Running in the thick, warm air is a bit different from the cool, crisp air. I know, I know. Not rocket science or some major discovery. I guess before last night I just lumped May-September into the hot category and didn’t give much thought to the breathing difficulties when mixing it with pulling my big ass along the trail. I felt like I was sucking in steam at times. It was gross.
As much as I wanted to quit or slow down and take a nice leisurely stroll instead, The Crazy Runner was there 2 steps in front of me to pull me along. For the entire 2.5 miles last night. In fact, for the first time in our short bit of running together last night was the first time I didn’t count every step as being one closer to the end. When we made the 3rd lap of the lake I was shocked. “Hey, was that three already?” I asked her.
“Yup!”
I almost hugged her. Not because I like hugging (I don’t), but because I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been thinking about it the entire lap. Now, I’m not even remotely suggesting I like running yet or that I wasn’t tired or that every inch of my lower body wasn’t screaming at me. I still hate running, I couldn’t breathe and I hurt like hell. But I wasn’t counting down like usual. That was nice. I have hope that someday I can like this running thing. Big hope.
But the even bigger hope – to get my ass motivated to run without TCR. Like by myself. This is one of the hardest things for me and I need to overcome. And soon. I realized yesterday when I was in the bitchiest mood ever that I just needed a good run to sweat out some anger and clear my head a bit. And since I’m not enjoying any of those fun things like drinking, drugs or carbs I need something to relieve the stress and lighten my mood. And I can’t wait for someone else to be available. It must be a priority.
I’ve been trying to follow people on twitter who are active runners and I’ve been reading more blogs by these folks also. It definitely helps me get motivated and makes me want to push and be consistent. Well, with the exception of the great motivating blog I’d been enjoying until the damn sermon-like preachy post that was made on Easter. Bleh. Almost deleted from my google reader. I’ll go to jesiis.com if I wanna read about that.
Oh! And let’s please acknowledge the fact that while I’ve been absorbing all things running lately I have NOT spent one red penny on running clothes or shoes! I mentioned last week that I was about to break down, but instead bought a couple dresses and some sandals. I’m not buying anything running related until I’m up to 15 miles a week. Mark my words. In pencil, please.
Do you read any health/fitness/running blogs? Follow anyone on twitter who motivates you? Please share! I generally don’t love the big blogs (Eat Live Run or Carrots & Cake type bs blogs) – I’d rather read people who are normal and enjoy being active, who aren’t trying to make money blogging and aren’t structuring all their posts in the same manner or posting pics of every meal they eat. I think you know what I mean. People like keyalus, becelisa, Pursuit of Happiness.
I’m with you Barista. I hate every. fucking. step. I started back running a few weeks ago about 2-3 days a week to go with biking about the same. Only running a mile so far, then walk/run up to about 3. I will never. fucking. likeit. But I do feel good when I hit the showers.
Agreed! I always feel great afterwards, but getting there is such a bitch.
I love the feeling after I work out but I never seem to be able to talk myself into working out.
Melissanibbles and Maurametolove are great!!
I’ve read Maura, but not Melissa – going to find her now. Thanks!
LOL at the sample blogs you listed. I don’t read most of the bigger blogs because I don’t find that style of posting interesting and I *hate* oatmeal. Plus the 150 comments that state “OMG That looks so good!” are not at all interesting. I so want to know which blog you are referencing with the Easter post!
Oddly enough, I am just now starting to read a lot of “runner” blogs. I usually like to read about regular folks doing stuff and not so much “how to” type people. Here are a few runners that I’ve started reading regularly. You can always find more blogs by checking out their blogrolls too!
http://averagewomanrunner.blogspot.com/
http://eatdrinkandbemeiri.blogspot.com/
http://girlxoxo.com/
http://www.enduranceisntonlyphysical.com/
http://23imaginaryfriends.blogspot.com/
Yes, the comments are part of the annoyance for me, too. In fact, I hate commenting on your blog these days because I started to feel like I was a cookie-cutter Keyalus cheerleader and I hate people like that, but you seriously are one of my main motivators because you’re real and you’re doing the damn thing. That’s what I like to read.
Thanks for the great list! I’ll be checking these out today.
I am a proud card carrying member of the Keyalus fan club! I think its more because I know her and how hard it is to do what she does. I think encouragement and cheerleading are good. Judge me :)
No judgment from me. Her hard work and how consistent she is amazes and inspires me. Any time I want to flake on a workout I hear WWKD in my head.
The only fitness blog I read is Keyalus. I also read YumYucky from time to time. Pretty funny and imformative blog.
I would say that I have one run out of 50 where I’m not thinking, is this torture almost over? Yet I still love it. And that one run (where I’m still huffing and puffing but was distracted by my awesome motivating music choices) makes it worth it. Well sometimes.
I’m a big follower of Becelisa, Maura, (myself, ha) and actually the Hungry Runner Girl [http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/] (although she was recently diagnosed with a femoral stress fracture) but she posts a ton of inspiring runs and great playlists for her spin classes.
Blogspot blogs drive me nuts (sorry blogspot folks) so I tend to stick with wordpress. It’s hard these days to find people who are motivating (but not to the extreme – be it at a sport that consumes them or posting every meal). If you come across any, please do share.
One of my buddies is an avid runner. Marathon should be her middle name. I’ve made a commitment to run vicariously through her.
Not sure when you last purchased shoes…but its a good investment. I wouldn’t hold off if you need good running shoes. I haven’t been running but the last time I did, shin splints! I know its time.
This made me laugh because I’m by no means holding out on something I need. I have 14 pair of running shoes and I’ve only run in 2. Yes. 2. This is why I want so badly to become a real runner – so I can justify my love of running clothes and shoes. Judge me :)
Grr, apparently my comment didn’t go through yesterday!
Other than days where my amazing music selections help me zone out for 30 seconds at a time, every run seems to take such effort. But it’s that feeling after that really does make it all worth it.
I religiously read Becelisa, Maura (ha, and myself :) ). It’s really hard to find blogs that are interesting and motivational without getting too preachy (or completely ignoring the reality – which yes sometimes means talking about negative things). I also dislike blogspot blogs (sorry blogspot folks) so those aren’t on my radar. I’ve been reading The Hungry Runner girl (http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/) — she is pretty motivational when it comes to running (she ran a marathon on a treadmill) and lists her spin playslists which are always full of good songs. She recently fractured her femur (or something along those lines) so the running isn’t on there much right now.
If you find any, please do share!
For some reason you went to spam! I just found both of your comments there. That’s odd.
I hate blogspot blogs, too. They’re a pain in the ass for commenting and I pretty much avoid them like the plague…with few exceptions.
No blog recommendations for you – but I will agree that running is HUGE for helping me deal with stress, combat depression, get out my anger, etc. And when I’m done – I feel awesome. I feel strong, sexy, powerful and like I can do anything – so stand back! I am a woman!
Haha. But that being said, every run I set a “time” I want to run — it works better for me than miles, because I can count down each and every minute on my phone. I also know exactly how many steps per minute I am running depending on my pace, so if my motivation lags, I count steps. I tell myself- 200 more. Then, another 200… It works! Because really, when you want to quit – can you honestly say you couldn’t run just 10 more steps? or 50? or 100? Because we know we can. Step by step you will get there!