Tag: MLgoals

Boy Crazy

I haven’t mentioned it on here, but I am big fan of rocker type guys. Tattoos, musical, wear jewelry, artsy, etc. Well I also have come to realize there is another type of guy that has really piqued my interest. Athletic/outdoorsy. I have really enjoyed being more active and I was looking a listing of fitness activities and there are so many I’d like to try:

Kayaking
Kickboxing
Golf
Handball
Mountain Biking
Paintball
Paragliding
Snowmobiling
Rowing
Adventure Racing
Snorkeling
Whitewater Rafting

I really don’t have a lot of friends that do stuff like this and how fun would those things be to do on a date with a boy who does that stuff. I’m extremely adventurous and competitive; I’d be totally game!

I was telling my friend Christina who lives in Idaho all of this and she says: “Seriously, why don’t you live here. NW boys are all about that hybrid. it’s hot.”

I mean come ON how hot would like kayaking be with a dude with tattoo sleeves and a lip ring that is also singing to you a song as he paddles! So if you know anyone who fits the bill of rocker/outdoorsy hybrid send them my way…

Reward

Since I’m .8 pounds from having lost 25 pounds (CRAZY!) I booked my massage which was my 25 pound loss reward.

I LOOOOOVE massages and I have been a bit sore lately from my increased running regiment and being on my feet for work so much lately so I am pumped for this reward.

When I lived in Texas there was a massage school in town and massages were like $25 so I went pretty regularly. The spa at home that I LOVE is like $80 so I only do that once in a while. I had a gift certificate to a spa here for a massage and it wasn’t only meh. So I’m trying the massage therapists at the Medical Clinic at the college I work at. My appointment is Monday the 14th and I CANNOT wait!

Finish Lines

True Life: I have a new addiction…crossing finish lines.

The Race for Hope was may things, including inspiring, satisfying, magical, and challenging to name a few.

I had the power of David Cook on my side.

In terms of the race itself it made me think back to a quote that got me through grad school: 
No one said it would be easy, 
but no one it would be this hard either. 
They just promised it would be worth it.

Despite training for 4 months, it was a HOT MUGGY morning in DC. I also didn’t sleep as much as I would have liked or hydrated enough or ate enough before the race. 

I didn’t realize running with 11,000 people would be quite as insane as it was. Also running without knowing the course or exactly my progress was a challenge too.

I started off at a great pace, but prob 2/3 into the race I need to slow my pace a but due to the heat. My legs and endurance weren’t the problem. It was sweating and breathing in humidity that was slowing me down. 

The last straight away towards the finish was my favorite part, seeing the finish line and crossing it was a beautiful thing. 

I knew I ran it in about 34 minutes based on my phone, I wouldn’t get my official data until the next day. I was satisfied with my time, I think I could have shaved a minute or two off if I started the race at the front of the pack and also if I was slept/hydrated/ate properly. Scheduling a race in the MIDST of a vacation was the ideal situation, but I didn’t want to sacrifice having fun either.

After the race ended my friend Kelly and I cooled down and enjoyed all the free water/bananas/snacks etc. I really don’t think I’ve been that sweaty in my entire life. My eyeballs were sweating. Kelly and I continued to sweat for a good 30 minutes after the race. 

It was crazy that at 9:35am in the morning that the race was over. The biggest part of my day was done and it was only 9:35am – that felt weird.

My official race time ended up being 33:29 minutes at a 10:47 pace. Honestly I am proud. I know I can run a mile in under 10 minutes, but right now they are in 1 mile spurts. The fact that I ran 3.2 miles consecutively at that average pace is gratifying. I wish I could track how fast I was going at my fastest speed.

I swear I’m hooked on running. I want proper running attire and watches and all kinds of things that will track my runs. 

Running isn’t a bad addiction to have. My friend Josh who we stayed with in DC is a runner. He ran track in HS and college, currently on average he runs 70 miles a week. Crazy, but I loved picking his brain about running.

I haven’t slacked either I walked on Monday and ran a little 5K on the treadmill yesterday. I plan on running today as well.

I think the fact that my brain is obsessed with running and my next run and my time has taken up brain space that used to think about food and when I was going to eat all the time.

I wish I could bottle up how I felt post race and in these days following. 

Half Marathon training is in it’s planning phases. I know the second half of May is going to be crazy, so I am going to “officially” start training June 1 with the hope to run a half marathon in October. And who knows maybe I’ll do another 5K or 10K in the meantime to feed my finish line obsession!

Chasing Pavement

Today was my last “official” run before my 5K on Sunday. I hope to jog a bit on Friday and/or Saturday – but since I’ll be away it will be hard to see if there will be time.

I was determined today to go hard or go home. I decided to run on the track, I hadn’t been there in 2 weeks and wanted to give it another go. My focus today was running for time. I’d really like to do 10 minute miles at the 5K which would put me at around 32/33 minutes, however I REALLY want to be under 30 minutes. I’ve had some doubts about my goal time, but I think having a goal is important. 

After a warm up walk, I geared up for 1 mile hoping to do it under 10 minutes – I’ve never been UNDER 10 minutes on the track, only on the treadmill. I used my stopwatch on my ipod and my ipod is on my armband so I can’t see the minutes tick by – which is a good thing. Going into the run I pace myself – I start off strong then get into a good for a few laps then on my last lap run with no mercy. As I was running my last lap I was POSITIVE there was NO WAY no matter how fast I ran I’d make it under 10 minutes. So as soon as I crossed the line that marked my mile I stopped my stopwatch to see 00:09:59.9. WHAT?!?! I did it. just barely, but I did it. It was amazing to know that it really was worth it to push myself that last !

I walked a lap to rest and then did 2 laps of alternating between sprints as fast as I could on the straight aways and walking the curve of the track. As I did this I was wanted to try to beat my 1 mile time again. I knew I had more in me, I know I pushed myself that first time, but I don’t think I was giving my “all” because I knew I still had a few more miles to run. 

I geared up for my mile once again. I pumped up the throttle for the first quarter mile, then kinds of went into cruise mode for the next half mile – however I again was concerned I wasn’t going to fall below 10 min. For my last quarter mile I ran to the point that my lungs were burning…I think I can, I think I can (actually I was cursing at myself…I tend to do that, something along the lines of you fat fuck more your goddamn ass you’re embarrassing yourself – hey it motivates me, to each his/her own) I stopped my stopwatch. I look down. 00:09:51.7. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I knocked off 8 seconds – I was on cloud nine.

I really think I have to potential to run the 5K in 30 minutes do to the adrenaline that will kick into high gear, but at the same time I’ve never been in a race (or at a race for that matter) so I have NO CLUE how it’s going to be organized etc. 

Regardless I’m pleased.

After muuuuuuch debate as well as trial and error I came up with my playlist in order for the race. 
1. Jumpin’ Jack Flash – David Cook
*Kick off the race with some high energy and obviously David Cook
2. Beating Heart Baby – Head Automatica
*Another CRAZY HIGH energy song that I love working out to
3. Ramalama (Bang Bang) Roisin Murphy
*Yet another gym staple – I actually usually do planks to this song, but running will work too
4. Billie Jean – David Cook
*Yes it’s a slower song, but it’s got a lot of emotion in it and reminds me of all the time I played it BLASTING with all my 
windows open on the way home from the gym every night that spring when I lived in Texas
5. East Coast Anthem – Good Charlotte
*The song has great energy, but I picked it especially because the first lyrics are “Walkin’ on the streets of DC”
6. Dance Factory Super Megamix – Bad Boy Joe
*Back in college I used to go to a wonderful “butts and guts” class and the instructor, Jen, would always play this
7. Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
*Do I really need reason c’mon
8. NYC Underground Party Vol. 5 Megamix Part 2 – Bad Boy Joe
*More “butts and guts” dance music
9. NYC Underground Party Vol 5. Megamix Part 1 – Louie DeVito
*In case I haven’t had my fill even MORE dance music
10. AC – Axium
*David wrote this song in he pre-pre Idol days for his brother Adam about his battle with brain cancer and I saw it fitting to
listen to it as I run in a 5K to raise money for brain cancer and it’s on the 1 year anniversary of Adam’s passing.
11. Creep – Axium
*My Anthem. I’m gonna need it my last leg for sure, it will kick my into high gear and remind me of this journey I am on
with taking control of my life and my body
12. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Glee Cast
*A positive kick in the ass for my last minutes running.

**I’d like to note that my playlist is about 45 minutes, but I also get “fast forward happy” if I’m not feeling a song in that instant, so I wanted to have extra. I probably will skip through some of the dance music, but I wanted to have it in there as a back up.

Wish me LOVE AND LUCK please this Sunday. I’ll be sure to give a grand recap when I get back.
Thanks for reading

My Feet Are Mad At Me

Yesterday I had a REALLY shitty workout – it was raining outside so I went to the little Gold’s Gym that’s closer to me, but I don’t like. I think it was really hot in there for something, but it too everything I had to run 3 miles. I actually had to break it into two 1.5 mile runs with a rest/stretch break in between.

So today I was determined for a good work out. My 5K is in 1 week and I wanted to hit it hard. It was BEAUTIFUL out and I wanted to push myself. I ended up doing a 5.3 mile run with like an 1 hour 10 minutes. The hardest part of my run is the first ½ mile because I have to run uphill on my street – yuck. I just really enjoy running outside. I mixed up some routes so I got some new views. When I was running by campus I saw Aubie (our tiger mascot) in a car and he blew me a kiss. I also got honked at once (that I heard…I had my music blaring).

My feet are hurting me now a few hours later, but everything else feels okay. I feel good that I pushed myself. I really think I am gonna commit to a half marathon for the fall. I want to finish my 5K next week and see what an actual “race day” feels like. I’m sure it will be great, but I don’t want to get to ahead of myself either. However once the 5K is over I am going to investigate some half marathon options.

Oh and I got a few more “you look good/skinny” comments this week which was quite exciting. 

Also I came across another weight loss tumblr by a girl who has a lot in common with me. I am really debating switching/transferring this blog to a tumblr. I’m still debating. Anyway I like reading about another woman who is similar height and weight to me with similar goals. She also outlined her weight loss “rewards” I may get working on mine. I actually set up my tattoo appointment for May 7. I’m *hoping* by then to be down another 2 pounds and that would be put me at being down 20 pounds. HOLLER!

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.

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!

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.