Glad it's the weekend

I have the house to myself this weekend.  R took Cooper and went to our cabin- he's trying to dig out our snow machines for a trip we're taking in a couple of weeks.  There's not much snow down where he's at so I'm not sure what kind of luck he'll have.  All I can say is that I'm glad that I'm not there (it's down around zero this weekend).  I feel like I get a lot done when I am home alone- for example today I had breakfast with my mom, got my oil changed, did the shopping for the week, and got my workout in all before noon.  It was great- very productive feeling :).  My run was so so.  I'm still in the "start over" phase so get a little frustrated at the slow progress.  Overall it felt great though- I'm definitely at a point where I look forward to my runs rather than dread them :).  I am hoping to start a weight training program this week, I really need to focus on weight loss and I think building muscle will help that.  I am now going to open a bottle of wine, pop in some cheesy romantic comedy, and enjoy my solitude.  Have a great weekend!

Is it February Already???

Well, I wish that I could write this post (after soooo long) and say that I have been following through on all of my new year goals and resolutions......but I can't.  January sped by and it was a little too easy for me to slack off on the running while finishing up with school (thank goodness I'm done with that!) and if it wasn't for my wonderful dog needing a lot of walks I don't know if I would have gotten any activity in this last month.  I'm not too bummed- I can't beat myself up too much I mean what's done is done right?  I can just regroup and try and start again...and again.....and again....and, if necessary, again.  I am getting used to this pattern :).

One thing that I would like some advice on (if anyone is still willing to check out this greatly slacking blog :) ) is treadmills.  I am in the market for one and was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on brand, type, whatever other categories there may be?  There are SO many of them that it's a little overwhelming.  I would like to buy new (some friends have not had the greatest luck on purchasing used ones) and my price range caps at $1000 (hoping that is middle of the road).  All suggestions will be very much appreciated.

I am once again restarting my base building phase of training.  I got 42 minutes in today (about 2.42 miles) of walking/running.  If felt pretty good which makes me think that I haven't lost ALL fitness that I had built up in December.  As of this week I am on track and hoping that I can get through the month that way. 

How have you done so far with your New Year Resolutions/Goals now that January is done and gone?

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!