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 :)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Running Heat
I am not sure if anyone is following this still, but I am getting back to the days of joining nature. I am using the summer weather approaching as a new training goal. That is becoming more adapted to run in any temperature. I plan on running the 13.1 Atlanta Half Marathon again this year for my birthday. I am hoping to improve my time again.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Back on the Road
Yesterday the 19th of May I finally got myself going again. I ran my 5k course in about 30 minutes and almost threw up in the end. Felt great though! After having a 3 month and 2 day break I would of been happy just to finish in any time. I hope to keep it up. I miss running.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Changes
Last semester I accomplished some good training runs and decent race times. The two races I ran, the ATL 13.1 Marathon and the Serenbe Hill Country trail 15k, I set PRs. The half I did it 17 minutes faster than my first and the 15k was my first time running that distance. Even though I did have the training in my schedule it was extremely lower than what I was use to before school started. This resulted in a crash emotionally.
The lack of training was not the only factor that made the crash possible, the work environment I was in and also the schedule that both jobs, internship, and class/ class work took up. For this semester I have a new job and new internship. My week is a little bit busier with the travel time included, but I will have my Friday through Sunday open. This gives me time for long runs, which I did not have time for last semester.
With this yesterday I tried a route that I thought about for a while, but yet tried. Its a back road connecting my side of town to the other (so to speak). On the way home shopping I decided to measure the distance from the hospital to the end of the road. It measured about 4 miles one way.
I got home and decided to go run it. I have not ran more than a 5k distance since November 13th and still felt it would be ok since it was flat. This is when I learned that driving and actually running a course is a big difference. The whole route was riddled with rolling hills and at the last mile (I want to say) was an pretty intense incline. Of course the hospital was on the bottom of the incline, which meant my return route started with the "hill."
On the first 4 miles I passed a fellow runner who high fived me. This is the aspect of running I love as a sport. We are on it together, pulling each other up, while at the same time challenging ourselves continually to do better than last time.
With this route I ended up walking a couple of times after I started on the return route. My left knee on the back started to tense up and my right ankle started to hurt. My lower back and hips did too, but just like in a race I had to get back to my car to stop. This helped and I ended up doing the distance in about 1:21:00 subtracting the time spent in the middle of the highway waiting for the walking signal.
I finished the morning with a kettle bell work out, which is part of what I got for Christmas. I got Yoga Blocks/ belt, a new running shirt, balance half mini balls and more that is not related to working out.
This year is going to be different and excited for what will happen with my now weekends!
The lack of training was not the only factor that made the crash possible, the work environment I was in and also the schedule that both jobs, internship, and class/ class work took up. For this semester I have a new job and new internship. My week is a little bit busier with the travel time included, but I will have my Friday through Sunday open. This gives me time for long runs, which I did not have time for last semester.
With this yesterday I tried a route that I thought about for a while, but yet tried. Its a back road connecting my side of town to the other (so to speak). On the way home shopping I decided to measure the distance from the hospital to the end of the road. It measured about 4 miles one way.
I got home and decided to go run it. I have not ran more than a 5k distance since November 13th and still felt it would be ok since it was flat. This is when I learned that driving and actually running a course is a big difference. The whole route was riddled with rolling hills and at the last mile (I want to say) was an pretty intense incline. Of course the hospital was on the bottom of the incline, which meant my return route started with the "hill."
On the first 4 miles I passed a fellow runner who high fived me. This is the aspect of running I love as a sport. We are on it together, pulling each other up, while at the same time challenging ourselves continually to do better than last time.
With this route I ended up walking a couple of times after I started on the return route. My left knee on the back started to tense up and my right ankle started to hurt. My lower back and hips did too, but just like in a race I had to get back to my car to stop. This helped and I ended up doing the distance in about 1:21:00 subtracting the time spent in the middle of the highway waiting for the walking signal.
I finished the morning with a kettle bell work out, which is part of what I got for Christmas. I got Yoga Blocks/ belt, a new running shirt, balance half mini balls and more that is not related to working out.
This year is going to be different and excited for what will happen with my now weekends!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Nothing to Intense
I have noticed with my schedule making it impossible recently to keep a consistent work out plan that I go from doing nothing to everything full out.
On the 28th of December I joined my good friend who was leaving the next day and two of her sisters for a 13 mile bike ride. We did not plan on the ice and snow that covered the trail, but we road it anyway.
Yesterday, the 3rd of January I tried to go run a 5k. I only made it 2 miles after getting choked on my drainage from a lingering cold I had this past week.
Today, the 4th of January I got home from my first day of my new job and ran 2 miles. I ran it in different speeds of 6.5 to 7. I am usually running it in 5 to 6.5 at the fastest. I finished the 2 miles off on 8 mph in the end with it being 7:34 pace. After running my fastest tempo run on the treadmill I decided to try my new stability ball workout. After that I did a kettle bell (5 lbs) work out.
Intense and feeling amazing!
On the 28th of December I joined my good friend who was leaving the next day and two of her sisters for a 13 mile bike ride. We did not plan on the ice and snow that covered the trail, but we road it anyway.
Yesterday, the 3rd of January I tried to go run a 5k. I only made it 2 miles after getting choked on my drainage from a lingering cold I had this past week.
Today, the 4th of January I got home from my first day of my new job and ran 2 miles. I ran it in different speeds of 6.5 to 7. I am usually running it in 5 to 6.5 at the fastest. I finished the 2 miles off on 8 mph in the end with it being 7:34 pace. After running my fastest tempo run on the treadmill I decided to try my new stability ball workout. After that I did a kettle bell (5 lbs) work out.
Intense and feeling amazing!
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