WI Day

Today is Weigh In Day!

Last week's weight- 203

This week's weight- 202

Change: -1

 

Another pound gone!!

Week in Review

How was your Food?
Food was good this week. I started the week with a bit too much peanut butter, but quickly backed away. My friend Kim and I were trying to limit our grains to only 1 per day and before 2:00. I did really well with this, and hope the scale will be nice tomorrow!

How was exercise this week?
Saturday- Zumba
Sunday-Bi/Tri + 6 miles (You can read about this in the previous post!)
Monday-Exercise Bike
Tuesday-Chest, Back, and Shoulders+2.25 mile run (I did a 16 minute run interval! My longest yet!)
Wednesday-  Rest Day
Thursday- Leg Strength Training, +2.5 (working on speed)
Friday- Rest- I generally only take one rest a week, but I really needed an extra day this week. Work has been long hours and extra stress. An extra rest day was my way of being kind to myself)

What is on tap for the weekend?
I hope to get the stuff to work on my NEON NIGHTS zumba outfit for next week :) And maybe try my hand at a running tutu, for a future 5k!

What's New?
I found a Fairy Tale 5k for March. My husband has to be out of town (where the 5k is) that weekend. Hoping we can work out all of the details, because a fairy tale 5k sounds perfect for a running librarian :) haha

Six miles

Today I pushed myself a little farther and managed a 6 mile "run" using intervals.

Miles 1-4
12 minute run intervals @ 4.5
5 minute walk intervals@ 3.5

After mile 4, I restarted the treadmill because I knew it would stop at one hour.

Mile 5
1/4 mile walk @ 3.5
3/4 mile run @ 4.5

Mile 6
1/4 mile walk @3.5
1/2 mile run  @ 4.7-5.0
1/4 mile walk @ 3.5-3.0

The last mile was really tough...maybe because I bumped the speed up a tiny bit.

 Then TONS OF Stretching.

I was super proud of this run. And especially the 12 minute run interval. I plan to stay at 6 miles for a couple of weeks before bumping up again.

I honestly can't believe I am doing these "longer" runs. I am pushing myself beyond my self-imposed limits and am proud of the progress I have made. I have also noticed when running intervals, if I can make it past the first 5 minutes, I feel strong and can go a bit farther than I think I can when I start the interval.

WI Day - WooHoo

Today is Weigh In Day!

Last week's weight- 204.5

This week's weight- 203

Change: -1.5

 

So, so excited!! This is awesome! Happy dance!!!

Week In Review

Week in Review!



How was your Food?
This was my birthday week (Feb 13), but I felt like I did really good keeping food in control. On Sunday, we went to breakfast with a friend and I have 2 biscuits. I should have only had one, but throught I did really well considering breakfast foods are my fave and it was a buffet. On Wednesday, we had family over for dinner. My MIL cooked and made beef stroganoff, we also had salad and bread. I only had once serving and then had two small cupcakes. I decided on cupcakes so there would not be leftover cake around the house. I ordered 5 cupcakes, but they threw in an extra one...and I ate it. They were small cupcakes and honestly the two I had were smaller than a regular slice of cake. They were lemon blueberry with strawberry cream cheese frosting. And NO CANDY OR SWEETS ON V'DAY :)

How was exercise this week?
Saturday- Zumba
Sunday-Bi/Tri + 5 miles (10 min run/5 min walk intervals)
Monday-Exercise Bike
Tuesday-Chest, Back, and Shoulders+2.25 mile run (10 min run/5 min walk intervals)
Wednesday-  Rest Day Birthday
Thursday- Leg Strength Training, +3 miles (working on speed)
Friday- Bike

What is on tap for the weekend?
Zumba on Saturday and Run on Sunday/ Lazy days around the house

What's New?
The Zumba studio that I go to on Saturdays is having a NEON Zumba Party. 90mins of Zumba March 1. So excited!

The Need for Speed

You guys know I have held the goal of a 24 min 2-miler (yes I am a turtle) forever! Well I am on a mission to make this happen, and I need your help! What things did you do to improve your speed?

5 Miles

This morning, I got up early and hit the gym.

First I did my strength training for the day.

3 sets of 12 bicep curls
3 sets of 12 tricep press
3 sets of 12 assisted dips
3 sets of 12 assisted pull ups

Then I hit the treadmill to do something I had never done. A 5-miler! I used intervals

5 Min warm up

10 mins "run" @ 4.7
5 min walk @3.5
10 mins "run" @ 4.7
5 min walk @3.5
10 mins "run" @ 4.7
5 min walk @3.5
10 mins "run" @ 4.7
5 min walk @3.5
Quarter mile run @ 5.0
Quarter mile cool down 3.5-3.0

I was stoked!! And felt awesome!! During the fourth 10 min interval, my hip started to feel tight, but I knew I could finish.

After the run, I did some awesome stretching.

Then I headed to meet up with hubby and friends for Pre-Birthday breakfast feeling so powerful and strong.

Special thank to my sweet friend Kim that got up at the crack of dawn to "do this with me," from Washington!! I txted her after each run interval and she was awesome!!

WI Day

Today is Weigh In Day!

Last week's weight- 205

This week's weight- 204.5

Change: -.5

 

Another loss!

 

Week in Review

Week in Review!



How was your Food?
Sunday was not stellar. Rather Sunday evening. Hubby wanted football snacks, and I splurged. A couple too many hot wings, and waay to many pretzel crisps. But the rest of the week was right on!

How was exercise this week?
Saturday- 5k
Sunday-Chest, Back, and Shoulders+ Bike
Monday-3 mile WATP with bands
Tuesday-Bi and Tri Strength Training, Run- 8 min run, 4 min walk, 5 min run, 2.5 min walk, 3 min run + walking to complete 2.5 miles for the day
 Wednesday-  3 mile WATP Flat Belly Walk + core exercises
Thursday- Leg Strength Training, Run- 8 min run, 4 min walk, 5 min run, 2.5 min walk, 3 min run + walking to complete 2.5 miles for the day
Friday- REST DAY!! YAY!

What is on tap for the weekend?
It is my birthday weekend! My birthday is Wednesday! Trying to stick to workouts, but I know there will be more Restaurants than usual. I plan to enjoy myself without going Crazy.

What's New?
 Still looking for an official March 5k.
And signed up for a virtual 5k here! (Thanks to Deb for letting me know about it!)

Race Recap

Yesterday I participated in the Run for Sandy Hook Distance Run event. This was my first 5k of 2013!

BEFORE:
This race was sponsored by Fleet Feet Huntsville and I found out about it through an email. I have purchased shoes and socks from Fleet Feet and love getting their newsletters. The event took place in Huntsville, about an hour/hour and a half from my house. We got up early in order to make the 8AM start time, leaving the house around 6. We travel to Huntsville quite a bit, but I was not familiar with the location of the race. The race info had the name of the Park where the race would take place, but no address. Eek! And we got lost. LOL The GPS took us downtown (and I immediately knew this was wrong!) After a bit of a freak out, we found the location just in time!! We arrive at 7:40 and I had to pick up my packet AND FIND A POTTY! Haha

Tommy snapped a picture of me standing in line for the Port a Potty.

I will also say that as an Alabama girl that generally runs on a treadmill, I was not prepared for the COLD of the morning. We were at 29 degrees and I was in capri running pants, an under armour dry wick, t-shirt, and cotton jacket...Brr. 

DURING:

I literally made it to the starting line within seconds of the start. And we were Off. The race took place at a beautiful Nature Preserve. There were around 250 participants in the race, but the paved trail was a bit narrow, so the start was a bit congested. I was already in the back, and just let the runners take off before I started my run. My plan was to do intervals of 3 run, 2 walk, 5 run, 2 walk...but, trying to keep an eye on my watch under the layers just wasn't working for me, so I ran with my music...running two songs, walking one. And I remembered to keep a faster pace walk. Everything was going Great. We were told there would be mile markers, but there were not and that freaked me out a bit when I had been going for over 15 minutes and had never seen a mile marker. During this first part of the run the snow started. It was Awesome!! Big Huge flakes. And at one part it was almost hard to see. I was cold, but in heaven at the same time. I was having a blast. I had been pacing with a girl and we would exchange "way to gos" as we took turns passing each other. Then I saw the water station. It was at our turn around, and I was relieved that I was already half way finished even though I was still looking for that first mile marker(lol). The water station was a bit off the trail, but I decided to take advantage of it. They only had Gatorade. Honestly, I didn't think much of it and drank my little cup and took an energy bean. Then I was back on the tail. About 4 minutes back into the run, it hit me. I FELT SICK. I had just caught back up to my pacing friend (she had skipped the station), and she looked at me and asked if I was okay. I said yes, and tried to keep running with her. Then it hit me again. I wasn't sure if I was going to puke or have an accident. I think it was the rush of sugar to my system and that the Gatorade wasn't  water (for the past month I have only drank water and herbal teas) but it was awful. She looked at me again and asked again if I was okay. I told her what I thought the problem was, and she told me to just slow down. And so I did. Walking, but trying to keep a faster pace. When I felt a bit better I started running again, but only managed about two minutes. And then rest of the race was a bit of a challenge for me with short running intervals and longer walking. I was very excited when I saw the finish line.

My pace friend finished about 3 minutes ahead of me...and waited for me around the finish line. (Wish I would have got Tommy to snap a pic of us.)

AFTER:
I walked around a bit after running through the finish line. And met up with Tommy. I hit the port a potty again and then went back for some water. They had a great spread of after race treats (Fresh baked breads, cookies, fruit, pasta, and cake.) I opted for half a plain bagel which seemed to settle my stomach a bit. Then the snow started again! So Tommy and I decided to hit the road. (They were not doing awards.)  We stopped at a target and I changed out of my running clothes and threw a few pics onto Facebook. Then we shopped around town the rest of the day.

MY OVERALL FEELINGS:
Overall, I really enjoyed the race even with the stomach problems. This was a fun run to raise money for the Families of Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT. and over $10,000 was raised. And that is AWESOME.
I was somewhat pleased with my time. My only goal was to finish in under 45minutes. And I did that!! And I'm very excited to know that I can hopefully shave off some time at my next race.  And running in snow was FUN!!

WHAT I LEARNED:
I cannot tolerate sweet things while running. And if water is not available, and I can do without, then skip the water station.
I also want to take one of my weekly runs outside. This will have me better prepared for running 5ks.

Thanks to everyone here and in my awesome FB Spark group for the support, encouragements, and well wishes.

Shannon made this awesome poster and shared it with me on FB. And Donna "ran with me." and blogged about it. Susan cheered me on via video (can't get that to load), and even though Mandy was working, she ran the stairs during her break in support. Lucky girl to have all these great friends!

Weigh In

I actually weighed in Friday morning because I knew Saturday morning would be crazy heading out so early for the 5k. All week, I said I was going to skip this week altogether, but changed my mind on Friday. I need the weekly accountability. And I was very excited to see another small loss.

Last week's weight- 205.5
 This week's weight- 205
  Change: -.5

Week In Review

Week in Review!

How was your food this week?
This was a tougher week food wise. I just seemed very "munchy" at night. (PMS) I tried to keep a handle on it, but I know I had one too many apple cinnamon rice cakes. Hubby thought he was being sweet bringing a huge bag of them home. It could have been much worse.

How was exercise this week?
Awesome!
Saturday- Zumba
Sunday-Chest, Back, and Leg Strength Training + Run.
Monday-1 mile WATP (Was feeling very, very sore.)
Tuesday-Bi and Tri Strength Training,45min Run (3min run, 3min walk,5 min run, 5 min walk)
Wednesday-  2mi Walk Away the Pounds with band
Thursday- Chest and Back Strength Training, 45min Run (3min run, 3min walk,5 min run, 5 min walk)
Friday- REST DAY!! YAY!

 What is on tap for the weekend?
Tomorrow is my first 5k of the year and I am excited!!! My goal is just to finish in under 45mins. The event is about an hour away, so hubby and I will be up bright and early to hit the road. After the race we are going to enjoy the town and shop.

 Other news!
Looking into a March 5k :)