Tag: mlfitness

Why yes this is how I spent the past hour or so.

I’m NEVER this organized except when I go home because there is so much to do, so many people to see, etc that I need to know my schedule. There is PLENTY of things yet to be determined, but these are the major planned things…INCLUDING RUNS. Some run times are subject to change, but I will be running those amounts on those days. Still working out the specifics of my Central Park and Williamsburg Bridge run with my sister – that may be Wednesday/Thursday afternoon. And now my sister is mentioning a hash trail where you run to bars on a route…interesting.

So basically…is it tomorrow yet?!?! Not on the calendar is my pre-work (I’m only coming in for a few hours) run tomorrow. Since I’ll be sitting in a car for 6 hours 3 days I think the endorphins will do me good!

I ended up getting 2 pairs of Umbro shorts (1 pair was $2.50) and a Nike pro dri fit tank and my Nike+ sensor for $4.50. BECAUSE I had my $50 gift card and $10 coupon. I kinda drove the cashier nuts because I went up with a few extra items because I’m terrible at math, but I was able to maximize my purchase!

Also I went to the consignment shop and they took almost all my items for consignment instead of directly buying them (but I could make more money in the long run). Well while I was there I tried on the AMAZING black jeans that fit like a glove and were $8. I know its too hot for jeans right now, but I looked bangin’ in them!

Rewards

It’s time to cash in my 30 pound reward which is new running clothes.

So after much internal debate I figured out how I’m going to use my $50 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods. I am going to buy the Nike+ ipod sport kit (even though I’m a few pound shy of that reward for 35 pounds…HOWEVER I don’t plan on using it until next Wednesday AKA my Birthday…I love my birthday by the way, totally my favorite holiday). Hopefully I’ll be close to my next reward weight then.

I just think using my birthday as a start point to see how many miles I’ll log in a year will be fun…since you know I’m all about MEASUING LIFE! Also in my plan is for my mom to buy me new sneakers (Nike +) for my birthday and I just discovered there is a Nike Outlet at one of my favorite shopping centers at home (well I’m sure it’s been there for a few years, but I never cared until now!).

Back to the gift card, the Nike+ ipod sport kit is $30 bucks so with the other $20 I’m going to buy a new running top or two!! AND after work I’m selling some fat clothes today to the consignment shop – like serious 15 pairs of pants and some shirts. The clothes that I really like or that are really nice that are too big I’m holding on to and will get tailored eventually, but why spent money to fix crappy Old Navy/Gap/Target pants. So with that money I get from selling clothes I can also buy a part of shorts or two at Dicks (gah I feel so awkward just saying Dicks instead of Dicks Sporting Goods).

Hopefully by the end of today I will be the proud owner of:

  • Nike+ ipod sport kit
  • 2 or more dri fit running tanks
  • 2 or more pairs of running shorts
  • legit running water bottle

**Update: I forgot I also have a save $10 coupon to DSG (Dicks Sporting Goods). That’s another shirt thankyouverymuch.

Half Marathon Training Week 6 (take 2)

Since last week I couldn’t get in my long run I rebooted and this past week looked like this:

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

I kick off vacation this Wednesday which includes a 3 day drive from Alabama to New York (but with overnight stops in Charlotte and Delaware to see friends).

The running plan for this week is:

  • Mon – 4 miles
  • Tues – 6 miles
  • Wed – 4.5 miles
  • Thurs – Rest
  • Friday – 4 miles
  • Saturday – Rest/9 miles*
  • Sunday – Rest/ 9 miles*

*Not sure which day I am going to run. Saturday night is my NYC birthday celebration with friends. I may run Saturday instead of Sunday, because I know I will be drinking Saturday which may not make Sunday the best option.

The following week I’m planning on driving up to Connecticut with some friends and walking/jogging the trail on a state park mountain that is across from street from where I went to college. I love that trail and can’t wait to be back!

8 and I feel Great

I ran pounded the pavement for 8 miles. I ran a lot of it, but I took walk breaks as well. I ended up leaving my place at 7:12pm and the weather wasn’t terrible, it actually started to cool down fairly quickly and there were some lovely breezes. What wasn’t so lovely…trying out a new route for the first half of my run that had more hills and valleys than I would have liked.

There were points in the run where my legs were tired, but I never felt overheated or that I couldn’t finish. I told myself before I left that I wasn’t running for time, I was running to knock out the distance. I actually got home at 9:02pm so a 1:50:00ish run. I feel good about that time, especially since it was my first long distance run in 2 weeks (I missed my long run last weekend due to work). Also my 8 mile run burned over 1,000 calories. CRAZY!?!

Just now I took some preemptive advil and stretched, but I know I’ll be sore tomorrow, but it’s a rest day so I’m good. In hindsight for a better run, I shouldn’t have laid out in the sun today so much – it’s draining, I shouldn’t have tried an unknown route, and I should have brought a little more water – I could have used another 8oz. However you live and learn. 

Random observation: I wore my 10K outfit for my run today and it’s interesting to see how the top is getting a bit looser on me and how my love handles aren’t as terrible in my shorts as they were.

I soaked up some (in a Victoria Beckham accent) MAY-JOR sun today. However I am a lobster who is officially 30.2 pounds lighter. I know I’m a bad girl and jumped on the scale before Wednesday, but I have been sweating my buns off this week and just haaaaaad to know.

It’s also a great motivator because I have an 8 mile run tonight as part of my ½ marathon training. I’m kicking off my run at 7pm CST –please Jesus don’t let me die of heat stroke..– I am currently hydrating like whoa and am planning a shady course. I will listen to my body and not overdo it. Wish me luck!!

I Like Ike

Last night was my last session with my trainer Isaac. I had 25 sessions with him from Jan-April then in May I bought 10 more sessions. I dropped a good bit of money, but I felt it was important to invest in myself. I bought the last 10 sessions to make sure I kept up my routine while I was crazy busy working orientation (which is when I usually fall off the wagon). This year I was able to lose the orientation 10 instead of gain the usual orientation 10 (this 10 pounds effects almost the entire staff…it’s crazy).

Isaac taught me a lot and pushed me even when I was snarling at him. He has been very impressed with my running – he says he’s not a runner and always smiles at me when I’m soaking wet running my heart out with a grin on my face.

Most importantly I really feel confident that “I got this.” I can get to the gym, do the right exercises and keep up my momentum. Plus I really don’t have the extra money to pay for sessions (Honest moment: I actually sold some old jewelry to a pawn shop to pay for my last 10 sessions, but a girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do).

Also I’m not sure how long I’ll be living down in good old Alabama. I have been itching to return to the Northeast and some opportunities are presenting themselves that could make that happen sooner than later so I don’t want to commit to anything I couldn’t follow through with.

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)?

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.