10 Things I Missed About Running

In the last few months I have recently picked up running once again.  It's been an uphill battle to retrain and build up my endurance.  It's a challenge I'm happy to take on once more, but now kind of regret ever having to.  I never should have stopped in the first place, I should have always made time for running, but instead let life get in the way.

In the time where I wasn't running, I still quite often thought about running.  During some of my recent runs I've thought about some of the things I really missed the most...

1. Clearing My Head

Life likes to get in the way of almost everything. Work happens, family happens, people happen... and things just build up.  Running for me is a time to clear all that or at least try to make sense of it.  It almost seems as though no matter what problems I have at the beginning of the run, they're forgotten or solved by the end.

2. Getting "Me" Time

Running is one of the rare times that I can really get some "me" time.  I put in my headphones, start my running app, and then just forget about the rest of the world.  I don't worry about texts or anything else until I get home and it really is freeing and relaxing.

3. Seeing the Neighborhood

I live in an area that is still growing and it seems like the only way I know what's going on is by running.  I figure out what houses are being built, where new streets (and routes) are, what houses are selling or sold... It makes me feel connected to the neighborhood. There are also a few neighbors who I can almost always count on seeing on some of my runs.  We never really talk about it's still nice to see them.

4. The Races

Races... They really are a lot of fun.  Typically challenging and you might not always have the best run, but they're always fun.  From the small ones to the big ones, I always end up having a lot of fun. I still get jealous of some of the races my friends get to do and I don't.  In all honesty, it was that jealousy that got me back into running and back into the runDisney world.

5. The Medals

Let's face it, the only reason we sign up for races and train like we do is for the medals.  We run at crazy early or late times, through all sorts of weather to get that bling at the end of the race.  The feeling when you get the medal at the end... that's what it's all about!  I will say they get a little heavy and cumbersome by the end of the day, but it's hard taking it off.  All the accomplishments they represent, you have to wear them proudly!

6. Enjoying Nature

Watching the sun come up, or set... watching the cycles of the moon.  Getting glimpses of different birds, otters, and other critters.  You never know what you're going to see when you're out for a run.  Over the years I've seen quite a lot of nature on my runs and it's one of my favorite parts.  Coyotes trotting down trails and bald eagles flying ahead, you really can't beat the surprises nature has to show you.

7. Enjoying The Weather

I love running in all different types of weather.  60's are my favorite for sunny runs, but I do also love rainy days.  Rainy day runs are great for just a few miles and really let me clear my head.  I don't really take anything out with me and just let the rain wash everything away.  I don't even mind when there's a few bolts of lightenings and growls of thunder in the air.  It just makes the run more exciting.

8. Being A Runner

There's something special when you can consider yourself a runner.  Just thinking you are creates and feeling of accomplishment and pride deep within.  It also helps continue to push me to keep running because you can't call yourself a runner if you're never get your legs going and heart pounding.

9. Being Able To Eat Without Guilt

I love food... all sorts of food.  I just hate how it looks if I eat too much and the guilt will start as soon as the taste has dissolved from my mouth.  But when I run that guilt is lessened and trust me I'm definitely thinking about what I'm eating when I get home or later that day when I'm out on a run.

10. Feeling Accomplished

That feeling that you've actually put some effort into something and gotten something good out of it... Probably the thing I missed the most.  Yes I felt glimmers of it when I was just using the gym, but it's not the same when you're working towards a goal.  When you have that goal and finish a long training run or a sprint or a race and know you're a step closer to your ultimate goal... I missed that.  Even though it typically came in the form of being sore.  But sore's not always a bad thing...

I'm Back... Here This Time

So I've decided to handle two running blogs.  They're both generally about the same things, but I'll try to also keep them as different as possible.  Dopey Dash will be more about my actual training for the crazy challenge and then this blog will be about my thoughts on running and other things.  So race reports will be mentioned here, but really laid out in detail on the other site.  This I guess will be my fun blog again, my let loose and spill out everything that's been swirling in my head.

I can say, that being back in training after almost two years off has been good, but hard at the same time.  My body is remembering everything slowly, my knees are reminding me they still don't agree, and my head is questioning why I ever stopped...

I look forward to talking with you all again soon!

I'm Back... But Not Here

It's been quite a while since I posted on here.

It's also been a while since I decided to sign up for another runDisney event.

Well I've finally decided that I should start training again and get back out there.  However, I'm not looking at just any race... I'm looking at the Dopey Challenge for Walt Disney World Marathon in 2018.

My knees have unfortunately still been a struggle to deal with so I want to spend a healthy amount of time to train for the challenge and not rush into it.  I want to make sure I'm smart about this and come out still on 2 feet (and knees) at the end.

So 2 years, that's 731 days... I think I can do this.  No, I know I can do this.

However, I think this journey deserves it's own spotlight so I've created one!  It's called Dopey Dash. Head on over to follow me as I train and prepare for what will probably be the hardest yet one of the most rewarding challenges of my life...

runDisney Sense of Timing

It struck me today that runDisney has a very interesting sense of timing.  I think it's only a recent development for most things, but some are always at odd times.

I received my final race instructions for the Disneyland Half Marathon just last week and yet today I had my final race instructions for Tower of Terror tonight.  Two emails were only a week apart, and yet the races are a month apart.  Not that it's really an issue, but it did cause me to give it a thought (and apparently part of a blog article).

runDisney also has their usual pre-race meet-ups, which they post at really odd times of the day... ok the morning.  I tried to get one during the Princess Half, but missed out, and due to my crazy busy work schedule didn't even see the current one for the Disneyland for almost an entire day.  Apparently it was posted pretty early in the morning and filled almost as quickly.

I kind of wish that they would leave it open for a day and then choose by a random drawing.  That's what they used to do for all of the exclusive limited edition pins.  You signed up and then if your name was drawn you got one!  Should be the same kind of deal...

I'd like to go to one of these meet ups, but especially for Disneyland, I have a life around the race that includes spending time with family and friends I haven't seen in a while... and o ya, my parent's work schedule since they're helping me get around for everything.  Maybe one day I'll get into one of these meet ups, but surprisingly, it's not on my "must do" list.

More New Equipment

Having days off is lovely.  It's something that you don't really appreciate until you don't have any.  Today was my first in 20 days and I took advantage of it by actually doing house hold chores that needed to be done like last week and by getting to the gym.  I just had to get my feet on the new treadmills and the new elliptical looking machines.

The treadmills were first and it was like the elliptical last night.  They had readjusted where some of the controls were and had the new ipod connection point.  The TV's weren't connected again, but I just found another Strava playlist and started my workout.  I was happily surprised to see that there was another workout option though.  There was an interval option!

This new interval option didn't have a preset interval, but instead relied on the athlete.  It asked for your jog or walking speed and then your running speed.  Then it started on your jog speed and when you were ready for the run speed you just hit the button and it jumped to your running speed.  This is going to be fantastic since I follow the Galloway plan!  While it's been possible to readjust the pace for intervals, it took time and was slightly annoying, this is just easing that pain and making the treadmill workout much more convenient.

After the treadmill I headed over to the brand new incline elliptical machines.  Once I started I realized they were essentially an elliptical version of a stair master.  I fell in love with these machines almost instantly.  I've always wanted to do stair master workouts, but with my knees I have never been able to.  Since the climb on these machines are still on an adjustable incline, I was able to get that perfect hill/stair workout without nearly as much stress on my knees.

These new options and machines are making me excited to get back to the gym (especially once the TV's work).  Hopefully I'll be able to drag myself in after work more often... although I'm still not holding my breath on that.  However, I am still looking forward to October and November when the temperature drops and I'm able to run outside more.  I think at that point I'm going to look at more classes again to utilize the gym in that area.

New Gym Equipment!

It was almost like getting a new toy at Christmas, or new running shoes... either way, it's exciting.

My gym was closed earlier this week and I was finally able to get back in today for a nice jog on the elliptical.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was more than just new posters hanging from the walls.  They reorganized the cardio machines and all were brand new.

The machines are essentially the same, but with controls moved to new areas, a new TV screen, and now a spot to connect an iPhone/ipod.  I thought that was pretty handy, especially tonight when most of the TV's had yet to be connected.  I just simply plugged in my iPhone and my music (I was playing a list provided by Songza) and it was piped through the machine.  All volume and other controls were also controlled by the machine which I found to be convenient.  Now I'm just waiting for the TV to be connected.

There were also some other new elliptical machines that could incorporate inclines, which I would have tried, but they were a bit crowded, partially because they were the only ones that had working TV's for the elliptical row.

Tomorrow I'll be checking out the treadmills and seeing if they have any new gadgets or settings that could potentially be helpful for later training...

I'm Still Here

Hello again everyone!

I know I've been gone for a while, but I've had a very hard time training recently.  I've almost completely given up on training correctly for the Dumbo Challenge in a month and have just trained barely enough that I think I'll survive.

I know I haven't talked much about what I do, and I don't really want to talk details about it, but I walk a lot... and if I'm not walking then I'm standing.  It's hard on my knees and thus hard on my training.  I also had some health things I had to battle for a little bit.  Everything is back under control and my running is slowly getting better.  I think I'll be fine for the 10k, but I'm still worried about the half the day after.

I got a 4.2 mile run and .75 mile walk in the other day.  Both felt fantastic, the next day not so much (the worrisome part).  Either way, I'll get trough the Dumbo Challenge, that I can assure you, and myself...

On a side not, I'm now using Strava.  Let me know if any of you are as well so I can find you!