yuck!

that’s pretty much how i feel today.

i was supposed to do an 8 mile run…

i could not get myself to get off the stinkin couch!

i was feeling so guilty for not going running..

then my husband let me know that its okay to not run when you’re sick.

in fact, he said that if i tried to go run, then he would scream…

can’t quite picture that, but i didnt want to risk it, so i stayed on the couch.

its okay to have yuck days where you are lazy! just be sure to get lots of rest :)

plus, my nose did the running for me today! ;)

Christmas eve run

i guess i should get these to run in during the “winter”

i did a seven mile run this morning and my hands were  f r o z e n.

i know its az, but still.

it was the weirdest feeling to be drenched in sweat, but still have my arms and hands frozen stiff.

about the run..

my seven miles felt way better than all of my shorter runs the past couple weeks.

maybe because its Christmas eve? :)

definitely think that had something to do with it..

but also, i find it so much easier to run in the morning on a kinda empty stomach.

AND i have lots of energy in the morning and running even gives me more.

love it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and happy running :)

dear fellow runners

what would you guys like to read/learn about?

let me know some ideas you guys have for blog posts!

what interests you?

i’d love to hear your ideas!

send them my way :)

motivation

loving these motivation tips from here

Motivation Tips

1. Sign up for a race as soon as you feel up to it.
2. Find a committed running partner. It is much harder to skip a run when you have someone else depending on you.
3. Remember that you will have plateaus in your progress and tough days along the way.
4. It gets easier.
5. Accept and appreciate the fact that not every single run can be a good one.
6. Be prepared to remove the words “can’t” and “never” from your vocabulary.
7. “Do not compare yourself to others. Run within yourself and for yourself first.
8. Don’t expect every run to be better than the last one; some of them will hurt.
9. Don’t think too much about it or you won’t do it.
10. Even a bad run is better then no run at all.
11. If you normally run with music try skipping it and listening to your feet to hear your pace and your gait.
12. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t experience weight loss immediately.
13. Start a running blog and read other running blogs regularly.
14. Running is not an excuse to triple your intake of doughnuts because runners gain weight too.

the last one bummed me out..jk. but i do have to say that eating better makes running SO much easier! seems obvious, but i mean A LOT easier. {i will blog about this very soon} i have learned/am learning from experience this month. {i love Christmas goodies!!!}

starting out slow

before having my baby, i was in shape and could run just fine, but i still never ran more than 3 miles at a time. during my pregnancy, i would get really bad leg cramps any time i tried to run. i was very determined that after i had my little boy, i would get back in shape and be able to run a half marathon. easier said than done! i remember the first time i tried running after giving birth, it was about 7 weeks later. i thought i would have no problem running! i was so wrong. you can ask my husband, i would try to run around the neighborhood, i don’t think i would last more than 10 min {if that}. i would get cramps and be so out of breath so quickly! i didnt think i would ever be in shape again!
i decided to just take it slow by running as much as i could handle about 3 times a week. i finally started to reach a mile. YAY!!! then two. the first time i ran three miles was after i decided to start training for a half marathon. i thought three miles seemed so far and it was!
i realized that having something to train for was the best thing for me. it kept me accountable. i almost felt like i had to go run otherwise i would be in trouble when the half marathon came around! i started out at a slow pace, which felt comfortable to me. i began to set goals for what i wanted to run my 3/4/5 miles in. my sister in law and i trained together, this really helped me to not skip my runs in the morning :). i recommend finding a running partner. if you can’t then make sure you run where there are lots of cars and when it is light outside. right now it is perfect weather to run in the afternoon when my husband gets home from work.
my challenge to you is to get out and try running for as long as you can handle. even if you are going so slow that you are almost walking! that is totally fine. that is a great start. don’t push yourself too hard at first! be easy on your body and have fun!

running reduces stress

this is one of the main reasons why i love to run. i can be in the worst mood- sad, angry, frustrated, stressed, down on myself, etc- but once i lace up my running shoes, turn on the ipod, and hit the road, i feel incredible!
running helps me to feel good about myself. here is an excerpt from an article that i just love.
Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress. How? Exercise metabolizes (burns) those stress chemicals in your blood stream. And that makes sense because our bodies are waiting for a fight or flight response…so some vigorous activity (exercise) gives your body its desired response. Exercise also releases chemicals into your blood stream that counteract stress, called endorphins. These chemicals have been credited for the “runners high” and will leave you feeling good and care-free.
As exercise reduces stress chemically, it can also have a meditation-effect during long cardio workouts. Many long distance runners will experience a zoned-out state of consciousness during long runs. It’s a pleasant time to evaluate things or just ponder life’s tougher questions. The rhythm of running or other cardiovascular activity is a great way to get into this relaxed state. Some martial arts and meditation classes use deep breathing techniques to get into this state of relaxation. And this sense of calm will not only reduce your stress, but it can also prevent getting stressed-out too often in the future.
There are many, many positive health benefits of exercise…and now that you know that exercise reduces stress, too…try adding some more of it to your daily routine. A set of push-ups or crunches…a morning run…a brisk lunch-time walk…use exercise to reduce stress in your life and you’ll be happier and healthier for it!
go here to read the full article.
try it out! next time you feel stressed and just need a moment to yourself, get out of the house and exercise! listen to your favorite tunes while you’re at it :)

run for fun!

running can be fun. i promise! start out slow. have something to work towards. that is one of the best motivations for me! if you are a beginner and don’t remember the last time you ran, go out and see how long you can run for. don’t worry about running fast. run at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
on the side of the blog there are some links to several training schedules, whether you are training for a 10k {6.2 miles}, a 1/2 marathon {13.1 miles}, or a full marathon {26.2 miles}. if you do not prefer to run on a certain day, then you can just shift the days one way or the other to fit your schedule.
ready, set, go! :)
what motivates you to run?