I still haven't figured out exactly what happened with my back. I need to follow up with my doctor about it, but I'm feeling 100 percent better. The prednisone, while giving me slight moon face and making me feel like the 7 oceans couldn't quench my thirst, worked. I'm having some weird side effects from coming off of it, but I read that that's normal. I did make it to the mat once last week. It's a far cry from the daily yoga I was doing for the rest of the month, but it was all I was able to do.
On Wednesday, I picked up my Yoga Challenge where I left off, which was conveniently on a Restorative day and got on the mat. I didn't feel great, but I didn't feel like the practice was a struggle either.
You know what else I did last week? I finally signed up for a race this year.
On April 16th, I'll be toeing the line for the Blue Ridge Half-Marathon, also known as America's Toughest Road Marathon and Half.
In other words, I have voluntarily decided to run up a mountain.
With a total elevation gain of 1,900 feet, the course is "not for the faint of heart" and "features the most challenging and breathtaking course of any road marathon in the country."
Why?
My lingering IT Band injury made me lazy. The first race I ever signed up for was Boston's Heartbreak Hill Half-Marathon. As a new runner, I never shied away from hills. Courses that were described as "flat" didn't appeal to me as much as courses that would push me..
I don't want to be a lazy runner anymore. I don't want my typical I-just-felt-like-running runs to be 3 miles anymore. I don't want to run another race where I feel like I didn't earn the finish because I didn't push myself during the race. I want to push myself in ways that I know I'm capable of and I want to come out of this race the strongest I've ever been going into a marathon training cycle.
I will not finish this race if I am lazy with training. I was lazy training through Chicago and I hated almost every minute of that race.
Training starts next week. It's time to dust off my running shoes and start running some hills.
Looking for more weekly workout inspiration? This week, I recommend:
On Wednesday, I picked up my Yoga Challenge where I left off, which was conveniently on a Restorative day and got on the mat. I didn't feel great, but I didn't feel like the practice was a struggle either.
You know what else I did last week? I finally signed up for a race this year.
On April 16th, I'll be toeing the line for the Blue Ridge Half-Marathon, also known as America's Toughest Road Marathon and Half.
In other words, I have voluntarily decided to run up a mountain.
With a total elevation gain of 1,900 feet, the course is "not for the faint of heart" and "features the most challenging and breathtaking course of any road marathon in the country."
Why?
My lingering IT Band injury made me lazy. The first race I ever signed up for was Boston's Heartbreak Hill Half-Marathon. As a new runner, I never shied away from hills. Courses that were described as "flat" didn't appeal to me as much as courses that would push me..
I don't want to be a lazy runner anymore. I don't want my typical I-just-felt-like-running runs to be 3 miles anymore. I don't want to run another race where I feel like I didn't earn the finish because I didn't push myself during the race. I want to push myself in ways that I know I'm capable of and I want to come out of this race the strongest I've ever been going into a marathon training cycle.
I will not finish this race if I am lazy with training. I was lazy training through Chicago and I hated almost every minute of that race.
Training starts next week. It's time to dust off my running shoes and start running some hills.
Looking for more weekly workout inspiration? This week, I recommend:
Tracy @ A Change of Pace
Megan @ Run Megan Run
Megan is running the Surf City Marathon this weekend! Go send her some good vibes!
Have you run the Blue Ridge Half?
What's the hardest race you've ever run?
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