You Know You're a Runner When...

As I was getting in bed the other night, my foot rubbed on the sheets and I felt a pain. Taking a closer look, I noticed my pinkie toenail was literally hanging on by a thread. The whole nail had lifted off the nail bed! At that moment I didn't think "What the hell?!?!" or "OMG, that's terrible." My first thought was actually a little smile to myself... you are officially a runner! :)

The next day as I looked at all my gear, organized on a shelf so I know just where to find what I need, when I need it... the thought came back to me that I had become a runner. Given all my blogging about the topic, you might think that was a given, but it's not. I've always fancied myself a girl who started a little late in life, trying to become a runner.

The next day (yesterday, to be exact) as I was out on my first double digit run in a while, I was thinking about all the things that made me think I might actually be a runner... which gave me the idea for this blog! So, without further ado.... you know you're a runner when:

1. Double digit runs... need I say more?
2. You don't care about what you look like when you run, you wear what you want... and that's what's the most comfortable and the most functional.
3. You own a headlight... and actually use it.
4. You get jealous when you see other people out running and you're not.
5. Your biggest load of laundry at the end of the week is workout gear!
6. Your Garmin (yes, you own a running watch) filled up... and it's old enough you've taken it apart and repaired it twice yourself.
7. You get blisters under your calluses.
8. When someone says "plantar's", you know what's coming next (no, not wart!).
9. You know about every other injury in the book, too.
10. You know what the big deal about chafing is...
11. Despite all the miles you put in year round, you can't remember the last time you were on a treadmill.
12. Your friends talk about how much you can eat.
13. When choosing a hotel, you make sure there's a place to run close by.
14. The majority of your clothing budget for the year is for running shoes.
15. You're a night person but you'll still get up at 5:15 a.m. to get your run in.
16. You meet a new neighbor at the subdivision pool, and their first question is, "Is that you I always see out running?"
17. And, last but not least, you become the biggest B. in the world you if you don't do it!

Psychology vs. Physiology: The Art of Interval Training

Ok, so I think over the past several blogs you've got the idea that I think running is hard. I mean, you haven't just gotten that impression, I've stated it enough for you to know that for me, it's true.

Luckily, I am very head strong in my workouts. I've also come to know myself well enough that I can actually manipulate me! :) My head game is, just put your shoes on and get out the door. The first couple miles I'm thinking, "God, this hard... I'm going to quit after the first 2.5 mile loop. After I finish the first loop, I think, just keep going around the block one more time. Then I keep going, and once I get within a couple miles of my goal, I'm able to finish in a good state of mind.

Those types of runs don't really help me run faster, though... which is what I really would like. As I've stated before, in my quest for running faster, I talk to people that know what they're talking about... and I know they do because they can run fast. The latest was last week, talking to David. David's son, Caleb, is getting a lot of attention for his track and cross country records, and as a Junior in high school, is ranked second in the state. David uses Jack Daniels' running formula (no, that's not a drink!) to coordinate his own and Caleb's workouts, so not that that would apply to me... the concepts do apply, to anyone.

Last week David was telling me to try interval workouts... warm up for one or two miles (how ever long it takes you to warm up), run as hard as you can for three minutes, rest for one minute, and repeat for ten intervals (or start with a lower number and work up). They key is to only recover for one minute, no fudging, and this is where a lot of people falter. (Let me just say that I know this methodology isn't supported by everyone, and some prefer to use heart rate as an indicator of recovery.) The point I want to make is that during the three minute all outs, every fiber of your (or my) being is saying "Stop! I can't do this any longer! I said STOP, damn it!" And to do it time and time again, it really takes fortitude to keep going. Over several workouts your mind begins to more readily grasp the fact that YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE!

Physiologically, the payout from these types of running workouts is well documented. Even though they are shorter in milage and time spent, they correlate to running faster over longer distances.

So since I'm on a run (and that pun was really not intended!) with ending my posts with my favorite sayings, I'll end this with another: "The only way to run faster, is to run faster."

Mental Cakedown

As I was typing that title, the following title was cached: Mentally Peaking (Not!) So I've probably blogged about this before, but since I was not mentally peaking at the time, I don't remember it! I feel like I'm becoming a complete whiner here, but OMG, I am really having to push myself to do anything these days.

I was on vacation last week, and the first weekend I was without kids... and I slept a good 24 hours out of 48. As I explained this to a fried, he said, "Well, you deserved that!" I baked a cake Saturday night and I kid you not, I ate 3/4 of it by Sunday night! On Monday morning, I polished off the rest. A whole damn chocolate cake in a day and a half. As I proceeded to tell my friend this, he furrowed his brow, looked at me like a was crazy, and said, "Well, you didn't deserve that!" He wasn't saying I didn't deserve to indulge myself a little and enjoy some chocolate cake, he was sincere in saying my body didn't deserve be treated like that.

The following two to three days I turned into a sloth. I felt terrible! Monday morning I did an eight mile guilt run, which made me feel a little better, but not much (it just gave me the right to finish the cake). Physically, I just did not feel well.

My philosophy during times like that (for everyone) is to push through and get out and do something every day. I don't mean an eight mile run, just anything to get moving. Every day I would set my alarm for 7:00 a.m. and think, just go out and do my 2.5 mile loop with Amos... and every day (and I do mean every day!) I would turn my alarm off and go back to sleep.

I was (am?) really struggling right now... maybe a little burnout with all this heat, and I am so busy at work. I went back to work yesterday (after my week off), and managed to haul my ass out of bed this morning at 5:15 for by Tuesday morning 6.5 mile run. The odd thing is, whenever I do make myself get up early and run, I never regret it! When it's over I never think, "Wow, now I feel terrible, I really wish I wouldn't have done that." Quite contrary!

And on that note I'll end this post with another one of my favorite sayings... "The hardest part of running is putting on your shoes!" Just do it!