Endurance Training is 90% Mental

Today's weather was 100% better than last weekend...thank God! After hitting the wall last week and letting my negative thoughts take over my workout, my coach put the 14 miles back on my schedule. There was no going around it I had to face it.

After I blogged about my rough attempt at getting 14 miles in last weekend, my friend "The Bear" (we affectionately call her, and just in case she doesn't want her name mentioned in my blog I will call her "The Bear") reminded me that endurance training is 90% mental. That as much as we are training the body we also have to train our mind. She told me that, I didn't quit, I got 30 minutes of running in and then I got on my bike...all that counts! She told me to pick myself up and try again!!

When I shared my attempt with my coach last week she told me that the first thing I had to do was to stop beating myself up about it. She said unfortunately shit happens and yes, I would learn something from this. She said that sometimes workouts hang over our head and for whatever reason we have ourselves beat before we even get out the door. She reminded me that I am not alone, that this happens to everyone. She advised me to put it behind me and move forward...and that is exactly what I did.

I decided not to focus on the long run at the end of the week, but instead took each day one at a time. Between the temperature and #Stella (blizzard) making an appearance it did make some workouts hard, but I got them done. Slowly I started knocking each workout off the schedule. One day at a time, one step at a time or one spin of the bike wheel at a time. Slowly, Sunday, long run day, was approaching.

This morning it was in the low 30s, there was no chance of precipitation and partly cloudy...what could go wrong? Absolutely nothing. I have said it before and I will say it again...the hardest thing about running is  getting out the door. Today was no different but I  finally got out there and completed the 14 miles today. I will admit that it wasn't easy and the last 2 miles were pure hell but I did it. I got over that hump.

Next week is the Syracuse Half Marathon. I think I am ready! That 13.1 mile run will be very important. However I will face it similar to other training days; I will try to put myself in the right mindset, I will push myself out the door, and I will take it one step at a time.

PS: this was my longest run since 2005. The last time I ran 14 miles I was training for my first marathon with Team In Training!

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy...

Has this ever happened to you that you get so inside your head and your own thoughts that you end up sabotaging yourself? Well it happened to me and I am so mad for letting it happen. On my schedule for this weekend's long run was 14 miles. I started to think about where would I run this distance. Which course would be comfortable or which would be a challenge. I would say yes to some and no to others but then talk of weather and temperatures started to be discussed. Two weeks ago I ran 12 miles and did just fine. It was a cold morning and was snowing but I went out and completed the training without any problems. I don't know what was going on this week.

I started to get nervous every time I thought about having to run the 14 miles. I had done it before so I knew it could be done but it had been quite some time since I ran that far. And every day the weather conditions got worse and worse. I decided to exchange training days and hold off on running it until this morning (Monday, March 13). I had today off from work so I would have plenty of time to run plus the temperature and weather conditions were supposed to be better than Sunday.

I got up, bundled up and headed out for my run. As soon as I took the first step the negative thoughts started. I wasn't going to be able to make it; it was cold...oh damn I have to go to the bathroom now. My legs weren't tired, I wasn't sore but my worse enemy, my own thoughts defeated me!!These thoughts gave me absolutely no encouragement and made me feel exhausted...and the worst part I gave it. I completed 30 minutes and that was it...

Can I learn anything from this? Is the quote above true? Even though this run made me feel defeated, do I feel stronger? Will I feel stronger? Will this anger and agony of defeat fuel me to have a better longer runner next weekend? What happened??

All I know is that I will lace up the sneakers again...

(PS: I did go home and got on my bike trainer for 45 minutes)

You Win Some and You Lose Some

Compression Socks

So at the end of 2016 I started to follow a group on Twitter called @TheRunChat. This group hosts twitter chats on Sunday evenings and so many runners join it from all over the country and Canada! I have really enjoyed these chats and actually look forward to them each week. Every week @TheRunChat asks a series of questions about running, training, races, etc. And as a result of being a part of this group I have started to follow so many other runners of various backgrounds and running levels. In the new year @TheRunChat has also had sponsors as part of the chats and sometimes they are the ones asking the questions. A perk of having these sponsors join the chats they have at times offered opportunities to win their products.

 A few weeks ago ProCompression was a sponsor and they offered a raffle for anyone on the chat to enter and you could win a pair of socks. I decided to take a chance and what do you know...I won a pair of compression socks. I was so excited because I was able to go online and pick the pair I wanted...yes, I picked this color!! I love them!!

Just this past week the sponsor was a half marathon in Nevada. Laughlin, Nevada to be exact. Their questions were focused on our race experiences. What do we like at a race? What do we look for when choosing a race location? What perks do runners like to receive? Well prior to the chat the race and @TheRunChat offered their followers an opportunity to put their name into a drawing to win a race entry. I thought to myself why not, I could knock Nevada off my list! Well at the end of the chat my name was revealed as one of three winners who won a race entry!! I was so excited! Laughlin is 90 minutes south of Vegas, on the Colorado River. It borders Arizona. The race course crosses state lines and time zone and takes place on December 2nd. It's the little things in life that excite me!!

And on March 2, 2017 I lost 100 pounds from my heaviest weight! Some days you lose some. This whole journey started over 2.5 years ago when the scale in my bathroom hit the all time highest I have ever seen it. At that point in my life I was dealing with high blood pressure, and even though I was working out I wasn't enjoying it. I was at a new job where I was commuting almost 3 hours round trip and I knew I had to do something. I started My Fitness Pal and started to lose weight on my own. I had lost over 25 pounds and you know the rest of the story...after losing 25 lbs and exercising I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, cuz life wasn't interesting enough. The next 17 months was a complete struggle until I made the decision of a lifetime...bariatric weightloss surgery. And as a result of all of that I hit the 100 pound mark. This surgery wasn't the magic final answer, it was a tool I needed to help me on my journey.  And if you were wondering, this journey isn't over, there is still work to be done and there will always be work to do!

Continuing the journey

The Highs and Lows

Heading to the start line

With every workout and every race there are the highs and the lows. And every step you learn more about yourself and every step makes you stronger. Last week I had a scheduled run on my calendar, 50 minutes of running. I woke up with absolutely no desire to even get out of bed never mind actually run for 50 minutes. I had to actually force myself out the door and make a deal in order to just start running. I told myself that if I at least started running, after one loop if it wasn't in me I could quick. Next thing I know I actually completed the run and covered 4.2 miles. That was a high for me...I felt like I could take on anything that day.

Could the highs get any higher? Well the running highs could but the temperature was going to drop. On Saturday, March 4th I had signed up to run the Tipp Hill Shamrock Run in Syracuse, NY. I love this run. It is always a lot of fun and a very popular. It is a four mile course filled with hills and they are not easy but you can always find a friend on the course to get you over them.As the day approached the temperatures started to fall. At one point they were predicting a only a high of 10 degrees...this was not going to be fun.

Saturday came and there was snow and the temperature in the morning was all of 12 degrees but felt like -2 with the windchill. I bundled up and headed to the start line. I think the anticipation of the cold was worse than the cold itself but when the wind hit your face it hurt. The gun went off, the crowd started to move and before I knew it I was warmed up. I covered the four miles and as soon as I started I was already crossing the finish line in 42:53. This was the sixth time I completed this course and this year I PR'd it by 7 minutes...this was a definite high! I put it all out on that course and I walked away with a PR.

Of course what goes up must come down. As much as races and workouts can build you up they can humble you just as quickly. On Sunday, March 6th I was scheduled to run 6 miles. I had to travel for work and decided that I would wait and run when I arrived in Philadelphia. I started off the run and realized it would be a struggle. My legs were shot. I mapped out a course that would be two three mile loops. It took all I had to finish 3.5 miles. Some days you body just tells you it can't move, it's tired. I wasn't proud of this moment especially after I had such a successful day on Saturday.

This sport will raise you up and the next day it will humble you and bring you back down. This sport can challenge you and can make you stronger both mentally and physically. You have to struggle and dig down deep through the tough workouts in order to reap the benefits of the PRs.

Every mile earned, never given - unknown

February Workout Calendar

There are 28 days in February and I completed workouts on 26 of them. The two days that are highlighted in this picture were rest days and they were scheduled rest days. During the month of February I ran on 13 of the days; biked on 9 and completed 5 swim workouts.

I covered a total of 167.74 miles which is broken down to a total of 66 miles of running, 98.06 miles on the bike and swam 3.68 miles. With each step I take, each spin of the tire and each stroke in the water gets me closer to my goals and a stronger athlete.

After completing two months of official training I can say I feel stronger, some workouts are getting easier and I am enjoying the challenge. I find that I am pushing myself in ways I never thought I would and loving the results.

Today is March 1st and I completed 4. 2 miles in 50 minutes. I woke up this morning and my head was not in the game. I didn't want to run and I certainly didn't want to run for 50 minutes. I made a deal with myself and said that it would be ok to just do 30 minutes. Well in the end I ran the full 50 minutes and ended up with negative splits!! It was just what I needed this morning.

You never know what you are capable of until you challenge yourself.

Inspiration...

Recently, when reading some posts on social media I came across a statement that someone made in regards to announcing workouts. This individual claimed that they did their workouts for themselves and not for anyone else and didn't need the pat on the back like others did. As someone who does post their workouts and athletic accomplishments online this bothered me a bit.

Others told me to just let it go but I continued to think about. I asked myself why did I post these things? And after I asked myself I also asked a few friends, who also post about their workouts, why they did it? And this is what I came up with; I post what I love. If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or even Snapchat you will know that I love the Red Sox and Patriots! I cheer loudly for the Ithaca College Bombers and the Syracuse Orange! And I love to swim, bike and run so I want to share that too.

I have friends that post pictures about their family and children and I love to see those. Others, post pictures from their vacations or other adventures and I live vicariously through them. Finally some post pictures of the meals they are about to eat...whatever floats you boat. What I am trying to say is when I post my workouts I am sharing with you what I love.

I am proud of my accomplishments and the goals I have achieved and if I can inspire one person to go for a walk, a run or take one extra step then I am happy. I think I cheer on others as much as I post about myself. One of my best friends Stacy, posts every morning when she finishes her workout in Colorado. Her alarm goes off before 5 AM and she heads to the gym with her friends. They support and encourage each other and as I read her posts daily, she inspired me to get out of bed early and get my workouts done. I am happy to say I have finally created that habit and I love my morning workouts! Thank you Stacy!

I also follow a running group on Twitter, @Therunchat, that has a twitter chat every Sunday. On this chat members answer and ask questions about running, training and competing. I joined this chat at the end of 2016 and I look forward to it every Sunday. I also follow a group on Facebook called LUNAR, (lace up now and run) and this group posts their running and training accomplishments and as members we encourage and support. Other members inspire me to push a bit harder and to be better. It's not always about wanting a pat on the back!

I am going to end this post with a shout out to a few of my friends who have achieved some accomplishments this weekend that need to be praised:

1. My friend Emily who taught her first spin class this week. She passed her certification and is ready to lead other spinning enthusiasts (she is also training for her second Ironman)!
2. My friends Cheryl and Mary who both competed in the 2017 World Snowshoe Championship in Saranac Lake, NY... yes there is such a thing!!
3. My other friend Emily who completed her first half marathon at the Disney Princess Half in Florida! So proud of you Emily!!
4. My friend Dawn who completed her 23rd Marathon and the 5th of the 6 world major marathons in Tokyo, Japan. She has only London left to complete in April. This weekend her goal was to run a sub 3:15 and she completed it in 3:09...I am so inspired!!

Keep moving ... Keep inspiring!!

10 miles in the Windy City and other Updates

10 Miles in the Windy City

I actually started this post a week ago. I was traveling for work in Chicago and I think I was writing this entry to distract myself while I was watching the Super Bowl. I am a die hard Patriots fan and the first 3/4 of that game had me on edge and filled with anxiety. Now I never lost faith in my team but I certainly wasn't enjoying the game.

Last weekend was a beautiful day in Chicago. It was unusually warm. I had flown to the city,  very early Sunday morning, for a few days in order to meet with some Alumni from Ithaca College and host an alumni event. However, my coach also scheduled a 9.5 mile run and your can't stop your life just because of work travel; also known as work life balance.

I love this city along the great lake, it invigorates me! The Windy City doesn't intimidate me! So when I looked at my schedule and saw that I had 9.5 miles to run I was excited and looking forward to completing it I spent some time mapping out my route...in which direction should I go run along the river; go along the lake or run through Millennium Park? I decided that this run would cover it all.

In the past I would have faced this distance with fear. I certainly wouldn't have planned a run like this while traveling. In the last 6+ months my life has changed and facing workouts like this have become adventures. The run went very well and instead of completing 9.5 miles I ran 10 miles and was ready to watch the Super Bowl when it was done!!

The rest of the week was filled with recovery runs, time in the saddle (cycling) and a much needed swim. One particular workout this week challenged me, terrified me, and inspired me. I was challenged to do a timed 2 mile run. I had to run it faster than a 5k race pace. I had to planned to do this workout on Thursday morning on an outdoor track. Well you know what they say, the best laid plans...I woke up and the snow was falling, it was windy and cold and this would mean that the track would be covered too.

I jumped on the bike to get moving and thought the snow has to stop at some point. After work I went to a bike bath in town, that surprisingly was plowed better than some of the roads. It was 15 degrees and very dark out but I had to get it done. When I completed the test I had run the 2 miles in 21.23 which comes out to be less than an 11 minute mile on average. I don't know if I was fast that day or the fact that it was so cold and a bit creepy where I was running by myself that made me run faster? All I know that in 5 weeks I will have to do it again and hopefully it will be a bit warmer, brighter and less snow and ice!

On another note...I have checked the scale a few times this week. The digital box of numbers doesn't seem to want to move. I feel like I am on a plateau. However, even though the scale doesn't want to move I went shopping this week and I ended up in a smaller size...another size down. I have to admit I did a little dance in the dressing room!! Non scale victories!!

Continuing my new journey...