slowwwww mile

I really really didn't want to run today and tried to think up every single excuse not to go outside but in the end, I dragged my butt to the road.

Most of the reason I ended up going was that I went to my favorite clothing store this afternoon for a little shopping. I rarely buy new clothes but I almost always find something there that I like. There's nothing like trying on clothes that would have fit you 4 months ago and realizing you're like a sausage in its casing.

Tragedy.

Wanted: Motivation to Make it Through the Winter

Needless to say, I haven't been very motivated these last few weeks. I can rattle off excuses about how much I've been working (16 hours straight on Christmas, YAY!) or my health (2, count 'em, 2 kidney stones say that my body got confused by meat and wants to go veg again) but in the end, they're all justifications for slacking off.

It's not really all that hard to stop by the gym on the way home from work. Yes I hate the gym. Yes I hate treadmills. Yes I would much rather be smoking half a pack over a giant beer and a shepherd's pie the size of my head. But it is far easier to give up than to keep pushing myself that next mile or seeing how much I can improve my 5k time, and I'll never be accused of taking the easy way out.

I Hate Treadmills

And winter. It's official. It started snowing too much to run outside (also, they don't salt, plow, or even shovel our street) and so I've consigned myself to the treadmill. I absolutely hate it. Needless to say there's not a lot to say about running in place, in front of a television, surrounded by 20 year old meatheads dropping 50lb handweights and grunting.

Someone who lives in a beautifully warm and balmy place please tell me how you're logging miles in the sweet sunshine. I will live on through you.

3.02

You know there's always that mile that you think you'll never finish. My first mile was fine, my third a breeze, but the second mile...I was about to let my dog drag my body back home. But I made it.

I'm off to Vegas for the day tomorrow. Wish me luck! I'm taking 50 bucks and hopefully turning it into 100!

p.s. this is the longest run I've had in ages. I feel pretty damn awesome.

1.05

I was absolutely exhausted yesterday and didn't end up going for my short run. Maybe running the day that you give blood wasn't such a tremendous idea. I was laid out today as well but I really couldn't go two days without any activity. I have a good habit going and it would be a shame to let it lapse. I just went for a short walk with a few minutes of light trotting stuck in there. It's getting really cold, though, and my warm little couch is so very inviting. I dread the day when I'll actually have to run on the treadmill because the ice is too thick on the roads. 

I think I'm going to go to Las Vegas for a few days starting Monday. I've never been there and it's getting chilly enough that I could use some warm weather. I have to run while I'm there though. I still feel pretty guilty about not running in England. Especially since I gave up a ton of room in my bag for my shoes! I have the opportunity to totally redeem myself this week and, although the idea of partying in Vegas does sound amazing, I should probably fit in a quick run or two between mojitos. 

2.06

EXHAUSTION.

that is all.

1.08

I hurried up and did my run because I was rather tired and wanted to go to sleep ASAP. My shins are still okay but my run was a bit slower than usual. I think maybe because I was just not that into it. Also, my dog was being kind of bad, she got her nails clipped and even though I gave her lots of praise during and an apple afterward, she was sort of wary of me for the rest of the night. Maybe I was just tired and we were both sort of cranky.

I did make my goal, however, of running 16 times in 4 weeks. I'm going to up that to 20 and see how I go.

1.63

While I was shuffling along home tonight after my interval run, I wondered why my feet and legs were so sore and heavy. I wasn't in serious pain, but I felt sluggish on my cooldown walk. I wondered if I shouldn't have just walked yesterday when I was supposed to instead of running intervals. When I got to my door and ended my run on Nike+, not only had I just finished my second longest run but I also ran my fastest mile yet. It brings my horribly embarrassing mile time from 15'07" to 14'50". I am officially under 15 minutes! There are actually people in the world who are slower than me now! Mediocrity, I'm comin' for ya!

Also, my left shin hurts a little. I'm glad tomorrow is my rest day.

1.27

Well, I didn't die. That's just about the best thing I can say for tonight. I was tired, I put it off for as long as possible, and it was so cold I think I froze my lungs. But I did it. I REALLY didn't want to run tonight. I also REALLY didn't think I'd be able to do 3 minutes again. 

I'm trying really hard not to think about how painfully slow I am. I know, logically, that I will get faster. In fact, I ran my fastest mile tonight. I try to just think of one or two days ahead and I know that eventually, I will run 5 or 6 miles and not even think twice about it. But today it seems hard. Not impossible, just really hard. 

I think I need to lay off the cheeseburgers and fries.