Monthly Archives: January 2014

Preparation Anxiety

Food for Thought, Running, , , , ,

Happy hump day! Hope you’re having a great Wednesday. Mine is okay minus the fact that my race is getting closer and closer. I’m nervous!

Yesterday was completely exhausting for me. Work was nonstop all day, and then I taught 2 Jazzercise classes last night. It’s taper week, right? Yep, but this instructor doesn’t really like to rest.

I woke up early to get in my scheduled shorter run this morning. I ran 4.5 miles at a fairly easy pace (around 9 min/mile), and it was nice to get out in the cold morning air and do what I love. When I took off from my driveway, I was sure to keep an eye on my current pace (on my app!) because I want to know what I should feel like when I start out a little slower than normal pace on Saturday. My ideal race pace would be 8:30/mile overall for the half marathon, but I need to begin the race a little slower so I don’t bonk on the crazy big hills. I’m hoping for a 8:45-9 min/mile pace for the first 2ish miles, and then I’ll speed up when I feel warm and not headed uphill. But then again, this is my first half. I know I need to stop focusing on numbers and just run comfortably to cross the finish line. No matter what time I get, it will be a personal record! And one that I can beat later on. 🙂

Preparation Anxiety

I’m starting to have some serious anxiety about packing correctly for the weekend. Isn’t that dumb? It’s the Type-A side of me that always takes over before something exciting happens…like my race!

The forecast for STL on Saturday morning is giving me some mixed emotions…

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Based on this forecast from the local station, KMOV, my run will be below freezing, windy, and possible snow. Hmm. I know this is what I have trained for all winter, but I would really prefer for wind and snow to stay away. 🙂 The low temp on Friday night is what’s stressing me out the most. With my run at 8:30 am, there won’t be much time for any warming on Saturday morning! I’ll be okay, but I may have to pack 2 bags. I have way too many scenarios to pack for now! The pressure!! I need to pack…

  • Warmer weather clothes, just in case it gets freakishly warm!
  • My ear warmer and 2 pairs of gloves.
  • 2 options for bottoms (my lululemon tights and then some looser track pants I can put over the top)
  • 2-3 long sleeve tops + my puffer vest
  • Rain jacket
  • Socks + Compression sleeves and socks (for after)!
  • Favorite sports bra
  • Running shoes, obviously!

And once again, I talk (or type) out things that are stressing me out to help me remember! So thanks for listening to my ramblings. It helps me cope. 🙂  I’ll also be bringing along my hand-held bottle and my favorite Jelly Belly Sports Beans to help fuel me mid-race. I think I have a pretty good fueling-regimen in place to get me to the finish line without hitting a ‘wall’ of any sort, but we’ll wait to see how it holds up before I share.

Breakfast

This morning started out on a good note with some new yogurt I picked up over the weekend!

IMG_3128This apple pie-flavored Greek yogurt was as awesome as it sounds. I could’ve eaten multiple cups of it in one sitting it was so tasty! I also had a big ole cup of oatmeal on the side to fill my tummy post-run.

IMG_3129It kept me full for most of the morning. Plus, oats are great for carb-loading a few days out. A little early carbo loading never hurt anyone. 🙂

I’ve been begged to sub a Jazzercise class tonight right after work to help cover some ill instructors. I know I need rest, but when the instructor begging you for help is sick AND pregnant, you tend to just give in. ha! So I’ll be teaching at 5:40 again tonight before heading home to pack up everything on my list. I definitely will NOT be doing any intense leg routines tonight – that’s for sure!

Have a great night everyone. Let’s hope we can all get some well-deserved rest!

It’s Taper Week!

Daily Life!, Running, , ,

And you know what that means?!

taper_poster Tapering-300x252Haha, not really. I’m okay so far. But then again, I’m not really allowed to taper the way most runners do. Yes, I’ll cut back my runs and make them ‘easier’ and shorter, but my Jazzercise classes must go on! And without those, I would most definitely be cranky. 🙂

So I’m kinda feeling like this sums up how I’m feeling more.

919984_571317036235799_1489268271_o keep-calm-and-taper-on-1It’s not easy to slow down and let my body rest, but I’m trying to embrace it and know that it’s good for me! So far, I’m completely okay with it. The end of the week may bring about some different emotions…we shall see!

This morning I was supposed to teach class at 5:40, but everyone slept in! So I just took it as a ‘Taper Week Blessing’ and headed back home to take Mac for a nice morning walk. I always love getting Mac out and about before my work day. And he loves walks with momma at anytime of day. 🙂

I taught Jazzercise tonight at 5:40 for another instructor (thank you, Rikki!) who agreed to trade me for my Friday evening class. Nick and I will be on the road right after work on Friday night to STL, so this trade allows us to get on the road sooner. But class went well, and I hopefully didn’t tire myself out too much. I will teach 2 classes tomorrow evening, and then Wednesday will be spent relaxing with my feet up! After I pack my bags, of course. It’s amazing how hard it can be to choose the perfect running outfit for a race. :/

Tomorrow I’m looking forward to sleeping in as late as possible! A rested body will only help me out this week. And with those hills I’m facing Saturday morning, I can take all the help I can get. ha!

Well have a great night everyone. Happy taper week! Let’s make it a good one!

I Fell Down

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Hard. Like really hard. Ugh.

It happened yesterday morning during my long run. I was in a great groove. I was trucking it along at a 8:45/mile pace and feeling great. I had taken a Gu at 7 miles in and was feeling extra energized! And then it happened. Right at 12 miles.

I saw a huge (I’m talking small volleyball size) rock on the sidewalk. I was running downhill slightly and had lots of power going, so I just leapt over it. But my stride was obviously not as long as I thought it was, and the tip of my shoe caught the top of the massive rock. And down I went. But not just down. I went flying forward and down onto the dirt-covered sidewalk.

I landed on my belly and chest. I had too much momentum going to catch myself. I immediately got myself up, paused the running app on my phone, and started balling. Like a small child. Hysterically crying. Ugh.

My phone had survived the fall. My water bottle survived. And my face survived (luckily!). But I was not okay. I was covered in dirt and mud from my chest all the way down to my shoes. My new sunglasses in my front pocket were smashed (a Christmas gift), and my knee was bleeding. I ran the mile back home (still crying like a crazy person, ha!) to clean myself up.

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My knee was just scrapped up enough to bloody my running tights. So I bandaged it up, put on clean clothes, and went back out to finish my miles. I was so upset and not finishing my miles would only make things worse.

I ran slower and extra cautiously, but I finished 18 miles overall and was feeling back to my normal ‘running-lovin’ self when I made it home again. It also helped that my latest Lululemon purchase was waiting on my doorstep. 🙂

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My pink compression socks! I tried these babies on immediately. And I must say, I like them!

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They aren’t super compressive, but I think they would be great to wear during a race. My compression sleeves are a little too tight to wear during a long race, but these socks offer just the right amount of support.

Post run, I had half a bagel with peanut butter and jelly.

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I recently read that PB & J sandwiches are the perfect post long run snack, and it really did the job. I’m usually pretty lethargic for hours after a long run, but I felt good yesterday.

I was feeling pretty pitiful about taking my first big tumble the week before my half marathon, but I decided to focus on the positive. I didn’t really hurt myself. I didn’t break a bone or hurt my face. My new iPhone survived. And I still finished my last long run effort before my race. So, all in all, it’s all okay. 🙂 Although my neighbors all probably think I’m insane. Running through the neighborhood at 8 a.m. while crying hysterically probably doesn’t make me look too sane. Ha!

Anywho, I hope you’ve had a great weekend! Other than my little incident, I’ve had a nice and productive weekend. I went grocery shopping today and stocked up on healthy carbs for the end of the week! Woot for carbo loading!

Have a great evening and I’ll see you guys tomorrow! Sleep tight!