I RAN 3 MILES..... no really... I did!

Last night was amazing.  My husband and I ran together yesterday evening (which I love because him being there is already motivation).  I was sore from the gym the night before and could already feel my muscles tightening.  I ran 2 miles without walking or taking a break.  I was going to stop at 2 miles when Husband told me to keep going.  He said that he believed in  me and knew I could do just one more little mile to get us all the way home.  I grunted at him and said, "ok" because I wanted to do it for him to prove that I could do it.  Funny, I didn't even want to prove it to myself!  The last mile I removed my headphones to really focus on my body.  I kept repeating "I can do this.... I can do this" which made me sound like a crazy person because I was talking to myself.  Sometimes a girl just needs to motivate herself!  I just happen to do it out loud.  At the 3 mile marker we stopped and I yelled "OH MY GOD I DID IT!!!"  I wasn't too winded but my body was really tight (damn weight lifting).  I'm not really sure how I was able to make dinner or do laundry because all my body wanted to do was sit in a hot tub or the bathtub.  When my 3.05 mile run was posted on Facebook so many friends congratulated me that it was really motivating.  Only 1.3 more miles to run before I can really participate in the Pat Tilman run in April... but I'm gonna do it!!!!

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Running to clear my mind

Yesterday I thought my brain was going to explode.  I went to a meeting to learn about starting up my own business as a part time thing.  It sounds really interesting but I don't know if it's a financially viable option for us right now. When I got home I needed to run.  I didn't need to run for exercise, but I  needed to run to clear my head.  I ran at night so I didn't run with headphones which was great because it gave my brain a chance to go through some scenarios with this potential part time gig.  I decided the only way it could really work is if my husband helps me a bit.  I ended up running a little over 2 miles but I ran most all of it!  It was gorgeous outside and there wasn't a single person in sight.  I was just able to listen to my body... to the wind... and let my brain putter away at stuff.  I wasn't too winded when I got home but I felt a million times better than I did before I left. I guess running is my new way of letting my brain think about problems or ideas without having to actually think about them.  It's almost therapeutic!

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My body is breaking down on me

I am a mess.  My calf muscle was so sore last week that I had to rest it so I wouldn't do serious damage.  The chiropractor said my problem is my arch.  I bought some orthopedics for my shoes and that seems to help.  Turns out I also sprained my thumb.  While this doesn't prevent me from running it's still annoying.  I didn't run at all last weekend so now running is gonna be a bitch!  Husband was still out of town so I decided Monday would be that day I start back up.  Orthopedics were in my shoes and the weather was perfect.  I was having a hard time breathing but at the one mile marker I was miraculously able to breathe.  I guess my body figured out the groove and breathing was no longer a problem.  At 1.4 miles I had to pause and stretch my calf muscle.  Once done I ran almost 1 more mile.  I completed 2.38 miles ALL BY MYSELF!  Husband is mighty proud of this girl.  To follow my last run - http://go.nike.com/0f1pdp0.  Once I was able to run without lack of breath or cramping calf muscle I was actually enjoying it.  I'm still not sure if I can do 4.2 miles, but at least I'm more than halfway there already!!!

Having doubts already

I think I hurt myself.  I'm pretty sure I irritated or strained my right calf muscle.  I tried running yesterday afternoon and was just able to make 1.8 miles.  I probably actually completed 3 miles, but I was only able to jog 1.8 miles of it and the rest of the time I was walking and stretching.  I am hoping that the chiropractor can help me out with this problem.  I went to see him for the first time on Monday.  He believes that I close off my lungs which (obviously) makes running harder.  So my goal is to open up my upper body and to stop using my inhaler for exercising.  Lofty goal but I think I can do it.  Also, I'm having doubts about running.  I don't know if it's the calf problem, but it's hard.  I knew it would be hard, but sometimes I think running 4.2 miles is a crazy goal that I'll never accomplish.  Hopefully I'm wrong.

Yesterday's run - http://go.nike.com/82em3cc

I didn't make it as far as I wanted today

This morning was rough.  I was planning on running since I was a slacker and didn't accomplish it over the weekend (however, my house is spotless and I made my husband's favorite dinner so it was at least a productive weekend).  I decided to get myself motivated this morning and got up at 6:30am.  I stretched for a few minutes (but maybe not enough) and then started my run. It was pretty cold this morning (wore long pants and a long sleeved shirt) but I was feeling good.  However, it was harder to breathe than normal.  At around the 1 mile mark my right calf muscle started cramping.  I only completed 1.2 miles when I figured it was safer to stop then to hurt myself.  So I walked home and stopped my watch from counting the time.  Husband said that it's normal for some days to be harder than others.  I'm not sure if it was hard because I hadn't done it in a few days, or because it was cold outside, or because I didn't stretch enough.  In any case, I didn't get anywhere near the 2.8 miles I needed to complete today.  Maybe I'll try again tonight after my date with the chiropractor.

Follow my short run - http://go.nike.com/07qh8uvt