Look towards 2011

I have been thinking about what I would like to accomplish in the new year.  I am not a big goal maker- whenever I have been asked about what my goals are (in interviews, by school counselors) it would be very difficult for me to come up with anything.  It's not that I am an unambitious person, it's just that I am afraid of committing to a goal and not following through with it.  I don't like putting these in writing, or telling others about them, only to let them fall by the way side a few months later.  I've decided that I want this year to be different.  I think it will be good for me to have a few goals that I can work for and look forward to throughout the year.  I thought about it and I have five that I think are attainable, realistic, and positive for me.  And here they are.......

1. Run 1000 miles in 2011 - last year I thought I would try this but it was a bit over ambitious.  I think it's still ambitious but I have a much stronger base at this time than I did last year. 

2. Race in a half marathon- again, something that I had wanted to do last year, but due to an injury (and my mental inability to get back into running after recovery) this did not happen

3. Run a 10 minute mile- right now I am at about 14min/mile.  I am hoping that by the end of the year I can improve this

4. Reduce the amount of processed foods I eat- fueled by recently watching 'Food Inc'....scary stuff

5. Limit animal products to 1-2 days per week- this one is going to be really tough, I am a big meat eater and lover of cheese but I really want to work on improving my health and losing weight

***Bonus Goal- Be a better blogger (I really enjoy blogging but have been very inconsistent the last few months)

So, these are my goals for the year to come.  I only hope that having them here in writing (and my personal written copy) will help keep me focused and on track.

Fairweather Blogger

I am obviously not the most consistent blogger- it is not something I have made into a daily habit.....yet.  Breaking Pace tagged me in one of her recent blogs to answer a few questions.  I decided that that would be a nice way to get a post in since I have been absent.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?
I am actually proud of the fact that I have stuck with running- for the most part.  It has definitely been a "on again off again" year for it but there have been more ons than offs in the running department and I have to see that as an accomplishment.  I may not have gotten as far as I would've liked (I had planned to run a half marathon this fall when I started running at the beginning of the year) but I haven't given up either and, for me, that's pretty big

What are your goals for 2011?
Similar to what they were for 2010.  I would really like to train and run in a half marathon by the end of 2011.  Assuming that I don't get another sprained ankle ( :) ) I think I can make this happen.  I would also like to run a race with my sister.  She lives in another state and every year we talk about doing a destination race together- I would really like this to be our year.

What was your favorite race?
Well, I have very few races to choose from but I would have to say that my favorite race is the Women's Run here in Anchorage.  It is a 5 mile run that donates proceeds to breast cancer.  This is a race that a group of friends and I have done for the last few years and we all have a great time doing it.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Well, I have so many to choose from but I guess I'd have to say Reeses- and not just any Reeses, I LOVE the ones that come out during the holidays.  I swear they tasted different and soooo much better!

What is your most embarressing running moment?
Well, when I was going to do a race with my sister we walked so much the day before, in very hot weather, that I chaffed so badly I couldn't do the race (hence the above goal to still run a race with my sis).  I guess I technically running when this happened but I traveled for the race and it's pretty embarressing to say I wasn't able to do because of chaffing!!

Now I need to tag 5 people to answer these questions.  I have been a little remiss in my blog reading so if I am tagging someone who has already been tagged- my apologies!

Brilliance Wasted

Running Rocks

Chubby Chicks Run Too....

Runner Mum

RunToTheFinsih

Thanks again Breaking Pace!

Hope everyone has gotten their Christmas shopping done- I don't know about elsewhere but it is getting crazy here :)!

Happy Thanksgiving

Normally I would be very excited about Thanksgiving but this year I am committed to two different dinners and I am a little nervous about how I'm going to be feeling by the end of the day (my guess is very, very stuffed).  R and I have been together for about 6 years now but somehow this is the first year that we're having dinner at his parents and my parents' houses.  Neither family is large (in fact, he and I are the only children locally) and neither are crazy holiday families so I am lucky on that count.  It's just strange that we now have to think of both families when planning around our holidays- I'm used to us each going our respective family homes and meeting up later.  I guess being engaged changes that a bit.  We have also decided to do a mini vacation at our cabin so we also have "us" time.

My running has been going well, up until this week.  I conquered my "after work" block and feel good about it- guess it's just been a busy week (short busy days at work, running around for Thanksgiving dinner supplies, etc).  I am looking forward to running today- I have to be careful about taking too many "rest days" since I am still building my base and don't want to lose what I've built up to thus far.  Still about 45 days from making it a habit (isn't it 60 days to form a habit?). 

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend :)!

Mind Over Matter.....Kind Of

I decided that today would be the day I suck it up and run after work.  I am not a morning person and having to get up at 5:30 in the morning just to get my run in for the day is not practical for me.  Of all the mental blocks to have regarding running this should be the easy one to get over.  I mean if I can't suck it up and run in the afternoon how am I ever going to progress as a runner.  I'm being sill and it's time to get over it.  With that said I have my 2min run/2min walk on the books for today, my bag is packed and in the car, and it WILL HAPPEN! 

It was so cold when I got up this morning 15 degrees :( BRRRR!  I know I shouldn't complain because it was in the positive number range but we have been pretty spoiled with warmer weather up until this point so it was a bit of a shock to the system, just like it is every year.  Ahhh, if only my life had landed me somewhere in the southern hemisphere....at least I will be able to start x-country skiing soon.  Can't wait!

I don't know why I'm putting this at the bottom of this post but on Monday my boyfriend of 6 years got me a ring and asked me to marry him.  I wasn't exactly surprised (we were talking about rings since our cruise in October and I mean it has been 6 years) but it was pretty cool to get the ring and make it official :).  I am not the "typical" engaged girl though- I told my mom, my sister, and a close friend and other than that I have just been confirming it if someone asks about the ring.  Maybe I am just getting used to the idea or maybe since I knew it was coming it wasn't the huge "OMG" moment.  I am excited though and am looking forward to planning the wedding (which basically entails picking a spot because I am defintely doing the destination wedding). 

I have been having problems with my side bar gadget freezing up on me so I would like to mention that TMB @ Racing With Babies is having a giveaway for a pretty cool Run Naked Tshirt giveaway.  Head to her blog HERE to find out how to enter.  The last day to enter is November 20. 

How to motivate

I feel really good about how I've been doing on this "round" of building a running base.  I have the written plan in a place that I look at everyday (the fridge) and I have been good about following it.  With that said there are always hurdles and my biggest one is motivation.  It's not that I lack the motivation to become a runner just the motivation to get there.  If I miss my morning or lunchtime workout it's pretty much guaranteed that I will not do it after work.  If something last minute comes up I am all too willing to give up my run for the day (instead of finding a way to do both).  I know that I am building back up a habit that I lost a long time ago and that can be a tough thing to do.  I just hope that I am able to continue on track and find ways to get past my mental blocks.

This morning I did my usual 2min walk/2min run.  It was actually scheduled for yesterday but I didn't get done in the morning so.....(see above :)).  I am just glad that I got it in today and running/walking two days in a row shouldn't be a  problem.  I'm not keeping track of miles right now but did get in a little over 2 today- really slow but no painful shins or side stitches so think I'm on the right track :).

Great Weekend

My weekend was a nice quiet one.  I really enjoy those weekends that involve errands, cleaning, and watching movies in front of the fire (a little cheesy, I know :)).  I feel like I got a lot accomplished after many weekends of heading down to the cabin - it is amazing how quickly a house can get messy just by not being around.  On Friday I did do my run although not as I had planned.  R and I got some last minute plans that forced me to miss my after work run.  I can't say I was disappointed, exactly, but I am trying to overcome those little motivational blocks like working out after work.  Well, needless to say I thought I had blown my run for the day but was pleasantly surprised when part of our plans fell through and we were able to take the dog to a nearby park - a walk for him a run/walk for me ;).  It was very pleasant, kind of like running in a winter wonderland (again with the cheesy!).  I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to running in the cold but I enjoy outside runs to treadmill runs so when I get the opportunity to be off the treadmill I'm pretty happy.  It was a little tougher since there were patches of ice to navigate and in deeper snow it really does feel like running in sand.  Overall it was great and I was so glad that I still got my run/walk in for the day :)!

Back Again.....I Hope

I have been gone from bloggy land for awhile and have really missed it.  I was pretty disappointed in myself for not being able to keep on task with my running and since I had wanted this blog to be about my journey into running I slacked off on it as well.  I guess I just let the excuses get the better of me :).  I am hoping that I am back- I have started a base building plan again (posted on my fridge door with a current and past photo to keep me motivated) and I am currently into week 2.  I am hopeful that I am back both with running and blogging.

I have a run/walk planned for today after work (the absolute hardest time for me to motivate myself to workout- especially on a Friday) but I think that after putting it in writing here it will be harder for me to back out :).  I am trying to find a 5K early in 2011 to sign up for as a reachable goal but, living in AK, it is difficult so I am hoping someone might put on a virtual race (or who knows, mayabe I'll put one on myself). 

Happy Friday!

Getting back in the grove

Things have been going really well the last week and a half with running.  I am glad that I made the decision to get a coach- I think that the accountability has really helped me stay on track and follow through with my scheduled runs.  For example, I had a run on the books for today and I really DID NOT feel like running.  I woke up really late, had a busy morning, and anticipated having a busy afternoon.  I was falling into my old pattern of making excuses about why I couldn't work out: "I don't have enough time for a 30 minute workout", "I don't have time for a snack, I'll be way to hungry to run", "I have too many errands, I'll just move the run to tomorrow, or the next day, etc".  Well, all of this was going through my head and I just stopped, thought about what I was doing, realized how silly I was being, and went downstairs to the employee gym and did my 30 minutes on the treadmill.  I know that I am still working on making this habit and there will most likely be future days that I have doubts and excuses, and I realize that those may not turn out as well as today, but all I can do is take it one day at a time and today, at least, was a victory :).

Have a good week everyone :)!!

New Training Plan

So I found a coach and am really excited about it.  I did consider some of the suggestions I got regarding Runners World, and other online training modules, but decided that I wanted something a little more personal.  I am someone that needs motivation and accountability to stay on track and I didn't think an online module would do it for me.  I ended up signing on with Tonia from Racing With Babies (I think I even got a suggestion for her in my comments :)).  I am a follower of her blog and saw that she had recently started offering her services as a trainer.  I always find her blogs to be informative and motivational so I thought it would be a great fit.  This is my first week - yesterday being my first run on the plan - and I am excited to see how it goes. 

My weekend was pretty nice- R and I went to Cooper Landing (with our dog Cooper, yes he is named after the place :)) where we have a cabin.  We spent the weekend hiking and cruising around the lake on our boat.  It is amazing how fast our weather is changing, the trees are already starting to turn.  It makes me a little sad that summer is over (at least in AK) but I also love the fall so I can't stay sad for long.  I will say that I had quite a scare on Saturday when we went on our wike.  We went down to a river bank and saw a recently eaten fish and evidence of bear scat.  I am TERRIFIED of bears (which can make summer hiking a little stressful here in AK) and had a nervous few minutes until we started heading back up.  My adrenaline got me up the incline pretty quick though :).  The rest of the weekend was a little less eventful but nice.

I have another run scheduled for today and am looking forward to it.  With the last couple of weeks being all over the place I have not worked out as much as I would've liked.  It will be nice to get back onto a schedule. 

Hiatus

So, obviously I took another little bloggy break.  I finished up with classes last week (and it was a doozey) and finally have a little bit of breathing room.  I am realizing that going to college as a fresh, bright eyed eighteen year old is quite a bit different than going as a slightly more cynical, bogged down with a full time job, thirty something year old.  This is not a complaint - just a straight out fact.  Those people that can hold down a full time job while raising a family and going to school full time have my respect because it is not easy (and I just have a boyfriend and dog to worry about - not even kids)!

With that out of the way I can now get on to the reason I started this blog- running.  I am still building up my base (again).  I have a training plan that I like and am sticking with it pretty closely- last week was a little dicey since I had finals and some papers I had to concentrate on- but otherwise it is going pretty well.  I am looking forward to this week because we are supposed to have some nice weather (it has been raining every day for about the last month- kinda depressing) and I would really like to get as many outdoor runs in as possible before the cold weather drives me indoors.  Although, I have to say that my attitude regarding treadmills has greatly improved over the last few months :).

So, I am thinking about getting an online trainer to help me get past the base hurtle - that time after building up to 30 minutes of continuous running and moving on to.....whatever is next.  I would really like to take running to the next level and am unsure how to create a good training plan that doesn't revolve around some type of distance race.  I really don't know how to do speedwork, or pick ups, or fartleks, or really any other type of running workout other than tie up the shoes, head outside and just run until I'm tired.  Has anyone had a trainer/coach before?  I am thinking about trying to get one online- any suggestions, thoughts? 

Here's to a good week and to those who still read my sporadic posts- Thanks :)!!

Looking forward to Friday

I have gone a few days without a post and am missing it.  I am currently getting a degree online (funny, I got my BS a few years ago only to go back for a more practical AAS....ahhh, funny how life is) and the two classes I have right now are pretty challenging.  I had a big push this weekend and, to be honest, when I was done I just did not want anything to do with my computer for a couple of days.  I had online burnout :) which is too bad because there is a lot I enjoy doing online.

R and I went out of town this weekend, we have a cabin a couple of hours outside of town and we try to get down there as much as possible.  We spent the weekend haning out, floating the river, and playing with the Cooper (my dog).  It was great and I was so happy to get out of town- it's like a little mini vacation :).  I didn't run but did a lot of walking so at least I wasn't inactive. 

I have post poned my Monday run to Wednesday because I have a lot going on (broken car, broken work treadmill, broken weather) but I am hoping to have a decent run on Wed.  I haven't been able to increase mileage much yet because of my shins but I still take it as a good sign that they only hurt during the run, not after. 

I slid off the plant based diet over the weekend but have since gotten back on track.  I always get a little carried away with food when we go out of town :).  Well, here's to a good week and I can't wait to catch up on everyone's weekend blogs!

Happy Monday

I did my run for today on the treadmill at work during my lunch break.  The weather has been pretty nasty the last couple of days and I have so much to do after work today that I thought it would be a great opportunity to use the facilities I have at work.  There are even shower rooms so I can clean up after my run....I am a pretty sweaty person :).  It was a rough run.  My shins started to burn before I even hit a mile, it is one of the most frustrating for me because there is nothing you can do but ride it out and just be careful about adding too many miles too quickly.  Does anyone know of any shin exercises that can help this?  If so please share :)!  Overall I did 1.5 miles- this week was supposed to be 2 miles but I kept it at 1.5 because of the shins.  It was a great feeling to have that done and out of the way before noon :).

This weekend was a stressful one.  I was supposed to spend it with the BF out of town at our cabin but my car broke down (or is on it's way to that) on Friday and he had left the day before.  I was able to get down there with another car but it was late and he and his friends had already gone out on the river- I actually didn't mind being left behind since it was raining when I got there.  What I did mind was them not getting back until 1:30 AM, not calling me to let me know (shoddy reception on the river), and not really showing any remorse when they got back.  This may seem like a silly thing to get upset about but I am a worrier and all I kept thinking was that something awful had happened and they were stranded in the middle of the river somewhere.  Plus, I think I was a little cranky about a weekend with me and a bunch of guys- the kind of guys that have no family, significant others, jobs, or really any responsibilities.  If you can imagine what a weekend with these kind of guys would be like then you can imagine my state of mind. 

Sorry about the complaining - had to get it out ;).  I was happy to start my week off with the run scheduled and am hoping that the weather clears up so that I can bike to work a few days (not that I have a lot of choice until the car gets fixed).  Hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Monday!

Veggies, Veggies, and more Veggies

My run last night was fairly uneventful.  I had another 2 miles scheduled so I headed out to the trails by my house.  It has been raining pretty much all week but last night there was a little clearing of the clouds so I thought an outdoor run would be nice.  The two miles went fairly quick (well, 28 minutes is a quick two miles for me :)) and I had no moose road blocks to worry about.  My shins still got pretty sore but I am hoping that will get better as a build my base back up.

This eating plan has been kind of difficult.  The "what" is not so bad- I like veggies and fruit and am slowly getting the meat and dairy out of my regular diet- it's the "quantity" that is killing me.  The plan has me working up to eating a pound of raw veggies a day (I can also have unlimited amounts of fruit, beans, and legumes...yum :)).  It is very difficult, at least for me, to eat at least a pound of veggies a day.  I realize that this is something to built up to, and I'm trying to remember that everyday, but it's still a bit overwhelming.  On the positive side I have lost two pounds in just three days and I really do enjoy what I'm eating if not hitting the right quantity. 

Still going strong

Today my training (and by training I mean base/5K training) bumped me up to two miles.  I decided to take it out on the treadmill since the weather has been rainy and chilly all day (and it looks like it will be for the rest of the week :( ).  While I am doing better than I expected after a month and a half of nadda, I am still walking quite a bit.  For my 2 miles today I decided to do 1/2 mile warm up walk, run 1 mile (which I almost got through without walking and then only for a 1:30 :)), and then cool down with 1/2 mile.  I definitely felt like I made it over a small milestone today because I really, really didn't feel like running, plus had a bit of a headache, but I got my butt to the gym and did it anyway.  For me that's a big deal, it means I'm back to taking this seriously and am no longer giving into any excuse I can think of not to work out.

I am trying out a new "diet" right now.  I use air quotes because it is technically supposed to be a life style change in eating habits rather than a short term way to lose weight.  I'm reading a book called Eat for Health by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  It basically focuses on a primarily plant based diet and stresses the idea that processed and animal based foods are a leading cause of obesity and disease.  I am definitely not trying to get preachy (I love my meat and cheese) but there are a lot of good points and I thought it would be worth a shot especially since I really have a good chunk of weight to lose.  I am still reading through the book right now so am only making small changes right now for example- having a meat and dairy free day or a day without any prepackaged foods.  You know, baby steps :).  I think this is going to be very hard for me because, at the end of the day, my willpower and resolve really aren't that strong.  I give into temptation, A LOT.  But, like I said, I'm willing to give it a try and will probably post updates here so please bear with me :).

Here's to the start of a great week.....Happy Monday!

Great Day for a Run

Today was the perfect day for a run.  It was finally a nice, sunny day but since it's Alaska there was also a nice cool breeze to keep me from melting into the pavement.  I am rebuilding my base right now so the plan for today was to do 1.5 miles (including the warm up and the cool down) but it turned into 2 miles because a moose was blocking my path when I was about .10 of mile from my car.  *sigh* That's AK for you.  The run itself was alright.  My shins got pretty sore about a mile into it (but don't feel sore now which is good) so I walked a bit more than I would've liked.  Overall it was just nice to get out there- two days this week, NICE!  Not much else going through my head right now so I think I will leave it at that :).

Trying New Things

So, I did not go on my scheduled run yesterday (I moved it to today) because R wanted me to go on a bike ride with him.  Now, normally I love going on bike rides but there was a catch to it this time....he wanted me to try out one of the new electric bikes he has put together.  I have to say that I was a little nervous about it- when he had me try his mountain ebike I couldn't even get on the seat (his bike frame is a bit big for me) and I also kept hitting the throttle which would cause the bike seat to ram into my lower back- let me tell ya, it HURT!!  Needless to say I was a little nervous but game to try the new ebike (it is a bright blue Schwinn cruiser, soooo cute!) and since the battery on it had less power than the mountain ebike I was a little more optimistic. 

Can I just say WOOHOO?!?  It was like I was a kid riding a bike for the first time.  It was a little awkward at first and I was walking up any steep dirt trails but once I got going I just cruised around the bike trials at full speed.  I had the time of my life!  We also took Coop with us and that little guy kept up with us the whole time - new way to exercise our dog :).  R is hoping to list it on Craigs and sell it but I asked him if I keep this one and he could sell the next one....we'll see, if nothing else maybe I can get him to build me a new one.

I am feeling a little down about this weekend- EVERYONE is going out of towns: R & Coop, the folks, close friends that would normally be my "go tos".  I usually am OK with some "ME" time but for some reason am not looking forward to it this time.  Guess it will be a good time to get some runs in :) and maybe some super fun house cleaning. 

Happy Weekend to All!!

Running...Finally

I ran last night for the first time in quite awhile (yes, my first attempt at getting my motivation back petered out a bit) and it really felt great.  I only did 1.5 miles (.25 warm up and .25 cool down) with one mile of that being the actual run.  I was pretty surprised that I was able to do pretty much the whole thing with only a one minute walk break in the middle.  It did hurt a bit and I was definitely sucking wind by the end but I was still able to do it and that, for me, was really the most important thing.  I have a new training schedule printed and posted to my fridge and I am planning on sticking with it.  I have put the P90X training off until I get back into better cardio shape.  I was nervous to start it back when I was working out regularly and don't think I would survive (yes, I like to exaggerate...) it right now :).  Still, I am just so happy to have my ankle back to full strength, to feel motivated to run again, and to try and get back to the blogging world.  I really have missed getting up every morning and reading everyone's blogs, I feel like I have missed A LOT!  I am also looking forward to getting in some 5Ks towards the end of summer.  Nothing is more discouraging than signing up and training for a race(s) and then having something like an injury take you out.  But that's life and all you can do is suck it up, accept it, and move on :).  Here's to moving on!!

Great night for a hike

I haven't started my new training program yet (Monay's the day :)) but I didn't want that to be an excuse to not exercise so last night I decided to go on a hike.  I talked Regan into so we packed up the dog and headed to a place nearby called Arctic Valley.  Now, I do consider this a hike but it is a very mellow, low key hike.  It is a gradual uphill climb and it took us about an hour to get to the overlook- I was so bummed that I had forgotten my camera though because it was a beautiful view.  It felt so good to get outside and get some exercise :).  The dog was hilarious, he would run from one side of the mountain to the other (I swear it was less than a minute for him to get from one side to the other)- he was so happy and excited to be out there running circles around us :).  It was a great time for all of us and reinforced my desire to get back into shape.  Hope everyone has a great weekend and good luck to those racing!

Bad Blogger.....Bad

So, I have obviously not been the best blogger (or any blogger at all) for the last month.  I really hate admitting this but I basically let my injury beat me.  Not being able to exercise for 4 weeks took it's toll and pretty much threw me back to square one!  I have gone on two runs since I've healed and both were decent (I wasn't sucking wind as much as I thought I would) but getting back into the habit of "training" has been difficult.  I wasn't able to participate in any of the races I signed up for which was a bummer but the summer is not over and I am hoping to get a couple of 5Ks in yet.  I want to get back on track and having this blog (and reading everyone else's) helped me a lot.  I am a beginner (again :)) and am ok with that.  I am going to get onto a 5K training plan and just start over- fresh, renewed, healed, and recharged.  All support is welcome and very much appreciated :)!!

Happy Hump Day Bloggy Land!

First Run in a Month

Yesterday I ran for the first time in a month, almost to the day.  I waited a little longer than I had wanted but didn't want to risk re-injuring my ankle.  It was such a great run!!  It was a beautiful day - one of those not too hot not too cold days (perfect for working out)- and I couldn't wait to get out there and run.  When I first started out my foot felt a little sore but after my warm up it didn't hurt much at all.  I ran on pavement because I didn't want to risk tripping over any roots or rocks, just a nice even path.  I was really surprised at how good I felt, after a month of almost no exercise I was afraid I would be back at square one.  I ran two miles (and only walked .20 of that) at about a 15 min pace- a little slow (and I felt like I could go a little faster) but I didn't want to overdue anything- and my lungs and legs held up great.  I am so excited - I'm back :)!!!

I have put P90X on hold for now.  I was all gung ho to get started but decided that I wanted to wait a couple of weeks.  I want to build my cardio back up and even though I technically passed all the minimum tests I think I need to build myself up a little bit more.  I don't want to start, not be able to keep up, and then quit after day one.  Also, I have a 5 mile race coming up June 12th and this year I really want to train to run the entire thing (with very minimal walking) and get a PR- if I start P90X now I envision being very, very, very sore and maybe slacking on the running a little bit.  So, my goal is to start it on the 14th of June :).

Hope everyone had a great weekend and here's to a great week :)!

The good and the bad...

Today was a great day.  I woke up early and saw my parents for breakfast, cleaned the house (it really needed it), went on a 10 mile bike ride (figuring out the best route to get to work), and took the dog for a walk with R.  It was a great Saturday and I felt very productive and active which I haven't really been feeling much of the last three weeks.  There was a down side though- I tried jogging a little bit and my ankle still hurts.  I don't feel any pain from just walking but when I started to run I felt it in my foot and it didn't feel good (not really bad but enough discomfort to know that it just isn't time to run yet).  I guess I was a little optimistic since it's been feeling so much better, and three weeks seems like a long enough time for it to heal, but I guess I'm just not there yet.  I'm OK with that for now- I am able to exercise in other ways so at least I can keep my cardio going :).

So, I opened up my P90X package today and have to say that I am really excited (and a little nervous) about it. I talked R into doing it with me- we both have some extra pounds to lose and muscle to gain- which I think will help me a lot, keep me motivated.  It took a little while to read through everything but it looks straight forward enough.  Tomorrow R and I are going to do the Min Fit Test and see where we're at (after glancing at it I do think I will pass but probably just with the minimums).  I am looking forward to trying a new program.

Well, I am off to a movie with R and then looking forward to a good night's sleep...I am pretty wiped tonight, but in a good way :)!!  Hope everyone who raced did well and can't wait to read some race recaps:).

Trying to get back into it...

It is pretty difficult to jump back into a regular exercise routine when you go from nonactive to active to injured and back to active.  It is so easy to fall into bad, old habits: not working out everyday, watching too much television, eating too much food.  Needless to say it's been a bit of a struggle for me to get back into a good routine.  Two weeks of "lazing" around waiting for a sprained ankle to heal has definitely set me back quite a bit. My ankle is pretty good right now.  The bruising and swelling are pretty much gone and it doesn't get sore from a day of walking around any more.  I may still need to take it a little slow and cautious but there is no doubt that I am ready to start jogging again.  The fact that I miss running is a good sign- I want to get back out there, I want to get off my tooshey, I want to get back on track.  That makes me think I am going to get through this bout of injury/nonactivity/laziness :)!!

Ok- I know this is like the 5th or so time I've changed my blog layout in the last month or so but this should be it for awhile (I hope).  There are just too many options out there and I get bored a little too easily.  I like playing around with different backgrounds but it can also be a bit overwhelming (and annoying) to have so many choices.  This one felt springy and summery so I think it will at least get me through to the fall :).  Please check out my sidebar for current giveaways- there are a couple ending in a day or two so if you haven't already jump on them :).

I ordered the P90X program and it just arrived today (haven't opened the box yet).  I am excited and a little nervous to try it out.  I have heard and read some great reviews about it so I believe you can get results but I am nervous that I am not quite in shape enough to get through it- I've heard that it really kicks your butt (and from people that are already in pretty good shape).  Well, I am going to give it a try but if anyone has any words of advise please share.

Happy Hump Day and Have a Great Week!!

Blogging Absentee

I have not had a chance to blog all week!  I still try and read fellow bloggers' posts but I have been a ghost around the house for the last week, week and a half.  My job is picking up and I had finals and papers due today for school- done until classes start again Sunday :)!!  Not to mention the fact that I haven't done much in the way of working out since the ankle "incident".  The ankle is much, much  better and I think I may be able to start running again next week (YIPPEE!!) but until then I am not doing a lot (I did finally do some strength training the other day, it felt great).

It has been GORGEOUS weather wise here this week (which has made the no activity very hard) and I am a little bummed because my first race of the year was supposed to be this weekend- the Salmon 5K.  I am relieved that my injury isn't worse but sad that I won't be able to participate in this race.  I was excited because it would have given me a chance to gauge where I was at running fitness wise.  *sigh* Oh, well, can't pout for too long :).

I hope that everyone has a great weekend- even though running and hiking is out I am hoping to enjoy the sun with some good bike rides.  For everyone that is racing this weekend GOOD LUCK :)!!

On the mend

I have been a little lazy about my blog the last few days- guess I'm just feeling bummed that I can't write about my runs :).  My ankle is doing a lot better.  It is still a little swollen and sore (and has started to get some interesting color) but I am able to walk on it, slowly.  Considering how painful it was on Sunday (when it happened) and Monday I was very happy to start hobbling around on it by Tuesday evening.  When I heard a pop when I fell I really thought it was going to be bad but turns out it's just a bad sprain and nothing worse.  I iced right away and I think that helped a lot in it getting better quicker.  I am hoping to be able to start biking next week and then, maybe, start jogging the week after that.  Two weeks might be a little ambitious but I am keeping my fingers crossed :).

Injury galore

I look at my last post and think about how lucky I would be to have shin splints right now.  You see, last night while doing laundry, something I've done at least twice a week for 2 1/2 years, I stepped down wrong and twisted my ankle.  The rest of yesterday and all of today has been spent laying in pretty much just one position with my foot propped up chillin' under a bag of ice.  I honestly can't believe that I am laid up like this from doing something as normal and mundane as laundry.  I am pretty bummed about it.  Even with the looming threat of shin splints I still felt pretty good about my running and exercise and now here I am not being able to run for at least two weeks.  I guess it could've been a worse injury but it's still a bummer.  On the bright side my right, non-injured, leg is getting a lot of work in and every time I need to go up stairs my triceps get a great workout- I guess that's something :).  Here's to a speedy recovery :)!

I did want to mention that Racing with Babies blogger TMB is having a giveaway for a great necklace from Tarma Designs.  Please check it out HERE to find out how to enter and win :)!

UGHHHH...Shins Suck!

Today was absolutely beautiful!  It was clear, sunny, and warm (for AK :)) and I was psyched to get out for a run.  I felt really good on Tuesday and Wednesday when I went out so thought today would be even better.  Wow, was I completely and totally wrong.  I did my usual warm up (about .25 of a mile) and then started on the run.  At first everything was fine, the first mile is always the hardest for me since my body is warming up, but then at about 1/2 a mile my shins were in agony.  I stopped and walked for a minute and then tried running again- little shots of fire ran up the front of my legs.  I honestly couldn't believe it, I hadn't had shin problems like this since I first started running.  I was pretty frustrated- all I could think of was how bad they felt and how I probably wasn't going to be able to run for like a week.  I decided that even if I couldn't run it I would at least walk the 3 miles so I could get the mileage in.  The next 1/2 mile was painful, even walking, but by about mile 2 it was feeling better and by the time I got back to my car my shins felt OK.  I think I stopped running in time to prevent bad shin splints.  I guess I overdid it a bit this week increasing my mileage.  Going from 2 to 3 didn't seem like a huge jump but when you're supposed to be building a foundation increasing too quickly can end up setting you back.  My biggest problem is that I'm impatient- I want to go out and run 10 miles now, I want to lose all of my weight now, I want to be fit and in shape now.  I know I need to be patient but sometimes it's hard.  I've decided to alternate my running days again (no more back to backs) and to also alternate a treadmill run with a pavement run to ease myself into longer distances on a harder surface.  I am going to try and stay with 3 miles though because I really do think I'm ready for that distance.  Tomorrow will be a nice 20 mile bike ride - no shin pain for me :)!

'The truth is that we can learn to condition our minds, bodies, and emotions to link pain or pleasure to whatever we choose.  By changing what we link pain and pleasure to, we will instantly change our behavior'
Tony Robbins

Feelin pretty sore

This is going to be a pretty short and sweet post- I am super duper tired and my body is hurting just a bit.  I did my second 3 mile run of the week and it went a lot smoother then yesterdays.  I drove a little ways to a bike path that was completely dried out- the pavement was much easier to run on.  The one draw back of this path is that it is right along the highway.  I mean it's far enough over that I'm not sucking in kick back from the cars passing by but, still, it's right there.  The first 1.5 mile was good, I didn't stop at all (funny though, this is the mile that I can always run straight through but it's also the mile I have to keep talking myself into finishing) and it felt pretty good.  At the turn around point I walked for 2 minutes and then two more times for a minute each.  I don't mind that I walked a little bit - I think total is was less than .25 of a mile so really not bad, starting to build up on my endurance :).  My total for the day (which includes warm up and cool down) was 3.66 miles- YAY!!! I finally broke through the two mile plateau.

STATS:

Mile 1- 13:02

Mile 2- 14:14

Mile 3- 13:51

Total Time: 41:07

About 13 minutes faster than yesterday but still a little slow.  Working on it though :).

We took Coop to the vet today, poor guy.  The good news is that the cut was pretty clean and since we've done a good job keeping it clean no stitches :).  I got a little bootie for him for when he goes outside and he absolutely hates it.  He doesn't tear it off but his limp gets a lot more noticeable when it's on.  Just glad he's alright and that whatever cut him didn't hit tendon or muscle- we got lucky :).

Happy Wednesday!!

'Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves.  It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go.  It helps us to find out what we are made of.  This is what we do.  This is what it's all about'

PattiSue Plumer

This fun bloggy world

I am having so much fun with this blog.  As you can see from the address I did attempt another blog (I didn't think to change it until I was well under way with this current blog) but I don't think I made it past one post.  With that said I am very much an amateur when it comes to running and modifying my blog (I'm guessing most people are at first).  It has been fun, and sometimes frustrating, to figure out new ways to manipulate and personalize my blog.  Last night I was up way, way, way too late because I finally stumbled upon FREE (amazing!) blog backgrounds and couldn't go to bed until I looked at every single one - and tried out a good handful on my site.  I was thrilled when I finally figured out how to get widgets on here through the HTML/Java gadget (so simple- I know!).  I am still trying to figure out how to format a picture in my header (right now it's just one huge pic) but since I don't read the language of HTML it might be awhile until I get that one right :).  I guess the bottom line is that I am having a great time figuring all this out and I'm getting more and more "into it" everyday.  I sit down every morning before work and every evening before bed and read everyone's blogs - it's pretty great :)!

Today's run was a mix of good and bad.  It was my first official day on my new and improved training plan and it called for 3 miles.  I wasn't too worried about the distance because it wasn't much farther than what I've been running the last few weeks (plus I've been dying to up my mileage so it was great).  I did, however, miscalculate my route, big time.  There is a bike trail right by my house that goes back into the woods and connects up to a bunch of trails all around town.  On my way home from work today I caught a glimpse of the trail closest to my house and it looked clear and dry of all snow- I was psyched because this meant that I could just go right out the front door, no driving somewhere to run.  YEAH!  Well, R (the BF) and Coop came out with me- they were going to walk and I was going to run- and I kid you not as soon as we crossed into the first part of the trail from the sidewalk Coop stepped on a piece of glass and cut open his paw (some jerk tossing a beer bottle I'm sure : ( !!).  He was bleeding a fair amount so R took him home but I really needed to get the run in so I kept going (I know, I should be hauled away for not helping out my injured dog).  The first part of the run was great and then at about .75 of the first mile I hit the other side of the trail.  It was awful!  Completely covered in slushy snow, soooo hard to run in- I was slipping and sliding everywhere.  I was able to go for about 1 mile out and back but it was brutal and I had to walk quite a bit.  The goodish part of this is that I felt good physically- I think if the whole thing was pavement I would've done pretty good.  For the last 1.5 miles I was fairly wiped from "running" in the slush so was a little on the slow side but I was just glad to get the mileage in.  I also got to use my Garmin (love it!) which was nice since most of my runs have been on the treadmill the last couple of weeks.  Overall I was happy with my run (not very happy with my pace due to the slushy snow).

Stats (hmmm, so official sounding :)):
Mile 1- 16:00
Mile 2- 17:08
Mile 3- 15:15
best pace 8:14 (don't know if I trust the Garmin on this...)
slowest pace 22:00 (very slushy snow)

Here I am before heading out for my run...

...and right after- talk about sweaty!!

My poor Coop after the cut.  It seems to be ok but we really need to watch it-I'm worried about infection.  

I just want to say CONGRATS to everyone that ran Boston yesterday.  I've read a couple of great race reports and look forward to reading many more!

'The training is constant.  You just have to stick with it and you'll be successful.  I use running to stay healthy and burn off the day's stress'

Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger

Back on the training wagon

When I first started this blog about a month ago (wow- can't believe it's already been a month) I also started a half marathon training plan since I want to do one this August.  I knew I was being a bit ambitious since I hadn't really run at all in over 6 months but I found a beginner program and got started.  Now, what I did not fully take into account was that the beginner training program for a half marathon does not define beginner as someone new to running but someone new to running the half marathon distance.  The "suggestion" is that you are able to run for at least 30 minutes continuously to start the program.  Being the undying optimist that I am ( ;-) ) I decided to do the program even though I was just starting out as a runner in general.  Well, needless to say, that only lasted about two weeks.  Since then I have just been running to build up strength and endurance, which is fine, but as I've mentioned in a couple of previous posts, I have been losing focus and motivation.  Last week I signed up for a few races (yippee!) and this week I am getting back on an actual training plan.  I am still not a "beginner" according to the half marathon guidelines but I've decided to mesh two different plans together and I think that will help.  For the first 6 weeks I am going to use a 5K training plan and for the following 8 weeks I am going to use the half marathon plan which should take me right up to the race itself :).  I think this will be a great way to train since the 5K is more within my range and will help me build up to the half training plan.  I am looking forward to having a daily schedule since I think not having one contributed greatly to my "slump" of the last couple of weeks.
My schedule for this week:
Monday: Weight Training
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: Weight Training
Friday: 3 miles
Saturday: Spin 
Sunday: 3 miles
Total of 12 miles for the week

My weekend was pretty quiet.  I went on two wikes with BF and the dog and it was nice.  Things are really starting to melt here so even though things are pretty gross and smelly I just remind myself that everyday will get nicer and nicer.  I am just impatient to start biking to work but there's still a good amount of snow on the trails (no studs on my bike).  I am looking forward to watching Boston tonight (I DVR'd it)- hope everyone who went did well :)!!

Happy Monday!

'Find a new trail, a different town, a place you've never been before to run' 
Jason Karp

Tummy Troubles

I was back on the treadmill today for my run.  My original plan was to try and go for at least 3.5 miles - I have been stuck on 2.5 for a few weeks now and I really want to push past that.  I can't tell if it is a physical limitation or a mental block.  I mean when I hit 2 miles I feel done and don't feel like I can go any farther but part of getting better is pushing past the discomfort.  I am leaning more towards mental as the real culprit.  For me running is very mental- "you can do it" "keep going, 2 more minutes" "it's only .35 more to one mile" etc.  Part of the current problem, I think, is that I know I can do 2.5 miles, it is within my range so if I am tight on time or am feeling a little less than motivated all I have to tell myself is "you can do 2.5 miles, no problem".  I am hoping that going outside will help me with this running distance rut.  If I am outside I don't mind going 2 miles in one direction and then turning around and going back 2 miles.  On the treadmill (while I am definitely warming up to it) it is hard to make myself stay on there for an hour or more and since my miles are so slow right now trying to get in 4 miles, plus a W/U & C/D, takes at least an hour.

So, back to my original plan.  I was fully prepared to take that hour and turn it into 3.5/4 miles.  Everything was fine, I was getting the "done" feeling at 2 miles but was getting ready to push when I literally felt a different kind of push.  Now, I have never had tummy troubles while running-I think the main reason is that I just don't run long enough times for this to be a problem, it's usually about 30-40 minutes.  My biggest issue to date has been hydration (either too much water = having to pee every 5 minutes or not enough water = killer dehydration headaches for the rest of the day) but tummy, no problem.  Well, today it was quite the opposite.  I didn't feel any grumblings before the run but, like I said, around mile 2 it started to make itself known.  I thought I could still make it to 3 miles but about .25 of a mile later it was all I could do to make it to the bathroom.  I do think this was a fluke.  I mean until I start running for 1+ hours I think I can plan around the tummy issues but man, it was pretty freaking uncomfortable.

Ok, there is a super great giveaway going on at My Reason to Run- it's for a running skirt!  I am really excited about this because I think the running skirts are soooo cute- I'm just not quite ready to buy one (they are reasonably priced but I just don't know how I'd feel running in a skirt so am a little nervous).  If you want to enter to win an awesome skirt from Runningskirts.com go HERE (until April 29th) and good luck :)!

There is also a giveaway for compression socks (something else I really want to try out) at Lil Runner.  She is taking entries until April 23rd- check it out HERE and good luck (again :))!

Looking forward to a great weekend...hoping to get out there, finally, for a run and hike.  Happy Friday and good luck to all those racing this weekend!

'Keeping my eye on today is about all I'm capable of.  And today, I think I'll go for a run'
John Bingham 

Racing....YIPPEE!!

So today I signed up for a series of races that are coming up over the next couple of months.  I am actually excited about this because it is just what I need to help me get out of my current rut.  Technically I am planning to sign up for a half this fall but I haven't officially started the training plan yet (it's a 12 week plan and I am still building up to be able to start it) and I was hoping to get some shorter races in beforehand.  I also think I needed some tangible short term goals to work on (other than losing weight which can be overwhelming at times).  I looked at the local running calendar tonight and went a little crazy- I was signed up for four races within an hour.  The first one is a 5K the 8th of May, then a 4 miler a week later, on to a 12K 3 weeks after that, and finally a 5 miler on June 12th.  I think they are all within my range (if I pick up the pace like right now) and I think it's a pretty good progression of distance.  I can't wait :)!

My run today was pretty good.  I almost didn't go because of a late, late lunch where I overindulged a bit too much (he he he) and feeling a little sore from the run/weights yesterday.  But I got my lazy butt up and hit the gym for my usual 2.5 miles (man, I really need to get off that number :)).  Since I knew I wasn't going to increase the mileage tonight (I felt happy just getting there) I decided to at least pick up the pace.  For the first mile I ran at a 12:28/mile (about a 1:20 faster than my "usual" pace) and for the second mile 13:22 (about :26 sec quicker).  It was hard, definitely, but it felt really good to push myself in some way.  I was able to do the whole first mile without pausing or slowing down (yesterday I wasn't) and for the second mile I walked for 1 minute at the half mile point.  I think I might try and aim for 12:30 as my pace for now (until I feel ready for another increase) I mean it was hard but I was able to keep up with it so I think it's within my capability.

Another great day- I really do feel refocused and raring to go.  YIPPEE!!

'We run because it makes us feel like runners, no matter how slow or how fast we go'
Florence Griffith Joyner and John Hanc 

Reconnecting

Well, I have been a little disconnected the last few days.  No new post, no new run, no new workout.  I had a lot going on last week - new job, new classes, and the BF was out of town all week- so, five days without a run.  The funny thing is that I'm not upset about it.  Yesterday I thought about the reasons for not running.  I also reevaluated where I was fitness wise and why I started running to begin with.  I think I just needed to reconnect with running.  I'm still a beginner and for me that means running hasn't become a habit yet.  It isn't second nature for me to get my shoes on and go for a run regardless of what's going on or how I feel...yet.  I am still at a point where I can easily talk myself out of a run if I am not feeling up to it (or into it).  When this happened last week I got upset with myself but now I just feel like it's a part of becoming a runner- I am still learning to make running an integral part of my life.  I've still made a lot of progress over the last few months and I think my resolve is solid and I will keep improving.

Today was great.  My new office building has a little work out room so as soon as I got off I went down there and hopped on the treadmill.  I could definitely feel the five days of not running (or working out at all) but it felt great to get on the 'mill and get through the usual 2.5 miles.  My time was a little slower then it had been last week but not as bad as I thought it would be.  It just felt like I was back on track when I was done :).  I am very grateful to have that treadmill at work, I think that will help me on days that I am not feeling motivated to go out and run- no stopping by the house before the gym (or even changing my mind on the way to the gym)- it's there and there are no excuses to get out of running.  Just what I need :)!

I also did my weight training routine today.  This was great because I had only done it one day last week and my goal is to get two days a week in.  I could feel a bit more of a burn today but it was the good kind- like I was accomplishing something by lifting those weights.  I am hoping to get my second day in on Thursday.

I actually signed up for a challenge that Amanda at Run to the Finish is putting on.  The challenge is to commit to 3 changes for 30 days.  You get points by sticking with your changes (and a couple of other ways) and at the end she is having a giveaway for some great prizes.  I thought this would be a great way for me to get out of my slump.  My challenges are:
    1. Commit to lifting weights 2x/week (have been aiming for this for awhile but somehow only do it 1x/week)
    2. No eating after 7:30pm
    3. Upping my runs to 5 days a week (right now I am only averaging 2-3 and I would really like to start building mileage).
I think that this will be a great challenge and am looking forward to sticking with my changes :).  Make sure to check it out for yourself HERE.

Looking forward to a great week!

'Life is short.  Running makes it seem longer'
Baron Hansen

Chugging along...

So today was a challenging run.  I had originally planned on running 4 miles (I am getting a little too "stuck" on the 2.5 miles) but when I got on that treadmill it was like I had no energy at all!  I was able to pull out my usual 2.5 but it was rough- it almost felt like it was my first run ever (well, not quite that bad :-)).  I think that since I am starting work this week and am having to get up earlier I am just a lot more tired.  Monday was a great run and even though it was just 2.5 I felt really good - and that was after a three day "break".  I'm not too worried about it though, it really did feel like very low energy rather than sore, tired legs or incapable lungs.  I am planning on doing some intervals tomorrow so I am hoping that puts a little spring in my step, I better get a good nights sleep :-)!

So, as much as I love living in Alaska I can sometimes get very frustrated with it.  The last few weeks have been gorgeous and sunny- not too warm but warm enough to have things melting nice and slow.  I was loving it!  Then low and behold we get a little snow storm on Monday night and now it is cold and snowy (and it feels like winter!) and, to be honest, it really sucks!  I am reading about everyone getting nice warm weather and I get this...bummer for me :( !!  Ok, enough of the sobbing over something that happens every single April...


Happy Hump Day to all and to all a good night :-)!

'Winning has nothing to do with racing.  Most days don't have racing anyway.  Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up'
Amby Burfoot

Thank You

I am really glad that I made the decision to start this blog.  If I hadn't then the mood I was in yesterday may have affected me more than it did.  With this blog I was able to write and share what I was feeling which made me feel a lot better and allowed me to get out of my funk a lot quicker.  I want to say thank you for all of your comments, they were all encouraging and I had a smile on my face when I left for work this morning :-)!

I did run today and felt great about it.  This week is going to have to be a treadmill week for me.  The BF is out of town for work and  I am starting a new job so the treadmill is more convenient right now (come on snow...MELT!).  I was a little nervous about my run since I hadn't exercised in three days but I got on the treadmill and got my first mile in without stopping - YAY :-)!  For my second mile I had to take two 30 second rests but I didn't walk at all, I even averaged 13:20/mile which is actually about 40-50 seconds faster then the last time I was on the treadmill.  It was weird, my legs actually felt better when I ran a little faster and seemed to tighten up if I tried to slow it down.  Overall it was a great workout and I feel like I am back on track with everything.  Thanks again for your support and I am looking forward to a good week.

' Often, the enjoyment is the training before and the memory after'
Doug Kurtis 

Bump in the road

So I have hit a little bump in the road with running and weight loss.  I haven't worked out since Thursday's run.  No running, no cross training, no weight lifting.  I can't really explain what happened- the week was fine and I was jazzed about Thursday's run and then bam, nada.  I had a lot going on Friday so I decided to use it as my "rest" day.  Saturday came around and I went on a long walk with the BF and dog.  I planned to run later in the day but it didn't happen.  I decided to do weights instead but that didn't happen.  I thought I would just move it to Sunday but nope, no workout.  I think I have hit a bit of a wall.  Not the losing weight plateau or time to change the exercise routine slump- I just started to think about how far I have to go to get where I want to be.  It's been about three months since I started running and about a month since I started paying attention to what I'm eating and the sad thing is I still have a long, long, long way to go.  I think it will be 6 months to a year before I am at the weight I want to be and probably just as long to get into the physical shape I want to be in.  The last couple of months have been going pretty good but it's hard when you realize that results aren't instant, it takes a lot of time and a lot of continuous effort (naive to think otherwise I know).  I'm sorry that this is a downer post- I think the three days without a workout is affecting my mood :-).  I know that tomorrow is a new day and I have already planned when I am going to run and what I am going to eat for the day and for most of the week.  Monday is a fresh week and I am really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.  Even with the "feeling down" attitude I know it's just a phase, part of realizing that it took a lot of time for me to get to where I am (pounds to lose, metabolism to reboot, stamina to rebuild), so it will take time to get back to a lighter, fitter me.   As long as I keep pushing forward and go on that run tomorrow I will be fine- it's just a bump in the road.

On to other, better, news...I lost 1/2 of a pound this week.  Nothing like last week's big loss but I am ok with it.  I figure that since I lost double my weekly goal last week I can afford a smaller loss this week- and the good news is that at least I didn't gain any poundage :-)!  This week I am going to focus on what I eat and the calories I am taking in.  If I figure out the amount of calories of the food I want, before eating it, it really helps me keep the overeating in check.  I also want to stay away from all prepackaged, processed foods this week.  I am think about making weekly challenges/goals like that for myself but need to take a hard look at what I actually eat before deciding what needs to go.

I am also really excited about another giveaway that TMB @ Racing with Babes is putting on.  It is for a Moving Comfort sports bra- I don't know about everyone else but a good sports bra is pretty essential for me!  To find out all the ways to get an entry in go here.  I love all the giveaways!  So much fun and great prizes.  Might have to think of one to put on myself in the near future :-).

Hope no one was discouraged by my ranting blog today- just needed to get it all out :-).
Have a great week!!

'Once your a runner, it's always there in the back of your head'
Bill Rodgers

Great Run

Yesterday I had a really good run.  It was only 2.33 (still can't seem to get past 2-3 miles but getting there...) but it was great!  I ran outside again and was expecting it to be a toughy but this time the stars seemed to align and everything went well.  It was a nice day which always puts me in a motivated mood, I was trying out my new Garmin (which I freakin' love!!), and I was rockin' a new pair of kicks- they are Saucony's Progrid Triumphs and they are wonderful.  I did a lot of overwhelming research to find a good pair of running shoes and it came down to these and a pair of Brooks.  I don't know how the Brooks would've been but these were like running on clouds (ok, maybe an exaggeration but they were great and my shins didn't hurt at all).  I was also a little surprised to see that my miles averaged just about 13 minutes.  Even on the treadmill I ran at about 14 minutes so I was shocked to see this faster time out on the pavement.  At first I thought I was just pushing to hard and that I wouldn't make it far at that pace but it was actually hard to slow it down so I just went with it.  Even with a couple of hills that was my average time.  I was thrilled (I know 13 min is pretty slow but when you're coming from 15 it feels great :-)).  Overall it was a great run and I can easily make it into 3+ miles, I just have to suck it up and do a hill to get the extra mileage.

Today I am going to try my version of intervals (?)- jog the first mile and then alternate 1 minute of walking with 1 minute of sprinting for the second, and hopefully third, miles.  I don't know if this is true interval training but I thought I should throw something like this into the mix.  I'm going to do this on the treadmill so that I have some control over it.  We'll see how it goes :-).


There is a giveaway for Run Like a Mother being put on by Happy Runner.  Check it out HERE to find out how to enter.  




"As every runner knows, running is about more than just about putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are"
Joan Benoit Samuelson

New Beginning

So, this week is my last week as unemployed and it's really made me think about the last month and a half that I've had "off".  I don't regret leaving my last job- it was really making me miserable.  I was stressed, unhappy, and very unhealthy (not entirely the jobs fault but a pretty big contributor).  Since then I have started running (loving it too :-)) and have been a lot more careful about what I eat.  I don't know if I could given myself this kind of time and attention if I hadn't been out of a job and now that I'm going back to work I feel like I am in a really good head space and that I won't slack off on the progress I've made.  Cooper (my lab) may not be too thrilled when I'm not spending 24/7 with him but I think he'll still get those daily walks :-).

Today was my weight training day and it went pretty well.  Right now I have a 40 minute routine that I am working through.  It is full body, two sets of ten, with 5 and 8lb dumb bells.  This is perfect for now- I work up a sweat, feel a bit of a burn, and am a little sore in the morning.  I will probably do this for two more weeks and then change it up either through different exercises or by going to a strength training class at the gym.

I don't know about the rest of you but the weather today was gorgeous!  It wasn't my run day so I was a little bummed (maybe following plan a little too strictly?) but I am hoping that I get the same deal tomorrow for my three miler.  Lovin' the melting snow and can't wait until it's gone- fully into Spring Fever right now...

One Step Forward, Three Steps Back

Today was a little discouraging.  For the first time since I've started running (about 2 1/2 months ago) I ran on pavement.  It's either been the treadmill or snow packed trails, both of which seemed a lot easier then the pavement.  I've said before that I know the treadmill can be deceiving and today proved that for me.  On the treadmill I can run a full mile without stopping.  On a treadmill I run a 14 min/mile (yes, snail pace I know but still...).  On a treadmill I can see what my pace and distance is.  On pavement....let me just say UGH!!!  I felt every step, and not in a good way.

Sorry, I know that I am being a bit of a downer but last week was great for me so this was a little slap in the face.  On the upside I have decided that all of my runs, weather permitting, are now going to be outside on the road so I can start building on that.  I have mapped out a nice 3.5 mile out and back that I think I am going to start making my daily run (long runs may have to wait until I'm comfortable with the 3.5).

On to exciting news- my Garmin was delivered today!  I got the Forerunner 305 and have it charging now so I can start playing with it.  I kept reading about other bloggy runners that use them so I got curious and did some research on them.  What a wonderful tool to have for running!  I am getting to a place where I am more concerned with mileage and pacing then just with running for 30 minutes and calling it good.  The Garmin will allow me to go on runs pretty much anywhere and still be able to track how many miles I'm running and at what pace.  I can't wait to strap it on!

Happy Monday!

End of a great week...

I haven't blogged in a couple of days- it's been a little hectic.  I know I haven't written about it much (if at all) but I have been looking for a job for about a month and finally got one Friday!  It seems like a great place and I am really excited about the job.  Added bonus, it's really close to a bike trail that goes to my house so I can bike a lot this summer.

My runs last week were all on the treadmill.  I did two miles on Friday and another two today.  I seem to be in a two mile rut (with the occasional three thrown in).  I know that I am still working on the cardio part - I am now able to run a full mile and most of the second but I am frustrated because mentally I am ready for more.  I know it will keep getting better and that I shouldn't whine- honestly compared to where I was a couple of months ago this is great.  Just need to keep plugging along.

I did my weight training yesterday and it felt pretty good.  When I lifted on Tuesday I could barely move the next day but I don't feel nearly as sore today (same workout) so I am taking that as a good sign.  I was supposed to run but had a birthday party to go to so moved the run to today.  I am trying to be good about alternating days since I am a beginner but it can be tough.  If I have a good run all I want to do is go out and run the next day.  Does anyone know how important rest days are?  I mean I know I need to alternate strength training days but if I ran six days a week with one rest day would that be too hard on my body?

So, I weighed myself this morning and (drum roll please)...I lost 3.6 lbs this week!!  I was really surprised! I have been aware of my calories but haven't necessarily been hitting what I need to for weight loss.  My only explanation is that I am eating a lot less calories than I was a few weeks ago (even if not at the "ideal" number), I am running 3-4 days a week, and I have a good two weeks of weight training (twice a week).  I think once I start hitting my goal calories the weight will keep dropping.  I am just so happy about the 3.6- I know that it won't always be that much but it's a great way to start it off :-).

I also want to put out there that Lazy Bones Running is having a giveaway for a SUPER CUTE Sherpani makeup bag.  To enter go HERE and find out how to get your entry in...

Here's to another great week ahead...

YAY - It's Thursday!

Today was my rest day.  I was planning on doing some strength training (and still might even though the day is creeping away) but am actually feeling pretty lazy.  Not sure why, didn't really do anything strenuous today- guess it's just one of those "I don't want to do anything but watch bad reality TV" moments (I am ashamed to admit that I LOVE reality TV but there it is).  Tomorrow I have some office testing to do (for temp work), an interview, and a long run so maybe it's good that I took today off.  

On another note- for anyone who might take a look at my blog I want to make you aware of the giveaway that RACING WITH BABIES blogger, TMB, is putting on.  It is for Run Like a Mother and it sounds like it is a wonderful book (written by bloggers Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea) and entries are being excepted on her site until tomorrow, March 26th.  If you're interested in a chance to win this book (like I am :-)!) please click HERE to find out how to enter.  Good luck!!

Happy Hump Day

Every run seems to get better and better!  Today I did three miles and ran all but maybe .25 of it.  I did do it on the treadmill (it was a nice day weather wise but my schedule was a little crazy so the dreadmill fit in better) which I think is a little deceptive for me but it is still three miles and I still ran a good 90% of it so I am still proud of my run!  I love having the sense of wanting to run.  My days are starting to be planned around my runs (well, that might be a little extreme but I do make sure and plan when my run is going to be rather than if I happen to get around to it).  I am sore pretty much everyday since I weight train on my off days but it feels like a good kind of sore- the kind that I worked hard to get.  I am planning on signing up for some races in April, probably just a 5K or a 5 miler, but it is exciting and I look forward to crossing some finish lines.  I am also hoping to join a women's running group next month.  They suggest being able to run three miles before joining (although it is by no means a requirement) so I am trying to build up to that first (and if today is any indication I am getting pretty close).  I think it will be great to run with a group and to get some coaching/training.  Right now my only thought is to just run but in the near future, if I want to improve, I need to start thinking about picking up my pace, working on tempo runs, and finding a race pace.  It's like a new adventure I am going on and I am really looking forward to it!

Time to make some goals...

So, today was my "rest" day. I was tempted to go out and run anyway (still feeling good about yesterday) but refrained- don't want to do too much too soon. Instead I did a two mile walk with Cooper at the dog park. Let me just say that there is nothing nastier than a dog park in the spring. YUCK!! Glad I didn't try and run there, I would have to watch every step. At least the day was nice and Coop was happy to be there so I sucked it up and did two miles. I also did some weight training today. It actually felt pretty good. I forgot how much I actually like to lift weights and the "burn" was great :-).

I have decided that it's about time for me to make some goals. Things are progressing pretty well and I am feeling good about the time and effort I've been putting in. Technically I have a goal to run a half marathon later this summer but am not sure if that's enough (what I mean is do I want that goal to entail just finishing the half, running the whole thing with no walking, aiming for a certain time, etc)but I think I also need some shorter term goals and some weight loss related goals. Making goals has never been my strong suit, I am a kind of "live in the moment" gal but I am getting to a point in my life where I think goals would be really beneficial. So, my first official goal that I am sending out into cyberspace (so that I feel accountable for it) is to lose 16.5 pounds by June 1st. This is 1.5 pounds of loss a week for 11 weeks. I may try and join some challenges to help me with this but I think it is a very attainable goal as long as I watch my calories (WOW- not to side track but when I took a look at a "normal" eating day I realized that I was eating almost double what I should be to lose weight. It really blew my mind). I am going to update every Sunday with my weight loss/gain. Sorry, not quite ready to post my weight- the number is pretty scary.

And that's it. Blogging is new to me and I haven't figured out how to get all the tracking tools on here (any advice on this?) but as soon as I get it worked out I will get a weight tracker on here. If anyone is up for losing a certain amount by June 1st let me know and maybe we can encourage each other :-)!

New Week, New Accomplishment

Last week was a bit of a "blah" week for me in terms of, well, everything. Job hunting is getting a bit frustrating, my days are getting harder to fill (time to bring out the paint), and running was not feeling too great. All of this was followed by a FABULOUS weekend out of town with the BF and the pup and I came back feeling recharged and refreshed.

Today I got back on my running schedule and it was GREAT! I ended up using the treadmill because I wasn't sure how I would feel and I ran my first straight mile and all but .10 of the second mile (after a two minute walk in between). I couldn't believe it! Up until now I have been able to go for about 4/5 minutes and then would have to walk for a minute. Today I just felt like pushing and viola- an entire mile... This really makes me feel like I am making progress and that I just might make it into the realm of continuous running.

Have a great week :-)!!

Rough Starting Week

Today I have definitely experienced a case of "the Mondays" (man, I am really not into that expression). The day started off not too crazy, got up and got ready to take my boyfriend to the airport (he's gone for work for the week :-( ) and planned on hitting the gym on my way home to get in my short run for the day. On the way to the airport I realized that I had forgotten to put the oil cap back on yesterday when I put a quart in my car. The engine was covered in oil and I had to make it to the nearest auto supply shop to get a new cap. Now, this may seem like a silly thing to do (and it is) but the worst part about it is that it was the SECOND time I had done that within a two month time period. I really hate saying this about myself but talk about a blonde moment (and I actually am blonde so not trying to knock the fair haired out there). The first time I got lucky and the cap was still under the hood- this time not so lucky. Well, let's just say I got an earful the rest of the way to the airport. Sigh...

When I got to the gym I was feeling pretty good. My legs were only slightly sore from Saturdays run, I wasn't too full or too hungry (that really seems to affect my performance), and I had just loaded some new songs onto my ipod. I was ready to go and was thinking that two miles would be a piece of cake compared to the five I had done the day before. Wow, was I mistaken. My legs felt like a couple of lead weights. Even after a 10 minute warm up I was hurtin' that first mile. My shins hurt, I felt like I was sucking wind, and I had to walk a lot more than I had expected to. My pace was the same as always (just shy of 15 min/mile) but I don't think there is any way I could've done more than two. I noticed last week that things didn't start feeling good until at least a mile in but that just wasn't happening today. Maybe the five took more of a toll than I realized (I sure didn't feel to bad yesterday or this morning). Tomorrow is my rest day but I am going to try and get some strength training and spin in. I think I need to really work on getting stronger in order to get the mileage up.

Still feeling good that I got out there, I am definitely on a good schedule and training plan and am glad that I am sticking to it- lead legs and all.

First Long Run

I have to start by saying that I am really proud of myself. I started running at the beginning of the year (casually with my dog at the dog park) but knew that I wanted to run a half marathon this summer. To help me with that I decided to start a training plan. Last week was my first official week and it was a mix of 2 to 3 mile runs three days a week. Those weren't too bad for me (although I am still throwing a little walking into the mix) but yesterday was my first "long distance run" (which for this newbie was 5 miles). I decided to do this on the treadmill which is something I have really been trying to stay away from but I live in Alaska and 5 miles on the snowy trails is what I imagine 5 miles in the sand to be like. Not
pleasant for my first long distance run (sorry to knock any beach runners). So, I got on the treadmill and started with my 10 minute warm up and moved on to the first mile. It did not feel great. By 1.5 I decided that I would just run two miles and call it a day. When I hit 2 I decided that at this pace (13.5 min/mile on the 'mill) I wasn't too far from 3 so I should just finish there. By three I was so close to 4 I couldn't bring myself to stop. And, of course, at 4 there was no way I was going to stop with just 1 mile to go. And there is was - my first long distance run of 5 miles. I really couldn't believe it. I started that run thinking I would barely make it to 2 and finished ALL 5! I stopped about every 5 minutes for a 60 second break but I did it...I finished it and felt pretty good afterwards. For the first time I really felt like a runner. I didn't stop even when I wanted to and my recovery afterwards was amazingly quick. I really couldn't believe it and was so proud of myself. I know, after that, that I will never miss a run (unless something major comes up) and that I will never give up.

It feels great to be a runner :-)!!!

Good Week

It was a pretty good week for me on the running front. I am really starting to feel like I am getting into a groove. I am working on a training plan and am doing good about sticking to it. My only complaint this week would be that I am getting a major case of spring fever. For two of my runs I had to use the indoor track at the gym. While I thought this was better than the treadmill it was still a bit monotonous running in a small circle so many times (17.5 laps= 1 mile). The counting made it go by smoothly but if I have to do it a few more times I don't know if that mental trick will work. Overall I am feeling good though- still pretty slow pace (15/mile) but considering where I was a couple of months ago that's pretty great :-)! I have my long run tomorrow and am hoping it goes well (and that the weather is nice for me).

One month in...

Well, I have been doing my running program for about a month now and it has definitely been a slow process. I am working on the walk/run program and it has been progressing but at a slower rate than I would like. I can now run for a consistent 10 minutes before having to walk (and from there it goes to about 8 minutes and then down to about 5) which I think is great. The problem is that while my lungs feel good (like I could go for miles) my legs start to ache after about two miles. I think that I really need to work on strength and stretching as well as dropping some (ok- a lot) of excess weight. While I have been doing pretty good on running 3-4 days of the week I haven't done much to change my diet. I know this will be important to my progress but have been a little hesitant doing it. Not that I am eager to hang on to bad habits, it's more that I just want to concentrate on one change at a time such as the running. At one month out though I think it just might be time to make the changes I need in order to get to the next level. I am really hoping to be able to run that two miles all the way through by the end of the month!