{Jessica Runs}: in March & April

Well it's already 6 days in May, so I might as well do my March and April running recaps, hey? It's not like I'm weeks behind or anything.

 

Right. Haha. Good one, Jessica.

 

Anywho, moving on. :)

 

It is interesting reflecting on the past months.  I really wish I recapped them sooner, but this is going to have to do.

 

March:

 

Oh March. You were kinda the worst. Remember February?  It was a month of breakthroughs and some lovely winter days that made for prime running. Well March was the exact opposite. It felt like January all over again and I was struggling. It turned nasty and cold again. My runs were getting longer and I was just not down with running 11km on a 300m track indoors. NO THANKS.  (I get dizzy just thinking about it). Plus we had some personal stuff going on that took up two weekends in March, so there went my long runs on Saturday on those weekends.. it was worth it, but if I have a schedule to follow (whatever it is) and it doesn't get followed, it just stresses me right out. Anyway, another post for another time. :) 

So basically if I couldn't run outside, I was just not running at all. Actually, that's not true. Monday's are my 'short run' days and I didn't (still don't) mind doing 5 or 6 km indoors.

Oh ya, and I think we got two doozy snow storms in March too, so that was another thorn in my side.

Anyway, I got through and I thankful for the runs I did get in that month. But it certainly wasn't one for the record books. *wry smile*

 

April:

 

And then April appeared.. with the promise of spring and hopefully some more breakthroughs.  And April was kind to me and rewarded me so! It was a fantastic month.  The temperature was above freezing, the trails were dry and that my friends, is the perfect combo for running outside.  I also got back to the gym (regularly) to do some weights and something beside running focused  (which is, apparently, imperative for successful training).

The only dark spot in April was my car accident, which is slowly turning into a silver lining actually. I did take a week off training, but that seemed to be exactly what I needed and for the remainder of month, my runs were stronger and I felt great. 

Maybe it was just my attitude that shifted.. rather than dreading my runs, I was grateful I could even run.  The outcome of my accident could have been so very very different and I'm just glad that I still have the ability to run.

 

So you're probably noticing a pattern.... tough month, breakthrough month, tough month, etc, etc.. according to that pattern, May is gearing up to be a tough month. And so far, that has been the case... :( which is messing with head because race day is about 6 weeks away and I have 21km's to run and I am wondering how the heck I am going to accomplish that.

But I guess I must not get too ahead of myself.

One day at a time.

One run at a time.

 

Sorry for the lack of pictures on this post..    my runs have been getting pretty intense and for some reason, I'm more focused on my lungs not bursting instead of snapping cool pics. Which is, like, totally not like me. I've snapped a few photos for Instagram, but knowing my track record with my hard core love of taking pictures, it should be way more. ;)

 

Well that about wraps up those two months. I am hoping with all my might that May gets better.. but I am guess all I can do is all I can do.

(deep advice, no? I think I missed my calling.)

 

Any other runners out there? How is your training going? Do spill because talking about running is my favourite thing to do lately.

In case you couldn't tell. :)

 

xo ~ Jessica    



{Jessica Reflects}: On Being Able To Wiggle Her Toes

Ahhh... where to even begin? Brace yourselves, this could be a long one!

I apologize in advance.

 

 

So ya, this happened yesterday. I'm the grey car in the foreground with the obliterated right passenger side.  The truck off to the left that's giving that 100 year old spruce a big ol' smooch caused such damage to my car.

 

First thing: I'm ok (despite the pain growing in my left neck and shoulder, but I'm getting that all "seen to" as my mother in law would say).

Second thing: Pretty sure that having a pickup barreling toward you at double your speed is one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me.

 

Here's the breakdown:

I was coming home from work, shortly after 4pm. I turned onto my street, going about 30km/hr. I saw the pickup approaching me in the other lane, driving normally.  When he was about 50 m from me, he accelerated and swerved directly toward me. The roads were dry and it was a clear day so I was very baffled by what was happening. I managed to get out of the way a little bit but he was driving so fast (and showed no effort to slow down) that he plowed right through the right passenger side of my car and scraped all down the side. He carried on by me, smoked a fire hydrant (haha.. I made a pun), which landed in the neighbours front lawn and firmly planted himself into a spruce tree that was clearly not going anyway.

 

So that's the facts of accident.  Other points of interest are as follows:

- he had no idea what happened (the fellow who hit me)

-  he was jumpy, twitchy and made me very nervous

- after about 5 minutes, he decided to run

- and this accident just became a hit and run

- our first responders are amazing

- my husband is amazing

- my dog is exactly the same because she has no idea what happened (which I just love)

- my neck is really sore

- and lastly, I have some sweet bruises developing right on top of my hip bones

 

Anyway, this blog post is not to discuss the details of the accident.

This blog post is me waxing poetic about being able to move my toes and fingers and that I can still feel a cold wind on my face and that I can walk.

 

I am now 'sans car' (clearly), so this means coordinating drop-offs and pick-ups with the husband and maybe even walking a few places.

My bosses sent me home around noon and because Tyler was working two hours northeast of town today, I was left to walk home. No biggie really. I work downtown and we live downtown, so it was a 20 minute walk, tops. The fresh air felt so good.   

 

When I got home from work, I called my massage therapist's office and booked the only 1/2 hour slot left for today. Which meant another walk, but for real I didn't even care. When I left the house for my massage appointment and started 25 minute journey there, I was suddenly overcome with this profound gratefulness that I had the full ability to move my knees, wiggle my toes, feel sunshine on my face and my feet knew to take one step after another.

 

If I had been driving a tad bit faster or left even 30 seconds sooner from work, it could have been a completely different story.

 

 

 

So today I dedicate this blog post to wiggling toes.

I dedicate it to sparkly eyes, rosy cheeks and a cold nose.

I dedicate it to the sand and grit I felt swirling around me every time a city bus roared by.

I dedicate it to the slightly wet feet I had (dang you, canvas boots!) due to puddles of melty snow on my walk.

 

 

I dedicate this to strides. Big full walking strides.

And I'll take a minute to dedicate a small portion of this blog post to my amazing chiro/massage office who took excellent care of me today, gave me ice packs for my neck and sent me home with the right insurance paperwork to get started on making an injury claim. You all rock, every single one of you.

 

I'm not in the hospital. I'm not paralyzed. I don't even have a scratch or cut.

So this is me just counting my blessings and being thankful for everything that my senses can take in. The roar of the bus, a gust of wind with dust, a cold wind and sore feet.

Even my sore neck, stiff lower back and limited mobility in looking to the left. At least I can feel these things. 

Also, the sun on my face, a pumping heart, a loving family and springtime.

Good and bad stuff.

 

But that's ok. I'll take it. I'll take it all in spades.

 

Much love and gratefulness,

Jessica

 

 

{Jessica Reflects}: On Spiritual Lessons While Running

I kinda feel like this post is overdue.. there's not a run that goes by where I don't pick up a little spiritual nugget and I'm so grateful for that.  I love that God has planned for natural experiences to give us little spiritual boosts and lessons.  Here's the biggest the one I've learned about during this training process: rest.

 

An early 2013 run.. we are lucky to have these gentle rolling hills though our city.. I took a 'rest' to snap these pics ;)

Running toes. (aka: blisters)

a pretty house and tree along one of my runs

new running pants. they have changed my life.

a runkeeper running log (ps not a great run at all)

new shoes #beauties

 

I should define what I mean by rest.  I'm not talking about rest days (although those are very important), but I mean rest during the run or race.

 

The first 8km I ever ran, I ran it straight.. no rests, no stopping, nothing.  By the end of my run, my lungs felt they were going to burst, my feet and toes were asleep, my shin splits (which I struggle with every run already) were almost unbearable and there were people walking faster than I was (pathetically) running. Ugh.

 

But I talked to man that works in the same office as me who I knew was an avid runner and he talked to me about intervals.  He has ran lots of marathons, 8 K's, 10K's, etc so I knew that he was giving solid advice. He suggested I try running "10 and 1's".. 10 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking.. he said nothing has helped him more mentally than this and I knew I wanted to add it to my own training program.

 

Life. Changing.

 

Having one minute little rest breaks several times during my runs has done wonders for my mental clarity and I am now up to "15 and 1's". And this leads my to the spiritual lesson..

 

Little rests are so important during our own journey.. and while convention (or 'rest days') is important (and amazing), we can't be at convention all the time.  Rest from the busyness of our day in fellowship meetings, rest in God's care during prayer before bed,  a pause in our day to sing a little hymn, rest from this sometimes cold world in a good spiritual conversation with a friend are all little 'rests' we can give ourselves along the way as we daily run this race.

 

I just love this little thought and I know I need to value better the little moments that give us rest from a weary day, an experience we're going through or just being so 'plugged in' all the time (guilty. totally guilty of that one).

 

I love that God planned for us to have 'soul-rest' every step of the way.

After my one minute rest-walks, I feel refreshed to keep going. I've had time to catch my breath, refocus and look forward to going again.

And that's just like running in this race.

There is strength for the next step when we stop to rest a moment along the way and I'm so thankful that.

 

Hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday.. only one more day of work until the Easter long weekend! Wahoo!

Hope its a good one for you, wherever you are!

 

xo ~ Jessica 



{Jessica Runs (ran?)}: in February

yayyyyy......

 

I'm back and for real I am super excited.. I'm not sure what took me so long to get back on the blogging wagon (after yet MORE computer troubles... sigh..).  I've had tons of ideas and I'm always "ooh I gotta blog about that!" but then the end of my day comes along and I'm like, "ooh Lucky Charms and YouTube!".. Soooo ya.....

 

Plus, you know, it's winter.  And I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty sure the snow and cold sucks all my productive powers from me and replaces with it an intense love for Lucky Charms and mindless internet browsing. Another sigh.

 

To be fair, I think this is just March speaking.  Because February was kinda awesome.

 

It was a great weather month (sunny! warm!) and a great running month.

Let me tell you about it, if ya don't mind. :)

 

 

So running in February was awesome. I hit my stride and it was sunny enough to run outside and I ran my first 10K!

 

January was a tough month. But February.

February was amazing and everything that people say they love about running were the things that I came to love.  I'm not to sure what else to say but it was great.  I loved the feeling of anticipating a run and I wasn't overcome with that feeling of "ugh, I gotta run" but instead "ya, I'm pretty stoked for this run!" ..

 

I'm actually finding it very difficult to recollect February's running musings on March 19.  March has (so far) been nothing like February.  March has been complex and all about juggling personal life with my half marathon training, so thinking back on the awesome month that was February is very difficult.

 

But you know what I can do? I can be thankful for February.  I'm pretty sure that when June 15 rolls around and I'm standing at the start line, (my heart is pounding just thinking about that) I will be very grateful for February and I know that it will have been instrumental in my training.

 

And then I'll say, "thank you, February", take a deep breath and start to run.

 

xo ~ Jessica  

{Jessica Runs}: in January

 

I hardly know where to begin this post.

I have never felt like a runner.  I've never even had the desire in the past to be a runner.

But something changed last year.  And overnight I seemed to have developed this hunger to be a distance runner.. to push myself in ways I never thought I could be pushed.  I think I especially wanted to push my mind.. push it into believing I could do this. 

So often when I would try to distance run in the past, I would cop-out at the first side stitch, the first moment of laboured breathing, the first ache in my legs..

 

Now it's different.  I try to push myself past all of that.. past all the negative self-talk and pain.. some days I'm more successful than others.  But the bottom line is (for me) if I am willing for a little pain and a little discomfort, I can push through to this state of complete euphoria.

Yes. The runners high.

I can't say I've experienced it in all it's glory yet, but I've had a moment or two where all of a sudden I'll just 'hit my stride'.. it's pretty cool, it really is.

The other state of euphoria is finishing.  When you can actually tell your mind that you ran 5km or 8km of even 1km if you're just starting out; it's kind of amazing.  Well for me it is.. I have lots of years of telling myself I am not a runner and I can't run or I will never be able to run, so sometimes it just hits me that together my mind and body accomplished running five consecutive kilometers.

 

My training this month has been full of highs and lows.  I ran my personal best 5K at 37 minutes, but I also got really discouraged after running my first 8K that took me about an hour and 6 minutes.  I was in a lot of pain during and after that run.  The whole time I was thinking, how on earth will I be able to run 21 kms?!

But I just have to remember that I am building my endurance.  21 kms will not be accomplished overnight.  Endurance running is about enjoying the journey, pushing through the mental blocks and giving a little more each time.

 

One of my most favourite sayings I've discovered since I began is this:

There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

Well isn't that the truth? And maybe even just one big metaphor for life.

So I've been trying to keep that little golden nugget in the back of my mind as my short little legs plug away at each kilometer.

 

Something else I've really enjoyed during this first month of training (and I know it will continue) is all the spiritual lessons I am getting out of this training.  I might save them for another post, but I have been most inspired by this. :)

Well, for not knowing 'where to start' with this post, I sure did manage to say a lot.. haha.. typical.. ;)
I am excited to see where the rest of this month takes me.  I've made little goals along the way for myself and this month my goal is to feel comfortable running 8km.  I'm not there yet, but I think I'm on my way.

xo ~ Jessica


 

{Jessica Wears}: Black & Denim. Again.

black jersey dress: kenar via winners | denim button-down: joe fresh

The best part of this shot is the shovel in the background. :)

accessories: black tights: joe fresh | wool cowl: h&m | oxfords: spring

We've had quite the warm snap these last few days and I have been loving it! Anything to take the edge off of January.. 

Wednesdays have become my new favourite day of the week as it is my day off.. it's been fun to take a break from corporate wear in the middle of the week and work on my 'snappy casual' wear.  However, I am thinking that I need to branch out from denim and black.  It's just so dang hard when it's so easy. Sigh.  

I've always felt like I've got the dressy wear down but need help in the casual wear.  Or at least casual wear with interesting elements.
 And not having to wear a jacket (at least not for the photos) is always a bonus.  So I can show off my sweet 80's-like knot on my denim shirt.

:)

xo ~ Jessica

{Jessica Kicks Off}: Twenty-Thirteen

Finally. :)

So hi! Happy New Year!  Is it too far into the year to be saying that still? Probably.  But you know me: always a little bit behind.

Speaking of behind........ I think I have a little catching up on this ol' blog, no? :)

I've been thinking a lot about my blog lately and the direction I want to go and all these ideas I have.. and then my mind gets going and I get so overwhelmed with the thought of everything that I just don't post at all.  Which is the opposite direction of where I want to go... sigh. And so the cycle starts...

But then I got thinking again.  I love my little blog, I really do.  And I don't want it to be a "guilt thing" that I should be stressing about posting and getting content up and all of that.  And then the thought hit me:

My blog is really a little extension of my life.  And like all things, there is an ebb and flow to it all.. So I just want to be more a accepting of that.  Life has holidays and sickness and down times and it's ok if I don't post during those times because hey, that's just life.  Sorry for the cliché, but it's true. :)

Anyway, this is not a new thought and I'm sure most of you have this already figured out. For me, I don't officially have something figured out until I write it down.  (remember: words girl)

So where does that leave me/us now? Well, I'm not gonna lie, I am pretty excited about a new year and new goals and new adventures awaiting.. And when the mood is right and I'm in the groove, I'm gonna blog my heart out. And when I just wanna chill and shut off my wifi connection and relax with my dog, I'm gonna do that too.  And all will be well. :)

That all being said, I would like to share some of my goals for this year for my blog!

* more outfit posts because I heart doing them so much and I wanna do more of what makes me happy this year.

* this year I turn 30!!  So bring on my "30 before 30" list! And I'm going to blog about as many as possible!

* a possible blog re-design :)

* a monthly post about my progress/training for my half marathon in June (but I'll try not to be super annoying about it. Promise).

That's all I'll commit to right now.. anything else would be promising too much.. haha.. me and "follow through" need to have a little heart-to-heart this year.. :)

So there you have it - my first post 2013! Hope you all have a wonderful week and may your goals and resolutions last well beyond Groundhogs Day! I hope mine certainly do..:)

xo ~ Jessica