I'll keep running....
Because it gives me perspective.
Now I realize my problems aren't so big.
My life is pretty great afterall.
And a mile is a lot longer than it seems in the car.
I'm a little bit mad at myself for not getting my short runs in during the week but I was just so sick and because of that wasn't getting any sleep and just barely making it through the work day...it sucked! Did my 14 mile training run with Jenny on the Minuteman Bikeway from Cambridge up into Lexington. Felt really pretty good until about 11 miles...I think it is because that is where the end of the trail was but it was still 3 miles home from there so mentally I think I checked out there because in my brain it was like the end so the last 3 miles were pretty crappy and my knees were sore but we finished and I am really proud at what my non-runner self has accomplished so far!!
Played in a WB- volleyball tournament at Johnson & Wales Univ. today with a few girls from the old UMD team. Had so much fun with them! Played 9 matches total and somehow only went 5-4....but we played really well! I was surprised that I played as well as I did and wasn't even sore from the long run yesterday! This is the last time I'll play volleyball until after the marathon (assuming I can still walk after it) =(
Tried out the new shoes (Brooks Defyance 3) on the treadmill at the gym because it is FREEZING outside!
Mile 1: 6.5 mph (9:14 pace)
Miles 2-5: 7.0 mph (8:34 pace)
then walked 0.5 miles at 10% incline then 0% incline both at 3.4 mph
I don't think I like the new shoes..... crap! When will I ever find a pair I like? Good thing Marathon Sports has a 2 week return policy on shoes they fit for you! I don't know why I have had better luck just grabbing shoes off the clearance rack at the Adidas outlet than when I go have them fitted.... The Brooks make me feel like I am running on the very outsides of my feet and it hurts the inside and backs of my knees and the outside of my foot near the joint of my baby toe. I am going to give them another shot tomorrow but then I'm bringing them back. I am going to do some serious internet searching on shoe fit because for some reason this is not working for me
My new shoes came in the mail today!!!! I don't know why I ever switched from Adidas, they just fit me the best. Twice I went to Marathon Sports and got fitted for sneakers and both times they didn't feel right and made me feel like I was running way on the outside of my feet which bothered my knees and now that I'm back to Adidas all is right with my world again!! And it is nice to have women's shoes again because stores never stock my size and I get stuck with men's...annoying!!
It was absolutely freezing this morning when we headed to the Nashua River Rail Trail! Warmed up fairly quickly and ran our butts off....we went just shy of the New Hampshire border (which we will hit in 3 weeks) Had 2 gu gummy things and some gatorade at mile 9 then half a packet of gu (which I have decided is like eating flavored neosporin) at mile 13 and actually felt really good right to the finish. I was ready to be done when I saw the end but I still felt strong. Headed over to visit Aunt Sandy, Uncle Bob, and Erica for calzones, veggie chili, and yummy desserts! Now I am headed to bed early hoping to get enough rest before my volleyball tournament all day tomorrow.... eek!
So I figured no big deal, I can play a women's B- volleyball tournament after running 18 miles yesterday...turns out after getting painfully beaten in the first 2 games, we won the next 6 and end up taking 2nd place in pool play. So of course we take the semi-finals to 3 hard fought games then have only a 5 minute break until the finals...against the only team that beat us. We lost the first game in a pretty tight match then managed to win the second game (with about zero energy left) so we are forced to a third game to 15 points, win by 2, no cap. We were up a few points to start but then they caught up and and we played back and forth points until we finally pulled it out to a 20-18 win!!!!!!! I have no idea how I found the energy to play, especially middle position and hope I don't fall over dead!
Finally got in a run after my intense long run/ volleyball tournament weekend that had me sleeping a wicked lot this week! My left hip and quad is still pretty tight but I spent some extra time stretching yesterday so hopefully that helps.....
Today's run was miserable. Mentally, Jenny and I were so not into the run then there was tons of ice on the Minuteman trail so we decided to get off the trail and run the sidewalks because at least most of them had been cleared so we just ran around and around and around until we hit 3:10:13 and figured that had to be 20 miles....(it was really close when I Gmaped it.... it was only shy a little). We just had a crap run and we both knew it and were glad it was over...
Wanted to run today but I spent most of the day digging out Mom's house from the almost 2 feet of snow that fell!!! There was no running outside (I was barely able to even get out the door the snow was piled so high) and certainly no driving to a treadmill since the street didn't get plowed until way too late.... oh well....
I was just getting ready to head to the gym to go for a run when I got a call to see if I could sub tonight..... so obviously I went and played 3 hours of volleyball instead! damn it I need to learn to say no, I have to run tonight!!
