You Are Your Own Worst Enemy And Biggest Fan!

It's true, nobody will tear you down or believe in you more than YOU!  
I opted to run with this idea because I had both the best and worst week in running (mentally and physically) and the one constant was me.

My Best This Week
I didn't plan on running on the day that was my best for the week...I was actually going to take a class at the gym, but I became a victim of the hour change. (I still don't know how) I decided to go on a little run to clear my head and I had added some new music to my ipod so there was my motivation.  I didn't have a plan for my run, but as I got running I thought maybe I'll run for 30 minutes since I had so much work to do at home.  I don't know if was the stress of my to do list, the annoyance I had in myself for being a victim of the hour change, the awesome weather (it had snowed Friday and by Sunday it was warm enough for me to be running in a tank top and sleeves), but whatever the reason I felt great.  As I ran, I tried to mentally be a few steps ahead and plan my route.  It changed turn by turn until I realized that this "quick little run" was going to be anything but quick and little.  My run turned out to be 1 hour and 10 minutes clocking 8.60 miles-not at all planned, but I think sometimes those are the best runs.  I didn't have a goal to hit-I was just going for a run. 
I can't stress enough that I am competitive...I don't need another person necessarily either.  Sometimes I'm competitive with my music like I need to get to X miles on the treadmill before the song ends (if outdoors I have a landmark to get to before a song ends) or quicker tempo song=quicker speed run. Sometimes I'm competitive with the clock....I'll have a landmark (if outside) or a certain distance (if on the treadmill) that I need to get to by a certain time.  I'm also always pushing the limits.  I'll say to myself, "you can back down your speed when you hit 2 miles."  When I hit whatever my requirement was I keep going.  On this run, the last half mile or so was a steady incline I was not looking forward to it, but I saw another runner and decided to pace myself off of her.  I have no idea where she was in her run, but I was dragging so I let her do the work.  Either she's a great runner or she was early on in her run with a lot of energy, but she started to pick up her pace (hell, maybe she's as competitive as I am and she started racing me like I was her ha ha).  Instantly my head went from "let her pace you and finish your run" to "you can't let this chick beat you."  I pushed with every last bit of energy I had, but I beat her to the finish line that she was unaware of ha ha.  Did I want to puke because I pushed it so hard at the end, sure did...but for me these little "races" are what I need to give my best. 
It's this competitive nature I have that helps me at the end of my races...I literally look at each person in front of me and pick them off one at a time until I cross the finish line. 

My Worst This Week
As I've mentioned before, I am really trying to get over the mental block I have in thinking a day off from working out means I'm being lazy.  I'm the 1st to say to someone if you are in pain take a day to rest, but I NEVER seem to take my own advice.  I think rest days will one of my biggest struggles in training.  This mental block lead to the down of my week. 
As I've mentioned before, I work two jobs and so 2 days a week working out can be tricky unless I get up early and go before school....normally it's OK, but this day it was not happening.  My birthday was Thursday and it was a great day, but for a few days I had been feeling a little rundown and the night of my birthday I was in bed by 9:00 (about 1 1/2-2 hours earlier than usual).  I figured the extra sleep would get my back on track and Friday morning I'd get a run in before school.  I woke up and couldn't get to the gym.  (You know I'm not feeling well when I'm willing to skip a day at the gym.)  I felt okay with my decision to not workout this day and even during the day I didn't feel 100%.  I contemplated taking a 1/2 sick day to rest before going to job # 2 that night, but I pushed through my day and felt a little better by the end.  Not having done any workout started to creep into my head and  by 3:00 it was time to make my call....go home and rest before job 2 or get a quick 5K in?  Despite feeling of crappy I opted to get that run in because in my head skipping the day made me feel weak...not to mention I celebrated my birthday all week and was feeling yucky!  (Quick Side Thought: Somethings to know about me...I don't have the ability to have A cookie like some people...I have to have A BOX of cookies so (with the exception of my b-day or vacation) I only let myself have junk food 1 day a week-Faturday *I did not coin this awesome term* Also, I only drink alcohol on Friday and Saturday...generally)  So hear I am racing to the gym to get in a quick 5K before having to race home to take a world record speed shower to get to job 2 on time.  The entire time to the gym I was trying to pump myself up for the run even though I really didn't have enough time or energy and I felt like garbage.  I soldiered on and ran 3.07 in 28:06..not terrible but literally EVERY step was agonizing.  I felt like my ankles ached like I had lead weights on them with each step I took and it felt like it took forever.  I had to really up my speed at points so I could get to work on time, but the speeds I went to normally wouldn't have been as taxing as they were on this run.  In hindsight I should not have gone on that run, but my inability to cut myself some slack won....I'm going to work on it.  Today I took a class at the gym and went to take a "little run"....no set plan, but my little competitive side came out at points....I got a nice 5.61 run in 46.05, but I felt good so it worked. 
The moral of today's post.....Listen to your body and give it what it needs.  If you are feeling great keep going and push yourself with some friendly competition.  If you aren't feeling your best  (you'll know what it feels like when you are skipping because you are being lazy and when you REALLY need to take a day off) take a day and rest!   Your body needs that recovery time!  (This is not just for running, but any workout you want)

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