Vega One, Mega Fun

This past month, I was selected and given the opportunity to taste and review Vega One.  Being a constant serial snacker, this was great chance for me to make #OneChange to my daily routine and a way to help me stop my boredom eating habit.  I have fallen into the habit of eating a solid breakfast and then throughout the day mindlessly snacking.  I have a very set routine, I eat my breakfast, head to work until 4 and then go straight to the gym.  I don't like to work out on a full stomach so I snack instead.  With snacking, Ive actually allowed myself to over consume calories. 

Introduce Vega One and not only am I no longer mindlessly snacking but am giving myself an alternative way to get all my body needs and not feel like im working out on an over stuffed stomach.   So you ask, what is this Vega One I speak of?!  Its awesomeness that you can drink! A plant based all-in-one nutritional shake. Just on shake gives you 50% of your daily recommended vitamin and mineral intake should be.  For anyone with allergies and intolerances, this is a shake for you!  Dairy, gluten, soy and sugar free!  Are you someone who after  workout enjoys a protein shake? I know I am, but Whey protein powders make my stomach churn and im left feeling queasy and uncomfortable.  Vega One also provides 15g of protein as well as omega-3's and other antioxidants, probiotics and greens.  If you make #OneChange to your day, make it with a shake.  Not a breakfast fan, that's okay, the recipe ive posted below is great for starting your day off right with getting the nutrients your body needs.  You can even make it the night before if you are pressed for time in the mornings. 

Adding Vega One into my day has been a great #OneChange to my daily routine.  Around 2 I have my shake and I feel energized and ready to seize the day.  My workout, run or yoga practice don't suffer because  don't feel overfull and I haven't spent my day mindlessly eating a box of crackers.  I have found that, for myself, one Vega One shake midday helps keep my hunger at bay and has led me to be more mindful of having healthier eating habits.  One of the goals I have for 2014 is to go Vegan.  Being that I love having a meal supplement or something with a good amount of protein to take either before or after a workout, Vega One will be replacing my whey protein shakes and that is #OneChange im proud to be making!

My Vega One recipe:

1packet Vega One French vanilla powder
1-1 1/2 cups of either almond or coconut milk (adds a thicker consistency and tastes sweeter)
2 teaspoons of chia seeds (they are a great source of protein and i add them to almost everything i eat)
Dash of cinnamon and 1 packet of Stevia  (i like the sweetness)

I am very simple with my foods and my blender is on the weaker side, so i dont add tons of fruits or veggies.  Now and then Ill add a banana into the smoothie and that adds a great combination of flavor and fullness. 

If you can dream it, You CAN achieve it

Another month has gone by since my last blog. I truly apologize.  I don't have a computer at home (its broken) so its very hard for me to be able to keep up.  A lot has happened in the last  month! SO many exciting things!

I still don't have that Y membership, but that's because we had some hang ups and ill be getting it within the next week.  About time! In the past month I've thrown myself into cross training and have gotten back into yoga.  It feels really good to be doing yoga again.  I really lost myself this summer.  Being unemployed and injured really put me in a funk.

In the past month, I started working.  Those two jobs did work out for me, yeay! Now im working at a Salon and at Swarovski.  I love having two jobs, but its keeping me busy and im needing to learn to balance my life.  I work 13 hour days and still need to find time to hang out with my boyfriend and train. 

I decided that I'm going to treat myself to a birthday 1/2 marathon in San Diego.  I super excited.  I haven't been to California since 2009 when I was competing at USMS (united states masters swimming) Nationals in Clovis.  I start my 1/2 marathon training on Nov 3.  I cant wait to start; I love that I am not just running to run (which I love to do) but that I am also running and training for a purpose.  The half marathon is on Feb 22nd.  I spent a couple weeks perfecting my training plan, I even made sure that I have consistent rest days, and I hate rest days, but my body needs them.

This past weekend, my #energybits came in the mail.  Here is the link to their web page so you can check them out and read all about the product energy bits  I took 8 my first time trying them.  Holy cow do they give you energy!! I felt like I had just drank 3 or 4 cups of coffee.  I took fewer then the packaging suggests, but I did so on an empty stomach.  I felt so energized.   It really helped! The early morning workouts I have coming up, im going to make sure that they are #FueledByBits because they really work! I suggest that everyone check them out.  Its an all natural energy source, whats not to love!

Okay well, thats about all I have for right now.  I have a super busy work week ahead of me and am trying to keep my life in a healthy balance.  My anxiety seems to be higher then normal so im trying to foucs on centering myself, looking at the positives and doing daily prayer and meditation. 

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."  -Steve Prefontaine

Time heals all wounds

Goodness gracious! It has been over 3 months since I last blogged. Yikes! So much has changed, yet at the same time so little has happened.  My last blog, I was working at the salon still.  Well 8 days after that was posted, I left the salon and have since been on the job hunt.  Just this week things really started to turn around as I received over 10 calls from companies to interview and have (fingers crossed) nailed down 2 jobs!! 

This summer, I didn't run very much.  At the end of May, my hip had started acting up and I kept training and pushing myself.  I wanted to run faster and harder.  I did, and then I couldn't run at all. I ended up with a pulled hip flexer, 2 bad knees and an Achilles that was starting to nag at me. So, I listened to my body for once.  I stopped running.  I rested.  I iced.  I elevated.  I finally did what my body had been begging me to do for so long. 

My summer has been pretty lazy.  I haven't had much to do, with not working and not really running.  I had softball with my AA league.  (Yup, still embracing the sober lifestyle!)  I was on a different team this year and we finished 3rd overall for the season.  I had to have a runner for when I was up to bat as I couldn't even run to 1st base with out sever pain in my hip.  So not good!

I did run here and there when my body allowed it, but haven't really started to run again until this month, and even at that im still going easy on myself and my times are not where they were at the end of May.    I will post the monthly stats at the end of this blog.  I have decided that im not going to blog in the same format I had been.  I recently became a #SweatPink Ambassador and am so excited about it! I want to start blogging in a way that inspires others, motivates, and encourages.  Im not going to be as focused on recording my times and pace.  My nike plus app does that for me.  

Now to finish my mini update... This summer, I cancelled my gym membership at SNAP fitness and will soon be getting a YMCA membership.  I am SOOO excited about that! I will have pool access (I got in the water a couple of time this summer (hadn't done that in over a year) and if felt amazing!) and the Y also has an indoor track so I wont have to constantly treadmill train come winter.  Treadmill training, in my mind, can be done.  If you have the right shoes, the right tread, the right form and technique.  If not, you can end up injured, which is what happened to me. 

That is about all I have going on.  Just waiting to hear back on some interviews so I can move forward and getting some things back on track. 

Here are my monthly stats from June thru September.  I am still debating getting in a run today.  Its a beautiful Saturday out, 73degrees.  Not many of these days left in Wisconsin. I need to take advantage while I can, plus what else do I have to do today anyway! I think I just made up my mind.  Time to get out there and run!

June: 7.65miles total (I was very injured!!) avg pace 6'05" per mile

July: 19.3 miles total (starting to feel a tad better but not a lot) avg pace 6'29" per mile

August: 24.5miles total avg pace 6'41" (pace is soo much slower from lack of consistent workouts)

September: 38.2 miles total  avg pace 6'39" per mile

Well that's all I have for now.  I will try to be better at posting and inspiring!

This Princess wears Running Shoes

(please note, this entry started at around the 20th of may and now just got finished so is a bit of old news)

I am so bad at staying up to date! May is almost over and i have yet to blog one of my runs from this month.  Before i get into the runs ill do a quick update on life. Cause mine is SOOO exciting. haha

Softball is going really good.  I love my team.  Its a great group of people and i play with one of my best friends.  Ive been trying to make a point of running or at least working out every day.  There is no reason to have an excuse not to.  If i have to get up earlier or stay up later, then i just have to. A day without working out will send me into a complete panic attack.  Ive been struggling a lot lately with where my weight is at.  My weight isnt like super low, its actually at a healthy weight and thats what is driving me crazy. I don't like being "healthy" i like looking bony and sickly thin.  To each their own.  Let haters hate, its what makes me feel happy and im the one who has to live with this body.  Ive been working 2 jobs, both are going great.  I love that it keeps me busy. A few weekends ago, i dog sat for about a week.  It was for the dog i watched a couple of times last summer.  The cutest and sweetest rottweiler.  The boy i had been smitten with, well thats over.  We had a great connection and vibed really well, but it ended up being constant drama, brought on by both ends.  This past weekend we got in a fight and thats it for me.  I dont need that in my life.  Especially over some petty bullshit.  So, i deleted his number and am moving on.  I got myself a new sponsor in AA.  Im going outside of the AA norm and i have a guy as my sponsor; he is only my temporary sponsor until i can find a woman who i can connect to as well as who has what i want.  When looking for a sponsor you should seek out someone who has what you want and will give you spiritual guidance and work the steps. 

...well i got very side tracked and its been over a week since i started this entry.  May is now over (Its june 4) so i have a whole month worth of runs to blog.  My knees have been terrible! And now im dealing with my right hip flexer giving me problems.  Im just falling apart.  Moving/walking is starting to hurt.  But i keep pushing through the pain and going hard.  I signed up for the "Rock N Sole" 5k here in Milwaukee.  Its in two weeks.  Im really excited for it and am going to try to make myself rest and not over do it so that im in better condition come race day.  My ultimate goal is top 10 (out of male and female) and I would ideally like to take 1st place overall for women.    This upcoming monday, i have a new pair of shoes being delivered to me! Im super excited to finally retire my nikes.  Ive been running in them for way to long.  I order the Puma Mobium Elite Running Shoes.  Im very excited about them. 

Okay, well time to blog the runs:

The Month of May general overview:  Ran 78.3miles, overall avg pace of 6'12" (i dont have a total time as nike made changes to the app and now says the nike fuel i earned instead of time.  i still dont really understand what the nike fuel points are for)

The runs:
May 1- (ran outside) 4.28miles avg pace 6'28" total 27:42 M1:6'38" M2:6'28" M3:7'04" M4:5'36"
May 4- (indoor) 3.13miles avg pace 6'29" total 20:17 M1:6'37" M2:6'33" M3:6'20"
May 5- (ran outside) 2.28miles avg pace 6'23" total 14:36 M1:6'26" M2:6'16"
May 6- (outside-was trying to run at a half marathon pace) 4.28miles avg pace 7'02" total 30:11 M1:6'24" M2:7'06" M3:7'26" M4:7'19"
May 8- (outside)- I sprinted a mile- 1.02mile avg pace 5'45" total time 5'53"  Then i rested for 5 minutes and went on a 2.18mile run My gps went haywire this day and stopped working so i dont have times

May 12- (indoor) 5.01miles avg pace 6'25" total 32:12 M1:6'24" M2:6'25" M3:6'27" M4:6'29" M5:6'21"  I was pleased with this run as i ran at a consistent pace 

May 13- (outside) 3.14miles avg pace 6'09" total 19:20 M1:6'02" M2:6'36" M3:5'53"
May 14- (indoor, 430 am workout) 6.21miles avg pace 6'33" total 40:42 (this was a best 10K time for me)
May 15- (outside) 2.32miles avg pace 6'28" total 15:04 M1:6'33" M2:6'31"
May 16- (this was the last day i hung out with the guy id been seeing, so i took it easy at the gym/had a quick workout so that i would have time to get ready to hang out) Ran 1.01miles 6'39" biked 12miles 

May 17- (indoor) 3.22miles avg pace 6'40" total 21:30 M1:6'49" M2:6'45" M3:6'30"

May 18- (indoor) this day I had intended to do a fast run rest 5 min then do another but i ended up walking a mile and a half between runs while talking to a guy on the treadmill next to me. Ran 2.01mi avg pace 6'31 total 13:10 M1:6'37" M2:6'26" walked then ran 2.46miles avg pace 6'15" total time 15:22 M1:6'21" M2:6'09"

May 19- (indoor) ran 2.02miles avg pace 6'12" total time 12:33 M1:6'22" M2:6'03" 

May 20- (outside)5.04miles avg pace 6'25" total time 32:23 M1:6'56" M2:6'57" M3:6'43" M4:6'35" M5:6'27"

May 21- (indoor) 4.21miles avg pace 6'26" total time 27:09 M1:6'42" M2:6'35" M3:6'14" M4:6'20" 

May 23- (indoor) 3.18miles avg pace 6'13" total time 19:46 M1:6'30" M2:6'05" M3:6'08" then 20 min stair master then ran 1.53miles recovery run in 10:48

May 25- (indoor) 3.13miles avg pace 5'22" total time 16:49 M1:5'17" M2:5'27" M3:5'22" 

May 26- (indoor) 3.15miles avg page 5'21" total time 16:53 M1:5'29" M2:5'29" M3:5'06
May 28- (indoor) 3.15miles avg page 5'15" total time 16:35 M1:5'13" M2:5'07" M3:5'23"
did 22min StairMaster then sprinted a mile. 1.00 5'23"
May 29- (outside) 3.18miles avg pace 5'42" total time 18:11 M1:5'34" M2:5'5" M3:5'39"
May 30- (indoor) this day my hipflexer along with my knees really started to bother me.  Im currently running in intense pain because of my hipflexer.  I should be taking off but, well this is me we're talking about.  Ran 3.15miles avg page 5'05" total time 16:01 M1:5'04" M2:5'03" M3:5'05"  this was was great run.  I was consistent and i ran my fastest 5k to date 15:44

I took off of working out on the 31st.  I know i needed to.  Ive been stretching a lot but the pain is at its worst.  I walk with a limp.  Once i get past the initial pain onset, and push through it, im fine and when i stop the pain returns.  (okay now its june 6. im soooo bad at getting this done!!)  I was at the gym on tuesday (2 days ago) and talked with a physical therapist.  I shouldnt have ran that day but eh i did.  And then i could hardly walk.  Ive been in extreme pain the last few days.  Yesterday i was crying while walking to work because i hurt so bad.  The physical therapist told me my injury is brought on by my posture.  My natural stance (and i have horrrrible posture) is keeping me in a constant stretch. Then add running like i have been to that and im just overstretcing my body, also my hips are uneven and thats been adding to the hip injury.  He told me my core is extremely weak and that as of right now i need to stop running and start to strengthen my core.  He also gave me some exercises that will help me with my posture but my core is key.  So i have 8 days to let myself "heal" before this 5k.  Im running this race no matter what.  And im giving it my all.  I just will take it easy and ice and fuel my body correctly until next week Saturday.

I do have a few runs from this month:
June 1: Ran 4.09miles (indoor) avg pace 5'10" total 21.12 M1:5'08" M2:5'04" M3:5'14" M4:5'14"
June 2: Ran 3.15miles (indoor) avg pace 5'17" total 146:41 M1:5'30" M2:5'05" M3:5'12"
June 3: Ran 1.01 (outside.  i got my new running shoes in the mail and wanted to quickly try them out! They are amazing) 6'19" total 6'25"
June 4: Ran 3.22miles (indoor) this is the day i shouldnt have run avg pace 5'34" total 17:56  M1:5'29" M2:5'37" M3:5'32"

I just hope that i can push through this injury and run the times i have been running the past few weeks when i do the Rock N Sole.  I really want to win the womens division and place top 10 overall.  I mean in a perfect world id just win the whole race. 

Until next time, "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win" -Robert Bannister

April

(**I started this entry on friday and am now just resuming it 4 days later. sorry guys!**)

The month is almost over and i havent blogged a singel run.  Im still not hitting the goal i wanted of 20 miles a week.  I started working a second job, so i basically go right from the Salon to there and by the time i get home, ive had around a 15 hour day and its 10pm.  That leaves me tired, and the last thing i want to do is keep my self up til midnight so i can workout.  I value my sleep.  I left off last, at the very end of may.  Like one of my previous posts, im just going to do a quick rundown of my activitiy (i do this for myself, its a way i keep track of my progress..or lack of). 

Friday the 29th of March i had Yoga and did not go to the gym afterwards.  Sat the 30th i didnt work out.  Sun March 31st I ran 3.05 miles in 19'45" with an avg. pace of 6'28"  M1:6'30" M2:6'31"  M3:6'24"

My March totals are as follow(im not satisfied with them, but there is nothing i can do about it now)  Total Miles Ran: 50.5  Total time: 5:35:15 Avg Pace: 6'38"

Okay so now onto April!  April has been a crazy month.  As i stated before, i started a second job, dealt with some personal probs and "relationship drama" (its all good now), and softball started.  I switched to a new softball team this year.  No longer playing with the championship team, but i think ill have more fun on this team.  I got a real shocker at the first practice i went to... the guy i had been seeing last year is on the team this year too. He didnt play in this leauge last year, so i was very surprised to see him there. He and i get along really well still and he actaully helped me through a lot that i was going through last year, like getting sober. So thankfully there is no awkwardness, i was just a bit shocked to see him there. Okay, enough of that... On to the workouts... For some of the days in april, i did not log all the activity i did, so i may have just ran that day, i may have done more cardio and/or lifting, but i slacked on tracking. :/

April Runs:

April 1: I decided to try to do some HIIT (High intensity interval training).  I ran a fast mile, walked 5 min then repeated.
M1 HIIT: 1.01mi in 6'28" 1.0-6'21"
M2 HIIT: 1.02mi in 6'16" 1.0-6'06"
M3 HIIT: 1.00mi in 6'03"
M4 HIIT: 1.00mi in 6'08"

April 2: Ran 4.04mi in 27'16" avg pace 6'45" M1:6'43" M2:6'44" M3:6'48" M4:6'44"

April 3: Ran 3.15mi in 20'41" avg pace 6'33"  M1:6'51" M2:6'32" M3:6'19" i also did 32min on the stairmaster
April 4: Did another session of HIIT (then i decided this isn't really my thing, granted it gives me a good sweat. Maybe ill try it again another time)
M1 HIIT: 1.00 6'41"
M2 HIIT: 1.07 7:07" 1.0 was in 6'36"
M3 HIIT: 1.00 6'13"
M4 HIIT: 1.03 6'51" 1.0 was in 6'37"

April 5: no working out. no yoga either, our instructor was on spring break. 
April 6:  ran 3.06mi in 20'51" avg pace 6'48" M1:6'56" M2:7'00" M3:6'29" then walked 2.01miles
April 7: Was a nice Sunday so i took advantage and ran outside.  Ran 3.27mi in 21'40" avg pace of 6'38" M1:6'43" M2:6'43" M3:6'31"

April 8- no activity
April 9: Ran 3.14mi in 20'32" avg pace 6'32" M1:6'38" M2:6'49" M3:6'31"  did 30min StrairMaster
April 10: Ran 4.09mi in 25'54" avg pace 6'19"  M1:6'34" M2:6'21" M3:6'13" M4:6'10 and then i biked 8 miles
April 11: Was at work all day so i had no chance to get in a run
April 12: This was Friday, so i had Yoga, this was the hardest class we have had to date.  Last week, we didnt have class as our instructor was sick and this week (today) we arent having class because im the only one in town.
April 13:  I didnt workout, i was at work until 5 and then decided to take it easy

April 14: This was the day of my frist softball practice.  I did not make it as i had but my transportation there in the hands of someone else and well, he overslept.  oops! So instead, i went to tehe gym.  I Ran 5.02mi in 33'33" avg pace 6'41"  M1:6'42" M2:6'43" M3:6'42" M4:6'46" M5:6'33" after running i walked a cool down which brought my total mileage to 6.03

April 15: Ran 3.04mi in 19'41" avg pace 6'28" M1:6'36" M2:6'36" M3:6'12"
April 16: Ran 3.11mi in 20'44" avg pace 6'39" M1:6'48" M2:6'37" M3:6'32" then i biked for 30 minutes (not sure on how many miles but around 12) 
April 17: I did not work out this day as i was working both jobs
April 18: I did a 5am workout.  I got my hair re-colored so i wanted to get in my workout so as to not be forced to wash my hair right after getting it done.  I biked for 25minutes (roughly 9-10miles) and ran 3.12mi in 20'58" M1:6'53" M2:6'47" M3:6'26"

April 19: Ran 3.17mi in 20'55" avg pace 6'36" M1:6'40" M2:6'37" M3:6'32"
April 20 & 21 i did not run.  The 20th i worked both jobs, so i was working from 720a-945p and the 21st i had softball practice then i worked from 3-930p
April 22: (this is where ive started to hit my lazy streak) I only ran 2.03mi in 12'23" avg pace 6'06"  M1: 6'00: M2:6'11"
April 23 i did not run.  I was at both job so again i had a 720a-930p day
April 24: Ran 2.06mi in 13'37" avg pace 6'36" M1:6'42" M2:6'30"
April 25: Ran 3.12mi in 19'55" avg pace 6'22" M1:6'27" M2:6'23" M3:6'14" 
April 26: Ran 2.22mi in 14'07" avg pace 6'22" M1:6'26" M2:6'19" (this was Friday and i was just feeling exhusted and wasnt really feeling like working out so i did this quick run and called it a day)

April 27: I worked both jobs back to back. After job 2 ended, i went and saw the movie "Pain and Gain" with that wonderful guy ive mentioned in prior posts.  Im suprised I managed to stay awake the whole movie.  I was ready to just lay my head on his shoulder and pass out. 

April 28: Softball Sunday! My coach has us come and hour prior to the game to warm up.  I got there about an hour and 15min early so i did a mile run prior to our warm up.  After our warm up, i had about 15min until the game started, so i ran another mile.  I just cant sit still! I had a lot of fun at the game, we lost, but eh, its alright! I still had fun.  Afterwards, i went to the batting cages.  I was rocking it! My right arm is sore still though. I wish the batting cages were closer, they are about a half hour from where i live. Maybe thats a good thing though, otherwise id be spending all my money there.  When i got home after the batting cages, i went on a run outside.  The weather was beautiful! I ran along lake michigan.  My goal was to try and reduce my speed and increase the distance.  Ive decided that i want to run the rock n' roll half marathon on june 15th.  To do that i need to learn to pace myself better. i can do up to 7mi in the 6min range, but i havent tried further then that and rather then burn myself out, ill take it down a notch for a bit.
I ran 4.55miles in 30'17" avg pace 6'39" M1:6'39" M2:6'44" M3:6'47" M4:6'40"

Yesterday, April 29 i wasnt going to run. I went to Alterra and was drinking my coffee reading my latest issue of runners world, which got me thinking about how today and tomorrow i have to work back to back at both jobs and wont be able to get in a workout.  I only had a little over an hour til i had to start work.  I made a quick decision and decided i NEEDED to run.  I did a short run, but at a fast pace. I ran 2.04mi in 12'17" avg pace of 6'00"  M1:6'12" M2:5'52"  Mile 2 marked for me beating my fastest mile time since i started to run seriously again.  I ran a 5'53" mile during a 4 mile run back in august. I only beat my time by 1 second, but ill take it! My goal is to get into the 4 minute range by august.  Ill first focus on the half-marathon training and then ill focus on speed training.

Well thats all.  I wont run today, the last day of April, so here is my monthly overview:

Miles: 62.4  Total time: 6:47:15 Avg Pace:6'31"per mile.  Since last month, i have gotten a faster average pace and i ran more miles.  Hopefully next moth the mileage will increase and the avg pace will drop again!

Until next time,  "On the last mile, when your legs are itred and your lungs are burning, get angry. Get angry for being tired. Then run faster"

Keep Calm, Love Running

I feel like i have so many runs to (b)log! Ive really liked getting into the habit of writing each week, but last Friday i was completely out of it and pretty much a zombie. I'm surprised i made it trough Yoga.  I thought about skipping class and going home but I'm glad i stayed.  Each week has been getting harder as he adds in more advanced poses and has us moving through the positions at a faster pace.  I love the challenge and the sore feeling i have afterwards.  My legs are like jello after Yoga.

Anyways, here's the quick overview of my runs/workouts: (i don't really feel like writing a whole lot today, and i basically just want to track these before i forget to)

Friday March 15: Yoga for an hour then Ran 3.76miles in 26.11 avg pace of 6'57"  M1:6'56" M2:6'53" M3:6'53"

Sat 16: worked all day and then i went home and napped.  no workout

Sun 17: I lifted, arm day. Did 31minutes on the StairMaster, did my squats on the balance ball with and 8lb medicine ball and then i ran 3.22miles in 20:46 with an avg pace of 6'27" M1:6'36" M2:6'26" M3:6'20"

Mon 18: (Ive decided Mondays are going to be my long cardio days and that on either Saturday or Sunday i will take a rest day, depends on how I'm feeling).  I ran 7.02miles in 45:58 with and avg pace of 6'33"
   M1:6'32" M2:6'18" M3:6'25" M4:6'38" M5:6'35" M6:6'40" M7:6'39" 
  after that run, i then did a 1hour bike (that's as long as it would let me do) and that got me to 17.46miles

Tues 19:  I was not feeling the gym on this day.  My headphones started to short out when i started running, and i need my music to workout.  if i don't have music, i start to over think and lose focus.  Music drowns my thoughts and allows me to focus on the beat and lyrics instead of my thoughts.  I ran 1.56miles in 10"32 avg pace 6'45" and then i called it quits.  I just couldn't stand the frustration of my headphones.  Because of my headphone issue, i did not work out on Wednesday.  Thursday morning, i bought a new pair and got in a run.

Thurs 21: Ran 4.11miles in 27:38 with an average pace of 6'43" M1:7'00 M2:6'50" M3:6'41" M4:6'24"

Fri 22:  No gym this day, i just did Yoga. A woman i work with brought me some of her homemade chili so i went home after Yoga so i could eat it! i was so excited about it that i decided missing out the gym wasn't a bad thing.

Sat 23: Ran 3.28miles in 22:4 with an avg pace of 6'47" M1:7'00" M2:6'42" M3:6'43"  Then i did 22minutes on the elliptical and went home

Sun 24: I skipped the gym and instead i slept in then went and hung out with this boy i like ;) We went to a movie, saw "Olympus Has Fallen"  I highly recommend it! I couldn't sit still watching, i was (and i mean literally) on the edge of me seat!

Mon: (I know i said I'm going to make Monday's my long days, but eh, sometimes i just have to listen to the cues from my body and take it easy)  I ran outside.  I did 1.20miles in 7:43 with an avg pace of 6'25"

Tues and Wednesday i did not workout.  Wednesday, i changed my work schedule so i will be working the afternoon and closing the salon, then going with a girlfriend every Wednesday to an AA meeting right afterwards.  We went to a meeting i hadn't been to since October, and she hadn't been to this meeting in an even longer time.  It was a really good meeting and I'm glad she and i are planning to go there every week. Its our version of girls night. haha

Thursday 28 (yesterday):  I ran 3.01miles in 19:50 with an avg pace of 6'35"  I set the incline to 2 on the first two miles, then on mile three took off the incline and increased from my 9.0pace to a 9.4 then upping it the last 1/2mile to 9.7.  After i logged the 3miles, i took the pace to 4.2 and set the incline to 4 and walked my cool down (1.11miles).  I was soaked afterwards.  i dont know if its because i had just had a massage and had toxins being sweat out or what, either way i felt great.  After my run, i headed home to get changed and run errands before i had to head back to work and close.  After work, i hung out with that boy i like and went bowling.  He, of course, beat me, but i cant admit to him that i figured he would.  I did hold my own pretty good though, he won by 1 point!! We only bowled one round, then grabbed a bite to eat and called it a night.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty smitten with this guy :)

Well that's all I've got.  Tonight is Yoga and then i do plan to head to the gym for some cardio.  I'm not sure if ill run, or if ill follow through on that plan.  My knee has been bothering me all morning and the poses we do in Yoga add some strain to my knee as well.  I guess ill just play it by ear and see how i feel afterwards.  I can always go hard tomorrow and Sunday.  Ill have the majority of my Easter to myself.  I am going to Easter Lunch at a coworkers house.  Very grateful she invited me so i don't have to spend the day alone, I normally would spend the day with my Dad, but he has elected to have a quiet day.  I don't blame him, our last family holiday was utter chaos. Enough of my ramblings. 

Until next time, "your mind gives up before your legs do"

Your workout..thats My warm up

"On those mornings when i was tempted to roll over and fall asleep again, I imagined my racing rivals leaping out of bed and roaring out the front door on a ten-mile workout. The thought so terrified me that i was generally lacing up my shoelaces within five minutes." -Amby Burfoot

  For those who don't know who Amby Burfoot is, he is the editor of one of my favorite magazines, Runners World, as well as the 1968 Boston Marathon Winner.  How's that for your fun fact of the day :)  The above quote by Burfoot, is one that i remind myself of on those morning I want to continue to hit my snooze button and award myself 2.5 hours extra sleep.  Then I remind myself of the list of runs i plan to compete in this spring/summer and how I'm not a very gracious loser. That in itself gives me that needed boost to get my butt up and at it; i do not want to have to face defeat. I'm a very gracious and humble winner, but losing, that's not a strong point for me.  Just add it to my list of character defects (yes, I'm throwing out an AA reference).

I've  decided I'm going to try and write once a week, shooting to do that entry on Fridays. I'm not sure if i will always be able to, but the key word is try.  One of these days, ill actually go out and get myself a computer again. Ive gone a few years without one and have survived but I'm starting to miss having one. Okay, my last entry was the 7th and i had been debating working out that day.  I did not workout, i worked a bit over 12 hours so at the end of the day called it quits and went home. Friday, i worked all day, as per usual and had Yoga afterwards.  I was SOOO sore from Yoga, for 5 days!! After class, i went right to the gym and did an hour on the StairMaster.  Saturday, i didn't workout.  I was at work til 4 and had plans right after. 

Sunday, i slept in...til 4pm.  I had woken up earlier, but i was so stressed over something id said to someone that i just felt sick to my stomach and couldn't bear to think or get up, so i choose to sleep most of the day instead.  When i finally did get up, i was very angry at my actions, and when that happens, I of course find ways to "punish" myself.  I already had the no food that day part going pretty strong so i decided id go for a run...in the rain.  The temperature wasn't too bad, 39 degrees, but add in the rain and wind and needless to say, it was not a joyful run.  I spent the first half trying to dodge 3inch deep puddles and melting snow, but eventually was sick of messing up my pace and just ran through them.  My shoes were soaked by the time i finished and my feet were freezing, but hey, that's what i deserved.  I ran 3.03miles in 21:22 with an avg pace of 7'03"  My slowest run in the past month, but I'm going to play the blame game and blame the weather and the dodging of puddles.  Miles are as follow: M1:6'53" M2:7'25" (YIKES!) M3:6'47"

Monday, i really wasn't in the mood to do anything but dragged my sorry behind to the gym.  I ran 3.03mi in 19.33 with an avg pace of 6'27"per mile.  M1:6'30" M2:6'26" M3"6'23"  Negative splitting is what i like to see! After running, i walked for another 30 minutes, with an incline of 4 and at a power walk pace NOT a cool down pace.  Then i did the StairMaster for 15minutes and left.  My knee was aching before i even got on the StairMaster so i did as much as i could before i was in serious pain.

Tuesday, i went to the gym after work.  I did the StairMaster first. In the afternoon, that becomes the coveted machine as there is only one, so i figured id use it while it was free. I did 8.09miles or 62minutes on the StairMaster, then some core work and squats, finishing with a 2.32mile run and a 2.5 mile brisk walk (no incline). My knee was not feeling the greatest so i didn't want to push myself to vigorously.  2.32 was run in 15:02 with an avg. pace of 6'28"per mile. M1:6'32" M2:6'24"

Wednesday, I ran 3.83miles in 26:05 with an avg. pace of 6'42" per mile.  That run was very hard for me.  My knee was in terrible pain but i did my best to numb my mind and focus on the techno music i had blaring in my earphones (I work out to Pandora radio's "Scooter" station, i absolutely love it!!). After that run, i also power walked 2.43miles at an incline of 4.  Yesterday, Thursday, i did not make it to the gym.  I did walk 2.5 miles around town running errands and also on top of that did not eat anything until i finally decided to have a salad around 615.  I then had another salad with a grilled chicken breast around 8 and ended my day around a 500calorie intake. Whoo hoo! Thats the way every day should be! Add in 1300 or so cals burned at the gym and i call that a perfect day :)   Today is a failure day and I'm sure the scale will show that to me tomorrow.  Its 5pm and im already at 1700calories. F*@K Me! I hate that.  This is the most i have eaten in a single day in about 2 months.  I'm going crazy.  I have an hour of yoga to do tonight and then im going straight to the gym where i plan to stay until Ive burned off all these calories or pass out.  Which ever comes first.  And to "punish" myself, I'm not allowed to have dinner and have to drink 2-3 cups of lax tea.  I cant believe i let myself go.  I blame the peanut butter! Ive become obsessed with this peanut butter by Planters (as in Planters Peanuts), its a cinnamon raisin granola peanut butter. 180cals for every 2 tblspns. I was healthy all day until that peanut butter and 1 3/4 bagels crept up on me.  Damn you carbs and pb!! (shakes fist in the air) Why must you taste soooo good!!!  Yea, so enough about my fat ass.  Here's to hoping my knee cooperates with me and i can stay strong and say "NO!" to food.  I was steadily down in weight all week, down 3 lbs as of this morning, fingers crossed to see that even lower tomorrow or i will seriously cry.  Thankfully Sunday and Monday are right around the corner and i have no plans tomorrow night so i can just sleep them away and avoid food, only waking to get myself to the gym and sweat out this unwanted fat that covers my body.

Until next time, stay strong, eat lean, train mean.

Middle pic is my bloated was after eating way to much :(