Happy Monday.....errr...Wednesday!
I am running a couple of days behind on my training update because the Run & Walk for the Whales is taking over my life! Stay tuned for more on that but here is a post related to it from last year.
But let's talk training!
How did this week go? Slowly but good. I ran a whole whopping 15 miles! Cringe....taper can really get to me when I see those weekly miles coming in but all in all, I am happy that I am cutting back and resting my body so that I can garden AND hurt my back trying to pull out a huge grassy weed half my size. I am happy to say within 48 hours my back was feeling better but the tight muscles around my tailbone are complaining again. I just need to stretch, stretch, stretch, and stay calm.
Mentally I am ready for race day on Sunday (yes, just 4 more sleeps until the Maui Oceanfront Marathon!) and even though I am not convinced I will PR or break 4 hours I got to say...I am okay with that. With how life has tossed things my way time doesn't really matter. I just want to run happy for Toby and to glorify God through all I do and I want to show darling daughter that no matter what, never give up. It isn't about winning. It is about doing your best and some days that best is better than other days.
A lesson we touched upon just yesterday when she wasn't feeling into going to horse lessons. We all have those days, don't we? The days when we just don't want to run, lift weights, swim, cycle, or whatever your sport of choice may be. I firmly told her, get ready and let's go. I went on to explain how it was day 1,475 of my running streak and I had days when I didn't feel like running but I NEVER regretted running. I never finished my run and said, man, I wish I didn't do that. PLUS, many times the days that were harder to pull myself up and get started ended up being the BEST run days ever! Not always but many times.
And once she was at the stables and with the pony she had no more "I don't wanna's" and got to work and guess what? She had one of her BEST lessons ever and was beaming with joy and chattering away like crazy after her lesson. Well done darling daughter, well done. And thank you God for backing up my teaching moment. Phew!
But back to my training...I have done some dietary adjustments this past week too to fine tune my nutrition and to get back on track after perhaps a few too many holiday cookies and no, I am not saying treats are forbidden. No way can I do that to myself but I do have less around (since we ate them all!)
But here is what I have incorporated:
- Hello hot lemon water - I start my day with a mug and often end my day with a mug. I am liking the extra vitamin C boost and the warm drink. My skin is looking better and I feel this is one reason why. Plus it is good hydration!
- Bye-bye Belvita - I had been eating a pack of Belvita bars pre-run with my morning coffee. I now drink the hot lemon water at home and my protein drink on my way down the mountain so I have something of value in me prior to running and work. I used to drink the protein drink post run. I do still make my morning coffee but I only take a couple of sips pre-run and save it for post run with my breakfast.
- Breakfast switch - I was doing steel cut oats and a banana (and sometimes berries) and I have swapped that with a hard boiled egg and still eat my banana if I have some that are still firm. Mushy bananas in oatmeal are okay but I can't eat a mushy banana. Yuck!
Daily Gratitude: I am thankful my back is feeling better.
Daily Bible Verse: That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
P.S. For those following, here is my #run4toby mission stats for this week.
