After getting caught up with all the race reviews WAY after they happened (and in random order nevertheless), I started realizing that it might be a little confusing to you all when these events happened and where I am at now. Let’s start from the beginning….

January: I did the Resolute Run 5K, really got into my personal training school, and Marathon training BEGUN!

February: Virtual Heart Throb 5K, Tackle the Miles Virtual 5K, and I started working at Hell Bally’s (in addition to working at Dick’s Sporting Goods AND school).

March: The Erin Go Braugh 7.77K,  and I quit Dick’s to have more time for school

April: My B-Day Month, The Rave Run, and The Horsetooth Half

May: Started with the Dino Half and ended with a trip to the East Coast where I did the Sugarloaf 15K, went to a wedding and…dun-dun-dun: My FIRST Marathon!

June: Nearing towards the end of school (i.e. LOTS of work), I got hired on at Camp MissFits, this is when “the boy” first shows up and Tough Mudder

July: Graduated, quit Bally’s, did the Half on the 4th race.

Which brings us to August: I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off!! I’ve had a bazillion and a half interviews, trying to decide what kind of place/job would be a good fit for me. On the fun side of things, earlier this month, I conquered the Manitou Incline (if you don’t know what that is, I’ll tell you about it in my next post), explored what Colorado Springs has to offer (where the boy lives), climbed another 14er, volunteered at the Leadville 100 Trail Run, an Alumni Cross Country Race and other random antics.

Running Related Antics:

So, since all these races, I was left with feeling pretty over trained and potentially injured. I had some really bad hip pain when I would run, especially during those last few races, and started developing a lot of heel pain.

My hip pain is gone. I still get a little tight, but I’ve been working on stretching a lot more, on a more regular basis.

My heel pain is still there. Not nearly as bad. I’m still trying to figure out what it is, but I’m leaning towards it being plantar fascitis.

Since my marathon, I have been running in addition to those two races. I’ve been running quite a lot. I just haven’t been recording it. And let me tell you, it’s been liberating!

I used to be very into mapping my run with my various phone apps and posting it all over facebook and twitter. But since my marathon, I think I’ve posted a run maybe twice.

In fact, I barely even care about how far I’m going lately. I’ve been running to feel good, to get back to the basics of running and why I do it. I’ve been running for time rather. A lot of times, I can only squeeze in a 45 minute run, so I stopped caring about how far I get and caring about how I felt and the intensity level.

I’ve also been doing a lot more trail running. I’ve had some more time since being out of school, so I’m able to drive a few minutes toward the mountains to some beautiful, fun trails.

I’ve been loving running. And I love that I love running again!

In addition to getting back to my roots of running, I’ve been really working on strengthing and flexibilty as injury prevention. I plan on doing a more detailed post on each of these aspects, but I’m really hoping it will help for when I start training for my next race.

Besides that stuff….Professional Antics:

I’m still working at Camp MissFits as a coach. It’s an all women’s bootcamp that focuses on personal training in a group setting. So, while the workouts are in a group setting, we meet with the ladies one on one to give them additional support and other information to help them meet their goals. I also am the admin support for this company which I was “promoted” to after only working for them for a month.

I have also started coaching cross country for my old high school, the Arvada Bulldogs! That has been a blast, and even though I’m only three weeks in, It’s already rewarding. It’s my favorite part of my day. I am an assistant coach to the other two normal coaches and I’m leaning about how to be a coach so that in the future I can hopefully be the head coach for some other cross country team. The format that this team has been doing for a few years is incorporating a lot of cross fit fundamentals into the cross country practice. Since I do all the workouts with the girls, I definitely experiencing some new strength since I’ve never really done cross fit. It’s a blast, and I can’t wait to see how it correlates when the girls actually get to meets.

Most recently, I got hired at a gym called About Time Fitness where I will be teaching a few group classes in addition to personal training. It’s not a normal gym, like Bally’s or 24 Hour. It’s only group fitness with a studio in the back for “renting” out for Personal Training. I will be getting certified in a cycling class, which I never expected I would do in a million years. It is actually quite fun and my endurance from running is perfect for cycling. I will then also eventually get certified in Core, which is a 30 minute abs class.

The most important part about this job is that the personal training side could be under my own business name. I am in the process of developing a business plan and marketing strategy to see if this is really a good decision. I realize this is risky, to just immediately start my own business rather than gain experience in a gym setting, but after a handful of interviews and my experience at Bally’s, I realized that a gym setting is not right for me. I just don’t agree with the way the big box gyms view fitness. I know it will be a hard go in the beginning, but it will be more rewarding in the end. And it’s not completely unreasonable, considering that I do have some cash flow coming in from the group fitness stuff I do! So we’ll see! Any advice and expertise in the area is great appreciated!

Upcoming Antics:

This last weekend, I ran in the 7th Annual Arvada High School Cross Country Alumni Race (quite the tongue twister, eh) and was the first girl to finish out of all the current cross country girls (the ones I coach), the community and alum!!! I mean, there wasn’t that many people running, but still, I can claim it, right!? I also am set to run an half marathon early in September, the Area 13.1. I’m actually super excited; it’s an alien themed race held at night and you get an alien medal!!! I honestly don’t quite know if I’m ready for an half, but what the heck, right?? But I’m not stupid, I have been running and training everyday with my cross country girls, so I’m not going to hurt myself, I promise.

Also, in other news, I’ve decided I’m ready to start training (not run, TRAINING) for my next marathon. I’m still looking for the right one…but I’m leaning towards the Sedona Marathon in Arizona. Has anyone done this one and have any opinions (positive or negative)??

Your Turn: What’s the most interesting newest development in your lives?? Could be personal, running related or business related!