First training run

Bachelor starts tonight!  It's so nice to have TV to watch again, great TV at that :)

I had a great run tonight.  It helps that it is starting to get lighter out.  I can look at downtown and the traffic instead of just staring at my reflection in the mirror.  Running back to back days was a good idea.  I haven't had enough of those.  I felt much stronger and decided I just needed to run as much as I could.  I was able to go for 35 minutes before walking, so that is an improvement in my running lately.

Not only is tomorrow my first weigh-in (damn you Biggest Loser for changing days!), but it is also my free training session at the gym.  Hopefully it goes well.

Final Stats:  5.01 miles, 55 minutes, 690 calories

It's official!

Big day!  Woke up to the awesome news that hockey is coming back!  I was so happy all morning, all I did was sit on the couch and read all the articles on it.  I cannot wait for the first game!!  It's been too long!

The Biggest Loser has their season premiere tonight was is long overdue!  I really missed not having a fall season, it'll be fun to see the trainers put the contestants through hell.  What I wouldn't give to be on that ranch for a couple weeks!  And Jillian is back!

I was so not feeling the workout today, but I knew with all that happened today, I would regret not going.  I got it together finally and went to they gym.  Not my best workout, I was feeling lazy even on the treadmill, but I got 3 miles in for the day.  It'll have to do, a run is a run.

Oh....and this happened today...I registered for the half marathon.  Gonna have to get my running on track for sure!

3 Days in a row :)

Carinne told me she signed up for the half marathon.  This has now put the idea into my head to be able to run 13.1 miles by Cinqo de Mayo.  It's always been on my mind to run a half, I was just debating about doing it this year.  Now, I guess I will be training to run this year!  The training continued today.

I ran after work today in the gym.  The gym was actually empty when I got in there, to be joined by 2 other people later.  A guy hopped on one of the treadmills when I was around 28 minutes, which was nice.  I felt like I was running with someone and helped push me a little more.  My goal was to run another 4.5 miles, but run it faster than I ran it the other day.  I did a 2 minute warm up, a 4 minute cool down and ran / walked in between.  I tried to run a little longer at the beginning at a slower pace in order to try to run for more miles.  I ran about 3 miles before walking for the first time.

Final Stats:  4.51 miles; 49 minutes, 626 calories

P.S - looking for new running songs!  Suggestions??

Lunchtime quickie

Tonight was date night, which means that I had to get a workout in during the day.  Luckily, I was able to go during work this afternoon for a quick little weight workout.

I started out on the stair master.  I did 12 minutes at a level 11.  I managed to climb 57 floors and burned 165 calories.  I then went to weights.  I blasted out my legs for a while, moved to an ab workout with push ups in between and then went to arms.  I did 50 push ups on my knees and 50 sit ups on each side and in the middle.  Ended the workout with some stretching.

Date night was Korean food, delicious!!

Welcome 2013

Happy New Year!  It's always important to start the new year off right, so I made sure to go to the gym today.  I finally joined LA Fitness after moving here 4 months ago.  I will now be able to, not only have a regular workout schedule, but also go back to spinning!!  I'm so excited.

I jumped on the treadmill and realized how my inconsistent workouts have really hurt my running.  If I want to become a real runner, I will not be able to take so much time off again.  I did a 2 minute warm up and a 6 minute cool down.  In the middle was running and walking to catch my breath.

Final Stats:  51:33 minutes; 4.50 miles

My free training session is scheduled for Tuesday.  A little scared to hear my body fat right now...

Fall Foliage!

 

**Disclaimer: 2 bugs were sacrificed in this run**

It's been a long time since I ran and today was just too beautiful to let it pass by.  I decided to skip kickboxing class and head out on the trail.  Less than a mile in, a bug flew right in the back of my throat.  It slowed me down a bit as I was choking, but I made it through.  I wasn't sure how long I would be able to go since it has been so long since my last run, but I decided to go at a slower pace and longer mileage.  I turned around 2 miles in and started trekking back towards work.  About 3 miles in, a bug decided that it wanted to fly up my nose!  They were quite aggressive today!  I was able to get it together and finish up my 4 mile run. I even took a couple pictures along the way :)

Final stats: 4.47 miles, 46:18 minutes, 565 calories burned

New Brew Thursday

I've unlocked the new badge today!  I've had a new beer on Thursday for 3 weeks in a row, so I got a new badge on Untappd.  Great app.  Thanks Mz Park for the beer (even if it was an IPA).

My legs were super sore today when I started the run.  I was able to push it out of my mind, but I think that stairmaster put a little hurtin on my legs.  The good kind though.  And, boy, is that sun hot!  Run today was super hot, I was drenched when I got back to the gym.  There was a bit of shade, which was awesome, but of course the last bit of the run is in the direct sunlight.  I made it to the end and ran the 4 miles I set out to do.  I think I'm ready for the 5k on Saturday with Emily.  Hopefully she doesn't leave me in the dust.

Final stats: 4.09 miles, 40:39 minutes, 519 calories

Short week...I disagree

Somehow on my short week, I feel like Wednesday should be Thursday.  I'm not sure why that is, but all day I was thinking it was Thursday.  Makes it hard to get through the day!

Yesterday I was able to squeeze a run in before the rain came down.  It was a short run, but much needed since I will be running the race on Saturday.  Emily said she has been running 4 miles, 3-4 days a week now. I may not be able to keep up!  Total stats yesterday: 3.14 miles, 31:44, 397 calories

View from da gym

Today I did a gym day.  I haven't been doing a lot of gym days lately, so I figured it would be a good day for it.  I started off on the stair master.  I did 10 minutes on the hill climb at level 10.  I was able to climb up 37 flights of stairs without leaving the gym!  Next I did the rowing machine.  I played the training game for 10 minutes.  Whenever I thought I had the hang of it, it showed me that I still was not playing the game right.  It has me stumped, maybe someday I'll get it!  I finished up my gym day with weights and abs.  While lifting, I watched the end of Andy Roddick's match.  I was tearing up a bit, especially when they showed his wife crying in the stands.  At least I was the only one in the gym, so it's ok.

Hoping to get one more run in tomorrow in preparation for Saturday!

Bugs are protein right'?

It's been a while since I had a good run.  I'm gonna try to have a good running week and go twice.  Emily  and I are doing a 5k next weekend, so I need to get my butt back into running shape!  I headed out on the river trail after work determined to run at least 4 miles.

Around mile 1, I had an attack of some bugs, some of which went into my mouth.  I had a minor spaz at that, but I recovered a little ways down the path.  On of the downfalls of running outside!  I felt pretty good for most of the run.  I have been linking my Nike Running+ to facebook and got some cheers along the run, which is very helpful! Especially around mile 3!  I was able to tough out the last half mile and made the 4 mile mark.

Today was one of those days when my legs were struggling.  I find its either my lungs or legs that are holding back.  My legs were just not in the mood to run fast, but I was able to keep a steady pace throughout the run.

Final stats: 4.14 miles, 42:34, 524 calories

Wine Wednesday strikes again

Wine and Cheez-its.  What is wrong with Wednesdays lately? I just can't manage the middle of the week anymore!

Hiking in the park

So yesterday I was able to sneak in a quick workout.  I did the stair master after work for 15 minutes at a level 12.  Total flights climbed: 77 floors.  I then did about 5 minutes on the rowing machine before I had to leave to go see an apartment.  Apartment was really nice, but out of the price range.  Bummer, guess I'll keep looking!

Today, Danielle and I did a hike in Frick Park.  We walked down to the park from her apartment and then walked around some of the trails.  We weren't really sure where all the trails lead to, so we just walked around for a while.  We ended up walking about 4 miles in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  It was a good hike and a great day for it.  Although there was a threat of storms, we didn't hit any rain and the temperature was really nice.

Run along the river tomorrow!

Clear the deck!

Another river walk run today.  It was a little hotter, but there a great breeze so it went pretty well.  I was determined to have a good run, since I've really been slacking lately.  I decided to run 4 miles before I started since the other day I ran about 3.5.  Mile 1 went really well (and also my fastest), a 9:37 pace.  I got slower from there, but I was very happy that I did end up running the full 4 miles.  Here's hoping I can add to it!

Final stats: 4 miles, 39:58, 510 calories

When I was walking back to work to grab my stuff, I walked past a restaurant and heard that they had just hit a home run.  Very happy I was not running by then!  Don't need to be dodging baseballs when I'm on 3.5 miles of the run.  That would not have been pretty!

My day felt like this...

When I get busy/stressed, I tend to skip the workout.  However, I always feel so much better when I workout when I'm stressed.  Its a crazy circle that is hard to stop.  This week at work, I've felt like I'm going in 20 different directions, so a run today was much needed!

I stayed in town and ran by the river today.  It was pretty good weather since it had rained earlier in the day. The temperature dropped a bit.  However, the rain caused the trail to have so large puddles (or obstacles to run around) and some strange smells to drift from the river once and a while, but overall a great run.  Trying to get back into shape a bit after not running much lately.

Final stats: 33:43 minutes, 3.45 miles, 438 calories

Wine Wednesday

On break today....

Riverwalk run

Carinne and I did the riverwalk today.  It was much hotter than I thought it was going to be.  I ended up running toward the science center, then up to meet Carinne.  I had about 2 miles in before then.  Carinne and I started running together, and I maybe only lasted about a half a mile.  I was dying!  Luckily, Carinne was a good sport and walked the end with me.  Talk about a lazy day!  Hoping for a better workout day tomorrow.  At least we had some great views today (and a million pirate fans).

New Job, new city, still running!

First run around the new (temporary) apartment.  There are a lot of hills, and I got a little lost running to the park I was trying to get to, but the it all worked out.  As I was running, I kept thinking how it seems like I was running downhill and running back home was going to be a bitch.  When I cut through the park (and woods) it definitely was rough.  Walked a bit more than I would have liked, but it was a great run to get to know the new area.  I did some arms and abs when I got home as well.  Hopefully a riverwalk run tomorrow with this girl.

Final Stats: 3.65 miles, 43.15 minutes, 442 calories

Two for Tuesday

Monday was a light exercise day after the 10K with Emily.  We walked a little while up the hills, but it got very dark quickly, so we went home.  I did push the stroller the whole walk though, so that adds some arms!  After our walk (and dinner), we did two Shape workouts.  The first was a 12 minute boot camp, then a 12 minute Yoga and Pilates tape.  They like to burn your arms a lot!

Today I was inspired by Carinne's workout idea, 2 for Tuesday.  I did 2 miles on the bike, followed by 2 miles on the treadmill, followed by 2 miles on the elliptical.   I realized 2(!) things.  1 - I miss spinning and should find a class to go to and 2 - I don't really enjoy the elliptical that much.  Its so hard to keep your speed up!  I guess its good in the fact that it makes you work hard, but it was a pain!

Bike: 7:15 minutes, 75 calories (level 12)
Run: 18:51 minutes, 248 calories (1.0 hill)
Elliptical: 22:15 minutes, 242 calories (mile 1, level 12; mile 2, level 10)

10K results

Today was the big race day!  I wasn't really that nervous for the race, just wanted to get started.  The race is a 5/10K with the 5K being 1 lap and the 10K is 2 laps.  I ran the 5K with Emily, which worked out well.  We ran the 5K in a little under 30 minutes.  I then had to go out again by myself to do the rest of the 10K.  I was feeling pretty good until I got to the hill at mile 4.  I was barely moving up the hill, but I knew after that, it would be mostly flat/downhill, so I forced myself to keep going.  My sister came back to run with me around for the last mile or so.  It was a great help because I think I ran faster when she joined me.  The race overall went pretty well and I was happy with my first 10K race!

Results:  59:44, 6.2 miles

I love short weeks

I think a 40 hour work week is too long, lets lower it!  Short weeks are the best!

Today Emily and I ran the 5K route that we will do on Sunday.  It was a good run, I just have to prepare myself to do 2 laps of that on Sunday.  I also found out that the 'run' on Saturday is most likely just going to be an untimed walk around the track.  It will be good not to run too much before the 10K then.

Happy weekend!

Well, that was a rough one!

Really rough run today.  My goal for the day was to do a long run, a practice for the 10K on Sunday, but it did  not go well!  I struggled for much of the run, but did manage to pick it up toward the end.  I would not let myself touch the treadmill before 3 miles, which was a good help.  Just very bored the whole run, which doesn't make an hour go very fast.

After a 3 minute warm up, I ran for 30 minutes at a 6.3.  I then turned it down to a 6.0 for a couple minutes, before giving in to my weakness and walked at a 4.0 for about 4 minutes.  I was able to salvage a bit though and did another 10 minutes at a run, walked for 3, then ran the remaining 7 with a 3 minute cool down.

Final Stats:  63 minutes, 6.02 miles, 810 calories

My eating has been a lot better this week, tracking my calories until dinner, and not eating as much at night.  Amazing how much better I feel after being disciplined for just a couple of days!