Hey there, Massey Fit fam! Β It's your favorite novice runner coming at you with a tale of my not-so-smooth training journey. πββοΈπ¨
So, picture this: I'm in the home stretch of my training plan, only 4 weeks to go before the big race. Everything's been going pretty well, but guess what? I hit a bit of a bump in the road...
It all started with a glorious 10-mile run on a Saturday morning. The weather? Perfection β I mean, chef's kiss and all! ππ I was cruising along at a comfy 9:30 pace, enjoying my jelly beans and sipping on electrolytes like a champ. But here's where things took a turn, with just two miles to go, I thought, "Why not kick it up a notch and aim for an 8-minute mile?" Well, folks, that was a recipe for trouble because I had a jam-packed day ahead.
After the run, I joined my family and friends for the UGA football game β yay! π But that meant lots of walking, tons of steps, and standing around. By the end of the day, I was practically hobbling. π¬
Come Sunday morning, I wasn't as sore as I'd expected, but deep down, I knew I should give my poor knees a break. Did I listen? Nope! I went ahead with my planned 5-mile run on Monday and, oh boy, that was a big mistake. π Monday and Tuesday felt like I'd gone ten rounds with a kangaroo. Instead of being smart and resting, I stubbornly set myself back, and now I'm stuck sitting on the sidelines for a whole week, hoping to be fully healed by Saturday. π
My recovery game is strong, though. I've got the whole shebang going on β icing, compression sleeves, Deep Blue by DoTerra, cryotherapy, sports massages, chiropractor visits, and total rest. Yep, I'm doing it all! πββοΈβοΈ
Why, you ask? Because I'm determined to get back on track and hit that 11-mile run this Saturday! ππββοΈ I've missed my runs and the quality time with my running buddies. Plus, I feel like a bit of a lazy slob right now. π
Moving forward, if this Saturday's run goes smoothly (fingers crossed!), I'll be taking Mondays off for extra recovery. Cycling will be my go-to, keeping it gentle on the joints while delivering an awesome cardio workout! π΄ββοΈπ¨
No home game this weekend means no tailgating or endless standing β a blessing for my knees. I'm also planning to give my knees some extra love with KT tape for added support during my run. π
Oh, and a little mishap: last time I wore a tank top and ended up with chafed underarms. Ouch! π³ So, I'm on the hunt for a runner-friendly t-shirt that can handle my excessive sweat and movements during longer runs. On the bright side, I adore my bike shorts, and my New Balance shoes are a dream for long distances. For shorter runs (6 miles or less), I'm all about my Sauconyβs. Currently, the plan is to use a running belt, stashing my water bottles in the side pockets to spare my sensitive bladder. My phone, nutrition, and trusty beats go in my biker short pockets. πΆπ± Hydration and nutrition during my runs are on point, by the way β so that's a win! π§πI've got about 4 weeks to fine-tune my perfect running ensemble, and I'm determined to figure it out! ππ Here are the links to shop the below items! Now I just need to add the perfect T-Shirt!
Wish me luck! π Hopefully, my next update will be right before the race, and I'll have it all dialed in. Remember, you've got this too! ππͺ
Until next time, stay active, listen to your body and keep those running dreams alive! πββοΈππ
YES YOU CAN,
Morgan