Crazy 8's

I sat on the couch, thinking I needed a new goal as I watched TV.  Ben walked into the room.
"I think it's time I start running 8 miles a day," I said.

"I will call it
Crazy 8's.
I will run
8 miles 5 times in 8 days.
Do you think I can do it??"  I asked.
"I am sure you can," he replied.

So it started.  I didn't tell anyone, except Ben obvi, I didn't want to announce I would do it and not be able to finish.  I honestly didn't know if my body could handle it after my super awesome hip and back injuries last year.  Lately I run long distances and my back has a hard time moving for a couple days, I vow to stick to 4-5 miles and a long run every ONCE and a while and the cycle starts again.  I can't stop myself.

2-7-11
The Crazy 8's begin.  Treadmill running.  I chose the same treadmill I ran my 10 miles on a month ago.  Good luck, I hoped.  It started great.  4 miles flew by, eased by new ipod music and awesome people watching!  Easy breezy.  8 miles done, 1st one down.  I feel like a sweaty rockstar while wondering what exactly I have committed to??

2-8-11
Today I choose a treadmill on the other side of the gym.  I do this because I don't want to see the same things I did the day before.  I want this run to feel different.  Luckily there is a guy below me keeping my attention as he did a Crossfit workout.  I counted his reps and silently cheered him on while watching the miles tick away on my treadmill.  Somehow I don't feel tired or sore from the day before.  Hum, I thought I would.  I guess it's my lucky day - 8 miles over - day two complete!

2-9-11
Today I decided to cross train.  I got to the gym and choose the elliptical machine.  I tell myself to just get my heart rate up for 30 minutes.  LONGEST 30 minutes of my life!  I don't know how people do the elliptical machine.  I was so bored. Mad props to everyone who sticks it out on those boring pieces of machinery.  I was ready to jump ship at 15 mins, but held out for thirty and ran out of there as fast as I could.

2-10-11
One day off from running was not enough.  My legs felt like lead.  I wasn't sore.  My muscles were just tired.  I would like to thank Pink, Justin Bieber and B.o.B who told me I had the Magic, I was a Rockstar and to Never Say Never.  They were right and I pulled through.  8 more miles, done and done.

2-12-11
I did not want to run on a Saturday night!  We had such a packed full Saturday that I didn't make it to the gym until 5pm.  We had plans to go out for a Valentines dinner and I was an ornery bear knowing I still had to run and shower before I could eat.  Ben encouraged me to do the run, he knew if I didn't ornery Amber would stick around all night and trust me, that is no fun for anyone.  I got on the treadmill and rocked out 8 miles as fast as I could. I had 2 ipods and fruit snacks for energy {I really was so hungry}. I finished 10 minutes faster than I had thus far.  I felt awesome, strong, capable of doing whatever I put my mind to.  I came home happy as could be and we started our Valentines celebration - filled with piles of food - with all this running I was hungry just about every hour!

12-14-11
Happy Valentines Day!  Final run of Crazy 8's.  I went to the gym early to finish my goal.  Everything went crazy on this run.  My ipod hit the belt and flew across the room, my tissues fell on the belt and almost hit someone. I was sweating like a mad woman.  Seriously, I was scared I was watering the girl next to me with my out of control sweat flying around.  I wore the wrong shoes.  I decided since it was the last day of my goal I should break out the awesome purple-less-supportive shoe.  I wasn't ready for that and my feet and ankles hurt. We'll keep easing into those with short distances.  See... everything was crazy, especially me when I was done!

The moral of the story:
I did it! It's such a silly goal, but I was super excited to finish and even a day early! Plus, taking sweaty pictures of your bright red face in the gym is cool, that's what I tell myself.

My body made it!  My back has been tight with some pain late at night, but I have an awesome hubs who rubs it for me.  I don't think my back will ever be the same actually, but as long as I can bend over to tie my shoes and roll over to get myself out of bed life is good. I won't take those for granted again!

Ben is so super supportive.  He listens to me go on and on about my runs every day and responds back to my cell phone pictures of the treadmill showing 8 miles by telling me how awesome I am.  He was so excited that I made it through.  I love him. {How does everything turn into a cheesy Amber loves Ben story? I don't know. Just go with it.}

Longer miles rock.  Short miles are awesome too, but the long miles in a short period really made me feel accomplished, like I had to work for something.  I like it.  I think I will keep it up.  Crazy 10's anyone?