Training inspiration

It was a fairly exhausting week of workouts this past week and I was sooooo ready for my TWO rest days IN A ROW. That was awesome. :)

However, this morning I am getting back into it and heading out on a 10-miler. I've been learning a lot about training and it turns out I've sort of been doing it wrong. My workouts should be mostly easy and hard, but not so much in the middle. And I'm pretty much always in the middle. Woops. For example, last weekend my 10-mile pace was 40" to 1'40" faster than what it should have been. That's a lot!! So this morning my goal is to PACE MYSELF, which is one of my biggest struggles as a runner.


But before that, the primary goal is always just to finish. And here are some inspirational quotes and lines from songs that have been pumping me up:

Don't wish it was easier. Wish you were better. (Written on board at crossfit.)

I gotta taste it and I gotta have it and I gotta cut all through this traffic just to be at the top of the throne but I know I gotta have it. (Busta Rhymes, "Look at me Now")

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime. (Eminem, "Lose Yourself")

Of course you're going to feel tired. … By becoming used to the sensation of fatigue and responding with assurance you can train yourself to run through it. (Complete Book of Women's Running)

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

(Athleta)

Life update, a couple pictures, and some blog love

It has been forever since my last post! Here is the craziness of our lives in a nutshell:

Darrick is well on his way to a career change, but that means he is working at one gym, being mentored at another, and still bartending one night a week. On top of that, he is studying for his personal training certification and up until last weekend had been training for his Ironman 70.3. Oh, and he's also starting a business with two other friends. No biggie. :)


Here's a quick run-down of our weekends for the last month and a half:

7/9–10: Darrick and I ride the Seattle to Portland Bike Classic 2011: 100 miles each day.

7/17: Darrick competes in Tri-Rock, an Olympic distance triathlon, taking more than 20 minutes (!) off his time from his first tri (Lavaman in Hawaii this past March).

7/21–24: One of our best friends (and part-owner of The Rugged Elite), Tony Z., comes to visit. The guys get a Rugged Elite video filmed and will soon be raising money on Kickstarter — so exciting!

7/30–8/2: Davey and his amazing girlfriend Becca come to visit from the Chi. So, so good to see them… I feel like I kind of grew up with Davey. He saw me through my punk rock and rude girl stages. :)

8/5–8/15: Dad and Jane come to visit (they traveled around Western Washington during the week while D and I worked). I had such a wonderful time with them. They even helped me with tons of stuff around the house, which was absolutely amazing. I am actually sitting in the kitchen looking out all the shiny, perfectly clear (not a smudge anywhere!) windows they washed for us. Wow. The only bad part is that it's getting harder and harder to say goodbye to family when they leave. That will definitely be changing in the future!

8/7: Uncle Rob comes in and he and Darrick compete in the Vashon Island Heart of the Sound Sprint Triathlon. I believe Darrick won by about 12 seconds. :) So much fun! 

8/14: Darrick competes in the Lake Stevens Ironman 70.3. That's a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. Yowzers. He kind of fell off his training schedule because of other priorities, so it was a tough race for him, but I am so proud that he finished!! Go babe go!!

So, you can see why I haven't posted in awhile! I'll try to be better, I promise. :) In the meantime, if you're just looking for some good blog reading, here are (some of) my favorites:

Joyful Ambiguity Written by my bestest friend from Seattle. Honest, beautiful blog about life and being a mom to a perfect (in my humble opinion) baby boy.
Vizzion Quest See my cousin Joe ride his bike across the US!
The Ray in Spain The adventures of my cousin Rachel who lives in Gijón Asturias. Great tips if you're planning on traveling to Spain!
Empower to the People Co-written by two very inspiring friends, describing their experiences in Uganda and Afghanistan.
No Small Dreams One of my fabulous coworkers! Great style tips and super fun links. 
Raven + Lily "A socially responsible brand dedicated to empowering impoverished women through design." Awesome, right?
My New Roots  Delicious (healthy) recipes and thorough nutrition information. Her writing style makes it fun to read about food!
Rockstar Diaries Incredibly adorable family and beautiful photography.
Pure Style Home This girl has amazing style and is so creative.


Happy Saturday everyone!

My sport is your sport's punishment

 

I love that feeling after a workout and your endorphins are doing whatever it is that endorphins do that make you feel so good. I have that feeling right now. It might also help that it is a gorgeous day here in good 'ol Seattle. :)

Speaking of workouts and endorphins, I have something to share that I wasn't really planning on sharing I think because deep down I don't really like accountability. Here it is: I am training for the Seattle half-marathon in November, with a "practice" half in September. I realize that doesn't sound like a big deal to a lot of people, but it totally is for me! I've been a runner my whole life and have never done an official half-marathon (or full, obviously, but that doesn't even sound fun to me!) I was training for a half a few years ago, but quit because of a calf injury. And since then I've been afraid of doing one because during my training, I started to hate running. And I love running! So why am I changing my mind all of a sudden? I think it's because since that time I've learned how to challenge my body (and my mind, for that matter) in so many different aspects, and have loooooved the process. Perhaps I'm a little wonky, but there you go. So I am running these not just for fun (although I'll love it) and not just for the t-shirt (though that's pretty exciting), but toward a goal that I can sweat my pa-tooty off for. So the big question in all your minds is probably, "What's your goal?" My goal is to run the September race in 8-minute miles, and the November race in 7:30-minute miles. Yikes! The hubster and I ran a 13.1 about a month ago and our pace was 8:21. So is my goal doable? I think so. Is it going to be a huge challenge? Uh, yep. Is it scary as hell??? YES! :)

So, if you find any running inspiration you'd like to send my way, please do! My bestest bud from college gave me a great women's running book a few years ago and I've been diving in! That's where I read that a goal should be attainable, but challenging enough that there's a chance you won't reach it. I concurred, and so my goal was set.

Oh, and one minor caveat I haven't mentioned is that ever since Darrick and I rode our bikes to Portland during the STP, I've had some pretty intense knee pain. I'm currently in physical therapy (and yes, I'm still training), so if you have the gift of healing, I'd appreciate it if you'd send a little word Upstairs for me. :)

Goooooooooooo TEAM! Woo!