19 Weeks to Half Marathon

My goal is to run the Valley Harvest Half Marathon, on Sunday, October 11th, 2020 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. 21.1km.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Tuesday’s run was 6km! My Fitbit battery died almost immediately into my run! D’oh!!!

Total Kilometers: 42.14km

Milestones This Week

• My longest run yet at 13km!
• A personal best (PB) run at a pace of 7’40″min during my 13km
• My highest elevation gain yet, during my 13km run
• Reaching a running total of over 40km per week

Music and Pace

Since my PB during last week’s race, I feel truly inspired to up my running – to push myself because I know I can do it! Music has been extremely helpful to push me faster! High beat, inspiring music! My newest favorite is Eminem’s ‘Till I Collapse. Thank you Sarah, from Mountain View Runners, for recommending this song! This song pushes me faster, with ATTITUDE!!!

My warrior attitude of: I’m going to overcome my BIGGEST nemesis – MY MIND!!!!

Anxiety, CBD and It’s Effects on Running

I’m settling into my second month of taking CBD for anxiety. You can read more about my thoughts during my second week of taking this derivative of marijuana, by clicking on the link below:

Anxiety & Cannabidiol (CBD) & Exercise

I’m at a phase where I think I’m transitioning out of the acute side effects of lethargy and decreased appetite.

I also believe this is happening because, with medical support, I’ve settled into my CBD “sweet spot”, I’ve found the daily amount and frequency of taking CBD that works for me.

Anxiety Attack

With each day that goes by, I feel a little stronger, and a little more settled into the routine of the hours CBD is doing its job of chilling me out. The other day, I experienced my first anxiety attack while on CBD. There was good reason for my anxiety (proof CBD is working!) as I thought my husband and I had been hit once again by a credit card hack. This time last year, the credit card company we use was hacked, and many clients of this company had been the victim of fraud. I thought it had happened again! Thankfully, not!

As I hit the pavement to run off the anxiety attack, while experiencing the astonishing benefits of CBD, I was:

• Able to detach from and observe this anxiety attack (mindfulness skills)
• Tell myself that the physical uncomfortableness in my chest (where anxiety shows itself in my body) would pass with the help of a good run (emotional regulation skills)
• Remind myself that everything was okay. With a calm, rational mind I told myself (and believed it!) that if the scam had happened again, the bank would reimburse like it did before and all would okay (CBT skills – debunking cognitive distortions)

Another noticing was the profound physical effort it took to run while experiencing this anxiety attack: how physically exhausting anxiety is – how powerful the thoughts I think affect my body. Pre-CBD, when trapped in my fear-based thoughts, even while running – it was challenging to see past the anxiety itself to notice how detrimental its side effects are on my physical health… because I was too lost in it.

As I moved along in my run, I felt the anxiety dissipate in my chest. I felt my energy rise. It was astonishing! After almost 30 years of struggles with anxiety, it was one of the most freeing experiences, EVER!!!!

Incredibly, and what has to be an absolutely well known fact and proven during this run, is how much anxiety was slowing me down! I run faster when my mind is calm!

Everything in life is better when my mind is calm…

Stronger With EVERY Step!!!

Never, ever give up!!!! Robyn, of Mountain View Runners, your words inspire me: stronger with every step!! If you’re thinking about running, perhaps daunted by it, just take that first step! Tell yourself you’re worth the hard work, the determination!!!! YOU DESERVE THIS AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!!!

If you’re new to running, I highly recommend you join your local running group! I can’t speak enough of how powerful peer support is to keep you moving, when your mind and body wants to quit!

Moments During My Run

Sometimes, the beauty of nature surrounding me while I run is too captivating not to stop and take a picture!

Happy running!

S, 🏃🏼‍♀️🔥

Half Marathon Training – 2020

Half Marathon Training – Week 1 – In Total, 30km Goal Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 2 – Goal – 6km Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 3 – Goal – Each Run Holding at 6km Achieved – Goal of Speed Increase Not Achieved

Half Marathon Training – Week 4 – Goal – Long Run – 7km, Holding at 6km & Speed Increase – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 5 – Goal – Long Run – 8km, Finding My Pace – Achieved!

Half Marathon Training – Week 6 – Goals – 9km & Yoga Achieved – Week of Mishaps – Yup!

Half Marathon Training – Week 7 – Plantar Fasciitis Halts Running – So I Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 8 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, The COVID-19 Pandemic & My First Time Spinning!

Half Marathon Training – Week 9 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running, Adapting Exercise Habits During These COVID-19 Days With Indoor, Low Impact, High Cardio Exercise & We Bought a Bike!

Half Marathon Training – Week 10 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running & Finding My Exercise Groove During These COVID-19 Days

Half Marathon Training – Week 11 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running: Indoor Cardio & Outdoor Fun

Half Marathon Training – Week 12 – Plantar Fasciitis Continues to Halt Running; Stress & Anxiety & The Body

Half Marathon Training – Week 13 – No Running. Week 14 – RUNNING!!

Half Marathon Training – Week 15 & 16 – Getting My Groove Back

Half Marathon Training – Week 17 – My First 10Km!

Half Marathon Training – Week 18 – My First Race!

Half Marathon Training – Week 19 – ‘Till I Collapse Kinda Week!

Half Marathon Training – Week 20 – The Significance of Music

Half Marathon Training – Week 21 – The Importance of Stretching and Laughter

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 22-24 – Badass and Heart Centered

Half Marathon Training – Weeks 25-27 – New Sneakers, Warrior Walk & Gluteus Medius

Half Marathon Goal – Postponed to 2021