Running Tired and Sore

This past week, well in reality, month has been rough as far as running goes. I've been what I feel to be sluggish, lethargic and just flat out uninterested some mornings. This all began end of July after I had packed, moved, and then flown out to New York (Syracuse) with my mother for a family reunion.

I also ran a local 5k in Rome NY (Honor America Days 5k Parade Run).

Came in 4th place in my age group, so close to a little homemade trophy, it's ok though. I didn't go for glory. Went for the experience and fun, which it most definitely was. We ran through downtown Rome, NY. Which is a quaint little town that reminded me of my hometown Leavenworth, KS. The route was also the parade route. The parade started at 10, which was about 30 min after the final runners came in from the race.

As you ran along the race course you had people sitting outside their houses in lawn chairs as well as on their patios and porches watching and cheering as racers, family members and friends ran by. It was awesome. Such a great community, none of whom I knew from Adam.

I enjoyed the easy and flat course and was quite surprised that my pace was really good for me, around 8 min per mile. That's a good race pace for me, steady but not sprinting.

We finally get through to the last stretch, of course you pick up your pace and basically sprint the last few hundred meters. Prior to the race I had been chatting with one of the ladies who helps put this race together. Of course I"m not from there and they don't recognize me or the name. I'm also wearing a KC Royals tank top to represent home. Eventually it gets to that subject and that I'm from Kansas. She looks at me shocked and says, you may just be our first Kansas runner and definitely have come the farthest.

So as I approach the finish line I hear that lady say to their announcer (who seems to know everybody that is crossing the finish line) "That's the girl from Kansas City!" So then I hear this older gentleman announce my presence to the crowd "And here comes the Kansas City Kid!" Made me smile and it was an honor to be announced like that. I should do more small town races. This race had about 250 people, the smallest race I have participated in to date. It was fun though and would definitely do it again should I be back up that way when it's being held.

So, since that time, around July 27 I have been a bit sluggish. The running in NY was fabulous because mornings were in the 60's. It was gorgeous!

I get back home and it's muggy and 90. So back to the early morning runs. But between traveling (Newark airport to NY and Chicago O'Hare back to KC) and moving prior I think my body has finally gotten to the point where it's just tired.

So this week particularly I have struggled to pace under 9 min a mile. Sometimes I will get closer to my desired 8:30 pace but not often. Even my 1 mile sprints have been lacking going from sub 7 to over 8:30.

So what to do? Well ease up, keep going, and not worry about it. Things tend to work themselves out quite well on their own. Don't rush it and when your body aches and screams be sure to be kind and let it relax a little as well as take a much needed rest. Also foam roll those achy legs. Especially when you have done a crazy leg day workout and are sore From Wednesday through the end of the week. (I just want to be able to sit without aching).

All in all, lesson is. We all have days, weeks, months, even sometimes a whole year where our running, workouts, or other activities just aren't quite where they could, should, want them to be. This happens, embrace what you have and keep moving. Just not as hard or as intense necessarily. You have to love your body too, and that sometimes means rest - unadulterated do nothing kind of rest. (Yes I hate those kinds of rest days too but they are necessary on occasion.)

So tomorrow I rest, not a complete lazy rest day but I will not be running and I will stay active through spending time with my favorite guy.

Challenges for Running

So recently, about the last few weeks, my left hip has started giving me grief. Mostly after runs that last longer than 2 miles. Those long 5-6 mile runs have really done a number to the point where I go to do some ab exercises where I need to lift my legs and it's painful.

I've been trying to keep it easy and now am planning to buy new tires for my bicycle trainer so I can do that for a week or so to let the tissues heal.

Then Mike said something to me last night, something I had not thought of.

I was griping about the possibility of not running for a few weeks or at least not long runs and he said, "Could it be your shoes? How old are your running shoes?"

I looked at him in awe, like, 'I just bought those not long ago.'

I thought about it and it was right before some of my April races due to needing new shoes after a mud run. I said, late April. He looked up how long running shoes lasted and gave a scientific answer as to how the cushion and padding in the shoe should bounce back etc. So I grabbed my shoes and checked the bottom. (They look pretty worn honestly)

Worn the nubs right out of the ball of the shoe

So I looked, poked and prodded my shoes and handed them to him to do the same. I remember something about shoes lasting about 300 miles. So 20 weeks x 15 miles a week (on average) = 300 miles. Yeah they are right up there and ready to be replaced. So now the hunt for new shoes begins. This should be interesting as I can't say I have a preference on brand let alone I'm a cheapskate when it comes to purchases. I will buy expensive name brand shoes if they are highly discounted. Much like I have my last two pairs (not having spent more than $40 in the last 10 pairs of shoes I have used to run in.)

So let the adventure and challenge of buying new running shoes begin.

Inaugural Post - Discovering a New City

Well good morning friends.

This is going to be a run ride, err run.

I'm Sarah, I run, I race in 5ks to compete against myself and keep myself healthy along the way. I have fun while I do it. If it is no longer fun I'm doing something wrong.

I'm a young spitfire and I tend to have the most random of thoughts and some interesting experiences while out and about.

During the summer months I run before work in the early mornings to beat the inevitable heat that plagues the Midwest during the summer and early Fall months. Come winter time I will resort to lunch time runs while at work so that I have daylight as well as some sort of temperature on my side so as not to freeze me completely (though I would much rather run in the cold than in the heat - it is frowned upon to run naked down the street despite the fact that you are melting into a puddle as you do so. Welcome to KS and MO in the Summer.)

So I have recently moved from Kansas (my beloved home state) to Missouri. Just a jump across the river quite honestly so not a huge change.

Though I'm finding differences and having to explore a new city to get my bearings as well as figure out where the best and shadiest running routes are and if these will be clear in the Winter when we EVENTUALLY get snow. Here in the Midwest folks don't know how to plow or shovel. So sidewalks stay snow and ice covered for days if not weeks depending on temps when we get snow. Then I went up to NY for 5 days and discovered that they do not believe in sidewalks since they don't want to HAVE to shovel them. Ok, fair enough, but I do appreciate actually having sidewalks.

Subtle differences you don't notice until you go somewhere else.

So in the past month I have lived at my new place I have discovered the perfect 5 mile loop and easy ways to get 1 mile to 3 miles in on weekdays before work. I have also discovered which directions to go and which to avoid. Also I have come to find out that a lot of people in this city aren't nearly as friendly as my old city back in KS.

It's proper etiquette to wave or at least try to smirk at someone as you pass them while running. The people here have not been quite so gracious. I have been coming in contact with more friendly folks on Saturday morning runs that are a bit later in the morning (9 am ish) versus my weekday 6 am runs.

Though one particular morning last week, I had quite the week last week with running, I had a man who obviously was thinking he could educate me.

I was running my normal route out of the neighborhood. I saw a man getting into his truck and sitting. I knew I had time to get across the drive before he started to pull out (mind you he is backed into the drive so he is more than capable of seeing me should he actually lift his head). So as I'm getting ready to finish passing this driveway he starts up and begins to move forward which is promptly followed by a screeching halt. Mind you, I had already crossed the driveway at this point. I obviously had scared him by just my presence and his lack of awareness to his surroundings. (This happens often with me as I tend to scare people that don't hear/see/pay attention to me.)

So I kept running, I'm not going to stop my run because you aren't paying attention. Then I notice this truck is now slowly following me. At this point the truck is next to me and the window is rolling down. Yes I do run with pepper spray and yes I was thinking "I dare you to get out of the truck because this will end worse for you than me."

He started saying something to me, which I couldn't hear over the rumble of his 2000 Chevy. I had a feeling it had something to do with "pay more attention to where you're going." Which I of course was wanting to yell back "You should pay more attention to your surroundings, regardless of the time of day." But as I know better than to provoke a groggy, probably ill-caffeinated, stranger I kept my mouth shut, hardly looked at him and kept running and clutching my pepper spray in the "open" position just in case.

He eventually took off as I passed a man walking his rat dog and then hit my turn around point. Of course as I come back around I meet the man and his dog again. I'm facing them. He has the little rat on a retractable leash so he should have full control of this tiny dog in more than just one way. I hop over into the street by the curb to let them have the sidewalk and he lets this dog get almost right up to my ankles before he clicks the leash into lock.

Really? I will kick your dog if it bites me, I will also pepper spray it.

Common courtesy in this town - I am thinking (so far) that it lacks this quality.

Last week was a week of crazy, Monday was the man in the truck and the rat. Then Tuesday my alarm didn't go off so i missed my morning run and had to run at my lunch break in the humidity. Ick! Wednesday it rained cats and dogs and I made the stupid choice to go run in it during a light show...yeah lucky to be alive I'm sure of it. Thursday, my alarm again didn't go off, so when my 7 am (LEAVE THE HOUSE) alarm went off I thought it was only 6 am. Well then I get a call from Mike, who was just leaving work. He didn't hear the car noises in the background and asked "Why aren't you gone?" I then realized it was 7 not 6. UGH! Wasn't late for work but still had to run at lunch. Friday, was just a horrid day to be at work and I did get my run in but was just not a good day at all.

This week I have met a spider, whom I have named George, on my front porch in the upper corner. He and I have an agreement that he stays out and keeps the web at a certain place (not interfering with my morning runs or the evening ins and outs that we do occasionally). He and I greet each other in the mornings and I will see the fruits of his web, usually a small moth. As much as I think spiders are gross this one is at least doing me a favor. Just has to obey the rules or he gets knocked down.

George

George trying to hide from the camera

So lessons of the week:
1. Check alarms before bed to ensure timely rising.
2. Check alarm clock before assuming it's actually a certain time.
3. Never trust people in their cars at 6 am, stop and wait regardless.
4. Critters can be a fun little addition to runs, mine just happens to be a spider at my door.