Geez, I should keep better track of things on here. Its nice to have records of workouts and accomplishments.
Lets backtrack... We ran the Calvin Spring Classic on April 25, 2009. I sucked. Horribly. And I cried for 15 minutes afterward. I had worked so hard to become a runner. I had confidence. I could do it. And then at the race I couldn't even string ONE mile together without stopping to walk. I was so disappointed. From that day on, I ran outside as long as weather permitted. My running changed dramatically from that.
By the end of summer 2009 I was running 5 miles 3x/week & a long run of 7+ miles on Saturdays. I experimented with routes and the longest I ran was 10 miles at Lake Geneva at the summer regional in June. It was beautiful! I also ran 10 miles on the treadmill a couple of times, but I don't think I went beyond that.
After the summer, though, I was incredibly frustrated. I felt like I had hit a plateau with my running and my weight. I stayed within those 5 pounds all summer/fall, however, I wanted to get down to 115 because I felt like even though I was in fantastic shape, running was still difficult. The idea of an "easy run" was still laughable to me. None of it was easy. The only reason I could do it was I had my mental side in check. My heart rate was still getting up to 185/190 bpm, it was still hard. I read that with every pound you lose running gets easier - so I wanted to lose 5 - 7 pounds to make running a little easier. It just wasn't happening. I think, again, I was overconfident - and more importantly, COMFORTABLE with where I was at. I could eat what I wanted and not gain. Losing wasn't more important than where I was at that moment. Regardless, I decreased my mileage dramatically toward the end of the summer to where I was running around 12-15 miles/week (had gotten up near 25-28 miles/week early in the summer) and was staying with 3 miles routes with a 5 mile route on Saturdays.
In that time I also bought new running shoes. And they were the wrong kind. I ended up getting ankle tendonitis in September. The last time I ran was a Friday afternoon early in September after school started. I was so giddy to be able to run in the afternoon while the girls were at school. I ran 5 miles, but I found it was even MORE difficult to do it around noon - sun, full stomach, etc. My ankle hurt and I looked up my symptoms online and decided it was time to rest. I gave myself 6 weeks off of running, but I walked the dog instead. After 6 weeks it didn't get any better. Dave signed me up for Cardinal and I worked out on the eliptical - still no better. Only after I limited myself to the bike did I feel significant difference in pain, but still not 100%. I finally went to the foot doctor two weeks ago. He confirmed I had tendonitis, told me which kind of shoes to buy and gave me the okay to run through the pain, but advised Aleve 2x/day for the pain/inflammation. My ankle is finally feeling better - as long as I keep up the 2x daily Aleve.
I ran once since then and will start again next week.
In the meantime, I've become a sugar freak - starting with Halloween and lasting all the way through the holidays. Dave's parents came in early November and we had several good-sized dinners over the weekend and I've never gotten control again... two weeks after they were here we went out to Virginia for 1/2 a week, then two weeks later they were here again. And then the busyness and chaos of the holidays in addition to all of the sweets that we've been given and all of the biscotti that I made. I've gained some weight, but not sure how much. My scale needs new batteries and I know I'm retaining SOME water. I'm going to get new batteries and start weighing myself again on Monday (jan 4th). I won't be surprised to see 130 that morning.
I'm in a completely great place about my weight right now. I'm not concerned. I'm not obssessed. I know its happening. I also know that I can lose it. And I will. I'm so comfortable and confident with who I am that my weight - the number - doesn't mean a whole lot to me. My pants are getting uncomfortable, so something needs to be changed... and that needs to be the number. But I'm good.
We've signed up to run the Indy 1/2 marathon on May 8th with Jon and Brandy. I set up my training plan yesterday. Starting on Monday we have 18 weeks until the race and 11 weeks until we go to Steamboat. I want to be under 120 by Colorado (March 20th). I have a good training plan set up. I think all of this is completely do-able and am very excited.
Also, I'm considering going vegetarian. I think this is the only way I'll ever get my cholesterol under control without meds. I don't eat a whole lot of meat as it is, so I don't think this will be impossible. I may allow chicken, turkey and fish. But I won't make a lot of it at home. My diet goals as of now are:
* cut out sugar
* no eating after 8pm (this is going to be hard and require much discipline)
* fruit/vegetable with every meal.
I need to add more fruits and vegetables, no doubt. It is going to be a work in progress, but a goal to strive for.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
March 23, 2009
Workout: running
Weight: 123.6
A lot has changed in 4 1/2 months:) I stayed at 6.0 mph and gradually worked up to more and more miles per workout. By Christmas I was running 6 miles on Saturday and 4 on M/W/Th. I think I only ran 6 miles once before Christmas and by later that day I was so ravenous I couldn't eat enough food - I never felt full. Kind of like how I felt after surfing in Cabo.
Right after Christmas I hit a wall with my running. I gained 4-5 pounds over christmas because I got overconfident with running = I could eat whatever and however much I wanted to (sugar). I also got pretty dehydrated. I could barely run 3 miles without being wrecked the whole time. So per Michelle's advice I took a break for a week. Then my hip began to hurt more and more and I had a bunch of dental issues - so I ended up taking a month off of running. I waited until my dental issues were resolved. The result, though, was that I lost the 5 pounds that I had gained because I couldn't eat solid food for 4 weeks. I started running again as soon as that was resolved. It took a few days to get it back, but I was soon back to 4 miles 3 days a week and a longer run on saturday.
Now, 2 months later, I am running 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 miles on M/W/Th and 6-7 miles on Saturday. My goal is to run about 20 miles/week. Two weeks ago I ran a personal best of 62:30 without stopping for any breaks. Last Saturday I ran 65:00 without significant breaks (I had to jump off for 10-20 seconds twice to talk to Dave or to Ryann). My saturday runs are still at a 6.0 pace. I have increased my weekday runs to 6.3 mph.
Today I ran 5 1/2 miles. I ran 4.75 miles at 6.3 and the last .75 miles at 6.5. With the increase in speed I've had to go back to adding time to my continuous running. This morning I did 3.25 miles before stopping to catch my breath. My heart rate is again at 185bpm when I stop.
My weight is fluctuating between 121 & 125 based on water consumption. Right now it is TOM in addition to Monday morning so double whammy on that. Saturday morning my weight was 121.6. Sunday morning it was 125. This morning it was 123.6. I am in size 6 jeans and small or xs shirts. Probably would be comfortable in size 4 trousers and could fit into size 4 jeans if I tried although they may not be terribly comfortable.
I was telling Dave a few weeks ago that this is the longest that I've maintained this weight. Each time I've gotten here in the past, I've gotten pregnant shortly afterward. This is the first time I can buy clothes with long range plans behind them. I see no reason why I should not be this size a year from now.
I now really, really enjoy running. It feels good. Dave and I challenged some of our college friends to run in the Calvin Classic 5k in April. I've never run in a race... I'm excited and hesitant all at the same time:) I've gotten pretty comfortable on the treadmill - I don't want to go back outside! But again, running feels good now. I still dread it sometimes, but I probably more dread getting up early than the actual running... the running I now KNOW I can do. I've proven it to myself - I can run for an hour without stopping. A year ago no one would have ever convinced me that I'd EVER be able to do that!
Weight: 123.6
A lot has changed in 4 1/2 months:) I stayed at 6.0 mph and gradually worked up to more and more miles per workout. By Christmas I was running 6 miles on Saturday and 4 on M/W/Th. I think I only ran 6 miles once before Christmas and by later that day I was so ravenous I couldn't eat enough food - I never felt full. Kind of like how I felt after surfing in Cabo.
Right after Christmas I hit a wall with my running. I gained 4-5 pounds over christmas because I got overconfident with running = I could eat whatever and however much I wanted to (sugar). I also got pretty dehydrated. I could barely run 3 miles without being wrecked the whole time. So per Michelle's advice I took a break for a week. Then my hip began to hurt more and more and I had a bunch of dental issues - so I ended up taking a month off of running. I waited until my dental issues were resolved. The result, though, was that I lost the 5 pounds that I had gained because I couldn't eat solid food for 4 weeks. I started running again as soon as that was resolved. It took a few days to get it back, but I was soon back to 4 miles 3 days a week and a longer run on saturday.
Now, 2 months later, I am running 4 1/2 - 5 1/2 miles on M/W/Th and 6-7 miles on Saturday. My goal is to run about 20 miles/week. Two weeks ago I ran a personal best of 62:30 without stopping for any breaks. Last Saturday I ran 65:00 without significant breaks (I had to jump off for 10-20 seconds twice to talk to Dave or to Ryann). My saturday runs are still at a 6.0 pace. I have increased my weekday runs to 6.3 mph.
Today I ran 5 1/2 miles. I ran 4.75 miles at 6.3 and the last .75 miles at 6.5. With the increase in speed I've had to go back to adding time to my continuous running. This morning I did 3.25 miles before stopping to catch my breath. My heart rate is again at 185bpm when I stop.
My weight is fluctuating between 121 & 125 based on water consumption. Right now it is TOM in addition to Monday morning so double whammy on that. Saturday morning my weight was 121.6. Sunday morning it was 125. This morning it was 123.6. I am in size 6 jeans and small or xs shirts. Probably would be comfortable in size 4 trousers and could fit into size 4 jeans if I tried although they may not be terribly comfortable.
I was telling Dave a few weeks ago that this is the longest that I've maintained this weight. Each time I've gotten here in the past, I've gotten pregnant shortly afterward. This is the first time I can buy clothes with long range plans behind them. I see no reason why I should not be this size a year from now.
I now really, really enjoy running. It feels good. Dave and I challenged some of our college friends to run in the Calvin Classic 5k in April. I've never run in a race... I'm excited and hesitant all at the same time:) I've gotten pretty comfortable on the treadmill - I don't want to go back outside! But again, running feels good now. I still dread it sometimes, but I probably more dread getting up early than the actual running... the running I now KNOW I can do. I've proven it to myself - I can run for an hour without stopping. A year ago no one would have ever convinced me that I'd EVER be able to do that!
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