Resolution 5k--Can I get a big fat WOO HOO!!

Saturday, January 02, 2010

First race of the year AND met a goal already!

One of my running goals for the year was to run a 5k in sub 30 minutes. I didn't think I'd reach this goal for a few more months. My PR is 31:17.

OK, so let me rephrase that....my PR WAS 31:17.

Today, I've got a new PR.....29:57 Can I get a WOO HOO!!!!

Now, most of you know that I enjoy running in the cooler temps 50 to 55 degrees works well for me. But today it was just down right COLD!! 40 degrees! Oh yeah! That 10 degrees made a HUGE difference. I was FREEZING!! And what made it worse was we were running into the wind along the river on the out and back course.

Guess I learned some lessons about cold weather running. Number 1 is that I need some gloves!! I'm thinking of going to the thrift store and getting several pairs of old ones so that I can continually wipe my nose and then just toss them when I get warmed up. Yes, the runny nose is definitely a problem running in COLD weather! I had to run back to the car and get some napkins to keep wiping my nose. (Good thing I did otherwise I would have looked pretty messy crossing that finish.) I made it back to the start line (I was already there once) with less than 30 seconds to spare before the gun went off.


The run back wasn't too bad as the wind was at our backs now. I was still cold but my cheeks weren't stinging like on the way out. Guess I was running fast to stay warm!

Another thing I decided is that I'm definitely going to buy those shoe laces that don't need tying! I lost several seconds having to stop and tie my shoe at Mile 2.25...that kinda bummed me out because it was at that point that I was thinking I could PR my previous time. I still hadn't considered that I could get the sub 30 yet.

It was the last 10th of a mile that I could see the time clock at the finish and suddenly realized I could reach my goal. I gave it all I had which really wasn't much but still a lot for me!

And I did it!! I was so stinkin' proud of myself and I just started cheering. Bet some people there thought I was nuts but ya know, I just didn't care. I did it! And I was super excited about it!!

Time: 29:57 (oh and this was Garmin time...Gun time was 29:59....still under!)
AP: 9:38
Mile Splits: 10:00, 9:50, 9:20, 7:11 (negatives at that...another woo hoo!)

Well, I'm off to have a hot cup of coffee and then to the gym for some yoga. I'll be showing up with a big ole grin on my face.

Life IS Good!

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2010--The Year of Fit and Fabulous

Friday, January 01, 2010

2009 was the year of weight loss. Now that the *extra* weight is gone, I am going to focus my attention on getting fit and tone, and with fit comes FABULOUS!!

This means GOOD-BYE batwings. SO LONG cellulite thighs. TAKE A HIKE jelly belly! And as for you droopy boobs, you are another story considering you are more age related than anything else. I might have to convince DH that a....cough.... LIFT/ADJUSTMENT will be needed. (Even as I think this, I know the chances are SLIM to NONE)

Without further ado.....here are my 2010 Goals

Weight and eating--
1. Maintain my weight between 120-125 pounds.
2. Continue eating healthier by adding more fruits and veggies and less red meats.
3. Continue my 8 cups of water a day streak. (began 2010 with a streak of 454 days.)

Running--
1. 900 miles, approximately 75 miles per month. (Ran 555 miles in 2009. Not to shabby for a beginner.)
2. Start a running streak of 3 times per week for 52 weeks.
3. Run the Rock and Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon in New Orleans on Feb 28th in under 2hrs and 35 minutes for a new PR.
4. Run a sub-30 5k. (Goal met--January 2, 2010 Resolution 5k--29:57)

Gym--
1. Start a streak of 2-3 times per week for 52 weeks.
2. MORE STRENGTH TRAINING!! No exceptions!! This is the way to being fit. Without it, there is no fabulous. This might require me hiring a personal trainer for a couple weeks. Will give this more thought.

Home workouts--
1. 100 push ups challenge
2. Core workouts, 2-3 times a week.

Rest--
1. Complete body rest from ALL exercise at least 1 day a week!

Emotional health--
1. Start the job hunt for the work at home transcription position! I finished the course in September now its time to put it to work!
2. Continue with my Reflection Runs.
3. Keep growing emotionally and spiritually.

In the last year, I have come to realize that I AM a work in progress! There will be many ups and downs along the way, but as long as I don't quit I can continue to grow and become the person I always wanted to be......

.....And that person is ME!!

Life IS Good!!

To everyone who read my blog....
Happy New Year and May all your dreams and goals come true for you too!

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So, I underestimated just a bit...

Thursday, December 31, 2009

My fitness minutes goal for 2009
Weekly--200 minutes
Monthly--800 minutes
Total goal for year was 9,574.

Well, I REALLY underestimated that goal and not by a little but by a huge amount!!

My yearly fitness minutes for 2009 was 21,690!

I think I seriously need to re-evaluate THAT goal for 2010.

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Sometimes, no matter what, it's just not going to happen

Monday, December 14, 2009

Today was one of those days. I woke up with no energy this morning. It's not that I went to bed extremely late or got up extremely early....just woke up with NO energy.

Yesterday was going to be a rest day. When I say rest, I meant from running or exercise. However, I cleaned the house all day. Up and down stairs, bending and lifting, squatting and lunging, vacuuming and mopping. This wasn't just cleaning.....This was DEEP cleaning. We're talking cleaning windows and moving furniture cleaning here folks....something I try not to do with all my being. (My house is clean, just not DEEP clean....LOL)

So, when it was all said and MOSTLY done (need to finish today), I didn't feel like cooking dinner so I just made a Caesar Salad.....(Indicator #1 that today was not going to go well.) I didn't even put chicken or any type of protein on it....just salad. So, no carbs for the morning run either.

My planned run today was at 6 miles. Because I had no energy, I decided to eat half of a wheat bagel with peanut butter. (Indicator #2) I don't eat before my runs for anything under 6 miles and, for some odd reason, I skipped the coffee (Indicator #3). I ALWAYS have a cup of coffee every morning....ALWAYS!!

It was already late, around mid morning (Indicator #4) when I turned on the weather channel and discovered it was already 74 degrees BUT the humidity was 94% (Indicator #5).

When I wake up in the mornings, my HR is usually around 58-60. By the time I strap on my HRM for my run, its up to about the low 70s. This morning it was 85 (Indicator #6) when I strap on the HRM. (I'd read somewhere if your HR is elevated beyond normal, you should just consider skipping the run...Oh I considered it, just didn't do it!)

I'm all set to go and about a minute or two into my warm up walk, it hit me....I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS TODAY!

The first mile was awful. I couldn't even think of anything I wanted to reflect upon (Indicator #7) My runs have a purpose. I was blank. All I could think of was GET IT DONE!

Mile 2 was worse than mile 1. I was pouring sweat as if I was caught in a storm. The sun was blaring and my legs felt like lead! Still trying to come up with positive thoughts and only coming up with negative ones (Indicator #8), I trudged on. The only thought in my mind was *This Sucks!* I know, not a very good thought....

At the beginning of mile 3 I just about tripped over my shoelace!! (Indicator #9 and the final straw!) I have NEVER, EVER, EVER had to stop running to tie my shoelace! I lacked so much energy this morning that I didn't even tie my shoelaces correctly.

Ok, so now the reflection run starts. I start thinking about every thing that has gone wrong with this run and that's it, it's done. I'm not doing 6 miles today. I'm going to get through 3 miles and call it a day. I reflect about how not every run is great. There will be days like this. Today was the perfect example. Stop beating myself up. Finish the 3, head home. It's not the end of the world. So I had a bad run....So What? IT HAPPENS!!

With that final thought, I finished the 3 miles, walked home the last 1/4 mile, and did some stretches.

Afterwards, I started thinking about the rest of my day. All I had to do was clean the guest room upstairs and do some misc paper work. Nothing to pressing. And if I wanted to, I could put the cleaning off until tomorrow.

So, what did I do?

I took a nap.......

Life IS Good!!

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Today's reflection....Do I care what others think about me?

Friday, December 04, 2009

I was reading a blog of a SparkFriend this morning. In it, she was talking about why she worries about what others think of her running because she thinks she is slow.

As I'm reading it, I'm thinking, Oh my gosh, what is she talking about?? She's NOT slow, she's doing great! She inspires me, she trains hard, she's passionate about running, she's.....

And then suddenly, this thought pops into my mind....If she thinks people think she is slow, then what do they think about me? I'm way slower than her.

And then I start to wonder.....do I care what they think about me?

Well, since it's time for me to do some serious thinking, that could only mean one thing....Time for a reflection run. (Actually, walk is more like it since I'm still doing a recovery week.) So, I laced up the shoes and off I went.

Had I asked this question a year ago, the answer would have been absolutely without a doubt, YES! There was a time when the ONLY thing that mattered was what other people thought of me. I was such a people pleaser. I didn't seem to have my own thoughts anymore. I was easily swayed. If they said I was ugly, they were right, I was ugly. If they said I was fat, then yep, I was fat. If I was told I'd never amount to anything, I believed them. I spent many nights at home crying, because I believed everything that was told to me. For years, I was ugly, fat, unworthy, and everything else they said. I was miserable. Oh, I covered it up, I acted like it didn't hurt. I laughed when stuff like that was said and pretended it didn't bother me. But deep down, I was hurting.

Then I starting thinking about some recent events in my life. I started thinking about the changes I'd gone through, who I am today, how I got here, what I did to get where I am, etc.

60 minutes and 4.6 miles later (ha, I may be a slow runner but I'm a fast walker...LOL), I came to realize that yes I do still care what people think about me. I'd be lying if I said I didn't.

However, there is one major difference between then and now. I've realized that what anyone thinks of me is only their opinion. And whether it's true or not, it no longer has that influence to make me miserable....unless I CHOOSE to let it.

I choose not to!

Life IS Good!

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