http://www.philandlindsey.com/lindseyruns/

I kinda like this idea though of organizing all my sites in one location and having the ability to try new things. It pushes me to adapt and grow.

Also, it may encourage me to blog more. I hope so because I could sure use a good community to encourage my efforts. I was inspired to take this risk by a fellow blogger and I’d like to see where the journey of running, triathlons, and being healthy takes me next.
See you on the flip side!

Lindsey

But let me tell you, that first run back after a week off – ouch! It was hot, I felt heavy, and it was not a fun experience. However, every run after that has felt easier. It’s nice to start small and build because even small gains feel like encouragement. Encouragement eventually means motivation to keep trying. I mean I’m not insane and we know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So I always look to see progress and if i’m not getting any I switch it up.

Phil did that with his running and strength training. As a guy, he was having some problems with too much muscle gain. I know, insert a little eye roll in there. But what can you do about guys? They lose weight more easily and put muscles on more easily. Although, he has also learned he can’t do five consecutive days of running anymore, just too hard on the legs.

For me, it’s finding a balance between what I eat and how hard I push myself in my running. Taking things down a notch and starting from an easier place in running has really boosted my confidence.I realize May, June, and July mean progressively longer runs until Chicago but I realized how I get to those progressively longer runs is up to me.

So I went back to the principles of the Couch to 5K program to build up my mileage and base. Immediately I felt more happy to go for a run when I knew I could complete the runs and not beat myself up for not going further. I just complete my running segments and slowly add time. We’ll see, I’m still out searching for motivation and whatever else I may find as I run, run, and run some more.

O where, O where has my motivation for working out gone? I love running, I love strength training, and I love any kind of hard workout. But you know what happened? Spring arrived and everything outside turned pretty and everything inside me turned to butterflies and lazy spring afternoons relaxing in the sun. I daydream about reading a book outside and kicking my feet up.

Lately, we’ve done a lot of encouraging of our relaxing behaviors (like ordering the John Adams series to watch from Netflix). I should clarify though. Phil has been good. He goes to the gym, he runs, he lifts weights, he comes home. I pack my gym bag and somehow pack extra underwear but no sports bra. Or, I’ll have so many other tasks going on, I just never quite get around to making it out for my run. Before I know it, dinner and darkness settle in. Oh my, how did I find my butt glued to the couch, curled up in my comfy clothes? Perhaps if I too had baker’s hours so that I was out of work by 3pm, I would have more time for the gym. Well, without the getting up early part.

Or, in the case of last weekend, my attitude was “I just don’t feel like it.” How grown up and ridiculous of me. But I indulged myself for a few days. Enough is enough though and it’s time to find you, my motivation. Where have you gone? Can I entice you back with some homemade pizza Friday night if you’re good all week? I promise. I’ll mix up the dough and freeze just in case you’re good. I wish I knew where you went, I could use some extra encouragement. After all, I’ve got to run 13.1 miles in August.

Please don’t stay gone for long, I need you.

Your humble servant,

Lindsey

I was worried it was going to be too hard to wake up and get to the pool on time but even a few minutes late I still got a 30-35minute workout in and a great start to regular swimming again.

I was worried it would be so busy I wouldn’t be able to find a lane to swim in but I was just in time and found a lane with an easy to swim next to lady.

I was worried the water would be cold and I’d whine the first couple laps until I warmed up but surprisingly it felt so good to jump on in and get splashing around.

I was worried about how my leg would do but for the most part I’m easing back into working out steadily while my hamstring/hip area heals (yeah, it’s a combo thing I got going on).

I was worried I would be starving and take in too many calories before lunch but I did fine. I wasn’t hungry before swimming so I just didn’t eat breakfast until after the swim. And, I ate my normal breakfast without any extra calories. Cool! I’m sure in future weeks when I swim even harder I’ll need a few more calories but it’s nice to know I can do okay when I don’t eat before I swim.

I was worried about starting this new routine but I shouldn’t have been. The swim was great, everything went smoothly, my muscles got a chance to complain, and I started my work day with my workout already finished.

To celebrate Phil’s ice cream flavor in the top 3 of a local contest for the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament and a raise I received at work, we’re going to eat dinner out tonight at our favorite mexican restaurant. Tacos! Thank goodness I can head straight home after work to enjoy the night with my guy!

Now if only I could convince Phil I’m not actually a dolphin. He did the funniest impression of a dolphin this morning. Am I the luckiest girl or what?!?

I suppose I should be excited like this somehow makes me a legitimate runner who encountered an obstacle. Mostly I feel like a dork for doing too much speedwork on a treadmill while also upping my strength training for legs. The strength training was fine, but I just don’t do well on treadmills and I could feel my hamstring complain when I did it. I just thought I’d push through a little since my body will do anything to get out of doing treadmill workouts.

But every workout, my left hip and hamstring hurt a little more and a little more until last Thursday when it became so bad I couldn’t even finish my workout on the elliptical. So sad. So many sighs since then.

I have learned when you do hurt your hip / hamstring area it makes it very interesting trying to find a comfortable seated position. Shift left. Shift right. Lean this way. Lean that way. Cross my left leg over my right. Put my left leg up. And then down. Ice. Then heat. Then Ice. Compressed bandage. Stretch. Walk around a little. Stretch some more. Research online, feel depressed at negative outlook from too many people. Shut off computer and play video games. Shift in seat some more. And… some more.

I’m doing what I can and even thumbing my nose at the injury. I’ve still got my gym bag packed today. I’ll do what strength training I can and perhaps hop on a bike and see how that feels.

My first running injury, you go away. I’ve got some half marathon training to do. Any hamstring / IT band advice out there? I’ve already got the foam roller and I’m doing that. Any luck with massage?

Okay, time to shift in my seat. Happy running and here’s to hoping you stay injury free.

You see I chose to run inside last night because the weather threatened rain here. As I was about to go to my usual treadmill, I walked past the ladies only gym part. Hmmm…. Those treadmills seem pretty nice. And! they don’t have giant TVs right in front of my face annoying me. Yeah, I know I’m in the minority on this one, but sometimes I like to have a tv there but then still be able to gaze off into the distance focusing on nothing and just get into a rhythm of running (if possible). But with a giant tv inches from my face I can’t. And the time of day I’m at the gym I have a hard time finding something I’d like to watch. I’m just not good at treadmills let’s put it at that.

So I hopped on this treadmill in the ladies only gym and initially I felt like I found the pot at the end of the rainbow. This treadmill was right below a fan!!!! Insert woo woo here. The rest of the gym is a big open space and no fans. These treadmills don’t have built in fans either so when I discovered the cool breeze blowing down on me while I warmed up, I felt so lucky.

But then I realized to my front, right, and left were giant mirrors. Uhhh okay, let’s see how this goes. Here comes the reality moment.

I began to warm up and get into running and that’s when I looked to my right to see my side profile form. Oh. My. Word. I looked like I was barely moving! You know how when you’re on a treadmill or even outside and you feel like you are running so fast, well you probably aren’t unless you’re like a 7min mile or under kinda person, then you might be.

No, you see I felt like I had a quick leg turnover and I was focused on good running form and then bam, there’s my slowness proven in the mirror. Major OUCH!

Okay, I realize this shouldn’t be that much of a revelation but still, I at least thought I was faster than that. I’m just saying, next time you think you’re all that and a bag of chips, hop on a treadmill by some mirrors and check yourself out. It’s very humbling.

Oh and then I had to cut my workout short on the cardio part because my hamstring/butt/hip area on left side became more painful. Great, not only am I slower than I thought but I’m hurt too.

I’ll get over both but I just had to say, I used to feel like I was flying when I ran on the treadmill but the cruel mirror crushed my illusions.

Sometimes obstacles come in the form of sweet temptations, like seeing dessert and realizing how much you miss it.

Sometimes obstacles come from pushing yourself too far too fast.

Sometimes obstacles come because you thought you were doing so much better than you actually were.

However they happen, they don’t come with open arms and a friendly hello. It’s more like a grunt and a scathing go away look.

What to do about obstacles? Don’t look at me, I don’t have the solution. I’d like to think pretending it doesn’t exist and looking the other way works but they don’t.

Whether the obstacle is physical, as in a giant pothole where you’re trying to run, or figurative as in a mental roadblock, you have to find a way around it or through it.

Me, I have plenty of obstacles. My method of being patient and waiting it out may not be the best but it seems to me with time things have a way of sorting themselves out.

Either that or I beg and plead… PLEASE GO AWAY OBSTACLES!!!

………

Nope, that didn’t work. Back to waiting, semi-patiently. What are you doing about your obstacles?

Body: knock knock

Me: Who’s There?

Body: It’s me, your body

Me: Oh hello there body, how are you doing? I am having fun on this workout. I just finished a great article in my Runner’s World magazine.

Body: Yeah, about that workout… I am not having so much fun. Didn’t you notice I was beginning to suffer?

Me: Well hmmm, no, I didn’t notice. What would you have anything to complain about? We’re doing the elliptical, working hard, and sweating good!

Body: Well, you didn’t exactly fuel me properly before we started and now my sugar is dropping. See, your hands are shaking aren’t they?

Me: Wow, didn’t notice that before, thanks for pointing that out. I’ll finish up and go get a snack from my bag. I’m sorry about that oversight.

Body: I’ll forgive you this time. Just next time be a little more kind to me. Mmmm k? Thanks!

That was just a little internal dialogue I thought I’d share with you from my workout last night. I had indeed made the mistake of not eating my normal pre-workout snack about an hour before I head to the gym. As a result, while I was working hard I had depleted my resources and my body wasn’t prepared to go the distance.

I find if I have a little snack before I head to the gym, I bridge that long gap between lunch at noon and dinner at 6:30-7:00pm. That’s a long time to go for eating meals especially when I try to work out as hard as possible when I head to the gym.

Lesson learned, don’t cut corners on my body when it’s not cutting corners on me.

Tonight, I’ll make sure I eat my luna bar before I head to the gym for my interval run. Maybe this time I’ll even notice a little spring in my step from a happy body properly fueled for the demands of the evil treadmill.

Happy Friday!

That was a good run but I can run a little bit further. And, it’d be nice if I worked on my pace. <<Not Good Enough>>

Hmmm… My workout music playlist is doing pretty well. I like the songs but it’s not quite right yet. <<Not Good Enough>>

I am lifting heavier weights but not quite seeing the definition I want yet. I need to reduce my body fat percentage some more.<<Not Good Enough>>

My food choices have been good but I could use some more vegetables in my meals. <<Not Good Enough>>

I completed most of my planned workouts for last week. But, I really need to make the time for all my workouts.<<Not Good Enough>>

Now, this isn’t to say we’re (I’m) not happy with my performance or progress so far. In fact, you can often be happy and excited. But, there’s always a part of you that knows there’s something more inside. You believe you are capable of doing more. This little piece of truth is what I believe separates ordinary athletes from extraordinary athletes. Look at the Olympians – they are there competing because they believe they are capable of being there and  worked out harder all the time knowing what they had done was not good enough but that they could do more. You have to believe in your own potential to realize it.

Me, I have some of that Not Good Enough inside. It’s why I push myself. I suppose I could use some more because I don’t always push myself as hard as I could and I reach for a sweet little dessert (too often) instead of some broccoli. But then, that’s that delicious part of life I can’t overlook as well. I look for a little balance of hard work and reward. My balance has been a little off the past year but it’s getting all re-calibrated this year.

I recommend everyone find that balance where they can enjoy the delicious and the Not Good Enough. It’s the Not Good Enough that keeps you going back for more and trying to maintain a healthy body. After all, it’s much easier to enjoy an excellent meal (+dessert) when you can not only fit into your cute clothes but feel good about how you look and move. Feeling healthy and confident in your body is way underrated.

Just be sure you don’t forget to celebrate the successes and the progress you’ve made. It not only makes Not Good Enough work but makes sure you don’t turn that into Never Good Enough. Not Good Enough isn’t ugly like Never Good Enough. Not Good Enough appreciates what you’ve done and celebrates it by saying, we can do a little more. Never Good Enough is a continual punishment where you substitute appreciation for yourself for pure misery.

How have you put a little Not Good Enough into your life? And, what good things came of it?

Me, well my cup overflows with all the good things that have come to me from Not Good Enough. However, I could always use a few more good things.

Back to the GYM!!!

Filed under: Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Tagged: challenges, gym, lessons learned, mental roadblocks, motivation, physical limits, recommendation, strategies for beginner athletes, training advice, workout, workout goals ]]> http://sillyrunner.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/not-good-enough/feed/ 0 SillyLins http://sillyrunner.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/vitaminsupplements-recommendations/ http://sillyrunner.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/vitaminsupplements-recommendations/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:18:00 +0000 SillyLins http://sillyrunner.wordpress.com/?p=1940 ]]> I have a review and a recommendation. Buy this handy dandle pill thingy from CVS! It completely improved for the better how I take pills. And nope, I really don’t have many prescriptions. Instead, I had been struggling on 1) remembering to take my vitamins/supplements and 2) knowing when to take them. Some vitamins and supplements need to be taken with food. Some need to be taken twice a day (ex. calcium because your body can only absorb so much at once). And some, well they can interfere with the few prescription medications I do take.

I found this pill case at CVS when I was picking up a prescription for my guy when he hurt his knee. I looked down, thought “how cool”, and paid for it immediately at the register. Best decision I’ve made in a long time.

You can separate your pills by morning, noon, evening, and night. And best of all… each of the rows for the day pop out. So yup, you can take your day with you and not have to worry about having several bottles of pills in your purse or bag. The small size makes it convenient and helpful.

Best of all, I actually remember to take my vitamins/supplements and I’m feeling great. After all, how many health articles have you been reading lately that keep talking about how this vitamin or that  supplement will change your life?

My Vitamin/Supplements List:

• Fish Oil - 2x a day – Why? Heart disease runs in my maternal grandfather’s family. Sadly, almost all on that side of my mom’s family are no longer with us. Heart disease is no joke.
• Multivitamin - 1x a day – I’m still trying to decide which is the best for me but make sure yours has enough Vitamin D (at lease 600 IUs) , Folic Acid (at least 400 micrograms), 100% essential vitamins, and Iron (at least 18 milligrams). Also, take with food because I’ve found several have made me throw up, yuck!
• Calcium - 2x a day. I’m a woman (with osteoarthritis in her family) and I work out a lot. A perfect combination for adding extra calcium. I take twice a day with food because it helps with absorption.
• Vitamin B12 – 1x a day. I could take more but I like to add a little B12 to my day. First, because I work out a lot and B12 helps with creation of red blood cells (think energy carriers for working out). And second, because I found out I was slightly anemic. B12 deficiency is one form of anemia. Just in case my stomach doesn’t absorb enough B12, I take this supplement under my tongue.
• Iron - 1x a day, not all days. I won’t take this long term, but I did want to make sure I corrected my anemia. Don’t want to go overboard with this supplement because it can be toxic.
• Probiotic - 1x a day – Love this pill! What does it do? It helps promote the healthy growth of good bacteria in your intestines. Not only is it great for digestion but your immune system improves when you have a healthy gut. So ward of sickness and digest properly with a good probiotic. I buy Culturelle. Culturelle is a probiotic supplement featuring the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain of bacteria.
• Melatonin -  I take this a few times during the week, at night, 15minutes before bed. Melatonin helps regulate your sleep cycles. I find if I take it once and a while it helps my body get into a deeper sleep rhythm. Almost like teaching my body how to sleep. I wake up feeling so much more refreshed because I slept good!

What vitamins/supplements to do you take? Any recommendations for me?

Seems like every time I turn around, there’s a new one we should be taking daily. And if you find the number of your pills adding up, go get yourself a snazzy pill case like mine. It will ease the burden and help you tremendously.