Crazy plans. (and Oh I love running)

A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I have some really exciting plans, but I never dared to write what they are. Probably it is just exciting for me, but on the 9th of June, I want to run Aarhus halfmarathon again.
Actually I haven't signed up yet. The last day to sign up is the 31st of May and it won't get any more expensive, so I figured that just in case I see how the training goes and then make my decision. I wasn't planning to run at all. But then some friends of mine asked if I would like to run in their company's clothes, that I'd get to keep. And nothing better than new clothes for free, right? :)

As you might remember, last year I ran it with shin splint and ended up being unable to walk for a week and limping around for about 4 weeks. And then it took me 6 months before I could make my first runningsteps on a threadmill again.
But. Here I am, doing that again. :).

Anyway. Somewhere in the end of April I started to do more endurance training. But as my schedule was so tight already, the only way to fit more training in, was to start sleeping less. And honestly..then..being out of shape and tired and running these 10-12km on hard ground..ugh. It wasn't nice. and it actually made me quite misrable. And physical activity, that is supposed to reduce stress and give you more energy and make you more happy and all, ended up being a huge stressor. I lost the motivation but didn't want to admit it.
Besides that the days got warmer and warmer, so I also had to be sweaty and red :/.
..Completely understand the people who associate physical activity with bwing tired and sweaty and that it's difficult and not cool. :/

But once I realized that that's what I feel, I also realized, that it's actually not like me to feel like that. So I must be doing something wrong.
Exercising is not ment to be hard or boring. Of course, sometimes you might push yourself to the limits, but that's the cool part :P.
So I decided to forget about all this planned boring training, and decided that if my body gets enough of any kind of training and enough rest, it will be fine.

And I returned to my favorite kind of traing - cross-running (if that can be a word :D). I jog to a nearby forest, start the time, and then spend an hour running up and down the hills, jumping over random stuff, going fast and going slow. The only rule is that I can't walk. If I run uphill and get so tired that I can't take no more, then I have to run sideways or down, until I'm ready to try again. And when an hour has passed, then I jog the 6-7km back home.
The thing is - once I have been running with a pulse around 200bpm, uphill from a hill with ca 60-70 degrees angle; then running with a pulse around 160-170bpm and long slow hills of ca 45 degrees really ain't nothing but a peanut (as the guys from the gym would say :)). And by the end I have spend the amount of time with quite simliar pulse to what I think it's going to be in the half-marathon.
The cool part is, with that kind of training, that it is so challenging. and rewarding. I'm the kind of girl who just can't say no to a challenge. I remember, my brother used to use it when I was small - whenever he wanted me to do something I didn't want to do, then he only had to call it a competition or be like "I bet you can't do it", and I would be doing it immediately.
Now, that I run in the hills and find one, that I just cant get up from with the first try, and feel almost passing out, when I finally do, then later, when I see the same hill again, it looks like a challenge. It is there and I just can't not try again. And just not to "lose", I always manage it way better. The second time is easy :).
Love it.


I guess the point of this post is to remind everyone, that being physically active and exercising, doesn't need to be hard and difficult. It can be, if you want, but it's not a must. It should just be on a suitable level - challenging, interesting, something you really like and what makes you happy. And you don't need to be passing out by the end (but again, you can if you want ;D), instead you should be looking forward to the next time. It should be fun :)
like that

:)

That was that. Now I shall return to writing my last assignment - a Marketing Plan for a private nutrition counselling business in about 10 years in Estonia. Oh it's cool to dream :). (and run :))

Have fun!
Kirsi

unless this teacher is in secret very smart. - maybe he is making us pissed and boredn and fighting each other on puprose, so we would just turn ourselves off, start thinking of our own things, and come up with something brilliant.

..well anyway, it is not helping my blog to be about health :D

Grown up people are just like kids. They just make less sense in their behaviours and statements.

maybe that's why I like kids, animals, and disabled people - they are easy and sincere :)

loves of my life

..are these c.e.p compression leg sleeves.
I bought them about two weeks ago and have been using them mostly for running, but also in strength training.
Basically, the compression is supposed to increase blood circulation, thereby supporting the muscles and helping them to recover faster.
I bought them, because I had heard and read so much good about them from people who are using them, also from people who have problems with shins like I have. And, obviously, because you could get them in pink :). (I actually had to go trough three shops to get the pink ones :/. ...and then my teacher made fun of them as soon as I showed up with them to school's weight room :D)
I didn't know if it is just placebo the people are feeling, or is there a scientific reason why they could work. Personally, I don't care, as long as it works, it's fine.
But why they could work is
-obviously compression increases blood circulation that increases the speed and therefore amount of blood and nutrients moving to and from the muscles. Therefore the increased working capacity and faster recovery statement.
Even if the compression from the c.e.p. leg sleeves dont, in reality, result in physiologically noticable benefits,( I am not saying that it doesn't, just there is no scientific studies) at least it keeps the legs warm, so we can feel the "difference".
Also, while running, there's a lot of damage to the muscles and bones caused by the shock and vibration in the legs. These leg sleeves, however, support the muscles and keep them "in place", thereby preventing the wear and tear.

And my own "logical" explanaition for shin splints: if the treatment is R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compress, elevate) - and it helps in the R and C, then it already does 50% of the treatment, kind of for me, and therefore it must be good for my shins....:D, riiight?

So for me they work, as I have decided to believe that they do. I can feel their effect and can run longer, faster and more often than I used to. And I still haven't even noticed my shin pains. Just like in love in general, I believe, my love is the best and works the best. And it makes me happy :). (or is it all the running I'm doing :), don't care :)).


But. Right now I'm at school and can't really focus on writing. I hate when teachers let you read some long texts and then when you afterwards go to the class, would just repeat everything the book said and nothing else. I find it unfair and it makes me feel being made fun of. They use my time on common-sense-like-texts TWICE. uuuurghhhh. And if I'd skip the class I would feel bad, as I'm not doing what I am supposed to do.
I know it's just my little nerdish selfish me being disappointed, but then again, I also think that it is a basic respect thing not to waste other peoples time.

I stop before I go helt amok ;D


more about c.e.p. products:
http://www.cepcompression.com/

(there's going to be a big fight in my class in max 5 minutes, everyone's going crazy and angry :O)

ps.

..and that I can go running at 9 pm with shorts and t-shirt and still be warm.
:) that's my kind of thing

and not that that'd be not enough, I just discovered that school ends 4 hours earlier than expected tomorrow.

hiiii :)

good night

:)

Once again, I've been postponing writing here. There's so many things I'd want to write about and I have so many ideas, but I'm always waiting for the perfect moment, when I'd have enough time and peace and calm and quiteness.
BUT. Today right here right now, I just want to say that if the sun is out and it's 18 degrees, and I get to ride my bike wearing nothing but jeans, t-shirt and sunglasses; buy fresh potatoes and eat them with cucumber, dill and baked salmon, then I really really really dont know a better place to be.

Life is so amazing. Or spring and summer. Or the good foods that come with them. Or just that you can go running or walking or do whatever outside and it makes you more happy and tanned, not wet, cold and grumpy as it was a few weeks ago.

I also have a new love of my life. Or even two. And some quite exciting plans. And I want to write about all of them. But right now I have to go eat my salmon :D

My last classes of my life ever ever in BA of Global Nutrition and Health are going to be in a week from now, so hopefully I'll find more time to write then.

But as we all know - one good wish changes nothing, one good decision can change everything. So maybe I'll just take the time that I need to do the things I like and want to and won't be waiting for the time just to show up from somewhere.

But for now, it's fresh-potato-cucumber-dill-and-salmon-time. :). Gotta love.

xoxo

P.S. I am sooooo looking forward to my this years' internships and think they'll be great! :P