I Almost Like Running Again

It's been almost two weeks since I started running again, and I'm getting to the point where I almost remember why I started in the first place. It just makes me feel so good. When I get off the treadmill, my abs feel tight and my tummy is all sucked in (and not because I'm sucking it in). I want to make better choices when I'm eating because junk food just doesn't sound good (well except for my nightly craving for raw ramen noodles ). Maybe it's just the fact that I can watch TV without feeling bad or the endorphins talking, but I'm definitely feeling better about everything right now, including myself; that's a biggie.

I ran again tonight while watching Grey's Anatomy. When we finally get into a house someday, my housewarming present to myself is going to be a treadmill. Or dad, I'll let you buy me one. :) I always tell people that if I had a treadmill in my house I'd run every day because I could just sit and watch TV. Now that there's a treadmill kind of in my house (just downstairs) , and I can watch my own personal TV, I'm all for running and/or walking. Normally I'd be off the treadmill as soon as I was done with my required miles but now I stay and finish out the show and just walk up an extremely steep hill while doing so. It makes me feel much better about watching TV when I'm running rather than sitting on my butt.

I can do it. I can run this half-marathon, especially with the new fall season starting soon. Thank goodness the strike is over.

My Running Buddy

My husband has been working out with me lately, and it really helps. It's another person (other than myself) telling me that we should go work out. This is three times in the past week that he's worked out with me and gotten me to go. A workout buddy really does make a huge difference... as does a TV. I'm getting back into running mode, and my body is telling me that it's ready to start adapting to be a runner again. Hopefully my mind agrees.

Week 1...Again

It seems like I just keep starting over with this whole running thing. I run once, twice, or maybe even three times a week and then get too busy and just don't go the next week. It really isn't working for me at all. I sat down today and planned out a sixteen week training schedule that really seems doable (2-3 miles 3x a week for the next two weeks then moving up...).

My dad and I made the decision to sign up for the Memphis St. Jude half-marathon on December 6th, hence the 16 week training. I'm really going for it this time. No more excuses. I'm so sick of starting over. This time I'm running the half and signing up for another one in April so I don't lose it all over again because I just can't get myself started again and again.

Well enough rambling, just wanted to write a quick update for myself and whoever reads this blog. I did run today, only two miles, but it was more than yesterday or the day before. And it was what I'd scheduled myself to do so I'm on the right track. Tomorrow is strength/XT and then back into the running shoes on Wednesday.

My New Favorite Trail

There is something about running outside that makes it so much more pleasant. And running five songs out and being able to turn around and say, oh hey I'm almost done (or at least on my way back). I think maybe I had just gotten so sick of having to drive to the gym to run on a treadmill and then drive home. This whole running on the trail by my office after work seems to be working. I almost didn't go today- I was really tired- but then I told myself if I run today, I only have to run 2 days out of the next five. Two!! I'm going to try and run more but two sounds so easy.

One day down, two to go. I ran 38 minutes, probably about 3.5 miles (haven't measured yet) today. I'm thinking about asking for a Garmin running GPS thing for my birthday so that I can actually track my distances. Either way, I ran the entire time and felt great! My confidence is returning little by little. It's definitely a love week.

Dedication Meets Stupidity

I brought my stuff to work yesterday or at least most of it. I forgot socks but because I didn't want to skip running I decided to run anyways. Probably one of the dumbest things I've ever done. I was really just asking for blisters, and blisters I got. I've got a row of blisters on the inside sole of both feet. They don't hurt a whole lot until I run again.

But.I.Ran

I walk/ran a total of 35 minutes and ran 9 songs (so probably about 30 out of the 45 minutes), and it actually felt great, other than the blisters of course. I'm loving this whole trail outside of my office that I can run on every day. It's beautiful, the miles are marked, and there's actually shade about half of the time.

I'm hoping to make nightly runs a part of my weekly routine, at least until it gets too cold out. Then I'll make morning runs the weekly routine. Either way, I'm going to keep running. I already have more confidence and am feeling better. Not sure if I'm actually losing weight, but I feel stronger every single time I run.

So.I'll.Keep.Going.

Get out there this weekend and enjoy the beautiful (if it is beautiful) weather. I'm planning on running tomorrow again if these blisters aren't too bad. If not, I'll be back on Monday.