Things just might be getting better....

I ran 4.5 miles with Jim in Columbia City on Tuesday. He really challenged me by taking us on some pretty steep hills. I realize I want to love hills I know all the benefits but the truth is they totally terrify me. There are some days I can make myself run up a hill & other days I stop half way through them & walk or walk from the start. I'm not sure what my mental block is with this but I hate it! Here was my quote of the day from Runner's World
"I don't like the hills so I can avoid the hills, but I know I need the hills and must conquer the hills." Ted Spiker
How appropriate!
Wednesday I worked out at the vault & then walked/ran a route with CK & DB. They are awesome runners so I had to work really hard!
Anyways where I was going with this post is I have ran & worked out harder than ever & my leg does bother me but it is not getting any worse!!!! It seems like "my plan" is working!

My will to suceed.......

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy......It is not age; it is not diet; It is the will to succeed.
-Jacqueline Gareau

My body says stop before I start! Anyways I love this quote...you always go too far for your body....I need to remember that! My mind is getting in the way of me succeeding at this 1/2 marathon. I need to dig deep & find my will to suceed. Now that I know the problem what is going to be my strategy to handle the pain?

Bridge run & 10K

So I did a 3K (I owe that name to Dave!) on Friday. The weather has been so crazy I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to do it but the rain stopped & didn't come back until after our run. I see people running the St. John's bridge & thought it would be a great run. Not so much.....a little scary with the cars & trucks & buses so close to you! We ran through the neighborhoods afterwards which was much better! KC aka chipper Kristin was the gazelle I thought she would be! She makes running look so easy! I aspire to run like her someday! Me & KB followed behind her like little soldiers! She was totally like a drill sargent! It was a good run other than my stupid leg!
The 10K.......I did it!!!!!!! Yeah!!! I met up with Kristin & Dave & Bridgeport so we could go to the run together. Kristin had a bagel with almond butter & a banana & some vanilla bean goo! She takes good care of me! I'm very lucky to have such a great running partner! My stomach was very upset because I was so nervous! I managed to get the goo down but don't know if I can do that again! It's so gross!
It was a great day for a run....a little cold when you aren't running but at least it wasn't raining! I had a little problem while running & my leg was killing me other than that it was a great race. The route was so pretty! It was great coming across the finish line & seeing Kristin & Dave! I didn't feel very good after the race but that's ok, I'm sooo glad I did it! 3 more weeks until the Helvatia 10K! I still can't believe I'm going to have to run the race I ran today more than twice for the 1/2 marathon! What have I gotten myself into!

10K Sunday it is!!!!!!!!!!!

I ran last night with Jim. Struggled a bit at first but he pushed me & I had a really good run! I forgot my mileage tracker so I don't know my exact mileage but I ran for 45 minutes & I even sprinted to my mom's from McCormick Park at the end of our run. Teagan rode her new bike with us, it was such a great evening!
Today my leg is a little sore but not bad at all so I'm planning on running a 10K this Sunday! Makes my stomach flip just typing that!
I have to do this because I know it will be a good experience before the 1/2 & I need to step my mileage up & this will help.
I want to do this because I love running with Kristin & I am super excited to run another race with her!

10K Sunday????

Okay today I need to make the decision if I am going to run a 10K this Sunday or not. I am going to run tonight & make my decision after my run. I know it would be such a good thing to do in preparing for my half marathon the only reason I'm questioning if I should do it or not is my leg. I'm not sure if it is strong enough to handle a 10K. It will be really hard for me cardiovascular wise but I can deal with that I just don't want to have any set backs with my leg. I think after I run tonight I should be able to tell if my leg is strong enough. I sure hope it is! I would love to run with Kristin again so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Quiting is not an option........

As I was running on my treadmill (even though it was absolutely gorgeous out...I had 1 hour to change, run, clean up & get Hailee to practice so it was my best option) I wanted to give up, the negative thoughts just kept coming & I couldn't stop them. I started thinking about how I never finish anything (I have around 5 books I'm currently reading, I have a stack of half finished scrapbook pages, I never complete any of the online classes I take, I've started more journals than I can count.... I have trouble finishing anything unless I'm forced to). I always give up 1/2 way & switch to something else. I haven't always been this bad, I used to at least finish a book before I started another one! Having realized how bad I really am made me bound & determined I was going to at least finish my run on the treadmill! I did finish and now I"m wondering why I don't finish what I start. This is something I need to figure out....maybe running will break this cycle I'm in? I'm not going to quit, I can not quit, quiting is not an option....my new mantra to repeat over & over as I continue training for the 1/2 marathon.

Sore muscles are a good thing!

I ran 3 miles on the treadmill.......yeah! I am so sore today & I love it! My favorite song to run to is Uprising by the Muse, that song keeps me going whenever I want to stop, I need more songs like that! Off to the Great Wolf Lodge today for Teagan's birthday, I will get plenty of exercise there!