“Treat yourself like a fat person with aches and pains and a suitcase full of excuses, and good luck--you'll stay exactly where you are. Train like an athlete and, though you may not look like one now, you will become one.” ― Chalene Johnson

God I love tumblr!
Yes, I've used this picture before, but I love it

That photo about sums today up. On Fridays I usually workout hard, but today reached a whole new level of pain. 

10K training is what one would call "easy" right now. Easy in terms of distance. Today was only 2 miles. I laugh at myself sometimes because I'm ashamed of only going 2 miles. Six months ago I couldn't even go 2 minutes without dying. Today I ran a 12:45 minute mile. It's plenty challenging but I didn't pull my knee like I did pushing it too fast too soon on Wednesday. I will be running a 12 min mile by November. 

From healthandfitness1st on Tumblr.com
Oh I ached today!

Any who, after the run I did Insanity. I screwed up and was supposed to do Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs on Wednesday, but I did Cardio Power and Resistence instead. So today was a Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs day. On top of the running (and I use the random setting on the treadmill to get in hills) with Insanity I burned 950 calories today. I had to do a double take at my HRM (heart rate monitor). Tomorrow is Plyometric Cardio Circuit day. I HATE that workout, but at least I get to rest on Sunday. Also, I'm hoping to get to the lake tomorrow to run my "EZ run" on my schedule. It is supposed to rain, but should be done by 11 am. 

Rain, rain, stay away!

So what else is there? Nothing much right now. Now that Doctor Who is done until November (::cries::), Saturday nights are no longer exciting. There's still Game of Thrones on Sunday night, so that's something to bugger on for! 

Oh, I did manage to get to the dentist this week, and I probably set the record for most cavities found in a single visit. Thankfully there are no root canals that need to be done (yay for healthy roots!), but it's my fault for avoiding the dentist for (almost) 3 years. So next Wednesday I get the first half of my mouth filled. I'm super nervous since it has been awhile since I had work done on my mouth, and I read horror stories about racing heart beats due to the epinephrine they put in the numbing shots now. Yeah, I can deal with the pain, but it's the possible side effects that terrify me. The second round will be in June after my race. So I'm happy that I'll have some time to heal, but angry that I'll probably have to skip a workout putting me off my game. I can see myself, mouth still numb with drool rolling down to chin, trying to push myself through a workout. It all depends how I feel. I'll probably be exhausted from the anxiety of the whole situation. That day will be a day for milkshakes, smoothies, and soup. Mmmm.

Until that day, I gotta keep training hard! This body isn't going to build itself. 

The foundation is getting there...
From healthandfitness1st on Tumblr.com

1800 Minute May Challenge: 970

(Almost at 1000! Goal now is to break that by the end of the month!)

"We all live with the scars we choose. They might hurt like hell but they all make us stronger..."- Take Me As I Am, Sugarland

I FEEL GREAT TODAY!

Yes, it was necessary to yell. I haven't felt so good, so healthy, so calm and happy in a long while. Best of all, my anxiety is on the downward swing and I've found better ways to reign it in when it is getting too much.

And today I ran 20 minutes without stopping for the first time in a month! I actually enjoyed my time on the treadmill today. *gasp*

Afterwards I celebrated with level 3 day 2 of Ripped in 30! Level 3 is no joke. I started the first day of it on Saturday and during the cool down cried because I was so happy I survived and finished the 30 minutes. Next to Insanity, it is the hardest routine I've ever encountered. The level really targets your thighs, butt, and triceps the most. On Sunday I had some serious delayed-onset muscle soreness like I had when I started working out 4 months ago. Ouch ouch ouch!

But oh it works!

Today we hit 80 degrees! And I discovered I can wear all of my shorts! Well, I shouldn't really wear 2 pairs because they are too loose! I'm beyond amazed at the progress I've made with my body. Now I'm still in the 180s but I am rocking my shorts and showing off the progress I've made. This whole experience has made me appreciate my body much more than I used to. I used to complain at 155 lbs that I was fat. Now I'd love to go back and smack my 20-year-old self upside the head. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

For once, I'm semi-looking forward to the race in 3 weeks! I got to visit with my parents this weekend, and my dad seems really excited and proud that I keep going no matter what. I almost quit, but now I've worked out that my body is the happiest around a 14 minute mile and I can maintain good running form. Speed will come eventually, but right now distance and endurance are the most important. I still have the improbable dream of running that 9 miler in November! Fingers crossed!

So this weekend's television was great! I really enjoyed the new episode of Doctor Who. My parents were over and watched it with us and liked it as well. I think I'm going to convert my mom to the whovian life, ha ha! Game of Thrones was great and left me thinking about what's going to happen next, especially with Arya!

Well, I'm off to start tonight's dinner, steak sandwiches! Nomz!

“Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”
― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Keep buggering on!

Side stitches SUCK

I only got in 8 minutes of jogging and the side stitches were so bad they even hurt when I walked. I only got 30 minutes in (mostly walking), but hey, that's better than nothing, right?

I really hate the treadmill. Really. Truly. Hate. It. 

source: happyorhungry.com
^ Great blog!^

It's boring and leaves me with my thoughts, which are horrible negative and self-defeating. Doesn't help when marathon girl is next to you rocking it out. She doesn't seem like a nice person, and, for the few times I've seen her now, she looks like she wears a permanent scowl. Maybe I just need to wave at her or smile or something? Spread the love! Life's too short to be upset/mean. 

I need to stop being so damn mean to myself.  

Working on it.

The best time of the day is Ripped in 30 time! I just finished level 2 today and I am feeling so strong and awesome. No matter how crappy my run/jog/walk went, I always know Jillian will kick the crap out of me. Masochist? Maybe. I love the feeling of my muscles giving out, resting for five seconds, then getting right back at it until they give out again. Ah, what a difference 4 months makes! I'm just hoping to keep it going for, um, ever. Hopefully. I'm finally starting to feel my age again and not 20 years older. 

Things are improving. 

Last night I had an awesome time at D&D (Dungeons & Dragons)! I love being a warforged barbarian and smashing things. Joe talked me into take the shiny, purple, magical warhammer before we sold it and, I must say, I love it. I tried it out in the next battle and made orc pancakes! Although I'm still quite slow with the mental math so it takes me a few seconds to add everything up before I annihilate orcs or whatever is attacking us. Something is always attacking us. At least it's fun!

Tomorrow is Doctor Who! Ah I love Saturdays in spring and fall, always something good to watch! And Sunday is more Game of Thrones, yes!

For now I shall go scrub toilets since the parents are coming to visit this weekend....

Mileage: 1.75

Ripped in 30 Progress: Level 2- Complete!

“The best way out is always through.” ― Robert Frost

So I keep on keepin' on.

Today I wanted to see how long it would take me to do 3.1 miles on a walk/jog pace. It took me 48 minutes to reach 3.1 and the total distance I went was 3.18 in 50 minutes. I had a panic attack during the last 5 minutes but I had to keep it together since the gym was not deserted today (boo). Marathon man was there and a new girl I haven't seen before was there. I'll call her marathon girl. Marathon girl was most likely wearing perfume because I could smell it 2 treadmills over. Wearing perfume to the gym is something that makes no sense to me. You can't possibly smell that terrible that you need to be all perfumed up to workout. At first I was annoyed by her fit presence striding along faster than I could ever hope to run. Then I started striding along with her (my strides being MUCH smaller and slower) and it was nice. I was mentally beating myself up the entire time (which is why I prefer a deserted gym, but I seriously need to get over it already), but I need to accept the fact that I am responsible for gaining 50 pounds and getting into the worst shape of my life. Now I need to dig myself out of that hole. And since I had a good 40 pounds on that chick (her legs were the size of my biceps...yeah...) I figure I'm doing good jogging along between a 12-14 minute pace.

I am broken up with running in my mind, but I get on the treadmill and I just won't stop trying. I still jog for 5 minutes at a time with various walk breaks. I think it's just so ingrained, I don't want to stop. I'm terrified about the race at the end of the month, but I'm hoping I come in around 45-48 minutes. If I do better, well then that will be a great surprise. If I do worse, well, I wasn't expecting much anyway. Last year the last person to cross the finish line in that race came in with an 18 minute mile so I'm hopeful I won't be the only slow one. Yay!

Yesterday I made Halupki (Pigs in Blanket) Soup for dinner and it was AMAZING. It tastes exactly like a shredded up halupki (piggies, pigs in a blanket, etc.) in broth. Nomz! I grew up in a Slovak-Irish family so anything with cabbage is comfort food to me. So here's the recipe if you're a lover of halupki like me!

Halupki Soup (Pigs in Blanket Soup)

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onions
1 clove garlic finely chopped
2 cans (14.5 oz) of beef broth
1 package (1 lb.) of shredded cole slaw (in the bagged salad area)
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2-3/4 cup uncooked rice (I used 3/4 c. because I like more rice in my halupki)

Directions:
Spray pot with Pam (or use a tablespoon or two of olive oil).

Brown meat, add onions and stir for about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and heat until fragrant (about 30 sec). Add broth, cole slaw, tomatoes, salt, and lemon juice. Bring mixture to a boil.

After bringing the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, add rice, and simmer for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

And I shall leave you with this:

Happy Fish Fingers and Custard Day!
AND
3 years of being a Whovian!

"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."- James Russell Lowell

I am so angry.

Yep.
I love this baby! lol 

So I finally got back into running and had to start back at Week 4 of my running plan. Well, today I started week 5 and I SUCK. I could only run 3 of the last 5 minute burst due to getting dizzy, anxiety issues, etc. I don't know if anyone else notices this when training on a treadmill, but I can feel everything in my body jiggling and it makes my head buzz near 20-25 minutes and makes me dizzy. I hate hate hate it!

And before you say go to the doctor, I did. I'm getting my blood work done Friday so hopefully all is well. Everything, even my evil foot/leg checked out and there are no major issues except for my anxiety/panic disorder that has come back with a VENGEANCE.

If you've ever experienced any mental/chemical imbalances in the ol' noggin, you know how frustrating it is and how defeated I feel. I can reason to myself why I shouldn't freak out all I want, yet I still feel dizzy, my blood pressure shoots up and I feel like I'm going to pass out. It's awful and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It happens a good bit in public but can happen for no reason even when I'm just relaxing or the new one is when I'm RUNNING. Who has a panic attack when they RUN? Me, that's who. I know it confuses the heck out of me too. Ugh ugh ugh.

Anxiety/panic disorders really do ruin your quality of life. All you norms can roll your eyes all you want and say I'm just a baby that need to get her sh*t together (I know, I've heard it all before), but when my head feels like a jar of angry bees buzzing around I know it's not just me being "weak." I deal with that feeling to various degrees EVERY DAY. It drives me insane and I just want it to stop. I got off the treadmill today and just broke down crying (thankfully our gym is deserted in the afternoon). I've trained for so damn long to have all my progress taken away and a huge mental block inserted is so defeating.

So what's the game plan?

Well I'm thinking about decreasing the run/walk to only 20-25 minutes. I'm trying desperately to get in contact with one of the therapists my doctor gave me. The one can't take me until the middle of May and I'm seeing if anyone else can do any better. Basically, whoever can fit me in before then wins my business as a patient. Fun fun. So that or a mental breakdown whichever comes first.

Now for a little ray of sunshine or two!

On the upside, I'm on Week 2 of Ripped in 30. I'm back in love with Jillian Michaels again. We broke up in February when I finished 30 Day Shred and I decided to dedicate my time to running. After hurting my foot, I found Jillian back in my life again by starting Ripped in 30. I tried the diet plan and that was working for me breakfast and lunch but not dinner. So now I'm following the plan but making my own dinners. There just weren't enough calories in the dinner choices, and I would wake up in the middle of the night (again) hungry and searching for my late night bowl of cheerios after an i-didn't-eat-enough-calories day. I eat an insane amount of calories for a lady and still lose weight. I love it. I see everyone else starving while I'm stuffing my face and still losing weight. Now I'm not taking off more than a pound a week, but it's sustainable and I still get to eat foods I love. And I get to eat out. I'm a lucky lady.

RI30 Week 2 ladies!
We sweat together and experience muscle exhaustion together.
LOVE!

Speaking of food, my hubby and I found a great Korean BBQ place that we're going to check out this weekend. In the same plaza there is a place to get dumplings. Oh man I LOVE dumplings. So for Easter weekend we're going to be eating a lot of Korean food. I'm really Asian on the inside. Believe me if my husband found a job Japan we'd be gone tomorrow much to our parents' chagrin. I think I'm going to sit him down after work and plan where our next overseas excursion should be. I'm thinking Japan. That's going to take a lot of saving, it will be a horribly long plan ride, but I think it will be worth it.

THIS IS THE BIG WEEKEND FOLKS! DOCTOR WHO AND GAME OF THRONES ARE BACK!
I cannot wait. Why is it Wednesday? It should be Saturday like, um, NOW! I'm only VERY excited!

So with the bad and frustrating comes the good and exciting.

I needed this today. 

Ah life.

“I DON'T CARE!" Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I'VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" "You do care," said Dumbledore. He had not flinched or made a single move to stop Harry demolishing his office. His expression was calm, almost detached. "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

"You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.” 

So I have yet another injury. It is probably minor and gone within a few days, but it is so frustrating! I ran around the neighborhood yesterday morning. I had a great time, so much so I wasn't sure if I went around the .6 mile loop  3 or 4 times. The last time around I felt some pain in my arch and didn't think much of it. I went out grocery shopping and running errands, did some cleaning, and started some laundry (my life is so amazingly interesting, right?). Then as I was making dinner it felt like the arch of my foot wanted to crack and was sore. After dinner, my entire foot (top, bottom, ankle, part of my calf) had a throbbing, radiating pain shooting through it. I iced it and still the pain persisted. It was only after an Aleve that the pain was a little less intense and I slept with my foot propped up. 

I'm too young for this. 

I cannot describe in words how defeated I felt last night. It's always something. Yes, I'm on the hunt for a doctor so I can get answers to why this one leg is the bain of my exercise existence. Even when I was 30 pounds lighter I still had foot pain, but of course the extra weight makes everything worse. Ah if only I could lose 30 pounds in one night...

Um, maybe not...

I love quotes. I love books. When I ran across this Harry Potter quote it was perfect. I just want to give up right now. I want to just say, "SCREW IT ALL!! IT ISN'T WORTH IT! I DON'T CARE!" But the truth is I care so much. If I didn't care about getting healthy and becoming a distance runner I wouldn't get so emotional and angry. I would shrug my shoulders and say, well at least I tried! And that race is nipping at my painful heels. 

Nothing in life worth having comes easy, right?

So today I'm hobbling about the house doing little things here and there. I'm giving it one really good day of rest and then maybe I'll try doing a light walk on it tomorrow. I'm hoping there is that stretchy bandage stuff around here somewhere to wrap my arch and ankle for some extra support. 

I'm thinking I'll sign up for that community chorus today. I've been back and forth with participating or not. My husband knocked some sense and tough love into me a few nights ag0 (figuratively not literally!).
After getting married so fast, failing at 4 different jobs in the span of 2 years, and having lots of anxiety issues, I've become a recluse. I very rarely go out with other people and usually my husband is there too. I have very little self confidence left (not like I had much before) and generally avoid people. 

Well, I've taken some steps to fix all that and so far so good. Joining this chorus would get me out of my shell and I LOVE singing. I took voice lessons last year for about 3 months and improved rather quickly. I have a lot more confidence singing, but I'm still scared as heck to do it in front of others. I'm at a point where I miss singing so much that I don't care if other people hear me or not. Thankfully a chorus is about blending and harmonizing and I enjoyed it in high school so why not give it a try?

My favorite song to sing is...

Name that song and musical! 

I love it. I love singing Maureen's part but can also relate to Joanne's part as well. Maureen's attitude is a side of myself I buried when I said I do. I was a risk taker and I'd like to think flirty when I wanted to be. I've never been a party girl in any sense of the word and will never be, but I do like the limelight here and there. I never had this song as an assignment for voice lessons, but I have been working on it constantly. 

Singing is a good stress reliever. Almost as good as exercise...almost.  

New Doctor Who in 19 DAYS! 
New Game of Thrones in 20 DAYS!

My favorite Game of Thrones character? It's a tie between Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen. 
My husband and I both LOVE Arya and agree that if we have a child and it is a girl she will be named Arya.  I love Daenerys because life really screwed her over and she took control of it and is growing to be a very strong woman. The same could be said about Arya as well. And everyone in the book.  It is addicting and I'm working on the books now. Love it!

Winter is coming...

tumblr.com
I cried like a baby during this scene. One of those "Omg I didn't realize this show affected me like this" moments.

Mileage from 3/11: 1.8 running, .6 walking

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." -William Faulkner

Today was the second time I ran outside. This time around it was 49 degrees instead of 32 and it was sunny, a light breeze and blue skies.

It is a beautiful Saturday in the neighborhood.

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...oh would you be mine..."
I miss this kind of television. 

I think I can safely say I'm done running on the treadmill. I need to learn how to lengthen my stride since I have this tiny little sad shuffle run. Our complex was built on a hill with varying degrees of incline and there are some flat areas, but I have a good feeling I'm going to build serious leg muscles.

I just need to learn how to move my legs.

Sigh. I know, I know...

Running seems like something that should be natural and it's not unless you've spent your entire life doing it. First was overcoming the breathing issues and now I need to overcome the shuffle run. It's frustrating to be able to run 2.5 miles on the treadmill and then transition to outside and run 1.5-2 miles and be exhausted. I just keep telling myself that this is a different animal. There is no belt pushing me forward. I have to rely on myself to keep going. Training is going to get tough over the next month, but I need it to be in order to change and improve.

Positive attitude...positive attitude...

Yoga is my love. I only do quick 10 minute video before and after I run or do weight training, but it just makes my muscles feel so much better. I think I'm one of those people who NEED to stretch or else. I'm going to look for longer routines to do.

Tonight I'm going to try out the one frozen yogurt place in town, Yogi Castle. I'm hoping they have as many yummy flavors as they do on the website. I could go for the green tea flavor with some mochi topping. Nomz!

Looking forward to this...

So here's to the end of "Murphy's Law" week and hopefully next week will be much better!

Mileage: 1.8 running, .6 walking (2.4 total)

“If you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? ---- Carpe -- hear it? – Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” ― N.H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society

Man, I have to watch Dead Poet's Society again!
Such a good story.

Oh Captain, my Captain!

Well, today was semi-stressful. The husband and I went to the DMV to get all the new documents we need for living in our lovely new state. In total it took 3 hours and considering the average wait time is 4 hours, I'd say we got lucky! The worst part was waiting to get our licences, which took about 2.5 hours of the 3 hours we were there. Then they transferred us over to get the rest of the paperwork done and it only took 30 minutes between the two of us from there on. Overall, not a bad experience and it went rather smooth.

And our new licence plates are cute. ^_^

After spending our morning at the DMV and being terribly hungry we tried one of the 10 food trucks that line our road. My husband got a beef burrito and I got pork and cheese pupusas. It was AMAZING! My husband's burrito was the size of what you would get at Chipolte or Qudoba but mostly made of huge chunks of steak. Good, slow cooked steak. I've never had a pupusa before and I am now a huge fan. The pupusas (3 for $5) came with some pickled onions, carrots, and jalapenos and some curtido (cabbage salad). The flavors just blended together so well and was just delicious! For a total of $12 we had a great tasting, filling lunch. Nom nom nom.

I forgot to take a picture but this is what they look like!
Courtesy of  nahrendt.wordpress.com

I love my new neighborhood.

So I didn't get to my run until 3pm. The gym was all but deserted except for myself and a guy I call "marathon runner" because he's pretty tall, has lots of lean muscles but not ripped and he hauls arse on the elliptical! So myself and marathon runner got our sweat on. Today I pushed myself just a few minutes longer and now I am back on track! I'm officially on Week 8 of C25K. Week 9 is the end so I'm almost done. Then I have a 10K training plan in tow and some hill work to start. The run today was really really hard. I wanted nothing more than to throw in the towel at minute 15 but I kept pushing. Today I really needed my ipod and was glad the music was there to get me through the run. My leg was bothering me most of the time, every muscle fought against me, and I swear I could feel every extra pound that is on my body as I plodded on. Some days, like Tuesday, I feel powerful and light as a feather. Other days, like today, I'm happy just to get it over with. I know my sluggishness today was caused by the pupusas, but there are going to be days when I can't eat exactly how I want before a run and I need to learn how to run through feeling like a lard.

I want this shirt!
Courtesy of urbanfitstudio.blogspot.com

Fun times.

This weekend I'm going to visit my family-in-law. They always have such delicious foods around, but I swear I'll try and be good! I am taking my running gear. I planned to start running outside this Saturday and I want to stick to the plan. My husband's neighborhood is rather nice and should offer an array of small hills and flat roads to give me an idea of how prepared I'll be for the race in April. From here on out I really need to stick to outside running. I'm still trying to find a good area around my neighborhood to run that I won't get hit my a car. It is nice to live on a main road, but it is a VERY busy main road with busy connecting roads.

We shall see what happens!

Oh before I forget... good news! My Polar HRM came in today! So now I can run anywhere, anytime and know my pace! Can't wait to try it out on Saturday!

Awesome sauce!

Well February was a good month. Farewell February and bring on some warm March weather!

connect.everythingzoomer.com

Minus the wind...

Mileage: 3.06

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -Theodore Roosevelt

Today is not a good day.

I woke up about 5 am with a super sore throat and felt achy. I slept like a log until 9 am and got up to start my day with my usual awesome Irish oatmeal with flaxseed, blueberries and brown sugar. Seriously, it is the tastiest breakfast ever.

^Eat blueberries. They love you!^

I fed myself a Zicam and decided that I was feeling decent enough to go for my run. The first 15 wasn't too bad. I hit minute 20 and thought I was going to die. My body was screaming for me to stop. I was so tired and I kept feeling a tickle in my throat. But being the stubborn girl I am, I decided to keep pushing. Minute 25 I had to take out the incline and reduce my speed and this seemed to do the trick until I hit 30 minutes and the 5 minute cool down.

I don't understand how I did the same thing on Monday and it felt like nothing. Off day and/or I really am coming down with something. Of course I panicked myself into a mini panic attack, but after the walk back to my apartment and a protein shake I was back to normal.

Ugh frustration!

In other news, I'm hoping to keep this sickness that wants to infest my body at bay since we're going to Medieval Times dinner and show on Friday!! Super excited! I know it isn't going to be hard core jousting like in the (very) old days, but one can hope that a rider will be flung off his horse. I like violent sports. I found that one out in high school when I dated a hockey player (not professional, but he dabbled in a small league). Gosh do I love to see buff guys on ice skates take each other out! And it's sexier when there is blood on the ice. I think I was the wife of a Spartan in my previous life. That would explain a lot...

^ There's something about a man in uniform....^

Is it March 30th yet? Seriously I want some new Doctor Who in my life! I saw a post on Pinterest the other day that a "true Whovian" loves the Doctor and not an actor. I would have to agree. While David Tennant makes my heart go pitter patter and his Doctor was amazing, I love the Doctor no matter who is playing him. I started watching Doctor Who when Matt Smith was new to the role. The story line of the Doctor and Amy Pond just matched perfectly what was going on in my own life. It reached the eleven-year-old girl inside of me and was an hour of my day that I didn't have to worry about work, relationships, money issues, and could just escape on an adventure. I did enjoy Eccleston's Doctor, although I think I would have liked another season to really get hooked on him. And then Tennant's Doctor came into my life. But Matt Smith's Doctor is my first and I'll never forget that story. While I'm looking forward to see if he will regenerate or not by the end of the year, I will probably cry and miss him as much as the other Doctors. But there will be someone new and interesting and the story will (hopefully) keep going and going and going.

 No, no, don't you allons-y on me! Such a good regeneration.

Please let it never end!

My hubby was very excited yesterday since Lego Harry Potter came in the mail. I was skeptical at first, but it is really a fun and relaxing kid game! Also, Harry Potter was one of my first addictions at the age of 10. Then came Harvest Moon, Pokemon, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Inuyasha, insert many more anime titles here, and then eventually Doctor Who. I have an addictive personality. I'm learning to manage it in all ways from food to television and gaming. Moderation!

Happy Hump Day!

Mileage: 2.6

Whovian. Girl. Runner? Maybe.

Welcome to my blog...or another attempt at blogging!

So what's up here?

This blog will be a way to talk about running and Doctor Who. Doctor Who is my favorite television series and running is, well to be honest, a love-hate relationship. I'm looking to turn running into the third love of my life (behind my husband and Doctor Who. Oh yeah, my cat is in there somewhere too).

Why running?

Well, running has been a giant part of my life regardless if I was the one doing the running. My father is my hero and has run more marathons than (then? grammar nazis help me out here!) I can count on 2 hands. And that doesn't even count the 5K's, 10K's, 15K's and everything in between! Now that he is slowing down with running, I feel like it is my job to continue the tradition. It's not like it is a bad tradition to continue and the health benefits are great (minus the overuse injuries that can pop up). So what's the problem?

I gained 50 pounds.

Yeah, that's a big stress on my body for sure! I got serious about my weight on November 3, 2012 and started eating healthy. I waited until I was well under 200 lbs. before starting couch to 5K training on December 29, 2012. I lost the first 10 pounds making good choices and doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Before you scoff at me for doing an exercise DVD go to YouTube and try it. Isn't easy is it? Exercise DVDs have come a long way since our mothers' Sweatin' to the Oldies VHS. Insanity and P90X are prime examples. Currently I'm at 190 and praying to see the 180's soon.

Baby steps.

Today I completed week 5, day 1 of C25K training and it felt great. I'm now running a half mile with no major problems whatsoever. Small victory! I also bought new running shoes since my Asics were giving me rather bad forefoot pain. Now I'm sporting Brooks Ghost 5 and they are WONDERFUL for people like me who have high arches and need that extra cushion. Just look at that sexy shoe!

So when's the first race you ask?

Well, initially I signed up to do the Color Me Rad 5K in June. I'm super excited to do this race since, not only do I get to be a giant tie-dyed human at the end of the race, I also get to see a friend I haven't seen in at least two years. And she has a team that I am a part of. I'm really pumped for this race since I will be with a group of people instead of lone wolfing it.

So then I got to thinking, well, I want to be sure I can run a 5K beforehand on my own just to be certain. That thought led to me signing up for the Iron Girl 5K in April. I'm beyond nervous since I've only ever run a 2 mile footrace, got caught up in the race day excitement and ran a 10 minute mile I wasn't ready for. The result was dry heaving at the finish line feeling like death. I'm hoping I don't repeat that in April.

I'm feeling better about this race because of 3 things:
1.) I'm way farther into my training and I still have over 2 months left.
2.) I'm planning to do hill training starting in March.
3.) I'm planning on doing street running on weekends starting in March.

Now I'm a wuss and love the treadmill and indoors. I didn't gain 50 lbs. by loving activity and the outdoors! I love the indoors but most races are OUTSIDE in the elements (please do not rain..please...) so in order to be a "real" runner I'm going to need to develop a thick skin. Literally.

If thousands of people can run outside, so can I! It's just going to take a while to get accustomed to it.

So why is my blog called "Basically...RUN!"? Well here's a quick clip that explains it if you aren't into Doctor Who:

New Doctor Who...MARCH 30th BBC America!

Today's mileage: 2.25 mi.