Why Did Running Get So Difficult?

Running has been iffy at best since the running streak ended. I thought for sure that I would be more motivated once we got signed up for a running event or two (actually 4 for me).

I think that I'm just getting tired of running while it is so dark. We run before I go to work, so that means I get up early and try to get in run mode, but it hasn't been working out very well and I have not been able to stick to the running plan. Some daylight will certainly help as I am like a lot of people and am very much light activated.

Right now the other thing that will mess with me is the fact that I am not able to get my run stats downloaded from my watch. We are currently without a computer so no connectivity for now. We'll see if my watch fires up tomorrow morning. If not I'll have to work at not feeling defeated. I already feel bad enough about my physical ailments in general. I don't need my feel like I NEED my watch - even though I do. Maybe I don't...well, yes - I do! Also, I will need to work at positive self-talk - a constant battle in my head. I'm not a loser...I'm not a loser. Losers sleep in and sit on the couch and eat bowls of ice cream while watching YouTube videos...oh hey...that sounds like us on a rest day! Except the ice cream - that doesn't happen very often.

Here is the line up of races that we are registered for already:

March 6 - Fort Vancouver Run 12k, Vancouver, WA 

March 26 - Hop Hop Half Marathon, Portland, OR

June 19 - Vancouver USA Half Marathon, Vancouver, WA

July 10 - See Jane Run Half Marathon, Seattle, WA

This too shall pass - especially when Downton Abbey is over and we are staying up on Sunday night to watch it!

Forced Rest

(selfie taken with my Kindle Fire)

Yes...due to illness and a messed up back, I am FORCED to REST. Sometimes it takes these "drastic" measures to get me down and I don't like it. However, this year might be a little more busy year - at least that is what I'm planning - so some rest now isn't a bad thing.

While I continue to rest and let my back heal, I've started reading Eat & Run by Scott Jurek for inspiration. Since I know I need to make some changes in my life as far as running is concerned I thought I should read a book here and there that is running specific and take in some wisdom and perhaps apply some new ideas and hopefully develop some new habits.

I can happily report that what I choose to eat is more healthy choices and I do think twice about what I think I might want to have for a snack.

Some things can change ;)

Pre-holiday bloat...

Man, I'm already starting to feel the holiday bloat and I haven't done anything different...must be in anticipation of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

We are heading out on vacation - to Chicago and I've packed my running gear and hope to get out at least a couple of times later this week. It will be better than nothing. I will miss our annual Thanksgiving Day ride though, I always look forward to that, I guess it will be a run instead :)

Tom and I went to Southwest yesterday so I could have my x-rays done 3 views of my foot and a couple of my hip(s). We'll see what is going on in both places, hopefully nothing that will slow down my plan to start training in January.

Today I received my monthly newsletter from Wenzel Coaching - I like the different articles. This month there was a short article about adding multisports to your race season - I thought it was appropriate since my goal is to do a duathlon in 2009 among other things.

I am trying to tell myself that not riding everyday is okay, it's the holiday season, I need to let my body rest...good luck to me! If I don't get any activity in my day I get antsy - almost a little crazy. I'm trying to change my attitude towards doing the things to maintain some of the condition that I had built up over the spring and summer...I'll make it though, I might drive everyone around me crazy, but that's their problem!

It's so hard this time of year for me to get out on my bike, it's dark when I leave for work and when I come home. I would ride to work, but I have enough anxiety during the summer when its light and the roads are dry. I have come to the realization that there are people that will not accept cycling as a means of transportation so riding when the late afternoon is dark and the roads probably would be wet does not appeal to me. If we lived closer to where I worked I wouldn't have any problem making the decision to ride. Man, this is what happens when I spend the majority of the summer riding to work because of gas prices - I miss riding almost every day!
Until then I'll have to ride on my trainer and do my pre-training runs with Kristan and Kevin as often as possible. I have a really great 10K training plan that I want to follow when the new year is here so here's to the next month going by quickly which I'm sure it will!