More Gym Days

I have been showing my face everyday during the week at the gym. The speed is getting better and feeling easier. Today was another step up so it was not as easy this morning but you can't stop progress! My long run on Saturday was humid but good friends made the time fly by. I am still only able to complete 7-8 miles which is fine for the summer months. I have given up marathon running for the next few years so this fall the races for me will be 13 miles or less.

On another note:

I was watching the Biggest Loser last week which was a first for me. Does anyone else see this show as a bad idea. I think it is wonderful the participants are getting in shape however aren't they losing a dangerous amount of weight in one week? They are getting encouraged to lose as much as possible from week to week and it just seems really unhealthy and contrary to anything I have ever known about weight loss. Maybe I am missing something but I just watched the whole time thinking one of them would pass out any second. One of the guys even mentioned he could now run at 8.5 mph on the treadmill. I can't even do that! Just seems off to me.

You Can't Always Get What You Want...

I always find I do get what I need. Related to running this means not getting the races I want but being able to run at the gym which I need. Really I need the daily running for mental clarity. I would love to do more races but often my schedule will not allow (just too tired on weekends). I think my regular running during the week will leave me prepared when I am able to race. I think 2009 was about making my life more efficient and getting rid of the wastefulness. This year will be about getting healthier in all aspects of my life including family relationships, finances and physical wellness. I think most of us get stuck in unhealthy cycles and habits that lead to slow decay whether we realize it or not. Sometimes life has to hit us in the face hard and then we do something different. My life has been all about this lately. I realize everything I have gotten has certainly not been what I wanted but absolutely what I needed. I have listened to my wake up call and am getting out of bed to run toward a better days. I will keep listening for more things I need.

Finally Friday!

Another week is gone and I am glad this one is history! Running wise all is well. I have been on the treadmill at the gym again this week. My training for the next several months will consist of treadmill @ gym run 20 minutes increasing speed every week or two until I reach sub seven pace for said time. When I reach desired pace then add 5 minutes until I reach 35-40 minutes of running. This is what has worked in the past to get in race shape so this is what I will do. Other part of the recipe is finding a group to run me into the ground on Saturday or Sunday. I have run with a few groups over the years to accomplish this, it is just a matter of deciding which day I want to run. I may meet up with Kenyan Way in May but not sure yet. Have a happy fast running weekend!

Painful Wednesday

I am really doing my best to get some work done but my head just keeps pounding. Only a half hour more until I take lunch and I am hoping that will make it all better. This morning I got up at the standard 4:30 am to get to the gym. After going to bed way too late this was the most painful workout yet. The intensity was actually low yet I had no energy. I think work has drained all of that from me. I like running on the treadmill most of the time but today I just felt sick. The guy next to me kept running way too fast and hanging on to the side bars of the treadmill for dear life. I really wanted to yell at him to just slow down because he was driving me batty. If you can't run without hanging on the treadmill you are going to fast. I skipped weights and headed to Starbucks for a giant coffee. When I got home Bear was ready for a quick walk before I got the kids up for school. Maybe I will call it quits early today and head home for some rest. I need a reset button for today...

Saturday

The conditions were horrible for my short run this morning. I felt like I was running through a swamp. Anyway I made it through 4 miles and then headed back for breakfast with the family. I have decided I would like to run the Tour de Bayou races this year. I love the cross country courses. I am sure the hills will make mince meat out of me but what doesn't kill me, well you know. I used to be able to burn up those hills but that was a few years ago and lack of training has taken it's toll. I do miss those days. Plans may change being that the races all take place during the week after work and I may not have childcare available. I suppose if the stars align I will be there and if not it was not meant to be. I am off to a day of chores and work...