The Run That Wasn't

I had every intention of running yesterday during my lunch hour.

Sunday night I carefully packed my gym back and actually remembered socks and a sport bra. That's a big deal, people.

Monday morning I was excited as I remembered I had no meetings around lunch and could get to the gym for a good run.

At 11:30am, I walked out of my office and over to the gym. I changed and grabbed my iPhone and headphones. I walked up to the track.

And immediately I did NOT want to run. Simple as that. I just was NOT feeling it.

I tried anyway. I started slowly running jogging around the track. I told myself "you'll feel like it after a lap or two". 1 lap later, still over it. 2 laps. 3 laps. 4 laps. 5 laps. Nope. Still over it. My legs felt heavy (which they shouldn't as my last run or workout was last Thursday). And I just did NOT want to be running.

So, I walked a lap hoping to find the motivation that was still eluding me. Nope. No where to be found.

I tried telling myself if I did speed work maybe I'd be less bored and get into it. So, I sprinted a lap (it's an 1/8 mile indoor track) and then speed-walked a lap. 1 round of it and I was still not feeling it. Round 2, 3, and 4. No better.

So, I called it. I just was NOT feeling it. After 2.5-ish miles if I was still not feeling it, I decided it was just better to stop and call it a day. Some runs aren't magical and rainbows. Some runs just aren't period. Yesterday's run just wasn't.

And that's OK.

Return to Speedwork

Today, Yasso 800's returned to my life.

1 mile warm up on indoor track.

800 on treadmill in 4:30.

1/2 mile recovery on indoor track.

800 on treadmill in 4:20.

1/2 mile recovery on indoor track.

800 on treadmill in 4:10.

1/2 mile recovery on indoor track.

800 on treadmill in 3:59.

1/2 mile recovery on indoor track.

5 miles. Hurt so good. And so bad. Wowza. Getting back in "shape" (if you could call what I was before "in shape") blows. A lot.

I admit it: I kinda hate being so much slower than I was before. I've never, ever been FAST and I never will be. I'm OK with that. I'm not Boston material. That's OK. But, I could hold a upper 8:something pace decently easy before I got pregnant. Now... a 9:00 mile is like a SPRINT. I was PANTING embarrassingly loud during those 800's. Like, REALLY, REALLY loud. If I was running next to someone breathing as heavy as I was I would have been worried about them. I hated being passed on the track by people (even if I was running slow on purpose for recovery). I felt judged by people. In my head, they're thinking "Oh my goodness! What is that girl doing? Why bother running if you're running that slow. I mean. It's not even running. It's hardly even jogging. And, LISTEN to how out of breath she is! Is she even OK? Should we call someone?" Of course, I KNOW (somewhere in my head) this is crazy talk and no one even notices me, just like I don't notice anyone else's workout. Still. I hate that a workout that used to be FUN and, while hard, not OMG-I'M-DYING hard.

But.

But, I didn't give up. I didn't stop. I pushed. HARD. I pushed out of my comfort zone. I pushed harder than I thought I could go.

And for that, I'm proud and enjoying a nice runner's high.

And, M&M's.

I'm enjoying a runner's high and M&M's. That's about right.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm totally in the festive Valentine's Day spirit, since I'm using a red font, right???

Meeeeeh. I'm not really a big Valentine's Day fan. I mean-- I appreciate the fact that it kinda makes an otherwise boring Thursday a little more exciting, but overall... kinda a silly, frivolous "holiday" to me. And, yes- I am happily married. But, no- I don't need a holiday to remind me to tell the Hubs how much I love him and blah, blah, blah, vomit, vomit, vomit.

So, the Hubs and I aren't doing anything special for the day. No gifts, no flowers, no fancy dinner out. We said we weren't even doing cards. It was a nice surprise when I woke up and had a cute little note from him in my purse.

Like I said, we have no big plans for the night. Dinner in. Maybe some TV. Torture our poor dog by giving her waaaay too much attention because we're obsessed with her. You know, the usual.

I did call both my sisters this morning to wish them a happy valentine's day and to tell them I love them.

Yes I have 1 of my sisters in my phone as a weird nickname that starts with "Queen J...". That's totally not weird.

They're both in a different time zone and an hour ahead of me, so it was 6:39 and 6:40am to them. J didn't answer, but Natalie did with a quick "Are you OK?? What's wrong???" What?? You mean calling someone before 7am just to wish them a happy valentine's day isn't a normal thing to do??? Haha. Sorry, Nat!!! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

In non-fake holiday and dog news, I've been running. Still obsessed with Yasso 800's (or at least my version of them). It's a freaking killer workout. Sweat just pours out of my me during these beasts. Proof?

 

Why yes, yes that is sweat on the ends of the sleeves and armpits and neck and back and chest and everywhere else. Sweat galore. What is it about breaking a good sweat that just makes the workout feel that much better?

 

Anyway- yesterday I did 7.5 miles of 800s (Speeds in 3:40ish, Recovery in 4:50ish) and Monday morning I did 8.5 miles of 800s (Speeds in 3:35ish, Recovery in 4:35ish). Brutal. Kicks my ass. Obsessed.

 

Today's a rest day. My muscles are crazy sore from a combo of Tuesday's Signature Strength class (at one point we legit did 200 lunges w/ a body bar and with 5 squats every 30 seconds thrown in... ya know... for good measure) and yesterday's speed workout. My poor legs are screaming, so a mid-week rest day is definitely in order.

 

Ok... well, I suppose I'm out. Happy Valentine's Day. Eat lots of chocolate and tell the people you love how much you love them... just maybe not at 6:40am.

All Over the Place

Be warned. This post is gonna be all over the place. It's just one of those kinda days.

I ran 8.5 miles on the TM before work yesterday.

Seemed like a great idea at the time. I didn't get a long run in over the weekend, there was no morning gym class... seemed kinda perfect. Yeaaaah. Turns out 8.5 miles (oh, and did I mention that I did 8- 800's all at sub 3:50 for speed work because I'm STILL OBSESSED??) is a long way and really freaking wore me out. I was EXHAUSTED all day. I almost fell asleep at my desk. I went over to the gym at lunch and did 45 minutes on the elliptical. I was hoping it'd wake me the F up and mostly I just wanted to watch an episode of Dawson's Creek on the iPad. It did kinda wake me up and I did get to watch some classic 90s melodrama, so it was a win.

(source)

 

 
Speaking of Dawson's Creek... Katie Holmes totally ran a marathon.

(source)

Wanna know what's even more BA than the fact that she ran one (because-- don't hate... she may be kinda nutso, I mean-- she DID marry Tom Cruise-- but, whatever-- she DID RUN A FREAKING MARATHON)?? That I RAN ONE FASTER! She finished in 5:29. I'm just saying... I finished an hour earlier. Boom.

Moving on... the inside of my nose hurts. Right nostril, in case you were dying to know. I don't know what it is... it's not red, I don't feel a bump. Yes, I stuck my finger up my nose to feel (don't pretend like you wouldn't have too). And have continued to stick a finger up my nose about every 10 seconds to see if it still hurts-- it does. I'm dumb.

Last night the Hubs and I met with our financial planner. Just the fact that we HAVE a financial planner makes me feel very, very old. And way too grown up. Like, suddenly I'm not allowed to be an irresponsible person anymore because someone else would know. Keep in mind I couldn't even tell you the last time (if ever?) I truly did something that dramatically "irresponsible"... but, somehow knowing someone else sees all my shit now makes me all panic-y about it. And makes me WANT to do something irresponsible. Totally logical, right??

It's supposed to rain/snow all weekend. Which will lead to yet another long run-less weekend. I know I SHOULD be upset about it... but, I'm kinda not. Not even a little. Hopefully I'm just a little burnt out and will get back to my normal long run loving self soon.

Speaking of running-- turns out speed work makes me freaking HUNGRY. Like, more hungry than after a long run. Weird.

Alright... I feel like I've officially rambled enough for today.