February and no heart

You know what I'm talking about!  Some people get this in January, after the holidays, some get this other times through out the year.....I get this in February.  I just get, well, kinda lazy!
Trying to keep myself motivated to go out to the treadmill and run has been a real struggle.  I have done the tricks of adding new music, pretending I'm actually running with tons of people in my up coming half marathon in September.  I have pretended to be out along the path of a beach or even the path I run during better temps.  But it's also just getting back in the groove period! I'm finding that I just don't have quiet the desire to get my runs in.  I have, but just barely and not with a full heart.  You expect those kind of runs every now and then but I have been that way with each run.  Even putting myself on a training plan for my 5k's that are coming up in April and May have been bah!  I have also been slacking for my cross train days.  AND I have been eating like I am still on vacation.   Yea I have been doing a Pure Barre class here or there or doing a half hearted elliptical....but thats it and theres no heart into it.  

So what gives?  I have had these types of days but not for this long.  I have even thought about maybe just putting my runs on the back burner for a while.  But deep down I know that will not make things better.  And even on those days that I only get out there half heartedly, I'm always still glad I did something.

So that all being said, I have decided that I just need to pull my big girl panties up and get with the program.  Life is life.  And if there are days (or a full month) that I'm not going to be running with a full heart for it but I'm still out there, I'm still doing it.  I also need to set my fears aside that have slowly crept in of what if I get injured again?  What if I can't run as fast as I think I should?  What if I can't run even a 5k even after all the training?  Tons of things have crept in but I just have to let it all go and go out there and run with the love that I do have for it.  If it's a 13min mile then so be it.  I'm out there and I need to get comfortable with it again.

Today is suppose to be speed drills but I'm opting to just get outside and just run what I can.  The weather is going to be super nice today and then the rest of the week cold and snowy.  I can work my speed in Wednesday.

So, I'm going to go out and just run the 25 miles I know I can do and just see where it takes me.  No time limits, no certain amount of miles and no certain pace.

How about you guys?  Do you go through slumps like this?  What do you do?  Or am I just being a complete baby who has just gotten lazy? 


On a little bit of a personal note, February was also John and I's 30th wedding anniversary!  Wow!

It's been a marriage of a roller coaster and with nine kids and a grand baby, life is never dull!
Happy 30th honey!

Ran like I stole it!!

Winter and treadmills generally equal pretty boring! But Saturday doing my long run for the week was probably the best run I have had in a long time!  I have had to do my runs on the treadmill due to the weather here in Ohio.  I love the snow but with my previous foot issues I don't take chances running in it.  I have been taking every precaution in doing what I can to not go into the Spring/Summer months getting injured or having foot issues again.

This week I signed up for some Pure Barre classes!  I have read and heard a lot of great things about it and thought what the heck...I'll give it a try.  

My thoughts were to try something different.  Step out of my box! And I'm glad I did!  I usually workout at home and generally by myself.  So, walking away from my gym to sign up at a place I've never been, don't know anybody....well that was stepping outside my box!  Pure Barre is know for their lift, tone and burn!  And that is exactly what happened yesterday when I went to my first class!  Not only did it give me a great workout it delivered everything that I have heard and read about.  The instructor, Bev, was great!  She was clear on what we were to do and if she felt that your form wasn't what it should be, she had no problem coming over and helping with getting you where you need to be.   The classes are generally kept to twenty or less making it easy for the instructor to give that special one on one attention when needed.  

So, I know it was only my first class but I have excitedly scheduled my next few classes and looking very forward to each of them.  I'm hoping with the stretching, the toning to fatigue muscles that it will also help with my running.  I sure hope so!

Have any of you ever heard or try Pure Barre?  If so what are your thoughts on it?