On Saturday I was almost through a four-mile run through my neighborhood when I passed a lovely young woman walking with her (I think) three-year-old son. At least he looked about three. Maybe he was four? Not older than that.

They were clearly out to just walk around the neighborhood to point out things - trees, cars, grass. All of the obvious things that make up the outdoors that, when out of the mouth of a little kid, seem like the most wondrous, awesome things ever in the world. More than just a "tree," if you will.

So I see them headed my way and I skirt around them. As soon as I start to pass them by, I see the boy point at me and as I run on by I hear the mother say, "Yes! That's another runner!"

In truth I am more, as my best friend Shelane likes to call us, a "jolly jogger." I don't do speed drills and in all of the years I've been running, even if these past few months have been the most dedicated I've been to it, I've never cared too much about how fast I ran, as long as I finished.

Just the same, to that kid? I was a runner. And his mother confirmed it for him, which was even nicer. I don't need validation in the form of some stranger's opinion of me, but something like that was sweet and nice and much less cliche than the streets and sanitation worker from a couple of weeks ago who smiled and whistled at me.

Had a good workout this morning - all upper body and Pilates - though I'm still a little sore in my shoulders from the handstands at yoga practice yesterday. The yoga instructor said to practice one move from class this week, and I'm trying to decide which one. I think I'll work on my warrior poses because let me tell you: it wasn't until she adjusted my stance did I realize just wrong I've been doing warrior pose.

People. It's not easy. Did you know that? I did not. ;)

So this week is the 10K. I'm not worried about it, as I said, which is a nice feeling, but I'm doing everything I can to prepare for it so I feel good about it after it's done, as opposed to lukewarm. Unless I do another like-run this fall, I'm not doing another one that's this long until Thanksgiving, which then is only five miles.

In addition to eight hours of sleep a night, no alcohol, lots of water and clean foods (veggies, fruits and lean proteins), I'm going to adhere to the below workout schedule. I don't think I need to do any more running this week and I'd rather be well-rested than anything else. These workouts are all performed in the morning.

Monday - Upper body strength training and Pilates tape
Tuesday - Turbo Jam (Kick, Punch and Jam) and lower body strength training
Wednesday - 60 minutes of yoga
Thursday - 60 minutes of yoga
Friday - Turbo Jam (Kick, Punch and Jam)
Saturday - Yoga at the yoga studio (1 hour, 45 minutes)
Sunday - 10K Race!

So that's it! Wish me luck!

Posted by Erin at 12:13 PM | filed under: Random