Day 18

This week at a glance so far has been fun, challenging, rewarding and again challenging. Here's what my days have been like. 

Monday was my short run and lifting. I ran for 3 miles on the trails behind good life fitness gym and then lifted back and legs. Lifting was normal, but my run was adventurous. Last time I ran on the trail I went right, this time I went left. The trail had a few winds and curves and then turned into a new trail called Jamaica trail. Now I have never been to Jamaica, but I can only assume that it is nothing like this trail was. It didn't matter though because it was beautiful weather for early March in Nebraska and I am not going to complain about that. I was running around 2 in the afternoon, right in the middle of the day on a public trail on a gorgeous day. I was getting close to my turn around point when I ran by an abandoned picnic. I thought that was somewhat strange, but kept on running. I was approaching a bridge that went over a creek when I noticed a trail of clothing leading to the bridge. Then I heard laughing.  From a boy and a girl. And I was afraid that it was going to get real weird real quick running over this bridge. But I thought its the middle of the day, its only March, maybe they have swimsuits on and are just sitting on the rocks, so I ran over the bridge anyway. And they were definitely skinny dipping. On a Monday afternoon. In broad daylight. On a public trail. In March. In Nebraska. Did I mention it was like 2 in the afternoon? When I reached my halfway point and turned around the clothes had disappeared but the picnic remnants were still there. I finished my run of three miles in 27 minutes and 30 seconds, so a little over 9 minute miles which is better than my usual pace! Not by much, but by some. 

Tuesday was fun because my friend Bekah was visiting me and we went to the gym together.  We lifted all upper body and core and it was awesome and we got juice stop afterwards which was awesome and I had a lifting buddy which was awesome. Bekah is pretty awesome and I'm glad she went with me. 

Wednesday was SOOO nice outside! It was boot camp day and I was ready to play outside! The teacher who instructs boot camp on Wednesdays is one of my favorites and now she is one of my bosses at Good Life because I got accepted as an instructor there (yay!) We ran outside, jumped rope outside, and did pushups and squats outside for a warmup. Then for one of our circuits we had to run around the building to where the tire pile was, grab a tire and then run with it up the hill right next to the gym. If you do not know what the hill by good life looks like, imagine the highest incline a treadmill goes and then add some. It's like a tiny mountain and when you're supposed to run up it with a tire, well it looks even more giant. But I accomplished that, ran back down the hill with my tire where then we had to do 30 overhead tire presses and run back inside for the other circuits. The rest of bootcamp continued from inside to outside, and then I left and sat in my wine lab smelling like outside sweat and tire. It was awesome. I apologize to my classmates. 

Which brings me to today. Today I definitely felt the fronts of my legs from running up mini mount everest the other day. When it got time for my sprint mile though, I was ready to bust it out and be done with it. Unfortunately I did not finish my full mile because I was afraid of hurting my shins, but I kept my pace high for what I did run. I ran .75 miles in 6 minutes, which means I would have completed my 8 minute mile if I didn't stop. I don't regret stopping early though. It gave me adequate time to stretch my shins out and do some therapeutic exercises for my legs before Zumba. Zumba was great, as always, and I always leave there feeling refreshed and happy. After Zumba I utilized the Rec Centers injury prevention center for the first time in my life. The girl working there was really nice and she strapped two bags of ice to my shins with plastic wrap. Walking felt so weird, but as I am writing this now my legs are numb and it feels so good. The girl asked me if I was a runner when I asked for ice and I laughed and said no but that I was training for my first half marathon. She smiled at me and said that that inspired her, which made me feel good about myself that I could inspire someone. 

Yesterday I officially signed up for the half marathon in Kearney. They have my name. I have my number. They are expecting me. I am expecting them. Hopefully I can reach this goal. 

                           Here are my ice wrapped numb feeling sore legs. Aren't they beautiful?