Motivation gets you started, habit keeps u going

I did not end up running today. I woke up at 5:30 and did my Jillian Michaels Kickboxing. I use it when I'm in a slump.

It has been 3 weeks since i have ran regularly. I figure I would write my thoughts and feelings on here since I'm sure friends and family are tired of hearing me say, " I need to run" And then it doesn't happen.

Today the plan was to run after school. That didn't happen because the headache I woke up with never went away and only got worse. Moving made it hurt more. I tried to nap it off but that did not work and so then I went to work.

I just realllllly need a schedule. I need help. I joined an LRS run group and that seems to be about the time I fell off the wagon. I did well through the coldest parts of Jan and Dec...and Feb was just pathetic!

I looked at the last few weeks and decided on Tuesday I may want to only do 3 miles...the last few weeks I ran 4-5. and then on Wednesday I am in school from 8am to 1030 pm...needless to say by thursday I'm so tired and I just giv up for the rest of the week...So tomorrow I will only run 3 and see how that works.

I'm taking 19 credit hours this semester and working nearly full time hours. I have asked them to cut be back at work (yes the money has been nice) but I need my running!  so they have be at 4 days this week. I think that will help a lot!

Well that is all I will share for now!

3 miles in about 30 minutes

I ran to the bank today....How fun is it to run errands! Also there was no line because I was there so incredibley early. I had a great run. I can't help but wonder why I keep on getting these horrible over the last few days. It just started again a few hours ago.

Any who--Goal today was to have a nice easy run and to try out my Nike +. Now I just have to get back out there on Thursday and my group run on Saturday.

I did buy new shoes today...they felt soo good in the store...I have been having a heck of a time finding some. I'm so glad I went back today to try again!

Objective:break in new shoes and play with Nike +

What actually happened: walked 5.19 miles in 1:20

Temp: 40 degrees

What a horrible/good run....First off this was first day in my new shoes. I had shin pain in my right leg with in the first ten minutes. So I kept trying to run and then stretch..not working. ONly walking helped. So something I read herer just made me say "Screw it I will just walk the entire thing" and I did.

Next yuck thing--my IPOD is dead. It won't turn on, or charge...I don't usually listen to music when I run anymore, but i was just going to take it with me so I could use my Nike +. Well that isn't possible anymore. When my boyfriend comes home from work I'm going to try to snatch his IPOD from his truck and use that on my next run.

Oh and then b/c it took me sooo long to walk I got super hungery...I did put in some joggiing spurts and the pain didn't come back but I didn't want to push it.

I also tried something new this morning. I woke up at 5:30 (boyfriends stupid alarm) and I had breakfast and then read email..then I went back to bed till 7:30...and then took the dogs for a walk and then a run. I couldn't getto bed till midnight last night because I didn't get home from school till almost 11:30. I didn't want to be sleep deprived!

Well off to some food!

Finish time 1:14 9:47 pace

A.M. Cloudy with a chance of rain.

I ran with the LRS today...all my old buddies weren't there so I ended up meeting new people. ONe of them knows my aunt and I knew of here b/c my aunt always talks about her friend that runs! Any who small world

So we set out to run 7 miles...some how we always end up with .5 miles more. I was nervous b/c thursdays run became a walk...but I broke in my new shoes by walking in them during errands and they work great! No shin pain!

We were in the 10 min pace but we kept sneaking up to 9...there were a lot of hills in this one! It was so nice having people to run with that kept me going!

Goal:3 miles and keep a sub 10 pace-do some 9 min pace times

45 Degrees--cloudy

8:00am average pace 9:47

I almost didn't make it out this morning. why? Well I started to run and every time my left foot struck i had this twinge of pain right above my knee! I'm like what is that? So I hobbled home..ate some breakfast and tried again--no pain this time. What a weird thing!

It rained all night so of course today while running I had to dodge puddles. I was going to do my normal 3 miler but then i realized I could go where ever and not worry about having to map my squiggley run on mapmyrun . yeah Nike!

Any who-I was able to make a turn away from the wind which made this run a lot more pleasant. I got my shoes wet for the first time--guess I can't return them now! LOL

I did try to keep my pace at 9ish...sometimes it was at 8:30 for an entire minute...that kind of wore me out. I know 10 is my comfortable pace but i'm trying to make 9 my comfy pace. Looks like I could get to 8:30 over time. That is encouraging. Seems like fastrunningblog is already helping!

7:20am goal-to run 4 miles

10 degrees with wind chill-20 with out it (I cannot believe I still have to notice the wind chill)

My first mistake is not waking up earlier. I woke up at 7 and was out the door by 7:20....my legs do not seem to like that much. I had shin pain the entire 2 miles...yes I decided to go home. I had to keep walking and I have to be somewhere today. So my deal with myself is depending on when I get home I will try again for 2-3 miles and OR i will just run tomorrow 3 miles.

I know it is horrible to split such short runs but I hate shin pain.I tried lengthening my stride but that didnt work...could it be that I just need to walk up a little earlier in order for my legs to wake up? Or am I doing something wrong?

But good news is that I took the husky with and she really enjoyed the run (it started to snow)

And I had a piece of toast with peanut butter and no cramps...yippee! I have been trying to play around with eating/what to eat/or not eating at all before a run.

21:20 was my time...at times I was running 9:30 mile but averaged at a 10:20 due to walking and trying to stretch it out.

Goal: To run the 3 miles as I promised myself yesterday

Shin pain for first 1.5 miles...I sped it up and guess what? It went away...I only thought of this b/c some one in my run group had mentioned having to run with slower runners and got shin pain...maybe there is something to it.

Ran in 30:50 average pace was 10:11 but I had some times where I was flying at sub 9 minute mile...

And I would just like to brag that it is 38 and sunny! yippee!

LRS Group run Goal 8 miles Got in 8.72 at a average pace of 10...which is amazing since I sucked the entire time. done in 1:27 Shins hurt for the first 1/2 once that stopped then I got stomach cramps, then those let up and I got knee pain...WHAT IS UP?? I started in the 10 min pacers who really run 9:30 which drives me insane b/c I like to start out slow...I ended with the 11 pacers who really were going 10:30.....and lots of hills any advice on my shin pain would be appreciated. I do some tiptoe walking prerun... and I ate PB and J an hour before the run. I thought maybe I was getting cramps due to the milk in my cereal...not soo...doesn't seem to matter what I eat or how soon I eat...I get a cramp...grrr  and to get rid of them I either have to start walking or sometimes blowing out really hard helps...or pushing in on my stomach...

rest day...got zero sleep...got a new dog and he was up and around all night...heres to a better night tonight so I can get in 3 quality miles!

I am thinking about getting a Garmin 305....still hesitant...I guess b/c I don't run many miles although in the years to come I will...so i'm like why not wait for the 405 to drop in price? What a pickle!

7:30am

48 degrees...sunny

shin pain

done in 29:39. avg pace 9:29.

It hurt more in my shins to slow down than it did to speed up...this stupid hill slowed me waaay done...but hey atleast that was only down to 10:30 mile instead of a 11 or 11:30...

any who it is suppose to get in the 70's...Jealous anyone? LOL

I just felt like blogging...no running to report...

Yesterday is a rest day by force b/c I am in school from 8am till 10ish at night. Really long day. Today I had to observe a 4th grade class for 5 hours. Then get home in time to feed the dogs and get ready for work. Then I worked...Now i'm beat. Clearly I did not get my 8 miles in today. But that is okay b/c there is tomorrow.

The plan is to awaken at 6 eat, get the dogs up and ready (walked and medicated) and do some homework and be out running by 8. I will give myself 2 hours to do the 8 just b/c I think that will help me to chill out and then I can't be disappointed if my shins start to act up again...

there is a bike path near my house...b/c of the higher mileage I'm going to run to it and then run on it for a bit. It is about 2 miles away.

Supposedly it is suppose to be in the 40s tomorrow which I think is perfect running weather. Not to hot and not too cold. Well I am going to go lay in bed so I can get a good night sleep!

Happy running!

8:30 am Goal: 8 miles failed miserably What actually happened ran 1.64 miles in 22:03....I walked home outer legs really hurt...it radiates to my arches...i want to cry...b/c I feel like such a fool. I had my fuel belt on and my Nike +...just bought a garmin 305 (should be coming in the mail soon) and I can't even run decent mileage....I also signed up for a race that I probably won't be able to do...sigh...I don't think it is shin splints b/c A it doesn't hurt to touch my shins...it is the outer muscle of my leg that hurts...and then the arches of my feet...I had a few good runs in these new shoes...and the last 4 have just sucked...is it the shoes? me? should I be doing a certain exercise?

I just found this advice...I have been searching little by little at leg pain..

Here's some advice I have had before (copy and paste from a forum thread) might help:

Shin splints are easy to cure - if you are prepared to stop the cause they will go away within a few days.

The best thing to deal with established splints is to stretch and strengthen them - sit on your feet with them pointing behind you.
Walk around on your heels - do not let the front part of the foot touch the ground till your shins fatigue.

Then stop the cause - shin splints are caused by the foot being forced to the ground through impact when you are tensing the shin muscles.

Impact forces the foot to the ground because you land on the heel and you are trying to keep your toes up.

When you run you must stop doing this - you need to land with perfectly relaxed lower legs,land under neath you rather than in front and land on the ball of your foot first letting the heel touch the ground. If you legs stay relaxed at landing even when walking then the splints will melt away.

the easiest way to relkax your legs as you walk is to imagine a bar sticking out of your ankle bones that you have to step over. as your foot passes over the bar it is floppy. (try this for the first few times on your own as you will look a little like a chicken. Get it right and the splints will relax even with your first walk
 It was in our forums...any who what he says about keeping your toes up when you run...for some reason over the last few weeks i started doing that? Maybe I was trying to stretch out my arches while i was running? it is really weird...I may try to run again at noon...once my pride has healed. LOL lucky for me I don't start work till 530 tonight...

Well I was going to wait until Friday to run...But I figure  a few miles today would be better than that. So I ran almost 3 (just ran out of time) i was being a slow poke...

I'm trying this whole mind or matter type thing...My dad use to do it when he would hurt his back at work. I swear that is how he would get through the day sometimes. Any who my good friend Sno reminded me of it only in more scientific terms...The pain in my legs lessoned but then moved to my knees. LOL All in all I ignored it and I feel better. Glad I went ahead and ran today...

I better get some tea I feel a cold coming on...

Today is the day I officially quit! UGH! I am so frustrated with running. 10 minutes into the run my shins are burning, I already had a headache...So I went another 5 minutes and went home, got my bike out and rode that for 5 miles. My legs felt tired but good after that...There is 3 weeks left of school and I think I am just going to skip running up until then. Unfortunately I can't get my money back for the 10 mile race...Maybe I will try it anyway? I don't know I haven' tmade up my mind.

Good news is I got a super cute hair cut today and I start training for my promotion today at work. Oh and I got a lot of projects done for school.

Luckily during the summer most of my runs are at night so I will be working less but that means more time for running/biking during the day. Last summer when I trained for my 1/2 I was only working (I took teh summer off from school) that seemed to be good for my training.

At any rate--happy running!

Goal: have fun

I went to a local park/forest/paved path area. It is about a 20 minute drive away. I tried to get a friend to meet me there but she was too late in getting back to me.

sooo it was so much fun though. there were hills and I raced up them and then walked or jogged down. I didn't care that I did not run the entire time today. The point was to have fun, gain my motivation and try to think the phantom pain away. And yes I did have some but then I would run up a hill and no more pain and I would think it away. It sounds really weird but I seriously do not believe that I have shin splints.

I may have run more like 4 miles b/c my Nike + turned off in the middle of the run...I averaged at about a 12 minute mile (i walked much)

The run reminded me of this time that a friend and I got lost in Savannah, GA and were in a wooded housing area with a lake. We stopped a runner for directions. She almost seemed annoyed that we would stop her. At that time I was like what is this crazy lady doing running in this weather (it was a little chilly and drizzly) now I'm that crazy lady...any who than I imagined old trails I use to walk with my dog or run when I live in VA. I remembered how much I love running in complete seclusion...it is so quiet and I can think and I don't have to worry about stupid cars or crossing streets.

Of coarse I'm not completely cured, I will run in other areas that I am finding out about around here...maybe even earlier in the morning so that there are no cars and such.