It's Been a While...

Oh school, how you've taken over my social (and blogging) life...

So, it's been a while since I've posted. I was on a (pretty consistent) roll there for a while... Sorry, folks! I'm reaching that point of a semester where I'm buckling down which means that my social life kind of gets thrown out the window. Unfortunately, my running has too.

Have I kept running? YES! Has it been consistent/on a solid schedule? Well... Not quite. UGH.

I've at least maintained around 8-10 miles per week, which is fine, however I hate the fact it's split between two days, not 3. I did however, manage to reach 12 miles this week, with 4 runs around 3-4+ miles each. Oh, happy day! My times have suffered a bit, but I've been kind of relaxing while I run, not forcing myself with speed to set new times. I'm much happier this way. (MUCH happier.) It's not feeling so... chore-ish.

I've enjoyed it so much so that I ran in the rain yesterday... If you've never tried it (and a little water won't kill you; you won't melt, I promise), I highly suggest it! I wouldn't necessarily call it "rain," more mist-like, but it was cooler. I froze in shorts and a wicking tee starting out, however my body did adjust, warmed up, and I honestly didn't realize the mist had stopped halfway through. It was very pleasant and relaxing! I've found a new favorite running condition :)

At the halfway mark, (my turn-back point) I texted my husband to ask if he'd pick me up if I ran to the next little "town." According to county road markers, it'd be 4 miles total, however it measured at just a little over 3 with my GPS. (Deceiving.) I made it quicker than I thought I would and still had a mile left for my target distance, so I ran around the little town's country roads, out East first, then back, then North, then back. Since I had some time to kill before he picked me up, I started walking back as a cool down. Overall, it was a nice change to challenge myself a little, almost as if I set a "finish line" for the run. Much more fun, too!

Unfortunately (thanks to studying), my diet has suffered a bit. I've felt it while running, as it's slowed me down a bit. This past week I ate what felt like a metric crap-ton of sugar, whether it was pie (sugar free), cookies (not sugar free), and just junk in general. I haven't ate "clean" for a while, and I'm starting to feel it. I don't like it either. (Never thought I'd hear that out of my mouth.)

This week's goal is to clean it up. Go back to tracking everything, and not cheating just because I ran. It's a horrible excuse and it needs to stop. Tracking ahead and meal planning helps me tremendously, so I'm focusing on that. It drives my husband crazy thinking about what we're having for dinner before I've even ate breakfast, but planning ahead really, really helps me. Also grazing, or eating 6 smaller meals as opposed to three larger meals helps me control hunger throughout the day, staying satisfied without stuffing myself. I feel SO much better when I do that for a longer period of time. Snacking definitely helps!

Now that I have a goal, let's mix it up a little, shall we? The next two weeks, (and all of October really) will be a bit of a challenge for me. Between two races to cover for a side gig, as well as training for a new position I just received in Indy (with boxed lunches included and an hour and a half, twice a day commute), tracking and staying on task will be an even bigger challenge. I know when I get home I will be exhausted, but not running is not an option or an excuse. Luckily it's for only three weeks, but it's quite a bit going on in a short amount of time. I just hope running consistently and focusing on my diet will help see me through. (Definitely packing snacks and water just in case, too!)

A few weekends ago, I did complete the ISC Corporate Challenge 5k Run for my place of employment, as well as the Fitness Walk after, totaling a 10K! I can honestly say I'm pretty proud of myself, as I set my fastest time (officially) at 10:39 mi/min average! I did feel every mile for a few days after, however it felt like such an awesome accomplishment, giving me a boost to hopefully complete a full 10K running at some point soon. Also, my reward? Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Gelato from Goose the Market. It was a very, very tasty reward at that. (You can't deprive yourself. I certainly haven't! But I did count it.)

I do have a few races coming up soon, both with the Wayne Co. Challenge; a 5k on October 19 and a 7k on November 16. I'm really looking forward to the 7k even though it's not really a new distance. I've done 4.5 before with no problem on fresh legs, and with the cooler temperatures I've noticed I can run longer distances with less fatigue. I just hope it's not too cold by then... I'm still trying to adjust to running in different temperatures, however I can tell I favor mid-50's for races. Sunny, and mid-50's.

Of course with the upcoming races, I will keep you guys posted!

(As always, thank you for your continued support! I honestly never thought at 250 lbs. I could get this far, and now I'm 100+ lost and counting, making fitness strides every day. Even if you're in the middle, stuck in a rut, or aren't sure about even starting, do it for you for the right reasons. It's worth the ride!)