EMT Here I Come!

Haven't been able to get on lately, been busy getting ready for my EMT class that now starts in...24 minutes YIKES! I'm going to try to add more running tips once I get situated with the new semester and I assure you all that I have been coming up with post ideas. Hopefully I will have more up for everyone tonight or tomorrow as I'm overdue for a run and post anyways. Right now as far as blogging goes, the hardest part for me is coming up with constructive blog ideas and what exactly I should write about. I'm sure I'll figure it out soon enough though. Stay tuned and so sorry this is so short but I have to get to class, wish me luck!

The Hill Pt. II

Not going to be a very long post right now, just  an update on my running adventures.

Remember this god-forsaken and cursed  hill?

 Don't ask why but I did it again defying instincts telling me to run away, haha run away...I made a funny. Sorry, anyways, I decided I might as well try to defeat this oh so special hill that I hold near and dear to my heart. I set my stopwatch and started up it. Result? 3min18s to the top with me stopping at that special 3/4 mark I cannot get past. So now that I know exactly how much time I spend punishing myself on the hill the logical thing would be to not go near it again right? Yeah, probably right  but for me that's a no. Goal: spend as little time on the hill as possible while still doing it. Translation: Get that time down!! I will try to incorporate this beast in at least once a week or once every other week that is to be determined right now. I will also keep all of you updated as I moved to conquer this madness. Wish me luck!

So this picture was taken before the hill at the beginning of the run but it can easily pass as a photo after. It's generally my face once I get to the hill and when I really don't wanna run :-)

QOTD: What is your current goal with running?
How are you working towards that goal?

Morning vs. Evening Runs

Which time of day is better to run? The mornings? Or the evenings? Well it really comes down to personal preference, some people rather run in the morning, others prefer evening runs. Here I've listed the pros and cons of both; keep in mind these are just my opinion on them it really depends on you.

                                                                                   

Mornings

Pros:

©       It’s out of the way.

©       You get a jumpstart to your day.

©       Can help battle daytime fatigue.

©       Gives your metabolism a nice boost for the day.

©       It’s cooler- the sun hasn’t had a chance to warm the pavement yet.

©       Can be easier to work into schedule if it’s done first thing in the morning.

©       Watch the sunrise!

Cons:

©       For some people getting out of bed at 6:00am is a struggle enough without adding a run.

©       No sleeping in anymore.

©       Can be hard to adjust to earlier workouts.

©       Depending on what time your day starts you may not have a chance to get in a full run if you are running late.

Evenings

Pros:

©       Can be a great way to distress from the day.

©       Possibly easier to include family and friends in the evening than the crack of dawn.

©       Can be something to look forward to.

©       Allows you to sleep in a bit.

©       Might work better for people that have a hard time with morning runs.

©       Watch the sunset!

Cons:

©       Predators seem to prefer preying at night time, more attacks occur at night than in the morning.

©       Can be dangerous if not wearing the proper clothing (flashing lights, reflective strips on clothes, light colors) cars have a harder time seeing you if you stay out to late.

©       Can be harder to get out the door after a long day.

©       If done too late it can make it more difficult to fall asleep.  Rule of thumb: don’t work out within three hours of your normal bedtime. The activity raises your heart rate, and internal temp making it more difficult to relax in bed.

Whether you run in the mornings or in the evenings please make sure that you are being safe in doing so. Tell people where you are going and when you will be back. For the morning runners, leave a note somewhere visible like on the fridge handle or the coffee pot if the rest of the house is still asleep. For evening runners, make sure you are aware of your surroundings if you use music to keep you going keep the volume low and keep one headphone out to hear even better. Only you will know which one works out best for you, so experiment with both for a week or so to see which one works out better. Good luck!

QOTD: What time of day do you prefer to run?

Any other additional tips on morning or evening running?

King Snake on Run

 Okay I recorded this little guy about a week ago before I started blogging but I wanted to add him in anyways. I saw him on the road as I was finishing my after dinner run and he was just slowly creeping along as he absorbed the heat from the pavement. If you live in an area with a lot of snakes, be on the lookout for them in the evenings. They go to the road to warm up after the sun has gone down so it doesn't burn their bellies. This guy is a harmless little king snake, now that doesn't mean he can't or won't bite you because he will and it will hurt but he's not poisonous. You've probably realized by now my fascination of snakes, I absolutely love them! :-)

Staying Motivated For Running

Okay, so I know how hard it can be to stay motivated for running. There are days where the last thing you want to do is lace up and head out the door, where the couch looks much more inviting than a pair of running shoes. I’ve put together a list of things that I think helps keep you motivated in your pursuit of becoming a better runner.

1.       Take music with you: If you have an iPod, MP3 player or even a Smartphone, you can bring along music with you to keep you company and help get you going. Songs that are between 120-150 bpm (beats per minute) have been proven to help you push through a workout as the fast beats help energize you.

2.       Find a new route: If you tend to run the same routes over and over, try running your usual route only in reverse, or turn your run into a mini adventure by creating an entirely new route. The change of scenery may be just what you need to keep boredom at bay.

3.       Bring a friend or dog: If solo running is getting to be a chore, see if you can bring a friend along with you, the company can help keep you going and even help you work harder. If a friend is unavailable and you have a dog, bring him along with! The two of you will get in quality time, exercise and you won’t have to worry about walking the dog later. It’s a win-win situation! If you have a dog that isn’t used to running too much, start out slow maybe with a half mile or a full mile to get your pup used to the activity. If you are both beginners then you can both build up endurance together.

4.       Add sprints: Not only a great way to burn even more calories but also another way of building up your stamina. Try sprinting for 10-20 seconds then slowing back down to your normal pace. Great way to kick up your runs a notch.

5.       Post-run effects: Aside from the runner’s high that comes from endorphins being released during strenuous activities, there is also the feeling of accomplishment. Think about how good you feel after a run simply because of the fact that you went out there and got it done. You won’t get that feeling sitting on the couch or at the computer wishing you were outside running.

6.       Schedule it: Put it on a calendar, on your phone with reminders to go off, on the fridge, anywhere you will see it. If you see it written down as a scheduled event you are more likely to hold you self accountable and less likely to skimp out on it.

7.       Talk to people: By telling people such as friends and family your plans, they can provide you with support and motivation. Not to mention it’s easier to tell them about the runs you have been doing than explain why you AREN’T running.

8.       Join a running club: They are everywhere and in nearly every town/city so you can’t use the excuse that none are around. Not only can the group provide you with pointer on what to do but being around more runners can get you more excited about running once you see you’re not the only one out there.

9.       Remember why you started: Be it for weight loss, getting into better shape, or being able to run a marathon, remember that the only way you are going reach those goals is if you go out there and work for it. Remembering why you started running will provide you with enough ammo to keep running.

10.   Have fun: Also remember that it doesn’t have to be a chore. Have fun with it, use it to clear your mind, distress and get away from everything for a while. Don’t you out and kill yourself on every single run. Repeat DO NOT GO OVERBOARD! A common mistake with new runners is think they have to go out everyday and run at 110%, this is wrong, not only is it wrong but is also unhealthy. It can lead to multiple injuries, exhaustion, and burnout from running. Don’t feel bad if you’re running slower today that the day before, let loose and relax a little you will enjoy it much more if you do.

QOTD: What do you use as motivation?

How do you get yourself out the door when you don’t want to?

Birthday Recap

So yesterday was my 24th birthday and I truly did have every intention of getting out the door to run or at least walk. Well, that didn't happen but in a way I'm kind of glad it didn't; I got to camp out and watch movies with my fiance all day and devour spaghetti (big time favorite). I meant to go after dinner but with pasta being such a dense food, I figured it wouldn't be the best idea out there. 

Well, my birthday is over now so I can't really hide behind that for today, guess I'll have to go out eventually (as in when it is no longer breaking triple digits on the thermostat).  I really did love how Bruce (my fiance) went through the effort of actually getting me to sit still, it couldn't of been easy but I do love him for it. Now I am back to running all over the place trying to get everything squared away for the EMT class that starts on the 21st. I;m insanely nervous and excited about this class but at ten credits hours it's definitely going to be a challenge  The thing is, it will be worth it because it will bring me one step closer to my end goal...

What are your experiences with tough college classes?
How did you get through them?
How do you stay motivated to run or exercise?

Journal not Blog

So I've decided that maintaining this will be a lot easier if I think of it as a journal/diary/log. Although keeping a diary has always been a struggle I think this will be easier to do if I use it for running and fitness experiences. Even thought this is technically a blog, if I think of it as just a log or diary it should be easier...right? Well I guess we'll see now won't we?

What are your experiences with starting a blog?
Did it work out the way you hoped it would?
Comment below!

The Hill

So I started out tonight's route with every intention to WALK the entire thing...(it didn't work). I made it ten minutes before breaking into a run jammin' out to iheartradio and grinning like a maniac.

Went the direct opposite direction I usually go and found myself quite pleased with the new area and fresh scenery, I thought I'd share the pics with all of you. Now I am fully aware that I would of covered the 3.17 miles much faster had I not been stopping to take pretty pictures but oh well, I had a great time and that's the big thing right?

                                                                          See? Happy!

This here is why my pace was so slow, it doesn't take much to distract but hey if you don't slow down you'll miss everything. Like Quail X-ing signs...

 Mr. Cow that scared the ever-lovin' out of me when I turned my head...

A second Mr. Cow, and two adorable bunnies who seemed to like having their pictures taken.

Then came the hill. I've seen it before, driven over it before but never thought of walking and definitely not running up it. Yet here I was. As I got closer I got a kick out of one last chance to back down...

                                            Easy way                                      or                    Hard way
Halfway through I was secretly cursing myself for not going with the peaceful looking road. That was until I got to this view.

Rewarding view from the top!

Hopefully you can't tell how exhausted I was.

Oh wait..I still have a mile to go.

 Final stretch means another hill in a sick twisted way.

Don't really know what happened but all of a sudden somebody turned out the lights. So does a sweat covered face count as the 'dewy-look'?

I finally made it back home and boy did I high-tail it once I caught sight of the roof. I'm sure I'll be plenty sore tomorrow but I think it is well worth it. Til next time!

Recovery Day

So yesterday I had a random shoulder injury creep up on me, possibly from me sleeping wrong but we're still trying to figure it out. Woke up today very late (1 p.m. yikes!) and although it was still there, the pain was half of what it was yesterday. Totally weird I know. I've still been nursing it (for the most part) today but think I'll be able to get out the door and log some miles in the evening. Hooray! Since blogging is very new to me, I'll still be working on the site to make sure every little bit is taken care of. It's a process ya know? Feeling fairly optimistic about how it will turn out so wish me luck!

                                                                       Bed rest...boo!

Here we go!

First I'd like to say welcome to my little blog here, now it's my first time doing this so please bear with me. This blog will mainly be about my adventures of becoming a runner and improving my fitness, a way of documenting and sharing my experiences with everyone out there. I'm new to the whole running scene and am still learning tricks and tips on improving my performance so I think it will be a good place for other new runners to come and learn along the way. I'll also include fitness information as I dig it up so stay tuned!