Mind Games

Holy 9 days since my last post. You guys must be all cramped up from refreshing your browser. Well, click no more, Im back! Ugh, yes Ill wait while you go grab some ice...

...Im not really sure why I havent blogged for over a week, but Im going to go ahead and blame it on the Goose, as the majority of the hip hop world seems to be doing. No, in all seriousness its just boring to write about random 3-4 mi runs. Nothing much to report on the running front. I have yet to do a longer run, but DEFINITELY plan on getting that in this weekend. We havent really decided if we are going to do the Fairfield Half on the 28th, but thats only because there is another race (Chatham Road Race) the same weekend and we arent quite sure which one is going to trump the other and steal its queen (ie, me!).

Ive been doing a lot of repeats-uphill, which is really strange. Everyone knows I hate inclines; I tend to lean towards the reclines of "clines". I am aware, however, that this is the best thing I can do for my running right now (short of getting those longer runs in). You know what they say! Smile til you mean it! Do it til you love it! Pain is weakness leaving the body! And all that good stuff. I guess I just love self-torture, but the truth is... its kind of working!

I started out small. Just running a blocks at a time uphill, but now Ive noticed that I can run farther without wanting to intubate myself and apply 20ml's of O2 on a non-rebreather mask. Go me! It is a fact that you cant spell IMPROVEMENT without PROVE. Just had to prove to my little legs that I could do it. Cheesiness aside, ive been using a little trick that I read somewhere (source unknown). Apparantly, its NOT okay to recite to yourself "Man, hills are the worst, No, No, No, I need to stop, I hate hills, Hills are hard, etc.". I Cant Remember et al., says that it is actually better to choose a positive mantra and repeat it to yourself and let the positive vibes carry you up the hill. That way you focus on the phrase and not the hill. Little mind game comin at ya.

Ive used a few phrases, mostly derived from popular hit songs, such as the Black Eyed Peas "Lets go, Lets go" or The Kook's "Shine on". Ive also made up a few of my own, like "Rock it", "Kill it", "Beast it", "Own it", and have even stooped so remedial as to simply chant "RUN RUN RUN". Whatever works at the time, really! I think the point is, that no matter what you choose, as long as it overrides the "NO NO NO" in your head, its olive branches and gold medals for you, my friend.

Anyway, my plan is to do 6-7 mi this weekend and be more committed to maintenance runs throughout the week. Oh, how could I have forgotten! I got new kicks! They are SO AWESOME! But, Ill write about that tomorrow. But, just know. They are phenomenonal. Like, mind blowing.

What Hilary wants, Hilary gets.

This just in! Literally! Timestamp: Like 5 seconds ago. After long deliberation, Hilary has decided that she is going to train for the full marathon! How great. One catch though. Nothing is ever easy with Hilary, there is always a catch.

"I was thinking about maybe wanting to train for the full marathon though, but maybe not hartford, maybe somewhere else more fun and more motivating?"

Apparently, the Hartford is not motivating enough for her. I dont see why not? The course takes us right through the scenic capitol city; leaving no dilapidated or non-occupied buildings to the imagination. Drug deals and spanglish beckoning... half naked, blue bandana'ed children parading about the street. What's not to love?

Im hesitant about this for a few reasons. Most of which involve the lack of poster board signage and cheering section that would be present in another state. It would be fun to go somewhere else, though. Conundrum! Here are a few races I pulled up. Thoughts?

Baltimore Running Festival, Baltimore, MD 10-10
Marine Corps Marathon, Arlington, VA 10-25
Amica Marathon, Newport, RI 10-18
Manchester City Marathon and Half Marathon, Manchester, NH
Philadelphia Marathon, Philadelphia, PA 11/22 **Hilarys choice

In other news. I decided to 'play it smart, kid', and took the later part of last week off. I made my triumphant return to the streets last night when I laced up the streets for a short 40 min run. I put a proverbial cherry on top of THAT sundae with 30 min of yoga. The time off was well spent and the right decision. My legs were strong and my energy was back. The yoga (more like timed stretching for this rookie) was also very helpful to try to ameloriate some of my leg tension and back pain. All was good in the hood until Ms. Hilary decided that we absolutely HAD to play tennis.

NOT good in the good. Tennis ordinarily hurts my back the first few times back on the courts, so it was to be expected. I knew it was the wrong decision, but... have you not learned from the blog title or subtext? What Hilary wants, Hilary gets! Part of me was just thinking 'welp, it already hurts, why not throw a couple more kinks and knots back there'. That I did. I plan on taking tonight off, but doing more yoga because I think its really going to help me. Plus any excuse to buy absolutely necesary nike embossed athletic gear for my new found sport.

In other news. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GEORGGGEEEE. Happy Birthday to GEORGE! You look like a runnerrrr, and you smell like one TOO. No, really. Ever heard of deoderant? I kid, I kid. Happy Holidays fellow friend, runner, and blog follower! I hope you have the greatest day ever and that it is made all the sweeter by a long, lively, libation-filled time with your family tonight!

Oh, Happy Holidays!

How could I have forgotten!!! HAPPY NATIONAL RUNNING DAY!!! YAHOO!!! Look at all these running events and not one near me! Oh well, Ill throw my own party! And then bake a cake, and then throw it out, as this blogger suggests. Or do the exact...opposite...of that.

"I believe it's jogging or yogging. it might be a soft j. I'm not sure, but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild" -Ron Burgundy

Acute to Chronic. "Wah" to "Wah Wah"

WTF. What I originally thought to be ExerciseTV induced acute "soreness", has launched its ugly face, grew two horns and has metamorphed into what appears to now be CHRONIC BACK PAIN. I cant think of anything worse Id like to have. Being a mere 5' 0.5'' tall, my back makes up like, 4 feet of me! I am in complete agony and want to die. I cried myself to sleep last night. Okay, I hate complaining (thats not even remotely true), but you just need to get the drift of how severe this is.

But, the show must go on so, yes, I did complete my scheduled 3mi run last night. Not without interruption though. First, as Im getting ready to roll and test run my new cool double wicked socks, I hear footsteps coming up my 3rd floor apartment. Hello Robber? Now's not a good time. Nope, my good friend Mike Gugliotti! Pleasant surprise! Chat, chat, chat... Im off for my run. I get about 1.5 mi in and I hear incessant car horn beeping. Now, being as drop dead gorgeous as I am (kidding), this is nothing Im not used to, but then the car stopped. Annoyed I stop to see what the fuss and commotion is about-- BEHOLD! Robbie Lane and Pat Bordieri!... insert another .5 mi...Oh HELLO ex-cousin Erica and your new boyfriend, nice to meet you!....insert another 4 steps... oh HELLO Adam Boccalette smoking a bogie in the front yard.

*Sigh* Such is the life of being Ms. North End. Ive consulted with my motivational coach Mr. Kevin Witkowski and he has suggested that I run elsewhere-- like, in another town. Laughing, I shrugged this off with my half functional back, then stopped. He kinda has a point. So now Ive decided to take a different way home from New Haven and take a little detour to Wadsworth Park! Nice trails and perfect for when it gets more hot out. This also avoids the tiny problem of me wanting to fall limp into bed as soon as I get home from work. A TWO-FER!

So my game plan for the back. The issue with back pain is that it that in something like 85% of cases, the origin cannot be found. I am in no mood to be parading about Middlesex County, going to doctor to doctor, co pay to co pay, just to tell me that. I think it actually stemmed from not stretching my legs properly, which led to my back over-compensating, blah blah blah. So Im going to start doing yoga to remedy this. Actually, I started this morning! In my cube! Imagine my friend/co-worker Sarah's surprise when she came to my cube to talk business and Im in downward doggie position. Hilarious. Teary eyed, I proclaimed, "Stop making fun of me! I cant even bend over and touch my toes."

But my back up plan is to make an appointment with a chiropractor (even though I dont believe in them), JUST IN CASE something else more severe is going down in my sciatica business. Ill keep you posted on my pain level, oh dont you worry. Until I know what it is though, figure Ill keep running. Yeah, thats the safest thing to do. 5 mi tonight!

No, but seriously...

Game face? ON. Well, that's really my game back, but, anyways. These past few weeks, lets face it-- Ive kind of been screwing around. Running when I feel like running, not running when I dont feel like running, and generally just slacking. I mean, this was always the plan, so its not like Im going to punch myself repeatedly over it (like I recently saw in a disturbing episode of Intervention). Im sure people can see how it isnt hard to get sick of running. The New Balance commercial most accurately depicts this relationship in their new campain, which I feel is actually loosely based on my life. So, taking a break is natural and its absolutely necessary for what I have lined up for myself for the next couple months. Without a break I would probably quit running. And since I cant swim and hate bikes, that would pretty much leave me sedentary (minus the few occassional wii tourneys). Ive been actually pretty good about keep myself active and mixing it up so Im happy with myself for once. Anyway, the start of the official schedule (before it was modified to include an extra 6 weeks of "maintenance" running) starts either last week or this week, officially.

Yesterday, marked my first official run that I considered to be towards training- logging in at a little over 4mi. It was a pretty good run, and on a familiar route in Glastonbury and with a familiar running partner-- THE Hilary Felton-Reid. Hilary is my best friend, standby running partner, and who I trained for the past two Half Marathons with. We know eachother's running styles more than the back of our hands and I have my best runs with her. Anwyay, it was a very hot day and we were literally inhaling pollen. I was hungover and ate terribly the day before and wore my old sneakers. All of these factors sucked and a lot of the run sucked, but I finished and the miles are logged. All I care about at this point! Everything else can be fixed and modified. For instance, maybe next time dont take shots with everyone who suggests a shot. Dont wear your old half marathon, trodden streets "for old times sake", and do not eat high fatty, high calorie food just because it will make a dent in your hangover.

Rookie mistakes.

Here is whats coming up this week. I think Im going to jump ahead a week and count mile 4 as Week 8. Ya know, because I can.

Monday: REST
Tuesday: 3mi
Wednesday: 5mi
Thursday: 3mi
Friday: REST
Saturday: 6mi
Sunday: CROSS