Week in Review: 2/1-2/7

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Half Marathon Training, Running February 8, 2016

Hellooo February ❤ ! Did you know that this month we will have 4 Sundays, 4 Mondays, 4 Tuesdays, 4 Wednesdays, 4 Thursdays, 4 Fridays, and 4 Saturdays in a month since, like forever??(Go ahead, look at a calendar) There’s your random factoid for the day! 😀

Last week was a good one.

Monday I got on the bike for 30 minutes and pedaled away to 7.75 miles. Did my planks: 1 minute standard plank and 45 sec side planks times 3. Was very proud because I totally feel myself getting stronger.

Tuesday was an unexpected rest day as I had family visit but I managed to squeeze in some quick planks before bed. Not as long as Monday but something.

Wednesday I got on the treadmill for a steady 5 miler. I’m getting used to the treadmill as I haven’t gotten on that thing in a long time. This was my second time in over a year.

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Thursday my husband was home so I was able to get in a run outside. It was glorious. As it was in the evening, I dressed in bright clothing and something about the neon oranges helped lit a fire because HELLS YEAH, I killed this run.

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Remember last week’s post about how I thought I’d never see an 8 minute miler again?? I don’t know what happened!! I started running and felt good. I don’t look at my watch when I run, only when the mile beeps, and when the first mile beeped away at 8:18, I was shocked! I didn’t want it to be a one time fluke so I decided to keep running, by feel at what I felt was a hard, but maintainable pace. Mile 2– 8:07! Mile 3–8:08! Mile 4–7:59! SEVEN!!!!

I couldn’t believe it. I did a cool down walk home and was so giddy when I saw my husband. We did a little happy dance together in the kitchen. 🙂

I think what made me so ridiculously happy about that run was that I was able to stay consistent. I didn’t positive split. That lets me know I can maintain that pace (at least for 4 miles) and that is so insane to me.

Fridays are typical rest days but I took my kids to the zoo and did some crazy hill climbs pushing the stroller throughout the park. Def counts as a workout.

Saturday was a legit rest day. I got to shower and do my hair and make-up like a normal person (I went to a friend’s bridal shower that afternoon) and I posted my first Instagram car selfie, lol!

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I ran long on Sunday and planned for a 9 miler around the 9:30ish/mile range. One of my good running buddies joined me (with her baby belly!) and we chatted the entire way. That had to be the smoothest 9 miles I think I’ve ever ran.

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I planked and nailed a 1:15er (45 sec side planks) and beat my husband and wall sits. Overall, great Sunday 🙂

This was a great week with 18 miles. I feel myself getting stronger and with my first race post injury on Saturday, I’m a super, super excited!

–How was your running week?

–When is the last time you surprised yourself with a run or nailed a run? Did you do a happy dance after?

Mid-Week Musings: Comparing Yourself to… YOURSELF

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Coming Back From Injury, Comparing, Running February 3, 2016

I find as I’m coming back from injuring, wishing for the lost days of yore.

We often hear that’s it’s unproductive, and sometimes downright harmful, to compare ourselves to others. Even though we know this, it’s difficult to stop. Someone runs faster, runs longer, and we want to do it too.

And maybe we used to be able to and now we can’t.

I’m finding that it’s not any better to compare yourself to yourself–yourself when you were at a level that for whatever reason you no longer are.

A couple of nights ago I found myself looking at old Instagram pics and seeing paces I’ve not seen in a while.

“I used to run fast,” I told my husband.

“You still do.”

“But I haven’t run at that pace in years,” I sighed.

You’d think I’d understand that I’m coming back from an injury and that I can’t expect to be flying, but I can’t help but think of what was different back in the days when I ran a 25:05 5k. An 8:00/mile pace!! A 2.87 5k (short course) averaging 7:41/mile! And my 5k PR of 24:18–a race done in the freezing Ohio rain.

I’d be lucky if I could run ONE 8 minute mile now.

Why do we do this? Comparison can be used to motivate but it can also cripple someone mentally. There’s such a fine line.

Right now, my old self is on that line. Some days, I look back at those pictures and get pumped. I can do this! I’ve done it! And other days, I feel like there’s no way I’ll see those numbers again.

But I think right now it’s important for me to focus on the present. I shouldn’t be working on becoming someone I was a long time ago, I should work to be a better version of me–in many different ways.

The me then was thrilled to be running after having two kids in two years. That excitement was what helped propel me to paces and PRs that I never ever thought I could achieve. I feel that person now, that excitement to be back running after a shorter hiatus. And I know I’m a better version of myself now than back then because I know more. I know more about training, diet, mental strength. I’m stronger on a lot of levels. And I know that with hard work, I can be faster than back then.

And in the future, I’ll look back at the me now and know I’ve only gotten better.

I got this.

–Do you compare yourself to yourself?
–How do you help yourself focus on the present?

Week in Review

Posted by hellyontherun in Running and tagged with Running, Weekly Mileage February 1, 2016

I feel like last week was my first week in a long time where I finally felt back on track running and working out consistently.

I long ran Sunday so Monday I rested and did planks and bridges at home. I’m feeling so much stronger with my planks (more about this later).

Tuesday I planned our day so that I could run with my running group in the evening. Our gym allows for daycare on Tuesday evenings since the group run is part of their weekly workout schedule. With my husband out of town, I finally took advantage of this so I could run outside with friends.

It was a glorious run.

8:42, 8:51, 9:03, 9:06

I just felt good. I felt I could have gone even faster but reeled myself in and made sure I pushed but not too hard.

Wednesday I was back at the gym and tried out my new pair of Asics Cumulus on the treadmill. I’ve been using my Newtons on the road but thought they felt weird on the treadmill. When I bought the Newtons, the other pair in the running (see what I did there) were the Asics and ultimately I chose the Netwons. But remembering this, I went to an Asics Outlet and bought the Cumulus for treadmill running since I knew I’d be doing it a lot more now that my husband is traveling often.

I went for an easy 2 miler and felt fine. It had been easily over a year since I last ran on the treadmill!! I then rode the bike for 20 minutes, more planks, more bridges.

Thursday was a 4 miler on the treadmill. I’ve never minded the treadmill; I know many abhor it, but it’s never been an issue for me. I get caught up people staring or just thinking about random things. Now, they’ve upgraded, and each treadmill has a T.V. I simply put HGTV on and totally zoned out on House Hunters. The miles/time flew by.

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Back at the gym on Friday for 30 minutes on the bike, planks, and bridges.

My husband was home for me to run my long run with buddies on Saturday morning and me and Runner Jenny ran 7 miles together. They felt good, they felt easy, and we surprised ourselves with our pace! We had chatted the entire way 🙂

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That evening my husband challenged me to a wall sit challenge and I made it to a minute and thirty! He killed me on the plank going for 4 minutes but I did a plank PR at 1 minute and 15! I also love side planking and always do those too 🙂 Overall, it was a fantastic week and I’m feeling like all this gym time cross training and working on my core has helped.

Total miles: 17

–How was your running week?

–What’s your wall sit/plank PR? There’s this girl I follow on Insta, Run Rhea Run, who did a 20 minute plank once!! She’s also ridiculously fast.