Okay, I didn't swim or do a video. And I ate way too much. I mentioned this to D on the phone and when he asked what I ate I was to embarassed to tell him everything. You know that's a bad sign.
I said I had a lot of nachos (I did).
I also had lots of chips that weren't nachos.
And one and a half peanut butter sandwiches.
And cheese.
And wine.
And more cheese.
I haven't eaten this much since, um, I dunno when.
WHY!?!
I'm not really sure, although I know I was fully aware of what I was doing each time I went back for a half a sandwich.
Here's how it went:
I got a hair cut after work (very cute!) and didn't feel like going swimming because it was so cold out and my hair looked too cute to wreck with the icky chlorinated water, and plus I didn't have an conditioner to wash my hair after I was done swimming. So I stopped by the grocery to get conditioner and I had this crazy cravings for nachos, so I bought stuff for nachos and forgot the conditioner. So I went back for the conditioner and by that time I was hungry so I went home and opened the bag of chips, fully aware that I should probably be waiting, but I dived in anyway. I did eat a pear but that wasn't satisfying so I kept eating cheese and chips! One thing led to another and then I had a glass of wine because, well why not, but I didn't want to drink without eating and so I had a half a sandwich, and again and again.
I guess we all fall back to old habits from time to time.
Just goes to show I can't handle having peanut butter or cheese in my fridge. Or chips for that matter.
Or wine.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
swimming
I woke up feeling tired today and rolled back over and slept in. I don't know if it's me being tired or me knowing that today's my deadline for my Mississippi project. The stress!
Which means I have a crazy busy day and will likely have to work through lunch, which I hate doing because I need the down time. I scheduled a hair cut at 5:15 and then I'm suppose to swim for 30 minutes today. And I don't want to blow of swimming, even though I seriously thought about it this morning, because it feels just so damn good when I'm paddling along in the pool and stretching my legs out for 30 minutes.
But then we're suppose to get like 10 inches of snow today and I don't even know if it's safe to be driving that late, and maybe I should just skip it, and if I do skip it I'll do a bootcamp video. But I would rather swim because the video will leave me sore instead of relaxed for my hill workout tomorrow.
Which means I have a crazy busy day and will likely have to work through lunch, which I hate doing because I need the down time. I scheduled a hair cut at 5:15 and then I'm suppose to swim for 30 minutes today. And I don't want to blow of swimming, even though I seriously thought about it this morning, because it feels just so damn good when I'm paddling along in the pool and stretching my legs out for 30 minutes.
But then we're suppose to get like 10 inches of snow today and I don't even know if it's safe to be driving that late, and maybe I should just skip it, and if I do skip it I'll do a bootcamp video. But I would rather swim because the video will leave me sore instead of relaxed for my hill workout tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
a three miler
Score for eating healthy and running today!
On my eating habits...
I feel like I ate well, although with more carbs that I am used to and I think I'm liking how satisfying eating bread is! I was craving peanut butter before lunch and was happy that I could round out a PB & J sandwich into a meal, since just the sandwich and fruit doesn't fill me up for some reason. I think I got in somewhere between 1700 and 1800. :-)
Breakfast: Coffee with soy milk, 1/3 cup granola, 2/3 cup low-fat yogurt, banana.
Lunch: PB & J sandwich (whole grain bread, 1 tbs peanut butter), pear, grapes, 1/2 cup carrot and cashew soup. Handful of chocolate-covered raisings.
Snack: Cliff bar.
Dinner: Amy's low sodium bean enchilatas, brocolli and black bean mix, apple.
Snack: Half PB&J sandwich.
On to running...
The first mile was hard, though. I got a side stich that I was able to run through, thankfully. I can't figure out why, though. I ate maybe two hours before I ran. I did drink some water maybe 20 minutes before I ran, but that shouldn't have been a problem. Maybe I didn't warm up properly (all the treadmills were full and I hopped on an eliptical). But after the first mile it got easier, I moved up to a 11:30 min. mile pace and stayed there until I began running my speed intervals. Those were hard too but not too hard, and my heart didn't get going too fast like before.
Distance: 5.05 miles
Time: 35 minutes.
Avg. Pace: 11:29 min. mile
Speed: After 1.5 miles, 10 1:1
Sidestiches: 1, ran through it.
Abs: 5 minutes.
On my eating habits...
I feel like I ate well, although with more carbs that I am used to and I think I'm liking how satisfying eating bread is! I was craving peanut butter before lunch and was happy that I could round out a PB & J sandwich into a meal, since just the sandwich and fruit doesn't fill me up for some reason. I think I got in somewhere between 1700 and 1800. :-)
Breakfast: Coffee with soy milk, 1/3 cup granola, 2/3 cup low-fat yogurt, banana.
Lunch: PB & J sandwich (whole grain bread, 1 tbs peanut butter), pear, grapes, 1/2 cup carrot and cashew soup. Handful of chocolate-covered raisings.
Snack: Cliff bar.
Dinner: Amy's low sodium bean enchilatas, brocolli and black bean mix, apple.
Snack: Half PB&J sandwich.
On to running...
The first mile was hard, though. I got a side stich that I was able to run through, thankfully. I can't figure out why, though. I ate maybe two hours before I ran. I did drink some water maybe 20 minutes before I ran, but that shouldn't have been a problem. Maybe I didn't warm up properly (all the treadmills were full and I hopped on an eliptical). But after the first mile it got easier, I moved up to a 11:30 min. mile pace and stayed there until I began running my speed intervals. Those were hard too but not too hard, and my heart didn't get going too fast like before.
Distance: 5.05 miles
Time: 35 minutes.
Avg. Pace: 11:29 min. mile
Speed: After 1.5 miles, 10 1:1
Sidestiches: 1, ran through it.
Abs: 5 minutes.
inches
I was pleasently surprised this morning to see that I've lost one inch from my waist and one inch from my hips, although I've only lost one pound since October, when I last measured myself (and wrote it down).
Of course, this could be an instance where I'm measuring myself at the wrong place (I aim for the widest sections) but somehow I don't think so. I think I honestly lost the inches.
Which makes me happy!
And proves that all this exercise is working, despite the scale not budging.
Remember: Muscle weights more than fat, but takes up a hell of a lot less space!
My goals today:
1. Eat well
2. Run for 35 minutes
3. Do 5 minutes of ab work.
Of course, this could be an instance where I'm measuring myself at the wrong place (I aim for the widest sections) but somehow I don't think so. I think I honestly lost the inches.
Which makes me happy!
And proves that all this exercise is working, despite the scale not budging.
Remember: Muscle weights more than fat, but takes up a hell of a lot less space!
My goals today:
1. Eat well
2. Run for 35 minutes
3. Do 5 minutes of ab work.
Monday, February 26, 2007
my food
I cleaned off everything my plate today, but I didn't eat before actually sitting down to eat (something I tend to do). And the random sugar cookies in the break room? I had two bites and then threw it away.
I think I had about 2,000 calories or so. That's about where I'm aiming, although I guess I would like to be as low as 1,800 calories if possible.
Here's what I had. Pretty healthy:
Breakfast: Coffee with soy milk, 1/3 cup granola. 2/3 cup low fat plain yogurt, banana.
Snack: Tea with skim milk.
Lunch: Subway cheese and veggie sandwich with low-fat honey mustard, sun chips.
Snack: 100-calorie popcorn, apple, 2 bites of a sugar cookie.
Dinner: Spinach and tomato salad with french and balsamic dressing, 1 cup carrot and cashew soup, 1 slice multi-grain bread, chick-pea pattie, grapes, 1/4 cup ice cream.
On an aside, this Mississippi project is killing me. I'm so stressed out I'm getting writer's block! I brought my work lap top home to try and get stuff done, most of everything is due Tuesday and completely Wednesday. That's two days. Eek!
I think I had about 2,000 calories or so. That's about where I'm aiming, although I guess I would like to be as low as 1,800 calories if possible.
Here's what I had. Pretty healthy:
Breakfast: Coffee with soy milk, 1/3 cup granola. 2/3 cup low fat plain yogurt, banana.
Snack: Tea with skim milk.
Lunch: Subway cheese and veggie sandwich with low-fat honey mustard, sun chips.
Snack: 100-calorie popcorn, apple, 2 bites of a sugar cookie.
Dinner: Spinach and tomato salad with french and balsamic dressing, 1 cup carrot and cashew soup, 1 slice multi-grain bread, chick-pea pattie, grapes, 1/4 cup ice cream.
On an aside, this Mississippi project is killing me. I'm so stressed out I'm getting writer's block! I brought my work lap top home to try and get stuff done, most of everything is due Tuesday and completely Wednesday. That's two days. Eek!
loosing weight
I've fully recovered from my 8 mile jaunt yesterday, although the back of my legs remain slightly sore.
My quick recovery must mean two things: 1) I'm becoming healthier and fitter and 2) I'm eating right to help speed up recovery.
But this second conclusion is a little hard to swallow, mostly because my weight during this whole training, has not dipped below last-year's high of 128. (Granted, I lost the 4 holiday pounds I put on since I began running in January... but still).
My scale has not budged! It's been at 128 for a quite a few weeks now, sometimes bouncing up for a day but pretty much hovering there.
I thought that training for this race would help me kick-start my weight loss. My real goal is to loose 3 lbs -- that's it, just 3! -- because my clothes are just a tad tight. And 125 is such a nice number.
And it's not that I feel fat, really. I feel strong. When I was 125 last summer, I didn't feel strong. I couldn't run far, I had lost most my aerobic energy, my legs were not as toned. Strong, but not thin.
I feel like I'm eating well to fuel by body. I'm mindful of eating lots of protein and carbs, where as before I might forgo carbs and instead eat more veggies or fruit than I do now, which is a lot.
I remember D teasing me one morning, when he said: Want some cereal with your fruit?
Now I eat a normal cereal portion because you need carbs to run long. And I swear, I've been measuring out my serving sizes!
(Although I did eat two servings of ice cream yesterday. What's the point of running so far if you can't at least indulge a little?)
So that leaves me with four things to try, as I do want to loose those 3 lbs before D returns at the beginning of April. It'll be spring, and really swim suit season is not that far off.
So here the three things...
1. Write everything down. I've let my food diary slip.
2. Only eat pre-planned snacks. Or fruit. Yes, I'm guilty of eating a handful of pasta or cereal or a slice of bread with hummus before dinner.
3. Leave one bite of food on my plate.
4. For desert, implement the three bite rule. I can have desert a few times a week, but I need to savor each bite. And only eat three bites.
That should cut the 2-300 extra calories I'm eating each day, enough to loose a pound a week or so, without really damaging my running or refueling.
My quick recovery must mean two things: 1) I'm becoming healthier and fitter and 2) I'm eating right to help speed up recovery.
But this second conclusion is a little hard to swallow, mostly because my weight during this whole training, has not dipped below last-year's high of 128. (Granted, I lost the 4 holiday pounds I put on since I began running in January... but still).
My scale has not budged! It's been at 128 for a quite a few weeks now, sometimes bouncing up for a day but pretty much hovering there.
I thought that training for this race would help me kick-start my weight loss. My real goal is to loose 3 lbs -- that's it, just 3! -- because my clothes are just a tad tight. And 125 is such a nice number.
And it's not that I feel fat, really. I feel strong. When I was 125 last summer, I didn't feel strong. I couldn't run far, I had lost most my aerobic energy, my legs were not as toned. Strong, but not thin.
I feel like I'm eating well to fuel by body. I'm mindful of eating lots of protein and carbs, where as before I might forgo carbs and instead eat more veggies or fruit than I do now, which is a lot.
I remember D teasing me one morning, when he said: Want some cereal with your fruit?
Now I eat a normal cereal portion because you need carbs to run long. And I swear, I've been measuring out my serving sizes!
(Although I did eat two servings of ice cream yesterday. What's the point of running so far if you can't at least indulge a little?)
So that leaves me with four things to try, as I do want to loose those 3 lbs before D returns at the beginning of April. It'll be spring, and really swim suit season is not that far off.
So here the three things...
1. Write everything down. I've let my food diary slip.
2. Only eat pre-planned snacks. Or fruit. Yes, I'm guilty of eating a handful of pasta or cereal or a slice of bread with hummus before dinner.
3. Leave one bite of food on my plate.
4. For desert, implement the three bite rule. I can have desert a few times a week, but I need to savor each bite. And only eat three bites.
That should cut the 2-300 extra calories I'm eating each day, enough to loose a pound a week or so, without really damaging my running or refueling.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
8 miles
I did it!
I had to walk, but I ran 8 miles today. After a 30-minute workout shoveling out my car from the 13" of snow that fell.
I think I walked about 6 minutes total. Not bad. I also have to remember that I took all week two weeks ago off while I was in Mississippi, and this past running week was more catch up that anything. I was remembering how to run!
So I think today was a success. Despite the snow, I ran. Despite having to walk a bit, I finished.
And I learned two things:
1. Running in my new wick-away t-shirt is FABULOUS!
2. Drinking petia-lite while I run is no good; I'm sticking to water.
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 1:42:00
Avg. Pace: 12:45 min. mile.
Minutes walked: 6 min. mile.
Basic running pace: 12 min. mile
I had to walk, but I ran 8 miles today. After a 30-minute workout shoveling out my car from the 13" of snow that fell.
I think I walked about 6 minutes total. Not bad. I also have to remember that I took all week two weeks ago off while I was in Mississippi, and this past running week was more catch up that anything. I was remembering how to run!
So I think today was a success. Despite the snow, I ran. Despite having to walk a bit, I finished.
And I learned two things:
1. Running in my new wick-away t-shirt is FABULOUS!
2. Drinking petia-lite while I run is no good; I'm sticking to water.
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 1:42:00
Avg. Pace: 12:45 min. mile.
Minutes walked: 6 min. mile.
Basic running pace: 12 min. mile
i can do it
My goal today is 8 miles. I went to bed (and woke up this morning) by doing some positive thinking: I can run 8 miles, I can run 8 miles.
I ate my bagel and banana breakfast, put on my running gear (including my new wick-away t-shirt! I look so sporty!) and have almost finished packing my gym bag.
D recommended mixing some pedia-lite with water instead of drinking a sports drink, so I'm trying that today. He said that's what they drank during military training, when they forced him to run a crazy distances only drill seargants would demand.
So I might as well give it a try.
D said he ran 5 miles yesterday (the first time he ran in a while!) and I can't believe how naturally athletic he is. It took me weeks to work myself up to 5 miles, and he can just go out and run that far? But he reassured me that he'll run the half with me, not ahead of me, because it's more about doing it together. And he said he's not really training (his idea and my idea of training, so different!) and that he'll need to run slower to finish. I'll be the pace bunny. :-)
Because there's a foot of snow outside I'm leaving about a half-hour early, so I can get to the gym on time. I learned a few weeks ago that delaying running too long after you eat will leave you dizzy and unable to perform well.
I'm almost kind of scared to see how snowed in my car is. As I write I'm watching a van try to get out from under a snow-plow induced wall of snow.
If I can't make it, I can always go to the dungeon that is my apartment gym. And run on their one working treadmill. And stare at their wall.
Wish me luck!
I ate my bagel and banana breakfast, put on my running gear (including my new wick-away t-shirt! I look so sporty!) and have almost finished packing my gym bag.
D recommended mixing some pedia-lite with water instead of drinking a sports drink, so I'm trying that today. He said that's what they drank during military training, when they forced him to run a crazy distances only drill seargants would demand.
So I might as well give it a try.
D said he ran 5 miles yesterday (the first time he ran in a while!) and I can't believe how naturally athletic he is. It took me weeks to work myself up to 5 miles, and he can just go out and run that far? But he reassured me that he'll run the half with me, not ahead of me, because it's more about doing it together. And he said he's not really training (his idea and my idea of training, so different!) and that he'll need to run slower to finish. I'll be the pace bunny. :-)
Because there's a foot of snow outside I'm leaving about a half-hour early, so I can get to the gym on time. I learned a few weeks ago that delaying running too long after you eat will leave you dizzy and unable to perform well.
I'm almost kind of scared to see how snowed in my car is. As I write I'm watching a van try to get out from under a snow-plow induced wall of snow.
If I can't make it, I can always go to the dungeon that is my apartment gym. And run on their one working treadmill. And stare at their wall.
Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
trails
I'm bored, the movie I rented wasn't that good (good book, bad and sulky movie) and so I found myself googling local parks for trails for trail runs this summer.
None of them seem to have mileage on them. Very odd.
It might be a reason to get a stop watch.
If I know the time I'm running, I don't have to worry about the distance!
That might be my next "reward," after I run 10 miles straight in two weeks from tomorrow. 10 miles is my "wow" distance. It seems like forever (even now, when I'm scheduled to run 8 miles tomorrow). And from what I've read, it seems to be a good endurance maintenance distance, a distance I plan on running on Sundays even after the half-marathon has come and gone. 10 miles should take me around two hours; yet now, even with the wow factor, it seems doable.
But if 7 miles seemed like agony on the treadmill (which I will be revisiting again tomorrow, sadly), I can only imagine what 10 miles indoors or even 10 miles on neighborhood roads feels like.
Don't get me wrong, I like running in neighborhoods. I'm very fond of my 2 mile hill workout to the water tower. (One mile up the hill to the water tower, one mile back down). But passing the same cookie-cutter houses, the same neighbors, the same mini-vans and sedan cars?
No, 10 miles calls for more. It calls for excitement, for choosing a better place to run, for loosing yourself in nature. For running on trails that may not be marked by mile markers; for creating your own trails (so to speak).
I think I just made a case for a new watch in two weeks!
And I've found a new goal, although it's not as defined as finishing this half-marathon race. It's to find each trail that's within a 20 minute drive and run it this summer. I know, driving to run seems counter-intuitive. But I live in what feels like small town U.S.A. Anyway, when I lived in D.C., I knew of folks that took the metro to the mall, ahemm, The Mall, to run.
So how is driving to a trail any different?
None of them seem to have mileage on them. Very odd.
It might be a reason to get a stop watch.
If I know the time I'm running, I don't have to worry about the distance!
That might be my next "reward," after I run 10 miles straight in two weeks from tomorrow. 10 miles is my "wow" distance. It seems like forever (even now, when I'm scheduled to run 8 miles tomorrow). And from what I've read, it seems to be a good endurance maintenance distance, a distance I plan on running on Sundays even after the half-marathon has come and gone. 10 miles should take me around two hours; yet now, even with the wow factor, it seems doable.
But if 7 miles seemed like agony on the treadmill (which I will be revisiting again tomorrow, sadly), I can only imagine what 10 miles indoors or even 10 miles on neighborhood roads feels like.
Don't get me wrong, I like running in neighborhoods. I'm very fond of my 2 mile hill workout to the water tower. (One mile up the hill to the water tower, one mile back down). But passing the same cookie-cutter houses, the same neighbors, the same mini-vans and sedan cars?
No, 10 miles calls for more. It calls for excitement, for choosing a better place to run, for loosing yourself in nature. For running on trails that may not be marked by mile markers; for creating your own trails (so to speak).
I think I just made a case for a new watch in two weeks!
And I've found a new goal, although it's not as defined as finishing this half-marathon race. It's to find each trail that's within a 20 minute drive and run it this summer. I know, driving to run seems counter-intuitive. But I live in what feels like small town U.S.A. Anyway, when I lived in D.C., I knew of folks that took the metro to the mall, ahemm, The Mall, to run.
So how is driving to a trail any different?
i did it
I did it! I did all my workouts this week. Today I ran a mile and did 50 minutes of yoga. (It would have been 2 miles and an hour of yoga, except I awoke to find a sheet of ice an inch thick on my car... it took so long to scrape it off.) But I have to look at this as a victory.
Six months ago I would have saw the ice on my car and turned around, gone back to my apartment and crawled into bed.
But I went:
Distance: 1 mile.
Time: 10:35 mins.
and
50 minutes yoga.
Tomorrow I'm scheduled for 8 miles. It's snowing and shitty out, so even if I do go buy running tights today I probably won't be able to go outside tomorrow. But I'm hoping, with my new winter gear, I'll be able to "mix it up" outside next week!
I'm also liking the whole "if I train this week I get to buy something for running" thing. Especially since "technical" gear is soooo much more comfortable. D's right, training makes you a gear-head! Here's my list of wants:
Running tights
Wick-away sports bra
Wick-away t-shirt
Wick-away long sleve shirt
More wick-away socks
Sports watch (I kind of want a heart-rate monitor, but since I'm just beginning I feel like that's too much. Maybe next year).
Trail shoes (I want to take up trail running, although trails around the flatness of Minnesota are kind of limitted. But there are two or three that I've found.)
New training swim suit.
Hmm.... What will I buy next week...
Here's my schedule. I've boosted up swimming a day and added 5 minutes to my runs mid-week. I'm also going to start doing 5 minutes of core work after my mid-week runs; I know enough moves, and there's always an available ball at the gym. I just need to put them to good use after a run.
Monday Rest.
Tuesday: Run 35 mins. Some speed. 5 mins. core work.
Wednesday: Swim 30 mins.
Thursday: Run 35 mins. Hills. 5 mins. core work.
Friday: Swim 30 mins.
Saturday: Run 2 miles. Hour yoga.
Sunday: Run 9 miles.
Total mileage: 17 miles.
Total cross-training: 2 hours.
Total core/ weights: 10 minutes.
Six months ago I would have saw the ice on my car and turned around, gone back to my apartment and crawled into bed.
But I went:
Distance: 1 mile.
Time: 10:35 mins.
and
50 minutes yoga.
Tomorrow I'm scheduled for 8 miles. It's snowing and shitty out, so even if I do go buy running tights today I probably won't be able to go outside tomorrow. But I'm hoping, with my new winter gear, I'll be able to "mix it up" outside next week!
I'm also liking the whole "if I train this week I get to buy something for running" thing. Especially since "technical" gear is soooo much more comfortable. D's right, training makes you a gear-head! Here's my list of wants:
Running tights
Wick-away sports bra
Wick-away t-shirt
Wick-away long sleve shirt
More wick-away socks
Sports watch (I kind of want a heart-rate monitor, but since I'm just beginning I feel like that's too much. Maybe next year).
Trail shoes (I want to take up trail running, although trails around the flatness of Minnesota are kind of limitted. But there are two or three that I've found.)
New training swim suit.
Hmm.... What will I buy next week...
Here's my schedule. I've boosted up swimming a day and added 5 minutes to my runs mid-week. I'm also going to start doing 5 minutes of core work after my mid-week runs; I know enough moves, and there's always an available ball at the gym. I just need to put them to good use after a run.
Monday Rest.
Tuesday: Run 35 mins. Some speed. 5 mins. core work.
Wednesday: Swim 30 mins.
Thursday: Run 35 mins. Hills. 5 mins. core work.
Friday: Swim 30 mins.
Saturday: Run 2 miles. Hour yoga.
Sunday: Run 9 miles.
Total mileage: 17 miles.
Total cross-training: 2 hours.
Total core/ weights: 10 minutes.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
hills
My knee is slightly sore today. I think it's because I'm not used to running incline on the treadmill. I mean high incline, 6.0 at one point incline.
On an aside, I made a new cooking discovery. I was looking for something tasty to add to my rice and tofu and veggie stirfry mix, and I added a dash of lime juice and maple syrup. It was amazing. None of the salt of soy sauce, none of the fat of regular dressing I sometimes mix in (you know the fat-free dressing's not worth it).
And I have a new motivator, which I think will help me with the ab work I've been putting off and off again. D says he'll probably be home early (!!!!) from his deployment. Sometime around the first week in April instead of the last week. So that's 6 weeks instead of 8!
I know he wont care, but I want to look gooood when he gets home. Bikini good! :-)
Tomorrow: The Ball Video!
Distance: 2.6 mies
Time: 30 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:32 min. mile
Hills, set to random
On an aside, I made a new cooking discovery. I was looking for something tasty to add to my rice and tofu and veggie stirfry mix, and I added a dash of lime juice and maple syrup. It was amazing. None of the salt of soy sauce, none of the fat of regular dressing I sometimes mix in (you know the fat-free dressing's not worth it).
And I have a new motivator, which I think will help me with the ab work I've been putting off and off again. D says he'll probably be home early (!!!!) from his deployment. Sometime around the first week in April instead of the last week. So that's 6 weeks instead of 8!
I know he wont care, but I want to look gooood when he gets home. Bikini good! :-)
Tomorrow: The Ball Video!
Distance: 2.6 mies
Time: 30 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:32 min. mile
Hills, set to random
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
swimming
I swam today for 30 minutes. I switched between the kickboard and actually swimming.
It was tough, but it felt good. Like I was using my muscles without all the pounding, and I was stretching them out a the same time.
Maybe I should go for a swim once a week.
It was tough, but it felt good. Like I was using my muscles without all the pounding, and I was stretching them out a the same time.
Maybe I should go for a swim once a week.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
dreaming of getting away
I'm so excited! I just booked a room in a lodge for after D comes home from his six-month deployment. It has a jaccuzzi. And a fireplace. And a deck. And it overlooks a great lake. And is on the top floor. Did I mention it has a jaccuzzi?
Granted, it's for the beginning of May, so it won't be exactly warm. But that's not the point. The point it to go away together and spend time together. In a jaccuzzi. Or in front of a fireplace.
And the timing couldn't be better. He'll be home a few days/week before the big race, which we'll run together on April 21. And then the very next weekend we're off to our lakeside get away for four nights. And hopefully we'll be recovered enough to hike along the trails.
Perfect!
Granted, it's for the beginning of May, so it won't be exactly warm. But that's not the point. The point it to go away together and spend time together. In a jaccuzzi. Or in front of a fireplace.
And the timing couldn't be better. He'll be home a few days/week before the big race, which we'll run together on April 21. And then the very next weekend we're off to our lakeside get away for four nights. And hopefully we'll be recovered enough to hike along the trails.
Perfect!
running again
Tonight's run was hard. Very hard. My heart rate got going too fast and by the fourth interval I had to slow down a bit. After my run I looked in the mirror and my face was beat red. I suppose that's to be expected after nearly a week of not running.
But I did it. The full 30 minutes, the full way. I need to remember that three months ago and I couldn't even do that.
But, somewhat sadly, I'm already deviating from my plan I posted this morning. No ball video for me tonight; it's already 9 p.m. and I need to go to work early tomorrow. Now that I'm back from Mississippi I need to write, write, write! What a time to get writer's block.
Distance: 2.62 miles
Time: 30 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:27 min. mile
Intervals: 2:2, then 2:3
But I did it. The full 30 minutes, the full way. I need to remember that three months ago and I couldn't even do that.
But, somewhat sadly, I'm already deviating from my plan I posted this morning. No ball video for me tonight; it's already 9 p.m. and I need to go to work early tomorrow. Now that I'm back from Mississippi I need to write, write, write! What a time to get writer's block.
Distance: 2.62 miles
Time: 30 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:27 min. mile
Intervals: 2:2, then 2:3
weekly goals
I need to get myself back on track, so I'm going to post my goals this week:
Monday: Rest.
Tuesday: 30 mins run, intervals; 30 mins core ball
Wednesday: 30 mins swim
Thursday: 30 mins run, hills; 30 mins core ball
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 2 mile run or spin; yoga
Sunday: 8 mile run
Pretty ambitious for a girl that took almost a week off last week. But my weight's back down to 128 (yay!) and my legs are starting to crave the exercise. I just have to remind myself that I CAN DO THIS!!
As a reward for finishing this week ... I'm going to buy myself some outdoor running tights, which I can hopefully next week. The temps are dancing around 40 degrees and looking through my ratty winter running gear, I realize I have nothing suitable. And soon it will be light enough to run after work. I drove home at 6 p.m. last night and actually saw the sun set!
Monday: Rest.
Tuesday: 30 mins run, intervals; 30 mins core ball
Wednesday: 30 mins swim
Thursday: 30 mins run, hills; 30 mins core ball
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 2 mile run or spin; yoga
Sunday: 8 mile run
Pretty ambitious for a girl that took almost a week off last week. But my weight's back down to 128 (yay!) and my legs are starting to crave the exercise. I just have to remind myself that I CAN DO THIS!!
As a reward for finishing this week ... I'm going to buy myself some outdoor running tights, which I can hopefully next week. The temps are dancing around 40 degrees and looking through my ratty winter running gear, I realize I have nothing suitable. And soon it will be light enough to run after work. I drove home at 6 p.m. last night and actually saw the sun set!
Monday, February 19, 2007
a blob
Okay, I'm a blob. I didn't do the exercise video tonight.
Why is it so hard to get back in the running groove? I was on such a roll, and then I crashed.
But tomorrow, I'm for sure hitting the gym. For sure.
Why is it so hard to get back in the running groove? I was on such a roll, and then I crashed.
But tomorrow, I'm for sure hitting the gym. For sure.
exausting
Work today was exausting. I'm still hungover from my junk food binge and 12+ hour work days last week. I ate better than all last week, but still had more than my fair share of chocolate.
I plan on doing the ball video this evening. Hopefully that will help my recovery.
But on the plus side, I'm at about the same weight as before the trip. I clocked in at about 129 this morning. I was down to 127 about two weeks before the trip, but looking at my calendar I was 129 the week before. Not bad.
D told me he signed up for the half-marathon. He wants to run together, and I like the idea but wonder about it. He's a natural athlete (tall, naturally lean, etc) while I am far from that. If he really trained, there's no way I could keep up. And I wonder if he'll like running at my slow pace (a 12 min. mile). He hasn't been running much, but he's athletic enough to catch up and surpass me in the next two months.
We've never actually run together. He's 6'2, I'm 5'3. Just that height difference makes a big difference.
We shall see ...
I plan on doing the ball video this evening. Hopefully that will help my recovery.
But on the plus side, I'm at about the same weight as before the trip. I clocked in at about 129 this morning. I was down to 127 about two weeks before the trip, but looking at my calendar I was 129 the week before. Not bad.
D told me he signed up for the half-marathon. He wants to run together, and I like the idea but wonder about it. He's a natural athlete (tall, naturally lean, etc) while I am far from that. If he really trained, there's no way I could keep up. And I wonder if he'll like running at my slow pace (a 12 min. mile). He hasn't been running much, but he's athletic enough to catch up and surpass me in the next two months.
We've never actually run together. He's 6'2, I'm 5'3. Just that height difference makes a big difference.
We shall see ...
Mississippi
This work tripped killed me!
I started off with the best of intentions ...
After two full days (12+ hours) sitting in a van on the way to Mississippi, I ran about 30 minutes in beautiful balmy 70-degree weather. I ran up and down the neighborhoods, up and down some slight hills, for 30 minutes. I had no music, but I felt so alive being outside and my legs felt so strong. And strong as they've ever felt!
I cannot wait until summer here! As soon as it gets about 40, I'll be outside. Monday's run reminded me how much I love running through neighborhoods, looking at all the houses and waving to the people I pass!! When is this cold going to go away?
But Monday was the end of my running.
The weather turned colder down South, and all I had packed was running shorts. Even if I had found my way to a store to buy running pants (something I was seriously considering) my days were packed. I worked 12 hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and that doesn't count the "group time" I spent with 17 other people on this trip. I suppose I could have skipped the group meals and such (and thus skipping the unhealthy junk I ate), but that was part of the experience, and I'm supposed to write about the experience.
I ate healthy for the first few days. I packed apples and grapes and bars to munch on the way down. But finding healthy veggie food was tough, tougher than here. None of their travel stops offered fruit (here there's always at least a banana or apple), everything was deep fried (the one veggie offering at one restaurant was eggplant parmesan -- deep fried!) and other restaurants only offered cheese pizza. And I normally avoid restaurant pizza with a passion. It's so much healthier and satisfying when I make my own.
So, needless to say, my eating healthfully quickly went south. Literally. With little options and little time to seek out healthy ones, I ate what was available. And it was greasy, sometimes deep fried, always cheesy, and never with much fruits or veggies.
I felt like crap when I got home. From lack of running but also all the junk!
So the first thing I did was go to the grocery store. I bought grapes and apples and bananas, broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, yogurt and soymilk. My staples -- all things I was craving!
Last night I made mashed sweet potatoes, a veggie stir-fry with some chic pea nuggets. So yummy! So satisfying! So healthy! (Ok, the brownies that I ate afterward were not so healthy, but they were sitting there looking at me ... a leftover sugar craving from all the junk all week).
And today for lunch, I'm heading to the co-op. They always have the yummiest veggie soups, and they're always thick and hearty. I don't know what I would do without the co-op here! After visiting a place without a good one (I found one on the last day but their selection was so little, their soups so watery ...) I am very thankful for the co-op we have here.
But as for running, I think the extended car ride plus the junk food messed with my athletic ability. It had been five days since I ran, and I could barely go 2 miles. In fact, I went 1.8 miles. And I walked some. I felt horrible, my whole body ached, the effort I put forth to go just 12 mph was amazing.
But I did it. And I hopped on the stationary bike afterward for 25 minutes. Nothing fast, but it stretched my legs out.
Sunday
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 24 minutes
Avg. Pace: 13:30 mph
Walked: 2
Stationary bike slowly: 25 minutes
On an aside, I think I'm going to give up diet coke and corn syrup as much as I can. I ate some Hershey’s chocolate on the trip, and it was so sweet! And really not as good as the quality dark chocolate I buy at the co-op. Much more satisfying and it doesn't leave you craving more sweets.
It's one of the things I've read about recently, going back to a "natural" way of eating instead of a processed one. And I'm reading a really fabulous book "French Women For All Seasons," by the same author of "French Women Don't Get Fat," that is about eating well, eating natural food, enjoying food in season and celebrating each season as a way of celebrating life.
Days without Diet Coke: 1
I started off with the best of intentions ...
After two full days (12+ hours) sitting in a van on the way to Mississippi, I ran about 30 minutes in beautiful balmy 70-degree weather. I ran up and down the neighborhoods, up and down some slight hills, for 30 minutes. I had no music, but I felt so alive being outside and my legs felt so strong. And strong as they've ever felt!
I cannot wait until summer here! As soon as it gets about 40, I'll be outside. Monday's run reminded me how much I love running through neighborhoods, looking at all the houses and waving to the people I pass!! When is this cold going to go away?
But Monday was the end of my running.
The weather turned colder down South, and all I had packed was running shorts. Even if I had found my way to a store to buy running pants (something I was seriously considering) my days were packed. I worked 12 hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and that doesn't count the "group time" I spent with 17 other people on this trip. I suppose I could have skipped the group meals and such (and thus skipping the unhealthy junk I ate), but that was part of the experience, and I'm supposed to write about the experience.
I ate healthy for the first few days. I packed apples and grapes and bars to munch on the way down. But finding healthy veggie food was tough, tougher than here. None of their travel stops offered fruit (here there's always at least a banana or apple), everything was deep fried (the one veggie offering at one restaurant was eggplant parmesan -- deep fried!) and other restaurants only offered cheese pizza. And I normally avoid restaurant pizza with a passion. It's so much healthier and satisfying when I make my own.
So, needless to say, my eating healthfully quickly went south. Literally. With little options and little time to seek out healthy ones, I ate what was available. And it was greasy, sometimes deep fried, always cheesy, and never with much fruits or veggies.
I felt like crap when I got home. From lack of running but also all the junk!
So the first thing I did was go to the grocery store. I bought grapes and apples and bananas, broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, yogurt and soymilk. My staples -- all things I was craving!
Last night I made mashed sweet potatoes, a veggie stir-fry with some chic pea nuggets. So yummy! So satisfying! So healthy! (Ok, the brownies that I ate afterward were not so healthy, but they were sitting there looking at me ... a leftover sugar craving from all the junk all week).
And today for lunch, I'm heading to the co-op. They always have the yummiest veggie soups, and they're always thick and hearty. I don't know what I would do without the co-op here! After visiting a place without a good one (I found one on the last day but their selection was so little, their soups so watery ...) I am very thankful for the co-op we have here.
But as for running, I think the extended car ride plus the junk food messed with my athletic ability. It had been five days since I ran, and I could barely go 2 miles. In fact, I went 1.8 miles. And I walked some. I felt horrible, my whole body ached, the effort I put forth to go just 12 mph was amazing.
But I did it. And I hopped on the stationary bike afterward for 25 minutes. Nothing fast, but it stretched my legs out.
Sunday
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 24 minutes
Avg. Pace: 13:30 mph
Walked: 2
Stationary bike slowly: 25 minutes
On an aside, I think I'm going to give up diet coke and corn syrup as much as I can. I ate some Hershey’s chocolate on the trip, and it was so sweet! And really not as good as the quality dark chocolate I buy at the co-op. Much more satisfying and it doesn't leave you craving more sweets.
It's one of the things I've read about recently, going back to a "natural" way of eating instead of a processed one. And I'm reading a really fabulous book "French Women For All Seasons," by the same author of "French Women Don't Get Fat," that is about eating well, eating natural food, enjoying food in season and celebrating each season as a way of celebrating life.
Days without Diet Coke: 1
Saturday, February 10, 2007
travel
Well, I am off. Packed and ready to roll.
So why am I so nervous?
I couldn't sleep last night, waking up multiple times and finally getting up before my alarm went off at 5 a.m. I'm getting nervous about this work trip. D called late -- maybe 1:30 a.m. -- to say goodnight. It's our nightly ritual and I relish it. I tossed and turned until he called.
I packed loads of healthy food for the trip, and I'm crossing my fingers that we don't stop at greasy joints the whole way down. Grapes, apples, power bars, water, baggies to put the cores in. I should be set. I hope they don't mind stopping every two hours to go potty.
I weighed in this morning at about 130, highest I've been in a few weeks. I'm thinking all those brownies and cookies over the last few days caught up with me. I suppose I can't eat whatever even though I ran seven miles and burned almost 650 calories. I'm going back this week to writing in my food journal.
Wish me luck!
So why am I so nervous?
I couldn't sleep last night, waking up multiple times and finally getting up before my alarm went off at 5 a.m. I'm getting nervous about this work trip. D called late -- maybe 1:30 a.m. -- to say goodnight. It's our nightly ritual and I relish it. I tossed and turned until he called.
I packed loads of healthy food for the trip, and I'm crossing my fingers that we don't stop at greasy joints the whole way down. Grapes, apples, power bars, water, baggies to put the cores in. I should be set. I hope they don't mind stopping every two hours to go potty.
I weighed in this morning at about 130, highest I've been in a few weeks. I'm thinking all those brownies and cookies over the last few days caught up with me. I suppose I can't eat whatever even though I ran seven miles and burned almost 650 calories. I'm going back this week to writing in my food journal.
Wish me luck!
Friday, February 09, 2007
seven miles
I ran seven miles today, breaking yet another record of the longest I've ever run (This is fun! New record every week!) and I feel good.
The bagel and banana breakfast and then splitting the muscle milk before and after the run really helped. I also took some running advice and ate pasta last night, which I hear is important before a long run the next day. And all that wisdom worked! Not once did I feel faint or sick to my stomach, and in all reality I felt strong after mile three. To my surprise, despite my short walking break, I also ran seven miles at a pace faster than Sunday's six miles, probably because I fueled myself better.
Running on the treadmill at the gym was boring, but not nearly as boring as my apartment complex's treadmill. I can't wait for warmer weather! I've been searching online for new trails around here, and it turns out there's a 14 mile trail about 20 minute's from D's house. That's more than a half-marathon -- think I can do it this summer?
On an aside, I've leaving tomorrow for this work trip. I have mixed feelings. I'm excited about the opportunity, nervous about sharing a 20-hour van ride both ways with strangers (I like my privacy!), stressed about producing award-winning work and tired just thinking about it. I've set aside one pair of running clothes to bring with me, and I've printed out directions to the nearest YMCA there, but I just don't know if I'll be able to swing it.
But I have to count my blessings, too. This is an awesome opportunity and, of everyone at work, they picked me! And it's definately making the time until D comes home from deployment go faster. He's thinking he'll be here by April 18 -- which means 9 weeks!! We're in the home stretch.
D's agreed to run the half-marathon with me, at my pace (!!!!) even though he's one of those crazy-talented natural athletes that can run a 7 min. mile. It's a week or so after he get home, and I think the 13.1 miles has become symbolic, in a way, of our relationship during this deployment. I can't wait to cross the finish line and give him a big kiss! :-)
Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:51 min. mile
Walked: 1 time, for .1 mile at mile 5
Guy slowly walking around track while reading a novel: 1
The bagel and banana breakfast and then splitting the muscle milk before and after the run really helped. I also took some running advice and ate pasta last night, which I hear is important before a long run the next day. And all that wisdom worked! Not once did I feel faint or sick to my stomach, and in all reality I felt strong after mile three. To my surprise, despite my short walking break, I also ran seven miles at a pace faster than Sunday's six miles, probably because I fueled myself better.
Running on the treadmill at the gym was boring, but not nearly as boring as my apartment complex's treadmill. I can't wait for warmer weather! I've been searching online for new trails around here, and it turns out there's a 14 mile trail about 20 minute's from D's house. That's more than a half-marathon -- think I can do it this summer?
On an aside, I've leaving tomorrow for this work trip. I have mixed feelings. I'm excited about the opportunity, nervous about sharing a 20-hour van ride both ways with strangers (I like my privacy!), stressed about producing award-winning work and tired just thinking about it. I've set aside one pair of running clothes to bring with me, and I've printed out directions to the nearest YMCA there, but I just don't know if I'll be able to swing it.
But I have to count my blessings, too. This is an awesome opportunity and, of everyone at work, they picked me! And it's definately making the time until D comes home from deployment go faster. He's thinking he'll be here by April 18 -- which means 9 weeks!! We're in the home stretch.
D's agreed to run the half-marathon with me, at my pace (!!!!) even though he's one of those crazy-talented natural athletes that can run a 7 min. mile. It's a week or so after he get home, and I think the 13.1 miles has become symbolic, in a way, of our relationship during this deployment. I can't wait to cross the finish line and give him a big kiss! :-)
Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Avg. Pace: 11:51 min. mile
Walked: 1 time, for .1 mile at mile 5
Guy slowly walking around track while reading a novel: 1
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
soreness
My legs are still sore from yesterday, so I've opted to take the day off. And tomorrow off too. My plan is to run 7 miles on Friday, since I'll be traveling for work all next week (including two 20 hours stints in a van!) I'm planning on packing my running gear, but I just don't know if I'll log any miles.
But I'm making two stops tomorrow: to buy muscle milk and bagels!! :-)
But I'm making two stops tomorrow: to buy muscle milk and bagels!! :-)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
listening
I was running along today on the treadmill and suddenly at the last interva I could feel my heart. I mean, really feel it on the left side of my chest. It scared me so much that I immediately slowed from my interval pace of a 9:20 min. mile. I think my heart rate just got going too fast. I cut the workout a little short by stopping intervals and finished it out with a slow jog for about five minutes, my normal cool down.
It's kind of scary that I could feel my heart, I should probably watch my exertion more. But I'm also glad that I listened to my body. There's a difference between running through pain and running through PAIN, and I don't want to wreck my running career before it even begins!
I also got some great eating advice from my triathalon coworker. He suggested eating a bagel, OJ and a banana an hour or so before a long run, and then refueling with an hour afterward with a protein-rich lunch or smoothy. (Wooohoo! Tofu smoothy!)
D also suggested getting something called muscle milk to drink before/after a long run, and then some whey protein powder to mix into smoothies during the week. Now I always thought that loading up on protein was a muscle builder thing -- but I can see the advantage of extra protein for me. Being a vegetarian and all, there's really only so much tofu and beans I can eat!
Distance: 2.3 miles
Time: 25 minutes
Pace: 10:52
Intervals: 6 speed, 2:1
Heart pains: 1
It's kind of scary that I could feel my heart, I should probably watch my exertion more. But I'm also glad that I listened to my body. There's a difference between running through pain and running through PAIN, and I don't want to wreck my running career before it even begins!
I also got some great eating advice from my triathalon coworker. He suggested eating a bagel, OJ and a banana an hour or so before a long run, and then refueling with an hour afterward with a protein-rich lunch or smoothy. (Wooohoo! Tofu smoothy!)
D also suggested getting something called muscle milk to drink before/after a long run, and then some whey protein powder to mix into smoothies during the week. Now I always thought that loading up on protein was a muscle builder thing -- but I can see the advantage of extra protein for me. Being a vegetarian and all, there's really only so much tofu and beans I can eat!
Distance: 2.3 miles
Time: 25 minutes
Pace: 10:52
Intervals: 6 speed, 2:1
Heart pains: 1
diet, gu
I gained a pound this morning (back up to 129) and I didn't drag my butt to the gym this morning, like I planned. I'm working late tonight, but as I lay under my covers dreading the getting up into the cold I rationalized that I could just take an extended dinner hour break from work. And run then.
I read some info online last night about eating to run and about gu, which my triathalon coworker eats regularly on long workouts.
I think I need to make over my diet to include more carbs and less fat (I tend to mostly focus on vegetarian protein and veggies, and cheese and chocolate!). I haven't bought any bread lately and sometimes I'm just too lazy to make rice or pasta (solution: make a few servings at a time and use it later in the week).
Oh, and I figure I should eat gu once I hit running for an hour and 30 minutes, which will likely be by the end of the month. This past six miler completely drained me at the end, and it makes sense that to keep exerting yourself you have to eat (or slurp?) some easily digested gu to refuel and keep going. It looks like peope usually eat (slurp?) it after 45 minutes to an hour on a 1:30 to 2 hour long run, but more investigation might be needed. Now the big question, where do you buy gu?
I read some info online last night about eating to run and about gu, which my triathalon coworker eats regularly on long workouts.
I think I need to make over my diet to include more carbs and less fat (I tend to mostly focus on vegetarian protein and veggies, and cheese and chocolate!). I haven't bought any bread lately and sometimes I'm just too lazy to make rice or pasta (solution: make a few servings at a time and use it later in the week).
Oh, and I figure I should eat gu once I hit running for an hour and 30 minutes, which will likely be by the end of the month. This past six miler completely drained me at the end, and it makes sense that to keep exerting yourself you have to eat (or slurp?) some easily digested gu to refuel and keep going. It looks like peope usually eat (slurp?) it after 45 minutes to an hour on a 1:30 to 2 hour long run, but more investigation might be needed. Now the big question, where do you buy gu?
Monday, February 05, 2007
eat to run
I burned a ton of calories yesterday, even lost a pound so I weight 128 this morning.
But shit, all the crap I've been eating? I wouldn't be surprised if I gained it all back!
Granted, I had a shitty day. My car wouldn't start, my computer at worked crashed, there were loads (and still are) of chocolate and chips and post-super bowl munchies at work. And I just couldn't resist!
I know this happens. And I have learned (and am doing tonight, after that last handful of chocolate) that it's not too late to start new. My next choice will be healthy!
But I also need to learn, in thinking over the last few days, how to eat for running for my long runs! I'm fine when I do my normal weekly mileage. But for my long runs, which are branching into over an hour, I get so hungry -- and then I eat crap -- instead of my normal healthy meals. And it lasts for like two days.
Time to learn!
But shit, all the crap I've been eating? I wouldn't be surprised if I gained it all back!
Granted, I had a shitty day. My car wouldn't start, my computer at worked crashed, there were loads (and still are) of chocolate and chips and post-super bowl munchies at work. And I just couldn't resist!
I know this happens. And I have learned (and am doing tonight, after that last handful of chocolate) that it's not too late to start new. My next choice will be healthy!
But I also need to learn, in thinking over the last few days, how to eat for running for my long runs! I'm fine when I do my normal weekly mileage. But for my long runs, which are branching into over an hour, I get so hungry -- and then I eat crap -- instead of my normal healthy meals. And it lasts for like two days.
Time to learn!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
try, try, and finish
I started off miserable: my little red mazada doesn't like negative temperatures, and then the one treadmill at the apartment gym was taken two times before I snagged it. And then, around mile three, I just felt exausted. And bored. Bored out of my freaken mind! Nothing good was on tv, the podcasts I downloaded were worthless and, well, I was staring at the freaken wall the whole time. At least at the gym, I can watch the people coming and going infront of me!
And then, when I got back to my apartment, I felt like I was going to die. And throw up. And throw up again.
I made a few mistakes. I didn't eat enough before the workout -- probably because I wanted to run at noon and didn't actually get on the treadmill until almost 3 p.m. And I didn't eat enough carbs, I don't think.
But I did it. I tried, tried again, and I finished. Even if I had to walk a bit, and it took me freaken forever, and I was freaken bored out of my mind. I did it!
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:14:24
Avg. Pace: 12:24
Walked: 2-3 times
Temperature on my way to the gym: -10
What it really felt like: -32
Failed attempts to start my car: 2
Failed attempts to snag the one working treadmill at my apartment's gym: 2
Time it took just to get on the treadmill: 3 hours
And then, when I got back to my apartment, I felt like I was going to die. And throw up. And throw up again.
I made a few mistakes. I didn't eat enough before the workout -- probably because I wanted to run at noon and didn't actually get on the treadmill until almost 3 p.m. And I didn't eat enough carbs, I don't think.
But I did it. I tried, tried again, and I finished. Even if I had to walk a bit, and it took me freaken forever, and I was freaken bored out of my mind. I did it!
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 1:14:24
Avg. Pace: 12:24
Walked: 2-3 times
Temperature on my way to the gym: -10
What it really felt like: -32
Failed attempts to start my car: 2
Failed attempts to snag the one working treadmill at my apartment's gym: 2
Time it took just to get on the treadmill: 3 hours
Sunday
My car won't start because it's too f-ing cold here.
Not because my battery is dead or because I'm out of gas. No, it's because my little red mazada just doesn't like -10 degrees.
And as for the six miles I'm suppose to go? Well, the gym's out. And I've walked twice to the apartment gym (braving windchills of 35 below) only to find that the one treadmill working is occupied. I'm going to walk over one more time, the guy said he would be done in a half hour. Third time's a charm, right?
What a stupid Sunday. Grr.
Not because my battery is dead or because I'm out of gas. No, it's because my little red mazada just doesn't like -10 degrees.
And as for the six miles I'm suppose to go? Well, the gym's out. And I've walked twice to the apartment gym (braving windchills of 35 below) only to find that the one treadmill working is occupied. I'm going to walk over one more time, the guy said he would be done in a half hour. Third time's a charm, right?
What a stupid Sunday. Grr.
january stats
January ...
Total miles: 35.05
Total time: 6 hours 39 minutes
Avg pace: 11:23 min. mile
Days ran: 13
Days non-run workout: 6
Total days worked out: 19 days (61 percent of days)
Treadmill runs: 13
Outside runs: 0
Start weight: 132
End weight: 128
January long run progression: 3, 4, 5, 2
January weekly mileage: 4, 7.5, 8.5, 10
February long run goals: 6, 7, 3, 8
January new gear: running shoes, 2 pair socks, 1 running short, gym bag, race calendar.
Races entered: Earth Day Half Marathon, St. Cloud, April 21!
Races want to enter: St. Paddy's Day 8K, St. Paul, March 18!
Total miles: 35.05
Total time: 6 hours 39 minutes
Avg pace: 11:23 min. mile
Days ran: 13
Days non-run workout: 6
Total days worked out: 19 days (61 percent of days)
Treadmill runs: 13
Outside runs: 0
Start weight: 132
End weight: 128
January long run progression: 3, 4, 5, 2
January weekly mileage: 4, 7.5, 8.5, 10
February long run goals: 6, 7, 3, 8
January new gear: running shoes, 2 pair socks, 1 running short, gym bag, race calendar.
Races entered: Earth Day Half Marathon, St. Cloud, April 21!
Races want to enter: St. Paddy's Day 8K, St. Paul, March 18!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
arctic
I just had to get out of the house today, despite the crazy arctic weather. So why not stop at the gym for a two mile run? My schedule has me only running three days a week, but I just felt like adding a day. And I didn't really feel like doing my "bootcamp" video. Who knows, maybe four days will fit me better.
And this summer, I want a run to be part of my routine. Why should two -- or three or four --- miles be that big of a deal? It shouldn't, although it right now because I'm just a beginner. But this summer I want to make a three mile run routine, and the ten miles on the weekends a real workout!
On an aside, a just ate an organic apple. It was sweet, crisp, ripe... well worth the extra 75 cents or so! I'm buying organic more often.
Saturday
Time: 22:25 minutes
Distance: 2 miles
Avg. Pace: 11:12 min. mile.
Temperature braved to get to gym: -9 degrees
What it really fealt like (windchill): -31 degrees
And this summer, I want a run to be part of my routine. Why should two -- or three or four --- miles be that big of a deal? It shouldn't, although it right now because I'm just a beginner. But this summer I want to make a three mile run routine, and the ten miles on the weekends a real workout!
On an aside, a just ate an organic apple. It was sweet, crisp, ripe... well worth the extra 75 cents or so! I'm buying organic more often.
Saturday
Time: 22:25 minutes
Distance: 2 miles
Avg. Pace: 11:12 min. mile.
Temperature braved to get to gym: -9 degrees
What it really fealt like (windchill): -31 degrees
Friday, February 02, 2007
thoughts
Two random thoughts occured to me today:
1. Maybe the bootcamp video I've been doing twice a week is actually making my hips bigger (with all the muscle I've gained from doing crazy lunges and squats). How else to explain the tight pants despite the 4 lbs lost?
2. Maybe if I cut high fructose corn syrup out of my diet (it's pretty little as it is), I'll be healthier and more satisfied after I eat. And thus won't crave sweets. This after eating some high fructose-laced chocolate chips. They were almost too sweet!
Now, I'm off to hide from this negative degree weather in my nice warm bed. And read two magazines that came today: Runner's World and Vegetarian Times. What a combo!
1. Maybe the bootcamp video I've been doing twice a week is actually making my hips bigger (with all the muscle I've gained from doing crazy lunges and squats). How else to explain the tight pants despite the 4 lbs lost?
2. Maybe if I cut high fructose corn syrup out of my diet (it's pretty little as it is), I'll be healthier and more satisfied after I eat. And thus won't crave sweets. This after eating some high fructose-laced chocolate chips. They were almost too sweet!
Now, I'm off to hide from this negative degree weather in my nice warm bed. And read two magazines that came today: Runner's World and Vegetarian Times. What a combo!
warm thoughts
It's zero degrees... -30 below windchill... I hate winter!
Not only is it cold and miserable outside, and just walking to your car has a serious risk of frostbite, but running on a treadmill is nothing like running outside. There's nothing interesting to look at, there's no communing with nature.
But soon, when spring comes, I'll be ale to ...
- Run with the puppies outside
- Run short on the shady-tree trail
- Run long on the rolling-hills trail
- Run circles around the water hole park
- Run along the Mississippi
- Run on new trails and in new parks I haven't tried yet
And ...
- Swim in the lake with the puppies
- Go to the farmer's market
- Grill outside
- Bike around town
- Lay out in the sun (with loads of sunscreen)
- Feel warm again
Not only is it cold and miserable outside, and just walking to your car has a serious risk of frostbite, but running on a treadmill is nothing like running outside. There's nothing interesting to look at, there's no communing with nature.
But soon, when spring comes, I'll be ale to ...
- Run with the puppies outside
- Run short on the shady-tree trail
- Run long on the rolling-hills trail
- Run circles around the water hole park
- Run along the Mississippi
- Run on new trails and in new parks I haven't tried yet
And ...
- Swim in the lake with the puppies
- Go to the farmer's market
- Grill outside
- Bike around town
- Lay out in the sun (with loads of sunscreen)
- Feel warm again
Thursday, February 01, 2007
stats
Thursday
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 2.55 miles
Avg. Pace: 11:45 min. mile
Intervals: 5, hills, 2:1
Walked: 1 time, 2 minutes.
Horrible side stiches: 2
Guys that stood on a treadmill but didn't move: 1
Women with crazy swinging walking arms: 1
Tuesday:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 2.85 miles
Avg. Pace: 10:31 min. mile
Intervals: 7 speed, 2:1
Walked: 0
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 2.55 miles
Avg. Pace: 11:45 min. mile
Intervals: 5, hills, 2:1
Walked: 1 time, 2 minutes.
Horrible side stiches: 2
Guys that stood on a treadmill but didn't move: 1
Women with crazy swinging walking arms: 1
Tuesday:
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 2.85 miles
Avg. Pace: 10:31 min. mile
Intervals: 7 speed, 2:1
Walked: 0
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