Sunday July 10, 2011

I finished my first week of half marathon training.  I did four days (3 miles, 3 miles, 4 miles and yesterday I did 5 miles).  Here I am after the 5 miles - not very flattering but it is real.

It was a pretty good time for me. Thursday I did 4 miles in an hour which is a pretty good pace for me. I have been running in the 14 mm but after so many miles I slow down or walk.  Saturday I did 5 miles in 1 hr and 18 min but my 4 mile cut was in 1 hour.  I will keep plugging along - I am carrying alot of extra weight so I can't be too hard on myself.

I watched an Ironman video posted on bendoeslife blog and it was inspiring. Not that I could ever do that but a girl (or old woman) can dream can't she?   here is a link
Ironman Louisville 2010

No update on weight - same. :(
Okay heading off to swim at the YMCA! Later.

Sunday, July 3rd

Exercise
Swam 1/2 mile 18 laps today (almost 60 minutes I was in pool - not always swimming though) - I did freestyle one way and backstroke the other - I think I made progress. :)
Too hot to run outside but might take dog later for a short walk and/or do some weight work - I keep saying this but hard for me to actually do it (lunges, squats, planks, etc.)

Eating
So far so good - I had my oatmeal breakfast with coffee and a lite hotdog (80) and a lite hotdog bun (80) with ketchup and onion. Lunch was after swim so I added a cup of lite chocolate soy milk and a banana.

Plans for the rest of the day
hmm - resting, relaxing, reading, it is my 3 R Sunday afternoon
Might take groceries to my son that I picked up for him the other day when I did my shopping.  Besides that I am all into taking a nap, doing some reading, sitting outside (kind of hot though).

Back!!

I can't believe I haven't been posting since the end of March!  It has been a busy and stressful few months.  I looked at my weight journal and I weighed about the same the last time I posted then I do now. Kind of sad but kind of good it didn't go up.  I am at 235.6 at WW this morning and 235.2 on my scale.  So I am going to update on my life right now.

EATING
I am doing pretty good eating "good" foods. No chips, ice cream (except an occasional WW fudgsicle), sugary snacks (except an occasional peanut butter cookie).  I eat oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning with 1/2 cup fat free milk and some walnuts and usually a teaspoon or two of oil.  Lunch is typically a sandwich made of either a bagelthin or this awesome bread I found for 50 calorie a slice - not even diet bread - looks like realy bread and then turkey lunchmeat, low fat cheese slice and spinach, red pepper, onion some vegs - cucumbers are good on it too. Snacks are nuts (which I can over indulge in) and fruit (grapes and berries are my favorites but I do have apples and bananas too). Dinner is some kind of meat (93% ff ground beef, chicken, pork loin, fish), rice and vegetables.  Trying to include more salads - but have to watch salad dressings.  Where I mess up on is when I go out to eat with my work buddies - I have a tendency to indulge or when I get snacky and have alot of nuts or peanut butter and crackers.

EXERCISE
I have been pretty consistent with my running/walking but haven't boosted up the mileage again - would like to get to 5-6 miles but I need to be faster. My runs are about 2.5 to 4 miles. I am slow so that comes out to 45 to 60 minutes.  I haven't been swimming or doing weights at the YMCA lately and need to get back to doing both again. Swimming is such a good exercise.  And I would like to start doing some planks, squats, lunges, etc at home.

WORK
Good - busy but challenging and interesting

FAMILY
My husband is wonderful and he has lost about 50 pounds and is at goal (probably a little too thin) and is working out like a fiend. He did one triathlon and a half marathon besides the races he did with me. He is doing awesome and is very consistent with his training - unlike me.   He swims, bikes, and runs. Training for a marathon and another triathlon. He is great for my motivation and it is nice to share out love of working out.
My four sons are another story - where I get most of my stress.  They are 23, 22, 20, 19.   Enough said about them. We are trying to sell our house and that has been stressful with the housing market. We found a condo we want but we need to sell our house first. It has been for sale over a year now. :( 

FRIENDS
They have been great and supportive to me but I think I have been pulling away - ashamed or maybe just overwhelmed with personal stuff.  But I have wonderful friends even though they are across the country. I am going to an annual gathering in a few weeks and then to a girls weekend in San Antonio in October. Looking forward to both. Oh and I forgot we have a whole week scheduled at the lake with some friends. Hoping to work on my tan, swimming, and get alot of books read. I love to read!! and I have a new Kindle to do my reading with.

Well that is enough - more than enough I guess - I will try to post my workouts, meals, and weight more often. Have a good weekend! Eat more vegetables and fruit when you can, take a walk when you can, be preventive and get all your yearly doctor visits, tests, dental cleanings, etc.,  take your vitamins, and just be healthy!! 

BTW - a shout to the Davis family (Pa, Jed, and Ben) from the Do Life movement (http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com/, http://padoeslife.tumblr.com/, http://lifedoesjed.tumblr.com/) and on facebook. It is a terrific get healthy and start living movement.  I love their message!

And - sorry I am a run talker - I love Ben's girlfriend new blog - well it is Ben's dog that she is taking care of Sherman.  I am addicted to it. LOL http://shermandoessummer.tumblr.com/

The After - After my Work Trip to Florida

Wow what a trip!  It was a stormy day when we left and of course the plane was bumpy and rocky which I hate. I ended up meeting some of the clients going to the meeting at the airport and tagging along with their group on the way there.  I met my boss at the airport and we had a rental car to the hotel and had another client tag along.  When we arrived at the hotel - oh my!! - what a beautiful place and location.  They took me up to the suite since my name was on the meeting contract.  Two bathrooms, sitting room, bedroom, two balconies overlooking ocean. Amazing!! and the not so amazing the mini bar was free - all free. What?  Did I hear that right?  Don't tell me that - the high prices were one reason I never dove into the mini bar.  I will be strong!

I unpacked and looked out over the ocean while making a few calls. Then the important stuff - setting up work laptop and finding the reception room and the meeting rooms and making sure our boxes of materials arrived.  That took an hour or two.  I then headed to the reception around 5:45.  This is a hall I had to walk through.

More beautiful in person!  The reception was on a patio overlooking the ocean.  Didn't take a picture - darn it. The rain let up in enough time to have the reception outdoors so that was nice. We had a tent ceiling and some heaters just in case but we could still see the ocean.  Nice night - clients did not want to leave the reception. Having too good a time.  After my boss and I went and set up the materials for the meeting.  Back to the room to make sure I was ready for my presentations the next day.
Up early and headed to meeting room.

We had about 30 people attend.  I did not get to see the morning sunrise or the beach because it was so cloudy. Supposed to be a bad weather day but we were stuck in this room most of the day. Lunch was supposed to be outside but had to bring it inside but it was still nice. Meeting went well and so we broke about 4:30. Time to hit the beach with some clients - met more out there.

Still kind of overcast but we were all excited to just be able to get out there. We had dinner at an amazing restaurant Ragtime.  Delicious.  then headed back to my room to watch Grey's Anatomy, read a little, call the hubby, and just relax.  Did get a knock on my door around 10 but we won't discuss that here. Needless to say I ended up in bed by 11 - not too bad.
Last morning and guess what it is beautiful.

I did get to see the sunrise this morning from my balcony. I saw some ladies doing yoga to the sun. :) It was very nice.  We finished the meeting and had a few minutes before driving back to the airport.

One last picture to show the beautiful weather that finally arrived that we missed since we had to leave. :(  Trip home was uneventful but seemed like it took forever to finally get home. A few other interesting stories that I might add tomorrow - have to run but it was nice.

Oh yeah - I didn't tell you - I ate from the mini bar way too much - too easy and free and I was stressed and working. Then client dinner - way too good and hamburger and fries at the airport. And no exercise.  I got on the scale that night when I got home - not too bad.  Next morning - I had lost a pound when I was gone. What???  But I had been up a few pounds before I left but still I was satisfied especially after what I ate.

Okay that was my work trip!  And the best news yet  NO SEATBELT EXTENDER NEEDED!!!  and I wore clothes in 3 sizes smaller than I was.  YAY!!

I RAN 10 miles today!! Final and 3rd leg of the Triple Crown of Running

I did it! I ran/walked 10 miles .really 10.2 plus another mile from where you picked up your number to the start line. Lots of hills through a park but it was beautiful. No rain but a little cold but weather was acceptable. I did it in 2 hr 37 min so under 16mm - 15:47 my Garmin said. I was happy to come in under 16mm after all the walking I did. I ran the first 4 miles and then walked up the hills and ran down the hills and then once I got out of the park I walked most of the way back to the stadium. I did have a slice of free pizza since Papa John's sponsored the run.  We finished in the Papa John's Cardinal stadium where University of Lousiville Football is played.

After thoughts - glad I did it but think I would have rather waited until I could run it all. Next year I want to do the Triple Crown again and beat my old times. Hopefully I will be down in weight and have more training so I can even do the half marathon next year. I am not going to do it this year.

Eventually I want to do a triathlon (the small ones) so I need to start swimming and biking more regularly.  I am also going to use weight machines so I can get stronger which will help me do all of this better and help me fit in smaller clothes. :) 

My weight hasn't changed much the last few weeks and I have a work trip next week so I hope to get back being a loser soon.

See you next week for a work trip update and to see if I can manage without a seatbelt extender - I am almost certain I can.  Then how I did with eating and working out when I am gone. Not counting on working out but hope I can control my eating when I am there and there is food just laying around all day long - free for the taking - not in WW pointplus or calories though.

10K Race Recap - 2nd Leg of Triple Crown of Running

To be short and sweet - I did it! I ran the whole way and beat my first and only other 10K by 11 minutes. So I was happy.  1 hr 32 min 37 sec (14.37 mm pace). I didn't think I would be able to keep that pace for the entire 6 miles.  My 5K two weeks ago my pace was 14.12 but I could tell I was a little bit slower this race.

Now for the race recap.
It was a warmer day than the 5k - 40s - a little chilly when we got there but during the race it was great. Nice sunny day with a little breeze but it didn't bother us while running.
No problems getting there, parked, getting our bibs, making a portapotty run, and waiting at the start line. Marty and I saw another couple we knew (he used to work with the guy and the woman and I still work at the same company though not together). That made the time waiting go faster. Then when lining up I saw a girl I work next too and her boyfriend.

I didn't start off as fast as I did on the 5K but here are my splits (I tried to press lap on my garmin every mile so I could see how I did).
Overall  6.33 miles 1 hr 32 min 37 sec   14.37mm  4.1 mph
Mile 1   13.28 mm   4.5 mph
Mile 2   15 mm        4.0 mph
Mile 3   14.57 mm   4.0 mph
Mile 4   14.43 mm    4.1 mph
Mile 5   14.55 mm    4.0 mph
Mile 6 plus the 0.2    14.42 mm   4.3 mph
My first mile was fastest and then my last mile which is good that I still had some in me that last mile.  I sure didn't feel like it though. I felt like I couldn't run anymore.   Marty met me at finish line and had a cup of water for me. I stopped running and that was a mistake - I should have walked because my body kept moving forward and I almost fell LOL  wasn't that bad - just funny feeling.  Then I walked to the car and felt better.  I was sore yesterday afternoon but that was to be expected.

Feeling good today. not sure about the last leg of the Triple Crown which is in two weeks and is 10 miles. I have never ran more than 6.2 miles even at the gym so I better get moving these next two weeks. it is a hilly course too I heard :(  so I will probably do alot of walking and won't think too much of my time. But just know I will be out there for more than 2 hours and 30 minutes for sure.  If I could come in under 16 mm I would be very very happy but I am fine with under 17 mm.  We shall see. 

After that race I am going to just walk/run for pleasure and weight loss and will try to do a mini when I lose more weight and can get faster.

But I feel great that I did it!! It is a great feeling.

Sunday March 6th

One week after my 5K and one week from my 10K.  I am getting kind of tired. I still love running but trying to push for my mileage when I run so slow is hard.  I ran 6.2 miles yesterday in 97 minutes. I had to walk some of it - less than half of it - altogether maybe a mile or two.   My back and hip start hurting after running more than 5 miles so I think that might be my cut off and then I walk.

I am loving the swimming and my last swimming lesson is today. And I can freestyle now - swim with my head in the water and breathing correctly. So the lessons were worth it. AFter swimming my body feels real relaxed; I love the water.  I need to get back to the weight machines; haven't had much time to concentrate on those.

The scale is finally back down after a 2 week up and a little down and then up again period. I am heading to the 220s - nothing is going to stop me this time. I want 50 pounds to be gone by the time I go to my client meeting on March 30th in Florida.   Since we are talking about work....   I have been busy but I call it a "good busy".  I love what I am doing and it is different opportunities for me. I am so glad I stuck it out with my company when they laid me off. I was on the transition team for awhile and then took over for someone on maternity leave and 18 months later they knew they couldn't live without me. LOL  I was offered a job in a slightly different area which is alot more exciting for me - working with clients and strategy and design.  I am very happy. And I am not gloating or anything but the manager that made the decision to let me go has been laid off. I guess she wasn't making good decisions.  Just kidding that wasn't it - I don't think it was at least.

Looking forward to a week of running and lots of work. Also last week of Bible study with a table of wonderful ladies. Hope we stay in contact.  See you next week!