Winter Running and Back in the Game

College life can be hard. Getting used to a new schedule, having friends around and managing time to run is a balance that for a semester, I didn't have under control. But after the wonderful blizzard of 2013 has cleared a bit and the pavement is just sprinkled with some small puddles and snow piled on the sides, it was time today to get back out. I restarted my Couch to 5k app, laced up the shoes and hit the campus.

Campuses really are great for running. There's plenty of sidewalks and plenty of land. One loop around my campus is roughly 1.5 miles and for getting back into running, it's a perfect distance to start with. I have to say, it was great to run again. Having gathered together a lot of stress recently, it was the perfect idea.

I managed the run surprisingly well. It was about 40 degrees F outside which for a February day is pretty darn warm. With yoga pants and a t shirt, my muscles warmed up quickly and I didn't get too winded.

After coming home, I also weighed myself on my Wii Fit. I'm down 14 pounds from the summer. Yay! I'd like to lose another 8 before I'll be at my goal. I can do this!

Down but not out

So due to some health issues I have stopped jogging.  It hasn't been smart, safe or well possible.

I do still have a 5km race in January.  I'm not sure at this point if I will attempt to jog it or just walk it.  It doesn't seem smart to jog since I haven't done anything in a few weeks.

I'm hoping in January that I will be able to jump on the exercise, healthy living band wagon again.

I have also enlisted the help of a few friends who said they will try jogging with me at that time too. Seems fitting.  January is the time so many people make resolutions about diet and exercise (they also sadly usually crash and burn).  I've done this before though (jogging) and I can do it again. So all goes well and if my health allows it, I will be jogging in January again.

So this is really me saying that I'll be disappearing from the blog. 

Okay, so I haven't updated in a week or two.

I have been running with my group though.  Last week we ran 7 and 1's X3 (That's running 7 minutes, walking a minute, 3 times).  I think we averaged around 3km for those runs (1 mile).

This week thanks to storm Sandy and the weather I missed two runs. Not too much you can do about that. Sometimes it simply isn't safe - or at least doesn't look safe - to run, or be outside much especially this time of year.

Last night we started our week of running 10 and 1's X2 (that's running 10 minutes walking 1 minute twice).  I did 2.9 km.  

The strangest thing (or I find it strange anyways) happened though, I felt like I had really struggled with that last 10 minutes of running, especially with this new drop in temperature and one of the other girls who has been with me since I started in May said I was doing really great. The learn to run clinic I did twice prior to this clinic ends their clinic with 10 and 1's though so I am familiar with this.  I have the endurance to get through 20 minutes of running, next week when we bump up to more, that's when I'm going to really struggle.  But I have decided I am going to try and get in an extra run on my own - a small one - just to help me keep up the pace.

With the drop in temperature also comes the need for warm clothing and layering.  Dress as if its 10 degrees warmer than it says.  Currently it says it is 3 degrees out this morning (37.4F) - so that means dressing as if it is actually 13 C out.  Last night I had on a pair of sweat pants, my runners and a long sleeve shirt and a jacket with some reflective gear on it.  At some point I needed to take off the jacket but still had the long sleeve shirt to keep me warm while running.  When running in the dark, either in the morning or evening depending, its important to dress appropriately, and to have reflective gear on.  You can invest in some reflective tape to put on your back and front and on your shoes and hat if you are wearing one. I need to buy a headband to cover my ears now, before I really need it!

dead last and cheers

So I ran Thursday and Sunday this week so far.  I've also got a run on Wednesday (my running weeks start on Thursdays now). 

This week my group has been doing 5 and 1's X4 (that's run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute 4 times).

Thursday I did pretty good - realized I needed new shoes.  I bought some, I'm just debating if I am going to keep them or not.

Sunday.  Sunday we ran/walked 4km (that distance is a little off because we walked for a bit before running but I wasn't aware of that plan when I started the timer). 

I was the last person on Sunday.  Dead last.  I got a nasty shin splint in my left leg (it seems to be alternating legs, odd).  I was ready to quit at the 10 minute mark.  But the instructor and some of the other people in the group just became my cheerleaders.  I walked more than I was supposed to but I tried to hard to keep up with the group.  We have one more night of 5 and 1's on Wednesday and I'm going to try and keep up. 

I did all my stretches afterwards to help with the shin splints and I've been doing some a bit today.  I just need to remember to do them several times every day. 

I ended up going for a very long walk yesterday afternoon and I figure that can only help my legs to get stronger. 

I just have to remember to stretch or else I won't be able to keep up in this clinic :(.  Also, having people around to cheer you on when you are struggling is amazing. 

running in the cold

So when did it get cold out? Seriously.

So I ended up only jogging Wednesday this week.  I think I did 2km (1mile)  but I can't say for certain as my ipod decided to track everything but the km's which is odd. 

I need to buy a new pair of runners this weekend.  I bought a pair in August but I've had problems with them from the beginning.  If you are looking for a pair of runners I would suggest going to a specialty store if you don't know exactly what you are looking for.  Your runners generally need to be replaced after a certain amount of kilometres OR 4-6 months or a year dependings what you are using them for/how often you use them.  For me, I'm trying to get into the habit of replacing mine every 4-6 months.  With clinics I am running a minimum of 3 times per week and after 4 months they really do show a lot of wear and tear. 

I have a short narrow foot with a high arch.  I need a 'neutral' shoe. The shoes I have now were actually the most narrow shoes I could find in the store.  My feet actually go numb everytime I wear them to run.  That is so bad. 

If you are having leg problems or knee problems while jogging, one source you have to look at is your shoes.  Sometimes new shoes can solve everything. 

Since its chilly out and dark around 7pm (sob!) layering clothing is good.  You can possibly get away with wearing capri style shorts to run in still, depending on the distance of your run.  And wearing a t-shirt with a sweater or jacket that  you can unzip/take off as necessary as good.  You'll always start out cold but once you start running you'll warm up and want to start removing layers.  So layering is good and important.  The same with wearing mitts and a toque or just something to cover your ears.

I really am enjoying running in cooler weather though. 

motivation and routine

So after the 5km race on Sunday, I can admit I've been lacking in motivation this week.

I haven't run once. 

Monday, I was supposed to go for a jog with a friend but she had to cancel because she wasn't feeling well and then I wasn't motivated to go alone.  Tuesday I was feeling rotten, the weather has been awful all week, Wednesday I didn't go to the running club, blah blah blah.
And. Just.No.Motivation.At.All.

But that's okay.

It's okay because I've still been remembering to do the stretches for shin splints.  Not running isn't going to hurt as much as not doing the stretches the next time I do go for a run.

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I know I won't run until at least Monday. 

There's no sense in beating myself up for not sticking to my routine - lack of clinics to go to and a holiday have messed with it.  Sometimes we take time off from our exercise routine, but rather than getting frustrated, just take a deep breathe and focus on what you can do next.

I've got a plan.  Monday, I am going to go for a jog.  I was thinking 5 and 1's X4 - so that's running for 5 minutes, walking a minute 4 times for a total of 20 minutes of running.  Looking at that, it feels daunting so we shall see how it goes.

I've been thinking on the days that I don't run I am going to try walking home from work.  This is, of course, weather dependant but I am going to give it a shot.   So Tuesday I will walk home, Wednesday I will go to run club, Thursday I will walk home and I haven't decided about Friday yet.

I know I need to add in some kind of upper body strength training in there, but for right now this is my plan.

Start a new routine with new motivation. 

Run for the Cure 2012

So earlier today I was involved in Run for the Cure 2012. 

It was really intense emotionally and there was over 1,800 people there.  I didn't run as fast as I would have liked but there was just too many people to really go at a faster pace.  I ended up staying with a lady that I run with sometimes who is a survivor and two others from my running club.  We set a decent pace of 10 and 1's X however many till we finished (that's running for 10 minutes and walking a minute).  I think it took us an hour, which is longer than it should have but with the amount of people there going faster and staying with the group just wasn't feasible for me.  But that's okay.  At the end of the day I can still say that I ran in the race and that I completed 5km (3.1 miles). 

The group that I ran with was called "Breast Foot Forward".  Altogether we raised over $11,000.00

Except if I'm being honest I didn't really fund raise at all. Maybe next year I will get my act together. 

New Blogger!

New blogger here!

Name's Christena (That's pronounced Christina)

Just a little about me:  24 year old Canadian, with a gluten intolerance, who with the barest of details works a desk job.

Back story to jogging:

Desk job.  Sit for 8ish odd hours a day at a desk.  Go home and sit.  Sleep.  And rinse and repeat.

I decided to try jogging in May (2012), all my previous exercise attempts after acquiring said desk job(s) have more of less failed (the gym and I are not good friends).   The point of exercise is obviously to be healthy and fit (and you know, get in shape and look good and all that jazz too if that's an angle you're looking at as well), there are so many different options = that it really comes down to finding something you like, enjoy and works for you. 

So far for me, that has been jogging. 

I joined a learn to run clinic (its set up to get you ready to run 5km) offered at a local running club - I dragged along one of my cousins because I was too intimidated to go by myself.  As far as I can tell the learn to run clinic is set up the same way as the couch to 5k just with a different name (marketing!). 

It was a 10 week clinic, we met 3 times per week and ran/walked.  The clinic is set up that you have to run 3 times per week otherwise you just aren't going to be where you should be at the end. Each week you run a little more.  The first week was 1 and 2's X7 (which is code for running 1 minute, walking 2 minutes a total of 7 times.  Every week the running would increase and then walk a minute, a certain number of times.  The clinic was based off a 20 minute session.  Meaning by the end of the clinic (week 10) we were running for a total of 20 minutes. 

As a part of the clinic (that I had to pay for) one evening a week we met and prior to our run our instructors would talk, or have some sort of professional talk to us about different things important to running, such as: safety, clothing, shoes, stretching.

I suffer from shin splints when I run.  As in, say every swear word I know shin splints.  If it wasn't for this clinic I would have quit running.  Also, I have learned that I do much much better running in a group than on my own (they keep me motivated).  Everyone has a different running style, and some people run better/prefer on their own.  I am not one of those people.  Maybe at some point I will want to run more on my own, but right now I focus more on the runs with the group.

(I should possibly also point out that the running club offers two free runs per week to who ever shows up in town).     

In July (2012) I ran my first 5km race (google tells me this is 3.1 miles).   Except really, I ran 2.5km and walked the rest.  Shin splints are the worst thing ever.  But I did it.  I showed up and I finished the 5km - I could of quit but I didn't.  At the end of the day its a bigger deal to me to show up and do what I set out to do (this race, running) than how fast I did it or anything else.  I mean, I could be sitting at home doing nothing!

I rejoined the learn to run clinic when it ended in July.  I needed to build up my endurance before I set any other running goals for myself.  And like I said - shin splints.  I'm constantly battling to remember to stretch every day for those.   The clinic just finished this week.  For the most, part the club has it set up so that at the end of each clinic there is some kind of race happening.  It isn't mandatory to join a race just because you did the clinic (money!) but the races are a good incentive to stick with the clinics and see the progress you have made.

On Sunday (Sept.30/12) I am going to be running in a Run for the Cure (this one is for breast cancer).  It is marketed as a fun run, so you aren't being timed.  You have to keep track of that yourself - if that is your thing.  You can run or walk 5km or run or walk 1km.  I am going to be attempting to run the full 5km (again, google tells me this is 3.1 miles). 

I will make another post after the race! 

Welcome Christena!

We now have a third co-blogger! Joining the team is Christena, a good friend of mine. I'm sure she'll begin her first intro post, but one of the things I do know is that coming up, she's running almost 3 miles for breast cancer awareness!

A Healthy Balance of Life

As we all know, shit happens. School or work or friends takes away our time and energy and we're stuck with something missing in our lives. I've had friends post the graphic on Facebook with Work + Social Life= No Sleep or something to that effect. But why do we suffer? Why do we not seem to balance out our lives and get a good dose of everything?

It just makes me sad or makes me pity people that have not figured out some kind of balance that works for them. We as human beings need a healthy dose of physical care, mental health and a social life. If you have no friends because all you concentrate on is work and sleeping, then where are you in life? Are you actually living a fulfilled life?

I'm not saying this is easy. It most certainly is not. But what I am saying is that maybe we all need a second to take a step back and see where our energy is going. Why are you so tired in the morning? Why are you living in your dorm room on weekends instead of seeing people? Why are your grades teetering on the edge of failure?

We all have something that gets sacrificed. Truth is, maybe there isn't a 100 percent balance that's possible. However, we can at least be aware and we can try. You should never have to completely sacrifice a part of your physical, emotional or mental health to do well and succeed in life. As a senior in college who is working a full time job, a part time job and pledging a co-ed frat, I know how it goes. All my sleep is zapped after a 15 hour production day in the office. But I don't let it get me down. I know that I'll take Thursday easy, regain my energy and then Friday have some friend and frat time.

All I ask is that you take the time to evaluate where you're missing in your life. Make an honest plan to get yourself back on track. See where you can triage an hour of sleep and do more homework rather than a weekly all nighter. Shift things around and make a conscious decision to try.