Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Longest run...coming Saturday

This coming Saturday, I will be running the longest distance that I remember running - ever!  When I was running cross country in high school, I don't ever remember the coach telling us distance - that or I didn't care at the time.  EIGHT, yes 8, miles are going to be tackled on Saturday morning.  My alarm will be set for 5:30 and I hope to be out the door by 6:00 AM and get home by 7:45 AM.  Then, my kiddos and I can have some time relaxing on our own.

The training program my friend gave me is a good one...slowly building up distance.  It has allowed me to build up some stamina as well.  Yesterday, I ran my first 5K (of my 6 mile run) without stopping.  This is the first 5K I have ran without stopping since - well, probably since I was in high school.  Slowly but surely, I'm getting there!  Thank you for everyone that has supported me so far.  It is definitely appreciated! :)

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Encouragement ... or lack there of

Today started off WEEK 5 of training...my kiddos were gone on vacation with their grandparents, so I thought that I would get up and make a couple eggs and toast before my planned run of 5 miles.  No biggie.

I let breakfast settle, it was just enough of take away my hunger but not leave me too full.  I stretched and headed out on my planned route.  To warm up, I always walk the first 0.10 miles - I know exactly where it is and go from there.  I was walking down the street and got a few waves from friends and people I know...always a good start to the day.  As I started running, my legs felt like they were filled with lead, not a good feeling!  I reminded myself that I cannot walk for more than 0.1 miles for each mile - so I kept at it, running a VERY slow pace.  My map on my phone dinged at the mile mark, told me my splits and I walked...that walk was needed.  I tried to do a little more stretching...ugh!  Nothing!  Back to running and I had to walk again sooner than I wanted...this routine continued for a majority of my run.

I had quite a few waves, some older ladies and gentlemen up at the track at the park giving encouragement and small talk as we passed - keeping my mind on running, not how bad my run was or how heavy my legs felt.  Mind over matter....

Then, it all went south.  I left the park track and started to head home, not quite at 4 miles, but I was ok with shortening my run today.  As I left, I walked a bit, then started running and turned a corner (literally, not figuratively) and there was a gal getting in her car.  I nodded and waved, like I had to so many others on my run.  She smirked - ok, fine, whatever.  I heard her get in the car, start it and rev up the engine.  Next thing I know, she's swerving onto my side of the street (I always run against traffic so I can see them coming and she was headed in the same direction as me), and through her open window, she giggles and yells "Run Forrest, RUN!  Maybe if you run a little faster, you'll get rid of that jiggle!" and she continued to giggle as she drove away towards the stop sign.  I was a little worried as I got to the intersection and had to wait for the same traffic she was - luckily nothing was said, but as I started to cross the street, she quickly cut me off (it is a T intersection and we were turning opposite directions).

I finished my run, not saying anything...not happy, but determined to shake it off.  I got home and texted my husband and one of my friends that is training for the same half, they were appalled.  After showering, I wrote up a Facebook post and many of my friends supported me, lifted me up, and said exactly what I was thinking.  Thank you to all those that give encouragement, share the road, and are there for me!  I appreciate it!

What are you thinking?!

Let me take a minute and introduce myself - I am Amanda. I am a 30-something year old Central Nebraskan. My life revolves around my husband and our two boys...back in my high school days, I (very slowly) ran cross country. I was the only girl on the team...and honestly, I loved it. Fast-forward a handful of years, and I am slowly getting back into running.

I am currently training for TWO half marathons - one in August, one in November.  I have had many people think it's a great idea, others not so much.  I haven't run a race since Cross Country Districts as a JUNIOR in high school!  ...that was a good 17 years ago...eek!  Of course, there are days my body aches - I tore my ACL skiing during college and took it WAY to easy on my knee during recovery and then for another 10 years after the fact.  I am slowly building my way back up and getting my endurance back.  It doesn't happen overnight and seems to take a lot longer than it did a couple decades ago.

Luckily, I have two great friends that are training for the State Fair Half Marathon with me.  One has been running for quite awhile and has run a few half's, the other is training for her first as well.  I love that I have people that are holding me accountable.  Without our daily "snaps" as to what our workout for the day was or how it went, I don't know that I would have the drive to keep on the road of training.