Lesson of the day...perception vs reality

So today I got a lesson in making assumptions.

I went out today to get a run in before the blizzard they are predicting for us hits tonight.  5k season starts 2 weeks from yesterday....eeeeeek!    I am nervous.  I keep thinking the previous practice 5ks have been a fluke.  That when I get to race day that I will choke and have a terrible time and totally have my brain tell my body it can't run.  The mental aspect of running is such a mental struggle for me. My mind tries to tell me I can't and I keep trying to prove that I can.  I am addicted to the challenge of overcoming that negative voice in my head.  Overcoming that negativity, fear and doubt is what makes me stronger every day.

It was beautiful out today.  The sun was shining.  There wasn't much wind.  It was about 45 degrees.  The snow on the ground from the storm last week made a very peaceful and serene view!  

I have been having trouble with my shins since last Monday after my first run in my new shoes.  I haven't had shin pain since I got fitted for shoes last spring.  But I was overdue for replacing my shoes (I was literally running the tread off them).  I ended up with a different brand and on my Monday interval run and Saturday interval I experienced shin pain.  I didn't run while traveling this week, I just stuck to walking and fortunately no pain then.  But my intervals yesterday were terribly painful.  I ended up having to stop at mile 2 and change back to my old tennies.  The benefit of getting fitted for shoes at a running store is that they typically have a very generous exchange policy if you have problems with the shoes.  So I took them back today to talk to the staff about the problems I was having.  The clerk was slightly rude in my opinion, but did help me find another pair.  I didn't get to try them on my outdoor run today (if they are only used indoor, easier for them to take them back).  I am anxious to try them out tomorrow when I do treadmill intervals again.  

Today I started strong.  Maybe too strong.  Quickly into my run my shins started to burn.  I kept telling myself it was in my head.  To push through and keep going.   I slowed down to try to adjust.  I made it to the 1.5 mile point and my mind won out....I started walking.  I was mad at myself for giving in.  I felt defeated.  But I collected my thoughts and started jogging again.  And then another wave of pain came and I caved a second time and started walking again.  Again, I tried to quickly gather my thoughts and get back on track.  Fortunately a great song came on at about mile 2.0 and inspired me to pick up my pace and begin jogging again ("Back in Time" by Pitbull in case you were wondering).  And it was like I turned a corner mentally.  The pain faded.  I got into a groove.  I overcame!  I still had a few moments where I struggled to keep going, but once I started running that last time I didn't stop again until I was done!  And that is why I run....to overcome the obstacles.  

When I finished and looked at my final time, I was again frustrated.  I was mad at myself for giving into the temptation to walk and messing up my time.  I had improved my time last week from the previous week and I guess I just assumed that I would do that again today.  So when I saw the time on my screen I felt defeated and like I had failed.  I added my comments and posted it to my facebook page.  Then I went back to compare it to last week's run....and it was then that I got schooled in the lesson of perception.  I thought that having to walk indicated I had failed.  So I felt defeated.  But the reality was that my time today was slightly under my time last week!  I was SHOCKED to see that!  So lesson learned that I need to NOT make assumptions that I have failed before I even know the whole story. 

 

Week 1                                           Last week                                        TODAY!!!

What I realized was that walking doesn't define my success.  It is one factor.  It is an important aspect of my training, but not the only one.  I am still continuing to make improvements in other areas (my overall pace).  I continue to get out there and try and that is what matters.  I will work hard to continue to train for my first 5k of the season on March 9th.  My hope is that I will complete that first race by jogging the entire time.  I will continue to push forward.  But if my results are less than what I desire for myself to achieve, it will be ok.  Again, it won't define me.  

Did you like this post?  

• Leave a comment!  Who doesn't like to get a little page love! :o)
• Sign up to receive new posts via email....simply put your email in the white box at the top of the page.    Then you don't have to remember to keep coming back to check for new posts!
• Share the blog link with your facebook friends!
• Pin a link on Pinterest...and don't forget to follow me!
• Like my "Losing It" facebook page (I am posting at least once a day here!) -  https://www.facebook.com/losingit2012

Motivational Monday - 2/18/13

Well last week was another whirl-wind crazy week for me!  Really, do I ever having anything other????  I was traveling for work.  If you have been reading this blog and paying attention at all, you may recall that I take extreme comfort in my routine.  So anything that puts a kink in my routine is a challenge for me.  I have to work that much harder to stay on track (and not to mention it was TOM, so throw in a little emotional and irrational and that is just an awesome combo!).  But I am happy to report it was a week of eating well and exercising...YAY! 

I will say that I was surprised at how tough being away from my hubby on Valentine's Day was.  It really caught me off guard how bummed I was to spend the day by myself (here is the irrational - he does taxes and didn't even get home until late that night, so it's not like I missed out on tons of quality time anyway....sheesh).  I tired and wasn't in the mood to workout most evenings, but I did it anyway and that always makes me feel at least a tiny bit better...guilt is really no fun!  I wasn't in my normal routine, so I wasn't taking the classes at the Y that I usually do, lifting weights or even jogging - my workouts basically consisted of walking on the treadmill at the hotel while watching tv on my ipad to pass the time.  But hey, it burned calories! 

I was THRILLED to see the scale continuing to move down last week!  Espec with TOM!!  That made the food and exercise choices worth it!!!  I was able to see 201.2 on the scale......soooooooo close to ONEDERLAND!!!!  I cannot wait for that day!!!  I am hoping for this week, but with traveling again, not 100% sure how my body will react to more routine changes.  Stay tuned to see!  You can bet that I will be blogging it from the rooftops when I do finally get there!!!!

It was GREAT to be back home to spend time with my family this weekend...absence does make the heart grow fonder!  Friday night I got some cuddle time with my hubby while my older girls were at school activities.  Saturday, the momma taxi was in full swing shuttling the kids from swiming lessons, school to decorate for dance, soccer game, dance...but fortunately the hubby and I got to squeeze in a date night and catch a late dinner and a movie (my first cheat meal in 3 weeks!).  I  also did a little shopping to celebrate recent successes and found Old Navy was running a sale on jeans, so I decided to get a pair of the size 14's I was able to get into recently.  And I scored the cute silver sweater top at Lane Bryant on mega clearance and only paid $12 for it!  I have to say I was feeling like a HOT MAMMA for our date on Sat!!!

 

Other than my family time, I would say that the highlight of my week was on Sunday when I completed another outdoor 5k jog in preparation for upcoming 5k season.  I was elated to find that I was able to jog another entire 5k!  It was awesome to know that when I did it 2 weeks ago it wasn't just a fluke and I really am able to do it!  Last time, my brother in law ran with me, so I had that pressure of not stopping so I wouldn't disappoint myself or him.  This time, he ran ahead with my middle daughter, so I didn't have anyone to push me to keep going.  I had to rely on myself for motivation.  I must have done a decent job of it...I shaved over a minute off my time from 2 weeks ago....not too shabby for not having run all week!!  I think that when you achieve motivating yourself, that is one of the most empowering and amazing experiences.  It makes me sooooo proud of all that I have accomplished and how far I have come.  And I still have so much more to accomplish!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be nice enough that I can get another try in this weekend too.  Another PR would be GREAT! 

The run had an element of adventure to it also...I lost my car keys out of my pocket while running...EEK!  I have heard horrow stories about it, but didn't really think it would happen to me (I don't have that problem when running on the treadmill!!!).  I am VERY GRATEFUL for the good samaritan that stalked found my car and returned the keys safe and sound....I was sooo glad to not have to retrace the trail and try to find them!!!  So I promptly went to Academy sports and I now am the proud owner of a pretty pink fanny pack that I will wear for the upcoming 5k's so I can keep my phone, mp3 player and keys safe and sound! 

5k season is around the corner and I am now offically registered for FOUR races coming up!  YAY!!!  The Diva Dash is on March 9th to start things off.  Then Run 2 Believe will be March 25th, the Color Run Springfield with my gal pal Melissa will be an absoulte BLAST!  And then the Color me Rad race will be May 4th.  I still have a few others I want to do this year, but this will be a good start.

And since 5k season is coming up, I bit the bullet and bought a new pair of tennies....something tells me it was time??  I have logged over 500 miles on them (they say as a runner you are supposed to replace every 2-300 miles....oops!)  I should take a pic of the bottom of my old shoes and share....I literally ran the tread off them!  It was time.

So (finally) on to my weekly results...(2/11 - 2/17)

Monday weight:  202.4 - down 1.4 pounds from last Monday
     (still recovering from my cheat meal I think or it might have been higher)
Weekly scale +/- (Mon-Sun all weights):  up 0.2...TOM so I wasn't surprised
Workouts last week:  6

Workout minutes:  392
Total miles last week:  27.23 - awesome! 

Times at the YMCA:  0 (traveling)


How was YOUR week??? 

 

Leave a comment with your Success or struggle...we are in this together!!

 

Did you like this post?  

• Leave a comment!  Who doesn't like to get a little page love! :o)
• Sign up to receive new posts via email....simply put your email in the white box at the top of the page.    Then you don't have to remember to keep coming back to check for new posts!
• Share the blog link with your facebook friends!
• Pin a link on Pinterest...and don't forget to follow me!
• Like my "Losing It" facebook page (I am posting at least once a day here!) -  https://www.facebook.com/losingit2012

The long and short of it

I have discovered recently that I am not a fan of distance running…like at all.  The end of c25k was super hard for me to mentally push through.  I get bored.  My mind wanders all over the place.  Seriously there are a LOT of voices in my head when I run and none of them are very good cheerleaders.  Pretty negative whiners really (and they are fat and lazy).  After completing c25k, I first I decided to alternate my running days with distance (at least 20 min straight run) and pace (begin c25k program again, working on increasing my speed).  What I VERY QUICKLY found was that I do not like the long runs.at.all.  I much preferred doing w1 again (1 min jog/90 second walk alternating 8 times).  I was able to comfortably increase my pace.  When doing c25k the first time, my speed was pretty much 4.0 mph for any of the running portions.  I really was never able to kick it up any more than that, def never past 4.2 and for the longer runs, I had to go that slow to make it to the end.   Thus, my realization that I prefer the short rather than the long distances.

I was amazed at how much easier w1 was the second time around.  I felt like I breezed through it compared to the last time.  D1 I started at 4.5 mph and made it through all 8 at that pace, and kept alternating jogging/walking to finish out a 5k.  D2 and 3 I started getting a little braver.  I kept increasing my speed to see what I could handle.  Now it was a battle with myself to keep increasing my overall pace.  And I did.  I had some good days.  I REALLY liked the 1 minute of running.  I felt like it was doable.  I didn’t find myself obsessing about watching the timer and dreading the amount of time I had left.  Time seemed to pass quickly and I wasn’t getting bored, miserable, or having to fight with myself to continue.  I had an epiphany and realized that I may never be a traditional “runner”.  I may never like running an entire 5k (or other distance).  So what?  Do I really care that I am able to run an entire 5k or would I rather keep increasing my speed?  If I am being honest with myself, the speed (and feeling confident and strong) is a bigger deal to me than being able to say I dragged my butt through the whole thing (feeling tortured through it).  I don’t want to hate it.  So I decided to continue with what I enjoy instead of making myself miserable (and risk getting frustrated and wanting to quit) by trying to make myself fit into the mold of a “runner”. 

I decided that instead of moving on to w2 I would just continue with the w1 schedule and continue working on my pace.  That started out like a good plan, but I quickly got very worried about my progress this week.   I was starting out at 4.5 for the first run interval and then increasing it by 0.1 each interval until I was at 5.0 or as far I could push myself (think 5.2 was the farthest I made it).  What I found out quickly was that I am pushing myself on the increases too quickly.  I was doing really well the first half of the 5k.  My mile 1 spilt was about 14 min.  My mile 2 spilt has been about 13 min, but I am getting GASSED by the end of the second mile (or sooner).  My overall pace has been good, but I am starting to fight myself again. 

Then Wed afternoon I stated getting a tickle in my throat and I couldn’t seem to quit clearing my throat and coughing.  By the time I was ready for bed (early for me) I started having a chest cough.  I was really worried that it would get worse overnight and I would wake up Thurs full blown sick.  I took a NyQuill and went off to dreamland, crossing my fingers.  I truly expected that when the alarm went off at 5am that I would crawl out of bed to turn it off feeling like death on toast, skip the workout and go back to bed.  But I was pleasantly surprised that I really wasn’t feeling bad.  I had some congestion to get cleared out but the bad chest cough was gone.  I couldn’t justify skipping the workout so I got dressed and headed to the treadmill anyway.  I did choose the safe route and just did a walk instead of a run.  It was the first time I have just walked in a loooooong time.  But I was super proud of myself for not skipping the workout completely.  I was back to running this morning.  Although I have to say today’s session totally sucked!  I started out feeling very strong.  But I found that I def pushed too hard too quick again today.  

So decision made, I plan to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to still do the increases, but in a way I won’t kill myself doing a 5k.  And perhaps I need a more substantial food boost before my workout?  I will be looking into that too.  I’m not sure what that will look like yet, but I will sure keep you posted!

This pretty much sums it up (my husband says I could have just posted this and spared you from my ramblings)

Oh and as an added bonus, here are a few more songs I added to my running playlist:

• Fat Bottomed Girls (Glee version) - Queen
• Hey Soul Sister (Glee version) - Train
• Teenage Dream (Glee version) - Katy Perry
• Locked out of Heaven - Bruno Mars
• What doesn't kill you (Stronger) - Kelly Clarkson
• How bad do you want it - Tim McGraw
• Some Nights - Fun.

And just so you've been forewarned....I am on vacay till Jan 2 so prepare for a blogapalooza of posts as I try to get caught up!!  

Did you like this post?  

• Leave a comment!  Who doesn't like to get a little page love! :o)
• Sign up to receive new posts via email....simply put your email in the white box at the top of the page.    Then you don't have to remember to keep coming back to check for new posts!
• Share the blog link with your facebook friends!
• Pin a link on Pinterest...and don't forget to follow me!
• Like my "Losing It" facebook page -  https://www.facebook.com/losingit2012