Self-Imposed Long Weekend

Everyone should indulge in one every once in a while!

Thursday night, Mr. Boyfriend and I hit the Metallica concert and may I say "It was AWESOME!"

Rock On!

Great seats!

It was explosive!

I'm not a huge fan but it was still a lot of fun!

Friday, I did my afternoon run in a decent time. I stopped using the Galloway method and my time has improved considerably.

Mile 1	0:10:32
Mile 2	0:11:21
Mile 3	0:11:20
Mile 4	0:11:24
Mile 5	0:10:59
Extra .33	0:03:31

Saturday was the first day I was able to wake up and get a morning run and may I say, I LOVED IT! I am definitely hooked. I am also running IPOD free. I really does allow you to concentrate better on RUNNING and breathing and all the mechanics. It's not easy but it is so worth the sacrifice.

Mile 1	0:10:50
Mile 2	0:11:18
Mile 3	0:11:24
Extra .74	0:08:23

Mr. Boyfriend was still sleeping so I slipped out and got a couple of rounds out on the Bicycle.

Can I say, FINALLY!

It took me twice around just to get my footing back. Then I was in full swing. I did another 6 loops before the sun got to me and I had to head inside. I must do that again!

Sunday was my long run. I woke up at the same time but being that my run was much longer I ended my run and the heat was starting to get bad.

Mile 1	0:10:32
Mile 2	0:10:45
Mile 3	0:11:37
Mile 4	0:11:19
Mile 5	0:11:35
Mile 6	0:11:21
Mile 7	0:11:17
Mile 8	0:11:19
Extra .01	0:00:05

I'm pretty stoked that I made my race pace without really trying too hard and I think I kept it pretty consistent. I did have to take a few walking breaks but I kept them to 1 per mile and always between 45-60 sec.

In the future I'm going to have to wake up earlier as my runs get longer.

Also, I need to be more careful on my long runs. I got 5 blisters. Two on the arch of my right foot, two more on my toes of the same foot and one more on the toe of my left foot. I know it's because I used the wrong sneaker for the run. It was my only lapse.

Everything else worked out pretty well!

• Half a Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cliff Bar before the run. I didn't feel hungry at all.
  
• 20oz of Half Water/Half Gatorade (I could have used another 4oz though)
  
• 1 Zym hydration tab after the run and 1 cup milk (also after the run)

Overall still a great run!

For today's run, I calculated the time I needed to get up to be at work by 8am and I guess I got a little carried away. I headed out at 6:10am to find:

It was PITCH BLACK! It felt like it was Midnight, eerie and spooky. I tried to do once around the block but it was too much. I checked and Sunrise is at 7:15am.

I started to fiddle on the computer and lost track of time and ended up heading out late ... GEESH!

I had planned to do a 5 miler but time and the fact that this would be my 4th run in a row caused me to reconsider.

I ended up doing 3.47 instead. I was able to keep my race pace ... but BARELY! By the end my blisters were aching a little and my legs felt like I had no gas in them ... I was running by shear will alone!

Tomorrow is a rest for my legs day ... I do strength for my core and arms.

Wow! What a weekend :)

In Review - Week of September 28st:

Half Marathon Training Week 6 of 12:
(Full Marathon Training Week 1 of 18:)

WORKOUT	DISTANCE	AVG Speed	TIMES
	25.14 Miles	5.34	5
	2 Miles	N/A	1
	0 Meters	N/A	0

Total Workout Time: 06:12:39
Total Running Time: 04:42:39

040:09:28:02 till the Half-Marathon!
117:09:46:39 till the Full-Marathon!

I leave you with a video of clips from the concert!


Happy Monday!

Back to Monday

Well, we're back to Monday and I'm feeling pretty good about the weekend.

Friday: 4.25 M run
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 5 M Run

Sunday was my first run with my Camelbak. I filled it about half way (1-L) but being that it was the first time I used it I only used the water to rinse and spit which in itself improved my run. I was not nearly as thirsty as I've been in the past. Running with it on felt a little strange and I was definitely self conscious but no one really stared and I felt like I was a hard-core runner in training (which helped).

Today my legs are a little sore but I still want to run. My knee is a little sore too so I know I shouldn't. Today is my Strength/Stretch day.

I plan to do my P90x and a short bike ride.

I am starting to feel alot better about my running. I've been holding a consistent 11min mile in my runs (which is an improvement for me from last month). Also, this week marks the beginning of my 12 weeks training for the Half-Marathon (wow, we are 12 weeks out!) which is quite exciting.

This week I have:

Monday: P90x
Tuesday: 3 Mile Run
Wednesday: 4 Mile Run
Thursday: 3 Mile Run
Friday: 2 Mile Run
Saturday: Brick - Bike + 1 Mile Run
Sunday: 6 Mile Run

Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

I woke up a little cranky today. It's the end of the month and bills are coming due but I came to realize that even though the bank is broke when all the bills are paid ... the bills are ALL PAID ... and in this economy that is definitely something to be thankful for!

But I digress.

Last night, I piled my bicycle onto my car and after work headed over to my mom's place for some quality time (i.e. I needed to do laundry and my mom and I have dinner together and watch a little NCIS while we're at it :). We are Abby Sciuto fans because I went through a very similar Goth Phase a little over a year ago ... Yes, I went through my Goth Phase at 29 years old, I'm a late bloomer ;} hehe

Mom picked up some Taco Salads at Taco Bell because she wasn't feeling up to any actual cooking (pictured here)

It's actually not as bad as it looks as long as you don't eat the shell. I was able to refrain and had only a little piece (I was actually quite proud of my restraint ... in the past I would not have hesitated to eat the whole thing!)

For dessert, I had a half a cup of Butter Pecan Frozen Yogurt ... again, I was proud of my restraint because I didn't go back for seconds.

Also, I did not feel guilty about this splurge because we had dinner quite early and I was able to rest up and get my bike ride in as planned ... no challenge sets but my bike ride definitely got me sweating.

During lunch, I ran to Walmart and purchased a Helmet and a "comfort" cover for the bike seat and boy did it make a difference. I did 4 laps which covers about .27M each in the golf course near my mom's house for a total of 2.17M. I also did another 6 or so laps of about .1M as a warm-up to get my "bike legs on" (but who's counting) for a grand total of just over 3 Miles. Today, I have no booty soreness ... that "comfort" cover works ;)

It was a relatively straight course with mild curves so I practiced my turning and breaking. I did almost hit a very nice lady who warned me she was passing on my right ... so of course my bike takes on a life of it's own and vears in that very direction missing her by only a foot or two ... I felt so embarassed ;\ But that just means I need more pracitce.

On to my Thankful Thursday List:

1. I am so thankful that I can ride a bicycle.
2. I am thankful that there is enough money in the bank to pay the bills (although I wish there was a little more in there!)
3. I am thankful for Mom's Laundromat, Diner and Dinner Theater ;}
   

Remember to be try to be thankful even if you're not really feeling it ... once you give it some thought your mood and gratefulness will change ... I'm not cranky any more ;}

Have a Thankful Thursday!

Ouchies and 100th Post!

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch!

I don't know what spirit took over my body yesterday but somehow after run/walking 2.8 miles with my co-worker (right after work around our office complex) I found myself at home, fiddling with my Garmin and heading off for another run. I fully intended for it to be just one mile to make up for a little bit of the walking ... ok, maybe I really needed to do two to make up the walking ... but by the time I got to the 2 mile turn around the spirit had a firm hold on me and I continued on to the 3 mile path.

I arrived at home 40 minutes later having done 3.2 miles after which I obviously didn't stretch nearly enough because an hour later I felt my muscles wincing and complaining (I really must stretch better after runs!).

Mind you I was only supposed to do a standard 3 mile run.

Today I feel every muscle in my body ... which after my past two week or so of slacking and lacking ... actually feels very motivating.

Today is kinda a rest day (switched it from Friday) so I have penciled in a bike practice of no more than 1.5M (I know it sounds like very little but I am still learning to ride so for me that's alot) and my Push-Up/Sit-up Challenge (begining from week 1 ... again).

Also, a toast to my 100th post ... and to the next hundred and the next and the next :)

Have a Humparicfic Hump day!

I.Ride.Bike

Yesterday, I got up and at'em and hit it with P90x Legs and Back ... I forgot how much I truly enjoy that work out as my Monday strength training. Then I followed it up with Billy Blanks Abs Boot Camp which has now been promoted to my current favorite for the Monday Abs follow up to my strength training.

Then I decided it had been too long since Lesson #2 of How to Ride a Bike and I decided to give Lesson #3 a shot ... boy did I rock it :) I can now say I can ride a bike (mind you I'm no Lance Armstrong and I'm still a bit wobbly) but I can stay on and peddle more than twice and go for almost a whole block straight (no turns yet but no biggie). I did a total of 1.25 Mile practice which is 5 laps around my block. I'm SOOOOO HAPPY!?!?! I'll be Triathaloning (is that even a word) in no time :) hehehe

I was so excited about it I forgot to eat dinner and I woke up at 5am with my stomach rumbling but I didn't get up. Now, if I won't get out of bed to eat when I'm stravin' what on earth makes me think I'm gonna get up at that time to go run!?!

Oh, well.

On another note, WOWZERS are my legs sore ... and I did manage to scrape my knee which is sore too.

Tonight, I have another co-worker run but the weather may have other plans.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

Thought Of The Day:

Circumstance is no excuse for Mediocrity. The philosopher Jagger once said "You don't always get what you want ... but if you try ... sometimes ... you get what you need!"

Yesterday, after work I headed out for a jog with my co-worker and again she crapped out on me. This time she made it twice as far (or .4 mile) which granted is much improved but then she started to walk and would not budge for even a jog ... (so breaking Rule #10 Never Leave Your Buddy Behind) ... I left her behind and continued at my pace.

Unfortunately, since I have to wait for her till 5pm to get off work (instead of my usual 4:30pm ... causing us to get stuck in rush hour traffic on our way to the park) by the time we got to the park I felt like I was running terribly late so I think I subconsciously rushed through my warm-up stretches which in turn caused me to start cramping up in my calves by then end of my first mile.

Then at around the start of mile 2 my right foot started to go numb which caused me to run considerably slower than I like.

Overall this run scores a emotionless "meh"

I got home and decided to cheer myself up with a little bicycle practice and I did a half a mile (not with any particular style or grace and I did notice a couple of bicyclists pass by and glance over at me like I was certifiably insane).

Considering that I was pumping once then coasting, catching my balance with my other foot , then stopping then switching to the next foot and pumping once then coasting, catching my balance ... well you catch my drift ... I do admit I looked silly but I was just trying to get myself used to the fast forward motion which I think was well achieved!

Also, I think I sweat more in those 15 minutes than I did on my entire run and boy am I sore ... what a workout!?! I think I'm going to like this bicycling thing ... but BOY IS MY BOOTY SORE!

I'm feeling much better today. I did started the day of with a CALORIE SPLURGE for breakfast but maybe it helped because I am feeling pretty good. Today's schedule is 3 X Hills and I'm actually excited.

Thursday, I plan for my co-worker and I to run in the complex where we work (cutting out the rush hour traffic middle man) and if that doesn't work ... I may need to return to my solitary workouts at least until we can figure something else out.

Have a great Wednesday!

Mondays are too much with us late and soon

MONDAYS are too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our WEEKENDS:
Little we see OF TIME that is ours;
We have given our LIVES away, to sordid WORK!
WOULD RATHER QUIT THIS WORKING RATHER SOON!

Bastardizing a little Woodsworth in the morning! :) The actual poem is called THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US; LATE AND SOON

Mondays weigh heavy on our back and shoulders,
drawing out life from failing lungs,
Were that there were seven Fundays,
to spend each lounging in the sun.

That one is an original by me :)

Well, enough non sequitur.

Today was a trying day but nothing I couldn't handle. I did end up taking the day and working from home so my planned run didn't happen but I was able to squeeze in a bike lesson!

Bike Lesson One:


Here is Mr. Boyfriend making a funny face and demonstrating what I will hopefully be doing very soon.

I gave it the old college try (I have sore hands and a rather raw booty to prove it) but it's going to take a bit longer than I may have originally expected but I will keep at it!?!

Ploting and Scheming

I've been plotting and scheming today.

It's something I like to do on Monday's.

This week I adjusted my workout schedule. I will be working on Hal Higdon's Marathon Training -- Personal Best Schedule for the next 30 weeks. I hope to keep my running and my strength training balanced and hope to start learning to ride a bicycle.

I found a great used bike on Craig's list. Going to see it tonight after my workout ... wish me luck :)

Tonight's workout is P90x Back & Legs plus something for my Abs ... not sure what yet.

Have a great Monday!

Improving

I had such a great workout I couldn't wait to write.

Today, I went straight to the gym after work today and the first thing I did was bee-line for the treadmill. I was not going to let my fear of running get the best of me today. After a 5min warm-up I set the treadmill at 5.6 pace and kept it going for a whole 3.1 miles. I ran a whole 5K with no walking breaks. I think that is the longest distance I've ever run straight (well, other than the 7 mile bridge where I was motivated by the fear of the bus chasing behind us).

I reached a new PR.

5K in 33:30.

Doesn't sound like much but it's a vast improvement for me.

Also considering that at the end of mile two I started to develop my first blister (which I consider a badge of honor! :)

I tried to fix my shoe once I did 5K but had no success so I jumped off the treadmill and hit the stationary bike where I logged 7.2 miles in 20min. I am trying to strengthen my bicycling muscles for when I finally get my bicycle and venture to learn to ride it (yes, you heard that right, I don't know how to ride a bicycle ... YET! :)

I had some time left so I started my 10-20-30 sets. I do 10 Push-ups, 20 Sit-ups and 30 Squats. I got through 4 sets before my agoraphobia beat out my OCD and I couldn't deal with the crowd that developed in the calisthenics area of the gym.

Overall a great workout, except that I forgot to stretch :\ and now I'm sore.

Oh, well ... still a great workout :)

Times, They are a changing

Well, first things first ... I finally got to the gym yesterday and I was feeling good. Kept it simple and as planned jumped on the Elliptical and did my 10k in 62min ... not bad. I still had a little time and energy left and wasn't quite feeling like doing squats and crunches so I hopped on the bicycle instead. Need to get those bicycling muscles into shape and I did 7.2 miles in 20 min.

On to other things:

One of my other many other hobbies is photography ... and in one of my informative articles this morning I saw a video about how photography stills are changing.

Living Movie Poster - Students Have No Class from Alexx Henry on Vimeo.

My first thought was "Very cool!?!" But then I thought "A little freaky!?!". Reminds me of that movie Minority Report (if you haven't seen it, it's a good flick). Very exciting and scary at the same time.

Kinda makes me miss the my childhood in the mountains of Puerto Rico ... now, mind you I am very much an American City Girl ... but Times, they are a changing ... and the past always seems like a safer place.

But the past is no place to place your better days! (paraphrasing a lyric from a DMB song :)

Happy Thursday (or as I lovingly know it: one-day till Friday!)