I've realized recently that I feel rushed so much of the time. I don't really do the things that I want to as much as I should..at least in a day to day sort of thing.
For example, this morning I made coffee and I am now enjoying it slowly. I don't have it in a travel mug to drink on my way out the door, I'm enjoying it at home. I also have not turned on the TV and I hope to knit in a bit before we decide if we are going to the Bears game or not.
Don't get me wrong, I love many of the things I get to do, but I feel as though I'm obligated and rush through things, rather than enjoy the little things.
We had to say good bye to our dog this week. I say our dog because my boyfriend and his dog viewed me as a part of the family. I knew him for a little less than two and a half years. My boyfriend had him since he was a pup, and his life was too short at 8 and a half years.
I'm reminded how there are things in life that we always feel must be done, and we put off what we'd like to do because of that. I'm going to make a conscious effort to have a good mixture of those things.
I haven't been running in a week, and I'm ok with that. I have 2 weeks until the half marathon, and I'll run again this week, but I'll run distances I feel, not what's planned. I want to cook this week, and make things that are healthy and delicious. Last night I made venison stew and some fresh butternut squash soup. Do you know how easy and simple those dishes were? Very few ingredients and so flavorful.
Going to Vermont last weekend may have given me this bug to be more natural again and do take the time to do the things that you enjoy. I hope that I'm able to make it stick.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Back to basics
I knew I was going to have a rough day at work today, so I decided to run after work. I brought all of my running gear and headed out after work.
Pretty much all of my runs this week are 5 miles. I'm supposed to run 12 on Friday night, but I've already decided I don't think it will happen. Instead, I'm going to try and run as far as possible in Vermont on Sunday. Initially that was going to be a 5 miler, but I'm just going to go as far as I feel like going (and still make it to my brother's wedding reception on time).
Today's run, however, was a perfect fall run. Some clouds, some sun, 55 degrees, slight wind, leaves starting to change, not too many people out...I ran as I felt, which happened to be right at a 10 minute pace. 5 miles in 50 minutes, worked for me!
We'll see how I feel tomorrow morning, I'm planning on doing yoga or strength tomorrow morning, but hell if I feel like running I will...otherwise, next run is Wednesday.
On a side note, I haven't been very hungry the past few days. I was worried that my run was going to be effected because of this. It was not. Apparently when I listen to my body in terms of what and when to eat, it really does tell me what it needs. I may be able to lose some weight after all :)
Less than one month until the half marathon! I don't know what I will talk about after that...perhaps yoga?
Pretty much all of my runs this week are 5 miles. I'm supposed to run 12 on Friday night, but I've already decided I don't think it will happen. Instead, I'm going to try and run as far as possible in Vermont on Sunday. Initially that was going to be a 5 miler, but I'm just going to go as far as I feel like going (and still make it to my brother's wedding reception on time).
Today's run, however, was a perfect fall run. Some clouds, some sun, 55 degrees, slight wind, leaves starting to change, not too many people out...I ran as I felt, which happened to be right at a 10 minute pace. 5 miles in 50 minutes, worked for me!
We'll see how I feel tomorrow morning, I'm planning on doing yoga or strength tomorrow morning, but hell if I feel like running I will...otherwise, next run is Wednesday.
On a side note, I haven't been very hungry the past few days. I was worried that my run was going to be effected because of this. It was not. Apparently when I listen to my body in terms of what and when to eat, it really does tell me what it needs. I may be able to lose some weight after all :)
Less than one month until the half marathon! I don't know what I will talk about after that...perhaps yoga?
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The return to racing
What a morning!
Weather:
Cloudy
Light rain
46-50 degrees
15-30mph winds (gusts to 40mph)
Peaks of sun
Race:
Disorganized
5 & 10k started at the same time, on a sidewalk
There was another walk occurring at the same place at the same time
The race took place on the lakefront path
Overall:
I'm very happy I did this race. The first mile and a half were frustrating with too many people in too tight of a space. Once the 5k people turned it was great until we hit the end. The end the walkers and the 10ker's were all together so I tried to sprint to the end and that just wasn't working too well.
This race was for a great cause, and that's how I'm viewing it. I had fun going back to racing, and I'm looking forward to the half marathon later this month. I'm also happy I was able to raise so much money for the cause!
Now off to celebrate my return to racing :)
Weather:
Cloudy
Light rain
46-50 degrees
15-30mph winds (gusts to 40mph)
Peaks of sun
Race:
Disorganized
5 & 10k started at the same time, on a sidewalk
There was another walk occurring at the same place at the same time
The race took place on the lakefront path
Overall:
I'm very happy I did this race. The first mile and a half were frustrating with too many people in too tight of a space. Once the 5k people turned it was great until we hit the end. The end the walkers and the 10ker's were all together so I tried to sprint to the end and that just wasn't working too well.
This race was for a great cause, and that's how I'm viewing it. I had fun going back to racing, and I'm looking forward to the half marathon later this month. I'm also happy I was able to raise so much money for the cause!
Now off to celebrate my return to racing :)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Hot yoga!
Holy cow. Hot yoga is incredible. Hot yoga at TruHarmony Yoga kicked my butt! I went and did a Yoga Scuplt and Bootcamp tonight. It's in 95 degrees, it was 75 minutes long, and I feel amazing. I have never sweat so much in my life, I swear. At the end, I felt incredible, so healthy, so fresh. As my instructor said, "I shed a lot of layers" in that class.
I'm so excited to go back and try again, just this time bringing a beach towel with me.
At one point I was doing downward dog and my feet slipped since my mat was so drenched and my feet were so wet...I took that as a sign to go into childs pose. I was happy with how well I kept up, and really impressed with how I felt afterwards. I think this is going to become addictive quickly.
My advise to anyone going to a hot yoga class:
Bring a mat
Bring a beach towel
Bring a big bottle of water
Listen to your body
Bring a change of clothes afterwards
Not sure if a bootcamp is the best first hot yoga class to do, but it was amazing!
Hopefully I'll be ok to run in the morning :)
I'm so excited to go back and try again, just this time bringing a beach towel with me.
At one point I was doing downward dog and my feet slipped since my mat was so drenched and my feet were so wet...I took that as a sign to go into childs pose. I was happy with how well I kept up, and really impressed with how I felt afterwards. I think this is going to become addictive quickly.
My advise to anyone going to a hot yoga class:
Bring a mat
Bring a beach towel
Bring a big bottle of water
Listen to your body
Bring a change of clothes afterwards
Not sure if a bootcamp is the best first hot yoga class to do, but it was amazing!
Hopefully I'll be ok to run in the morning :)
Recovery time? I don't need no stinky recovery time!
Last night from 5:30-6:20ish I ran 5 miles. This morning at 6:30 I started running 4 miles. Just over 12 hours of rest in between...who needs recovery time!
It was fantastic this morning. The sun wasn't quite up yet, I went on a new route, and I just ran. It was fantastic (did I mention that?)
Tonight I get to go to a Yoga Sculpt and Bootcamp and I am quite excited about this! Hopefully it will stretch out all the muscles that I work when I run.
Since I ran 4 miles this morning, plan is for 3 miles tomorrow...we'll see how I feel after yoga though :)
It was fantastic this morning. The sun wasn't quite up yet, I went on a new route, and I just ran. It was fantastic (did I mention that?)
Tonight I get to go to a Yoga Sculpt and Bootcamp and I am quite excited about this! Hopefully it will stretch out all the muscles that I work when I run.
Since I ran 4 miles this morning, plan is for 3 miles tomorrow...we'll see how I feel after yoga though :)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fantastic
This morning, I was not ready to get up. I opted to stay in bed, run 5 after work, and tomorrow deal with getting up for 3-4 miles and then yoga after work.
I'm so glad that I did this.
Wonderful run, under 10 minute pace! 9:50 to be exact. This really made me feel much better about Saturday's run since I proved to myself I'm doing just fine. The run was great, light wind, beautiful evening. Being out and running after work helped me to feel better about my day too.
Now that I'm home, made some stew for dinner, will relax a bit, go to bed early, and run in the morning...after work tomorrow is a yoga bootcamp which I will review :) Thursday is another run in the morning as well, then Saturday is RACE DAY!
I love running in the fall, it just makes me so happy!
I'm so glad that I did this.
Wonderful run, under 10 minute pace! 9:50 to be exact. This really made me feel much better about Saturday's run since I proved to myself I'm doing just fine. The run was great, light wind, beautiful evening. Being out and running after work helped me to feel better about my day too.
Now that I'm home, made some stew for dinner, will relax a bit, go to bed early, and run in the morning...after work tomorrow is a yoga bootcamp which I will review :) Thursday is another run in the morning as well, then Saturday is RACE DAY!
I love running in the fall, it just makes me so happy!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Bad at updating this past week
It appears I neglected to post regarding two of my runs this past week.
Wednesday run was only supposed to be 3, but I felt good so went just a tiny bit farther, 3.25. It was a good run, but still more humid than a September run "should" be.
On Thursday, my hammy's were dead. I don't know why, but they just were so tight I didn't even know if I could do the stairs at work. I rested that day rather than push too much.
Saturday was my 10 miler. This was a big deal to me since when I ran long distance more frequently a couple of years ago, 10 miles was my favorite distance to run. The weather was more September like. 55 degrees or so, north or northwest wind 10-15 mph, sunny, and just that feel of fall running. I opted to head to the lakefront but ran from my apartment so that takes a good 2 miles. I ran north into the wind for 3 miles, just wanting to hit my turn point. I was not as fast as I wanted to be, but I just kept going. There were lots of people out on the lake, and many of them passed me, but it was ok. I hit my turn point and then had the wind at my back...or so I thought. For most of the 3 miles it felt at my back, but every once and a while it was in my face. Then I started heading west, and the wind was back. I just kept going, I no longer cared about my pace, I just wanted to keep going and get home.
Once I got home, some how I was short about 3 blocks, so I kept going until my garmin told me I was at 10 miles. Perhaps I ran a bit further, which explains the 10:22 pace, but even if I was just at 10, I finished the 10.
I felt out of shape.
How you ask? 10:22 pace made me feel out of shape. My body was fine with the distance. My breathing was fine with the distance. I just felt out of shape. I realize, I ran 10 miles. Most people never run 10 miles. I remember why this was my favorite distance, but I have a ways to go before it becomes my favorite distance again.
The good news is, I have more opportunities to run this distance. I am officially signed up for the half marathon on October 31 which is good.
I am also signed up for an important 10k this Saturday. The AIDS Run & Walk 10k in Chicago...I'm still looking for sponsors, so if you can, please donate before Saturday right here:
Tomorrow morning 5 miles is planned, so I will do my best to write up about that at some point tomorrow.
Wednesday run was only supposed to be 3, but I felt good so went just a tiny bit farther, 3.25. It was a good run, but still more humid than a September run "should" be.
On Thursday, my hammy's were dead. I don't know why, but they just were so tight I didn't even know if I could do the stairs at work. I rested that day rather than push too much.
Saturday was my 10 miler. This was a big deal to me since when I ran long distance more frequently a couple of years ago, 10 miles was my favorite distance to run. The weather was more September like. 55 degrees or so, north or northwest wind 10-15 mph, sunny, and just that feel of fall running. I opted to head to the lakefront but ran from my apartment so that takes a good 2 miles. I ran north into the wind for 3 miles, just wanting to hit my turn point. I was not as fast as I wanted to be, but I just kept going. There were lots of people out on the lake, and many of them passed me, but it was ok. I hit my turn point and then had the wind at my back...or so I thought. For most of the 3 miles it felt at my back, but every once and a while it was in my face. Then I started heading west, and the wind was back. I just kept going, I no longer cared about my pace, I just wanted to keep going and get home.
Once I got home, some how I was short about 3 blocks, so I kept going until my garmin told me I was at 10 miles. Perhaps I ran a bit further, which explains the 10:22 pace, but even if I was just at 10, I finished the 10.
I felt out of shape.
How you ask? 10:22 pace made me feel out of shape. My body was fine with the distance. My breathing was fine with the distance. I just felt out of shape. I realize, I ran 10 miles. Most people never run 10 miles. I remember why this was my favorite distance, but I have a ways to go before it becomes my favorite distance again.
The good news is, I have more opportunities to run this distance. I am officially signed up for the half marathon on October 31 which is good.
I am also signed up for an important 10k this Saturday. The AIDS Run & Walk 10k in Chicago...I'm still looking for sponsors, so if you can, please donate before Saturday right here:
http://afc.aidschicago.org/netcommunity/flobear100
Tomorrow morning 5 miles is planned, so I will do my best to write up about that at some point tomorrow.
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