It's the little things

It's the little things.

It's a phrase we've all heard over, and over. A cliche. Something you really don't pay any mind to because it's lost it's meaning from all the repetition. It's those kinds of things you learn to appreciate though, when they somehow find a little more meaning in your life.

In the process of taking a year to focus on me, I've also paid more mind to the other little details in life, one place to surprisingly note is in my running. One thing that was hard for me while training for my half marathon was I got so bored with the scenery. My challenge to myself as I begin to train again is to look for one new thing I hadn't noticed on my run last time. It's crazy how different your course can be, even though it's the same one you ran 4 times in a week, when you change your mindset. Instead of thinking about the fact that I have to run past the same stuff everyday, I start picking out the small details. Like how many cars are parked in a driveway, noting the actual number on the mailboxes even though I've lived on the street for 21 years, seeing the way the flowers have changed and blossomed, noting the blow up pool that appeared in one of the yards once the weather warmed up. you know, the little things.

Speaking of running. I was always hesitant to note on some tips and tricks I've learned along the way, thinking, any veteran runner will read this and just laugh, thinking, isn't that obvious? but for those of us not training to be Usain Bolt, it might not be so obvious. For those of us who are learning as we go, any little bit of advice helps, the little things.

During my training for my half marathon, I made the mistake of having overly high expectations of myself, expectations that caused me to be way too hard on myself, and kind of ruined the experience. What's the expression they use, Rome wasn't built in a day? Well I am very hard headed, and not surprising, very impatient. I tend to learn things as an aftermath rather than in the moment. A learning experience perhaps? So as I get myself back into running shape, I've had a much more open mind. And from my point of view, the results are already speaking for themselves.

Between the midst of packing, moving, and just generally figuring life out... well let's just say running definitely got put on the back burner. When I finally had some time on my hands, and started to make myself go for runs again, I was extremely put out by how out of shape I had gotten. While I was never extremely fast, I was actually downright disgusted to see my mile pace rise back up into double digits. All that hard work for what? But then I made myself realize, if I want my time back, then the only way to get there, was to get my feet dirty. So I took off running.

I started running again about a week after I moved home, so a little less than a month. Let me just tell you, it was a rather excruciatingly frustrating process at first. While I once finished 13.1 miles like it was nothing, I couldn't even finish running 3. I never used to let myself stop and walk, I wouldn't allow it. And now? My runs consisted of more walking than running. Talk about A LOT of steps backward. But you know what? I kept getting up and running. I dreaded it, oh did I dread it. But I went. In a little less than a month's time, I have gotten my time back down to around where it was at my prime, which I must say, I'm impressed with myself ,especially because I have no set training schedule, I'm literally just going with it. It's not just the time though. I've realized my running in general has become stronger. My body doesn't feel as heavy when I run, I can feel how much stronger my legs are. I'm slowly but surely mastering taking longer strides, which is already reflective in my miles. When I trained for my first half, my fitbit would buzz around 3 miles to say I got my 10,000 steps. I've been a bit discouraged when I log into my fitbit dashboard to see my weekly step count a lot lower than usual, despite running at least 3 times a week. But then I told myself, quality, not quantity. Because now, when I go for my runs, my fitbit doesn't buzz for the 10,000 until closer to 5 miles. That means I'm getting almost twice the distance in half the steps. I'll take it.

I've never been a quitter; I don't let being sore or tired be an excuse. But I've been taking a few extra steps to ensure it doesn't become one. When I first got home I spent some time running at the gym. I was amazed at how fast my mile times were, but then was extremely disappointed to see the huge gap in my mile times outside. Then I thought to myself, why waste your time and energy inside? When will you ever find a race that is hosted in a perfectly temperature regulated environment encased in 4 walls? That would be some pretty freaking boring miles if you ask me. So that's when I decided, no more running inside. Running outside definitely has it's perks. 1- If you run outside, you have no choice but to come back. On a track, you can just stop whenever, walk back to the stairs or gate and call it a day. Outside? Whether you're running a loop, or running to a destination and turning around, once you're out, there's literally no turning back, until you're headed home. So think, even if you only get, say a half a mile down the road. Well, you have no choice but to run the half mile back if you decide to be done for the day. That's a half mile longer than you'd make it on a track. Do that everyday, and it starts to add up. Without realizing it, you've pushed yourself that much further. Because I can assure you, the more you run, the further you'll find yourself going before you turn around. 2- You're forced to train in the elements. And this is where people might call me crazy (which I myself do too at times because normally if it's not sunny and 75, I HATE the climate and elements) but I've taken to running in the most extreme elements I can. I did in Georgia too. Because let's face it, when is race day ever sunny and 75? (which, even for race day, 75 would be way too hot for me) So chances are if you haven't encountered it before, you won't be equipped to handle it when it comes, and believe me, it'll come. Prime example- it had been in the teens the weeks leading up to my first half, and I definitely skimped on my training... I got to race day, and it was mid 40s and drizzling, and I thought, I've ran in the rain before, I'll be fine, I've got my gear to stay warm, I'll be fine. WRONG. I sweated my ass off the whole time. I know I overheat easily and sweat like crazy, but my pansy self hates being cold and couldn't stop thinking about possibly being cold. Lesson learned. I digress.. anyway, instead of getting up early in the morning to run when it's cool (which, closer to my next race I will switch to doing simply to get prepared to run at that time of day since that's when my race will be), I run in the hottest part of the day. I know, I know, you're probably thinking, she's lost her mind. But guess what? Slowly but surely, I'm becoming acclimatized, and it's actually improved my running. As much as I hate the cold, I also HATE getting extremely overheated when I run. I''m not one to stop running and call it quits, but if I get hot enough, I will walk. I hate the feeling. Only one way to get over that though, and it's to find a way to get rid of it. Speaking of walking though (yes I apologize for my mind being everywhere, this is what happens when your mind wanders on your runs and then you have to try and compose the thoughts later), I decided to break my one rule  I said I never would- I've been walking on my runs. My reasoning- I've been treating it honestly as interval training, especially in these hot weeks. I figure, when I do my long runs, I tend to slow down to a pace that is just a few seconds shy of walking anyway for a bit until I catch a second wind, so why not actually walk, catch a breather, and go for round two? I push myself as hard as I can for 3-4 miles, which gets me quite a way up the road. I will actually "pause" my workout on my app, keep moving, catch my breath, cool down a bit, and turn around and take off running home. While I used to see a steady decline in my speed on my long runs, as I attempted to trudge on, when I actually stopped, I saw that my speed increased a lot in my return miles. I always used to tell myself if I stop I know I won't keep going, but this defies all of that. I've found a ground breaking new way to push my fatigue threshold, and it makes me extremely excited. I'm waiting until I pick my next marathon to actually set my new goal, but I smell a PR in the making. While I trained for my first half, I could only see the big picture. But now that I've gotten rid of tunnel vision, I'm realizing, it's the little things.

While everything else in life is falling into place, I've also taken advantage of finally having some leisure time for the first time... ever? haha.  I've always been an avid reader, but when life tends to happen, and boy does it for me, I tend to lose time for it. I've gotten better over the months, but I've told myself I would like to finish a book for every month I've given up social media. I'm already on my second one. Most people would probably say at this point, why, of all things, would you make a goal to read books in your spare time, when you could go out and do something instead? Because, my friends, for me, it's all about the little things.

Now, that's not to say I don't plan on getting outside my comfort zone. I just haven't found where it is I want to push the limits of it yet. We are only 11 days in, I've got plenty of time to cook up my next big adventure.

Wandelust. I think that's what they call it. Or for the ignorant, young and indecisive. Whichever you choose, doesn't effect my expectations of life and how I plan to fulfill them.

I think that's enough rambling for one night. I also think it's safe to say, this is going to be quite the refreshing year.

Some quotes to dwell on (as if I don't have enough to share on my Project 365)
"Out with the old, in with the new."
"A wise friend once told me, you do you, and everything else will fall into place."