I think it has helped me mentally with running since I officially registered for my big race next June. It has made me refocuse my efforts on improving, even if I'm not logging long distances very often.
Last Friday, I ran a 5k- just to make sure I could still do the distance- and though it was much slower than I would have liked (42ish mins), I did it and felt good after. Today- I ran 1.89 miles in 21:30, a roughly 11:23mm pace. I'm very pleased with that. I would have run farther but I was in a slight time crunch and that's all I had time for. Not to mention the rain that I barely missed. I don't mind running in rain, but this was a COLD rain - we went from about 65 degrees to 46 by the time the rain ended.
I have a 5k race coming up on November 6. I'm looking forward to doing a race again. This will be my 6th this year (I feel like I'm forgetting one, but it's not coming to mind. . .)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The difference a month makes
Just a quick acknowledgement of successes.
You might remember the "Skinny Jeans" I wrote about in this post.
What I didn't include in that post was that while the jeans fit, they weren't exactly what I would call flattering enough to wear outside the confines of my home.
Today? I'm wearing the jeans at work.
Victory!
You might remember the "Skinny Jeans" I wrote about in this post.
What I didn't include in that post was that while the jeans fit, they weren't exactly what I would call flattering enough to wear outside the confines of my home.
Today? I'm wearing the jeans at work.
Victory!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Finally! An update!
I know I've been dreadful about updates lately- but with 2 kids about to turn 1 and 4, and work and working out- life has just been nuts. The good news is that I'm getting my workouts in still and very consistently. So what's been taking the hit? online time!
Today- I went for a quick run- only about 25 minutes but it felt pretty good. I was holding myself back on speed in order to make sure I ran the majority with few walk breaks - it's hard to hold back some times- but I have to really force myself or else I tire out too quickly. I had forgotten my Nike + so I wasn't able to record it for pace or distance - which stinks for reporting purposes, but was kind of nice for the freedom of it.
The endurance will come- but darn set backs with asthma! I've had my fifth, yes FIFTH, sinus infection of the year last week and that always starts to settle in my chest and make things difficult. But after 5 in a year, you learn a thing or two - I learned the symptoms very early on and halted all strenuous cardio so not to encourage it to settle in- I think it mostly worked!
In total- in almost 11 months, I've lost 63 lbs. In the last 2.5 months I've also lost over 12 inches total on my body- 2 in the waist, 2.5 in the hips and the rest come from combo of arms, chest and thigh measurements.
I've got my first race since June on November 6th. A 5k. I have also signed up to do another Ragnar Relay! Our team (most of the same original members) is doing the Madison, WI to Chicago, IL race in June 2011! I'm so excited to have another big race to train for.
Today- I went for a quick run- only about 25 minutes but it felt pretty good. I was holding myself back on speed in order to make sure I ran the majority with few walk breaks - it's hard to hold back some times- but I have to really force myself or else I tire out too quickly. I had forgotten my Nike + so I wasn't able to record it for pace or distance - which stinks for reporting purposes, but was kind of nice for the freedom of it.
The endurance will come- but darn set backs with asthma! I've had my fifth, yes FIFTH, sinus infection of the year last week and that always starts to settle in my chest and make things difficult. But after 5 in a year, you learn a thing or two - I learned the symptoms very early on and halted all strenuous cardio so not to encourage it to settle in- I think it mostly worked!
In total- in almost 11 months, I've lost 63 lbs. In the last 2.5 months I've also lost over 12 inches total on my body- 2 in the waist, 2.5 in the hips and the rest come from combo of arms, chest and thigh measurements.
I've got my first race since June on November 6th. A 5k. I have also signed up to do another Ragnar Relay! Our team (most of the same original members) is doing the Madison, WI to Chicago, IL race in June 2011! I'm so excited to have another big race to train for.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Consistency when faced with challenges
Today was a really busy day.
I had chosen to "sleep in" until 5:30 instead of going to workout at 4:45 in exchange for going to work early and working through lunch in order to leave early and go to the gym before picking up the kids and meeting a friend with all our kids for dinner.
However, as some days go, my day ran late and I didn't leave the office until after 4pm and had to stop once to take care of an email - and with my commute, I didn't end up at the gym/changed and ready to work out until 4:45 (was meeting my friend at 5:45 and still had to pick up my kids in between).
Normally- I would have just said forget it and done something else to fill the time because if I could not do the WHOLE thing, then why do any of it?
The "new" mindset I have chose the better path - I decided that my strength training workout would take about 40 minutes if I really went at my normal pace. So- I cut one exercise out of the circuit and moved just slightly faster through my reps. Not breakneck speed, but a quick pace. I did this for 2 reasons- to get my heart rate up a bit more and also to get through it. I managed to finish the routine in about 32 minutes. I didn't get my normal ab work or cardio in- but it was better than doing nothing.
After dinner with the kids and getting some other things completed- I did my ab routine - and still feel that I got the full benefit of it. So, today I missed my cardio- but I still think i'll be just fine.
It feels good to know that I make the time, no matter what.
I had chosen to "sleep in" until 5:30 instead of going to workout at 4:45 in exchange for going to work early and working through lunch in order to leave early and go to the gym before picking up the kids and meeting a friend with all our kids for dinner.
However, as some days go, my day ran late and I didn't leave the office until after 4pm and had to stop once to take care of an email - and with my commute, I didn't end up at the gym/changed and ready to work out until 4:45 (was meeting my friend at 5:45 and still had to pick up my kids in between).
Normally- I would have just said forget it and done something else to fill the time because if I could not do the WHOLE thing, then why do any of it?
The "new" mindset I have chose the better path - I decided that my strength training workout would take about 40 minutes if I really went at my normal pace. So- I cut one exercise out of the circuit and moved just slightly faster through my reps. Not breakneck speed, but a quick pace. I did this for 2 reasons- to get my heart rate up a bit more and also to get through it. I managed to finish the routine in about 32 minutes. I didn't get my normal ab work or cardio in- but it was better than doing nothing.
After dinner with the kids and getting some other things completed- I did my ab routine - and still feel that I got the full benefit of it. So, today I missed my cardio- but I still think i'll be just fine.
It feels good to know that I make the time, no matter what.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
They Can't All Be Great. . .
It would be easy to only talk about those runs or workouts where it all goes well and perfectly, but that't not real. We all know how frustrating a bad workout can be. I'm glad that I've been consistent enough to know that it is just one bad run and not something that will continue forever.
With the major cooloff that we've had here- I was excited to go running after work yesterday- but I either started off too fast, just felt sluggish or a combo of both- but between the shortness of breath (that was from running too fast at the start) and just a mental block- I did more walking than I would have liked.
Walking is still fitness too- especially when you're walking at a very brisk pace - my overall average pace was still 12:43mm - I just need to be consistent again.
I have a 5K coming up on November 6 - and I'd really like to run the whole thing and set a personal record for my 5K time.
With the major cooloff that we've had here- I was excited to go running after work yesterday- but I either started off too fast, just felt sluggish or a combo of both- but between the shortness of breath (that was from running too fast at the start) and just a mental block- I did more walking than I would have liked.
Walking is still fitness too- especially when you're walking at a very brisk pace - my overall average pace was still 12:43mm - I just need to be consistent again.
I have a 5K coming up on November 6 - and I'd really like to run the whole thing and set a personal record for my 5K time.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Fall has arrived!
I am so excited that Fall has finally decided to present itself in Indiana - I thought those high-80 and 90 degree temps would never leave! This coming week is supposed to be highs just near 70- and I am loving that. I am planning a run for after work tomorrow and I am already looking forward to it.
This was a great weekend - started with a great workout with our trainer at the gym followed by an awesome spinning workout. I felt really pumped all day and even though my upper back was sore (but in a good way) from the weights workout - I felt very strong. We got some cleaning done in the house and then decided to go out for dinner. While that was an adventure all its own with 2 kids, we had a great night and then tried to come home and watch a movie- but I fell asleep. . .
Sunday- we got up and had breakfast and then I took my oldest daughter to the park to play. There were a bunch of older (10-12 yr old) kids on the big playground - but she wasn't at all deterred. My biggest issue with it is that they showed no regard for her petite size OR her petite ears - I could not believe the mouths on these kids! The worst part is that the things they were saying were things you learn at home, and no where else. Really sad. But after chasing my daughter around for awhile trying to make sure she didn't get run over by these kids - we went to another playground at this park and it was better- no other kids to run her over.
Then I chased her from tree to tree in dead sprints to "race" her and took pictures of her while she tossed leaves in the air:
After we came home and had lunch, I headed back out to our yard to cut down some overgrowth next to our garage and some ivy that crept around our back fence - with a new baby this year, yard work seriously suffered. I worked until I broke a great sweat and trimmed tree limbs and sheared bushes - it was great.
I came in and tried a new recipe - Apricot Dijon Porkloin - very healthy, very low cal and it was SO good and so easy to make. I co-roasted with with some fingerling potatoes and it was an awesome dinner. Add in a little clothes folding, a little football and a lot of family time - This makes Lola a happy girl! :)
This was a great weekend - started with a great workout with our trainer at the gym followed by an awesome spinning workout. I felt really pumped all day and even though my upper back was sore (but in a good way) from the weights workout - I felt very strong. We got some cleaning done in the house and then decided to go out for dinner. While that was an adventure all its own with 2 kids, we had a great night and then tried to come home and watch a movie- but I fell asleep. . .
Sunday- we got up and had breakfast and then I took my oldest daughter to the park to play. There were a bunch of older (10-12 yr old) kids on the big playground - but she wasn't at all deterred. My biggest issue with it is that they showed no regard for her petite size OR her petite ears - I could not believe the mouths on these kids! The worst part is that the things they were saying were things you learn at home, and no where else. Really sad. But after chasing my daughter around for awhile trying to make sure she didn't get run over by these kids - we went to another playground at this park and it was better- no other kids to run her over.
I came in and tried a new recipe - Apricot Dijon Porkloin - very healthy, very low cal and it was SO good and so easy to make. I co-roasted with with some fingerling potatoes and it was an awesome dinner. Add in a little clothes folding, a little football and a lot of family time - This makes Lola a happy girl! :)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Self Talk- the Good, the Bad and the SHUT UP and Run!
Sluggish days - we all have them.
I've got 2 kids who never seem to both sleep all night on the same nights - so sluggish? yeah, I got that.
Monday was one of those days- we'd had a rough Sunday night with the teething 10 month old and then the subsequent waking of the near 4 yr old by that 10 month old. I think I was up 3x between midnight and 4 a.m. I finally got a little rest and got up at 6 for work.
By the time it was 3pm, I had hit a wall - hard. I was so sleepy and tired and then the voices. You know the ones:
This is not an official video- but wanted to share it if you're not familiar.
So I started running- then I walked and then I ran and then I walked - back and forth like this. But I was running - and then I'd get out of breath and start to walk for a bit to recover. I really tried holding myself back on pace so that I wouldn't be out of breath- but I think, as I've been cross-training, my speed has naturally picked up and my lungs are still catching up. It turns out- that even with lots of walk breaks- my pace was under a 12 min mile - and most running portions were about 9.5mm pace - I can hardly believe that I'm building towards being able to run a sub-10 minute mile. There WILL be a party when that happens.
One more thing - we took progress measurements at the gym this past week (it's been 6 weeks). I've lost greater than 6 inches total - but more importantly, I lost 2 inches in my waist and 2.5 in my hips. The scale has started to move (albeit slowly) again - so things are starting to go the right direction again!
I've got 2 kids who never seem to both sleep all night on the same nights - so sluggish? yeah, I got that.
Monday was one of those days- we'd had a rough Sunday night with the teething 10 month old and then the subsequent waking of the near 4 yr old by that 10 month old. I think I was up 3x between midnight and 4 a.m. I finally got a little rest and got up at 6 for work.
By the time it was 3pm, I had hit a wall - hard. I was so sleepy and tired and then the voices. You know the ones:
"Don't run, just eat cake" or "You are so tired, you really should rest (and eat cake!) or, my personal fave "You'll never keep this up- just eat cake and give up already!"
So- at 3:45 I told myself to SHUT UP. Really. I said it out loud - "Emily, SHUT UP and GO". I knew it was supposed to be in the mid to upper 80s outside, but I had not been out of my office all day. So I wasn't sure if I would go run outside or do the treadmill or maybe spin bike for awhile. Once I had my clothes changed and stepped outside- it was warm but there was a wonderful, consistent breeze that made it very comfortable and I KNEW this was a run outside kind of day.
I told myself I'd take it easy, start off walking and run when it felt right and walk just the same. Sometimes- the music just really moves you - you think you're just going to stroll along until THAT song comes on, that one that makes you just have to pump it- have to boogie- have to MOVE! For me - that song has recently been Eminem's "Till I Collapse" - it's kind of my own personal running mantra.
This is not an official video- but wanted to share it if you're not familiar.
So I started running- then I walked and then I ran and then I walked - back and forth like this. But I was running - and then I'd get out of breath and start to walk for a bit to recover. I really tried holding myself back on pace so that I wouldn't be out of breath- but I think, as I've been cross-training, my speed has naturally picked up and my lungs are still catching up. It turns out- that even with lots of walk breaks- my pace was under a 12 min mile - and most running portions were about 9.5mm pace - I can hardly believe that I'm building towards being able to run a sub-10 minute mile. There WILL be a party when that happens.
One more thing - we took progress measurements at the gym this past week (it's been 6 weeks). I've lost greater than 6 inches total - but more importantly, I lost 2 inches in my waist and 2.5 in my hips. The scale has started to move (albeit slowly) again - so things are starting to go the right direction again!
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