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 :)

Long Time No Post! Finding motivation!

Okay ladies and gents (well, mostly ladies), it's been a while and I apologize. As you can guess, not posting is related pretty directly related to being off my game in general. My work schedule is all over the place, and I have been struggling to keep a workout/running/planning schedule with my work schedule is inconsistent.

I spent a little time updating my site today, finally adding to the recipe section, as well as updating my race section!! Hopefully having these races to keep me on track will help with motivation!

In the meantime, I also create a new device to help with motivation, planning and staying on track. This new thing is my inspiration binder :) I spent some time looking through all of my health/fitness magazines and cut out any recipes that looked good, success stories, and any useful facts or quotes!

The idea is that I can grab the binder if I need motivation, or a new recipe for my weekly menu. So far it has been fun, and helpful!

Here is the binder:

Expect more posts from me soon! Including a Race Recap from last weeks 10k! As well as more recipes/food highlights and hopefully some scale victories!

Stalling...

So, if you had noticed by the lack of posts lately, I have been pretty stalled in my workouts recently. Since my races, I have liteally stopped running. It is excuse after excuse. Maybe my body is tired, but mostly it is a mindset for me. I was determined, I had a team training with me, depending on me.

I go through days, sometimes moments where I feel so determined, so ready to get back on track. This is true for my diet as well. Two or three days of great workouts, tracking and eating. Then totally off track again.
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Today I had an interesting new experience. I tried Bikram Yoga(aka hot yoga, a heated room) for the first time. I had heard great reviews from some boardies about it, but I had also heard that it isn't for everyone. I went with Shannon and she did GREAT. I struggled, big time. Not so much with the yoga moves (not that they were easy), but the heat really got me. I felt dizzy, nauseous, and at some points blacked out momentarily. Obviously not the most pleasant experience. I sat down outside for a bit to gather myself and rejoined for the last 30 minutes of mat work. This got a little better for me.

Overall I am really glad I tried this. I do plan to give it another couple of tries, as I have heard that your body gets used to the heat. I will update you as to how it goes for me.
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As for being off track, I need to make my readers (and myself especially) some promises. I am starting the book Women. Food and God. I will also be starting Run Less, Run Faster. I am going to let these books help guide me to start making some better choices with food, workouts, and probably even my mental state.

My goals this week are:
-Run at least 2 times
-Workout at least 4 times total
-Track EVERYTHING
-Find time each day to read, for ME

Thanks for reading, and please help to keep me accountable for my goals!

Warrior Dash!

I haven't posted since my race last weekend! I also pretty much took the week off from running ;) I plan to get together a training schedule to I get back on track, but whats one week!

In other news, this Saturday a big group of us drove down to the So Cal Warrior Dash! Reena(REENA711),   Kelly(SILYSTARRFISH), and Melissa(M525964703) from the boards all met there for the run (along with many of my friends)! It was an absolutely amazing event!

Let me step you through it step by step!

We showed up in our costumes, ready to race!

Starting Line!

Obstacle Number 1: Hay Fever !

 Obstacle Number 2: Junkyard Jam

 Obstacle Number 3: Muddy Muck

Obstacle Number  4: Over and Under (Over walls and under barbed wire)

Obstacle Number  5: Swamp Sludge

Obstacle Number 6: Warrior Wall

Visiting with a fellow turtle along the course!

Obstacle Number  7: Warrior Web!

Obstacle Number  8: Walk the Plank

Obstacle Number  9: Deadweight Drifter

Obstacle Number 10: Chaotic Crossover

Obstacle Number  11: Cargo Climb

Obstacle Number  12:Warrior Roast

 Pic to come

Obstacle Number  13: Muddy Mayhem!

Finish Line!!

Warrior Wash!

Shoes people are donating (pile kept getting bigger)

Some pictures will be added later (Finish line and Warrior Roast)... But you can see what a blast it was! It was more challenging than Nor Cal Dash in October, more obstacles and more challenging obstacles. It was also nice to have the lake for washing, we got MUCH cleaner (other than the bacteria in the lake we had to sign a waiver about). The whole weekend was a blast, and I declare a success! 

**Suggestion to future Dashkateers, pack sunscreen and USE it, OUCH!**

Race Day!

Alright ladies and gents,

The blog that has been requested. I was too mentally exhausted and honestly excited to sit down and write this when I first got home. I also wanted to see how my body felt after a couple hours, to let you know.

Today was amazing. It was tough, I have friends from running club who run halfs regularly, admitting that this was a very tough course. It HAS to be hillier than your average course, otherwise, more people would die running, lol. The hills are a mixed blessing. They keep you awake,  keep you motivated (looking forward to the downhills), and really just mix things up. BUT, they are hard. In some cases, VERY hard. The notorious hill on this run is a good mile or so of straight up hill. Everyone around me was walking. My running buddy, hard determined, just kept running, slow, but still running. I absolutely admire her determination, I can honestly say I did NOT run much of that hill, I did however, speed walk past a bunch of people.

I have to say that I had an new found motivation today, the motivation to finish in under 3 hours. I knew that a 3 mile half required about 13.5 minute miles. Every.Single.Mile.Marker told me if I was on track to finish in 3 hours. I was MILKING my watch, to make sure I was on time. Many times I was off, 30 seconds or a minute, but I kept on, determined. I eventually, sadly, left all of my running buddies behind with this new determination.

By myself, no music, making friend after friend with lone runners, I kept going for the last 4ish miles. I walked more than normal, but when I ran or walked I did it with purpose, continually keeping that goal in my mind. My regular snacks were making me feel sick, so I kept drinking water to keep them down. By the time I got to 11 miles, there was no doubt. I had 28 minutes to finish 2.1 miles. This was very tight, but possible. I knew that to get there I had to give it everything, but I had nothing left. I kept going, on overdrive, no heart, no brain, just body and road. The hills kept coming, literally, till the last .25 miles or so. I kept checking my watch, knowing I was cutting it close, 3 hours was fast approching.

Well the flags were in sight, and I knew that I had to sprint to make it. As I crossed the finish, with Carlos, running coaches, and complete strangers cheering for me, I had to pause my watch. I had to know. 2:59:42. . From my start to my finish, 2:59:42. I made it, to my goal, by a matter of seconds, a matter of steps, a matter of breaths.

I am grateful to everyone who motivated me, encouraged me, supported me, and it literally pushed me those last 2-3 miles when I wanted to stop. This quote comes to mind, "Success lies just past the point where other people quit,"and today this was so true. These last few miles I pushed ahead, and was able to gratefully meet my goal.

Tonight I am icing knees and left achilles. Surely, these are temporary pains that ice and rest will repair. My feet and hands are about back to normal size, lol. And I am guzzling water like none other, but anyways this is the update.

Would I do it again? Surely. Will you be hearing more about my running? Most definitely! And thanks again for the ongoing support!!

 Alex and I pre-race!

 Group Post-Run!

 Me, turning the 13 mile marker, .1 left to go!

Race Medals!

Race Group, post race kickin back :)

3-2-1- Take off!

Today marks three days until my first half marathon! So many things running though my head!

I can't help but think that I am as prepared as I can be! I have run 12 miles twice, test run the race course to get comfortable (11 miles, similar to race route), tested all my snacks and breakfasts, know what clothes/shoes I should wear, know where I need to park, etc. I know all the logistics, but somehow that is not settling to my nerves.

The tempermental weather is also giving cause for concern. Luckliy, (Knock on wood) rain is currently out of the forecast for Saturday. It is however predicted for the two days proceeding. This only tells us that half of course, through the national park (aka dirt paths and rocks) will be MUD and puddles. Lovely.

But no complaints. I am doing this because I CAN. I am doing this because I am able. For my friends and family who physically can't, for my friends and family who don't believe they can, and for myself, who never believed I could or would. I am running, in 3 days.


A quote from one of my favorite movies sums up my feelings about the impending race quite well...

We're gonna die! We're gonna die! I'm going to throw up, and then I'm gonna die! Mommy, tell it to stop!       Whew... ha! Almost lost my *cool* there.  (The Grinch)

The needed boost!

The last couple of weeks I have been going with the flow. Getting in runs when I *can* (when I feel like it). I struggled on this weekends long run, and realized that I really need to focus the next couple weeks. Its crunch time.

My schedule got a bit messed up as I ended up cross-training on my rest day, so I changed my rest day to Monday. That meant running on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since I didn't want to do to medium runs in a row I made Tuesday a shorter run and Wed medium. Lets just say Tuesday was tough. It was HOT outside, it was after work, and I didn't warm up or stretch because I just wanted to get it done. Bad idea. The whole run was a struggle. I got through, with a decent pace, but man was it a pain. My legs hurt, it just wasn't pretty.

I was bound to make Wednesday better, and fortunately it was the best run I have had in weeks! I did a nice 10 minute warm up (walk, jog, stretch). I went in the morning when it was cooler, properly hydrated. Of course GOOD doesn't always mean easy. The run started out okay. I wanted to walk, I mentally *needed* to walk. That dreaded mental block I have been fighting since day one.

On the boards I have shared a tip several times. Recently I have been quoted for this multiple times, so I thought I would share it here. I haven't used AS MUCH since I started running further, but today it's what got me through my run.

When I feel the desire to walk, I ask myself 3 questions.
1. Is your breathing in check?
2. Are your legs feeling okay?
3. Is your heart rate in an acceptable range?

If yes to all 3, I keep running. At that point the question becomes "Why do you think you NEED to walk when you don't?" It's often boredom, or even more it's that I don't believe I can do it. But I can. And I DO.

I thought I would share this. If you end up trying this out, let me know how it goes! It most definitely got me through today's run, and many in the past!

Looking forward to my 8 miler this weekend, and hoping to bring a camera because this was the lovely run from 2 weeks ago I wished I could have captured for you! Now's my chance!

Tappering... Or not!

So a very quick synopsis of this week's running. It basically didn't exist. Well I got in a nice 3 1/2 miles on Monday, and that ended up being the extent of my weekday workouts. I had a week long subbing job that had me quite busy, and I am always looking for an excuse to skip a workout :/

The good news (grumble) is that I made it up today! Met up nice and early with running group this morning! Had to leave the house at 6:15! It ended up being a PERFECT running day. Not too hot, not too cold, just sunny enough! We even had a photo op with my running pace crew!

We were told by coach that we were to do a 9.5 mile run today as a part of our taper before the race in 2 weeks. The problem was, we were on a course new to most of us, with now street signs, postings, etc. Welcome to trail running, the real deal! Warned to look out for deer, snakes, mountain bikers, and fellow runners! Luckily bikers and runners were all we saw this time! There were TONS of people out today, not surprising with the race coming up and the lovely weather.

After getting started, I had trouble getting into my stride. The course was pretty hilly, and very rocky. I have never experienced a trail run before, and it was VERY new and different!  I walked nearly half of the time for the first 4ish miles. I usually use my watch to guesstimate how far I have gone, but that was difficult today with such a different course. People kept telling us, "Just a bit further", so we kept going. Eventually, after 1 and 20 minutes of running, I frustratingly stopped to figure out how far we had gone. My running buddy checked her Garmin to find out we had gone too far, 5.5 miles. Oops. This set us up for just over 11.25 miles when all was said and done.

Fortunately, the second half I found my stride. We had more down hills, and a very apparent negative split (meaning our second half was run much faster than our first). Overall our pace was much improved from the last few weeks!

I am happy to report that, although this was clearly a challenging run, and almost 2 miles further than planned, I am not sore at all tonight! No ice, no limp, good to go! I am feeling a little nervous to do this terrain again race day, but so glad to get a feel for it today! Also looking forward to a true taper run, next week only 8 miles (and we WILL be sticking to course, lol)!