Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, hope everyone has had a great day!  Just a quick follow up on my race, more of a report will (maybe) come later.

First, a goal recap:

1. Get a Turkey Trot PR.  Shouldn't be hard as my best time is over 38 minutes.
2. Run except for water station.
3. PR PR.  Now I know it's doable, so lets see if I can make it race official.
4. (Bonus goal!) Do well enough that I'm good with all the Thanksgiving eating and drinking.  I mean I'm going to do it anyway, it's just nice to feel accomplished and well worked before a big meal.

1. Check!

2. Check!

3. Check!

4. Check! (But I don't think I over did it like usual.  Yet.)

Time?  31:43.  That's right, about 2:30 off my all time race PR and about 7 minutes off my Turkey Trot PR.  Now I really can't wait until the Hot Chocolate 5k in a few weeks!

Turkey Trot race goals!

But first, catching up on my weekly post.  I wanted to wait to post yesterday until after my lunch run with my coworker, A because I knew I'd have a good report to post.  Good news with the tickers, I'm down a pound from last week (we'll see how that lasts after Thanksgiving tomorrow...) AND I'm over 200 miles for the year!  I'm quite impressed with myself, but at the same time, I know that I can do better on both fronts.  But I'm trying.


So, lunch run.  I told A that my goal was 34 minutes for a 5k, just under my current 34:16 PR.  So, she had a goal in mind for this run.  Which was in the rain.  Actually I liked that, especially in the middle of the day.  Not only did it keep me cooler overall, but I didn't feel nearly as sweaty and gross returning to work.


Anyway, the first mile (about) felt great.  I felt like I was actually keeping up with A and was comfortable while doing so.  It started to get a little rough on one incline, but I was anticipating a great downhill and wanted to turn at every side street.  Luckily, the turn finally came and down we went. It was after the hill where A's no stopping became difficult.  Especially since I didn't have my normal water bottle, and what I did have wasn't very easy to drink and run from.  And because there's an uphill for a good part of the rest of the run.  Ugh.


Surprisingly, I made it through with only a quick water stop.  Even more surprisingly, I did it in 31 minutes.  I'm still not sure I believe it!  Um, just a little under my best time ever.  Of course it helps that A pushed me the whole time, literally and figuratively.  Uphill, the literally was very, very helpful.


Poor J feels run cheated on, so I really do owe him a run where I whine but don't stop.  Lets see how hard he can push me if I let him!


So, now I know I can run a 5k without stopping, and do it much quickly than I thought.  I'm still just going for under 34 minutes tomorrow.  And I think when training, I'll still walk.  Tomorrow I will only walk during the water station because I would like to drink my water instead of splashing it on my face like I did yesterday.


And now, official Turkey Trot goals


1. Get a Turkey Trot PR.  Shouldn't be hard as my best time is over 38 minutes.
2. Run except for water station.
3. PR PR.  Now I know it's doable, so lets see if I can make it race official.
4. (Bonus goal!) Do well enough that I'm good with all the Thanksgiving eating and drinking.  I mean I'm going to do it anyway, it's just nice to feel accomplished and well worked before a big meal.

Anyone want to send me to Ireland?

I found out the other day that the Rock n Roll marathon series is introducing a half marathon in Dublin next year and I would like to go.  So, if anyone would like to send J, my sister-in-law (tangent: I abbreviate everyone's name to first initial in this blog.  However, that will get confusing as she is also J, so she will be SIL.  The only good thing about my brother not running the turkey trot next week is that there would be a third J to write about.  But anyway...) and I to Dublin next year, that would be awesome.  Otherwise, I guess we'll just wait and save up to go sometime hopefully in the next few years.

This is why I love NPP

We had our second training run and ran 2.7 miles the other night.  We had a mild night again.  As it's mid-November, I'm thinking our luck will run out soon, but I was still comfortable in just short.  And we had a great downhill this time, which lined up with "Good Lord Willing."  Might be why my first mile was a 10:36 split.  I was super surprised to see that, but A was pushing me and I was working hard to keep up.  I finished in 31:38 and we all finished within a few minutes of each other - only .4 miles to a NPP 5k!


J was like, why did you run that hard tonight but are like, time to walk! with me?  And I do, I'm quick to start walking with him.  I mean, I love my 9 minute run/1 minute walk interval, so there's that.  But I don't let him push me as hard as he and I both know I can go.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's a comfort level with him?  I can crap out even if he tells me to keep going and just say, yea ok, I'm walking?  I should let him push me though.


A few of us at work are not caring for the numbers on the scale or are just trying to tighten up, so we've decided on a monthly measurement in addition to our weekly runs.  So there is now a list on my white board to keep track.  And they were pretty close to my measurements from the beginning of the month, so I guess I did it right.  Except the waist was 2 inches smaller.  Either I messed up or I did lose inches.  I'm going with a combo.


Oh yeah, and I'm starting P90X tomorrow.  Eeek!  The inches should come off now!

The eating might have been bad but the working out was great

So, when I work out at home, I do so in a sports bra and shorts.  I'm by myself, in the living room at 5:30 am with no mirrors, so why not?  No one to dress up for (or scare off).  I get upstairs after some pushups and crunches on Friday morning, and like what I see.  I swear there were lines.  Like, definition in my stomach.  J had just gotten up, I don't know if he even put in his contacts yet but made some comment about a 6 pack (about him or me, no clue, I was distracted by my lines).  I was like, I'm getting one!  Look, don't you see the line in the center?  I have a two pack and a pot!  I watch too much Pulp Fiction since I don't refer to it as a potbelly, but not enough that I will ever believe my pot is sexy.

Haha, just kidding, you do have to see me in just a sports bra and shorts!  No good two pack pics, but I had to show off the first arm muscle since I was on crutches in high school.

Anyway, that motivation got my weekend off to a great start.  And my coworkers and I having plank time during lunch.  Go team, we're going to start 2012 with fab abs!


I spent Saturday and Sunday with my family, which just meant more workout partners.  I sent an email to my siblings announcing a Saturday morning run, and  my lucky sister B was roped in.  Aside from the wind, it was actually a gorgeous morning for a run.  We got up and took our time getting ready (too much time?).  As much as I like getting up and out right away for a run otherwise it won't happen, it was Saturday and I actually got to sleep in.

Can't you tell from that wide awake and done up face that I took my time to get ready.  Honestly not sure what took so long.

Someone (not me this time!) underestimated her running abilities, but we all did awesome!  Almost 20 minutes straight with no walking.  And even then, we just walked a bit and finished a 5k in 35:48.  With hills.  Lots and lots of horrible hills.  Actually, starting out is downhill, which is great.  And then you climb right up another.  And have to climb up what was the great downhill right before finishing.

It looks a lot steeper and longer from the bottom of the hill.  

When we got back from our run, I had to make sure I got in my push-ups and crunches.  Honestly, I had the best set of push-ups I think I ever had.  Done and ready for eating.

Must have been the help!  Let's be honest, I only mentioned my Saturday push-ups as an excuse to post a pic of O working out with me.  His push-up attempt was adorable.

So, since my sister, K, couldn't come out and run circles around B and I (at least J would have had company), I requested she bring one of her Jillian Michaels DVDs.  K and B, I still apologize for choosing the boost your metabolism one, or whatever the 40 minutes of jumping and sweating was called.  Um wow.  Not that I don't usually get a workout from her DVDs, but we were all dying and drenched.  I loved it.  I especially liked the kickboxing elements, I would love to join a gym just to take a kickboxing class sometime.  Or perhaps add this DVD to my collection.  

We're all beating up Jillian in our minds.

It was great to workout, especially with my family (O didn't come on our Saturday run like usual, but J pushed me to go further and run stronger), but this week's weigh in was a good reminder that a great workout can only do so much to counteract a bad diet.

Sooo bloated

So, not as good this week.  I was doing so well the end of last week and then the weekend happened.  Sigh.  I mean there were great parts about last weekend, which will be coming in another post.  But food wise...  I gave myself permission to eat what I wanted on Saturday without worrying about calories (I know how harsh that sounds.  But it was a birthday party with cheesecake and cookie cake and spaghetti and meatballs.  I didn't want to spend dinner worrying).  And in general, I did pretty well not over doing it.  I might have had a ton of pasta for dinner but I didn't snack all day like usual.  The problem was that I started Friday night and kept going into Sunday.  There were times I wasn't even hungry, but I ate anyway.  And then yesterday, I didn't get a workout in the morning, and was just feeling blah all day.  J suggested we run on the treadmill last night, which I was excited about, but by the time I got home, I just couldn't.  So I had chocolate and wine instead.  So the surprise on the scale is that it wasn't higher.  Plus, I feel like I just retained all the water I drank yesterday.  Blah.


Oh well, its a new day.

Running is the new happy hour

Hahahaha.  Ok, maybe not, but my coworkers and I did go for a 2 mile run at 6pm after work the other night.  Gotta get training for the Hot Chocolate 5k we're doing together in just a few weeks now.  We lucked out weather wise for a November night, it was already dark, but still low 60s.  I can only hope we manage to run on the warmest day each week.

 First step, leaving the building and setting up the ipods.

We maintained a pretty good pace, all finishing between 24-29 minutes!  We were told about a hill by our leader and cheerleader (and guest blog photographer), A, but I so wasn't expecting it.  We went up an incline that was slow and decent, kind of like the ones by home.  I was like, ok, I can manage this hill.  I mean, it was noticeable, so I figured that was it.  And then we turned the corner.  Now I know what a hill is.  I shuffled on up it because seriously, if I stop and try to walk on a hill, there is no restarting. 

It's totally possible to start running again after a photo op after the hill though.

 

I will say, after that, the rest was easy.  I'm not sure where that was in relation to the halfway point, but knowing that was behind me made the rest seem quite possible and went by pretty fast.  

 Full group shot - go team!!

I was so happy that after we all made it back, we immediately set up another run for next week.  I know there was some hesitation before we started.  So I found us a new motto.  So very true.

Feeling so good today!

I saw a really good number on the scale today.  Down from last week, and close to a mini goal of mine (lets just say a goal I've had since around 1/7/10).  It was such a shock and excitement to see the number on the scale this morning.  Especially since O had a rough night.  Not sure if he was teething or having bad dreams, but he spent half the night sobbing.  I got him settled long enough to sleep for an hour before my alarm went off to exercise, which set him off again.  So, I didn't wake up early this morning, and once he was down again, he slept in and woke up so happy as if there had been no issues in the night!

I'm exhausted today as a result but felt out of sorts from not following my exercise plan in the morning.  It's not that I felt heavier weight wise, but I felt heavier I guess from dragging myself around.  I need to at least get in some pushups and crunches tonight.  But with a sleeping baby (I really thought he was going to wake up and literally cling to me all morning once I got up) and a good number, the morning wasn't too bad after all.

Happy birthday, J!

J's birthday was this past Saturday, so what did we do to celebrate?  Go on a family jog in the morning.  I was definitely fighting it.  We went to McDonald's for breakfast for his hotcake breakfast platter, and being full off steak and cheese bagel (trying something new) and no water, I was just feeling sluggish and blah.  Not to mention wanting to puke once we got going.  But, it was J's birthday, so I went with him.  And we finished our 3 miles.  A little slower than usual, and I always feel bad making him walk and slow down to my pace.  And while it was freezing, it was a fun start to the morning.  I love running in the morning to have it over with and it makes me feel ready for the day.  Plus, when I wait, I usually find an excuse to not work out.  

Anyway, happy birthday, J!  Love you!

He's a great photographer.  Slimming picture without photoshop!

My mouth is cut off, but trust me I'm smiling because we're done.

Where is my motivation

I've been listening to too much 90s on 9 on XM.  Anyway, I randomly found my old motivation picture the other day.  It's a picture of when I just started dating J.  I actually kept the shirt for years to just see if I can fit in some day, though I think I finally got rid of it last year.

My boob looks a bit weird, but I was a lot tinier than I thought I was at the time.

This picture is almost 10 years old.  Now, as I said the other day, I'm not really trying to get back to my teenage shape, measurements, or weight.  My body is different now.  But what I want is to be able to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough in my body to show off my midsection.  Not that I ever will in public again, after having O, bikinis are off limit to me!  Despite this picture, I have never been that comfortable with myself and I'm sure most of the night was spent arms in front of my stomach.  But I love this picture because I look so confident.  And while number wise I'm not trying to replicate, I do want to look better than I do here because I want to look stronger.  I didn't work out much in college.  I'm already stronger now than I was then, and by June 16 it will really show.  Too bad I didn't keep the shirt for a comparison picture!

Shivy Got Back

How is it November already?  Well, that means it's time to review my October goals and set some new ones!


October
-Track calories daily, good or bad kept up with for the most part.  Getting better.
-Drink more water!  I drank lots of water this month!
-No more soda Again, for the most part, I did this.
-Run at least 3x a week Eh, not as good, but still got some runs in.


I had a cold last week, more like I lost my voice which developed into an annoying cough.  So, I didn't do much exercise wise, and didn't track what I ate.  Somehow I still ended up ok at my weigh in this morning though.  I did drink so much water last week, but sometimes a soda just really helps my throat.  I didn't over do it and let me get back into the soda habit though!  It's helped that I've picked up coffee instead.  A few more calories since I use creamer (love finally being able to use all the different flavors!), but I'm satisfied after a small cup, and just have a 1 cup a day habit so far.


November started well, health wise.  My car needed a new tire, and the shop is 3 miles from my house.  I dropped my car off this morning and ran home in just under 35 minutes.  A few hours later, I was running/walking back.  I did more 5min run/5min walk splits since I was carrying more (had to pay for the tire after all), and it was nice to relax a little.  Still made it back to the shop in just under 40 minutes!.  I then did a Jillian Michaels DVD this evening, so I feel quite accomplished for the day.


November
-Run run run!  I have two 5ks for the end of the year and I'd like to set a PR.
-Jillian Michaels November.  My bff K and I are going to keep each other on track with the 30 Day Shred.


My goals this month really focus on working out and getting back into the habit of waking up early to do so.  Tracking my calories is keeping me focused on eating, and even if I'm not making the best choices, figuring out how to work my splurges into my day.  Which the work out habit will also help with.  And, I got the first weigh in results back from the body challenge at work.  I'm not even in the top 4!  Obviously, that must change in the next 5ish weeks, because I must finally win!


I've also decided to start tracking my measurements.  I've taken my measurements in the past, as recently in July though I can't find those numbers, and I know it is a great tool, but I've never really kept up with it.  I think with adding more weights and workouts beyond running, it will be nice to have another way to view my progress, especially if the weight is staying stagnant.  I know I'm doing well because of the clothes I can now fit into, but it can be frustrating to concentrate on just one number.  I think I shall take these numbers monthly to post with my goals.  So, here is the first edition of my measurements.  Oh, this also came around because J and I listened to "Baby got Back" and I told him I used to be Sir Mix-a-Lot's perfect body type since I'm already 5'3".  Lets see how close I can get to 36-24-36, shall we?  (disclaimer: I know my body has changed a lot since I was 36-24-36, if I even really was there, and I'm not really looking to the 24 number, but it's more fun to live in a little fantasy bubble).


Waist 35
Hips  42
Arms 12
Thighs 25.75
Bust  39.5