I am still being active through playing Ultimate Frisbee. I love the game and its 2 games that start around 10:30 am and end around 2:30 pm. Also, I am now including running back in my weeks plus strength training.
My endurance is being heightened through the summer heat bearing down on me and I am still sprinting Saturday mornings and running 2 plus miles on other days!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Zen
After watching a special from National Geographic about how stress has become a serial killer in our nation it made me think about what I allow to be a stressor when it should NOT be. It discussed how our fight or flight system is charged up more than it should be. So, even when its something small we become pumped up with adrenaline and cortizon, which can kill brain cells and cause us to gain weight. Both to me is terrible. One last result of stress is when it continues the end of our DNA unravels, which is suppose to hold it together.
I knew stress was not good and that I needed to relax more anyways, but with these facts I made a mental decision to take control of my brain. In the end we can allow our brains to control us or we can control it. I guess if I wanted to travel into a philosophical discussion here I would go into what controls the brain...the soul? Since the brain controls the body? Anyways, this blog is about running and not about philosophy.
Recently I have found that I enjoy the quiet again. So, today after working for 7 hours and driving 2 I went on a 2 mile hill run. It usually takes me 25 minutes, but today I did it in 23. I found a beat in my steps and a breathing pattern that lasted me longer than I thought. I felt every little tug and ache. I felt every bead of sweat form and travel down my skin. I was so connected to myself connecting to nature. It became peaceful. I felt like walking around 1.5 miles since the heat was bearing on me, but at that a moment a fat cat stared me down. It was directly in my path and it crouched down while locking its eyes on me. It did not move. This gave me the mind set to finish the course. I did and strong with a sprint.
Learning to be connected with myself intimately and learning to control my fears and pains that can prevent myself from accomplishing my goals in running will later influence my everyday life. Running is 90% mental. Its amazing what our brains can imagine and how quickly it destroys its own dreams. So, I would like to say a new saying that running is 10% physical, 40% mental, and 60% soul!
I knew stress was not good and that I needed to relax more anyways, but with these facts I made a mental decision to take control of my brain. In the end we can allow our brains to control us or we can control it. I guess if I wanted to travel into a philosophical discussion here I would go into what controls the brain...the soul? Since the brain controls the body? Anyways, this blog is about running and not about philosophy.
Recently I have found that I enjoy the quiet again. So, today after working for 7 hours and driving 2 I went on a 2 mile hill run. It usually takes me 25 minutes, but today I did it in 23. I found a beat in my steps and a breathing pattern that lasted me longer than I thought. I felt every little tug and ache. I felt every bead of sweat form and travel down my skin. I was so connected to myself connecting to nature. It became peaceful. I felt like walking around 1.5 miles since the heat was bearing on me, but at that a moment a fat cat stared me down. It was directly in my path and it crouched down while locking its eyes on me. It did not move. This gave me the mind set to finish the course. I did and strong with a sprint.
Learning to be connected with myself intimately and learning to control my fears and pains that can prevent myself from accomplishing my goals in running will later influence my everyday life. Running is 90% mental. Its amazing what our brains can imagine and how quickly it destroys its own dreams. So, I would like to say a new saying that running is 10% physical, 40% mental, and 60% soul!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
ME Time!
I have been making more time to train and run. For example one morning I awoke at 5:30 am and could not go back to bed. Instead of being frustrated I just got up and did kettle bell training. It felt great. The best ME time I have gained has been this weekend! I kept having get togethers to attend and I would stay out super late, which I felt more exhausted from the weekend festivities than my busy weeks for the last couple of weeks.
This weekend I planned on just having it for "me." I have rested, but also ran my first "hot" run about 92 degrees. It was in the afternoon and I ran the hilly course. I finished without feeling sick and felt strong afterwards. I finished off with yoga to calm my muscles and breathing down from the heat. Saturday I woke early to run 9 miles. It has been over 2.5 half months since I ran more than a 5k and kept up with a work out routine. The run felt great and can't wait till my strength improves. I got to see many bikers and other runners on my course. Their strength gives me inspiration and hope that I will be there soon enough. At the end of the run I enjoyed seeing a site that I can't even really explain, but it is like parachutes powered by BIG fans. Than to end my weekend is having a rest day where I did only kettle bell training.
I hope to keep up a routine this summer and by the 2nd of October can say I am confident to have an improvement on my half marathon time. Also, looking at training to accomplish a marathon distant in training by some time in August. Might attempt a marathon race in November or March.
Keep running and smiling :)
This weekend I planned on just having it for "me." I have rested, but also ran my first "hot" run about 92 degrees. It was in the afternoon and I ran the hilly course. I finished without feeling sick and felt strong afterwards. I finished off with yoga to calm my muscles and breathing down from the heat. Saturday I woke early to run 9 miles. It has been over 2.5 half months since I ran more than a 5k and kept up with a work out routine. The run felt great and can't wait till my strength improves. I got to see many bikers and other runners on my course. Their strength gives me inspiration and hope that I will be there soon enough. At the end of the run I enjoyed seeing a site that I can't even really explain, but it is like parachutes powered by BIG fans. Than to end my weekend is having a rest day where I did only kettle bell training.
I hope to keep up a routine this summer and by the 2nd of October can say I am confident to have an improvement on my half marathon time. Also, looking at training to accomplish a marathon distant in training by some time in August. Might attempt a marathon race in November or March.
Keep running and smiling :)
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