Set Backs and Catch Ups

December:

            The week before Christmas I worked about a 30-hour week, which has never happened before, but I was still able to run for the majority of the week! I loved working that much, and would come home and do my run then relax. It worked very well for me. At the end of the week, the 16^th to be exact, I ran for four songs! Turns out that was a little over a mile! I was so excited and proud of my progress, as you can imagine. Meeting my goal early gave me the strength to want to do more before the new year.

            My family travels to Iowa every Christmas to be with the rest of our family, and thankfully our hotel had an exercise room! I ran the day after we got there, and again on Christmas day. I tried out a bike and elliptical, and they weren’t all that bad. Each machine had its own little TV so that was fun ; )

            We got back the day after Christmas, and I was back to working and running like I had been. Before I started class again on January 5^th I was able to add another song onto my routine. I was still holding strong to my “slow and steady” progress, and it felt good!

January:

            When classes started I began to work out with a close friend of mine, Kelley! She had just come back from a semester abroad in Ecuador, and had signed up to run the mini when I did. We started to go to the recreational facility on campus together when we were both free. It was a great motivator to be able to go with her since I had been by myself until then. I would highly suggest running with a buddy to anyone!

            On January 12^th I ran two miles! Talk about pumped! I had run 1.5 my previous workout, and felt really good while I was running that day so I went for it. Why not! Yet again, I had impressed myself like I never have before. I hit two miles again after a rest day, and was looking forward to when three miles would be my new distance.

            Two days after that last two-mile run my left calve was really giving me problems. I had not run since then, and the pain was not getting any better. I went into the place where I bought my running shoes to ask for some advice and insight. The woman I talked with thought it sounded and felt like a slight tear or a bad strain in my muscle, and her solution was to not run for a week. She reminded me that she wasn’t a doctor, but in her experience that is what she thought would help.

            So I took it easy, not happily I might add, for a week only using the elliptical. A physical therapy student friend of mine suggested a couple things to help, and they seemed to be working (thanks again Katie!). On the day marking the end of my resting week I decided to give running a try, or at least walk for a while. The second I started to run my calve froze up, and I had to stop. Frustrated is hardly a strong enough word to describe how I felt. Along with the feeling of helplessness, it was not a good day.

February:           

            My leg continued to give me problems into February, and I was not working out at all. I would see people running outside while I would be driving, and be filled with such jealousy. I promised myself that when I was able to run again that I would not complain about being tired, or make excuses not to run. I had taken such advantage of my circumstances, and not being able to run gave me a great perspective on my goal of running the mini.

            Finally after not exercising for four weeks straight, I felt good enough to give it a shot Saturday February 18^th. I was at home, and wanted to run my street, which is just a big mile-long circle. I walked for a little bit then kicked it up to a run. I started to walk again a couple of minutes later, because I wanted to feel how my leg was doing and the cold air was not being kind to my lungs. After I determined everything was fine I started to run again until I was almost back to my house. After walking the rest of the way and fully cooling down, I laid on my kitchen floor trying to see how I felt. Other than coughing because of the chilly air I didn’t feel any pain! Halleluiah! After all that time, just running that little bit did wonders on my spirit.

            Today, February 19^th, I did two laps on the elliptical then ran for half of a mile and walked for a while as a part of my warm up and cool down. I’m not too stiff either! Even though this means basically starting over, I am so thankful that things are looking up. I feel more focused and motivated than I was before, and am all the more determined to run the mini in April.

So look out y’all, this redhead is back!

Song After Song

         Friday, December 9^th: The treadmill works! Halleluiah! I was afraid I was going to start sneezing while running because of the dust, but all went well. I felt lost because the screen doesn’t work, and the speed is a dial without numbers. I was so glad I had started operating on songs! I did the same as Thursday, running for two songs and doing a good warm up and cool down. It was definitely different doing all this in my basement, but my legs don’t care if I’m here or at my apartment- they’re still going to work!

            Saturday, December 10^th: Today’s goal was to increase my distance again, but since I don’t have a screen to track mileage I decided to stick with songs. So my equivalent was adding another song onto the two I already used. Each song is over three minutes, and their total time added together is 12:21 minutes. I figure if two songs was 0.66 miles, three would be around 0.9 miles- totally a guess though. So I ran for those three songs! It was a little rough, but I’ll get used to it.

            Sunday, December 11^th: I wanted to walk and run outside today. I thought it was about time for me to try working out outside. I knew it was going to be harder, but I also knew I needed to do it- I won’t be running the mini on the treadmill in April! So the plan was to walk my street, which is one big circle, and then run it. After walking it I tried to run for a bit and it was just too cold for me. My joints hurt when I ran, and it wasn’t worth the pain I knew I would have tomorrow. So I power-walked into my house and downstairs to the treadmill. I checked the time, and thought I only had forty-five minutes until I had to be at work. I still had to shower and eat before leaving, and it takes twenty minutes to get there! So I only ran for one song and booked it upstairs. Turns out my ipod’s time is an hour off and I really had an hour and forty-five minutes! I chalked it up to a rest day, and didn’t do back down to finish my workout.

            Monday, December 12^th: I made sure I ran for a full workout today! I did the three songs again, and it felt good! I worked for about seven hours last night and did a lot of squatting and lifting, so I was feeling pretty sore this morning. I’m hoping I won’t pay for running later on, but like I said I feel pretty good right now so I’m not too concerned. I work a lot this week, and am a little worried that I will be tired and not want to exercise. We’ll just have to wait and see! I have been pretty good at keeping up with working out every day, so I’m hoping I will continue to motivate myself. I had set a goal to run a mile by the end of December, and I think I’m close! When I can run for four songs, I will equate that with roughly a mile.