Motivation Monday - You Are A Runner

It's either they say you're not a real runner or that you are a jogger. Sometimes  I feel like I'm jogging, and may look like I'm jogging. But I'm a runner.

To all of my fellow runners of all shapes, sizes, and speeds... be yourself!

Image found here.

OMaD - Week 4 Recap

And we continue on! Week 4 and more miles! I can't wait till it stays warm all day and all night! Oh, and to have it still semi to fully light at outside when I get off of work!

January 18 - 24  

Day 18: 1 miles

Day 19: 9.08 miles - not quite a 15k, but I was ready to stop when I got back to my starting point. First time I've looped White Rock Lake in a very long time. Whew!

Day 20: 1 mile

Day 21: 1 mile

Day 22: 1 mile

Day 23: 3.11 miles

Day 24: 1 mile - I ever so slightly cheated this day - walked 0.5 to Starbucks and a 0.5 back to the car before going shopping on a rare Saturday off. The Flat White, people, with soy milk, is awesome. Try. It.

Total Miles this week: 17.19 miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 45.26 miles

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Running Buddies

Some days it's great to have someone to run with. Some days... not so much!

I've had a couple running buddies over my short running life. All of them have been coworkers who joined me on the running crusade. We really didn't start training together until we peer pressured ourselves into registering for our very first half marathon (after doing a number of 5ks) together.

Currently, I don't have a Running Buddy (RB) since my long runs end up either on a Sunday morning when others go to church (I know I should too...) or Monday morning when everyone else is working. Sure, I miss the camaraderie of a fellow runner, but sometimes it's nice to be alone.

Let me share with you a few things I've learned along the way having an RB. Ladies and gents, here is my list of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly about having a running buddy (also the Do's and the Don'ts).

THE GOOD

1. Your buddy can keep you accountable! 
2. Your friendship can grow. 
3. You have a support system right next to you when you think you can't make it.  
4. You don't obsess focus on running (like paying attention to your Garmin and how march farther you have to go) as much because your busy talking. 
5. If your RB is also your SO, you can give each great massages after a long run! 
6. If you don't have a RB you learn to be a stronger runner. 
7. You'r RB could actually be a dog! 

THE BAD

1. You're accountable. Yes, you do have to wake up at the crack of dawn to run 10 miles! 
2. Your RB talks about their life and not ask about yours. 
3. You accidentally insult them without realizing it. 
4. You wish you had an RB when you end up running in a questionable place alone.
5. If you don't have a RB you sometimes lack that motivational need to continue on. 

THE UGLY

1. You discover that you really don't like your RB.
2. They may share details of a mid-run convo with other people.  
3. Your RB misunderstood the time you were suppose to meeet and they start training without you (not to mention not calling you but rather FBing you).
4. You rely on someone else to keep you motivated and you don't tap into you inner self for strength. 

THE DO's
Chit chat. 
Yes, talk! Not only does it help you make sure you're not pushing too hard pace-wise, it's just a very natural thing to do. Talk about running, how's life treating each other. Depending on how well you know your RB (friends, besties, coworkers) and trust  them you can go as in-depth as you feel like. After awhile, my RBs would run out of things to say (no pun intended) because we weren't really besties and/or we just got too focused on running and staying upright!

Double check the time the two of you are meeting. 
Here's my little story. RB1 said 7am. Then a day or so later it was 8am. I doubled checked and she agreed to meet at 8am to drive down to the lake together. So I told RB2 about the time changed. That morning, I get a Facebook private massage (which my phone is not set to notify me for) asking where I was.... It was 7am. She did not phone text me or call me. Since I was still sleeping, unaware, for another half hour she decided to go ahead and drive herself to the lake. I discover all of this 30 minutes later and had to scramble. I was so. so. so. mad! RB2 and I still managed to meet up and run, AND still make it to breakfast with RB1, but it was so frustrating. Talk about being motivated. Ran my (at that point) fastest 10k that morning. So fellow runners, double and triple check your meet up times!

THE DON'Ts 
If your RB is a coworker, don't vent about work.
Well, technically you can talk about the light part of work, but certain aspects of it are bothering about it, do not release that frustration on your RB/coworker. Never. Ever. Nope. Nada. Do not do it!

Don't get mad when your RB when they pull shit.
Just get even. Naw. Just joking. Be mad or pissed or frustrated for a little but then get over it. In all seriousness, most of the shit could be done by accident. Give them the benefit of the doubt. After awhile, if it still bothers you - talk your RB about it!

LINKS
I was looking for other runners and sport sites who shared similar advice and found these:

Run, Eat, Run: The Perks of Being A Running Partner 
Nicki Miller - Competitor.com
http://running.competitor.com/2014/02/staff-blog/run-eat-run-the-perks-of-being-a-running-partner_95228

The DO's and DON'Ts of Running with Buddies 
Melinda - Melinda Hinson Neely
http://melindahinsonneely.com/blog/running-marathons-fitness/the-do%E2%80%99s-and-don%E2%80%99ts-of-running-with-buddies/

Dos and Don'ts of Running with a Buddy 
Fitness Magazine
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/blogs/fitstop/2012/03/27/fitness/dos-and-donts-of-running-with-a-buddy/

Do you have any tips, likes, dislikes about having a Running Buddy? 

All this being said, I ran with my a coworker RB (who is typically faster than me, but I managed to stay with her... or was it that she slowed down? Either way... awesome!) during the holiday and it have to say it was wonderful. I miss it.

Source of image of Clint Eastwood found here.

Motivation Monday - A Good Pick Me Up

Thank you Runner's World for providing with some of the greatest motivation posters!

Today RW and me would like to say... 

Running does make it better... even if it's just for a short while. Often I found myself going for a walk and ended up running because it felt so much better.

Today is a big day for me in a lot of ways, and I'm scared to learn how it's going to end... So I may need to run more than just a mile on Tuesday!

If you want to start this new year after going through a not-so-stellar 2014... try running it out!

Source of image found here.

OMaD - Week 3 Recap

Week 3 of my One Mile A Day went well. Some days were hard (aka I didn't want to get out of bed or I wanted to go to bed. Winter sucks, people!). But, I did it. Plus, I've building up my mileage!

January 11 - 17  
Day 11: 1 miles

Day 12: 7.32 miles - gobs of miles, especially up and down Flag Pole Hill!

Day 13: 1 mile

Day 14: 1 mile

Day 15: 3.1 miles

Day 16: 2 miles

Day 17: 1 mile

Total Miles this week: 14.42

Total Miles Thus Far: 28.08 miles

Make Tracks for the Zoo 5K Recap

In May 2014 I visited my amazing and genius brother in St. Louis. It just so happened that the zoo was having their annual Make Tracks for the Zoo 5K walk/run that same weekend. The race, which benefits this amazing zoo, takes you around the famed Forest Park and ends with yummies inside the zoo before it opens! Awesome! I had to do it. I even talked my brother into running it with me (he was going to walk me over there any!). It was all uber exciting since it was my first race outside of Texas to boot!

It was a cool but sunny morning. Just a few degrees below perfect race weather. Living really close to the park we just walked over, which was a good warm up. Race day packet pickup proved to be pretty painless (I'm always wary of them), and I got one of most favorite race shirts. It's green and has a cheetah cat on it! Only downside that I remember... no gear check (oh, and bananas... keep reading to find out). So! My brother rode his bike out to stash our stuff in his locker at Washington University, which was closer to us than home. 

This picture does not give the American flag size justice! 

The race starts just down street from the Saint Louis Zoo entrance, and takes you past some of the big features of beautiful Forest Park, such as the World's Fair Pavilion, The MUNY, the Jewel Box. It also takes you up some pretty awesome hills too. It was one of first few races that I did that made me think... I need to train on hills! Whew!

So, yes, I had a little difficulty navigating the hills, but I managed (I had walked them a couple days before while we explored the park, so we were acquainted already). My brother, whose is far more athletic than I (not to mention taller) slowed down his pace to stay with me, which was much appreciated! That's sibling love, people!

The race ended at the start. The post-race yummies were served at a side entrance for the zoo. They had everything from yogurt, apples, cinnamon raisin rolls, chocolate milk, water, sports drinks, and coffee. They did not, however, have bananas. How ironic is that? We're at the zoo and there were no bananas to eat! I missed my banana!

Where's the banana?!? 

After we ate breakfast we visited some more of our favorite animals at the zoo before moving on to greater adventures outside of Forest Park. 

This is definitely a race that I would do again. For those with children, this is a race for the family too! Just bring bananas!

Source of course map here. Source of logo here.

Motivation Monday - Get Out There!

With these polar vortexes that keeps on slamming Texas (not to mention many other states!) I would prefer to stay in cuddled up in bed or on the couch with lots of blankets, fuzzy socks, a book/TV and coffee until spring arrived.

But alas, I liked running too.

Aaaaand, I too would feel bad that I didn't go running, especially if it justified me eating certain not-so-healthy foods (we all understand that!).

Alright, alright. Time to add another layer and brave that wind chill! 

Get out there and run! You'll thank yourself later!

Image found here.

OMaD - Week 2 Recap

This week started out so much than the first mini week of the year. Granted the weather improved immensely before it went downhill again. Come back, Texas sun, come back!

Week 2: January 04 - 10 
Day 4: 1 mile in gailforce winds!

Day 5: 1 mile with the dogs

Day 6: 1.5 miles and still working in the new running shoes!

Day 7: 1.03 miles and extremely jealous of a friend who is working in Miami for a few days! Brrr! 

Day 8: 3.13 miles - check out the icy patch I came across! 

Day 9: 1 mile in the cold, cold, windy late night

Day 10: 1 mile at night again... brrr!!!

Total Miles this week: 9.66 miles

Total Miles total: 11.66 miles

Life's Little Thing: Corner Piece from Brownie Pan

OK. So. It's calls your name every time you pass through kitchen. But you try to ignore it. It's the brownie pan. You try to resist, especially when technically the next piece that should be eaten is one of the soft center pieces. You tell yourself that you really shouldn't eat it brownies anyways, especially since you're trying to be good and you're in training.

But, come one, it's brownies!

Plus, you're in a rush to get out the door for work and you need breakfast!

Then you spot it. There is only one corner piece left in the entire pan.

Devious measures have to be taken!

Little Thing: Getting the last corner piece of the brownie pan!* 

*Even if you have to cut it out an leave a corner hole in the pan! 

Enjoy the little things, people... and your brownies!

Image found here at www.inspiredtaste.net.

OMaD - Week 1 Recap

Here is the recap for the first week of my One Mile a Day (OMaD) goal! I have to say that I failed a little already this week.

Week 1: January 01 - 03
Day 1: 1 mile - in the frigid cold rain. Wearing so many layers I felt like Randie from A Christmas Story!

Day 2: Did not walk a mile this day, but swing danced it. See my feet resting behind a dance partner?

Day 3: I technically did not get a dedicated walk in for this day either. Fail! But I was on my feet practically all day at work. Does that count? Not really.

Total miles this week: 2 

Hopefully next week will be better!

Motivation Monday

I've seen a lot of motivational posters in my short running time, but this one popped up in my Facebook feed the same day that I was reading about and keeping an eye on friends/acquaintances who ran the 2014 Dallas Marathon and the BCS Marathon. This helped light the fire under my butt to think above and beyond. 

 

Image found here.

New Year, New Me?

Well, maybe not entirely a new me. I'm pretty awesome to begin with (just saying!). But, I definitely need some tweaking in some areas.

I mentioned in my introductory post that I hope to achieve some goals (not necessarily New Year Resolutions, but that also fits) in the year 2015. So, here's the skinny of what I want to do this year:

Goal #1
Improve my nutrition. Might be time that I bust out some cooking skills and 'em cookbooks! I got a year, right?!

Goal #2
Dedicate the time to walk at least 1mile a day in addition to my regular running and cross-training schedule.    

Note: For this, I've created a tab for you easily follow my progress for this goal. I have a feeling I may fail this one. 

Goal #3 
Finish strong at the Austin Half Marathon and PR. 

Goal #4
Run and :: FINISH :: the MetroPCS Dallas Full Marathon.

Some are moderate in difficulty. Doable, even. Some, well, are hard and scary (guess which one!) We'll see how it goes. I will keep you all posted on these big things as I work them into my life that is always changing and improving (whether you recognize it or not!).

Do you have any goals?

Oh! Happy New Year to all of you out there! 

Images found here and here. 

RW Run Streak 2014

Me and a group of running/walking buddies decided to join the Runner World's Run Streak. Run one mile every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's. OK. Got it!

I "cheated" and decided to do a combo of running and walking depending on how I felt. Some days I did more than one mile.

In total I achieved 75 miles in 36 days. Not too shabby! Some days were race days. Some days were training days (hello, February half marathon!). Some days were days that you just needed to run it out. Some days you just had to sleep as long as possible and you do the bare minimum. Here's the break down:

Week 1 
Day 1: 3.1
Day 2: 1.3
Day 3: 1.3
Day 4: 2.5
Day 5: 3.1
Day 6: 2
Day 7: 2 (15.3 total)

Week 2 
Day 8: 2
Day 9: 3
Day 10: 1
Day 11: 1
Day 12: 2
Day 13: 1.5
Day 14: 2 (28.8 total)

Week 3
Day 15: 2
Day 16: 1
Day 17: 6
Day 18: 1.5
Day 19: 3.3
Day 20: 1
Day 21: 1 (45.6 total)

Week 4
Day 22: 1
Day 23: 3
Day 24: 1
Day 25: 7.2
Day 26: 1
Day 27: 1
Day 28: 1 (60.8 total)

Week 5
Day 29: 1.5
Day 30: 1.5
Day 31: 1
Day 32: 2
Day 33: 4.5
Day 34: 1
Day 35: 1
Day 36: 1.7 (75 total)

Ending thoughts? Though some days it was a pain to get up a little earlier than normal or two walk around the 'hood at night after a long day at work. All in all, however, it kept me motivated and it was a nice way to kick start a day or to decompress from a day. I did something similar during the summer months, just all on my own, and it was nice. Plus, it gave me inspiration for one of my 2015 goals. I would totally do it again. Maybe I'll try to adhere to truly running one mile every day, but then again, maybe I won't! I have a slight feeling that sleep may triumph over this. We'll find out!

Images found here and here.