Alright, things are really starting to move along now. Saturday I did 16 miles at Valley Forge. It was the first time that I have ran Valley Forge this season and we have done the actual loop (with all the hills), the other times we stayed on the River Path. I got some pretty neat pictures.
(*Will add later, computer is not cooperating all that well right now)
Two weeks ago I ran the Philly Rock N’ Roll Half and got 3 minutes faster than last year!
I am a firm believer in the walk/run now and I’ll tell ya why. I have been mixing it up between intervals of run 8 minutes: walk 2. And Run 6 minutes: walk 2. And I think I am getting faster! My body can run for 8 minutes, no problem. So what I do is just tell myself I only have to run for 8 minutes (or 6 depending) and then I get to walk (Briskly) for two and reset. I don’t feel as tired and I am still enjoying it.
I was surprised Saturday when I found myself not far behind people that are usually well ahead of me. It is not a race for speed for me but I was looking around like ‘what’s the deal? Is everyone having an off morning?’ They weren’t I was just doing okay in my walk/run. I didn’t run with anyone, because I was doing my own thing, headphone free, and it really was a very peaceful 3+ hours.
After the Half last week and a few hours after Saturday’s run I got a pretty massive headache. I have never had them after running before and talked to a couple people about it. One of my friends said she had been feeling that way too and thinks it is because of dehydration or low sodium and electrolytes. I think that could very well be the case. I need to make sure I am eating and drinking right and also SLEEPING, not just on long run days but the days before and after too. It’s convenient that I am currently in Intro to Nutrition because we are learning about just this. Between getting over a cold, long runs, and headaches it hasn’t been my best two weeks but yesterday I ate and drank better and already started to feel the impact of that extra bottle of water. I am going to run tonight after class and start making that initiative to really take care of myself: sleep, eat, drink, and run.
I am still about $350 away from my Fundraising Goal for November and have been brainstorming Ideas, because I will need to raise money for January too ($500)…Stay tuned and once I come up with my million dollar idea, I’ll be sure to post.
A couple years ago when I started training for my first Half...I remember specifically having the goal to finish without walking. And I did that. Now, during that Half in Tallahassee, there were people who would pass me then they would walk and I would pass them then they would run and pass me and I would trot along slowly and get madder and madder at them. I thought 'What the heck, here I am NOT walking but they are giggling and beating me.' It wasn't until this past year, meeting the people in the 24 hr race, talking with other TNT members that I finally was able to let go of the idea that I'm only a winner if I run the whole thing. I am a winner because I strap on my shoes and show up. I get the same medal, the same accomplishment, and I get to Thoroughly enjoy myself.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come."
- Joseph Campbell
