Satisfaction!

I took advantage of the opportunity to work out before heading out of town for the new year celebrations and it was excellent! I ran for about three miles at a steady pace. The gym lost power temporarily, causing the treadmills to shut down, but I started mine back up and kep chugging along. I was going to run a bit farther but I figured since I'd be finishing up with weights that I would actually like to be able to walk afterwards. I completed a round of exercises in the gym's 30 minute zone. I maxed out on a few different upper body sets. Then I grabbed the free weights and just got in the zone: plie squats with weights (3 sets), backward stepping lunges with weights (2 sets), curls back rows, chest press, and on and on. I am very proud of the effort level I gave. Hopefully I can stay on track and make some time for exercise while going out of town, even for just a refreshing walk outdoors!

Frazzled holidays

It's frustrating to find enough hours in our day for all that we hope to do. Sure, we could probably get by on four hours of sleep a night if we want to make the time to work a 40 hour week and do everything else that needs to be done. But four hours of sleep is not realistic, at least for me. And if it is for you, I think you're not being honest. During the holidays we are shopping and cutting food for appetizers and wrapping presents and packing for out of town getaways. It seems that people have no problem pushing exercise to the side. Don't do this! Don't be one of those people who takes two weeks off. Don't save your best sweating sessions for January after the candy dishes have been cleaned out. My motto has always been to exercise when you have the opportunity. Notice the difference between the words opportunity and time.



I strongly believe that we'll want to finally exercise when there really is no time at all so if you can carve out a few minutes or hours, then do it! The last exercise I managed was a three mile run on Christmas eve. It looks as if this Monday might be my last opportunity before going out of town for new year's celebrations. I have to revel in it. I have to maximize my time. I have to take advantage.



Sure I could shrug it off. I could tell myself there's no point in exercising if I only have one shot in a week of busy days. That's crap. It is at least one shot. It's one opportunity to burn off a few chocolate covered nuts or glasses of wine.



But as I've said before the goal of exercising is not to simply lose five pounds or fit into some skinny jeans. It's for the deeper therpaeutic and mental health benefits. It's about taking an hour or two for yourself. It's about your own sanity. If you want to keep it, you have to make it a priority. Don't start the new year on the heels of one month where you hated your decisions.

2 Down, 33 To Go!

I had my second yoga class last night. I'm so lucky I get to be drenched in sweat in a 105 degrees room because it was snowing fierce in Plymouth. My car needed to be brushed free of snow and I'd only been in the class for 90 minutes. That's winter. And it's so much more enjoyable with a Bikram yoga pass.

I missed working out on Monday because of a dentist appointment, but I did have a great workout over the weekend. On Saturday morning I ran 4.5 miles and I did a vigorous round of upper-body weights (3 sets for each exercise). That was a tremendously great way to go into the weekend.

It gets hard to make the time duing the holidays. Even today I have a haircut appt so I won't be working out. Guess I will have to give my all on Thursday when I make it to the gym. That's all we can do–make the best effort when we get the opportunity, and not beat ourselves up when the opportunity isn't there.

Cheers.

Could you pass up this offer?

My new employer, Plante & Moran, offers an athletic reimbursement. They pay 50 percent of costs up to $200 per year. I needed to apply by December 31 to get my reimbursement for this year, so I signed up for a yoga package. Normally the Bikram classes are $15 for one class. When you buy in bulk, you get a greater savings. When you buy in bulk at the time of a special promotion, you get an even greater savings. And when you do all this while your company takes on half the costs, well it is too good of a deal to pass up. The internet offer added five free classes to the usual package of 30 classes for $300. In the end, I make out like a bandit. I will end up paying $150 for 35 classes, that's about $4.30 for each class. I am so excited about this. It's an interesting challenge. How will I feel after going to 35 yoga classes? Will there be a noticeable difference? Will I become addicted? Will my back problems disappear? I am feeling enthusiastic about this adventure.

Jingle Bell run

On Sunday morning I was up at 7:30 a.m. to get ready for the race in Northville. With windchill, the temperature felt like five degrees. That meant lots of layers and a hearty bowl of oatmeal. At least it was a very sunny day even if slush and snow coated the course. During the first mile, I thought my toes would blacken and fall off. By the time they adjusted, I realized my fingers were numb. Then when the race was just about over, I realized I was comfortable dressed for the long haul. I finished the 3.2 miles in 33:33. Not a bad time at all! Happy Holidays

Who likes cold weather?

Winter has arrived in Michigan. The temps aren't likely to be above 40 degrees for a few more months. Windchill often brings 20 degree temperatures. Furnaces are kicking out hot heat at a steady pace across the state. With this comes dry heat, static, and cracking, dry skin. This is definitely the season where it's refreshing to go outside for walks and runs, whether they are casual or competitive. I didn't get it together in time to sign up for the Turkey Trot. (Well maybe I could have got it together, but just didn't feel like it.) I am making it up to myself by signing up for a different race — the Jingle Bell run in Northville, MI. It's 5K race and I have been comfortably running that distance a few times a week. I am more intimidated by the cold and the wind than anything else! I'll have to run outside, away from the treadmill, sometime this week to mimic the real deal. Cheers to staying healthy in the holiday season!

world...turning...

Everything has been going well with the transition to my new job. I successfully survived my first week. I am honestly looking forward to going back in on Monday. The work is challenging, sometimes a bit too much but I think the "I'm new here" excuse will buy me some time to figure more stuff out. Most of the people I have met have been friendly and helpful and supportive. People seem genuinely nice.

I found out that my boss is a runner and I think that is fantastic! She is running the 10K Turkey Trot in Detroit on Thanksgiving. She even said I could go with her. I would like to but I'm not going to be getting a paycheck for a month; therefore, I don't think a race is what I should be spending $35+ on--- for that much money I think I could buy breakfast, lunch, and dinners for nearly two weeks!

What else? I worked out everyday after work last week. I was very afraid of having such a nutty schedule that my gym time would fly out the window---so far that has not been the case. I managed to find time to run, lift weights and do yoga and other cardio. It's great when I can relieve stress that way. My schedule is about 815 to 445 everyday which helps a *tiny* bit with getting around rush hour, but dealing with that fact is just part of the gig right now.

I have a lot less free time in general, at work and and home. I think my posts might become quite infrequent but we'll see how it goes. This is a transition. I'm sure I'll get in more of a routine as time goes on.

Old-fashioned sweaty gym time

I can't remember the last time that I allotted two hours to spend at the gym. I have always loved having a gym membership. I don't feel like a hamster when I run on the treadmill. I don't feel like I'm cavorting with meat heads just because I use the free weights. I feel that fresh surge that my body is an efficient tool and I can shape it however I want. I can walk on the treadmill or grunt it out on the gravitron machine or follow the motions of the 30 second lifting area. There are so many ways to exercise and I love the choices. I love tailoring what I want to do on how I feel or how hungry I am or how pumped I am to really give it my best effort. Yesterday was definitely a best effort kind of day. I alternated 30 minutes on the ArcTrainer, 30 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the treadmill and another 45 minutes of weights. I felt like I had wrung my body through a detox gauntlet. When I finally left Planet Fitness, I could honestly say that I was deeply satisfied with what I had accomplished. That's a great note to end on.

(Plus, I don't get tv, so I was hugely interested in the cable networks' analysis of the election!)

slackin on the updates

I have been pretty busy finishing up works tasks in my last week. I have also been pretty occupied outside of work. I'm still making time to exercise, but I have not been so great about reporting on it. I am reveling in this November heat wave. It is wonderful! Yesterday I went for a bike ride but I was dismayed that the sun about disappeared by 6pm. That put the kibosh on a long adventurous ride. At least I got out though. Can't even remember the last time I rode. It did feel really great :)

*Breaking News*

I'm willing to bet that my dearth of posts lately have made people reluctant to even check for updates, as they figure there probably aren't any. My apologies to my 4 loyal readers. Anyways, I was spending some time making a decision about a job offer from Plante & Moran. After much much much over-thinking, I have accepted the offer. That's that. Life goes on. Since this blog is about exercise and fitness and health, I won't burden this post with all that was going on. Suffice to say I am nervous but excited about the opportunities ahead of me!

Now my next decision is if I should run in the Turkey Trot and if I can convince Sharon or Alissa to accompany me.

Running in the fall

I do love summer and I think everyone knows that about me. I love going to the lakes, wearing my bathing suit, sitting on a boat and baking under the deadly heat of a blazing sun. If I could have one permanent season, I'm sure it would be a hot and humid and sunny summer. That does not mean that I don't find value in the other seasons. In fact as much as I enjoy summer, I think I run less because I'm already outside doing other things. Fall seems to provide perfect running temperatures. And with the dry heat being turned on indoors, that cooler crisp air is refreshing and welcoming. On Wednesday I managed to get outside while there was a break in the rain and the temp was about 60 degrees. I had a wonderful run. I strapped on the iPod, ran through 13 songs and, at my pace, figured that to be about three miles. It was everything I think an enjoyable run should be: unhurried, relaxing, adventurous, challenging and peaceful. I can't wait for my next opportunity.

The weather was absolutely perfect for autumn this past weekend. I went with Jason and his family to their cottage at Canadian Lakes and we were undeniably blessed with warm air, paprika and goldenrod and honey-colored leaves, clear skies and vast amounts of sunshine. We took advantage of this perfect fall confluence and spent over an hour hiking through trails on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday I managed to get away for a three mile run. I couldn't believe how unprepared I was for the fact that it was actually hot that afternoon. I wish Michigan's fall season would always be this grand.

Suds in the bucket

Disclaimer: Very country.
I'm into this song right now for running. I think it's a sweet story.

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Cold kicking it.

After having not engaged in any working out last week (due to a variety of factors), I worked up the energy on Friday. I ran 3 miles in the neighborhood around my house. I felt great. I was completely caught up in the rhythm of my movements. I had some kicking songs to motivate me. The day boasted perfect weather. I thought that maybe I was seeing the end of this cold (or whatever it is) that's been bothering me. I feel fine for the most part, I'm just going through kleenux like mad and coughing too. We'll see how this week goes.

Just a walk in the park...

This past weekend I visited my parents in Grand Rapids. My dad signed up to walk the half marathon in the Detroit Free Press races in October. He is very excited about it. He's going to walk with a good buddy of his. I hope the weather is as nice for them as it was in 2007 when I ran (err, hobbled) the entire 13 miles. He's getting himself ready by walking to and back from work (about 3 miles each way). On the weekend he goes for longer walks and alternates in short spurts of running. As you can imagine, I got suckered into going out with him last Saturday. I went to bed so early and slept so well that I woke up refreshed by about 8am---a totally rare occurrence. Anyways, the air was warm, the sun was bright and we had a nice route through Calvin college. We were gone for about 90 minutes. We tried scurrying down some tight dirt paths with brambles and mud. We found a way to cut over to Lake Drive instead of staying on the high traffic road. It was a fabulous start to the day! This picture was taken by my mom when we got back home :)

Apathy gives way to ambition

Last night's run was not as ideal as I would have liked but the upside is that I got some exercise and I was back to wanting to engage in more. I started thinking that if my goal is to do the entire IWTB dvd series by my birthday then I better start ramping up my effort. So with that in mind, I was prompted to pop in the dvd and give my strongest effort. I did the arms section, then abs, then lower body (with weights for a bit!) then I attempted a portion of the other chapters of arms and same for the lower body. HUZZAH! My thighs were shaking so I could barely keep my balance by the end. My face was flush and sweat drops were collecting in my eyes. It was intense and grueling and I was totally relieved by the time it was over!

This weekend I am spending some time with my parents. I know my dad is planning on walking the FREEP half marathon and so maybe I can do a long walk with him and my mom. That should be fun, especially if it's the last 70+ degree day for the year.

Cheers!

The running skirt strikes again

I admit that sometimes feeling positive about how you look can have a commensurate impact on how you feel while working out. Yesterday, was my first chance at fitness in about a week and I have to admit some apathy was starting to kick in. I had been feeling stressed out and when a friend suggest a run as a stress reliever, I took the bait. It was easy to head out on the streets when I had on my running skirt; however, that did not keep me in motion, unfortunately. My plan was to run for three songs, walk for another and then repeat that a few times like I did last week. Well I don't know if it was the wimpy mindset that I head while heading out or the brutal high temps but my effort was a bit on the weak side. I managed the first mile, even though I was rudely interrupted by Plymouth's longest train ever. Then in the second mile I had to walk for a bit. Then I could not even finish the third mile. And I was out for close to an hour. Yikes! I was definitely the turtle moving in slow motion to the finish line. So it goes. I could berate myself for my sad workout or I could think that I got out there when I was not enthused, when I was not heat acclimated and I lasted an hour. Isn't there some adage about how the glory is not that you finished but that you started? Yeah, I will chalk it up to that sort of mentality. Maybe when the weather cools off next week, I'll have greater success! Tonight I hope to circle through all of the chapters on the IWTB dvd.

Almost derailed

Do you see these treats? It was one of these plus a visit with my aunt that almost made my exercise plans fall apart for Wednesday night. The thing is I thought I wasn't meeting her until 7pm and therefore I'd have time for a quick run after work. It didn't turn out that way. She called and said she'd be in town around 6. I didn't want to miss seeing her but I didn't want to miss a workout either; however, it looked as if the socializing would trump my fitness goals. Yep that's the way it seemed by the time I ate my way through one of those dessert bars and downed a medium latte. (And I hadn't even had my dinner yet!) By the time I left Ann Arbor, it was 7pm and I still needed to stop at the grocery store for dinner food for me and Jason. That gave me some time to think, and some time to digest that gut bomb. I'm guessing that butterscotch devil clocked in at about 400 calories and 15g of fat. Now, I am not one of those people who exercise only to cleanse themselves of fat and calories. I do believe though that all things should be practiced in moderation, and if we have time to indulge then we can make time to do something healthy too.

You can guess where this is going. I was psyching myself up to try and run when I got back to Plymouth. (Cramps, be damned!) And that is what I did. I laced up my shoes, re-loaded my ipod and put on my determined face. I ran for 3 songs (approximately 1 mile) then walked for one song and repeated this 3 times. This wasn't a record-setting pace, but it was running, nonetheless. I probably managed about 45 minutes of cardio and maybe 3.3 miles of running. Man, it sure gets dark earlier these days. I felt great about making time for myself! And I still managed to have some treats and a great visit with my aunt. All in all, a pretty well-rounded and satisfying evening!

The gym? on the weekend?

I actually made it to the gym this past Saturday. What a strong feeling of accomplishment! I always feel, when I get to the gym on a weekend day, that I am that much ahead of the game for the amount of workouts I can squeeze in during the entire week. *5* days of fitness for me last week. I am thrilled. Woot! Woot!

All I actually did while I was there was 15 grueling minutes on the bike, elliptical, gravitron and treadmill, respectively. And I got to catch up on some news on the cable channels ;)

4 days strong

Monday: Body Pump class
Tuesday: One hour walk to work and back
Wednesday: One hour on the treadmill
Thursday: The first 3 chapters of all segments on the IWTB dvd

HUZZAH!

Flame broiling the Earth

Producing the world's beef and pork intake creates more greenhouse gases than all of the planet's cars, planes and boats combined---

Need another reason to feel guilty about feeding your children that Happy Meal — aside from the fat, the calories and that voice in your head asking why you can't be bothered to actually cook a well-balanced meal now and then? Rajendra Pachauri would like to offer you one. The head of the U.N.'s Nobel Prize–winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Pachauri on Monday urged people around the world to cut back on meat in order to combat climate change. "Give up meat for one day [per week] at least initially, and decrease it from there," Pachauri told Britain's Observer newspaper. "In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity." So, that addiction to pork and beef isn't just clogging your arteries; it's flame-broiling the earth, too.

Read the rest of the article here.

Walkin on sunshine

Yes, it's Friday and YES (!!) I am not going anywhere this weekend. Hip Hip Hooray!! I have had an absolute blast this summer. I have done a lot of traveling, had tons of fun on the lakes and spent great time with some of the most special people that I am close to. This summer has been stellar. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer, but so it goes... so it goes. Well, nothing signals the demise of summer like staying in Plymouth for the weekend and discovering that this weekend is Fall Festival. What's up with the corn husk decorations everywhere and the orange and black streamers? It's like the whole town is trying to squeeze summer out of the house and screaming "Don't let the door hit you on your way out." I just want to shout slow down people! Alas, I am powerless to the ways of the world. Maybe I'll carry on like Jason suggests by realizing that summer is a mindset ;) haHAH!

It's been a great week so far. Don't we usually say that about four day work weeks? I went running on Wednesday. I made it to Body Pump last night(!). I am doing my drive-and-walk route to and back from work today.

Ah, life is good.

Three weeks in a row!

Last night marked the third Wednesday in as many weeks that I made it to the gym for a run. I wan on the treadmill for close to an hour, and spent 30 minutes running. I'm pretty proud of sticking to my goal to run once a week and hopefully I'll be upping the amount soon enough. But, hey, slow and steady is the name of my [running] game! Tonight, I'm also thrilled to have plans to go to a Body Pump class. It's been too long. I also want to stay on target with my new (more intense) workout goal which is to complete the IWTB dvd in its entirety by my birthday. That plan calls for some serious strength so I'll definitely benefit from the muscle-toning effects of an hour of lifting weights!

There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. John F. Kennedy

Still truckin...

Ah, the benefits of exercise are many and varied. I've been on a crazy loop of going out of town for multiple weekends now. More parties, more socializing...more time away from exercise and the routine of healthy eating. It's amazing to me how invigorating just a few quick sessions of exercise can be. I have actually run three times in 11 days. Woo Hoo. Is this a new leaf? A return to my running self of last year? Who knows... I don't want to get too hyped up and put too much pressure on myself. I just want to enjoy it. I want to run without pain. I want to look forward with anticipation to my next run, not dread. So, for now, the pace is slow and steady. I've also committed to a routine of my IWTB dvds. I've slipped in a few days of walking to and back from work from a spot where I park my car. Just that extra hour of walking does wonders for my self confidence. And now that overtime is no longer an option, I'm back to time winning out in the money v. time endless debate. After 50+ hour work weeks, it's crazy how short an 8 hr day seems. So, looks like for now, I'll be broke as a joke but I'll have some toned muscles to show for it.

Carry on.

Breakfast of champions

This cereal is sometimes what gets me out of bed in the morning! Pathetic? Maybe. But we all need those little treats. Even better than the taste is the nutritional punch that this is packing.

• 100% RDA of Folic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamins B6 and B12
  
• only 1.5g of fat
• 120mg of Potassium
• 5g of fiber

And it's made even more delicious surrounded by floating raspberries. I love this breakfast. It's a pretty solid way to start the day. This is really important to me lately with all my out of town traveling and the commensurate shake-up of any sense of routine. I'm eating BBQ food for weekend dinners. I'm shoveling snacks and chips inbetween meals. You know how it goes. Things take on a different turn when you're away from your own kitchen and cupboards. So, when I can get a few bowls of this during the week before a work day, it's a satisfying way to sneak in some healthy food for myself.

I've managed two workouts this week and feel pretty positive about that. On Wednesday I made it to the gym for an hour of cardio, which included 20 minutes of running until my back started jolting with each step. Yesterday I got in a sweat packed hour of the IWTB series. Well, two workouts in one week isn't the training of champions but it's the best I could manage.

She lives!

I apologize for the dearth of posts lately. My schedule has been pretty messed up---albeit for good reasons. I only worked two days last week. Then I spent a long weekend at my cottage celebrating my dad's 60th with my family. So now I am going to try and get back to a routine and figure out where to head from there.

This post actually owes a big THANK YOU to my cousin Lauren. She is training for a fitness test at her work so she was doing some running up at the cottage. The slacker that I am, I haven't run since that hill episode with Ed. Was that seriously weeks ago? Geesh... Well Lauren was kind enough to humor me trotting alongside her. We ran for 40 minutes straight in some blistering heat! It was a terrific jolt to my system. I always go in and out of phases of loving running and I've been on the outs for awhile now. It's good to know that I can still pull off a few miles even without any practice whatsoever.

We'll see where I go from here!

An update

Reggae Fest is coming right up. I am incredibly excited! The camp site is gorgeous. I haven't slept in a tent all summer. I coaxed some new friends into tagging along. I can't remember the last time that I heard any live music, let alone outdoors with a lake as a backdrop. With all of this in mind, I have been dutifully adhering to my 100 abs a day goal. Last week I went Tuesday through Saturday before finally taking a break on Sunday. I've been hitting the gym and was just at Body Pump again last night.

This weekend jason and I went to a friend's beach house on Lake Michigan. We engaged in the best kind of exercise--the kind that is so fun and you are laughing so hard you don't even realize you're working out. The wind was fierce all day Saturday and so the waves were rolling and breaking and churning with a lot of force. It was hard work not getting sucked up by the current but wow it was so much fun!

Here's a (not too exciting) video I took. That's Jason out there and the incredible noise is simply the sound of the waves.

The abs streak continues

Last week I carried out my plan five days in a row, then like God, I rested on the Sabbath. Not surprisingly, this got me to forget about my plan and so I skipped Monday. However, I was determined to correct for this and get back to the program. I completed my 100 on Tuesday night. Then I was back at the gym before work this morning where I completed another 100. I don't really have the $8 to spare for Body Pump this week so I figured I'd make it to the gym and give my best effort on my own. I pushed myself and sweated like a buffalo. I did squats on the Smith machine; one-legged standing squats; lunges on the balancing foam; the abductor/adductor machines; sumo squats holding weights; single, double and double-to-single leg reps on the leg press machine. I'm happy that I accomplished so much in one hour before the day had even begun. Huzzah!

Found

I was walking to my car after work yesterday and noticed a piece of paper stuck under one of the tires. I bent down to inspect it, wondering if it was something personal that flew out with the wind, but it was a paper from one of those quote-of-the-day desk calendars:

Remember, personal growth is the result of giving, not withholding.

I thought it had a universal appeal. Obviously, it speaks to a life outlook, but it also applies to working out! You aren't gonna make any gains if you withhold your effort by sitting on the couch all day.

Weekend fitness

Anyone who even occasionally reads my blog knows that I am a huge fan of Tamilee Webb's I Want That Body dvd series. In fact, I wrote a review that waxed enthusiastic about it for Her Active Life. Check it out here. Basically, I love it for its simplicity. It's broken down into three segments: abs, arms and buns---that pretty much covers the entire body. Each body part comes with a choice of Chapter 1 of 2, depending on how advanced you feel. Each chapter is only 15 minutes long. Seems short but it packs a strong punch!

I feel that I have mastered the abs and arms segments but always the buns portion was the most challenging for me. I have never had 15 minutes feel like such an eternity's length of time. And her sumo squats---yow! This weekend I threw the dvd in and I, once again, felt the powerful results of Body Pump. I actually made it through the entire 15 minutes without stopping to breath, stretch or just rub my legs in agony. And two days later my thighs are still burning. That is what I call a proud success.

After that 15 minutes segment, I pushed myself through my own version of upper body weights and abs. I'm still on a roll with the 100 a day until Reggae Fest. I did them for five days in a row last week and only skipped Sunday. I figure my gut needs a day off if the muscle fibers hope to heal and grow stronger.

Keep on keepin' on!

On the horizon

Our upcoming 2008 Reggae Fest takes place in about two weeks. The spectacular festival hosts a great combination of music, camping and swimming. Does it get any better? No, not for me. Having this on the calendar ups my desire to get in some fresh workouts before the big par-tay. My new goal is to do 100 sit-ups every day leading up to that weekend. I don't think doing them is as hard as remembering that I have the goal. I also want to stay steady in my balance of overtime, sleep and exercise. I've been doing great this whole week. Well, actually looking back to last weekend in Chicago, I biked and walked plenty. Monday I took a necessary day off for sleep. On Tuesday I managed my commute so that I park and walk for 30 minutes to work and then back to my car afterwards. On Wednesday I went to Body Pump. Thursday I did the same driving/walking commute. This morning I was up at 6 to get to the gym before a long day of sitting on my butt (ie, work). Hopefully I can keep up the streak while being realistic and listening to my body. Happy Friday!

Body Pump. It works!

I woke up this morning for an 8am Body Pump class. I'd never been to a morning class but since I have plans this evening it was the right time for today. Apparently, this time slot is quite a popular one. I'd never seen such a crowded class. Oh well. It's been a week since my last session with weights and I was eager to feel the burn. I upped my weights for a couple of different body parts. It was a serious struggle but I know I need to push myself to keep improving. Being comfortable can be the same as being complacent.

Anyways, I was in the kitchen at work when I first goto to the office and another co-worker happened to put her hand briefly on my shoulder as we were talking about the weather. (What else do coworkers discuss with enthusiasm?) After that brief exchange she showed up at my desk to tell me that she could feel how strong my arm was just with that quick grazing of her hand. I was thrilled! She asked me if I worked out to get like that. I mean she called me strong! Hallelujah! I quickly fired off an email to say how her words made my day so bright. Then she sent me this long reply about how I am an inspiration to her. And she was serious. She said that I look amazing. That was the most unexpected thoughtful precious moment of my recent days. It is very reassuring to have those reminders that there is a reason to stay on track and try to be healthy when you can. Sure I love my hash browns smothered in cheese and eggs and avocados or nachos towering with cheese but that's why I get up early and drag my tired buns in for some exercise.

Chicago

This post is for the 5 readers who wonder what happened with the sister-sister team for Sunday's 5K. Well, I hate to burst your bubble but we did not run the race. My sister is having trouble with her leg/thigh and was waiting on new orthotics that had not yet arrived for the big day. Without those helpful aids her leg was troubling her just walking around. Could we have opted to walk the race instead of running? Sure, I suppose so. However, I really don't have anything to prove to anyone that I can walk side by side with my sister for 3.2 miles. Plus, it was pouring rain that Sunday morning and, well, sometimes this is what happens. I'm comforted knowing the money still went to a good charity and the race is what got me out to Chicago for a weekend anyways. We still biked around most of the city and did plenty of walking (when it was not raining). We even went to a 90 minute yoga class on Saturday afternoon. So, I was no slouch. I love how in that city if you don't have a car and you do have a bike (or 10 of them if you're so lucky) you can build exercise into your daily transportation. Pretty cool! This actually motivated me to choose the route to work where I park my car at a friend's house and walk from there. It really doesn't save me much gas and it does double my commute time, but it's still a way to get in some exercise and fresh air. It's good to see how others get around and live their lives. New ideas can often be exciting ideas!

Island Lake

I finally made it to Island Lake Recreation Area for the first time this year. I went swimming and did lots of walking around the lake looking for a prime location to put my stuff. Jason met up with me and did some fishing. I'll post some pictures soon.

I leave for Chicago tonight. Look out mega bus! Round trip ticket for $30. We're supposed to run a 5K on Sunday morning but I don't think either of us are feeling especially fit or optimistic. I'm sure we'll be a delightful pair.

More to follow!

Does this skirt make my butt look fast?

I bought this Champion running skirt from Target a few months ago when it was on sale for $20. Tuesday's run was my first time testing it out. The weather was so hot and I am not heat acclimated so it was the perfect choice. I liked it a lot and I will definitely add it to my running apparel rotation. It fit great and looked fun and never bothered me by riding up. There are built-in shorts underneath so it's not as if you have to worry about accidentally mooning any passer-by as you bend down to readjust your laces. Now onto my recap of the run: In one word---brutal. First, I have not been running much lately. I figured my last time running was 3 miles on July 3rd and that was indoors on a treadmill. Second, the heat. It was incredibly hot and sunny last night. Third, the pace. I'm sure Ed thought he was slowing down for caterpillar me but to these untrained legs it felt like I was trying to keep up with a cheetah. I was a pathetic whining wimp for the entire duration, but I guess the important thing is that I went out and tried. Yes I was groaning and complaining about the heat and about the beastly mini-mountain and about how out of shape I am but the truth is I am thrilled that I made it out. Ed is training for his 100 miler in Vermont this weekend and wanted to practicing jogging down the hill and walking back up at a decent pace. I know it seems fairly easy. It does, doesn't it? Let me tell you---it wasn't for me. But again, if it's easy it ain't worth a damn, right? I liked the variation of the hill repeats as opposed to plodding along for some great distance. It's something different to play around with. Of course, now I'm all hyped and want to try it every week to watch and see if I improve! Then I stopped at the grocery store on the way home ready to devour any food item in my path. I got Makahara rolls for an appetizer, corn on the cob, macaroni salad and wasabi sesame noodle salad with lima beans. Jason had fresh fish that his dad caught and a salad so it was a fresh, hearty and thoroughly enjoyable meal that was well deserved!

One workout done. The rest of my life to go! Body Pump was a blast as usual lat night. I did more push ups than I've ever done and I think my chest twinges when I cough! Today I'm meeting Ed for some kind of hill repeats. What did he say? Hmmm. I don't know where this guy comes up with these ideas and I don't know why I agree to them. I'm gonna wear my running skirt as well. I need to do laundry so bad. The current weather stats are 83 degrees and 40% humidity. I suppose it's appropriate!

Bumper sticker

I came across this insightful statement driving home from work one day. Not all bumper stickers infuse me with many feelings but this one hit the spot:

Change the way you see, not the way you look.

5 Day Workout Challenge

Another restless weekend passes and I'm determined to make it to a Monday 6pm Body Pump class. Also on my calendar is a running appointment with Ed for Tuesday evening. I have that 5K this Sunday and I could use at least one running session before that. Plus Ed is in his taper phase4 as he looks forward to his 100 miler in Vermont so I can probably keep up with him! I think I will aim to keep the momentum going by jamming in some other workouts for the rest of the week. I mean exercise beyond a 20 minute jaunt while on break from office work. Perhaps I can get in a few swims at Island Lake while the hot weather holds or maybe I can even cram in an early morning trail ride. I have the ambition, let's just see if I have the follow through.

200th blog post

It's my 200th blog post since I started my blog back in January (or Feb?) of 2007. Since then I ran (err, limped) through a half marathon. I think I've run two 5K's and one 10K. I've gone to physical therapy for tendonitis in my hip. I've gone through numerous heel lifts to keep my back spasms at bay. I've dealt with sporadic knee pain. I have found a new (and cheap) gym that is close to my house. I've kept up with Bikram Yoga. I've discovered Body Pump. I've flirted with my old standby IWTB dvd. I can pretty safely make the statement that if my body breaks down on me it isn't because I haven't tried to keep it functioning well.

Exercise is so vital. I don't even have enough space to list the 10,000 reasons why it is so important to make healthy living a priority. Sure you don't have to become a fanatic. Some people think I am but I assure you I am not. I like to drink beers in the sun. I enjoy a late night plate of chili cheese fries. Sometimes I'd rather order a pizza than make something out of my refrigerator. I've had my fair share of Johnsonville brats this summer.

The key is moderation, finding that balance between relaxing and partying and sleeping and work and socializing and family and friends and exercise. You really can't do it all, so you have to prioritize and you have to be open to changing those priorities. This past weekend I whooped it up at Jason's cottage with Martinique and Brittany and it was a blast. But then come Monday I was at a 5:00 Body Pump class. I figure if I can chill out for three days then I can find one stinking hour to do something positve for myself.

Sure we don't always feel excited about lacing up our shoes or driving to the gym or walking to work but we do it because we know it makes us better people. It makes us healthy. It keeps us strong.

And like my dad likes to say "If it's easy, it ain't worth a damn."

Pump, pump it up while your feet are stompin...

I went to Body Pump for the second time and loved it. The other participants encouraged me to use more weights and, as much as I usually think peer pressure is a bad thing, I was very glad I did. BOOYAH! I am incredibly sore today but not as sore as I was last night. On my drive home I thought my left leg might start spasming as it pressed and released the clutch in my car. Then I was tempted to leave my hair dirty since raising my arms to my head in the shower was painful. But, hey, you all know I'm a glutton for this sort of thing!

Today I'm going back to Bikram Yoga. It might be overkill to do two brutal workouts back to back but I'm not working any overtime this week so I might as well take advantage of some extra free time before I go crazy with overtime next week!

And the jam is pumpin'
Look at here the crowd is jumpin'
Pump it up a little more
Get the party going on the dance floor
Seek us that's where the party's at
And you'll find out if you're too bad
I don't want a place to stay
Get your boody on the floor tonight
Make my day
I don't want a place to stay
Get your boody on the floor tonight
Make my day
Make my day

So I found a new fitness band wagon to jump on, Body Pump.

According to the website description, "BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls."

My first favorite thing that enticed me about it: $8 for a drop-in class (compared to $15 for yoga). Plus you can sign up for a month of unlimited classes for $50. The other classes are Body Combat, Body Step, Yoga Flow, etc.


My sister was in town from Chicago last weekend and was such a great sport by accompanying me to a class on Saturday morning. (Did I say a grrreat sport?) I like to see women taking classes where you get serious about weights and toning and muscles. We are finally moving past the cardio-crazy fervor of step classes and aerobics. I am a big fan of building muscle tone to help you lose weight and stay in shape, moreso than cardio alone. The repeated adage that a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of weight is true! Also, you may not lose weight in this class but you will transform your fatty parts to more muscular parts. That creates the illusion of a stronger, slimmer you. The first class was a bit clunky because I wasn't used to it. Like anything, the more you do it, the more smoother it probably seems. You constantly need to change your weights depending on if you are doing squats or bicep curls. Also, I think you'd have to go quite a few times to really figure out the best amount of weights for each specific exercise.

I will definitely be going again!!

Bend it like Bikram

I finally went back to Bikram Yoga, my easy bake oven of love, for the first time in months. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. The heat reminded me of being in Myrtle Beach which was incredibly refreshing. I was reminded that my pass expires at the end of June. This means I have 2.5 weeks to use up 3 more classes. Ah, the easiest problem in the world :) Thanks again, Mom!!

Note to patrons of Jimmy John's

I definitely love when restaurants and coffee houses and sandwich shops post their nutritional content online. I'm a big fan of Jimmy John's #6 vegetarian sub. However, if I order it as is with provolone cheese, avocado spread, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, tomato, mayo and French bread, I am looking at 640 calories and 36g of fat. If I subtract the mayo, it is a whopping difference. The calories are brought down to 410 and now there is only 11g of fat.

Don't run from that info. Seek it out and use it to your advantage. I don't have to stop eating this sub. It's not all that unhealthy, as far as prepared foods go. Now I can be savvy and figure out how to keep it healthy while still retaining all it's deliciousness :)

Musings...

I gotta tell ya that I'm feeling conflicted about my running endeavors. It's like I want to just run a few times a week on my own and not worry abut a race and training for it and paying for it, but if I don't sign up for a race then I don't think I challenge myself all that well on my own. And then the other thing is that I feel like there are other types of fitness that I'd like to get into but I don't have the time with making sure to "get my runs in." And I hate that running would be something that stresses me out. It always used to be more my panacea than my reason for panicking. I don't even know what I feel I have to prove. Like, do I want to be someone that can boast about running 5 miles anytime? Do I have to run 4 days a week to feel like a real athlete? Will I feel accomplished when I consistently run 10 minute miles or run a certain number of races in a year? I'm just struggling to find the answers to these questions.

I know different people run for different reasons: some to push themselves, some to justify their gluttonous eating habits, some for the accomplishment of one more race. I think that if I were to be honest with myself I do it to be healthy. And I think someone who can run 3 miles a couple of times a week is probably pretty damn healthy. Maybe that's enough for me. And of course what is "enough" for me changes over time.

I think I also feel scattered with my time and working overtime and being crunched for free time. Plus, it's summer and that means traveling and vacations. It's hard to keep a consistent schedule. Sometimes I might make it to the gym 3 times in one week and only run for 90 minutes altogether. I want to be able to feel good about that and not feel "Oh darn I'm so far off the mark if I think I want to run a 6 mile race in three weeks."

That's one part of it. The other is that I'd like to be more consistent with yoga. I also want to try other stuff, whether it's dancing or pilates. Running is just one way to move your body through space. I think the beauty of the human body is the myriad ways we have to move. We can jump and bend and swoosh and splash and sway and waltz and kick and flip and contort and stretch and reach up and down and over and twist. Maybe I just need some time to explore my body in other dimensions. I'm sure I'll never stray too far from running. I never really do. It's the one constant to which I can always return.

Pleasure turns to frustration

I'm such an insufferable idiot. Look at me: repeating the same mistakes but thinking I won't have the same problems. In that last post I waxed on all high and mighty about my surge in running and frequency and mileage and then *BAM* now my knee is bothering me. DUH!! Sure the plan I laid out was a perfect gradually increasing plan, but I didn't factor in my start. Geesh I hadn't run 3x in one week or that many miles in months!! Then I bust out of the gate thinking I'm Big Brown but instead I'm gonna end up like Eight Belles. I should have worked up slower. I got in my two 3-mile runs this week but I might have to shelve the weekend's 5-miler. Adjustments will be made.

Summary: May 12 - May 18

So far so good. I am chugging along. This past week was a big one for me, well relatively so. I did a bunch of running related stuff that I hadn't done in months: ran 3 times, ran outside for all of my runs, worked up to a 4 mile run and tried two new routes. I am very pleased with myself!

A Grrreat New Run!

I'm still toying with the choice of signing up for the Flirt with Dirt 5K or 10K. Either way, I have got to make it a priority to run more often. Right now, I'm thinking that two weekday runs and one long weekend run will be the schedule that suits me best. Heck, I blew out my schedule for the last 10K and still completed it like a champion. So... schedule, schmedule?

Anyways, I have been logging the commuter miles by parking at my friend's house and walking to work from there. She lives in a cute, charming neighborhood that backs up to a river and a canoe livery. I thought it would be fun to try running around there. The added bonus would be that I'd have my run finished by the time I drove home. I love those time-saving ideas!

I mapped out my route on mapmyrun.com. It was a healthy 3 miles. The route was superb. Most of it was along a dirt road that hugged the tree-lined shore of the river. I didn't have any traffic to battle. There were a great many more hills than I encounter in Plymouth. I suppose it's healthy for me to challenge myself with new obstacles! I deemed it a success. I will definitely add this route to my memory bank.

This is my very very loose schedule for the upcoming weeks if I do plan to run the 10K.

• May 11-17: 3 miles, 3 miles - weekend 4 miles
• May 12-18: 3 miles, 3 miles - weekend 5 miles
• May 19-25: 3 miles, 4 miles - weekend 5 miles
• May 26th -31: 3 miles, 4 miles - weekend 6 miles
• June 1-7: 4 miles, 4 miles - weekend 6 miles
• June 8-race day: 3 miles, ? ?
  

Fast as Flirt

I'm heavily considering signing up for the 10K Flirt with Dirt. (You interested, Alissa?) As I type this it's about 4.5 weeks away. If I want to pull it off, I have to start logging some more weekly miles. It's just hard fitting it all in with overtime, etc. Although, at some point, there are no more excuses. You either make things a priority or you don't. I thought my last 10K was a smashing success, especially considering I hadn't run in the 3 weeks prior and I had been battling some type of cold/flu bug. It'd be really exciting to see what I could accomplish while feeling well and keeping up with my weekly runs.

That being what it is, I dragged myself out of bed at 630 am to get in an easy 3 miles. Man, I did NOT feel like it at all. Ugh. Plus I'd been diddling with my ipod and so I didn't even have a workout playlist prepared.

But I did it.

5/5--5/11 Summary

Last week was a positive week for working out! Twice, I biked from a halfway point to work to log those commuter miles. I had 2 awesome weight sessions. I actually ran for the first time since Florida. On Saturday, I biked to accomplish a small errand and it turned into a 10 mile loop. Then I also logged some commuter miles by parking at a friend's house and walking 3.5 round trip miles to work and back on Saturday while plugging away at overtime hours.

Hip Hip!

Woah, she writes again.

I have a new article up on HAL. It's amazing how all the editing work really detracts from my ability to write more often.

In other news, I biked from a halfway point to work again today.

Now I have saved 15lbs of CO2.

Hoot hoot!

Balance

I'm not talking about achieving balance in different aspects of your life. I am literally referring to your body's ability to do balancing moves. I know the argument for free weights vs machines. I know that the machines make it easier, your muscles adapt quickly to the moves, etc., while with free weights you force your body to balance and stabilize. You never really do execute the same move 100% every time. This post is not about harping on the benefits and drawbacks of either method.

I just started thinking about this the other day when I posted the Move of the Day for HAL and the move was a squat on a Smith machine. This might be my favorite move of all time. I can feel that it works. I know I grow stronger bc I can lift more. However, as I was quickly glancing at some websites, I was reminded of the importance of varying your routine. So with that idea in mind, I set out for the gym this morning, inclined to change it up a bit. (* denotes variation)

• Smith machine (w/ 70 lbs) - 2 x10
• sumo squats (a pair of 10lb dumbbells) - 1x10 *
• single leg presses (85) - 1x12
• double up, single down leg press (100) - 1x12
• standing single leg squats (no weights) - 3x5 *
• lunges on foam (no weights) - 1x10

(I also did my usual circuit of shoulders, chest, back, biceps and triceps. I am pretty consistent about alternating with free weights and machines for the upper body.)

What a wake-up call those new exercises were. (The immediate soreness was the first key.) I used to do stuff like this in PT. It is based on the idea of proprioception. It is a very overlooked aspect of fitness. It is one though that is crucial, especially for runners. I remember a physical therapist telling me of a marathoner who could easily log long distances but she couldn't balance on one leg for even 10 seconds. You can imagine how her failure to develop those peripheral muscles landed her in PT. Proprioceptive training can improve your coordination and reduce your risk of injury during sporting activity. Consistent work will upgrade your strength, balance, and agility and reduce your chances of getting hurt at the same time.

Well this is my public service announcement encouraging you to work on those balancing moves.

For information on some moves and how to do them, click here for an in-depth training plan.

I lost 7.28 pounds!!!!!!!

Hooray!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Okay for any of you who know me at all, you know I don't need to be losing weight and I wouldn't be celebrating the loss either.

Then what am I talking about you wonder.

I logged my bike miles the other day for the commuter challenge and I estimated the distance was about 8.5 miles roundtrip. Again, I wasn't doing it as a "workout," I was doing my good deed for Mother Earth. Well that trip saved 7.28 pounds of CO2 emissions. Pretty cool!!

From low on the gas to full throttle!

I finally made it to the gym this weekend. Hip hip! I had a powerful 30 minutes on the treadmill, then I engaged in an hour of all-over, hearty weights. My legs were screaming by the time I crawled out of there. It was absolutely great though. Then there was a fair in my downtown this weekend so I did plenty of walking around. Plenty. That was great to stretch out my legs. And then today: the full shabang bang! I have been contemplating riding my bike to work for a long time. Unfortunately I think it's pretty unsafe (not to mention damn far) to bike the entire route. I realized that I could throw my bike in my car and bike from a (sorta) halfway point. Well, today I officially did it! I was spurred on by AA's commuter challenge for May (and by knowing what cycling stars Mart and Brit are in Chicago). It's about a 4+ mile route. Nothing that's going to gear me up for the Tour de France, but that's not my goal. I wanted to try it. I wanted to save some commuter miles. I give other people a hard time about not fitting more exercise into their busy lives, so I thought I'd take some of my own advice. Cheers!

post-vacation malaise

The second definition at dictionary.com

2. a vague or unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness, lethargy, or discomfort.

Unfocused? Check.
Lethargy? Check.
Discomfort.... hmmm? Well I am back to work.

I am happy enough to drop most nutrition and fitness goals by the wayside on vacation. I really am. Darn it, I work hard and eat well the other 90% of the year so I can forgo a few days, weeks (months?) here and there without much guilt. In the span of about 8 days, I completed one 4 mile walk around my boyfriend's mother's complex in Florida. We went kayaking for a good few hours one afternoon (note attached picture). What else? Do 12 oz. Corona curls count? Oh vacation, how I long for you already.

I am drained as well. That's the lethargy I suppose. I slept for nearly 13 hours last night and still felt like I could have slept longer. (Bed sores be damned!) I'm not sure when I'll next think about going to the gym, let alone for a run. Bah! Well, maybe a run to the nearest Corona store...

Happy trails.

Exhaustion

I feel ragged and weary. My gusto for Florida, that motivated me through an intensive week of work, is ebbing away. I don't mean to say I'm not excited---I am. Crazy supah dupah psyched excited. Now, I'm just ready for it to be here.

56 hours I worked at MR last week (a personal record). I also spent about another 10 on my editing duties for Her Active Life. I also managed 4 workout sessions. At the expense of all of this was much needed sleep.

Then to cram in a final workout I was up today at 6am for a 2hr gym session before work. I'm really getting in the habit of squeezing workouts in beforehand. After some of these long days, I have a sad supply of energy remaining at the end of the work day.

Oh well, saddle up, right? Time to stop bitchin'. In 27 hours I'll be at the airport and in less than 48 I'll be on the beach in all my linguine-white noodle glory :)

(I was going to attach a picture, but I don't even feel like it.)

Morning Glories

Today I went to the gym for an hour of weights before work. It was the 3rd time I managed a workout in the early hours this week. It's such a feeling of accomplishment to have that out of the way. Especially with these 10+ hour days...I don't think I could muster the energy for dragging my ragged bones to the gym afterwards. Of course, I'm sure having Florida on the horizon is a big motivation. I keep hearing those Biggest Loser trainers screaming "Last chance workout!!" If you haven't seen the show, don't ask.

Why I got up this morning.

We all know the adage that it is the little things that get us through the day.
And the little things get us out of bed as well. I am a big fan of Nature's Path hemp granola. That stuff is so tasty that my mouth waters just
thinking about it. I decided to treat myself during this hard-working week and so I went to buy it, but I saw that it cost 50 cents more than the Nature's Path peanut butter granola. Well, heck, I might as well save the 50cents and try something new, right? This granola cereal is a delicious way to start the morning. Wow. I realize it is not thee absolute power-packed healthiest cereal out there, but it's not that unhealthy either. Actually, my ideal cereal would offer a bit more fiber and protein, but hey I can treat myself now and then.

Beach or Bust

This t-shirt sums up my feelings perfectly! I'm finally in the less-than-a-week to go zone. As I type this, the current temp in Ann Arbor is 55 (which, hey, that really isn't too bad), but the current temperature high for Fort Myers today is 72. AND the 10 day forecast has temps reaching into the 90s. Yes, my friends, that is what I am talking about. In my next life, I will definitely live on an island. Sure, Neebish is wonderful, but it's not beach season all year long.

Why I feel sorry for non-exercisers

I had a fabulous run with Ed (Mr. Ultra-training beast) at Maybury State Park. It was an uncomplicated 3.5 trail run through familiar territory (well, more familiar for him). What a perfect day for running it was! The skies were fresh and expansive. There weren't many other people crowding the route. The trees are just beginning to think about a summer coat, and so the sun could drip down in plenty of wide, unobstructed spaces.

Well I know the run we had wasn't any crazy feat for him, and that's okay. I tell myself though that 3.5 miles with him (even as he crawls at my pace) is akin to me doing 5 miles on my own. HA! And when I tell myself that, I feel very good for accomplishing a run with him.

In fact, I felt great. I felt happy with myself because part of me didn't even want to run at all. That sun I was talking about---it felt so good coming through my car window on the way over that I started feeling drowsy and lazy. Plus, my legs were still tight from working out the other day (damn those sumo squats with weights). However, in the face of those obstacles (and the 30 other ones I won't bore you by listing), I still went out and pushed myself and I know I am better for it.

That's what the non-exercisers are missing out on: the swelling feelings of accomplishment that accompany a goal achieved. How sad to go through life missing out on that. You go home, maybe you walk your dog, maybe you watch some tv or read a book but you never push youself and you suffer for that. I believe you really do. The thing is there are a lot of healthy behaviors that people don't get excited about: the time it takes to prepare a salad, the courage it takes to cut off a bad habit, the stamina it takes to run your first 3 miles, etc. There is this misconception that healthy people are different somehow, that we got lucky with a crazy gene. I don't think we are any different. Well, to an extent. Maybe we just love feeling proud and feeling happy and we learn to thrive on that...because, yep, we know that it's good for us.

beach season boom boom on the horizon

I have really had a terrific past few days of fitness. Maybe that race was the kick in the butt that I needed? Hmmm. For the past few weeks, I was moping and whining and sniffling and coughing (well I am still doing some of that) and feeling sluggish and had a no-can-do attitude. Then I had an about face.

Monday morning: I went to the gym before work. I laughed as I walked by the treadmill and saddled up to the elliptical instead. I pushed myself on that for 25 minutes. Then I had a muscle-screaming session of upper-body weights (shoulders, chest, lower back, upper back, biceps and triceps). Definitely a good start to the week.

Tuesday evening: The rain held off and I took that as a motivating sign. I ran 3.75 miles around my neighborhood. My legs sure felt tired, but when I was done I felt like a champ!

Thursday morning: I decided to skip the cardio in favor of some strength training. I did the whole-body circuit: smith machine squats, one-legged leg press, abductor, adductor, chest, back, arms and shoulders. Then I finished with some deep stretching.

I can't wait for the beach!!!

Meteor 10K race t-shirt

The first pic is the back of the t-shirt. The one below is the front of this bad boy. Now I am all for something free. Hells yeah. This is frugal Alexandra, in case you forgot! I've got to say though that this shirt is, ahem, quite loud. What do you think?!

I did it!

This blog had a tagline about aiming to enjoy a 10K and I can say proudly that I accomplished that! If you talked to me in person or inferred the vibe from a few of my posts, you know I was quite weary going into this event. I had been busy and sick and only managed two runs in the 3 weeks prior. I think I considered backing out under the guise of illness, solely as a rationalization for the fear that I wouldn't be able to run the whole thing. The reason that I signed up for this 10K in the first place was with the goal of running the entire 6.2 miles. Last year, I was saddened that I walked so much of the FREEP half marathon. To be fair, it wasn't some horrible defeat that left me dejected. I felt proud that I stuck with the whole 13 and that I did finish. I could have backed out and I didn't. This was just as much of a learning experience. These are the things I learned:

• I am a lot tougher than I think I am. To be able to wake up and run a healthy 10K with a drastically reduced training schedule proves that I do have some strong guts inside me.
• Just because you don't feel 100% doesn't mean that you still can't give your best effort. I haven't been able to breathe or use my normal vocal inflection for weeks. I've been jamming meds and hosing out my nose and going through kleenux like that's the race, but in spite of all of that, I woke up and pushed myself to success.
• A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E is your best weapon. That alarm bell can sound and you can pull the covers over your head and come up with a million excuses why today's just not your day or you can take a deep breath and determine to give your best effort.

Well that's enough of my self-help column. I don't know what the next goal will be. I can't say I'll be looking for longer races. I think it's possible the 10K might be my thang, so to speak. Although, I'm Type A enough to know that I don't settle for much for very long. I'll keep you updated. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy not running on a treadmill. The weather's perking up and the roads and trails are looking more welcoming. I'll just be playing with different plans and programs and machines at the gym while I'm working my way towards beach season. Florida in 2 weeks. Now, that's something to look forward to! Cheers.