Not Serious... And I'm So Happy!

My 10K Training workshop was awesome yesterday! As soon as I got there, I talked with Susan, from Fleet Feet (she is the training coordinator) about the groin/quad pain I have been having and that I had no idea what to do about it. She was concerned and said she would work with me during warm-ups to do some stretching to target that area. I was hesitant to start warm-ups, but it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. The stretches she had me do before the run helped tremendously.

The temperature was easily at or over 100 degrees and we were running along the creek in the park, so the humidity was high. I was sweating buckets even before I got started on the run. We did four 1 mile circuits, given the high temps. We were encouraged to stop and get water or use the restroom at the end of each mile, if we felt the need. They didn't want anyone getting sick by over doing it.

At first, I could feel myself favoring the sore leg, but as I warmed up, I got a nice even stride, and was surprised as the pain faded away. Susan came up to run with me and my running partner. She gave me some pointers on my stride that may be contributing to put too much stress on my groin, glutes and quads. Evidently, I have too much "spring" in my step and my strides are too long. She said to try to shorten my stride, don't bounce so much, and take more steps in a minute. We counted my steps in 30 seconds and I am taking only 65-70. She said I should try for 85 to 90. I noticed a difference when I shortened up the steps, and I was able to keep the same running pace. She helped me with some new stretches in the post run to release those tight muscles. When I left, I had no pain at all, and I ran the whole 4 miles with my partner, except for about 30 seconds when we stopped for water. I met a great running buddy yesterday, too. It's not always easy to find someone who is comfortable running the exact same pace as you. I left training yesterday with an adrenalin high. I was so happy that I felt good and didn't hurt. Oh yeah, and I am loving my NUUN tablets! I have such a quick recovery using the supplemented water, it is amazing! No weakness or cramping at all.

I got up this morning and did a quick jog around our yard and then did a complete set of the stretches Susan showed me yesterday. I feel just a twinge of soreness, but nothing like I experienced earlier this week. I have my core workout on my schedule today, so no running, but lots of ab work and upper body strengthening. I'll probably finish up with a few miles on the bike, just to get some cardio work in, too. I'll be ending it with my "life saving" stretches.

Shelly

Living... with so much more optimism than I started the week with.
Laughing...  at what I didn't know I didn't know... again!
Loving... having my daughter and her husband in California for the summer!

In a Funk...

I'm not sure why I'm not feeling like my energetic self right now. I suspect it is a combination of several things happening at the same time. I'm just not 100% physically, and that makes me not 100% mentally.  Last week I had a twinge of groin pain after a core workout, then I ran 2.5 miles Friday as part of the 10k Training program. Yes, then it became more than a twinge. It hurt! I did the new stretches I learned in the training program, and it helped. Saturday was an early morning training run. We had to meet at the park at 7am, which meant I had to be out of the house by 6am, which meant I had to be up by at least 5:15 am, and I am NOT a morning person! I never run in the morning, unless it's a race day. My hubby went with me to go on his own run through the park while I ran with my training group. My groin was tender when I got up, but I thought the scheduled easy 3.5 mile run might be just the thing to get it loosened up. During the run it felt fine, a little tight and tender after, but I spent plenty of time on post run stretching. I thought it would be ok. It got worse as the day went on. I was feeling exhausted from the early run and painful groin, so I took a nap, hoping I would feel better. Woke up sluggish and just not myself. Sunday... still not feeling very good. I was frustrated because I don't want to get behind in my 10k training, I need to keep my miles up, so taking time off running is not what I want to do. It was extremely windy and hot on Sunday, which always makes me out of sorts. And I didn't get to see my dad on Father's Day. I called, but he wasn't home, so I could only leave a message. I also quit taking my allergy medication this weekend, so I have had headaches off and on, too. All this creates a perfect storm for a funk to brew!

My training schedule has 13 miles on it this week, so I am tossing out any negativity right now! I'm going out to do my 3 mile run in a few minutes and I'm going to feel great! I am going to set up a Pilate's session this week and do a duet with my daughter. It was her idea, and it couldn't come at a better time. My youngest daughter will be arriving from Utah tomorrow, and I can't wait to see her! I have so many things to be excited about, sometimes I just need a reminder. Sure, I have a bunch of stuff at home that is not going exactly as planned, and I have been disappointed that things aren't perfect, but I have decided that I am perfectly happy with what IS going as planned!

This is going to be a great week!

Shelly

Living... one day at a time. Patience, Shelly, patience!
Laughing... at the pure honesty that comes from my grand kids mouths.
Loving... sharing my frustrations, and realizing things are not as bad as I imagine them to be.

Good People... and One Dumb Guy...

I went to my first 10K Training run last night, not knowing what to expect. I really like the instructor/mentors and the other runners. I didn't know anyone there and even though most people were there with a friend or two, I didn't feel out of place or unwelcome. I chatted with a couple women around my age and they were very friendly.  Most gals who had gone through this training before had a handheld water bottle, so one of the staff at Fleet Feet (the owners organize the training programs), helped me find one in the store to buy and talked to me about NUUN tablets, which I knew nothing about. So I got the berry and lemon tea flavor nuun to try out during that training run because it was hot, like about 80 degrees hot at 6:30 in the evening. I got my nuun water all set up in my new water bottle and then the group set out. All 120 of us! We were separated into two groups, the one I am in is for runners wanting to work on extending mileage, starting out at 3 miles, and will be at 6.5 miles at end of training. The other group is starting at 4 miles and going to 10, I think, and they are working on increasing speed.

We walked from the downtown store to the park entrance where we run (the advanced group ran to the park). We started with some plyometric (sp?) exercises. The trainers don't like to use stretches prior to running, but do lots of stretching post-run. Then, because of the heat, we set out for an easy run to get initial times for our own easy pace, which we will use throughout our training. My first mile was 10:00 right on the nose. I felt ok running the first 1.5 miles, except that I had prepped by drinking a lot of water all day, knowing it was going to be hot, so it was a good thing there was a restroom at the 1.5 mile turnaround! After that turnaround, I felt really good and finished up with a 31:05, which included the bathroom break. I loved the nuun, but got tired of holding the water bottle towards the end of the run. It was nice to be able to sip water when I wanted to, instead of trying to gulp a bunch when it's available at water stops (I choke every time, I'm not very coordinated).

So, the park was busy, with lots of people coming to run, bike, walk their dogs, cool off in the creek, etc.  When we were about 1/4 mile from our turn around, we could hear a guy yelling "NO! NO! NO!" up ahead. As we rounded the corner, two very large dogs came running up out of the creek onto the trail and headed straight to two dogs that were on leashes held by two young women. The dogs came up all macho and aggressive. The girls were doing their best to keep their dogs calm and not let the situation turn into a fight. The dumb guy the dogs belonged to had no control over them at all, they completely ignored him. Everyone was telling him to grab his dogs, but he kept trying to call them to him. He was finally able to grab the collars and haul the dogs back down to the creek. What a scary experience for the two gals, who were being responsible and had complete control over their dogs, and for everyone else there. Irresponsible dog owners are beyond irritating to me. I have dogs. I love dogs. I am a dog person, but in a park area like that, you have to leash your dogs! These dogs were completely untrained and out of control. That is just unnecessarily dangerous! After the turnaround on the way back, we passed him again. The dogs were in the creek, snarling and growling with each other as this guy just sat there and watched them. It was play fighting, but extremely aggressive. As I got down the trail a bit, a girl was running with a little Jack Russel terrier on a leash and she was headed their way. I had to stop her and warn her of the idiot with his aggressive dogs on the loose. That's how one stupid person can wreck an enjoyable, relaxing evening run for a bunch of people. Jumping off my soapbox now. ;)

I can't wait for my next training run Saturday morning! My hubby is going to bring his bike and ride in the park  while I get my training run in. He is sticking to get-back-into-shape goal. Yay for you, hubby!!

Shelly

Living...  with goals to improve my strength and running distance.
Laughing...  at myself when I get nervous about being with people who love running as much as I do.
Loving...  the way my body feels after a good, sweaty run.

On Motivation...

I have thinking a lot about motivation lately, and recognizing when something inspires or motivates me. 

These are some of the things I've noticed that keep me going, and get me up off the couch.

* Feeling (and seeing) muscles where once there were none.
* Seeing my daughter and hubby start running, because I am.
* When someone new at the gym asks if I just ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill and says they're inspired.
* Hearing my hubby say "Wow, I'm impressed!" when we run together.
* Reading blogs by runners. They are truly inspirational in their commitment to running.
* Looking back to February when I COULD NOT RUN more than .25 miles on the treadmill.
* Imagining myself running the half marathon that is on my calendar in November.

I start my 10K Training tonight as part of a team.  This is a first for me.  I have never been part of a team (except track for one year in high school), so I am hoping to be inspired and motivated by others on this training team.  Anything I have done has always been just me out there wingin' it and seeing what happens.  I think that this will give me the confidence to start trying longer runs.  Having someone there who has done it a million times to help me learn what I'm supposed to know will be worth the time and travel it's going to take for me to participate in the training.  I'm excited, and nervous.  I'm so new to the whole running scene. I don't know the lingo, don't know things that are obvious to the seasoned runners. I just want to learn and run smart. So, I'm just going to try and learn as much as I can... then share as much as I can remember with my hubby, who is just starting to get his run on!

Shelly

Living... in constant admiration of the committed, seasoned runners out there!
Laughing... at all the things I don't know that I don't know.
Loving...  the support my family gives me for my (almost) obsessive interest in running.