Off Like a Herd of Turtles!

I went running tonight again... Finally.

I have been running pretty regularly for several months now, with the longest break being a week when I was in Houston on vacation. As I was making progress, I really started to love it. About a month ago, though, I started having some foot pain and my knees started to hurt. At the time, I was about 2-3 weeks into a training program that was supposed to increase my distance from 3 miles to about 5.5 miles in 6 weeks. I had just started running 4 miles when I started having this pain, so I decided to take a bit of a break until my foot was feeling better.

This break was supposed to last for 1 or 2 days... But after my foot stopped hurting, I got sick, then I had some issues with my ID so I couldn't get on base to run (our roads are horrible, so I run on a track on base). Every day that I skipped just made it harder to start again.

My one or two day break turned into... 2 weeks.

As mentioned here, I had built up my running in my head to this horrible, involved ordeal and I just didn't want to do it any more. Maybe it was because of how steep my running plan was, or how strict the plan was, or just how much I had started hurting. But in my head, running just plain sucked.

Logically, though, I knew it didn't. For months, I have run multiple times a week and LOVED my runs! I loved the progress I made, I loved how I actually started to feel like a "Runner", everything! I looked forward to getting up and racing myself, and to having that time where I'm doing something just. for. myself.

So I know there are good things about running. And I knew, during this whole break, that if I just went out and did it, it wouldn't be so bad. I would get it out of the way, get over my roadblock, and get back in the groove. I would finish my run, red-faced and grinning, and smack myself on the forehead for waiting so long.

Well, I FINALLY got my a$$ out and ran today.

Aaaaaaaaaand....

Meh.
I started hurting within the first minute. Once one ache stopped, another would start. My knee, my side, my other knee, my shoulder... On and on until they finally stopped, or I just got better at ignoring them. I reached my 3 miles, but it wasn't any fun. I was bored the whole time as well. Maybe it's because I'm still missing my superfantastic running partner. Then, by the time I got home, both of my knees were swollen and my foot had started hurting again... After ONE run! (I think it's due to inflammation, and I'm researching how to fix it). The run wasn't horrible, but it wasn't easy, and it wasn't good, either.

I just don't know about running any more. I think the bloom is off that rose. I need to either find the love again, or find something else to love. Because, after only two weeks of laziness, The Grump has already mentioned that I've started looking chubby. 

And no, I won't let that go. -_-

The plan now is no running until I finish the Mud Run on Saturday. Then, I think I'm just going to run 2-3 times a week. I also think I'm going to switch it up. Instead of distance, I think I may work on shorter sprint sessions. My favorite part of my run has always been that last minute, or 200 meters where I give it everything I have. Maybe sprinting sessions wont allow me the time to get bored. PLUS, I'm a pretty slow runner; I know I need to work on my speed. 

Seems like a win-win there.

BONUS: This is how Smasher looked when I went to wake him up yesterday. These bunny suits are killing me.

I think this is a pretty good representation of my laziness level the past two weeks.