Tomorrow, we will eat cupcakes.

Today, however, we need to talk about sweating.

It’s all about balance, right?

A very interesting thing happened a few weeks ago after I declared war on running and told it to eff off.  I started getting better at it again.  The reason I started to get better is because I branched out.  I started lifting weights again (my 1st love), and I also went back to one of my favorite activities ever: cycling.

We call it “cycling” at my gym because we can’t call it “spin” because “spin” is copy-written.  I learned that this week.  Crazy, right?

Back in the day, I made it a habit to attend a cycling class every Tuesday at 6PM.  I loved cycling dearly, much like I love riding Blue Betty outside when it’s a little warmer out.  Cycling gave me the opportunity to have a moment with myself and “my bike”, and let me challenge myself just as much as I wanted to be challenged.

I hadn’t been to cycling since September 7th.  Due to an unfortunate chain of events, I remember that date very well.  I don’t know if I was afraid to go back to that class because of everything that happened after the last time I went, or if I was just generally avoiding all physical activity [probably the latter], but I did get back to my favorite class a few weeks ago, and I’m happy that I did.

I was also happy to see that my favorite instructor was still there on Tuesday evenings.

Candace Grasso is a badass PowerBar sponsored athlete and an amazing cycling instructor.  It feels really corny to say, but I always feel “new” when I leave her class.  She has a way of making her classes inspirational and fun, while still being a really killer workout.

During Tuesday’s class, Candace talked about the mind being the most difficult thing to conquer during an endurance event.  She said that when endurance athletes get to the most difficult parts of their event–the point when they feel like they can’t go any longer–they don’t freak out and have an asthma attack.  They relax.  They find a place in their mind where they can chill out and just “be”.  From there, she began telling us to relax our bodies; shoulders, legs, chest, tongue.  Yes, she even told us to relax our tongues at one point.

I thought she was crazy until I did it.

I haven’t stopped thinking about this little “lesson” since Tuesday.  After class, I started Googling, and I found an article on Active.com about relaxing your mind and body during physical activity.  I was intrigued, so I put it into action yesterday during one of my 3x weekly runs.  I wanted to run for 35 minutes using Galloway 5:1′s, as I have been since the Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon.

The goal for last night’s run was to do 5:1′s, but see if I was able to relax my way into a slightly faster pace.

The first thing I did was hit the “pipe”

This little thing does wonders for my breathing, so rather than wait for asthma to ruin my run, I’ve been preventing it with a couple of hits before I start sweating.

Then, I started my first interval.  The first 2 intervals are always pretty easy–I generally take them at a pace about 1-2 minutes slower than my normal running pace just so that I don’t start off too fast and burn out before my run is over.  When I got to the 3rd interval, things started to get a little ‘breathy’, but I just focused on the horizon, relaxed my tongue [yes, I even did this part], relaxed my shoulders, relaxed my mind, relaxed my legs even, and I just kept telling myself to “settle into it”.

“You can do anything for 5 minutes”

“You’re relaxed”

“This is a piece of [cup]cake”

“You got this”

What I noticed is that I was much much more chill about the whole thing.  It turned out that I felt like I could actually run faster.  If you’re a runner, you know what I’m talking about–that point during some runs when you realize that you feel great enough to go a little faster than anticipated.

So, at that point, I started playing a little mental trick on myself.  I’d start off my running interval at, say 5.5.  At the 2:30 mark, I’d turn it up to 5.7 until the end of the 5-minute interval, then walk for 1 minute.  When I began the next 5-minute interval, I’d start at 5.7 and run that for 2:30, then turn up the speed to 5.9 to finish the last 1/2 of the interval.  On the next interval, I’d start at 5.9 and increase to 6.1.  Before I knew it, I was running faster than I’ve run in months.  Since I was actively trying to keep myself relaxed, the progression didn’t do much to my body or breathing, but it did a lot for my pace.

So, it seems like relaxing helped me a whole bunch on last night’s run.

This is the detail from my last 3 months of treadmill Galloway runs (outdoor runs are excluded, due to hills and such).  Last night, my pace was 11:04, and I was comfortable.  The closest that I have come to that pace in the past few months was around an 11:30 pace.    In addition to being more relaxed, I would also attribute the increase in pace to my continued commitment to cross-training and lifting weights, since my body seems to like that as well.

Every time I get completely fed up with it and tell it to go take a hike, I end up realizing that my lack of skill in running is primarily due to my own laziness.  Not only do I need to RELAX, but I also need to cross-train my body.

Since I’m not a natural runner, I just have to try a little harder to get my body to cooperate.  This doesn’t mean that I’m going to run any more marathons in the future, but it does mean that I will try my best to keep a well-rounded training program.

I’m not kicking running to the curb because it turns out that I really do enjoy it when I’m doing it “right”.

So…tell me…are you able to relax your mind and body when you run/bike/swim/sweat?  If so, how did you train yourself to do this?

Did you see my post about the Cupcake Marathon Spring 2011?  Believe it or not, that was not just a shameless plug for Sugared Bakery–I was plugging this virtual run because EVERYONE can do it!  I’m not joking–I’ll even be doing it.

Here’s the deal…this is not your standard race.  The race begins on March 14th, and ends on March 26th.  If you choose to run the “marathon” distance, all you have to do is run 26.2 miles during the 13 days between March 14-March 26.  You don’t have to complete the distance all at once, and you don’t even have to run, so it’s possible for anyone to do this virtual race.

The best part is that by completing the miles that you sign up for, you will have the chance to win a whole slew of prizes, including Sugared Bakery cupcakes.  Cupcakes are a great reason to run!

If you’re up for the challenge, just go over to the CookTrainEatRace website and sign up for your desired distance.

See you tomorrow for CUPCAKE FRIDAY!

For the past 5 years of my life, I’ve seriously tried to be a runner.  I’ve trained my ass off, even waking up before daylight so that I could get my miles in before the sun started blazing down on me.  This is a major sign of devotion, considering how much I love sleep.

I’ve cried on the side of major highways, called my loved ones for rides, suffered through IT band friction syndrome, bursitis, and I even agonized my way through a marathon in a fairly injured state.  My body has lived in a varied state of dysfunction for roughly the past 3 years.

Last night, I ran/walked a measly 2.5 miles, and I’ve now apparently pulled “something” contained within that massive conglomeration of muscles, tendons, and wonky space behind my knee.  I thought that the solution to all of my running problems was switching to a walk/run/walk program, but in addition to janking my knee last night, I also janked my Gymboss.

I think it was a sign.  My knee and my Gymboss went to hell, both during the same run.

So…

Guess what, running?

No, like seriously.

You’re just like an abusive boyfriend.

I have this crazy, psychotic love for you, despite the fact that I know in my mind that you’re just no good for me.  I devote my time and attention to you, and I think that everything is going along swimmingly, and then BAM! , you turn around and bitch slap me for no good reason.

Then I cry and pout and stew, and you apologize.  You tell me that you’ll change, it’ll all be OK in the end.  You’re ‘different’ this time.  So I take you back.

Then, a week later, you beat my ass again.

And so, to this, I say “ENOUGH“, because “everyone has a limit”.  And nobody puts Baby in the corner.  And such.

I just can’t do this to myself anymore.  I have to own the fact that it’s just not working out for me.  Running isn’t my thing.  It never was, and as I continue trying to run month after month and race after race, I’m getting injured quicker and quicker.

I’m going to do my best to complete the 3 races that I have on schedule for 2011 (February, March & April), and then I’m going to have to move on to something that better suits my body.  I’ve said it before (remember 2010–the year of the triathlon?), but this time I mean it.

[p.s...can I take out a restraining order on myself in order to properly enforce this decision?]

Unfortunately, this opens up a whole new set of challenges.

I’m probably going to have to rename the blog.  ‘Bicycler’s Life’, ‘Weightlifter’s Life, or Wii Gamer’s Life just don’t roll off the tongue as easily.  All I know for sure is that “Jogger’s Life” will be a bit of a misnomer after April.

I’m going to have to start believing the fact that I’m not going to instantly gain 50 pounds if I stop running.  On the flip side, I’m also going to have to commit to participating in other activities that I enjoy (eating cupcakes is not a sport).  Otherwise, I actually might just gain 50 pounds.

I’m also going to have to really own the fact that there will be no more running in my life.  I’m going to also have to stop convincing myself that “this” time that I start running again is somehow going to be “different”.

It’s never different.  Stalk me as you may, running, but I know that you’re no good for me, and I don’t have to take it anymore.

[source]

J. Lo said so.

Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.  ~St. Augustine

I want you guys to know something.

I have bad habits.

Several bad habits.

Sometimes, I throw my dirty clothes on the floor and don’t pick them up for days.  DAYS, I tell ya!

I pick my teeth in public from time to time.  I know it’s gross, but it’s a habit.  It happens.

I have this annoying way of nodding my head and saying “uh huh” as people are talking.  Although I know that this is a horrible characteristic and implies that I’m not actually listening (even though I am), I still do it.  It’s a habit.

These are just a few of the little quirky things that make me “me”.  They’re manageable.  They’re things that won’t drasticaly change my life one way or another.

The ones that I worry about are the new habits.  The habits that I’ve developed over the past 6 months.  The habits that tell me at lunch time that I should skip my planned workout because I can work out “tonight”.  Then, when “tonight” comes, those damn habits assure me that it’s OK–I can just work out “tomorrow”.  Then, those same habits cause me to become fused to my sofa after 6:30PM Monday through Friday.  These are also the same habits that make me get up from said sofa to snack on multiple things between the hours of 7:30-10:30PM.

Sometimes, the word “binge” even echoes in my mind.

I’m not sure whether it’s me who is speaking that word, if it’s the new habits talking, or if it’s the ghost of eating disorder past.  No matter the source, when that “binge” word comes up, I react.

I feel out of control.

Out of touch.

Out of practice.

Out of belt loops.

I recognize that there are times when I reach this point in my life.  Times when I’ve gone from working out and eating sensibly for a long period of time, and then I hit some sort of life challenge, and things fall off for me.  I become physically lazy.  I just want to be at home.  I want to sit and think [or not think at all, and instead just watch Housewives of Beverly Hills].

The past year has been a challenge for me.  I went from constantly race training in 2009–from my first 1/2 marathon to my first 10K, then my first 15K, and finishing up with my first marathon–to feeling like a big slacker in 2010.  I realize that I did a 1/2 marathon and my first two triathlons during 2010, but admittedly, I could have done much more.   Admittedly, I put in about 40% of the effort that I could have.

I’m not telling you this out of guilt or remorse.  I’m telling you because it is what it is.  I know I can do better, and I’ve learned many lessons over the past two years in terms of my athletic goals and abilities.

I know that I want to run.  I also know that I want to feel fit.

I have learned that in order to take ourselves from a place of “bad habit” to a life of “good habits”, we need to feel motivated.  I have also learned that one of my largest forms of motivation is feeling as though I am making a difference and helping others get motivated.

While I was training for my races, nothing made me happier than receiving an email or comment from someone telling me that I inspired them to try something that they’ve never done before.  As cliche as it all sounds, for me, that makes all of my hard work worth it in the end.

Last night, we had our inaugural meeting of the Team Rep Your City (TRYC–pronounced “Trike”) Running Club.  I was intimidated by the prospect of joining (and being part of the launch of) a running club, because I’m not a very good runner.

I’m slow, I become injured, I snot all over myself…these are not the marks of a  true runner.

However, when I started learning about the people who were interested in joining the running club, I was overjoyed to find out that they were mostly all beginners.  I was immediately excited with the prospect of being able to make a difference and help others find their love for running.

Although I don’t always like running, I definitely love running, and like most people who are not particularly athletic, when I first started running, I never thought that I could even run a mile.  I like being living proof that anyone can be a runner, no matter how good they initially think they’ll be at it.

The greatest thing about TRYC is that it has motivated me to change my bad habits back into good ones.  I will get off of the sofa, and I will remember why I love being outside running, sweating, becoming myself again.  Starting today.

Bad habits are easier to abandon today than tomorrow.  ~Yiddish Proverb

What motivates you?

Sometimes, the only way that I’m able to get myself out of a rut, be it fitness, life, personal or career-related, is to make an impulsive decision and jump in with both feet.

Heck.

This is how I make about 90% of my decisions, to be honest.  I tend to be a very “go with your gut” kind of gal, so when things need a little shaking up, I make a crazy decision.

Heck.

The whole reason why this blog is in existence is because of a rash decision.  I signed up for a race that I had no business doing.  But, relative to any other physical accomplishments that I had ever made, I basically won that first 15K in my own mind, just by signing up.

Before I even finished that first race, I signed up for an even longer race that I REALLY had no business doing.

Then, I signed up for a race that I never (in my worst nightmares) believed that I would sign up for (much less complete).

After the injurious nightmare that was training for THAT race, I took a step back and reevaluated.  I don’t like being injured.  I like to walk without pain.  I really enjoy spending my Saturday mornings sipping coffee and baking muffins rather than sobbing on the side of the road, approximately 10 miles from home.

I owned it.

Distance running is not for everyone.

Distance running is not for me.

After that shocking revelation, I still didn’t learn.

Impulse struck again, and I signed up for the Disney Princess 1/2 in March 2010.  Again, I suffered through this race with IT Band issues.

Some people never learn.

I never learn.

Until recently.

Rather than focusing on how many miles I could run in 2010, or how fast I could run those miles in, I decided to focus on having fun. For some people, running long distances is fun. For me, not so much.  As a result, I signed up for my first triathlon.  Then I signed up for my second.

Despite the fact that I fought seaweed and zebra mussels, and had my life flash before me on several occasions during each of the races, I loved them.  Really, really loved them.

I learned a lesson.

Stick with the activities that make you feel good.  Do the things that make you smile, regardless of what ‘everyone else’ is doing.

As a result, I’ve taken a much kinder, gentler approach to my future athletic plans.  Because of everything going awry in my life since my August 7th IronGirl Triathlon, I’ve only been able to work out a handful of times since then.  Only recently have I been given the green light from my doctor to resume my normal activity.

Normal activity.

I don’t even know what my “normal activity” is at this point.  I ran 2.25 miles last Saturday, and that’s all I’ve really felt inclined to do (besides some mall walking during the week).  I’m OK with that, but something interesting has happened.

I want to run.

I actually want to run.

But just a little.

Although not nearly as drastic as a marathon, 1/2 marathon, triathlon, or even a 15K, I made an impulsive decision today. I needed to shake things up–remember why I love sweating so much. I signed up for the 2010 Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis this morning.

It’s a 5K.

I haven’t run 5K since August 7th.  I snotted, cried, sweated, limped, and chafed my way through a Marathon just a year ago, but now I need to actually train to run a 5K.  That kind of makes me smile.

I’m really starting from square 1 again, and that’s OK with me.  It’ll be fun.

________

I signed up for this race (again…you can read the pathetic story of my first experience here) as part of Team Rep Your City, which is a brand new running club organized by my running coach/bff (whose praises I’ve sung for the past 5 years, both on blog and off).  I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about TRYC in the near future, as we’re all working together to get the club up and running (ha…pun…).

If you’re local and you’d like to run with Team Rep Your City (or donate to the Arthritis foundation for our team), click through to our donation page, and choose either “General Team Donation”, or “Join Our Team”.

Merci.

Je t’aime.

In case you didn’t get the memo, I am a little crazy.  Leading up to December 25, 2008, I had only done three 5K races in my sporadic running ‘career’.  Prior to going through treatment for my ED, I was a treadmill runner, generally only running on days when the scale told me to.

When my treatment professionals asked me to put running (and all things exercis-y) aside until my health improved, it felt like such a double-edged sword.  I didn’t want to get ‘fat’, but I also wanted to get ‘better’.  Not to mention, exercise and running were like a crutch to me.  I abused running, so I hated running.  I associated running with all things weight-loss.  But I wanted to lose weight.  But I hated running.  But I wanted to lose weight…

Fast-forward to today: Weight-loss, schmate loss.

Rewind to the year 2007: I view this as the year that I ‘reset’ my life.  I SO wish that I was blogging back then because it would have been so entertaining for everyone to witness.  I finished my ED treatment early in the year, bought my own condo, met my future husband, finalized a divorce (yes, the new man appeared before the divorce was final.  I admit it, I’m a tart), and I learned how to listen to and honor myself and my body.  I wasn’t focused on exercise or weight or even food.

I was focused on learning how to live.

And my jeans still fit me the same in January as they did in December.

It was at that point that I learned a valuable lesson about life: if I’m enjoying my life and living it to the fullest, scales and jean sizes just don’t matter.

On the other side of the coin, I realized that NOT obsessing about it did me as much good as obsessing about it did.  My ‘weight’ (whatever that is) did not change.  Obsessing about calories and exercise was a complete waste of energy for almost THIRTY years.  THIRTY. YEARS.

Then, I felt guilty for essentially WASTING 30 years of my life; consumed with myself and weight loss and dieting and calories.  I felt incredibly selfish, and I started to realize how completely narcissistic the whole thing really was.  I mean really.  Was I really so shallow that I was going to let the way I look continue to be so all-consuming in my life?

Not that the way that I look doesn’t matter to me at all, but to allow something like that to suck the life out of me felt unreasonable and illogical.

After I wallowed in self-pity for a while (not long), and felt confident that I would be able to incorporate exercise in my life as a way to FEEL better rather than LOOK better, I started working out regularly again.  I gradually started to realize that I can have fun and work out at the same time, and it was at that point that I tried running again for the 43,281st time.

This time when I tried running, I was focused on how my body felt.  This time, I was doing it for different reasons.  I felt like I was the boss of my workout (rather than letting ED control it), and running actually felt liberating for a change.

Liberated is a good feeling.

And I’m not complaining about being liberated.

The problem is that it seems like ever since that fateful Christmas Day in 2008, when My Sista convinced me (p.s…that is a link to my first blog post ever) to run The Boilermaker 15K with her in July 2009, I haven’t been able to stop signing up for stuff.

This compulsion to be a “YES-(WO)MAN” is not limited to running.  It has trickled down to all things life-related.

When the ink was barely dry on my Boilermaker 15K registration confirmation page, I signed up for the Frederick 1/2 Marathon (May, 2009), because my friend/master trainer/running coach asked me to do it.  Moments after that, I registered for the Clyde’s 10K because my friend asked me to run it with her.  Then, 47 minutes later, I signed up for The Baltimore 1/2 Marathon, because my sister asked me to.  A millisecond later, I changed my mind and mailed a check to upgrade to the full marathon.*

*(the timing of these actions may have been changed because I’m a drama queen, but the actual events are real)

In the midst of all of this impromptu race training, I was also signing up for Healthy Living Summits, part-time parenting, vacations, getting plastered and enduring embarrassing falls in ladies rooms…you know…living life (and suffering head contusions).

I went from letting my life just kind of ‘happen’ for nearly 30 years to devouring every single opportunity that presented itself.  This was a huge change for me.  You’re dealing with someone who (in my ‘past life’) was too scared to ask a waitress for ketchup.  I was afraid of everything.  And nothing.

As I was making all of these decisions that were uncharacteristic of my former self, I never batted an eyelash.  I seriously didn’t really consider the weight of the fact that I was signing up to do things that I had never imagined that I would ever do in my lifetime.  For someone who is scared to ask for ketchup, even a 15K race is a major accomplishment.

Heck.  Going to a salon to get my hair cut was a major accomplishment back in the day.

Over a two year period (2006-2007), my comfort zone was virtually widened by miles and miles.

Nowadays, I look at goal-setting and life decisions as a normal part of staying happy.  I also look at every challenge as an opportunity to learn something new about myself and my life.  For that reason, I consistently take on more than I can logically handle.  Just when I think that I’ve reached my breaking point (work, school, running, kickboxing, part-time mommying, friends, trips, vacations, freelance work), I say “YES” again, and take on even more.

[sidebar: I haven't done a shot since that aforementioned incident where I played slip-n-slide on the floor of a public restroom...**shudder**gag**]

This year, I’ve made a goal to run one 1/2 marathon (The Disney Princess 1/2 is in 17 days), two sprint triathlons (the Celebration Sprint Tri, and the IronGirl Syracuse), and a full marathon (probably the Marine Corps Marathon).  And go to FitBloggin.  And see another NKOTB concert (at The Borgata on May 28th, woo!).  And plan a wedding.  And get married.  And kickbox.  And take a honeymoon.  And work full-time.  And complete 6 more classes for school.

Do you see where this is going?

Challenge.  Constant, never-ending challenge; but I’m enjoying every moment.

p.s…can someone please point me to a reliable training source for my first triathlon (**panic**faint**cry** drool**snot**snot**)

p.s.s…this post was actually supposed to be entirely about training for my first triathlon, but it went in a completely different direction, and the triathlon training question became a p.s.  This is yet another example in the long list of ‘Proof That I am Flaky’.

* Have you joined my Facebook Group yet?

* See how my training is going over here!

* Looking for my eBook?

*Check out my body image project!

As you may or may not have already read, I’m going to the FitBloggin’ 2010 conference.  I’m pretty boosted about this because:

• I didn’t have a very good time at the Healthy Living Summit (due to many factors), and I’d like to give the whole “healthy blogging conference” thing another whirl.
• I’ll basically take any free pass I can get to blabber about health and fitness for an entire weekend.
• It’s taking place less than 15 miles from my home (hello, convenient).
• MizFit is going, as well as several other really cool bloggers that I’d like to know (yes, I’m stalking all of your blogs.  Let’s chat in real life so I can feel less creepy!)
• It will give me a reason to do some sweating at a time when I won’t technically be training for anything.

With that said, Roni has apparently done such an awesome job organizing the conference that New Balance has offered to sponsor a 5K run/walk on the Saturday morning of the conference.  This is really exciting and fun news in my world.

Unfortunately, not everyone can attend the conference and participate in the 5K with the whole Fitbloggin’ crew.  However, one crafty blogger has decided that she’s still going to participate in the 5K…virtually!  She wants everyone else to join in the FITBLOGGIN’ 2010 VIRTUAL 5K RUN/WALK.  I think it’s an awesome idea!  Click on her link to check it out.

So, regardless of whether or not you will be at FitBloggin’ 2010 in the flesh, you can still be there in spirit!  If you decide to virtually participate, I want to hear all about it!

How about today–what is everyone doing to sweat TODAY?  Personally, I’m running 2 miles at lunch, and then I have kickboxing tonight (after 2 weeks of Snowcation).  Stay tuned to see if  I make it through both workouts…I’m doubtful.

* Have you joined my Facebook Group yet?

* See how my training is going over here!

* Looking for my eBook?

*Check out my body image project!

My day started out fine.  No drama.

Chipotle for lunch with Restaurant Boy.

I mean really.  How can you go wrong with Restaurant Boy?

You might not have known this because I’ve never told you, but I have never really enjoyed Chipotle in the past.  The reason is because it has always hurt my guts.  I never understood the whole thing, since I know that Chipotle uses all natural ingredients.  It just didn’t make sense.  I cut meat out of the bowl, and it still hurt my guts.  About 2 weeks ago, I gave it another whirl.

Because I am a constant source of self-torture.

This time, I omitted the rice.

Pinto beans, peppers & onions, corn and medium green salsa, guacamole, and lots of lettuce.  BINGO!  WE HAVE A WINNER!   A non-gut-aching vegetarian fajita bowl for your girl.  No intestinal revolt.  So, I’ve basically been eating Chipotle now at every other meal.

So when a day starts out with Restaurant Boy and Chipotle, it can only get better, right?!

Right?

Wrong.

For the entire day, I was dreading my run.  Walked to the copier, dreading my run.  Walked to refill my water bottle, dreading my run.  Foam rolled my sore hamstrings, dreading my run.

Tonight, I didn’t want to run.  at.all.

I was tired and so sore from kickboxing class, and the only thing that I really wanted to do was go home, curl up on the futon with some steamed veggies, and catch up on Tough Love and Teen Mom.

I really am not lying when I tell you that I’m a reality TV addict.  My problem doesn’t end with just botox-injected one-hit wonders.

So, what I’m trying to say is that I wanted to go home.  Running was the last thing I wanted to do.

I attend the most insane kickboxing class now on Mondays and Wednesdays.  On Monday, we low crawled.  As in ‘combat training low crawl’.  As in, dragging ones lifeless legs behind oneself using only ones elbows.  This causes bodily injury.

See, the problem with this insane class is that there is no room to be lazy.  If you’re not working out on the days when you’re not kickboxing, you’re getting beat the hail up in class on Monday and Wednesday.  You will be abused, chewed up, and spit out.  The fact that I refuse to be defeated is also part of the problem as well, I would imagine.

I have to get my runs in so that I can finish the Disney Princess 1/2 in March.

I have to do my cross and weight training so that I don’t get injured again like I did in 2009.

These are not things that I can be lazy about.  I hated being hurt, and the reason I was hurt is because I was slacking.  So, when I feel like slacking, I have to think twice about it now, and just look forward to my next rest day.  As I slogged along after work, and procrastinated, I just kept thinking about the fact that tomorrow was my rest day.

If by rest, you mean working for 8 hours, grocery shopping, and generally running errands like a crazy lady, then yes…definitely a rest day.

So.  I needed to be motivated, and I did what any reasonable person would do.  I went in the bathroom, changed into my Skirtsports running skirt and tank (which strangely resembles something that I would’ve worn to the club back in the day), and I proceeded to examine my growing baby muscles in the mirror.

Everyone does this, right?

Right?

And then I focused…er something.  Who knows what this face is.

Ha!  Do you see that silly little gun making an appearance?  I haven’t seen that thing in years.

I think it’s even grown since I last LOVED MYSELF.

No, I’m not sniffing my armpit here.

After a full on photo shoot, I stopped procrastinating and got my a$$ to the gym.  Several minutes and 4 miles later, it was over, and I was glad that I sucked it up and went.

And the guns are growing baby!  Woo!

* Have you joined my Facebook Group yet?

* See how my training is going over here!

* Looking for my eBook?

*Check out my body image project!

Today, I posed a question on Twitter:

Within moments, I received several responses…

This further cemented the knowledge that I already had:

Runners either love or hate running with music, and if you run with music, there is always that ONE song that gets you pumped up like no other.  It might not make sense to anyone else, but all that matters is that it makes you feel good.

Personally, I love running with music.  Very few things make me more excited than to leave for a run knowing that I have a brand new mix to run to.  It keeps things  interesting, especially when I’m out for longer runs…staring at the passing traffic.  Boring!

I’m an ‘old school’ kind of girl.  For the most part, you will find me running to the sounds of Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, but I also keep it movin’ with The Prodigy, Pitbull, System of a Down, Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke, and even some Johnny Cash thrown in for good measure.

I’m not normal…but I’m fun.

For me, the songs that cause me run a little faster than normal (you know…at pace with the women pushing double jogging-strollers if I’m lucky) change like Lady GaGa’s outfits.

Presently, the song that has me making an a$$ out of myself at the gym is  Spitfire by Prodigy.  This song has been on rotation for approximately 7 years.  Yes.  Seven.  YEARS.

Unlike Lady GaGa’s outfits, my songs are worn several times, washed, rinsed, hung out to dry, and then re-worn at some point.  I’m a bit of a song hoarder I guess.

Some races now are even becoming more music-friendly…

In the lead up to this year’s London marathon, Music and Motivation is asking people, particularly runners, to nominate their favourite running tracks, which will end up being the “soundtrack” of the London Marathon.

Personally, I think it would be very cool to have a special ‘soundtrack’ as a keepsake of my important races.  Actually, I make my own race mixes, name them after my race, and I save them forever on iTunes.  Then, when I play them back, I am instantly reminded of where I was on the course during a particular song.

It’s like instant racing nostalgia!

Music and Motivation and Audiofuel has invited the readers of Jogger’s Life to go to their website and choose their favorite running song, in order to contribute to the London Virgin Marathon playlist.  Even if you won’t be running it yourself, it’s a great opportunity to get some new playlist ideas!

In return, they’ve provided me with a link to a Free Fuel Sampler, which is a very cool mix and explains how Audiofuel works.  I think the concept behind Audiofuel is great.  I tried out a similar idea during my training for The Boilermaker, and loved how I was able to constantly maintain a desired pace based upon the beat of the music.

I’m sure all of you know what a buzzkill it is when your running mix goes from…oh…The Prodigy to say…Fiona Apple.  It just doesn’t work out very well.

So, enjoy all of the links and the free mix…and make sure to nominate your favorite song!

P.s…Did you see me LOVING MYSELF this morning?

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]]> http://www.joggerslife.com/2010/music-and-motivation/feed/ 4 http://www.joggerslife.com/2009/bursitis-can-suck-it/ http://www.joggerslife.com/2009/bursitis-can-suck-it/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:27 +0000 http://www.joggerslife.com/?p=2204

I’m happy to report that my trip to the gym at lunchtime on Monday included running jogging!

Yes, running jogging.

That’s right, running jogging.

That was fun.

So, due to the fact that I was feeling more than 90% myself on Monday, I eased into a little bit of interval training on the treadmill.  I did a 3 minute walking warm-up, then for the next 15 minutes, I alternated between running jogging 2 minutes, and walking 1 minute.  During the last 5 minutes, I even cranked the incline up a tiny bit for some extra burn.

From minutes 18-23, I alternated between walking sloooooow at a 12% incline for 1 minute, and doing walking lunges for 30 seconds.  Then for the last 5 minutes, I walked at 4.5 and 10% incline.

To say that my thighs are killing me today would be true.

To say that my angry bursa were bothering me today would be a lie.

So, high fives all around.

pssstttt: I think the girl is back.  Don’t tell my bursa, they might revolt..

In the spirit of healthy knees, I want to share with you some of the exercises that I’ve been focusing on for the past 3 weeks.  I’ve been doing many of these exercises 3-5 times per week, in addition to leg training at the gym twice per week.  I can often be seen sitting at my desk in various contorted positions.  I’m not practicing my circus act.  I’m strengthening my legs.

I know that this may seem excessive for some, but in my case, the only way that I’ll be able to regain my prior knee happiness is by becoming as strong in the legs as I once was.

With the help of my PT as well as this website, I seem to be on the mend, and beginning to feel like my strong, sexy, jogging self again.

Here are my favorites, taken directly from the Knee Pain Exercises website.  Some of these are going to seem very elementary to those who have never fought with injuries of this sort.

Quad Strengthening Contractions (perfect for doing at your desk):

Sit in chair. Extend legs, heels to floor. Keep knees straight (or as straight as possible if you have arthritis.) Tighten thigh muscles. Hold for count of 10. Relax for count of 3. Do 10 repetitions. You can do this several times throughout the day. You can build up to 2 or 3 sets of 10 repetitions at a time.

Quad Strengthening Leg lifts:

Lie flat on back. Bend left knee at 90-degree angle, keeping foot flat on floor. Keeping the right leg straight, slowly lift it to the height of the left knee. Hold for a count of 3. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides. Work up to 10 sets of 10 over several weeks.

Quad Strengthening Knee Dips:

Stand with knees slightly flexed. Point your toes straight ahead.
Make sure your kneecaps are also pointed straight ahead.
Lift one leg up and balance on the other leg. Slowly lower yourself up and down ONLY a few inches. Keep the knee of the leg you are balancing on slightly flexed. Your knees must remain pointing straight forward. Do not let them turn inward. Stand straight, do not lean you body to one side. Do 10 dips. Switch sides.
If you feel pain in your knees, start with fewer dips.

Hamstring Strengthening Contractions: (this one is awesome for doing at your desk)

Sit in chair, heels on floor. Don’t move heels but pull back on them. You will feel tension in you hamstrings. Hold for count of 10. Relax for count of 3. Do 10 repetitions.

What are your favorite exercises?

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In case you’ve missed any of the saga with my dysfunctional body, here’s a recap that I just posted on the “train” page:

**********

I’m currently not training for anything in particular.  I completed The Boilermaker 15K on July 12, 2009.

I fought with IT Band Friction Syndrome all through my Boilermaker training, but my physical therapist helped me through it.  After The Boilermaker, I moved on to my first marathon!  I planned on running The Baltimore Marathon 3 months after The Boilermaker-on October 10, 2009.

I was feeling good in my training up until about a month and a half before The Baltimore Marathon.  I started having severe pain in my fibular head due to my IT Band, and I ultimately spent the last 1.5 months of my training on the stationary bike at the gym.  On one Saturday three weeks before the marathon, I was on the bike for 2 hours.  Everyone though I was insane.  In hindsight, I probably should have backed out of the marathon and spent a few months recovering, but I’m just not a quitter anymore.

To a fault.

I did finish the entire Baltimore Marathon.  If you want to see the full race report, you can get it here.  It wasn’t pretty, but I finished.  I’m still not sure if I’ll ever complete another marathon.  If you asked me moments after the race, my answer would have been a resounding “HAIL TO THE NO”.  Almost a month later, however, I’m still on the fence.

At the present, I’ll be happy with just being able to run at all again.  I’d be happy if I could just run a mile.  A half mile.

My worst fear is that these pictures of me running races are all I have.  Right now, I’m scared that I won’t be able to run again in the future.  Hopefully I’m just being overly-dramatic.

Two Tuesday’s after the Marathon, I couldn’t walk.  I went to the gym and ran for the first time since the marathon.  I was excited to run, so I may have pushed it a little more than necessary.  When I got off the treadmill, my left knee (the “good” one) was all jacked up.  It hurt to walk and bend or lift my leg.  I went to my physical therapist the next day and cried.  This was the GOOD knee!  The one that wasn’t supposed to be hurting!  What the HAIL?

After seeing my PT and then my doctor, it was determined that I had bursitis in my left knee, but my PT was confident that it would go away quickly.  It has now been 16 days (not that I’m counting or anything), and it’s still bothering me.  Some days are more goofy than others, but it’s still there.  Although the doctor gave me Mobic to help the inflammation, I believe that DRUGS SUCK (thank you, D-Dub).  I’ve only taken one Mobic in the past 1.5 weeks, and things seem to be manageable.  Maybe even (dare I say) getting better.

Post-marathon, I set a goal for three months of cross-training, strengthening, and rebuilding.  My body was very damaged by the marathon training, and I’m confident that the only way that I will gain back all of my abilities (as lame as they may have been) is by starting from square one and rebuilding everything.  I’ve also come to terms with the fact that my body might not be cut out for as much running as I was doing.  I remained in a state of “training” for almost two years–training for one race or another.

In the midst of this “rebuilding” phase that I’m in, I can’t run.  I’m doing a lot of biking.  But I feel like I’m getting fat (albeit completely irrational), and this is causing me quite a bit of mental anguish.  I’m trying to find a way to deal with this issue without resorting to my old ways of coping.  I’ll get back to ya on that one.

I am registered to run the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon on March 7th, and I’m very much looking forward to it.  I also registered for the Celebration Sprint Triathlon next July.  I have decided, however, that I’m not in a hurry to begin training for March’s half marathon.  The goal at this point is to rebuild, regroup, and pray that running jogging will be part of my future again very soon!

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