Wife Mother Runner training Archives - Page 5 of 15

Losing Your Mojo

June 27, 2015

The Mickey Miles podcast had an excellent pod cast this week about losing your running mojo. Chris Trawick was a guest and he nailed every point on the head to what I had recently experienced and now realize was a true case of losing my running my mojo. It wasn’t an extreme case of mojo loss, but I was in a little slump. I am also thinking back to this time last year and will have to visit my blog posts to see if this happens at the same time every year. I do believe that after my fall training and then completing the Dopey challenge, I tend to want to ramp down my mileage for a little while. But knowing that the Princess half marathon isn’t far off from the completion of those races; I still have to keep my training fresh so I have the miles under my belt for the Glass Slipper Challenge. But then after that I tend to want to back down on the miles again for a short period before working up again for the Spring half marathons I typically sign up for. Then before you know it, you look at the calendar and it’s time to start picking up longer runs again in July/August to get ready for the fall races. So for me it is cyclical.

Mike’s definition of mojo was when it brings you the euphoria from getting out there and doing something that makes you feel good. Michelle’s definition of it was how it makes you feel about yourself as a runner. How you feel about your training, your body/weight, your speed. How you feel about yourself as a runner. These are great definitions. I identify running as a major component in my life and when it starts to disappear from my daily or weekly routine I begin to feel like I am losing a part of myself. My chiropractor recently explained that when it falls out of our regular routine we begin to feel out of whack.

So what is the loss of running Mojo? They defined it as a loss of excitement about the training and upcoming events, races. Training can be fun; but sometimes the hard work requires us to get out the door and sometimes something gets in the way from us getting out there. For me it was recent events at work and home. I have been very busy and have had some early morning and late nights.

I was having successful races this spring with almost getting a PR for the Cheshire Half marathon, finishing the Middletown Half Marathon at such a great pace considering how hilly it was and also actually doing those races despite my lower mileage during training and a nagging injury. I think part of my mojo loss right there was the last word in that sentence. Since February and the long winter that wouldn’t let go; I was dealing with an ankle injury from doing something non running! I twisted my ankle when my boot got stuck in icy snow. So I believe that for me, when I am injured, it makes it harder for me since I don’t feel 100% and it makes me hesitant to get out there and add insult to the injury.

If you are experiencing a loss of running mojo, ask yourself , how did you lose it? Is it from something you did wrong? Are you injured? Did a specific event trigger it? Fitness, weight, stress from home? Does that throw you out of your rhythm or routine? Non physical can take the enthusiasm out of it for you. Fatigue, sickness, over training, boredom, the weather. There are so many things that can take the fun out of it for you.

How do you get it back? Well Mike, Michelle and Chris had some great tips for getting the Mojo back.

Acknowledge it. I realized I didn’t have the same energy level back in late April. I thought something was wrong with my health. But then looking back to what Chris is saying, if I did just acknowledge that I am in a slump or losing a little running mojo, I could move forward with it. I was in a rut. I had lost a little love of running. But I didn’t want to ever admit that because it is something that I really enjoy.
Reset. Reset the goals and priorities. I had to refocus on smaller goals. For me it was getting my butt out of bed again sometimes to get in a run in the morning because for me, a day begins better when I can get a run done early in the day. It helps give me clarity of thinking and then I feel better knowing I got my workout done early in the day while the kids are sleeping and then I don’t have to lose family time at the end of my work day. Jeff Galloway said, “A body in bed stays in bed. A body in motion stays in motion.”
Diversify. I did this this very weekend. I had the chance to get in two runs in a row on Thursday and Friday and then on Saturday I took the kids out for a 3 mile bike ride. That was a lot of fun for them to ride their bikes on a road; but it was great for me to get out as a family to do something active. Try to mix up your workouts. I want to get weight training back into my routine again as well.
Set a goal. Back off of an ambitious goal you have and start with smaller successes. Sometimes as runners, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves with our training plans and long runs. Try doing a few short races so you don’t have the pressure to put in the long miles. Do it for fun again.
A point that I find helpful is friends. When you run a race with friends it makes the race so much more enjoyable than running it alone. It also gives you something to look forward to.

So if you are experiencing a loss of running Mojo, listen to the Mickey Miles Pod cast episode 286. It was just what I needed to hear while I was out on my second consecutive day’s run on Friday afternoon. I just started making running a priority again and forcing myself to get out there because once I start I know I will feel better. Sleep is something that I have been needing more of lately; but I know that if I stay up late and sleep late, which means no morning run, then I WILL make it a priority to get the run in after work instead. If I know that I can’t run after work, then I figure out a way where I will get the run in during the morning.

Are you in a running slump? It happens. It happens to the best of us. Don’t let it get you down. Acknowledge it and move on.

I Got It Back

May 24, 2015

Before my vacation I was struggling with my running. My ankle was almost healed. I had run the Middletown Half Marathon and the Cheshire Half Marathon but they were out of obligation. I wasn’t feeling the desire to race them. But I did well considering I wasn’t feeling as prepared for them as I thought I should be. I was happy with my finish times. Especially since they were close to my finish times back in 2012 for my first Cheshire Half and the Middletown Half was similar to my Hamden Hills half marathon finish time.

I was afraid I was loosing my running mojo. I also noticed that because I wasn’t running as frequently as I should or did in the past that I felt more stressed. Ironically when I was out on my run today I was listening to my favorite podcast, Two Gomers Run For Their Lives, and Stepehen was saying he heard from somewhere that running at least 3 miles a day gives you the endorphins that having a full night of sleep provides you. I believe this to be very true. When I didn’t have the time to get my run done I didn’t feel fresh, my brain was jumbled and I felt fatigued.

During vacation I wanted to run when it was going to fit into my trip. I didn’t put any pressure on myself to set my alarm and wake up early for a run. I did participate in the Fun Rin during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration which required an early wake up call. But that was the only time. I woke up one morning during vacation before everyone else so I got dressed and hit the sidewalks around the Polynesian and the Transportation and Ticket Center and some of the road we run on during the runDisney events. It was hot but I enjoyed the run.

Now that we are home I have gotten in several runs and am feeling better. I am doing the Mystic Half Marathon next weekend with Diana and told her I was happy with our Cheshire Half finish time and don’t want to kill myself with this race which she gratefully agreed. I got in a 7 mile run today and took it easy and enjoyed it. The weather was perfect and I didn’t have any pain. The sky was blue, the sun was out and there was a nice canopy of shade on the road. I don’t expect to have a PR for the Mystic Half, but I do want to enjoy the run as I work towards the summer months and start to train again for the Dopey Challenge next January. I don’t want to have training burnout.

Dopey Training Is Behind Me Now

December 20, 2014

After many months and miles I am now officially in taper mode. I finished my last mock Dopey runs this week with 3 miles on Wednesday. Then on Thursday I used the miles that I was going to be walking the streets of New York for my 10k simulated run (walk). I ended up walking 9 miles that day. On Friday I had to do a half marathon distance. I had to start early before the sun was up so I did 9 miles on the treadmill and 4 out on the road. I walked much of the 9 miles but it felt good to be outside to run the 4 miles. On Saturday morning when I woke up I felt some soreness in my glutes and my feet. Much of that was because I used the treadmill the day before and also because I walked in NYC with my Dansko shoes on.

I slept in a little, had an English muffin with peanut butter and my tea and started my 20 miles on the treadmill. The intent was to do 5 miles on the dreadmill and 15 on the road. I ended up doing 6 and 14 on the road. I walked all 6 miles on the treadmill. I felt good once I got out to the road. I maintained my pace for most of the run. But I was also happily counting down the miles to know that all of my dopey training miles were coming to an end and I could relax and get ready for Christmas. It was a very cold day with some small snowflakes in the air.

I had my fuel belt on but it was so cold I barely drank my water. I did need gummy bears at around mile 7.
I had decided after the Philadelphia marathon that I didn’t want to do another 26 mile training run prior to Dopey. So I only did 20 today. I hope that is good enough. I know I will be sore when it is all over. But I think I will be able to finish with little issue. I am happy to report that I maintained all of this training without injury this year. My pace may be slower but I can now do 4 consecutive runs which I have never done before. I was very hungry around mile 17 and was going to eat my pretzels but held out until I got home. I did have my chocolate milk when I got home and took a very long warm shower to thaw out.

After that we went to finish up the last of our Christmas shopping and came home to have dinner and lay on the couch and watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It was great to just hang out on the couch and watch a funny Christmas classic with the kids. They are older now where we can watch these movies with them and I love hearing them laugh!!

So I am happy to say that my training was successful for this challenge and I am greatly looking forward to having those medals around my neck and enjoying the parks the days after the race! The question that remains in my mind is if I would do this again. Right now I can’t answer that. I know next year my mom wants to do the 5k so I will do that one, and if I am going to do the 5 then I have to keep up my streak of the 10k so the big question is if I will bother adding the 1/2 to the weekend. That is yet to be determined.

The training is the hardest part to preparing. Waking up will be another hard part. So stay tuned!!!

Dopey Training Update

December 7, 2014

As we are partly into December and a month away from flying into Orlando for the Dopey challenge, I wanted to give an update on my training. I just got back from my Sunday morning run (one of my favorite parts of my week/weekend). It was a VERY rainy day Saturday so I was hoping that rain would push away overnight and Sunday would be clear. My alarm went off at 7:00 and I peeked out the window to see everything wet and cloudy but no more rain drops were dancing on the pool cover. I got up, had my tea, got dressed and hit the road. Six miles were on the schedule today and I had the latest pod cast on my ipod from Another Mother Runner which was about the Philadelphia marathon (which I had just run 2 weeks ago), so I had something to look forward to listening to on my run. All bundled up, I hit the road SLOWLY today. I start off walking some of my hill and then began my running intervals.

I headed up to the vineyard and it was peaceful and beautiful. It was a very wind morning so on the hilltop I was getting blasted. But it was still wonderful. At the vineyard I totaled up to 3 miles so I headed back home for the remaining 3 so I could wake up the family and get ready for breakfast with them. On the return trip home I finished my podcast and then switched to music which gave me an energy boost and I had a productive 2 miles return trip home. As I was running home I was thinking of how thankful I am that this year I didn’t need to go to physical therapy for any issues and that I was remaining strong and healthy for this training and also keeping focused. Despite a little burnout during the Philadelphia marathon, I am on the right path to successfully complete my first Dopey challenge and I am happy about that. I have one more group of training runs in the next two weeks which will contain most of the miles that the Dopey challenge will be; but I am making slight modifications based on what I decided after Phillly. I don’t want to do to the full 26 mile training run and then the full marathon at Dopey, that would be 3 marathons withing a 6 week time period and mentally that would just be too much for me. So my plan is to do 20 miles on my last long training run and then the marathon during the Dopey challenge.

So good reports overall and I am happy with my progress.

Giving Thanks – What Are You Thankful For?

November 27, 2014

This year I decided to skip a traditional turkey trot road race and decided that I would do my Thanksgiving morning run in my neighborhood. I wanted to sleep in with my family and not have to worry about rushing to a race start. That was a good decision since I had done the Philadelphia marathon last Sunday, and was still recovering from a nasty chest cough and sinus infection. I am thankful that I was able to sleep in. I slept until 9 am! It felt like noon to me!

I made some tea and toast and watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV with the kids, then headed out for my run. As I was out on my Thankful run I was remembering what I had done during the last 3 miles of the Philly marathon, I was thinking of my family during those last three miles. I used the time to reflect. It was a nice, peaceful recovery run from the Philly marathon. I am thankful for my running to allow me time to de-stress when needed. I am thankful that I took a risk this year and left my job of 24+ years to start somewhere else. It was a scary and risky move, but I can truly say that I love my job. I am so happy. I am now trying to teach my husband how to take a risk and perhaps do something different also so that he can find happiness through work rather than working just to live.

I am thankful for my family and my friends old and new. I am thankful for my health.

I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?!

Philadelphia Marathon

October 30, 2014

I have been training for the Dopey Challenge in January, but in reality I have a real (non-Disney) marathon to do in just three weeks! I am running the Philadelphia marathon. I made arrangements back in March for a room. I was’t sure how many of my friends were going to run the race, so I booked two hotel rooms in different places. I needed to put aside time this week to find those hotel reservation confirmations, identify where the hotels are, gather up my paperwork for the race registration, research into train times and take a look at the course map.

I have been successfully training, but it sunk in that I am going to be running a marathon soon. I’m a little excited about getting a new race medal and seeing how well I do at this non-Disney race. I was listening to the Another Mother Runner podcast on my way to work Wednesday; and Sarah’s story about her BQ race in Victoria was so amazing. It really made me think of what I want. I had given up on the thought of qualifying for Boston. But I haven’t completely given up on the thought of running Boston one day. Kim told me something and I have been thinking about it.

“As Kathrine Switzer told me – her first Boston she finished in 4:30 the second she was around 3 because she worked hard. It’s as simple as that. U have to work hard to get what u want. Unless u are gifted which we aren’t. And Kathrine says she is not as well. She worked hard.”

It’s true, I am not a gifted runner, I do it because I enjoy it. But if I do want to do something I have to work hard to get it. So I am going to take the time to think about it and run some more marathons and see what happens with my finish times. I have been successfully training for Dopey with no injury so far and I’d like to keep it that way.

So for me Philadelphia will be a test to see what my time will be compared to the Providence Marathon in May. I will be running this race alone, but I am hoping to hook up with the Mother Runner Dimity and her cadet. I believe their finish time will be around 5:20 and that’s a big push for me. If I could get 5:30 I’d be blown away. Time will tell!

I have heard that this course is really fun and many people have said that the race is really great. I’m looking forward to it.

Dopey Training Going Well!

October 28, 2014

I had my long run this weekend in preparation for the Dopey challenge, but mainly for the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23. I haven’t really talked about that marathon, because I haven’t really been thinking about it! I have mainly been thinking about the Dopey races in January. I need to do some research about this race to find out what train I need to take to get there and also to get home, which station to get off in Philadelphia, what time the expo closes, and to figure out all the details to prepare for that race! I guess it’s a good thing I don’t feel too nervous about it. I was nervous about the 23 mile run that was on the training plan this past week. I had to do 3, 5, 8 and 23 miles. I did 3, 5, 8 and 22. I did most of the runs on the treadmill because of timing and my job and my husband’s job. But I’m ok with that now.

I started the training at 9:30 a.m. on the treadmill. My husband was working so the kids and I went downstairs and they played while I got started. I had my iPad and ate a bagel with peanut butter prior to the run so I was fueled up and ready to go. I learned that after 99 minutes, the treadmill shuts off. I stayed on it for 12 miles so that I would only have to do 11 miles on the road. I did well. I wasn’t as bored as I thought I would be. I don’t know if I would WANT to do the full 23 miles on the treadmill, but I think if I had to I could.

Around noon I got off the treadmill, mapped out a new route for an 11 mile trip, ates some pretzel fish and then hit the road. I was on the road until 3:00 p.m. I started to feel sluggish around mile 7 so I started to do the marathon math in my head and realized I was approaching mile 18 so I was getting close to a wall. I brought with me some fruit chews and ate some of them to help get some sugar to my brain. I mapped out a new route so that I was doing something different and that helped. When I was feeling tired, I decided to walk a mile and then resume my 30/30 intervals. I was maintaining a pretty consistent 13 minute mile. My legs were doing ok but I was getting tired of running. I had been doing it since 9:30 in the morning and I wanted to get home to my family. I ended up cutting the run short by 1 mile. I don’t like to do that, but I needed to. We had plans for the evening and I needed to get showered and ready to go out.

A beautiful fall day. Not a bad view to have to run by.

I know Jeff Galloway recommends you walk most of your runs prior to your long run, but during the week I ran most of the short runs. I was in a time crunch so to walk 8 miles would have taken me too long so I had to run most of it. I don’t feel too bad for cutting my long run short by a mile because I realized that it was the last run of 4 consecutive runs and considering that I really felt good. It was a beautiful day to be out for a run and I did enjoy the wonderful weather I had to run in.

The downhill I was approaching and it was so difficult to run DOWN that steep hill!

So I am encouraged now to know that I CAN do the Dopey challenge. I WILL do the Dopey challenge and based on how well I felt that night and the following day I am going to be just great when it is all over!

The issue I was having with my left leg has improved greatly since I got my orthotics replaced. I don’t need to use KT tape anymore to help lift my arch. Something I did notice is that I should consider wearing different shoes for every other day. My shoe laces were digging into my foot from my treadmill running on the previous days so by the fourth day, it was quite sore. I also heard that it is best to pack 2 different pairs of shoes for the race in case of weather. You want dry shoes each morning. However, my older shoes have more miles on them, so I will wear them for my shorter runs and save the newer shoes for the long runs.

I Have Rekindled An Old Relationship

October 24, 2014

No, I’m not cheating on my husband. I have reacquainted myself with my treadmill. For several reasons lately, I have had to do all my running indoors. I wasn’t happy about it at first; but after the third day in a row of my Dopey training schedule for this week I have come to terms with it.

I had to do 8 miles today. I had an online training class that starts at 9 and it’s dark out by 6 p.m. so I knew I couldn’t get in 2 hours of running outdoors tonight. So I set my alarm for 5:30 this morning so that I could have my tea and get downstairs to begin the run at 6:00. My daughter woke me up at 4:30 because she was coughing (side effect of fall rainy wet leaves). Once I got her settled back down and into my bed I think I slept for about 15 minutes before my alarm went off. I reluctantly hit snooze and laid there for a few minutes. I knew I couldn’t waste time so I got up, had my tea, got dressed and ventured downstairs with my iPad and headphones.

I felt good. I planned on walking all of the 8 miles per Jeff’s training plan. As the first mile was complete, it was almost a 16 minute mile. At that pace it would take over 2 hours to get the run done and I really only had 90 minutes to do it. I decided to throw in a little jogging here and there. It was still a productive run. I caught up on my episodes of Nashville and watched the latest episode of Scandal (LOVED IT!) At about 6:50 my son came into the workout room and scared the heck out of me! He had a bad dream and couldn’t go back to sleep so I brought him back upstairs and set him up with a tv show so I could complete my run.

I was keeping an eye on the clock and knew I had to stop at 7:30 to wake up my daughter and get them their breakfast. At 7:30 I had 5.25 miles completed. I woke her up, made breakfast for both kids and went back downstairs. The kids were so awesome and cooperative. At 8:00 I checked in with them and told them to get dressed and brush their teeth. I made their lunches and went back downstairs. I was at 7 miles a little bit after 8:00. So after making their lunches I had to finish my last mile on the plan and get them out to the bus. By 8:30 – Mission Accomplished!

I was so glad. I got them off to school, took a quick shower, made my chocolate milk and breakfast and got ready for my 9:00 online training class. It’s nice to know that my third workout was done before the day even got going. I am feeling soreness in weird places and I know it’s from running on the treadmill. My right butt muscle feels a little weird and I feel it in my muscles in my back going up along my spine. All good things, not bad soreness, but adjustments

I am considering beginning the first 10 miles of my 23 mile run tomorrow on the treadmill so that I can be home with my kids and have it done while my husband is at work, then when he gets home I’ll finish 13 on the road so that I won’t be out of the house for 5+ hours after he gets home. This way we can spend most of the afternoon together as a family!

I am rekindling my love for my old treadmill. That treadmill has been with me for over 14 years! I began using it religiously in 2002 when I first started to “run”. Then I used it as soon as I could after my son was born and began running again after I was given the OK to run again. I remember watching Prince Harry get married while running on that treadmill! I ran 9 miles for the first time in my life while watching the NYC marathon on TV that my old boss was running in 2002 on that treadmill. It stopped on me while I was running today so it is quirky and it may be time to invest in a new one, but for now I’ll make it suit my needs while I get my mileage in so I can be successful with my Dopey Training.

The Dreadmill

October 22, 2014

Well, I had to do the dirty deed tonight. I had to use my treadmill. I swore off my treadmill for 4 years! But I didn’t have a choice tonight and I didn’t want to miss the first workout of my Dopey cluster of runs this week. I have to do 3, 5, 8 and 23 this week. It was raining on my way home from work. I don’t care about the rain, I would have gone out in it. But my husband was still at work and wasn’t going to be home until almost 7.

It was already dark by 6:10 and I needed to be with the kids, so I had to fire up the dreadmill. I had to put 2x4s underneath the back end of it to raise the back up a little to avoid hurting my back (my chiropractor told me about this several years ago). When I did so, I dropped the back of it on my finger. I wasn’t happy about that.

I got my ipad with my favorite show Scandal all cued up with my headphones, told the kids not to kill each other while I did what I had to do. Yea it wasn’t the greatest, but it wasn’t as bad as I had feared. Funny, how I used to live on that treadmill religiously from 2002 to 2011. But it’s all good. I walked the first mile to get reacquainted with walking on a treadmill, then added a little running in 1-2 minute segments. I don’t know how to manage the intervals just this time. If I do the Galloway method on the treadmill I may break my neck doing the start and stop every 30 seconds, so I will have to work on an alternate interval cycle.

When I did run on it, it felt weird at first, but I did 1-2 minutes and then walked half of a lap. For my 5 mile run I plan on going outdoors to get it done after work tomorrow, but depending on how I feel in the morning, I may want to get dressed and do my 5 miles before the kids wake up and I have to start work. There is some potential to getting it done whatever it takes so I stay on track for my Dopey training.

I hate this time of year. I hate the dark at night. I don’t want to be trapped indoors to work out; but I’m proud that I am sticking to it. Despite my new job and the fact that I can’t run while at work, I’m doing what needs to be done and that’s ok. I’m also catching up on my shows!

Dopey Challenge – It Really Is A Challenge

October 19, 2014

This past month I started a new job. I really enjoy the new job and so far it hasn’t gotten in the way of my training for the Dopey Challenge. The challenge for me is that I was Dopey to sign up for this challenge when I never before even did the Goofy challenge! What have I gotten myself into?

My training has been going well, I will admit that. But I don’t feel as successful as I think I could feel. Maybe I just don’t know how I am supposed to feel. I do know that at times running does feel like work. Mike and Michelle talked about it on their podcast in a recent episode and it hit home with me. I do enjoy running still and I get out for my two short runs during the week and then my assigned run per Jeff Galloway. Typically if it isn’t a long run or race weekend then it is a 4 or 6 mile run. Again, I still enjoy those runs. It’s when I have the long run showing up closer on my calendar that I start to feel anxious.

I knew that next weekend I have a long run on the schedule and I can’t take a day off of work to fit it in. This means I will have to spend a weekend day running for 5 hours. It also means that I have to figure out when and how I will get out there because my husband is starting a new job and has to work on Saturday. I don’t want to spend my Sunday out running for half the day when it is the only day he will be home with the family.

So we discussed the plan over breakfast and since he will only be working 5-9 on Saturday I will head out when he gets home. This is similar to when I would go out for my long run after getting Kevin on the bus and dropping Adrienne off to preschool last year. So if I keep that mentality I will be ok.

However, the difference this time is that I have to do a 3, 5, 8 and 23 mile run in 4 consecutive days – The Dopey part. It’s getting dark out very early and it’s also dark early in the morning. I can’t run in the morning because my husband is starting his new job this week. So I’ll have to plan on doing my 3 miles Wednesday after work, 5 miles Thursday during lunch since I am taking online training at home, and I am not sure yet how I am going to get in my 8 miler on Friday. Here’s where the crazy juggling comes in.

I think what helps me not freak out too much is knowing that I only have 2 more groups of training runs like this in the next two months. One right before the Philadelphia Marathon and then before the WDW weekend the week before Christmas. I guess I’ll worry about how I’ll fit that all in when the time comes. I may have some accrued vacation time to squeeze in the long run on a Friday. I may have to fire up the treadmill in a few weeks and put in the miles indoors early in the morning. I don’t know how to get back into treadmill mode. I swore it off four years ago.

Do you have any advice on how to integrate the treadmill back into my training routine?

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