It was a very humid day today, the kind of day where you sweat before you walk out the door. It was the kind of humid day where the sweat just stays on your body and doesn't evaporate. It doesn't make for a very good running day. But I was out there anyway and managed to do 13 miles. Now if I could just run the whole way...I wonder what the secret is to being able to run the whole way? I rationalize that if there weren't so many hills I would be able to do it, but I'm not sure. I told myself today that it doesn't matter if I'm running, just the fact that I'm out there on this miserable day in hot, hot Riverside is good enough.
On another note, I've met and passed that birthday, the big 5-0. 50 means a whole different thing than it did when my parents were 50. 50 meant slowing down, running around less, thinking about retirement. Well, I'm not going to be able to do any of those things. I certainly plan to keep running, marathons, half marathons, 10ks, whatever I can for as long as my legs will carry me...running or not! As for retirement, well, only if it's forced on me.
I would like to encourage you out there reading this blog (if anybody reads it) to keep moving, keep running, walking, movement of some kind. Why do we have to slow down when we're 50? If we're still healthy, why not be active? Don't sit around, get out there, get moving, do whatever you can! But maybe on a less humid day. ;)
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Training Day thoughts
It's amazing what goes through your head as you run. Good thoughts, bad thoughts, why am I doing this?
I find parts of my other runs going through my head as I run, bits and pieces of the favorite locations that I have run. Scenes from the city or the difficulty of a hill I've had to climb.
People say running is 90% mental. I know that to be true, especially when I'm feeling tired and my brain is saying, no, you can't do this. You're too old. Your feet hurt. Your knee hurts. Your back hurts. But other thoughts, like being in the best shape of your life, or at least striving to get there.
Running is truly a mental game. Hopefully some of my mental toughness in running will rub off on other areas of my life.
I find parts of my other runs going through my head as I run, bits and pieces of the favorite locations that I have run. Scenes from the city or the difficulty of a hill I've had to climb.
People say running is 90% mental. I know that to be true, especially when I'm feeling tired and my brain is saying, no, you can't do this. You're too old. Your feet hurt. Your knee hurts. Your back hurts. But other thoughts, like being in the best shape of your life, or at least striving to get there.
Running is truly a mental game. Hopefully some of my mental toughness in running will rub off on other areas of my life.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
My run today was a little sad. I did almost 13 miles, but most of them were walking. I sometimes wonder why I would ever want to go any further. I have to remember, however, that I haven't done that distance in about three weeks. Be patient, be kind to your poor running body with your aching feet and back! I got off to a pretty late start, at about 7. I usually like to get out before that, but I just kept going back to sleep.
Ok, so if you're not a woman over 40, you don't have to read this next part. ;)
So, ladies out there over 40...we have unique challenges to running, you know what I mean? When I first starting running I found out just how weak my bladder is...can anybody relate to that? I tried to fight it, but I eventually had to take precautions to deal with it. Won't go into detail about that. I have a great admiration for us women over 40 who have had several children and still get out there and run. We are a special breed. Ok, enough of that.
Today I wondered how I ever get past 13 miles. It's definitely a case of mind over matter. When I'm at home thinking about running and imagining the next run, it is much nicer than reality. But that's part of what I love about it, discovering just how far I can push myself. I can't think of anything else in my life where I challenge myself as much as I do when I reach those later miles.
If you're going to have an addiction, this is the best kind. :)
P.S. I have to add to this, today I felt really slow. A fellow runner came up behind me and passed me. I saw her off in the distance, getting further and further away. I went down my usual route, which is a 2 mile hill. I saw her coming back up the hill as I was going down, way ahead of me. But slow is better than no...
Ok, so if you're not a woman over 40, you don't have to read this next part. ;)
So, ladies out there over 40...we have unique challenges to running, you know what I mean? When I first starting running I found out just how weak my bladder is...can anybody relate to that? I tried to fight it, but I eventually had to take precautions to deal with it. Won't go into detail about that. I have a great admiration for us women over 40 who have had several children and still get out there and run. We are a special breed. Ok, enough of that.
Today I wondered how I ever get past 13 miles. It's definitely a case of mind over matter. When I'm at home thinking about running and imagining the next run, it is much nicer than reality. But that's part of what I love about it, discovering just how far I can push myself. I can't think of anything else in my life where I challenge myself as much as I do when I reach those later miles.
If you're going to have an addiction, this is the best kind. :)
P.S. I have to add to this, today I felt really slow. A fellow runner came up behind me and passed me. I saw her off in the distance, getting further and further away. I went down my usual route, which is a 2 mile hill. I saw her coming back up the hill as I was going down, way ahead of me. But slow is better than no...
Friday, July 11, 2014
I have been a bad blogger. I haven't been here in ages. But I have been busy! My oldest daughter just got married in San Diego and needless to say that has been a busy time. I have, however, continued to run. In fact, we spent a week in SD and I was able to run on the beach. That was quite an experience.
I set out to run one marathon before age 50 and have managed to run 3. The most memorable one, however, would have to be the Diamond Valley Lake marathon in March. Covered in mud from head to toe, ankles bleeding, cold, and soaking wet - it was the most fun I've had all year! lol
I also ran the Rock and Roll Marathon on June 1. For some reason that was very difficult. It had a two mile hill at mild 20 that I wasn't sure I was going to finish. I came across a person who was pushing a running wheelchair with a person in it up that hill and I said, wow, if she can do it, I can do it. I persevered, but that was my slowest time.
Looking forward to the AFC Half in August. It's amazing how 13 miles can seem short when you've done a marathon. Hoping to set a PR of 2:45 .. . hard to believe that some people do marathons in less time that that!
I set out to run one marathon before age 50 and have managed to run 3. The most memorable one, however, would have to be the Diamond Valley Lake marathon in March. Covered in mud from head to toe, ankles bleeding, cold, and soaking wet - it was the most fun I've had all year! lol
I also ran the Rock and Roll Marathon on June 1. For some reason that was very difficult. It had a two mile hill at mild 20 that I wasn't sure I was going to finish. I came across a person who was pushing a running wheelchair with a person in it up that hill and I said, wow, if she can do it, I can do it. I persevered, but that was my slowest time.
Looking forward to the AFC Half in August. It's amazing how 13 miles can seem short when you've done a marathon. Hoping to set a PR of 2:45 .. . hard to believe that some people do marathons in less time that that!
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