Cross Country Coach who needs to be coached!!

After spending the weekend with Lindsey I realize I really need to step up my game as a distance running coach... Yes, I ran track in high school and college but I never appreciated running until now... (thank you lindsey) and I have a feeling that this is how my high school girls are feeling now (just doing it to do something in high school)... we were all suppose to start practicing from 7 to 8 in the morning when the temperature and time would be most accommodating to every ones schedule... Monday, first day, and two girls showed up. Tuesday, today, and 3 showed up (two from yesterday and one new freshman that was a neighbor of one of yesterday's two).... What is truly disappointing is for about 10 girls that have yet to respond to my phone calls is that I have spent countless hours raising funds and using my own funds for these girls, got them all new equipment, provided rides to and from practice, and even provide meals due to their lack of nutrition...(THINKING I can pull off a LEAN ON ME moment) And now they are too lazy to want to work hard... I mainly blame their previous slacker coach, who would make them run during the period 10 minutes and call it a day... anyways on to my own training to share just had to vent

Thanks to map my run I am able to find different routes to run... I have no training log or schedule but one that I feel that will suit me... Every two weeks I add on a mile... I'm on 4 miles now but next week I will try for 5 (and I do that twice a week with 2-4 miles runs on other days). My goal is to get each mile in 10 minutes or less... and I'm a huge watch HOG... I look at it every other minute which I need to STOP but I can't help.... my diet is poor due to not teaching till Aug 25 so lunch is take out=take in lots of fat and calories... I have this mind set which is stupid where I think hey I'm in shape, why stress over foods I eat... Of course, I preach the opposite in front of my girls but in reality I'm a huge hypocrite who needs to be taught a lesson... I am Pavlov's Dog... I need rewards... but now am too spoiled to hold out and get what I want, when I want it... Also what I have learned about myself is that I am one of those who if you tell me I can't do it, I would want to prove you wrong.... I wish this team lived around here... I almost feel as if I need a running (bible) study group.. just to give me a push every week... I guess this blog will have to do for now (I think I'm going to like blogging- this is my first ever if you couldn't tell)
Lori

A little faith goes a long way

Last Saturday was my 6-miler. I started the run shaky, tired and psyching myself out of it (my mind was on other things...things that I should/could be doing instead of this). The only thing that kept me going was the iPod that Robin loaned me (it was my only chance in the last week to NOT have to listen to Camp Rock, Hannah Montana, or HSM)...it was great to listen to what I wanted to listen to.

After Mile 1, I felt good...strong...and I was in my groove. At Mile 2, I ran through Kings Crossing and was distracted by all the pretty houses and golf course. Once I hit Mile 3, I thought about stopping, but decided to take my ear phones out and listen to everything going on around me. I started getting in to all these deep thoughts and before I knew it I was on Mile 4. It was getting tough to stay focused. The sun came out from behind the clouds and it started to get steamy. I really had to talk myself into not stopping. I felt like a coach, yelling at myself in my head not to stop...not to quit. Then, I started the whole bargaining thing...you know what I mean, that whole, okay get to that tree over there and then you can stop. Then, you make it to the tree and make yourself go to the next street sign. I put my ear plugs back in, desparate not to stop...anything to distract me.

At Mile 5, I fell in love with running. I decided that I was having such a hard time finishing this that I would dedicate it to Hannah (my 7 year old). She and I are the most alike (and oftentimes butt heads b/c of that). She never quits. She is persistant and when she sets her mind to something, by golly, she's gonna do it. Soooo...this was for her.

I'd been running against the wind since Mile 3, and I felt like I had nothing left. I started to pray, and all of a sudden the wind stopped and the sun went behind the clouds. Then, Hannah's favorite song, "Indescribable" came on my shuffle. I choked back tears. Usually, I have a little kick at the end of my runs, but was spent and just couldn't pull it out. I am not kidding you, there was a gust of wind that nudged me on and I found the strength to pick up the pace a bit. It was all for Hannah and done on His strength, cause mine was gone at Mile 3.

I am so excited about my 7 miler this Saturday. I am going to dedicate each mile beforehand (like Lindsey did) and hopefully that will help out with my determination at each mile mark.

Looking forward to hearing about your runs!
A-train

Somedays a dollar

I woke up at 3am saturday morning, not really sure how I was really going to run 18, get in an icebath, walk the dog, shower, stretch and be ready to roll to Houston by 7am. I decided when I woke up that somedays are a dollar and somedays 99, I was just going to "do my best and forget the rest". I finished 18 in record time (my personal record), feeling wonderful, and accept for having to pee in someone's front yard along the way(it was very dark so I don't think anyone saw me) nothing major happened to inhibit my ability to finish, I even finished the last two pretty fast. I did stop at the house at 15 1/2 to use the bathroom again, and had a couple of swigs of propel, it did the trick. I threw the leash on the dog, and we walked a short walk, good for my legs. I threw her in the back yard with some food and water, grabbed a bag of ice from the freezer and while the bathtub filled I stretched a little. Then I relaxed in the cold for about ten minutes before turning on the shower and shaving my legs very quickly(another record set). Before I knew it I was all packed and doing yoga on the front porch waiting for everyone to arrive. Of course they were 20min late, and I was a little ticked that I didn't get to spend more time icing. I ended up running around Houston all evening getting kegs and liquor and food and ice for the party, since I was the only sober one around. Around eleven that night I crashed, and sleep never felt so good. This week will be a light week, and then the following week I'll increase again. I was so excited to hear about Amanda's 6 miler, and I can't wait until she blogs it for y'all to read too, its awesome when it all comes together and you know that you are doing exactly what you should be. Keep on keepin' on-LJ

Some Good News about Treadmills

I was reading my Jeff Galloway book today, and he says that "More and more runners are using treadmills for at least 50% of their short runs - particularly those who have small children. It is a fact that treadmills tend to tell you that you have gone further or faster than you really have (but usually not more than 10%). But if you run on a treadmill for the number of minutes assigned, at the effort level you are used to (no huffing and puffing), you will get close enough to the training effect you wish. To ensure that you have run enough miles, feel free to add 10% to your assigned mileage."