5 things about running...lately

It's been a while since we talked about running, so I thought an update would be a good thing.
So without further introduction, here's 5 things going on with my running lately.


1. My mileage ranges between 15-30 miles per week. I think I'm kind of burned out on the treadmill, and in Texas it's getting hot...so there's that.

Since the race in March I have continued to run and maintain my miles for the most part. I run a long run every week which right now is about 10 miles. Sometimes a little less and sometimes a little more.
I think the long runs are important for my mind even more than my legs. Why? Because for me, I think the long runs are more mental than anything. Yes, it's hard physically. But staying with it for 10+ miles is much more difficult for me mentally. I can talk myself out of that 10th mile every time if I'm not careful.

Right now, I have a pretty good plan for getting it in each week. I have two chances to do the long run each week. If I make one, I don't need the other as a backup, but if I do miss the first, then I have the second option to get it done. For example, every Wednesday I try to get in a track workout extra early at the track near our house. It's dark. And the air conditioner at the school is noisy. And I get scared. Even though I run with friends. We usually end up with about 7 miles including warm up and cool down, so what I like to do is finish off with 3 more for an even 10. It's a beautiful thing being done with 10 miles long before 7 a.m.

The second option is on Fridays when I get up and run 5 miles solo and swing by the house to pick up my friend/neighbor and pick up 5 more. Can I just tell you how much faster 5 miles goes with a friend to talk to?

I do feel like I am starting to nurse an injury though. My knee has been hurting me more lately. It started about 4 weeks ago. I'm trying to take care of it and roll as much as I remember to. :)  Remember. That's a good word. Most of the time my knee remembers and screams in pain.

2. I did end up getting a new pair of running shoes. After the race I got a pair of New Balance. I strayed from the Asics thinking the NB would work. That's when my knee started hurting. I just need more cushion. So I went back and got the Asics. And I love them. So much better. But I think the damage had already been done on my knee, and now I need to fix it.

The rest of the days I do mostly short, treadmill runs full of intervals and then hit the weights.

3. I love weight-lifting more and more. I would love to be seeing results faster, but I'm not. I am trying to read more to figure out what I'm doing wrong. And yes, I'm lifting the heaviest weights I can lift. No light weights, high reps for me. When I'm done at the gym, I'm exhausted in a good way. And my muscles are like gelatin.

4. I am wishing for a race to train for. I love to run. I do. I think I am burned out on the treadmill, and now it's hot season in Texas. So that means either very, very early runs with still high humidity or it means shorter runs on the treadmill at the gym. And I'm caught up on all my shows, so I need a new one.

5. Track workouts happen weekly now.  This means that once a week we head to the track at early o'clock and do something fun that my running friend comes up with. Usually it's something torturous like a 1600, 1200, 800, 400 with 2 minute rests in between or the dreaded 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600. Yuck. That one just about killed me. My running friend circles that track (and laps me) like nobody's business. I'm just there to get a C for completion.

Happy running!

Are you a runner?

If so, what shoes do you love?

Do you prefer the treadmill or outdoors?