Lies & Triggers & Bragging - Oh, My!

Please know that with this post, it is not my intention to call anyone out, hurt anyone's feelings, or critique anyone's blog. This is just something I do (or rather don't do) for me, and I wanted to get it off my chest.

There aren't really any numbers here on She's Going the Distance.

Running success is measured numerically - like any sport, really - and primarily with speed. The winner of any race has his or her net time noted, world records require the fastest time, and some races hold speed-related entrance criteria.

Then there's weekly mileage (number), races completed (number), years running (number)... you see my point.

I've noted some distances during my recent return to running from injury, and my Instagram has some Garmin/RunKeeper pics on it (but that one's going to stop).

"And why?" you ask. Comparison. And mostly comparison of myself to myself.

There are many times I want to post my race PRs and my training run stats. I honestly sometimes feel that if I had those numbers documented here, I'd be more respected as a runner and a blogger. I occasionally want to join you who have your personal bests written down the side of your home pages; I want to brag about numeric accomplishments of which I'm proud.

Then I'll have a bad (read: slow, read: THIS IS INJURY-IN-THE-MAKING THINKING) run and be thankful I don't because I wouldn't want to post it. But isn't that a lie of omission? Aren't bad (cough-slow) runs just as important as the good ones and deserved to be included? Runs have feelings, too.

Please know: I don't think being a fast runner is the one and only way to be a good runner... not one bit. This is my own being hard on myself stupid thinking. "Slow" and "fast" are so relative to each, they aren't catch-all words. Again, this is MK's voice to MK.

Also I'll see someone else discuss a faster run or a higher mileage week, and I'll be triggered to compare. I'll sometimes feel lesser and unworthy - and it's no one's doing but my own.

So I keep speeds off my blog. I'll most likely keep talking (briefly) about distances (I mean, I'm "going" it, aren't I?), but I don't want to include times.

Remember this feeling I talked about? That's how I want to differentiate a "good run" from a "bad run." As mentioned, only caring about speed got me hurt and set me out of the game for months. In an effort to remove this unrealistic importance, I'm attempting to refrain from making it an aspect on my blog. The time it takes to run a mile shouldn't determine if you had fun during that mile.

If you post your times, your goals, your bests, I'm so proud of you! I applaud your confidence and your success. I just don't think it's a good choice for me.

SORRY FOR THE LACK OF PICTURES! ;)

Tried It Tuesday - Valentine's Day or Halloween?

Tomorrow morning (after a 3:45am wake up, yayyy), I'll be on my way to visit Joe in California! But before that adventure, it looks like I'm linking up with Lake Shore Runner again for Tried It Tuesday! I attempted my first Pintrest-esque feat.

Enter foreboding music.

It went... decently.

I wanted to make this cut out heart t-shirt:

Ingredients (supplies?) were simple enough: chalk, scissors, paper, some sort of upper body clothing. I had the first three, and Old Navy graciously sold me a $4 tank for the fourth.

Let us proceed.

Step 1! Trace the heart, leaving a bit of a space between sides.

Step 2! Draw lines where you will cut.

Step 3! Cut!

Step 4! Pull the fabric so the cuts sort of hang loosely.

Step 5! Try on and realize that you did NOT actually cut out a heart but rather a skeletal rib cage. No longer will this be a Valentine's Day shirt... Hello, Halloween!

Any DIY fails?

Feel Good Post!

Namaste, fools.

I wanted to share some good Internet happiness today!

First up - this amazing video, where strangers meet in a dark room and talk... then the lights come on. "Labels are for cans, not for people."

This hilarious BuzzFeed post about why running is horrible, awful, no good, stay away. Enjoy the virtual giggle.

The fact that my high school cross country teammate Ryan Hill is going to the World Outdoor Championships! (Okay, so this happened a while ago, and I'm just now sharing it, but yay Ryan!) Does this make me famous by association?

A reminder that Ryan's fast is not my fast, my fast is not your fast, and your fast is not my fast. Yeah.
theBERRY

And then this is me as a pumpkin from 2007 during cross country season. Relevant.

And while this isn't an Internet find, another half marathon training cycle started for me yesterday (!) ... with a rest day. Killing it.

Happy Monday!

Tried it - now what?

I'm relatively new to the actual blogging scene, so I'm not exactly sure how "link ups" work. Do I need permission? Do I just link something in my post to someone else's blog?

Well, I wanted to do a "Tried it Tuesday," (heyyy, Jamie and wonderful creator Sara), and so yeah, I guess I'm linking up...

From last Tuesday night to yesterday Monday morning, I was vacationing with my family. I told you all here about my views on working out while with family, and how I try to get something in, but I'm a lot more lenient with it. So one day, instead of doing my usual 1-2 hour workout in the morning, I decided to try something that I've read a lot about but have never actually tried - splitting it up into segments throughout the day.

I've done two-a-day runs before, but I'm not really talking about that. I'm talking short(er) bursts of energy to sum to a long exercise routine.

There are multiple online sources that discuss the possible benefits of this (like here and here). Let's be honest, I'll always prefer long, grueling distance runs, but in the spirit of trying new things, I experimented.

8:20am - 8:40am 20 Minute No Equipment Workout (printable)

This gave me a great wake up routine! I exchanged the "Frogger" exercise for mountain climbers (because I'm less coordinated and because I wanted to). I also forgot the push up part of the "Push Up and Rotate." Oops. I definitely worked up a sweat... but that might be due to the fact that I was exercising in my grandmother's attic. It's not the most AC-ed area of the house. Morning heart rate up.

The shag carpet helped soak up my drippings perfectly.

11:00am - 11:20am 20 Minute No Run Cardio Workout (printable)

Okay, this one was more difficult. Probably because I had just returned from a very humid, hazy walk with my mom. And because I was hungry. The "Invisible Jump Rope" threw me for a loop (HAHA, I'M FUNNY), and I felt a little awkward... yes, it was already awkward jumping around in my grandmother's attic alone to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, but the additional imagined (or lack of real) jump rope made it more so. Also Bunny Hops will kick your ass. Again, nice heart rate rampage.

So far, I felt as if I had put in some quality exercise time in the AM, and these two sessions kept me entertained and energized throughout the morning.

Fast forward through lunch, some day drinking, and a nap...

Basically me, but not as cute.

2:30pm - 2:45pm 15 Minute Bodyweight Workout (video)

Okay, I'll admit I did not like this one as a workout. There's only a bit of warm up, then like 2 seconds of exercise, then a stretching cool down - but this post isn't supposed to be a review on the quality of these workouts (which it's turning into), but rather my feeling for working out in spurts all day. This DEFINITELY gave me needed energy for the afternoon. I mean, I felt totally rejuvenated after drinking and sleeping, like those two activities didn't even happen. Warning: when thrusting your legs out willy-nilly to the side, make sure there aren't fragile candle holders around you... ahem.

4:00pm - 4:10pm 10 Minute Butt Workout (video)

I'll be honest, I did this one so soon after the last one because I really wanted to finally shower. I should have done this one earlier in the day because it's pretty good.

Concluding thoughts: I probably won't be doing this again unless I absolutely have to. I am all for fitting in different sessions of exercise if you can't get it all in at once, but you know what? I can. I have that luxury, so I'll take it. While the time may add to a usual workout (for me - everyone is different), and the intensity was there, I never got that mental satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment from any particular one. The post-inebriated nap workout DID do wonders for waking/sobering me up though! And I love being active throughout the day. Also, this was the perfect day to do it - we were at my grandma's, and she has a nice backyard and pool. It was an overcast day, so I didn't mind popping away for a bit to do these workouts. Had it been sunny and beautiful, I probably would have resented it.

So there we have it. I tried it, and now it's Tuesday, so I'm telling you about it.

I want these, please.

Let's take a quick break from running, fitness, injuries, and food, and allow me to show you pretty things that I would like to have.

"No questions - get in the banana."

This is bread. This scares me... but not enough to keep me from wanting it.

That pool.

Except you can't have this AND a cat... good thing I don't have a cat.

Half whiskey, half frozen glass to keep it cold but not watered down!

I like all of this.

I never had a tree house, but I think this one would be the one I would have wanted.

Because food.

How adorable would this be hopping around your house!? And oh so flyyyyy.

All photos have been found via the wonderful, amazing, addicting site, theBERRY.

The Hook

It doesn't matter what I say,

So long as I sing with inflection

That makes you feel I'll convey

Some inner truth or vast reflection.

But I've said nothing so far,

And I can keep it up for as long as it takes.

And it don't matter who you are.

If I'm doing my job, then it's your resolve that breaks

Because the hook brings you back.

-"Hook," Blues Traveler

One of my favorite songs, and I felt like it was fitting for my first blog installment. 

For some reason - well, not for some reason, for the reason that I am who I am - I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself to come up with an awesome debut post; a hook, if you will. I want to come across funny, I want to come across witty, I want you to appreciate and agree with every single word I type.

Sounds a bit dictator-ish.

But I've read enough of the blog world to know that you won't always think I'm funny or witty, and you'll definitely not always agree with what I say. In fact, some of you will agree with so little that you'll leave comments telling me so.

And there lies the root of why it's taken me so long to actually create a blog myself and become part of this community that I know and love - insecurities.

A few months ago, I got rid of my Instagram because it wasn't making me feel very good. I'm a long distance runner, and I got hurt (that's a whole 'nother blog post comin' atcha soon...), and seeing the Insta-runners post their Garmin shots and split times made me feel, well, like shit.

I felt like an outcast, like I was kicked to the shunned curb of that golden sidewalk where I so longed to plod for miles and miles. I felt as if I was no longer a runner. 

That's when I lived vicariously through you all for a bit, reading up on your athletic adventures, and I wanted to become one of you, but insecurities held me back. Did I really have anything to say? What if my life is too boring? What if I said something wrong and upset someone? What if the comments are mean? What if I work out too much? What if I work out too little? What if someone thinks one of my healthy meals isn't healthy? What if, what if, what if...

*Side note: Someone is singing horribly on the balcony next to my apartment. It's really distracting when I'm trying to be all deep and stuff.

I wasn't sure if I had anything to add to this hashtag-fitness-life world. 

And then I thought about what a crap view that was and how wrong it is.

We all have something to add because we are all different. And that's the beauty of not thinking I'm funny or witty or agreeable. If that was the case all the time, we'd all be the same and would have no need for this community. We would have one blog to rule them all, one blog to find them... 

We all have different fitness paths and different training cycles. Sarah's chapter 7 of life shouldn't read the same as Jenny's. We have opinions, we all go through ups and downs, and we all choose to share what we choose to share.

So I'll ask you now...

What insecurities did you overcome with blogging?

What turned you to your blog?

DO YOU THINK I'M FUNNY AND WITTY!?

...yeah, don't answer that last one.

I get a ton (all) of my pictures from theBERRY.