Running At My Happy Place

It just happens that my happy place tends to also be considered one of the happiest places on Earth.  My family and I spent a few days last week at the Boardwalk resort so I have been waiting anxiously for the chance to get out and run at one of my favorite places.

I love the scenery, the peacefulness, and just the whole environment that is the Epcot Resorts, especially in the morning.  Mainly to avoid the heat, but there were some epic sunrises while I was there and they tended to happen right when I was running.

The other great part of the weekend was that I was able to get out 3 out of the 4 days we were there.  I was planning on doing all 4, but we were out pretty late that last night and I could not get out of bed for the last run.  I'll make up for it in the weeks to come.  Still, the 3 runs felt decent.  My shins and knees weren't the happiest towards the end, but I was also lacking on stretching.  I also splurged on some new shoes that I was breaking in.

I also used the first run as my virtual runDisney 5k.  That run felt the best and I actually rivaled my time from the Busch Gardens 5k that I did last November.  Now I just have to wait patiently for my medal! Of course I had to take a character picture since it was a Disney race...

My running is getting stronger and faster... I just need it to get longer and with summer setting in I think that's going to be getting harder and harder.  Hopefully I have a few more weeks before I'm really sent hiding from the humidity at the gym...

Sprinklers... A Runner's Best Friend

They're always somewhere on the run, waiting for you, and when you find each other it's the best 3 seconds of your run... until you find the next one.  

There was a time when I didn't like running through sprinklers but now I look back at those times and I roll my eyes.  The avoidance was for stupid reasons too, like not getting my shoes wet.  Ya, I definitely don't care about that anymore.

On these hot summer days, I look forward to running next to some sprinklers.  It really is one of the best parts of long, hot runs.  The relief doesn't last long, but luckily I have always liked running in the morning which means there are a lot more sprinklers going.

I do wish I could just sit in some of the sprinklers and cool down in the middle of my run, but I don't really trust myself to get back up and keep going.  I guess a jump in the pool will work at the end of my run...

Here's to sprinklers!  The best little break from the heat a runner can get!

Mid Way Through May

The month is already half over, which means it's a few weeks closer to all of my races.  I've had a few  rough weeks with training, not in the sense of getting out to run, but in the sense of I've had a lot going on in my regular life.  Between lots of overtime at work (which I have to take whenever I can because it's not usually offered so freely), working some special, but late night events, and trying to still be social, finding the energy to run has been tough.  The building heat isn't helping either...

I've still gotten out there and run though.  I just finished 3 days in a row this weekend and I'm hoping to do a 7 miler this weekend.  Overall I've been feeling pretty good on my runs, I just need to keep at the schedule.

The best new is that I get to run at one of my favorite places next week, Disney's Boardwalk Resort.  I love running between Epcot and Hollywood studios and it just holds quite  a few training memories over the years because regardless of what we're doing I always find time to get in at least one run.  That's also where I'm going to run my official runDisney virtual run.  I figured it was only appropriate...

Listen To Your Body

There is no one who knows your body, like you do.  When you tune into it, you can learn a lot more than any machine or doctor who just has you to listen to.

Over the years I have fought various injuries and pains in my training.  From tendonitis in my shoulders to a weird genetic thing that bothers my knees.  My physical therapists and chiropractors have been great in giving me the resources to help my problems, but it has always been me to know when there is an issued potentially when I can prevent major issues from coming up.  Part of listening to your body, is also knowing what to do when it's talking to you.

This morning I originally thought I had eaten too much at a party and wasn't going to run all that far, but then I started and this magical thing happened... I forgot all about my limits and knew that if I really wanted to, I could do a long run.  It was a beautiful day, the temperature and humidity had dropped, so why not?  Then my body reminded me why it might not be the smartest idea to just go...

At first it was my knee, which I had been able to run through in the past, but then that pain spread to my calves and felt like a shin splint threatening to develop.  So I had an inner battle all through mile 3, but decided to call it a day a little after mile 4 and calm my knees and legs down.  I figured I would relax, stretch, and let my legs recover and next week hit it hard again.

Gardening was a bit rough, but that was like doing a super long squat workout, but now my legs are feeling pretty well.  A little tight when I stretch, but not as bad as I feel like they could have been if I had pushed it more.  We'll really see if I made the right decision in the week to come...

Do I actually know if this feeling was going to develop into something worse?  Of course not, but it was a slightly painful feeling and I trust my body to give me these warning signs for a reason.  If it wasn't for learning to listen to my body I feel as though I could be a lot worse off than I am today... probably with knee surgery and what not having happened at far too young an age.

Trust yourself, only you know what's best for you