I've made a decision. It was rough, but I've made up my mind. I have decided to run the 10k on May 14th instead of the half and here are my reasons:
I have noticed that putting on milage my hips are not cooperating. So more adjusting and more strength training.
I think my brain can't handle it! Right now it just seems to overwhelming, and it was making running more of a chore than fun. I want running to be fun and just for me.
I was talking with my "coach" and she said every time I start focusing more on loosing weight than running I get frustrated.
I talked to the "head coach" (my dad) and he suggested that I need to peak for the Ragnar and not the half which is a month before the Ragnar. I was using the May 14th race as a stepping stone for the Ragnar so it only makes sense to peak then, right?
Like I said I really needed to get back to running for myself and for the fun of running. I do want to run a half this summer just after I get my grove back.
So, here is to a week of running for fun! How do you keep running fun?
So this week has been a bust as far as motivation! I should be running or strength training right now, but here I sit trying to figue out why this week has been so BLAH! I really hate it when I have a week like this because I end up getting really hard on myself. I also think, well darn there goes another week that I haven't lost any weight!
I did really well last week, near perfect! I even got myself outside on Saturday for five miles! Yea me! It was great I loved it. I also squeezed it in because I had a surprise trip sprung on me. I was very proud of myself because it was any easy cop-out for me NOT to run. Over the weekend I was excited to have another good week like that. Monday came and went and so did Tuesday. I ran Wednesday, but here I sit again feeling guilty that it is dinner time and I should have done something by now!
Does anybody else have this problem? What do you do to keep motivated?
Today I got on my treadmill ready to run my 4 miles and after mile two I couldn't run anymore! I wasn't tired. I know I can do it. I just did it two days ago. So after my two year old asked me to open a granola bar for the 15th time (which I discovered he was only eating the chocolate chips) I couldn't do it! I was just bored! I am ready to run outside in the fresh air and know I have to run the rest of the way because I'm not home yet!
Spring fever is among us here in the cold, cold northwest! My kids saw the sun yesterday and wanted to play outside. Kids are riding their bikes to school dodging leftover snow piles geared up with snow coats, snow hats, and gloves. My cousin from California was going to school here one year and she said these people are crazy wearing shorts and riding skateboards in this cold, cold weather (it was March and probably 40-45 degrees). I asked her if she knew what Spring Fever was and she said no. So I said you have just seen it.
So my goal for this next week is to get outside more and enjoy any weather, I hope. I am a wimp when it comes to being cold, but I did run two weeks ago in 29 degree weather. I can handle it, right?
The last post by my sister was about what she learned the hard way and strengthening your core. Well me being a newbie to running I found out core strength is key as well. I found myself ready to run my second half marathon and my hips were were hurting. I couldn't run and it hurt to walk. Very painful. Fortunately, I have a brother in law who is a Dr. and can adjust my hips for me and a sister who suggested to do hip exercises. I have had great success with these exercises and now I am back running and planning my second half for May.
The first exercise is called a "Hip-Up". You stand on a stair, or bench with one foot on and one foot off and that foot lowers and lifts the hip up! I do about 2 sets of 10 each side and try not to hold on to the wall. Well, most of the time anyway! I was reading and found out that if I can't do this without holding on it is a sign of weak hips! Go figure!
I found these exercises on Youtube and have really liked them. I don't know if they are the "Top Four" exercises, but I do know they have and are helping me.
Disclaimer- I'm not a Dr. or Physical Therapist so if you have hip pain go see them before trying any exercises.
Happy Hip strengthening! Oh ya, and don't forget to stretch!
