Last year’s time: 50:25
This year’s time [official]: 46:44
This seems unreal to me that lack of training, the high humidity, the temperatures, and just how crappy I fueled myself for this (re: ice cream and peanut butter cheerios the night before = BAD DECISION for the stomach….for future reference).
Ya’ll are AMAZING! I loved your well wishes, both in comments, blogs, and private messages. It means the world to me to have so many of ya’ll in my life!
So yesterday was quite interesting. Went to a casino for the first time and managed to only drop $5. Walked out with nothing, except a $0.01 ticket to symbolize the trip. It’s not that I just turned of legal age (heck, I’m TWENTY FIVE PEOPLE, that’s a quarter of a century!), it’s just that I’ve never gambled before. And I’m fine with never doing it again, or doing it again. Either way it was pretty cool. Had an awesome buffet lunch with seafood — calories don’t count on your birthday anyway, right?
Came back, grabbed a few small garden gnomes at the local store to symbolize my trip, plus a shot glass (I collect them from the places I’ve been), and then spent the next 2.5 hours swimming around in the pool with my SIL. Definitely pretty awesome.
To top it all off? CHOCOLATE CHIP WAFFLES FOR DINNER! Growing up I always wanted my birthday to land on Thursday because that was Shoney’s breakfast for dinner menu and I always wanted breakfast for dinner. And I got it for my birthday via my brother making dinner. :)
It’s been a pretty awesome birthday. Although I have to say, nothing beats my half marathon for my birthday last year. That was downright awesome. But this year. This year I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I have in a very long time. And that to me means the world in and of itself. And ya’ll are a large part of helping me feel like I’m my own person again.
So thank you guys, for everything. Every post, small or large, it hits my heart and helps me become the person that I am today. <3
See, when I first signed up for the race all I saw was “off-road”. I assumed, as I always do with those that have that type of descriptor around here, that off-road was maybe about half a mile or a mile of dirt or gravel instead of pavement.
Yeah, this is why you shouldn’t assume. Half a mile was pavement, 2.6 miles was complete and utter off-road. We’re talking rocks, dirt, tree roots, and mud to trek through. If I was hiking this it would be difficult, let alone running it.
But I did it, the time was 47 minutes and change (my Garmin was not that accurate since the off-road also included balcony trees and rural areas).
When I started the race I had two goals in mind — finish healthy and finish strong.
I ran an almost solid 12 minute mile for the first 0.75 miles, but then the mud came, quickly followed by the gravel road. I tried the best I could with pace but ended up walking most of it with very little jogging except in the completely clear spots.
Am I upset about this? ABSOLUTELY NOT! For me to finish a cross-country race in the average time it has taken me to finish on-road 5ks in the past? It makes me extremely proud that I accomplished this. With Vibrams on, no less. Although the mysterious bruises I saw once before on the bottom of my feet (from hiking in Alabama) have reappeared, but at least this time I know what causes them — running on rocks.
Oh, and the fact that the race was free and I got a cool t-shirt out of this? Super bonus.
And the bug spray did end up on the body and not on my toes….it was useful considering that the bugs were eating everyone else but me. Glad I remembered to bring it.
Plus I think that there is at least one good photo of me out there for my finish line crossing. A solid quarter of a mile sprint to the finish that almost didn’t happen because my calves were screaming.
Now I can check cross country race off of my list of fitness things I want to do in my lifetime. :)
38 days. That’s how long it took me to realize last year that I was truly a runner. 38 days of running a mile, sometimes two, and rarely three miles a day. 38 consecutive days, no rest, during the holiday season. Looking back to the RWRunStreak of Holiday 2011 makes me realize just how much I’ve grown in 5 short months.
I went into Summer RWRunStreak 2012 with my head held high, gym membership in hand, ready to crank out similar mileage to what I had done last year. I spent 30 of 38 days of the running streak not only running but biking, swimming, rowing, stair climbing, and elliptical machine working out. 38 days of no rest days (excluding a tropical storm day where knee deep water limited movement outside). 38 days of running a mile, a mile and a half, and two miles became the thing I look forward to in my day. The hours would revolve around when I was getting dressed, where I was running, would I bike before run or run and then bike. Those questions were answered simply by how I felt when I stepped in the gym. My body never failed me, proper eating and proper recovery made me stronger.
Last year the RWRunStreak defined me as a runner. This year it inspired me. It reminded me how far I’ve come and how far I still have to go. Most importantly, it made me realize that as long as I have the motivation, desire, and tools to run, that I will put my feet on the treadmill or asphalt and run.
With Vibrams or barefoot, running is running to me. It makes me the person who I am today. So I challenge you, as I did once before, make a running streak of your own. Let it motivate you, let it define you, and let it take you to places that you have never been before. Surprise yourself and realize the potential that you have to accomplish great things.
I never posted these goals last month…oops?
June goals:
1. Keep up RWRunStreak — 1 mile a day totaling 30 miles for the month of June for running. Minus ONE DAY of torrential downpour this happened.
2. Go to the gym minimum of 4 days a week. OMG YES, I <3 my gym…5-7 days a week
3. Stick with unprocessed foods — remember that it makes my body happy and I want my body to be happy. Some processed, but mostly unprocessed. This is a win.
4. Start getting into a good workout, thesis, job searching, cooking routine again. Mostly in a good routine, still trying to get motivation for thesis writing, but all in all it’s a win.
5. Try to figure out why I’m plateauing and see what can be done about it. Yes and no. I met with a friend who has physical training experience, so he gave some suggestions. It’s the end of the month and I met with him a week ago — down 1 pound, which is either from eating better or TOM.
Guys…that’s 5 out of 5 for goals! This is what happens when you make goals that are achievable.
July:
1. Finish Chapter 3 and write half (or more) of Chapter 4 for thesis.
2. Continue routine with the gym despite RWRunStreak being complete.
3. Work on getting off this stinking plateau (i.e. eat different foods with different nutrients, do different workouts, etc.).
4. Continue with an art project of some sort (new crotchet/knit project, painting, etc.).
5. Start sticking to a regular daily routine of waking up, getting things done, working out, food prep, sleep, etc.
Today started my refocusing on nutrition, after a few weeks of eating healthy and unhealthy, today’s the day it stops and I refocus on eating better and the next steps towards starting to lose weight again.
Food grade: A-
Food intake: Mostly healthy, finished off the last of a meal supplement shake supply that I had since 2010
Stomach feelings: Pretty good, body feels good, hopefully it’ll be ready to fuel for a workout tomorrow
MFP stats:
I love seeing all of those negatives in all the right places. And if only I could get a shot of all my vitamins because they are at 200% or more in the red — meaning I’m getting good amounts of vitamins and minerals!
Only thing is I need a higher protein intake, guess I’ll figure that one out progressively. (Those taking protein supplements such as whey protein or protein powder — got any suggestions for low cal, low sugar powders?)
April goals:
1. Survive the final 4 weeks of 1 graduate degree and maintain my sanity. 3 group projects, 1 research paper, 2 presentations, 4 weeks of discussion posts, and 3 online classes left for my graduate degree! DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE. My sanity might not be fully intact, but it is over!
2. Lose 6-8 pounds. While my goal of being under 200 is most likely out of reach for my May 5th graduation date, I can still do the best I can in losing weight this month. (Note: I haven’t had a “lose XY pounds” as a goal in months) Sadly this didn’t happen. In fact a few pounds were put on. I’m not making excuses, but May will be a better month.
3. Total mileage for the month: 64 miles (see below for breakdown) Didn’t make the breakdown, but did at least get some in. Total miles for the month: 30 miles.
3a. Swim 3 times a week at a mile per time — 12 miles in the month. Swam 7 miles
3b. Bike 2 times a week at 2 miles per time — 16 miles in the month Biked 13 miles
3c. Run 36 miles in the month (approximately 3 miles each running time, 3 times a week) Ran 8 miles
4. 30 Days of 30 Day Shred — no excuses, Do Life buddy and I are challenging ourselves with this one! Yeah, no excuses my tush. Didn’t happen, for me or my Do Life buddy. Our focus was just not there.
May Goals:
1. Create a workout routine, stick with it. Miles undetermined, minimum of 10 per week (swimming, running, biking combined).
2. Focus on eating better. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Minimal process food exceptions. Attempting to go Eat Clean lifestyle again, which is entirely difficult when living with people who don’t accept the lifestyle. Eating out once a week max, choose food wisely (usually Chinese buffet with family).
3. Celebrate graduation with pride. Enjoy being in front of the camera. No regrets on food consumption for that day (or whatever day celebration meal falls on).
4. Try to get the scale numbers down. No specific “Lose XX weight” but seeing the number climb or stay the same just isn’t happy.
It’s no lie, in the month of April I fought with the scale big time. My eating habits are alright on days that I actually get up at a decent hour and have fresh foods in the house. But choices for going out with the family are limited and frequent, which is frustrating. I think I’ve convinced them that for health reasons I can no longer eat the food that they go out for. I’m hoping that between that and working out the scale will reflect this.
Also, NO SCALE MAY. The scale is officially packed up in the closet. We’re going to see if anything changes to make me want the scale back out…
My oh my what a busy and stressful week this has been!
- Did you push hard this week?
Well, it didn’t start off that way this week, but I certainly kicked it in the behind and finished the week amazingly strong.
- How about your buddy? Did you stay connected?
Both of my buddies have had busy weeks. One injured herself (boo!) and the other has been working towards her goals but has been struggle some like me.
- How have you improved since day one?
I think I’ve become really aware of what I do in a day and how something negative or positive impacts how I view a day.
- Any outstanding stories or news to share?
Well I had a REALLY bad 10K race last Saturday that put me into a funk I’ve never really seen before. Completely destroyed all the confidence I had built since starting half marathon training and I ditched two of my runs because of it. But I came back strong on the other side through my followers on tumblr. They really helped me push past everything and realize that it was just one run, one race, and that I can move past it all (THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT!). I had such a great race season last year that I was bound to have a bad race, but realizing it and experiencing it are just two completely different things. I built upon what everyone told me and just pushed forward and killed my 9 mile half marathon training run yesterday.
- How did you do life?
Ran 9 miles on Saturday, spent the bulk of the week working on my comprehensive exam for my M.A. degree. Not a really super busy week of “doing life” but school comes first and it IS technically part of doing life.
Week Challenge stuff:
1. Focus on your excuses again. Write down and defeat them.
a.) Procrastination.
b.) Just don’t feel like it’s something important to get done now so I push it off.
2. Commit to exercising all seven days even if it’s just active recovery.
a.) Committed. I tend to do a 10 minute stretch routine daily, so I’m going to stick in some other workouts with it.
3. Get outside the box. One day, do an exercise routine you’ve NEVER done.
a.) Bam! Got some kettle workout stuff weeks ago and haven’t done it. Plus have 3 workout videos I’ve never done. <—did a kettle workout and did a workout I haven’t done in about a year
4. Intermediate-Advanced: Do your scheduled routine, but add a workout from your partner.
a.) PARTNERS GIVE ME A ROUTINE! ;-) <—partners were MIA for this challenge…so can’t do much there
4 Things Sunday:
1. Got to have a one on one tutor session at religious school since only one kid showed up. Really got a lot done and felt great about being able to give the kid individual attention.
2. Comps comps COMPS. Revisions and reviews in progress. Success in getting 8 pages written by Sunday afternoon!
3. Nice mile walk and 15 minute stretches this morning after an intense workout day yesterday—body doesn’t feel as sore as it did this time last week.
4. Managed to get my Do Life Challenge done and submitted before dinner. (huge accomplishment considering I tend to not have enough time Sunday to recap the challenge)
Total Miles for the week: 24 miles
Total Minutes worked out for the week: 593 / 180 minutes
Total Jumping Jacks for the week: 200 / 180
A couple of days ago I sent my fitblr buddy a text about starting C25K and how I wanted to eventually get a good pace so that I can rethink about training for a marathon.
Well..here’s the real truth behind everything from the month of October leading up to this conversation.
