More lessons learned

On Monday while running, my app crashed part way through. I decided to wing it and worked on my breathing throughout the run. Thursday I decided to work on speed. Friday I put it all together in a long run followed by one long run followed by three shorter but faster runs. I felt all three days were good. I'm thinking of moving outside for my run tomorrow if the weather cooperates. We will see!

~I no longer am winded climbing a few flights of stairs. 

~staring at a wall gets old. 

~I'm running more for me and less for a 5k. 

Lessons learned week 6 rewind to week 3

So after failing to complete W5D3, I rewound my workouts back to Week 3 to work on my pace, stride and breathing. It ended up being a good workout week. Lessons learned:

~I'm on no ones timetable but my own

~I'm giving myself permission for a "do-over"

~I'm hungry!!  Especially on run days!  Burning more calories is a blessing and a curse!!

~Comparing my journey to someone else's is not fair to me self or that journey I'm on. 

~"So what!  I'm still a Rockstar!"

Lessons learned from Week 3 of C25K

This whole running thing isn't easy. Nor is it fun at this point. I'm hoping that eventually it will be both of these things. Lessons learned this week:

~People are paying attention to the fact I'm running and ask about it

~hotel treadmills are pretty fancy!

~Don't look ahead to the next workout...just turn it on and go

~I always feel stronger at the end of the week running than I do on Monday mornings

~challenging myself to run faster and further keeps me motivated

I'm looking forward to Mondays run with new shoes and inserts that should help!

Lessons learned from Week 5 of C25k

It's been a rough week. Every day of runs I had to slow down to a walk to complete the workout. Stitches in my side and knots in my thigh muscles became my worst enemies. What I have learned:

~breathing is important. Breathing deeply while running is even MORE important.

~a rolling pin works to help roll out muscle knots. 

~needing an extra recovery day for sore muscles is nothing to be ashamed of. 

~Stretching muscles before and after runs helps a lot. 

~running and crying don't mix. 

Lessons learned from Week 4 of C25K

This was a tough week. I had heard rumors and I think I let that get into my brain and affect my runs. But I didn't quit. I just kept trying and on the third attempt, I succeeded. Here is what I learned this week:

~Do not wear new shoes, pants and bra all on the same day. Adjust to each separately since everything will feel different. 

~Don't listen to others. Do what is right for you and your run. You are not them and you know your body and how it works. Listen to yourself. 

~Keep trying. I had to slow down to a walk on the final leg of the last circuit twice this week. I kept at it until I was able to finish it and it made me so stinkin' proud'!

~Being told you are an inspiration or are motivating is incredibly humbling. 

~Don't feel you have to justify your runs to anyone. 

Lessons learned from Week 2 of C25K

Last Friday I finished week two. I found that with each run I'm learning something new. 

~running with a sinus infection adds to the challenge

~once you get running clothes on its much harder to procrastinate

~your hunger level ramps up with regular running

~it's hard to heal a cut on a toe with regular running...it keeps breaking open

~running plays games with your menstrual cycle...at least in the beginning

~Gatorade tastes better when you need to re-hydrate

Looking forward to all my lessons this next week!

My Return to the World of Blogging

Many moons ago, I blogged regularly.  I was working through some things in my life and found that writing them down and putting them "out there" actually helped me immensely.  At some point, I moved away from my keyboard.  Not always a bad thing, but I found myself recently wanting to have this outlet again.  I had shut down my previous blog as looking back, I was over it.  Over the issues, the challenges and point in my life that I was in then.

Life has gone on, morphed into a new being for me.  I've changed in so many ways.  I've grown up.  I've lost weight.  I grew my fingernails out for the first time in my life.  My children have begun leaving the nest.  I've become more accepting as to who I am now.  Change cannot be stopped.

Are there still struggles?  Absolutely.  I think all of us have those in one form or another.  However these have changed too.  My struggles of several years ago are long gone.  I worked through those and came out a better person on the other side.  However new struggles have replaced them.

Having this outlet to write about and work through the current struggles is a blessing.  And hopefully in a few years I can look back on this time and recognize that I am again on the other side and even a stronger person for making it through.