going along

Is it possible to be training and eating junk food at the same time? It must be because that is what I am doing. It is so counterproductive and I am incredibly frustrated. I was doing all right yesterday until I graded some tests, a task which almost always results in my eating copious amounts of chocolate. I did 3 miles yesterday morning and plan on 5 tomorrow. I'm not going to stop training just because my diet isn't as healthy as I would like it to be.

I spoke too soon

Went for my lunchtime workout and started walking after my first mile. I was just out of breath and dehydrated and no energy, probably because I only had a small cup of oat squares for breakfast and tea. Rookie mistake. So I did 2.5 in total.

There is just no way I can make it to the gym tonight. I had my chance last night and I blew it. I already took my life in my hands driving to and from work, there is no way I am risking it again driving on icy roads just to spend an hour sweating. No way!! So, let's see....the corner I have backed myself into is having to get my three gym times in tomorrow, Friday and Saturday and then doing my four mile train on Sunday. Hm.

Well, I didn't go last night. No good reason, I was just tired. I plan to go tonight, but there is a big storm here, so we'll have to see if I feel like risking driving to the gym. I'm not doing great so far this week, that's for sure.

I so rock (again)

Well today I was back to my old self. And I have to chuckle because it was only one bad week, but it sure feels like a lifetime when you're in that funk. I did a strong 3 on the treadmill in 35 minutes, then I rode the bike for 5 miles. I think I'll be up for a long one this weekend if I can raise my head from the candy trough long enough.

One for the record book!

Ok, I am determined to get it together! If I am going to taper on time, I need to be doing 8 mile runs at the end of November! So, it's not too late, but I really have to get in gear. So this morning I got ready to run and grabbed my iPod, only to find that the battery was dead. So - get this - I went anyway! 2.5 miles, very quiet miles. After a while I didn't hear my breathing anymore. I was just thinking and running, thinking and running. It was actually ok! Then I planned out my food for the day, doing a smaller dinner and eating about every 3 hours. That's how often I get hungry. So far, so good... but it's the night times that get me. And there are brownies in the house.

And as I'm reading this I'm thinking

we've got to get it together people!!!

So then

I went to the gym today at lunch and I actually seemed to feel better. I did a full 3 miles and felt ok even though I didn't run all of it. Yesterday I decided that couch time was more important.

I turned around and walked home

is what I did on Sat. I got up and procrastinated long enough that it was a little warm outside (11am) when I started my 5.5 mile route. But dammit I was going to do it, even if I had to walk it. I needed to get back in my groove. I ran the first mile uphill and then stopped to walk a bit, and then realized how ungodly it was going to be to get the whole 5.5 miles in. With the heat and all. Plus I drank beer Friday. So. That was it. I turned around and walked home. First time ever. And I mean WALKED. Even though it was all downhill. Probably got in 2.5 miles total.

I didn't go

I was going to do my long (5 miles) yesterday and didn't go. I was too busy relaxing. Then last night I tied one on and was sick this morning. So, this week I will try to do 2.5 miles on Mon and Weds, and 2 on Tues and Thurs, then 5 on Saturday. I'm eating lucky wishbone right now, so my food situation has definitely not improved! I do fine all day at work but when I get home it's on.

I did not go on Friday. I got a Blizzard (Pumpkin Pie!!!) and fell asleep on the couch early instead. I'm pretty irritable with myself about it, since now I won't have my three gym trips in for the week, but whatever.

I did do my 3.5 training walk yesterday instead of today since it is supposed to snow again today and I didn't want to risk having to do it on the treadmill. So, today I will go to the gym and do the bike and then try to get my three plus my walk in next week. I did the 3.5 miles in just under an hour yesterday, which I think is okay.

Groovin'

I went 2.5 this morning. It feels so good now that I cut back to a 1:1 ratio and I remember why I liked it so much.

Well, I went last night, I really really didn't want to. It was snowing to beat the band here, the roads were rather disconcerting and they stop plowing after 6PM, but I went anyway. I only did my regular 45 but I do have a confession. About ten minutes into my workout a woman came to the bike next to mine. She seemed to be around my age but she was smaller. And I decided right then and there that I would stay on that stupid bike longer than her, even though I didn't want to and had no reason other than an absurd idea of beating someone skinnier than me. I was working harder than her the whole time we were on the bike, and she got off before my 45 minutes was up, so I was spared the worst of my own behavior. But still.

Anyways, in good news, I am down half a pound for the week, so I lost the stupid pound that I gained plus another half pound. So, that is good.

Why does it have to be so !@$#&^%ing hard??

So I didn't go last night. After two mojitos it didn't seem like such a good idea. Then Kailey bailed on yoga so I had no reason to go to the gym. HOWEVER, I did go at lunch today, primarily motivated by the fact that I had an OB appointment this afternoon and I got up too late to shower this morning. So I decided to shower at the gym. And I will say, I only did 30 minutes and just over 2 miles because I really didn't care and didn't feel like being there. Isn't it funny how some weeks you're just all over it and feeling great, and other weeks you just suck?? For no discernable logic or reason?? I guess that's what separates us from the rest of the world who doesn't exercise. We battle through it.

Going tonight

I haven't been to the gym since Friday, but did my training walk Sunday, so only two days off. I would have gone last night, but it was Chris' birthday and he was really sick, so I ate cake and ice cream instead. Sympathy cake, mind you.... so it's all good!

I do plan on going tonight. It is snowing like crazy here, and I am grateful to have a gym membership, it's really a necessity here, not so much a luxury. If there is weather like this on my training walk days, I am going to have to do training walks on the treadmill. I really hope that doesn't happen too often.

Anyways, so now I have to get to the gym today, Friday and Saturday and then go on my training walk on Sunday.

Me neither.

Yesterday, my phone died overnight so my alarm didn't go off. I woke up at 5:30, too late to go. It was OK because I had gone the past 3 days in a row, so it was time for a day off anyway. Today, a text that Jessica sent me last night finally came through at 3:45 a.m. and I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and everything hurts. My head, my spinal column, my shoulders... what the hell? I am drinking coffee and if I feel better I am definitely going to go. Maybe even if I'm not feeling better I will try to go.

Update: I went.

I really don't want to

I didn't go last night, even though I had to drop K at the gym for yoga. I hadn't been grocery shopping since we've been back because I've had no car, so I did that. But mostly I was just tired!! And then, I didn't go at lunch today, as has been my Tuesday habit. Again, just cause I didn't want to. So now I'm feeling urgency to go tonight and its weighing me down. But I just re-read Missy's last post and am inspired. So I will just go, maybe only around the block !

Update: I didn't go.

mini tri

Today I rode my bike to the gym and back, which was about 3 miles. I only did 2.5 on the treadmill because I was having a vision problem (I just couldn't see going any longer). Then I swam a slow and easy 10 laps, which is about 1/3 mile I think. So I wasn't as ambitious as I hoped today, but at least I got out there.

I went!

I got up from the couch, all by myself, got my shoes on and went. 2 miles, with the timer set to 1:1 and I cleared it before I could see how long it took. I feel really good now, and happy. My lesson plans are almost done, I still love my job, I have two new friends, and am building somewhat of a social life. I can do this.

Training Walk

Okay, so I did my walk today. 3.5 miles. I didn't time it. And it was freakin' hot even though the computer says the temperature was only 68. But the high today is supposed to be around 78, so it is more like a Fall day in Arizona. And last week was like a winter day in Minnesota. Freakin' Colorado.....

Anyways, also wanted to mention that I passed by this lady who was pushing a four wheeled cart/stroller thing with triplets inside. It looked like one of those rickshaws (sp?) in China, you know? It was funny. And while I admired her a little bit, I couldn't help but wonder what the fuck she was trying to prove. But whatever.

I gained almost a whole stupid pound since I last weighed, probably because I have mostly been eating for fun this week. So, going forward I'm pretty motivated to keep any eye on the eating, because I really want to lose another eight or ten pounds before Thanksgiving. I try not to make those arbitrary "number" type goals, but I really need to get a handle on the stupid little things like taking a Hershey nugget out of the bowl at this one girl's desk every time I pass it, or grabbing one or two of the cookies in the break room just because they are there. I hate that sort of mindless eating and have been engaging in it a LOT lately. It never really goes away, I don't think, the struggle with that sort of thing.

I just realized that Sandy had signed in to my computer and that last post got posted as her. It was my post. I'm sure everyone was really confused.

Epiphany

I did my treadmill walk on Thursday, which was so not bad that I started thinking that maybe I would add this into my regular routine, even after the marathon, doing one workout a week on the treadmill. Then I started wondering why I, an avowed hater of treadmills, would even consider such a thing. And I thought, well the workout is a bit more consistent on the treadmill...the belt is going and you have to keep up with it once you have set it, so it makes for a bit more of a consistent cardio for me. And then I realized that this is why at the beginning I was so resistant to the treadmill. On the bike, I decide all. I decide exactly when to slow down, exactly when to speed up and I always based it on nothing more than what my body was telling me, I never did pre-programmed work outs. So, I realized that this was actually very much a crucial step in my relationship with exercise as a whole. You spend so much of your life being told what to do and that you aren't doing it right or fast enough or good enough, and for me, it was just of the utmost importance that any exercise that was done was on MY OWN terms, with no person and no machine telling me anything about what I should or should not be doing.

But now, see, now that exercise is such a regular part of my existence I have gotten a bit more confidence that just because there is a belt under me regulating how fast I walk, it doesn't mean the machine is telling me what to do. I know that I am in control and doing what I want to do and I don't have so much insecurity about the process in general or how it works for me specifically, because I have spent enough time listening to my own voice above all others I can think more about what is going to work for me without these sorts of psychological hang ups. Not to say there aren't still plenty of psychological hang ups to go around. When Sandy and I were working out I was marveling at how she chose the treadmill right next to the window and how I would have NEVER chosen that treadmill for that specific reason. But when I mentioned it to her, she just said something about the fan placement and she didn't want to be right under it, so that is why she chose that treadmill. She didn't even think about the window! It's so funny, the hang ups that I have. But whatever.

Anyhoodle, I did an hour of cardio on the bike today and I have my route mapped out for tomorrow's 3.5 mile walk.

All good

I did do about 3.3 yesterday although I walked quite a bit of it due to the lack of oxygen to my brain, plus the hills.

I went so I won

I don't know how far, and I don't know how fast, and it doesn't matter. It was hot. My legs feel really good. I feel much better. But I still miss Marianne.

Not bad

So, I whiffed the San Francisco weekend even though I did bring my running shoes, I didn't exercise once. The good news is that I did 3.5 on Tues, 3.3 on Weds, and 3 on Thurs plus 4 on bike. I'm going to go again today, probably a really light one, so I can take tomorrow off, and that will give me 4 times this week. Will try to get in a long one on Sunday once we're settled back at home. So yay for me and Mari for keeping each other motivated this week! Missy where you at?

Did second training walk that was 3 miles. This time Chris came with me so I didn't get lost. It was definitely a better walk than last week, but it took about 50 minutes, so my time still is not great, although about half of it was uphill, so I guess maybe it's not too bad.

Friday's walk on the treadmill was not great, although it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Although I did get really sick of being on it after about half an hour. I don't understand why that doesn't happen on the bike, but whatever. It wasn't as great a cardio workout as I usually get though, my heart rate never did really get up to where it usually does. So, yesterday I did an hour on the bike and that was really good.

It was COLD on today's walk! I had to wear a sweater and mittens and a hat and I was still cold. The sun came out on our way home, so it got a bit warmer, but it was darn cold! It is still only 23 degrees out here. And yesterday it never did get above freezing at all the whole day.....the frost that was there in the morning never went away, it never got warm enough to melt it. Crazy times, crazy times.

3 at lunch

Got my 3 in today so feeling good even though I skipped my swim last night. Upcoming challenge is that I'm going to San Francisco tonight for a golf tournament/boondoggle girls weekend. But I am committed to exercising at least once! Then Monday I head out for Denver for 6 days. So Mari we are hitting the gym! I can't fall off the wagon again!

train wreck

I skipped my run yesterday morning in order to be ready for a meeting I have this morning. I'm ready for the meeting but I woke up with a stuffy nose and feeling like I got hit by a train. I have too much to do. It's excuses and I need to get my priorities straight... but really there's just too much to do. I had to bring work home last night, which I NEVER do, and worked for 2 hrs, thinking I will be ready for my run this morning. Oh, and ate like a hog... 3 tamales, 4 peanut butter cups. Then had nasty classroom dreams all night and the bottom line is I just don't know if I can get out there this morning.

The fire is going out

I did my cardio tonight and for the first time I did not get the flaming burning in my lungs. So, I figure that has to be progress.

3 at lunch

I have to say, I've never thought I'd be one of those people that can make a lunchtime workout work. But its working really well for me once I got over the fact that I have to take a shower and do hair/make-up again for work. I do 3 miles, about 35 minutes, shower up, and am back at work in about 1.5 hours. Then I have my night free. So that's what I did today.

At least I'm running.

I ran 2 yesterday and 2 today. Yesterday was kind of painful, I guess my muscles thought we had finally given up on this running thing so they were complaining quite a bit. Today was good though. Last night I ate really good healthy food all day, including dinner. Then after dinner I had my yo-plus thinking that might get rid of my sweet craving. But it didn't so I ate half a bag of kit-kat fun size bars, a reese's peanut butter cup, and some pizza rolls. So.

Well, I walked my stupid three miles on Sunday and I am seriously sore. Stupid hills! There are parts of my walks that are UPHILL! Plus, with the altitude still not being entirely adjusted to around here, all adds up to the lactic acid winning. My ass is sore. But I will go to the gym tomorrow and do my cardio anyway. I did decide to make at least one of my cardios a treadmill workout, so it will be another training walk, so I will be walking twice a week and doing the bike twice a week. That should do it. I hope this altitude adjustment happens soon. Chris went through the same thing...he went to work out for the first time up here and did weights and ended up really sore for a week. I mean, I expected to be a little bit sore, especially my butt, but not this sore. This is seriously sore. And all I walked was three stupid miles!

swim

Tonight I swam a mile. Then came home and ate like a hog.

Feelin pretty damn good . . . until . . .

So tonight I did my 5.5 mile route again only this time it felt really good. I was disciplined and ran the whole way at what felt like a pretty good pace, and was probably going to run the whole 5.5 but I had to stop at around 5 because nature was calling. Damn.

5.5

I did 5.5 yesterday. It was quite ugly with lots of walking interspersed, but it was a good ambitious start. And it was so nice outside yesterday! So my total miles for last week were 16 including the swimming miles. I think I'm gonna try the 6 mile route again today, just relaxed and running when I can. And continue the 3 and swimming during the week.

I'm in!

Okay, I just registered!! I missed the stupid cheap deadline, but oh well.

Here is my training schedule. I am thinking right now that I am only going to do one training walk per week, with my regular cardio workouts three times a week as well. Last time I had a hard time motivating myself to do my own workouts as training walks....I just have a hard time getting the exercise in if I am not going to the gym and I am trying to not be to ambitious for this training schedule, since then I won't stick to it and will throw in the towel altogether, which is what happened the last time I registered for this 1/2 marathon (before the OC one, I had thought I would do the rock and roll and ended up giving up because I was scared I would get picked up by the paddy wagon). SO, all that nonsense being said, here is my training schedule. I am getting ready right now to get a route for today's walk.

10/4 3 miles

10/11 3 miles

10/18 3.5 miles

10/25 3.5 miles

11/1 4 miles

11/8 4.5 miles

11/15 5 miles

11/22 5.5 miles

11/29 6 miles

12/6 6.5 miles

12/13 7 miles

12/20 7.5 miles

12/27 8 miles

1/3 8.5 miles

1/10 9 miles

I am assuming I don't need to do any longer than a 9 miles training walk, if I can do 9 then I can certainly do the 1/2 on race day, right? Right.

UPDATE: Upon leaving my neighborhood to do my training walk which I had mapped out in advance, I immediately got lost and ended up wandering around. I mapped it when I got home and it was still three miles but sheesh! I can't go ten feet around here without getting lost.... STILL!

OK here goes

I'm in too, I registered for the race. I was doing real good maintaining at 3 miles around 11.5 min. Then I went to Europe for a week and didn't exercise a single time. Then last week I couldn't seem to get off the couch. But I started back in on Saturday with an awful 3 miles. And another awful 3 on Sun. Then I did a swimming class Mon night, about 1/2 mile probably, ran 3 on Tues, swam a mile last night, and heading at lunch today to do another 3. I'm going to focus right now on my triathalon Nov 7 but will try to start running longer on the weekends as the weather cools.