Tuesday, July 18, 2017

When coming back from a break, be sure not to overwhelm yourself!

Miss Windy and I started off our day yesterday by going for a long walkies.  On days where she doesn't run with me, I make sure to get her out for several long walks throughout the day.  Siberian Huskies = high energy.  High energy = destruction if bored.  Plus, it's kind of not fair.  Not getting her out and about would be like locking up a toddler in a small room with nothing in it.  She deserves to have adventure and to be able to stretch her legs.  Once my school year starts, I'll be using a dog walker service to make sure she gets her outdoors time when I'm not home.


Now I've never claimed to be a food blogger (and I never will), but I am a food expert (I love food so much -- that makes me an expert).  Kodiak Cakes waffles and pancakes SO GOOD.  I like to top my K-Cakes with non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt (TJ's is my fave), and some fruit.



I plopped down and nom'd on this while stalking y'all. My Monday morning was pretty low-key, but inspiring.:)

*le sigh*  Please believe me:  I didn't put that pillow there.  Almost six weeks of being her human, and she surprises me every single day with something kind of cool.


The rest of the day was spent toward some laundry, some school work, and some relaxing.
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(SOURCE -- LOVE HER!)

I've been feeling *really* overwhelmed when it comes to my training.  I can't help but compare myself to...well...myself prior to this injury.  Physically.  Mentally.  Emotionally.  How I woke up every morning and conquered the world.  I've gotten better at waking up and getting right to what I need to do -- lace up and move out, and that seemed like a long road.  Going to spin or other classes hasn't happened yet, but I'm working on that.  I have to remember that this is a process everyone goes through when coming back, or even beginning a new fitness routine.  I used to remind my clients when I was a personal trainer that no one woke up one day and could do all of this.  It takes time.

Soooooooo, to combat the overwhelming feelers, I made some goals!  I've broken them up, for very obvious reasons:

Small goals (a.k.a. Things I can control NOW)

Drinking roughly 150-175 ounces of water a day.  This is my usual, and has been for many years.  This is one small, daily goal that I can pat myself on the back for reaching when I hop into bed at night.

Puffy eyes are in season (allergy season, that is).  Just sayin'.


Side note:  Yes, I'm wearing a hoodie during summer.

Fitness Planning (beyond running) -- Once I was cleared by my PT, I slowly (...) but surely started off with running a couple of miles every other day.  I went from three running days to four, and over several weeks, moved up to five (and that is only recently).  Five running days is my magic number.  On top of this, I'm planning out Yoga, swimming, spinning, and bootcamp classes, which will be attainable for me to keep up with come September.

Nutrition -- Something I can definitely control, and can even experiment with at the moment!  Allowing myself to try out new snacks and foods during a glorified off-season training cycle will help me gauge some ebbs and flows with energy throughout the day.


Remaining hopeful --(and speaking of nutrition, heh) -- Knowing that I can get there again is so lovely.  It most definitely won't be this year, but I can always look ahead to next year.  My imagination is going bananas with so many race ideas.


REALLY TRY to not procrastinate -- In the grand spirit of not overwhelming myself, staying on top of things (feeling complete) and not taking advantage of time is probably the best gift I can give myself.

Big goals (being realistic here!)

I am pretty realistic when it comes to racing goals.  I'm not particularly into lofty or outrageous themes when it comes to my training.  For what is rest of this year (I cannot believe it's July -- seriously), I am focusing on distance only.  I am not out to get a PR in any distance race.  If it happens, no matter how unlikely the odds are, then good for me!  But I'm not adding the stress of hitting specific tempo paces or heart rate zones.

We're hitting up Madison in three months to run the Haunted Hustle Half Marathon.  That gives me plenty of time to build up my mileage and get to the starting line HEALTHY.


On top of the Haunted Hustle Half Marathon in October, I've added on one more half to my racing schedule:  We're going to Memphis in December for the St. Jude Half Marathon!


So those are some things I'm dong presently.  I've always thought that it was pretty important to document big ideas and thoughts, fears and loves, etc.  I hope this didn't bore you too much.:P

Linking up with PattyErika, and Marcia!

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What are your BIG GOALS for the rest of this year?!  A race?  Healthy goals?  A fun event?


Runners:  What is your "magic number" when it comes to running days?


Random:  FAVORITE FRUIT?
-Banaaaanaaaaas!


20 comments:

  1. I totally fall in to the comparison with a former self trap as well. It is hard and yes, it's tough to be patient and persistent. But you'll get there. I love seeing Miss Windy on your SC stories! We had a Siberian Husky growing up. :)

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    Replies
    1. PATIENCE! Just knowing that tomorrow will be better helps keep that patience level up up up!

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  2. Miss Windy is gorgeous!!! Lover seeing her pictures.

    I had no idea Kodiak pancake mix also came in chocolate. I bought my box from Costco but they only had the original kind.

    I am excited to see you excited to train and run two half marathons. I noticed you have the Hansons Marathon Method book. Will you be using it for training?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG IT'S AT COSTCO?! *jumps in car*

      *jumps out*

      To answer your question: Yes! I'm reading through it and making sure it's a plan that's right for me. I've always used modified Higdons for my past three marathons; I'd love something new, but we'll see!

      *jumps back into car and speeds off to Costco*

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  3. I love Kodiak cakes we often make them into muffins stuffed with fruit too yum

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  4. I got news for you, after 11 (or 16 for Gizmo!) they can still surprise you.

    I personally would not get a high energy dog like a husky because I know I just don't have time to wear them out like they should be. Bandit is interesting -- he's some sort of JRT mix. He can definitely do the couch potato thing & he's very rarely destructive.

    He's also got a lot of stamina and is always up for a run (slow with plenty of pee breaks), walk, hike, or just exploring a new place. So it's kind of the best of both worlds.

    Lola will be 12 this fall & she's definitely beginning to slow down, although most people wouldn't see that.

    Coming back from injuries is super frustrating & hard -- but sometimes we comes back even better if we take it slowly. Having those goals is a good thing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing about your fuzzy things! Windy is actually VERY chill for a Husky; she's three years old, and very athletic, but doesn't chew on anything (even her toys!) and conserves her energy (she sleeps a lot, lol). I often like to use cautionary tales with Siberian Huskies -- they're very misunderstood!

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  5. No lofty goals here! I ran The NYC half earlier this year, so my "big" race is done!
    My Labrador always seems to have the pillows and blankets right where she wants them! Seems funny seeing as she does not have thumbs...lol

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  6. Truth bombs all over this post! Whoa. Thanks for the great reminders. I seem to take a lot of breaks, then jump in too hard too fast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Take it easy with me, friend! It's taken quite a while to be cognizant of limitations!

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  7. I'm in a similar situation...embarking on a major (2-month) running sabbatical as I recover from emergency surgery recently. My fall calendar is really gonna be different than in the past in that I will not be doing very many races...like maybe just one half (in November) and possibly a 5-miler in October. The comparison thing will be off-limits LOL

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    Replies
    1. Go easy on yourself, sweet friend. That sounds pretty major, and nothing major in life happens without the end result of us having to slow down a bit. I'm here for you!

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  8. No big goals for the rest of the year--This year is all about fun and so far so good. I've got RnR LV on the calendar for November...going to Alabama in 2 weeks to waterski and run a 5k with Holly...my friend and partner in running Steph talked me into signing up for Hot Chocolate. She's still working on me for another half... Life is good.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so happy that you're back out there, kickin' ass and takin' names, Wendy! I look forward to seeing you at Hot Chocolate!<3

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  9. Such a great post! And your pup is absolutely adorable. Love these great tips that you shared! I feel motivated already. :)

    Jenn
    www.honeydewblog.com

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    Replies
    1. Fantastic, Jenn! Thanks for stopping by, new friend!:)

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  10. It can be really hard to avoid the comparison trap with yourself. I'm currently running just under 2 minutes slower than my old marathon pace. And there is no.way.in.hell. that I could manage to run any faster. But what I focus on is the fact that I am out there. That I am so F***ing grateful to be out there. That my body has been through a lot. And that it is so amazing for bringing me back. I hope you can do the same.
    Yes, I still compare myself. But you know what? Running slower means that I get to listen to more of my podcasts to go the same distance. So #winning.

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    Replies
    1. SO MANY POSITIVES, my Suz! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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