Why do I run? I run to stay sane. Why do you run?
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Why do you run?
As I sit on my phone reading inspirational quotes about running, I came to a section that asked "why do you run?" followed by answers from members of the website. But that question really hit me. Why do I run? I think I've said this before on this blog....but I run to stay sane, to stay away from depression. After not running for the past month, due to trying out P90X, I could definitely feel depression seeping in. I was easily triggered and got angry so quick. I didn't feel like doing anything. Cleaning, cooking, even falling asleep was difficult. But after running again, I have a clean home, dinners are actually planned AND cooked. I feel 100x's better these past 4 days than I did the past 4 weeks. It's nice having a therapy that's free. Cuz I tried the real therapy and paying $80 for an hour session once a week just added more stress.
Why do I run? I run to stay sane. Why do you run?
Why do I run? I run to stay sane. Why do you run?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Half Marathon, P90X, Running Again
The title says it all. I've been unable to blog for a while but it seems I have some free time tonight. (as my baby is helping me type. haha)
Half Marathon
First up, running my half marathon. Since I posted last, I've ran my half marathon. I was scheduled to run it on January 28th, but as that date got closer, I realized I may have an unwanted girly visitor...so I decided on January 21 to run. I decided this around 1 in the afternoon and then did my run around 4:30. I didn't really prepare mentally to run that day...just kind of went. I didn't eat well before I ran either. So needless to say, I had a few complications. Not many, but enough. My first two miles where rough. It was a pretty windy day. Those first two miles where going against the wind and it really gave me a rough start. I had a really bad side cramp start and didn't leave until around mile 8. Around that same time, I felt a blister starting. It sort of felt like a thorn in my sock, so I stopped a few times to feel around and didn't feel anything...so I ignored it. After meeting up with Tanner at the end, I realized it was a big nasty blister. Around mile 10, my legs started cramping and I got really hungry. I wonder if I was better prepared, if this would have been an issue. Either way, I had a power bar in the car with Tanner and when I saw him again, (Tanner was in the car meeting me at certain miles.) I waved him down and ate half of the bar. After getting back running again I felt a lot better. It was amazing to feel a difference with just a little snack. At mile 13, I got excited to get to the finish line. I finished in 2 hours and 12 minutes. A little slower that I hoped for. I was shooting for under 2 hours. But with all the issues I had, wind, side cramps, blisters, that's not a bad time. I was very excited to have finished this goal. In the end, it really wasn't as bad/hard as I thought it was going to be.
P90X
After running my half marathon, I had decided to start P90X. BUT after 3 weeks of doing it, and 4 weeks of no running (I took a week off after the half) I started getting depressed and bored with the program. It's a great program, but the way running helps me emotionally, P90X has nothing for me. So I started running again this past Sunday.
Running Again
I'm now training for a marathon. A FULL :) When I trained for my half, I ran 3 days a week and hiked 2 days. When doing some research about a running a full, I learned it's best to run 30-40 miles a week. 30 miles is double what I was running with the half. So I've started running every day. I'm starting out slow again, trying to avoid injuries.
Here are my miles so far this week.
Sunday: 2 miles
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 2 miles
So far, running daily is going pretty well. I can feel a little bit of pain only when I run my knees and shins. But hopefully taking it slow will keep me from injuries. I'm also doing weights 3 days a week, the weight days from P90X. Today was day 3 of this new workout and I'm feeling great. My depression has gone away again and I feel motivated. Finally. The last 3 weeks was getting hard. It's funny to me how much running does for me. Not only has it gotten me skinny again but mentally it's a miracle worker for me. I'm excited for the coming months and all the training for my full marathon! I enter for St George Marathon in April. If I don't get chosen, I'll sign up for the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. Races are in September or October...so I've got lots of time, and a nasty summer full of heat, to train!
I'll be better about updating :)
Half Marathon
First up, running my half marathon. Since I posted last, I've ran my half marathon. I was scheduled to run it on January 28th, but as that date got closer, I realized I may have an unwanted girly visitor...so I decided on January 21 to run. I decided this around 1 in the afternoon and then did my run around 4:30. I didn't really prepare mentally to run that day...just kind of went. I didn't eat well before I ran either. So needless to say, I had a few complications. Not many, but enough. My first two miles where rough. It was a pretty windy day. Those first two miles where going against the wind and it really gave me a rough start. I had a really bad side cramp start and didn't leave until around mile 8. Around that same time, I felt a blister starting. It sort of felt like a thorn in my sock, so I stopped a few times to feel around and didn't feel anything...so I ignored it. After meeting up with Tanner at the end, I realized it was a big nasty blister. Around mile 10, my legs started cramping and I got really hungry. I wonder if I was better prepared, if this would have been an issue. Either way, I had a power bar in the car with Tanner and when I saw him again, (Tanner was in the car meeting me at certain miles.) I waved him down and ate half of the bar. After getting back running again I felt a lot better. It was amazing to feel a difference with just a little snack. At mile 13, I got excited to get to the finish line. I finished in 2 hours and 12 minutes. A little slower that I hoped for. I was shooting for under 2 hours. But with all the issues I had, wind, side cramps, blisters, that's not a bad time. I was very excited to have finished this goal. In the end, it really wasn't as bad/hard as I thought it was going to be.
P90X
After running my half marathon, I had decided to start P90X. BUT after 3 weeks of doing it, and 4 weeks of no running (I took a week off after the half) I started getting depressed and bored with the program. It's a great program, but the way running helps me emotionally, P90X has nothing for me. So I started running again this past Sunday.
Running Again
I'm now training for a marathon. A FULL :) When I trained for my half, I ran 3 days a week and hiked 2 days. When doing some research about a running a full, I learned it's best to run 30-40 miles a week. 30 miles is double what I was running with the half. So I've started running every day. I'm starting out slow again, trying to avoid injuries.
Here are my miles so far this week.
Sunday: 2 miles
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 2 miles
So far, running daily is going pretty well. I can feel a little bit of pain only when I run my knees and shins. But hopefully taking it slow will keep me from injuries. I'm also doing weights 3 days a week, the weight days from P90X. Today was day 3 of this new workout and I'm feeling great. My depression has gone away again and I feel motivated. Finally. The last 3 weeks was getting hard. It's funny to me how much running does for me. Not only has it gotten me skinny again but mentally it's a miracle worker for me. I'm excited for the coming months and all the training for my full marathon! I enter for St George Marathon in April. If I don't get chosen, I'll sign up for the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. Races are in September or October...so I've got lots of time, and a nasty summer full of heat, to train!
I'll be better about updating :)