Kelly Does Life

Just got back from a 7 mile run to round out my 20 for the week. I can’t wait until I have 100+ mile months. I calc’d it and I can run over 1,000 miles in a year doing 20 miles/week for 52 weeks. With marathon training next year (look at me trying to be casual!) I probably WILL get close to 1,000 miles.

And now I’m singing that stupid (yet awesomely addicting) 90’s song about walking 1,000 miles.

I love how everything is awesome after a good run. Maybe I’m just crazy. AWESOMELY crazy!

Oh, how was my run, you ask? In a word: fabulous. In two? Freakishly fabulous.

I’ve been preparing work lunches, breakfast and (most) dinners at home for quite some time. Years, really. They’ve been much healthier the last two for sure. My BF has been taking lunches I cooked to work the last two weeks (so proud of him, BTW). Results?

He feels like he’s lost weight. It really is that easy. Now I just have to remind him to weigh himself so I can brag about just how awesome my cooking is for him!

Up to 13 for the week. My Achilles hurt so bad I can barely ice them. I really don’t know about getting my 20 miles in this week. Not worth throwing a temper tantrum over, but I am thisclose anyway.

Grr.

RB wants to do 8. I want to do 10. Guess who has the Garmin?

Mwaahaahaha!

Yeah, right. I wish I were evil. Looks like I’ll have to resort to begging and maybe compromise at 9!

Feeling a little sick to my stomach mid run. I did 3 slow ones yesterday (after walking a couple miles in a parade!) and wasn’t planning on running tonight but its simply gorgeous out and couldn’t pass it up!

And then this. Of course!

…I had a VERY clear thought that running would be easier if I lose these last 10 pounds that I want to lose. They sit a little uncomfortably on my tummy and love handles. You know, places more likely to jiggle when running!

I’m going to: -Drink less beer/wine -Eat less ice cream/junk food

I’d add a third point, but I eat fairly healthy, but these two are my weak points!

3.25 miles last night. Sand volleyball (WOOT!) the next two nights, but I still need to get 6-7 miles in for the week.

1:28:01

My goal was sub 1:30, and I had doubts to be honest.

I’m exhausted, but am feeling more confident for a sub 2:00 half in October!

I have to remind myself to NOT run a few days before the race. I haven’t run since Wednesday (6 miles) but the BF and I did 11 miles on our bikes on Friday.

Ready to run tomorrow!

Tuesday’s run was cut short due to lightning (1.7 instead of 3), but RB and I got our full 6 miles in tonight.

I might go for a bike ride with the BF Friday morning, but otherwise I’m taking it easy this week for my 10 mile race on Sunday. My Achilles are hurting something awful from an grass volleyball tournament last weekend.

Nutrition is pretty crap as always. I’m not hungry when I eat that little extra that keeps me at breakeven for the day. I think I’m scared of the unknown, which in this case are sizes I’ve never worn before.

Including my fingers. Ouch. What did I do yesterday?

I didn’t run.

Instead, I played in a volleyball tournament that started at 10am and ended around 7pm. We played coed 4’s which means you have to move a little more than when you play with 6 on each side. We “only” played 5 matches, but I feel like I ran into a wall.

Running tonight and Wednesday. Possible short run Thurs or Friday. 10-mile race Sunday!

3.1 miles for a total of 21.5 miles for the week.

1 week til my 10 mile race. Now, just to behave at my friend’s bachelorette party tonight!

10:30 pace. Unless my running buddy changes her mind and wants to go faster, this is our marathon goal pace. Normally I run a 9 min mile for distance races, but for a first (!!) marathon I think my goal will be to just finish.

Even if it goes against my competitive nature!

… Just got a little more real. Registered for the 2012 Cleveland Marathon in May.

Yikes!

I finished last week with 20.6 miles, hitting my min 20 goal. August’s goal is 20 miles per week. September’s is 25/week (allowing for a ramp-up time period). Second HM on October 4.

6 miles last night, so I’m on track for 20 this week, too. 9 planned Wednesday, and I like two shorter runs to balance things out, but I might have to do an am run tomorrow.

My running buddy and I are planning to do a full in May next year, and I always say ‘if’ we do one and she says ‘when’. It’s all about your mindset and apparently mine needs tweaked!

Felt GREAT. A little like I was shuffling at the end, but I always sprint out the last 1/4 mile to stretch my legs. It used to annoy my running buddy because she’s not a sprinter and I still am at heart, but now she just knows and waves me on.

10:20 pace. Talked some serious talk about running our first marathon next May. Scary. Major major scary.

My BF came home with news last night that just about made my blood boil. I was already Not Happy, feeling overwhelmed and just wanted to run. He finished mowing for me and I pounded out a furious 5k.

About a half mile in, the anger dissipated. A mile in, the peace settled in and I ran another couple miles to think a little more about how irrational and immature I was being.

Running really is great therapy.

I didn’t have time to run last night and was debating whether I should after 6 hard miles during my race Sunday. Running buddy and I are planning a slow 8 tomorrow after work, so 3 miles of intervals should be good tonight.

That would be 17 for the week, which is getting me back on track for my 20/week min goal.

We’ve been to 4 weddings (and one additional local reception for an out of state wedding) and have one left. I was in one of the first 4 and am in the fifth one.

A friend of mine who us also getting married this year just asked me for my address. I hope she’s planning a party or something, but probably not with her wedding 2.5 months away.

Looks like we’re going to six weddings this year - all for friends (no family). Geesh.

53:48. It started out good, but got hotter and sunnier (and more humid) as the hour ticked by. It was a 5k loop, and my running buddy dropped out after the first 5k and has been kicking herself in the pants since.

Moral of the story? Always finish. Walk. Jog slow. Take a breather. But if you’re physically able, FINISH what you started.

Me? Hit my under 54 goal, spent the afternoon on a pontoon boat. Great day!

I only get up this early to run before work or to go to a race. As its Sunday, I’m heading out to a 10k.

I hope its not 90 degrees out!

It’s hot as blazes here, too. 6.7 miles yesterday at 10:30 pace, 6+ miles tomorrow. Hopefully earlier and therefore cooler AND faster.

First 10k race this Sunday. Should be a good run. 730 start time, so hopefully a cool one!

The past two days I’ve been getting my rental ready to go between tenants. Being a landlord isn’t ever glamorous.

10k last night with my running buddy. Slow 11 min/mile pace. I’m planning a solo long run around 8 miles this weekend. I need to run a lot by myself because these slower runs are dragging me down a little. Makes a 10 min mile seem fast.

Food has been pretty good. I’ve been using a different app (instead of the SparkPeople mobile app) and its been going good. Tracking on the weekends needs to improve!

Fourth of the year and still one to go. Sigh.

Yesterday I ended up working, came home, picked up a special order door from Home Depot, dropped off a load of brush at a nearby place that takes that kind of stuff for free, cooked dinner, finished tiling the master bath shower, took my folk’s truck back, and THEN ran 5 miles.

It was a very tired 5 miles, but I was looking forward to it all day, so I was determined to go even though I started at 10pm.

Cookout after the weekend. I just want to sleep for two days after this.

With my running buddy. It was supposed to be 6, but we got started a bit later in the day than planned and it was HOT, so we walked back after 4.7 miles.

Another cookout today. My Achilles are feeling so much better, maybe I’ll do a short run in the morning to make up some mileage!

9:20 pace and it felt so easy and natural. I didn’t let myself think about form or breath, except to occasionally realize how easy and effortless it was.

I was actually a little light headed when I finished. But its runs like these that make me seriously wonder why more people don’t run.

Seriously. Go run.

PS - I love running in the dark. No idea why.

It beats the skunk I saw a couple weeks ago during a night run. Yuck.

3.3 miles, 33 minutes. I was aiming for a 10-10.5 pace, and I only hit it because of the 3 walking breaks I took. It felt good to get out and run, even though my back was still a little sore and my Achilles hurt. A little ice and some sleep and its all good now.

First time I’ve ever walked during a run. Undecided on how helpful it was. Eh. Kept my heartrate under 150 the whole time though.

Got talked into golf after work. It’s my first time out this year, so I’m really not excited. I’m feeling very ‘eh’ today. :)

I felt better yesterday, but as I was a bridesmaid in my friend’s wedding, I got nothing done.

Today? Grouted bathroom floor tile, cooked breakfast, trimmed trees and bushes, burned some of the dead branches, went to a movie, did some grocery shopping, and am working on my laptop on the couch.

Busy day. Feels much better to DO things than lay on the couch for hours.

Still can’t run; any minor impact still seems to jar my spine. I wanted a rest week, right?

Woke up this morning hurting EVERYwhere. Ouch. Taking meds for the fever, but I do have to run to work to get my laptop. Grr.

The wedding Saturday was fun, too much beer of course. My running buddy and I did 6 miles in the morning, she actually shopped for a wedding gift while I got ready to go. What a life-saver! With everything else going on, we just forgot.

Yesterday was dinner at my parents for Fathers’ Day. No hangover exercise for me.

Volleyball tonight: women’s 2s. I’m subbing, so this should be interesting!

Randomly enough, my boyfriend went out with a buddy last night (recently split with his long time girlfriend, blah blah) and this guy’s trying to lose a little weight and find other things to do, so he started training for a 5k (like started a week ago lol). So 3 miles still sounds pretty long to him. He asked my BF if he wanted to run. Ha ha. Keep trying. I’ve been trying for months!

Awesome BF did volunteer me, though. I can still register there, its starts at 9:30pm tonight and is lit by luminaries! I haven’t run a 5k yet. I’ll wait til I know I’m running to post a goal.

I had planned to run 3 miles tonight anyway. Why not race them?

4-miler - 11/26/10 15k - 3/6/11 1/2 marathon - 5/15/11

I think I ran 4 miles last week, like Wed or Thurs. Before that, it was Sat and Sun (on vacation).

Someone needs to pick it up!

Edit: 3 miles at the Warrior Dash Saturday. Doesn’t really count as I stayed with my friend, who wanted to walk (a lot). Total time: 40 mins (something like 11:20 pace).

Tues: Graduation party (run or lift after) Wed: No plans, 6 mile run Thurs: Sand volleyball 8:30, need to lift before. Friday: Day off! Find maxi dress, get hairs cut, RUN, go out to dinner with friends. Sat: Long run in am, get ready for bachelorette party, leave at four. Drink the night away. Sun: Be hungover.

Apparently my shoes were too wide for my feet, which was letting them slip around a lot. Though the lady did say it looked like I had scar tissue on one of my Achilles tendons. Poo. I ran in my cross trainers today, so no tendon pain, just sore muscles from Legs and Back TWO DAYS AGO.

It hurts to sit down, then it hurts to sit on my butt because my muscles are sore to the touch.

Bachelorette party tonight. Fun fun!

Last night. Iced my Achilles afterward (and stretched, of course). They do feel better this morning. Not crazy better, but better.

I gotta stop running at 9pm. After seeing one Monday night, all I do is look for skunks!

Breakfast: 1 small-medium red potato (roasted with garlic) and 1 scrambled egg.

Snack: nutrigrain bar

Lunch: salad, romaine, with 1/3 avocado and grilled chicken. Topped with green pepper and 1 tbsp of low fat vinaigrette.

Snack: apple, oatmeal with 1 tsp sugar.

Dinner: rice and chicken curry (made with plain FF yogurt and small amount of coconut milk for flavor)

Honestly, I’m not sure I can cut out non-fruit carbs. Here I thought I was going pretty low, which is why it’s good to track/put in writing. I’m not trying to go “low carb”, Paleo, Primal, or any other defined diet, just trying to eat more natural foods. I guess other than the Nutrigrain bar, I probably did ok.

Non-diet related, we are ready to buy and lay out tile for the floor of the master bath. We haven’t used the master bedroom / bath since moving in over a year ago, due to the amount of work (think gutting the bathroom) required. Big step. HUGE step.

Now back to my regular diet/exercise ramblings…

roadtorunningstrong:

is the reason I know I can do it. Mind over matter.  http://peakperformance.runnersworld.com/2011/06/milkshakes-mile-repeats-and-your-mind-a-delicious-combination.html 

This article is my life moto. Just need to find a pithy way to summarize it. 

I wish I was better at lying to myself!

3.95 miles, 34 minutes, 9:00 min/mile. Felt good in the new shoes. I just might have to take some time off to heal (heel tee hee) the Achilles’. Otherwise, good run at a decent but not crazy hard pace. I need to register for a 5k to see if I can go sub-25 mins.

Shredded romaine lettuce and grilled chicken breast for salads, cut fruit and a random avocado. It’s going on the salad for now as I’m not sure what to do with it yet!

Need to stop by the farmer’s market for fruit and veggies. Why did it take me so long to start going there? Cooking, running and installing floor. Busy night!

I was up at 7, stopped at Dunkin Donuts and was at my moms house by 8. Ran all the house-related errands I needed to before my hair appt at 11. I was feeling very accomplished! Rest of the day went downhill as I ate too much lunch and spent too much time after that shopping for a maxi dress only to conclude they just aren’t for me.

I did run about 3.25 yesterday to test my shoe theory. My 1-yr old beat up cross trainers are more comfy than my running shoes (and I can run faster in them, I had an 8:50 overall pace which was great considering its freakishly hot at 3pm) so it looks like new shoes are needed. :(

“At least 7 miles” according to my running buddy this morning. First run together since the Half May 15. Unless you count the Warrior Dash. And I don’t.

After a very unsatisfactory volleyball game [in which there was NO competition] I ran an errand and made it home in time to see my boyfriend getting ready to work out. I wasn’t feeling up to his Plyo plan, so we did P90X Legs and Back instead.

I made a major mistake in not doing more ST on my legs the past few months. That hurt - but it felt sooo good to push those legs muscles!

Day off tomorrow. It’ll be a race to see how much I get done before dinner at 6.

9:50 pace, nothing felt comfortable. With about 270 miles on them, I think I need new shoes. I got them in January, but still. I think its too early, but my knees and feet are thinking otherwise. Also, something upset my stomach yesterday, so today should be a fun process of elimination to figure out what it was!

I started running in November 2010. It was great wasn’t bad. I could run, I was building mileage and increasing speed. I didn’t have pain, except a little in my toes (which resulted in a black toenail from a particular rough run in the snow). That went away when I bought new shoes in January 2011. I’ve put roughly 260 miles on them so far, so they aren’t ready to be replaced. I would occasionally get pain in my Achilles’ tendon. It may have been the shoes, just a tiny bit, but I try to wear socks that cover the tendon to minimize potential rubbing.

My tendon has been just plain hurting me the past few weeks. Around my [first!] half, May 15th, it was much worse. What was different? My weekly mileage and long distance runs had been consistent for about a month. I was eating good [if a little much for weight loss], running decently and without pain, but I had stopped strength training. Just plain ol’ didn’t have time. I still haven’t been very good about it.

I can’t do calf raises like I used to. I’m thinking my hips aren’t as strong either. And both of these can contribute to pain (as well as not stretching/foam rolling).

Last night I did some impromptu calisthenics. 5-10 minute warm up, stealing some P90X and Insanity warm up moves in 30 second rotations. Then random ST moves: biceps, triceps, shoulders, push-ups, planks, etc. I mixed in more cardio moves to keep my HR up. Quite enjoyed myself making things up as I went and 30 minutes flew by. Sure, having a plan is probably better in the long run, but I think any ST at this point is going to help. I just need to remember that running builds/maintains running muscles only, but ST helps build all those little support muscles that make running much easier and pain-free.

I know that other people haven’t spoken that highly of it:

Overpriced foodstuffs Gross mud Redneck fest Not that challenging

I may be saying the same things 30 hours from now, but I’m still bouncing in my chair like a 5 year old right now.

I like reading real stories of hardship, accomplishment, joy, sorrow, trial and error, etc. I like seeing real progress photos and sweaty I-just-worked-out photos. I just don’t think I can look at another “Fitspo” photo. I’m not motivated. I don’t want to hear that you aren’t motivated (as you reblog it and flood my dashboard). It’s sad, because now I feel like I have to unfollow someone who I do find motivating (when they aren’t posting that shit).

Can you tell I didn’t run today?

PS - I need a cure for Achilles tendonitis.

PPS - I taught my smartphone 7 new words in this post. So proud!

Or something like that.

I bailed on golf today. Bad girl. I haven’t been out yet this year. Just too much to do. Spent 2 hrs trying to pick up a special order that was screwed up, had to borrow my moms truck to do it, and finally got home at 10:15 and went for a 4 mile (36 min) run.

Thursday is volleyball, which isn’t until 8, so I come home after work for an hour or so and leave again. Friday afternoon is free, but my new fridge comes that morning (thank God, the old one just can’t keep up) so I have a feeling I’ll be rearranging how my boyfriend transferred stuff over.

Saturday is the Warrior Dash, which is over 2 hours away. My wave is at 4:30, so I’m just hoping to be home at a decent hour. Sunday afternoon is my friend’s bridal shower AT MY HOUSE.

Yeah, I don’t see anytime time in between now and then that I’ve set aside for cleaning. Shoot me now.