Week 3 of my 30-Day Running Challenge was similar to Week 2
in that it was not very exciting. It’s
been very cold here in Louisville—like, walk outside and you immediately freeze
where you stand cold. And because
getting out of bed on time in the morning is a daily struggle for me, and I
work 10+ hour shifts a day, my runs are limited to nighttime, when it’s
blistering cold and all I want to do is crawl under a cozy blanket and cuddle
with Tilton while watching our shows.
Needless to say, finding the motivation to run when I get home from work
has been tough. I’m doing my best to
stick with it though. During Week 3
(January 4 – January 10), I only ran 3 days again. Bummer.
Here’s what I did for Week 3:
Day 15 (1.4.15):
Rest (SICK) <<Supposed to be a rest day>>
Day 16 (1.5.15):
2 ½ mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 12, Supposed to do 2 mile
jog>>
Day 17 (1.6.15):
Rest <<Supposed to do a 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog>>
Day 18 (1.7.15):
Rest <<Supposed to do a 2 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, ½ mile jog>>
Day 19 (1.8.15):
2 mile jog <<Make up from Original Day 13, Supposed to do 1 ½ mile jog>>
Day 20 (1.9.15):
Rest <<Supposed to be a rest day>>
Day 21 (1.10.15):
½ mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 1 mile jog <<Make up
from Original Day 14, Supposed to be a 1 mile jog, ¼ mile walk, 2 mile
jog>>
So, looking at where I finished up Week 3, I’m about a
week behind schedule on finishing my 30-day challenge. I’m still planning to complete the challenge,
but it looks like it’s going to take me closer to 37-40 days to complete. I’m trying to catch up to schedule as much as
I can, but I still need my rest days, so I’m probably stuck where I am, barring
no further interruptions.
Here are my notes from Week 3:
Day 15 :
Rest (SICK, but was a scheduled rest day)
Day 16:
This run (surprisingly) felt great!
I thought that after having 4 days off from being sick it would be a lot
tougher than it was. My joints (hips,
knees, and ankles) felt stiff and sore at first, but warmed up quickly. It was really cold out (24 degrees, but felt
like 14), so breathing was difficult, but I really focused on that and felt
pretty good!
Day 17: Rest (Because well… it was
frickin’-frackin’-freezing!)
Day 18: Rest (See Day 17’s excuse above.)
Day 19: It was crazy cold, and I was
DREADING this run. I’ve come to the
realization, however, that I live in Kentucky, and old man Winter doesn’t care
if I need to run or not. The cold is
sticking around, and I just have to suck it up!
My knees and ankles still ache today, but I seem to be in better control
of my breathing, which makes the runs easier.
Day 20: Rest (It was a scheduled rest day
+ it was Friday…I just couldn’t do it.)
Day 21:
I did not like the walking breaks on this run. I felt like they slowed me down, and it was
tough to get back going. The overall run
felt pretty good though. My breathing is
definitely improving, and I don’t feel like I really have to even think about
it much anymore. I feel like I’m turning
a corner, and my runs are becoming more relaxing and therapeutic for me!
Looking back at Week 3, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t
disappointed in myself for letting the freezing temperatures discourage me from
running. Yes, it’s cold out, but I
should have considered that when I decided to take this challenge, right?
Or maybe I should just blame my parents for the
fact that I was born in the winter. If they
could have just waited a few more months to conceive me, I’d be starting my 29th
year, and the year of making myself a runner, during the beautiful spring
months! I'm kidding, of course... sort of. Here’s to making
Week 4 a better one!
And here's a little motivation:
Until next time…
Ps. This week, I
was having a lot of issues with my knees and ankles (and sometimes hips),
hurting/aching. It’s not terribly
painful, just kind of annoying.
Have you ever experienced anything like this? Any recommendations on how to prevent/relieve
the pains?
Hey Trish!!! Running in the cold has definitely been a challenge for me. This is really the first winter that I have ever ran outside for. Back in the day when I was running, I always went to a gym in the winter or just didn't run. Don't worry about being behind...it's that you keep going that matters most! You can do it. A few things that have been keeping me motivated are....1. I have a wonderful sister-in-law that will randomly ask how running is going. (Find a person.) 2. I connected with my brother on the Nike+ app. He can tell how many miles I run. We set challenges and small goals that keep me going. 3. I bought a few new winter accessories that help me "feel" like a runner. Some cute pink gloves and an ear warmer. 4. I have a calendar that hangs in my kitchen that I write my miles on. It's a constant reminder of what I need to do.
ReplyDeleteIn terms aching and hurting....STRETCHING and SHOES have been key for me! Being that I am a little older this time around on my running journey I wanted to make sure that I do things that will help keep me injury free. Before I always had shin splints and paying attention to these two variables have kept me feeling good thus far.
I'm definitely no running expert, but maybe some of my thoughts will help. :)
Keep at it girl!
xoxo