Wednesday June 30, 2010

Workout: intervals on the treadmill

Distance: 4.308 miles

Time: 40:00

Pace: (average) 9:17

Got up early this morning to get my run in. I was less than stellar. I sucked. Big. Time. My legs felt tired, my body felt tired and I took a lot of small step-offs. I think I should have slept in.

Tuesday June 29, 2010

Workout: 6.31 miles

Time: 1:02:43

Pace: 9.:50

Weight: 123.4

Oh my was it gorgeous this morning. Clear skies, cool enough, yet warm enough, no breeze. PERFECT running weather. I'm so happy I got myself out of bed to go out.

The first 3 miles was a little rough in the respect that my stomach hurt again, but I was determined to run through it and not let it stop me.

I've realized over the last couple of weeks - and today proved it again - that my body really likes 4 miles. Right about at 4 - 4.5 miles my body feels like it should be done. I can definitely do more miles than that, but 4 - 4.5 feels very comfortable and somewhat easy. Around that time, whether it is on the treadmill or outside, is when I start feeling somewhat labored and have to rely on mental toughness to get through the rest. Hopefully that distance will get higher as I continue.

My body is a little more tired than it has been in the last few weeks. I would assume that is due to the hills I ran, rather than my flat treadmill. Loved everything about it, this morning (in retrospect... as I was doing it? not as much).

Monday June 28, 2010

Workout: should have been 2 mile warm up + weights. Actually was: 30:00 intervals on the treadmill

Weight: 123.4

I've been keeping up with running, but have not been blogging. Got a little lazy with that, I suppose.

My workout this morning was not exceptional by any means. I ran at 7:45am on very little sleep, no fuel, slight dehydration. BUT, I wanted to get it done before the day got carried away.

Last week I ran in the afternoon almost every day. I haven't run outside since Sheboygan. It has been incredibly hot and humid here and very stormy so even the days I thought I would attempt an outside run, my plans got thwarted by thunderstorms. This week is supposed to be gorgeous, so I'm going to hightail it outside for the rest of the mornings and I'm looking forward to it.

I just need some motivation to be disciplined right now. I enjoy my mornings more when I get my run in early and am able to do my devotions before I start working. I have been giving in to sleep, though, and have been getting up close to 8 instead, doing my run in the afternoon and missing many mornings of devotions. I feel out of sorts and need to get back to it - the weather this week should hopefully help with all of it.

Thursday June 17, 2010

Workout: 4.0 miles

Time: 39:03

Pace: 9:49

Weight: 123.4
Two years ago

Got up to run this morning and felt horrible so I went back to bed. I've been struggling with sinus issues for the past few days. We left at 2 for our summer regional and I had stuff to get ready in the morning, plus swim lessons for the girls before we left, so I didn't figure I'd have a chance to run. In addition, the forecast for Sheboygan was 90's and humid so I didn't think I'd even want to run. But. We arrived around 5:15 and I got out of the car and it was awesome - cool, nice, bright, amazing. We got to our room and I asked Cornbread if he would mind if I went out. He's so good to me:)

It was a great run. I ran along the channel, up and back on the pier, along the lakefront and then across to the other side of the channel, back up Pennsylvania Ave to downtown and back to the resort. It was mainly flat with a pretty big hill coming back on Pennsylvania. A great run. Tomorrow I may try to figure out how to add another mile or two and then on Saturday maybe I'll run back up the pier and back again in addition to Friday's run.

I can't believe that I'm easily running 4-6 miles almost every day. I never, in a million years, would have thought that I would be able to do this. I love it. I really, really love it and I crave it. That makes me happy!

Monday June 14, 2010

Workout: 2 mile warm up, upper body

Weight: 125.4

Two years ago

Running this morning was pretty difficult. I was having the same abdominal pain as I've had in the past. I also felt very labored for the entire 20 minutes even though I slowed my pace down to 5.7 for the first 10 minutes. Not sure if the pain is a result of not eating well over the weekend or having a beer last night or just random. I was having stomach pain last night after dinner, too, so maybe it is related. I'm also pretty dehydrated, which would explain my 2 pound weight gain and possibly the difficult running. Today I'm going to try to hammer the water - already pretty dehydrated + high humidity = bad news for me.

Went a little crazy over the weekend, but I did my best to count up all of my points. Basically I need to stick to my daily points and not go over at all because I think I ate all of my flex points and all of my anticipated activity points for the week. I had a moment of weakness on Saturday night and we got twisted frosty's. Not too bad at only 12 points, but add that to the couple of pieces of pizza I had and it wasn't good.

Saturday June 12, 2010

Workout: Long Run - 7.47 miles
Time: 1:17:56
Pace: 10:20
Weight: 123.4

Wow was it horrible this morning. I chose to get up and run at 5:30 because I have to work all morning and its going to be hot and humid today and I didn't want to run in 90 degree humidity in the afternoon. I'm not sure that 75 degree humidity at 5:30am is any better. It was bad, bad, bad.

I had planned an 8 1/2 mile route... I'm glad I made it even 7 1/2. I made it to 3 1/2 miles before having to stop and really decide what I was going to do - keep going or cut it short to 4 1/2 miles. I very seriously considered doing just the 4 1/2 miles because I was pretty miserable, but I persevered and allowed myself to stop and walk if I needed to. I did well, although I did not make it up the last hill going East on 151st - I made it halfway up and walked the rest. After getting my drink at the park, I walked for a song and decided I would run 2 songs and walk 1 song the whole way home. At that time I also decided that I had to cut out a mile so I could be home in time for Cornbread to go out at 7. For the last mile, my shorts were falling down because they and my body were so wet from sweat. I couldn't keep them over my hips and I was a little nervous a few times that they were going to fall to my knees. Overall, everything was bad, but I did it and I got home okay.

Friday June 11, 2010

Workout: Intervals on the treadmill

Time: 37:25

Distance: 4.01 miles

Pace: average 9:20/mile

Weight: 123.4

Ran on the treadmill again today because Cornbread really wanted to go to the gym before going to the office. We can't both go in the morning and I'd rather he goes in the morning so he can come home earlier at the end of the day.

I only wanted to run long enough to cover the points I would have accumulated if I had gone to the gym. I actually earned 1 extra activity point because I ran to the even 4 mile point.

WW was okay yesterday. I don't think I ate all of my points, but I'm not sure, I didn't keep track very closely... but I ate lightly because of the previous night and what I did count shows 15 points.

Thursday June 10, 2010

Workout: 4.25 miles

Time: 40:00

Weight: 123.4
Two years ago

Ran on the treadmill again even though I really, really need to get back outside. Today was more a matter of the time that I went to bed last night. We went to Mark & Jane's to watch the Stanley Cup game and didn't get home until 11:30, didn't get to bed until midnight and there simply was no way I was going to get up in 5 hours to go running. I only did 4 miles because I had to get off to buy tickets. I thought about going back on to run another 2 miles, but at some point I have to recognize when its good enough.

Did not do well with WW points at all yesterday. I did okay during the day, but then we had bratwurst for dinner with the hockey game. I also made healthy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and had to sample some as well as eat some after dinner. I wasn't going to even count up all of my points because I was scared to figure it out, but I was good and went and figured it all out. I ate 35.5 points yesterday (my best estimation as some things could not be exact). Ugh - that would be almost 20 more than I should have. Oh well - life is about balance sometimes. I didn't go overboard by any stretch of the imagination, just had a normal meal. But it is a good example of why it is so easy to gain weight and stay overweight - a normal meal was 22 points.

Wednesday June 9, 2010

Workout: 20:00 warm up, lower body

Weight: 123.4

2 years ago

Did 20 minutes of intervals on the treadmill this morning. Two minutes at 6.0/2 minutes at 7.0. I think I actually ran for 21 minutes and a total of 2.25 miles. Run was hard, but good. It is always good for me to run on the treadmill at the gym because I'm reluctant to step off and take a breather because other people are there to see me do it... not that they're paying attention to me, but its just an added motivator in my workout.

Lower body was good. I worked it hard again and was tired and sore when I got home. My upper body is still recovering from my workout on Monday. This is a good workout schedule, but I'll be glad to lower my weights when training begins.

Didn't eat all of my points yesterday. It was rainy all day and every single thing that I planned got away from me or was later than intended. Consequently, I didn't eat lunch at all. So by the time I got to dinner at 9:00, I ate a little more than I usually do at dinner, but I still had points left over. I think I'll make up for that today because I'm starving.

Tuesday June 8, 2010

Workout: 6.5 miles

Time: 62:02

Pace: 9:33

Weight: 123.4

Ran on the treadmill at 3:50pm, but have still not eaten lunch (it is 6:15 now). We were at the library and grocery store at lunch time (and I ate breakfast at 11:15) and after getting home, giving the girls some lunch (at 2:45) and getting the groceries put away and this done and that done I never took the chance to eat. Ugh... I have a slight headache that I'm sure has a little to do with it. This day really, really got away from me... pretty much everything has been later than intended today and I really have no reason for it. Huh.

Run was good. Read my new book and enjoyed it. Thats another bonus - just the simple fact that it gives me an opportunity to read, which I love to do, but somehow don't make time to do. So it is enjoyable in all aspects. I would have run outside this morning, but Cornbread really wanted to go to the gym before heading to the office and I knew it would be rainy when I woke up, so I took the opportunity to sleep instead (7:45 am - unheard of for me!).

WW is still going well. Last night I was at Target and Walmart between 6 & 8:30. That is a dangerous time for me to be in those places. I was hungry and I love to buy stuff to eat in the car on the way home... usually some form of granola or trail mix. Or Combos, which are always at the Walmart checkout and are like crack for me. BUT, because I'm watching my points, I did not buy a single snack item at either store. THIS is a huge deal. One of my favorite things is eating Archer Farms' granola/trail mix on the way home from Target. So. Good for me - I'm patting myself on the back!

I was going to include a link at the top to whatever I posted a year ago so I could see a comparison to where I was a year ago and how much different things are for me now. How much easier running is - even though it wasn't super hard for me then. I was shocked to see that I posted only 2 times in the entire year 2009. That is incredibly disappointing because it was the year that I really turned myself into a runner. The year that I cracked down hard and made myself get through the hard parts and worked harder than I've ever worked at this. By this time last year, I was running 8 mile long runs on Saturday, but really hurting by the time I turned into my subdivision. I was willing myself through them because I wanted to be someone who COULD run an 8 mile long run. Cornbread thought I was nuts for doing it, but I willed myself through them anyway. It was hard. hard. hard. And I don't even remember how I felt about it - accomplished? proud? crazy? sick of it? I really, really wish I had posted last year.

I'm starving. Must wash hair and then grab food.

Monday June 7, 2010

Workout: 2 mile warm up + upper body

Weight: 123.4

I actually made it to the gym this morning. Its kind of nice going at 6 instead of 5:15ish since the girls are out of school and I don't have to be home in time to do my devotions AND make lunches and breakfast before 8:35. I think I can handle it.

And then the girls slept until 10. I can definitely handle that.

At any rate, I think I ran a tad bit over 2 miles in 20 minutes. I did the first 10 minutes at 5.8 which left me lagging behind the 10 minute/mile mark, so for the second 10 minutes I ran at 6.2 or 3 - don't remember. Caught up to the 10 min/mil mark at 16:00 and then went below the 10 minute mark. at 17:30 I jacked it up to 6.5, increased to 6.7 at 18:00, 6.8 (or 9) at 18:30 and 7.0 for the last minute. Don't remember my exact mileage, but it was slightly over 2 miles.

I was also pleased to see that my heart rate was in the 150's during the first 10 minutes and in the low 160's while I was running at 6.2 (or 3). This is a very measureable difference from when I started running at the first of the year and my heart rate was in the 180's while I was running at 5.8/6.0 on the treadmill. I can confidently say that I'm in great shape.

I also went on to do upper body weights. Ugh. Hate it. I think I mostly hate it because after doing 30 minutes of vigorous weight training, I only earned 1 activity point. Running 30 minutes = 3 APs, weight lifting for 30:00 = 1. Ugh. I'd rather run. But weight training is important so I will continue doing it. I almost failed most of my exercises on the last set. I'm working my back and shoulders particularly hard because a) I love toned arms and back and b) those muscles are pretty important to a running stride. So work them, I will. And then I will complain about how much I hate it:) And my arms were very jelly-like afterward which made washing my hair uncomfortable.

Didn't do bad with the diet over the weekend. I didn't count points, but I didn't eat terribly either. I'm glad to see my weight is down slightly from where it has been resting for the last few months. That is an encouraging sign. My official WW weigh in day is Friday so hopefully it is down even a slight bit more by the end of the week. I'm used to the eating/points again, so I'm again confident that I can handle it and not be so crabby and irritable about it. Once training starts up again, I'll reevaluate whether or not I want to continue, but I suspect it might not be so bad since my mileage and activity points will increase pretty dramatically at that point.

Still looking forward to the training - the structure and the actual workouts and the goal of the race on September 25th. I shall have much more motivation because of it.

Saturday June 5, 2010

Workout: 9 miles on the treadmill

Time: 90:00

Pace: 10:00/mile

Weight: 124.6

This whole reading while running on the treadmill thing is very dangerous for my training, however at the same time I can get some really serious mileage in because I feel like I can go forever. I stopped at 9 miles because I had to get ready to go to church... I could have gone a few more if I had more time and more pages to read (I finished my book anyway).

I scratched the idea of running outside because it was humid and I hate running when its humid - bad enough on the treadmill in a cold basement with a fan blowing directly on me, but outside is awful and well, I'm spoiled and I don't have to do it if I don't want to :) And I was really into my book (What the Dog Saw, by Malcolm Gladwell). I recognize, though, that I need to get back outside... the other issue with running outside is that I'll have to do it early in the morning before Cornbread leaves for work, whereas with the treadmill I can do it at any time during the day because the girls are hanging around, but not on top of me. So the treadmill wins out every time I'm tired... running later in the day feels better, too. So many reasons to do it on the treadmill, but I know its better to be outside.

When I begin training for the race I will be outside for most runs. Since the schedule has 5 days of running, I think 3 will be outside. Intervals and tempos will be inside. Pace, long and hills will be outside. The variety will be awesome - I can't wait to begin!

Friday June 4, 2010

Workout: Intervals

Time: 30:23

Distance: 3.25 miles

Pace: Average 9:21

Weight: 124.0

Today should have been a 2 mile warm up and weight training, but since I got up so early yesterday I wanted to sleep in this morning. I was going to skip it altogether, but wanted the activity points:)

Interval workout was as follows:

intervals on the treadmill at 1:20pm
*warm up: 5:00 at 6mph
*intervals: 20:00 alternating - 2:00 at 7.0 (8:34 pace), 2:00 at 6.0 (10:00 pace).
*last minute of intervals: 8.0 (7:30 pace)
*Cool down: 4:00 at 6.0

I felt good the whole time. Strong, comfortable, able to do it. I wondered if 2 minutes at 7.0 was going to be tough and it really wasn't. Next time I do intervals I'm going to increase them to 2:15 for each speed and hope to eventually get more and more time at each interval and a longer total workout, too. I wanted to keep it at around 30 minutes today due to timing and other stuff I have to do.

I really enjoy interval workouts. I'm excited for the training to begin because every week includes intervals and hill repeats. I look forward to the variety and the intensity. Two of my friends from high school are going to do the training plan and the race with me and I'm really jazzed about that. Not sure what kind of training Cornbread is going to do - may prove difficult for him to find the time to do what I'm going to do.

Weight Watchers was good yesterday. I stuck pretty close to my points. I'm not sure how many I ate exactly. I had 9 points left for dinner and then Cornbread walked in the door with a plate of leftover lasagna and spinach dumplings from a Chamber of Commerce dinner he had attended. I had a bite of the lasagna, just for the taste of it, but I ate all of the dumplings (there weren't a whole lot on the plate). Then I had a bowl of high fiber cereal and that was it. I think I did okay and didn't go too far over considering I had 6 activity points that I wasn't planning to use. And I was happy to see my weight down this morning - I was beginning to think that my actual weight was that high. It also helped to motivate me to continue with the plan.

Thursday June 3, 2010

Workout: 6.099 miles on the treadmill

Time: 60:00

Pace: 9:50

Weight: 127.0

Ran on the treadmill this morning because it was pretty windy outside. Also, I've rigged up a way to be able to read while running, which makes it more enjoyable. I got some large print books out of the library, so its even more enjoyable! This could be a bad thing for my training;)

The run was kind of rough. I could feel that I wasn't strong or full of energy. Could be due to the early time (woke up - unintentionally - at 4:30 and finally got up at 5), no fuel, dehydration, fewer calories during the previous days, etc. etc.

I did better on WW yesterday - I wasn't quite so ticked or bitter about it and decided to try my best. Since I didn't workout, I had only 18 points for the day and I ended up eating 18.5. I was hungry in the afternoon as usual, but I got through it. I need to figure out something to get past that afternoon hunger. The very first time I did WW I used to eat 3 cups of plain, air-popped popcorn (1 pt). I think I will try that today and see if it goes better.

I wore one of my favorite summer outfits yesterday - my Title Nine dress. I could see a little tummy bulge in my bottom peripheral vision. I decided that is motivation enough for me to continue with WW:)

Wednesday June 2, 2010

Workout: was supposed to be 2 mile warmup and weights

Weight: 127.0

The power went out at 1:30am last night and didn't come back on until around 9am. Did get to the gym because I figured their power was likely out, too. School is out, so I can't go in the afternoon, so I guess today is scrapped. Oh well. Maybe I can figure out how to do it in the basement later, but that sounds like a whole lot of no fun.

I would like to take this time to have a full blown complaint session about weight watchers and being short. I tried to do the points yesterday and by the afternoon I was so ticked that I was ready to quit. I'm going to see how it goes today and reconsider.

Anyway, here are my complaints...

* I am 5'1" and I weigh in the 120's. Per WW, to lose weight I need to stick to 18 points/day (+ 35 flex points/week + activity points). Okay, so lets say that I don't use my flex points because I like to not count points on the weekends. So I get 18 points/day + activity points. Yesterday I had 4 activity points, so a total of 22 points for the whole day. I ate well yesterday:
Breakfast: bowl of high fiber cereal + milk = 4pts

Lunch: egg muffin - 3pts, yogurt - 2pts, frozen veggies - 1 pt: 6pts total

snack: 1/2 of a large apple (could only eat half) - 1pt

So by dinner time I had 11 pts left. In reality - thats not a whole lot of points for a dinner. Considering that I've never, in the several times that I've done weight watchers, eaten my activity points and have always stuck to my 18pts/day, then I figured I had 7pts left for dinner, which is hardly anything.

Okay - so I can deal with that... I am most successful on WW when I stick to my 18pts/day, but I eat prepackaged frozen meals for dinner. Trying to make low point meals and figuring out the correct portion size has never worked well for me in the past.

Here is where I take issue with all of this: In the afternoon, I was hungry and wanted to have some fruit, but I didn't feel like I could use my points on fruit because then I wouldn't have enough for dinner. I don't think its right that I look at strawberries or an orange or an apple and think, "I can't have that".

* WW advises that a person should have 3 servings of dairy, 5-7 servings of fruit/veggies each day. I'm not sure its possible to get all of those servings in and stick to my 18 pts each day.

* Because I'm short, I'm screwed - I feel like my height limits me to like 500 calories/day. I know that is extreme, but I do feel like because I'm short I get so many fewer calories/day than average or taller people. 1200 calories/day is not a whole lot.

I'm just venting. I know all of this is not truth, but its frustrating for me. I feel like WW teaches me good eating, but at the same time I create bad habits, too. I don't think eating frozen meals is extremely healthy, but since they are preportioned and have the points figured out already, they are the easiest way for me to be successful. Somehow, I have never been able to do this while cooking real meals for my family - even meals that I make out of a WW cookbook.

So I'm not sure where to go from here. For one thing, I need to eat a lower point breakfast - I need to get back to my 2pt oatmeal, rather than 4 pt cereal. I also need to consider eating my activity points, I just don't like to do that because I know I don't count on the weekends. And, I need to get used to the fact that I'm going to be hungry for a couple of weeks.

I drank a whole gallon of water yesterday. Still retaining water - can feel it in my arms this morning. Bugly just broke my gallon water container, so I'll have to count glasses today instead.

I can do this until the 17th. I can. I can.

Tuesday June 1, 2010

Workout: 3.5 miles

Weight: 127.0

Once again my weight is fluctuating like crazy due to water retention. Although after spending a weekend with my in-laws, there might be a little more than water retention going on - but not THAT much more.

Ran 3.5 on the treadmill this morning because I didn't have time for much more than that. It wasn't very easy and I'm not sure why that is. I know it is partly due to being dehydrated - I could feel it in my mouth that I was pretty dehydrated. I'm sure that after eating all of the crap that I ate this weekend, it affected my running and how my body felt. Thats okay - I gave myself the weekend to be crazy and now I'm starting Weight Watchers with a concerted effort.

We have our summer regional at Blue Harbor resort in Sheboyagan, WI over the weekend of June 17-20th. It is a water park and it will be a blast. It will also be nearly impossible to eat incredibly healthy as many of the meals are hotel buffets (think pasta, burgers, lots of butter, eggs, cheese, etc. etc.) So I am committing to eating well beginning today all the way to the 17th. I am giving up sugar today and am going to start counting points and measuring my food. I'm also going to make huge efforts to drink a gallon of water every day. I have my gallon of water sitting out on the counter and need to remember to fill up and drink often. My goal is to have it gone by the end of the day.

I don't have a specific weight goal in mind for the 17th, but I would like to at least have a consistent weight by then. Not 127 in the morning and 121 in the evening and 124 two days later and 127 three days later. That means I need to be consistent with my water and my eating. Usually when I do weight watchers I stick with my 18 points during the day and don't eat my activity points, but then don't count points on the weekend. I'm not sure I can do that if I'm running more than 3 miles at a time.

Here we go!