Training progress

I knew there was a reason why I've never done a half marathon in January before: It's effin' hard to train for one during the busy holiday season. Plus, our frigid blast of actic weather hasn't helped much either. I'm plugging along trying to do what I can do. We ran 9 miles last Friday and will do 8 to 10 this Saturday (HOPEFULLY!). I'm trying to get pumped up for it. Maybe the promise of mochas and scones will do the trick...

I'm missing my good running friend who is now wintering in Arizona. But I'll be seeing her soon enough. First stop Phoenix, then onwards to Viva Las Vegas! I'm excited! We have both decided that we will not worry about our finish times in Phoenix. We simply haven't had enough time to train properly since coming back from our injuries.

I started working with a personal trainer a few weeks ago and he is kicking my ass. Clearly, I have been wasting my time in the gym for the last couple of years. I can tell he is testing my level of fitness and strength at these sessions. He works me hard and makes me sweat in ways I won't make myself. Then he checks with me to see how I am feeling so he can figure out if we overdid it or not. I'm developing quite the love/hate relationship with him. Last week, we did too much leg work before my long run. I won't let that happen again.

So overall everything is going pretty well. The injury problems seem under control, which pleases me. I've got much work ahead of me but at least I am running again.

Gratitude

I recently returned to running after nearly 3 months off. It is hard not to feel a little down about how much fitness I lost during this time of recovery (and about how much weight I gained). My current 3 mile pace is slower than my June half marathon pace. But the good news is that I am running again; I am up to 8 miles now and for that I am extremely grateful.

Through the years, I have come to realize that I am happiest when I feel gratitude for all the wonderful things in my life. Lately, it seems so many people are getting really sick that I am grateful for things I don’t have too. When I wasn’t able to run I felt as if I had lost a friend so I am grateful for any miles I run now. As always, the bad runs help us appreciate the good runs and not running at all helps us appreciate a return to running – even if it is at a slower pace.