Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Getting the motivation back

The last couple of days I have been thinking more and more about getting my butt out there running. On Sunday I decided to go for a 10 minute run, after my bike ride. It seems strange to go for a run after a bike ride, because it isn't easy but I wanted to. Plus I kinda like brick workouts. Weird, I know.

I hate running in the heat, so I usually skip running in July and August. I have been wanting to get my motivation back so I thought 10 minutes is better than nothing. And I was right. I felt good after running those 10 minutes. It was about 85*, but I didn't feel that hot. Probably since I biked 5 miles and was already hot. I felt slow and sluggish and my second 5 minutes were really a struggle, but I did it.

Then on Monday, I went out for another 10 minute run. I walked up to the local park and ran 10 minutes around the path. It's pretty hilly and a struggle for me honestly. I figured the hills make up for the lack of bike ride. I think I might have been right! The one hill that kills almost killed me! I had to do a "run to that bench, run to that tree, run to that playground..." But, I did it!

I know .03 of a mile isn't that much, but I'm happy. The goal is to run faster and to run through the end of the summer. Since I hate running in the heat, just having a goal of 10 minutes is manageable. I can do 10 minutes. This gets me back into the habit of running, which is what I desperately need. Why?

I have set up some goals and challenges for myself over the next year. What are they?

1. Finish my 14 in 2014 Challenge. I've only run 5 races so far. I need 9 more. Eep! I have the following on my radar:
    • Boardwalk 5k - Atlantic City, NJ {August 23, 2014}
    • Quarterback Club of York 5k - York, PA {September 1, 2014}
    • Bird-in-Hand 5k - Lancaster, PA {September 5, 2014}
    • Cupcake Classic 5k - Hanover, PA {September 13, 2014}
    • Troeg's Hop Dash 5k - Hershey, PA {October 5, 2014}
    • Baltimore Running Festival 5k - Baltimore, MD {October 18, 2014}
    • Pumpkin Chase 5k - Harrisburg, PA {October 25, 2014}
    • Kids Peace Trick-or-Trot 5k - Baltimore, MD {November 1, 2014}
    • Hero Run 5k - Harrisburg, PA {November 2, 2014}
    • Girls on the Run 5k - York, PA {December 6, 2014}
    • Celtic Solstice 5 Miler - Baltimore, MD {December 13, 2014}
2. Complete the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in under 1 hour. I've had this as a goal for a year and a half. I would like to accomplish it on December 13, 2014.

3.  I'm also tossing around the idea of running two half marathons on back-to-back Sunday's to make it into Half Fanatics.  I'm already signed up for the Shamrock 8k and Half Marathon in Virginia Beach March 21 & 22. I kinda want to run The Love Run again next year and that is the following Sunday, March 29th. Totally doable. This Half Fanatics thing has been in my head for a year or two, but I've been too nervous about doing it. The more I think about it though, the more I want to do it.

Maybe I'm just getting my motivation back for running. Maybe? Let's hope so!


2 comments:

  1. Great job! Start small and increase from there! Pretty soon 10 minutes will feel effortless and 20 minutes will be your new threshold. :)

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    1. Oh, I can run more than 10 minutes at a time. I just hate running in the heat! 10 minutes in the heat isn't horrible because I'm turning around so quickly. LOL!

      I think I'm going to do 20 minutes this coming Sat., then go back to 10 minutes during the week. I just need to get back into the habit of running. It seems silly to run 10 minutes - so much prep for so little time - but I'm not stressing about the temps as much.

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