Trying to Train Smarter

I cannot say this has been the best summer of my life. Definitely not. Today my family laid to rest a wonderful lady, my grandmother Kathy. It was horribly sad. Her passing was a shock and hard on everyone that knew her.

I don't really want to go into more detail about that, but I thought writing, no matter the subject is a great tool to get your mind on other things.

I think I have to face the fact that my back is not getting better. I have good days, great days, and some awful days. I broke down and called the doctor for an appointment, which is this coming Tuesday. Though I didn't get to try it for very long due to the family emergency. I was going to try training primarily on the treadmill and elliptical while doing the strength training machines at the gym.

That was working out okay and I definitely felt better running on the treadmill, but the bulging disc just keeps coming back. I admit, I had slacked on some of the stretching, but I got back into it last week and this week. Still, I have pain. I have also come to realize that the shoes that I wear during the day, have a big effect on if I'm going to hurt later that day. Flats with no support or anything with a hint of a lift are a definite no right now. I wore a wedge type of dress shoe yesterday and could hardly walk by the end of the day. Ugh! I should not be having these issues. I'm only 29!

But anyway, I have decided to drop down to the 5K from the Beckley Half Marathon that I was supposed to do on September 29th, if I can run at all that is. I also have the Rockey Boys 10K on October 3rd and the Babcock 15K trail run, Stick and Stones, on October 10th. I really hope I can do these. Honestly, I'm to the point I hope I can just get a steroid shot in my back and get back to normal asap! I am so very very over being in pain and feeling weak. I have no idea if I can do any of these runs, but I'm really hoping so! I know I'm not ready for a half and I'm hoping if I can get this resolved in a timely manner that I won't completely fail on Stick and Stones. Though, let's be honest, I'll be walking half of it anyway. It has over 1005 feet of elevation! (For some reason I can't put the elevation chart on here). I've already had to not go to a 5K that my Active Southern WV Training Team participated in. I was going to sign up the day of the race. I woke up that day and was in lots of pain. I had planned on doing the race and then going to our State Fair. I ended up on the coach most of the day with an ice pack on my back. Fun, fun. But I just knew if I had pushed it and tried to run, I would not have made it and been in more sever pain. Once it gets bad I can hardly walk.

Monday, all I did was the elliptical and then the strength training machines. Today was the funeral, so I didn't exercise. Tomorrow, depending on how I feel, I would like to get in a small treadmill run and then strength training, then alternate with elliptical and treadmill for the rest of the week. I know I have to keep trying though. The day I give up on exercise is the day my body will just go downhill all the more quickly. I also have to try to reign my weight back in. The gain is definitely not helping my back and I've definitely been emotionally eating the past few days. Exercising on a regular basis will help with the emotional side, so I just have to get back to my routine.

Send good vibes my way that I can figure something out with the doctor next week!

Summer Vacation 2015

Ah, vacation. Time of relaxing, eating, drinking, laughing, and enjoying life. Yup that about sums up my vacation this year. It may have started out a little rocky since it was the first time we used my parent's camper, but it turned out really well.

Our Redneck Heaven

I promise the beach is just beyond the campers.

We ventured down to Myrtle Beach. Because that's where we are required to go as Southern West Virginians ;)

We had a blast just chilling though. We had a few cookouts, did a lot of reading, and of course went to the beach a lot! It was definitely hot but not unbearable. I got some funny looking burns even though I used 100 SPF sunscreen! I'm officially not a fan of the spray on sunscreen. And no, I did not take a picture of my one streak of burn on my arm and my burnt knees.

I didn't take too many photos since I was busy drinking relaxing. But I at least did get a couple of runs in. I did my long run on Sunday which was about five miles. I meant to do more, but hey it's vacation and it's hot there! I ran in the evening to beat most of the heat though. Honestly I didn't run the rest of the week after that, but some things came up that didn't put me in a running mood, so I just hung out with the family.

Here is a snapshot of our trip:

Feeling Free

Enjoying a beautiful night

Yummy Seafood! - Clams, shrimp, oysters, and crab legs.

Grossness! - Oyster Shot, tasted like hot sauce with a slimy surprise inside.

The week ended with seeing Pippy Longstocking at the local outdoor theater, Theater West Virginia. The kids loved it!

Then on Saturday I went kayaking and tried out something new...

Haha, Mattie hated it! She actually jumped out the first time. The pictures are from the second try. She actually did pretty well and we only had a few attempts to tip us over. Not sure we will attempt it again, but it was fun(ny).

Sunday I ventured over to the Active Southern WV Group run. It went okay. I ended up doing 6 miles. I'm still not sure I like running with a group. I ended up just doing my run/walk, running 2:30 and walking 30 seconds, but they kept waiting on me and then they would walk some so it threw my timing off and I think I walked more than I should have. The run started off horribly though. I felt really weak and not good, probably due to the travel and the sun taking it out of me. I felt okay after a couple of miles though. I had done a little over half a mile by myself before we began just to shake my legs out. Not sure it really helped, but whatever. I'm still feeling kind of blah, but that might be due to the lovely time of the month, so I'm taking my rest days early in the week. I'm sure I'll regret this later in the week.

I was also told that I'm six weeks out to the Beckley Half Marathon! Holy Moly! It will be hilly and hard. Hopefully it won't be too hot though. I'll definitely have to do a walk/run method, just hopefully I feel strong doing it. I have a 5K coming up on the 15th that I need to sign up for and then Labor Day weekend I'm heading to Vermont, so I'll have to make sure I don't slack on my training, running and strength training between now and then. (Don't take today's unexpected rest day as lazing, I will get it done!). I still feel really slow, uncoordinated, fat, and just blah. But I'm working on it. I'm still only running three days a week which follows the Galloway method, but I still might add an extra short run on a day I do strength training.

My back has been doing better. It has been hurting a little yesterday and today, but I've also been lax on stretching so that may have something to do with it. I just tried stretching before sitting down to write and that made it worse. But I know I have to keep it up. Got to keep up with it if I don't want to go back to not being able to walk! Definitely can't have that right before my half. I also have to work off all of my vacation eats and drinks. :)

Week of Action

This was definitely a week of action! 

Lots of family action:

     My grandmother and her beautiful sisters and brother. 

Then I had some scary action going on. I think I'll save the bloody picture, but my boyfriend's chair broke in two and he fell backwards and hit his head on a brick wall! He had two staples put in and is still having headaches on and off :( 

Some standing action:

My work allowed me to get a standing desk since I've been having so much trouble with my back. They ordered the Varidesk Pro 36 and it is amazing. It is easy to put up and down and is very sturdy. I've only gotten to use it a couple of days due to my rotation to work the front desk is up, but I think it will be so helpful! I'm so happy my company was willing to do that and now everyone in the office wants one! I hope they can get it for everyone. Sitting for 7-8 hours a day is so unhealthy for everyone.

And lots of running action:

I tried to get my nephew to join me on a kids fun run. However I thought it started at 6:30, but it started at 6. He was over it within a few feet, haha. I think it might have been more fun if we had started with the other kids. We did make it down the street to the park where he wanted nothing more than to play on the playground. I let him for a few minutes and then bargained with him that if he went back with me we could come back and play after the run was done. He was okay with that so we made it back. He did run back to the finish line since they were cheering for him with cowbells, lol. At least he got ice cream and then got to play on the playground some more! It was all free due to Active Southern WV.

I also joined Active SWV today for my longer run. Unfortunately we don't meet until 2 and it was hot! By that point it was around 85 plus humidity which is always killer here. We did a trail run and then as part of my virtual 10k I did a little more than three additional miles.

I don't know about running with the group. I like them a lot but I get so down on myself running with them since I'm so much slower and need to take walk breaks. I end up pushing too hard in the beginning and then get really tired and end up walking more than I should. I don't know what to really do about it though. I feel like I made a commitment to them and can't back out now...

But I finished the very hot 10k for the Nerd Herd Running  virtual race to help fight cancer. I knew there was no way I couldn't finish even if it was a million degrees (according to the weather man), because of my grandmother (not one pictures above). She is currently fighting very courageously from cancer in a couple of different areas in her body. She is a rock star and doing great so far though! We have to keep moving forward and we can do hard things were the mantras of the day for sure.

And this Thursday I will be having some traveling action! Beach trip with the family. I know I better be getting up early for runs there or I really might pass out from the heat!

Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, and a Training Team

After weeks of physical therapy for my bulging disc in back that was hitting my sciatic nerve, I realized that I wasn't doing anything under their supervision that I couldn't do on my own. After speaking with my doctor, he recommended figuring out a different method if physical therapy wasn't helping. So I signed up for a three month gym membership. It was definitely cheaper with a sale they were having then paying my co-pay for physical therapy once to twice a week. All I was doing in physical therapy were a few machines to strengthen my core and lower back which I can easily do on my own. I'm also doing stretches one to two times a day. I'm supposed to do twice a day, but I sometimes forget....

After I signed up for my gym membership, I signed up for something that I've been wanting to try for years and that my doctor actually brought up. Acupuncture!  I went to On Point Acupuncture I've had two sessions so far and I'm already seeing results. It doesn't hurt, but I can feel when the needles are working on the tense points and feel a type of electric tingle when she puts it in my hips.

From My First Appointment

Yes, needles in my ear.

There were actually a lot more needles used on my second appointment.

So a few weeks ago I joined a training team! It's the Active Southern WV Training Team. It's organized by a group that has a goal to get Southern West Virginia more active. Sadly, West Virginia is one of the most unhealthy states in the US and the southern part of the state is probably the worst. I even got a co-worker and my sister to go on the first day since it was for people that wanted to train for their first race. It unfortunately wasn't really geared towards first time runners, it was for people that wanted to train for a 10K or half marathon. Therefore, it wasn't really right for my sister who is not a runner, but I tried to encourage her to stick with it even if she didn't go as far as some of the other people. The coaches were encouraging, but my sister hasn't been back and I don't think she has energy to put into it right now (she just moved, started a new job and is taking college classes!). I've been following the Jeff Galloway method again for the Half Marathon. Right now I'm alternating running for 1 minute 30 seconds and walking 30 seconds. I run with the group on Sundays and do two runs during the week. I'm working on strength training and some cross training the other days of the week with one - two rest days. I haven't been able to make all the Sunday runs so far due to family matters (like my oldest sister getting married!!), but I've been getting all of my runs in! This past Sunday I went and was going to try to not do the Galloway and just run the full 50 minutes they had on their agenda instead of my 5 miles. However, one of the members got kind of sick. Between trying to wait for her and facing the humidity, I don't think any of us had a fantastic run. There was definitely walking involved and I some slower times. But it was kind of fun to talk about running with people!

Our First Meeting - Source

I've got my eye on a few Fall races. That I will hopefully be able to do injury free and feeling strong. The ones with the team are the Rocket Boys 10K and the Beckley Half Marathon. I'll definitely try to do these two and maaaybe a couple of others! I'll wait to sign up for anything until I'm further along with training to make sure I'm feeling good. So far it has been great getting back into running!

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers Week Monday Tuesday TT Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 off 30 min run off 25 min run easy walk off 3 miles 2 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 3 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 4 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 2.5 miles 5 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6.5 miles 6 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 7 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 8 miles 8 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 9 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 9.5 miles 10 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 11 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 11 miles 12 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 13 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 12.5 miles 14 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 15 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 14 miles 16 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 17 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off Half Marathon Race 18 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 19 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6-8 miles - See more at: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half-marathon-training/#sthash.3S3c1UJK.dpuf

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers Week Monday Tuesday TT Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 off 30 min run off 25 min run easy walk off 3 miles 2 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 3 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 4 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 2.5 miles 5 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6.5 miles 6 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 7 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 8 miles 8 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 9 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 9.5 miles 10 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 11 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 11 miles 12 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 13 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 12.5 miles 14 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 15 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 14 miles 16 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 17 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off Half Marathon Race 18 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 19 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6-8 miles - See more at: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half-marathon-training/#sthash.3S3c1UJK.dpuf

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers Week Monday Tuesday TT Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 off 30 min run off 25 min run easy walk off 3 miles 2 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 3 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 4 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 2.5 miles 5 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6.5 miles 6 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 7 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 8 miles 8 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 9 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 9.5 miles 10 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 11 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 11 miles 12 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 13 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 12.5 miles 14 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 15 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 14 miles 16 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 17 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off Half Marathon Race 18 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 19 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6-8 miles - See more at: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half-marathon-training/#sthash.3S3c1UJK.dpuf

Half Marathon Training Schedule for Runners and Walkers Week Monday Tuesday TT Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 off 30 min run off 25 min run easy walk off 3 miles 2 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 3 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 4 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 2.5 miles 5 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6.5 miles 6 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 7 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 8 miles 8 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 3 miles with MM 9 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 9.5 miles 10 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles 11 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 11 miles 12 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 13 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 12.5 miles 14 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 4 miles with MM 15 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 14 miles 16 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 17 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off Half Marathon Race 18 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 5 miles 19 off 30 min run off 30 min run easy walk off 6-8 miles - See more at: http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half-marathon-training/#sthash.3S3c1UJK.dpuf

Ace Wonderland Mountain Challenge

*not sure why my last post didn't post on the day I wrote it. Now you get two in one day!*

I've been to the physical therapist only once so far, but with some steroids that reduced the inflammation and stretching I'm already feeling better. Starting tomorrow we are going to work on getting my core, flutes, and lower back stronger. I'll write more as I progress. 

My Memorial Day weekend was amazing! 

First I learned that my sister got the job where I work which will be amazing for her! No more weekends for her! Of course we had to celebrate. I didn't take a picture of my food, so the pitcher of hard cider (that I shared), the chips, and the amazing hamburger that I had don't count. Right? 

Saturday was fantastic. It started off with my longest run yet. The Ace Wonderland Mountain Challenge, a 10K trail run. I wasn't in shape enough and was told to go easy on the uphills (like I had a choice) so my time was very slow at 1 hour and 40 minutes. BUT I went out there and went for it and it was fun! 

I have a lot of work ahead of me, but right now I'm thankful I can get out there at all and that I can even walk! The run was followed by a burrito buffet which you see above. They have another run in August which I'm thinking about doing. Everything was really well marked and even though there was only one water stop I had my Camel Back on so it wasn't an issue.

Saturday night one of my best friends got married. They were going for a very unconventional wedding and they succeeded! I had a great time though with my closest friends.

Sunday and Monday consisted of family and outdoor time. My family had been camping so I hung out with them on Sunday. I got a bit of bike riding and more hiking in.

My mom and nephew. He was over the walk at this point. I had to keep distracting him.

And Monday I was mostly lazy but did take Mattie on a two and a half hour hike.

It was a really pretty day, turns out my phone was on sepia or something. Hence the weird colors. It was truly a great weekend. My back is a bit sore but nothing terrible. Yay! 

Down and Out

I'm down and out today with sciatica so I thought it would be a good day to catch up! 

I've been working on running more consistently and getting in walks or bike rides on the off days. I'm currently using Jeff Galloway's 10k training plan.

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/5k10kschedules/

(This is coming from my phone and I can't do hyperlinks)

Anyway, I'm doing a run 3 minutes walk 1 minute method. It's going pretty well. I will be starting week three this week so we will see how the longer times go.

The weather has been hit or miss lately but I've been getting out no matter the weather. I can't stand the thought of a treadmill right now! 

Mattie and I running at night. I fashioned a head light for her! 

New River in WV

Hiking the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Though I have to say I was disappointed that nothing was in bloom yet at the higher elevations.

My birthday present. A new bike helmet so I can try out more road biking. 

I've only had a chance to try the helmet out once. I was so nervous to go on the roads by myself for the first time. I made it though and had a good time! I could definitely tell my legs weren't used to biking hills.

The weather should be turning for the better so I should be able to get a lot of biking in soon! 

Unfortunately my weight is still in the 180's which is down a bit from the highest after being on prednisone. But as I'm becoming more consistent and the more I'm getting outside my weight is slowly creeping down. My sister is getting married in June so I hope to be down a few more pounds by then.

Celebrating her bachlorette party at the Biltmore in North Carolina. A truly gorgeous place.

Well that's all I have for now. I've got some races coming up so im sure I'll be posting more soon! 

Yeah Yeah

Yeah yeah, it's been since October since I posted anything. But I haven't been completely out of the game. In October I did a Zombie run which was fantastic and I will try to do again this year! Then I also did the Thanksgiving Turkey trot 5K. After that I feel like the holidays made me a bit lazier unfortunately.

I've been getting back at it though! Today I did Run For Cookies virtual 5K. 

As you can see it was incredibly slow, but I'm giving myself some slack since I helped my sister move today. 

No I haven't really lost any weight but I feel like my eating habits are getting much better. I would like to get back into the habit of blogging so I can keep track of my progress. All of this seems so much harder but maybe I don't remember how it really was. But no excuses. Time to get it back and feel good. 

I've been trying to find some races to reach for this year but haven't quite decided on any yet. I need a training plan soon though!