Monday March 34 Day 72

Monday March 24 Day 72

I've had a couple of really good runs lately. I HATE FARTLEKS, but they work. So does cross training apparently. I am really happy with the power in my legs and the fatigue that I experience post run is starting to falter. Yesterday I had a 14 km run outside, I waited until after the snow stopped. Unfortunately my initial hope of better weather has been dashed, but it is nice to see the bright sun when it pops its head out!

Val Kuzmic has started a running club in Edson, we have the Muskeg Flyers, but they are a fairly established crew and maybe a little intimidating? I don't know but this group is mostly newbie runners (I think) so a nice source of inspiration! They are called the Edson Runners. Changing up some of the routines at the gym today we did 50's, which is Jumping Jacks, Crunches, Squats, pushups and you do 50 of each, then 40, then 30, 20 and 10. So after the long run I'm just putzing around this afternoon.

I've been receiving some unsolicited advice lately, which is interesting. It's like people can see I'm working hard but I don't fit into the skinny category and I think everyone is trying to be "helpful". One person suggested that I will run faster once I lose weight. (Duh) One person suggested that I go for a nutritional consultation (I meet with a food counselor once every two weeks and follow a food plan). I am sure there are various methods to accomplish a fitness goal but it is intimidating and annoying when individuals make assumptions concerning my approach. I'm sure I do this too unfortunately so I will be sure to quell my advice and curb any assumptions!

Before I went on my run I was simply exhausted. It had been a long week and I was in and out of the city, long drive, early mornings, hotel beds, and some restless nights. My son is very active and plays many sports so I asked him how he gets motivated when he doesn't feel like it. And he suggested the most important thing was just to get started and then the motivation follows. I think that's true. Sometimes (actually most times) I don't feel all that excited to get to the gym, but once I'm there I sort of slide into a routine. The same was true of my run. I just didn't want to do it, but once I got started I was surprised how strong I felt, and my pace was my half marathon pace, and that kept me motivated to keep it up, once I hit halfway I knew I was home free, the rest was quite literally downhill!!

So here are some pictures of beautiful curvy women in fitness clothes:

March 19 - Day 65

It's been a while almost 3 weeks. I am sort of in that spring break up mode. Starting to get outside with more runs and still committed to the workouts everyday, today my motivation is low. I have been increasing my long runs by one km every weekend, and am looking forward to a 14km this weekend. My whole body is tired and I forget about this feeling every spring when I start to train. As a result I become cranky like the dog when I kick him at night he growls and jumps off the bed. I know that I just have to work through this training tiredness until I get used to it again, and I know my body will respond. So I am eating to fuel myself, last year I added more whole grains and legumes to my diet that really helped, I am also adding extra protein it too. Fingers crossed looks like I am through the cold and flu season, and my body seems healthy in that aspect!!

I am also going to switch to tea in the afternoon. I have some matcha, green tea, Yerba matte, and chai teas that I love. Maybe the antioxidants will give me a boost!! I think the key here is just to stick with it. Sometimes I forget why I am doing this training, and I remember running the 5km in Montana one year with my family and my husband was so sore the next day he really felt it on the stairs, and he asked if I was sore? and I wasn't because of the training. So I know with a few events to look forward too I will be happy I logged the time and effort. On a surprising note, the crosstraining, or the Jacobs ladder, or something, is really helping me with my hills. I had a particular hilly run on the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the power in my body both with strength and aerobically, my lungs were good, I didn't get that feeling like my lungs were bleading. So I have to make the gym more exciting again. Power on folks!!