I was recently reading a fellow bloggers post about her top 10 reasons for running. This made me think in the back of my head what are my top 10 reasons for running? I ran a good 12 miles on Sunday and since then it has been rough. Today's 3 mile run was such a struggle and I don't know why. With the difficultly of school work and training mixed together, I feel it is a good time to really sit down a think:
What is it that makes me enjoy running? (No Particular Order)
1. Running Against Myself
When running, especially when I am not a competitive runner going for gold medals and all that, I feel that I am not really in a race with anyone else. Everyone, including me, has a PR for different distances. I am not here to race against others, just to see if I can improve myself and push myself harder.
2. Improving My Past Times
I started out in middle school remembering running a timed mile. It was a five lap mile and I finished four laps in nearly 13 minutes, granted I was really trying hard, and never finished the last lap. In college, I ran a mile in 6:40 when I was large. Now I ran a mile in 5:58 and could probably go faster if I push. It is great to see how far I have come and know there is much more I can go too.
3. Me Time
The moment I put on my headphones is the moment nothing else matters. I wont answer a phone call, think about school,worry about anything, except my run. It is the time of day where I can relax, in a way, and just... run. Yoga has been great for this too.
4. Overall Fitness
Yes, a few of these seem to be running together, but my overall fitness has been great. Running has aided me in losing over 90 lbs. I feel I am shifting away from a weight loss mindset even though I want to lose more, but into a more fitness/put muscle on my body. It is hard to know where I began and how far I have come, but I do know that I am better than I used to be.
5. Seeing Others Run Too
I used to drive by people running, especially bigger people, and think pffft good luck... Now I see someone running and I really wish them a 'Kol L'Chavod' (good for you in Hebrew). I know personally now how hard it is to get outside and run and then to stick with it for times and times again. If they have the power to do it, then I will give them my respect and hope that they can push through to the end.
6. The T-Shirts
There are some people who think, 'Another race t-shirt? What am I going to do with this?' I enjoy getting a new shirt! It is a memory of where I have been. I have three from Israel, one from Baltimore and one from Cleveland. Can't wait for more... one day it will make quite the quilt of where I have been and what I have accomplished.
7. Following Others Success
I really enjoy reading about other runners. There are people who sit at the computer and play games. I prefer to sit down and read other blogs or especially Active.com articles. It makes me think in depth about what exactly it is I am doing and how I can improve. Also how well others are doing and the tricks or walls they run into also.
8. Calves
Okay... so those of you who know me real well... I have a weird little quirk about myself. I look at my calves...often. Sometimes I will think they look good, most of the time I think they look fat. Either way over the course of a day I will constantly, nonchalantly, glance at my calves from the front and just wonder for a second.
9. Goals
It has always meant a lot to me to lose weight and has been on my goal sheet. It feels really good to know that thanks to running I have been able to cross off two long awaited goals from my goal sheet including weight loss and mile time. I cant wait to achieve my next set of goals which include marathon completions and faster mile times.
10. Me Time
I know I already state this but I want to stress this point. While in Israel, one of my friends asked me whether I prefer to run with someone or run alone. My answer was I will always run with someone but nothing compares to running alone. You get to set your own pace and then it is only you and you alone. This is a great time to reflect or even just give your mind a break. It feels good and especially on the longer runs, some people say they get bored and couldn't run far... I think they are thinking about it all wrong. As I say, I can't run to techno loud crazy music, I need to run to a rhythmic, methodic type of music that makes me really feel the flow of the day.
Even after writing out these ten points, I feel there are plenty more reasons why I enjoy running. This helped me feel better though about running and hopefully tomorrow, the new day, will bring a better turn of events and running mentality.
What keeps you running?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Slacker
Okay I was not a slacker when it came down to training, just when it came down to finding time for the blog this past week. I am sorry! Well mostly sorry to say the least. It has been over a week since my last blog post and I slacked off on it heavily. I would say it is about that time where the reality of the entire situation is starting to slowly come together. Not to say I am not going to be running the marathon, but all the work necessary for school and the necessary time to run mixed in with having fun too. However, now I am starting to get everything under control again and would like to use this post to give a little recap of where I am at currently.
Upon my return to the States, I treated myself to a few new goodies! The first of which was a new pair of running shoes. I have a pair of Nike Free 2 that I wear for shorter runs and used for my running in Israel. However, it was time to get a new pair of shoes that will become my marathon shoes, what my Sauchony's were supposed to be last year. I went back to Second Soul in Lyndhurst to purchase a new pair and yet again, all I have to say about them is good things. The guy there helped me try on a few pairs of shoes and give me a few pointers. In the end I walked out happily with a new pair of Brooks running shoes. The guy was even nice enough to give me a 15% discount. On a side note, they have a very interesting sounding marathon training program that I was thinking of doing, but in the end as much as running can be a fun social event, I need to push myself to do this and know I can do it. Personal preference.
In accordance with my physical therapist from last year, I am now taking yoga (discussed in a previous post). The JCC offers classes and they even offer use of Yoga mats. Just thinking about using the mats and how clean they must NOT be, I treated myself to a lovely stroll through my favorite store, Target! I ended up purchasing a new green yoga mat that has been great so far! Even a little carrying strap to help me lug it around.
As you can also see in the picture there is a medal! I competed in the JCC Indoor Triathlon last Sunday. I ended up running 10 miles Saturday and played 3 games of frisbee Saturday night. On a lightly pulled (but wrapped and okay enough) groin and just tired out of my mind, I ended up winning my age group! I even ran the farthest in my heat (1 lap of indoor track (130m) off of the fastest runner) and second in my heats biking after not sitting on a bike in 2 years. All in all was a real fun time and cant wait to do it again next year!
I am still getting settled in my new training plan but making good progress. On a more somber note, it seems that there is a wedding in Oklahoma I am going to the same weekend as the Toepath Half Marathon. Seems I will not be running that but will be on the lookout for other races.
Stay tuned for a fun update later this week! Thanks for reading!
In accordance with my physical therapist from last year, I am now taking yoga (discussed in a previous post). The JCC offers classes and they even offer use of Yoga mats. Just thinking about using the mats and how clean they must NOT be, I treated myself to a lovely stroll through my favorite store, Target! I ended up purchasing a new green yoga mat that has been great so far! Even a little carrying strap to help me lug it around.
As you can also see in the picture there is a medal! I competed in the JCC Indoor Triathlon last Sunday. I ended up running 10 miles Saturday and played 3 games of frisbee Saturday night. On a lightly pulled (but wrapped and okay enough) groin and just tired out of my mind, I ended up winning my age group! I even ran the farthest in my heat (1 lap of indoor track (130m) off of the fastest runner) and second in my heats biking after not sitting on a bike in 2 years. All in all was a real fun time and cant wait to do it again next year!
I am still getting settled in my new training plan but making good progress. On a more somber note, it seems that there is a wedding in Oklahoma I am going to the same weekend as the Toepath Half Marathon. Seems I will not be running that but will be on the lookout for other races.
Stay tuned for a fun update later this week! Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Rhythm of Running
There are many times when I am asked what type of music I listen to while running. So many people I know when they work out or when they run need to be listening to this 'angry', really up beat techno-ish type of music. I personally feel, that atleast for distance running, listening to this type of music is the opposite of the mentality that someone should have while running. When I run, I enjoy listening to music that really gets me into the beat, into the rhythm, the Rhythm of Running.
In every playlist I have created for listening to while running, there are a few songs that keep on showing up that are prime examples of what I mean for the type of music to listen to while running. If there was a best example, I would say Death Cab for Cutie and their song I Will Possess Your Heart. This is one of those songs that just has a great rhythm to it in the beginning and just keeps on going.
There are even other more extravagantly slow songs I enjoy like The Rolling Stones and their song You Can't Always Get What You Want. Come on, this is a song that is all about dedication. "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." What is more inspirational than that? One of my favorite songs of all time.
There are some more 'upbeat' type of songs I enjoy while running, but still within reason. The last few songs that I will individually highlight here are Augustana's Boston and by my favorite band Nine Days 257 Weeks, and lastly Counting Crows with Mr Jones. All in all, I just need a song with a good rhythm to it, I could go on and on forever about the huge list of songs I think are amazing to listen to while running. I will do one better though!
Music defines who I am I feel at times. I enjoy jamming out in my car and singing at the top of my lungs. I also feel it sets the mood, especially even in races. For example, when I was in Israel, LMFAO came on before the Tel Aviv 10k with their song Every Day I'm Shuffling. Well, I tend to remix that in my mind to Every Day I'm Struggling... and struggle I did during that race. Before the Jerusalem 10k though, all they played was Katy Perry. I was dancing around and singing and enjoying it so much... to date, my best ran race.
So the reason I am writing this blog post is because while running the Cleveland Marathon this coming May, I am allowed to listen to music while I am running. Last year, I started to think of a 'Super List' of songs that I would love to listen to while running the Marathon. Most of my lists are around 2ish hours. With my goal to run a marathon in sub 3:30, I would like to create a 4 hour list of the best of the best songs.
1. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
2. Counting Crows - Mr JOnes
3. Nine Days - 257 Weeks
4. Augustana - Boston
5. Rolling Stones - You Cant Always Get What You Want
6. 311 - Beyond the Great Sky
7. Oasis - All Around the World
What songs do you enjoy listening to while running? I am open for all suggestions too!
Stay tuned for song list update posts!
In every playlist I have created for listening to while running, there are a few songs that keep on showing up that are prime examples of what I mean for the type of music to listen to while running. If there was a best example, I would say Death Cab for Cutie and their song I Will Possess Your Heart. This is one of those songs that just has a great rhythm to it in the beginning and just keeps on going.
There are even other more extravagantly slow songs I enjoy like The Rolling Stones and their song You Can't Always Get What You Want. Come on, this is a song that is all about dedication. "You cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." What is more inspirational than that? One of my favorite songs of all time.
There are some more 'upbeat' type of songs I enjoy while running, but still within reason. The last few songs that I will individually highlight here are Augustana's Boston and by my favorite band Nine Days 257 Weeks, and lastly Counting Crows with Mr Jones. All in all, I just need a song with a good rhythm to it, I could go on and on forever about the huge list of songs I think are amazing to listen to while running. I will do one better though!
Music defines who I am I feel at times. I enjoy jamming out in my car and singing at the top of my lungs. I also feel it sets the mood, especially even in races. For example, when I was in Israel, LMFAO came on before the Tel Aviv 10k with their song Every Day I'm Shuffling. Well, I tend to remix that in my mind to Every Day I'm Struggling... and struggle I did during that race. Before the Jerusalem 10k though, all they played was Katy Perry. I was dancing around and singing and enjoying it so much... to date, my best ran race.
So the reason I am writing this blog post is because while running the Cleveland Marathon this coming May, I am allowed to listen to music while I am running. Last year, I started to think of a 'Super List' of songs that I would love to listen to while running the Marathon. Most of my lists are around 2ish hours. With my goal to run a marathon in sub 3:30, I would like to create a 4 hour list of the best of the best songs.
1. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
2. Counting Crows - Mr JOnes
3. Nine Days - 257 Weeks
4. Augustana - Boston
5. Rolling Stones - You Cant Always Get What You Want
6. 311 - Beyond the Great Sky
7. Oasis - All Around the World
What songs do you enjoy listening to while running? I am open for all suggestions too!
Stay tuned for song list update posts!
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