In case you missed it, in a highly ironic moment, my calves gave me issues on Sunday after I'd
posted how I cured my calf pain just two days earlier. We cut our run short; with the end game in mind - being able to run
A1A comfortably and enjoy it - I'm being cautious. When we made up our long run Monday, my legs felt 100% fine! We managed ~8.5 miles that evening.
I'm beginning to think it's my shoes, but my dad suggested I need to start working out my legs again. I
have been neglecting lower-body workouts since volleyball started in November, and that's around when my leg pain started. I thought it was from all the extra time on my feet, but maybe it was my lack of cross-training!
Fingers crossed, because if I have to go on a new shoe search
again I might lose my mind. I need to be really smart about the last three weeks of training here, but I'd really love it if my calves would just get. it. together.
Skirt Sports announced their 2017 Ambassadors, and I was selected to be an Ambassador Captain for another year! I'm so excited! I was really nervous about my application because I always end up thinking of a million perfect, eloquent responses after I hit "submit." Stay tuned for more inspiring women and Skirt Sport deals in your future.
A little while ago, I was contacted about reading and reviewing Matt Fitzgerald's new book
The Endurance Diet. It came in the mail today! The book explores five "core habits" athletes should adopt to perform their best. I can't wait to dive in. I'll give you all a full review when I'm done.
Another promotional offer I received recently was from
Run Around USA. Their website takes you on a virtual journey around the US (or Australia or Europe, depending on which map you choose for the year). As you hit milestone cities, they send you souvenirs.
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| My journey so far. The US map starts in Pittsburgh for some reason! |
I'm pretty curious to see how far I can "travel" in a year, and I'll admit I'm a sucker for a free singlet and medal! I'll keep you guys updated as I go and give you my impressions of the program.
For some reason this month has felt incredibly busy and hectic. I expected things to calm down after the holidays. Hopefully I get into some kind of rhythm soon because at the moment I feel just as pressed for time and stressed as I did before break.
Have you read any of Matt Fitzgerald's books?
Do you like to track your mileage on a virtual map of any kind?
Has January felt crazy-busy to you, too?
ABK
The first two weeks of January felt like a blur to me, but the last few days have dragged on. I think it's because I'm just filled with so much anxiety all the time now.
ReplyDeleteDo you do calf raises after each run? I started doing them with my post-run routine. I think salt reduction is what really helped me, but I think the calf raises are probably helpful too. I've never really done them on a consistent basis before!
I agree. I hadn't even realized that my anxiety and constant fear has gotten worse and...deeper? So now I just am totally internalizing it and it made me whole week feel messed up even though really it was okay.
DeleteI don't do calf raises after each run, but I'd started doing downward dog daily again, and calf raises a couple times a week.
I really like Matt's book "Run: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel" - I feel it's the one book I turn to again and again and that it guides me through the changes my life throws at me. I also have been really helped by his carb formulas for long-distance. I'll be eager to hear what you think of his book.
ReplyDeleteI'm only about a chapter into "The Endurance Diet" and it's pretty intriguing so far!
DeleteI picked up a Matt Fitzgerald book before, but couldn't finish on time before it had to go back to the library. Let us know how this one turns out and what you learn! I heard his interview on Another Mother Runner podcast, it sounded very interesting.
ReplyDeletegood luck with the shoe search! the calf situation sounds like it is very frustrating!
I wish my calves had any kind of rhyme or reason to their ashiness! It's like a random mystery! Maybe they're going through puberty and are just angry sometimes for no good reason.
DeleteI have a triathlon book by Matt Fitzgerald and it's really informative! My friend just started "How Bad Do You Want It?" and said it's really good. Run Around USA looks really cool! There is a website called citystrides that you can sync all of your runs with and it will tell you what percentage of the town you've covered running. I usually stick to the same few routes, so I haven't covered much. :)
ReplyDeleteCitystrides sounds a bit like what I do in my head when I drive somewhere and find myself thinking "I've run this distance before. I could run this distance. I could run from my house to my parents' in three days' time." lol
DeleteJanuary has been okay. I hate January, Feb, and March. This week has really made me sad.
ReplyDeleteYes, this week has been hard emotionally. It was pretty much in my subconscious during the day but now I realize the events of the past week are why I've felt so blah.
DeleteI like the idea of the virtual map! I started using ifit on my treadmill and there is a similar feature but I don't usually track treadmill miles so I probably won't use it.
ReplyDeleteOkay, do you not track TM miles at ALL, or just routes? I feel like if you use the TM a lot in winter, that's quite a lot of miles you're selling yourself short! I've always been anal about tracking every single mile, so this intrigues me.
DeleteI've read a few of Matt Fitzgerald's books. I like them, but sometimes they make me a little anxious about my weight, which is probably not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAre you running the full or half at A1A? I wish I could be there again, but things have been a little too crazy for me to take off.
So far he hasn't mentioned weight in the book, which is odd because it seems like it's one of the main themes of the book. So far it's just about eating...and that eating the right way will help naturally balance your weight. Obviously I agree that anything that makes you anxious about weight isn't good!
DeleteI'm running the half. I have NO interest in a full right now. I can barely get myself excited to conquer 13.1!
Glad to hear that your calf is ok.
ReplyDeleteI have tried every shoe. I want to stay with NIKEs but they keep changing the style. UGH!!
Congrats on being a SS ambassador. Isn't it a great company?
RUNA around the USA sounds like fun. Looking forward to reading about it.
I used to wear Nikes way early in my running career, and they are so different and innovative now, I'm not sure I'd know where to start with choosing one!
DeleteI do love SS!
I will review as soon as I finish!
ReplyDeleteI agree that working my legs isn't my favorite. I hate how heavy they feel on a run after doing lots of squats and things!