Ended the month on a good pace, mileage matters #Running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Todays Run

For July I was back to my nearly 100 miles for the month. 98 miles to be precise (with some rounding.) I am pleased with that number, If I am averaging 90-100 miles a month I am happy. Kim asked me why I put myself through this when I was so tired Sunday night, and this is one of the reasons.

I may not be the fastest

I may not run the farthest

I am not the skinniest

But I am still a runner, and cranking out 90+ miles a month makes me feel good. Because those little markers, those mileposts as it were, are what I really use to measure myself against. Oh I some times question that when I am running up that hill on Mesa again, or just trying to hold things together until I can reach the 7-11 bathroom. But that feeling I get when I finish a good run is well worth it. And when I can enjoy sights like the sun just hitting the mountain tops in the morning, or the creeks flowing strong, or the fresh clean, cool air you get first thing in the morning, those make all the sweat and occasional soreness well worth it.

Now if only I could show the same mental strength when it came to eating! Lately my eating has degenerated into disorganization yet again. That's an eternal battle I know, but gosh it would be nice to see the trenches move a little.

Found a way to shut the inner voice up, plus 4 is the new 3 #Running #training

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

2 days ago that annoying inner voice that I have was calling for me to change, just for the sake of change. And I was trying to figure out a way to shut that voice up, because I really don't think there is a good reason to change what I have been doing. 

Well today I figured out that I had shut that voice up. And you know how I did it? I ran. Simple as that, I ran yesterday, and again today, a couple of back to back good runs, and that did the trick, shut that voice down!

I did decide to make a change though. Just not so much for the sake of change as it was for the purpose of finding a new challenge: I decided to make 4 the new 3. What that means is that I want to extend myself some, make my 'easy' days of 3-3.5 miles into 4-4.5 miles. This will increase my base line, making it easier when I go for longer distances, and also just as a personal challenge. 

Because in some fashion those 3 miles were just not much of a challenge, and had almost become too easy, felt like I wasn't really getting much out of them. Hopefully just adding that extra mile or so will make a difference, and feel more comfortable.

The inner voice is plaguing me, when I need to tell it to shut up and keep #Running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Boredom

Yesterday I was helping Kim pick up the house, and she asked if I was tired, was all the work tiring me out. The answer was that I wasn't physically tired, just bored. Which is a little I have been feeling lately about the running.

Don't get me wrong, I love running for running's sake. That hasn't changed. But there is a little bit of a mental barrier developing, boredom is seeping in, for no good reason. And I just need to shut that out because of everything I was able to do last weekend: 

My Weekend

Saturday morning I ran my 10K race. I felt real good about, I came in about a minute short of a PR, but still ran a respectable pace (9:18 miles). I even got a classic 'ugly running picture to share:

I was attempting to smile here, but it was near the end and that was the closest I could come. But hey, gotta love that great mid-foot strike form!

Sunday I was able to get up and go for a short 3 mile run (still feels weird typing that phrase.) Then we went shopping. And then I went for a 5.5 mile mountain hike with the Cub Scouts and family. The hike itself was no problem (other than making a note to myself to wear Hoka's for the next hike.) Which was a revelation, it felt great to handle a nearly 4 hour walk in the mountains and still feel fine.

Monday I even got up and tackled another 3 mile run (albeit slow.) So no real damage from the weekend. I was even planning on running today, but when I got up at 2 to let the dog out my legs told me that I needed to give myself a rest day.

Here is the problem, I have reached a plateau, a great plateau but a level anyway. I can comfortably run 3 miles, and even push it out to 6-10 miles without any real effort. I logged 15+ miles running and walking over the weekend. And that is nothing to feel bad about. How many people can say that really? 

But, some times I feel like I could or should be doing more. That I could be running faster. Or tackling longer distances. Or tackling different challenges like Crossfit, or trail running. It's not a loud, overwhelming voice, but there is a voice that tells me that what I am doing isn't enough. 

And I have to tell myself that this is just my personal ADD kicking in. The voice that occasionally says that as great as life is, wouldn't it be better if I did X? And I have to tell that voice to shut up, that the running is great for me, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with what I am doing. That the ability to stay on my feet cleaning or doing yard work, or taking long walks without out feeling physically exhausted are well worth all the effort. And that this is just a subconscious need for something new, that I can and should ignore. And just keep doing what I am doing.

A couple of recent articles/posts that validated how I feel about running @Oatmeal @RatherBeRunnin

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

First, a humorous (and occasionally crude) comic drawn by one of my favorite Internet comic writers:

The Terrible and wonderful reasons I run long distances

Granted he runs farther than I do (ultra marathons and marathons.) But otherwise much of what he writes about in here fit me to a 'T'.

I totally understand his concept of 'the blerch' and want one of the T-shirts when he makes them available. I also, sadly, run to eat. Often using a long run as an excuse to go hog wild in the kitchen. 

That line: 

"Running is not about building strength and wearing it as a fashion statement. It's about Finding Strength and measuring yourself every day."

That really spoke to me.

 Well, a little longer ago another blogger I follow wrote this post:

Not your average runner

Again I may not match up to everything she wrote. But the spirit is the same. The idea that if you run, you are a runner. That not all runners look like Olympic athletes. We may not all run long distances, or crush their PR's every race. 

"So, don’t ever count out those who don’t look like runners.

They get out there every day and run their race.

Because it matters to them.

So, to you, my fellow runners who don’t look like runners…

I salute you.

Don’t ever let society tell you how you should look…

or make you feel bad for who you are.

Run on."

 As I casually ran my 3 miles today, and prepare for a 10K on Saturday it makes me feel good to recognize that I am not alone. And the mere fact that I am out there running, is a big deal, who cares how I look doing it or why I am doing it.

Giving myself the freedom to just run #running #training #Diet

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today's Run

Back from vacation. But not a vacation from running, technically I only skipped 1 scheduled running day in the entire week and a half. And I skipped that the morning after I completed a 4 mile mountain hike followed by an hour playing in the swimming pool with the kids.

But I didn't skip any other runs. I even did 4+ miles on the 4th (of July.) 

But I started to notice a recent trend, that since I stopped trying to adhere to the special planned workouts that when I finish up my so-called percentage has gone down, from normally in the 80-90% range to the 30-40% range. But you know what? I just don't care. I gave myself the freedom to just run, with the only constraint being a mileage goal for the day. And after completing a 10K this morning with an average of nearly 10 minute miles, even with some hills over the first 2 miles I am very happy with where I stand. 

I have a 10K race this weekend, running a mostly flat and slightly downhill route and I hope to turn in a good time. Will I be crushed if I don't PR? No, but I sure think I can do that if I go into it with the right mindset. But my new found goal is just to not slow down and walk, and just have fun with it. 

Eating

The one downside of vacation was some disorganized eating. I didn't necessarily ever really pig out or get carried away with junk food. And I kept up my streak of avoiding fast food hamburgers. So my calories were for the most part even with my goal. But that was because I would have days where I would have a big breakfast and lunch and then no dinner, or a big breakfast, no lunch and then big dinner. And I know that is not good for me. 

Now that vacation is over, I have a good mental line to use to get back to some better eating habits. And since Kim's work schedule is getting back to a more regular, civilized time she can also join with me in improving our overall habits. 

It's an eternal battle, because we like to eat, we don't have any other real vices. And with 3 younger, picky kids, it is often easier to just run down to Taco Bell, or eat cereal for breakfast. My running has been my saving grace to keep my health good. But I know it could be better with just a little more effort.

It was a rough morning, right up until I went on my run #running

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Today was just one of those mornings. I slept restlessly. From the minute I got up the younger kids were demanding, along with the cat. And all I wanted was to get out on the road to escape, But I took the time to get them breakfasts, get the TV working, logged into the computer, replace my socks when one of them ripped.

But I got out on the road. And I was still able to get home on time to make myself breakfast, get cleaned up etc and get to work on time. And I got that time out, helping clear my mind. And taking a couple of pictures of the flood lines from last nights down pour. And contemplated where I will run if my favorite trail is fully covered in mud like the one underpass I ran through.

Anyway, a couple of things:

June Mileage check: 97 miles roughly. About the same as May, which I am comfortable with, running about 100 miles a month is not too shabby.

Sunday's Run

Definitely my best effort from a consistency perspective on this long run route. This is probably my second toughest route that I run regularly. And it is mostly uphill for the first 4 miles. Yet I did my best job of maintaining a regular pace (albeit not a fast one) for that entire time, which is a much better effort than I normally do.

I am really happy to have made this change to break the walking habit. And I am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference it makes in my next race.