The 6 mile plateau

I have been working on my long distance running since March and have gone up to 6 miles. Which I realize is a huge feat for me but maybe not so much for most people, or people who are "real" runners. I feel I've hit a plateau with my distance and its probably 80% mental. When I first broke my 3mile plateau I used the mantra "om namo shivaya" and now I'm looking for the next thing that will get me through! I've traded my barefoot shoes for real running shoes with the intent for upping my mileage! The bonus to my running is that I've finally taken it outdoors on a more regular basis and what better place to run than the Highline! My only gripe is that it doesn't open until 7am and I like starting at 6-6:30 but I guess it doesn't kill me to sleep an extra 30min here and there :) 

Hoping these will take me far!

Ahimsa

We talk about ahimsa a lot in Yoga -non-violence. I find its the go to way for some yogi's to talk about being a vegetarian. I respect that whole non-harming to animals. I love animals! But I also eat meat. My point is, to each is own. I do however, dislike when people try to preach their beliefs into my Yoga. To me ahimsa is about not having violent thoughts, emotions or actions, towards others and yourself. This means taking child's pose in class when you need it! Not pushing ourselves when our body asks us to take a rest. I have been thinking about this especially during this NYC heat wave! I had to stop 5 times at water fountain yesterday during my run and also really slow down my pace. I kept noticing other runners pass me, and at first I felt upset that I couldn't keep up, but it was so much hotter than other days! Also I noticed all the long distance runners seemed to be doing shorter runs. And all of the older people who take their walks were taking rests and sitting on the benches. So stay hydrated, rest and find some AC refuge!

Flexibilty

I have been doing my runs with more ease! I'm not thinking about it as obsessively and am even starting to...enjoy it! YUP! Running is so great -every time I stop doing it it's like I'm mad at it...and once I start again I truly can't believe why I stopped! Ok rain, now please go away so I can start doing outdoor runs :)

In our Yoga practice we can use our bodies to find flexibility...flexibility in our minds, flexibility in our lives. Our physical practices can help us be freer in our mental practices.

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders” Lao Tze

The Zen of Running

I am trying to run. Actually I do run. But I am trying to run...well? Meaning I am trying to run and enjoy it and not hate it so much! In the past I have never really run for more than 3 miles so I decided to make a running "schedule" about a month ago and have stuck to it pretty well! Last week I finally got to my 4 miles -breaking 3 was a big deal. Since then I have only done it 2 other times but I'm slowly but surely working on it. Kim Kardashian has been extremely helpful in this as I watch Keeping up with the Kardashians while on the treadmill -Kardashian Dash if you will. My goal is an hour or 6 miles...but to be able to handle it every day at some point.

This whole running thing is a big mental challenge for me. First of all I get mentally obsessed -which was the reason for not being able to break 3 miles -I get bored and then convince myself I'm tired, my ankle feels weird, my legs hurt too much, I might get shin splints, etc. I keep looking at the time on the treadmill and 1 or 2 minutes is just torturous! HOW DO PEOPLE STAY ON A TREADMILL FOR AN HOUR?! Also when do your legs stop feeling so friggin sore? So that is the second part of the mental challenge -I'm not even running but I am thinking about my calves being tight and sore -when does it stop? Should I rest tomorrow or do a short run? If I do too many short runs will that make it hard to do 4 miles again? What is this stupid conversation I am having with myself about running all about? Why don't I just stop the conversation and run instead? Yes -good idea.

OK so besides Kim Kardashian, I also have Yoga -duh. So I can't do alternate nostril breathing while running, but I started using the mantra -Om nama shivaya along with the Chakras and there I am feeling all light, mentally letting go of my weird running conversation that goes no where, and just getting it done instead. Thank you, yoga and thank you, Kim. Stay tuned for progress on my running!

Kardashian dashing

Y'all need to read this book!

Inspiration.

Since the weather has been amazing I have been jogging laps around one of the parks in my neighborhood. I much prefer jogging laps around a park then doing the Westside Highway or Central Park runs since I can always cop out and come back home easily and also so I don't have to lay on sunblock. The sunblock thing is another reason why I run before 8am. Sundays at 6am btw, are the best mornings to run because the city is still quiet and there aren't as many runners out. Once you hit 7am everything becomes distracting and there are a lot of other runners out.

Lately I see a group of 3 older Asian ladies that walk laps around the park and another older Asian woman who power walks laps around the park. As I run my laps I count how many times I pass them. They are always there before me and still going after me. Today they inspired me to run 2 more laps than I planned.

High heels for rehab!

So I totally owe my blog readers a real post at this point, no? All..two of you...who read this...still there? Well I have been trying to power through an injury. A common running injury which is a sore and inflamed hip flexor. The problem with this kind of injury is, you are not supposed to "power through" it! What happens is running makes the quads tight, which makes the ITBand tight, which makes the hips hurt and then the knees. My entire left leg has been failing me due to this injury. And note to self, if being on the elliptical machine hurts...yeah that means you shouldn't be doing anything AT ALL!

  

Why am I posting a picture of a lovely Michael Kors pump do you ask? Because this is how I am rehabbing my injury. Look, I am NOT saying this is for everyone. This is about listening to your body and figuring out what works for you. I don't have high arches really, but what I know my feet do not like is flat shoes, especially ballet flats. With all the crappy weather in NYC this winter I became accustomed to flat shoes. Snow boots, rain boots, warm Timbs with insulated lining and even sneakers. Anything that is warm and keeps me from busting my ass on ice. You get it. So yes, part of my injury is probably due to increasing the intensity and length of my runs without rest but greatly from not taking care of my tootsies this winter by giving them a lil fancy heel time. The last week I have been spending more time in comfortable and supportive heels and my hip flexors feel a world of a difference! I can't wait to run again. And also, foam rolling is extremely helpful though painful on ITBands.