I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Today my mind will not wake up! I'm not sure why, but its just really tired and wants to sleep another 10 hours or so. Not much mileage, but I did the step class and AB's class at the gym then ran just one (not enough nursery time to do more) to warm up my hamstrings and stretch out. My right ham has been bothering me for a couple weeks now, not all the time just intermintintly. This is the kind of thing that screams to me "You need to stretch!" I always forget to, I'm usually in such a hurry that I don't and then it just gets tighter and tighter and I know I'm close to risking injury if I don't start taking care of it. So, that's my focus this week, stretch morning and night and work those hams a little looser so I don't injure them. My mile was at 8:30 and I felt good with it, especially after I noticed that the incline was up to 2.0 and I lowered it down to my normal .5 - felt tons better :).

Another great run with the BBK's! I really have so enjoyed running with all of you, I feel faster and stronger than I have in welll....forever. The 6.5 or so was on GOOD hills for the most part and I tried to keep up with Kelli and almost did (except the 2 mile hill loop, Kimberly became my newest meet on that one!) Overall, she had a 8:40 pace and I couldn't believe it! I thought it was definately slower, because I felt so good. I really like to know at the end my pace and mileage and am toying with the idea of getting a garmin like so many other faithful runners, but am still not sold just yet due to cost and that I would hate to know that stuff in the middle of a run - especially a long one! I really like to run against myself more than anything or anyone, because I'm the only one I can ever beat; I just run my own feel good pace which varies sometimes from minute to minute. After the early morning I did the body building class at the gym and rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes and stretched well. Hamstrings seem to be loosening up a bit, but this morning it was my arch that had me troubled. I'm going to try to get my laundry folded so I can go to SL running company and get a shoe fitting and new insoles which I think will help as well. I've been running on the same insoles for about 9 months now (3 pair of shoes)! Feeling good and loving life, can't beat it!

Today I opted to do Kickboxing and AB's class and take it easy on the running. A break is always good for the system. I don't know if I'm getting sick or what, but I just can't seem to wake up and function these last few days, I'm more zombie like than anything. Then I get on the scale at the gym (I'm supposed to be at my goal weight to go to Myrtle Beach) and I can't get it to budge. I feel like I'm making a concentrated effort on eating, but I just can't get it to budge. Its frustrating, but my running is doing so much better its hard to complain. As long as my head can wake up tomorrow and not be in a fog I will come to running group. I really look forward to it so that I can get yoga in at the gym! Got to use the 1.5 nursery hours the best way I can!

Today I ran 6.5 with the BBK's, and thank goodness for them because I learned a good lesson this morning. That is, if you eat 5000 calories of junk the night before you try to run (or do anything, including trying to wake up) you will fail. Your body cannot perform with just sugar! I thought for sure that we were running a good sub 8:30 pace because I was so exhausted, but found out that it was more like a 8.45 pace. I so would've stopped after two miles if I hadn't been with the group ... so here's a shout out to all of you that I could barely keep up with this morning: thanks for being there and dragging me along! I went to yoga and had a great time stretching and relaxing, now its off to the bathrooms to scrub. My eating WILL be better today (promise!).

My sister sent this to me a couple months ago and for me especially today, oh it rings so true!

The Top 5 Reasons for Running

Reason #5

CALORIES:  Running burns lots of calories so we burn enough calories to allow us to occasionally have a Mcflurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #4:  

MUSCLES:  Running builds our muscles which helps us look great in our running skirts and muscles burn lots of calories which allows us to occasionally have a Mcflurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #3

ENDURANCE:  Running gives us the endurance we need to make it through the exhausting job of being wife, mother, and teacher, and also gives us that extra boost of energy to go out and have a McFlurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #2

TRIPS:  Running gives us the opportunity to take weekend trips with our family and friends to new and exciting places where we visit new places to get a McFlurry, French Fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

THE #1 REASON FOR RUNNING IS!...

RACE DAY!   We finally get some justification and gratification for all of our early mornings, dog bites, and hard work.  We get a chance to meet the challenge and push our performance to new limits.  And we get to wrap it all up with a McFlurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boats, because weʼve earned it!

Today I had to go to the doctors in the morning to get my recommended shots for the cruise in March. YUCK, my arms are sore now and I don't think its getting better soon; good thing I don't run on them! I did my personal training and then a 45 min cardio interval ride on the bike. Trying to take running easy this week to give my body a little break and variety to hopefully help pop my weight out of the rut I'm in. Planning on running Butterfield tomorrow with Eric and the gang (all us Painters orphans anyway), and I'm really looking forward to it! My weight was back down to my low today so yesterdays good eating did me well and gives me strength to get through the weekend, I hope anyway; however, now that you all know WHY I run a good long hard run might just need a reward :)

At the bottom of Butterfield Canyon I felt great. I won't tell you what I was feeling after running the 4 miles up and knowing that Alan's auto stop (which goes at 15 min miles) went on that last hill. No idea about the pace, but I don't think I want to know, it might just take something away from the accomplishement of running 8 miles on the 2-3 inches of snow up the canyon! It was nice to run close to home, I haven't done that for a while. I toyed with the idea of running there and back, but 3 extra out and then back after the canyon scared me a little, as well as running along Bacchus early/dark morning when there is no shoulder normally let alone with the snow piles! Plus, Lucy joined me on this one and that makes small shoulders even less tolerable for me. When I finished and streched a little (IT on right knee is now aching a little from uneven surfaces) I felt like I wanted to run back home and not drive so I guess thats a good sign.

Great run today and still feel good about miles even though it was only just over 20 for the week. That is still really good for me, and the way my body has felt this week its GREAT! I'll try to ice and be kind to my IT the next couple days as to not aggravate it, I would be very upset if it kept me from Myrtle. Oh, how I hate getting old! Everything seems to bother me more and longer and won't just go away, it always comes back sooner or later. I feel like I'm only 22, but unfortunately on days like today reality hits a little harder.

Congrats to all you Painters finishers! Can't wait for the fun news on Monday (at the gym with Kelli) and Tuesday on the run. Have a safe drive home.