Monday, January 4, 2016

Here's the Plan, Stan - Part I

Today is a dieter's double whammy - not only is it a Monday, which is when we (the royal) traditionally begin our diets, but it's also the start of a new year, which again, is when we (the royal) attempt to change our lives for the healthier.  But you know me - I march to the beat of my own drum, which is why I started my last diet on a random Wednesday in May. So if you're feeling excited and energized and ready to make some changes now, great - go for it!  But if you're not fully committed, then by all means hold off - don't jump into this just because it's the new year.  Your new year can begin anytime; I am living proof of that.

That said, I do have a couple of plans for the new year.  I know!  But hear me out - this is mostly about running, and the timing is such that our training season is winding down right now (my goal race is in 13 days, eek!).  I made it through another year of running without a major injury, woohoo!  Yes, I am still dealing with a bit of a hamstring tug, especially if I run hills, and my plantar fasciitis seems to never go away, but two things have helped with both of these issues - using my BFF Buffer on a daily basis, and running really easy intervals.  For most of the year, I've done 1:30/1 intervals (run for 1 minute 30 seconds, walk for 1 minute, lather, rinse, repeat), and they have served me well.  I can't begin to tell you how nice it was to finish a long run and feel good for a change.  I didn't need a nap most of the time after my long runs, when in previous seasons, I'd be passed out cold for a couple hours on Saturday afternoons!  So it was great to not kill myself by running too hard.

And yet...I have to admit, I could be pushing it just a little bit more on some of my runs, especially the shorter ones.  I realized this last month, when I randomly decided to try and run for half a mile without stopping.  I did it.  And then I ran another half mile without stopping.  So I guess you could say I've been coasting a little with doing easy intervals all the time.  Hey, there's a reason I call myself Lazy Shelley, and this is just another example.  Why yes, you can be a runner and still be lazy!

Now, I'm not going to give up my intervals altogether, especially on my long runs, because they have helped me enjoy the distance much more than I used to, and that is a feeling that I want to keep!  Also, some of my weekday runs are therapy sessions disguised as exercise, and I need to be able to talk and listen to my friends; running is just something that happens while we vent.

But I can do more, and I will.  I'm thinking that I could push myself on one of my weekday runs; it's a short run, and I will survive 30 minutes of being uncomfortable.  I know from experience that even if I'm out of breath when I finish, it doesn't take me long to recover, and I might just become a stronger runner and get in better shape as a result.  Win-win, right?

The other thing I'm considering is joining the 1,000 mile challenge for 2016.  NO, I won't be running 1,000 miles - I generally run just over 500 miles on a normal year, and almost doubling that would guarantee me another dumb injury.  But you can do that challenge with both running and walking, so that might work.  Getting some extra miles via walking should be OK for me in terms of not hurting myself, and it would be additional exercise which could offset my Lazy Shelley sit-and-knit times.  I'll give it a go and as long as I don't get any more aches and pains than I already have, I'll keep up with the walking.

So that's Part I of my plan.  Come back next Monday for Part II, when I reveal all of my magical dieting secrets (hahahaha - sneak peek:  there are none).

21 comments:

  1. Good for you for wanting to make progress with your running! I know you know the drill about easy goes with the increases keeping it to 10% at a time so you don't get injured.

    I love my walking program! Once I switched from jogging to walking most of my aches and pains went away. I walked right at 500 miles last year. Don't forget to do some weights its good for our bones and metabolism. Even though I don't love weight lifting I do try to lift 2x a week. I work out for my health for the long haul.

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    1. I am very conservative with my distance increases, no worries there. Sounds like your walking is spot on!

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  2. I love your plan!

    If you do that 1000 miles challenge, will you let me know through a message? If you do it, I'm with you. 1000 miles of walking is maybe too much for Bella LOL but I want to get back to regular running and who knows, maybe I'll get to a 1000 in a year then.
    I saw the other option is run/walk 100 days but that's not a challenge for me. I walk at least 200 days a year with Bella.

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    1. I will let you know, for sure. You could do that challenge for sure with your running and walking. And yeah, that 100 day challenge isn't enough for me, which is pretty cool considering about 8 years ago, I would have looked at that number and thought "no way could I do 100 days of walking" - how times have changed! :)

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    2. Same here :) we both definitely have changed our lives in a more active way since we met. You with your running and me with the walking. LIKE!

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  3. I love how you said you can be a runner and still be lazy. Lol to funny! But really, this is a gtreat plan for you!! Go get em!

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    1. It's funny because it's true (to quote The Simpsons). ;)

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  4. You are pretty disciplined. I run sometimes with someone who does 4:30 for short runs and 2:30 for long ones. I just run until I peter out.

    I started knitting again. Yay me!

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    1. You run a lot!!! Yay for starting up with the knitting again. :)

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  5. What an awesome plan! It is realistic but perfect for where you are right now and what you KNOW your body needs and wants!

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    1. Yeah, I'm finally at that point where I can see what my body is capable of doing, and what it isn't (without injury, that is).

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  6. It's all good! I used to regularly run 1200 miles a year without even thinking about it, but since I've stopped doing races I've seen my mileage decrease exponentially. Good luck with pushing the pace. I have no doubt if you really set your mind to it you'll succeed!

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    1. Holy cow, I can't imagine running 1,200 miles in one year!

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  7. I'm stuck on your goal race being in 13 days! Yikes!! But that is going to be a fun weekend also, for your whole group in Houston!

    Yes, it sounds like a good plan to me too. With your training season coming to an end, will your group continue regular scheduled runs? Maybe not as strenuous or long?

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    1. I'm looking forward to the weekend with our group possibly more than the race itself, LOL! And yes, we will continue to meet for our long runs, but they will become less long soon, which is nice...more time for breakfast afterward!

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  8. Yay for a year of no injuries and of you taking such good care of the little flareups.

    You could totally do one run a week not using the interval method to challenge yourself. How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear more about how it goes throughout the year. And I also think it's fantastic that the intervals make you feel good AFTER you finish a run. That is so important. I know people who feel like crap after their runs (all of them, not just some) and need to nap, etc, like you mentioned, and dude - you are pushing it too hard if you feel that way!

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    1. Good to hear this regarding feeling like crap after a run; I read so many running bloggers who seem to push it ALL THE TIME and I doubt myself. But then I get out there and run and am instantly NOPE - that's not what I like, so I don't do it.

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  9. You could get out pink bike for some of those 1000 miles, right? :D

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  10. I know what you mean about "pushing a little more". I definitely know I could be pushing more but I don't. I think part of me is still being hesitant because i'm afraid of injury!

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  11. Ha, the last line was the best one! I love walking, but I get you - I know I can push myself more too - in 2013 when I did Insanity I was able to get my 5k time under 30 minutes - unheard of before then!

    Here's to both of us kicking ass and taking names :D

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  12. I don't think that lazy and runner even go together. Cut yourself some slack! We're all runners. Some of us just run more than others....

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