Tag: mlfitness

Hitting the Pavement

After a so-so run on the track on Friday I took Saturday off and then hit the track again Sunday. It was a GORGEOUS Easter Sunday and since I hundreds of miles away from family it was a lovely ME day. I was actually surprised to see so many people on the track and despite the 80+ degree weather there was a lovely breeze. After some stretching and 2 warm up laps I was able to knock out a 10:14 minute mile which was exciting. I probably could have pushed it a little more, but knowing that I wanted to knock 3 miles out I wanted to pace myself. I actually walked/jogged another half mile before doing “sprint miles.” what I did was on the straightaways of the track I would run as fast as I possibly could and then on the curves of the track I walked. At that pace I was at about a 14 minute mile, but I bet if I jogged the curve instead of walked it I could shave quite a few minutes off.

As a bonus from the running I got a lovely sunburn/tan. I actually LOVE getting color and need to work up a base “burn” before I start tanning. The only downfall was that I was running in a tank top and my ipod armband left a lovely little white stripe on my arm!

I felt so good about my run yesterday (and really all my recent runs) that I broke out a SKIRT today to show off my legs!

Progress

I’m down 17 pounds yo!

I’m like 6 pounds away from a MAJOR goal. I am REALLY hoping to meet it in 30 days. I have a 5k on May 2nd and I would love to hit that weight.

My drama at the moment is that I have only like 5 sessions left with my personal trainer. The sessions I’ve had since the end of January were like a BONUS from old training sessions that I cancelled due to the cost. I really planned to use those extra sessions to give my weight loss a jump start and then be done. However I REALLY like my trainer and I have been making really good progress. So I looked into continuing with him and I even signed a contract, but the next day I cancelled the contract due to various reasons. I’m hoping to work out a different contract shortly, but we shall see.

I was at the track again yesterday for the 2nd time and I plan to go tomorrow as well to work on hitting the pavement.

On Pace

“The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.” – Steve Prefontaine

32 days til my 5K

While running 3 miles today I did 1 mile at a 9:49 min/mile pace – I was pretty darn pleased with myself.

I hope to run outside Friday and Sunday this week.

Skinny

One of my students just told me I looked “skinny.” I for SURE wouldn’t say I’m skinny, but nonetheless I am OFFICIALLY down 15 pounds and feel great.

I bought 2 different brands of jeans in a size smaller than I was currently wearing!

I also am picking up my work outs, mostly because they are coming easier. I can run 2.5 miles no problem, now I’m striving for 3.5-4 miles at a time.

I also went out to a track for the first time in god only knows how long and didn’t completely embarrass myself. I did a quarter mile in 2:15 mins which was exciting, when it came down to running a mile straight I ended up at a 10:43 mile which isn’t to shabby, although I really want to knock down to below a 10 minute mile.

Even when I was working with my trainer this week I couldn’t get over how much stronger I feel. I did some of the best planks I’ve done in a while and I even did extra time at wall sits. I only have a few more training sessions left and as much as they cost I really like my trainer and think I may continue sessions for through the summer which is traditionally when I “fall off the gym wagon.” I also think I am going to sign up for like a 10k or something in Aug/Sept to FORCE me to keep up my running through the summer – actually I just found a 10K in Atlanta on Labor Day that I plan to register for after my 5K.

This week I also played a little more basketball and did yoga. My new plan is to get to the gym 3 days a week and then do some outdoor stuff 1x a week either run on the track and/or play basketball. We shall see.

I’m only like 7 pounds away from a MAJOR goal and 5 pounds away from a 20 pound total loss. Life is good.

Pants on the Ground

Losing weight is exciting, but nearly losing your pants when running on the treadmill is not.

Even my jeans are getting big and I’m not a belt wearer, but I may have to be. It’s exciting to start to say goodbye to “fat pants” and hello to “less fat pants.”

I’m so positive I know.

I’m up like 1.5 pounds from last week…grr.

Whatever I did 4.7 miles yesterday which is a personal best and actual mile 3-4 was a 10 minute mile.

Today I’m hitting the track on campus on this BEA-utiful day and then shoot some hoops

10 Minute Mile

Last night at the gym I didn’t have my ipod so as fate had it, a yoga class was starting up when I got there. I haven’t gotten to yoga as much as I’d like, in college I was a yoga fiend. I really had a good workout and concentrated a lot on balance and my ankles which has been sore lately (especially my right one).

After an hour of yoga I wasn’t quite ready to leave the gym. I hate going to the gym these days and not running. I knew it was getting late so I told myself I’m gonna run 1 mile as fast as I can. For a while my goal has been a ten minute mile and I am happy to report I ran the mile in 10:04 – I must confess I took a 30 second breather/water break 5 minutes into it, but still not too shabby. I also must confess that as soon as I was done with my mile I really thought I was going to puke. I had to briskly walk outside in the cold air and breathe for a moment.

Regardless, I am going to slowly try and incorporate running til I nearly puke for 1 mile into my running routine.

Also I’d like to note I’m down a few more lbs. The numbers I see on the scale are more and more positive reinforcement and I love it. I’m nearly down 15 pounds since the start of 2010, but it’s a sloooooow process. I’m dropping about 1-2 lbs a week, but rewarding regardless!

5K

I booked my flight yesterday to Washington DC to run in a 5K in May called Race for Hope which benefits brain cancer, I’m very excited to be not only running in my first 5K, but to be doing it with a friend for a good cause and my future husband David Cook will also be there!

Ankles

I have been pushing myself a little too hard apparently the past weeks, particularly the last few. My ankles have been a bit tender, from the treadmill I assume. My trainer showed me some good exercises and stretches that hopefully will help, but he also advised me to tone down the running. The past 2 weeks I have been running like full blast for 2-3 miles when I really should be interval training. My ankles are important so I am going to try interval training and also try and sub in the elliptical a bit until my ankles strengthen up a bit.

No Excuses

The gym I am a member at is like 5-7 minutes from where I work, so during the week I go right to the gym afer work. However my gym is like 10-12 minutes from where I live so on the weekends it’s sometimes more of a struggle for me to get myself there.

The funny thing is when I was first checking out gyms when I moved here I went to a Golds that was only 3-5 minutes from my house, but I didn’t love it – it was older and actually reminded me of my prior gym, which I didn’t love. I ended up joining a beautiful new Golds that was across town, but when I signed up it said I could have a “metro pass” or something that meant I could go to any Golds.

Well in the year and a half that I’ve been a member at Golds I’ve only gone to the new one and finally yesterday I decided to see if this “metro pass” thing was legit because I remembered that the older Golds didn’t have a card scan like mine did so I wasn’t sure how it would work. So I went prepared to drive to my Golds if this closer one wouldn’t let me in. Turns out I just need to sign in and write my membership number on their log.

It was a fine gym experience, I MUCH prefer my Golds, but this one had the same treadmills and it pretty empty. So I plan on doing on weekend workouts there or even an occasional evening one.

I still haven’t made it to the gym 4 days a week yet, but I think being able to use this closer Golds it will help. However I have bumped up my runs. I am doing at least 3 miles on the treadmill and feeling pretty good. My ankles have been a bit tender, I think I’m going to get some braces for them, but other than that my body is adapting well!

Lent

For the past 6 weeks I have been really trying to cut back on sugar and sweets, well for Lent I am going to try and AVOID any excess sugar or sweets. Goodbye cookies, ice cream, candy – not that I eat a lot of it, but for 40 days I want to see what would happen if I “just say no.” The ONLY exception I am giving for this rule is my friend’s wedding at the end of the month. I haven’t been to a wedding as a “adult” before and I want the full experience – wedding cake and all.

I also wanted to mention that twice this week I ran 3 miles on the treadmill instead of my usual 2.5 and actually this past Monday I ran the 3 miles at a pretty good gallop – between 5.0 – 5.5 on the treadmill, so I did about a 11:30min mile for 3 miles and didn’t die! I really feel confident about my ability to get to at least a 10 minute mile by May. I don’t think I’ll ever “LOVE” running, but I’m learning to hate it less – good music is definitely key. If anyone has any running suggestions I would love them.