When I signed up for my classes this semester, I knew one thing was true: I was about to have zero life Monday through Thursday. It's week 4 and guess what? I was right. It feels like a mad dash from 7 or 8 am (depending on when I start work) straight through till 9-10pm. It's chaotic, but it actually works. But, a funny thing has happened in these past four weeks. That time I'm losing? It's all of a sudden becoming that much more valuable. I'm not superwoman and I cannot attempt to be. Sure, some days I fit in every little thing. Some days? I'm lucky I remember to put my shoes on the right feet.
At first I was worried. Worried I would stop running completely. That I would somehow forget how to run or gain about 500 pounds. Neither has happened...at least not yet ;) Instead, I take what I can get. Sure, I could get up early and run before work, but I'm tired from working full time and going to school 16 hours (9 credits) a week. So, the thought of getting up even earlier isn't that appealing most days. That's not to say I will never do it, but I'm coveting sleep these days and gladly sleep in a little longer if it makes days more bearable.
I discovered something amazing about Schoolcraft (the community college that I attend). They have one heck of a fitness center. It's brand spanking new and the machines are amazing, to say the least. On Tuesday/Thursday, I don't have class until 6pm, so often I can squeeze in a short run between work and class (depending on when I get off work). I've even taken a ride on one of the bikes.
Realization #1 - not having a gym membership, has made me miss having one. I like the fact I can pick any piece of cardio equipment or a random weight machine and just do my thang. I also like the fact it's "free" to students. Okay by me!
Which also works in conjunction with Realization #2 - Running less has made me crave it more. I don't dread long runs (even on the treadmill). I look forward to the time to just zone out and enjoy the run. I feel like it's also made me strive for a higher quality run, rather than "Junk" miles.
8 miles at 1% incline on sunday. Puppy bowl watching occurred. It was glorious. 8:35 pace. Clearly I gave that a thumbs up.
I feel like a half PR is within reach for either Rock CF or Bayshore. Less running + higher quality runs = happier Megan, less injuries, and hopefully speedier races. I went back and forth between thinking that run less run faster ideology had truth behind it or not. I'm kind of thinking now, that it does. I guess I'll truly know when I do races. But, I do know that paces feel easier now and I definitely (knock on wood) haven't had as many aches/pains/etc.
But, less is more isn't just applying to my exercise mindset. It's applying to my life, as well. Realization #3 - seeing Ryan less has definitely made me miss him more. We've been together nearly 7 years and though we love each other, we can certainly drive each other bananas. In fact, I know that before I went back to school I DID drive him bananas daily because I needed another adult to tell every.single.thing. Now? I think we are both busier and have more stories to share at the end of the day. By not being together every single second the moment we get home, we can both kind of regroup and then talk. It's probably made us communicate better and listen more. Sure, I still tell him a lot of asinine things (hello, my name is Megan, that's kind of my thing), but I would like to think I've scaled back some on the amount of word vomit that comes out of my mouth.
Besides talking more, I think we appreciate each other more and the time we spend together. We can easily fall into ruts of "pajamas on, couch dwelling commence!" mindsets. Which is all well and good, but sometimes it's good to go on a date and remember what the person looks like in something other than sweatpants.
before our date at the Chop House at the end of January
That date night? One of the most fun we've been on. Good food, good conversation, lots of lovey dovey feelings. I think we may go on a date this week too - just to the movies, but it's nice to have something to look forward to together.
Remember how I said I felt like this was going to be my year? I still subscribe to that notion, mainly because less is more will get me through it. It's okay that I can't do everything, every day of the week. I'm picking and choosing what matters and making it work. I'm choosing quality over quantity. Quality runs to make me a better runner. Quality time with people that matter to me. And quality experiences over trying to do every little thing to make every person happy.
Cheers! And PS - I also miss all of you, so truly, absence does make the heart grow fonder.
Questions:
-Anyone else subscribing to the "less is more" mindset these days? How so?
-Tell me one thing you're looking forward to in the near (or not so near future).
-Anyone racing anytime soon? Megan and I are doing a 5k this saturday!
-Any other fun things to share?
Megan
Ive missed you! I think right now, everyone is taking a break from a lot of things. Maybe its the time of year? I am doing less of everything it seems and NEEDING more sleep. I have been dying to try the gym out at 5am, but the past few weeks bedtime has been 8pm and Ive been sleeping through the night. Clearly, I need the ZZZs
ReplyDeleteGood luck on saturday! My feet are being checked out tomorrow again to see if I can start running. If that is the case, I am signing up for something soon!
My miles have been down and I wasn't doing enough running to get back to my fall level, much less improve, but I think I've turned the corner. Still not getting miles in, but if I can exercise 4x per week, that is good.
ReplyDeleteI think once the weather improves, I will take off. Planning for PR at Rock CF, have Martian as backup if I suck. :)
Less is more for races I'm mot ready for. May not even race til Rock, which is loooong for me. Need to save $ and stay on training (but if I get a free race entry, I'm there).
Great job with juggling everything! Trust me, I know how hard that can be, having gone through over a year of chaos. And possibly more chaos to come for me too!
ReplyDeleteI try to do "less is more" but I find myself still trying to squeeze a billion things in...not cool.
I'm so anxious to come back to Michigan at the end of the month, and for our cruise in March!
Racing a 1/2 marathon March 9th but that's pretty much all I have scheduled (strange for me)!
That hot pink belt is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteScott and I spend approximately 1-2 waking hours together everyday. He's usually home by 8pm and we're usually in bed by 9:30. Well, on a good night, he's home by 7. I understand you on that one! I have almost as much time on my hands as I did while he was deployed.
And my workouts? I appreciate them SO much more when I can't get there everyday. Although I'll never be the runner you are... :)
Less really is more. I like you thinking! I love the rec center at our college. It is amazing. Ice skating rink, indoor track, the best cardio equipment ever....it is heaven for a workout junkie. The best thing? I still have my student ID and they don't scan. HA! The bed thing? It's a 30 minute drive so I rarely make the trek. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't really have anything I am looking forward too. I will say that I am looking forward to tomorrow being Friday. This week has not been a fun one!
I think 'less is more' works for me too. Though I've just started a new training plan this week so we'll see how it goes, it's not really in the 'less is more' category. I think you're doing great with living the life you have right now and adapting to what your body needs, rather than try to do more than you know you can handle right now.
ReplyDeleteI am all about "less is more"...I think our culture just pushes the idea that we always need "more"...stuff, money, do more activities...more everything in order to have a happy life. I am much more content just to minimize and take the time to enjoy the "more than enough" that I already have.
ReplyDeleteAs for running, I ran my first 4 halfs with full training schedules. I had some other factors going on (severe anemia mainly), but even adding in speedwork on a typical program didn't improve my performance. What worked for me is the "Run Less, Run Faster" approach. Everyone is different, but running every day doesn't do anything except lead me to burnout and injury. I love doing 3 quality runs. The challenge of different workouts and paces keeps me excited about running and I have grown to enjoy cross training more as well. But best of all, I got a huge PR in my 5th half in October. Yay!
Keep up the hard work with school and enjoying life. Quality definitely beats quantity. :)
I definitely worked out to the puppy bowl too! Love the picture of the two of you! Glad you're loving life!
ReplyDeleteOk, so besides the fact that I'm a month late in commenting on this post I wanted to add that I've missed you too. Allan started taking classes this semester so we've seen each other even less than we had been. You are right about time being more valuable when there's less of it to spend with one another.
ReplyDelete