I've been mulling it over.
And over.
And over.
I don't think the full marathon thing is going to happen for me this year. I was off to a semi good start. Then a small sickness, no big. Second good week. Then the shooting at my work. And since then, I've run once for 3 miles. A week ago.
Did I mention I'm running a half marathon in 12 weeks?
Yeah.
Well the half is going to get done even if I have to crawl across the finish. Hmm sounds like last year when I said the same thing about my first 5k. So I guess I'm still better off than last year.
I have a 10k in 2 weeks on Saturday. Yikes!
Time to really kick it back into gear.
I'm emotionally better since the whole incident on that Saturday. No, I wasn't at work (thank goodness!), but I was on my way and I have gotten to know many people in my store and surrounding stores well so I was worried and so sick the whole day. When we went back to work I was uneasy. Monday through Thursday was depressing to be at work. I just felt like I wanted to cry all day. Very little traffic so we didn't have anything else to think about. I can see the store from our store. People came and paid their respects. I got up the nerve on Tuesday afternoon to do the same. The candlelight vigil is what really helped. A lot of stores, including mine, closed down to attend for 30 minutes. There was something very healing about that cold as heck 30 minutes that helped me. I don't know if I froze the grief out of me, but I haven't been depressed on my way to or at work. What happened was awful and something I hope to never experience first hand. I do not ever want a phone call like the one I got last week ever again.
On the bright side, my friend welcomed her first son into the world! I got to hold him and he melted my heart. I didn't think I'd want children. I thought I'd be one of those happy older people in Cancun without kids living the high life. Yes, more champagne darling!
Maybe it was the awful tragedy at work, or maybe the woman baby hormones finally kicked in but I...I think I want a child. ONE child. I don't think I can put myself through so much physical pain more than once in my life. Mind you, I'm not gunning for one right away. After I got a glimpse at all the work pregnancy is (thank you friends and the internet), I figure it'd be a great idea to get at least 15-20 pounds off. Sure I have 30 to go, but sweets are SO GOOD DAMMIT! And the husband needs to get used to the idea and warm to it since we were all in the "no babies for life" party. But the way he babies our cat and talks with little kids, I'm sure he'll be just fine.
At work I'm officially in charge of the floorsets. Had my first on Tuesday night. I was rough and thankfully I had a ton of help. Between the physical prep and execution of floorsets and marathon training, I was burning the candle at both ends. Some people can work physical(ish) jobs and run marathons. Good for them. This pretzel loving, chocolate chomping, ice cream slurping girl just cannot handle it. Not yet. A half is a good challenge for this year. And perhaps I'll do a second half in the fall like I was planning. I like to jump the gun with things. My friends and family know this fact all too well.
But who knows, maybe I will do it.
For now, it is my stretch goal.
There are so many more things I want to accomplish before becoming a...*gulp*... mommy. Marathon isn't necessarily one of them. I'd love to train for one a year after my future baby arrives. Oh you bet your bottom dollar I'll be out rollin with my jogging stroller. Short mileages of course. Babysitting 12-24 month olds have taught me that they get real heavy, real fast. It'll be more motivation to have my son/daughter cheering me on at the finish line. Aw man, I'm getting soft and sappy already. SMH.
I am in the process of making a list.
Next blog post....The INFAMOUS THINGS TO DO BEFORE BABY LIST!
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Monday, February 3, 2014
Monday, September 2, 2013
Knights of Columbus Running Classic 10K Recap
On Saturday morning I had a huge NSV...
I completed my first 10K!
When I signed up for the race it described the course as "challenging" with rolling hills. I didn't think much of it. I can handle it, right? The description didn't lie. The course was the hardest I've ever run yet.
I arose at 5:50 am on Saturday morning shaking my head and realized I must be a runner. Who else gets up before the sun to go run 6.2 miles on a holiday weekend for fun? Me.
I went about my normal routine getting ready and stretching. I dragged my dear husband out of bed and we set off. The weather was about 72 degrees and 80% humidity when we arrived. I felt gross but I was too excited and nervous to care much. The race was hosted on the grounds of a monastery and it was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed stretching and watching the sun rise over the hills that I was about to take on. I wish I took pictures!
Before I knew it I kissed my husband goodbye, and went to line up with the other runners. One of the monks read us a prayer before we set out, which, to this day, is my favorite prayer that follows me throughout my life:
"May the Lord bless you, and keep you;
May the Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
The gun sounded and we were off! There were about 350 people overall with the 10K and 5K starting at the same time. We ran down to the beginning of the monastery grounds and bid the 5K runners luck as they turned left and the 10K runners turned right. At first the course was rather flat with some small hills. There were jugglers running the 10K with us! I talked to the one juggler for the first 3 miles and then he fell back.
The worst of the hills really set in from mile 3 through the end. I had to take a few short walk breaks since my legs were burning. At mile 4 I was beginning to question if I could do this. The sun was up and HOT. I kept repeating to myself that I'd be at the water station in 10 minutes (even though in reality I knew it would be more like 12).
The volunteers at the last water station gave me 2 cups of water and I accepted them graciously. I soothed my parched throat and carried on. When I wanted to quit on the second to last hill, a beautiful yellow butterfly flew in front of me. I decided to run with the butterfly until it left me. I entered the grounds walking and ready to be done. I grudgingly started to run again since my pride wouldn't let me finish the race walking.
Joe was at the middle of the last hill cheering me on along with some other runners who finished earlier. I thanked them and kept trudging forward. As I was nearing the finish line, the one volunteer told me if I could to bust out some dance moves across the finish. I just laughed at him.
I came in to "Party Rock Anthem" with a big smile on my face. A volunteer handed me a race magazine with future area races, and I made a bee line for the ice chest with bottled water. I chugged half of it and dumped the other half over my head because I felt like I was on fire! I found the watermelon and was eating two slices simultaneously when the hubby appeared with a cherry sno-cone. Seriously, he's the best. I wanted to hug him, but he wouldn't have any of that. I was so sweaty.
They were doing random giveaways and I won a $15 gift card for Road ID! After I received my prize, we lined up for BBQ. I really wasn't feel great, but I grabbed a piece of chicken and a small scoop of pasta salad. Then I went back for a second and third slice of watermelon as well as another sno-cone. I was shaking so bad, I flung some chicken in the grass for the birds to enjoy. The super humidity really did a number on me. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
I learned a lot about myself in this race. I'm not a quitter. I'm pretty darn strong. Even though I'm a slow runner, I still had just as much fun as the winners. I met some really cool people. I came in with a respectable time of 1:16:26 with an average pace of 12:20. One minute faster than my practice runs. And I'm happy with that.
The past two days have been very painful. I had never run that steep of hills and that many for that long. My ankles to my calves feel like a knife is being dragged through them every time I walk. Sunday I waddled around like a penguin. Today I managed to do some cross training on the recumbent bike, some squats, lunges, push ups, yoga stuff, and planks. Then I treated myself to a bubble bath and a pedicure. I can walk normally again, but it is mildly painful.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and get out for a run in the morning. I have to restart my half marathon training. Also, I mail my entry form for the Run for the Diamonds tomorrow!! I can't believe I'm actually doing it! Nine miles seems scary now just as 6.2 did a few months ago, but I really think I can do it. Just another 5K on top of a 10K, right? The race is my stretch goal for 2013. Now it's time to buckle down and lose some weight so I can get a little faster and train hard so I can go a little farther!
Anyone race this weekend? What did you do this Labor Day weekend?
I completed my first 10K!
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I arose at 5:50 am on Saturday morning shaking my head and realized I must be a runner. Who else gets up before the sun to go run 6.2 miles on a holiday weekend for fun? Me.
I went about my normal routine getting ready and stretching. I dragged my dear husband out of bed and we set off. The weather was about 72 degrees and 80% humidity when we arrived. I felt gross but I was too excited and nervous to care much. The race was hosted on the grounds of a monastery and it was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed stretching and watching the sun rise over the hills that I was about to take on. I wish I took pictures!
Before I knew it I kissed my husband goodbye, and went to line up with the other runners. One of the monks read us a prayer before we set out, which, to this day, is my favorite prayer that follows me throughout my life:
"May the Lord bless you, and keep you;
May the Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
The gun sounded and we were off! There were about 350 people overall with the 10K and 5K starting at the same time. We ran down to the beginning of the monastery grounds and bid the 5K runners luck as they turned left and the 10K runners turned right. At first the course was rather flat with some small hills. There were jugglers running the 10K with us! I talked to the one juggler for the first 3 miles and then he fell back.
The worst of the hills really set in from mile 3 through the end. I had to take a few short walk breaks since my legs were burning. At mile 4 I was beginning to question if I could do this. The sun was up and HOT. I kept repeating to myself that I'd be at the water station in 10 minutes (even though in reality I knew it would be more like 12).
The volunteers at the last water station gave me 2 cups of water and I accepted them graciously. I soothed my parched throat and carried on. When I wanted to quit on the second to last hill, a beautiful yellow butterfly flew in front of me. I decided to run with the butterfly until it left me. I entered the grounds walking and ready to be done. I grudgingly started to run again since my pride wouldn't let me finish the race walking.
Joe was at the middle of the last hill cheering me on along with some other runners who finished earlier. I thanked them and kept trudging forward. As I was nearing the finish line, the one volunteer told me if I could to bust out some dance moves across the finish. I just laughed at him.
I came in to "Party Rock Anthem" with a big smile on my face. A volunteer handed me a race magazine with future area races, and I made a bee line for the ice chest with bottled water. I chugged half of it and dumped the other half over my head because I felt like I was on fire! I found the watermelon and was eating two slices simultaneously when the hubby appeared with a cherry sno-cone. Seriously, he's the best. I wanted to hug him, but he wouldn't have any of that. I was so sweaty.
They were doing random giveaways and I won a $15 gift card for Road ID! After I received my prize, we lined up for BBQ. I really wasn't feel great, but I grabbed a piece of chicken and a small scoop of pasta salad. Then I went back for a second and third slice of watermelon as well as another sno-cone. I was shaking so bad, I flung some chicken in the grass for the birds to enjoy. The super humidity really did a number on me. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
I learned a lot about myself in this race. I'm not a quitter. I'm pretty darn strong. Even though I'm a slow runner, I still had just as much fun as the winners. I met some really cool people. I came in with a respectable time of 1:16:26 with an average pace of 12:20. One minute faster than my practice runs. And I'm happy with that.
The past two days have been very painful. I had never run that steep of hills and that many for that long. My ankles to my calves feel like a knife is being dragged through them every time I walk. Sunday I waddled around like a penguin. Today I managed to do some cross training on the recumbent bike, some squats, lunges, push ups, yoga stuff, and planks. Then I treated myself to a bubble bath and a pedicure. I can walk normally again, but it is mildly painful.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and get out for a run in the morning. I have to restart my half marathon training. Also, I mail my entry form for the Run for the Diamonds tomorrow!! I can't believe I'm actually doing it! Nine miles seems scary now just as 6.2 did a few months ago, but I really think I can do it. Just another 5K on top of a 10K, right? The race is my stretch goal for 2013. Now it's time to buckle down and lose some weight so I can get a little faster and train hard so I can go a little farther!
Anyone race this weekend? What did you do this Labor Day weekend?
Friday, August 2, 2013
"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."- T.S. Elliot
I'm horrible with posting lately, but life has been crazy!
Crazy good.
Today I managed to get myself lost during my long run. I was a tad delirious from dehydration and exhaustion and could not figure out how to get back using google maps and my GPS. Thankfully, my knight-in-shining-armor came to rescue me to take me back to my car. Before I realized I was lost I ran 6.2 miles in 1 hour 17 minutes, which is about a 12:29 minute mile on average. So I ran a 10K today!!
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With all the struggles I had in the beginning with my legs I'm surprised I'm progressing so fast with mileage. I'm not out to set any records. I'm just out because I enjoy it. There's nothing like running through nature and having 2 butterflies chase you. Although it is not so fun when large geese start chasing you! Ah, the perks of running amongst the shrubbery!
Now that I'm running 5+ miles on my long run, I've started experimenting with different fueling methods. Last week I tried GU gel in blackberry. I was not a fan of the mouth feel and it was not a pleasant experience. The gel felt slimy and it didn't sit well in my stomach for about a mile.
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Today I tried Clif shot bloks in strawberry. I was a fan! They had a better mouth feel and reminded me of big fruit snacks. I took them 45 minutes in and the bloks kept me going through 6.2 miles with a good amount of energy to spare (until I walked around in circles lost for 2 miles afterwards, ha ha). No major stomach upsets. A winner!
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The job hunt is going well and I interviewed for a position I really want. The interview was great and now I'm just crossing my fingers that I progress to the second interview.
Overall life has been busy lately hence the lack of blog posts. I really want the blog to start having a focus so I think I'm going to start doing reviews of running gear for awhile. Next post will be about my running belt!
Have you ever gotten lost while running? Did you need rescuing?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Happy 4th of July!
Here's some wise words about 'Merica from one of my favorite T.V. characters:
Nicely said Ron.
My fourth has been nice and relaxing so far. I ran 2 miles today since yesterday I was really sick. I was so exhausted anytime I would move I'd get dizzy and have to sit back down. Walking to the bathroom and back was exhausting. I didn't want to take a second rest day since I did so on Tuesday due to doctors stuff, but I just couldn't move.
But today I came back strong! I ran 2 miles at a 11:58 min pace!! 2 miles in 23:55! I can't believe I pushed that hard that long and smashed my records. Sure that is a slow pace for most experienced runners, but for a girl who was over 200 pounds 7 months ago that's damn impressive. And I did so up and down hills. I LOVE hills. My last 5K I didn't like so much since it was rather flat. At the end was a little hill and I loved it. The downhill speeds me up and just feels amazing. I'm weird.
After that awesome run, I started back in with Insanity where I left off at Max Interval Plyo. I managed to work through and crush the workout. It is amazing how much stronger I've gotten and how much pain I can endure. I think my pain tolerance increasing is one side effect of Insanity that I didn't expect. Love it!
So what was the motivation for the workout comeback? Spirit of the Marathon. Joe and I watched it last night and I LOVED IT! I got choked up when the daughter of the one running was talking about running with her dad. The 9 miler in November is my "marathon" this year. I hope I can do it. I'll finish even if I have to crawl across that finish line!
I hope everyone has a fantastic fourth! Now off to make burgers, nomz!
What did you do to celebrate the 4th? Any races?
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My fourth has been nice and relaxing so far. I ran 2 miles today since yesterday I was really sick. I was so exhausted anytime I would move I'd get dizzy and have to sit back down. Walking to the bathroom and back was exhausting. I didn't want to take a second rest day since I did so on Tuesday due to doctors stuff, but I just couldn't move.
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| Source ^ all day. that's all i did.^ |
After that awesome run, I started back in with Insanity where I left off at Max Interval Plyo. I managed to work through and crush the workout. It is amazing how much stronger I've gotten and how much pain I can endure. I think my pain tolerance increasing is one side effect of Insanity that I didn't expect. Love it!
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I hope everyone has a fantastic fourth! Now off to make burgers, nomz!
What did you do to celebrate the 4th? Any races?
Monday, July 1, 2013
Birthday binges, Running records, and Insanity madness!
My birthday weekend with the parents was amazing. The cake they got me was vanilla with strawberry filling and whipped cream frosting. I ate 2 big slices of that cake. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I was more interested in scarfing it down than taking pictures.
| I LOVE Hyperbole and a Half! |
On Sunday morning I awoke to smells of bacon and french toast. My mom made caramel baked french toast with sliced almonds. The top slice was crunchy and caramel soaked and the bottom piece resembled bread pudding in taste and texture. It was the most amazing breakfast I've ever had. And the best part is it was free! Again no pictures, I just proceeded to feed my face.
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| Source ^ This is what went down all weekend. |
Today I decided to check the damage on the scale. I look down and I lost .2 pounds. Huh. I'll take it. "Official" weigh in isn't until Friday so I'm hoping for even more movement on the scale.
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| YAY! |
Some running success today! I ran 2.5 miles at a 12 min pace! I hated every minute of it especially since this is my "hills" day but I did it! I couldn't feel my legs when I was done. It was weird. Then I proceeded to take my 4th Insanity Fit Test. I busted all kinds of records there too! I'll post all the results when I finish in 2 weeks. After the fit test was max interval circuit. All in all I exercised for 2 hours and 5 minutes burning a serious 1300 calories. I'm currently super sore and not very interested in moving much.
So I have a big life change happening right now! No it's not a child (everyone always thinks that/ asks that now that I'm married). I decided to go back to work and start my career in communications (FINALLY!). For the past 2 years I've lived in a rural town with very little choices for my field. Now that I live smack between two major cities I am overwhelmed by all the opportunities out there! I've applied to 4 positions so far and there is one position I really want. Dream job territory. We'll see what happens.
Since I'm working on tons of job applications, resumes and cover letters, I'll be posting much less. Once I get a job I'll be happy to post once a week until I get used to the new schedule. Until then, I'm working on my running and Insanity as much as humanly possible. Also trying to figure out ways to scale back the exercise to fit a job but still lose weight and stay in shape AND train for my long races in November.
Being active is exhausting sometimes.
How do you incorporate exercise with work? Do you prefer morning workouts or evening workouts?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
"Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new." - Sammy Hagar
Happy Birthday to ME!
I'm officially a quarter of a century old and I am now firmly in my mid-twenties. So how do we celebrate this momentous occasion? FOOD! My awesome husband is taking me out for some fondue tonight. NOMZ! I've been doing well this week so I feel comfortable letting my hair down a little food wise for one meal.
I was hoping to hit 30 pounds lost today but no luck there. I'm firmly stuck at 29 pounds lost. My body is doing the "HOLD ALL THE WEIGHT!" thing it did when I started insanity and then I dropped 7 pounds out of nowhere. So I'll wait it out. Trying to lose weight has definitely taught me the virtue of patience!
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So, I had a small revelation yesterday. I think I'll be ready to do my goal race (Run for the Diamonds) on Thanksgiving. Eleven days before that race, I run my first 10K so I should have plenty of time to recover and run the race I've been dreaming of for 20 years. It's going to be REALLY hard. The course is up and down the mountains = MEGA HILLS. And the course is NINE miles + MEGA HILLS. Yikes! I'm stubborn and I'm going to do it. I am going to need a lot of Gatorade and those energy gels to get through it but I want it to happen. Registration doesn't open until September so I have some more time to mull it over and see how I continue to progress with training. Fingers crossed!
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Insanity is going well. I'm 2 days into week 2 of the second month, and I am already seeing a different in my endurance and strength. My arms are getting much more taut and shapely. I'm losing more in my waist and hips, and I can fit in my 11/12 jeans I got a month ago that were a tad bit too tight to button. Win!
Last post I promised to post my recipe for Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie! I looked at a lot of different websites and combined what I liked from all of them to come up with this. The Smoothie is definitely for chocolate lovers. You can sub the strawberries with almost any fruit. I want to try it with bananas next!
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Chocolate Strawberry Protein Smoothie:
- 1 cup of chocolate soy milk (or almond, coconut, rice, whatever-you-prefer milk! I like soy & coconut.)
- 3/4 cup of frozen or fresh strawberries or fruit of choice (I made it both ways but frozen makes a thicker consistency.)
- ~1 cup baby spinach (I just grabbed a big handful)
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (Optimum Nutrition is my fav!)
- Ice for desired thickness
OPTIONAL: add 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of instant coffee to bring out the chocolate flavor and put some pep in your step!
Blend and Enjoy!
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There is truly nothing better than chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! You can also omit the protein powder and use a teaspoon of cocoa powder instead.
I'm tempted to go and make myself one now!
What is your favorite smoothie recipe?
Thursday, June 20, 2013
“A bruise is a lesson...and each lesson makes us better.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
This week is the week of PAIN.
I knew going into the second month of Insanity that I would be sore, but I never expected to be this sore. What is most impressive to myself is that I'm working through it even though I really, really, really don't want to.
The DOMS (delayed on-set muscle soreness) is as bad as it was when I first started exercising over 6 months ago. Yesterday was really sore legs. Today is really sore arms and shoulders. If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you, right?
Today's Insanity workout was Max Cardio Conditioning. I don't know if it was because this was an off day from running or that the workout was only 47 minutes, but I actually had some semblance of "fun." Max Cardio wasn't nearly as bad as Plyo or Interval Circuit. Now next week it starts to be combined with cardio abs so we'll see if that feeling lasts!
People's reactions to the fact that I do Insanity are funny. Most people just don't believe me or think I'm crazy. That's fine. I like doing something that most people won't even try.The biggest tip for surviving Insanity is to take an extra rest break or two (or three!) when you need it. There has been a few times I pushed a little too much and either started dry heaving or had those little black "pass out dots" appear. Unless you faint, puke, or die keep going!
Running since the race has been interesting. I've been pushing hard to get comfortable at running 12:30 minute mile. I did 2 miles at that pace and was in the land of side stitches. Maybe in a month things will be easier? I sure hope so.
For now with running, I'm going to start focusing on increasing distance and endurance over speed. The big event of this year is the 10K in November. I went race shopping crazy today and signed up for two races in September. The first race is September 22nd and is a 7K. The second race I thought was a 5 miler but it is actually a 5k is September 28th. I'm super excited for both but nervous because they are smaller races so you can't hide in the crowd as much! No matter what happens I'm going to own each and every mile! Side stitches or not!
In the far future I want to do a 10 miler and then a half marathon (my ultimate goal!). It is going to be a long, hard road to get to each goal race, but I'm learning to embrace pain. Sore muscles and pulled muscles are just part of this lifestyle. At first I was very freaked out by the little aches and pains. Now I'm starting to realize that there are going to be days/weeks of pain, but there will also be those days/weeks of feeling strong, awesome, and powerful. Right now is a week of pain. This too shall pass.
I'm debating on getting up super early on Saturday and going to the lake for an easy jog. I've been waking up every morning at 6 am feeling wide awake and usually fall back to sleep until 8. With it getting hotter during the early afternoon, I need to do early morning runs. I run HORRIBLY in the heat. Anything above 70 degrees makes me feel awful. I cannot wait for fall and winter! I've never said that in my life, but I feel better when it's cold. Summer is my self-proclaimed off season for races. I'd like to do some races with my friends but July and August are completely off limits. Unless the race is in Canada or the very northern US states.
I'm exhausted! Time for a dark chocolate strawberry smoothie! I'll share the recipe next post.
Do you like running in the heat or the cold? Why?
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The DOMS (delayed on-set muscle soreness) is as bad as it was when I first started exercising over 6 months ago. Yesterday was really sore legs. Today is really sore arms and shoulders. If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you, right?
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People's reactions to the fact that I do Insanity are funny. Most people just don't believe me or think I'm crazy. That's fine. I like doing something that most people won't even try.The biggest tip for surviving Insanity is to take an extra rest break or two (or three!) when you need it. There has been a few times I pushed a little too much and either started dry heaving or had those little black "pass out dots" appear. Unless you faint, puke, or die keep going!
Running since the race has been interesting. I've been pushing hard to get comfortable at running 12:30 minute mile. I did 2 miles at that pace and was in the land of side stitches. Maybe in a month things will be easier? I sure hope so.
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In the far future I want to do a 10 miler and then a half marathon (my ultimate goal!). It is going to be a long, hard road to get to each goal race, but I'm learning to embrace pain. Sore muscles and pulled muscles are just part of this lifestyle. At first I was very freaked out by the little aches and pains. Now I'm starting to realize that there are going to be days/weeks of pain, but there will also be those days/weeks of feeling strong, awesome, and powerful. Right now is a week of pain. This too shall pass.
I'm debating on getting up super early on Saturday and going to the lake for an easy jog. I've been waking up every morning at 6 am feeling wide awake and usually fall back to sleep until 8. With it getting hotter during the early afternoon, I need to do early morning runs. I run HORRIBLY in the heat. Anything above 70 degrees makes me feel awful. I cannot wait for fall and winter! I've never said that in my life, but I feel better when it's cold. Summer is my self-proclaimed off season for races. I'd like to do some races with my friends but July and August are completely off limits. Unless the race is in Canada or the very northern US states.
I'm exhausted! Time for a dark chocolate strawberry smoothie! I'll share the recipe next post.
Do you like running in the heat or the cold? Why?
Friday, June 14, 2013
Scale Victory and Second Race Excitement
"Running has taught me to be patient, to trust the
process, that anything worth doing is worth training for and doing well. It has
made me a better wife, co-worker, friend, nurse, sister, daughter, and person
in general." ~Andi Ball, Runner's World Challenger of the Week
Thought you'd get away without a quote? NEVER!
I'm beyond excited for the race on Sunday! I have just about everything set aside so now all I have to do is pack. Tomorrow we'll be clambering in a car for a short drive and enjoying the day with one of my awesome friends I haven't seen in so long. We go way back to grade school. I can't wait!!
I had a great scale victory today! I lost 2 pounds in a week. TWO! I'm down to 176.8 now. I am beyond shocked. I haven't been really strict and I've been eating chocolate (skinny cow cookies and cream bars...SO GOOD). Only 1.8 pounds to go until I have lost 30 pounds! It has been A LOT of hard work, but it was 100% worth it!
According to some of the Insanity reviews I've been reading, you really start losing during the second month so it's right on time. I just finished off recovery week (hah! It was still hard.) and will start month 2 on Monday. It'll be rough and I might still be sore from the race, but I got to do what I got to do. Tuesday is the second dentist appointment for the rest of the fillings I need. I'm ready to get it over with, but I know I'll be doing nothing but laying around and putting a warm compress on my sore jaw. It'll also be a small mileage week due to recovering, but the following week I'll be back to 10K training.
Today I did a short run of a little more than a mile and a half, but I ran at a 12 minute mile during the whole thing. At first it was a bit tough, but my body really started getting into the groove about halfway through. I've been working on the treadmill to work on my running form so I can stay away from calf injuries. I've been trying to change my foot to a mid foot strike instead of a forefoot strike. Running with the mid foot strike seems to work best with my legs and knees.
Overall, I'm just amazed that I'll be running my second 5K this Sunday. I've always stood on the sidelines of my dad's races thinking to myself, "Okay, this year I'll get in shape and do this." But the year came and went with no progress. It wasn't until I hit absolute rock bottom that I found the courage and determination to actually commit to running. I won't really feel like a true runner until I run a half marathon. My mother thinks that I'm absolutely insane for wanting to be a distance runner like my dad. I've done the research and I know that even though it may be stressful for my body, in the long run it is better for my body than not. And with a family history of bad knees and heart disease, I need all the help I can get to stay healthy for as long as possible.
I want to wish my father a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! He is my hero and the reason I race. On Sunday I'll be running this race for him. I hope that one day in the future he'll be on the sidelines cheering for me as I cross the finish line of my first marathon. I know that would make him so happy (and a bit concerned since he knows how hard marathons are). I love you dad!
Thought you'd get away without a quote? NEVER!
I'm beyond excited for the race on Sunday! I have just about everything set aside so now all I have to do is pack. Tomorrow we'll be clambering in a car for a short drive and enjoying the day with one of my awesome friends I haven't seen in so long. We go way back to grade school. I can't wait!!
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According to some of the Insanity reviews I've been reading, you really start losing during the second month so it's right on time. I just finished off recovery week (hah! It was still hard.) and will start month 2 on Monday. It'll be rough and I might still be sore from the race, but I got to do what I got to do. Tuesday is the second dentist appointment for the rest of the fillings I need. I'm ready to get it over with, but I know I'll be doing nothing but laying around and putting a warm compress on my sore jaw. It'll also be a small mileage week due to recovering, but the following week I'll be back to 10K training.
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| Source |
Overall, I'm just amazed that I'll be running my second 5K this Sunday. I've always stood on the sidelines of my dad's races thinking to myself, "Okay, this year I'll get in shape and do this." But the year came and went with no progress. It wasn't until I hit absolute rock bottom that I found the courage and determination to actually commit to running. I won't really feel like a true runner until I run a half marathon. My mother thinks that I'm absolutely insane for wanting to be a distance runner like my dad. I've done the research and I know that even though it may be stressful for my body, in the long run it is better for my body than not. And with a family history of bad knees and heart disease, I need all the help I can get to stay healthy for as long as possible.
I want to wish my father a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! He is my hero and the reason I race. On Sunday I'll be running this race for him. I hope that one day in the future he'll be on the sidelines cheering for me as I cross the finish line of my first marathon. I know that would make him so happy (and a bit concerned since he knows how hard marathons are). I love you dad!
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| Like father, like daughter... |
Monday, June 10, 2013
"I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don't want to shrink back just because something isn't easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can't and I can. Maybe that spot is called I will." ~Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog, Runner's World.com
I signed up for runnersworld.com quote of the day and I am loving it! I have a thing for motivational quotes if you couldn't tell.
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Anyway, today's run was FANTASTIC. After dealing with side stitches during each of my last two runs, I finally was free of them during today's run. I felt light, airy and really motivated. I rocked out to every song on my Ipod, and I'm sure the people who walked past the gym thought I was nuts since I like to lip synch. I didn't care. It has been a while since running felt that good, that easy, that free. I decided since I was having such a good time I'd see if I could run a 5K. I finished the 5K and then some. I am extremely happy since I was really getting nervous about the race.
Now I'm excited for the race! I'm sad my Dad won't be running this race with me, but I'll be racing with some pretty cool catz so it's all good. Bring on the color!!
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This week in Insanity is "recovery" week. Uh huh. I put the DVD in expecting Shaun T to have a yoga mat and a recovery shake. Nope. I was thoroughly disappointed. Yes, it was easier than most of the routines from month one, but it still leaves you breathless and burning! I was worried that my calorie burn would be low, ha ha ha. I'd say it's about 50 calories lower than my usual burn. I'm excited to be at this point, period. I never thought I could take on this challenge. The body is an amazing thing.
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My legs are doing okay today. I really love my foam roller. The foam roller is going to be my BFF for however long my body will let me run. If you're having issues with muscle strains, do yourself a favor and get one. Foam rolling can be really uncomfortable, but it helps more than it may hurt. Mostly it just feels weird.
I'm trying to figure out what to get my Dad for Father's Day. I think I'm going to print out one of the pictures of us from my first race and frame it. I want to put on the frame, " #1 Dad" on the top and "Thank You" on the bottom. I really think he'd like that and it's from the heart. Something along those lines. Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a crafty day!
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| Source Amen. My Dad is the reason I run. |
What are you doing for Father's Day? Any races coming up?
Saturday, June 8, 2013
"Trust your gut. You are your own best coach."- Ryan Hall, U.S. Marathoner
That quote in my header is true. You are your own best coach. I'm learning that every day I continue pushing myself to become a runner.
Since getting the foam roller, I'm learning how to work through my calf problems. My calves are the next obstacle to overcome in this journey to become a runner. Some people have knee issues, some people have tight hamstrings, but this is my Achilles heel (and my achilles tendons are decently tight too). Instead of crying over it, I'm doing every self massage, every foam roller technique, and lots of icing and hot baths to continue training, healing, and strengthening my weaknesses.
I decided to do a 2 mile run today (it was actually 2.27 to my surprise). I had a side stitch during 25 of the 30 minutes because I'm still getting back into the groove after a week and a half break. The past two runs have been really painful, but I push through because I'm not going to break now. I've come too far, pushed too hard, and achieved too much to let pain rule my life. My pace is slower than I'd like at 13:19, but I know in a few weeks I'll get back to where I was.
I'm facing my second 5K at less than 100%. I may walk during part of it, especially if my calves start acting up. I'm taking my foam roller and will stretch beforehand to make sure I'll stay as loose as possible. After reading a ton of articles on working through different running issues, I've found that you're not always going to be 100% for every race. Learning how to run through this and having a bad race is going to be good for me. I'm learning more about myself running through 2 miles of pain than if every run was easy and effortless. All runners have days when running is a chore, and it makes you appreciate those days where you feel like you are floating. I've had too many good days. Now comes the time to separate the women from the girls.
And I'm not a little girl anymore.
Besides getting back to running, I finally finished my first month of Insanity today. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of the workout was amazing. I actually did it! I actually made it to the halfway point of the program! Next week is recovery week and I am looking forward to that! I only have 3 more runs until the race and some extra stretching is more than welcome to make sure the muscles are primed and ready to rock!
Even though things have not been ideal so far, I'm excited to have accomplished so much. Running my second 5K in a week, getting halfway through Insanity, and getting my weight in the high 170s are three goals I'm very proud of. There's still plenty of work to do, but at least progress is being made!
What accomplishments are you proud of so far? What hurdles have you overcome in order to reach your goals?
| Source I'm learning to love the roller!! |
I decided to do a 2 mile run today (it was actually 2.27 to my surprise). I had a side stitch during 25 of the 30 minutes because I'm still getting back into the groove after a week and a half break. The past two runs have been really painful, but I push through because I'm not going to break now. I've come too far, pushed too hard, and achieved too much to let pain rule my life. My pace is slower than I'd like at 13:19, but I know in a few weeks I'll get back to where I was.
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Besides getting back to running, I finally finished my first month of Insanity today. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of the workout was amazing. I actually did it! I actually made it to the halfway point of the program! Next week is recovery week and I am looking forward to that! I only have 3 more runs until the race and some extra stretching is more than welcome to make sure the muscles are primed and ready to rock!
Even though things have not been ideal so far, I'm excited to have accomplished so much. Running my second 5K in a week, getting halfway through Insanity, and getting my weight in the high 170s are three goals I'm very proud of. There's still plenty of work to do, but at least progress is being made!
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| Source Yep, that's the pill I take too. |
Thursday, June 6, 2013
“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” - A. Camus
Foam rollers are a wonderful gift to all athletes and wanna-be-athletes like myself.
I received this wonderful gift to myself yesterday afternoon. It was an odd sensation rolling out my calves and legs in general. Foam rolling is constant pressure on your muscles until they loosen up. The fun comes when you have horrible knots and strains (like me!). I wouldn't say it hurts, per say, I'd just say it is uncomfortable. And you have to remember to breathe. The release and recovery is worth all the "pain."
I got to run 1.5 miles today. Yes, it was a slow run, but it was a run all the same. Without Insanity to keep my cardiovascular system in shape, I really felt the lack of conditioning over the past week and a half. I had a side stitch for most of time, but managed to get the entire distance in. Gangnam Style helped me push through the pain and keep going when I wanted to quit. Of course at the end I wanted an extra 5 minutes, but I knew better than to overdo it. My right calf isn't exactly healed yet, but I just couldn't wait. I may rest tomorrow just to make sure the right calf continues to heal before the next 5K.
Also, I got to pick back up with Insanity! I did the Cardio Recovery, which was a lot of stretching and strength work. Just what the doctor ordered!
So now we wait and watch and hopefully recondition. The Color Run isn't timed so I won't have an exact measure of how I did. I'm glad it isn't timed since I'm not as conditioned as I was for my first 5K. I am looking forward to seeing my long lost high school friend and getting covered in color!
Fingers crossed the leg keeps on healing!
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| I love you foam roller. Mine is smaller for travel and such. |
I got to run 1.5 miles today. Yes, it was a slow run, but it was a run all the same. Without Insanity to keep my cardiovascular system in shape, I really felt the lack of conditioning over the past week and a half. I had a side stitch for most of time, but managed to get the entire distance in. Gangnam Style helped me push through the pain and keep going when I wanted to quit. Of course at the end I wanted an extra 5 minutes, but I knew better than to overdo it. My right calf isn't exactly healed yet, but I just couldn't wait. I may rest tomorrow just to make sure the right calf continues to heal before the next 5K.
Also, I got to pick back up with Insanity! I did the Cardio Recovery, which was a lot of stretching and strength work. Just what the doctor ordered!
So now we wait and watch and hopefully recondition. The Color Run isn't timed so I won't have an exact measure of how I did. I'm glad it isn't timed since I'm not as conditioned as I was for my first 5K. I am looking forward to seeing my long lost high school friend and getting covered in color!
Fingers crossed the leg keeps on healing!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Six Months of Work and Wisdom
Today marks the six month mark of changing my life for the better.
Six months ago I was reviewing pictures of my honeymoon and was horrified at how unhealthy I had become. I had never been that big, that squishy, that complacent in caring for my own health.
And I was paying the price.
Six months ago, I was diagnosed with GERD, had been in the ER because of severe stomach pain, and my self confidence was non-existent. I looked like crap and I felt like crap.
Finally something inside my brain clicked. I started making dinner instead of ordering out or going through the drive thru. I started C25K and then Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I had so many sore and pulled muscles. I could hardly move some days. I huffed and puffed through 2 minutes of running at 4.0 on the treadmill. I never thought I'd actually lose weight.
If you told me six months ago that I would have run my first 5K (and RUN the WHOLE thing) in 41 minutes and 36 seconds, lost 23 pounds, be preparing for my second 5K in 3 weeks, and am signed up to do a 10K in November, well, I just would've laughed. (Yeah, that's a horrible sentence but I'm not here to play grammar nazi)
When I look back at everything I have accomplished in 180 days, I am amazed, but most importantly, I'm very proud of myself. I've given up on so many things in the past two years but I'm glad I haven't given up on myself and my running. Running is hard. I've broken up with running so many times. I've sworn I would never go back to it and just be a walker, but I can't stay away.
Yesterday I set a personal best pace. My wonderful husband took me to the lake path close to our house to run. He kept up with me and then I lost him on the second half of the run. It was such a perfect Saturday morning. The sun was shining, it was a cool 60 degrees, and the lake was beautiful. Also, I got to use my runkeeper app to track my mileage and pace since I have a smartphone now. I completed the first mile and the runkeeper app announced that I had completed 1 mile and my pace was something over 12 minutes. I was floored! When I finished the 2 mile lap, I looked down at the app and had to double take. I had run an average pace of 12 minutes and 18 seconds. WOW. My hope is to have a 12 minute mile by November. The 12:18 I ran yesterday wasn't too comfortable but it wasn't overly challenging either. Here's hoping it gets easier as time goes on.
Well this morning I took some progress pictures. Here is me in the shorts that I was wearing in the two previous pictures. These shorts were REALLY tight back in October/November.
And now my favorite picture:
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| This is the picture that really got to me. I'm 205 lbs here. 10/30/2012 |
Six months ago, I was diagnosed with GERD, had been in the ER because of severe stomach pain, and my self confidence was non-existent. I looked like crap and I felt like crap.
Finally something inside my brain clicked. I started making dinner instead of ordering out or going through the drive thru. I started C25K and then Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I had so many sore and pulled muscles. I could hardly move some days. I huffed and puffed through 2 minutes of running at 4.0 on the treadmill. I never thought I'd actually lose weight.
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| This is me at 195. 12/2012 |
When I look back at everything I have accomplished in 180 days, I am amazed, but most importantly, I'm very proud of myself. I've given up on so many things in the past two years but I'm glad I haven't given up on myself and my running. Running is hard. I've broken up with running so many times. I've sworn I would never go back to it and just be a walker, but I can't stay away.
Yesterday I set a personal best pace. My wonderful husband took me to the lake path close to our house to run. He kept up with me and then I lost him on the second half of the run. It was such a perfect Saturday morning. The sun was shining, it was a cool 60 degrees, and the lake was beautiful. Also, I got to use my runkeeper app to track my mileage and pace since I have a smartphone now. I completed the first mile and the runkeeper app announced that I had completed 1 mile and my pace was something over 12 minutes. I was floored! When I finished the 2 mile lap, I looked down at the app and had to double take. I had run an average pace of 12 minutes and 18 seconds. WOW. My hope is to have a 12 minute mile by November. The 12:18 I ran yesterday wasn't too comfortable but it wasn't overly challenging either. Here's hoping it gets easier as time goes on.
Well this morning I took some progress pictures. Here is me in the shorts that I was wearing in the two previous pictures. These shorts were REALLY tight back in October/November.
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| From the front. |
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| Where'd the stomach go?! I'm not sucking it in either. :-P 182 lbs |
Insanity has been working well. Even though I sat at a plateau of 183 for a few weeks, I think I look damn good for 182 pounds. There is still PLENTY of work to do, but today is a day to celebrate. Oh and did I mention I eat 1700-2300 calories a day? I eat, lose weight, and hopefully keep it off for good this time.
So here's 6 weight loss and novice running tips that I've learned these 6 months:
1. Don't be afraid to eat.- Use a TDEE calculator to determine the correct calorie intake for your activity and then reduce that by 10-20% to lose weight. It might seem like a lot but just EAT IT. You want a body of lean muscle not flub right?
2. Go slow!- Whether it is running or any other kind of exercise, start off slow and build up your time. I started with 3 days a week and now I am exercising 6 days a week. I tried to exercise 5 days a week when I started and just got really sick. Go slow and increase when your body can handle it.
3. Don't compare yourself to other people.- I do this all the time. I get so angry when people can lose 50 pounds in 3 months. You have to look at your own body and circumstances. As a very wise MFP friend says, "Jux do wat werkz 4 u."
4. Eat more fruits and veggies!- Seriously. I have the biggest sweet tooth at nights, but I'm trying to replace ice cream and cookies with oranges and baked apples. I still have fudge bars and ice cream, but not as often. I add more veggies to my meals and less cheeses. Veggies are tasty when prepared correctly. I love roasted asparagus!
5. Cook your own meals.- Learning to cook was rewarding and also helped shrink my waist line. I love to look at a dinner I completed rather than one someone else made for me. The husband knows to stay out of the kitchen. I love the kitchen. I love cooking. I love being a traditional wife. I love feeding my body good things and knowing exactly what went into my meal. Control freak? Yes and I'd like to keep it that way.
6. Never, never, never give up.- I can't tell you how many times I've given up. There are posts on here about me giving up. I've worked through anxiety, muscle pulls, aching feet and lots of sore muscles. Losing weight and learning to run is hard and anyone who says otherwise is LYING or not doing it right. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at what your body can do.
These 6 months have been a ride! Here's to the next 6 and hopefully some more amazing accomplishments!
1800 Minute May Challenge: 1036/1800
(We'll see where we end up and then increase it by 100 for June!)
1. Don't be afraid to eat.- Use a TDEE calculator to determine the correct calorie intake for your activity and then reduce that by 10-20% to lose weight. It might seem like a lot but just EAT IT. You want a body of lean muscle not flub right?
2. Go slow!- Whether it is running or any other kind of exercise, start off slow and build up your time. I started with 3 days a week and now I am exercising 6 days a week. I tried to exercise 5 days a week when I started and just got really sick. Go slow and increase when your body can handle it.
3. Don't compare yourself to other people.- I do this all the time. I get so angry when people can lose 50 pounds in 3 months. You have to look at your own body and circumstances. As a very wise MFP friend says, "Jux do wat werkz 4 u."
4. Eat more fruits and veggies!- Seriously. I have the biggest sweet tooth at nights, but I'm trying to replace ice cream and cookies with oranges and baked apples. I still have fudge bars and ice cream, but not as often. I add more veggies to my meals and less cheeses. Veggies are tasty when prepared correctly. I love roasted asparagus!
5. Cook your own meals.- Learning to cook was rewarding and also helped shrink my waist line. I love to look at a dinner I completed rather than one someone else made for me. The husband knows to stay out of the kitchen. I love the kitchen. I love cooking. I love being a traditional wife. I love feeding my body good things and knowing exactly what went into my meal. Control freak? Yes and I'd like to keep it that way.
6. Never, never, never give up.- I can't tell you how many times I've given up. There are posts on here about me giving up. I've worked through anxiety, muscle pulls, aching feet and lots of sore muscles. Losing weight and learning to run is hard and anyone who says otherwise is LYING or not doing it right. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at what your body can do.
These 6 months have been a ride! Here's to the next 6 and hopefully some more amazing accomplishments!
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| Courtesy of www.inspirationalquotes.asia |
1800 Minute May Challenge: 1036/1800
(We'll see where we end up and then increase it by 100 for June!)
Friday, May 24, 2013
“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
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| God I love tumblr! Yes, I've used this picture before, but I love it |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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!)
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
"The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank." -George Sheehan
I found the best article for novice runners: If You Run Slow, Who Cares?
Something I struggle with is feeling like I'm too slow and not a "real" runner. I'm not fast. I'm constantly doubting myself and feeling ashamed of my pace. Honestly, it doesn't matter how fast you are in the beginning. I'm not looking to qualify for the Boston marathon any time soon. I'm trying to build my strength and endurance. I want to train consistently and avoid injuries. I think these are some good goals to have in the beginning.
On my run today I surprised the heck out of myself. I decided for S&G's to set the treadmill at a 12 mile pace (5.0). I figured I'd do that and then hit it down to 4.5-4.6 where I usually jog. The awesome cleaning lady (she's so friendly!) came in to clean the gym and I spent all 20 minutes during my run talking to her. I was TALKING and RUNNING at 5.0!! Now it was a lot harder than I'm used to but I did it! I love having someone to talk with during my workout. I'm so glad that I'm running my next race with a whole group of people. I'm a rather social runner. Go figure. I'm hoping that some of my girly friends that are learning how to run stick with it so we can do the Disney Princess Half Marathon! I won't be ready for the 2014 one but I'm hoping to run my first half in 2015. Or the end of 2014 if my body is ready.
I think I may have over done the speed with today's run though. During Insanity (Cardio Power and Resistance today!) I had a shooting pain down the outside of my knee. It took it easy, focused on my form (jumping squat things are hard to keep good form), and half way through the workout the pain went away. I'm terrified of injuring myself AGAIN and I am taking every precaution to avoid it. Of course I would screw up and go against my own advice of "going slow" when increasing speed. I'm going to run at 4.7-4.8 from now on with spurts of 5.0 until my legs get accustomed to the new speed. Slow and steady.
I cannot wait for Saturday. I'm going to drag my husband to the lake path to have a nice easy run. I started a 10K training plan and Saturdays are my 25-30 minute EZ runs. Saturday are now known as LAKE DAYS! You wouldn't want to swim in the lake, but the view is beautiful and will make the 2 mile loop go fast. Also, I'm not just training for a 10K, I actually signed up for one! I'll be doing the local turkey chase 10K on November 17th. I love running in the cold so this will be a fun race. The course is mostly flat and I'm hoping to finish in under 1 hr and 30 minutes. My dad wants to run it with me so I'll have someone to chat with again! I love that my dad is so supportive with my training and races. He's the best and I hope he can come to Disney with me to cheer me on (since the Princess Half Marathon is for girls only). That goal is far away, but it is great motivation through all the training that will go on the next 2 years!
Here's to training and hopefully the scale will move! Argh plateaus!
1800 Minute May Challenge: 844/1800
(I won't make it, but I'm going to get as close as I can!)
Something I struggle with is feeling like I'm too slow and not a "real" runner. I'm not fast. I'm constantly doubting myself and feeling ashamed of my pace. Honestly, it doesn't matter how fast you are in the beginning. I'm not looking to qualify for the Boston marathon any time soon. I'm trying to build my strength and endurance. I want to train consistently and avoid injuries. I think these are some good goals to have in the beginning.
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| One of my favorites. |
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| WANT! Found this on tumbr on rock-the-trails. She has some gorgeous trail pics! |
I cannot wait for Saturday. I'm going to drag my husband to the lake path to have a nice easy run. I started a 10K training plan and Saturdays are my 25-30 minute EZ runs. Saturday are now known as LAKE DAYS! You wouldn't want to swim in the lake, but the view is beautiful and will make the 2 mile loop go fast. Also, I'm not just training for a 10K, I actually signed up for one! I'll be doing the local turkey chase 10K on November 17th. I love running in the cold so this will be a fun race. The course is mostly flat and I'm hoping to finish in under 1 hr and 30 minutes. My dad wants to run it with me so I'll have someone to chat with again! I love that my dad is so supportive with my training and races. He's the best and I hope he can come to Disney with me to cheer me on (since the Princess Half Marathon is for girls only). That goal is far away, but it is great motivation through all the training that will go on the next 2 years!
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| I love this facebook cover. Very true! |
1800 Minute May Challenge: 844/1800
(I won't make it, but I'm going to get as close as I can!)
Friday, May 17, 2013
"There is nothing as sweet as a comeback, when you are down and out, about to lose, and out of time."- Anne Lamott
I'm back baby.
I ran 20 minutes straight after a 2 week break. Oh my. (Yes, I read Fifty Shades. The shame.)
I jogged a nice slow 13:19 min mile (4.5 on the treadmill) and enjoyed the heck out of the run. I initially promised myself five minute runs dotted with walk breaks, but I was in the groove and didn't stop until the treadmill kicked into cool down mode. Ever been so into a run and then a treadmill drops .5 in a few seconds? Scared the heck out of me as I jerked quickly to slow down while trying not to fall over my own feet.
Damn treadmills...
The treadmill may not happen as often since my husband found me an awesome running path around a nearby lake! We went and walked around it today and played Ingress (Look it up. I'm too lazy to explain it.). Talk about beautiful views with some nice rolling hills! I'm tempted to take the husband out tomorrow. We shall see.
Coming off the high of being able to run 1.5 miles after a 2 week break, I really dug into my Insanity workout today. I can feel myself getting stronger and my flexibility increasing ever so slightly. My weight is at a stand still, but from reading other people's experiences with the program the weight will come off soon enough. I'm enjoying my new baby muscles that are popping up around my body. I feel like my fat is more compact and getting ready to get out. The eviction notice has been up for almost 6 months so it's about time it moved on out.
Tomorrow is the very anticipated Doctor Who episode, The Name of the Doctor. I'm very excited since I've always wondered about the name, but at the same time I don't want to know. Some people think it'll ruin the show, but others are more accepting of it. I'm with the accepting crowd. I'm interested to see where the series will go now. We're coming up on maybe the 12th Doctor. I love Matt Smith, but I think his time as the Doctor is running out. I'm ready for something to change in the series. I haven't been a big fan of season 7 so I'm hoping that season 8 will improve. I hope the 50th Anniversary special will live up to the hype. It will be nice to see David Tennant and Billie Piper again. I cannot wait. Is it November yet?
I'm slowly finishing the second book in the Game of Thrones series. I love how some events happen differently in the books so it is like reading a different story at times. I'm thoroughly enjoying season 3 of the television series and I am officially addicted. Doctor Who level addicted. It's time to start searching for shirts to add to my geek clothing collection.
Now off to a weekend of rest and relaxation! :)
1800 Minute May Challenge: 624/1800
I did 120 minutes of exercise with the extra walk today! Yay!
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| I'm loving the workout motivation board on tumblr! |
I ran 20 minutes straight after a 2 week break. Oh my. (Yes, I read Fifty Shades. The shame.)
I jogged a nice slow 13:19 min mile (4.5 on the treadmill) and enjoyed the heck out of the run. I initially promised myself five minute runs dotted with walk breaks, but I was in the groove and didn't stop until the treadmill kicked into cool down mode. Ever been so into a run and then a treadmill drops .5 in a few seconds? Scared the heck out of me as I jerked quickly to slow down while trying not to fall over my own feet.
Damn treadmills...
The treadmill may not happen as often since my husband found me an awesome running path around a nearby lake! We went and walked around it today and played Ingress (Look it up. I'm too lazy to explain it.). Talk about beautiful views with some nice rolling hills! I'm tempted to take the husband out tomorrow. We shall see.
Coming off the high of being able to run 1.5 miles after a 2 week break, I really dug into my Insanity workout today. I can feel myself getting stronger and my flexibility increasing ever so slightly. My weight is at a stand still, but from reading other people's experiences with the program the weight will come off soon enough. I'm enjoying my new baby muscles that are popping up around my body. I feel like my fat is more compact and getting ready to get out. The eviction notice has been up for almost 6 months so it's about time it moved on out.
 |
| thanks bbcamerica.com! |
I'm slowly finishing the second book in the Game of Thrones series. I love how some events happen differently in the books so it is like reading a different story at times. I'm thoroughly enjoying season 3 of the television series and I am officially addicted. Doctor Who level addicted. It's time to start searching for shirts to add to my geek clothing collection.
Now off to a weekend of rest and relaxation! :)
1800 Minute May Challenge: 624/1800
I did 120 minutes of exercise with the extra walk today! Yay!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Aftermath: Post Race Body and Starting Insanity
Well, I'm still a happy camper.
I got onto the treadmill today and couldn't stop smiling. Now I know all the work, sweat, and sometimes tears is worth it. I did it and I shall continue to do it. Run, baby, run!
One thing I'd like to talk about and what many people don't talk about is your body post first 5K. I ended up getting a little head cold and felt like absolute crap on Monday. My glutes and inner thighs got the worst of the soreness, but it wasn't anything I haven't felt before. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say the pain was 3-4. I was sore, but I could deal. The worst part was the headache that was ripping through the left side of my face. I had a horrible toothache and have been rinsing with whiskey (I know, I know, but it works!) and used a drop or two of almond extract on the tooth to relieve the pain. Crazy remedies but they work! I have a dentists appointment as well to rule out a cavity or if it was really just my sinuses acting up.
Yesterday I finally felt back to normal for the most part. I started Insanity with my first fit test. That fit test is no joke. I tried Insanity back when I was in college and only completed 3 days of it. I still had some of the fit test results from then and I beat most of them this time around! When I tried Insanity in college, I was about 155 lbs, running 3 times a week and doing a dance class that semester. I'm 182 lbs and I am much stronger than I ever was in college. I'm hopeful that when I do reach 155 lbs again it will be a very muscular 155 lbs.
Today I did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Holy pain! Now, I've worked myself to what I thought was exhaustion previously, but today my muscles gave out on me before my mind did. I did rest a good amount through the 40 minutes of crazy, but I kept pushing and pushing hard. The amount of sweat that came out of my body was incredible. I soaked through my entire tank top three-quarters of the way through it and had to discard it at the same time a lot of the men on the tape were discarding their shirt (he he). I do NOT have any kind of a tight stomach region (yet!) so it was a horror show, but I was alone so it was all good. Overall, the workout was really hard, but I enjoyed it! I like feeling super sore because it lets me know I'm doing something that is challenging my body. And challenge = change.
My biggest concern about starting Insanity was that I'd be too tired to train for my race(s). So I ran for 2 miles BEFORE and then walked up the 6 flights (I love living on the top floor but the stairs are killer!) and set up my heart rate monitor and started Insanity. I think running 3 times a week and Insanity 6 times a week will be possible. Exhausting, but possible.
To help me with keeping up with all this exercise, I'm joining my friend Desiree at Finding the Skinny Geek Within (check out her blog! She's awesome and keeps me going!) for a challenge of 1800 minutes of exercise in May! I'm going to design an excel sheet to keep track of my minutes and will list the total at the end of my posts. I don't post every day I exercise, so I'm just going to keep a running total. If I find a fun widget to help count up to 1800 minutes, I'll add it to the side bar.
This weekend is my husband's alternate birthday weekend, since his real birthday weekend was the weekend of my race. On Saturday we're going to do a high ropes challenge course at a local "adventure" course. I might only get 5 days on Insanity in this week due to the high ropes challenge, but I'm still going to try and fit it in afterwards. I'm rather afraid of heights so that will be a great challenge! I'm more confident in my ability to balance well, but when I'm 40 ft in the air, we'll see how that holds up!
Until next time, get out there and do one thing this week that scares you!
1800 minutes in May: 77 minutes total
 |
| It was such a nice day! |
One thing I'd like to talk about and what many people don't talk about is your body post first 5K. I ended up getting a little head cold and felt like absolute crap on Monday. My glutes and inner thighs got the worst of the soreness, but it wasn't anything I haven't felt before. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say the pain was 3-4. I was sore, but I could deal. The worst part was the headache that was ripping through the left side of my face. I had a horrible toothache and have been rinsing with whiskey (I know, I know, but it works!) and used a drop or two of almond extract on the tooth to relieve the pain. Crazy remedies but they work! I have a dentists appointment as well to rule out a cavity or if it was really just my sinuses acting up.
Yesterday I finally felt back to normal for the most part. I started Insanity with my first fit test. That fit test is no joke. I tried Insanity back when I was in college and only completed 3 days of it. I still had some of the fit test results from then and I beat most of them this time around! When I tried Insanity in college, I was about 155 lbs, running 3 times a week and doing a dance class that semester. I'm 182 lbs and I am much stronger than I ever was in college. I'm hopeful that when I do reach 155 lbs again it will be a very muscular 155 lbs.
Today I did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Holy pain! Now, I've worked myself to what I thought was exhaustion previously, but today my muscles gave out on me before my mind did. I did rest a good amount through the 40 minutes of crazy, but I kept pushing and pushing hard. The amount of sweat that came out of my body was incredible. I soaked through my entire tank top three-quarters of the way through it and had to discard it at the same time a lot of the men on the tape were discarding their shirt (he he). I do NOT have any kind of a tight stomach region (yet!) so it was a horror show, but I was alone so it was all good. Overall, the workout was really hard, but I enjoyed it! I like feeling super sore because it lets me know I'm doing something that is challenging my body. And challenge = change.
My biggest concern about starting Insanity was that I'd be too tired to train for my race(s). So I ran for 2 miles BEFORE and then walked up the 6 flights (I love living on the top floor but the stairs are killer!) and set up my heart rate monitor and started Insanity. I think running 3 times a week and Insanity 6 times a week will be possible. Exhausting, but possible.
To help me with keeping up with all this exercise, I'm joining my friend Desiree at Finding the Skinny Geek Within (check out her blog! She's awesome and keeps me going!) for a challenge of 1800 minutes of exercise in May! I'm going to design an excel sheet to keep track of my minutes and will list the total at the end of my posts. I don't post every day I exercise, so I'm just going to keep a running total. If I find a fun widget to help count up to 1800 minutes, I'll add it to the side bar.
This weekend is my husband's alternate birthday weekend, since his real birthday weekend was the weekend of my race. On Saturday we're going to do a high ropes challenge course at a local "adventure" course. I might only get 5 days on Insanity in this week due to the high ropes challenge, but I'm still going to try and fit it in afterwards. I'm rather afraid of heights so that will be a great challenge! I'm more confident in my ability to balance well, but when I'm 40 ft in the air, we'll see how that holds up!
Until next time, get out there and do one thing this week that scares you!
1800 minutes in May: 77 minutes total
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