Day 30: Today was hard, which was fitting, bringing me back to where I started....30 days ago. I woke up with super sore legs this morning from the hike I went on yesterday. Then a girlfriend invited me to do a circuited class at 8:30 at my new gym :) ...which was primarily leg focused. Squats, squats and more squats. So by the time I hit the treadmill to rock my 30th mile of the month I was already tired and my legs were screaming at me. This mile was tough. Tough in a completely different way than the tough it was on day 1. Day 1 was tough because I hadn't moved my body in months... today was hard because I have been pushing myself to bigger and harder workouts. The mile today wasn't the actual workout it was my extra credit.
So many lessons over the past month. I have grown in so many ways... unexpected ways. I can't remember the last time I have finished a challenge that went on as long as this one. I cant' remember the last time I was as proud of myself as I am now. Yesterday I posted my run on FB and someone commented, 'Only a mile?'. Yep, you read that right. Now, if this comment was put up on day 2 or 3 of the challenge it would have rocked my world. I would have been so bummed out and it could have knocked me off my game. But I had 29 days under my belt and over 60 'lessons' learned.... so I was tough enough to handle the comment. Just some proof of unexpected growth!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:30 minute mile (treadmill)
- Lesson 1: A 30 day challenge will push you and foster some pretty unexpected growth.
- Lesson 2: Do it... so worth it!!
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Day 29: Went on a super challenging 4 mile hike this morning. We got of the mounting at 10:30 and instead of changing into my birks I kept my athletic kicks on and drove straight to Planet Fitness to get my mile in. Instead of just going home and putting my run off I decided to just get it done. I am so glad I did! Getting my commitments done early is the way to go. It freed up the rest of my day to take the kids to lunch and bowling. Can't believe that this challenge will be over tomorrow. I feel like I am mourning the completion... like finishing an amazing book. You want to get to the end but at the same time you want it to last. Feel like I am falling back in love with running. My heart is full.
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:30 minute mile (treadmill)
- Lesson 1: Get commitments done in the morning is so rewarding.
- Lesson 2: Running fills my heart.
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Day 28: I was really looking forward to my mile today. I was cranky after my day in the office and was ready to pound it out on the treadmill in hopes of an attitude adjustment. About half way into my run a nice enough looking gentlemen hoped on the treadmill right next to me.... So this gym, it's not small. I would guess there are about 50 treadmills in the place and this afternoon there were approximately 8 runners using the machines. EIGHT runners and FIFTY treadmills.... and he chooses to run next to me. Argh!!! My attempt at my attitude adjustment was totally thwarted. Damn it! Still cranky....
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:15 minute mile (treadmill)
- Lesson 1: An attitude adjustment is not guaranteed.
- Lesson 2: If I want to run alone maybe the gym isn't the best place to go.
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Day 27: When I decided to start this 'Mile-a-Day' challenge I was committed to RUNNING the entire mile. I knew that I was already capable of walking a mile and this challenge was intended to push me.... they don't call it a 'challenge' for nothing. Today I was forced to make a choice: my kids or my challenge. See, they wanted to run with me this afternoon and couldn't hang. One got a side-ache half way in and the other started complaining about her knee. So I left them in the dust to walk their half mile back home while I finished what I started. (they are old enough to walk by themselves) It would have been super easy to walk home with them but I am committed!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:10 minute mile
- Lesson 1: My kids can't hang.
- Lesson 2: When I was forced to make a choice I chose my challenge. That is the commitment.
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Day 26: The COOLEST thing happened today... day 26 and my habit has been formed!! Last night I absolutely could NOT fall asleep. I think the last time that I looked at the clock was 2:45..not good. Since I got minimal sleep I gave myself permission to have a lazy day today. As I was journaling it out this morning I committed to doing laundry while watching movies on the couch... all day. And that is what I did. I got all my laundry done and watched 2 movies and binged social media and that's it. When the movies were finished and all the laundry done I went upstairs and put on my running clothes. I didn't hesitate. I didn't have to plan it. I didn't have to get myself all pumped up for my run. It wasn't lingering over my head all day..... It just happened. And I knew that it was going to happen regardless of my lazy day. I realized today that I am now in the habit of running. I am SO excited!!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 11:38 minute mile
- Lesson 1: It takes me about 26 days to form a habit.
- Lesson 2: When I listen to music (not a book or podcast) my creativity really gets going!
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Day 25: The fact that I was not able to run outside really put a cramp in my challenge... so yesterday I joined the gym. I ran 2 miles yesterday and 2 miles today and I am 100% caught up! I have 27.03 miles logged so far in the month of August! It has been YEARS since I have logged this many miles. OMG it feels good. I feel strong and alive and in control and proud. All the good feels up in here. Another lesson today...I woke up emotional and cranky. I had a draining day yesterday and it trickled over to this morning. Thinking about yesterday I got a little teary on the drive to the gym. I felt upset and angry and tired. I ran my miles and on my drive home I realized that my attitude had changed. I did nothing but chat with a girlfriend on the treadmill for 25 minutes and felt like a new woman afterward. The effects of this challenge are many!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:30 minute mile (treadmill)
- Lesson 1: Running can lead to a positive attitude adjustment.
- Lesson 2: Running on a treadmill with a friend to chat with is WAY easier than just listening to my book.
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Day 22: I am SO glad that I posted on Insta about the air quality effecting my challenge. A girlfriend reached out last night and offered to bring me to her gym as a guest so I could run my miles inside on the treadmill. Let me be clear on this point: I hate the treadmill. The treadmill for me is literally the last possible option, ever! And I am SO SO SO thankful that it was an option today! I ran 3 miles without stopping this morning.... at 5am! So, two things really: 1. I ran the most amount of miles that I have ran in over a year and 2. I woke up at an obscene time to do it. This is dedication people! This is me honoring my challenge! This is my commitment to myself becoming a reality. Oh, also Accountability helps. If I had not told that universe that I was doing this challenge, then my girlfriend would not have invited me to the gym and held me accountable this morning. Accountability helps!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:30 minute mile (treadmill)
- Lesson 1: Accountability is KEY. Being accountable to YOURSELF and a FRIEND.
- Lesson 2: Look for other options... when something comes between you and you goal there is always another option.
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Day 19 - Undetermined Date: The air quality in the valley has been reduced to 'Unhealthy for Everyone'. The horrible wildfires up in BC are causing massive smoke here and we are hunkering down in doors due to the hazardous air. YUCK! I am super bummed... my challenge, my precious challenge!!
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Day 17 & 18: Skipped day 17 and doubled up on my miles today. It was the first day, in a very very long time, that I actually felt like a runner. It didn't take long for me to find my stride. I felt confident today. I felt solid and strong. I knew I would run a solid 2 miles without stopping. I had no doubt. 18 days ago I wasn't sure that I would be able to run 1 mile without keeling over. Today I felt like a runner. Looking back to the list of my reasons for launching this challenge I realize that I am already hitting them...endurance, finding my stride, gaining stronger.
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 11:47 minute mile
- Lesson 1: I am hitting my goals (my reasons for running) already.
- Lesson 2: Keeping this commitment that made ONLY to myself is such a gift.
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Day 16: Yesterday I hiked 4 miles, then ran my 2 miles and then took a yoga class. This morning I woke up and paddle boarded for 1.5 hours around a local lake. So tonight my muscles were tight as I started out on my run. It felt good to be jogging and stretching them out. About half way into my mile I realized that I was keeping a faster pace than normal. Instead of slowing my roll I decided to keep up with it and push myself through. I kept up my pace and really challenged myself today. It felt good... not too hard, just right. This challenge is exactly what I have been needing. Love it!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 11:22 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Its okay to go slow when needed and push myself when I am feeling up to it.
- Lesson 2: Habits are being formed... even though I waited until evening to run I never considered skipping it.
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Day 14 & 15: Yesterday I rested...I did not run my mile. It wasn't because I was super busy and didn't have the time. That would be far from the truth. I made the decision that I would take a rest day at 5:00am when my alarm went off. Lately I have been sleeping like shit, like wake up at 3:00 and not able to go back to bed style. SHIT. So when my alarm went off during a deep sleep I rolled over, reset the alarm for 6:00 and went back to bed. The extra sleep was great but by the time I got home from the office I was exhausted again. I decided to put on my jam jams, snuggle up with my book and take the night off...... of EVERYTHING. Like, kids fend for yourself type of night off. Every part of me needed this little break. I felt zero guilt for not running my mile because I knew that I would come through on my commitment the next day.
And I did. I came through today... day 15, exactly half way through the challenge. I went out to a gorgeous trail at Padilla Bay and slayed 2 miles. It was 7:00 in the morning so the morning fog was just rolling off the water giving the trail spooky feel. The fresh air and solitude was refreshing. Yesterday I rested and today was SO good for it!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 12:00 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Listen to your body. Rest is a good thing.
- Lesson 2: Trusting my commitment to myself is everything.
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Day 13: I run at the exact same pace as the garbage truck...literally, the EXACT same pace. I set out on my run with the sound of the garbage truck behind me. I snuck a quick back and he was at my house so I crossed the road to let him pass. And he did...he passed me... and then I caught up... and then he passed me again... and then I caught up. Each time he stopped to collect a neighbor's trash I could run up beside him. At first we gave a friendly waves but by the fourth pass we were obviously avoiding eye contact. It was awkward and loud. Awkward and loud.
Lessons & Info
- Ran 11:57 minute mile
- Lesson 1: I cannot out run a garbage truck.
- Lesson 2: Buy headphones. Garbage trucks are loud.
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Day 10 - 12: Yikes! My days of blogging have gotten away from me..so now I have the challenge of summarizing 3 pretty busy days. Day 10 we were on the 1st day of our road trip. I had planned to wake up early and run but our hotel (actually MOTEL) wasn't it the nicest area of town so, fearing for my safety, I skipped out. By the time we go to the next hotel that night at 9:30 I was beyond tired and didn't run. YEP, you read that right... day 10 I missed my mile. I beat myself up about this for appx. 10 hours. Day 11 I woke up before the fam. I had my coffee, got some journal in, read my book and set out on my mile and 'make-up mile'. I ran 2.46 miles without stopping!! It was SO great. I didn't know where I was, so navigating uncharted streets kept my mind off the fatigue. Day 12 was the BEST... like the BEST EVER! I ran on the beach... of Ocean Shores. I ran on the BEACH!!
Lessons:
- Lesson 1: Check your route before you run... sometimes sidewalks are important
- Lesson 2: Make-Up miles are okay when absolutely necessary.
- Lesson 3: New runs and run experiences are amazing.
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Day 9: I wore the wrong outfit today, which made everything wrong. This morning I decided to head out in my yoga leggings instead of quickly swapping them out for the 'real' kind of running pants. The kind that actually holds you IN. As I usually do each day....I turned on my kindle, got Shonda rolling in my ear, started my Nike App and set off. IMMEDIATELY things started to shake and wiggle and jiggle... things that are not supposed to MOVE when you jog. I tried for the first minute or two to hike my pants up over my mid section to offer a little jiggle relief... only to feel is roll right back down after a step or two. This made it worse so I abandoned that attempt. My other wardrobe misstep was my choice of color. I was wearing black yoga pants and a black long sleeve t-shirt. Even though I went early in the morning the sun was still beating down on me. My black attire did not help my already uncomfortable self. Now, I was a HOT jiggling mess. All I could think about was the finish line, HOME! The thought to stop to walk never crossed my mind, only crossing the finish line. That is an improvement over Day 1. Small Wins!
Lessons & Info
- Ran 11:45 minute mile
- Lesson 1: What you wear during a run is of utmost importance.
- Lesson 2: Getting the run over and done in the morning ROCKS.
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Day 8: Today I ran THROUGH my mile marker...I ran 1.31 miles and it wasn't hell. It was almost easy. The only hard part was my back pain. It isn't an injury-injury, it's more like my joints waking up from a VERY long slumber. Waking up cranky and letting me know that they don't appreciate this new challenge. Still, I ran through the dull ache. I ran through the mile marker. I ran through the voice in my head letting me know that it would be okay to stop. Today was the best day yet!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 11:50 minute mile
- Lesson 1: A habit is being formed...I didn't even hesitate to start my mile today.
- Lesson 2: My body is stronger than I have given it credit for.
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Day 7: I would like to dedicate Today's mile to two amazing women. First, I would like to recognize the hilarious and brilliant Shonda Rhymes. Shonda wrote the book 'Year of Yes' which I started listening to on audible today. Usually I run while listening to a podcast...but I haven't found one that I am really loving. I need something that takes my mind off the mile. This. Book. Did. Oh, it is so funny and I honestly can't wait to listen again tomorrow during my run. (did I just say that I can't wait to run??)
Secondly, I need to recognize my girl Teresa. I was texting with her, complaining about the heat (84') and my back ache and all the things that were keeping me from my run. She told me about this book... told me to say YES and to get it done. Thanks sister, I needed that!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran 11:57 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Children's chewable Tylenol works great in a pinch.
- Lesson 2: Text someone who won't let you off the hook when you want to let yourself off the hook.
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Day 6: I took my own advice today AND didn't procrastinate. I ran early, done by 6:50. Total rockstar status! Today is going to be super busy. I will be speaking to a group of 35 sixth-graders all about confidence (which I am beyond nervous about). In order to show up 100% I got my mile in early. I woke up at 6:00 and got it done. It feels SO good to not have my mile looming over me for the rest of the day. To sit here and sip my coffee, done! As good as I feel right now, the run wasn't so great. I am NOT a morning person and apparently NOT a great morning runner. I was super slow and NOT by choice. There were at least 3X during the run when I almost talked myself into walking because I was so tired. This mile was the hardest one yet. YUCK.
and....I did it!
Day SIX complete!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 12:21 minute mile
- Lesson 1: I like getting my run done early in the day.
- Lesson 2: I want to feel strong and alive during my morning runs. This will take practice.
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Day 5: Today's mile was not necessarily 'hard', just 'off'. We had early morning soccer games so I decided to squeeze my mile in 'later'. We went out to lunch after the games at which I had a beer (22 oz) so I obviously needed a nap. I love napping...I just hate waking up from a nap....I always feel super groggy. So, I got my groggy self 'run ready' and set out for my jog. It was either the beer or the nap (probably both) that had me feeling extremely uncoordinated. It was plain awkward. It wasn't hard I just felt like a blob running. Like my muscles were still in nap mode and wouldn't firm up.
I jiggled my way through it!
Day FIVE complete!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 11:43 minute mile.
- Lesson 1: Beer + Nap = interesting run
- Lesson 2: Running in the afternoon is harder than just getting in done in the morning.
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Day 4: Its Saturday. I woke up slowly at 7:00, made my coffee, started re-reading 'Girl, Wash Your Face' and jotted a few notes in my journal. At 8:00 I headed out for my mile. The kids were all still sleeping and I was enjoying my relaxing Saturday morning...that vibe continued with me on my run. I took it slower. I noticed things. I enjoyed this mile. Today is the first day I woke up sore (probably due to the super aggressive run I had yesterday). Instead of ignoring my sore muscles I concentrated on them... my shoulders, my biceps, my hamstrings... all sore. I am working my body in new ways. Ways that yoga and walking doing touch. I had forgotten that a quick run can be an awesome full-body work out. Today I am grateful.
I did it!
Day FOUR complete!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 12:04 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Running is a full body work out.
- Lesson 2: It's okay to go slowly.
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Day 3: I am a glutton for punishment and also a master procrastinator. I knew today was going to be super busy... with 2 coaching calls and 3 kid soccer games...I wasn't going to have a free moment until late. It would have been absolutely brilliant of me to wake up a tiny bit early and get 'er done, but no, I'm not that smart. I waited and waited and waited until the last possible moment. So, after the final soccer game I race home, threw dinner in the oven, put the kids in front of the Xbox and race out the door to run my mile. P.S. I am having family over for the dinner that I threw in the oven. On the bright side I ran this mile super quick since I had company waiting for me at home. I cut my time by another half a minute which gave me a wicked side ache and also made me feel like a total badass. I am liking this challenge.
I did it!
Day THREE complete!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 11:20 minute mile
- Lesson 1: I run faster when company and a beer is waiting for me at home.
- Lesson 2: Procrastination sucks.
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Day 2: I seriously have no clue how I beat yesterday’s time by 40 seconds!! I woke up sore today and because I’m cray I met 3 girlfriends at 6 a.m. for a little 3 mile hike (which was amazing). I decided to squeeze my mile in right after the hike to avoid multiple showers. So when I started I was already tired. My thighs felt like elephant thighs and each weighed a ton. Usually at this point I would have decided that today would be a good day to just walk it out...but you know, I committed and shit.
So, I did it!!!
Day TWO complete!!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 11:50 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Decided ahead of time that I would run the entire mile.
- Lesson 2: Elephants can run too!
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Day 1: Getting myself up and out of bed was harder than I thought. I snoozed about 4X and when I was finally out of bed I had to scramble around the house for my running gear. Yesterday we came home from vacation so half of my clothes are in the laundry and my running shoes were still in the suitcase.
Once I pulled myself together and my feet hit the pavement I felt good...like I used to feel when I ran...invincible.... Which lasted appx .74 of the mile because at that distance I hit my first hill. Also, my first podcast ended. So I had to get BOTH my second wind AND queue up my next podcast.... while continuing to slow trot.
Right about the time that both those things happened I hit my second small hill... this was at .90 mile. So the last minute or two was NOT fun.
As soon as the kind woman on the Nike App notified me that I had hit my 1.00 mile mark I smiled and slowed to a walk.
I did it!
Day ONE complete!!
Lessons & Info:
- Ran a 12:32 minute mile
- Lesson 1: Lay out my gear the night before.
- Lesson 2: Keep my cell phone far away from the bed to avoid 'snoozing'.
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Background: Two days ago I was on vacation, rocking my bathing suit, enjoying a cold beer, feet dangling off the boat into the water and chatting it up with my girlfriends. My friends do this group athletic training and were telling me about their current challenge... to run ONE mile EVERY single day of the month of August. Although I am not in this coaching group I committed to this immediately.
This is the EXACT challenge that I have been craving... simple & effective.
Here are my reasons for joining this challenge:
- Endurance - I used to LOVE to run and since I have stopped my endurance in all things has diminished. I want to be able to register for a 10k and run it with ease.
- Mind - running clears my mind and lowers my stress level.
- Business - I get my best ideas while I run.
- Energy - Right now my energy level feels low, I know that when I run it increases.
- Body - I crave a strong & healthy body.
- Soul - When I am in the flow, running feels like a meditation. I used to LOVE getting into this flow.
XO,
Mari