Sarah Runs Texas

Just a series of gym selfies!

I've been keeping my running under 20 miles a week, with a good portion being warm ups for gym days. I do try to get the the trail twice a week, once for speed work and once for my long run. Just to keep up with my base because I'll be training for the new before you know it.

I've been struggling with muscle imbalances since an injury almost 18 months ago. So it's time to get serious! 3-4 days of strength training, focusing on single leg work as well as lifting heavy after activating my glutes.

And I still get *inklings* of that imbalance pain in the aftermath of speed workouts, but I'm noticing big differences.

1) My hamstrings don't seize up during glute work anymore. They had been taking over because my glute on that side wouldn't fire.

2) The random back pain on the opposite side is gone. The soreness from overcompensating is way less.

3) After a rather intense leg day, only my weak side is sore. 🤣

I'm still stronger on my right side, as my left still fails earlier, so I've made so much progress by putting running on the back burner since January. I'm in it for the long haul.

Constantly moving forward!

One thing you hear all the time is the best thing for fitness is consistency. It's true. The longer you stick with something, the more the results are apparent.

What they don't talk about is that consistency can be, well, boring. Here I am, once again, running my Thursday goal pace 0.5 mile repeats. Lifting 3-4x per week. Being consistent, but it isn't much to report.

Every day counts even if it's not the most exciting of days.

Finding balance in my life.

The miles are less right now, and I'm finding myself stronger than ever. A few miles from warm-ups, some speed work on the trail, and spending 3-4 days per week lifting heavy. Focusing on core, hips, and balance.

My hip hasn't felt this good in years. It might be because I'm keeping my mileage low, it might be the strength training, it could be a multitude of things. I'm in the home stretch to 40 now and I want to be a runner the rest of my life. Things ebb and flow, I'll be starting marathon training again in just a few short months. I haven't been able to train for speed in a race in over a year and I think finding balance in my running with other activities is gonna be the key to me finding my speed again.

I have high hopes!

Goodbye March!!

I haven't been on socials because I'm a scientist and, well, sh*ts been kinda hitting the fan. Let's not get into it, but I needed some time away. I did some stories but that's about it.

But March was full of fun times. I ran some races and lifted some weights. Ran with some old Brooks friends. Turned 39. It was good times.

The Cowtown half let me know I was coming down with the flu. The Run the Alamo told me I shouldn't pace with lungs still full of phlegm. I swept a race for the first time with for the Time for Paddy half.

I ran with Zoey during the small window that it's not too hot for her. And I'm still giving guided running tours of downtown San Antonio to old teammates. I read 10 books and am redoing one of our spare bedrooms into a hobbit hole-y reading room. I found my Dad's original LOTR books from the 70s. ❤️😭

Focus on the lights in your life when the dark clouds pass over. ❤️

Y'all, I've survived two half marathons in as many weeks with some nasty chest congestion. (Be prepared for some gross descriptors 👇)

Last week I was at Cowtown (no pictures survived 🤣) and wasn't feeling right that morning. I started hacking up phlegm about mile four and drug my butt across the finishline 25 minutes past my expected "easy pace" time. I flew home immediately after the race and was sick for most of the week.

Feeling better, but not quite 100%, I had committed to pacing the Run the Alamo yesterday. I've paced the 2:10-2:15 slot for about 5 years now and yesterday's race was humbling.

I finished at 2:14:43. On the nose as you could get. I was good for about the first ten miles, but then that chest cold came back with a vengeance. I had to switch to a walk/run strategy, stopping to hack things up as they came. I got my even splits, but those last few miles were not pretty.

But I came, I saw, I finished in 2:15 as promised. (Don't run with a chest cold. I am idiot.)

Y'all, if I'm strugglebussing in February with mornings in the 70s with high humidity, what is July marathon training gonna feel like? 😬

I've been mostly on the treadmill and in the gym since finishing Houston, but Sundays are my trail days. And damn, this one felt hard. I'm under fueled on my cut, the temperatures are up, the humidity is high, and I'm just cruising as slow as I can and that heart rate is still spiking.

Heat training starts around in early March but I guess we just might always be having warm days.

Have to admit though, even when it's hard, I still love it ❤️

Look at me. Being terrible at content since I'm only in my garage than on my beautiful running trails. 🙈

Marathon season is over. Off season has started for me.

So what's off season in my house?
🌟 I cut my running down to 15-20 miles/week at most.
🌟 I switch to a primary focus of strength training, trying to hit four days/week on weights.
🌟 I feel it's unpopular to say, but I do a small cut. I get a little fluffier during marathon training and I like myself a little leaner.
🌟 I'm better about my diet. I have more time and my appetite isn't beyond ravenous all the time so I meal prep and hit my protein goals better. (The ADHD meds are helping tremendously as well)
🌟 Endurance training elevates cortisol over long periods of time and my body gets a good reset of just my *normal* lifetime stress.
🌟 I still race, but they're not for time. I have a few races I plan on pacing for during this time

Do y'all off-season?

And I'm back!

Two full weeks of rest from running after the Houston Marathon and what better time to check out the new Glycerin 22s from .

Perfect weather and after two weeks off, 7 easy miles were just amazing for my soul. The run was just perfect. So far, I'm loving the shoes but I want to hold off a full review until after several runs. They feel great, both cushy and responsive, but I want to get the full experience! (These colors though! Wow!)

I am an affiliate now for Brooks, so feel free to ask me any questions about the new Glycerins and I'll try my best ❤️

The days after a marathon just hit different.

It's over. It's done. Everything I've trained for since my injury 13 months ago. And I'm riding high! I want to conquer the world. Do all the things! But my Achilles is sore and my body took a beating.

It's hard to tell someone who is always running, figuratively and literally, to rest. So I'm trying my best. Five days is all I could really take... I'm holding off from running for two weeks. That's the golden rule, right?

But a few light lifts for the upper body might keep me from going insane. Easy and slow. Just some movement to keep me happy. And I get to stay in Goblin mode in my favorite comfy sweats because the garage is COLD (At least for San Antonio, don't come at me 🤣)

Marathon Number 10 in the books and finished in 4:50.

I'll post more later. My brainy-no worky, but I crossed that finishline and no worse for wear. Now it's time to recover ❤️

Marathon #10 Loading ...

I missed the Houston Marathon startline last year, so I pledged to make it back with . I'm so excited to be back with them this year. We raised $615 for the shelter! (And still fundraising! Check them out and click the link in my bio)

I have to admit I'm nervous. My hip tends to flare up some sometimes still and I've been babying my Achilles since it looked at me funny around Christmas. But! Today's 5k went amazing, and I've put in the PT, the strength training, and the miles. I've stopped myself so many times to "Work Smarter and Not Harder".

This race isn't about PRs, my last few marathons haven't been. It's about proving to myself I can still go out and do the things that I love. Speed will come back later, or maybe it won't.

My feet pounding the pavement and the joy that running gives me. The setting of a goal and meeting it. These are the things that make my brain happy and that's why I'm here. 💙

I'll see y'all on the other side ✌️

One last HOO-RAH! (Ignore my ugly hotel carpeting)

Before I toe the startline for the marathon, I'm running the 5k as my last act as a retiring member of the before passing on the torch. So many wonderful memories and friendships made. Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow 💙