Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What is your training philosophy?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I am no expert nor a running coach, but over the years I have learned a few things here and there thanks to my wonderful blogger friends.  As a teacher, I know that learning is power.  🙂

My training philosophy is to to have fun.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again but running is a hobby and not my job.  Yes it should be taken seriously but not to a point that our life depends on it.  Will we be happy?  Yes.  Will we be disappointed?  Yes.  Life still goes on.  Something else I keep in mind are:

♥ Easy runs means run slow.  It took me a while to figure it out.  I am not a “fast” runner but I still look forward to my easy runs.  They have helped me recover much faster and stay injury free.  

♥ Never compare yourself to others.  I used to do that and it would drive me CRAZY.  Everyone is different so there is no point in saying that someone is “better” than you.

♥ Be proud of the work you put in.  Whether it is one mile or 10 miles, pat yourself on the back.  Running is not easy and should never be taken for granted.

♥ The only person you are competing with is yourself.  So what if you are running 12 minute or 8 minute miles.  No one will look down on you or make fun of you.  A mile is still a mile.

♥ Not all runs/races will go like they’re supposed to.  That one also took me a while to figure out.  I would be so hard on myself if I didn’t always hit the time or the required paces.  So what if my intervals are supposed to be done at ABC pace and I do them at XYZ pace?  I will still be proud of how I did!

♥ Trust the process.  I rely on a running coach to tell me what to do.  Yes, I can follow a plan, but sometimes I want someone else to do it for me.  

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  I am excited about tomorrow.  I may not be running but I am looking forward to see how my friends celebrate Global Running Day.

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  How will you celebrate Global Running Day?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

This year Global Running Day is Wednesday, June 3rd.  I am not planning to run that day.  I checked my running schedule and Wednesday will be a rest day for me.  

I ran Monday and today.  I am tempted to run tomorrow too.  Maybe just one mile?  

Rock ‘n’ Roll usually has great sales for their upcoming races, but who knows when races will start happening again.  There are races listed on the website (Chicago will be in Judy but I doubt that very much).  I did sign up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running VR Club.  Sign up for virtual races/events/challenges (FREE) to win some sweet prizes and to redeem points that you earned .  

I did not know this but you can also sign up for challenges in the Garmin app.  The challenges are also for walking and for cycling.  You bet I signed up!  You get points after completing a challenge.  What can you get with the points?  I don’t know and at the moment don’t really care.  I just want to run.  🙂

With no races to train for, right now I need all of the motivation to continue running.  So far I am doing really good and I am very happy about it.  Summer is coming and it will get even more HOT.  You’ll probably hear me complain about the hot weather.

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  Did you all have a nice Memorial Day yesterday?  I spent most of the day reading blogs and watching TV.  Oh, and staying cool since it got really hot too.

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What are some of your running hacks?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!  

I’ve been running for over 10 years and while I am no expert, I have picked up a few things here and there to help make my running experiences a bit better.  Most are things things you’re already doing, but still I am going to share the things that have been working for me. 

• Lay out your running clothes the night before.  Some people sleep in their running clothes but I’d find that to be uncomfortable.  I am not big chested and do not sleep with a bra so I cannot imagine sleeping with a running bra.  I am sure I can sleep without it and then just put it on in the morning but I prefer to sleep in shorts and tee in the summer or long pants and long sleeve top in the summer.  Laying out your clothes the night before ensure you have everything ready the next morning and do not waste time looking for things you need.

• Schedule your workouts in your calendar.  I put everything in my Google Calendar.  I would be lost without it.  I also schedule my school meetings, doctor appointments, my mother’s doctor appointments, and everything else that my presence is required.

• Use an app to track the mileage of your shoes.  I have a Garmin and not only use the app to check the data of my run, but also to track the mileage of my shoes.  After each run, I check my splits, pace, etc., and I add the shoes that I wore.  This way I know when I can retire the shoes I am wearing and start using a new pair.  Right now I have the app set up to retire the shoes at 350 miles.  

• Vary your routes.  I usually run by my house.  I’ve been doing that for a few years now and like it.  There are days that I miss running by the lakefront.  Sometimes I want to see something different instead of the same thing.  I still run by my house but go a different route.  Sometimes I do a reverse loop.  

• Break up the miles.  This works very well for me when running on the treadmill but can also be done when running outside.  I remember one time I had to run 10 miles and was not looking forward to it (and I one that does not mind running on the treadmill).  I broke up the run into 2.5 mile segments, and taking a short break in between.

• Program your workouts in your watch.  This is perfect when doing intervals so you know exactly when to run and when to walk/recover.  No more guessing and running more or less that you’re supposed to.  I once had to do 30 second intervals and it was “hard” to do because I had to count in my head and pay attention to where I was stepping so as not to fall.  🙂

• Freeze your water.  I remember this from a few years ago that Judy either mentioned in her blog or she gave me that suggestion.  I remember it was for my hydration pack.  With a longer run and warmer weather, the water was not cold enough for me.  She told me to fill it halfway and then put it in the freezer the night before my run.  The next morning just fill it up with more water.  

• Have fun.  Seriously.  Running is a hobby and should not take control over us.  So what if a run did not go as expected.  Tomorrow is another day.  Life goes on.