Can't believe that I have been training for the CIM for 47 weeks!! Officially the CIM training for my group started the first Sunday in July, but mentally I have been preparing for this since January 1st. Tomorrow my goal is to run 18 miles. This will be the furthest I have ever run. I'm slightly intimidated by it because two weeks ago on my 17 mile run I had to walk in the last mile or so because my left calf felt like it was ready to give out. It felt like it wouldn't hold me up if I took another running step.
I haven't posted in awhile. Weekends are mainly the time I write and they have been filled with running. I did run in the Urban Cow Half Marathon the first Sunday in October. That race was a lot of run. They had a new course which I like a lot. I did the run/walk method with intervals of 3 minutes running, 1 minute walking. I was 5-6 minutes slower than my time last year but that is to be expected since I was walking some.
I did buy calf compression sleeves this week to help my calves with this long run looming tomorrow. I tried one out on Thursday during our regular run. It wasn't too constricting which was good. When I used to play soccer, I had to wear 2 pairs of socks and sometimes it felt like they were just too tight and constricting since they also had to go over my shin guards. They would bother me the entire 90 minute game. I think I will probably wear both of them since I am also having trouble with my right tibial tendon which is on the inside of the Achilles tendon. Hopefully it will give the tibial tendon some additional support.
From now on I will be wearing my Team Reeve running shirt on every long run. I love the words written on the back. It says: "For everyone who thought I couldn't do it, for everyone who thought I shouldn't do it, for everyone who said I didn't have it in me, see you at the finish line."
The Reeve Foundation is doing such great work. They are not only doing cutting edge research on a cure for spinal cord paralysis, they also assist people with purchases of items that can make the newly paralyzed lives more comfortable. They are a fantastic organization.
Mini Distance Widget
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Fartlek, fartlek, fartlek
FARTLEK. Try saying that fast three times!! Went out for a run this morning by myself. I haven't done that in months and months. I was going to listen to my favorite running podcast, but stupid me dragged the podcast that I listened to last night over to my shuffle so instead I listened to music. I'm such a running geek now. I listen to running podcasts.
There is something so great about running in the morning. The sun had just come up so there was still a bit of color in the sky. There was plenty of blue sky too. It was probably about 45 degrees so I had on my capris, long sleeve shirt, gloves and hat. At first you always think, I don't have enough clothes on, I'm cold. After about 5 minutes you don't even notice the cold anymore.
I've been running now for almost 2 years. The first 3-4 months were just as much a physical battle as it was a mental battle. I say battle and mean that because I always hated running. I played soccer for 20 plus years and tried to run distances as little as possible. I got in shape by playing the game and never stop playing which meant I went from one season to another without a break. Basically soccer 12 months a year.
Back to running...so running was very much a mental battle. Telling myself that I could run the distance required. Sometimes I talked myself into feeling sick or tired and I would stop and walk. I soon realized that to be able to run I was going to have to get over that mental issue. I was going to have to step up my game on the mental challenge of running. I probably took the easy way out by running with my IPOD Shuffle. I have to say that the music helped me run that first year. Looking back, most of the music I never heard. I would tune into the songs that were my favorites of the moment but the others were just background to my thoughts.
There is a lot of thinking to running. You can change the world, change your life all in the space of your run. I have talked to people I no longer see. I have had conversations with people that are dead. I have relived moments in my life. It is weird what will come into your mind when there are no distractions to keep them out.
Today I just enjoyed the morning and that I felt good. There weren't many people out at 7:30 am. On the way back I had a mile and a half to go so I thought I would do some fartlek training. Fartlek means speed play in Swedish. I ran from stop signs to telephone poles, whatever was easy to use at that moment. I actually got my speed up 8:30 per mile then would slow down to 10:15. It was fun. The time went by fast and I wondered why I had never done these before on my own. I guess I thought I would look stupid running fast and then running slow if anyone saw me. I realized that for one thing no one knows what you are doing out there and can't really tell fast from slow and the rate of speed I was running. Who cares what people think anyway? That felt good letting that go.
I had a realization as I was walking up my driveway. I feel at peace. I feel happy. I just burned 400+ calories and started my day with a smile on my face. I am no longer ambivalent about running. I love running. I am a runner.
There is something so great about running in the morning. The sun had just come up so there was still a bit of color in the sky. There was plenty of blue sky too. It was probably about 45 degrees so I had on my capris, long sleeve shirt, gloves and hat. At first you always think, I don't have enough clothes on, I'm cold. After about 5 minutes you don't even notice the cold anymore.
I've been running now for almost 2 years. The first 3-4 months were just as much a physical battle as it was a mental battle. I say battle and mean that because I always hated running. I played soccer for 20 plus years and tried to run distances as little as possible. I got in shape by playing the game and never stop playing which meant I went from one season to another without a break. Basically soccer 12 months a year.
Back to running...so running was very much a mental battle. Telling myself that I could run the distance required. Sometimes I talked myself into feeling sick or tired and I would stop and walk. I soon realized that to be able to run I was going to have to get over that mental issue. I was going to have to step up my game on the mental challenge of running. I probably took the easy way out by running with my IPOD Shuffle. I have to say that the music helped me run that first year. Looking back, most of the music I never heard. I would tune into the songs that were my favorites of the moment but the others were just background to my thoughts.
There is a lot of thinking to running. You can change the world, change your life all in the space of your run. I have talked to people I no longer see. I have had conversations with people that are dead. I have relived moments in my life. It is weird what will come into your mind when there are no distractions to keep them out.
Today I just enjoyed the morning and that I felt good. There weren't many people out at 7:30 am. On the way back I had a mile and a half to go so I thought I would do some fartlek training. Fartlek means speed play in Swedish. I ran from stop signs to telephone poles, whatever was easy to use at that moment. I actually got my speed up 8:30 per mile then would slow down to 10:15. It was fun. The time went by fast and I wondered why I had never done these before on my own. I guess I thought I would look stupid running fast and then running slow if anyone saw me. I realized that for one thing no one knows what you are doing out there and can't really tell fast from slow and the rate of speed I was running. Who cares what people think anyway? That felt good letting that go.
I had a realization as I was walking up my driveway. I feel at peace. I feel happy. I just burned 400+ calories and started my day with a smile on my face. I am no longer ambivalent about running. I love running. I am a runner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)