2+ Weeks

It's been an interesting last 2+ weeks. Here we go:

February 8th - I accomplished something today that I didn't think was physically possible for me to do, run for longer than 2 hours. I think one of the reasons that I had always thought running was so hard was because I couldn't image my body running without stopping for that long. Well on Saturday, Feb. 8th I ran 12.5 miles and it took me 2 hours and 3 minutes. I did walk about 0.45 of a mile all added up throughout the 12.5 miles but basically I can for 2+ hours! It was a milestone for me and one that I really am proud of proving myself wrong.

February 9th - I had my 2nd dress fitting/ kinda 1st because it was the first time she was going to really start forming it to me. When I went in the 1st time she couldn't grab anything and it was super tight. This time she is going to have to take an inch in from both sides and tuck it under my boobs! I lost 7.7lbs in 4 weeks but what I was shocked about was the toning and inches that I had lost. I really can only chalk it up to the running because I hadn't changed my diet enough to make that big of a change, or at least I didn't think so. My seamstress told me I couldn't lose much more as the structure of the dress can only be taken in so far without having to alter it and that is a huge job sooo - that cheeseburger I had been craving for months, I went and got it that night! :) Treated myself to deliciousness.

February 17th - 1/2 Marathon Day! I got up at the butt-crack of dawn 4:10am. Ate breakfast, got ready and was out the door at 5:10am. It was 30 degrees when we left. At 5:35am we parked and I hoped into the car with my future mother & sister-in-law and we waited in the heat. Finally at 7am we got out to visit the restrooms and get to the corrals by the 7:30am start. It was 34 degrees now and I had on running capri pants, running shoes, sports bra, a running tank top and long sleeve shirt, a jacket I planned on throwing off as well as gloves and a hat. While standing in the bathroom lines we found out they were postponing the start till 7:45am because of the traffic to park. We weren't happy but okay. I got to my corral at 7:40 and decided to dump my jacket, I could live for 5 minutes. Well I get in and they postpone it till 8am. I am freezing now! My warm-up was gone by now and my Nike Running App decided to crap out on me so I am also frustrated because I can't get it to work and trying to figure out another app to run with all while freezing. I was suppose to be in the 1st corral to go but they did such a bad job with them I don't leave till the 2nd wave, 8:05am.

The gun goes off and I start running and I literally can not feel my body. I am numb to the bone! Around mile 3 I finally start feeling myself and my knee, which hasn't ever given me a problem while training, only afterwards kicks in ad starts throbbing (it's a swimming injury from my freshman year in college, basically 10 years ago).  I can only imagine it's the cold that aggravated it since we basically started without a warm-up because we waited 40 minutes in 34 degree weather and then started running right away. I had to deal with a knee I wanted to chop off for 10 miles! It was miserable to say the least. To top it off it there was this wind that just would blow right through you and make you shutter. I kept picturing myself laying on a warm beach somewhere basking in the sun. However, I just kept running but did listen to my body and walked a bit too. More than I wanted too, but I knew it was for the best. Finally I saw the finish line and dug deep for anything left in my tank to finish strong. 2:14.25 - not want I wanted but under the 2:15 goal I had set for myself so I couldn't complain. I had finished my very first 1/2 marathon! I couldn't be prouder of myself.

Flash forward, February 17th Evening - I can't walk! My knee is screaming at me and I'm still cold. We are over at a friend's house and all I can think about it laying down and sleeping. Everyone is standing around in the kitchen and I grab a tall boy chair and sit because I physically can't stand any longer. At 8am I head out and go to bed, my body has nothing left!

February 18th - I was one of the lucky people that didn't get President's Day off and had to go to work. I hobble around like an old person with everyone asking me what was wrong. I decide after talking with some runner friends to take the week off and do a small run on Sunday and hit it back the following week.

February 24th - 1st day back on the pavement since my 1/2 Marathon. My knee was feeling much better with the weeks rest. I decide to do 4 miles just easy and see how it goes. Well my stupid butt takes it out way to fast and by mile 2 I'm feeling it. I back off and just finish. My knee feels okay. I am very aware it's there, but it's not throbbing so I chalk that up as a win win! However the outside side of my left foot starts cramping and walking is difficult. Even this morning (Feb. 25th) it's still hurting so I am wearing tennis shoes for support.

New Shoes - After my run on Feb 24th, I decide to go to a local running shop to get fitted for new pair of shoes since the current pair is just about shot (using through my next race, a 15K on March 9th) and I can't find that shoe online in my size anymore. I'm definitely an Asics girl! However while running on the treadmill trying out the new shoes the sales guy asks me why I'm favoring my left knee. I tell him it's been giving me some issues since the Donna. He throws a compression knee brace on me, SOLD that thing is fantastic! Picked out my new shoes but they are on order since they didn't have the color I wanted in stock. Looking forward to getting them soon though!

New Week - This week I am going to get back at it in terms of running. Keeping the intensity down and just getting in the mileage. 3 miles tomorrow, 5 on Wednesday, 3 again on Thursday and 10 on the weekend. The following week is taper down again since the 15K is on that Saturday, March 9th. Here we go again!

7.7!

I am less than a week away from my 1st ever 1/2 marathon! It's this Sunday, February 17th at 7:30am. Here's the course - http://www.breastcancermarathon.com/run/course/.

I really am looking forward to this and the challenge it has brought to me. I finally have found the internal challenge that I have missed from my swimming years. I've experienced starting rough and then getting easier, starting easy and ending rough, starting and end easy with a rough middle all through my training. The tricky part and the part that I have craved for a long time is that internal battle or pushing through that, not letting it take hold and consume the rest of your workout, even if it is at the end. I know on Sunday at some point I will lose the runners high and feel the pain somewhere in my body, I will feel myself drop off a bit on my pace but I know that I can push through - I've done it thus far at 12.5 miles what's 13.1?!

I truly never thought I could run that far. OMG to run for 2 hours straight, that's crazy and there is no way I can do that - that's what I use to say. This past Saturday I officially proved myself wrong, running 2 hours and 3 minutes for the 1st time in my life. I have never been a runner ever in my life, always a swimmer and when we had to run for cardio I bitched and complained and was always one of the slowest (still not that fast but better). I guess I finally proved to myself that just like swimming, if you train and practice you can get there.

Another amazing benefit of the running has been my body is slimming down and toning. My 4 week challenge of losing 5lbs to fit in my dress was blown out of the water - 7.7lbs in 4 weeks! I couldn't believe it when I stepped on the scale this past Sunday morning. 160.0lbs! I had to move the scale all around the bathroom and try it again because I thought maybe the floor was uneven in that spot and the scale was reading it wrong. 7 times at 160.0 (yes 7!) I finally believed it! I then went to the seamstress later that afternoon for my dress fitting and she is having to take an inch off both sides! 4 weeks ago she couldn't even grab anything on the sides! I was seriously shocked! That was more impressive to me than even the scale. I couldn't get over it. She even said I can't lose too much more because im just about maxing out the dress on being taken in without having to really alter the structure of the dress. Needless to say that cheeseburger and fried I had been craving for 4 weeks - went to Poe's Tavern and got it Sunday night! :) I thought I deserved it. haha

Getting Ready for my 1/2

It's been a while since I posted - I know I know! However I have been doing really well! I'm 3 weeks down of the 4 weeks to lose 5 lbs and I've lost 4.6lbs so far. Yay me!

This Sunday I go in for my dress fitting and I can't wait because I have my jewelry too now so I can try the whole thing on. :) She is also going to start the fitting alterations. Thus far it's been the hemming and "Meghanizing" of the dress. I will also have the mock-up of my veil too - I CAN'T WAIT!

As for my "diet" - I hate that word by the way! - I have been doing really well. Making better choices and running A LOT! Granted I have a 1/2 marathon in 13 days so I better be but I know that has helped out quite a bit too.

Last night I ran 11 miles - the longest I have ever run both time and distance in my entire life! I'm a tad banged up though this morning. My left knee is really tight today. Definitely going to need to stretch that out tonight. Also the sports bra I wore too was new and the seeming under the boobs rubbed me raw on both. The weird part is that I didn't even realize it until I went to undress to take a shower and saw blood on my bra, touched the area and realized that hurt a ton. Oh well I will heal fast I am sure. I have decided that when you start getting over 6 miles things start to go a lot more often, it's just the nature of the game so how you deal with them and overcome them is the challenge.

As for this week, it's my last week of hard training running. I keep it up with a 12 miler this weekend. Next week is a nice "taper" just to keep my legs moving to get me ready for the 13.1/ half marathon I have on the 17th. I actually am looking forward to it believe it or not. It's something I never thought I could do and look at me, I ran 11 miles last night! I'm getting ready for that 1/2!!!

Week 2 of 4 :)

It's week 2 of my 4 weeks to lose 5-7lbs so my dress fits awesome time frame. Last week I lost 3.2 lbs!!! Yay me! I felt so good yesterday when I got onto that scale and 163.5 came up. Last week I worked really hard running and making better choices on the things I ate.

Here's what I discovered - I can surprise myself! It's funny because I knew that but I had forgotten it. I have a 1/2 marathon on Feb. 17th and the training program I am following has the long runs on Saturdays. Makes sense since during the week with work it's much harder to get those long runs in. I had fallen off the horse as I have expressed in previous posts the previous few weeks and the longest run I had done was 6 miles back on the Saturday before Christmas. That means I had missed 3 long runs. I'm not really sure where I should have been distance wise this weekend anymore but I debated with myself if I should run, 6 again, maybe 7 or even 8 miles. I finally decided on the 8 miles because I had 4 long runs left (including that one) until my race and I would go 8, 9, 10.5 and 12 miles on those last 4. If I started back with 6 or 7 I would have a hard time building up. I got out there and it wasn't too bad. In fact I was feeling pretty good and ended up going 8.5 miles! I did MapMyRun.com before I left and mapped out my 8 mile trek - actual was a bit further and I just decided to keep going. I was at 8.4 at the "stopping point" and decided I had gone that far I was doing that last 0.10 mile to get to 8.5 miles. I really was proud of myself and even more I surprised myself on how strong I really am. That means now this Saturday is going to be 9.5 miles instead of 9 and I'm debating on 10.5 or 11 for the 2nd and the 9th will stay at 12. :)

Also I was shocked that my fiance this past week was so open to having salads for dinner. We made a salad with some leftover chicken and lots of veggies. Then another night we made a flank steak salad and again with lots of veggies. Both were so good and filling. I just didn't pin him as a guy that would enjoy and even more suggest those options. Granted he is in a "bet" at work on who can lose the most weight. I guess there are 7 guys that all put $50 in and if you lose the most or percentage (I forget which it is) you win it all. Hey if it that that finally gets him motivated than I am all for it. He keeps saying he wants to lose but trying to get him motivated has been a bit of a challenge and I definitely don't want to nag him about it because I don't want him to take it the wrong way. You know how that goes. :)

Well today is back to running for the week. 3 miles - nothing much but I am hoping it will feel good as my legs as still a tad sore from my Saturday evening 8 mile run and it might help flush them out. I'm looking forward to this week even though if you watch biggest loser the 2nd week is the hardest. That's okay so bring it on! :)

Tracking

It's day #2 this week and I am wishing it was Friday already. LOL

I was pretty good yesterday. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill - slow and steady and flat. It wasn't anything impressive but I got it done and that is what I was aiming for. I ran inside because it was hot outside, well it was basically just as hot in that workout room. The only advantages were that there was no sun and I could drink from my water bottle whenever I wanted and that after being sick I think was a plus. I was happy when I was done that I did it.

I also tracked all my food yesterday. AND when we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner I planned out what I was going to have - was still going to be over but used some of my anytime points to make up for it. I stuck to my plan of beef fajitas without tortillas or the fixings. It was really good! I even only had 1 Michelob Ultra which is 0 points for 1 bottle (1 point for 2!)

Weightwatchers and their tracking is so different that I have been use to lately - points not calories. It is something I need to get use to. In fact the points don't even come from calories - they come from protein, fiber, carbs and fat. I've been so worried about calories, fat and sodium the last year so this will take some getting use to. However, I'm tracking and that right now is the goal - track everything!

I'm tired today but hopefully will get over that soon. I gave up caffeine until the wedding at least so it's been interesting adjusting but I also don't crave it any more which is nice.

Well here's to another good day today! :)

4 Weeks = 7 lbs!

I'm back at work after NOT feeling well last week! I haven't been put on my ass like that in a long time. Thankfully though I'm feeling better.

Yesterday I got to do something fun - I put my wedding dress on for the first time in 6 months! I bought it in July and haven't had it on since. I fell in love all over again. I put it on because I went to drop it off at the seamstress to get that ball rolling. What I found out is A.) it still fits - YAY! but B.) If I could loose 5-10lbs it would fit amazing!

We set the 1st fitting - February 10th. That is 4 weeks from yesterday. I got on the scale this morning and it said 166.7lbs. I decided last night that I would loose 7lbs in 4 weeks - which is perfect putting me at 160lbs! That is what I was hoping for. That means starting today I have to be crazy good - no more stuffing myself, no more fried food, no more bad foods! I can do this.

Also it means back to working out EVERY DAY. My 1/2 marathon is 5 weeks away which means I have 4 weeks of hard training left. I have fallen off the wagon a bit but I think I can do this. I just gotta get my butt back out there and make myself. I have to put this as a priority in my life and not let other things get in the way. That will be the key.

I also got my fiance with me and he is going to try to lose 15lbs in 4 weeks. He's a guy so that is feasible but he is going to have to work at it. The challenging part is getting him to be active every day of the week. I know once he gets going it won't be bad, it will just be starting back at it.

So here is to the next 4 weeks and 7lbs disappearing!

Happy 2013 - Back on Track

It's 2013 can you believe it? Even more it's already a week into it.

I am so excited for this year - well especially the first 4 months. :) This weekend my fiance and I moved into together into OUR room. (I've never had an our room before and so far so good! lol) It's still in progress moving my stuff from the downstairs room up and moving his stuff in. There is shit all of the house but we'll get it all put away this week and calmness will return to the house.

In 96 days I marry the love of my life and my best friend. I can't wait to become a Mrs. and spend the rest of my life with him. It's going to be so much fun to celebrate with family and close friends! Then of course there is the honeymoon afterwards that we are both looking forward to - Jamaica here we come!

The only "bad" thing thus far in 2013 is that I haven't been very good at keeping to my 1/2 marathon schedule. I've been soo busy painting, cleaning, and fixing our new room I just haven't had time. I didn't want to leave my fiance painting to go run 7 miles 2 weekends ago and this this weekend it was moving in the furniture and putting it all together and a massive cleaning on the bathroom (trust me hours of required cleaning - no way would I have stepped barefoot and naked into the shower otherwise!) In the last 2 weeks I have run 3 miles! Oops!

Today I am hoping back on that horse! I am going to go run 3 miles at lunch whether I like it or not AND I signed up for WeightWatcheres.com today. I haven't done it in years but why not - I need something new and maybe this will work. I've got 3 months till our wedding and I need to get into shape and look 'smokin good'!! haha

Okay here's to getting back onto track.

Need to Work Fast!

It's a wet, rainy Wednesday and I am wishin with everything I am that I was still in bed sleeping! I haven't been sleeping well lately. I don't know if it's because I am back home and my body is trying so hard to relax but my mind is racing with all the things I have to do or what but I am having a hard time falling asleep and then sleeping well once I am asleep. Tonight I am going to be early and taking 2 sleeping pills - I just don't care I have got to get sleep so I don't get sick. With as much as I was just gone and this nasty sickness going around I need to really take care of myself.

Yesterday I ran during my lunch break and it was the worst run I have had almost ever! My legs almost immediately started cramping up. I'm not sure if it was because it was so damn hot and humid outside, if I was dehydrated or if I was just tired and still had lactic acid in my legs from my 5 miler on Sunday. I think it might have been a combo of all of the above honestly. I stopped and stretched my calves around 1.5 miles and then shy of 2 I had to walk and the rest of the last mile was on and off running but I would say mostly walking. I just couldn't do it. It actually hurt to run. My right quad and hip and my left calf were all on fire and it really didn't feel pleasant, so I decided to listen to my body and walk.

Today my legs are still tight and heavy and I am sooo very tired. I am deciding to listen to my body, something I need to get better at taking steps here. My lunch workout will be 10-15 moderate minutes on the bike to loosen up my legs and then 10-15 of stretching to see if I can knock out some of this crap built up that I am feeling. I am suppose to run 4 today and 3 on Thursday, but i'm just going to push it back a day. It isn't going to kill me. :)

As for the scale, I decided to just get on it and see what it said this morning - 167.8lbs. I got some work to do and FAST! Back to trying to be as strict as possible with the food I put into my mouth. I guess no more eating a rather large wedge of Smoked Gouda cheese like I did last night - oops! Soo freakin good though :)

Here's to a hump day and hoping the slope on the way down is nicer than the way up this week!

Back Home

Talk about a LONG last 2 weeks! I am finally home and the "normal" routine starts back today. I had yesterday off so today is my Monday. I'm not looking forward to the 174 new emails in my box an that doesn't count the ones that I've scanned through while being gone and need to go back and answer or categorize. It will be a long day there is no doubt.

One thing I will make time for is my run - 3 miles today. Today marks week 3 of training. On Sunday I ran 5 miles, I was so proud of myself. I was suppose to run it on Saturday but with traveling all day I decided to skip it and make-it-up on Sunday. I'm glad I did too because I felt so much better afterwards. I averaged 9.44/mile. WHOOP! Getting on down there. I have a 5K this Sunday where I am hoping to go under 29 minutes so I can be seated higher than I already am for the Gate River Run in March.  That's 9 minute miles - I think that is doable if I push myself just a little bit. All I can do is try!

Also today is back to really being on my diet. I was pretty good but at the same time completely bad while I was gone for the last 2 weeks. I was scared to get onto the scale this morning so I didn't. However, I hope I am about the same as that was the goal. With running I was hoping to do enough so that I didn't gain any weight. The only problem with that is that I don't exactly know what I was before I left, just a good guess.

I know I am like many right now during the holidays - just holding on and trying to not gain. It's such a hard time with yummy holiday foods, travel and breaks in your normal routine. I think all we can do is try to stick to the plan and not get mad at ourselves if we hit a few bumps. It's bound to happen during this time so please don't make it worse by getting down on yourself. OK I might have been talking to myself right there but I think it's also valid for a few of you out there too! ;)

Well here is to a new day and one I hope isn't too crazy.

I HATE Treadmills!

Hello all from Seattle! I have had a great trip thus far - things have been going smoothly and I have had happy colleagues with the new booth at the trade show so I am a happy camper.

As for working out I am soooooo proud of myself. Thus far I am 3 for 3 days for working out following my training program. Tuesday and Wednesday I got on the treadmill here at the hotel and did my 3 miles. In fact on Tuesday all the treadmills were full so I started on the elliptical for 1/2 mile and then switched over.  Definitely proud that I didn't let not having a treadmill right away bother me.

Then this morning I had a great run outside! Yes outside in Seattle but it wasn't that bad. I was talking to a guy I know that plans the whole trade show and he told me there is this great path by the water that is flat, paved and well lit. He offered to meet me at my hotel at 6:15am and we could run together. PERFECT and yes I actually woke up early can you believe it? We walked down and ended up running 3.5 miles and it was nice too. The hardest part was walking back up the hills to my hotel. Wow straight up! haha

This weekend is 4 miles which will be my longest run in quite some time but I am ready, even if it will be on a treadmill - did I mention I HATE treadmills?! Oh well I am still getting it done. :)

Enjoy you day!!

Happy Turkey Day!

Good Morning! It's Thanksgiving Eve and I am excited. It will be a bit different for me this year since I am spending it with John's family - however it's just his dad, sister and 1 brother. He won't be there as he has to work on Friday; the markets are open. His mom also won't be there since she is in Wisconsin with her 94 year old dad who isn't doing to great. (thoughts and prayers please!) I've never spent Thanksgiving with someone else before. I've been to families' houses but my family was there too. Granted they are family to me too now but it will definitely be a tad bit different. I'm looking forward to it.

Tomorrow morning at 7am I am running a 6K. It was suppose to be me, John's dad and brother doing the 6K and John's mom ans sister doing the 1/2 marathon. Well it looks like it might just be me doing the 6K by myself. However a good friend of mine whose family lives here in Jacksonville is coming home for the holiday and running it so maybe I'll meet up with her. :) I am looking forward to a race. I have another one on December 16th where I am going to a personal best and to go under 29 minutes to make the next bracket up on the qualifying heats at the Gate River Run in March. I already have the last heat, but I think it would be cool to move up. My sister has the heat above the one I'm going for where you have to be under 27 minutes. I don't think that's possible for me, but at the same time I never shut a door on goals. :)

After the run I'm headed over to a bar in Neptune Beach called Pete's Bar (it's been open since 1933 and the 1st bar in Duval county to receive a liquor license after Prohibition) . I don't normally go there because it's one of those places you can smoke and you walk out smelling like an ash tray. However on Thanksgiving they have a permit to close the street by them and bring the party outside. It's just a huge "block party" and I figure why not go enjoy something that is tradition in the area and something people fly into town for!

For now though just a few more hours at work and then it's turkey time! Also I won't be back to my cube for 2.5 weeks! Gone for 2 weeks with work but hopefully it won't be too bad. Here's to hoping.

Enjoy your Turkey Day Everyone!

"Scary" Time of the Year

Okay whose nervous about the holidays?! Always a "scary" time of the year for those watching the number on the scale. This year it's going to be a rough one with travel:

11/22 --> Thanksgiving
11/25 - 12/8 --> Traveling for work (that's 13 days of eating out, 13 days of eating foods that I can't get back home - Seattle and New Orleans)
12/24 --> Nochebuena (Spanish celebrate Christmas Eve with a big celebration and yummy, oh so yummy foods!)
12/25 --> Christmas

My saving grace I think is going to be my 1/2 Marathon training. It starts Nov 26 (well really 11/27 as Mondays are rest days). I've been getting ready for it too so that is helping as well. I'm even running at 6K on Thanksgiving Day to help "allow me to eat lots of yummy food!". lol!

I've had a few friends that think I am crazy for doing this while planning a wedding but to be honest this is what I need to keep me focused and working out. Without something like this I would be struggling even more than I am right now. I did however run a 3.3 miler yesterday and it felt great. YAY! :)

Well here's to a short week and it going well!

BTW - Over the next 3 weeks (this week included) my posts will be random with the Holiday and being out of town for work. I will do my best to post a frequently as I can. Also for the last week of the month I'll be in Seattle so I will be way behind time wise so the time they will be posted will be off a bit. Bare with me and I will do my best to keep everyone in the loop! :)

Getting back up there

Today's my Monday since I was on vacation yesterday. I have LOTS to do today and this week is going to be CRAZY but I am determined to get my running in. Today I am going to go at 11 instead of 11:30/12 because on my way home yesterday a little rock came up from a truck in front of me and put a little star crack in my window shield and someone is coming between 12-5 to fix it. I am sure it will be closer to 5 but still you know how it goes. If I'm not available they will come then.

Thursday hopefully I will get to run with my sister and then this weekend I've got 3.25 miles to go! I'm slowly getting back up there.

This weekend I ran my 2.75 miles Saturday morning. Holy elevation - talk about making a big difference. Also the little hills, definitely huffin and puffin but I got through it without stopping - well once but that was because my show lace came untied.

Well here's to a good week! Hope yours is too :)

Discovered Something Again

One more day and I get to see my fiance! I hate that I don't get to see him every day, but hopefully that will change soon in our future. We have just over 5 months till our wedding and I pray that before that happens we are living together! It's funny how the week that I get to see him always feels like it goes by so slow. I wish it was the other way around.

I have a few friends that don't live with their spouse or boyfriend too and what I have discovered is 2 things:

1.) Each couple that works loves each other with no limits and no boundaries. They trust each other to the fullest and can't image their lives without the other person so they make it work regardless!

2.) They keep busy and cling onto small joys in their lives, enjoying those moments and using those moments to take their mind off that they miss their love deeply.

The 1st one is my and my fiance completely. I mean you don't ask someone to marry you when you are living in 2 different cities if you don't love them and know that it's going to work. lol

The 2nd one, well I am trying to make that running again. The beginning of this year when I was training for my 15K, running was doing that for me. It was an escape, a way to forget that I lived apart from my love and just enjoy myself. It was something I was finding joy in and a new challenge that I had embraced and looked forward to.

I realized that yesterday again on my run. I finished and was very happy and for a few minutes all I could think about was my run; how good it felt, how happy I was that my legs were coming back quickly, how I could challenge myself again. I had a smile on my face all day because of it.

I remembered what it was like to soak in the pleasure from an accomplishment, from the joy of something in my life certainly that I had complete control over. This is what I have decided to focus on with my running. Not that it will help me accomplish - Operation Sexy & Healthy Bride, because ultimately it will. But focus on the joy, on the moments when I am running and the wind is blowing through my hair, the sun is shine down on me and I am just free running.

A change in attitude might just do the trick, it might just get me excited about running again and not have to be faking it anymore!

Run Meghan Run

I was so happy with today's run that I thought it deserved it's own blog post and the 2nd one for today. I just couldn't wait till tomorrow to talk about it!

I was excited about running this morning when I got to work but as the morning went on it became a bit lack luster. By 11:30 when I typically go I was elbow deep in trying to get something done for a colleague and then another one asked me to show her something right after. By noon my stomach was growling at me and all I wanted to do was feed it. Finally at 12:25 I was done and it took everything I had to go run, I was so hungry and just wanted to eat. I popped 2 Bloks (if you've never tried these, it's basically a chewy, gummy GU) to put some fast energy into my system since I was hungry and probably in need of some fuel to run.

I headed out and didn't have the greatest of attitudes I will admit. I wanted to eat! lol! The fat girl was yelling at me but I let the skinny girl win and ran instead. YAY me! :) I started running and it felt okay, nothing that great. The 1st mile I was 10:09, that's right on what I have been running so okay bad attitude and all and I'm still doing well. That's when the competitor in me kicked in. Normally I fall to around 10:30-40 for the 2nd mile so I had a thought, I wonder if I can do a 10:20 or faster for the 2nd mile? So I let that thought take over my mind and the negative thoughts went away. I felt myself run taller, run more with my legs and not full body and brought my hips into it more. I hit the 2nd mile and I was 10:09 again!!! I couldn't believe it. That was the fastest 2 miles since I started back; in fact that was what I was running when I was in shape - 9:30-10:15 minute miles in training. 

I then thought to myself, what can I do for the last 1/2 mile? I started smiling and threw it back 1 more gear and finished the 2.5 miles I needed to run strong. When my Nike+ hit 2.5 miles I had done that last 1/2 mile in 4:48! That's 9:36 pace, WHOOP! 

I really couldn't believe how fast I am getting my legs back. It was definitely rocky and hurt getting back into it but at the 4th week back and doing this well I am looking forward more and more to what I can do training for this 1/2 marathon. It's not that fast yet but it's feeling good which is what I am liking.

By the way I signed up for 2 races this year already: a 6K (3.72823 miles) on Thanksgiving with my fiance's family and a 5K (3.12 miles) on December 16th. Then in 2013 I have the 1/2 Marathon on February 17th that I am already signed up for and I still need to register for the 15K on March 9th; the same one I did last year for the 1st time. I think I'll probably do 1 more before my wedding too, just to keep me running and in shape for the big day! :) 

Caught Up

It's hump day and the day after elections. Regardless of the outcome I am happy the commercials and campaigning are done!!! Hopefully no more negative ads back to back and all the time. It's hard to stay positive when you see so much negative.

Anyway, I have been quiet not because things slipped or have been bad but because things have been crazy, busy and just down right scary.

Sunday late after noon Wrigley my Golden Retriever decided to get into some Ant Killer. The part that scared me was that I didn't really realize it until my sister and I came home from a 2.5 mile run around 5:30 and noticed his entire side of his head, neck and chest were soaked. He had laid in a puddle of drool and soaked himself. We called the poison control and found out that Ant Killer (that active ingredient is Deltamethrin) is considered a low-toxin, which means it won't kill you or do any damage but it will make you very sick and it just has to pass through your body. There isn't an antidote so basically your body just has to process it and get rid it unfortunately and they say to keep hydrated to speed up the process. They will pump your stomach if you ingest too much so it is less for your body to process but that's about it. So poison control told me to give him a bath to make sure there wasn't any additional residue on his fur so he wouldn't accidentally lick it and start the process over and to call the ER vet. So I did both and the ER vet said the same thing and told me I had to keep him hydrated or to bring him in in the morning for an IV bag. He told me a turkey baster would work well - lol. We nursed poor Wrigley back to health, I stayed home from work and worked from home on Monday and I am happy to report he is back to his goofy, fun loving self again!

Monday I worked from home but was very busy with work and taking care of Wrigley that I didn't have time for a blog. Yesterday I was out in the warehouse packing all day for a trade show and was only at my computer for about 20 minutes in the morning checking my emails. Like I said busy as heck!

I have been pretty good with food lately. Making good choices and eating healthy. Okay my sister made homemade fudge and brought me a bit on Sunday and it was gone last night but come on, homemade fudge!!! lol! I've been making this awesome salad for dinner lately that I have been enjoying and grilling a lot which typically means I am eating healthy. I have been running even though I have "skipped" the day I am suppose to. On Saturday I was suppose to run 2.5 but I was having a lazy day and didn't but I did it on Sunday. Then yesterday I was suppose to run 2.5 again, but being on my feet all day and I was dead tired (not sleeping Sunday night was catching up to me) I decided to skip running yesterday and run at lunch today instead. Hey I am still saying on track and getting it in so I can't complain too much. I do though need to get back to doing my exercises again. I haven't been to good about it in the last week and a half.

Well now you are all caught up and today I am determined to make a good day! Smiles on and actually looking forward to my run! :)

BTHO the Gators!

It's officially November and the holidays have begun! Halloween went really well - only 6 mini flavored tootsie rolls - GO ME! Wrigley and I enjoyed sitting outside by the fire a lot! We might have to sit in our backyard more because that was relaxing!

Yesterday I got my 1st Black Friday email! Can you believe it. Thanksgiving was 3 weeks away from yesterday and Black Friday is 3 weeks from today! Hard to believe. That's 1 of 2 days a year I throw the diet to the window completely and just eat all the yummy foods. I can't wait. It also means that I start 1/2 marathon training the week after Thanksgiving. Here goes nothing.

As for right now I have been pretty good. Tuesday I didn't run because it was really cold and windy still and I had to crave pumpkins. So Wednesday I ran at lunch. I almost didn't because we had a lot to do but when everyone else went to lunch I decided you know what I am too, but running. I ended up running 2.5 miles when I was only suppose to run 2. Yay me! It felt really good too. Then yesterday I was suppose to run 2 miles but after Wednesday I upped all my runs a bit since I'm feeling good and it just prepares me more for 1/2 marathon training. Anyway, so yesterday I took my car to the Honda dealership so they could read the SRS light that came on on Wednesday. I am headed to Gainesville today to watch my Aggies BTHO some Gators so I wanted to make sure it wasn't something like the airbag. He said it would take about 4 minutes so I asked him if I could leave my bad under his desk so I could go for a run. I went into the bathroom and changed and off I went for my 2 miles. I got back and he said he had told everyone my story because he had never seen anyone do that, be that productive while waiting for their car. Yay me again! I turned out my front mounting bracket and a valve gasket had broken so I had to get those replaced and had to wait a bit longer but that was okay, I got my run in!

Today will be nuts - work till 12, run to the Vet on Southside (where I use to live and in the wrong direction from where I live now) to get Wrigley's meds that I was suppose to get last night but the car took longer than expected, and then to the other side of the beach to pick up my contacts, back home to drop everything off, hopefully shove something down my throat and then go pick up my fiance's little sister who is going with me to Gainesville all by 1:30-1:45. WHEW! It's all to cheer my Aggies on! Gig 'Em Ags!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!


***BTW the spell check came on for Gainesville and one of the options was Knoxville (I kid you not)! LOVE IT! Go Vols!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! 

Can you believe there are only 61 days left in 2012 after today?! Times flies let me tell you. That means only 163 days left till our wedding which is also hard to believe. It will be here before we know it.

Well today is Halloween and that is what I am focusing on now. Today is every kids favorite holiday probably next to Christmas because today is basically national candy day.. lol! I don't know about you but it has been hard to walk by all  the candy everywhere, at every store. I have been good though and I am really proud of myself. NO candy bought except my bag to candy to hand out to kids. I even resisted the pumpkins (like the candy corn but ever better!) this year which is amazing - they are my favorite!

About a week and half ago I went to Sam's Club and bought my giant bag of candy to give out today. I originally picked up the bag with Kit Kats, Reese Cups, Hersey Bars, Almond Joys - I HAD to put it down. I couldn't buy a bag of candy to give out of all my favorites, I would end up eating half of it. Next I picked up the Wonka Assorted Bag - again had to put that down because there were lots of yummy treats in that too. Finally the last bag was tootsie rolls, Dots, and other random candy - this was my bag! This was the candy that I can take or leave, I might have a piece or 2 but that would be it. No it's probably not kids favorite candies as they aren't mine, but you know what it's free candy for them so I'm going with the candy that isn't going to add pounds to my waste. :)

I'm such an old person when it comes to Halloween. I would rather sit at home all by myself  and hand out candy all night long than get dressed up and go out. I love seeing all the little kids in their costumes. My favorite out of all the years that I have been doing this was a few years back when Walle came out and this little boy's parents made him a homemade Walle Costume and all he kept saying was "I'm Walle! I'm Walle!" So this year I am actually going to sit out at the end of my drive way with a fire pit since it's chilly and my 2 pumpkins I craved all bundled up handing out candy. You see my driveway is long, our house sits back far and it's really dark so I figure I will get to see my kids and hand out more candy by sitting at the end of the driveway and hand out candy. I'll be looking for the next Walle this year! :)

The real test will be tomorrow though when all the left over candy shows up at work - I think I might start a diet tomorrow just to MAKE myself NOT eat it! lol!

Hope you have an awesome Halloween! 

(The one on the left will be puking it's insides tonight!)

Ouchie Abs

It's finally Friday - YIPPIE!

My abs hurt soo much today. My sister and I worked out together last night - ran 1.6 miles and then did the exercises I posted on yesterday's blog ("Fat Girl" Strikes Again"). Ouchie! I coughed last night and then bent over and held my stomach, that kind of pain. But it's a good pain, it's the pain of my body is getting back there. Still have a ways to go, but every little pain is jut one step closer.

Yesterday though on the run the run I felt like crap. Not because I was sore or something but because I had pizza and a lot of it for lunch. I think it was more the large amount that hurt me. I was still full, well maybe not full but I wasn't hungry and normally I am at 5:30-6pm. Then it wasn't with the greatest of foods so it just made me feel sluggish! Ugg! I made it through though. I have got to be better. At dinner we had left overs and I limited myself to just 2 pieces and salad; which is what I should have done at lunch. It's all about moderation. (By the way it's a local place so the pieces aren't the huge pieces like say Papa Johns).

That's definitely my issue - portion control and moderation. I got much better about it when I was working out at the beginning of the year, I just have fallen off more than one horse and this is one that I need to climb back on. I'm getting better over the last 2ish weeks. I know it's not a long time but everyone has to start someone where to a long time right?!

This weekend my fiance will be in town. On Saturday is the Florida/Georgia game - I could care less but he is a huge Florida fan (the 1 thing I dislike about him - lol - love you babe!) so I thought it would be fun to have his family (and my sister) over for dinner afterwards. I am making carnitas for the 1st time (a tad nervous but excited too) for carnitas tacos and I will make Cuban Black Beans too. Probably not the healthiest meal in the world but it will be a test of moderation again for me. I know I can do it.

Oh ya I have to run 2 miles on Saturday. I told my fiance he has to make sure I do it, I can't skip it! He might ride his bike with me. That would be nice. Well here is the exercises for this weekend:

Friday:                                          Saturday:                                Sunday:
60 Jumping Jacks                          50 Jumping Jacks                     45 Jumping Jacks
40 Crunches                                  20 Squats                                15 Squats
10 Sit-Ups                                     100 Russian Twists                   5 Squat Jumps        
10 Tricep Dips                               5 Kneeling Push-Ups                 50 Russina Twists
20 Side Lunges (each leg)              1 Minute Downward Dog            30 Seconds Plank
15 Incline Push-Ups                       15 Jack Knife Sit-Ups               10 Standing Calf Raises
10 Oblique Crunches (each side)    10 Lunges (each leg)                  5 Kneeling Push-Ups  
30 Butt Kickers                             10 Side Lunges (each leg)          30 Seconds Superman
5 Squat Jumps                               20 Bird-Dogs                            10 Lunges (each leg)        
15 Jack-Knife Sit-Ups                     20 Inner Thigh Lifts (each leg)     40 Crunches

"Fat Girl" Strikes Again

Anyone else ready for the weekend like I am?! I always look forward to the weekends I get to spend with my fiance. I know another one!! This month has been amazing because I have seen him so much. No complaining at all on my end! :)

So yesterday my "Fat Girl" took over and I completely forgot about my exercises! I'm serious, it wasn't a convenient forget, it was a truly genuine forgetful moment. On the way home I stopped at a church pumpkin patch and got a pumpkin (probably got robbed because I paid $16 for my fairly large pumpkin, but I would rather give my money to someone local than the grocery store!) . Watching the little kids running around, parents taking pictures and couples taking pictures with the pumpkins I got distracted. I was wishing my fiance was with me.

Then I got home and Wrigley and I started our walk. We walked again for an hour (64 minutes to be exact) and just over 3 miles. It was great and I definitely think it's Wrigley's favorite thing in the world. He knows our path now it so funny because he just turns and leads. On the way back up the beach I was talking to my sister and a crotchety old woman starts yelling at me that my dog is suppose to be on a leash. Wrigley had been soo good ALL night on the beach not going up to other dogs and people unless they say come play or whatever until cranky pants lady - he goes running towards her white dog. Thanks buddy! I was a bit discombobulated with being on the phone, trying to get Wrigley and attempting to ignore this angry lady.

On our way back home I realized how hungry I was, I was starving! I started thinking about what I needed to do to fix dinner - steam potatoes and broccoli, heat up the left over grilled pork chop, mince up some garlic, chop of some parsley and cut a lime. My mouth was salivating and the "Fat Girl" took over and nothing but food was on my mind.

I was suppose to come home and do my exercises for the day. OOPS! I walked in the door, stuck a pot on the stove to start boiling and started halving potatoes and cutting put broccoli. Next thing I knew I was in my room in my chair eating dinner. After I finished and was watching TV I realized "OMG I completely forgot to do my exercises!" LOL! "Fat Girl" struck again and I just laughed it off and got up and started hanging my clean clothes.

Oh well I can't get mad. Today is a new day and I go and run with my sister after work and then off to my friend's house for some wine and girls time! Here's today's exercises, so far they look like the hardest day thus far (get ready Charlene!):

100 Jumping Jacks
20 Vertical Leg Crunches
30 Crunches
20 Squats
20 Wall Push-Ups (these hurt my elbow last time so I might do regular ones but only 10)
50 Russian Twists
15 Second Side Plank (each side)
10 Lung Split Jumps
5 Jump Squats
40 High Knees