Monthly February Recap

February Mileage: 155
Yearly Mileage: 275

For the most part February turned out to be a great month of getting back to my LSD (long slow distance) roots (nothing like before though). I really don't have much to add. Nothing exciting or crazy happened, which can be a good thing and bad. My only concern is my left foot. It is giving me problems again and I honestly do not know what to do. I can't just stop running, it's in my DNA!!! I've literary have been running half of my life. I've actually signed up for a race River Gorge 10.2 mile trail run. I am going to see how I do before I sign up for another one. For some reason I just can't get excited for races like I was a year ago, and even my blogging I can't get excited for it either. I formed this blog to hopefully inspire people but I can't even inspire myself. I feel like I have a lot on my plate coming up with physical therapy school starting that it just throws me off of other goals in life. My mind is telling me I need to get through school before I can focus on anything else. However, I so want to run a 50 miler and even greater race, but I just can't seem to get out and put the extra miles in. So I'm taking it day by day in hopes that something will fire me up. On a good note my mileage is up from last month so there is a little flame that has started to burn.

January Recap
Total Miles: 120 Miles

This month consisted of nothing really special running wise for me. Somehow I fought off the temptation not to run and went outside to get something in. I feel like I am a repeating record when I say that I am burned out, but I feel like this month helped me get my feet wet and somewhat back into the swing of things. However, the last week in January I only got 2 days of running in because my feet issues flared up again. I have taken steps in correcting it and hopefully it will do some good and get me out on the trail more often.

I have been doing a lot of reading on plant based diet and nutrition and am greatly enjoying learning about the topic. I have invested in a Vitamix blender and can say that I am in love with the thing. I have just started to add more greens to my diet (Kale and Spinach) that was basically non existent before. It is too early to tell how much better I am feel because I have basically just started adding greens on a larger scale. Hopefully next months recap or just some random blog I can touch light on it.

Also, I have a race in mind that I am looking at training for. This excites me greatly because I haven't ran a race since October (StumpJump) and I wasn't even in shape for that. It's a 50K that I am looking at and will have more details on the race later.

First blog of the year!!

First off I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years. I've basically took the whole month of December off due to just being plain burnt out on running and blogging. All I really did was work and look at other people's blogs of their running experiences and be jealous. However, I just couldn't put my running shoes on and take a run on the trails (turning winter also does not help). I had also been having some foot issues, but nothing serious just more of a nuisance. It has since subsided and this past week I actually got out and ran and somehow enjoyed it. I had a lot of ups and downs this past year in running. The first half of 2012 was great for me running wise and then once I started apply to physical therapy school and stressing on that it just took a toll on me. Now it's a new year and it's time to start fresh.

I'm not sure if I will be writing a weekly mileage this year because it is almost a nuisance to me because I feel it gets very repetitive. Plus, I will be a whole lot more busy starting this summer due to Physical Therapy School and I honestly don't know how my training will go and be balanced with school. So I really don't have any races planned because I'm not sure what my schedule will look like. However, I will still keep up with my mileage and write a monthly overview and race reports. I feel like that will be a whole lot better for me. Also I know not many people look at this blog so I'm sure no one will care lol. So new year new me right? Let's see how this year goes!! Happy Trails!

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 38 miles
11/25/12 - 12/01/12

Sun: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 58.10 Avg. Pace: 8.19
-  Felt pretty good today.Weather was perfect. I felt like I could have ran more but I'm still sticking to my plan of slow progression. Spirits are up after today's run.

Mon: 6 Miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 47.45 Avg. Pace: 7.58
- Feeling good about today's run. Spirits are still high. Also did my core workout before hand. I'm starting to get the love again for running I feel. Also, just ordered the AK race vest from Ultimate Direction. Lucky enough to get one since they are selling out fast. I'm pumped!!

Push Ups: 2*10
Claims: 2*15
Planks 2*1 min.
Fire Hydrant 2*15
Ab Routine (8-10 mins.)
Lateral Leg Raise 2*15

Leg Circuit: 1Time
- 20x Front Lunge with Twist
- 20x Body Squat (1/2 squat)
- 40x Step Ups
- 5x Rocket Jumps

Tues: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ? Avg. Pace: ?
- No watch today. Left the house without it. First time I've ran without a watch in a long time. I felt good on today's run even though the weather was ugly outside. Just normal aches and pains that come with the territory or running. Still feeling good. A little sore from m core workout yesterday.

Wed: Off
Time: , Avg. Pace:
- Decided not to run again this Wednesday. If I was to run I'd be to far ahead of schedule and I'm trying to stay on track by taking it little by little especially since it starting to turn cold. However I did do my puny core workout lol.

Push Ups: 2*10
Claims: 2*15
Planks 2*1 min.
Fire Hydrant 2*15
Ab Routine (8-10 mins.)
Lateral Leg Raise 2*15

Leg Circuit: 1Time
- 20x Front Lunge with Twist
- 20x Body Squat (1/2 squat)
- 40x Step Ups
- 5x Rocket Jumps

Thur: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 48.31 Avg. Pace: 8.05
- Felt sluggish today, but still felt like it was a productive run. Everyday seems to get easier and more enjoyable.

Fri: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?  Avg. Pace: ?
- God awful run. Didn't help that I only got 2 hours of sleep and had to wake up a 3:45 for work at that. Was very tired and just didn't feel it. Took a lot to just finish what I did.

Sat: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.05.27 Avg. Pace: 8:11
- Wasn't planning on running today, but with the abnormally warm weather it was just a day I couldn't refuse not to go. Overall a way better day than yesterday. Glad I got out and ran and got some extra miles in for the week at that.

Overall a lot better week of running as opposed to last week. I feel like I'm starting to feel the love for running again after several months of a rough patch. Spirits are up and within a few more weeks I'll be looking for some races to do. Hitting 40+ miles next week is the plan with a down week following

January:
Total Mileage: 177 miles

February:
Total Mileage: 193 miles

March:
Total Mileage: 190 miles

April:
Total Mileage: 269 miles

May:
Total Mileage: 234 miles

June:
Total Mileage: 176 miles

July:
Total Mileage: 186 miles

August:
Total Mileage: 185 miles

September:
Total Mileage: 75 miles

October:
Total Mileage: 121 miles

November:
Total Mileage: 107 miles

-Down month but I was expecting. However I did have 2 positive weeks come out of it. On the rebound of getting back into shape. Next month I'll be hitting my 2000 mile mark for the year.


2012 Mileage: 1,913 Miles

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 27 miles
11/18/12 - 11/24/12

Sun: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 42.46 Avg. Pace: 8.33
-  Nice easy run for the first day back. I feel like the week gave my body a break. However, after my run my feet were very sore and tender.

Mon: 4 Miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 36.08 Avg. Pace: 9.02
- So slow! Feet were killing me, especially the arch of my right foot. I don't know why this has all of a sudden happen but it's very frustrating. I'm hoping that it is just soreness from the previous days run. I know it's not easy getting back into the groove of running when taking time off but geez give me a break. If it's not one thing it's another.

Push Ups: 2*10
Claims: 2*15
Planks 2*1 min.
Fire Hydrant 2*15
Ab Routine (8-10 mins.)
Lateral Leg Raise 2*15

Leg Circuit: 1Time
- 20x Front Lunge with Twist
- 20x Body Squat (1/2 squat)
- 40x Step Ups
- 5x Rocket Jumps

Tues: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 41.30 Avg. Pace: 8.18
- Sore from the small core workout and run. Pains of getting back into shape. Feet still hurt pretty bad. I want to say they felt a smidge better but it is very little. Loving the warm fall weather.

Wed: Off
Time: , Avg. Pace:
- No running today. Giving my feet rest and my right knee has some discomfort while working today. However I did continue to do my small core work out. I'm sore from it also. It's amazing how little it takes to make you hurt when not being in shape.

Push Ups: 2*10
Claims: 2*15
Planks 2*1 min.
Fire Hydrant 2*15
Ab Routine (8-10 mins.)
Lateral Leg Raise 2*15

Leg Circuit: 1Time
- 20x Front Lunge with Twist
- 20x Body Squat (1/2 squat)
- 40x Step Ups
- 5x Rocket Jumps

Thur: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 42.28 Avg. Pace: 8.30
- Slow go again. I walked several times, I suck. Now time to eat Turkey. Happy Thanksgiving.

Fri: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.04.55 Avg. Pace: 8.07
- This is my long day for the week. Body felt the best today this week. Feet still a little sore, but I knee did not bother me. I hope it's just the growing pains of of getting back into shape. Also did my core workout before the run.

Push Ups: 2*10
Claims: 2*15
Planks 2*1 min.
Fire Hydrant 2*15
Ab Routine (8-10 mins.)
Lateral Leg Raise 2*15

Leg Circuit: 1Time
- 20x Front Lunge with Twist
- 20x Body Squat (1/2 squat)
- 40x Step Ups
- 5x Rocket Jumps

Sat:Off
Time:  Avg. Pace:
-


I'm trying to start fresh and get back into shape (and actually mean it this time!!). I am an exercise science major and should not have let myself fall into the trap of coming home right after work, eating junk food, and when I do run make it half ass and not have any meaning to it. I am a runner, since the 7th grade I've been running which half my life. I've always considered myself an athlete, and I like to train like one. My current goal is to get a good base of 4 weeks running in and go from there in deciding my next race. I'm starting all over again with low mileage and working my way up, progression is the only safe and pain free way to go....Let's go to work!

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 5 miles
11/11/12 - 11/17/12

Sun: 5 Miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: Avg. Pace:
- Felt terrible. Deciding to take the rest of the week off to see if my feet start to feel better and to basically start fresh from low mileage and try to increase.

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 30 miles
11/04/12 - 11/10/12

Sun: Off
Time: Avg. Pace:
- Not trying to push too hard too soon. Taking the day off. Takes time to get back to the top!

Mon: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 54.45 Avg. Pace: 7.49
- Ok day nothing special.

Tues: 12 miles (Raisin Woods)
Morning: Time: (5)41.03 Avg. Pace: 8.12
- Felt awful today. Stopped and walked several times.
Evening Time: (7)54.13 Avg. Pace 7.45
-Felt better. A little more loose. Feet are still killing me!

Wed: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 47.51 , Avg. Pace: 7.59
- Slower run. Just couldn't get my turn over rate going. Probably needed a slower day since I've been running harder the last few days.

Thur: Off
Time: Avg. Pace:
- Decided not to run. Feeling tied and fatigued. Legs are sore.

Fri: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 40.47 Avg. Pace: 8.09
- Last thing I wanted to o was get out and run today. Forced myself too. Legs just feel dead. I'm really just kind of burned out. I'm still searching for the love but can't seem to find it. It's hard to find it when I have no certain goals or races planned. I'm forcing myself to think small and take it a little at a time. I just want to be where I was back in the spring/early summer getting 80 plus no problem!!

Sat: Off
Time:   Avg. Pace:
- Went to the state meet. Great to see my two college coaches.