Laziest Runner EVER!!!!!

I love lists. They calm me and bring order to my life. I'm not exaggerating. Sometimes I'll write a list and throw in a few things that I've already done just so that I can cross things off right away. It's satisfying. A few days ago I wrote out this list

It's a good list, right? Just some chores around the house that need to get done. Honestly, the entire list would take like 20 minutes to get through. So, if it's 20 minutes worth of chores why write a list?

Because I'm the laziest runner EVER! That's why.

I've been running a lot lately. Because I love running. I love challenging myself with more miles! Blah blah blah same old same old, right? So what's wrong with that? Nothing really. Except that I am kind of a useless bag of flesh when I'm not running. Oh yeah, that.

People assume that if you are a person that runs 20 miles on a Saturday for fun you are also a person that has a spotless house and you have boundless energy. THEY ARE DEAD WRONG! At least when it comes to me they are. I love crashing out on the couch like a sloth for hours on end. No lie. Especially during the winter. I literally start to get giddy as the work day finishes because on non running days I'm fantasizing about changing into my jammies, melding with the couch, and cuddling with my pups. If I didn't run 30 miles per week, I think I would be near immobile.

And running 30+ miles a week sometimes helps me rationalize my laziness. You know, I ran 10 miles on a Tuesday, I'm not doing any extra movement until I have to run again! I deserve a break, huh? That's great logic for someone that has a maid and a chef and a dog wrangler.... I do not. It's just me and my husband who also runs a lot.

I'm realizing that while some people might think that the hardest thing I do is finding the energy to run all these miles.... the truth is that the hardest thing I do is finding the energy to do everything else. Running is easy. Cleaning the toilet is lame. And no one gives you a medal when you're done.

So, my new solution is to make lists. A short list of things to do before I give in to my lazy good for nothing couch . I've only made the one list so far. And I did all the things on it......so I might have rewarded myself with a few days of nothing.....A "recovery week" or two.....

Baby steps

Decisions decisions....

This dumb trail race I was supposed to run in December! You see, it was scheduled to happen in December and then Indiana got hit with our first snowpocalypse of the year. Lots of snow and travel restrictions. I have to admit, when the race was canceled I was KIIINNNDDD of relieved. I didn't want to run it in a ton of snow, but I didn't want to admit that I wouldn't make the cutoff in a bunch of snow.

I few weeks later the race director sends out an email announcing the RESCHEDULE! Gulp. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be a race director that has to cancel a race. What do you do? I mean, we did all sign a waiver saying NO REFUNDS! I was secretly hoping they would just offer us all a discount on the 2014 race. And that was ONE of the options offered. They actually gave a few options;

-Run the race on the new date
- Get a little cash back
- Discount on the 2014 race
- Don't run the race, no money back, and hey, we'll even mail you your shirt!

This is where my internal torture started.....

I was ready for the race on the first weekend of December, when it didn't happen, my brain COMPLETELY checked out and I moved on. Then all of the sudden the race is back in the picture. Crap crap crap crap. Could I run the race? Sure. But I just wasn't sure that I wanted to anymore.

But then I did want to

But then I didn't

But then I wanted to more than anything

But then it was the dumbest idea ever.

Then I had that great 18 miler on perfect trail conditions in perfect weather and I was READY TO RACE! Then there was a giant snow storm the Sunday before. GAH!!!! This is why winter races in the Midwest are ridiculous. It could be 60 degrees in January or it could be a POLAR VORTEX!!!! Yeah, that happened next. Then it got a little warmer.

I kept thinking... those trails are going to be awful. They'll be snowy, icy, muddy, and slippy. But I just WOULD NOT let it go. Why was that? It's not like I was ever going to win the race. It's not like this was the BIG race I had planned. It's just a cool race. So why was I torturing myself over it? I mean, I wasn't losing sleep, but I lost hours of my life caring way too much about a stupid race. Because it's just a race? Right? There are zillions of races every year. If I don't run one race it doesn't mean I'm a failed runner. What to do what to do...

A few days before the reschedule, we finally got word about the updated plan. The course was going to change from a point to point (super cool!) to an out and back with loops (not cool). And that's all it took for me. I wanted to do a point to point race. And I had no interest in a muddy, loopy, out and back race. So I opted out. Just like that. And all of the sudden it felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off me.

Why was it so hard for me to decide? Why did a course change make the decision so easy? I have no freaking clue. But I am so happy to move on. Will I register to run it in December?

Yeah, probably.... cause it could be 60 degrees! You never know?

A Decent RUN! A Decent Decision Run...

Remember how that race I was gonna do was canceled by a snow storm? It got rescheduled! Well there’s more to that story now too…. BUT as of New Year’s eve I was still determined to knock out that trail marathon in a week and a half. The only problem was ever since the reschedule… my long runs had been the pits.

 

You know how it is? I LOVE long runs. Love EM! But all my long runs since the marathon that wasn’t weren’t really playing out like they were supposed to. I cut miles, I felt crappy, I lost interest halfway through the run. It just wasn’t working. I got through the runs, so that’s good, but I kept thinking to myself… am I even trained to run this race anymore?

 

So after a not rainbows and unicorns run on Christmas Day, my husband and I planned to do ANOTHER long run on New Year’s Day. My plan for this run was:

 

18 miles.
Try to have fun.

On trails.
Try not to hate it.

On hilly trails.
Smile sometimes.

No mileage cutting.

 

If I could do that, I could do the race. No pressure, right?

 

Well, my job is very calendar year oriented. So, I’m one of those people that works an EXTRA long day on New Year’s Eve. This year, I worked 13.5 hours. Not exactly the day you want before a decision long run, but that’s what I got!

 

Even though my day before long run was not ideal, I tried to mimic race day morning. I ate a real breakfast, had some coffee, did some stretching and foam rolling, and took a Vespa. But I was still a nervous wreck when we got to the trail…

 

What if this run is a giant fail?

What if I’m ready to give up after the first 6 mile loop?

What if my ankle rolls?

What if my water line freezes?

 

Or WHAT IF IT GOES REALLY WELL AND I HAVE TO RUN THE RACE????

 

For the first loop I was joined by two friends. One, took of quickly because on a good day she’s much faster than me. And thanks to my lack of sleep and giant stress day the day before…. My heart rate was not letting me have a good day. My other friend decided my not good day pace was ok by her and we moseyed through a lovely 6 mile loop. I started the second loop quickly so that I couldn’t change my mind. For the second loop I took the trail in the opposite direction and regretted it for the two loooonnnnngggg slow uphill miles. I got loop three underway and ran into my husband who had already finished 3 loops and was done for the day…. For ONE second I wanted to be done too. But I felt ok, so I said, “sorry, I have to finish this loop, so it’s gonna be a while”.

 

The sun was out at this point it actually felt WARM out! SUN! I took the last loop easy and happily trotted back to the car. My husbands run was not his favorite, but I felt GREAT! This was the first long run I have had in so long that wasn’t some kind of disappointment! AND I got to start of the new year with a great 18 mile run! How cool is that?!?!?!!?

 

So…. According to my dumb “decision run” rules, I was ready to run the race.

Did I?

Well like I said at the beginning… there’s more to the story.


Does anyone else do decision runs? Or is it just me?

Christmas Running!

 

My husband and I don’t get time off during the holidays for family visiting. So we make our own rules. Sometimes I get sad about not getting together with family. But a lot of times I’m grateful to not be stressed out with planning and organizing.

Christmas and New Year’s Day both fell on a Wednesday this year. And typically my husband has Wednesdays off to do his long run. He immediately (and correctly) assumed that I would not be keen on him disappearing for hours on end on Christmas day. BUT, the more I thought about it, the more I thought, why not? In my head it was going to be the two of us out in the woods frolicking and laughing and getting back home to eat delicious food that was waiting in the crockpot. So did it turn out that way? Well…..

We did get to see a beautiful sunrise!

We had the woods all to ourselves. And my dear husband even ran at my standard snail pace. I had such high hopes! Those hopes were very quickly trashed when about 1.5 miles in I have a massive ankle roll that lands me on the ground. BUT I didn’t drive all the way out to this park to do a 1.5 mile out and back. WHERE’S MY FREAKING CHRISTMAS MAGIC? The first 6 mile out and back was harder and lamer than I wanted it to be. And if it was just me I would have contemplated throwing in the towel there. But I thought, well this is Husband’s long run day. This guy needs a freaking long run. So we headed out for an 8 mile loop (that I shortened to a 7 mile loop).

This loop was even worse due to stumbling around on my weakened ankle, walking because my ankle hurt so badly and having that stupid Feed the World song stuck in my head!

CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE!!

When we finally got done and were eating snacks and drinking warm coffee, I said, “man I’m so glad you didn’t say let’s stop at 6, cause I totally would have stopped at 6”. Husband answered with, “ OH MY GOD! I totally wanted to stop at 6”. Teamwork! Even though the run was not my best work, it was still a cool way to spend Christmas morning with my favorite person.

I ran on New Year's Day too. It went much better. Give me a day or two and I'll write about that one too.