The Kitchen Of A Runner

"The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases."
-Carl Jung (1875 – 1961)

Time: 1:33:23

Distance: 12.05 miles

Average Pace: 7:45 per mile

I think I know why my phone alarm didn’t go off yesterday or today. Ever since Friday night, I have been putting my phone in "Airplane Mode" when I go to sleep. Basically, it doesn’t send or receive any signals, but the phone is still turned on. I read an article online about how cell phones disrupt your sleep and this is why most people have problems sleeping at night. I don’t have problems sleeping that often, but I do occasionally, so I thought I would try it. Verdict? I don’t know. I slept great a few nights and so so a few nights. Maybe that is just part of being human? Hopefully my alarm will work tonight if I leave it alone.

Since my alarm didn’t go off today, I didn’t wake up early enough to run before class. I am actually happy though because that means I have more time to run I didn’t run any farther, but at least I had that option. Class seemed to drag on all morning long. 8:00-10:45 was the longest three hours of my life. I had my running clothes on (I feel bad for the people who sat next to me today) and I was totally ready to run right when class got out. Today was my first day off work in over a week, so I decided to drive to some trails after class to run. I had the whole afternoon open, so why not? I just have work tomorrow, two classes Thursday, one class Friday, and I will be done for a WEEK. All my tests and homework is done, so I am just coasting for a few days. Even though I am working 40 hours over Spring Break, it will be nice to not have class. I am working a lot of my hours at the outdoor pool, so at least I won’t be chained to a desk!

My class got over a little early, so I immediately headed to the trails. These aren’t "real" trails (they are paved), but it is a nice change of scenery from my normal day to day routes. I have been tired of running the same routes day in and day out, so I wanted to change things up today to keep things interesting. Variety is the spice of life right? My run was quite glorious today. The weather was really nice and I am glad I got my run in before the rain started. I could see the clouds rolling in as I was finishing up, so I had perfect timing. Gotta love that I also really loved having a last mile dance party in 6:42. I am ready for some SPEED TOMORROW.

Because I was already sweaty and disgusting, I decided to stop at the gym to lift weights and get a smoothie on the way home. Mainly because I really wanted a smoothie The gym was packed! I think everyone is working out this week because it is almost Spring Break. It actually kind of annoys me that people only work out at certain times of the year, like right after New Years, before Spring Break, ect… Shouldn’t you try and fit it into your normal lifestyle? Is going to the gym a few times a week really that hard? There are benefits to exercise. All of the really skinny girls were out today too. FYI FOR COLLEGE GIRLS: BEING A TOOTHPICK IS NOT A TURN ON. I would much rather snuggle (did I just use that word?) up next to a girl with curves than get poked by some bone! Alright, my rant is over.

Well it is time to cook up some dinner before LOST comes on tonight. I AM PUMPED!

Until Spring Break that is

“Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.”
-Chuang-tzu (369 BC – 286 BC)

Time: 1:47:52

Distance: 13.54 miles

Average Pace: 7:58

I was still on a high this morning from my monster week last week. I can’t believe I ran 26 miles in a day and ran a weekly mileage PR in the same week!

I slept in until the glorious hour of 7 AM this morning. I didn’t have any class today (or Wednesday) because my computer science class isn’t meeting at all this week. I seriously love that class. I felt kind of guilty that I rescheduled my advising appointment for a later date because I didn’t want to have to deal with it. I originally scheduled it for right after my class, but I didn’t feel like hassling with it today. It wasn’t an “emergency” appointment or anything; it is just planning for next semester which is still far away. I guess it’s not that big of a deal.

Sleeping in felt great. I actually set my alarm for 6:00 so getting up tomorrow at 5:00 wouldn’t be too bad, but my alarm DID NOT go off. I have no idea why either. It was set and everything, but it just never went off. Kind of weird…

No big deal though because I didn’t have anywhere I had to be. I enjoyed a leisurely morning by making coffee and pancakes before I hit the streets. Enjoying my coffee in the morning is seriously one of the best things about not having to run right away. Coffee = heaven.

The weather was PERFECT today. Spring has finally made it’s way to Tuscaloosa, AL. We hit 70 today! A little warm for running, but it was only about 55 when I got out there. I am sitting at work right now and we have all the doors open, when just last week, we had the heater on. I hope this weather is here to stay for good. Has Spring made it to your neck of the woods yet?

My legs were feeling great today. I guess those recovery runs are useful Haha. Even after running 100+ miles last week, I am ready to hit it hard this week. I’m going to take another easy day tomorrow, then hit my mid week long run on Wednesday since I don’t have class. I am feeling great, but one more easy day wouldn’t hurt.

Well it is almost time to get off work, so I better wrap up this post. I have a Q&A post in the works!

See you guys tomorrow!

“Never chase a lie. Let it alone, and it will run itself to death.”
-Lyman Beecher

I am working 6 hours today, but at least I don’t have class tomorrow! Before work, I ran a few miles…

Time: 1:30:33

Distance: 11.02 miles

Average Pace: 8:13 per mile

I actually wasn’t as sore as I expected after running 26.2 miles yesterday. I was still pretty damn sore, but not all that bad really. My legs were super stiff, but that aside, I was in pretty good shape. Maybe it was the ice bath I took yesterday after my second run? I can’t believe I am saying this, but that really hit the spot. Who am I?

I decided to forgo my early morning run and take some time to wake up, stretch, and move around a little bit before running. I notice a significant difference in how I feel if I take some time to loosen up before running the day after my long run since my legs really tighten up over night.

I didn’t have a planned distance, but I took my run very slow and conservatively. I was feeling pretty good, but I wanted to be safe. The first few miles were about a minute slower than my normal runs during the week, and then I gradually (and naturally)  sped up  as my body loosened up. I was feeling GREAT by the end of my run. Slow running is just what I needed

After my run it was time for a quick lunch and four hours of work. I am pulling 26 hours this week. The sad part is that I am normally scheduled for 9 hours a week. Every other shift I pick up is VOLUNTARILY. 50 dollars a week just isn’t going to cut it with how much I spend. I have no idea how I find time to work that much, run as much as I do, go to class, do schoolwork, and manage a decent nights sleeps, but I manage to fit it in. Tonight will be exciting. I get to work from 2:00-6:00, then I get to go home, eat dinner, and come right back for our staff meeting at 8:00. Lucky me!

Sorry for the short post, but it is time to head home.

I don’t have class tomorrow or Wednesday, so I am SLEEPING IN. Yay! Just one week until Spring Break!

WHERE ARE THOSE QUESTIONS?

“Not to be absolutely certain is, I think, one of the essential things in rationality.”
-Bertrand Russell (1872 – 1970)

Friday at last Even though this weekend is going to suck because I have to work both days!

Time: 1:52:24

Distance: 14.11 miles

Average Pace: 7:58

I could really get used to not having class until 11:00! “Sleeping in” until 6:00 is AMAZING. Even though it is only an hour later than normal, it makes a huge difference.  Sadly, I probably will be waking up even earlier tomorrow on a WEEKEND. There is something not right about that.

I told myself I was going to go to bed early last night, but that didn’t happen. I’m not sure why it didn’t happen either. I was tired and I wasn’t really doing anything, so why didn’t I go to bed? If I figure that out I will let you know. I didn’t quite get the 8 hours I wanted, but I still woke up feeling pretty well rested and ready to tackle my run.

Once I woke up, I immediately hit the streets for a “recovery run”. I had some stuff to do before class and work, so I wanted to get my run out of the way as early as possible. I’m not sure how much “recovery” I actually received from the run, but at least I had the right intentions.

To be completely honest, I know that I pushed a little bit too hard today. I was tired from my tempo run yesterday, but I didn’t ease up, even though I know I should have. My body was telling me to slow down, but I didn’t listen. I just kept going and I probably ran a little faster. Sometimes I make the mistake of pushing a little too hard without thinking about the long term consequences, but I am human after all right? Will pushing a little too hard effect me tomorrow? Maybe. Will it effect me next week? Probably not. One day isn’t going to make or break my training, but if this becomes a habit, I will be in some trouble. Tomorrow I will run SLOW

Well my ass is killing me from sitting down at work for so long. It is time to go run some errands and relax before I hang out with some friends tonight. I won’t be doing my long run until Sunday because I have to work early tomorrow, so I get to have some fun tonight I’m not a huge party animal, but I like to kick back and have a good time every one and awhile.

*KEEP THOSE QUESTIONS COMING! I have some good ones but I need a few more so I can make a whole post out of it!*

I remember that I used to always do a "quote of the day" on my old blog. I actually really miss doing it, so I am going to start off every post with a quote that I find interesting/inspiring/ect… Here is my first one:

"Even with the best of maps and instruments, we can never fully chart our journeys."

-Gail Pool

 

How are we all doing today? We are halfway through the week I hope your day has been going as well as mine!

 

Time: 1:59:23

 

Distance: 15.34 miles

 

Average Pace: 7:47 per mile

It was kind of pissed at my teacher this morning. I didn’t have time to get a two hour run in before my first class, so I decided to just run when class got out at 9:50. Well, I got to class, and it turns out it was optional. Sort of. The attendance policy is really weird in this class, but I’ll try to explain it the best I can. It is a computer science class, but we basically learn everything on our own through tutorial exercises. We go to class to work on stuff we can do at home, which is pretty stupid. The teacher hasn’t taught us one thing this whole semester. Sometimes, she lets us upload our tutorial work online and that counts as our attendance for the day. I am actually about three weeks ahead, so I already had the ones for this week done, but I go to class so I am not counted absent (we start losing points after three absences). I got there today and it turns out that it was one of those free days. Friday and all of next week are like that as well. That means no class on Monday and Wednesday for me So I was a little ticked that I went all the way out there for nothing, but at least I found out about next week as well. I wouldn’t be pissed if I didn’t have to walk 30 minutes to that class. It is on the complete other side of campus from where I park! At least I already had everything uploaded to begin with, so I am good to go until after Spring Break.

After my class fiasco, I drove back home to get my run on I was free until work today, except for some homework to do, so I had plenty of time to get my medium long run in. Wednesdays are always the best day for me to have a longer run, so I specifically planned it for today. Some days I just have a hard time fitting two hours of running in, which is why I wake up early to do it. Mondays and Wednesdays are my lightest days though, so it works out.

Today’s run was MUCH BETTER than yesterdays slug fest. The difference was so drastic that it was like night and day. I knew that my run was going to be amazing the second I woke up from a great nights sleep. I seriously think that the quality of sleep I get each night has a huge impact on the quality of my run the next day. If I don’t sleep well the night before, I usually have a less than stellar run and vice versa. I’ve also linked my eating patterns to running as well. Some days I eat less than others and it has a large effect on my running. I usually eat based on hunger, but some days I am just less hungry than other days. It all balances out though, because some days I just can’t get full. I guess that is why I have been the same weight forever. To be honest, I didn’t eat enough on Monday and I know that is why I didn’t sleep well that night and that it also impacted my run. Sometimes I am just so busy that it is hard to keep up with everything and I become overwhelmed. I need to start making a conscious effort to eat more the days I am not as hungry. Has anyone else had this problem? Starting this week, I am going to start making sure I am eating well, drinking enough, sleeping enough, and resting enough. Resting enough does not mean taking a rest day It means finding some time each day to relax and have some time to myself, even if it is only 30 minutes or an hour. At night I am going to take some time to wind down and get my self de-stressed so I can sleep well. Tonight it will be spent watching Criminal Minds!

Sound like a good plan?

Hopefully that wasn’t too much of a bore for you guys to read. I’ll wrap things up here pretty quickly because my sweet potato fries are almost done!

To sum things up:

• If I eat well, I run well.
• If I sleep well, I run well.
• If I rest enough, I run well.

Must work on those things.

So I didn’t go into too many details about my run, so here is a short recap:

• It was the best run I had had in a long time.
• My body felt great.
• My mind felt great.
• I am ready to kick some ass on my tempo run tomorrow.
• It made me love running even more than I already do. Isn’t that hard to imagine?

I am OUT.

I am getting my post in early today because I need to be free to watch LOST tonight

Time: 1:45:04

Distance: 13.13 (Is that bad luck?)

Average Pace: 8:00 per mile

I slept like absolute shit lat night. Sorry for my language, but I am really frustrated that I couldn’t sleep. I was tired, but I just couldn’t fall asleep to save my life. That doesn’t make sense. You sleep when you are tired right? I just tossed and turned all night. The more I stressed out about falling asleep, the worse it became. It’s really frustrating!

I was so tired this morning that there was no way I was getting up at 5:00 to run before class. The second my alarm went off, I turned it off and reset it for 6:30. That is still pretty early, but it is a hell of a lot better than 5:00. I knew my afternoon was open to run before work, so it wasn’t too big of a deal. However, if I knew I had something to do this afternoon, I would have sucked it up.

I got out of class at 10:45 today, so I had plenty of time to run before work at 3:00. I was actually out on the roads by 11:15. It was really tough to find the motivation and energy, but I knew it was now or never. Besides, I can’t braek my streak I am on day 50+ without a rest day!

I’m not going to lie; my run was pretty horrible today. Well, at least most of it was. Like the whole first hour… It was definitely my fault as well. Instead if running before work, I really wanted to take a nap. I kept thinking to myself “What the hell am I doing”? “Why am I not asleep on the couch”? Then I would respond “Because you are too lazy to wake up before class to run”. “If you had woken up early, you could be taking a nap right now because your run would be over with”. It wasn’t pretty.

After an hour, I was tired of not enjoying my run and I made the best of it. Things improved slightly, but it wasn’t one of my better days. Next time I am going to think POSITIVE thoughts. I think that is the key to making a great run even when you are feeling down. What are your motivation tips?

You know what? I don’t have an ounce of regret about running today. I have regretting skipping a run, but I have never actually regretted going for a run. Yeah I was tired, but I felt really good afterwards. If I had taken a nap instead, I would probably be even more tired than I am now and I would feel like I was hit by a train. I actually feel really good; my run really perked me up and gave me some energy to get through the afternoon. I went to work, got all of my MGT 395 homework done, and I am even getting a blog post in

Now it is time to get excited for LOST tonight!

Have you ever regretted going for a run?

Keep those questions coming!