12/30

Today was not a run day - Matt was gone so I decided I would do my wii fit yoga and strength work out, then I did some cardio. Then I decided to so a workout on my EA active game. That game kicks your butt. I like it.  I worked out for about 2 hours :-D

Tomorrow is the last day of 2009 - I hope to get a run in before we go off to a party, but there is a chance I will have to push it until 2010. We will see what time I get off work.

Have a great and safe New Years Eve!

2010 brings lots of firsts - MILES and MILES of running, a few races and the BIG KAHUNA!! I also hope it brings continued health and weight loss!!

12/29

Today run was alright - the 3.25 was pretty hard for me. I need to get back to going to the gym right after work I am less tired and those runs seem to be better.

Wii fit yoga tomorrow :-D

Thursday I need to run as soon as I get home so I can go get my laterade to the decade/Amanda Wass is 25 party on! :-D

I also need to find something to wear. Poop.

Night - failing on the bed thing - well. half. I got in bed at 10:30 and read until 11:15 - then came out here to talk to Matt about something and here I am. HA!

12/28

I ran today - and I didn't cry! Success!!

I have to say that even with all the cookies I ate over Christmas I managed to lose 1.5 lbs. Only because I was running that is for sure. It would have been interesting to see how much I would have lost if I ran all week before and all week after exactly to plan, or even if I didn't eat so many darn cookies.

Tonight I ran yesterday's run. 3.25 miles and then another .75 miles. I ran the 3.25 at normal pace, but the last .75 I just went for it, and ran it at a 9:41 min mile pace. Not bad. I was really tired for this run, I stayed up way too late last night, I actually fell asleep on the floor after my run. Sad. Tomorrow I am running again. I am also planning to get more sleep (yea right I know I say it all the time)

I am starting a new routine. See the twins have trouble napping and we have a whole routine we go through before they get in their beds to nap so that they learn that this is nap time and it isn't play time. So I have decided I will be in bed by 10:30 every night. I will read until 11 if I don't feel tired. But lights out at 11. I am also going to try and break my habit of staying up super late and sleeping in super late on weekends. But one thing at a time. Off to bed!

Feel better Aubrey! I know you are missing running!  You will be able to soon enough, be patient.

Merry Christmas!!!

I know I am a few days late wishing that to everyone but Christmas day was a busy day. Lucky for me it was also a rest day.

Saturday I ran - but I didn't get the full 4 miles in, after about 2.5 I started to feel like I was going to puke, and by mile 3 I was pretty sure I was going to. I stopped and promised to wait longer after lunch before running.

Today I didn't run - I am in a funk. Last night we found out that good friends of ours are getting married on Oct 2, the day of my race. When they told us they were getting married they said it would be a Nov or Dec wedding so I didn't think twice about signing up. I sat through dinner, a movie, and 2 hours of Mario on wii on the edge of busting out crying. I called my mom and had a long cry about this. I have decided I am going to run the race. It is something that I really want to do, I am invested mentally, physically and monetarily and I just can't give it up. My mom told me that sometimes we have to follow our dreams or we may never get another chance. That is sort of how I feel about this. My biggest problem is that I really want Matt to be at the finish line when I am done. This is not something that is going to be easy for me, 13 miles is a very long distance and a great accomplishment for me. My mom said she would be there, and I would love her to be there, but I really feel like I would be super sad without him here. My problem is that I feel very selfish wanting that. It is a race, and I would be asking him to miss the wedding of one of his high school friends just to WATCH me run. I really need to wrap my head around the fact that even if he isn't there I still am able to do this and it will still mean the same to me because I trained to hard and I ran the race and I finished the race. He will still be proud of me, even if he isn't there to see it. I will be sad that I will miss their wedding, and miss getting to dance and party with them, but I need this for me. I have been mopey and sad about this all day. I just couldn't go run today because I was bumming. Lame I know.

Tonight I did do 30 mins of yoga, and 30 mins of strength and 20ish mins of cardio on the Wii Fit. Super fun. I really like the yoga, even though it is really hard. I got Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus, plus 4 other workout games for Christmas. I won't be using my 30 day shred for a while, and that's good cuz I was sick of it!!! I am going to do the wii fit plus for a few weeks then try a different game. I will maybe post some reviews of them if people are interested to see what I think. So far I like wii fit plus.

However I will run tomorrow! Tomorrow I will not be upset about this. I am going to run my race and fulfill a dream of mine!

Matt and I have time to figure out what to do about this, he said he would come to my race, but I feel like a jerk for doing that. So who knows. Why does this always happen?!

12/21

I ran today - 4 miles total. It blows my mind. I remember only a few weeks ago running 1.5 and 2 miles was a struggle. :-D

Finished all my baking and getting the cookies and treats out of the house. I am pretty good about not eating much of them. But those peanut butter kisses cookies really get me sometimes!!!

Running again tomorrow and then I can stop feeling guilty for skipping Saturday!

12/20 - Week 10

Well Saturday it snowed, and snowed and then snowed some more! We got 19+ inches! Shew. I spent the day baking and it was late and I was tired, and so I didn't run :(

But I ran today! I added my normal .25 and also upped my pace! I ran 3 miles and walked my 5 mins and then ran another mile.

I am working a short day tomorrow - the whole area has a snow day - but not me. Just a delay. Sigh. Hopefully I will get home and run and then finish the last little bit of baking I have left to do ( yes I am baking a lot - gifts mostly and then taking the rest to family on Christmas)

I will run Monday to make up for sucking Saturday (but at my 4 mile a day amt) run Tues and then run Thurs am before going to Frederick for Christmas! Thank goodness Christmas falls on a rest day because Christmas day is SO BUSY!

Starting next week I start working towards putting my 4 miles together. Next Sunday I will run 3.25 walk 5 mins and then only run .75.

I am really excited that I have been able to stick with this for so long.  9 weeks down!

12/18

I didn't run yesterday - I made cookies and wrapped presents. So Friday night after we retreated to the apartment to hide from the snow I went down and ran my 3.75. I ran all of it and it was a great run.

Tomorrow I plan to run it at a faster pace. 

Tonight I didn't drink at happy hour, but I was so thirsty when we left. I really wanted a soda, so I had one. It was great! :-D

We are currently getting slammed with snow - I am planning to spend tomorrow baking cookies. :-D I won't eat too much! Promise!

Ways to stay motivated

I found a list of the top 10 questions asked by new runners , one of them had to do with staying motivated.

You can find the whole question list here

I do some of the things on the list

Question: I’m afraid I won’t be able to stick with the plan – how do I stay motivated?
Answer:

1. Sign up for a race. Do it now! Having a race goal (and race fees!) on the line will be a powerful source of motivation. I guarantee it. Done! :-D
   
2. Run with a partner. And promise to get each other through the rough patches. Neither of you will want to let the other down. I don't run with a partner but Aubrey and I are doing a good job making sure the other one is running.
   
3. Focus strongly on getting through the first three weeks. It takes roughly three weeks to establish a habit. If you can get past the first three weeks, your mind and body will find it much easier after that.This is very true - now running is less of a chore and more something that I want to get done - I get pretty bummed when I can't get a run in.
   
4. Don’t overdo it. Running too fast, too far or too often in the beginning can burn you out, make you sore or get you injured and none of those things are very motivating.
5. If you are taking up running to lose pounds, try not to focus solely on weight loss. This is because especially in the beginning of your running career you will likely gain some weight due to muscle growth – a very good thing because muscles burn fat. To get your attention away from the scale, take tape measurements and photos of your body every few weeks. You’ll be happy to see the inches dropping even if the pounds don’t initially follow suit.  I only weigh myself 1 time a week - but I try to always make it at the same time everyday - typically first thing. I also take  pictures every couple weeks. It feels awkward but I do it.
   
6. Journal your experiences in a running blog or on a forum and connect with other runners for support. You’ll be amazed at just how much support you’ll get!
7. Remind yourself often that at the end of the program you’ll be fitter, thinner and will be able to run for non-stop for an hour!

12/13-12/15

So remember that hurdle I was talking about? I ran right at it, and didn't jump. Ok - so by the time I went to bed Saturday I knew there was no heading this cold off. When I got up on Sunday I felt horrible. I went back to sleep, then got up and did a couple household things and felt like I was going to pass out. I had to take another nap, for 2 hours. Then I got up and laid around took a hot shower and Nyquil and went to bed smelling of Vicks. Monday was a really rough day, the girls, me and their dad were all sick. We went on a little walk and I got so exhausted. There was no way I was going to be able to run Monday night.

Tuesday I was feeling much better, a little stuffy in my head, but not much more. So I went to run. I decided that I would still up the mileage but slow my pace a little. I ran my 2.75 pretty easily, walked my 5, ran .5 of my last mile and then had a coughing fit and had to stop. Pretty good for being a sicky.

I feel better today and I hope that Thursday's goes well so I can get back on plan. I went 9 weeks before I missed a day running that I haven't made up. Not bad.

How to Breathe

Many people don't realize how they are breathing when working out - I often don't pay attention. Honestly when I am doing a workout video I do because they tell me when I should be breathing, but when I am running sometimes I notice that I am huffing and focus on my breathing to chill out a little. I found this article and thought it could be useful to share.

There are 7 tips to good breathing - I think I am going to try harder to work on proper breathing.

Article from Completerunning.com

7 Key Breathing Tips

1. Try slowing down before attempting to change your breathing.
2. Focus on longer, deeper breaths.
3. Breath more from your diaphragm (belly) than your chest (chest breathing is more shallow).
4. Focus on exhaling more fully. This will remove more CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) and allow for deeper inhalations of O₂ (Oxygen).
5. Allow air to enter through both the nose and mouth. This will allow for maximum O₂ intake.
6. Aim to take three footsteps for every inhale, and two footsteps for every exhale (3:2 ratio). A good descriptions of this can be found on Military.com:
   

   Many experts will say that to fully oxygenate the muscles and clear the body of carbon dioxide you should breathe a 3:2 inhale-to-exhale ratio; full inhales and full exhales. This means you INHALE on the LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT foot strikes and EXHALE fully on the RIGHT, LEFT foot strikes. This pattern is not that hard to turn into a habit, but it may require you to slow your pace down for a few runs to master the technique. You will notice a lower heart rate as you are able to get more oxygen in and more importantly push all the carbon dioxide out of your body. You may notice that you naturally drop to a 2:1 ratio when you are really pushing it to the finish. That is OK. But realize it is difficult to maintain a pace that requires you to breathe at a 2:1 ratio.
   

   For those wanting more explanation about step to breath ratios, another article – based on the Daniel’s Running Formula – can be found at this link on proper breathing while running
   
7. One last thing – try not to over-think your breathing! It’s best to try to slow down, relax, and let yourself fall into your body’s natural rhythm.

I am not exactly sure about number 5 - I can't breathe in from both at the same time.

Hopefully this article helps you - even if it is just to refresh your memory.

12/12

I got a card in the mail today :-D The back of the envelope showed me beating Aubrey. I loved it - but that will never happen. That girl runs further and faster than me on any given day and makes it look so easy. ( ok maybe not look easy - because I haven't seen her run, but she makes it sound easy) Nice to get a little pat on the back and kick in the butt at the same time.

I got up early today and went to Tysons Corner to see Carol. I tried to talk her into starting to run, she wants to but just doesn't have time. I get that. If I had any other commitments I think my commitment level to this training would be a lot less. She also asked what made me start doing this, and it is funny because I don't really know. I have always wanted to run a half marathon, and I have always enjoyed running, but it was never something that came super easy for me. But I looked in the mirror, and even worse, in pictures tagged of me on facebook and I didn't recognize the person there. How did my weight and overall fitness get so out of hand? I couldn't take it anymore. Something had to give. So why not work on something I have wanted to do for a long time. She makes a very good point, the desire to run has to come from inside. It doesn't matter who wants you to run with them, if you don't want to do it, you won't stick with it. It is hard at first, and even when it gets easier it is still hard somedays. I am glad something has clicked because I am enjoying it more than ever.

Today I ran my 3.5 miles. I ran at faster paces from before. My first 2.5 miles was at 11:32 and my last mile was at 10:45. My goal is to be at a 10 min mile when I get to 4 miles at one time.

My first big hurdle is on the horizon - this am I was feeling a little stuffy, while I was running this afternoon I could feel the snot and sinus gunk building up, by the time I was babysitting my throat was killing me, and now 7 hours later I feel horrible. How is this going to effect my running? As long as it stays in my head I am going to still run, just take tissues with me. If it moved to my chest I may have to take a day or 2 off - maybe some light walking. I am going to bed and hope this goes away. :-D

Happy Hanukkah!!

Today is Friday - my rest day. I did that. I took a nap then did holiday traditions with Matt. We are still creating them and it is so fun! We made latkes - which were so good, but good thing I have to run Sat and Sun. Shew - not exactly healthy, but SO GOOD

Anyway - I don't have anything to tell you about my working out, but I wanted to share a little secret. I love ice cream but in trying to lose weight ice cream isn't really part of the diet. This wouldn't be horrible except Matt likes to have ice cream in the evenings sometimes. This makes me want some too. When we went grocery shopping I was looking at weight watchers popsicle and all the other healthier for you ice cream snacks. They looked good, but their price tags weren't so good. $5-7 for like 6 popsicles. Not paying that. Then I saw these - they were 10 for 10. I ate a chocolate one the other night - it was big enough that I got 2 servings out of them. So I basically got ice cream for $0.50  Nice. Giant brand makes them. I suggest you try them. The ice cream is good and it isn't as bad for you as regular ice cream.

 

I suggest you try them.

Tomorrow I am running - and running at a faster pace. :-D

12/10

Today we took a tour of the White House! SO fun!

I ate lunch at 3:30 - so dinner was after my run tonight at 9:30. poop.

My run was good. I need to shower and go to bed so this is a short post.

YAY.

12/8

Somedays I love running - LOVE IT.

Some recent changes in our routines means my sleep schedule is majorly disrupted. I am getting 3 and 4 hours of sleep every night and I am DYING. So of course I passed out after work, then we sat and debated dinner, and by debate I mean A- What do you want for dinner? M- whatever you want A- No that isn't what I asked, do you want x, y, or z? M - I don't care A- fine I'm ordering Chinese. Best dinner ever - cuz I didn't cook it. But it didn't come until almost 8 - so now its 8 and I have not run and I need to eat dinner still. So at 9:30 feeling super fat and full I drug myself to the gym, expecting the worst. But I got the best run in a while. :-D

I am loving that the miles and the speed is coming easier. I am also loving that I am starting to crave the runs. I will find the time for them now. 8 weeks ago, there was no way I'd get up early to go run so I could do something all day on a Saturday. Maybe by the end of all this I say I am an actual runner.

Today I lugged the babies to playgroup and to run a couple errands ( I say lugged because I feel like I am running an uphill  marathon to get from the house to the car with 2 heavy carseats, the diaper bag, my purse and anything else that needs to go with us) I should weigh those things and see how heavy they are. I packed a lunch and ate it in the car on the way to playgroup so I wouldn't need to stop and get food, and if there was snacks provided I wouldn't eat any cuz I'd be full - So smart.
Chinese food isn't the most healthy dinner- but it could be worse
I dont drink
I may have had a couple sour patch kids a couple mins ago. Sorry.
I ran 3.5 miles at my fastest pace.
no soda
3 nalgenes
crap for sleeping, hopefully that changes tonight - I hope, maybe some benadryl could assist me.

Oh hey Jillian I remember you...

I also remember why I don't like you. You make me do mean things to my muscles.

Ok - so I haven't don't a Jillian Michael's workout since before Thanksgiving - why? well - umm... I allowed myself to be too busy. I made excuses, and just didn't do it. While I haven't been letting my running slide- I have let my strength workouts slide. But starting this week - NO MORE. Why you ask? Well honestly, because it makes it worse, I feel like I did when I first started. I hurt and I don't like hurting. When I was doing it regularly, it would be uncomfortable but livable- now it just sucks.

I am seeing too many results by running to not work on toning up as I lose the weight. I am really hoping I get a wii fit for Christmas so I can get a little variety to the workouts.

I had a good day rule wise. Followed them all so far :-D

I am working on my last nalgene now and will be showering and going to bed in the next 30 mins. I got very little sleep last night and I have too much going on tomorrow to be as exhausted as I was today.

12/6

Today's run was a wonderful run. I added my typical .25 that I add on Sundays I also decided that I would go ahead and keep my 12 min mile pace. Now there is no running under the 12 min mile pace - and on thurs I will up it again. It is getting easier and easier to add miles and speed - so I feel like I am finally making progress. I am starting too see a weight difference besides in my clothes. My mom noticed it today and then Matt said something about it later that day too - and when I was wearing a tee-shirt which isn't exactly figure flattering (yet i love wearing them)

So the rules -
1- welp we had Wendy's for dinner...womp womp. But it was basically all I had to eat for the day minus a bowl of cereal and a piece of cornbread
2- no alcohol
3- no eating after 9
4-today was a run day :-D
5 - no soda
6- finishing my 3rd nalgene
7- slept in this am. getting ready to go to bed.

I promise tomorrow I will do Jillian's workout tomorrow. It has been a while and I bet I am whining about it tues. Boo ME!

12/5

Today was my rest day - and I did just that! It snowed today so we didn't go to Frederick. We watched a 3 hour movie, and had dinner.  It was a good thing I didn't have to run because I had a migraine for a few hours and I took meds and laid around. I also had a soda to try and help with the pain. Some combo of meds, food, soda and darkness worked cuz it went away. Oh and I napped too!

Seeing as I didn't do much today I didn't fail on the rules. :-D Except staying up so darn late - but I was FINALLY writing baking blog posts. :-D


Tomorrow I get to run 2.5 miles - :-D ok I am going to bed. I promise next week wont be such crappy blogs.

12/3 and 12/4

12/3 was a good day. I came home from work and ran - and I ran at my fastest pace!! Most of this week I haven't been getting a good night sleep for many different reasons. But other than that I have followed all the other rules

12/4 even though Friday is typically a rest day I ran my 3.25 miles. I was supposed to go to Frederick on Sat am and I didn't want to have to get up super early and run first - so Sat is my rest day, and it works because it is snowing. We didn't go to Frederick, but snow days are a rest day in my book :-D. Last night (friday night) we went out to a dueling piano bar! So fun - the downside - is that I ate dinner at 9:20. O well.

Sunday starts week 8 and 3.5 daily miles - wow!

11/30 , 12/1 and 12/2

Well - I am sucking at blogging right now- on this blog and my other one.

Monday I had a good day - but I didn't do Jillian's workout - I picked up Matt from the airport and we got dinner then we hung out until I went to bed. I followed the rules pretty well - tho we each had coupons for free chic-fil-a sandwiches that expired on the 30th so we went to chic-fil-a for dinner. But I planned for it and had green beans and string cheese for lunch. We shared a fry and drink - and I only had a couple. Dinner was $3.25 for 2 people. I can handle bending a rule for that price.
I really need to start doing JM again.
I haven't been getting much sleep - but that changes tonight.

Tuesday was a rough day all around. Got up to go to work and my car was dead, then some other difficult events just made my day one big ball of emotional stress. Good thing I had 3.25 miles to bang out. I drove Matt to work so I could have his car for the day to take the girls to playgroup and the dr, so I picked him up and we got groceries and then came home and had dinner. I didn't run until 10 but I ran, and I ran pissed. It worked and it felt good!! I did pig out on some sour patch kids in bed last night - I couldn't help it - and I don't now how I ate as many as I did. I love them and I am pretty sure I haven't had them since I gave them to Matt in his stocking last Christmas.

Today - my week of not sleeping at night has caught up to me, I came home and could barely muster up the energy to make a side dish for the steak Matt was making for dinner. JM didn't happen again.

This week even though I haven't been doing Jillian's workout I have been doing well with the other rules (not sleeping - but I did get a nap in with the girls this am) I have been working really hard on eating good things - and making smart choices.

I am going home Sat am to decorate the family Christmas tree - so I am switching my running on sat to Fri and using Sat as my rest day. I just don't see me getting up and running early - I don't want to, and so I won't.

I will try to suck less at working out and blogging. :-D

Runners World sends me a "daily kick in the butt" quote of the day - I liked today's, it is very fitting for many reasons.

	If one has determination, then things will get done. Chinese Proverb