Hi friends!
I totally forgot. I'm starting a beginning running group on Wednesday nights in the District at 7pm.
For now, you need to be a member of the Y, just because it's too hot to run outside, so we're using that track. When it gets cool enough, anyone can feel free to join us. However, my 7pm advanced running group (basically, you're joining me for a 5-6 mile run on Thursday nights) is open to any and all. Just shoot me a comment if you're interested!
Monday, July 26, 2010
False Starts
It is so hard to get started back on a routine, isn't it?
I did a lot of great planning this weekend (see last post). I went to the grocery and did a power sweep through the store--bought lots of fresh veggies, stuff for healthy lunches, and good filling snacks. I made a running plan that I'm comfortable with...then last night, the sneaky Sunday night time warp happened.
It's that weird time vortex where one second, it's 9:30 and you're excited that you're going to go to bed before 11, then something happens (I called my mom because I thought I had SO much time to kill before 10:30...) then I looked up at it was 10:30. No big deal, takes me 10 minutes to get ready for bed...I'd still make my mark of before 11.
I was certainly IN bed before 11, but somehow I wasted like 2 hours on the internets and all of a sudden, past midnight.
I knew then that my 6:30 gym time was just not gonna happen. Didn't help that one of the cats is on steroids, and they make him thirsty...and because of course he's the special one and of course, he only drinks water out of the running faucet...so I was woken up twice through the night because he was thirsty. Poor kitty.
So, my gym time didn't happen this morning. It's okay because, unlike most of my days, I actually have time for the gym tonight.
20 minutes on the dreadmill, then 20-30 minutes of weights.
I did a few good things though--my bodybugg subscription recently expired, so I renewed it for 6 months. I'm getting back on this daily, even though I need to be careful of obsessively calorie counting, because with training, I need to keep an eye on my intake and on food trends that might show up in my training/recovery.
I also packed a healthy lunch last night (turkey breast, pita sandwich, carrots, and a beautiful peach from the market) that was ready to go when I woke up late this morning (typical.) It seriously takes 5 minutes to make lunch the night before, I need to make a commitment to just do this.
The thing I don't want to do? Get on the scale.
It's such a headgame because I recognize I've gained a little weight back (I'd guess about 5 pounds), but somehow, I feel like if I don't step on that scale it won't be true? Go figure.
I should take my own advice: "don't obsess on the number because it's one of the least accurate representation of how healthy you are when you're a fairly healthy weight to begin with...and because it can always always change...it just takes time."
So here's to taking time...
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Plans plans plans
Quick update...plans for the week!
Food:
Food:
Monday:
- Breakfast: Cereal, peach
- Snack: Yogurt
- Lunch: Amy’s meal, carrots, 100 cal pack
- Snack: Banana
- Dinner: Big salad, chicken
Tuesday:
- Breakfast: Cereal, peach
- Snack: Yogurt
- Lunch: Salad, cheese, triscuits, 100 cal pack
- Snack: Popcorn
- Dinner: “grilled” veggies, chicken, rice
Wednesday:
- Breakfast: Cereal, applesauce
- Snack: Yogurt
- Lunch: “grilled veggies” and rice leftovers, 100 cal pack
- Snack: Popcorn
- Dinner: Pita thingys
Thursday:
- Breakfast: Cereal, banana
- Snack: Yogurt
- Lunch: Pita, 100 cal pack
- Snack: Veggies
- Dinner: Whatever will wants
wiWill comes into town on Thursday night, hence the wild card.
Working out:
Monday: 20 minute run, 20-30 minute full body weights
Tuesday: Step
Wednesday: 40-50 minute run (my beginning runner's group will meet for this first time this night, so I'll likely have a very light workout here)
RThursday: 40-50 minute run
Friday: Off
Saturday: 8 mile run
Sunday: 20-20-20
More later!
as
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Weekend of Car Problems
Hello from hot and humid DC...I had intended to spend this Saturday morning getting up early and getting out for my first long run...but in case you weren't aware, we're in the middle of a sever heat wave. It literally says on the weather map "oppressive" across the DC area. I didn't even know that was a category...
Anyway, it doesn't matter anyway because I had to take the car to the dealership at 7:30 for repairs (sigh. $$$$$) and I'm still there right now. It's only been an hour, but it feels like some sort of time warp. And place warp.
I'm not kidding, the guy to my right is drawing some sort of psychadelic butterfly woman with a rainbow background. Not like doodling, either, like full on massive sheet of paper with pastels. Sooner I can go home, the better. There are at least three other people in the room with me who are conversing with the tv. Not in a crazy kind of way, but in the way that they're literally having a conversation with the today show. Example: TV: "If you have an allergy to wheat gluten...it can cause *list symptoms" Person: Mmmmmhmm, sure nuff!
I'm in a real conundrum. I took about a week off of working out. Mostly because this week was hell on wheels at work. Don't get me wrong, unlike my last job, I actually enjoy my work and so it hasn't been horrible, but it's taken a toll on my exercise and sleep time.
But that's not the conundrum. The real reason I've taken a week off is because I really hate running on a treadmill. Really hate it, but it's been too hot to go outside unless I'm up really early, and I've been too tired to do that.
I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to motivate myself to get up and get out there. I have a marathon AND a Ragnar relay breathing down my neck, so I really don't have a negotiable way out.
Since Chadd's out of town this weekend, I have plenty of time to plan. What do I do well? I plan.
If I ever get to leave the dealership, then I'm going to go home and after some fun time with my weightloss buddy, start doing some planning. I'm going to come up with my meal plans again, I always prefer to do that because it takes all the last minute what to eat guess work out of my nights, especially when making a quesadilla sounds like the only option.
I'm also going to brainstorm things to do instead of running ... maybe it's that I have to go and spend an hour on the bike or cross trainer (x-train), maybe it's that I go swimming at the Y (in this heat? yes please...), or a walk. It's still hot outside, but I could probably manage walking (knowing that I'll likely jog)
So. That was written a while ago, in between then and now, I stopped by the diner next door for food, then walked the mile to Ikea to look for a new solution for our desk (we're getting rid of it, since we never use it...) but we need something to put all the stuff in that was in the desk.
Can I just tell you....it's ridiculously hot outside. I literally was sweating through my shirt walking the mile back from Ikea. I'm sure I looked like a crazy homeless person, walking down the highway, but whatever, better than sitting here in the mechanic's...which is playing some terrible 3-d animated kid's show about dogs that race car.
Okay. Thank God. I'm writing this at 10:45 at night...the car is almost repaired (a long story that isn't worth getting into) and my weightloss buddy and I had a great day at Joann fabrics, crafting, eating pizza, and chatting.
Hopefully I'll actually get my food/workout plans together tomorrow. I'll share them soon, whether it's tomorrow or the day after...or the day after that!
Anyway, it doesn't matter anyway because I had to take the car to the dealership at 7:30 for repairs (sigh. $$$$$) and I'm still there right now. It's only been an hour, but it feels like some sort of time warp. And place warp.
I'm not kidding, the guy to my right is drawing some sort of psychadelic butterfly woman with a rainbow background. Not like doodling, either, like full on massive sheet of paper with pastels. Sooner I can go home, the better. There are at least three other people in the room with me who are conversing with the tv. Not in a crazy kind of way, but in the way that they're literally having a conversation with the today show. Example: TV: "If you have an allergy to wheat gluten...it can cause *list symptoms" Person: Mmmmmhmm, sure nuff!
I'm in a real conundrum. I took about a week off of working out. Mostly because this week was hell on wheels at work. Don't get me wrong, unlike my last job, I actually enjoy my work and so it hasn't been horrible, but it's taken a toll on my exercise and sleep time.
But that's not the conundrum. The real reason I've taken a week off is because I really hate running on a treadmill. Really hate it, but it's been too hot to go outside unless I'm up really early, and I've been too tired to do that.
I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to motivate myself to get up and get out there. I have a marathon AND a Ragnar relay breathing down my neck, so I really don't have a negotiable way out.
Since Chadd's out of town this weekend, I have plenty of time to plan. What do I do well? I plan.
If I ever get to leave the dealership, then I'm going to go home and after some fun time with my weightloss buddy, start doing some planning. I'm going to come up with my meal plans again, I always prefer to do that because it takes all the last minute what to eat guess work out of my nights, especially when making a quesadilla sounds like the only option.
I'm also going to brainstorm things to do instead of running ... maybe it's that I have to go and spend an hour on the bike or cross trainer (x-train), maybe it's that I go swimming at the Y (in this heat? yes please...), or a walk. It's still hot outside, but I could probably manage walking (knowing that I'll likely jog)
So. That was written a while ago, in between then and now, I stopped by the diner next door for food, then walked the mile to Ikea to look for a new solution for our desk (we're getting rid of it, since we never use it...) but we need something to put all the stuff in that was in the desk.
Can I just tell you....it's ridiculously hot outside. I literally was sweating through my shirt walking the mile back from Ikea. I'm sure I looked like a crazy homeless person, walking down the highway, but whatever, better than sitting here in the mechanic's...which is playing some terrible 3-d animated kid's show about dogs that race car.
Okay. Thank God. I'm writing this at 10:45 at night...the car is almost repaired (a long story that isn't worth getting into) and my weightloss buddy and I had a great day at Joann fabrics, crafting, eating pizza, and chatting.
Hopefully I'll actually get my food/workout plans together tomorrow. I'll share them soon, whether it's tomorrow or the day after...or the day after that!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Back, like for realz
Okay. This time, I swear, I really am back. Thanks, Anna for the push!
Things have been busy at work (what's new?) but still great. Fitness has actually maintained its place in my life with teaching so much, training with my amazing trainer for 2 months, and trying to spend as much time with K (especially at the gym) as possible before she leaves for Boston this week (sad!)
I recently got some irritating news regarding my ability to workout, though.
In December, I noticed a lump a little lower than my left hipbone. Don't freak, it's not a big deal. At first, I thought it was a muscular thing--just something from running, etc. It would go away if I pushed on it...knot in my muscle, I figured.
Turns out, it's a hernia. Likely congenital--so I was born with it--and easily repaired. Since it's not painful or pressurized, that's good news...but because of the marathon coming up, I don't have time for recovery...until after. My surgeon told me I can't teach BodyPump until after I have the surgery and recover. I can lift upper body OR lower body, but no compound movements with very heavy weights--think of all those "oh I got a hernia by lifting a heavy box incorrectly."
So...there.
Epic suck.
The good news, however, is that I will now have time for running...which is especially important, because in even better news, I have a full team for the Ragnar Relay! 12 people, most of us strangers, embarking on a 193 mile relay race over the course of two days. I cannot wait.
I also have the Marine Corps rapidly approaching (end of October)...so I suppose it's good that I now have more time to run.
I found my old Jeff Galloway marathon book, which is a pretty good resource, so, that starts this week and since Chadd's out of town this coming weekend, I'll start my long runs as well.
Having to change a fitness routine that was working so well for me is epicly frustrating...I'm sure running will keep me in shape, but I really don't like having to play gentle.
So...I'm getting back on wearing my BodyBugg every day (I've been doing every other week) and keeping a better monitor on my food intake. No use letting everything slide for a stupid hernia...just need to be more flexible.
So. There's that. I promise to post every day, even if it's just a "so today I ran 5 miles and now I'm tired. The end."
Thanks to my loyal readers (especially Anna!)
Things have been busy at work (what's new?) but still great. Fitness has actually maintained its place in my life with teaching so much, training with my amazing trainer for 2 months, and trying to spend as much time with K (especially at the gym) as possible before she leaves for Boston this week (sad!)
I recently got some irritating news regarding my ability to workout, though.
In December, I noticed a lump a little lower than my left hipbone. Don't freak, it's not a big deal. At first, I thought it was a muscular thing--just something from running, etc. It would go away if I pushed on it...knot in my muscle, I figured.
Turns out, it's a hernia. Likely congenital--so I was born with it--and easily repaired. Since it's not painful or pressurized, that's good news...but because of the marathon coming up, I don't have time for recovery...until after. My surgeon told me I can't teach BodyPump until after I have the surgery and recover. I can lift upper body OR lower body, but no compound movements with very heavy weights--think of all those "oh I got a hernia by lifting a heavy box incorrectly."
So...there.
Epic suck.
The good news, however, is that I will now have time for running...which is especially important, because in even better news, I have a full team for the Ragnar Relay! 12 people, most of us strangers, embarking on a 193 mile relay race over the course of two days. I cannot wait.
I also have the Marine Corps rapidly approaching (end of October)...so I suppose it's good that I now have more time to run.
I found my old Jeff Galloway marathon book, which is a pretty good resource, so, that starts this week and since Chadd's out of town this coming weekend, I'll start my long runs as well.
Having to change a fitness routine that was working so well for me is epicly frustrating...I'm sure running will keep me in shape, but I really don't like having to play gentle.
So...I'm getting back on wearing my BodyBugg every day (I've been doing every other week) and keeping a better monitor on my food intake. No use letting everything slide for a stupid hernia...just need to be more flexible.
So. There's that. I promise to post every day, even if it's just a "so today I ran 5 miles and now I'm tired. The end."
Thanks to my loyal readers (especially Anna!)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Update! I AM alive!
First of all. I am so so so sorry.
I know I've been neglecting the blog for about a month. It's been busy here, to say the least. I love my new job and have done a fairly decent job of staying healthy and keeping my work outs in line instead of ditching them like I did with my last job when things got busy.
I have a status update on my own fitness journey:
- I haven't stepped on the scale in over a month (mostly at the recommendation of my dietician who agrees with me and suggested I live by my own words that weight is the least accurate representation of your health)
- I fit into a size 2 levi jeans (ah!)
- I feel fantastic enough to not worry about the actual number on the scale
- Chadd and I are going to the beach with his family at the end of July (which has inspired me to whip my butt back into shape eating right)
I'm at that magical point in my life where I am 95% confident with how I look. I am still struggling (as I think I always will) with looking like a hard body runner's world model...because that's just not how it ever will be. I will always have a little softness because, well, women are supposed to. That's just how we're built.
Better milestones are shaving time off my races, having better endurance, and being able to eat an extra cheeseburger per week.
I concluded my sessions with my dietician the other week. She showed me how far we'd come--from me obsessively logging calories and having honest to goodness bad moods over going a few calories over my allotted calorie intake, measuring progress really only by weight loss, etc. I feel like I graduated from the school of learning to eat better. Now, I just need to enroll in the school of better time management.
I'm finding myself continuing to eat well, but I'm doing it by walking across the street to get a lean veggie curry dish from the Thai restaurant, or stopping by trader joe's for a salad, when I really need to be saving the money and just making food at home.
Currently, to keep myself at a place where I am comfortable/happy/confident, I need to do the following:
- 1 hour session with my personal trainer on Monday (extremely painful, extremely beneficial)
- 1 hour yoga on Tuesday morning, teach 1 hour step class on Tuesdays
- 1 hour workout on my own (usually running) or rest Wednesday
- 1 hour Body Pump class on Thursday
- Rest on Friday
- 1 hour Body Pump class on Saturday
- 1 hour 20-20-20 class on Sunday
At best, I get three days off if I'm not teaching a Thursday or a Saturday (usually I do one or the other).
The problem here is that I don't have a lot of time for running. It's already June which means I should be warming up my marathon training this month. My plan for my modified schedule looks like this:
Monday: AM: 5 mile run; PM: 1 hr. training session
Tuesday: AM: Yoga; PM: Teach Step
Wednesday: AM or PM: 5 mile run
Thursday: PM: Body Pump or 6 mile run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Body Pump or Long Run
Sunday: 20-20-20 and Long Run (if Long Run wasn't done on Saturday)
It looks like a lot, but just like some people like to come home from work and read, or go for a walk, or go out for drinks, I really do enjoy going to the gym, coming home to feeling physically relaxed, making dinner, popping on the tv, and chilling out.
When Chadd changes jobs, we'll likely move a few of those workouts to the morning so that we can spend time together in the evening. I have four more sessions with Kimina (my awesome awesome awesome trainer), once those are over, I'll probably use that time for more running, then sign up again for another 8 sessions closer to the marathon.
New feature to blog will be food planning. Probably will appear this weekend!
In the mean time, where are you with your fitness goals?
I know I've been neglecting the blog for about a month. It's been busy here, to say the least. I love my new job and have done a fairly decent job of staying healthy and keeping my work outs in line instead of ditching them like I did with my last job when things got busy.
I have a status update on my own fitness journey:
- I haven't stepped on the scale in over a month (mostly at the recommendation of my dietician who agrees with me and suggested I live by my own words that weight is the least accurate representation of your health)
- I fit into a size 2 levi jeans (ah!)
- I feel fantastic enough to not worry about the actual number on the scale
- Chadd and I are going to the beach with his family at the end of July (which has inspired me to whip my butt back into shape eating right)
I'm at that magical point in my life where I am 95% confident with how I look. I am still struggling (as I think I always will) with looking like a hard body runner's world model...because that's just not how it ever will be. I will always have a little softness because, well, women are supposed to. That's just how we're built.
Better milestones are shaving time off my races, having better endurance, and being able to eat an extra cheeseburger per week.
I concluded my sessions with my dietician the other week. She showed me how far we'd come--from me obsessively logging calories and having honest to goodness bad moods over going a few calories over my allotted calorie intake, measuring progress really only by weight loss, etc. I feel like I graduated from the school of learning to eat better. Now, I just need to enroll in the school of better time management.
I'm finding myself continuing to eat well, but I'm doing it by walking across the street to get a lean veggie curry dish from the Thai restaurant, or stopping by trader joe's for a salad, when I really need to be saving the money and just making food at home.
Currently, to keep myself at a place where I am comfortable/happy/confident, I need to do the following:
- 1 hour session with my personal trainer on Monday (extremely painful, extremely beneficial)
- 1 hour yoga on Tuesday morning, teach 1 hour step class on Tuesdays
- 1 hour workout on my own (usually running) or rest Wednesday
- 1 hour Body Pump class on Thursday
- Rest on Friday
- 1 hour Body Pump class on Saturday
- 1 hour 20-20-20 class on Sunday
At best, I get three days off if I'm not teaching a Thursday or a Saturday (usually I do one or the other).
The problem here is that I don't have a lot of time for running. It's already June which means I should be warming up my marathon training this month. My plan for my modified schedule looks like this:
Monday: AM: 5 mile run; PM: 1 hr. training session
Tuesday: AM: Yoga; PM: Teach Step
Wednesday: AM or PM: 5 mile run
Thursday: PM: Body Pump or 6 mile run
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Body Pump or Long Run
Sunday: 20-20-20 and Long Run (if Long Run wasn't done on Saturday)
It looks like a lot, but just like some people like to come home from work and read, or go for a walk, or go out for drinks, I really do enjoy going to the gym, coming home to feeling physically relaxed, making dinner, popping on the tv, and chilling out.
When Chadd changes jobs, we'll likely move a few of those workouts to the morning so that we can spend time together in the evening. I have four more sessions with Kimina (my awesome awesome awesome trainer), once those are over, I'll probably use that time for more running, then sign up again for another 8 sessions closer to the marathon.
New feature to blog will be food planning. Probably will appear this weekend!
In the mean time, where are you with your fitness goals?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Body Pump Launch
Yes yes, it's 12:30 and I should be asleep. But I have to share something that I totally forgot to talk about today.
Last night (tuesday night) we launched Body Pump (by Les Mills) at the Y and literally had to turn people away because we maxed out our class! 40 people! I cannot tell you how amazing it is to have a full, energy-driven, group of people take your class.
A big shout-out goes to my amazing instructor friends for all the work they've done, the times we've shared sweating, maybe bleeding, crying, and laughing over the past two months getting ready for this.
I also want to take this moment to brag. Observe:
Last night (tuesday night) we launched Body Pump (by Les Mills) at the Y and literally had to turn people away because we maxed out our class! 40 people! I cannot tell you how amazing it is to have a full, energy-driven, group of people take your class.
A big shout-out goes to my amazing instructor friends for all the work they've done, the times we've shared sweating, maybe bleeding, crying, and laughing over the past two months getting ready for this.
National Capitol YMCA BodyPump Crew!
I also want to take this moment to brag. Observe:
Yes, that is my right leg and no, my quads are not photo shopped. I haven't had my runner's legs since...2006. Want runner's legs too? Easy. Come to BodyPump! (No joke, this is the most awesome workout I've ever taught) I'm teaching a week from this Thursday with Steph. I'm going to try to put together a foam rolling class afterwards, but it might just be abs and stretch for now.
For my 20-20-20 class: FJ is going to be teaching my class this Sunday since I'll be in New York seeing my best friend from high school.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Marathon Training, and how
I sat down at my computer yesterday with a little time on my hands in the afternoon to look over a few running schedules for marathon prepping. I have Jeff Galloway's book at home, but since I forgot to pick it up and bring it in with me, I decided to do some online research and I found a program that I think I'm going to try out. It was listed online through the Houston Chronicle and can be found here at this link:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/run/971175.html
Anyway, since I've done one before and would like to consider myself in fairly decent enough shape, I figured I'd give their intermediate schedule a shot and modify it as I went a long due to teaching etc.
My class schedule is as such:
- Tuesday PM: Step Class
- Every other Thursday PM: Body Pump
- Ever other Saturday AM: Body Pump
- Sunday AM: 20-20-20
With three days taken up a week with training, I'm in kind of a pickle, especially since there will be weekends (every other weekend, in fact) where I'll be teaching twice, which wouldn't be an issue if I didn't also have to throw a long run in there, which can take up to 4 hours.
As I was charting out my modified running schedule, I started to realize that, uhoh. I'm exactly 26 weeks away from the marathon. Which, truth be told, is quite a lot of time (that's half a year, for those of you, who, like me, went "that's so soon!"), but since I have a serious goal this marathon, I need to be diligent.
My last/first/only marathon, I told Chadd that I wanted to run it in under 4:30 and he promised he'd take me to dinner wherever I wanted to go if I did it. It was really a friendly competition, he later told me that he'd have taken me out to dinner no matter what considering that I'd just run a marathon. The funny thing was that I really held on to that bet with him through the race, truly believing that I had to get a 4:30 (though through no reflect of who he is, had I actually been in a sane state of mind I'd have realized he was playing along).
I crossed the line at 4:22:34 and have never had such a strange surge of emotions go through me, exhaustion, elation, pride, extreme and momentary sadness, pain, confusion, clarity...and then I just sat my butt down and waited for someone to find me.
This time is going to be a bit different. First of all, this isn't my first race (can you believe I did a marathon as my first race? Talk about ambitious. Thank God I didn't die...) and second, I've got a solid running history now. I know what I can do, and I think I can do a sub 4. If I literally came in at 4:00:00, I'd be okay with it, but a 3:59:59 would make me elated.
This puts me at needing to maintain just a little under a nine minute mile, meaning I need to train to stay at 9 and hope that race day, I get a speed surge.
But as I was writing out this program, realizing that it was 26 weeks away, and that my program literally started this week, I started to build a mental wall. It doesn't help that I'm not really trained up for my half a week from this weekend...whatever. 4 miles should no longer scare me. But I psyched myself out really badly for that run, had a miserable time, and barely made it home for just under 5 miles.
Tonight, after my appointment with my R.D., I have to go pull a solid 5, which means it's likely I won't be home until 8:30 tonight. Must remain positive...and excited. Here is, so far, the plan for the first 9 weeks of my plan, starting this week:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/run/971175.html
Anyway, since I've done one before and would like to consider myself in fairly decent enough shape, I figured I'd give their intermediate schedule a shot and modify it as I went a long due to teaching etc.
My class schedule is as such:
- Tuesday PM: Step Class
- Every other Thursday PM: Body Pump
- Ever other Saturday AM: Body Pump
- Sunday AM: 20-20-20
With three days taken up a week with training, I'm in kind of a pickle, especially since there will be weekends (every other weekend, in fact) where I'll be teaching twice, which wouldn't be an issue if I didn't also have to throw a long run in there, which can take up to 4 hours.
As I was charting out my modified running schedule, I started to realize that, uhoh. I'm exactly 26 weeks away from the marathon. Which, truth be told, is quite a lot of time (that's half a year, for those of you, who, like me, went "that's so soon!"), but since I have a serious goal this marathon, I need to be diligent.
My last/first/only marathon, I told Chadd that I wanted to run it in under 4:30 and he promised he'd take me to dinner wherever I wanted to go if I did it. It was really a friendly competition, he later told me that he'd have taken me out to dinner no matter what considering that I'd just run a marathon. The funny thing was that I really held on to that bet with him through the race, truly believing that I had to get a 4:30 (though through no reflect of who he is, had I actually been in a sane state of mind I'd have realized he was playing along).
I crossed the line at 4:22:34 and have never had such a strange surge of emotions go through me, exhaustion, elation, pride, extreme and momentary sadness, pain, confusion, clarity...and then I just sat my butt down and waited for someone to find me.
This time is going to be a bit different. First of all, this isn't my first race (can you believe I did a marathon as my first race? Talk about ambitious. Thank God I didn't die...) and second, I've got a solid running history now. I know what I can do, and I think I can do a sub 4. If I literally came in at 4:00:00, I'd be okay with it, but a 3:59:59 would make me elated.
This puts me at needing to maintain just a little under a nine minute mile, meaning I need to train to stay at 9 and hope that race day, I get a speed surge.
But as I was writing out this program, realizing that it was 26 weeks away, and that my program literally started this week, I started to build a mental wall. It doesn't help that I'm not really trained up for my half a week from this weekend...whatever. 4 miles should no longer scare me. But I psyched myself out really badly for that run, had a miserable time, and barely made it home for just under 5 miles.
Tonight, after my appointment with my R.D., I have to go pull a solid 5, which means it's likely I won't be home until 8:30 tonight. Must remain positive...and excited. Here is, so far, the plan for the first 9 weeks of my plan, starting this week:
So. Now to get to it...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tuesday Links!
Woohoo! Tuesday Link Day! I've got a lot of awesome stuff since I signed up for the SmartBrief nutritionist email blast. Here ya go!
1) Gut Check time: Interesting, you can't spot train (lose weight in a determined place) but you CAN spot gain. This article references studies showing that beer is literally the cause of that beer belly (beer more than wine!). There's a bunch of common sense stuff in here--you know, don't eat the bar food, if you must drink, drink light beer, blah blah. I was just interested to see that the beer belly is aptly named! Who knew!
2) Your Chance to Tell the FDA What you Think of Food Labels: Ever wanted to influence public policy? Well, now is your chance. You have the opportunity to weigh in on new regulations for food packaging, including health labels, etc. on the front of food packages. This article also links to another article which argues against labeling food in the front. All of it, worth a read.
3) Food Deserts: Yes, deserts. Now, I have to say, I have mixed feelings on this article because part of me sees the economics of the whole thing. Okay, I lied, my whole brain sees the economics of the whole thing. This is a case of chicken and egg. Who changed the demand? The consumer. If beautiful produce is rotting in the stands, you bet that the stockers are gonna go "send the best produce to places where it'll be purchased." And to be frank with you, all of this talk about inner cities, I'm not seeing prejudice within the cities--I live in a big city and to be frank with you, I get crap produce even though I live in a wealthy neighborhood...which is why I go to the farmer's market. It's not planned to be mean to poor people, it's part of the supply chain issue here. It takes longer to get into a city with traffic, parking issues, and weird delivery schedules. Not to mention, fresh produce goes bad in poor areas because, let's be frank here, ever been to a grocery in a slum? Yes, they're gross and stuff goes bad when it's not kept in a clean area. Hell, in the Safeway in the Watergate there used to be rats. THE WATERGATE! Oh city life, how I love thee.
Back to delivering the food...The harder it is to do something (i.e. deliver to the safeway outside my apartment) the more expensive it will be (ridiculously priced tomatoes) versus if it's easier (a massive backlot and loading dock behind the Albertson's by my parent's house in the 'burbs in Florida) it becomes cheaper. Also, talk about taxes in the city. HOLY MOLY. Just go across the bridge into Virginia and watch your prices drop like bricks in the ocean. If city planners made it easier for food to be delivered to grocery stores, I'm gonna bet prices are going to drop. Okay, done rant.
4) Childhood Obesity and Diabetes: This is a great article for parents...and everyone else. The examples that the doctor puts out for substitutes are great.
5) Fibromyalgia: No Thanks: Okay, maybe that isn't the title of the article. But doesn't extreme muscle and joint pain sound like a drag? Thought so. Excess weight and lack of activity can nudge you that much closer to it. Avoid.
6) Living by the Food Pyramid: Interesting, look at all those politics surrounding food! Curse you lobbyists! (terrifying, isn't it?) regardless. An interesting history on the food pyramid and a link for a food "pedia" that gives you calorie counts of what you're ingesting.
Today got a bit out of hand at work, so I didn't get to share with you my Marathon Kickoff, but I will tomorrow.
1) Gut Check time: Interesting, you can't spot train (lose weight in a determined place) but you CAN spot gain. This article references studies showing that beer is literally the cause of that beer belly (beer more than wine!). There's a bunch of common sense stuff in here--you know, don't eat the bar food, if you must drink, drink light beer, blah blah. I was just interested to see that the beer belly is aptly named! Who knew!
2) Your Chance to Tell the FDA What you Think of Food Labels: Ever wanted to influence public policy? Well, now is your chance. You have the opportunity to weigh in on new regulations for food packaging, including health labels, etc. on the front of food packages. This article also links to another article which argues against labeling food in the front. All of it, worth a read.
3) Food Deserts: Yes, deserts. Now, I have to say, I have mixed feelings on this article because part of me sees the economics of the whole thing. Okay, I lied, my whole brain sees the economics of the whole thing. This is a case of chicken and egg. Who changed the demand? The consumer. If beautiful produce is rotting in the stands, you bet that the stockers are gonna go "send the best produce to places where it'll be purchased." And to be frank with you, all of this talk about inner cities, I'm not seeing prejudice within the cities--I live in a big city and to be frank with you, I get crap produce even though I live in a wealthy neighborhood...which is why I go to the farmer's market. It's not planned to be mean to poor people, it's part of the supply chain issue here. It takes longer to get into a city with traffic, parking issues, and weird delivery schedules. Not to mention, fresh produce goes bad in poor areas because, let's be frank here, ever been to a grocery in a slum? Yes, they're gross and stuff goes bad when it's not kept in a clean area. Hell, in the Safeway in the Watergate there used to be rats. THE WATERGATE! Oh city life, how I love thee.
Back to delivering the food...The harder it is to do something (i.e. deliver to the safeway outside my apartment) the more expensive it will be (ridiculously priced tomatoes) versus if it's easier (a massive backlot and loading dock behind the Albertson's by my parent's house in the 'burbs in Florida) it becomes cheaper. Also, talk about taxes in the city. HOLY MOLY. Just go across the bridge into Virginia and watch your prices drop like bricks in the ocean. If city planners made it easier for food to be delivered to grocery stores, I'm gonna bet prices are going to drop. Okay, done rant.
4) Childhood Obesity and Diabetes: This is a great article for parents...and everyone else. The examples that the doctor puts out for substitutes are great.
5) Fibromyalgia: No Thanks: Okay, maybe that isn't the title of the article. But doesn't extreme muscle and joint pain sound like a drag? Thought so. Excess weight and lack of activity can nudge you that much closer to it. Avoid.
6) Living by the Food Pyramid: Interesting, look at all those politics surrounding food! Curse you lobbyists! (terrifying, isn't it?) regardless. An interesting history on the food pyramid and a link for a food "pedia" that gives you calorie counts of what you're ingesting.
Today got a bit out of hand at work, so I didn't get to share with you my Marathon Kickoff, but I will tomorrow.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Cooking Locally: Spare Ribs and Ramps
What a weekend...
Chadd and I did the Run Amuck 5k up in Rockville...absolutely hilarious. We also found out that Chadd is a superior trail runner than I am (though I think I'd probably win in longer distances) and that wading through lake mud makes your quads sore. We did finish 43, which, in our opinion, is pretty damn good out of about 370 teams of two. Our time was somewhere around 33 minutes. While that would be embarrassing for a 4k, I think it's pretty good for a 5k with obstacles and mud pits.
Some gentleman walking around the race took our picture for us since I was brilliant and left my phone in the car, and with that, my camera. So I'm hoping that he'll email us our picture so I can show you what happens when you run a 5k through trails, wade through lakes, and finish the race crawling in a pit of mud. Seriously.
I spent Sunday mostly cleaning and cooking, which brings me to this month's/quarter's whatever's Cooking Locally!
For just over $16, I picked up a little more than 2 pounds of pork spare ribs from one of the pork vendors. I grabbed asparagus from another farm (4.50) where I'd also grabbed Ramps ($5) the week before. I picked up a handful of small yukon gold potatoes ($2.50) and I was set.
I called my dad to get his expertise on the ribs. He suggested a dry rub, and normally I'd have just put one together, but then I remembered that we have packets of spice rubs I picked up from a little spice/tea shop in Florida (there's another one here in Alexandria, apparently). I brushed the ribs with a little olive oil, then slathered the rub on pretty thick on both sides.
After that, I tossed them (racked) in the over at about 175 for the next two hours. I made the mistake of thinking they were done at this point (they weren't) and went on much later in the evening to throw them into a 450 over (which surprisingly made them come out perfectly) for about 15 minutes while I was finishing up the potato and ramp au gratin (2 c. potatoes, bunch of chopped ramps, layered, 1 c. milk, bread crumbs on top, your choice cheese on top, bake covered for 20 min. in 450, uncovered another 15).
Dinner wound up looking like this:
Chadd and I did the Run Amuck 5k up in Rockville...absolutely hilarious. We also found out that Chadd is a superior trail runner than I am (though I think I'd probably win in longer distances) and that wading through lake mud makes your quads sore. We did finish 43, which, in our opinion, is pretty damn good out of about 370 teams of two. Our time was somewhere around 33 minutes. While that would be embarrassing for a 4k, I think it's pretty good for a 5k with obstacles and mud pits.
Some gentleman walking around the race took our picture for us since I was brilliant and left my phone in the car, and with that, my camera. So I'm hoping that he'll email us our picture so I can show you what happens when you run a 5k through trails, wade through lakes, and finish the race crawling in a pit of mud. Seriously.
I spent Sunday mostly cleaning and cooking, which brings me to this month's/quarter's whatever's Cooking Locally!
For just over $16, I picked up a little more than 2 pounds of pork spare ribs from one of the pork vendors. I grabbed asparagus from another farm (4.50) where I'd also grabbed Ramps ($5) the week before. I picked up a handful of small yukon gold potatoes ($2.50) and I was set.
I called my dad to get his expertise on the ribs. He suggested a dry rub, and normally I'd have just put one together, but then I remembered that we have packets of spice rubs I picked up from a little spice/tea shop in Florida (there's another one here in Alexandria, apparently). I brushed the ribs with a little olive oil, then slathered the rub on pretty thick on both sides.
After that, I tossed them (racked) in the over at about 175 for the next two hours. I made the mistake of thinking they were done at this point (they weren't) and went on much later in the evening to throw them into a 450 over (which surprisingly made them come out perfectly) for about 15 minutes while I was finishing up the potato and ramp au gratin (2 c. potatoes, bunch of chopped ramps, layered, 1 c. milk, bread crumbs on top, your choice cheese on top, bake covered for 20 min. in 450, uncovered another 15).
Dinner wound up looking like this:
And was it ever delicious. Chadd gave it a 4.5 out of 5, mostly because he likes the potatoes done a different way, but we both agreed the ramps were pretty good and a nice touch to the dish. I was also pretty happy with the caloric value (somewhere around 450 for me) since ribs require so much time to eat, I get full on them quickly and don't eat too much meat, everything else was pretty healthy, especially since I used 1% milk for the potatoes instead of cream, and no butter.
I also whipped up a frittata of leeks, potatoes, and spinach, which, since I fell asleep prior to my bed time last night, failed to cut for my lunch today. But there will be a review. That recipe came from the cookbook I hailed as awesome last week, so I have no doubt it's going to be awesome.
My bosses aren't in today, but that doesn't mean I'm at a loss for work. I can't believe it's already noon and I'm going to lose most of my afternoon and productive working time to a conference call.
I've got a lot of links saved up for tomorrow--get excited!
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