back to the elliptical

I did four miles today on the elliptical. I'm not sure it will keep me in running shape but its all I can do. And, its a darn good workout. I woke up this morning and could hardly walk after my run yesterday. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. So I'm just going to forget about running for awhile and do the elliptical.

Where are you guys this weekend?

time to get on it ladies!

I did 3.5 today, probably only ran 2 of it. My hip hurt quite a bit but I was able to run through it. I could really tell I took a week and a half off. I didn't want to push myself though, so my hip can heal.

I really think I will be able to go tomorrow.

I'm off work tomorrow for Rodeo, so I'll go an hour or so after I wake up... I hope...

Finally Went

I went during my lunch break yesterday. Debating whether or not to go again today.

Update: I did go. I did the bike though, I didn't want to run.

Fritos and Famous Amos

Not only am I NOT running this week in Puerto Rico, but I am eating famous amos cookies and fritos for breakfast. Why, you ask?? Well, I am staying in a very nice condo in an exclusive private community that has no place to shop. So, my hosts had the foresight to stock the refrigerator with some fruit and cheese, wine, beer, and ham sandwiches. Which was great for the first day. But the club is closed on Mon and Tues, which means I can't get any food. Anywhere. So when I come in to work, we are providing famous amos cookies and fritos as snacks to employees during training. And that's all I have to eat. Add a diet coke, and its going to be a fucking fantastic day.

Well

I haven't gone since Tuesday. Tomorrow I'm leaving to Puerto Rico for work and won't be back until Weds night. This might be good as a forced haitus, as I know I won't have time to run while there.

So Lazy!

I really needed to go today. Actually I really needed to go yesterday but didn't. I just could not bring myself to get up this morning and go. I'm feeling pretty sad and homesick yesterday and this morning, which I am sure is a contributing factor. I will pack a bag today and go during my lunch break. It will make me feel better.

I need to make plans to get down there for Easter. I've decided I am going to the Easter picnic. Last night on my way home I was rather a mess, crying about it and thinking about Aunt Sharon and Aunt Karen and how that is really the only time I will ever be able to see them anymore, so I really just need to get in the car and drive down there. I'll just make sure not to bring any valuables!

And Sandy I am also planning a trip down for your birthday, so no worries. I'm not sure if that one will just be me and maybe I'll fly, I'll have to think about that some.

Not taking a break!!!

But I am listening to my body. Yesterday I walked 1.25 at an incline on the treadmill, then I did another 1.25 on the elliptical, which let me tell you, was quite a work out!! So today at lunch I did 3.5 on the elliptical. It seems the ideal solution, as its low impact so it doesn't hurt my hip at all, but it burns the same number of calories and takes as much time as running on the treadmill. Have another chiropractor appt tomorrow at lunch and this is his last shot to fix it. I do have a regular dr. appt on Friday to argue with her about my thyroid medication, so will get her opinion as well. I'm afraid I will blow up like a balloon if I stop exercising for even a week!!

The elliptical does require a certain amount of muscular coordination though, with hands and legs moving at the same pace. I'm sure I looked like a bumbling idiot periodically, but I had my sweat on.

back at it

I am not sure that going this morning was the best idea, but I felt up to it, so I went. Since then I have been coughing quite a bit but I think that would have happened anyway. It was tiring and I walked the last 1.3 miles, but I'm glad I got out there again. It's been yucky. Sandy I am with Marianne... I think if I were you I would go to a real doctor, who will tell you not to run for a couple of weeks. You have to listen to your body!

Today

I did 2.5 and walked the whole way. I literally can't run. I tried a couple times but its just too painful. And, I'm pretty ticked off about it.

This week

Well, I ran on Monday, as I said. I went to the Chiropractor on Weds for my hip pain, which turns out to be cyatic (sp?) nerve pain caused by a strain in my gluteus maximus (butt) muscle when I did the 6 the weekend after the half. So running on it has continued to strain it and exascerbate the pain. But, he said I shouldn't stop running. So I went on Thurs and was only able to hobble about 3/4 of a mile before I stopped and went home, for a grand total of 1.5 miles. I went to the Chiro again on Friday and told him it was WAY worse than before. I got a massage and was told to run this weekend. But, I went dancing on Friday night, country swing dancing that is, and woke up in so much pain Sat that I could barely hobble around the house, so I didn't go running. Today I'm still in pain so I'm about to go for a walk. We'll see. Ugh.

Did four miles today, as is my custom. New time record, though, 61:10. AND, I upped my ratio to five minutes running to four minutes walking, for the entire four miles. AND, I upped my speed on the running from 4.0 MPH to 4.1 MPH. A whole tenth of a mile faster per hour!! Haha. But seriously, it was a mighty good workout and the big deal is that for the first time, I did more running than walking, which is awesome. I love Sundays, I love pushing myself a little bit on this day every week. It feels good! Why am I the only one posting here??? I know Missy has been sick, Sandy where are you?

Went on Wednesday on my lunch break. Definitely not my favorite way to do it, but it got done. Went this morning and upped my interval to five/four, but only a couple of times, the rest of the intervals were still four/four. The real victory was that I went this morning. I really REALLY did not want to get up, but I did it. And now I'm glad I did, as always.

Moral Victory

First, I did 3 on Sunday. Not the 6 I had imagined but at least I went. I just felt really fatigued. And, I've been having this hip pain since I did 6 the first weekend after the half. But anyway.

Went to the gym last night and this little blondie hopped on the treadmill next to me after I was a mile in. She was talking on her cel phone, which was annoying, but I figured she'd wrap her conversation up during her warm up. Which she didn't. She proceeded to chat along for the next mile, whilst my rage and indignation increased. I couldn't get my music loud enough to drown her out and I was totally off my mojo. I coughed loudly a couple times and muttered curse words under my breath, but she wasn't getting the hint. So finally I just said "excuse me, could you move over there?? you are really distracting me!". And she left, over to the other side of the room and continued walking and talking. Bitch. Where do people get off ignoring the rules??? Not to mention being so inconsiderate and rude. But, I was proud of myself for finally getting up the guts to say something. Then this guy who was on the other side of her goes "Thanks!!" to me. So I think that from now on I shall not tolerate idiots on their cel phones in the cardio room. I'm in the right, dammit!!! And if you want to see me open up a can of whup-ass, just keep talkin.

Anyway, I did 3 but it was a good 3.

This my shit

I did the four and four. For four miles. And it was good. It was pretty tough though, so I'll keep it here for a bit, I think.

3.5

is what I did today. I only ran about 2.5 of it though, walked the last mile. It was kind of a victory that I went at all given the 5 beers I had last night. I'm going to do 6 again tomorrow. I've been doing pretty good on my eating except that I had a cheeseburger last night along with the beer, and I had spinach dip and tortilla chips for dinner tonight, followed by a carmel apple with m&m's. But, ya know, I'm trying. I'm not feeling entitled to eat whatever the hell I want, despite all evidence to the contrary, which is the routine I had gotten into.

new equipment

Since I ditched my Camelbak in the PF Chang's, I needed to buy a new one. It was really OK to ditch it, because I bought it approximately 12 years ago. The ones they make now are much nicer, they fit better, and I definitely deserve to treat myself to some good equipment. I also got a cleaning kit and a case of the margarita flavored shot bloks. So I'm all set! Except I woke up this morning with this stupid cold worse instead of better. I am doing 5 tomorrow and I don't care if it kills me. I gotta get back out there. It will probably help the cold go away.

Did four miles today. Bumped it up to four running to five walking for almost all of it. Funny thing, though, I kept thinking that I wanted to start running again after only four minutes of walking, as opposed to five. I made myself do the five of walking since that was my plan, but I thought about it and decided tomorrow I'll go ahead and do four miles again and see how it feels to just do four and four. The ultimate plan was to do five and five, but that's not what I'm feelin' so I'll give four and four a shot and see how it feels. I'll let you all know what happens! And, just so everyone is aware of what that would mean, that would mean I am running two whole miles. The craziness of that, it slays me! That is what it would mean, right? Half running, half walking and four total miles? I don't know, I might end up quitting with the running.....I can't stand all the math!

And Sandy, I'm just glad I don't travel often, because it wasn't just tough for me to maintain good exercise while I was traveling, it was downright impossible. I feel for ya!

did 2

at the gym. Not great but better than nothing. Its hard to keep up the routine when I travel.

Well, I did my regular 45 this morning, doing three minutes running to five minutes walking. My run pace was the same as the walking pace of the guy next to me, which was funny. Not that I was peeking!

Anyways, the goal here is to increase the run time by one minute at a time until I am doing five minutes running to five minutes walking and then, perhaps, start decreasing the walk time by one minute intervals until I feel like I have a good ratio. And then start increasing my running pace. So, I've got quite a long way to go here. It's good my next thing isn't until October!

cottonwood

I have a time goal for my next half too, but I'm not sure Cottonwood is the place to get there. I'm going to try anyway. The course has lots of hills so I think I am going to try doing my longs in Saguaro national park and Sabino Canyon. I need to be going up hills. I am losing weight steadily so that will help. I agree Sandy, it makes a big difference, both in speed and in how it feels to actually run.
I have the nastiest cold ever and I haven't run in over a week. I was thinking I would go this morning and maybe it would help clear stuff out but I hardly slept from coughing and feel like there's an elephant sitting on my chest. So I thought better of it. Maybe tomorrow.

Here we go again!!!

Which is so funny because I had said I was going to take a couple years off after this. And I know Mari said never again. But Missy never faltered.

Anyhoodle (to borrow a phrase from Mari), I did six miles the Sunday after the half, and 6 again yesterday (along with 3 on Tues and 3.5 on Weds). I decided to keep my weekend longs at a min of 6 so I won't have to work so hard to get back up there for our next adventure. Marianne I think you should come down for Cottonwood!

I will say that most of my runs have been a bitch, but the 3.5 I did was just over 11 min miles. I walked the last mile of my 6 yesterday. And, I took tonight off and tomorrow too since I'm traveling.

I really think that the wight I've gained has made all the difference. When we did the OC last year, my half time was 2:47, with a long wait in the bathroom line, as opposed to the death march that was my 2:49 at the R&R two weeks ago. My goal is to get under 2:30. And, I'd eventually like to do it in 10 min miles, which would be around 2:10. But, I need to lose some weight to do that. I can really feel the difference when I'm running, how much heavier I am now.