First off, thank you many times over for all the great blog/facebook/forum comments and emails.  From stories of similar situations with successful endings to those currently adrift in the same boat as me, I’m blessed to have such support.  Twas a busy post, too: 323 unique visitors on Tuesday, a usual day is around 220.  Something about life sucking gets a lot of eyeballs.

I suppose what I really sought from that post was permission to lay off a bit.  I know that sounds ludicrous, I’m a big girl with a working brain, but somehow the idea of  “you can chill some, it’s ok” was not meshing with my inner prejudiced “man-up” “don’t be such a wuss” voices.

In a strange coincidence, the same day I posted that last entry, an article was published on Running Competitor addressing my worries in a freakily specific way (he must have known someone was going through runnerpause that day).  Check it out: Feeling Fried? Enjoy Your Training & Avoid Burnout by Matt Fitzgerald.

“…whereas runners typically focus on training for improvement and simply trust that they will enjoy their training if they train properly, new research on the role of the brain in exercise suggests that we may be better off doing the opposite: prioritizing enjoyment and trusting that the more fun we have in training, the fitter we will become.”

So with the help of your comments and this article as the cherry on the sundae, here’s my training plan for the time being:  Week 1 – Week Whenever: Enjoy

I did manage to get those progression miles in yesterday on an 8-miler just because it was bugging me how much I didn’t want to do it since, of all things, progressions are the simplest and most laid back.  It wasn’t fabulous or surprising (got down to Half pace) but it didn’t suck.  I’m cool with that.

GIM Headbands At The Endrance Sports Expo!
My pal Lara and her man Jeff own GoCycling.com with the coolest bike jerseys and accessories around, really neat designs with city skylines or craft breweries on them.
(pssst…”Like” their Facebook page to win a free t-shirt!)

One of my favorites from their collection

Anyway, they’re super cool people and they’ve done a few Expos or events recently where they sell my headbands as a sideline to their own stuff, which is great because I don’t have to be there or make a trillion zillion headbands as I would if I was doing an Expo on my own.  This weekend it’s a huge one, the Endurance Sports Expo at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

So I’m stopping by on Sunday with my new man, Fran (yes, he has a name and it is Fran) for a first “these are my friends” and “this is my new man” introduction (oooh scary).  While we’re there, we’ll go to one of the free seminars offered.

Interestingly enough, Matt Fitzgerald is going to be one of the speakers that day, but I’m going to pass since he’s talking about his Racing Weight book and there’s nothing new I care about on that score.  Instead, I’ll be dragging Fran with me into Torbjørn Sindballe’s seminar Developing Champion Mentality which sounds right up my alley.

Back to headbands, I’ll have a HUGE array of new styles next week, about 15 new patterns and they are so cute! I’ll keep you posted when they’re up on GIMheadbands.

I’m In The Spotlight Today
I was asked by a very sweet blogger, Jodi from runjodirun, if I would be this week’s featured runner on her blog.  She sent a list of questions and asked for a few photos so check it out when you get a moment.

Kinvara Jackpot
I got my shoes yesterday and they fit me to a T!  All this time I’ve been modifying the Women’s version and hating on the colors when I should have followed my friend Heather’s lead months ago with the Men’s version.  I thought there’d be more difference between them but all I can tell is it’s a tad wider and the tongue is a bit longer [insert dirty joke here].   3 pairs at $36 each…Win!

9 Responses to “Crazy Lady Day Has Been Cancelled”

  • Lara:

    Aw, thanks for mentioning us sweetie! Can’t wait to see the cycling headbands but even better meet Fran the man! And for your readers, if you “like” GoCycling on facebook you’ll be entered to win one of our new t-shirts.

  • Happy to hear that you’re feeling better about running for fun, and I’m certain you’ve got more PRs in the future! Sweet deal on the kinvaras. I’d like to order a headband…..

  • Debbie J-R:

    Flo,

    You know I don’t say much or post often, but I love this and you!:

    Jodi: Finish this statement, when I run I feel___________.
    Flo: beautiful

    Thanks for being Flo and continuing to inspire!
    Deb
    PS – I think I’m probably one of those folks who also also “likes” the “life is sucking” eyeballs posts. I think it helps to know that even a super runner like yourself can be more like a pedestrian runner like Deb. You go, girl! Whether you’re out for a “week whenever run – enjoy” or 12 with 8 at mp, you rock! And…can’t wait to hear about the new man, if and when you choose to share that part of your life too. Either way, it’s good.

  • Flo:

    Thanks for the sweetness, gals. Deb, you make me blush. Lara, I edited the post, I hope you get a ton of Likes, the t-shirts are way cool.

  • Running for fun? what blasphemy is this? You’re supposed to grit your teeth and suffer, dammit! Only kidding. May your new program be one long fartlek.

    Greetings to Fran. Jim is my middle name, first is Francis. I made the switch at an early age because I disliked being called Fran (when I was 5).

  • yay running for fun. i bet that you smash prs when you get back. you’ll have that hunger again and the running and racing worlds will have to watch out. in the meantime, you get to laugh at all of us because you get to run when you want, for how long you want and what you want!

  • Jenn:

    Great stuff, Flo! Have a great time this weekend. BTW I also wear the men’s Kinvaras due to my Fred Flintstone feet. ;) I got so excited when I saw your post about the cheapie shoes but by the time I got to the site they were $54 and had only one pair left. I actually could have gotten them as they were in men’s and my size but they were the exact same colorway I have and since I get confused easily I passed; It wouldn’t be surprising for me to walk out the door in one new shoe and one old shoe…

  • Ewen:

    Damn! They were about to declare a public holiday down here for Crazy Lady Day.

    Prioritising enjoyment certainly works for Rinus. He runs many excellent PBs (1:10 for 10 miles most recently) by just ‘running for fun’ — I thought it was because he had a crazy Dutchman’s brain! Anyway, have fun with the running and at the Expo. I know a Fran — she has some state records in the steeplechase ;)

  • Jim L:

    For as cool as cycling jerseys are (and I really like that Yard’s one), I wish they’d make them in running shirt styles.

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