I Have Surprised Myself

Usually when the new year comes around and I hit the treadmill after the holidays I have to start right back at the beginning.  I can barely make a mile on my first run back.  This year after barely running during November - February, I have been able to do a slow 3 miles, which feels great! I have already started my 10K training program.

With my success on the treadmill this far I have not been gun shy about pulling the trigger on race sign ups. I have signed Gavin and I up for our 3rd annual Energize the Earth 5K in Beverly, MA (My PR course).  Also, since running the half in San Jose last year I have been debating on which half to run this year. The one that stands out the most from seeing friends run it last year on Facebook and since it was my backup if I couldn't make the California trip work, was Smuttynose Rockfest Half in Hampton, NH. Gavin and I are all signed up for him to run his first half. Everyone I know that ran it in the past said it is a great flat course. Tomorrow me and 5 other girls are going to enter the lottery for the Harpoon 5miler, last time I ran that was 2005... Oh, how things were different 9 years ago!

One week from today I will be running my first 5K of the year, Ras na hEirearnn.  It is my second year in a row running it. My time last year was 35:03 and although my training has been lacking this year, I want to beat my previous time. Last year was all about firsts, this year it is all about competing against myself.

Zombies, Run!

So one of the things that kept me busy this winter was binge eating watching. I managed to catch up on Walking Dead and love it! (Orange is the New Black and Chuck were also on the list) Netflix is really a productivity killer, but I am not sure I will ever give it up.

In previous years the changing of the calendar and the thought of spring really gave me that push to hit the gym after a long holiday season. The whole month of February was consumed with the move, knowing that my January was a wash, with the though, I will just start back when the move is over.

I have been working on trying to motivate myself and after my many hours sucked into the life of Rick Grimes and others, I wondered if I should look into those Zombie running apps the kids are talking about these days. I went over all the reviews and found Zombies, Run!  and while they are running a new years special I snatched up for the bargain price of $3.99 on iTunes.

After reading all the reviews I was planning for a few glitches, but it seems that they were all written so long ago that the creators/developers have worked out the bugs. So far so good, I don't use the GPS feature because I run with my iPod on a treadmill (for now) and not my phone. I have turned on the accelerometer and although it could use a little calibration I have no complaints.

The story is distracting and keeps my ADD brain entertained enough and it shuffles my songs in between the "transmissions from Abel Township". After your run you see all the things you have collected and you can build up the town. I am currently on season 1 episode 7 and definitely think I will stick with it for the long "run".

Today's Run: Random Hill Mode Treadmill - 30 minutes 2.64 miles, workout 2 of my 10K training program

Running Gods Smiled

This morning the running gods smiled on me.  Best run I have had in over 2 weeks.

No one said it would be easy but it can be rewarding if you can get past the fumbles. This past week i have felt defeated by the prospect of running a half in October, "What did I get myself into?" Now I am a bit behind in my training program according to Hal Higdon, but not so much that I will let it get me down.

I am very excited about the 10K this Sunday, it is practically in my back yard. Going over the bridge and back might not be great, but it has to be better than the Gansett Run.

This morning I was watching the Today Show and Gone Baby Gone, to say I was a bit over stimulated is an understatement. As a girl with ADD that is the best way to keep me going. I have already admitted to be a total crybaby (Here is a question, does cardio enhance emotions?)  There was a story entitled Dream Wedding, which perked my interest as Gavin and I are planning on tying the knot some time in the near-ish future. I should have known that this story was going to be a tear jerker. A San Francisco couple was getting married before the bride died of terminal cancer. The strength of both bride and groom is astounding and if it doesn't make you tear up, take your breath away and not take advantage of the life you have all at once, I don't know what will. Heart breaking and inspiring all at the same time. The whole thing really made me pick up my pace, I should just consider having The Notebook on repeat when I start on my long runs.

My attempt at taking a picture of a double rainbow... not sure you really get the effect.

Workout: TM 3.15 miles / 34 minutes

Clean Eating... well within reason

Workout: TM 2.3 miles / 25 minutes (sad face)

After the the week of the 4th (the past 2 months) I have come to the conclusion that i have been on a see-food and drink diet. It really has to stop! It has made me feel so sick to eat and drink whatever I want or maybe was just in front of my face (will power is not a strength of mine). I have paid the price for indulging in all things yummy and I am taking a break.

I made a self proclamation on Monday to eat as much whole and unprocessed food as possible.  So far so good, it might have just been bloat, but i am already down 2+ lbs in 3 days. Eating for fuel and not for excess is making my stomach sooo much happier. I am not going to keep from eating things that I want, but I think there needs to be some sort of portion control included. Knowing how all of that made my stomach feel and feeling so much better without it makes me want it less...

Tomorrow is an elliptical day.

I will leave you with some happy thoughts!

 We spent a day on the Vineyard this past weekend with friends. I miss the Vineyard already! 

I think this should still count as whole food... I can see the cows the milk comes from!

I Heart Coffee

It turns out that coffee isn't the evil vice that everyone makes it out to be.

8 Things Runners Should Know About Coffee

Now I haven't let this go to my head, I have been trying to keep it down to 2 cups a day.  When I am looking for the ritual of drinking it then I reach for the decaf. My anxiety is through the roof if I have too much coffee in the morning, and if I drink it after lunch then sleep isn't going to happen. I LOVE my sleep, it is very important to me, it isn't something I am willing to mess with for any reason.

Workout: 3.1 miles / 33 minutes TM

My favorite ice coffee ever, Marylou's Girl Scout Cookie!

Post dinner drinks. Both decaf, one spiked! 

So here is what I learned on top of coffee being my savior for keeping me from face planting into my keyboard on a daily basis.

Caffeine improves performance. Caffeine: Helping people to go farther and faster since the tea went over the edge of the ship in 1773. 

Coffee works the best when it is consumed an hour before the event. I feel like I couldn't possibly function any less than an hour after having my first sip of coffee.  I get up at 6:30 brew the coffee and it is a struggle to changed and to the gym by 7:30, could it be the hour TV show I feel the need to consume before I go? Maybe, but is time I need to be alone with my trashy TV and mostly uninterrupted  thoughts.

Coffee articles always use the milligrams of how much caffeine you consume.  I feel like this means nothing to me.  However this article gives you an example, a 150 pound person (I wish!) should have 12 oz of strong coffee. (Thank you Runners World for breaking it down!)

There are all these studies that prove that coffee does a brain good! Long term effects of promoting healthy brain function and preventing dementia, makes me extremely happy.

Now this one was a shocker... coffee is not proven to dehydrate.  You would have to drink 5 cups a day to start having hydration issues.  I think my anxiety would have me clawing at the walls.  So I am going to pretend I never read this.

Lastly, it has beneficial post workout effects too.  I have been wanting to try CLICK for a while, but for now I just add half a scoop of Gavin's protein shake mix to some iced coffee... delicious and nutritious.

My favorite mug! 

History Lesson... Sometimes the Past isn't great but we can learn from it.

I made the mistake of going back in time. Turns out, even in my prime of 24 I was a bit pokey as a runner. 

Fun Fact: CoolRunning keeps everything. If you ever had race results that were recorded there, then they are still there!


Turns out I have always been a slow-ski.


25th Irish Feet are Runnin' 5 Miler 3/6/2005
(I seem to recall being slightly hungover and getting sick after this one, oh to be 24 again)
210 54:18 10:52 24 17/17 F 232


Harpoon 5 Miler 6/4/2005
1163 55:35 11:07 509 21-39 591 F


The Harpoon 5miler after party!

Run To Home Base 9K 5/22/2011
1754 270/340 F3039 1:03:16 11:19


Post 9K


Today was a rest day... probably should have gone for the cross training, but 2 days in a row of running I figured that my body needed a rest.

Following a plan...

Workout: 2.42 miles / 26 Minutes TM

Go Bruins! (I don't watch hockey but I am all about the home team)... not a band wagon statement, just supportive.

So I decided that I should try and use a training plan for the half marathon I was using Hal Higdon's Novice plan, but in an effort to increase my speed a bit I am doing a training program for a sub 60 minute 10K.  I think part of my problem is time, oh how the 9-5 gets in the way of life... and yet pays for my life so I keep it!

Between weekend plans and me not getting up early enough for me to put in the miles I should do according to the plan, I have been slacking.

Makes me wonder, is it better to follow a plan or to listen to your body and work up to the proper mileage?

This weekend was my company family fun day! Gavin and I had a BLAST at Canobie Lake Park. I like roller coasters and thrill rides and so does he so we are like little kids when we are there. 

We also found the Zoltar machine, "I want to be BIG" if you don't get it... (sad face) 

So I put in about 15000 steps, I didn't get a workout in. 

Sunday was fathers day and I am a daddy's girl so we have a tradition to go out to breakfast at the same place every year. Now that my niece/sister (my rents are raising her) is part of the father's day celebration there is an effort to entertain her as well as my dad. (She was not thrilled with the breakfast) So we headed off to Kimball's Farms! Holy bananas, Batman have they grown into their own version of a theme park. 

We started at the arcade, had some ice cream, dad and D went to see an animal show while I went to hit a bucket of balls a the range. Then there were bumper boats!! Man did we have a great day. 

My dad and I circa... 1988ish

D and I, not at Kimball's but it takes a lot to get her in a picture. 

Oh and I was not feeling my run today... not feeling great about it, not to be a downer, it is on the training program so I can check it off.  I just should have done it in a different order. 

Can I get an Owners Manual for this body?

Gavin has always had his protein shakes after a workout but now he has moved into the world of Mark Wahlberg's line of body building nutrition, Marked. After a few trips to GNC it got me thinking if there is some energy booster to take pre-workout to help with endurance. Now as I am sure there is something that gives you a little extra kick, there isn't anything that is going to transform my body into Kara Goucher's overnight.  Not that I expect to become an Olympic Marathoner, or that I am even striving for that, but it will only come with training and hard work to make myself stronger and faster. To be honest if I could just get a sub 10 minute mile on a long run I would loose my mind with joy.

That doesn't mean I should figure out nutrition and what works best for my pre-workout snack/breakfast. Everything I read, has a main message with a lot of suggestions, there really isn't a one size fits all solution. It is a matter of trial and error.

From all the things that I have read breakfast is important. As far as working out, you have the potential to burn more calories if you don't eat anything, but you also can't workout as hard or for as long.  From my own personal experience and obsession with food, I workout better with a small snack anywhere between 30-90 minutes before a workout. I like working out in the morning and really only have so much time to get ready and get to work. I need something quick and not too filling but packed with the nutrients to get me through over an hour of high intensity cardio, alright so at some point I will be doing over an hour.

I had a Trader Joe's yogurt smoothie and fiber granola bar and it seemed to do the trick. I can definitely feel a difference when I am not putting the right things in my body, not that it always stops me from putting the wrong things in there... because things that lack in nutrition, are so stinking delicious.

I would like to go on the record and say this was a party in my mouth.

After a completely unnecessary and long break from the gym I started going back to the gym in January. I know, I know, but with the exception of me declaring that 2013 is the year of the half, I am really not a resolution type of person. I think I actually started for a few days in December. I was just kind of fed up with having my belly rolling over my jeans and not having any of my pants fit. Winter and holidays don't do a body good. Oh My... I had a point... and I wonder why my readership is low.

When I was out of shape, it was almost more easy to feel when I was not getting the proper nutrition. Within the past few weeks, my runs have been all I could ask for. My boredom and my body haven't been getting the best of me. Now if only I could get the gym earlier so I am not late for work and could get the mileage in.

Workout: 4.35 miles / 47 minutes TM

Victory Cry

More like a theme, or better yet and anthem!

Workout: 4.16 miles / 45 minutes TM

I have an affinity for 80s soundtracks, my iPod is full of them. Top Gun, Footloose, Dirty Dancing, St Elmo's Fire, tend to be on every playlist I make. After a nice relaxed run and I was starting my cool down the Top Gun Anthem came on my iPod. (My life would not be the same without the shuffle feature) It was almost as if my ipod knew i had completed my goal and I myself was being inducted into the fighter pilot elite. (I am almost positive my ipod knows better.)

I have a codependent relationship with my ipod, there are very few places it doesn't go with me. I charge it, keep it full of audio and it makes sure I am entertained at all times. (It was even clutch when my phone died/jammed on April 15th in Boston, I was able to find wifi and get messages to friends and family) If I don't have it or it isn't charged enough, my workout will be rescheduled.

Depending on my surroundings dictates how loud my ear buds are. At the gym, full blast, I am hardly in the mood to be social. Outside, usually I just want to hear it but also be aware of my surroundings, getting run over isn't high on my list of things to do.  I also like to be able to hear the nice things going on around me like, the surf on the beach or birds chirping.

Me waiting patiently to walk across home plate after the Run to Homebase 2011 (notice the armband, I took the ipod out so I could take pictures inside the park)

I also made a special playlist for this run. (My Hero - Foo Fighters comes to mind)

I know Apple has algorithms to play songs that you listen to more than others, sometimes frustrating when I am in the mood for something I haven't heard in a while, but I comes in handy.  Sometimes I think it knows exactly what I am in the mood for. Some might chalk it up to my brilliant ability to put together a playlist. (Gavin might disagree, since he is always asking me to tweek his gym mix, I say, "if you don't like Holding out for a Hero for the 50th time, then you should take it off your list.")

I take pride in my playlists, if and when we hire a DJ (Most likely we will for our wedding) that poor person is just going to get a list of songs to play and a whole lot of "Do Not Play."

The joys of Summer TV

I am a total TV nerd and I have plenty of guilty pleasures.  I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a good weight loss show. I am a long time fan of the Biggest Loser.  I guess ABC has joined the game but I am only just finding out about Extreme Weight Loss.  I like the fact that Chris Powell guides people for 365 days and there isn’t any one getting kicked out of the ranch. Who really needs, in my best Allie Sweeney voice, “A quarter of a million dollars”?

 

I was practically balling in my salad last night when I was watching the latest episode with Meredith, and her struggles with being put up for adoption.  I am not adopted, as much as my sister tried to convince me I was as a kid, I am just over emotional for people I have never met before.  As part of her journey to lose weight the trainer signed her up for a full marathon.  I was so inspired by her!  Still not sure a full in in the cards for me, but it definitely made my run this AM way easier. Not only did she run it with weight yet to lose, but she had a torn meniscus.

 

Workout:  TM 4.04 miles / 44 minutes

 

Then since it was National Donut Day (apparently June is full of National ‘Pick a thing to celebrate’ Days) I found myself the beneficiary of a free donut, what am I going to do just throw away food?

 

37 days until the 10K

120 days until the Half

No treadmills (sad face)

 I would like to start by saying, I wasn't feeling great Saturday morning. I put it out there, 4 slow miles were set for Saturday, then I got to the gym.

My gym is relatively small, just one of those apartment complex gyms that only has 4 treadmills, one of which is a little glitchy. (I like making up words) All 3 working treadmills were taken. So I went for the stationary bike. About 5 minutes into my bike ride I felt much better and kicked up my effort. The bike isn't a huge calorie blaster but great for cross training.

Some might say, just take it to the streets, why do I keep running inside. Well, my early summer allergies are brutal, it has been crazy hot and humid the past few days, and my sneakers are still the old ones and the treadmill adds a little extra padding. (Sounds like excuses... alright I will take the accusation)

Wanna see what I did yesterday?

Orange Leaf, my new obsession! It might not look appetizing but it was amazing. 

Riding the Runners High

Workout: 4.04 miles / 43:40

After a bit of a mishap with my original treadmill choice, I moved onto another one and I was off and running!

I decide for the sake of my nose I would run in a climate and room with an air filter. Turns out it was for the best it was steamy outside even at 7:30. Even with my generic target variety Claritin, my nose has been losing its mind.  If only you saw the sneezfest I had when I got in my car.

My goal was 4 miles based on my sub 60 10K training program. Goal complete! My biggest issue was I didn't give myself enough time to run 4 miles.  I never give myself enough time when I run in the AM... truthfully I am terrible at timing things, but when I know I need to be on the treadmill for at least 45 minutes... I should probably give myself at least 50.  I could get up earlier in the AM... that would mean getting to bed earlier.

So here is the rub, Gavin gets home about 9:30PM every night, that gives me about an hour to hangout with him before I turn into a pumpkin.

Anywhoodles, while I was running I just felt so good, if I had given myself more time I probably would have run longer. Due to the time constraint I just upped the speed with 15 minutes left and progressively sped up. I have some lessons from not giving yourself enough time after a workout.

• I didn't stretch, all that paranoia about getting hurt and I am just willing it to happen by ignoring my stretches.
• Rushing to get ready, no bueno! (TMI alert: I keep a tooth brush and deodorant at work just in case I forget... it was that kind of rushing this AM)
• Get off the treadmill sweaty, go directly into a hot show and according to an episode of Seinfeld... "the shower didn't take". I was just as sweaty post shower... gross, I know! 

GEORGE: "What day is today?....Aw. ..Tuesday! Damn it. I shouldn't have worked out today. Mr Wilhem has called a big meeting and now I'm gonna be sweating through the whole thing."

JERRY: "Why. You took a shower?"

GEORGE: "Aahhrgh...it wouldn't take...... long pause, audience laughter) ten minutes from now, I'll be sweating all over again ,I can feel it. I'm a human heat pump!"

KRAMER: "You should take cold showers."

GEORGE: "Cold showers? They're for psychotics."

You really can find anything on the Interwebs, apparently even every Seinfeld script is out there.

I officially had a runners high today! Not sure if it was because I felt so good during or if it was because I hit my goal. Days like today I want to run all over again and then days like the past 3, where I wanted to hit the couch like a sack of potatoes.

I am going to take today's high and hit that cross training machine (elliptical) tomorrow!

June 5th is National Running Day, will you be running?

Today was my first time contributing to #tbt (Throw back Thursday) Who am I to forgo the trends, actually I am usually just a little late to the party, (and here we are, full circle). Oh my, does anyone know what time it is?

#tbt Here you Go! (different one than on Instagram... so hit me up there if you want to see more)

Motivational Trickery

Workout: Treadmill 3.61 miles / 40 minutes

I wanted to run the Run to Remember today, but I waited too long and it was sold out by the time I got around to it. Congrats to my friends Carlyn, Pat and Amy for running today! Note to self, register earlier next year.

So my run wasn't what I was hoping for, but it is the farthest I have gone on the treadmill in a while. Also, I am still running on old sneaks, so there is that.  I felt good through the beginning of the run and at 30 minutes I hadn't even taken the sweatshirt off the front of the treadmill.  I think some of it had to do with how good I felt, and the other part was not being bored out of my skull with what was on television. 

When I am in the gym in the mornings I try to be a good sport and I put the news on.  I am not sure if it is trying to keep up with the story changes or reading everything they say but my ADD kicks in and I can't focus on anything except, when will this be over?  If I am watching an hour drama or a movie then it is much easier for me to get lost in the story line. 

From what I have been told running is mostly mental. I truly believe that your mind gives up before your legs do. I haven't made it to miles in double digits, yet so I feel like the mental game is yet to come.  It makes a difference when you are checking out the sights somewhere new. Races are also that much more motivational, with all of the other people around you and generally there is a cause reminds you that a few miles is nothing compared to what other people are going through. 

Running along the Cape Cod Canal

The weekend after volunteering at the Ragnar Relay, and running along this made 5 miles go by quickly. 

The Sagamore Bridge

I tend to play head games with myself to get to a certain point.  If it is good song or the surroundings or something on the television. Would I prefer to be outside with sights to see all the time? Of course! New England, although it has some great places to run with beautiful surroundings, weather and convenience is a factor.

Today was a trifecta of feeling good, good music (very important to me) , and entertaining movies that I had seen before on television (What Women Want, and The Proposal). Not gonna lie, when I found out that The Proposal was going to be on next I got a little extra pep in my step. Sandy and Ryan running around the North Shore of MA pretending it is Alaska, oh so entertaining! 

 

Running around Castle Island in Southie.  

What do you do to get through so that you don't cut your workout short?

From Tomorrow on it is All for Me!

Workout on the Treadmill - 3 miles / 33 minutes (I haven't run in over a week, but room for improvement)

Last year my coworkers made a big deal about doing a biggest loser competition at work. Everyone was so excited about it and the office was a-buzz with all of the weight loss happenings. Of course I didn't join, the buy-in was a $100 (I know it is motivation to lose but also a lot of dough to lose!).

This year I figured why not, I had put on some holiday weight and figured I might be able to take the whole competition. Fail... Unfortunately, I didn't have Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper in this version.

Tomorrow is the weigh in day and the winner is announced. As of right now I am tied for 3rd place, which is a prize holding spot, but I have to hope that the person I am tied with gained weight in the past month... (sad face, I am a horrible person).

On the eve of weigh in day I have come to a realization, I am never going to make this about anyone except myself again.  I will lose weight for ME and only me.  Gavin could care less what weight I am so is there really anyone else that matters. I also don't necessarily want to be skinny, I want to be healthy and toned and be able to run double digits. (For all those Ultra people out there... sorry I have to draw the line somewhere)

That doesn't mean I am throwing in the towel, I did what I could on the treadmill this morning (wish it was more) I didn't want to push too hard just yet, and I really didn't even give myself enough time to do the 33 minutes that I did. Not the mention the foot, still a bit tender. I will also be putting in some serious time on that CRAZY elliptical tomorrow morning!

So lets reevaluate, my goals are to drop some weight, build muscle and run this silly 13.1 miles that is less than 5 months from now.  Oh I forgot to mention those skinny jeans WILL fit again!

Treadmill Monotony

It is official, no matter how I try to mix it up I have been much more productive away from the treadmill.

There could be so many reasons...

• boredom
• I am trying to go to fast... (disappointing)
• form
• boredom
• heat in the gym (it must be 80 degrees in there)
• boredom

I use the treadmill because of convenience. It is faster for me to use the treadmill in the gym than it is to run off some place and have to run back. The gym is within 100 yards from my front door... no excuses. 

I try to keep myself entertained with what is on the television, but news... especially morning news, apparently not capturing my interests.  

All that being said, my distances on the treadmill have been low for me at this point in the year.  I would say they were great if it was February, but I have done 4 and 5 mile runs recently. 

Todays run: 2.38 miles / 25 min, walked: .35 miles / 5 min, ran: .46 / 5 min walked: .35 miles / 5 min

humph... a bit deflated

Cross training tomorrow, here I come!