Okay, I can’t hold off on talking about running any longer. If you’re not into working out, feel free to skip this one. But it’s been a while since I’ve given an update, so here goes:
I’ve been lazy this winter. Not as lazy as I was before I started “really” running, but lazier than I would like. At some points I’m only running once or twice a week.
I’ve gotten cocky. After running the marathon, I have this subconscious attitude that if I can do that, the half marathon I plan to run in April will be easy. As in, I don’t need to train. As in, I’m being dumb.
When I have been running, it’s been on a treadmill. I do not like running in extreme cold, so I’ve been staying indoors. Part of this is I’m clumsy and I have no desire to slip and fall on ice, but part of it is I just don’t feel like it.
I’ve gotten fat. Okay, not super fat, but I’ve put on about 5 lbs since I’ve started being lazy. Part of this is probably due to the fact that I’ve also been eating like crap.
Just when I decided all this had to change now, I got sick. And spent the better part of a week on the couch not running.
The good news? I have been doing other workouts, some. Not as much as I should, but I’ve made a conscious effort to do other things besides run. My goal is health/fitness, not just running. Plus, cross training helps me be a better runner, so it’s all for the greater good.
So, now that the sick is over, I’m rededicated to getting back to it. I’ve run every day since Sunday, and one of those runs was even outside. It was way harder than it should have been – I ran the greenway in Athens with Chris. The last time I did this, in October, it was a lot easier to tackle the hills than it was on Monday. However, I can still feel the remnants of my chest cold affecting my breathing, and I know that’s part of it.
I’ve been doing interval runs for the first time in the past couple of months. I do feel as if I’ve gotten faster on the treadmill. Now it’s up to me to apply that outside.
I haven’t forgotten about my list of races that I wanted to do, but I have had to prioritize a little more than I’d planned due to budget concerns. I am definitely running the South Park half marathon in April – that’s the one I’m training for. Of course I’ll do the fall marathon(s) too, but I might have to skip some of the smaller races. Bummer, but it does add up.
I miss distance running, and my training program is leading up to getting some of it back. I’m to run 8 miles on Saturday, so I’m looking forward to that in a dreadful sort of way.
Winter or not, I’m not giving up! Is anyone else feeling lazy? How do you force yourself out there in the winter ice/snow/rain/muck?