Attitude Change

Wednesday, when I reluctantly went for my first run in ten days, I started at a walk. Part of me was scared to break into my usual warmup pace...I just felt like this run was doomed to be difficult. A punishment of sorts. I expected to berate myself the entire time, This is what you get for taking ten days off.

I was surprised, then, when it had the opposite effect. I didn't have a set distance planned; I just wanted to get moving and break out of the slump I'd fallen into. If that was all I got out of the run, I would have been happy.

But in fact, I got more. I hadn't realized how much junk has been swirling in my mind lately. I must be more stressed than I realized, and not exercising obviously compounded the issue. It almost felt like my brain was waiting for this run to happen so it could finally have a chance to dump everything and examine it and reorganize it and put it to bed.

I loved chasing the last rays of the sun as they shot out from behind the trees. The entire evening just felt serene.

I wasn't looking to have any epiphanies on a run that I wholly expected to be awful, but that's just what happened!

Anyway, I decided I'll be running the 10k this weekend after all. I know if I don't I'll never let myself live it down. I'm not at all in shape for it, and I originally wanted to PR this race, so it will also serve as a humbling reminder not to let my training fall by the wayside.

The Monday after the race will mark the start of my two-week run streak.

Losing motivation as the weather heats up is normal for me, but I really want to combat my tendency to give in to lethargy. I want to stay active this summer! I feel like I have a realistic plan to get myself back on track.

Have you ever experienced a totally unexpected aha moment on a run?

ABK

Weekend Update

Is it just me, or was Weekend Update the best part of SNL ever? (I say "was" because since Tina Fey left, it's simply not that good anymore.)

Bow.

Anyway, my weekend was packed. I don't think I was home for a full hour Saturday until bedtime. We got up early to go paddling and watch the canoe races. It was super windy; I'm not used to paddling in such choppy conditions, and my quads were definitely feeling some DOMS the next day.

At first it was smooth sailing...little did I know the bay was going to be rough!

We took shelter from the waves on a nice little dock to watch the races.

After the waves died down a bit, Matt and the guys went out to cheer on the canoes.

After paddling, I cleaned up, then went to Elizabeth's to make some necklaces. It felt good to just sit inside and be crafty.

One of the necklaces I made...co-starring my sunburned schnoz!

Afterward, we went out to dinner with some friends to celebrate their engagement. When I mentioned that all my friends were getting engaged/married, I wasn't joking.

All dressed up for dinner...wearing the other necklace I made that day.

Compared to Saturday, Sunday was nice and lazy. We even had time to watch a movie.

I was beyond excited to subject Matt to the glory that is "Frozen".

This is so accurate it hurts. Sister-friendships are the best.

So all-in-all, not a terrible weekend...but I'm looking forward to running again. May is always a hard month for me, so I'm not feeling too bad about the low mileage - and taking time off running has allowed me to write more than I have in ages - but I do feel totally shlubby and lazy. Here's to getting back into training! Right now I'm coveting this training calendar to start using in July!

From ilovetorun.org

Are you a Frozen fan?
Do you like SNL?
Pick one: Tina or Amy?

ABK

Behind the Blog

Remember the days when VH1 had those really awesome "Behind the Music" shows? Remember when MTV actually played music videos? ...I don't know, naming this post has sent me back to the 90s haha.

Anyway! A few weeks ago those uplifting, warmth-inducing awards we all know and love made the rounds again, and I feel so lucky to have been nominated by three different, amazing bloggers who make my feed so entertaining and inspiring!

Courteney at Runner Girl nominated me for the Sunshine Award, given to bloggers who are inspiring, creative, and positive! I have been making a concentrated effort to be as positive as possible since my rut in January of last year, so being recognized makes me feel like I've been doing a pretty good job!

For the Sunshine Award, I'm supposed to share 11 facts about myself; as you'll soon see, I've got plenty of questions to answer from the other award, so I think I'll double up on those!

Jessica at Run Your Mutt Off and Heather at Girl Goes Running both nominated me for the Liebster Award. This award is meant to promote new bloggers; Liebster is German and can be translated to mean dearest, lovely, and valued. What a sweet award!

 Questions from Heather:

1. What is your favourite distance to run? Okay, first of all, I love that Canadians use the British spelling of words. I think my favorite distance for running is 5 miles, but for racing it's the half marathon. It's just the perfect distance for a real challenge that leaves you feeling that you've really accomplished something!

2. When did you start running? In 2009! It's the only New Year's resolution I've ever kept.

3. What is  your favourite brand of running shoe? Asics. I really love my Kayanos, but I love trying out new brands all the time.

4. Solo Runner or Buddy Runner? I used to need a buddy to stay motivated; learning to keep myself accountable has been a huge accomplishment to me. But I still love running with other people!

5. Favourite post-run snack? Chocolate milk. It's pretty much the only thing I can stomach after a run.

6. What made you start blogging? I wanted to keep myself more accountable. Blogging has been such a great gift. I love the blogging community, it has helped me reach out to friends and encourage them to begin running, and it has definitely helped me stay on track!

7. Do you have a pet? If so what kind? I've got little Archie, of course!

8. What is something not related to fitness that you think others don't know about you? This is a tough one. Um, I love science! I think biology and physics are beautiful and simply awe-inspiring.

9. What is your favourite TV show? I have a whole list! Shamefully, I watch Real Housewives (but only certain cities). I also love Community, Suburgatory, Bones, and The Daily Show and Colbert Report.

10. What do  you do with your race bibs? I keep them on the medal-holder I made for myself!

I seriously need to take an updated pic...I'm in need of new hooks I've accumulated so many medals lately!

11. What is a pre-race ritual you have? Coffee, breakfast, 5+ bathroom stops. Then, at the starting line, I jump up and down like I'm on a pogo stick.

Questions from Jessica:

1. What is your favorite race you’ve run, and why? My most recent half, probably, because I signed up alone and did most of my training alone. I learned a lot about myself in this race. It wasn't a PR, but I had more fun and felt more positive than in any other race I've run!

2. Who is your biggest supporter/fan? Definitely my husband. He cheers me on at 98% of my races, and even runs some of them with me. He would have a right to complain about how much money I drop on running clothes, shoes, and races, but he always encourages me to trust my instinct and get what I want/need.

3. What is your favorite piece of running gear? I looove my new Nike spandex shorts. They're so comfy and have a pocket, which is hard to find in spandex!

4. What is your tried-and-true pre-race meal? Dinner the night before is either sushi or spaghetti with meat sauce, hands down. Breakfast is a banana, peanut butter and honey toast, and coffee.

5. Have you met any of your twitter/blogger friends in real life? If so, when & where? I've met one of my blog friends from BEFORE blogger...I'm talking the days of Livejournal! She came to my wedding, and I can't wait to return the favor and go to hers in October this year!

6. What is your favorite non-running workout or exercise? I have lately become obsessed with squats. Someday I'll even learn to do them with weights! haha

7. Tell me the most memorable thing about your wedding or someone’s wedding that you’ve attended. A friend of ours surprised us by requesting the Hora from the DJ. We hadn't planned to do it, but it was so fun, I know my family loved that extra Jewish touch, and it really made the night special.

8. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things could you not live without? Carmex, my kindle (and WiFi so I'd never run out of books and music), and Matt. 

9. What is the last book you read? I just finished Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. If you liked Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, I highly recommend it.

10. What is your all time favorite book? This isn't fair! I'm an English teacher! This is like asking a parent which kid is their favorite...it depends on the day of the week ;o)

11. Pick one – pizza, beer and a movie OR pasta, wine and a good book. Why? Love this question, but I wish I could mix and match. I really prefer wine and a good book, but I'd take pizza over pasta any day! (Gluten free, of course!)

It's truly awesome to me that the blogging community can really bring people together. I hope to be able to run with all these far-away friends someday!

The only thing I hate about these awards is having to choose just a handful of people to share them with. So many small blogs have so much to offer! Comment below with a synopsis of you blog and the URL...I encourage everyone to check out a blog that's new to them from the comments!

ABK

A Sunshiney Start

I'm supposed to be running right now, but for some reason it decided to pour. Instead, I'm going to start the year with a Sunshine post!

Meg over at Meg Go Run nominated me at the end of 2013, and her questions were just too fun not to answer!

1. How did you come up with the name for your blog? I wanted something that had running in the title and had to do with perseverance...Hit the Ground Running just kind of popped into my head!

2. What would your memoir be called? Awkward Moments: Living with Bitchy Resting Face.

3. What is your "day job"? I teach language arts and reading to 8th graders. It's pretty awesome.

That time I discovered my students read my blog.

4. What are 3 of your proudest fitness accomplishments? 1) the first time I successfully ran a mile without taking a walk break. 2) Going to the gym alone, despite my anxiety disorder. 3) My last half marathon, which I ran while sick. It was horrendous, but I really proved something to myself that day.

5. You HAVE to change your first name. What do you change it to? Penelope.

6. What is the best concert you've ever been to? Okay this is embarrassing, but I rarely go to concerts. The best would have to be my first, which was *NSync with Britney Spears opening. I didn't even know I knew the band until they took the stage, and then I was like "Oh my gosh, I know all these songs! WOOOO!! I LOVE YOU JC OMG!!!"

Can we just bask in the beauty of the 90s for a moment?

7. Tell me some things on your bucket list. Run a race in another country; sky dive; run in snow.

8. Describe your dream house. My dream house would overlook the ocean but have forest/mountains behind it. It would have lots of windows and balconies perfectly set up for eating breakfast while watching the water.

9. Name a celebrity you find oddly attractive, one that wouldn't usually occupy one's 'hottest celeb list'. Jeff Goldblum.

I don't know, I just love him!

10. Tell me 5 of your favorite blogs. I went with running blogs but there are plenty I follow that aren't. Check out my "What I'm Reading" tab to see more...although it needs to be updated!

• Heather at Girl Goes Running
• Kristina at Blog About Running
• Rachel at Life. Or Something Like It.
• Beth at Shut Up and Run
• Janelle at Run With No Regrets

Answer any of the questions above!
What are you doing this week to make sure your new year starts out as sunny as possible?
What's something I might not know about you?

ABK

Weekend Wrap-Up

This week I logged just over 18 miles, which is more than I've done in quite some time. I'm avoiding putting together my "year in review" post too early, but on my long run Sunday I just kept thinking about how much this year has changed me in so many ways.

I haven't seen numbers like this in way too long. It's nice to be training seriously again.

Those posts always take some real effort to put together, so I need to wait until after Christmas.

Anyway, Sunday I peeled myself out of bed thirty minutes later than planned and went out for my long run. Last week I had posed the question about how to work my race and long run into the same weekend, and I decided to heed the advice of a fellow runner that basically went something like this: run long after the race; it'll give you practice at running on tired legs.

My splits were incredibly even.

That was definitely accurate. My legs were tired from mile 1, but I ran the entire distance without walk breaks and enjoyed the whole thing. I was elated and so proud of my perseverance to push through the discomfort! I just knew I could be stronger than my legs wanted me to be, and I was!

This was my second long run during which I wore the fuelbelt (the first being last weekend's 7-miler). It really is super comfortable and I needed the water. Because I was late getting started, it ended up being really warm toward the end of the run.

I took a new route; it was gorgeous and perfect and I was a terrible blogger (but great runner) because I was too into the run to stop and take any pictures. When I run on Christmas morning, I'll be sure to get some...especially if the gator I saw Sunday is out again on Wednesday!

Ahh...perfect ice bath!

After the run, I was hoping to jump into my parents' pool. I peeled off my socks and dipped my feet in only to find out it was freezing. They don't heat the pool when it's not in use, and it doesn't get a ton of direct sunlight. It was the most convenient ice bath ever!

NEWS TEAM ASSEMBLE!

After the run, Matt and I drove to meet friends at Downtown Disney to see Anchorman 2, which was hilarious and random but really poked fun at "news" channels these days. The theater has real table service, so we enjoyed snacks and drinks while we watched. We stopped at Ghiradelli's for sundaes before coming home.

All told, this was a great weekend! I'm trying to use every moment of winter break to its fullest. I'd say it's been successful so far.

How are you spending your days leading up to Christmas and New Years?
How was your weekend?
What's the next movie on your "to watch" list? We need to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and American Hustle!

ABK

The Frosty 5k 2013

Today's race was one I was really looking forward to! It's the first in the 22.4 challenge and marked the beginning of winter break!

The race began at 8am at Twin Lakes Park. Based on my runs this week - fast legs on Monday, heavy legs on Wednesday - I was tentatively hoping for a PR. (Hope only gets you so far; I knew I'd have to push myself.) My goals were: A) break 27:40; B) actually race; C) push through the mental wall I always seem to hit 2/3 of the way into a race.

At the start line...can you find me? (Hint: I'm in the middle, grinning like a lunatic.)

There I am!

The race went well. There were all kinds of costumes to take in on the course (there was an award for best costume) and the majority of the race went through well-shaded neighborhoods. There were two patches of grass that weren't nearly as "firmly packed" as promised, and the final quarter mile was on packed shell around one of the lakes.

I don't envy this guy...he's got some great spirit, but he must have been dripping by the end!

RUNNING'S MY FAVORITE!!

It was a flat and beautiful run. I didn't PR, but I'm really happy with the effort I gave it. (My first mile was a way-too-fast 8:41, and I had positive splits for the rest of it, but I kept each mile safely in the mid-9s.) When I got to mile 2 and could feel that familiar mental barrier creeping up on me, I focused on my positive self-talk and kept on moving. I relished the discomfort because it meant I was actually running a race, not just "enjoying the atmosphere", which I'm often guilty of.

I'm shouting, "Oh thank the looooord I'm almost doooone!" or something like that.

I feel like a hypocrite because I've said in the past that a medal for any distance under a 10k is silly, but today's race awarded a pretty, festive snowflake medal that I can't help but love. Plus it's a bottle opener!

Because this race is part of the 22.4 challenge, I think giving a finisher's medal makes some sense, but I'm definitely eating my words!

So excited for the next race on my schedule!

Just another normal day in Florida.

Official results are: 10/36 AG; a time of 29:03; and 213 of 663 runners. I'm absolutely thrilled with those results!

This was a humbling experience that reminded me that to carve off even a little time from a race, you need to adjust your entire plan for each mile. For awhile I was setting new PRs every race, but I didn't get there by luck. I need to put the work in if I expect to see results.

After the race, we grabbed brunch at First Watch.

Avocado, bacon, and tomato hash with over-easy eggs. Just what the runner ordered!

I've been lounging around while Matt tears up the golf course with my brother. As far as winter break goes, I'd say this is a pretty great way to start, and a great race to cap off the year...2013 is a wrap.

ABK

ALSO Youth Turkey Trot 5k, 2013

Last year was the first time I ran a Turkey Trot, and I chose to run the ALSO Youth 10k because it was local and supported a great organization. This year, ALSO Youth only offered a 5k; I was disappointed, but never thought twice about entering the race.

Desperately trying to warm-up with some pre-race coffee.

Unamused by 40 degrees in Florida.

I knew the course would be tough. This race is basically half bridge...and this isn't just any bridge. This is a super-steep causeway that rises 60 feet in less than a mile. Last year, when running the 10k, I was only three days off from my half marathon. With more time to recover and train this time, and a shorter distance, I was excited to push myself without aiming for a real PR.

This race also doubled as my virtual Sub30v5K for the Sub30-Club. I was hoping to break 30, but that was really my only time goal for the trot.

When Matt, Steph, and I rolled out of bed and into the car at 7am, we were greeted by our first hint of fall weather. Overnight, the temperatures had dropped from the balmy 70s to the low 40s. I had remembered my new Saucony running zip, and Steph had her capris, but Matt was sadly unprepared.

We three pre-race!

We arrived at packet pickup with 30 minutes to start time. Luckily, our shirts this year were much more wearable than last year's...and they were long-sleeved! Matt quickly donned his, and we stashed our bags, used the bathroom, and got to the start.

(I need to mention that I saw someone wearing the FMB Half shirt, and I was so excited to see someone who had just run that race with me!)

Pre-race and rarin' to go!

Pre-race and freezing!

Steph took out ahead of us early on. Matt had been dealing with a painful arch, so he stayed at my pace for the first half of the race. We dodged a multitude of slower runners who were clearly just running for the novelty of doing a Turkey Trot and made our way to the base of the bridge.

Bridge, I will own you!

On the way up, I felt great. I steadily passed runners, smiled for the camera, and kept my pace strong. The turnaround was poorly organized, and by then I was starting to tire. Once we hit the bridge again (about an eighth of a mile after the turnaround) I was beginning to feel the steep climb and hard descent. Matt took off ahead of me, and I kept moving at a steady pace, determined not to walk.

Post-race food and a view.

By the second descent, I found my second wind. I pushed ahead toward the finish, only a half mile away, and enjoyed a fantastic neck-and-neck sprint finish against a guy who'd been on my heels. I coughed laughter as I crossed the finish line; my legs nearly buckled beneath me.

Post-race...all smiles!

Bridge and all, I'd finished the race in 29:36, happily beating 30 minutes and running a race I could 100% be proud of. Matt finished in 29:10, despite his injury, and Steph placed 3rd in our AG with just over 23 minutes.

I love having such a fast sister!...Even if she is in my age group and ruins my chances of ever placing lol

I absolutely love running on holidays. It's such a great way to center yourself and come back to the whole purpose of this running thing we love so much...Finding an inner strength, finding gratitude, finding truth.

I am so grateful to my legs. I am grateful to my body for what it can accomplish. I am grateful for my relatively new mental toughness. I am grateful that I have the freedom, means, and time to dedicate to this activity that gives me so much in return.

Running is about finding your weakness and breaking past it.

Seriously pleased with these splits, especially the last one!

A run on a holiday is just about the best tradition ever...a race on Thanksgiving is even more perfect. Besides the thankfulness and strong reminder that running is life-affirming and amazing? It allows for an awesome calorie deficit before the holiday festivities!

Stay tuned for actual Thanksgiving updates sometime this weekend. I hope you all had a fantastic holiday!

ABK