I am a Flying Pig: Part 2

As my legs took their first step on the road to 13.1, I felt a wave of excitement rush through my body.  I ran my first half marathon in May 2010 at the Capital City half in Columbus and I swore I would never do another one again.  It wasn’t because I didn’t love the hard-work it took to get to race day, the sweat and effort that was put into all of those training runs.  However, it was because I doubted my own abilities.  Running my first half was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, mostly due to the fact that I had no idea what to expect and wasn’t sure if it was even possible for me to finish.  Turns out though, it was possible and I pushed my mind and body to the limits to succeed.  Following that race and for days, weeks, months after I thought it would be the only half marathon I would ever run.  I knew how difficult it was and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to put myself back through the pain and sacrifice my time to train.  However, at this point in my life I needed a fitness goal, I needed something to work toward, and proving to myself that I could run another half marathon seemed like just the ticket. That’s right, the racing bug had bitten me again, but this time in a city south of my alma mater.  This time I was in Cincinnati.

My husband gave me a quick kiss and wished me good luck.  We had decided before the race that we would stick together and pace each other during the run, hoping to finish at the same time.  However, if either of us fell behind (ahem, if I fell behind), the other person would keep going and we would meet at the finish line.  Although we had trained together, we also realized that finishing was an individual goal as well.  We both wanted the best for each other, so if that meant running at our own pace, then that was how it was going to be.

The sun was continuing to rise in the sky as I took my first steps across that starting line.  The crowd was full, but at least where I was standing, was nothing as cramped as the Capital City was, or even the local ‘Turkey Trot’ we do every year.  I expected it to take a couple miles for the crowds to wean out and for us to really pick up our pace, but we were running at our pace goal within seconds of beginning.  I looked up at the clock and we were about 6 minutes or so behind the first runners.  We started down the street and ran past Great American Ball Park where the Cincinnati Reds play.  The last time I was roaming this city was for one of those games last July.  I remembered it was hot, humid and sticky, so seeing it in the morning’s light with temps in the 60’s felt like such a blessing.

Before I knew it, we were at our first bridge, maintaining about a 9:20 second mile.  This was a little faster than our training runs, but I knew that the first few miles of the race were likely to be my fastest.  I knew about those hills that would be coming later on, but I tried to put them out of my mind and run my little heart out at the start.  I couldn’t believe what a beautiful morning we were given:  bright blue skies, not a cloud in sight, and bright sparkle coming off of the Ohio River, a reflection from the sun that was slowly climbing higher and higher into the sky.

At this point we were coming to the end of the bridge and I spotted Newport on the Levee, a place that I celebrated my 22nd birthday, only days before I would become engaged.  Last time I was there I had no clue what the future had in store, but this time I knew and had him running right next to me.

Before I knew it we were coming off the bridge and were now in Kentucky.  It’s not everyday you can say you ran from ‘Ohio to Kentucky’ then back from ‘Kentucky to Ohio’ and not be telling a tall-tale.  We kept our speed up as we crossed mile 1, and then mile 2.  It was about this time that my stomach started to feel a little rough and I could feel the cramps slowly sneaking up on me.  I decided to push it out of my mind at this time, but I couldn’t help but know it would possibly be making its appearance again.

The first few miles weren’t bad at all.  I grabbed a water at every stop, (there was a water station at almost every mile, which was awesome), and kept up the pace.  We had to go uphill on the bridge that headed back to Ohio, and although it was a difficult hill, it was definitely doable.  About this time, Meghan branched off from us and it was just Tim and I.  My stomach was killing me, but I was hoping a few sips of water here and there would help.  I tried to focus on my music and my pace as we headed off the bridge and back into the city.  We were so blessed the race started as early as it did for the sun had not quite rose high enough yet and the buildings were blocking a lot of the heavy rays.  The mile long stretch between three and four was filled with spectators, which helped keep the momentum up.  There were signs being held, cowbells being rang, and children reaching out for high fives, offering some of the best encouragement of the day.

About mile four and a half is when the hills started.  At first it was a low incline, but as you came around the corner, the huge hills couldn’t be missed.  Now I knew they were coming, but I didn’t expect them to be quite so high, and quite so many.  I thought I had ‘trained hills’ in my neighborhood, but no, they were nothing like these.  We started up the hill and I could already feel my stomach cramping up worse.  This is when things start to get a little blurry and my memory gets a little foggy.  All I could think about was that I was only at mile five, and I was already looking for the finish line.  Suddenly all of those great feelings I felt for the first five miles went away and I was stuck worrying about the next five.  I knew we had been speedy initially, so I thought the best bet for myself at that time would be to walk up the hills and then make up for the time in the last downward stretch.  I told Tim to go on ahead and at this point he took off, and I realized I was suddenly alone.  I was alone with my thoughts, and even with thousands of people around me, I felt alone in the race. 

I started to doubt my capability of finishing as my stomach began feeling worse and worse.  I was truly disappointed for I had hoped not to walk at all, but I tried to push these negative thoughts out of my head.  I knew my body, and part of my deal with myself was that I would not only listen to it while training, but also during the race.  I said my prayers for positive thoughts and help when I needed it the most, and kept pushing ahead.  I think a lot of runners probably wage a battle like this inside their heads.  Running is so much more than physically crossing that finish line, it’s the mental aspect that can be the hardest feat of all to accomplish.

Miles six and seven were all hills, but I kept with my walk-run strategy.  It seemed to be working fairly well, but my stomach pain would not stop.  I passed rest stop after rest stop, but as I finally came around mile eight, I knew I needed to stop.  I didn’t want to, but I was sick and knew I had to take care of myself.  Afterwards, I felt better, but still not great.  I felt dehydrated and light headed, even though I had been drinking water at every stop.  I had ran quite a few long runs and had never been sick and felt upset that it happened for the first time during the race, but as mile nine came around I tried to push the negative aside again.  I may be feeling sick, and I may not end in the time I had hoped, but I was going to finish this race and I was going to finish strong.

By mile ten, we had started the downhill run back into the city.  When I say downhill, I mean that the incline was as low as the hill incline was high.  I had to be careful not to go down too fast for fear of falling.  The end of the run was a welcome relief though.  I knew I was going to finish and I wanted to make up a little of the time I had lost during my mile five through eight struggle.  I looked down at my Garmin and I was keeping a steady running pace between an 8:50 and a 9:10 mile.  At this point, I had never been so happy to see mile twelve in my life.  ‘Only one mile to go,’ I reminded myself as I began a silent countdown in my head: 9 minutes to go, 8 minutes to go, etc. etc.

Crossing that finish line was obviously a wave of happiness and relief all rolled into one.  Tim found me in the crowd of runners immediately and gave me a big congratulatory hug.  We walked toward the recovery stations where I got my medal, quickly chugged two bottles of water, and grabbed a cup of gatorade, a banana, and a recovery protein bar.  My legs felt tight, but they were no where near as sore as they had been my first half.  And you know what?  I had PR’d this race.  Definitely a little slower than what I had hoped, but I still beat my original time by two minutes.  I finished in 2:14 and I couldn’t have been more proud of myself.  This was a tough race, and my body didn’t feel as great as expected, but I had finished and finished strong, which is all I could really hope.

Although I was feeling rough, I was smiling from ear-to-ear.  There is nothing like that post-run high, which I hadn’t truly believed existed until I first felt it myself.  So will I run another half marathon someday?  I am not ready to answer that question, for I have proclaimed no before and here I stand today just completing my second.  I know initially I am planning on cutting back on the running and trying some other exercises that have fell to the side, but maybe someday I will be crossing that finish line again.  Only time will tell!

I am a Flying Pig: Part One

Looking up for a second time, I could feel the lump growing in the back of my throat.  I was warned, I can’t deny that, however I didn’t expect it to be that bad.  “I didn’t know mountains were in Cincinnati,” I jokingly told my husband, in an effort to try and push aside the real panic I was feeling inside.  I joke around and I giggle out loud in nervous situations where I feel tense and unsure of what’s to come.  At this point, I knew what was to come: more hills.  However, knowing didn’t make me feel any less concerned at this point.  All I could think about was how this would end and whether, or not, I could finish strong.

I can still hear that alarm ringing in my ears as I roll over in my bed and hit the ‘dismiss’ button on my phone.  4:05 am.  Wow, last night flew by, I think to myself.  I look over at my husband, who also seems to feel a little dazed about waking up at 4 am on a Sunday.  I give him a good morning kiss and slowly climb out of bed.  It is ‘Flying Pig’ day and over two months of training later, we have finally made it to the big day.  We stayed the night at Meghan’s boyfriends house since it is closer to Cincinnati than our home.  Meghan is also running the half marathon with me.  She is the one who originally talked me into it!

I head straight to the bathroom to wash my face and toss my wavy hair into a high ponytail, which was topped off with a black sparkly sweaty band.  My outfit was an oldie, but a goodie, sponsored by Target.  (Okay, not really sponsored by Target, but I think I could have passed as a walking shopping ad for the store).  I wore a black racer back tank, black running skirt, and a hot pink sports bra underneath, (I needed a little ‘pop’ of color), all from Target.  On my sore, and in-need-of-a-pedicure feet were a pair of New Balance running socks and pink, silver and black Asics running shoes.  When I looked in the mirror I felt ready to go, excited to run, but I still had those butterflies fluttering around in my nervous stomach.  I used to get these nervous feelings as a child before gymnastics meets, as a teenager at cheerleading competitions, and now as an adult who is about to run her second half marathon.  I may be older, but I still felt just as vulnerable as I did in my youth.

I headed out to the kitchen at this point to grab a large cup of coffee, chug some water, and make my pre-race meal:  A toasted plain, Trader Joe’s bagel smeared with Whole Foods Brand creamy peanut butter, which I took with me to eat in the car.  At this point Meghan was up and fully dressed in her adorable new bright pink Lululemon tank and a patterned head band, which topped off the whole look.  We had our numbers pinned on the front of our shirts and at this point we were in full race mode.  My husband, a little less thrilled in the morning than the girls, got dressed, drank some Gatorade, packed up and ate his bagel with peanut butter too.  I headed to the guest bedroom, threw all of my things into my overnight bag and grabbed my Garmin to pace myself and my iPhone (for music!) to lose myself. 

We headed out the door into the crisp morning air.  It was still pitch black outside, but with the size of the moon you would almost think we were outside in the day as the bright light lit a path for us to our car.  We all climbed in the car and were on our way.

I looked out the window of the car, wondering where all the other people driving were headed on this early Sunday morning.  ‘4:50 am’ read the clock in the car.  I couldn’t remember the last time I was awake this early.  I love mornings though and how it helps me to appreciate the peaceful silence at the beginning of the day when I am alone with my own thoughts.  This calming feeling and silent thinking helped my nerves during the drive.

The race didn’t start until 6:30 am, but we had to get there early since parking garages stopped taking cars beginning at 5:30 am.  Luckily, it all worked out perfectly since we were able to cruise right into a parking spot without a single jam,especially because I knew traffic would be coming soon as thousands and thousands of people started to pile into downtown Cincinnati.

We got out of our vehicle and made the walk down near the starting line.  It was easy to find by just following the hoard of people who were all heading in the same direction.  At this time it was about 5:30 am and we found a spot inside the Bengal’s stadium where we stayed warm and was able to stretch and hit up the restrooms with indoor plumbing, as opposed to waiting in the extra long lines at the port-o-potty’s positioned closer to the starting corrals.  We stayed inside until about 6:00 am, and then headed outside to make our trek to ‘Pig Pen E,’ (such a cute name for the starting corral since it was, after all, the ‘Flying Pig’)!  The sky was just starting to lighten up and I was excited to watch the sun rise while running the race.

We found our spot in no time and squeezed through the fence into a comfortable position.  At this time I started my Garmin so it could locate the satellites, checked my shoe strings to make sure they were tied tight, and set my Pandora station on ‘Today’s Country.’  Sure, it may not be everyone’s cup-of-tea to get pumped up for a race, but I love to listen to songs I know every word too.  Singing along in my head helps keep my mind off the sound of heavy breathing and pounding pavement.  I could feel my heart pounding as the National Anthem was played over the loud speakers.  I looked around and saw all of these people who were ready to run 13.1, and even 26.2 miles on this absolutely gorgeous Sunday morning.  I felt proud to be there with them, thrilled to have my amazing friend and my wonderful husband by my side, and excited to get this race started.  I can’t even remember if there was a shot gun, a countdown or how the race started, but before I knew it my line was starting to move and I knew there was no turning back now.

To Run, or Not to Run

I wrote this on the Good Friday before Easter and wanted to share!

I really don’t want to run today..

That was all I could think about on my way home from work.  Even though it was gorgeous out, sunny and a mild 57 degrees, I just wasn’t in the exercise mood.  I must admit it was quite the surprise on a Friday afternoon when I was told to go home early and start Easter weekend a little sooner than expected.

I was excited to run the 9 miles that were on our half marathon training plan, but unfortunately Tim had to work late so that meant my run would be solo.  I used to run by myself all the time, but ever since we started running together on a regular basis, runs alone just don’t sound as appealing.  There was conflict in my head the whole drive home:  To run, or not to run?

By the time I walked through my front door, these negative thoughts had slowly clouded the excited feelings I had felt earlier in the day.  I could feel myself trying to win the battle as I started to bargain with myself.

• If I run tonight, then I won’t have to worry about it Saturday morning.
• After my run I can take a long hot bath and cuddle up on the couch after a busy week of work.
• I don’t have to run the whole 9 miles and I can stop if I truly am not feeling the run.
• I can listen to music and zone out during the run, relishing in the alone time with myself.
• I can take Tebow with me for part of the way.
• And on, and on, and on.

By the time I had thrown all these scenarios around, I had convinced myself that the run may not be quite as bad as I was expecting.  I went upstairs, changed into my work out clothes and tied up my sneakers.  I strapped on my Garmin, grabbed my iPhone and headphones, then leashed up Tebow.  Before I knew it I was out the door, feeling the wind blow against my skin and could sense the warm sun shining down on my face.

The plan was a slow 2 miles with Tebow around the block.  Slow meaning about a 10 minute mile jog with the pup as not to push him too hard, (I know I can’t ‘run’ with him until he is a bit older).  After the 2 miles, I would ask my body how it is feeling and either call it a day, or keep going.

Tebow is a hilarious running partner, while staring up at me with those huge brown eyes, I swore I could see a smile.  He is getting so good at the ‘heel’ command and he thinks he’s pretty hot stuff when we get moving faster.  Well as I finished up the 2 miles in about 20 minutes, I could tell my legs were warmed up at this point and I wanted to try and go a little further.  I made a pit stop at my house and dropped Tebow off.  I gave him a big bowl of water and slowly directed him into his cage.  I told him to be a good boy and I would be back soon.  From there I grabbed my own water, in bottle form that is, and headed right back out the door.

I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to go, so I decided to play it by ear.  I tried to take deep breaths and appreciate every step.  I even caught myself looking up to the sky more than once and thanking God for such a beautiful day, for my own health, and for the opportunity to be on a run.  Before I knew it, my Garmin said 3 miles, then 4 miles, and I could feel my legs starting to get a little tight.  I was feeling a little tired from work, and also from the battle I waged in my head earlier, and was ready for the run to be finished.  When I had circled back to about a half mile away from my house, I turned around and headed home.

As I walked into my house, I could feel my mind beginning to think again, so I told it to quiet down.  Sure, I didn’t complete the 9 mile run that was on my schedule, but I did run 5 miles.  That distance was nothing to be ashamed of!  Just a little over a month ago I wasn’t even running 5 miles on a ‘long distance’ day, and here I was running 5 miles as a reduced mileage run.  Pretty impressive right?  This moment reminded me to try and stay more flexible in life.  Things change, but it’s how we react to situations that matter.  This is definitely something I work on every day since I love being in control.  I can promise you though that I would have felt a lot guiltier had I not ran at all.  This is not because I wouldn’t have gotten my work out in, but it is because I would have doubted my ability to run on my own to the point that I would have quit.  This was not an option I wanted to choose on any Friday, especially not Good Friday.

After the run, I was able to take my warm bath, feed Tebow, and make dinner.  By the time I was finishing up, Tim was home from work and ready to sit down with me for a good meal.  An evening that started with doubts and discouragement, ended with a sense of accomplishment and pride.  What a way to start the weekend!

 

Questions:

How do you convince yourself to get your work out in, even when you aren’t wanting to go for a run/go to the gym, etc?

Do you enjoy working out by yourself, or do you prefer to have a partner?

Do you ever ‘bargain’ with yourself to get through a work out?

Dust Yourself Off

Sometimes while running I feel like I am flying.  Of course I am aware that my running speed is more comparable to the tortoise than the hare.  However, I can’t help but enjoy the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair and love the excitement that fills my body as I see the stopwatch on my Garmin going faster and faster.  I long for those runs when I finish my goal distance and want to keep going.  I adore those times when I have a smile on my face while running, knowing that I am treating my body to exercise at the same time I am feeding my soul by being alone with my own thoughts and personal reflection.  Running always seems like the best way for me to burn off any aggression I may be struggling with, and to feel rejuvenated when I am finished.

Monday, however, was a different story.  From the moment I started moving I could tell it wasn’t going to be pretty.  My legs literally felt like lead, it was over 80 degrees outside at 5:30 pm (so hot for March!), I was tired and probably even a little grouchy (might as well share the whole true story!).   I remember wanting this run to be over so bad and not understanding why I felt like this coming off such a high from my Saturday run.  I ran six miles on St. Patrick’s Day morning and felt…alive.  My breathing was pretty regular, my legs felt light, the sun was making an appearance without being blazing warm, and I was in the right mindset.  Monday’s run was a ‘measly’ two miles, chump change to most runners and/or bloggers.  For me on the other hand, no run is considered an easy run in my book.  I always have to push myself and challenge myself to succeed.  The people I compete with the most in this type of situation is me, myself and I.  I expect perfection and when I don’t get it; my mind can play tricks and try to convince me that my goal is unattainable.  In most aspects of my life I feel confident and prepared.  When it comes to running though, that confidence level tends to fall to the wayside.  On this particular day, my mind got the best of me, and at 1.4 miles in I decided I couldn’t run anymore and told Tim I needed a walking break.  We had a great pace going, right around 8:30- 8:45 minute miles.  I have been working hard to hit that less than 17 minutes mark for our 2 milers, but I felt exhausted and a tad lethargic Monday and doubted my ability to finish the run.  I was so disappointed that I could actually feel tears welling up in my eyes, and wondered what was wrong with me:   How could I go from running 6 miles to not even being able to run 2 miles?  (Again, this was me not being rational and not in the right mindset)!  I told Tim I wanted to walk to the stop sign about .1 miles ahead and then start running again.  He agreed, and a few minutes later I was back to running a pace closer to 8:15, trying to make up for the time I had spent walking. 

That is when it happened.  I was running close to the curb on a street with no sidewalks when a patch of gravel came out of nowhere.  I felt my left foot hit the ground, but there was no traction under my shoe.  My foot slipped out from under me and I could feel my body hit the ground in a slow and scary, but calm, motion.  I laid there for a few seconds and whipped my neck around to see my husband reaching down to help peel me off the blacktop.  I had a bloody palm with gravel embedded into my skin, a bent thumbnail with blood coming from the nail bed, a scratched up elbow and a matching scraped hip bone.  In hindsight though, it could have been a lot worse.  I lucked out with no ligament or bone damage, and didn’t have a scratch on my head or my face. 

Do you know what hurt the most though out of all the cuts, blood and bruises?

My pride.  That pain stung my heart even more than the physical pain I was feeling from the fall.  I felt like a failure, like I try so hard only to have my efforts shot down when I needed reassurance the most.  I couldn’t help it when tears came streaming down my cheeks.  I was exhausted and embarrassed, but not about the fall.  I was more upset that I would base my self-worth on this run, that I would limit my own abilities and compare this run to past successes.  I am so very hard on myself in all aspects of my life.  I was like this in school and in organized sports, and I am now like this in every aspect of my adult life.  Work, being a wife, homemaker, hostess, blogger, friend, runner, etc.  I look for that perfection and beat myself up if I don’t meet those expectations I set.

After I confirmed to my husband that I was physically okay we started walking back to the house.  Tim put his arm around me, used his shirt to help with my bleeding, and casually let me cry in his arms without saying a word.  I didn’t need to talk about all the things in my head at that moment, all I really needed was a good cry and I was blessed he was there to comfort me in that moment.  Ten minutes later, the tears had slowed and he asked me if I wanted to lightly jog the rest of the way home.  I agreed and once again I was ‘flying,’ feeling the wind on my wet, tear stained face.  You want to know something?  That cry made me feel so much better.  I don’t care what people say about being tough, or sucking it up.  Sometimes we are being the toughest when we do cry and admit we are human and that we all make mistakes.  That night, Tim ran out and picked us up dinner, bought me antibiotic ointment & bandages (how romantic!  Ha!), and tucked me into bed at 8:00 pm. 

The next morning I woke up a little physically sore, but feeling rejuvenated.  Who knew that a good night’s sleep and a heartfelt cry was all I really needed.  While living our lives, we are going to come across hard times and moments when we feel incapable, or less than perfect.  Just remember that little things will feel so huge in the moment, but those feelings will pass and life will go on.  I took a break from running Wednesday to give my body and mind a little more rest.  This was especially important for me to acknowledge since part of the half-marathon running deal I made with myself was a promise that I will listen to my body and give it the rest it needs.   I instead had a nice little elliptical session in my living room while watching Something Borrowed, (I love that movie.  The book is a must read)! 

With a rested mind and body, I now feel ready for my next run, a 7 miler this weekend (tonight!).  I am nervous and excited, but I know that no matter what happens during that time I need to forgive myself for the past and approach this experience with a clean slate.  Running should be fun, just like life should be.  Remember to take that time for self-reflection and look for ways to find contentment in all things.  Also, if all else fails, remember that extra rest…

…and a good cry doesn’t seem to hurt either.

13.1 miles or bust!

Lately I have been a little hush-hush about what I’ve been up to when it comes to my work outs.  For awhile there I was feeling unmotivated, bored with working out at home, and basically needed a challenge that would make my exercise feel purposeful.  You see, I have always seemed to work better with a goal and it’s easier to motivate myself when I know I am working toward an achievement.  It allows me to ignore the excuses in my head since I know my goal won’t be met by skipping the training. 

That my friends is why I am training for my second half-marathon, and have even encouraged my husband to do it with me!  This makes me so happy since he is with me on all of my training runs, as opposed to me going at it alone.  It is a great way for us to bond and share an experience together and encourage one another.  I have been slow to really get into detail with the training since many of you may remember me admitting that I suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome.  I don’t want to run my immune system down and get sick, so I am trying to listen to my body and not overdo the training.  However, I am at the point now where I feel like no matter what happens, I am okay sharing the news!  I am so far doing great, and continue to give myself plenty of rest days and am taking in the proper nutrition to re-fuel.  If you ask me what plan I am using, I really couldn’t tell you.  I am basically going with my own plan since I know my body and what works best to keep it healthy and feeling energized.  I knew I personally didn’t want to  run more than 3 days a week to make sure my body gets rest, and luckily Tim agrees with me since he thinks running more than that would drive him a little crazy!  We are about 3 weeks into training so far, and this is what our runs have looked like up to this point:

Saturday, February 25th:  3 miles in 28:13

Monday, February 27th:  2 miles in 17:45

Wednesday, February 29th:  2 miles in 17:10

Sunday, March 4th:  4 miles in 39:29

Monday, March 5th:  2 miles in 17:30

Friday, March 9th:   5 miles in 48:31

Basically the plan is two short runs a week, and one ‘long’ run on the weekend.  We started with 2 miles on Monday and Wednesday with a long run on Saturdays.  Since we reached 5 miles on our long run, we are now transitioning to 2 miles on Monday, 3 miles on Wednesday, and the long run on the weekend goes up by 1 mile each week.  That means this week’s runs will look like this:

Monday, March 12th:  2 miles (completed in 17:01)

Wednesday, March 14th:  3 miles

Saturday, March 17th:  6 miles

The next week will look like this:

Monday, March 19th:  2 miles

Wednesday, March 21st:  3 miles

Saturday, March 24th:  7 miles

Make sense?  We are also being very flexible with our days, because let’s be honest, life happens!  As much as I want to run my little heart out at this race, I also want to have fun and enjoy the training.  Like I admitted in my goals, I need to enjoy the present moment instead of always trying to get to that finish line.  As you can see, this past week I only ran once.  We could have fit in another run, but the truth is that I decided Wednesday to take Tebow on a 1.5 mile walk, (that was as far as I wanted to push him since he is 5 months old and still gets tired pretty easily on long walks), instead of running by myself.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous and Tim decided to golf, so my options were to run alone or not run at all.  I decided to meet in the middle and take a walk with my pup instead.  Since I ran Sunday and Monday back-to-back, I didn’t think my body would mind if I took a little break.  I also knew that our upcoming weekend running schedule was going to be thrown off too.  I headed to Columbus Friday with my mom for a little shopping and girl time, so setting an early alarm on Saturday morning did not sounds appealing.  Since we both like to sleep in on our weekends and prefer not to run on Sunday’s when possible, we decided to hold our 5 mile run after work on Friday.  We knew by the time we got home and out the door it would be close to 6, which meant we would be racing daylight.  In all honesty though, I didn’t mind at all because going on a run with my husband while the sun was setting in the distance was truly one of the most romantic moments of my life.  The weather was cool and crisp, but I was layered up and feeling warm and cozy.

Along with running 3 times a week, we now have the gym memberships we’ve been waiting to get.  We are hoping to go Tuesdays and Thursdays for strictly circuit training, weights, yoga, abdominal exercises, etc.  We think this will help mix up the weeks and split up the training sessions so they don’t become overwhelmingly exhausting or feel like a burden.  We also hope that building our strength will allow us to avoid injury as best as possible.

So what is the race we are working toward?

The Flying Pig Half Marathon

The race is May 6th and our goal is to get our mileage up to an 11 miler 2 weeks before the race.  After that we will start tapering our runs.  This is my second half marathon so my goal is to simply finish, have fun, and to beat my original half marathon time of 2:16:08.  I will keep you all updated on my training.  Let the race begin!

Questions:

What are your current race or exercise goals?

What is the longest distance you’ve ever ran?

How do you keep training for a race feel fun and exciting?

Groupon Makes Me Fit

As many of you are aware, I have been putting in quite the effort to try and mix up my work out routine. Without having a gym membership, I have placed an emphasis on at-home work outs and have been researching fun, innovative and challenging circuit routines. So far this week, my work outs have looked like this:

Sunday – 2 Mile run in 18 minutes 13 seconds. I was proud of my time! I used to run for distance more than speed, but I am hoping to incorporate both types of running work outs into my routine.

Monday – Rest

Tuesday – 10 minute elliptical warm up, followed Fitness at Home. Repeated 2 times:

(Source)

Last time I could only make it through once, so I am seeing improvement!

Wednesday – Jump Rope ‘n’ Abs, but instead of jumping rope, I did jumping jacks. This was a really fun work out. I loved how the moves were constantly changing and it kept me from getting bored. Doing jumping jacks for 11 minutes in a row would be boring. However, by incorporating the strength moves in between the cardio, it kept my brain and body guessing.

(Source)

As mentioned yesterday, Thursday morning was tough for me. After a few too many indulgences the night before, my body was feeling run down and tired. I know myself and as much as I wanted to get up for that 5 a.m. work out, I knew deep down that wouldn’t be the best choice for my health.

I briefly mentioned before, but I was diagnosed with mono twice during college. Fall of my freshmen year and fall of my sophomore/junior year, (I graduated in 3 years). Due to my illnesses, I developed chronic fatigue syndrome and an at-risk immune system. For years I couldn’t make it through the day without a nap and I continuously became infected with illness. Seemingly back-to-back I had strep throat, then a sinus infection, then the flu, then strep throat again, etc, etc. I am going to write a post about this situation someday soon, but until then I just want to throw out a product name that literally saved my life: Amazing Grass. Seriously. If you are sick, feeling sick, or don’t want to get sick, it really is the best investment for your health.

I can now read my body a little better than I used to and when I feel that run down, achy body feeling coming on, I know the best thing for me to do is rest. So that’s what I did Thursday morning by skipping the extra early alarm clock and pushing cardio to the side.

However, about a month ago, I purchased a Groupon that I have been really looking forward to giving a try!

When I saw this Groupon, I jumped on it! For 10 pilates classes it was only $45. Usually the classes are $10 per class so this seemed like a great deal to take advantage of. It will give me a way to mix up my work outs while also exposing me to a new type of exercise. I used to do some Pilates on a reformer when I was in gymnastics, but I haven’t in a really long time. I know it is great for creating a strong and lean dancer’s body, so I thought it would be fun to give it a shot!

Founded by Joseph Pilates, he wrote in his 1945 book “Pilates’ Return to Life through Contrology,” that this form of exercise “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”

(Source)

Pendleton Pilates has four locations in the Cincinnati area. The studios offer many Pilates packages such as Private or Group Instruction, and Ballet Barre Classes. Pilates Ball or Mat Classes are the ones available in the Groupon package.

Mat and Ball Classes

Our Mat and Ball classes are 55 minutes of Pilates fundamentals and floor exercises, either on the Mat or using the Pilates Ball for stability. Both classes are mixed levels. Our teachers offer guidance and modifications to allow both beginners and advanced-level clients to experience a fulfilling workout. (Source)

I signed up for the class earlier in the week and I am glad I did. If I would have waited until today, I probably wouldn’t have signed up since I felt tired from last night’s dinner out. Thanks to a 24 hour cancellation notice rule, I was passed my time limit and had to go or lose a class, plain and simple. This was a great way to keep me in check and prevent me from skipping out on my planned work out. Kind of like having a date with a trainer, I knew my instructor would be expecting me there.

The first class went really well.  I would definitely say it wasn’t the hardest work out I’ve ever had, but the instructor was super nice and the class was tiny.  With only 3 others, I had a lot of attention from the instructor, which I really look for in a class.  I appreciate being corrected and shown how to improve.  I am new at this will take all the help I can get!

We went over the 4 sections in our abdomen in which to focus.  The breathing is very important as well, a lot like yoga breath.  It’s important to focus on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.  The instructor encouraged us to breathe loud and it really helped me to push all air out of my chest.  It felt a little silly at first, but after a few minutes I was joining the rest of the class in breathing out loud.

We started with some light stretching, followed by mat work, and then we used the ball.  A few of my favorite exercises were:

1)  Bicycle crunches holding an exercise ball

2)  Pilate’s 100’s

3)  Lay on back, legs up in the air, bend knees and squeeze exercise ball between legs for 5 counts

4)  Leg circles

5)  Bridges with our feet on the ball, knees bent, and laying on our back

 

Overall the class was informative and I am looking forward to the next one.  However, my one complaint would be that there was too many rest periods.  For being a 55 minute class, we only were doing exercises for maybe 25 minutes.  The rest of the time was resting over the ball, or in child’s pose.  Now I know that Pilates days should be paired with a nice cardio routine as well.  I am happy I purchased the Groupon though, since I am getting to experience an exercise I otherwise might never have!

Questions:

Have you ever practiced Pilates?  If so, what did you think?  Any favorite Pilates poses of yours?

Who loves Groupon too?!  What is the best deal you have found, or purchased?

What exercise have you never tried that you would love to give a shot?

Exercise Review, Week 2

Week 2 of my new exercise plan is almost over.  Wow time is flying!  It’s already mid February and last night we finally had our first significant snow fall of the season.  It was only an inch maybe at the most, but that amount is a lot easier to handle than the winter weather we usually have at this time of the year. 

Not only is the snow gorgeous, but it also reminds me that it is still the middle of winter! 

For a few weeks there it was hard to distinguish whether it was late January/early February, or if it was closer to April or May!

That spring weather brought about the urge to be outside, and take my work outs to the great outdoors.  I love the months between April-October when we can go on walks, I can go running, the days are longer, and the sun rises earlier.  I miss my outside morning runs before work, there’s just something therapeutic about seeing the sun rise and feeling like you’ve started your day on a healthy note!

The good news is that I have been starting my day on a healthy note, inside!  I enjoyed my work outs this week, but can I be honest?  I just wasn’t feeling it this week.  Week 1 I was excited to start my new plan, felt well rested, and had a fun work out schedule to look forward to.  This week though was a different story.  It was really hard to get up all week, I felt tired and just plain irritable, and I had a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ attitude with no set schedule.  I made up my work outs as I went along, which may be okay for some people, but I am such a planner that I love being organized and knowing what comes next.  I only worked out 3 out of the 5 days during the work week, and I really didn’t give it my all at any of the work outs.  I was simply going through the motions and I know that’s not how significant changes take place.  I truly believe it’s better to have 3 amazing work outs, than 5 so-so work outs.  I don’t think I need to work out everyday to make a difference, but when I am exercising, it need to be hard and with a purpose!

Here are a few places I saw room for improvement for next week:

1)  More sleep!Since I get up around 5 a.m., I really need to be getting to bed no later than 10 p.m. every night. My body works best on 8 hours of sleep so even 10 is pushing it, but this week I wasn’t going to bed until 10:30 or 11.  That is definitely not enough sleep for me!

2)  Have a plan!  Since I love having a schedule, it worked out great the first week when I had every exercise planned out before I even started day 1.  I like being able to see what’s coming, and I was able to put more time and research into my work out planning during the weekend.  Through the week, I just don’t have time to sort through blogs/pinterest/articles to find the perfect work out for me, so I would simple choose one in the morning and not even know what the work out entails.  Having to stop and read through every direction while exercising can be tedious, time wasting and boring.  It can totally turn your whole exercise mood off!

3)  Watch expectations!  After such an incredible first week of exercise, let’s just say I was feeling high on life.  I could already feel/see changes and I had enjoyed every work out I had.  I also worked out hard and had the energy to do so.  I could tell on Monday this week that it was going to be a harder week.  My heart just wasn’t into it and I automatically compared that work out to last week’s.  This set up a spiral of negative emotions and lack of effort through the week.  I need to remember that each work out is separate from the last.  I can’t compare apples to oranges, so why would I compare work out to work out?  I wish every time I exercise I would give it my all, I would feel amazing, and I would have a blast.  That is not always the case, but I can be thankful for my body and that I have the ability to exercise.  This should help my attitude and remind me to take each day at a time.

Here were my work outs this week:

Monday:  30 Minute Elliptical Work Out

 

Tuesday: 10 Minute Easy Elliptical Warm Up and ‘Fast at Home Workout’ from Pinterest

(Source)

Wednesday:  Rest

Thursday:  10 Minute Easy Elliptical Warm Up (Same as Tuesday) & ‘Jump Rope ‘n’ Abs Circuit’ from Pinterest

 

(Source)

I did change up the above work out just a touch.  Instead of using a jump rope I would elliptical instead.  It was a fun way to mix up cardio and circuit training.

Friday:  Rest

So there are my work outs from the week.  Looking back on all I did, maybe I did more than I thought.  I have some ideas about how to improve this coming week and am excited to start again.  I am hoping to get a work out in this weekend and organize myself and my exercises for Week 3!

 

Questions:

How do you get past the first week high of the start of a new exercise plan?

Do you compare present work outs to past great ones?

How do you pick yourself up after a work out that doesn’t feel as productive as you wish?

Patience is a Virtue

Saturday already..?  Sorry I went missing last night.  It was icy and sleeting around my area, which in my eyes called for a take-out, movie and cuddling on the couch kind of night.  There was a lot of this going on..

 

No.  We did not put him in this position for punishment.  This is actually how he sleeps!  A part of me feels like it needs to be censored?!

Workout

My Friday morning consisted of a quick elliptical warm-up, followed by an adaption of this workout:

(Source)

and this one too:

(Source)

Using the two workouts above, I modified them and did this:

• 50 squats
• 30 dead lifts, with 5 lb. weights
• 20 backwards kicks, per leg
• 30 bridges
• 30 standing hamstring curls, per leg
• 20 lunges, per leg
• 30 sumo squats
• 10 pushups
• 30 bicep curls
• 25 tummy tucks
• 40 second plank

Wow!  I am super impressed if you can complete Julie’s workouts all the way through while keeping the number of reps the same as hers.  This definitely showed me that I need to work on my strength training way more, as opposed to only focusing on cardio.  My hamstrings and glutes are so sore today, it is painful to sit down!  I love the sore feeling though, because I know I was working muscles that I don’t usually and it is a “good” sore, if that makes sense.  It doesn’t feel like I overworked the muscles, just worked them enough!  I am now making it my goal to be able to do the whole workout straight through, without reducing reps.  It will take time for sure, but I love have something to work toward!

This abs challenge is on the agenda too!  My abs have definitely been ignored for too long.

Breakfast was my most current bowl of love:

1 cup Skim Milk

2/3 cup Kashi Go Lean (6 grams of protein!)

2/3 cup Trader Joe’s High Fiber Cereal (9 grams of fiber!)

1 tablespoon Whole Ground Flax

2 tablespoons chopped Walnuts.

It may not be the most photogenic bowl ever, but it keeps me full and delivers such a nutritional punch!

Lunch consisted of leftovers from Thursday night!

Sneak peak of a recipe to come!

Lesson on my Friday:

Dinner last night was carry-out from Max and Erma’s, which Tim went to pick up before the streets got too icy. Unfortunately, I think everyone else in our area was thinking the same thing, because the place was packed and at one point a man came storming in to tell off an employee.  Turns out he had been flashing his lights signaling he was there for curbside delivery.  The employees were so swamped though no one noticed, and heaven forbid he had to get up and get out of his car!  People can be so rude, and lazy, sometimes.  It was obvious to everyone in line there were not enough employees to meet everyone’s needs, but the man still had to make a point how inconvenienced he was.  With the economy right now, so many stores have downsized and it isn’t always the employee’s fault if he or she can’t perform all of the assigned duties.  Also, the employee in this situation was only a young high school student and Tim said it was obvious she was doing the best she could, just too many things on her plate to keep up.  I think we all need to be a little kinder and patient sometimes, myself included.  Try and put yourself in that person’s shoes and react in a way you would want to be treated.

When we got our food home, it really wasn’t photo worthy.  I ordered a bowl of simple chili and it was just okay.  It pains me to say this, but I would have rather had Wendy’s chili for the taste, and for the $5 less it would have cost me.  Sometimes we think it sounds like a great plan to get carry-out, but whenever we get it home we aren’t too happy with it.  It is usually cold, soggy, not fresh and not worth the money it costs.  I would much rather eat what I make at home and save other meals for dine-in only.  Anyone else feel this way?

I hope everyone has a great Saturday ahead!  Mine consists of friends, shopping, good food and trying to stay warm!

Questions for the Readers:

What are your plans for today?  Anything exciting or fun you have on the schedule?

What do you think of the workouts I posted?  Do you have any fitness goals you’re working toward?

Carry-out:  Yay, or Nay?

How do you keep your patience?  Any tricks you have for staying calm in unorganized, or untimely, situations?

Have it Your Way

The weather man didn’t seem to lie this time, that’s for sure!  It was a freezing 18 degrees on Friday when we left the house in the morning.  Poor Tebow was so cold there wasn’t even any playing around when we took him out.  He did his business outside a lot quicker than normal though, so I guess there is a positive to everything!

No way will I sit still for a photo, it's way too cold!! Game's over, let me back inside!

As you may remember, I don’t have a gym membership at this time.  Since I received my treadmill however, I have really enjoyed getting up in the morning and working up a sweat while catching up on my favorite DVR shows.  Friday was one of those mornings I may have tried to talk myself out of running outside and fallen back asleep under my comfy covers.  Yet knowing the elliptical was downstairs in our warm house helped me to bound out of bed and down the steps to the machine a lot easier.  It also didn’t hurt that I had Gossip Girl recorded and waiting for me on the television.  I am so excited for the new shows to begin.  It worked out perfect to catch up on the last episode, I couldn’t even remember where the show left off!  Anyways, my workout consisted of a nice 22 minute warm up on the elliptical to get my heart pumping.  My effort looked like this:

Alternate minutes 1-5 on Resistance Levels 3 & 5

Alternate minutes 5-10 on Resistance Levels 5 & 7

Alternate minutes 10-20 on Resistance Levels 7 & 10

Cool Down on minutes 20-22 on Resistance Level 1

Following cardio was some at home pilates consisting of bicycles, leg lefts, lemon squeezers, etc.

My breakfast consisted of a favorite meal of mine that combines protein, whole grains and healthy fats.

 

Overnight Oats is one of the many meals I learned about through blogging.  It is so popular and seen on pretty much every blog I read, but it took me a long time to come around.  I didn’t like yogurt.  I didn’t like oats.  I didn’t think I liked natural peanut butter.  I put off trying it for a long time, but once I did, I loved the combination.  I also have surprisingly come to love all the ingredients separated too, if you can  believe that!  It’s amazing how our tastes change over time.

You can make overnight oats in so many ways.  Some people use flavored yogurt, others may use a different grain.  Some use less milk, some more.  Many people top with fruits, such as bananas or strawberries.  Another change can be the type of nutbutter used, like almond butter or cashew in place of peanut.  It’s a personal preference and finding the one you like best can be a fun and creative adventure. 

My favorite way goes like this:

Before you go to sleep, mix 4-6 ounces of Plain Greek Yogurt

Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt - My Favorite! 18 grams of protein in a 6 oz. cup. Only 7 grams of sugar!

1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Muesli

Ingredients include: rolled oats, wheat, rye, triticale, barley, almonds, date crumbles, raisins, sunflower seeds, and walnuts

1/2 cup Skim Milk, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix together and place in refrigerator.

Go to sleep and dream about breakfast in the morning!  It may not be a donut or a waffle, but it will still be delicious.  Plus your morning will start out on a healthy foot, which will set your attitude for the rest of the day.  Isn’t that something everyone dreams about?!

The next morning, rush down the stairs and get out your bowl.  Add an extra 1/4 cup milk and stir together.  Take your peanut butter out of the cupboard, (Yes, shocking!  I don’t put my peanut butter in the fridge.  I know it says to, but I hate how hard natural peanut butter gets when it solidifies in the cold.  It may be bad, but it tastes oh so good!  Again, this is a personal preference.  If you disagree, please pull your peanut butter out of the fridge instead.  Thanks! )

Creamy, salty and drippy.. Yummy!!

Moving on with the story, drip (or drop!), 2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter (I used Trader Joe’s, Creamy Salty) onto the top of the mixture.  Then finally take that first bite and grin!  It’s so good and almost makes you feel like you’re eating a dessert batter for breakfast.  You may find my way isn’t sweet enough for you, or that you prefer less milk, or that you like the chewiness of oats instead of the graininess of the muesli.  It’s all personal folks.  Play around with it and have fun!

The rest of Friday consisted of work and then a special dinner that ended in a sweet yet sour way!  Here’s a hint:  It is two desserts in one.  More color does not mean more delicious.  Fresh squeezed juice is the way to go! 

Questions for the Reader

What is a television show you follow regularly?  I would say for me it’s Gossip Girl, 90210, The Bachelor, and sadly (or not?!) Pretty Little Liars.

Do you have a unique addition to your overnight oats that makes your way extra special?

What was Friday night’s dessert?!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I have not had a gym membership since I graduated from school a year and a half ago.   After getting to workout in the ultimate gym any day I wanted, it was hard to believe any place would be able to feel at home like the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC) did in college.

http://www.moodynolan.com/newsroom/2011/06/22/mn-hall-of-fame/osu_rpac/

 Yes, it was the most amazing gym I have ever been in, and probably ever will.  It is one of the things I miss most about the Ohio State University.  It was any exerciser’s dream, whether you love or hate to workout.

Weight Room - http://photoservices.osu.edu/interiors.html

Cardio - http://www.osu.edu/atohiostate/archive/sept_05.html

Just looking at these pictures make me miss it even more.  There were so many challenging new ways to work out that it was hard to ever get bored.  I could run laps on the track upstairs, use the elliptical in the “cardio canyon”, lift free weights in almost any section of the gym, or take as many workout classes as I could.  This is where I really learned what I like, and don’t like when it comes to exercise.  I found I love yoga and the way it makes my body stretch and my mind rest.  I enjoyed it so much, I even took a yoga class as an elective to learn the practice.  I realized I don’t enjoy kickboxing classes and every time I attended one, I could find my eyes wandering to the nearest clock to see when it would be over.  However, cycling classes were my favorite and I never seemed to get bored for the whole 60 or 90 minutes.  It was a great cardio workout that to me, was considered more fun than work. 

After graduating, I found it hard to motivate myself the way I had in college.  I no longer had the opportunity to work out whenever I wanted and to attend fun classes with my peers.  I lost a lot what I enjoyed about exercising, and suddenly it became more of a chore than a time I enjoyed. 

However, I knew exercise would be a part of my life whether I had an RPAC membership, or any gym membership for that matter.  I was able to make it work by using the treadmill at my parent’s, watching exercise tv on demand, going on walks/runs with my mom, and attempting the free weights in the basement.  It wasn’t as much fun as college, but it still got the job done.  I could wake up in the morning and stumble down the stairs with my eyes still groggy.  Before I could even process the fact I was working out so early in the morning, my workout was half way over and I was feeling the adrenaline rush that comes with the effort. 

Now that I’ve moved in to my new home, I find it difficult to find the time, energy and motivation to keep up my schedule.  Before moving, I did not have a house to clean, meals to make, dishes to wash, two people’s laundry to do, etc, etc!  As much as I don’t want to use excuses, life is busy and you have to adjust when the going gets tough. 

Enter my Christmas present, Plan A :

NordicTrack Elliptical!

I was so excited to receive this gift and knew it would provide the cardio equipment I craved at my fingertips.  For the last few months, Tim and I would run together at 5 30 am outside for about 25 minutes.  Not a long distance, but a great way to get the heart pumping.  However, it is so dark still that early, which makes it not the safest option to run by myself.  Although I was fine when Tim would go with me, I would never go alone.  This meant if he didn’t feel like exercising, then I couldn’t either.  It wasn’t fair to him, nor the best for me, to base the amount of exdercise I did  on someone else’s schedule.  Also with winter here, running outside might not always be an option.  Having indoor cardio equipment always available means I can get my workout in no matter the weather, or my husband’s schedule.

She's a beauty! Perfect position to catch up on my TiVo too!

 

I am excited this year to work on getting my routine back as well as learning and doing all kinds of exercises!  I hope to use my elliptical a few times a week while keeping up my running.  I would like to run another half marathon within the next couple years.  I want to incorporate yoga back in, as well as pilates for some strengthing to go along with my cardio.  My very good friend is training to be a Pure Barre instructor and I would love for her to teach me about her new passion.  Most of all, I want to have fun and find the love for exercise I left in Columbus.  Exercise is such a great stress reliever and energy provider that allows me to function better throughout my day.  When I take a break for a while, I usually find that I begin to crave the effects of exercise and it makes me want to get back into my pattern.  I will be sure and post about my exercise adventures and learnings as I begin my new workout approach.

 

Questions for the Readers

Do you have a gym that you find yourself most comfortable in?  If so, what makes it so special?

What are your most favorite elliptical workouts?