You have to plan

Tonight's advice, dear reader, is "You have to plan." It's not enough to say, "Eh. I think I'll workout." Sure, that may work for a day or two, but eventually, like me, you'll get to the day when you don't know what you're going to do. And if you don't know what you're going to do, the easier it is to not do anything. This is where the plan comes in to play.  

Some things to consider when making your plan...

It's important that your plan is attainable and realistic. If, for instance, I made my plan to be "Climb Mount Everest on Sunday" chances are I'm setting myself up for failure, either by not achieving the goal, or through certain death because I am no where near trained for climbing Mount Everest. However, your plan should challenge you within the realm of your "right now" abilities. If I made my goal to be "Walk 5 minutes" I would certainly achieve that goal, but the benefits would be minimal. This may not be true for everyone though. For some, walking 5 minutes is the perfect place to start. So goal setting becomes an exercise (ha! Pun intended!) of balancing your abilities today with where you want to be tomorrow. As I said yesterday, my goal is to build a solid base from where I can train for races. Today I'm working on my plan to achieve that goal. 

Planning can take different forms for different people. For me, I know that since I'm relearning the habit of regular running this means that my plans need to be made in small, attainable chunks. For now I will plan a week at a time, then, as I pick a race in which to compete (if I even choose to do so this year) I can restructure how I plan to achieve that goal. Follow me?

So this week is simple: 

2 miles on Sunday - check!

1 mile on Monday plus 20 minute core workout with my Leandro video - check! (and ouch!)

2 miles on Tuesday

Rest day on Wednesday 

2 miles on Thursday 

1 mile on Friday plus 20 minute core

Leg workout on Saturday with my Leandro video

Plan the following week's workouts on Saturday. Once I have a base and am feeling stronger, I will work on increasing my miles. 

A final reminder before I close for tonight: If it doesn't work out perfectly, that's okay. Life happens. Kids need help with homework, basketball games need to be attended, and bedtime reminders need to be made. The key is to let a missed workout go and pick it up again the next day. Planning leads to consistency which leads to strong habits. Self forgiveness leads to sticking with the plan. 

You have to run

Fourth! Post! In! A! Row! 

That's right, loyal reader! I have something to write about. Again! Woohoo! I know what you're thinking...what wonderful running tip do you have for me today, SuperJuls? And here it is!

You have to run. 

I must admit, this advice is not original to me, rather it was said to me by Mr. Man. And chances are he said it because I had unlocked my iPad so he could watch Netflix while I ran on the treadmill. Despite that, my little guy had a good point. I had to run. I'm out of the habit right now. I didn't want to, but I had to. My motivation was low, especially when this is my view on the treadmill:

Not very exciting, is it? But I can manage it for the two miles I ran tonight. Plus, treadmill running is good for building back my base. I figure I'll stick to low miles for now, possibly not even going over two miles for the first two weeks. For once, I'd like to have a running season that doesn't involve injury and a good way to help with that is being patient and consistent to build that solid base. Besides, I can endure the treadmill for a little while longer. I think Spring is only 72 days or so away... 

Mr. Man's insistence on watching Netflix...I mean...encouraging me to run also reminded me of one of my favorite aspects of running: "It's not about how fast or how far, it's about how running makes you feel." It's the tag line on my blog and it's a quote from a Runner's World magazine that I had in high school. I even posted it on my wall for eons before my folks moved. I love that with running, whether I run 2 miles or 20, I feel like this after I'm done:

Awkward Selfie!!!! (You're welcome) Point is, I don't regret getting off the couch. I don't regret the run. All these lessons I've already learned yet I find that I have to relearn them. I have to be reminded why running is an important part of my daily life. I have to run.

Sleeping Beauty

Or would Rip Van Winkle be a better description? Either way, today was spent sleeping a lot. My sinuses have been going haywire the last few days and I just need sleep. So that's what I did today. I took some sinus medicine and zonked out. I have Christmas decorations to take down and laundry to do, but today I opted for total rest. And I think it was the smart choice because I'm feeling much better. Still tired, but not as congested. I did make some time for some work on my core. Not as much as I would have liked, but something is better than nothing. At least I hope so. Here's to resting today for a better run tomorrow!

If you give a SuperJuls a Benedryl

If you give a SuperJuls a Benedryl, she'll sleep all afternoon 

Then wake up with a start because the sun is setting soon

If the sun is setting soon, then she'll hurry to go for a run

And worry that her cold will make the adventure not much fun

If her cold makes her sneeze and cough, she'll wish she'd pack some tissues

Although after a month's hiatus, a drippy nose is not the sole issue

If running causes issues of creaks and cracks and moans

She'll decide that the following day will include exercises that tone

When the next day includes more challenges than her tired body can muster

She'll end up expecting instant results or else she'll feel quite flustered

If she ends up feeling flustered then she won't get enough rest

Which leads to a stuffy, running nose that requires a treatment that is best

And when she needs a medicine to cure her for the next thrill 

She'll look at you with big, brown eyes and ask for Benedryl

The End

p.s. Another 2-mile run today. And yes, my sinuses felt like they were going to explode 

The Year of the Blog

Happy 2015!!!

2014 happened, honest, but I definitely did not blog much about my running adventures. I had some fun moments in 2014...up until the last couple months when my dedication to running dropped off the radar. Enter 2015...a new year with new races to be run and new adventures to be had. To encourage myself and hold myself accountable to my running I am rededicating my running blog. Logging when I run is important to me and acts as a motivator. So welcome back fellow runners! Welcome back friends! Welcome to the new folks, too! I invite you all to journey with me through another year filled with running adventures!

Happy Running! 

p.s. To start the New Year right, I ran 2 miles yesterday evening as the sun set

Marathon weekend!

And no, I'm not running. 

People know I run, so when there's a big running event in town they ask me if I'm running. I feel a little sad answering "No, not this year." I was evaluating why I feel sad, even bad, about this response and I realized that it's because I assume I'm disappointing them in some way. Please don't misunderstand, I don't live life assuming I'm that important in other people's lives. I know that they don't leave the conversation thinking "Wow, what a disappointment she is." (At least I hope they don't!) Regardless, the feeling of worry is still there. It's always there, no matter what I do, I assume I'm letting somebody down. What a sad way to look at the world. That can't be the reason why I run. 

So here it is, self...whether or not I choose to run, I'm doing it for me. (Repeat as many times as necessary) 

The Menace

I've debated for some time whether or not to blog about this. Generally, I like to keep my blog about my running adventures, but there comes a time when I just need to write. In the past couple of years I've encountered a growing problem, a menace in my life. Early on I had difficulty believing that such a menace existed, it was easier to think I made it up in my head. But recent events have shown me that there really is an issue. The hardest part about this menace is that I defended her initially. I stood up for her when others attempted to warn me. Naively, I hoped it would be different for me. I was wrong. 

In an effort for full disclosure, here is the menace in my life:

Sure, she looks cute and innocent in this picture, but don't be fooled. In about 9-10 years from when this is was taken she will reach "that certain age" and nothing will ever be the same again. 

***TMI WARNING***

This blog is devoted to "women's issues". Do not continue if you don't want to know. I'll give you a topic to discuss in the meantime: The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. And go...

Are they distracted? Good. I'll continue. 

Humans are strange. The response to the hormones of other humans is also strange to me. Yes, yes. I know I have a degree in science, but you're missing the point. The lovely, spunky little girl pictured above ends up hitting puberty. All of a sudden, I have another female in the house and I swear we are synchronizing. Even her just mentioning that her period started awakens my uterus. Thanks for the extra week of cramps, kid. :-| I was curious if menstrual synchronization was a real occurrence among cohabiting females, so naturally I turned to the internet, the source of all knowledge and truth. I learned three things: 

1. I didn't know how to correctly spell "menstruation"
2. I didn't know how to correctly spell "cohabiting"
3. I get bored easily when reading scientific articles (Yes, yes. I know I have a degree in science)

What I know from personal experience is this: two moody females in the same house at the same time is particularly hazardous when said females are mother and daughter. The eye-rolling alone is epic. But how much of it is crazy hormones flinging themselves wildly around the room and how much of it is part of the mother-daughter experience? I think the key in dealing with these changing dynamics is to be aware that the dynamic exists, regardless of scientific internet confirmation. Human interactions and relationships are complex. The way the individual reacts to the flux in hormones, emotions, feelings, moods, external influences, and whatnot is as varied as the individuals themselves. Today I'm learning to embrace the dynamic of our relationship... "Mom, I used to think that you really liked lecturing me"... Tomorrow's a crap shoot. I hope to embrace each day keeping in mind a phrase given to me by the menace herself: "Congratulations on acknowledging your feelings!" She meant it in jest when I told her I was feeling angry (about a situation not involving her), but there's a good reminder there. It's better to acknowledge the feeling exists, than to bury it deep only to explode about it later. Now to just remember that the next time my lovely menace and I are fighting for the role of Queen of Hormonal. :)

***END OF TMI***

That's correct! The peanut is legume! Though the above statement might not be considered entirely true because the pea is also considered a legume! Other examples of legumes include alfalfa, clover, beans, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soybeans, tamarind, and the woody climbing vine wisteria. Like nuts, peanuts are a great post run treat (provided you don't have an allergy). Enjoy! And happy running!