I Got My Massage But I Didn't Deserve It

Good news and bad news. I got my massage last Friday thanks for my great MIL. The bad news is that I didn't earn it. And the even worse news is that I can't run at least not for right now. I've got really painful shin splints in my left leg, and the doctor wants me to get a bone scan to make sure I don't have a stress fracture before I run anymore. I ran two miles on Saturday morning and was still in major pain on Monday even after icing, heating, and stretching the area. So it looks like the half-marathon in December isn't really an option at this point. I'm not giving up on running though, just as soon as I figure out what's wrong, I'll come back slowly and take better care of myself.

In the interim, I'm not going to get rid of this blog. It will just be more focused on my overall exercise not just running. I'm planning on putting together a workout schedule for the next few weeks to include spinning, step classes, and other stuff to get me through. Oh and I'll get back to the weight training videos that got me so tone this summer before I gave up on them. That's the plan for now. I'll keep you posted. Hope that everyone else keeps running, be grateful you can.

One Down, Nine to Go

That's how I track my running when I'm outside and have no idea how far I've gone. I normally run about the same speed so I'll track my miles based on how many songs I'm run to so far. Three songs typcially equals about a mile so at the beginning I just tell myself I have to run for 10 songs and count down as I go.

I haven't been running with music lately; I've been watching TV instead, but today I mixed it up a little while on the treadmill. It was 11:00 when I started running so all I could find on TV was Lingo on the Game Show Network. I decided to listen and run to music during commercial breaks, and it really helped keep me going. I ran three miles today without stopping in a little over 30 minutes, and I felt great. No red face, no hard breathing, no wheezing aftewards. I'm not quite back in shape yet, but I'm getting there. Getting into - it's time to actually start training for this half-marathon - shape. And it feels just as good as I always tell people it does.

And that massage is going to feel even better. I may miss Richie while he's in TX, but for that hour, I think I'll be able to hold myself together.

Grand Prize... A Massage

I got a coupon in the mail the other day for a $39 hour long full-body massage, and I decided to make good use of it. I'm making it a reward for working out. Richie's going to TX in two weeks, and I need something to do while he's gone. So we made a deal. If I work out ten times in the next two weeks (before he leaves on the 18th) I get to schedule and go for a massage while he's gone. We went to dinner last night and determined the conditions of the deal because it has to actually be hard to get or I won't appreciate it quite as much.

The fine print...

• A workout consists of either running 3+ miles or one hour of another type of working out (cardio, strength training, videos, classes, etc.).
• At least five of the workouts have to be running (to stick with the half-marathon training).
• Any dessert I eat (more than 50 calories/fudgesicle) negates one workout.
• Any food that I eat that has no nutritional value (aka ramen noodles) negates one workout.
• I can get more than one workout credit a day by working out longer or multiple times.

That's it. That's all I have to do. It shouldn't be too hard other than the fact that he leaves in approximately 11 days, and I don't workout on Sundays. So that means I have to workout once every day this week and once every day until he leaves the next. Piece of cake (that I can't eat). All I can think about is how bad I want that massage. I'm switching up my workout log on the sidebar with a countdown of the ten workouts. Counting down is so much easier than counting up. Rewards/competition really is a huge motivating factor for me so hopefully this works.

Dancing Through the Hallways

I remember a couple of years ago I was training for my second half-marathon in college. I mostly ran outside that year, and I remember vividly the home stretch of a 7 mile run. I was running down the sidewalk and literally dancing while I ran. My strides felt more like I was bouncing along, and my spirit lifted right along with my steps.

I got that same feeling today. There is just something about the combination of music and running that lifts my spirit. I got off the elevator after my run and bobbed my head and body back and forth to the beat as I walked back to my apartment. But it didn't stop there- I kept the IPOD on and cleaned up my kitchen and cooked dinner, something I haven't done in a long time. And even now I'm in a much better mood than I have been all weekend. Thanks running.

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.