Sunday, September 30, 2012

Day 6/30 "Runner's Block = Writer's Block"

September 30, 2012 Day 6

I couldn't run today.  I mean, sure I *could* have but my knees are "pulling", my ankles are stiff, my feet are in pain, and the pain up my leg from all of that is not fun.  We took the kids and the dog to the park for a couple of hours instead.

I've got nothin'.  Apparently running/pathetic jogging/walking with a mission opens up my head to writing.

I had not intended for today to be a day of rest but, unless I want to turn this 30-Day Challenge into a "stumbling block" I better listen to my body and know when to rest.




Saturday, September 29, 2012

Day 5/30 "Runners are Two Faced and Progress"

September 29, 2012 Day 5

Did you ever notice that runners are two-faced?  Take a look sometime.  There is the face before a run which is equal to the face after a run.  It's the face of "I can do this", "I'm a rock star", and "I did it, I'm so awesome".  Then there's the other face, the in the middle of the run face where the runner's face is fifty shades of messed up.  (I had to get a Christian Grey tag in there somehow).  I call this face a border line between ecstasy and death.  It is the face of feeling like you're kicking some ass and the feeling of some ass kicking you.  In the face.  For the more seasoned runners they have, more often than not, the face of ecstasy.  For the novice like myself it's definitely death...warmed over...kicked in the face...dying...DEAD!

The other day my husband passed me on his way to work.  Later that day he said, "You looked really good out there".

OH MY GAWD, he's a necrophiliac.  But he promised me new shoes so I'm going to roll with that!

In other "I can do this" and "rock star" news, I shaved 5 minutes off my route this morning.  I didn't feel like I was doing better but apparently I did.

So, in your face...I did it, I'm so awesome!


Friday, September 28, 2012

Day 4/30 "A Day of Rest"

September 28, 2012 Day 4

I didn't choose today for my day of rest.  My pushers chose it for me.  I have a pusher-theory about this day of rest.  See, they want you to go out so many times and then stop.  They say so your muscles will rest and your body & mind can recover.  Hmmmm, I think it's because when you take a day to rest you think about your next running fix, getting back out there, seeing how much farther you can go before you feel that "runner's high".  Drug dealers reincarnated into runners, I'm telling you this HAS to be true!!  And...well, it's working.

Mentally I am ready to get back out on the pavement.  Physically I know I need to rest.

Now, if you'll excuse me I have a hot date with my husband and he promised me new running shoes!!






Thursday, September 27, 2012

Day 3/30 "Starting Running SUCKS"

September 27, 2012 Day 3

I have a new phrase to describe my 30-Day Running Challenge:  Suckity-Suck-Suckiest-Sucker or "Running Sucks".

As soon as my feet hit the pavement this morning negativity set in.  I blame it on the humidity.  I don't do humid.  I live in Southern Maryland and I don't do humid.  I was all choked up before I could even get into a rhythm.  My ability to run for 10 minutes was quickly squashed and today's pathetic jogging was mostly walking.  It wasn't even brisk walking.  I hated every step!  I dropped the *F* bomb to anything and everything moving around me.  Oh, look they have a *F* ing car, they don't need to run, they can *F* ing drive.  To those who waved I made sure my middle finger was sticking out more than the rest in my wave back.  I did a whole lot of bitching, whining, and swearing this morning.

Run for 5, Walk for 5, Run for 2, Walk for 5, Run for 1, Walk for 10.  I felt like today was 2 pathetic jogging steps forward and 40 back.  If one were to put a positive spin on this I actually did have a rhythm, and doing intervals is a great exercise tool for cardio.  I am, after all, only on day 3 so this is progress.  If one WERE to put a positive spin on this.  Today I am not going to put a positive spin on it.  My muscles ache (yes, I *F* ing stretched), my mind is trying to organize a to do list (apparently I am not good at being a runner and domestic diva), and I just don't wanna today!  It's too soon for a day of rest, I think so I will just bitch and swear my way through this...actually 30 minutes of swearing when no one is around is kind of therapeutic

Tomorrow is a new day, a chance to not suck...but for today I will chant: "Running Sucks...It really *F* ing Sucks"!!!!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Day 2 of 30 day run challenge "Easing In"

September 26, 2012 Day 2

I'd rather "opt out" than "ease in".  Opting out is easy!  Easing in is hard!  It should be harding in.  This morning my husband asked if I was going for a run again.  My self-doubt kicked in and I told him I was going for a walk/pathetic jog because I've definitely not obtained "runner" status yet.

Here is what I learned on my run (pathetic jogging combined with walking) today:

Sitting on the couch is easy and fun and relaxing.  Especially if you are sitting there with a strong cup of java or an even stronger glass of wine.  Running is hard.  Sitting on the couch feels good but the long term of effects of a sedentary lifestyle do not feel good!  Running sucks and feels like shit but the long term effects of running do feel good.  So I chose to run.

When I got home I had an email from a pusher about "easing in to running".  I thought about calling the authorities because clearly she was trying to sell me more from her stash.  But I read it.  10 tips for beginner runners  Three things that stood out to me from that article.  1. It's going to get harder before it gets easier.  Yeah, Ya Think!  2.  I should be strengthening my core.  Okay, because apparently beating the crap out of my body by running is not challenging enough now I have to strength train?  WTF.  And, 3. My carb to protein ration should be 4:1.  That's the best news I've read all day!  If anyone can do carbs it's me!

Yesterday I spent 15 minutes on the pavement.  Today I spent 30 minutes out there and I managed to run nonstop  for 10 minutes...all of 3/4 of a mile.  Yep, I know Marathon-Material right there, LOL, but I'm easing in, remember!


Day 1 of 30 day run challenge, "Pushy Peeps"

September 25, 2012
I hate running!  I even blogged about how I'd never ever never run again!  NEVER!

Then I surrounded myself with runner friends.  I kept them at a 5K distance.  By the way, I have no idea how many miles are actually in a 5K and I've no intentions of finding out.  When I see 5K I think money.  Lying bastards!  I have come to describe my runner friends as pushers selling a drug.  In fact those creepy drug dealers on the corner have absolutely nothing on my pushy peeps.  My runner friends stand there in those cute shorts, awesome running shoes, pushing this drug called running. They don't even have to talk, you'll never beg the question, "What are you selling" because one look and you know.  It is only then that I run...in the opposite direction of the pusher.  Some of them even sport this fancy number on their chest, yeah, reminds me of a toe tag at the morgue.   I have always just said NO!  In fact, Hell No!

Insert Day 1:  15 minutes of a run (okay, it was more like a pathetic jog) mixed with a brisk walk.  I hated it so much I decided I would try it again!  I started out in a foul mood and with each pounding of the pavement I lost a lot of anger.  Okay, that's a good thing right!  I also thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest and my lungs might collapse.  Okay, that's a good thing right!

I have bad feet, bad ankles, achy legs, and a lot of the times a sore muscle in my back.  Those are all very good reasons to NOT run.  But the biggest pusher of all was my little brother and sibling rivalry just became my biggest reason TO run.  My brother and I have never been competitive, leaning on each other, supporting each other, and just encouraging each other's lives...never competing.  But now, it's game on!   I really think he just used this as one of his pushing methods that I am quite certain they instruct all runners before that 5K thingee.

When I told my daughter that I was going to start running she said, "You can't run you're a mom".  WOAH!  Everything I was trying to teach my daughter just unraveled in that one sentence.  But, I'll save that for a mommy-guilt post.  I'm going to show her!!  I have two reasons that are even bigger than sibling rivalry, my kids and I'm going to show them that Moms CAN Run!  In the words of one of my runner friends, (Her name is also Jen so this must mean she is totally awesome)  "This makes me a Bad Mother Runner"

So thank you my Pushy Peeps, you have pushed me into a 30-day run challenge.  I am going to force myself to do this and to blog each day of my progress.   I expect you to be there for me....doing what you do best....pushing!