Taking The Focus Off Of Running

I spent early spring into most of the summer in "training mode" I had four Half Marathons on the book from April to October which meant I was logging some serious miles each month. Having those races scheduled gave my running more of a purpose for me, besides the usual therapy session it always is when I am pounding pavement. Having a race date meant I would be that I was ready for each one of those races. I kept up with my long runs and committed to cross training on my off days. By the fall I was even cross training and running both in the same day. Now it is the end of November and there are no more races on the schedule for the remainder of 2015. I am no longer training and it is time to shift my focus.

I have to admit I am conflicted with the fact that there isn't just "one more" Half Marathon before the end of the year. Then there is another part of me that is happy I can fall back into my running without having to complete a certain distance or time. My miles have decreased and as I write down each run and begin adding up my miles for November I hate that they have depleted as they have. The beginning of the month my husband was gone for ten days which cut out miles for me. I did some stroller running but that just isn't the same. I know with the winter weather coming that soon conditions will also limit my miles and how often I get outside. I do live in Vermont so it is inevitable that the snow will eventually fall.

The next couple of months I am going to do my best to take my focus off the miles and put it into strength training. Over the past year I have become stronger, faster and a better runner because of cross training. Just recently I purchased my first sandbag. I will blame this new obsession on my friend Annmarie from Fit Foodie Mama. I have been following this amazing chick and became fascinated with watching her sandbag workouts. Annmarie is a DVRT Master Instructor, fellow runner and foodie. (If you do not follow her I suggest you do! Trust me, she has some good stuff over on her site!) It was only a matter of time before I caved and invested in my own sandbag. That is exactly what happened a couple of weeks back! Guess what?! I love it!

Perfect timing for me to get into DVRT Sandbag workouts! While winter takes it's time to go by I can at least spend some time strength training and getting ready for running in 2016! I can't wait to start putting races on the calendar and running towards new goals. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about running...a lot! For me it is something I can call my own. Running frees me and makes me feel fierce. I know with every mile I am creating a better me. I don't do many things for myself, but I do run!

Exercise does not need to be work. It does not have to be dreadful. To be successful in any exercise routine you need to find something that you enjoy doing. I rarely do a workout a second time if I did not like it. For me I want my workouts to be fun. I want to feel like I did something. I want to sweat! These have been the key things for me in my cross training which make me want to do my workout. I have said it before and I will say it again: Grokker! I love the variety of workouts to choose from. I have been using Grokker for months and find it to be such an asset. There really is a workout for everyone on here. For the Foodie, they even have recipes!

Vermont winters may not be a runners best friend yet maybe this is Mother Nature's way of making me appreciate my runs even more when I do get out there.  I will fill the time in between with cross training and looking at the calendar to start planning for 2016! 

Happy Running And Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!  

 

Discipline And Determination: Running Through Winter

As many of you know by now, I am a runner. I love running. I love how it makes me feel, how it keeps me in shape, how it strengthens my body and my mind. Who needs therapy when you have a good pair of running shoes?! If you know me well then you also know that I hate winter and the cold. Okay, so maybe hate is a strong word. Maybe it's not so much winter as it is the cold itself. This will be the 4th winter in a row I run in the cold temps and snow.

I don't own a treadmill and I don't have a gym membership. I love having my feet hit the pavement and I am not about to stop because of the cold. I have grown accustomed to cold weather running. Two years ago I said I would not run if it got below 20 degrees. Last year I ran when it was -5 degrees. When it came down to it the cold did not stop me. I would conquer it! I have learned how to dress appropriately for the weather. Once you master that, you don't get cold. I do hate layers and I prefer running in less. I have figured it out and can get away with thin but warm gear and am comfortable during my runs.

With the time change it also gets dark much earlier. Two out of four of my runs are in the late afternoon. This week not only did I run in the first snowflakes falling, I also ran in the darkness. Safety is important when it is dark. I wear a reflective vest, head lamp and use Knuckle Lights. (If you don't know what Knuckle Lights are you should check these out! Visibility is great when I use these. I had a man tell me this week that the lights looked pretty when I was running with them.)

It is harder for me to get into my runs when it is dark out. I still enjoy it yet I feel like I put so much energy focusing on staying safe that I don't get to loose myself in my runs as I usually do. I have talked about it before; running for me is spiritual as well as physical. When I am running at night I have to pay close attention to my surroundings. It is a constant focus on completing my run safely.

So here we are. Winter is almost here and now it is cold and dark. I have to discipline myself to get out there. I love running, but the elements of my run I don't always enjoy. I have to push myself. Determination fills me so I can get my ass out there on my running days no matter what the weather is. I have run in sun, rain and snow. I would rather run than regret not running. I don't ever come home wishing I had not gone for that run.

This year was an important running year for me. I hit some personal records, or as I like to think of it, "milestones". I completed two Half Marathons and to date have run 1,032.75 miles this year! I am out of training mode and have scaled back a little. After the new year I will most likely kick it into gear again as my goal is to do three to four Half Marathons next year, beginning with the first in April. It is important to me to set new goals. Even more important for me to reach them.

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” ~ Dean Karnazes