It’s pretty obvious and I am loving all the #RunFor Videos that are leading up to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, in which I will be running the Half Marathon. They have given me inspiration each week and reminded me that I do need to train, as the race is quickly approaching!

This weeks was no different, you can see it here… They are all so well done and just a little different that it makes them interesting to see what other people are running for, and how they fit it in.

My hardest thing is making it a priority and getting it done. I drive an hour to get to work and an hour home daily and I usually work around 9 hours a day, which isn’t a big deal, I like my job but when it comes to leaving at 8 am and coming home at 7:30 every night, there isn’t much time to run, especially as the miles are starting to add up as the training runs are getting longer. Last night I didn’t have any excuses when I got home when I saw that I could run under this pretty tie dyed sky. How could I say no?

 This morning before work I definitely didn’t want to get out of bed, but when I finally was outside and had my shoes laced up, I felt so much better. New shoes give you some extra motivation too.

This week thus far I have ran 21 miles. I have a 9 miler on tap for tomorrow morning, and then I’m going to also be running a shorter run in the evening, probably only 2-3 miles, just to get in another double day. Here’s to a great weekend filled with lots of foam rolling, theragesic, and running!

xoxo

So last week I ended with a solid 22 miles. Thought it was a bit off from my projected 30 miles, I was happy with it. All my runs were solid and I worked on hills and getting my runs in back to back which will help with my ragnar legs.

Then this week started and this week I plan on getting my 30 in. I started with a 2.5 mile run last night with B and my legs were literally TRASHED. I felt like I ran a marathon the day before, which is weird since I hadn’t run since Saturday. I thought it was weird but I figured it was just a flop. I had a 7 miler this morning to finish and when I started running  I was struggling. I knew it was going to be a long run. At mile 2, 3.5 and 4 I had opportunities to turn around and head home, but I stuck with it. I wanted to get it in even if it took me all morning.

It was a nice morning out, which made it a tad easier, but at mile 2 my legs were DEAD.

I kept asking this over and over… What is wrong with you? Why is this happening? WHY!  This face pretty much sums up how I was feeling too.

The mile started to tick by, but it wasn’t getting easier. I tried stretching, I tried breathing differently  but deep down I knew I would just have to keep pushing to get my miles in. I thought about the team I was going to be running with in a few weeks and how I am petrified of letting them down. I kept going and going even though I passed my house three more times and I was so tempted to stop. I tried to focus on the fact that I could run and that this crappy run would pay off come race weekend. The route I ran was pretty boring, but at least it was pretty!

Finally, I rounded the last mile of my run and I haven’t felt that accomplished in a long time. I haven’t really struggled like I did on that run for a while, so I should have know I was due, but I was so glad I stuck with it and got it done. I thought about all the #runfor videos that I’ve seen thus far and thought about what I was running for this morning and it was for accomplishment. I am so glad that I didn’t give up and I got it done. Even when it’s hard, it’s worth it.

xoxo

I don’t have any words that truly can convey the emotion about this video. Just watch it and be inspired.

This was from my run last night! Right now I’m on an endorphin high and it’s because I’m finally getting into a routine of running. I cannot lie, fitting it all in for me is a very hard task. I work around 55 to 60 hours a week, I try to spend time with B when he’s actually home from work, since his schedule changes so often, I have friends and family that I try to see as often as possible and I do try to do my hair every day so I don’t look completely homeless. I try to cook and clean as much as possible around the house and sometimes it’s just a lot.

I struggle with dealing with the disappointment of skipping a run. In the past I would get really discouraged when I missed a run and would let it really derail my training. This time around I’m taking it all day by day and working my hardest to fit it in and still have a happy medium with my social life. I sometimes try to fit too much in and beat myself up over it, which isn’t fair to anyone. Running is fun, it brings me happiness and allows me to clear my mind but running isn’t my entire life. I need to remember balance and that missing a run isn’t going to completely ruin my training. I need to remember than when I spend time at home when B, or decide to take the dogs for walk instead of going for a run, I’m not ruining my training plan, instead I’m enriching my life.

Last week I was really happy with my mileage of 22 miles for the week. It’s been a long time that I’ve ran that much in a week. I have to get in 30 miles this week and I’m 1/3 of the way there already with 10 miles under my belt thus far.

Doing double days is difficult for me, but I know it’s going to all pay off when Ragnar comes around and I will be running on tired legs, quite a few times. I also know it will help with the Dick’s Pittsburgh Half two weeks after and I won’t be feeling tired and hopefully my legs will be fresh! I do know that when I am feeling a bit down, I watch the #runfor videos… they always are so inspiring and I would be lying to say I don’t look forward to them each week!

Monday I ran with B in the evening (he hates running) and I did a double day running 4 miles in the morning and 4 miles at night yesterday. My legs didn’t feel terrible after my morning run or my evening run and with Wednesday being my planned rest day I felt pretty normal. If I had time to go for a run I would have today.

Tomorrow I have another long morning run of 7 miles and then Friday I have a shorter run, which I want to push the pace on. I want to run hard for 5 miles just to see where I’m at. Saturday I’m going to do another 8 mile long run in the morning and Sunday I will take a rest day for family activities and celebrating Easter! I would like to do a double day on Sunday, but it’s just not in the cards.

I have still been foam rolling a lot, and it seems to be helping my IT Band. My confidence is finally back and I feel completely normal when I run, instead of being so worried about how my legs are going to feel afterward. It’s a freeing feeling.

I’m just so happy to be pain free and able to run.

xoxo

I really didn’t want to get up for Wednesday’s morning run. I knew once I started I would feel better but knowing you have to run 7 miles before 7:30 am, is tough. When you start in the dark, it’s hard to imagine that when you get home you’ll have seen the sunrise and have been up for over an hour and half! As they say, you never regret a workout… but it’s starting that workout that’s so hard!

As I left this morning I knew once I was done, I would be feeling so much better and the miles started to tick by slowly. One mile, two mile, I knew at 3 miles I only had 4 more to go, and then it was just a 5K. Since high school I’ve always split my miles up like that because it makes it easier to think of shorter distances than longer ones.

My shoes finally bit the dust on this run, with over 450 miles on them, and I wasn’t running too fast but I was pretty tired by mile 6. I find that when I run in the morning I am more tired and slower than if I run in the evenings. I knew I had one more mile to get it done though, and that pushed me forward! This week I ran 22 miles, which is a great number for me right now! I also did two long runs to help prepare me for Ragnar and the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

I did come home to this though….

BAD GEORGE!

I finally have my confidence back and it feels so good to be getting back into a routine!

xoxo