Janathon Day 9

So Days 7 & 8 were a bust.  Or, shall I say, rest days.  I'm considering myself out of the Janathon running, but I'm not throwing in the towel.

Day 9 saw me back at it.  The plan was for a Long Slow Run of 6 miles.  Since I was no where near ready for that distance, I went it with a plan of just doing what I could do.  After checking the weather (28* with a feels like temp of 18*), I decided to go with the dreadmill.  I plugged in the ipod, put it on shuffle, and hit the mill.  I ended up with a sort of interval thing going - run a 1/4 mile, walk a 1/4 mile.  About two miles in, I decided that I was pretty darn miserable - my right shin was hurting and I had a stitch (which seems to be a near constant running companion any more) - and would only do 4 miles.  As I hit the three mile mark, I bumped it up to a goal of 4.5 miles.  When I hit 4 miles, I decided I'd just go for 5 miles.  Whatever happened.  If I had to walk the last mile, so be it.  The goal was to be on my feet for 5 miles.  And I did it.  Wahoo!  It was my longest run since I started running again in 2009.  I am pretty darn proud of myself.

The thing about the dreadmill is that I tend to close my eyes while I'm on it.  Which I do not think is the greatest habit to get into.  As in, if I do a lot of dreadmill training for my half, I envision myself cruising down Hines Drive with my eyes closed.  And just so y'all know - I'm crazy clumsy.  This is a recipe for disaster.  hehe  The other thing about the dreadmill that I learned today, is that when I get tired, I get (way more) clumsy and super flaily.  As in, I kept hooking my earbud cord on my arm and yanking it.  It doesn't feel that great on the old ears to have the buds jostled like that.  As in, I found it increasingly difficult to stay in the middle of the belt.  It was sort of not that fun.  I feel like I look like Brad Pitt's character in Burn After Reading - when he's on the treadmill and running like a big old dork.  At least I am able to embarrass myself in the comfort of my own home.  hehehe

In other news, while I was on the dreadmill today, I started making note of various songs that shuffled thru the ipod.  I'm going to make  Martian Playlist.  I don't usually run with music - if anything, I have the sweet voice of Danny Dreyer coaxing me through my ChiRunning.  But during last Sunday's run, I listened to music and certain songs really perked me up.  I'm thinking I'm going to make a playlist for the Martian.  I'm sure times are going to get tough and I'll pop on the ipod to get through it.  Music has always been a huge part of my life, especially when times have been tough.  I think it could really be a useful tool during the race.

Countdown to Martian - 83 days

Janathon Day 6

Wahoo! I got off my butt today. I knew tonight was going to be crazy, so I got up earlier and did a 15 minute walk before work. I am actually proud of myself. It would've been waaaay to easy to blow it off again today. However, I've decided to lighten up on myself. Life gets in the way sometimes. The big picture is that I'm going to do the best with what I have. If I have to squeeze in workouts randomly because my plans changed, it's ok. Something is better than nothing.


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Janathon Day 5

Janathon FAIL.  Stretching and headed to bed.  Tomorrow (as long as I'm feeling better) we're getting back on track around here.

Martian Countdown:  87 days

Janathon Day 4

I had a date with the dreadmill tonight. Life got in the way. Two hours of sleep, plus sick hubby, plus LONG day at work, plus burgeoning (is that even the word I'm looking for? Too tired to look it up) panic attack equals a big, old tired ball of nerves. Normally, I'd push through it and work out anyway, even though I'm running on fumes. BUT 2011 is the year I'm practicing taking care of myself: resting when I need to, in addition to eating better and exercising. The thing is, looking out for ME is the toughest of the three. So tonight's good practice. I'm going to stretch my hips and legs really, really well and hit the sack. I'm not going to feel guilty for not working out (though I really think that hyperventilating should count as cardio). I'm going to be kind to me and remember that tomorrow is another day.
In other news, I'm four for four with blogging. heh

Martian countdown: 88 days



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Janathon Day 3

I took a rest day. Mondays are usually my rest days and after running three days in a row, I needed it. My shins are really sore today. Which means I was heel striking like crazy. I need to get the chi back in my Chirunning. Sheesh.
I had planned on doing some PT exercises after work, but I got home and hubby was really sick and one of the cats chowed on a plastic bag, so he's puking. Yippee. Plus, between the two of them, there's not a clean blanket in the house. I've done three loads of laundry so far and I've got two more to go. If we had a basement, I think I'd count it as a workout.
Tomorrow is another day.

Martian Countdown: 89 days



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Janathon Day 2

First of all, WOW.  I have followers. Sweet.  Thanks for the follow!

Second of all, Day 2.  Today I did Jackie Warner's 20 minute interval thing.  8 minutes total of running, 1.19 miles in 20 minutes.  Then I walked for another 20 minutes.  Total mileage for today was 2.17 miles. I ended it with 25 minutes of stretching, which I never do.  I feel pretty darn good right now.

Countdown to the Martian:  90 days   :nervously bites nails:

Janathon Day 1: 1/1/11

I actually ran. 1.5 miles in 18 minutes and some change. I did a 5k on Belle Isle for NYE, so I wasn't planning on running two days in a row, but I squeaked out a run. And it felt pretty good. I'm a little achy in the right ankle today (a new-ish pain grrr) but otherwise, I think I'm good.
This blogging thing is going to be tough. Last year's foot injury really messed with my mind and I feel like I'm jinxing myself if I talk too much about running. :sigh: My plan for Janathon is to just take it day by day and see how it goes.

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