Man the past few days have been crazy.
CRA-HEY-ZEE.
Hence me being MIA once again. :o)
I finally feel a sense of relief. Organization restored. Work load caught up. Files updated and released. I think that I really needed to recharge my batteries for the new year.
At first was under the impression that I was in pergatory as far as work was concerned. Not really happy, not upset - just sorta plodding along.
Well this week all that changed. I was prepared to loose my job due to the changing of companies and I know that they are cutting heads, but instead I got moved into a competence center for decorative plastics. And in the next year or so my job function will change to being just what I really want to do, moving into sourcing activities and out of APQPs!
I feel relief. I feel recharged. I feel really good about my job again. I love the company I work for, and now I know that it is just going ot keep getting better. Plus I get discounts on tires and brakes! :o)
On the exercise/training/health side of life - as of this evening I am down 9 lbs since Christmas. And that is without major workouts like I was pulling in December. I have ran a little, biked a little, but mainly had been focused on all the work concerns and nail biting, so I was not living in the pool lately.
Hear that?
That sound right there?
That is the sound of the pool calling my name. My fellow swimming nymphs are beckoning to me, but they will have to wait a little longer. I am not feeling like swimming right now - not like for a period of time, I mean literally just right now.
You see, when life gets crazy I get antsy - so tomorrow I am going to head out on a run. I am skipping my scheduled swim practice with FAST to head out to Kennsington. I will be back in the game in swimming next week - just for now I need to do a little solo activity.
I said it before I will say it again - running is my church. Running is my therapy. Running is what keeps propelling me forward.
Swimming is my active recovery. Swimming is my fluid motion. Swimming is my excitement and joy. Swimming is my sport-love right now (Mike is my LOVE love of course! Awwwww.. sappy!)
But running. Running is my meditation and contemplation place.
I bike when I want to work out frustration. I swim when I want to celebrate and feel beautiful. I run when I need to re-center.
One thing I have found in the past few months is that activity has to match mood if I am to stick with it and make it my life. If I am really in need of zoning out I cannot do drills in the pool or hop on the bike right now. If I need to get out my anger, I cannot go for a run because I would take it out on my body and that will not move me forward!
I love the fact that I have embraced health. My body and my mood are both very happy with me! I am loving being active and I see such improvements already! I hit my December swimming goal early, so now I am working on my January goal. No more half-assed sub-funs (to blatantly steal a term from Bold).
I went all-in this year. I think that I may just have a full-house in my hand.
Runnergirl })i({
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To end this fine fine post - Mike's Sister emailed this to me today and I love it!
For New Year 2008...
PLANNING AHEAD
Author Unknown
The best gift anyone can give me this new year is a planner.
I like planners because I am a planner.
I like thinking ahead.
I like being prepared.
I get a high from being on top of things.
But some things are beyond planning.
And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
You don't plan for a broken heart.You don't plan for a failed business venture.You don't plan for an adulterous husband.Or a wife who wants you out of her life.
You don't plan for an autistic child.You don't plan for spinsterhood.You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
You plan to be young forever. You plan to climb the corporate ladder.You plan to be rich and powerful.You plan to be acclaimed and successful.You plan to conquer the universe.You plan to fall in love -- and be loved forever.
You don't plan to be sad.You don't plan to be hurt.You don't plan to be broke.You don't plan to be betrayed.You don't plan to be alone in this world.
You plan to be happy.
You don't plan to be shattered.
Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But most times, what you want and what you get are two different things.
We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours. Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.
Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
Sometimes, God sends us pain so we can be stronger.
Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
Sometimes, God sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves.
Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
Make plans but understand that we live by God's grace. Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Jan 11, 2008
Jan 27, 2007
Running - 50% Physical, 25% Mental, 25%... clothing?
I know that the old addage is that running is 90% physical, 10% mental. But through my four years of running I realized that running is just as much about your mental state as it is about your physical conditioning.
Now do not get me wrong here, you need to put your energy into your training - however if your heart of mind is not into the run, it just will not go as smoothly as you hoped for. I have had just as many bad runs as good runs. And to me bad could simply be a mental state.
Part of reaching your goals is defining them, planning for them, and being ready for the changes neccesary in order to reach them.
Definition of Goals
You need to be specific in your goals as being too ambiguous will lead to disapointment in the end. By being specific you say not that you want to start running this year, but rather that you want to start running 10 miles a week. By being more specific you are more apt to reach them, and it becomes more probable that you will stick with it.
Planning for Goals
Now after reviewing your goals, you need a plan. For us runners and walkers this usually comes in form of a training or running schedule. Just like anything, if you schedule time for it it inherantly becomes a priority. You cannot just go about yur day and hope that you will have time for the task. in fact, the more you do it and the longer the runs, the more time it takes to get in the distances you have planned for. Running 1 mile takes less time than 5. So in addition to scheduling when you run, you should also have to schedule how long it should take from prep time to shower time.
I have started rituals to help with this. I am a very regimented runner. For races I always arrive about an hour prior to start time to get a feel for the weather, a feel for the crowd/field, and a feel for how I feel that day. I may have planned a PR run, but upon arriving realize that I will be happy with a finish.
All of this takes planning, not just in running itself, but in planning for all the ancillary aspects - mental, mood, weather, etc.
Another part of planning is something a lot of us take for granted. These are the tools of the trade - clothes, shoes, and gear. I would never decide to run 10 miles without some sort of water bottle, GU packs, music, etc. In addition I would not run a summer race in my winter garb.
That is why I say that 25% of running is our clothes. I used to joke with a running partner about how I felt like a runner when I bought new equipment. We would laugh, but now that I have met more and more people, my thoughts were actually the norm.
If you match, or are wearing your favorite running apparel, you tend to be mentally more "on". I find that if I am running in my "real" running clothes I actually take myself more serious and am more apt to compelte the task. That all goes back to planning.
After 4 years of running I have found my perfect running outfit for any type of weather.
SUMMER
sports bra tank
running lycra shorts (spandex, hate chafing!)
coolmax top or tank
coolmax socks (anti-blister)
water bottle (ice cold)
FALL/SPRING
Same as above, only the shorts move on to lycra running capris, and heavier socks. My tank now becomes a long sleeved coolmax top. possibly gloves and a hat if really cold.
WINTER
Same as above, only my capris turn into running tights, and I run with a coolmax turtleneck shirt, a t-chirt over that, and either a runnign jacket, or a sweatshirt over that. My golves and hat beefs up a bit, and I also switch my socks to short-woven wool (Dunham brand). Being that my shoes are super mechy the wind passes right through them making for chilly feet. The addition of the wool running socks has completely removed this issue.
I also always dress in layers, giving me about a 20* difference should the weather change, as well as I dress for weather roughly 15-20* warmer to assure that I will not overheat while I am out there.
Dressing is a very crucial issue for runners. No matter what you are comfortable in, COTTON IS SIN. Remember that and all fo your soft spots will be very VERY grateful!
Being ready for the changes neccessary for the Goal
Part of reaching any goal goes beyond the definition and planning phases - you actually ahve to be ready for the changes you may need to make in your life.
If you want to run a marathon - you are going to have a lot of trade offs to account for all the time you will be running. Take an average 4-month marathon training schedule. 4 months of speed work, long slow distances, tempo runs, and just overall crosstraining efforts. Plan on reducing the number of nights you go out to the bar, as well as focusing more on your eating habits., Food = fuel. You will feel it in your run if you disregard this fact.
Even in shorter distances, such as the half marathon, 10k or 5k, you are still training. Even if your goal is just to finish - this is a habit you are trying to fall into, and with any habit you need to allow yourself time to adapt. To change. To develop and grow. You must be prepared for the time, money, energy, and desire that this is going to take.
After I broke running down into these three areas, I realized that running IS 50% physical, 25% mental, and 25% clothing!
Once I realized this, my journey got a little easier to continue on with.
Keep on running!
RunnerGirl Jenn
Today's mileage - 3.11 miles, Weather - COLD, conditions - SNOWY!
Now do not get me wrong here, you need to put your energy into your training - however if your heart of mind is not into the run, it just will not go as smoothly as you hoped for. I have had just as many bad runs as good runs. And to me bad could simply be a mental state.
Part of reaching your goals is defining them, planning for them, and being ready for the changes neccesary in order to reach them.
Definition of Goals
You need to be specific in your goals as being too ambiguous will lead to disapointment in the end. By being specific you say not that you want to start running this year, but rather that you want to start running 10 miles a week. By being more specific you are more apt to reach them, and it becomes more probable that you will stick with it.
Planning for Goals
Now after reviewing your goals, you need a plan. For us runners and walkers this usually comes in form of a training or running schedule. Just like anything, if you schedule time for it it inherantly becomes a priority. You cannot just go about yur day and hope that you will have time for the task. in fact, the more you do it and the longer the runs, the more time it takes to get in the distances you have planned for. Running 1 mile takes less time than 5. So in addition to scheduling when you run, you should also have to schedule how long it should take from prep time to shower time.
I have started rituals to help with this. I am a very regimented runner. For races I always arrive about an hour prior to start time to get a feel for the weather, a feel for the crowd/field, and a feel for how I feel that day. I may have planned a PR run, but upon arriving realize that I will be happy with a finish.
All of this takes planning, not just in running itself, but in planning for all the ancillary aspects - mental, mood, weather, etc.
Another part of planning is something a lot of us take for granted. These are the tools of the trade - clothes, shoes, and gear. I would never decide to run 10 miles without some sort of water bottle, GU packs, music, etc. In addition I would not run a summer race in my winter garb.
That is why I say that 25% of running is our clothes. I used to joke with a running partner about how I felt like a runner when I bought new equipment. We would laugh, but now that I have met more and more people, my thoughts were actually the norm.
If you match, or are wearing your favorite running apparel, you tend to be mentally more "on". I find that if I am running in my "real" running clothes I actually take myself more serious and am more apt to compelte the task. That all goes back to planning.
After 4 years of running I have found my perfect running outfit for any type of weather.
SUMMER
sports bra tank
running lycra shorts (spandex, hate chafing!)
coolmax top or tank
coolmax socks (anti-blister)
water bottle (ice cold)
FALL/SPRING
Same as above, only the shorts move on to lycra running capris, and heavier socks. My tank now becomes a long sleeved coolmax top. possibly gloves and a hat if really cold.
WINTER
Same as above, only my capris turn into running tights, and I run with a coolmax turtleneck shirt, a t-chirt over that, and either a runnign jacket, or a sweatshirt over that. My golves and hat beefs up a bit, and I also switch my socks to short-woven wool (Dunham brand). Being that my shoes are super mechy the wind passes right through them making for chilly feet. The addition of the wool running socks has completely removed this issue.
I also always dress in layers, giving me about a 20* difference should the weather change, as well as I dress for weather roughly 15-20* warmer to assure that I will not overheat while I am out there.
Dressing is a very crucial issue for runners. No matter what you are comfortable in, COTTON IS SIN. Remember that and all fo your soft spots will be very VERY grateful!
Being ready for the changes neccessary for the Goal
Part of reaching any goal goes beyond the definition and planning phases - you actually ahve to be ready for the changes you may need to make in your life.
If you want to run a marathon - you are going to have a lot of trade offs to account for all the time you will be running. Take an average 4-month marathon training schedule. 4 months of speed work, long slow distances, tempo runs, and just overall crosstraining efforts. Plan on reducing the number of nights you go out to the bar, as well as focusing more on your eating habits., Food = fuel. You will feel it in your run if you disregard this fact.
Even in shorter distances, such as the half marathon, 10k or 5k, you are still training. Even if your goal is just to finish - this is a habit you are trying to fall into, and with any habit you need to allow yourself time to adapt. To change. To develop and grow. You must be prepared for the time, money, energy, and desire that this is going to take.
After I broke running down into these three areas, I realized that running IS 50% physical, 25% mental, and 25% clothing!
Once I realized this, my journey got a little easier to continue on with.
Keep on running!
RunnerGirl Jenn
Today's mileage - 3.11 miles, Weather - COLD, conditions - SNOWY!
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