You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

As would be expected, I get most of my inspiration to blog while I'm running.  And tonight's run was just bad.  B-A-D.  But don't worry.  This isn't going to be one of those "I hate running" posts.  Quite the opposite, actually.  Let's start with an AWESOME update: Last week I ran the farthest I've ever run without stopping to walk or rest.  Guess how long.  4 miles.  4.  FOUR.  I realize for a lot of people that's just another day...but for me it's HUGE!  I was/am so excited!  It made me think back to my first ever run.  I couldn't even make it 1/4 of a mile without stopping...and I just went four whole miles!  Beyond excited! 

Over the weekend I was at the lake...Greers Ferry.  While I was there I tried for a little 2-miler and it was quite possibly the worst run to date.  The roads there could be roller coasters.  Literally up, down, up, down.  I'm not used to running hills yet, so I only made it a little over a mile and a half before having to stop and walk the rest of the way.  In my defense...these hills may as well have been mountains.  They were huge.  You know the hills of Heber!  HUGE!  Anyways, it was very discouraging.  I may have even cried from disappointment in myself.  I mean come on, I had JUST run four miles straight a couple of days before. Ok...it was bad, and now I'm over it.

Came home and ran at the beginning of the week and it was fabulous!  I ran 2.5 miles, which is what my training told me to run, and it was perfect.  I felt awesome the entire time.  What bad run over the weekend??  I was back on top!

Then there was tonight.  Another 2.5...and it was awful.  I had to walk a little bit, and when I did stop to walk it was so hard to get running again.  Only went about 2.1 tonight, but I just couldn't take another step.

Now...the good news here is that as I've decided...I've learned...that sometimes there are just bad days.  Sure, there are lots of things I do in my daily life that can play a part in how I run, but sometimes, even if I've done everything perfectly, there are just bad days.  And it's about time I realized that.  Otherwise it's going to be a long 14 more weeks!  (Can y'all believe I'm on week 10 of my training??  I can't!  Awesome!)

You know, when you love somebody/something, you take the good and you take the bad...that's love.  With running it's no different.  I'm so glad I love it enough now to not let the bad days get to me as bad.  Don't get me wrong...they still definitely get to me...but they don't make me want to quit.  I can still get excited about the next run.  About making it better. 

5 miles this week...wish me luck!



                                                                                           Jessica

I'm Back!

I wanted to blog today because I feel like my last few posts have been real downers...ha!

So.  I added a mile to my run tonight, which put me at four miles.  I know...just another day for most of you, but for me it's kinda a big deal!  I was nervous, but excited about doing it.  I ran with my friend, Susanne, who is also training for the half marathon (yay, Susanne!) and I have to say it was probably my best run yet!  I felt good the whole time, my breathing was good...it was just...good.  I really needed that after my terrible week last week.  Last week I was ready to throw in the towel.  After tonight I fell like I'm right back where I need to be as far as my training goes and I'm already super pumped about running tomorrow!

So that's it.  Short and sweet.  Just wanted to put a little excitement in my blog as it's been lacking that here lately!  Ah, the ups and downs of training.  :)

Who else out there is running?  Let me know how your training is going!  I love reading your comments...it always inspires me!


                                                                                            Jessica




                                                                               

WARNING: Debbie Downer Wrote This

So this week has just been bad.  There's no other way to put it.  My runs have been terrible (with the exception of one) and I have literally ZERO motivation.  I've been so tired this week and all I've wanted to do is lay in my bed.

I'm on week 7 of my training and in this weekend's run I'm supposed to up my run by a mile.  I would usually see this and be so excited about adding a mile.  But to be completely honest, this week I'm dreading it!  What is wrong with me??  Anybody else hit this "plateau" in their training?  I would like to blame PMS (sorry fellas, it's a fact of life).  Could that be the culprit?  This week I've gone from telling myself  "I've got this." to "What was I thinking?" and "I wonder if anyone would want to buy my spot in the half." 

I know my posts have been such downers lately...so let me go ahead and say that Wednesdays run was awesome.  SO awesome.  I ran further than I ever have and although it was HARD, I did it.  And I felt awesome afterwards.  I was so proud of myself and thought that would have been the push I needed to get going again...to get excited again.  But so far, no.

Next week is going to be better.  Next week is going to be awesome.  Next week I'm kicking that pavement's ass. 

So.  What do you do to regain motivation?



                                                                                            Jessica