Back At It

Today was my first race (other than the warrior dash) in almost a year, and man did it feel like it. I have been running 5 miles most Saturdays lately, but not so good about keeping up with my weekday runs. While my Saturday runs have been virtually pain free, I was not so lucky today.

Mile 0-1.5 pretty extreme shin splints. I tried to run through them, but had to stop and stretch a few times. Not sure what the "right" protocol is for dealing with shin splints mid run. Walking didn't really make much of a difference, so I decided to run when I could.

Mile 1.5-3 I started noticing the pain less and less. I was busy waving at and greeting all the workers/volunteers that I passed, listening to my music, calculating and recalculating my pace, and generally trying to distract myself. It worked!

As I creeped up to the halfway turn around point, I was running a pretty solid 14:15-14:30 minute mile pace. I had a little crew of runners that had developed near me with a similar pace. I felt like we were probably the back of the pack, but it turned out I was quite wrong. After turning around I was able to see the many walkers and joggers working their way along. I cheered for them as I passed, letting them know they were close to the halfway point. I love when other runners encourage me, and I always try to repay the favor.

The lake view I ran past miles 2 and 5ish.

Something switched on for miles 3-6.2. I got into a grove! I ran the whole 3.2 miles without any walking breaks, keeping that same 14:15ish pace. The second half was more uphill, but the hilly course and running club makes this one feel like a piece of cake. I passed a few people on my way up those last few hills, and trudged along to finish at 1:29:11.



Far from my best 10k time, in fact 10 minutes my worst. But I still felt accomplished at the end. I was proud that I worked through the painful first couple miles, and kept going strong in the end. I was proud at how well I mastered those hills, and kept a very constant pace throughout.

This race created a little perspective for me about how important it is to take control of my training. The extra weight, and lack of training make a big, painful, difference for my running.

I think my next races/goals will be lower mileage, sticking to the 5k and 10k distances for a little while. I think it will be important for me to get a solid grip on my speed and strength before I push forward with more mileage.

I also had an fun opportunity to meet a fellow WW boardie at the run today! Tracy aka Tmiller2728 whose blog can be found at: runningaroundthebucket.blogspot.com

Fitness Goals

I was thinking about this a lot today and it felt bloggy to me, so here it goes.

I feel like a LOT of my weight loss goals are based less on an actual weight number, but rather my ability to do things physically. Knowing how much easier/harder it is to run after a 25 lb. gain makes the point quite clear. I want to lose weight because I want to be active, and I don't want it to be SO HARD for me. I want fitness to be second nature. I don't want to be the fat girl in the workout class, I just want to be the girl, or the FIT girl.

I am posting here some of the physical goals I have in my future, that help motivate me to get the weight off. Please please please leave a comment and share yours! I would love to add to my list. I can use all the motivation I can get about now!

-Run a 10 minute mile (sounds easy to most people, but I have pretty much never done this in my life)

-Try crossfit

  -Participate in roller derby

-Join a Ragnar Relay team

-Run a Disney Princess half marathon

-RUN an entire 5k, without walking (strangely enough I have yet to do this)

-Not suck entirely at yoga, it's okay if I suck a little bit

-Actually start surfing ( I own a surf board and never use it)

-Go zip lining (this is also a heights fear, but I know being more fit will make the experience better overall)

I think these are the main ones. I may add on in the future. I am not saying I refuse to do any of these things until the weight is off, but man does the weight make it harder! These are posted as motivation.

Please share your fitness goals with me! 


*FYI- Photos found with google images, I did not take these photos and they are not of me.

Making a Plan

Hello again!

For those of you who don't know, I just completed my Master's thesis and graduated from grad school this week! With this big stress off my back and I am getting back to focusing on myself and my health! 

I have been making working lately on getting my menus in order. We have been trying some awesome new recipes, and trying to limit or eliminate weekday alcohol. I have also been trying to start working out more often. I purchased Jillian Michael's newest workout video, Kickbox Fast Fix a couple weeks ago. This week I tried it for the first time!

I have always been a kickboxing fan, so I was quite excited to try this out. Similar to her other videos she uses a circuit style routine with 5 moves, repeated twice. Some moves use hand weights, but most are body weight only. The entire workout (1) lasted 20 minutes including warmup and cool down, so this is definitely a good video when you are crunched for time.

So far, so good. I am not sure I would say it was an instant favorite, but you will see me using this video again:)

As for my running, it's been hit and miss. Last week I went to running club by myself, my girlfriends couldn't make it. I did 5 tough miles, but was so happy to complete it. My 10k is fast approaching and have not yet gotten consistent with my running, but the fact that I completed 5+ miles reminds me that I CAN do it.

With the motivation lacking, I decided it was time to start thinking into the future. My next half marathon. There is a great local race called the Wounded Warrior. They raise money for wounded veterans. I have heard nice things about the course and it's a great cause.

I decided this was a great race to start working towards! I put together a training schedule with the Wounded Warrior on Sept 15th as my goal. I use speed training from Run Less, Run Faster for my Monday runs, and several other plans to workout the rest of my mileage.

If you are interested in my training plan, you can see it here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_VClOAuJplqbF9qRldQaFY2alU

If you have any questions or comments about my training plan, please share! I am happy share that I now have the time to focus on my health again. It feels good to be moving forward! 

Food and Activity Planning Template!

I wanted to share an update from my post on Friday! I am happy to say that over the weekend I DID stick to my plans. I made it out of this week with a 5.2 lb. loss! 

I wanted to post a link to my menu template. I have been really happy and comfortable using it! I fill it out on Sunday, for the entire upcoming week. I use the multivitamin row as a check box for each day, to help me remember!

Personally, I actually deleted the first morning snack, because I eat a very early lunch with my current schedule, though this is how I would normally eat. Feel free to use the chart, and edit it to fit your needs!

Link:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_VClOAuJplqT2w5UWlabElRd1U

I also started a new workout video this week, so be prepared for the first workout review to be posted in a couple of days for Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30, and the first recipe review will be coming out this week as well, with Lightened up ham and spinach quiche!

A look in the right direction

After my last post, in February, I was feeling quite hopeful. I have gotten in a few runs here and there, but my commitment in general has been wavering.

This week, something clicked. I hate to jinx myself, but I am finally feeling in control. It's a very different feelings after, literally MONTHS, of being off track. This week I hit a wall, really crashed hard into the wall.

Monday morning, after Easter, I stepped on the scale and I hit THAT number. You probably know what I am talking about. THAT number is different for all of us. The number we have in mind that WE will never hit. THAT number that is just unacceptable. The number we never plan to see.

Well folks, I saw it, and it wasn't pretty. The good news is, it was the wake up call I have been waiting for. This being combined with a recent realization of all the big things coming up in my life that I want to be my best self for. In 4 weeks I will graduate with my Master's in Education. In 10 weeks I will join my friends for a big coed group bachelor/bachelorette trip to Vegas. And in 12 short weeks, I will stand next to my best friend on her Wedding Day.

For me is isn't, nor ever has been, about being skinny. But on top of my motivation to be healthy, active and fit, I of course have a desire to look and FEEL my best. I know my confidence will be much higher, and I wanna rock that dress!

Snack Box (lookin a little empty by today)! 

Lots of fresh fruit!

As I mentioned earlier in the post, this week it finally clicked. Scared by THAT number, or motivated by all the good things coming up, who knows. But I put together the kick-ass-ist menu for the week, writing every meal down ahead, and prepping a snack box in the fridge. I also did something I never have before. I created recipes for the dinners on the WW recipe builder, and pre-tracked my dinners. This ended up being the best idea ever, because afternoon snacking become much easier when I saw how many snacking points I had left for the day, and debated how many to use before dinner, and how many to save for after.

Kick-ass-ist Menu Ever

I also did something rather drastic. I completely cleared my WW history, took my measurements, and changed my WI day to Monday. This is a huge first for me. I have always been a Friday weigher. I like the buffer I have to work off the weekend splurges. Not No More. Now I have to own them. I also get to start fresh Monday morning, with a clean slate.
 
Today, I am feeling in control. Today I have 5 days of honest tracking under my belt as I head into the weekend, my worst enemy.

Please be prepared for blogs to come. Help me to stay accountable. I have some ideas for future posts including some new recipes (think ham and spinach quiche with potato crust)  workout video reviews, and a major facelift to my races page! I am also planning for a workout challenge, including prizes, so stay tuned!!

Resurrecting What Was

Hello out there to anyone who stuck around during my much too long, completely unnecessary hiatus.

Here I am 25 lbs. heavier, and back square 1 with my running. It's a bummer to be back here, but the good news it, it can only get better. And apparently, square 1 isn't really a concept for a runner. Since I have learned about running, there is no going back to square 1.

A few weeks ago I opted to get back into the game and headed back to running club with some girlfriends. They wanted to aim for 4 miles, and I thought that was impossible. I hoped I could make it 2 without dying. I am happy to say we pulled out that 4 mile run, slow and steady.

There will never again be a square 1 because I know all too well what my body is capable of now. I KNOW I can complete 4 miles, even if I walk some, or jog slow. I know that I am capable of finishing. I learned this the first time around and will not soon forget.

It was nice to see some familiar faces when I went back out and completed 5 miles this morning. Those people who inspired me to push on week after week. Those that taught me techniques, strategies, nutrition, and brought with them motivation. I felt comfortable back at club, and truly ready to be there again.

You WILL be seeing posts from me more regularly again. I WILL be posting a race schedule soon, with focus on building my running back up. I am not jumping back into a half training right away, but do have goals of running some 5ks and 10ks and improving my speed.

Let me know if you are still out there, and if you are still running!!

In the heat of the night... or morning

After a couple of weeks out of town, chaperoning a high school church trip, I jumped back into routine this morning and went to running club at 7am. Today was an easy reminder of why we start so early. By 7:15 it was already inching toward 80 degrees.

Not one of my fastest runs, that to be expected due to heat, and two weeks of lax workouts (or none really). But someone at the end of the run made a great comment. It doesn't matter how far or fast I ran today, I ran farther than most people. This is true.

Sometimes I think we get down on ourselves for not running our BEST every time, but honestly, that expectation isn't realistic. Everyone has hard days. Weather stinks sometimes, travels and life get in the way of training. All that matters is that we do the best we can at the time.

Today I am posting so you know that I AM still running. Even in the heat. And you can too!

Hydrate properly, as you lose a lot of water in the heat. Aim to run in the early morning or later evening to keep cooler. Wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself better. Keep runnin :)