How Do YOU Spell Relief?

I'm hoping relief is spelled C-O-M-P-R-E-S-S-I-O-N!

As mentioned, I am experiencing pain when I do my long runs... And though some pain is maybe to be expected, this is pain that could very well interfere with my ability to finish a long run (though if I wasn't so stubborn and stopped and stretched for a minute when it started hurting it would help...but whatever...we all have issues).

So, today I got my compression tights in the mail.  Aren't they fancy looking:

Now, if you've never worn compression tights before, lemme tell ya.  Just putting them on is an experience. It is a workout just getting them up....and you've NEVER seen a muffin top like a compression tights muffin top if you don't quite get them pulled up far enough.  Not a pretty sight (be thankful I didn't take a picture of THAT!).

My next run is this week's long run.  14.5k....so it will be time to give the tights a real test.  Fingers crossed please (they cost a bloody fortune and will break my heart if they don't give me some relief!). 

Some Yummy Inspiration

Well...Ok. This running thing started as a way to get into better shape. Once I lost a fair amount of weight, I began to look at people's body's and admiring nicely toned arms, flat bellies, muscular legs, etc...and use that as inspiration to continue working.

Today, however, I was handed (actually tweeted) some AMAZING inspiration. This image of a body that looks almost impossible to achieve...and it happens to be the body of my favourite Vancouver Canuck! Yup...It's Ryan Kesler's photo from his ESPN's The Body Issue.

Seriously...how does a human being look like that? There is not an ounce of fat anywhere. It's pure, sculpted, rock-solid perfection (and is also now the desktop wallpaper on my laptop!)

Now, don't get me wrong...as inspiring as this picture is - I don't have any delusions that my body fat will get into the negatives like Kesler's appears to be....but WOW! It's hard to not want to work a little harder at least. (Right after I'm done staring at my new desktop, that is!)

First Week....DONE!

Done my first official week of half-marathon training.  Made one mistake - thinking Friday was a cross-training day, not a rest day...so did a 8.5k walk that I didn't need to do...  But oh well...

Struggled through both the Thursday and the Saturday run, though.... Began to suspect that perhaps working out hard in the gym 5x/week in addition to the running and cross-training required by our program might be a bit much.... So, I consulted the experts....on Twitter...I mean, where else would you find experts when you live in a small town with no real obvious experts to consult?  One of them is author and Runners World contributor, Bart Yasso - so, really....he knows his stuff.

So, the consensus of my Twitter experts was a resounding YES....I am doing too much :(  Both said circuit training 1x/week is the most I should be doing (that was before I fessed up to the spin class starting this week).  Soooo....I am not willing to give up my workouts entirely....but I am going to give in a little.  Monday and Friday's are official rest days...I am going to only do some stretching and core work those days and Wednesdays.  Running will be Tuesday/Wednesday, Saturday/Sunday.  On Tuesday and Thursday (likely??) I will workout in the gym....but primarily on upper body.  Thursday I will also do spin class (which is my official cross-training day, anyway).  Hopefully taking it easy 3x/week at lunch will help my body to better deal with the training to come....and perhaps will let my groin issues improve somewhat as well.

Next weekend is supposed to be an 8k run on Saturday and a 4k easy run Sunday...However, we're signed up for a 10k in Creston on Sunday...so the 4k will be Saturday, the 10k Sunday....and then after that...I should be able to stay on schedule...hopefully!

Hurry up December!  I'm ready for this to be done already!  The half-marathon is taking over my life!