A New Year Starts with... Dieting with The Hubs

The Hubs determined he'd like to lose some weight in the new year.  Furthermore, he was adamant that he wanted to do this through diet changes alone ("I go up and down stairs all day at work I get plenty of exercise!").  So, although I don't really care for "dieting," I am going on a Diet with him.  Because we support each other.  He puts up with a VERY messy house while I go on long runs while training for half-mary's; the least I can do is join him in a little crash dieting.  Hell, we all know I'd like to lose a few pounds too, and if we don't do a CRASH crash diet, what's the harm?

The Hubs' idea was not SO radical... no "shake for breakfast, shake for lunch, etc," although he did briefly entertain eating nothing but protein bars for breakfast and lunch.  I told him I just couldn't get behind that plan.  Think of the cost, for starters!  (That got him.)

He felt the best approach was to make nothing but CHICKEN BREASTS, RICE, and BROCCOLI for dinner every night for a month.  This basically means nothing but CHICKEN BREASTS, RICE and BROCCOLI for lunch as well, since that's kind of how we roll in our household.  After several days of discussion prior to the New Year, we agreed to be a bit more flexible.  it's CHICKEN BREASTS, RICE (white or brown, dealer's choice), and ALL THE VEGGIES YOU CAN HANDLE, COOKED ANY WAY YOU CAN THINK OF for dinner every night.  And the rice will be MEASURED - one cup per meal, and if you still feel hungry, more protein and veg.

He's eased up on the 30-Days thing.  We're going to follow this routine, I think, until he JUST CAIN'T STAND IT NO MO'.

So Sunday became a Food Prep Day, including preparation of what is a bit of standard for me at this point (but the boys don't exactly go gaga for it) - Roasted Root Vegetables. This batch included onion, turnip, parsnip, carrots, rutabaga, radishes and fresh, already-cut-in-half Brussels sprouts that I found in the Buy This Quick Before It Goes Bad section of my favorite produce department.  (AKA the Rotting Fruit Area) I've been adding these veg to bulk up my lunches and / or serve as a side dish with whatever The Hubs makes all week long.

As you might imagine, this quickly turned into a Creative Cooking Challenge.  We're 4 days in, and I've already decided I need Yummly on my side.  I found a recipe yesterday that I tried out.  CHICKEN BREASTS, White RICE (we are low on brown, not enough to make a meal... #GroceryShoppingFail), a TON of mushrooms, and, in fact, roasted BROCCOLI and cauliflower.  It made a great sauce by basically creating your own home-made version of the condensed mushroom soup you might otherwise use, and I really liked it.  The Hubs didn't love it but it was OK.  The Kid thought it was GREAT.  (Big Mushroom fan, that one.)  I tweaked it based on what I had on hand (added onion and actually steamed, then pureed, a half a Rutabaga and put that in the sauce too) but here is the recipe I used.

Close-Up

I made this!

One day this week I made CHICKEN BREASTS Fajitas, except I added a half a turnip to the fajita vegetables (leftover from Roasted Root Vegetables I'd made on Sunday, didn't want it to go bad... thought maybe no one would notice.) And of course, we served it over RICE, not on a tortilla.

I've been encouraging The Kid to snack healthier, too. Or at least keep the fresh produce from going bad.  With limited success.  

These apples are still here, and if you have any suggestions for what do with them... I'm listening.

Wait, I signed up for WHAT?

So I just registered for a new race.  In the registration process, they asked to get to know me better.  Here is what I wrote (partially copied from my Twitter profile):

I'm Chris. My occasional blog posts can be found at CPAGrrrlStrongerFasterBetter.blogspot.com.  

I run, I eat, I occasionally swim, I struggle with my weight.
I #wycwyc (pronounced "wick-wick!"),
I am a #261FearlessAmbassador and
I #StandwithPP.   

My crazy runner friends talked me into doing my first Triathlon and I'm writing this before starting any training at all, and quite frankly I am scared out of my wits.  So things are just as they should be.   

LET'S DO THIS!

So there you have it.  I'm registered for my first Triathlon.

HOLY CRAP.

How in HELL did this happen?

Oh right, my awesome crazy runner friends provided a TON of Positive Peer Pressure, and after several days of researching and looking up training plans and debating whether my relaxed approach to training could actually get me ready for such a thing, I decided to DIVE IN.

The course is described as:

The Gildan Esprit de She Naperville Triathlon is a sprint distance triathlon in and around Centennial Beach. The swim course takes place in the Centennial Beach Reservoir, guided by lane markers and swim buoys and supervised by a large team of lifeguards. Our “Swim Angels” will also be available as a measure of encouragement and added safety. The bike course is two laps on paved roadways throughout the Naperville area and the run traverses paved roads and paths through Riverwalk Park. 

They add:

Please note: there will be a a two hour cut-off time to complete both the swim and bike portions of the race (from the last wave). In addition, there will be a three hour cut-off time to complete the entire race (from the last wave).

.75-kilometer (.5-mile) swim | 21.4-kilometer (13.3-mile) bike | 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run

The swim is, of course, the scary part.  I learned how to swim better about 18 months ago, and have been practicing occasionally since, using the indoor pool at my gym.  I was VERY pleased to find that "Centennial Beach" is really a POOL and not a lake environment, since I have a real problem with lakes.  [They kinda gross me out.  They're just like big stagnant pools of water, who wants to swim in that?  Yuck.  This California Grrrl says give me an ocean or a pool, please.] But I digress.  Back to my weak swimming skills.

YAY!  It's a pool!  Image courtesy Google Earth

Swimming a 1/2 mile is scaring the crap out of me.  I can barely swim 2 laps without a break now.  Speed will be of NO concern in this race; only finishing the swim.  A 13-mile bike ride will take me a little over an hour, and a 5k after all that might take as much as 45 minutes (!) but it all sounds like a cake-walk once the swim is done.  Based on the cutoff time, I will have to finish the swim in under 45 minutes or get serious about going faster on my bike.  Hmmm.  I think a test-swim is in order, and quickly.

I've gotten my hands on a free training plan that looks like it will suit my needs (and has a long enough timeline that I can build in all the flexibility I'll need to make that work).  And I guess I'm going to baby-step my way to participating in my first Tri.

I'll be #wycwyc-ing the HELL out of this.

I repeat:  HOLY CRAP!  Can't look much into the future on this one; one step in front of the other.  Step 1:  go for a swim this weekend.

CPAGrrrl, OUT.

2016 Goals - Mileage

I don't LOVE the concept of New Year's Resolutions, but I am a big proponent of GOALS.  With the new year approaching, I have of course been contemplating fitness goals for 2016.  I think we're all aware that I tend to be loquacious and I thought as a favor to us all, I'd break this up into a couple of shorter posts.  I need to do work after all...

Image from Google Image Search

2016 GOALS, first up -

TOTAL MILEAGE: 

My 2015 goal was 750 miles, a big jump from 2014's goal of 500 (running-only).  I made that larger goal because I wanted to focus on riding my bike more often and the only way I could get that kind of mileage would be from getting on the stationary bike at the gym or on my actual real-life bicycle and hitting the trail.  This would help me in both riding the bike more, and (BONUS!) encourage more gym visits when the weather or my schedule made outdoor biking undesirable.

It worked!  I made big strides in my biking mileage - about 180 miles that I wouldn't otherwise have gotten.  I want the goal for next year to be challenging, require more biking, and get my running game back on track.  Last year I also committed to running only shorter races with the goal of getting faster.  That did happen, and it didn't.  I did run only shorter races - nothing longer than 10K and I did three 10Ks - but my pacing has not been improving.  My workouts have been sporadic and unfocused.  I haven't followed a dedicated training plan or done regular speed-work.  In all honesty, walking both dogs at the same time, while convenient and time-saving, really didn't move my toward that goal of getting back to pre-half-marathons pacing.  All that said, the mileage goal needs to incorporate MORE running, more consistent running, more focused workouts, yadda-yadda-yadda.

More of THIS:

Here's what I'm thinking:  a 20% increase in biking mileage gets me to around 220 bike miles.  Add in a 10% increase in running / walking mileage and I get to something like 880.  That sounds doable. And, on the advice of The Hubs, amp that goal up by 5-10%, because if it sounds "doable", it's probably just a little too easy.  So then, let's call it an even

930 Miles.

I like 930 because it's also my dream pace of 9:30.  (You may not recall, but I do:  my best-ever one-mile pace is 9:50.)

Next up:  a new parameter to measure in 2016.

100 Days! 100 Days!

A few months ago, @RoniNoone offered a #milestreak challenge and I proclaimed, "I'm IN!"

Today is a big milestone for me:  I have #wycwyc-ed my way to DAY #100!  One Hundred Days of walking and / or running at least one mile a day. I would like to RUN more, but right now, my life is structured in a way that makes a RUN-streak a "guaranteed failure" situation.  I loved that this challenge allowed for "Run, Walk, Skip or Crawl" - just find a way to get it done.

This challenge has required some creativity (turns out there's a 1/4-mile loop if you walk the perimeter around my office building/parking lot), some commitment on days when I was swamped (aka "needed it the most") and days when I wasn't feeling it (aka, "needed it the most"), and some decision-making about what "counts" as walking a mile ("DOES hunting for a bottle of wine count?" - "What about unpacking the car last weekend for the Race for the Cure registration event - back and forth back and forth?" I wore my GPS out of curiosity and it turned out to be about 0.5 mile - should that count for the day?  It was a long and tiring day... but I decided in that case, Nope, it doesn't count.)

I haven't walked today's mile yet, but 

Today is NOT the day I break my streak.  

I have really enjoyed this challenge.  It has reminded me that it's really not all that hard and definitely not all that time-consuming to get a mile in, even in the middle of the work day, and once in a while, the dogs can get a two-a-day, even if someone else already took them for their Daily Adventure.

Maybe this is an odd way to celebrate, but because I'm working today and won't have a lot of time for extra exercise, I plan to walk at lunch and / or after work today, and celebrate with a 15-mile bike ride over the weekend.  (Yeah, bike miles don't count for my streak, but I have this other goal in mind:)

See, a few months ago, my brothers-in-law bought their first home.  Instead of living in an apartment a few blocks away, they now live in a very small town about 20 miles away on country roads.  We see them only slightly less than before - it's not THAT far.  But ever since they moved, I've had this idea about some day biking to their house, having The Boys meet me there with the truck, and then we can eat, drink & generally Be Us, and drive home in the truck with the bike in back.  (I would also have to pack a change of clothes in the truck and probably hit the showers when I arrive, but we're all close like that, it's cool.)

I don't ride my bike all that much, and 20 miles is an awfully long way for a leisurely rider like myself with a beat up cruiser of a bike, not really made for serious road mileage.

But I'm ambitious like that.  

I've been making a point to ride each weekend, anywhere from 5 to 10 miles.  This weekend I'm upping the ante.  I figure if I can get 15 miles on Constitution Trail and the country roads north of here, and get home via a route that DOESN'T go up that one big hill near my house (trying to top that hill at the end of a long ride is how I hurt myself back in May), then I think I can probably handle 20 a couple of weeks after that.  The roads are mostly flat and if I can physically do it, the only other concern is safety - and I should be able to select a route that keeps me off of the busiest of the country roads to the house.

So, a 15-mile bike ride is on tap for this weekend, in celebration of

100 Days (and MORE!) of Streaking.

Keep Streaking, My Friends

Trepidation and a Trip to my PT

So this week is coming along nicely so far.  Monday I had a really successful walk with both dogs.  Louie had a NEAR-PERFECT 1.2 miles, even ran with me a bit and stayed right by my side.  One of the dogs in the neighborhood that normally sends him into a nuclear meltdown was out, even barked at us a few times like he was trying to bait him, but Louie stayed calm and focused.  MAJOR success for my little monster! 

Monday was also, of course, the Unofficial Runners' Holiday, otherwise known as the runninng of the Boston Marathon.  This year's publicity was, of course, extraordinary.  All the focus on the story of last year's bombing ...  I don't even want to go there.  Me, I just really get off watching all those amazing athletes.  I found myself trying to explain to a coworker why Boston is so incredible... and it has NOTHING to do with last year's events.  I've learned a lot this year about why the course is so notorious and what makes it difficult, and anyone who can finish it just Blows. My. Mind. 

There were a number of people from my local running group who qualified and got in this year, two whom I knew well enough to follow and get text updates on how they were doing.  They all finished - Tim and Stacie ran the whole thing together and even crossed the finish line holding hands!  How freaking awesome is that?!?  Dan did an amazing job and posted on Facebook throughout his trip to Boston and before and after pics.  I'm hoping to share more about his experience sometime soon.

Yesterday, Tuesday, I had an early meeting at work - needed to be there by 7:30am for a meeting with all the managers in our office, with the guy whom I'm still referring to as "my new boss."  I tried not to grumble too much about the time.  I am NOT a morning person, but I must admit, it was nice having the meeting out of the way and getting on with our day.  Don't tell my new boss I said that.  :-)

I've been working this week on some transition projects - getting files from our old system into the systems we use with the new firm.  It's tedious work and can be frustrating at times, but I enjoy tedious work and I feel quite a sense of accomplishment when I get each of these done.  There's also a time factor - this project really needs to be completed before we get into our busy season, which is only a month away!  Sand is flowing very quickly through that hour-glass...  I still have high hopes that all this preparation will create a situation where this year's busy season won't be anywhere near as difficult, or as long, as last year's.  I do NOT want to repeat the 4-month frenzy that was last fall and winter.  All this to say, I've been enjoying my job this week.

But the point is, Tuesday night was Catch the Wave group night!  We were out at the lake and for many of our group members, it was their first time there, and / or their first time running the Lake Run Loop Route.  This is the route they will run for the race they've spent the last 9 weeks training for, through some SERIOUSLY bad weather.  They have been real troopers, and I'm so proud of our group!  We ran the route using our planned 8/1 run/walk interval and they did fantastically.  I, on the other hand, was having some trouble during the last mile of our 4.37-mile run.  Damn feet started up again.  More on that later.

Today I have to miss my Ride the Wave group.  I have a board meeting to attend this evening out of town, so I'll be working late and driving home... probably won't be home until after 9pm.  Ew, I hate that.  I am considering leaving work and taking a long lunch break to go for a run.  It will be my last run before Saturday's half marathon.  I'm going to let my feet rest until then, other than a possible dog walk on Friday.

I did finally make it into my physical therapist yesterday.  He checked out my neck pain and recommended I come in for a few visits to work on correcting that.  It's a posture thing - my posture while working at my computer. 

I expected him to tell me the foot pain was caused my the same problems I had last year - my calves are too tight, I need to stretch and foam roll more, I need to stop wearing heels.  I was prepared for a lecture about the exercises he showed me last year and that he can tell I haven't kept up with them.  Instead, he said he was surprised how loose my calves were - they're tight, but nowhere near as bad as last time, and he could tell I've been working on it.  That was very nice to hear... but here's the thing:  he basically said he doesn't have a good idea about what might be the cause of my foot pain. 

He wants me to come in and run on the treadmill and take another look at my form - we did this last year and he had suggestions about my cadence, but said my form was good.  Maybe something about that has changed.  So further investigation is the plan on that.  If we don't know what's wrong, we don't know how to FIX it.  Basically, I took that as terrible news.  But not the kind of terrible news that sends me to the nearest junk-food bar, so you know... there's that.

He did spend some time torturing me - my neck (upper trapezius), calves, and even the bottom of my feet, calluses and all... and I'm pretty sore today. My shoulder / neck area especially - it actually feels bruised there!  And I talked with him about whether I should attempt the Christie Clinic Illinois event this weekend.  He didn't want to tell me one way or the other whether to do it or not, but gave me some good input on what to consider.  And I've been talking with my Catch the Wave co-leaders and my Ride the Wave group members and leaders about it for weeks.  It's time to make a decision.

Found in this mornings email in-box:  Today's Daily Kick in tbe Butt:
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."
Jesse Owens


Determination.  Dedication.  Discipline.  Effort.
I think I have my mantra for this weekend's 13.1.  I've decided to go, even through I'm not properly trained for it and I'm still having ongoing issues with foot pain.  I'll do a 5/1 or 4/1 run/walk interval and take it slow, and if it gets to the point where I can't do the run interval anymore, I'll keep walking. 

If I CAN finish, I WILL finish. 

If I can't finish because the pain in my feet is too great, that is going to be okay.

Oh, and as for the title to this post?  The Trepidation part?  Yeah, this half marathon has me scared.  The foot pain, when it's bad, it's BAD and the fear of that pain has been a big part of why I haven't been training more and better since the weather improved.  This weekend is about facing fear, not about running through pain.  I'll stop if I need to, but showing up requires that I face the fear of that pain.

Running Scared

Well, I did it!  In my last post I expressed some concern about being able to work in the 125 squats required to stay on track with my 30-day Squat Challenge.  I was starting the day at a client, working about a 3/4 day three hours from home, would be driving home in the afternoon, then attending a meeting for our Catch the Wave group leaders at a local restaurant, and all that before I even get home for the night.

I could spare you the details, but I won't, because I found the details pretty entertaining.  Hopefully you will too.  I needed to get in 6 sets of 20, plus five more.  I got two sets done in the client's restroom before I took off.  I hit up a McDonald's to get a Diet Dr. Pepper (no food) and use the facilities at the half-way point of my drive, and I got another set done there (thank you, handicapped stall).  I drove straight to the restaurant where my meeting would be held, and arrived about a half-hour early.  Used the facilities there too and got in another set.  (Followed by some pizza.  I restrained myself and had three squares of pizza, which was delicious and filling but not so filling that I felt stuffed afterward, so... win?)  Finally home around 7:30.  Greeted the dogs and the mister, and knocked out the remaining 45 squats before I sat down, on the off-chance that I wouldn't be able to convince myself to stand up again.

There you have it:  125 squats, 4 cities, three public restrooms.  Done.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful, had a pretty reasonable food-day and headed out a little early from work to catch my first weekly Ride the Wave meeting.  We had a 2-mile assessment run.  I'm still coming back from my lengthy break from regular exercise, and I was expecting to be disappointed with my results.  I was not surprised to find myself dead last in finishing the run.  The weather was a HUGE improvement, temps in the low 30's and almost NO ice on the trail, just one sketchy spot and several very large and very cold puddles to navigate.  We were running in the dark by the end, and though I did have a hand-held flashlight on, I am seriously worried about ice.  I had a bad fall last winter and really could have knocked my teeth out on the sidewalk, and ever since, I just really struggle with that fear of falling.

Anyway, I ran the first mile, took a 30-second break, and barring the points where the terrain was sketchy, ran the rest of the second mile as well.  I finished in just over 26 minutes.  My friend (and group leader in last year's RTW program) Kathy kept me company the whole time and TRIED to help me follow our main instruction which was NOT to talk, just focus on getting a solid time - not race pace, but a "good effort" pace.  She was mildly successful in keeping my chatty self quiet.  I run so much with the dog, and don't talk all that much to myself or to her (at least, not out loud), when I run with other people, I turn into a real chatterbox!

I had SO MUCH reflective gear on, I just had to have a photo... or two.

I spent much of that second mile mentally worrying about people being done with their assessment and waiting on me before they could start the talk.  That's still a tough mental battle for me.  It doesn't bother me too much knowing I'm last but the idea that folks are sitting around waiting for the last one to arrive really does get under my skin.  I found out later that several people came in less than 5 minutes before I did and I probably wasn't too far behind the second-to-last person, so of course, that was all in my head.

I'm in a weird place for the start of the program this year.  I'm not injured, but I'm lacking in endurance.  The beginners program, which starts with running just one minute and doing a whole lot of walking, would be WAY below my current abilities, but the more advanced program will surely be a challenge.  I just have to trust that the endurance will return.  The "return" will take less time than the initial build-up of endurance took.   Yes, Chris, it will.  It will return quickly.  All I have to do is follow my program and keep working at it.

Tonight I have a group workout at a local gym with my weight loss challenge group.  I really enjoyed the last one - group workouts are a rarity for me, so I'm looking forward to it.  Friday will be a rest day, other than a possible dog-walk, and Saturday there's another group workout.  Sunday I have a date to run with a friend.

I leave you with this little ditty I saw on Facebook today from Live, Love, Lift:

If You're Looking for Inspiration, You've Found the Wrong Blog Today

Did you ever have one of those days where you get up, shower, get dressed, put on your makeup, start blow-drying your hair, and then realize you hadn't rinsed your hair after putting in the conditioner?  Then you go to work, telling yourself, "I'm DEEP-CONDITIONING today," and forget your phone?

Yeah, that's how my whole month is going.

I'm trying to keep a positive attitude, but I'm having a rough go of it recently.  I'm tired, all I do is work, and I haven't been able to go for a run in two weeks because I'm working 12-hour days.  I just keep telling myself to hang in there, these things will work themselves out eventually, all I need to do is keep at it.

Maybe by tonight I'll find that elusive "second wind" and feel more hopeful, but today I am In The Bell Jar, Man.

So yes, if you're looking for inspiration, you've come to the WRONG place today.  Sorry.  I've got no inspiration today, for myself or anyone else, but I'm trying to stay strong, focus, and just keep moving forward.  Treating Life and Work like a Really Long Training Run today.

These pictures make me feel a little better, and remind me who I am.  I'm off to work now.  

Have a great day?

2013 Goals / Challenge Update: May

YIKES!  I never posted the May results!

Here you have it:
Reminder in case you haven't been paying attention:
My goal for 2013 is to run, walk and / or bike 500 miles as quickly as possible.
The other Challenge items for this year are:

1. Ultimate mileage goal is to run/ walk 500 miles (excluding bike miles).
2. Complete my first half marathon race (or, you know, two).
3. 5K race time under 35 minutes. DONE
4. 10K race time under 1 hour 10 minutes.
5. Test Mile time under 10 minutes. DONE

I ran this month's miles for:

Additional stats for this month and year-to-date:

Random facts for May:

• Trips to Lake Bloomington: 2 / Evergreen Lake:  1

• Number of Test Miles: 0 - my training schedule with long runs didn't allow space for this!

• Longest distance in a single run: 9.0+ (walked to and from the start, another 1.5 miles)

• Hotel workouts:  1

• Number of races: 3

• Number of new PR's:  3**

• Best 5k time: 34:13.58**

• Group runs: Zero

• Runs cancelled or altered due to weather conditions: 0

• Weight change for the month: +0.2 lbs. Well, the bleeding has stopped, but still not heading in the right direction there.

Upcoming Events:

June 15:  Steamboat Classic (Peoria, IL) 4-mile

Month of June:  Thursday Night Accumulative Marathon (TNAM) results will be in by the end of the month!

July 4:  Park 2 Park (from Bloomington to Normal, IL) 5-mile

Last month was Race-A-Palooza: 4 in a row.  Results:  

• (April) Christie Clinic 2013 Illinois marathon 10K (goal time: 1:10:00) actual time:  1:11:29  Race recap here.

• Lake Run 12k (first time racing this distance) (goal time 1:30:00) actual time: 1:30:24.6.  Race recap here.

• **Race to Wrigley 5k (goal - have fun and raise money for a great cause!)  actual time:  34:13.58 - here's the asterisk:  that time would be a PR, but my Garmin indicated the distance was slightly less than a full 5k - 3.07 miles... so the PACE works out to just slightly OVER my best time for 5k.  You can judge for yourself.  I'm taking the PR.  Race recap here.

• Run River City Marathon Relay (first time in a relay!) (goal: depends on which leg I'm running.)  I ran the last and longest leg:  7.5 miles.  Given that, I made my goal time 1:30 (same as Lake run, as similar distance) - actual time: 1:38 - that was a tough run, very hot and I think all that racing took a toll!  Race recap yet to come.

Larger goal in sight for May: Get that weight back on track and headed in the right direction. Refocus on the goal. This isn't just about running; it's about health and FITness.  Yes, (this is a repeat from last month's Challenge Update) I'm keeping this here because this is still valid.  My weight is hanging steady but I need to change things up and get some movement there.

April 2013 Goals & Challenge Update

I wrote most of this a few days ago but didn't have a chance to finish till now...

It's May Day! Spring is here, I wore SHORTs on my run yesterday it's 80 degrees, the Lake Run is This Weekend and I'm ready to Run Happy!

Time to check in on my progress on the 2013 challenges!

Reminder in case you haven't been paying attention:
My goal for 2013 is to run, walk and / or bike 500 miles as quickly as possible.
The other Challenge items for this year are:

1. Ultimate mileage goal is to run/ walk 500 miles (excluding bike miles).
2. Complete my first half marathon race (or, you know, two).
3. 5K race time under 35 minutes. DONE
4. 10K race time under 1 hour 10 minutes.
5. Test Mile time under 10 minutes. DONE

I ran this month's miles for:

Additional stats for this month and year-to-date:

Random facts for April:

Trips to Lake Bloomington:  2

Number of Test Miles:  0 - my training schedule with long runs didn't allow space for this!

Longest distance in a single run: 9.0+ (walked to and from the start, another 1.5 miles) 

Races:  1

Number of new PR's:  1

Best 5k time: 34:31

Best 10k time: 1:11:29

Group runs: 4

Runs in snow / ice:  ZERO

Runs cancelled or altered due to weather conditions: 3

Random dude tilling backyard garden who requested I throw Coty's poop INTO his yard: 1

Facebook page "Likes": 58 (click here!)

Weight change for the month: +4.7 lbs. This is a problem.  Must.  Stop. Running in the Wrong Direction.

YES! Another 2013 goal has been accomplished this month! 

Sadly, I did not quite meet my 10k goal last week, but I'm really happy and proud that I got as close as I did... a minute and a half over 6 miles.  To think, just 15 seconds faster in each mile, and I would have made it.  I like to think I gave it everything I had, but 15 seconds... that just sounds so... achievable!  I may have to hunt up another 10k and try again in the next few months. Race Recap Here

Upcoming Events:

We're in the middle of Race-A-Palooza here... one down, 3 to go. 
Lake Run 12k (first time racing this distance) 5/4 (goal time 1:30:00)
Race to Wrigley 5k 5/11 (goal - have fun and raise money for a great cause!)
Run River City Marathon Relay (first time in a relay!) 5/18 (goal:  depends on which leg I'm running.  Stay tuned.)

Larger goal in sight for May:  get that weight back on track and headed in the right direction.  Refocus on the goal.  This isn't just about running; it's about health and FITness.

March 2013 Goals & Challenge Update

So yes, yes yes, I'm working on that Where I've Been, Part II post - I haven't procrastinated it out of existence. I actually have started on it, but it requires some... polish.

In the meantime, March has closed its doors and we are INTO April! Spring is well on her way to join us, there are flowers creeping up and poking their little purple heads into the sunlight, and come to mention it, the SUN has returned and has almost become a source of HEAT again!

You know what this means.

Time for the March 2013 challenge update!

Here goes:
Reminder in case you weren't paying attention at the first of the year:
My official goal for 2013 is to run, walk and / or bike 500 miles as quickly as possible.
The other Challenge items for this year are:

1. Ultimate mileage goal is to run/ walk 500 miles (excluding bike miles).
2. Complete my first half marathon race.
3. 5K race time under 35 minutes.
4. 10K race time under 1 hour 10 minutes.
5. Test Mile time under 10 minutes. DONE

I ran this month's miles for:

Additional stats for this month and year-to-date:

Random facts for March:

Trips to Lake Bloomington:  1

Number of Test Miles:  1

Longest distance in a single run:  8.0

Races:  2

Number of new PR's:  2

Best 5k time:  34:31

Group runs:  4, including 1 speed workout and 1 hill workout

Runs in snow / ice:  2

Runs cancelled or altered due to weather conditions:  3

Ice-related injuries:  NONE!

Super awesome Green Day concerts attended:  1

Car accidents (not so narrowly) avoided:  1

Facebook pages started:  1  (click here!)

Weight change for the month:  4.7 lbs.

YES!  Another 2013 goal has been accomplished this month!  

3.  5K race time under 35 minutes. DONE (Race recap here)

I do have one race scheduled at the end of April, so one chance for a new PR this month, and it's a BIG one.  This will be my 4th 10k race and I'm training hard for it.  I've been building my base miles (planning 9 this Saturday) and I have my eye on that - oh crap that says 1 hour and TEN minutes???  I gotta go.

2013 St. Patrick's Day 5k Race Recap

Found on Facebook, posted by diaryofanaspiringloser.blogspot.com - check her out!

Another awesome run in the books for 2013.  You know I've had this great optimistic feeling that this year's racing season is going to be full of great things, right?  Well, so far, so good.  The weather was chilly - about 30 degrees - but not too breezy.  Jason and i drove over together - he was working the finish-line / water stop - and hung out at the VFW for a while, mingling with other racers before the start.  When it was time for him to go help set up the water stop, I took about 10 minutes to jog and warm up.  It was cold enough to wear my windbreaker, but I wasn't sure if I would still want it once I was on my way.  I knew I'd need the gloves for most of the run, but the jacket... I was pretty cold.  I decided to keep it.

Here's a pic from before the race:  It's not an awesome pic of me, and you can't see the green in my tights! 

And off we went!  I remembered how much jostling I had to do at the start of the last race and tried to set up a little closer to the middle of the pack today.  It's crowded up in there!  Still had a lot of trouble in the first few minutes making sure I did trip over anyone's feet in front of me, but eventually I found my spot and settled into my pace.  I was wearing my Garmin (of course) and tried to just push without focusing too much on the watch, just running by feel, trying to ensure I felt like I was running a hard, but at a pace I could maintain for the full 3 miles.  It's tricky, because with all the adrenaline I don't want to go out too fast, but I don't want to cheat myself by pacing too conservatively either.  

At about the 1-mile mark, I couldn't take it anymore and took my windbreaker off, wrapped it clumsily around my waist.  I should have known better!  I was all warmed up and too hot!  Kept the gloves though!  (Actually, I ditched those before I hit the 2-mile marker...)  I glanced at my watch periodically to check my current pace and focused on keeping it below 11:30.  I did catch it occasionally a little below 10:00 (but also a couple times over 12:00, so who knows?)  On the home stretch, once you get to where you have about a half-mile to go, it's a straight, flat shot and you can see the finish line the whole way, so I concentrated, refocused, and kept repeating my new mantra:  my world, my record, my pace.  As soon as the Garmin chimed at the 3-mile mark, I ripped the jacket off my waist, threw it to the side of the road and BOLTED just as fast as my body would go.  

I could see the timer and groaned aloud as I watched it go from 34:59 to 35:00 and on as I approached in the last 10 seconds or so!!  ACK!  I really thought this might be the day I beat that 35-minute goal.  

I stopped my watch right as I crossed the finish line, didn't even look, I was just out of breath and looking for some water (and my husband!).  When I found them, I looked. 

Guess what?  All that jostling at the beginning of the race?  Yup, I crossed the start line about 30-40 seconds after the gun went off, so my time:

WAHOO!! HOLY WOW!!  I DID IT! 

And I'm so happy that Jason was there with me today - he was so supportive and proud of me.  I couldn't speak, I was still so out of breath when I got to him - he asked "How did you do?" and I just showed him my watch - he knew just what it meant and he was SO SUPPORTIVE and PROUD of me!!  "You did it honey!!  You are so awesome!"  Best.  Moment.  Ever.

So here are some stats for you, for comparison:
Last year (the weather was crazy hot at this race last year, and you can see that reflected here):  I came in 56th in my age group, out of 62, # 627 out of a total of 657.  My time was a whopping 41:31, average pace 13:24 per mile.  That was about 30 seconds slower than the Miller Park race two weeks earlier.
Today's results:  for my age group, I came in 58th out of 77, and 567 overall of 692.  Race time 34:31, for an average pace 11:08

Here's my Garmin stats for the run:  Check out how consistent those times are for each mile!!  I didn't get negative splits, but damn, those are some solid times.

Full Garmin stats here if you're interested

In review:  2013 Fitness Goals:  
1.  Hit the gym more often for weight training (in progress)
2.  More sit-ups and push-ups.  (Oops this has gone by the wayside... hmmmm)
3.  Complete a half-marathon (planned for September)

2013 Running Goals:
1.  Run 500 miles (in progress - 134 so far)
2.  5K time under 35:00
3.  10K time under 1:12:00
4.  Run a half-marathon (yes, this made it onto both lists...  I've been known to repeat myself.)
5.  Test mile under 10:00

Two down, which will fall next?

Oh yeah, and it's Sunday so I weighed in this morning... down 1/2 a pound.  Yeah, I'll take that.

February 2013 Goals & Challenge Update

It's about time for the February Miles Update!
Reminder in case you weren't paying attention at the first of the year:
My official goal for 2013 is to run, walk and / or bike 500 miles as quickly as possible.
The other Challenge items for this year are:

1. Ultimate mileage goal is to run/ walk 500 miles (excluding bike miles).
2. Complete my first half marathon race.
3. 5K race time under 35 minutes.
4. 10K race time under 1 hour 10 minutes.
5. Test Mile time under 10 minutes. DONE

I ran this month's miles for:

Additional stats for this month and year-to-date:

Random facts for February:

One Trip to Lake Bloomington

One test mile

One test 5k = "unofficial" PR

Zero races

Three group runs

Six runs in snow / ice

One ice-related injury

Three workouts skipped due to work obligations

Six workouts either cancelled or cut short due to weather conditions.

Weight change for the month:  1.2 lbs.

January 2013 Goals & Challenge Update

It's time for my first monthly Miles Update for 2013!
Reminder in case you weren't paying attention at the first of the year:
My official goal for 2013 is to run, walk and / or bike 500 miles as quickly as possible.
The other Challenge items for this year are:

1. Ultimate mileage goal is to run/ walk 500 miles (excluding bike miles).
2. Complete my first half marathon race.
3. 5K race time under 35 minutes.
4. 10K race time under 1 hour 10 minutes.
5. Test Mile time under 10 minutes.

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about." 
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian 

I ran this month's miles for:

Ellen Bruno	4.0
Cari Landreth	5.0

Ben Willis

3.0

Joe Wolford

3.1

Peg Stark

13.1

Maryann Thomas

1.0

Cheryl Kagemann Williams

10.0

LRC Kelly McBride

15.0

LoseIt! Ashley Grace

16.0

Terry Patterson - SUB 11-min miles

3.0

ME!

3.12

Total mileage for January

76.32

For anyone who's a freak for stats & data analysis like I am, here's how it breaks down:

Any stats I forgot?? 

How about these random notes:  four runs in the snow, three trips to the lake, five group runs, one run cut short by an incredible thunderstorm, and seven gym workouts.

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'." 
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

So here's the thing:  I've ALREADY MET ONE OF MY 2013 GOALS.  

See that stat above that says Best Test Mile time:  9:50?  Yup, that's the one.  That's better than the 10-minute pace goal I set!  I'm pretty excited about this, but a little disappointed in my goal-setting skills.  I have seriously underestimated my ability to work on speed.  This means I need to revise my 2013 1-mile pace goal, and I need to get aggressive about it.  Or at least it should feel like I'm being aggressive about it.  I'm thinking 9:00 but open to suggestions.

And as long as I'm looking back at progress for the month, here's a graph of my weekly weigh-ins from January 1 to January 31.

The chart helps me, with the slow progress I've been seeing weight-wise over the past few months, it's nice to see that, yes, over time, the weight is coming off.  It's just s...l...o...w.

Thanks, January:  despite the RIDICULOUS weather you keep throwing at me, that was a pretty awesome start!