Category: Uncategorized

Sweating Machine

That is me.

I mean I am usually pretty gross when I leave the gym, but today was a new level of sweat.

I had 4 miles to run and I decided to run it interval style (this weekone of your fabulous fitblrs mentioned how it would help and the pacing, however I can’t think of who it is, but if I remember or you realize I will give you credit.

I played around with pacing and I did for the first 2 miles: 1 min at 5.2 and 30 sec at 6.5 then for the second two miles I did 1 min at 5.2 and 1 min at 6.5

It was great. I felt really good with my quick bursts even towards the end it was easy to push through 10 more seconds knowing I’d get some sweet relief. In my first two miles I did it with about an 11:06 min/mile pace and the second two miles were at 10:18 min/mile pace. I took 30 second water breaks between each mile. I was so pleased with my time. I like shaved 4 minutes off my 4 mile time. I’m excited to see over the coming weeks how much I can push myself, but I want to make sure to push myself at a slow pace. I still have regular fears of serious injury (or like falling off the treadmill and bashing my teeth against it) and honestly I’ve never broken a bone or gotten a stitch, but as I get older and more of a gym rat the thought of getting hurt terrifies me. 

So for those of you who want to work on speed or sweat more try intervals – figuring out what pacing works for you, but try it. I bet you’ll surprise yourself like I did tonight.

I have recently become obsessed with the Achilles tendon. I never had defined ones and working on that is a specific goal of mine – I am starting to see some “cuts” and definition in my ankle/heel to hopefully one day show off my Achilles. The past few weeks at the gym I find myself lusting over enamored by other people’s Achilles tendons. They just have such an athletic vibe about them and watching people engage their legs and Achilles tendon is quite beautiful. Sadly google images did not have the plethora of pictures I was expecting, but still look at some people’s legs.

Anyone else have a favorite muscle or body part (get your minds out of the gutter people)?

When I move back to the Northeast I am going to give up soda. I have been without my love Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee for over 3 years now (except for quick trips home when I binge on Iced Coffee…is that possible?) Next Wednesday I get Iced Coffee when I embark on my roadtrip to New York – thankfully they have some in Georgia and Charlotte. It makes me sad to think of all the DD Iced Coffee I’ve missed over the years – but I’m sure my wallet is happy. I just can’t wait to get my LARGE TOASTED ALMOND ICED COFFEE SKIM MILK ONLY. Honestly I think I could give up soda for DD Iced Coffee. Maybe I’ll experiment whilst home. Yes I just said whilst.

WIW

Last week: 193.7

This week: 194.2

Change: +0.5

Nobody loves a gain, but considering 2 banquets and some other celebratory indulgences I feel okay about it. I also missed an 8 mile run last week, so I’m pretty confident that I can be down 4-5 pounds in TWO WEEKS which is my birthday. I honestly hope to have a good loss for next week’s WIW because I head out of town that afternoon and I feel more confident in my ability to maintain than lose while home/on vacation.

In college I had an unhealthy addiction to Arnie P or Arnold Palmer half tea half lemonade beverage for those of you who don’t know him like I do. 

Well since I started this Journey I’ve had a case of mini Arnie P’s that I haven’t touched since January (well I had half of one watered down once and it wasn’t the same). mainly because I was HORRIFIED to see it had 80 calories and 19 sugars (and those are for mini 12 oz Arnie P’s the regular ones are like 24 oz)

So today I’m in the grocery store and I see these.

Arnie P packets. With only 10 calories and 2 grams of sugar. YES PLEASE.

They taste just like the real thing. <3 <3 <3

Non Scale Victory

This journey is so much more than just about my body, it’s about my soul. This weekend we concluded summer orientation and had an end of the year banquet for our orientation leaders. They organized little books they wrote notes in – what beautiful things they wrote and saw in me.

Below are some quotes from my college students:

  • You certainly add some spice and excitement to the office.
  • Your individuality has made me see it’s okay to be different and love it.
  • You are so unique and encourage the freshmen to embrace who they are and be proud of it.
  • I think I want to label you the rebel from FYE! You do your own thing and I feel that is very admirable.
  • I love your New York accent. Every time you give a speech I am a lot more inclined to listen just because of it.
  • I admire your uniqueness so much. I love that every day I could look over and see a spunky, new, exciting touch.
  • You may be from Long Island (pronounced Lawoohng Ayeland), but you’ve got the congeniality and wisdom of anyone born “Southern by the Grace of God.”
  • Some people don’t get you…but for some reason I do! Your uniqueness is refreshing and needed.
  • Thanks for showing us what that NewYork swag is all about.
  • I’ve truly enjoyed your spunky, hilarious ways all throughout the spring and summer.
  • I love your blunt honesty, even if it’s hard to hear sometimes.
  • I absolutely love you! I think you are hilarious even though you are sometimes mean.
  • I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the diversity you bring to the program because it adds so much.
  • I love your sense of humor because it always lightens the mood.
  • I love the way that you embrace your individuality. It has definitely inspired me to be more confident with my uniqueness.
  • You always brought spunk to staff which was much needed. I will always remember your shoe strings, earrings, and hair colors and how you always walked around with style. Keep running and working on those killer legs.

I sometimes forget I’m a New Yorker in Alabama because I love the people around me so much. This year I’ve really fully embraced who I am from my hair to jewelry to clothing and it’s great that small things like that are impacting my students. It’s reassuring that people LOVE the me that I LOVE!

Also a few other people alluded to my running and races and how it motivated or inspired them. It was so thoughtful for my head orientation staff to buy me a Dick’s gift card so I can buy more running clothes. I really don’t have words to express the love I have for my students and staff.

Reboot

This week was crazy and exhausting, but I managed to run 16 miles. However the plan was to run 24 miles. I wasn’t able to run my 8 mile run yesterday (I knew with my schedule I wouldn’t have).

I thought about running the 8 miles today and kind of tag it onto this week’s running tally, but I don’t want to over do it. Especially how in the past 5 days I’ve gotten VERRRY little sleep. I decided I’m gonna reboot last week and “re-do” this week of half marathon training.

To the plan for this week is:

  • Mon – Rest
  • Tues – 4 miles
  • Wed – 4 miles
  • Thurs – 4 miles
  • Friday – rest
  • Saturday – 4 miles
  • Sunday – 8 miles

I’m a few days behind on tumblr, but I plan to catch up tomorrow. Tonight I must sleep so I’m not a zombie all week.

This was the dress I wore to last night’s banquet…I felt like a million bucks. I’m also pretty excited about tonight’s dress. 

PS – at last night’s banquet my students got me a $50 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods to help fund my running habit! Many of them mentioned my running/racing and how inspired they were. I have more to post about my student perhaps tomorrow, but my heart is too full at the moment and I miss them all already.