Discouragement. It really stinks.

You know those days where your running doesn't make sense to the training you've been doing? Even running 4 miles is a struggle when you did 10 with little problem? Well.. those training runs turned into a training week. After a few of those terrible runs, you get discouraged. It starts to wear on your mentality. You start to doubt yourself. And I don't like doubting myself. 

Then I reminded myself that Nick Saban harps on having "mental toughness" which he defines as: 

"I think mental toughness is a perseverance that you have when you can make yourself do something that you really don't feel like doing. In other words, you don't really feel like getting up, but you get up. You don't feel like practicing today, but you practice. You don't feel like focusing today, but you focus. And, even in difficult circumstances and difficult surrounds, you can stay focused on what you need to stay focused on. "

Nick always knows what to say. 

I also turn to Pinterest to help motivate me to go out and take my groove back. 

Source: None via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: google.ca via Rachel on Pinterest

I think you have to have those kind of training runs. The ones that hurt. That make you doubt what you are doing and why you are doing it. They may not make you physically stronger, but they make you mentally stronger. 

To me, mental strength is just as important as physical strength. Your mind will give out before your body will. You need the mental toughness to shut that voice down that says "you can't do this." 

So, I knew I had to pump myself up before my last double digit run for my Savannah training. 

For some reason, this series always pumps me up. 

Anyway, it helped. It got me out of my mental funk. Although, isn't it always 2 weeks before a race that you start to realize other things you should have been doing? Like cross training? Ouchies for my hip. I swear I'm going to start strength training for those.. if I could just figure out what will strengthen them. 

Random. I just found out that there is a half marathon in Birmingham 15 days after Savannah.. thoughts on should I run that or not? 

My Style Monday and Gameday!

It's another edition of Game Day My Style Monday!

I wore the strapless dress most of the day but the white cardigan when I got cold.

The dress that Hubs got me for our anniversary from "What a girl wants"

Cardigan is from F21

Boots: target

Necklace: Target

Earrings: Etc by Nikki

We got down to Tuscaloosa on Friday, to set up the tailgate.. and *gasp* someone had stolen our spot. Now, we may not own this spot, but it's been our for a while. 

 So, what did we do? We got as close as we could to the other tents. We are mature like that. 

They ended up moving their tents back.

 Late night Target shopping brought us upon this.. 

It's fun.. in da-middle. I am not sure why this was so funny to us. 

 I spied Big AL... and I had to get my pic with him.. even if he did mess up my hair. 

 I got some red sparkly nail polish at Sephora.. it's called "What's your Poison?" Get it.. like a poison apple??

I forgot to take pictures from once people actually showed up at the tailgate.. but it was a good time had by all, with lots of laughs that wouldn't be funny to you, since you weren't there. But.. you are invited!! 

I took this picture for Becca.. I realize the game was a nobody, but there was no sense in the woman next to me falling asleep. I mean, you could only cat nap with the 2 boys that got up at least 10 times a piece before halftime. 

 This picture got a little out of order.. whoops. 

One of the many reasons I love sitting in the zone.. besides real chairs, a locker, air conditioning, and all the Cherry Coke I can drink.. is the red velvet cupcakes. 

Also.. I have a complaint. The student section should NOT be this empty at halftime. It's not cool with me. 

Oh yeah... one more reason I love the one.. Cup holders.

There's only one way to celebrate a victory in my book. And it's doing the Cupid Shuffle in your tailgating neighbors tent. 

Now.. onto my running lately.

The plan was for me to get up Saturday morning before we left for the tailgate and go run my long run of 6 miles.. I mapped out my run only to be told my way in and out of Jay's weren't the best running ideas that I had. So, I decided to go with my safety over my run. The run went through a bad part of town and a busy section with no sidewalks, on top of the fact I forgot my Garmin.. so I decided to a) not get stabbed b) not get hit by a car and c) not get lost. 

I said, "Oh, I'll just do 8 on Sunday instead." So.. I set out to hit the treadmill. Sunday was one of those days where nothing went right. I took my iPad to the gym so I could watch Gossip Girl and found this beauty and thought my luck had turned around!

A PINK treadmill!! I knew my day was sure to pick up! But.. alas, technology hated me and I couldn't figure out how to get the Gossip Girl to play full episodes on the iPad. 

Also.. it was brought to my attention that my treadmill running has been so easy since I don't do an incline, therefore my road races kick my booty because the road is harder to run on then the treadmill. So, I decided to start running on a 1 incline.. which, is taking some getting used to and makes me feel like I am the most out of shape person ever. Which really does a number on my mental toughness. I am extremely stressed right now, and I let all of the other things that I needed to be doing come crashing down on top on my run and I started to feel like I was drowning. I did something I have never done before. I quit. Yep. I stopped running and got off the treadmill. The whole time I was disgusted with myself but I knew what was coming. A mental breakdown. I could feel it coming last week. Being gone on vacation, running a business, 5 weekends in row being out of town-2 of which are out of state, gymnastics, school, laundry, cleaning the house, training, Ladies of the Houndstooth, photography assignments and projects, social networking... it's all so much. Because everything needs something from me. Right. NOW. I guess a good description of me right now is overwhelmed. Or over booked. Or not enough hours in a day.. Take your pick. 

So, instead of throwing a fit and crying and taking it all out on John, I decided to sit down and write out a list. And I delegated certain tasks for John and am trying to look at what is the most important for my mental health to get finished this week. I feel like a mature adult, acting like that! 

I will try to be around the Internets this week.. but I can't make any promises, as I need to drop a ball or two that I am currently juggling. 

See you on the Flip Side. 

I'm on the Edge..

of Glory! 

Just like GaGa. 

You see, I feel different this time in training and I have finally pinpointed what it is.

I've stopped competing with everyone around me and started competing only with myself. 

I started running to prove to everyone else I could do it and now I am proving to MYSELF just how far I can push it.

Do I still have days where I don't feel like running? Sure. But it's nothing like the last go 'round. I look forward to seeing if I can push myself. This week, I have 2 done things I am proud of in training. One is I ran 4 miles without stopping. I have NEVER done that before. I have always been stopping to catch my breath or stopping to have a drink of water. The second is, I ran 3.06 miles is 31 minutes. Something I have never done. It is a goal to break 30 min on a 5K and I can feel that it is so close. 

I feel that I have been doing an excellent job of re-training myself to not heel strike. No knee problems like before, my posture is better during the run so I feel like that has helped my breathing. No side stitches. And? The kicker? I can run faster. Yep. I carried a sub 10 minute mile for 2 miles today. For some, that's a slow day. For me, it's flying. 

I think I can proudly say that I love running. I am not running to get the pounds off or to prove to someone that I can do it. I am just starting to see how much and how far you can push your body. And guys? I am digging it. 

After my awesome 4 mile run, when I got home and got out of my car, my knee was hurting. I got scared. I ran today, and it didn't bother me. It seems to only hurt when I push down hard with my heel- which is weird. 

Source: honeywerehome.blogspot.com via Christina on Pinterest

Friday night, I am setting out to run the race that started this running bug. I always said I would run the midnight run and that is what I started training for and ended up with shin splints. 2 years later, I am signed up and ready to roll. 

Source: busybeingfabulous.typepad.com via Christina on Pinterest

Now, onto a lighter note..

I'm linking up with Neely and Amber this week for Hey, It's Okay! 

Hey, It's Okay 

*to do a mental happy dance and fist pump after completing your longest continuous run ever.

*to feel a little B.A. with an ace bandage wrapped around you leg during a run, just so you don't lose your bandage. 

* to tell the story to everyone that will listen about the girl who tried to workout in a wet bathing suit and couldn't figure out how to use the elliptical machine.

* to not understand the whole sensation of the fake feathers in your hair

* to judge girls who wear t-shirts with the arms cut off so I can totally see your sports bra and stomach

* to want to start another project before you completely finish one

* to be that girl who sweated all over the treadmill and not feel bad about it

* to be that girl who was on the treadmill running when you got there and to still be running when you leave 

* to be so ready to see one of your best friends babies, you can't hardly stand it (C'mon, Avery!) 

Now, go link up with Neely and Amber! 

Training Woes...

Yesterday was the day I was going to get back on track with my training... my goal was to do 6 miles and then I could rest today since 6 miles is my second longest distance... ever. I got the girls to sleep and set off for the gym. I had hydrated a good bit and took some Ibuprofen to help combat any headache that might want to make an appearance. I was feeling sluggish, but I didn't let it deter me. When I got to the gym, it was pretty busy for a Sunday at 2pm.. the parking lot looked like it does for the afterwork crowd.

I took a before picture, so you can point and laugh at how red faced I get when I run... it's not pretty.



I get inside and the place is packed.. people in the pool, a spin class going on, most of the cardio machines are taken and people mulling around in the weight area. I hope on one of the last remaining treadmills and get to work. Starts out pretty easy, but here is my problem. I hate getting too hot. (I know, I shouldn't be a runner if that is a problem.) And running on a treadmill, always makes me extremely hot, no wind, and other peoples body heat drive me nutso. I am too short for that built in fan to do any good.. it just hits the top of my head.

Anyway, when the gym is packed like that, there is a 30 minute time limit for cardio machines. When I hit 30 minutes, I realized that no other treadmills were open and people were waiting. I also realize that the treadmill police wouldn't have come and made me get off my treadmill since there were women who were walking on the dang things for an hour at a time. But the guilt ate at me. What if that were ME wanting to get on a treadmill.. I would want someone to follow the rules, right? So, I did 2.37 at 30 minutes and got off.

And took an after picture... see?? So red faced!


When I got home, I was mad at myself, I should have just kept running and someone else would have gotten off the treadmill for that person.. Lord knows the guy next to me in the full sweat suit running while holding onto the side rails needed to-- I was afraid he was going to hurt himself. (Side note.. I hate getting into between two guys on treadmills, they always want to compete with my running-- run when I run and walk when I walk-- and I am not that fast!) Anyway, John looked at me and asked "What happened this time?" I was a little taken back, what did he mean by that? He said, "It's always something.. a headache, side stitches, knee pain, shin splints" Which has caused me to think... Am I wimpy? Can I not push myself to get better? Or to do those longer runs? Am I scared of failure? I realize there will be pain and discomfort in this. You can't be an athlete of any kind or be successful without it. So, am I just trying to play everything safe?


While you ponder my life's questions.. look at my sweet princesses in their zebra matching jammies.. Such cuties!

Baby, It's COLD Outside!!

So.. I am starting to think that starting half training during the holidays was stupid. A) I am running around doing other stuff and forget to run. B) It's freaking COLD outside. 20's!!! Seriously?? I don't own enough layers to be out running in that. As for that fleece lined running jacket I saw at the Nike outlet and I laughed at... I am really wishing I have that thing right about now.

I also keep trying to figure out the best times to go running. Since John gets off at 4:00, I am trying to wait until then to go, but I am so tired by that time, I don't feel like going. We all know I'm not a morning person either, but maybe I could wake up at 5:30 and go? But then, it's even colder!! I am trying to train outside, but I may have to take it indoors for a few weeks. I hate to ask people to watch the girls so I can go run. I feel like I neglect them when I go for a run. Claire starts Little Lambs two days a week in January, so I know I could do it then, but that's still several weeks away. I want to train properly and it's already getting off on the wrong foot.

I am getting in a running funk of, "Why do I do this to myself? It's so cold! It would be so much easier to sit and cuddle with the girls and drink hot chocolate. Who wants to run 13 miles anyway??" I need to snap out of it!! I've still got 11 weeks of training!

I am running a race this weekend that is sure to be the coldest run yet... The high is 43 and the low is 21. Fun times.

How do you snap out of the funks and get on with training? I need advice people!!! How do you talk yourself into those runs when you aren't feeling it?