Thank YOU

I've talked the past few days about how I've been in a funk. Some suggested over training and while that may be playing a part in how I'm feeling, there's actually a lot more going on. I let my head get the best of me and once again, it's in charge. I'll pull through, as always, but it's a draining time both mentally and physically.

Anyway, my back to back 20's have been on my mind all week. It wasn't the distance, that doesn't worry or scare me. It wasn't the time, I can always make time. It's been more about what *I* want to do vs what I'm supposed to do. I'm having a hard time lately finding happiness in not only running but work, friends, family, etc. I want, and need more than ever, running to be my outlet right now. I don't want to run because I have to, I want to run because I want to.

I should have known something was off when I didn't pack up my stuff last night as part of my normal pre long run routine. So when the alarm went off at 5:30am this morning, it didn't surprise me that I turned it off. After I did, I spent the next half hour tossing and turning with guilt but I eventually dozed back off to sleep. When I woke up at 7:30 the thought of driving a half hour to the trail and running 20 miles just didn't sound appealing. I didn't want to run, I didn't want to deal with the hassle, I didn't feel like wasting my whole morning. But I got a comment last night that really stuck with me. Michelle said, "I thought of you on Tuesday as I was running my 16 miles - 'if she can run 30, surely, I can suck it up and push thru this silly little 16.' Thanks for inspiring me!"

That comment brought tears to my eyes and as I was trying to talk myself out of a run this morning, I thought about this comment and how I didn't want to let YOU guys down. So I pulled myself together and decided to head out and just run. No set distance, no set pace, no set route. *I* was making the rules for this run and I would do whatever I wanted. I grabbed a handheld (and thankfully ate a banana) and headed out. About a minute into it, I told myself to go at least 2.5 miles out and assess how I was feeling. Well, at 5 miles I hit up Starbucks for a pit stop and continued on for what would be a great, peaceful, fun 15 miles. I loved just running, not knowing which turn I was taking next, and finding new places to explore. It was so fun!

It wasn't my scheduled 20 miles, but I'm ok with that. I need to learn that it's not always about training. It's about what makes me happy. I got out there today; I enjoyed myself and just happened to knock out 15 miles without thinking twice. I have a 20 miler tomorrow, which I'm going to go pack up for now and a 5K on Sunday with Andy and my sister (both of their first!!). I'm taking these runs lightly, going to have fun and enjoy every step along the way.

Thanks to not only Michelle, but to all of YOU. Your comments keep me going and keep me smiling.

Three Things Thursday

1) I don't match today. I probably should have taken Andy's response more seriously when I asked him if I matched and he said "close enough." I didn't change because of #2 below.

2) I'm not really in a good mood. Been in a funk for a few days now.

3) I don't really have anything to talk about so I'll leave you with my favorite picture of me and my sisters. I'm the one with my arms up in the air, causing trouble as usual.

And here we are at Christmas many years later.

18's and a WINNER!!

After a rough week and feeling like I've been in a slump, I think things are starting to turn around. After dreading my first 18 miler of the weekend and having it go well, I was hopeful that I was on the right track. Well, I won't lie. When I woke up Sunday for my second 18 miler, I found myself again wishing I didn't have to get up and run. Of course I pulled myself out of bed and headed out for what ended up being a great 18.2 miles. It was still really hot and humid but despite the excessive sweating, which resulted in chafing in areas I probably shouldn't talk about, I felt great. I really didn't feel tired until around mile 17 at which point my legs finally started talking to me. Not too bad considering I ran 18 miles the day before.

So after some good weekend runs, I was happy when I woke up today and headed out for a 10 miler without a second thought. The humidity finally lifted and the temperatures took a dive and were in the upper 50's. It was a perfect day for a run! Towards the end my legs were feeling it, but mentally I was back to my old self. Hopefully it stays that way for the next 6 weeks! And just because something has to be off, I think my Achilles has done a little too much over the past few days. It's gone from being "tight" to sore all day and not liking stairs at all. I've been trying to stretch while sitting at my desk and hoping it just needs a good nights sleep.

Before I announce the winner of the Experia Socks giveaway, here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 10 mi
Tues - Cross train/lift (am) / 5 mi (pm)
Wed - 7 mi
Thurs - Cross train/lift
Fri - 20 mi
Sat - 20 mi
Sun - 5k (I'll be running a 5k with my sister and Andy...it's their first one!!)

Ok, and now for the winner...selected by random # generator...Jamie from "Running and Some Sauce on Top." Jamie (aka booger), email me so I can send hook you up with some socks!

Rough Week

Running this week was tough. Not sure if it was because I had a big week last week (70+ miles), the humidity, or a combination of them both. But since Tuesday, I've been dragging on my runs. On Tuesday I did NOT want to run after work. It took all I had to get out there. It was hot as heck, close to 90 degrees, and the sun was shining! I pushed hard and got in a good 7 miles but I was completely wiped out afterwards. Based on how I was feeling I cut my run back to 5 miles on Wednesday (instead of 7) and did some lifting afterwards. Well, cutting it back didn't make much of a difference for my 10 miler on Thursday. I headed out around 5am and before I even left the house, I wasn't up for the run. I was doubting myself and thinking about cutting it short before I even started. Even though the sun wasn't up yet, the humidity was terrible and this just added to the difficulty level. I struggled through the entire run and even had to take two 30 second walk breaks to try to regroup. Hard runs suck but the important thing is that I finished.

Since I haven't taken a day off since May 15th, I decided yesterday had to be an off day and hoped that would help me get through my back to back 18 milers I have this weekend. Well, when I woke up this morning the last thing I wanted to do was run. It really bothered me that I was feeling this way and as I drove to the trail I realized everything I was feeling/thinking are my burn out symptoms. Not really good timing since I still have a month of tough training to get through.  

Thankfully, once I started running this morning I felt great. My legs were ready to go and all the doubts cleared from my mind. The miles flew by and I felt like I could keep going forever. I finished the 18 miles feeling strong and was a soaking wet mess! I hope this was the run I needed to turn things around. I have another 18 miler tomorrow morning with another big week ahead.

I'm off to the pool now for some sun and relaxation. Good luck to all of those racing this weekend!!

There's still time to enter the GIVEAWAY!!

No More Anonymous

One bad apple spoils the bunch! Due to some moronic comments, and one potentially threatening comment (which I have saved) to one of my followers, I'm no longer allowing anonymous comments to my posts. I changed my settings so please email me if you have trouble commenting in the future.


Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!!! :-)

GIVEAWAY -- Experia Socks!!

What better way to celebrate National Running Day then to have a GIVEAWAY!! The wonderful Tracy from Thorlos has agreed to give one lucky reader a pair of Experia socks. I don't know about you, but I love me some running socks. You can never have enough! So, if you'd like to win head over to my review page and check out my review of these bad boys. Then leave a comment telling me how you celebrated National Running Day. Yup, it's that easy!

I'll announce the winner on Monday, June 7th. Oh, and I do ask that you be a follower of this blog if you'd like to be entered to win.

Contest isn't open to snarky commenters who think I lie about my workouts.

31 Miler Recap

I woke up at 3:50am on Saturday to pouring rain. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal but I was heading out for my 31 mile run. Not really a run I can push off and just do some other time! This weather was completely unexpected and I could not believe I had to do this. I threw 3 changes of clothes, extra socks and shoes in my bag, body glided the crap out of myself and headed out. Thankfully, by the time we started it was only misting and shortly after that it cleared up completely. In fact, it turned out to be a beautiful day!!

To make sure we practiced fueling for race day, we started off with two out and backs and hit the car after approximately 5 and 14 miles. I wasn't really hungry at this point since I ate a slice of Ezekiel with peanut butter and banana before I left the house but I ate a quarter of peanut butter sandwich before heading back out for another 5 miles. The next 5 miles we did the loop at Valley Forge and if you're not familiar with this loop, it is HILLY!! VERY hilly. The hills took a toll on us after such a high mileage week, with a 15 miler the day before this run, so we decided after that loop to head back out on flatter ground. Before doing so, we swung by the car and I had some Ensure and a few TJ graham cracker cat cookies. We were at mile 19 at this point and still feeling good.

I hit a mental slump around mile 21 where I thought about how nice it would be to head back to the car and go home for a nap. It lasted a good 3 miles or so but eventually it passed like it always does. Rather than head back to the car for food, we decided to do another out and back and make do with some Gu Chomps that we had on hand and a water fountain out on the trail. At mile 24 we headed the opposite direction for our last 7 miles...home stretch!

Around mile 28 a cyclist went by and yelled "hi Denise". At this point we were feeling pretty goofy so I happily waved back and said hi. Then I heard "it's Abby!". Abby was out for nice, leisurely 115 mile bike ride. Yea, I thought my 31 mile run was long! Anyway, it was nice "meeting" you, Abby!!

The last few miles of the run flew by. We were definitely a little loopy at this point, chatting away to ourselves about how bad ass we were for running 31 miles and this and that. And the best part was that we were still smiling and laughing! We ended up running 31.5 miles in just about 5.5 hours. Aside from some tired legs, stinky pits, and a funky stomach, I felt great afterwards. I headed home, took an ice bath and got ready to have company over for dinner.

As for how I felt Sunday...incredible! You never would have known I ran 31.5 miles the day before. I got up, resisted the urge to go for a run, and headed to the gym for 2 hours of cross training and lifting. I finished the week with 70.5 miles and 178.7 for May. I would have been over 200 for May if it wasn't for the first few weeks of no running because of my Achilles. Grrr.

Here's my schedule for the week:
Mon - 10 mi (done)
Tues - 7 mi
Wed - off (cross train/lift)
Thurs - 10 mi
Fri - 7 mi
Sat - 18 mi
Sun - 18 mi

Oh, I'll be posting a GIVEAWAY this week...stay tuned!