You heard it here first folks! I've been staying off of my foot (not running on it) for a while, and it no longer hurts! Today will be my first long run on it, so we'll see how it goes.
In other fitness news, Mike and I started insanity this week. It is insane, but not impossible. It's probably a good thing that I'm doing it with him. It is an every day thing. It's good to have a work out partner with programs like this one. We'll see how long I last once I start running more again. Insanity is cardio, so I'm either going to be super buff with super endurance, or super tired....or both!
Finals are coming up and start next week. We've only got about two weeks left of school, and I cannot wait to be done with this semester. After this, I will never have school in the summer again! WOOOOOOO!
Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.
xoxo
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
July 21, 2012
July 16, 2012
Foot problems
You all know I run, like..... a lot. Luckily, in my long running career, I've never really gotten injured. I mean, I've had knee pains every now and again, but they don't keep me off the roads. I've fallen, eh hem..reminder, but it doesn't stop me from going out every day. I've never had anything occur that actually keeps me from running when I want to be running. I think today might change that...
I went on a pretty standard run for me today, and nothing outstanding happened (besides the scorching heat radiating through my soul). I get home, relax, and watch an episode of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" (...yes, I know I have terrible taste in television, Mike reminds me everyday). I get up to get lunch, and BAM! Something is hurting on my right foot. The ball of my right foot to be exact. I limp to the kitchen, and the tile makes it hurt worse. I grab a granola bar because no way am I standing at the stove to make a batch of pasta when my foot hurts like this. I go back to sit down.
I've been trying to figure out what this is since. The news is not promising. It sounds like I'm going to have to take some time off from running to get this to heal up. Super sad news for me, but lets just hope I can stay out of the hospital.
Lets not forget my knees are still sore from falling three weeks ago, and now my foot hurts. Is this what it feels like to get old? I sure hope not.
We'll see how it feels tomorrow. Until then, I'll be sitting right here, either studying, reading, or sleeping.
xoxo
I went on a pretty standard run for me today, and nothing outstanding happened (besides the scorching heat radiating through my soul). I get home, relax, and watch an episode of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" (...yes, I know I have terrible taste in television, Mike reminds me everyday). I get up to get lunch, and BAM! Something is hurting on my right foot. The ball of my right foot to be exact. I limp to the kitchen, and the tile makes it hurt worse. I grab a granola bar because no way am I standing at the stove to make a batch of pasta when my foot hurts like this. I go back to sit down.
I've been trying to figure out what this is since. The news is not promising. It sounds like I'm going to have to take some time off from running to get this to heal up. Super sad news for me, but lets just hope I can stay out of the hospital.
Lets not forget my knees are still sore from falling three weeks ago, and now my foot hurts. Is this what it feels like to get old? I sure hope not.
We'll see how it feels tomorrow. Until then, I'll be sitting right here, either studying, reading, or sleeping.
xoxo
July 15, 2012
July mid-month wrap-up
July has been a great month so far, well....minus having summer school. However, I did get some students to switch clinic shifts with me during the 4th of July week so that I could make it to Ohio to spend some much needed vacay time with my boy and his family. We went to a amusement park, rode go carts, climbed rock walls, went in bumper cars, played laser tag, and much more! It was a ton of fun, and I never thought I would like all of those things so much!
His family also has three birthdays that they celebrate around the 4th, and now our anniversary. They got us a cute little cake with our wedding colors on it! It was sooooo good. I'm still craving it.
Mike also took me on a mini-second honeymoon to Bar Harbor...............
Road. Haha! He found a Bar Harbor Road near us, and took me there to celebrate our "second honeymoon". That boy is so sweet I can hardly stand it.
In prep for the Color Run, we needed to get Mike out and running during our little vacay. The easiest 3 miles in my life turned into the most painful because I tripped over something and scraped up my knees pretty bad. They were bandaged for a while due to bleeding, but now they have bruised over. It's almost three weeks later and they are still sore. Just my luck!
Ever since that little vacation we've been back here at home relaxing. I've been studying late for exams (hence the gigantic coffee that I was drinking at 9pm), we went to a Coldplay concert (my dream come true, it was AMAZING!!!!!!), and I got a haircut! First one in a very long time.
Hope all is well with you!
xoxo
His family also has three birthdays that they celebrate around the 4th, and now our anniversary. They got us a cute little cake with our wedding colors on it! It was sooooo good. I'm still craving it.
Mike also took me on a mini-second honeymoon to Bar Harbor...............
Road. Haha! He found a Bar Harbor Road near us, and took me there to celebrate our "second honeymoon". That boy is so sweet I can hardly stand it.
In prep for the Color Run, we needed to get Mike out and running during our little vacay. The easiest 3 miles in my life turned into the most painful because I tripped over something and scraped up my knees pretty bad. They were bandaged for a while due to bleeding, but now they have bruised over. It's almost three weeks later and they are still sore. Just my luck!
Ever since that little vacation we've been back here at home relaxing. I've been studying late for exams (hence the gigantic coffee that I was drinking at 9pm), we went to a Coldplay concert (my dream come true, it was AMAZING!!!!!!), and I got a haircut! First one in a very long time.
xoxo
Color Runniversary
July 8th, 2012. One year wedding anniversary. Color Run.
YAY! We made it one year! I'm so happy to be married to this guy, it's insane. To celebrate our insanity, we decided to do a 5k, but not just any 5k. The COLOR RUN. Every kilometer you get slammed with color powder to create a very colorful body/runner.
We started off all white, and ended up rainbows! It was so much fun. AND, it was Mike's first 5k ever! He finished like a pro too.
The color was some cornstarchy substance that murdered your lungs as you were running through it, but it was worth it. It was centered around the Art Museum *cue very confused tourists*, and afterwards there was a huge party with music and color. Everyone threw color at the same time and it turned into a huge color cloud. It was an awesome experience. And it was especially awesome because Mike and I did it together!
I was really excited for Mike because it was the world's largest color run ever, and the third largest 5k ever. I think that's a pretty cool way to start your running career.
I hope there is always a color run around us on our anniversary because this would be an amazing and fun tradition to do every year!
Here's some pictures and a video of the "color cloud" experience!
xoxo
YAY! We made it one year! I'm so happy to be married to this guy, it's insane. To celebrate our insanity, we decided to do a 5k, but not just any 5k. The COLOR RUN. Every kilometer you get slammed with color powder to create a very colorful body/runner.
We started off all white, and ended up rainbows! It was so much fun. AND, it was Mike's first 5k ever! He finished like a pro too.
The color was some cornstarchy substance that murdered your lungs as you were running through it, but it was worth it. It was centered around the Art Museum *cue very confused tourists*, and afterwards there was a huge party with music and color. Everyone threw color at the same time and it turned into a huge color cloud. It was an awesome experience. And it was especially awesome because Mike and I did it together!
I was really excited for Mike because it was the world's largest color run ever, and the third largest 5k ever. I think that's a pretty cool way to start your running career.
I hope there is always a color run around us on our anniversary because this would be an amazing and fun tradition to do every year!
Here's some pictures and a video of the "color cloud" experience!
xoxo
June
June, oh June.
It was probably the hottest month I've ever experienced here on the east coast. It consisted of me running a lot, mixed with sweating even more, mixed with rehydrating less than necessary. I was basically dehydrated the entire month. Hah, it's funny now, but it wasn't then. I woke up thirsty, spent the day thirsty, and went to sleep thirsty. No matter how much water I drank, I could just never catch up! I lost 3-4 lbs each run on average, and that's just because even if I woke up at the crack of dawn to run, it was still 92 degrees with 100% humidity. I learned to go on a run, and immediately jump into the pool when I got home. That was fun. Cooled me off quick, and sometimes I would even get some swimming in for extra exercise.
It's still hot, but I'm learning to drink eight glasses of water a day. Dehydration headaches are not fun!
One good thing about all of the running is that the runs have gotten longer and smoother. My speed is increasing tremendously, and it's just because of the mileage I'm getting in each week. So far it's between 30-40 miles per week. The scenery around here is pretty breathtaking as well. I've taken a couple pictures of my running path that I've included in the wrap-up collage.
Chia, remember that? Well, I've been eating it and/or drinking it consistently since I started using it. I really notice a difference in my energy level, and it is suuuuppppeerrr good in my oatmeal.
Between studying and studying I realized I needed some kind of artistic outlet, so I decided my nails would be it. I did an ombre glitter polish. Turned out pretty fancy, but was a super pain to remove. Anything for beauty, am I right? *cue cheesy smile now*
Summer
school is rough. It's even rougher because it's mandatory and you have
to actively participate. I've been stabbed in the eye, poked with a
metal thing, and had a needle stuck into my tear duct while releasing
saline through my nose into my mouth. It tasted wonderful....not.
I'm pretty much over summer school right now, but I'm still truckin'
along. The only good thing about going to school in the summer is 1.)
the drive (yes I know I shouldn't be taking pictures while driving), and
2.) seeing the little baby ducklings in our pond! I love them soooo
much.
A new fro-yo place opened up nearby. Anyone who knows me knows that when I moved out here, I fell in love with frozen yogurt. The fact is, I love fro-yo, but I hate the pricing. You think $0.25 per oz is cheap, until you end up spending $11.00 on a bowl once you weigh it. Whoops...haven't been back since. It's probably a good thing.
I got Mike tickets for the Childish Gambino concert, and of course it basically tornadoed on our walk to the outdoor concert. We were huddled under a flimsy umbrella for about 10 minutes in hurricane force winds, rain, and lightning. It was just like in the movies, except way less glamorous. I bet you can't guess what we did when we found out the concert was cancelled!!! Obviously got fro-yo. *it wasn't from the same $11 place*
I tend to really get some great pictures of the surrounding area on my phone while I run.
The baby geese are one of the most amazing things I've seen on my runs. I've been running past them for months now, and they are not babies anymore! It was so cool to see them grow, and they are now ready to fly away.
I also live by a castle, so one day the clouds were aligned, and I got this perfect shot.
Oh, and obligatory Tip Tip when I get home. See! It's so hot even she has to cool off on the tile!
May 25, 2012
Travels
Summer is finally here, well not really, but at least it feels like it. High 80's and full humidity make for some very stuffy days. I've been running like mad around here lately. Trying to keep to running at least five miles per day. So far, so good. When I was back home, I got a ton of running in. I love being able to walk out my door and go on for miles. It's a comforting feeling. Running in the warm air, and my body warming from the inside out is just a great feeling. Now, when the temps hit 90...that's a different story. I actually have a couple stories about running in terrifying heat. One that comes to mind is when it was 90 degrees out, and 100% humidity, and I was hoping to run ten miles, give or take depending on how I felt. I was convinced I was going to pass out, but I kept talking to myself, literally speaking to myself, saying "You aren't going to die if you keep running, if you stop, you will die." Guess my mind games worked, because I ran the entire ten!
I've started back up at school again for the summer. That week-long break sure rejuvenated me....yeah...right. I remember when I had the entire summer off....oh boy do I miss that! The one good thing about this summer, is that I have a pool! It opens Monday, and you bet your bottom I'll be there! I've always been a little fish during the summer, so I can't wait to spend the entire summer running, swimming, and studying....wait that last one doesn't fit. I'm looking forward to running an insane number of miles with my swimming suit underneath my shorts and t-shirt, and crashing into the pool when I get home. Cannot wait.
I've recently read Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, and boy if that doesn't motivate someone to run, nothing will! I also started eating chia seeds, the supposed miracle supplement/food to ultra-marathon runners, and now me! Mike and I first got them at night, and eating them was a mistake! I was up until 2am. They are a super food that packs a serious energy punch. Great for running, and great for tired students that don't want to see 3-year-old patients at 8am, i.e. Me. Here's my chia seed recipe that I've been using to consume them.
Just let the seeds soak in the water juice, and stir every five minutes for about 15 minutes. Then you can let the juice sit in the fridge for up to a couple days. The chia seeds get a gel exterior so drinking them is super easy, and the texture is fun. If anyone ever drank Orbitz, it's kind of like that. Worth trying, plus they have a super amount of antioxidants and omega-3's in them. Side note: Consult your physician if you are taking blood pressure meds before trying them.
And before I bid you all adieu, here's my weekly wrap up of what I've been doing besides running, relaxing, and getting back into the swing of school. *Warning: tons of photos ahead!*
R-L, top-bottom:
Obligatory cat picture
My Broad Street Run 10 miler medal, nicest one yet!
The most colorful set of packed luggage I've ever had, spring is here!
Beaut-i-ful clouds on the flight home
Family farm love
Pearl Ice Cream, best vanilla bean ever
Granddad's Bluff tourist shot
Beautiful valley, i.e. My home.
R-L, top-bottom:
Good ole Wisconsin cheese curds
Goose Island at dusk
Chia Fresca
My favorite running road
Grandma's teacup
Sunset in Wisconsin
I've started back up at school again for the summer. That week-long break sure rejuvenated me....yeah...right. I remember when I had the entire summer off....oh boy do I miss that! The one good thing about this summer, is that I have a pool! It opens Monday, and you bet your bottom I'll be there! I've always been a little fish during the summer, so I can't wait to spend the entire summer running, swimming, and studying....wait that last one doesn't fit. I'm looking forward to running an insane number of miles with my swimming suit underneath my shorts and t-shirt, and crashing into the pool when I get home. Cannot wait.
I've recently read Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, and boy if that doesn't motivate someone to run, nothing will! I also started eating chia seeds, the supposed miracle supplement/food to ultra-marathon runners, and now me! Mike and I first got them at night, and eating them was a mistake! I was up until 2am. They are a super food that packs a serious energy punch. Great for running, and great for tired students that don't want to see 3-year-old patients at 8am, i.e. Me. Here's my chia seed recipe that I've been using to consume them.
Rach's Chia Fresca
1-1.5 cups of lime juice (I use "Simply Lime")
1 cup of water (to dilute the juice a tad)
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
Just let the seeds soak in the water juice, and stir every five minutes for about 15 minutes. Then you can let the juice sit in the fridge for up to a couple days. The chia seeds get a gel exterior so drinking them is super easy, and the texture is fun. If anyone ever drank Orbitz, it's kind of like that. Worth trying, plus they have a super amount of antioxidants and omega-3's in them. Side note: Consult your physician if you are taking blood pressure meds before trying them.
And before I bid you all adieu, here's my weekly wrap up of what I've been doing besides running, relaxing, and getting back into the swing of school. *Warning: tons of photos ahead!*
 |
Obligatory cat picture
My Broad Street Run 10 miler medal, nicest one yet!
The most colorful set of packed luggage I've ever had, spring is here!
Beaut-i-ful clouds on the flight home
Family farm love
Pearl Ice Cream, best vanilla bean ever
Granddad's Bluff tourist shot
Beautiful valley, i.e. My home.
Good ole Wisconsin cheese curds
Goose Island at dusk
Chia Fresca
My favorite running road
Grandma's teacup
Sunset in Wisconsin
-I hope you all get to travel a lot this summer, even if it means running the furthest you've ever run in a place you've rarely been to! That's still traveling to me!
-xoxo
May 3, 2011
Catch up
That's right! Two more weeks of school, well mostly finals, until I'm done with my first year of optometry school. I have two finals this week, and three next. It went incredibly fast, and I can't wait to be back home.
Since I've gotten my new phone, I realized I've taken way too many pictures. Some are great, others are....well, not so great, but I figured since I've taken so many, I could at least post some so you guys can see what I've been up to lately. {Hint: mostly studying, but procrastination can produce some wonderful photo sessions}
Our friends from Wisconsin came during their spring break in March. We took them all over the city. Here's just a picture of the Liberty Bell because it's stereotypical Philadelphia. I also found out Pennsylvania is spelled wrong on the bell. "Pensylvania." The story is that they hadn't decided on the official spelling of the state when they were making the bell, so the maker's (Pass and Stow) decided to pick one. They chose wrong. It's like the blu-ray HD-DVD debate of the 1700's.
We also did the famous "Geno's vs. Pat's" cheese steak contest. It wasn't really a contest because the winner didn't win anything...but I think the winner was Jim's (who ironically wasn't even part of the contest). We ate at Jim's the day before. I still prefer Jim's over Pat's or Geno's.
In early March two friends from school and I went to the Vision Expo in NYC. Here's just a picture of part of the amazing Marchon exhibit. The trip was topped off by my friends winning an iPad and iPod. I didn't win anything. I got a hot dog in consolation.
The boy and I have slowly been trying to get the cats closer to each other. Here's just one of our ideas to make them best friends forever.
*Also, we know Lily has an eating problem...she got through her entire bowl by the time Tip had barely started hers.*
Here's our most recent attempt. You can tell they really love each other.
Tipsy also has a new thing that she does. She sleeps, and then randomly out of nowhere she meows super loud and wakes herself up. She's probably dreaming, but the boy and I think she has a slight form of Asperger Syndrome. If you spent any time around her, you'd think so too.
Remember when I went snowboarding in the Pokono's mountains? Well when the boy and I drove to Ohio for Easter with his family, we drove through the Pokono's Mountain range. Breathtaking, wouldn't you say...?
Just for the record, I'm now calling the bluffs at home, mountains. Yes folks, I live next to mountains. I've already referred to Grandads bluff as Grandads mountain. It went over well.
I've also gotten better at cooking, and I know it might not seem like much, but I'm pretty darn proud of those grill marks on my grilled turkey and cheese. I didn't even use a George Foreman....Yeah. Skill.
Storm that scared me during our trip home from Ohio. Yeah..I'm 24 and still afraid of tornadoes.
This is the trail I run now. It's pretty gorgeous, and it reminds me of home. It's normally a great running trail, however, this morning there were two people that were...eh hem...having relations in the middle of the trail. Seriously. It was probably the fastest I've ever done a 180 in my life.
Since I've gotten my new phone, I realized I've taken way too many pictures. Some are great, others are....well, not so great, but I figured since I've taken so many, I could at least post some so you guys can see what I've been up to lately. {Hint: mostly studying, but procrastination can produce some wonderful photo sessions}
Our friends from Wisconsin came during their spring break in March. We took them all over the city. Here's just a picture of the Liberty Bell because it's stereotypical Philadelphia. I also found out Pennsylvania is spelled wrong on the bell. "Pensylvania." The story is that they hadn't decided on the official spelling of the state when they were making the bell, so the maker's (Pass and Stow) decided to pick one. They chose wrong. It's like the blu-ray HD-DVD debate of the 1700's.
We also did the famous "Geno's vs. Pat's" cheese steak contest. It wasn't really a contest because the winner didn't win anything...but I think the winner was Jim's (who ironically wasn't even part of the contest). We ate at Jim's the day before. I still prefer Jim's over Pat's or Geno's.
In early March two friends from school and I went to the Vision Expo in NYC. Here's just a picture of part of the amazing Marchon exhibit. The trip was topped off by my friends winning an iPad and iPod. I didn't win anything. I got a hot dog in consolation.The boy and I have slowly been trying to get the cats closer to each other. Here's just one of our ideas to make them best friends forever.
*Also, we know Lily has an eating problem...she got through her entire bowl by the time Tip had barely started hers.*
Here's our most recent attempt. You can tell they really love each other.
Tipsy also has a new thing that she does. She sleeps, and then randomly out of nowhere she meows super loud and wakes herself up. She's probably dreaming, but the boy and I think she has a slight form of Asperger Syndrome. If you spent any time around her, you'd think so too.
Remember when I went snowboarding in the Pokono's mountains? Well when the boy and I drove to Ohio for Easter with his family, we drove through the Pokono's Mountain range. Breathtaking, wouldn't you say...?
Just for the record, I'm now calling the bluffs at home, mountains. Yes folks, I live next to mountains. I've already referred to Grandads bluff as Grandads mountain. It went over well.
I've also gotten better at cooking, and I know it might not seem like much, but I'm pretty darn proud of those grill marks on my grilled turkey and cheese. I didn't even use a George Foreman....Yeah. Skill.
This is the trail I run now. It's pretty gorgeous, and it reminds me of home. It's normally a great running trail, however, this morning there were two people that were...eh hem...having relations in the middle of the trail. Seriously. It was probably the fastest I've ever done a 180 in my life.
February 13, 2011
Runstoppable
I love running. I love it so much, that you get to read about two things running related today (Bonus!). Today confirmed exactly why I love it so much.
Today I ran Kelly Drive. (It's technically Fairmount Park, I think.) I'm a part of my schools running club, and this was the long run location planned for the week. It was the most amazing running experience I've had in Philly so far. There were so many people out, and it was so motivating. I was hoping to run three miles, and I ended up running five. If I could have actually found the mile markers, I would have probably turned around earlier, but I'm glad I didn't. The melting snow, mixed with the salt made it incredibly hard to see the little, barely there, white quarter mile markers.
My favorite part about running outside is the scenery (and the feeling). In Wisconsin, there is no limit to what you can and will see. The routes I ran at home were amazing, and absolutely breathtaking. Exhibit A.
I wasn't expecting the same from Philadelphia. Especially Center City Philly. Skyscrapers, smog, etc.
I was totally wrong. I mean totally. I unfortunately didn't have my camera on me during this run (mental note: next time). Exhibit B: Kelly Drive in the summer. (The 8 mile loop has trails on both sides of this river. I ran five miles of it.)
Look at that view! I knew from the beginning that this would be a pretty amazing run because we started near the Rocky steps (a.k.a. Philadelphia Museum of Art). I had no idea on the way back I'd be staring straight at the Philly skyline the entire way. Not to mention that the river I was running next to is infamous for their crew teams (Boathouse Row), so there were a lot of teams practicing on the river this morning.
I'm starting to fall in love with this city more and more every day. I did a pretty amazing job of picking an optometry school location, must say.
Oh, and did I mention that the number one reason I fell in love with running happened again this morning? I didn't? Oh dear...let me explain. Breathing. Yes, breathing. It's such a simple thing, and we all take it for granted. But it is also the most wonderful thing when you are actually aware of it. When I start running distance (I don't mean two miles, I mean 5-25) I get in the zone. I'm sure you've all heard people say that, but "the zone" is different for everyone in everything. To me, my zone is when I am no longer breathing heavy. When I've become completely aware of how relaxed I am while running. Running multiple miles. The feeling you get when it happens is indescribable. It doesn't happen to everyone, and I'm positive the only reason I can actually be relaxed and breathe slowly while running is because I've trained myself for very long distance, and you can't huff and puff for miles and miles. If you can do it, it's unbelievable.
Speaking of running. Thanks to the boy, my interest in barefoot running has been peaked. I've decided I wanted to try it, so I ran in my socks only for three miles this week. It felt amazing. I can't believe what I've been missing. There is absolutely no need for shoes, at all. The next day, however, I realized that I can't just jump into it.
I was working some muscle in my calf that I'm convinced has never received nerve impulses before because my calves were so sore. Standing, just standing felt like I was stretching my calf way past it's comfort zone. I decided I should probably get some real help on the subject, and went to the local running store. I knew my overall long-term goal was to get Vibram's FiveFingers (basically a glove, but for your foot so when you run barefoot you don't step on glass and slash your foot up), but I needed to ease into it first.
Going from cushy, comfy shoes to nothing, wouldn't have been a smart idea, and that was illustrated by my calves hatred of me the day after I tried it. I did some research before I went in, however, and I decided I should go for the next best thing. Running shoes with absolutely no support. I've decided on the Nike free run. I'm going to purchase them tomorrow.
Because of today's success stories, I decided to sign up for the Five Mile Frostbite Run which is next Saturday.
Happy {almost} Valentine's Day!
Today I ran Kelly Drive. (It's technically Fairmount Park, I think.) I'm a part of my schools running club, and this was the long run location planned for the week. It was the most amazing running experience I've had in Philly so far. There were so many people out, and it was so motivating. I was hoping to run three miles, and I ended up running five. If I could have actually found the mile markers, I would have probably turned around earlier, but I'm glad I didn't. The melting snow, mixed with the salt made it incredibly hard to see the little, barely there, white quarter mile markers.
My favorite part about running outside is the scenery (and the feeling). In Wisconsin, there is no limit to what you can and will see. The routes I ran at home were amazing, and absolutely breathtaking. Exhibit A.
I wasn't expecting the same from Philadelphia. Especially Center City Philly. Skyscrapers, smog, etc.I was totally wrong. I mean totally. I unfortunately didn't have my camera on me during this run (mental note: next time). Exhibit B: Kelly Drive in the summer. (The 8 mile loop has trails on both sides of this river. I ran five miles of it.)
Look at that view! I knew from the beginning that this would be a pretty amazing run because we started near the Rocky steps (a.k.a. Philadelphia Museum of Art). I had no idea on the way back I'd be staring straight at the Philly skyline the entire way. Not to mention that the river I was running next to is infamous for their crew teams (Boathouse Row), so there were a lot of teams practicing on the river this morning.I'm starting to fall in love with this city more and more every day. I did a pretty amazing job of picking an optometry school location, must say.
Oh, and did I mention that the number one reason I fell in love with running happened again this morning? I didn't? Oh dear...let me explain. Breathing. Yes, breathing. It's such a simple thing, and we all take it for granted. But it is also the most wonderful thing when you are actually aware of it. When I start running distance (I don't mean two miles, I mean 5-25) I get in the zone. I'm sure you've all heard people say that, but "the zone" is different for everyone in everything. To me, my zone is when I am no longer breathing heavy. When I've become completely aware of how relaxed I am while running. Running multiple miles. The feeling you get when it happens is indescribable. It doesn't happen to everyone, and I'm positive the only reason I can actually be relaxed and breathe slowly while running is because I've trained myself for very long distance, and you can't huff and puff for miles and miles. If you can do it, it's unbelievable.
Speaking of running. Thanks to the boy, my interest in barefoot running has been peaked. I've decided I wanted to try it, so I ran in my socks only for three miles this week. It felt amazing. I can't believe what I've been missing. There is absolutely no need for shoes, at all. The next day, however, I realized that I can't just jump into it.
I was working some muscle in my calf that I'm convinced has never received nerve impulses before because my calves were so sore. Standing, just standing felt like I was stretching my calf way past it's comfort zone. I decided I should probably get some real help on the subject, and went to the local running store. I knew my overall long-term goal was to get Vibram's FiveFingers (basically a glove, but for your foot so when you run barefoot you don't step on glass and slash your foot up), but I needed to ease into it first.
Going from cushy, comfy shoes to nothing, wouldn't have been a smart idea, and that was illustrated by my calves hatred of me the day after I tried it. I did some research before I went in, however, and I decided I should go for the next best thing. Running shoes with absolutely no support. I've decided on the Nike free run. I'm going to purchase them tomorrow.
Because of today's success stories, I decided to sign up for the Five Mile Frostbite Run which is next Saturday.
Happy {almost} Valentine's Day!
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