Moving Scares

Here is the plan I laid out for myself one week ago:

Monday- Jillian Michaels shred after work
Tuesday- run Greenlake (no short cuts, 3.3 miles)
Wednesday- intervals 6 x 400 meters (may have to find a real track this time)
Thursday- run Greenlake (no short cuts)
Friday- 40 minute elliptical
Saturday- rest day
Sunday- 5 mile run

Here is what I actually did over the course of last week:

Monday- nothing
Tuesday- Jillian Michaels shred after work
Wednesday- ran Greenlake
Thursday- intervals (did my best to run 6 X 400 meters)
Friday- nothing
Saturday- walked around Greenlake (2.7 miles), 60 minute, 30-day Shred Challenge (all three levels in a row!)
Sunday- 5 mile run

My run yesterday was by far the highlight of my week/my journey so far. To be able to run for so long, so relaxed and in control has been a constant goal for myself. I always have visions of just heading out the door for a run, and having it be so effortless, yet still a workout. I'm not quite there yet, as some runs are still tough for me, but yesterday was a glimpse into the world of running for pleasure, not just exercise.

For the past two weeks I have set training schedules for myself, I have for the most part stuck to them. It is nice putting it out there for you all to see, and is sort of like making an appointment for myself. Its harder for me to skip out on it if I have already planned it/told everyone about it. Here is my plan for this week:

Monday- REST DAY!
Tuesday- Anti-Jared 60 minute elliptical challenge (who's with me?)
Wednesday- run Greenlake
Thursday- Track run 6 X 400m and Shred
Friday- Greenlake
Saturday- Moving!! (my furniture is heavy!)
Sunday- 5 mile run (again)

This week, and actually the next couple of months are going to be a huge challenge for me. This week we are moving. Instead of exercising, I'm going to want to be unpacking boxes, and spending time cleaning and cooing over my house. My routine is going to be shot, as I transfer my life from one location to another, I will essentially be in "limbo" until I give the keys to the renter. This sort of shake up has been a downfall for me in the past. Anytime I have to give up one routine and invent another, there is some downtime and my body suffers the consequences.
I'm going to try something new, I'm going to list all the things about this move that could pose a threat to my routine, and a solution for how I'm going to deal with it. In case you haven't noticed, I like plans.

Threat #1- Unpacking. All I'm going to want to do over the next week is unpack and get settled as soon as possible. Living out of boxes is maddening.
Solution- Let boyfriend unpack, MAKE TIME for scheduled exercise.

Threat #2- Pots/pans/dishes packed = lots of take out food.
Solution- Grocery shop for new house asap. Unpack kitchen stuff first. Remember take out is more expensive then cooking.

Threat #3- New neighborhood, unfamiliar running routes.
Solution- Get out and make routes FAMILIAR!


Threat #4- Anything unforeseen that makes me skip exercise, or eat poorly for an extended period of time.
Solution- Take things as they come. Make as good of choices as possible. Remember how good it feels to be on track. FIND A NEW ROUTINE ASAP.

Any suggestions/advice on routine shake-ups and how to get over them fast is much appreciated.

Wow. I showed my body who was boss this weekend. Yesterday was the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred Challenge, and today I ran 5 miles. I love how casually I say that, when in my head I'm screaming "I RAN 5 UNINTERRUPTED FRICKEN' MILES!!!"

Last Sunday I barely struggled through my 4 mile run. I was sore all over this morning from yesterday's workout. I did however have a lot of factors on my side today; 1) the weather. The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny, 67 degrees, perfect. 2) One mile was mostly downhill. 3) Found my other pair of Asics in my closet that are not as worn as the ones I have been wearing. 4) Overall good feeling, my breathing was controlled the whole time, I felt strong.

Tomorrow is going to have to be a rest day for me, because I have the Anti-Jared 60 minute challenge on Tuesday!

Crap-o-Matic

Before you get too excited for this post based on the title, I should inform you that is the nickname we have given our dog, Pedro. Pedro weighs in at about 30 pounds, and craps more than any living thing I have ever seen. Last Saturday, when we went on that 5 mile hike? He crapped 7 times. SEVEN times!

So yesterday, keeping to my schedule, it was track day. 6 X 400 meters. I really liked how last week I brought Pedro along with me, and he was free to roam around off leash while I ran my laps. For the most part he ran along side me, but once in awhile would stop to sniff something, then have to sprint over to where I moved to. When I got home yesterday, Dave was cleaning the kitchen floor. Not too weird, but weird enough for me to ask if something happened. He said "dog just threw up twice." I asked when the last time he went out was. "Two hours ago." Normally the only thing that makes Pedro throw up is when he has to go to the bathroom so bad, he'll throw up. He knows that going to the bathroom in the house is a no-no, and will actually throw up if he has to go that bad (doesn't happen very often). Not sure which I prefer...

I began getting dressed for my run, it was so nice out, like 63 degrees and sunny. So much nicer than last weeks track workout day. I harnessed up Pedro, decided to bring my iPhone along for a stopwatch (my favorite exercise watch is in need of a new battery) and grabbed a plastic baggie, just in case. Dave said "he should be empty now." I knew better. I decided to jog to the field since it was so close as a nice warm up before the real workout. As I got up over the little hill, I noticed a lot of cars parked around the field. Uh-oh. I immediately knew what it was. Little league. They must have been rained out last week. I had to think fast. I couldn't do my planned workout. I had my dog with me (who is NOT a runner at all).

Since I had my phone with a stopwatch, I was able to guesstimate how long 400 meters would take me (2:15 min?) and just decided to run down the street for 2:15 minutes. Stop, repeat, and repeat again. Turn around, and repeat 3 times. That would roughly give me 6 X 400 meter legs. I completed one 2:15 minute chunk, and wow, was I out of breath! I was using this cool app on my iPhone called "Runkeeper." It uses a GPS to determine my distance and pace. I'm not sure that I trust it, since it was saying I was running my 400 meters at an 8:40 pace. That is crazy! As I was resting in between sets, my dog decides to take the BIGGEST crap I have ever seen him take. Right in front of someone's house. So, I use my baggie. I didn't want to carry the baggie while I ran, so I tied it off and stuck it in a bush to pick up on my way back. I ran two more sets, turned around, ran two more back, meanwhile my phone with the cool app died on me, so I was on my own pretty much. Apparently the GPS feature eats up the battery like no bodies business! Pedro and I ended up stopping at the same spot as the previous ginormous crap. I look over, and he's at it again! Huge crap number 2. I didn't have any more baggies, so I just covered it with some leaves and sticks. Luckily it looked like the homeowners were not home. Sorry! I did pick up the previous stashed "present" baggie and continue on my run. I just jogged it out the rest of the way home. By the time we got to my street, I was dragging poor little Pedro.

I was kinda disappointed that I didn't get to do my planned activity, but happy that I made the best of what I had to work with. I did afterall learn some things yesterday. 1) Pedro is not a running buddy, and 2) Runkeeper for the iPhone is awesome when you have a charged phone battery. I think I will be using it from now on. Oh, and I am 100% on track for my modified schedule this week, as long as I run Greenlake tonight after work. Its nice out, so that should be easy. Tomorrow is Shred Challenge, and Sunday is 5 mile run (gasp!).

30 Day Shred 60 Minute Challenge

I like challenges. I always have. I am competitive by my nature, and nothing motivates me more then someone telling me I can't do something, or someone challenging me. It seems that recently there have been a lot of challenges floating around the blogshere, and I decided I would jump on the challenge bus.

During my run around Greenlake yesterday, I got this great (heh) idea. I know at least two of my readers own the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred video. If you are unfamiliar with this video (even though I talk about it ALL the time) it consists of three 20 minute workouts, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. I have done each of these workouts many times. Before obtaining this video, I had no idea it was possible to sweat so much in a 20 minute period.

So, as I was running, and having a difficult run at that, it was nearly impossible to think of running 13 miles when I was struggling at mile 2. I began thinking of ways to step it up a notch, not only my physical training, but my mental as well. I thought of the Jillian video, and how hard it was the first time I ever did it. Now, I can get through any of the three levels. Its a workout for sure, but not nearly the death I almost experienced on day one. I used the video as a metaphor for my 1/2 marathon training. If doing a 20 minute workout was like doing a 3 mile maintenance run, then, doing a 1/2 marathon is like doing the whole DVD, all three workouts!

The challenge was born. On Saturday, 4/17/2010, at around 1pm, I will be putting in my 30 Day Shred Video and completing all workouts. 60 minutes. Levels 1, 2, and 3 non-stop. I plan to skip the stretching/cool down after workouts 1 and 2, but will do all warm-ups. Who is with me? Oh, and one more thing...take a picture of yourself when you are done. Send it to me as proof. I want to see red faces and sweat!

Tuesday Becomes Wednesday

In case you haven't noticed, I've been toying with different templates for my blog. My original template was nice, but I felt it was too...elementary. I am really on a blue/brown kick right now, so this is the way its going to be for now. Sorry Claire and Lea!

I shifted the workout schedule I made on Monday ahead one day, since I didn't end up working out on Monday evening. So, as far as workouts, Monday became Tuesday, and Tuesday became Wednesday (you get the point). Today I ran Greenlake. Tomorrow I will be doing my track workout. Friday will no longer be a rest day since I took Monday off.

My run today was not my best, and really in confirmed my suspicions that I have not been running enough for my 1/2 marathon training. I think it has been at least 2 weeks since I last ran around the lake, and that is unacceptable. It was evident in every step I took today. It was as if each of my legs weight 1,000 pounds. My lungs felt fine, my legs were just SO heavy. I had to stop briefly (and I do mean briefly, under 1 minute) two separate times. I think the breaks were more for my mental focus then my body actually needed them.

Perhaps a crappy run today is exactly what I need to push ahead further. I DO NOT want to ever have a run like the one I had today again. How do I prevent that? Run more. Eat less. Keep doing what I know is right for my body.

Despite the difficulty of the run, I feel great now. I always feel great after I run. I feel great because even though I woke up a little later then I should have, I still ran instead of choosing to go into the office. I was late to work. I feel great because I didn't let any excuses stop me from sticking to my plan of running around Greenlake this morning. The sun was out shining. I had clean clothes to wear. I feel great because I think I knew somewhere deep down that the run today was going to be hard, and I did it anyway. Usually when I know something is going to be hard, I find a way around it. That is not a behavior that is going to keep me successful, in anything I do. Ever.

On another note, 6 days until we close on the house. I think we found a renter for the condo yesterday, so that means I can start getting excited for real! I just hope nothing delays closing...these 30 days have been soooo long.

Devils vs. Angels

My head is all over the place today. I have been staring at my computer for the last 2.5 hours trying to get it to do work for me. Including write this blog post. No such luck. I don't know where to begin, so I'll start with my workout plan for this week:

Monday- Jillian Michaels shred after work
Tuesday- run Greenlake (no short cuts, 3.3 miles)
Wednesday- intervals 6 x 400 meters (may have to find a real track this time)
Thursday- run Greenlake (no short cuts)
Friday- 40 minute elliptical
Saturday- rest day
Sunday- 5 mile run

The jumble of thoughts in my head today goes back and forth between how good I feel, how I'm going to furnish/decorate my house, whether or not we are going to close on the date we want to (8 days!?), finding a renter, doing my job, finding something to blog about, finishing my taxes today, and when I'm going to eat my lunch.

As of today, I'm still at 19 pounds lost, and if my body needed to take that month long deep breath before moving on, I'm ok with that. This whole journey is a battle between good and evil in my head. The evil is always going to be there, and represents short term pleasure, selfishness, and self-destruction. The good is always there as well, representing health, peace, and overall contentedness.

I often confuse being content with being bored, and that usually leads to the evil stepping up and offering me a way out of my "boredom." This battle will continue for the rest of my life, I know. I don't need to eradicate the evil, I just need to ensure the good wins 90% of the battles.

Week 14: Sodium and the Scale Gang Up on Me

I think I'm ingesting too much sodium. My scale decided to give me a giant middle finger this morning, and although last week wasn't my best week, it was NOT worthy of the treatment my scale gave me today. I have noticed that it has been quite awhile since I have been woken up in the middle of the night with the urge to pee. As I mentioned in an earlier post, that is a sure sign to me that my body is losing weight. I haven't cut back on my water drinking, so my body just must be holding onto the water.

This week I plan to be super conscious of my sodium intake. That should be relatively easy, since I make the majority of my meals. We keep an open bowl of Kosher salt on our stove to just "toss in" to whatever we are cooking. I never measure the amount I use, I pretend I'm a trained chef and just use my hands (I learned this by watching my chef boyfriend). Its funny, any time I make something for him, and I think I add a lot of salt to it, he says "this is good, but it needs more salt." I think he might be immune to salt.

Well, this week, I will be hiding that bowl of salt, and trying to reset the balance in my body. At the gym this morning I came up with a kick ass plan for my 1/2 marathon training this week that I'm pretty excited about too. My plan:

Monday: 30 minutes Elliptical, strength train at night
Tuesday: 5 X 400 meters at the local school track (400 meter = one lap, I will be running pretty fast) 2 minute rest in between.
Wednesday: Greenlake Run (3.1 miles)
Thursday: 40 minutes Elliptical, strength train at night
Friday: Rest day
Saturday: Greenlake Run
Sunday: 4 mile Run

I will be running 4 miles again this Sunday because I felt kind of robbed yesterday with the wind and all. It is a slight revision to my previous schedule where I was increasing by a mile a week. I think that is too aggressive, and just take it week by week.

Small Craft Advisory

Normally I'm not one to complain about too much wind. Wind seems all too elusive here in Seattle whenever its sunny, warm, and I want to be going fast in a sailboat. When I want to run however? Small craft advisories. It has been SO windy the past three days. Windy enough that I tried to use it as an excuse to not run my 4 mile training run today. Twice.

I hate running in the wind. One way is totally awesome, and the other way totally sucks. I found motivation for today's run by reading some of my favorite blogs. I mapped out my route to ensure I had a full 4 miles. I dressed accordingly.

Just when I decided the wind had subsided enough, I headed out. As soon as I rounded the corner of my block, I was hit with a huge gust. Damn, I thought. It was not my best run, but parts of it were good, (when the wind was behind me) and I did it. That is the most important thing. Just doing it. Now, its easier to watch what I eat. It will be easier to wake up tomorrow and hit the gym.

I was talking to my mom yesterday, and she was asking me what my plans were for Easter (today). I told her I didn't have any plans since Dave has to work, and all my family lives in another state. She said, "oh, that is good! Then you won't have to eat a big meal with crappy food! That's great." It's no wonder I'm so fucked up. I just rolled my eyes and let her talk. She then proceeded to tell me about the humongous meal she was making for my aunt and cousins that are coming over. Awesome.

Training Has Begun

Yesterday I woke up later then usual (I think I mentioned my boyfriend no longer requires a ride to school before 8am) got dressed for the gym, and proceeded to move incredibly slow. By the time I finished all of my morning routine, it was 8:00am - the time I'm usually pulling up to the Y parking lot. I was still going to go. I got into my car, and F*CK. Gas light. So, I went and got gas, got coffee, and drove to work. I'll workout after work I told myself (I gave myself a 50/50 chance of actually following through).

I was back on track with my eating, blogging, and being productive at work. 5pm rolled around quickly, and I changed back into my workout clothes, and headed to the Y. When I pulled into the garage, I was instantly reminded of why I work out in the morning. No spots on the first level. This means a busy cardio room, and perhaps 3rd or even 4th choice of machine! I navigated my way through 100's of screaming children, got to the cardio room, and found a lone empty treadmill.

My plan was to do some interval training since I hadn't really done any of that yet, and intervals (fartleks) are essential when distance training. I warmed up for 5 minutes, then kicked up the treadmill to a 6 mph. I did 2 minutes on (running at 6.0)/ 1 minute off (walking at 3.8) for 20 minutes, then cooled down. It felt great. I think partly because I always have better runs at the end of the day when I'm more warmed up, but also because I was so happy that I was running at a 10 minute mile pace!

I woke up this morning feeling great, and actually made it to the gym before work! I did a nice hard elliptical course, followed that up with some abs, and plan to run around Greenlake tomorrow. Back on track!

Yes, I am a cliche

Now that I am officially signed up for the Rock n' Roll Marathon in Seattle, I plan to spend a considerable amount of time blogging about my training. I am only running the 1/2 marathon, and I did "run" and finish this very 1/2 marathon last year with virtually no training, and at least 20 pounds more on my frame. Today, as I sat down to begin this post, I thought of what a cliche I am, to begin a journey to get healthy, and at some point run a 1/2 marathon. EVERYONE does that!

Whatever. Being a cliche is not a bad thing. Especially if it means improvement of my health! I have already discovered that blogging keeps me accountable for eating better, and exercising more, so I would like to transfer that over to my training as well. Last year, I signed up for this race at about exactly the same time. I thought to myself (even though I wasn't in very good shape then) "I have plenty of time." The time passed, and I had not put forth my best effort. At all. By some miracle (or by sheer stubbornness) I managed to finish the race.

I am happy to have a reference point for the upcoming race. Now I can set goals based on my performance last year. I would like to shave off 30 minutes from my previous time of 3h 26m, for a time of 2h 56m.

There are plenty of 1/2 marathon training programs out there, but I'm not going to hold myself to any one of those. My plan is pretty basic. 4-5 runs a week. 2 runs a week will be interval training (or fartleks) giggle, giggle. One run will be "distance," and I will aim to increase my mileage on my "distance" run by one mile per week. The remaining run or two will be maintenance runs and will slowly increase in distance, based on how long my "distance" runs are. For example, this week, my maintenance run will be 3 miles, and my "distance" run will be 4 miles.

Here is a rough outline of my schedule goals (based on distance run):

Saturday 4/3- 4 mile distance run
Saturday 4/10- 5 mile distance run
Saturday 4/17- 6 mile distance run
Saturday 4/24- 7 mile distance run
Saturday 5/1- 8 mile distance run
Saturday 5/8- 9 mile distance run
Saturday 5/15- 10 mile distance run
Saturday 5/22- 11 mile distance run
Saturday 5/29- 12 mile distance run
Saturday 6/5- 13 mile distance run
Saturday 6/12- 12 mile distance run
Saturday 6/19- 10 mile distance run
Saturday 6/26- RACE DAY

This is pretty aggressive, I know. But, if I stick to it, I have time to taper. The thought of running more than 7 miles at once is so beyond comprehension. The most I think I've ever run at once was 6 miles (and that was when I was competing in high school crew) I was in shape, but I hated running. I really began to enjoy running in college, but I never pushed myself to do any distance training.

So there you have it. I laid it all out there, and now it is up to me to stay accountable. I need to get over my tendency of signing up for races, and then not training.