Why Did I Stop?

So, it has been awhile. A good long while. Almost a year or so?

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I bet you're wondering (if any readers are still out there) where I have been? 

Or why I stopped blogging and interacting with the running community here in the blogosphere?

Those are valid questions, my friends. 

The long answer is this: I got engaged at Disney in February of last year and have been devoting a lot of time to wedding planning. I also got accepted into graduate school and so most of my free time is spent reading and doing homework assignments. I also was promoted at work to a position where I work a lot of crazy hours. On top of that, I was in a car accident in November and then ended up having emergency gallbladder surgery right before the holidays in December. 

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The short answer to your questions: I stopped running. After the Disney Princess Half, I did a few 5k fun runs, but I didn't have anything serious lined up and so I stopped running. Looking back on it, it makes me sad because running made me so happy. I don't know why I stopped, but I did and it stinks. 

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I want to get back into running, but I know it is going to be tough - almost like starting over from the beginning again. My body is still in the recovery/healing stages from my surgery. The doctor said I can only do some light jogging and weight lifting for now. Maybe in a few weeks I will be able to do more, but I have to go slow. I don't generally like to share this fact about myself, but I can be a rather impatient person (shocker, I know) and going slow is going to be incredibly difficult for me. I expect major results right away and get discouraged when they don't happen.

Does anyone have any advice for a "re-beginner" runner?

What are some exercises or routines you did after a major injury/recovery period?

Three Things Thursday

Officially my first Three Things Thursday post!

(Why haven't I done this before?)

1. I was surfing the internet for a new wallpaper for my computer last night because I like to put up motivational running shots to get me going. I mean, what better way to remind yourself of what you should be doing than plastering it all over your computer screen? That way, when I've been sitting too long at my computer, playing on Facebook when I should be getting some training in, I have a little extra push right there in front of me. Anyway, I came across this photo:

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Needless to say, it's perfect for me! Not only is it the background on my computer, it is also now the wallpaper on my phone. I love it!!

2. It is hard to find a pair of green running shoes that are similar to my current Kinvaras. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Saucony Kinvara 2s. They are slightly minimalist (which I feel helps my form a bit) with mesh on top that allows my feet to breathe. Plus, they're BRIGHT PINK! Alas, for the Disney Princess Half I need my feet and legs to be green, which means I need green shoes. As of yet, Saucony doesn't have anything that really fits my needs, so I guess I will continue to look around. (Though on Facebook, Saucony mentioned some of their new products that will be coming out soon! Keep your fingers crossed!).

3. I am finally beginning to feel human again after my half marathon. Here is a list of what hurt- see if you can compare to any aches/pains you had during your first half! Sore and tight calves (to the point where I couldn't touch them because they hurt so much), swollen hands (too much salt in my system?), aching shoulders/upper back (from trying to hold myself upright for so long), chaffed inner thighs (I forgot to put on my anti-chaffing... I will never forget again!) and a wrenched left torso (the muscle that starts at your spine and wraps around your ribs? Yea, I managed to strain that... hurt to breathe). Thankfully nothing too major was pulled/sprained/fell off while running, so I guess I'm pretty lucky.

How Do You Like Them Fins?

I have compression sleeves!!

 

And I'm starting to look like the little mermaid!

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 We are almost like twins, right? HAHA!

Ok... maybe that second part isn't entirely true, but I've got a good start to my outfit for the Disney Princess Half. And, it's all thanks to Kristin @HollyWood Runs. She did a Zensah sleeve give away and I won! Woohoo! Since we live relatively close to each other, she decided to stop by my store to drop off my prize to me. It was nice to catch up with her again as I know she has been too busy to keep up with her blogging. (Which is sad, because her blog is a lot of fun!) As soon as I was on break, I slipped my sleeves on and I felt instant relief and comfort for my legs (feet not so much, retail is a killer, but my legs definitely felt awesome). I cannot wait to use them on my long run tomorrow!!

My entire running schedule has, once again, been thrown out of whack because of work and rehearsal. But, I've stopped worrying over it. I have just enough time to run 13.5 miles before my rest week for the half marathon so I'm not going to stress. Stressing over getting my long runs in makes me not enjoy the actual runs and I don't want that to happen.

On another note, I was reading an article in Runner's World that mentioned how a study was done on athletes who drank chocolate milk after intense workouts. It was quite interesting, so I figured I would share it with you and get y'alls opinions on the matter. The article stated that: "About 30 men and women participated in a four-and-a-half week training program at the University of Texas at Austin that included cycling hard for an hour a day, five days a week. Right after their ride and again an hour later, subjects drank chocolate milk or a carb beverage. The 2011 study found that chocolate milk? drinkers gained more lean muscle and lost more body fat (thanks to milk's protein) than those downing the carb drink.
ACTION: To help shed body fat and boost muscle gains, follow long workouts with a tall glass of chocolate milk." (source)

One of the blogs I follow,  RDM (Running Diva Mom) has used chocolate milk as her refueling beverage of choice for a good long while and she loves it! She was even contacted by Refuel with Chocolate Milk to see if they could sponsor her for a race. How cool is that?! Read all about it on her blog HERE. So, apparently, chocolate milk is the thing to drink after a long run or race. But what about for those of us who can't have chocolate? (Chocolate literally makes me ill. It sucks.) Will regular milk do? How about strawberry? Or should I just stick with a Gotein powder or Gatorade?