Default Medals

Hello!!

What a crazy 2 weeks it has been! I’ve been running a few miles a few days a week. I missed my long run last weekend due to crazy work and traveling schedules.

BUT, today I ran a 5k to support the ADA (something I really like but that’s for another post!), and it wasn’t too bad! I got in at 33:30.4 which is pretty good considering the heat and how little I have been training.

But that’s not all!! I got a medal for being 3rd out of 3 in my age group haha! I wasn’t too far behind 2nd place which made me feel good. Any day I get a medal is a good day! It was fun to support a great cause and enjoy a 5k in my hometown!

I know people shame default medals sometimes, but I’m here to celebrate default medals!

I think sometimes, it is ok to be happy with a default medal. Sometimes, you’ve had two years of not training and eating poorly, and you’re trying to get back out there and get healthy again. Sometimes, you need a default medal to know that you can get back to where you once were as a runner.

Here’s to finding encouragement in the little things!!

What is a little thing you find encouraging?

What do you love most about small races?

Week 1 DONE!!

Woohoo!! I’m happy to say I completed all of my schedule runs (& then some!) last week! Here is what my week looked like:

Monday- REST before the big race on Tuesday. We went to the expo, shopped, and ate some delicious food.

Tuesday- PEACHTREE!! My favorite race of all time! I didn’t do as well as I am used to at a 1 hour 16 minute 10K, but hey, I completed the race!

Wednesday- 2 mile recovery run in the middle of the day! What was I thinking? I ran in a hilly area at noon, but it wasn’t actually that bad, and maybe I burned some extra calories!

Thursday- 3 mile run in the morning, not too bad, but a slow time.

Friday- REST! I did take my dog for a nice long walk Friday night.

Saturday- 4 miles aka my first “long run” of the half marathon training. It went really well. I ran the entire first mile without walking which is something I had been struggling with this week. My legs were tired, but the weather was perfect and the route was fairly flat.

Overall, a great first week of training kick-started by the Peachtree! I can’t wait for the next Peachtree when I will have trained for the run!! One thing I struggled with this week was tired legs. I felt like I was running through concrete, and I can’t tell if it was because I am starting pretty much from the beginning with running, or if something else is causing it like not fueling properly.

What are some tips you have to deal with tired legs?

What do you do to fuel for weekly workouts?

xoxo

Clare

Back in the Saddle

Today was the first official training run of my half marathon training! I did 2 recovery miles. My legs were super sore from the Peachtree the day before, and I had some lower back pain from the race yesterday.

I started run-journaling again today. I used to record all of my runs with the time and pace along with a little bit about how I was feeling on the run that day. I have decided to do that again so I can look back and see how far I have come!

Along with training for the half marathon. I am starting to try to eat healthier to get back into shape. I am trying to cut out extra sugars and eat more fruits and vegetables. I am also trying to reduce how much I am eating out. I got into a bad habit of eating out at school and after work, which has contributed to a much less healthy lifestyle.

I’ll keep you guys updated on my training and transition into a healthier lifestyle!

xoxo

Clare

How do you try to eat healthier on a budget and without much time to cook?

How do you stay motivated to finish your training when things get crazy with work/school?

Confession Time…

[It’s about to get real y’all! haha]

So the main reason why I started running was to lose weight.  I started almost 2 years ago with a small running group that did a maximum of 2 miles along with strength training for tennis.  I really enjoyed the group and that fall, I did my first 5k.  That next summer I ran my first 10k (the Peachtree) and from then on I’ve been addicted to racing and running!

Along the way, I have struggled with my weight and eating healthily (if that’s a word? haha).  Finally last fall, I got it under control with counting calories and running, and I was at a comfortable weight for my height and I felt good about it, then the Christmas season happened…I gained about 15 pounds in 6 months.  It has really affected my running.  I have had less and less motivation to run, and I really struggle with eating healthy.

I find myself eating unhealthy foods {and not in moderation} and most days turn into “cheat days.”  Even when I do hit my calorie goal, it is usually not with healthy foods.  I really want to eat healthy and clean and stay away from junk food, but the temptation is very real and hard to conquer.  I get really discouraged and just give up.

I’ve tried to up my mileage, reduce my calories, cut out certain food types, and many other things, and I never stick with it.

If any of y’all have tips or suggestions for me, that would be awesome.  I’m struggling with what to do, and I don’t want to keep gaining weight like I have been.

 

xoxo

Clare