Becoming more mentally tough.

I haven't had much time to blog in the past few weeks, but I have had time to workout! Despite having three jobs, I have found that there is almost always time, even if it's just a quick 30 minute run. Heck, sometimes it's only a 20 minute run, but guess what ... it's better than absolutely no workout at all.

Yesterday Josh and I hit the treadmills, side by side. Lately I have taken to using the 'Trail Blazer" setting. I enter the maximum speed and maximum incline and it varies both for the amount of time that I entered. Lately I have been doing a maximum speed of 5.5mph, a maximum incline of 2.5 for 30 minutes. On days when I am not working, I try to do 45-60 minutes.
When I was on the treadmill yesterday I wanted to quit after just 5 minutes because I was so mentally and physically exhausted from having worked all day. But once I got past the 10 minute 'brick wall' (a psychological mind-set which tries to get me to give up), I am good for the 30 minutes. The 'brick wall' will try to creep in from time to time, but once you get in the rhythm, it's hard to stop  :)
I think that being able to fight that 'brick wall' is proof that I am growing mentally. I am developing a toughness that helps me push past the difficult moments and continue so that I can succeed. In turn, that success makes me feel more confident in my running, which in turn develops my mental toughness even more.
If I can keep growing mentally, it will become easier to push past the 'weathers' when I start running outside. I don't have much tolerance for the cold, or wind or heavy rain (hahaha, wow!), and so that is something new I will need to learn to push past. Once I am dealing with that stuff, there will be no time to battling with the running 'brick wall'. There will be enough to deal with when it comes to the 'weathers brick walls'!

Anyway, I have a day off work today and so I must run! Happy Running!!!

Change change change.

Quite a few changes going on in my life. I don't like too much change, especially if it brings a lot of stress. I have taken on a third job because I am sick of stressing about money and have taken more shifts at one of my existing jobs. I am working every day of the week, but for usually no more than 6 hours. It's funny how suddenly it feels like I have no time to workout. Well, it's more like I'm too lazy after a day at work.
I've also still been dealing with student loan issues. They wont give me the money because well ... I won't finish that sentence. But anyway, that has been stressing me out. Though I think I have pretty much given up on that. There is only so much you can take/do before it's just not worth it anymore.

So after my minor quad injury I took a few days off of working out. Then I took an extra two days to get over an ear infection. But thank goodness, I am now back in the gym. I don't seem to have lost too much, though runners itch was back in full swing yesterday. Today's workout was much more productive and without the sensation of ants crawling all over my skin.

When I got off work today, I had a headache, sore feet and was exhausted. But I still very much wanted to workout. And awesomely enough, all those aches and pains went away for the hour I was in the gym  :)   I am now, however, very much ready for a full nights rest!

So hopefully I am back on track with no more interruptions. Onwards and Upwards!

The Changing Routine

 Nothing messes up my workout motivation more than when my routine changes. I don't mean my workout routine, I mean my work/life routine. This week has consisted of a lot of training for new jobs or new positions. The information overload mixed with the general anxiety of something new has left me exhausted to the point where I am ready for bed before 9pm and just want to lay on the couch.
I did manage to get a workout in on Tuesday with Josh. We did the bike for 24 minutes. We were planning on 30 minutes but my right thigh went from being sore to me getting sharp pains extending from my hip down to the middle of my thigh. I guess it's called my quad muscle. I didn't want to risk injury so I stopped. I then just focussed on upper body strength. Then on Wednesday I was training to be a server at the pub and a few times when I was squatting down the sharp pains came back. So I didn't workout yesterday either, though after working two jobs I can't imagine that I would have had the energy!

So for the next few days I am going to take it somewhat easy. I have training for my new job at the Vegan restaurant at 7am for the next 3 days as well as my night job at the pub.Once I have my new work schedule I will settle back in a workout schedule. Though if I am feeling up to it, I will get in a few workouts between now and Monday.

This is just a minor set back. I will be back on track really soon :)