the day i became a real runner

Linking up with Kathy at Vodka and Soda for Humpday Confessions (everyone's favorite part of the week)

epiphany

Well, I followed through on my word and went on a nearly-10-mile run on Saturday morning. When you average 16 minutes per mile, going 10 miles takes a serious chunk of time. When you have that amount of time, the mind tends to wander a bit. This wandering led to an epiphany of sorts for me.

the White River in the early morn

gluttony and sloth

Ok, am I the only one who loves the movie Se7en?

Anyway, I'm feeling like John Doe should be coming out of the shadows any moment to get me, because I have been sinning like crazy this past week.

source

productivity woah

This weekend was a whirlwind. So much so that thinking of where to start is overwhelming me! Here's a tiny recap:

• Friday: IKEA
• Saturday: 10k training run
• Sunday: IKEA build party

slog

I really am trying to get back into running. Really really. How is it that I've gotten so out of shape in just a couple of weeks? Yesterday's run was particularly horrible. I planned on going 4 miles, but about a quarter-mile in, my legs started SCREAMING at me. Every muscle below my belly button burned. I stopped a couple of times to stretch them out, but it didn't really help. Sooo... 2 miles it was. And it was not a fun 2 miles. My hip still hurts today, even after using my foam roller last night AND this morning! Arrgh. Saturday's 10k is intimidating me already.

02.10.14 -- progress report

Seriously, I think the weather is getting to me. I'm usually pretty sloth-like in my behavior, but this is worse than usual.

I did my two short runs last week, but that's about it. I have this mental block about going longer than 10k. Feeling sick after my 5k on Wednesday didn't help with that either. I don't know. We'll see how this week goes.

Me = Fail.

february goal board

I was really good in January with my no-spend month. I've really fallen off the wagon this month though. I'm embarrassed at how much money I've spent thus far. Seriously, it's shameful. I'm really not very focused if I don't have tangible goals to work toward, so I think it's important for me to make some goals again. I came across this link-up - Bloggers Keeping Bloggers Accountable - through the no-spend January link-up, and I support it wholeheartedly.

 

02.03.14 -- progress report

I'm having a bit of a love/hate relationship with running right now. I only want to run when I can't (like when I'm at work); when I can, I don't want to; when I'm doing it, I don't want to; when I'm done, I feel on top of the world. Still searching for that runner's high that Meagan talks about that will make me enjoy running while I'm doing it. Not holding my breath though :)

comparison is the thief of joy

source

I've become friendly with the wife of one of C's friends, and she and I were emailing back and forth today, making plans for Valentine's Day. During the course of our conversation, I made some mention of my running, and she was quick to get excited.

01.27.14 -- progress report

Last week was pretty good! I did 2 5ks worth of speedwork, which were both really hard, but worth it. I also got my foam roller, which is awesome sauce. Of course, I was bad this weekend. I didn't do my long run, because I put together a bed instead. Oops?

This week will be good too. I have my first official training run for the Mini, although I'm still not sure if I'll go. Only if it's above 30 degrees and rain/snow/ice/water is not falling from the sky. Otherwise, I'll just stay home. After all, it's only a 5k, and as my husband says, "You can kick a 5k's ass any day of the week." So that's that, I suppose :)

motivation

Today is rough, y'all. I am not feeling even a little bit motivated to do any work, and I'm not the only one in my tiny world to be feeling this way. Seems like everyone around me is on the cranky, I-don't-wanna bus today. So instead of working, I've been wandering the internet, thinking about running, thinking about babies, just thinking.

come on baby, make it hurt so good

Alright, so this is what I broke my no-spend January for:

 

The Grid foam roller by Trigger Point Performance

 

01.20.14 -- progress report

Another week has passed; another week of not much running. I couldn't do any running/sweating until Friday afternoon after my follow-up appointment. I meant to run on Friday afternoon, but was lazy. :)

01.13.14 -- progress report

Sorry for the hiatus. Given the power outage of last week, blog posting was not really an option. In fact, neither was running. Since my long run on New Year's Day, I hadn't run at all until yesterday. I wanted to do a long run, as it was Sunday, and Sundays are for long runs. However, I'm under strict instructions not to exercise hard enough to get sweat in my eyes (or rub my eyes) until Friday, so I was a bit constrained there. I bought a Sweatin'-to-the-Oldies era headband from Walmart yesterday in hopes that I could still do it, but it was a lost cause. I made it 2 miles and then had to give it up. Physically, I felt pretty good, but I didn't want to push it with my eyes.

Since my 7-mile run, my shoe pod is a lot more accurate

I have had the issue lately of some outer foot pain when I run, which makes me wonder if my shoes are ok. I think once No-Spend January is over, I'm going to head to Bluemile and have a stride test done. We'll see.

Speaking of, I think I'm doing No-Spend January wrong. I'm not sure that the point is to make a list of all the things I'm going to buy in February. Oops? ;)

the elusive runner's high

Let's just start by saying that if I had done yesterday's run on NYE, I would not have signed up for the marathon.

standing on the precipice

Well, folks, it's New Year's Eve. The day when Champagne is drunk, people are kissed, and resolutions are made. I've never really been a New Year's resolution sort of person. I figure, my goals are my goals, whether I make them on January 1st or September 20th. One thing that my wonderful husband has taught me, however, is that writing your goals down makes you more likely to achieve them. So I figured it would be a good idea to write down ALL of my current goals in one place, so I can refer back to them throughout my process of achieving them.

12.30.13 -- progress report

Yeah... this week was not so good. With all of the stress related to our new car purchase and the traveling (and overeating) for the holidays, I didn't run AT ALL. Failure. Even Rosetta Stone is judging me-- "La femme court." it says. OK, OK! I GET IT! This week is a new week though. My goal is to do a 30 min run every weekday this week, rest on Saturday, then do my scheduled 6-mile long run on Sunday. Oh, and let's not forget that I'll be signing up for the marathon at 12:01 on January 1st! It's gonna be a good first week of the new year.

12.23.13 - progress report

As promised, I'm no longer doing my weekly weigh-in. It was really focusing on the totally wrong thing, so I'm cutting it out. Case in point: I was completely useless last week, and weighed-in this morning at the same weight that I have for about a month now. Not indicative of anything. So I'm kicking it to the curb.

12.16.13 -- weigh-in

Apathy is starting to creep in...

Start (08.17.13): 199 lbs.
Week 1 (08.24.13): 196.5 lbs.
Week 2 (09.02.13): 198 lbs.
Week 3 (09.09.13): 198.5 lbs.
Week 4 (09.16.13): 195.5 lbs.
Week 5 (09.23.13): 195.5 lbs.
Week 6 (09.30.13): 196.5 lbs.
Week 7 (10.07.13): 193.5 lbs.
Week 8 (10.14.13): 192 lbs.
Week 9 (10.21.13): 192.5 lbs.
Week 10 (10.28.13): 193 lbs.
Week 11 (11.04.13): no weigh-in (sick)
Week 12 (11.11.13): 192 lbs.
Week 13 (11.18.13): 190.5 lbs.
Week 14 (11.25.13): 188.5 lbs.
Week 15 (12.02.13): 188.5 lbs.
Week 16 (12.09.13): 189 lbs.
Week 17 (12.16.13): 188 lbs.

12.09.13 -- weigh-in

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm doing this right...

Start (08.17.13): 199 lbs.
Week 1 (08.24.13): 196.5 lbs.
Week 2 (09.02.13): 198 lbs.
Week 3 (09.09.13): 198.5 lbs.
Week 4 (09.16.13): 195.5 lbs.
Week 5 (09.23.13): 195.5 lbs.
Week 6 (09.30.13): 196.5 lbs.
Week 7 (10.07.13): 193.5 lbs.
Week 8 (10.14.13): 192 lbs.
Week 9 (10.21.13): 192.5 lbs.
Week 10 (10.28.13): 193 lbs.
Week 11 (11.04.13): no weigh-in (sick)
Week 12 (11.11.13): 192 lbs.
Week 13 (11.18.13): 190.5 lbs
Week 14 (11.25.13): 188.5 lbs
Week 15 (12.02.13): 188.5 lbs
Week 16 (12.09.13): 189 lbs