Thursday, September 18, 2014

Half Marathon Training

Shin splints. Have you ever had them? If not, let me explain. It's shooting pain down the front or back of your shin bone. It makes it difficult to walk, let alone, run. I had a lovely run-in with shin splints my second week of training and oh do they suck. I iced my shins, changed my shoes, tried running on a treadmill, tried going even slower (which is difficult, I run like a snail lol), and just could not shake them. The feeling of defeat was real. I felt like there was no way I was going to fix them in time to train for my race. A friend had mentioned that I could do the 10k instead which I had eventually resigned myself to until my trainer sent over some shin exercises and I found another kind online.  So I got started with them and OH do they BURN. But I swear to you within a few days I was feeling better. I wasn't walking with pain, I jogged a bit and didn't feel like dying. I tested out my legs last Friday at the track at the gym and somehow was able to do 4.5 miles and it was AWESOME. Hence, the above picture of me grinning.

 And then, over the weekend I got up at the crack of dawn and ran my first long run and didn't die. That is exciting stuff guys! And so I'm back at it and I could not be happier. I genuinely welcome the good pain I feel when I'm running. The kind that comes from forcing myself to be stronger. The kind that makes me out of breath but excited that the next time I do the same workout, it'll be easier. The picture below is after I finished some interval training my trainer had me do to get me back to my goal pace and it was full of the good pain. It was so so hard and so so worth it. I felt so incredibly accomplished afterwards. Even if my shins were aching a bit and my knees were done. I cannot wait for that half marathon. I am going to crush it. It is going to be hard but wonderful at the same time. I'll be able to cross another distance off my list and that it too exciting.
What have YOU been up to?? Tell me about your latest accomplishment!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

San Diego Recap



Ahh, San Diego. Our home away from home. As I mentioned in my last post, we spend a solid week here every year at the end of August (along with many other weekends) and it is always completely relaxing and restorative. This year I had ambitious plans to half-marathon train while on vacation...HA. Does anyone else realize the ridiculousness of this notion? Yeah, neither did I. So I got one run in, pictured below, and then I took 6 days off and I think I got one more run in later on in the week. And the relaxing route was so totally worth it. I felt crappy about it for a day or two but then got over it and realized that I should enjoy my vacation and not worry about "training." Especially considering how obnoxious my shins have been since I started this whole training thing. 

We spent several days at the beach, ate A LOT of delicious food, went on long bike rides, saw dolphins in the ocean, had a bonfire on the beach and celebrated Chris' grandparents 55th(!) wedding anniversary. It was wonderful. I came home ready to eat clean, excited to spend time on our house and happy to sleep in my own bed for more than one night. 

And now, pictures! Of which there really aren't that many because I was doing my best to ignore my phone. So so nice. Try it some time.


4.5 very slow miles after taking several days off to ice the shins.

Sunset Cliffs, we got clouded out but it was still gorgeous
Sunset cliffs



Beach day!

Like father, like son =)

Giant bike sculpture!

Golden hour

Ruth Chris to celebrate 55 years of marriage between Chris' grandparents

View from on top of the midway

Pink lights for my road bike!
Ready for bike the bay!

View atop the Coronado bride...taken while riding my bike of course.
 How was your August?? What are your goals/plans for September??