Wait... It's almost November!?

It still amazes me how quickly life seems to pass by.  The two weeks of no running thankfully flew by and I've been able to pick up right where I left off.  As always school and life has been crazy but I'm officially over the zombie period that was mid terms and on to the next challenge.  Two weeks of not running when that's all I wanted to do was a challenge but giving my foot a break has definitely paid off.  It feels so good to be back to somewhat normal.  And for this grad student normal happened to be satisfying my inner Monica by thoroughly cleaning my apartment (Like move the couch away from the wall deep clean that just makes me feel human- I'm a tad OCD so my apartment is always clean and orderly but when I know there's no dust I get ridiculously excited).

I thought that stopping for two weeks was going to be miserable.  I mean for one I knew it meant I couldn't eat as much peanut butter as I wanted ;).  More importantly, I felt defeated that I was unable to do something that I was committed to because of an injury.  When it comes to my training I like my timelines with reasonable goals along the way.  I didn't know how I'd pick it back up again whenever I had just entered such a healthy relationship with running.  Relationship is a tricky word when it comes to running but the challenge of increasing my distances makes it a complicated relationship.  I always reach that point where I say "hey this actually feels good!" And later on there's the "I've gone far enough right?" The more I run the more I realize how it truly is a mental game.  The hardest part is convincing your mind that you can do it.  I love when my body takes over and I'm able to just let go and enjoy my runs in a way I've never been able to do.  My workouts have always been my escape from everything else going on in my life but my runs have become such a sweet escape.  I'm able to tune out all the commotion and just appreciate everything that is around me.  It's not about how quickly I run the mile anymore but how much I enjoy the process.  I cannot wait for my long run on Sunday.  Knowing I can devote all of my training to that run is a freeing feeling I wouldn't trade for the world.  My distance goal this week might be a stretch, but it's a challenge I can't wait to try!

I'm constantly amazed at all of the wonderful things that happen when I'm not looking.  Through this injury I was able to teach more spin classes and devote more time to the unbelievably crazy last 3 weeks of school.  The "resting" period also happened to be during a few weeks of yucky weather.  My inner running diva much prefers to run in the perfectness that is 65 degrees and breezy with sunshine.

I feel so lucky to live the crazy beautiful life I live.  I can't wait to see what else 2014 brings :)

"No running for at least two weeks"

I thought that would be the worst words that I've ever heard from a doctors mouth.  Surprisingly those  were the best words I have ever heard a doctor say on Tuesday afternoon.  A strange pain started on the outside of my right foot as I was doing my first Warrior Dash (that deserves it's own post) with a good friend of mine.  It didn't last long so I didn't think much of it.  When it came back on Sunday afternoon as I did part of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk I didn't think much of it.  I really didn't give it a second thought until it came back with a vengeance on Sunday night.  It hurt to put pressure on it and I had no idea what I did.

Two weeks earlier I had started training solely for my half marathon in January.  I had reached my first distance goal and using the 80/20 rule was helping me with my endurance and become a better runner.  I remember feeling so excited that I had reached that distance goal a week early because I was ahead of schedule.  I knew I wasn't over training.  I've done it before so at this point I know the signs.  I was sleeping like a rock- when I can't sleep chances are I'm over training.  I knew I was staying super safe based on all of the research I had done regarding proper training.  All I knew was that something wasn't right and I wanted to get back to my normal.  

After an extensive google search (I mean we all do it whenever we feel something isn't right) I began to panic that I had fractured my foot.  It hurt in one particular spot and everything I read only freaked me out even more.  I knew I had to get it x-rayed and I was completely terrified at what they were going to say.  Luckily the Sports Medicine doctor at the student health center saw me right away and proceeded to ask me for my history and training schedule prior to the accident.  As I explained my training techniques and schedule with the doctor I felt like an athlete for the first time.  It was then that the doctor and her student lifted an enormous weight of dread that had me thinking I had a fracture and told me that all I did was pull a muscle.  Apparently as I slid through a mud pit (that's part of the warrior dash and strangely rejuvenating) the extra weight of the mud coupled with the old shoes I wore caused my foot to have to work harder than it's used to and I strained it.  Hearing the doctor tell me that I couldn't run for about two weeks but I could still spin and lift lifted that weight of dread and replaced it with relief.  Knowing that while this derails my training by a few weeks I know that I'll still get there and I'm eager to come back stronger than ever!

Adding in more spinning and lifting heavier for the past few days has been an adjustment but it's also been incredibly rewarding.  I've gotten the chance to teach an extra class or two so in a way this "challenge" turned into a blessing since I get to work on my teaching skills.  

I am so grateful that I've learned to listen to what my body needs throughout this process.  I've been able to learn how to eat more intuitively to fuel my body for my training and what I want it to be able to do.  I feel stronger than ever and more capable than ever to conquer any obstacle.  Adjusting my training week by week really helps keep me grounded in remembering my goals and where I want to be. 

Here's to another whirlwind of a week coming up full of new challenges and a trip home!  

Emily

It's all in your head

I'm the first one to say that I've got a pretty hard head.  I'm pretty stubborn enough that if I've convinced myself of something I can do it simply because my mind believes it.  It's a good and a bad thing but in most situations it's a very good thing.  With my drive and dedication along with my stubbornness I can do anything I set my mind to.  At least that's what I keep telling myself throughout this whole grad school process.

My fitness is no exception when it comes to this drive and dedication.  I know that eventually I will reach my goals even if it feels like I won't sometimes.  Transitioning into my half marathon training has been better than I could have ever imagined! Finishing PiYo felt good and I officially fit into my goal jeans size.  I thought that fitting into that size would feel differently.  I thought that I'd be completely satisfied and switch over to maintaining goals.  My half training is about performing and succeeding and fueling my body sufficiently to reach these goals.  I still feel like I have a lot to learn about the process but I know I'll get there.  My training plan consists of 2 short runs, 1 long run, 2-3 spin classes, weight training, and a rest day.  For my weight training I busted out my old P90X DVDs and Uncle Tony is making sure my shoulders, back, and arms think of him fondly the next day.

I recently finished a book about 80/20 running.  It's where you run/train 80% of the time at a more comfortable level.  They recommend a level where you can maintain an easy conversation.  Since I started instructing spin classes I figured that this wouldn't be too difficult since I talk and spin right? Wrong.  My time has slowed down by a full 2 minutes but I don't even care.  By slowing down the runs changed.  It might take me a little longer (ok ok a full two minutes per mile but whose counting?) but the feeling after is more fulfilling than my faster runs.  I've reached a point where running feels effortless and I actually enjoy it more than I ever have before.  I completed my first distance goal a full week earlier than scheduled because I set my mind to it and simply didn't give up.  I took advantage of my stubbornness and used it to my advantage.  I've heard that once you read 6-8 miles the runs get even easier so I cannot wait to reach that point!

Most of the time it's hard to convince myself that what I'm doing is actually working when it comes to transforming my body.  I won't say I don't get discouraged because that's a lie.  Sometimes I feel that negative self talk starting.  If I have an extra indulgence (ok let's be honest it's that spoonful of peanut butter where I know it's a bad idea going into it) I feel as though I haven't made any progress. Negative self talk comes out of nowhere and I feel like giving up for about 2 seconds. It's at that point where I'm grateful again for my stubbornness because I'm able to remind myself to just keep moving.  I couldn't imagine not living life the way I do now.  I enjoy the healthy food and my daily sweat session.  The sweatier the better and the post workout high is always worth every bit of hard work.  That post workout high giving me the strength is part of the reason my positive self talk is able to dominate over the negative.  Remembering that these are normal feelings helps me to kick those negative thoughts where the sun don't shine!

Do you best and forget the rest!