so I just got left behind.  I cried at several practices last year, and this year I decided I don't need that.  I am never going to be a super fast runner, I honestly don't care enough, I actually just like to run and I don't want to start feeling bad every time I go out for a 36 minute 3 mile run!

Also I get to run in beautiful places, check this out :)

Running on Turnagain Arm

I love this trail!

Progress - Week 1 (Delayed!)

*I started writing this post last Tuesday the 31st, but it took me almost a week to finish it, look for week 2 shortly
 
Hello,


I am officially calling this week one.  Last week I had a partial week by the time I got started and while I started making some progress on setting habits, but this week I feel like I hit my stride and I am ready to roll.

Again I did a great job prepping my food and tracking my exercise and meals.  I am tracking food on My Fitness Pal and giving myself stars and smiley faces on my calendar.  I got my steps for about 1/2 of the week- I am still working on feeling motivated to get my exercise in.

Death was near at crossfit...

I also hit about 50% of my goals in tracking my meals, so there is progress being made!

Healthy Meals were had!

I did however get to see some scale victory as the 50% good part of my week has been the last four days, so that bumped me down a couple pounds.

I am finding journaling and the mental health part a bit tougher which is something I want to focus on as I think it is really important to my ability to hang with this plan!

I am finishing this update up because I realize its almost time for the next update, so Ill keep this short and say look for Week 2 coming tomorrow!