Definitely not 8 miles

My feet decided that they didn't want to run 8 miles today. Usually I would tell them to shut up and keep moving, but with my Pig Jig on Saturday, I backed off. I broke my running up today. I ran a few miles in Chelan, then came home for a couple hours and ran another 2 miles. I spent about an hour looking up nutrition facts and tips on runnersworld.com trying to help me eat the right foods that will give me energy during my runs, while not overloading me. We will see how it goes.

New Shoes and 8 Miles

I took a break day for my birthday and yesterday I finally bought new shoes! I ran a mile and did some exercises to try to work them in. I hate working in new shoes. It seems like no matter which style or size I get, after wearing them for a little while, my heels get bloody. Everything went well for the one mile run I went on, so I am hoping it stays that way.

Ironically, I was planning on running my 8 miles today. I still want to, but I am not a fan of bloody feet, so I am going to run around Riverwalk to see how it goes. I have my 5K on Saturday and don't want my feet messed up for that but I want my shoes worked in. I love this timing...

Monday

After taking two days off in a row, I needed to get out for a while. I don't want to hurt my knee or hip, so decided to go for an easy 6.5 run/walk. I walked up most of the steep hills (which made up about 2 miles of that route) and ran the rest. My knee didn't start to act up until I hit mile 5, but even then it was just annoying rather than painful. The stretching exercises I have been doing and the new shoe inserts have made it so I don't have any problems with my hip anymore. I can only imagine how much better I will feel when my taxes come back and I can buy new shoes :) And I will be buying more than one pair! Unless my computer keeps insisting on acting up, in which case I will be getting a new laptop and only one pair of shoes. It was such a nice route though. I ran around Dry Lake to Banjo Creek Farms, along Wapato Lake, then looped around Roses Lake and ended up back at my house. It was the first time I have made that run and it was nice to mix things up.

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order. (Mosiah 4:27)

This is my excuse for this lazy week :) Taking care of myself and not pushing too hard combined with diligence, will help me to ultimately "win the prize." Or so I tell myself.

This Week

The after running picture :)

I know and have read several articles about having bad running days, but I never expected to have bad running weeks. All week I have been lethargic and my body has been aching. I have chalked most of it up to the cold that I have and the rest of it up to either sheer laziness or bad running shoes. Trying to help myself out, I bought new shoe inserts and a knee brace. I parked my car, got out and did my warm up lap, then realized that I forgot my brace, so I drove home to run around Dry Lake instead.

My 4 mile run turned into a 4 mile run/walk. Dry Lake is a scenic route and I hardly ever see anyone driving on that road. I was running on the left side of the road, pretty much in the dirt, when a 1/2 ton, red truck came barreling down the road behind me. Usually when people see a runner they try to get over to the opposite side of the road. Not this one. They completely came onto the wrong side of the road and I had to move so they wouldn't hit me. This was the first time in a long time that I had the urge to scream every word not appropriate for a lady to say, that my grandma taught me. Holding myself back since the truck was already 1/4 mile away, I also restrained from using gestures to express my displeasure...

Continuing on with my luck, a bug flew into my eye and it took me 1 1/2 miles to get it out. Then as soon as I did, I got harassed by a drunk group of fishermen at the campground. It was 2 in the afternoon and they were wasted! Right after I passed them I got chased by a black lab that kept jumping on me and nipping me. Not a fun experience when the biter is a dog ha ha. Jogging away, checking over my shoulder to make sure the lab wasn't there anymore, I came up on a pit bull. I would rather have the lab. The pit bull chased me with his owners yelling and running after him. We made an interesting picture I am sure. It was a relief to make it home in one piece :)

I was going to run 4 or 5 miles today, but thanks to some side effects of my new medicine, won't be. I am switching my running days and tomorrow will be the day. One the bright side, I am getting an ab work out.

5 Miles

Today I ran five miles. I ran it in 50 minutes and was kind of being laid back about it. During one of the laps I was looking down and considering if I wanted to sprint the last part of the mile or not. Then a big guy jumped in front of me all of the sudden. I would have screamed and made a fool out of myself, but I realized it was my cousin Hal. Gotta love family :)