Good Days & Bad Days

This week has been full of ups and downs. I started the week on very little sleep and stomach cramps that made me want to stay in bed all day. Despite feeling like complete crap I managed to get in a pretty good trainer ride Monday night. Maybe it had something to do with watching the Biggest Loser Season Finale.

Tuesday morning I had a 50 minute endurance run on the schedule. No big deal, or so I thought. This run was rough from the minute it started. I couldn't settle into a pace and felt like I was working way too hard for the pace I was going. I thought slowing down would help but that just felt worse. I'm pretty sure I counted down the minutes as soon as I started running. I desperately wanted to have a great run but it just wasn't happening.

I then went to the pool to get in a swim. Despite having such a bad run I figured I would feel okay swimming. Wrong. Not only were my legs tired but my arms felt like I had bricks attached to them. I started to feel better the longer I swam but I still felt far from normal.

I went back to the pool yesterday for my longest swim in probably a couple years. When I started swimming I realized my crappy workouts weren't just reserved for Tuesday. I felt even worse and was getting frustrated. I was coming off of a rest week so there was no real reason to feel so depleted. Yet I struggled to complete each and every one of those 3600 yards.

track running in the dark

I had a track workout scheduled for last night that I was increasingly nervous about given how bad I'd been feeling. I went into the workout dreading it, not because it was the first time back at the track since last summer, but because I didn't know if I could deal with another terrible workout.

Armed with my new Saucony Mirages I went to the track not expecting to get much out of it. During my warm up I thought about my shoes and making sure there was no pain or discomfort. When I checked my watch to see how much I had left I saw I was averaging 8:39 like it was no big thing. I started thinking that maybe this would be the workout I so desperately needed to give me a confidence boost.

LOVE the Mirage

The main set of my workout was 4 x 400 at 1:50 with 200 jog recovery. I was confident I could hit these paces but was surprised by how well I did.

1:39, 1:35, 1:37, 1:35

This workout was better than good. I left the track full of confidence and my faith restored in my ability to not completely suck at all things running and swimming. Honestly, I needed this workout in more ways than one. Before those few days of shitty workouts I needed a confidence boost. Couple low self-esteem with 3 consecutively terrible workouts and the result is not pretty. And instead of being nervous about tomorrow's long run I'm actually really excited because even though I know it's going to be challenging, I know I can do it.

How do you get through a bad workout? Have you ever had a period of bad workouts that really got you down?

Brooks Shoe Love

When I first started running I knew nothing about wearing the proper shoes. I read somewhere shortly after that explained why it is important to go to a running store for an assessment before buying sneakers. I already knew I overpronated but I didn't realize it would be such an issue when it came to running. Originally I wanted a pair of Nike's. I thought they were the "cool" shoe and what "real" runners wore. When I went in to my local running store they completely dismissed my idea. They did all of their fancy tests and quickly decided on the Brooks Adrenaline. I tried on a pair of Asics as well but the Adrenaline's provided me with the most support and were more comfortable.

I took those shoes home and went out for a run in them that day. I remember thinking it felt like I was running on clouds. I loved these shoes. Like any good runner I tracked my mileage on my shoes to make sure I didn't put too many miles on them. About 7 months later I decided to get another pair of Adrenaline's in a fancy purple & teal combo. I didn't really need new shoes but I liked how they looked so I went ahead and got them anyway. I wore both pairs pretty regularly, not really choosing one over the other.

Last summer I tried on a pair of the Brooks Pure Cadence and instantly wanted a pair. I was caught up in the popularity of the Pure Project line and wanted a pair of my own. I was hesitant to wear them though because they were more of a minimalist shoe than I was used to and I didn't want to get injured. I eventually made these shoes my track shoes and wear them whenever I go to the track for a workout.

Over the summer I also bought a pair of trail shoes in hopes of actually going to a trail to run. I figured if I had trail shoes then I would drag my butt to the trail. I ended up buying the Brooks Cascadia that I found on sale at a DSW. I tried them on and thought they were comfy so I got them, not knowing anything about how much stability they provide. I wore them a few times over the summer when I dabbled in trail running but they really didn't get too much use until this past fall when I made trail running a regular thing. I still don't know if they are a stability shoe or not but I really like them.

Around Christmas I realized that both of my pairs of Adrenaline's were approaching 400 miles on them. I've read that you can keep running shoes for 300-500 miles and that overpronators are on the shorter end of that spectrum because they need more support. Sure I used the Cascadia for a decent amount of my running in the fall but I hadn't done any significant mileage in anything other than the Adrenaline 11. Brooks has since come out with both an Adrenaline 12 and 13. I was nervous about what upgrades had been made to the shoe, both good and bad.

Today I decided it was time to bite the bullet and look at new running shoes. I wanted to keep my options open and not just buy another pair of Adrenaline's because that was what I already had. If there was a shoe better fit for me I wanted to try it. When I first put on the Adrenaline 13 I didn't like them. They felt very stiff, more so than a new shoe should. I then tried on the Saucony Guide and some New Balance shoe. The Saucony Guide had no support for overpronating despite being advertised as a stability shoe. The New Balance shoe had a decent amount of support but just felt off when I tried running in them.

In the end I bought the Adrenaline. I took them out for a 60 min test run after getting home and couldn't be happier with my decision. I should have known to stick with what I know and love. Now I have 5 total pairs of running shoes in my rotation and they each serve a specific purpose.

• Adrenaline 11 (both pairs): easy and recovery runs until they are completely worn out
• Cascadia: all trail running, which is where I do the majority of my runs at school
• Pure Cadence: track and tempo runs. I am thinking about using these for races too since they are lighter but might stick to shorter races. Not sure yet
• Adrenaline 13: long runs and runs where my legs are especially tired and need the extra support and cushioning.

I Found My Running Mojo

After expressing my frustration with running lately and my decision to take a much needed break I am happy to report that I am ready to run again. It has been almost three weeks since I have laced up my sneakers for  a run, and although I was definitely not planning on taking so much time off I really needed to. After running in my moms Brooks Pure Cadence just before my running hiatus I decided to get a pair for myself. I liked the idea of wearing a lighter weight shoe and had read how a lot of people who overpronate and usually run in the Adrenalines were able to easily switch to the Pure Cadence.

My beautiful bright new shoes just arrived and as soon as I got them I wanted to try them out. But I knew that I needed to transition into them before setting out for a regular run in them. So I did a three mile loop in them alternating walking and running. My stomach was a little funky during the run portions but regardless it felt amazing to back out there. I was going so slow that I turned off my garmin and just went by feel. It was really refreshing to not be constantly checking my watch. I want to try doing some of my recovery runs without a watch during marathon training so that I don't go too fast.

Later that night, my boyfriend asked if I wanted to go shopping for new running shoes with him. He is more of a cyclist but has been getting into some running lately and wants to eventually run in Vibrams. We went to a local running store and while he tried on shoes I wondered around and tried not to buy everything there. In the end I only ended up getting some more gels and chews to try, but boy was it hard not to go crazy. 

After spending a good hour there I officially was ready to run again. Luckily for me my boyfriend and I are supposed to go for a run on a trail near his house this weekend. And only two more weeks until I am done with finals and school for the semester and am able to return to my favorite running routes back home!

Let's Talk About Shoes

I love my Brooks Adrenalines. I really do. I just bought my second pair in the limited edition purple ones and can't wait to try them out. I guess I need to get it out there before I continue with this post: I love shoes. It is possible that I have a shoe obsession. And of course this obsession includes running sneakers.

When I first started running I wanted a pair of Nike somethings. I don't remember but they looked so cool. When I went to the running specialty store though, they told me that I need shoes with a lot of support because I overpronate. As a result I ended up with my first pair of Brooks Adrenalines.

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I were shopping at Dick's for some ski gear when I spotted a pair of trail running shoes that didn't look obnoxious. I have only gone trail running once but I really want to take advantage of the trails near my apartment once the warmer weather sets in. Guess what that means.. I need want to buy trail running shoes!

Now I probably don't need trail running shoes at all but they look so sweet! Maybe if I start trail racing I will need a pair of trail running shoes..

When I was looking up trail running shoes online I ended up at the Brooks website and stumbled upon their Pure Project collection. I have seen these shoes before but had no idea they released them in more colors. I instantly loved the newest color collection, a white with coral (ish?) highlighting.

I love this color combo and how summery the shoe looks, but hate how dirty they would get on the dirt trail where I run when at home. So maybe they would be best for racing since they are a lighter shoe! But I also like them in the black/purple combo..

When I was at my local running store I was told that a new edition of the Brooks Adrenalines were released a little while ago, which of course means new colors! 

Of course there is a limited edition color for the new editions too. They are not as exciting as the others sneakers but are still a funky color combo that will not easily go unnoticed.

I'm sorry if you are wondering if there was really a point to this post because there is not. Simply put, I like shoes and felt the need to share some of my favorites with all of you. Don't judge me based on this post alone.

What shoes do you run in? Do you love shoe shopping, even for running shoes?

10 Things I Love About Running

In honor of Valentine's Day today I decided to celebrate why I love running. I know a lot of people dislike Valentine's Day but I think of it as a day to celebrate all of things in my life that I love and am grateful for. As happy as I am to spend Valentine's Day with my amazing boyfriend and was even happier to start the day off with a four mile run.

So here we go:
1. The challenge. Running is one of the few things that always challenges me no matter what. Some days the challenge is hitting a certain pace while others days it can be as simple as just getting out the door. Maybe it is because I am such a new runner, but I truly feel that I have a lot of room for improvement both in the speed of my running and my overall running endurance. Running is the best reminder that nothing comes easy, and that the best things in life are worth fighting for.

2. The stress relief. Being a full time college student can be very stressful, especially during midterm & finals week. When I am feeling overwhelmed I always force myself to go for a run because I know I will feel a million times better afterwards. Running lets me get my mind off of whatever is bothering me at least for a little while.


3. The time to myself. I am a huge introvert. I absolutely need time to myself to simply gather my thoughts and be alone. So many of things in my life are shared with friends and family and it is such a great feeling to have running all to myself. It is my time to just be by myself and think about whatever I want.


4. The feeling of accomplishment. I love the feeling of knowing that I accomplished something that most people will never do. Running makes me feel like I am getting out there and doing something productive while others are lounging on the couch. I love going for morning runs and starting my day off with a sense of accomplishment so early.


5. The confidence is gives me. As I have mentioned before I have struggled with my confidence. I feel so great about myself about a few days of consistent running, like I am on top of the world. In turn, this confidence transfers back into my running and starts a very beautiful circle.


6. The feeling after a great run. This goes along with the feeling of accomplishment. No feeling beats that after an awesome run. I had a run like this a few weeks ago and I was riding my runner's high for the entire weekend. I felt truly unstoppable and like I was completely in my element. No better feeling seriously.


7. The time I spend outside. Growing up I didn't really enjoy spending time outside. Running, though, makes me appreciate nature so much. Whenever it is a beautiful day outside all I can think about is going to a run to enjoy the beautiful weather. Consequently, I have spent many days running outside in the rain.


8. The strength it gives me. As a swimmer I didn't use my legs very much. It was very difficult for me when I first started running because my legs were not used to constantly being used. My legs are so much stronger now and I absolutely love it. Running has also made me stronger mentally. I struggled mentally as a swimmer and had frequent bouts of anxiety and the occasional panic attack. Running has been the complete opposite for me and I couldn't be more grateful.


9. The community. Even though I don't know many other runners, I love being a part of the running community. I love the support of the blogging community and having the ability to chat with other runners on Twitter. Going to a race and being with other people who are there for the exact same reasons is such a unique experience. Runners are all so friendly and welcoming.


10. The shoes. I'm not going to lie, I love my running shoes. I love all shoes in general and any excuse to buy new shoes is okay with me. I recently switched to a bright purple pair of Brook's Adrenaline's and can't get over how awesome they are.

I Feel Good

After the awesome week of workouts I had last week I was ready to tackle this week head on. I decided to stay at my boyfriend's house Sunday night after the super bowl instead of driving back to school with all sorts of potential drunk drivers out. I had to leave pretty early Monday morning to make it to class on time because of rush hour. Between staying up late for the game and getting up early for class, I was pretty beat come Monday night. I had wanted to get in an easy run but my body had other plans.

I can definitely tell the semester is in full swing because I got nailed with work this week. I had no free time to do anything other than study, eat, and sleep. By last night I was tired that I went to sleep at 11:00 and slept straight until 9:00. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

Although it was a little cold outside, there was not a cloud in sight and I was itching to go for a run. I debated lacing up my new sneakers or sticking with my old pair for a few more days. I was only running four miles so I thought it was the perfect time to try them out. Plus they matched my outfit. Yes, I do try to match my shorts, shirt, socks, shoes, and even sports bra. I'm that cool.

My legs were really sore at the beginning of the week from the higher mileage plus going to the gym but they felt great today. I have been experimenting with a higher cadence (more on that later) and my legs were loving it. The new shoes feel so much more supportive, which I guess means it was time to replace my old ones.

I wanted to run four easy miles to get my legs used to running again but my legs just seemed to take off. I had to keep slowing myself down during the first mile so I didn't burn out. I kept running at a comfortable yet quick pace and ended up finishing four miles in 37 minutes, the fastest I have run four miles on campus. (UMBC's campus is pretty hilly.) I can't wait to go for another run in my new shoes. They feel great and I felt like I was running on clouds.

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	37:47.3	4.00	9:26
1	9:40.1	1.00	9:40
2	9:33.9	1.00	9:34
3	8:52.5	1.00	8:54
4	9:38.9	1.00	9:37
5	:02.0	0.00	9:09

How often do you buy new sneakers? Do you have to break them in or do you just go big in them?