Skinny Tuesday

A little reflection......
If you noticed last week's list of training runs, you noticed I ran three days in a row. This was stupid on my part. I knew better, but my desire to run with friends took precedence over my need to stay healthy. That third day of running resulted in shin splints. I had to ice my shins two-three times/day Tues, Wed, Thur, and Fri. They were sore when I started my monster run on Sat but the soreness went away and they seemed to have recovered well. My knee is the newest concern right now and I am wondering if it is directly related to me improperly resting my legs.
I am putting heat on my knee and taking ibuprofen for inflammation. This is not my idea of running for fun. Lesson learned.

Let my mistake be your reward. Don't work your muscles several consecutive days in a row. It can result in injury. A healthy runner is better than any injured runner, 100% of the time.
Be smart while training, use self-discipline.

I am anxious to run tomorrow to see how the knee is going to work.

Ok - now that the poopy smoopy part is over. Let's give some *claps* to those runners in the heat wave of summer!!! I am cruising along with superb weather: highs of low 60's and overcast skies with no humidity. My fellow runners are in heat indexes close to triple digits and humidity that can smother a mosquito. I think my running skills would seriously falter in those conditions. So you all get *high-fives* and know that YOU ROCK!

I think most of you who read this have children, even if you don't, these websites are loaded with info and fun to read.
*Moms that Run* - CLICK HERE and *Marathon Mommies* - CLICK HERE

Moms that Run just had a piece on gels. My piece was small so, check it out. Good stuff.

I never thought in my life that I would ever be a runner. Accomplishing 10 miles in one day just has me amazed. Our bodies are so much stronger than our minds allow us to think. Sure, about mile 7 I was thinking I wasn't going to make it, but I did not allow my brain to talk me out of it. I just kept telling my muscles to keep going, knowing that if I stopped, restarting was going to be much tougher than just keeping myself going. I don't think those prayers for help went unanswered, they carried me on through!!!

I must take a minute and give God all the praise for my achievements as of late. On those longer runs all I am doing is asking God to help me push through the pain and not to quit on myself. He is the only one providing me with the strength and motivation to see this through. Without His help I wouldn't have done this:

- Lost 16lbs
- Able to run for almost 2 constant hours
- Learn to eat better
- be in tune with what my body wants and does not
- seek Him when I want to quit
- praise Him for what He has given me - the strength to do this!!
- the desire to pass on this to others whether you want to read it or not!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him - Psalm 28:7

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. - Isaiah 40:29

Training Runs this week

Thursday - 45min pushing the stroller - thought I would die!!
Sat - 115min
Tues - 60min
Wed - 45 min
Fri - 40 min
Sat 60 min

EXERCISE OF THE WEEK:

Because of the my injury I am going to stress the importance of stretching. Stretching feels good and helps muscles to be not so sore after a good workout. I do a great 15min stretching routine after every regular workout and most of my runs (I know, I need it every time!!)

See some great stretches and their demos HERE

TIP OF THE WEEK:

If you don't know ASK!! This is so important, even for me. How did I learn about all this stuff?? Reading, asking, watching. If you aren't sure what to eat, ASK. Don't know what to ask? Define some goals. When talking with friends and family they always say "meal plans don't work for me" That is fine. Find some where you can plug in what you eat on a day-to-day basis and look at how many grams of fat, carbs, protein, cholesterol, sodium, you are eating. Every label on food gives you a standard qty to consume based on a 2k cal diet. This is a start. Start somewhere. Next week, but skim instead of 2% milk. The internet is a great resource, and can help you learn some basics. Knowledge builds STRENGTH!!!