Teaching, future races, and the misconceptions of running...

I can't believe that it's been over a month since my last blog post! My job has kept me busy, as always, but this school year is going so much smoother than my first two years of teaching. Granted, I feel that this class is doing so much better in regards to behavior, but the more I think about it, I feel that I am the one becoming more comfortable with teaching, and maybe it's not that my job is getting any easier, I am just becoming a better teacher & worker! I am truly enjoying 1st grade so far, and even though the ups & downs of teaching, I am thankful that God thinks I am capable & worthy enough to have such an important (and rewarding) career!I love teaching, not the silly, testing political stuff that goes with it ;) 

Okay, so not to sound nerdy, but I am getting SUPER EXCITED about some upcoming races! :) I am running the Monte Sano 15k on October 11th! I haven't ran a race since July (The Race for Hope 10k!), so I am SO READY to feel the joy and anticipation of a race again! Last year, I ran the 15k (9.3 miles) in 1:33:53 with a 10:05 pace...my goal this year is to run it in sub 10, and honestly, I think I can do it! It will be tough with the hills, but that's what I have been keeping in mind when I have been on my long and shorter runs during the week!

My other scheduled races...

November 8th--Huntsville Half Marathon--Goal: to beat my half marathon PR (personal record) of 2:16:58 (10:22 average pace)

November 15th-- Dizzy Fifties 50k (my FIRST trail race AND 50k (31 miles) distance! AHHH!)---Goal: TO FINISH (haha!)

December 1st---Galaxy of Lights 5k---Goal: to beat my 5k PR of 26:47

December 13th-- Rocket City Marathon (Marathon #2!!! Woo hoo!!)---Goal: to beat my first and only marathon time of 04:49:24 (10:48 average pace)

I had to cancel out of the Recovery for Holidays 50k due to holiday plans, so that is why I signed up for the November 50k trail race! 

So, before I start typing what I feel like are some misconceptions to running, I would first off like to say that I LOVE when people message me/text me about running. It reminds me of where I started, and where I am now. I hope that I am helpful and encouraging, because I NEVER want to be annoying! Anyway, that's what I LOVE about the sport of running: the growth of your athletic ability from where you started from what you become. You know what breaks my heart? When I hear someone say "I can't run a mile", "I could never run a race", etc because that was me. I couldn't do that. And I was right...I couldn't, because I never tried and I didn't believe that I could do it.

If you read my first blog post, you will read about my running journey and how I got started, so I won't bore you and type it again. What I would like to type though has been done before in different ways, but I would like to type out what I believe to be some of the things that I get the most questions or comments about when I talk about running...

1) You will NOT enjoy running when you first start running. 

Unless you are some lovely gosh darn ray of sunshine all the time, I highly doubt that you will get "runner's high" when you begin to run, especially if you haven't been active before. You are talking to someone that would tear up/cry on a treadmill back in 2011 because it HURT. My legs HURT. My lungs HURT. I was OUT OF SHAPE. That's part of it. As cliche as it sounds, nothing worth having in life comes easy, it's going to take some strength, dedication, and perseverance. You WILL one day enjoy a run, it just won't be in the first week. Shoot, if you're like me, it won't be for a few months...

2) You will most likely feel some sort of pain when you first start running. 

 There is a difference between the aches/pains that you feel when you first start working out because you have not been active and an actual, full blown injury. There is a careful, pain free way to go about walking/running. First, I would just recommend getting a walking plan, and then, once walking is comfortable, find a Couch To 5k plan (I used the one on my runkeeper app). Because of being 25 lbs heavier, I would experience pains in my knees/shins when I first started being active, but those aches/pains went away once I stayed with my plan, stretched, etc. Don't let aches/pains get you away from being healthy/trying something new. As I mentioned in one of my previous blog, don't believe the myth that running blows your knees out. YES, IF YOU RUN 5 DAYS A WEEK AND NOTHING ELSE, YOU WILL BLOW YOUR KNEES OUT. But like I will mention in point #5, a well balanced runner does MORE than running! 

3) Shoot, you might not even enjoy your first race (one miler, 5k, 10k, whatever...)

If your first race is anything like mine, you might over plan, get nervous, give too much energy during the race, etc...and in turn, you stress out/freak out and don't enjoy it. I remember freaking out before and during my first 5k (and getting sick to boot I might add!), but at the end of the race, the sense of accomplishment/happiness of finishing that I felt couldn't compare, and that's why I enjoy races so much! However, I have a few running buddies that HATE races and refuse to sign up for them (they enjoy running on their own) and there is NOTHING wrong with that either! 

4) You do NOT need top brand running items, but you do NEED quality items. 

 I can be frugal about a lot of things, but the more I ran, the more I realized that you don't need name brand everything, but you do NEED quality, especially in SHOES. DON'T GO CHEAP ON SHOES. Crappy shoes can lead to foot pain, shin pain, hip pain, injuries, etc....and in turn, you will give up on running. I am not saying that you have to spend $200+ on a pair of shoes, but I am saying that shoes are VERY important. I would recommend going to the Runner's World website to research shoes along with reading reviews to see the BEST shoe for you. There are even running shoe stores that can even let you test them on a treadmill. If you don't have that option, try them on for a mile or two at your leisure, and if they don't work, RETURN them! When it comes to shorts, shirts, socks, bras, etc here are some of my favorites...

Socks: Nike Dri Fit

Sports Bras: Old Navy (crazy, I know) and Target

Shorts: Moving Comfort

Shirts: Anything that has the moisture wicking fabric...I am NOT picky

5) Runners don't JUST run...we do other things too!!!

In order for runners to become better runners and to stay injury free, they HAVE to cross train, no if's or but's!!! The only time that I got injured was when I stopped cross training and only ran....it's not worth it! My weekly schedule looks something like this....

Sun: 35 minute Circuit Training (sit ups, push ups, lunges, squats, planks...and I use 5 or 10 lb hand weights)

Mon: Rest Day

Tues: 3-6 mile run & yoga

Wed: 35 minute Circuit Training

Thurs: Trail Run or hillwork 4-7 miles

Fri: Rest Day

Saturday: Long Run (10+ miles depending on training schedule) & yoga

 

I DO NOT RUN EVERYDAY. That would make me a crazy person that would probably end up on the injured list! I have no desire to blow my knees out, have shin splits, tendonitis, or stress fractures. Can injuries still happen, even if you're careful? OF COURSE. You're human and you're being active! But with cross training, stretching, cycling, yoga, strength training, etc you will be less likely to be on the injured list, and your cross training will make you a stronger athlete/runner! 

I write all this because 1) I love running, 2) I loved how it's made me healthier/happier, and 3) YOU CAN BE A RUNNER! Trust me, if I can be, YOU can be! :) Find something active that makes you healthy/happy! 

Well, I am OUT! I have one more week of work, and then it's FALL BREAK! :) I can't wait to see my running buddies on Tuesday & Thursday mornings since I have missed out on those during the school year, and, of course, I will see my running buddies on Saturday morning so we can crank out those long distance trainings for Rocket City! I hope everyone has a great week!

-Holly