What a great day!

 post written by Megan on Wednesday night @ 10:40 PM (schedules at 8AM the next morning)

If you are ever feeling like you are in a training rut and you run/train by yourself, I will encourage you to get out and train with other people. And even train with people faster than you. Yeah, you may think it sounds hard and intimating, but it makes you so much more excited when you get finished with a workout with fast people. There's my tip for the day! I am serious. Get out there! It is so much more fun!

Take Shalane and Kara for example. Kara was so nervous about training with Shalane and her coach and Shalane even texted Kara and told her how crazy she was not joining a team that was going to make her a better runner. It was so stupid and didn't make sense. I think as runners we hit this roadblock it our careers and question if we can even run with faster people and let ourselves plateau. You'll get better by going out there and challenging yourself--and when something new comes you'll be so much more excited. Kara has been hitting great races and has been training great with Shalane...and I think Kara really never thought she couldn't train with her and do her workouts but she does and you know what? It's simple- get out there and do it!

In other awesome news in my life, the babysitting boys and I had a little too fun today messing around with Photobooth:

Seriously, high bonding time. I'd recommend it to any mom or babysitter. I'm going to miss these boys. I only have 4 more days with them, tear.
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What is your FAVORITE thing about summer?
I'd say being tan and running late at night to avoid the heat. And babysitting!

How many miles are you running per week currently?
Looking at my log, it looks like I'll be hitting 30.

Do you train in a running group or by yourself? Which do you like better?

 

Random Thoughts

My List of Rambinglings:

1. Last night, with NINE babysitting kids, I played ghost in the graveyard and it could of been the COOLEST and FUNNEST time ever. Plus on top of that, it was a good form of exsersise and I got my speed workout in by having to whip out my sprinting skills when 10 year old kids who have been snacking on fruit roll ups, drinking pops, and gatorade and I don't know what else. They were FULL of sugar and ready to go but it was so fun that way!

2. We need food in this household. I buy my own groceries because I eat way differently than my family, so it's serious. Grocery shopping today is a must.

3. I was reading Kara Goucher's interview on Runner's World. For one, I cannot believe she can train and run 110 miles/week without one source of injury. I mean elites are cut out for it and they have gotten used to it...but I just can't imagine! What is her nutrition plan? I've always wondered that about runners- do they eat super, super healthy or what? For two, I love something she said in there as well:

"That's been a change in me from high school until now. Of course, I was always competitive and wanted it. But I used to be afraid to say my goals out loud, and I didn't want a lot of attention. And as I've grown, I've gotten over the negative people and the negative comments. I risk so much to do this, and it's awesome and I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way. But when people are at work and they're nervous about a presentation, that's how I feel all the time. I'm going to practice and I need it to go well and I'm so invested in it, emotionally and physically." -Kara Goucher
I love this quote! I am afraid to say my goals out loud too, and I know I shouldn't even think about it like that, but I'm so scared people are going to think I'm crazy or weird. I just need to get over the negative people who say things to me and keep working it and putting my heart into it.

 4. Have you ever tried a blueberry ego waffle with peanut butter on it? Do it. It's so good!

5. August 5 at 11 am is the OLYMPIC MARATHON and I figured out it's on a Sunday I couldn't be more happier. It's also a day after my 10K so I can just sit back and be on the couch all day watching more running. Love it. August 3-12 TONS of running stuff will be on. Click here to view the whole Olympic schedule!

6. It's so hot here it's blazing. At least it is cloudy right now.

7. My workout today will be running speed stuff for a total of 3 miles. And then I'll be doing sprints to get to my race pace. I can do it! Oh yeah, and I really should do Jullian Micheal's DVD. :)

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Will you watch the Olympic marathon?

Have you ever played Ghost in the Graveyard? 

What do you resort to eat when you have no groceries? (including milk & eggs)

Have you ever ran a race with elites?
-Yes, Dam to Dam! 

Mountain climbers and jump outs in a plank

I noticed while looking at stats that yesterday I had 30 more page views in all that day. If you're reading thanks!!! I hope you stay awhile!! While most other blogs push probably MANY more readers than that I got kind of excited! :)

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Today's run was an easy run with 4 miles and I also did Week 2 of Jullian Micheal's Ripped in 30. Yeah, I'm still on Week 2, but I only do her video 2-3 times a week so I stay on weeks a little longer. I was going to do 2 miles on the elliptical too after my run but the elliptical is SO BORING compared to the run I had and I wanted to get the JM video done. Do you think the elliptical is EXTREMELY boring too?! I used to haul some butt on that thing and go for an entire hour but I think we are seperated for now.

The HARDEST part in the video right now is actually, of all, NOT strength (like it usually is for me) but the CARDIO. I can't quite wrap my head around it. Usually cardio is fine with me-- but she has you doing 2 minutes of mountain climbers and jumpouts in a plank. I can't work all the way through them but I'm getting there and I CAN DO IT!

Here's a segment from the videos and there is some of that mountain climbers in a flipping plank on here too. I'd really recommend it to anyone wanting to boost their fitness!

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Now, I should really go take a shower and eat something. I'm thinking something along the lines of breakfast--- I know, random :)


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PARENTS or BABYSITTERS- what are some things you do while your kids are playing in the pool besides reading magazines? (my babysitting budget I earn won't allow me to buy magazines every day. :)
-Oh, and I also tried to paint my nails today at the pool too but don't do that in the dead heat. You can guess what happened.

Do you and the elliptical get along well?

What are you having for supper? Do you like eating breakfast foods for lunch/supper?

Rules for Running 2: Prevent injuries---YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING!

Good WEDNESDAY morning! I hope you're all having a great start to your day, I'm babysitting at that moment:) I'll tell you about my run later!

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Rules for Running #2: Injury Prevention

Being injured sucks. Majorly. And did you know yoga can delay injuries form hard workouts or high mileage? According to Runner's World it can!

1. Squat

With feet wider than hip-width, lower into a squat with pillows for support.

2. Child's Pose

Fold forward over wide knees with pillows under your belly. Turn your head halfway through.

3. Prone Twist

Stack your knees and lower your abdomen to the pillows. Repeat on the other side.

4. Back bend

 

Create a wedge with three or four pillows and recline over it with arms stretched wide.

5. Side Bend

Lie sideways over pillows, keeping hips and shoulders on the ground. Repeat on other side.

6. Leg Drop

Prop your legs up a wall while resting your back or, better yet, your pelvis on a pillow. Or use an ottoman or chair for a bent-kneed version. It's okay if you fall asleep!

Also, get one of these babies to prevent injuries and roll out those sore muscles:

 

You can buy one from Wal-Mart HERE! (where I got mine)

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Do you do yoga, foam rolling, or both?

Have you ever been injured?

How far are you running today?

Fun (and burnt) in the sun!

Being sunburnt hurts, obviously. I've been getting so burnt and I got more burnt last week from the way out of control hot temps, then over the weekend I forgot to reapply sunscreen so I got a tad burnt at Okoboji boating, and today I forgot to put sunscreen on. My brother informed me today I look like a sizzled hot dog burning on a grill. Thanks Bro. Love you too.

But, seriously, the boys I babysit for every day in the week loved the pool I took them to today! In our hometown we have a pool but we go there every single day (pretty much) so I was looking for a little something different for them. They were pretty overly excited about these slides, and I must admit, I was too. But they drop STRAIGHT down and I could only manage to go on them three times and I was done. THEY WERE SCARY and I am truly a weeny!!!!!

But we played on some other slides and I could down those. Also they had those little stepping stones with the rope to hang on above your head and it is your goal to get across and I did. BAM!

They had so much fun and aren't they the cutest?!?!?!?!?!

And if this isn't random, I don't know what is, but here are what my toes look like. This is what running mileage does to ya.

Bruised toenail with a hold drilled into from my Uncle. He thought that if he drilled a hole into it would release the pressure and the blood would come out. No. Now I just walk around with a hole drilled into my toenail. My second toe (you really can't see) but it is like a super thick toenail and looks like I have a fungi or something but I promise I really don't! And my third toenail is gone. It turned black and fell off. And please note that this was my foot with a stress fracture. Hmmm.

Anyways, it was a beautiful summer day here! So thankful!

For my run this morning I clocked in 3 miles around the hilly gravel roads around here. It felt good and surprisingly I did not take my watch and I felt like I did so much better without it. I also did two sprints up and down my long driveway and foam rolled. Workout one completed. In a little bit, I will be doing Jullian Micheal's Ripped in 30. Week 2 really is HARD!

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I'm a Today Show fan (a big fan) and I was wondering what you guys thought of Savannah Guthrie being the new co-host with Matt Lauer?

Are your toes messed up too? (Even if it's not from running)

Tell me about your run today!