#redemptionrunner

[redemptionrunner-blog]

Plantar Fasciitis got me like...😐 Doc says easy for the next few days. It's tough being a toe striker with some seriously tight calves. Time to start making stretch and recovery a priority. Frustrating. I usually just push through knowing that I am not doing any long-term damage. But, I think it is time to run pain free. What's worked for you if you have struggled with this?

[redemptionrunner-blog]

Comfort Zone: In or Out

Hey! Happy Sunday! Today was for 5 miles. Last mile was straightaways on a track! So I started thinking--not unusual for us runners, right? Am I running too fast? My first mile was in 7:34. I feel like I don't have as much give as some other runners, since I am really only running a solid 3x a week. I have days with zero running that are taking the place of easy runs. Today, I was aiming for 8:15 pace. But, I felt good and to be quite honest I was inside all day yesterday. The weather was amazing today. Ok, but I think that we should always be pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. However, running injury free is equally as important. So, as I continued running, I just figured I'd see where this goes. This is somewhat new territory for me. I have not really run consistent miles sub 8 min pace for more than a 5k. This is relatively new. Actually, miles over a 5k at all are relatively new for me. Back in June when I committed to training for a half (giving up one time consuming hobby for another), I knew it may be challenging to get back to where I was prior to two pregnancies. I hadn't run consistently since I was about 6 months pregnant with Alexa. She was one when I dove back into the running thing. And, it has literally been about 6 years since I ran anything over 4 miles. Eek! So, I am out of my comfort zone! Yes, yes I am. How am I supposed to get faster if I don't run faster? The important piece is that we have to listen to our bodies. Evaluate. Evaluate. Evaluate. I personally evaluate every mile. I set a goal at every mile. Very informally--obvi. Do I want to make it slower, faster or consistent? Or, in some cases--don't die. I ended up running all miles under 8 min pace today. After my run today, my heal was hurting a bit. It hurt after some intervals on Friday too. But, feels ok after a day of rest. It is time to step up my 'kicking some plantar fasciitis ass game!' Anyway, my body felt strong. Here's to staying comfortably out of my comfort zone! Are you In or Out?