Running blahs

What is wrong with me? I fell off the wagon again!

This is how I feel every night I go to bed on days I don't run. 

For some reason, as much as I love the aftermath of running, I find it to be the hardest to be motivated for.

Aftermath of running is the ability to run races. And those are insanely fun especially when people have fun signs. 

Every day, I read tons of blogs written by people who can't get enough of running or is sick and can't run. It all makes me feel pretty guilty about squandering away my ability to run. I mean I'm not fast or anything, but I definitely can mosey along and get a decent run in without problems.

Last post, I was worried about being an idiot and increasing mileage too fast, but that was a moot point  because that's the last that I've ran.

Today, I thought about running, but then I got scared off by the weather. I then thought about running on the treadmill, but I made it 0.5 miles, before I had to step off. Fail!

I NEED to workout, so that I can be as sexy as this bear. 

My coworkers/friends suggested that I workout doing something else because I was burned out. Well, they suggested watching TV on my couch instead of running. I'm actually not sure how I got burned out without really doing any actual running, but they may have a point. I, however, am certain that all my coworkers are tired of hearing about running.

For so long (like a year), my identifier has been "runner." I don't think I want to give that up. I like being a runner. I love being  part of a crazy, fun community. I also love being able to set certain goals (time or distance) and be able to reach that goal.

In a fit of frustration, I actually went to the gym and got some information about hiring a personal trainer. Aren't they supposed to break you out of workout ruts and get you all pumped up? But then the price of sessions made me cry a little inside.

So for now, I'm going to try going to the gym more and get in other forms of workout. I don't know what yet, because I get bored on spin bikes and ellipticals are similar enough to running but easier so that I feel like I'm cheating myself.

I decided to not sign up for any races yet and stop stressing out about running so much. I put so much pressure on myself to keep a certain pace or run a certain distance so that I could race again. I need to take a chill pill and just enjoy being out on the lakes.

What kind of workouts do you guys engage in when you are not running? Also, how do you know what to do for weight training? I never know which machines to use.