"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!

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” ― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

I'm baaaack!

Where have I been? Well, my body decided it would be a good time to get sick Thursday of last week. I didn't agree with it, but it convinced me that it would be a good idea. My body betrayed me.

Anyway, time to share some yummy recipes I have found! I love food. I love to cook and bake. It's about time I dedicate a post to food. Nom nomz!

First is Bolognese sauce. It was a fairly easy recipe but it has to simmer for 1.5-2 hours so make sure to start it ahead of time!

^Sauteed veggies and center cut bacon. Mmm bacon. ^

^ Look at that delicious sauce. Almost done!^

^And it's all done! I should have wiped the dish but I was just too hungry!^

Another great recipe is Skinny Chicken Pesto Bake from skinnytaste.com! It is a bit time consuming since you make your own pesto, but I made mine well ahead of time and it still tasted great!

It was super delicious!

Now, my favorite lunch food. My take on a frittata. I take some of my roasted veggies that I make ahead of time and throw them in a frying pan to heat them up (medium heat) with some cooking spray or olive oil. In this picture I also added 3 slices of center cut bacon. Then pour in 1 scrambled egg (or 1 scrambled egg + 1 egg white, or 2 egg white, or 2 scrambled eggs) and pop on a lid. Once it is almost set on top after a few mintues, I added 1/4 cups of 2% milk cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice) and pop the lid back on top until the cheese melts. Finally, slide onto a plate! Salsa or ketchup goes well as a dipping sauce if you like. Depending on what I add in (veggies, meats, etc) it is usually around 300 calories.

^ Ignore our 1970s plates, lol. This is tasty tasty stuff.^

Tonight I'm making beef and bean chile verde. It is going to be a tasty week!

Stay hungry my friends, stay hungry.

Mmm fish fingers and custard.

Sunday mileage: 1.6 (recovery run)

"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

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." - Steve Prefontaine

I feel great.

The best part of my run today was when I was stretching. It was during this time I realized how much I have accomplished. I can run a 12 minute mile comfortably for a little over 2.5 miles.

And I ENJOY it!

Now every run is not fantastic. Thursday's run was the worst I've had yet. I felt sluggish and unmotivated. Today was the opposite story. I felt comfortable, motivated, and just plain good. And the gym was rather busy and I had a lady on the right side of me doing hill work and sprinting. At first I felt a bit intimidated by her; she was much more fit and could run faster. After 5 minutes or so I found that even though she ran a bit faster than me, we could sync up pace wise when she was going slower and that was great. I miss running with someone. Based on today's experience, I can not wait for the 5K!

I still have a lot of work to do.

Right now I'm running 2.5 miles (give or take) regularly. I still have 2 more weeks on this program to get to 3 miles. I'm a little nervous, but I know I'll get to 3 by March. I'm hoping to have long runs of 4-6 miles come April.

Fingers crossed!

Tonight we are going to a gastro pub! I'm very excited and already have my meal picked out. I'm finally getting my burger! Mushroom and swiss wagyu beef burger. And I'm allow to spend the extra $2 and get the truffle cheese. Oh. My. Goodness. This is going to be good. I'm only eating half because I want to save the other half of heavenly beef for Sunday lunch. Sure, this is going to be a hit to the food plan, but I've planned accordingly all week.

And you got to have some fun sometimes. Key word is sometimes.

Sunday is going to be a lovely rest day and Game of Thrones marathon. The new episodes are coming so we have to watch all of the old ones again of course! March is a great month for TV...new Doctor Who, new Game of Thrones, and new The Legend of Korra. Yes, I still watch nick shows. Avatar: The Last Airbender was better, but Legend of Korra holds its own and doesn't destroy its predecessor's story. If I decide to have children, they will watch both. Yes, there are people who think I should "grow up" and stop watching "kiddie shows" but, what's the point of being a grown up if you can't act a little childish sometimes?

Thank you Mr. Baker.

Allons-y!

Mileage: 2.6
Weekly Mileage for 2/10/13-2/16/13: 13.2

"She said that you were a Mr. Hottie...ness. And that she would like to go out with you for...texting and scones." -The Doctor

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Best valentine card ever right up there.

Any who (ha ha who, Doctor Who...I have issues...), today was a lovely sunny day that woke me up bright and early with the sun shining in my face. I love that it is sunny every day or every other day, but the blinds in our place don't block light very well. And I hate curtains.

At least it is sunny!

Today's run was interesting. I started off strong but lost steam about 20 minutes in. By the time I was warming down, my stomach was demanding food. I've never had hunger pains during exercise. As soon as I got my post workout snack in everything was fine. I ate the same for breakfast as I normally do. Something new I guess?

Everything is changing.

I have a defined waist and an hourglass figure again. My arms aren't as doughy and shapeless. Sadly, I lost a cup size so bra shopping is in my future. I have calf muscles! It's crazy. I'm ALWAYS hungry.

Interesting stuff.

So I have another A-mazing recipe to share with you. Skinnytaste.com is my new favorite recipe site! I made  Chicken Rollatini with Spinach Alla Parmigiana, which is a fancy way of saying chicken parmesan stuffed with spinach and cheese. This recipe came out amazingly well! The only thing I changed was putting onion and garlic powder in the filling. I'm glad I did because it added so much flavor!  Also, I had to cook it for 30 minutes instead of 25 because my chicken was a little thicker. The chicken came out juicy and tender. I don't know what more you could ask for. Here it is: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/chicken-rollatini-with-spinach-alla.html

For dessert I picked up some caramel peanut chocolate gelato and we're having Young's Double Chocolate Stout with 2 oz of Framboise raspberry for a tasty alcoholic treat! We got the idea from The Perfect Pour (an amazing wine, beer and liquor store).

What a lovely end to a good and sunny Valentine's Day.

Mileage: 2.5

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.