ocrunnergirl

You are so inspiring! Glad you kept going after it. I’m sure your brother in heaven is so proud.

Thanks for sticking by me! I need to keep up the strength work.

Welcome! Hope to hear more about your 1/2 training.

Sorry about the trouble with your brother and son. Stressful. Nice race and cause.

I like the goal! Hoping everything comes together!

Stay healthy -- goal#1 will help with all of the other goals! It would be great if Mrs. Pie was on our Vermont team!

Stretch and strengthen that hammy (and everything else)! Banded backwards squatted walking is a good strength exercise for Sammy! Maybe Tempo could help?

I'm almost afraid to put this into writing... I'm running.... a lot (for me)... like 45 mpw.... this hasn't happened since March, 2017. I'm afraid if I start dreaming and hoping it will go away as suddenly as it seemed to come back. I wrote a training plan. I've been able to follow my training plan and even add on extra miles. Unheard of. I've had a mental mind shift too. I used to be afraid of big work outs. Long runs used to be my mental kryptonite. Now I look at them as an opportunity to become a stronger runner. Every mile makes me a better distance runner. Intervals were always my favorite. I still love them but Phew! They are hard! LOL Last week I had a 35 minute tempo run on tap. Instead of becoming paralyzed with the "What happens if I fail" fear I asked myself "will I still love myself even if I fail?" The answer: "Hell, yeah!" Who cares if I don't hit a certain pace! I'm running again! I set out from the park and did a 1 mile warm up and then picked up the pace. (I should have run it more as a progression run but I've got no discipline.) The first mile I felt really good. I was working but it felt manageable. 8:23 The 2nd mile I was working a bit harder. All of my biking and running in Florida the past few days was becoming apparent. I took 2 short stops to gather myself. The 2nd mile chimed in at 8:13. In the 3rd mile I made a U turn to head back to my car. Somehow knowing I have less than half of the workout to go puts a little pep in my step. 8:13 By mile 4 I was really feeling the burn so I backed off a tiny bit. 8:19 I ran another minute 41 seconds at an 8:11 pace. The cool down was a struggle for real! LOL I wanted 6.5 miles total so I slogged through 1.3 more miles at very uncomfortable 9:19/9:23 pace. So happy to have finished that run! And I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. Yesterday I ran 6.4 miles on trails and another 9.6 miles on the treadmill. This morning I ran with a lady my age from my new running group. We banged out 8 miles at a 9:19 pace. 45.5 miles this week. I'm dreaming of goals.... Please don't let this disappear.

Love it, Eliz! What an exciting year you had with a tough curveball in the middle. Congrats on the National Award!

Ooooohhhhh!!! I love this! I want to go running with you right now because I need more details! LOL Goals for 2020: 1) To stay healthy and injury free. 2) Quit/cutback Facebook. 3) Spring/summer decision: Sign up for a 50 miler (if and only if I feel my leg is ready.)

So sorry about your brother. Those tempo/1 minute recovery workouts look interesting. I also like the 2 x 2 and then 3 tempos in that 22 miler. I get so anxious on my long run because it’s ...long... that it might give me something else to focus on.

Great month! It took me a minute to figure out the 1st hip flexor stretch picture! LOL

I think sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves with others or worrying what others may think. As someone who is/has comeback from a long injury all i can say is that I'm so grateful that I've been able to run some miles this year. Happy New Year!

All great news! I love it! Happy New Year!

Are you running a race in Atlanta? Glad the foot is feeling better.