highs and lows of running

On Sunday I ran 10 miles - I was particularly excited about this PDR because 10 is just a cool number.

It also took me only 3 minutes longer than my 9 mile run last weekend. Mostly because I started out running with my younger brother who is super fit and training for the army. He finished the 10 miles as I started on mile 7...not cool! But I managed to maintain almost race pace for the full 10 miles and that was without all the adrenaline from race day. I'm now secretly hoping to finish in 2 and a half hours, whereas last week I was happy with under 2:45!

Today however, my 5 mile run was anything but joyous. I had new workout clothes (new running tights and a new dry-fit top) but not even they got me going. My training schedule wanted 12 minute miles, but I averaged 12:13 including 3 walking breaks. I just couldn't get into it and it was really disheartening.

Now, with a couple hours hindsight I've recalled all the reasons why, and they're all significant so I need to stop beating myself up about it!
1) I had a crappy dinner last night of chicken patties and bagels
2) I drank very little water yesterday and none before or during this morning's run
3) I decided against a pre-run snack because it was before 6am
4) My ipod appears to have died so I was music-less

The ipod is a MASSIVE factor, because I never run without music and a full hour of running with no music is probably too much to expect. So I'm going to put aside that today was a crappy running day (it wasn't even that crappy! I need to stop beating myself up about it!) and just consider that my 4 mile run later this week will be fabulous!!

- CJ

Another PDR

This morning's long run? 9 miles!

9 MILES!

And I didn't walk once - although I did have to stop at a couple roads to wait for a break in traffic, but living in central london that can't be helped.

After forking out BIG money for my very own Garmin - I've since discoverd that I actually keep perfect pace all by myself. Go figure!

My 5 mile run on Tuesday was supposed to be at an average of 12 minute miles according to runners world. Since I've been obsessing about paces ever since I bought the pesky Garmin, I decided this week I'd only check my pace once and only when my ipod said I was halfway done time-wise. I did the same thing on today's 9 mile run and here are my results.

5 mile run on Tuesday
Expected: 12 minute mile average
Actual: 11:52 minute mile average

9 mile run on Sunday
Expected: 12:30 minute mile average
Actual: 12:24 minute mile average

How close are those averages? And even cooler? I was faster!

My 7 mile run almost a month ago, I did 13:23 minute mile averages...so I can't even believe that I'm running miles a minute faster even when I'm running 2 extra miles...craziness!

And the part of my body that hurts the most? My toes! My two big toes are not happy - I just hope my toenails stay put. I've heard running horror stories about big toenails!

- CJ

Mental preparation

My training schedule wants me to run a 10k tomorrow with a 1 mile warm up and a 1 mile cooldown.

Overall, that will be 8.2 miles...ANOTHER PDR.

I need to get used to that since next week is an 8 mile run, the one after is 9 miles, after that I have 10 miles, and so on until 13 miles, just two weeks before my half-marathon race day!

Lots of PDR's to be had in the next couple of months!!

This evening I am spending time psyching myself up to run 8.2 miles...and hoping that the rain stops!

Wish me luck!

-CJ

A new PDR and the chocolate challenge

I smoked the chocolate challenge - that little bar that I wanted to make last 4 days, lasted a whole week! I ate the last two squares last night.


Amy's weekly challenge was to outline our long-term and short-term goals and rewards.

My long-term goal is to reach my goal weight - 165lbs which at 5 ft 9 puts me at the top end of the healthy BMI. My reward then is going to be to spend my Christmas bonus that I've been saving this whole time!

Short-term, I've broken my rewards into 5lb increments. I'm a half pound away from hitting 30lbs down so here's what the next 5 rewards will look like!

Hitting 30lbs lost - The fourth Twilight book
Hitting 35lbs lost - A food processor/blender
Hitting 40lbs lost - New workout outfit
Hitting 45lbs lost - Subscription to a health magazine
Hitting 50lbs lost - Massage and pedicure

Also, today I hit a new personal distance record, running 7 miles. My knees are feeling a little sore, in fact once I stopped the running they felt like they weren't connected to my legs! So I'm going to go to the gym and sit in the sauna, relax in the pool to loosen them up a bit.

I've run a total of 16 miles this week, which I'm really pleased with, plus two days on the bike, and a body balance class. The body balance class was where I really saw the difference in my body since I started back in January. I was really able to see a difference in my arm strength - it was super cool!

-CJ

Chocolate challenge

I wrote a comment on priorfatgirl's blog on her struggle with dealing with the fact that the healthy eating lifestyle is FOREVER and it got me thinking.

I have issues with certain foods, like nut butters, chocolate, icecream - pretty much anything that's bad to eat in massive quantities. My trick so far has been not to buy them, not to keep them in the house but I realised on reading Jen's post that I don't want to never be able to buy almond butter or chocolate ever again.

My chocolate challenge has been to buy a mini chocolate bar - 227 calories of really dark chocolate and to keep it in the house without scoffing the lot.



Last night I ate one row - three squares


Tonight, I'll do the same, and the bar will last (if successful) for four whole days.

And I WILL be successful!

- CJ

Workout Wednesday and the Weekly Challenge

First of all, my weigh-in is on Wednesdays and this week sucked hardcore. I gained two pounds. I was really pissed off at the time but I only have myself to blame since I did eat about 8 cupcakes over the course of Sunday/Monday. Monday's were at least in my daily points budget but Sunday's certainly weren't.

So, another week - onwards and upwards!

First of all, Amy challenged us to eat clean for one whole day

So, breakfast was 2 hardboiled eggs


followed by a little serving of cheese


Recycled photo but my mid-morning snack was pineapple


Lunch was spiralized zuchinni with sundried tomato pesto, chicken, red pepper and corn


For dinner I was planning on cooking up some vegetables, white fish and brown rice but the white fish just didn't want to cook for some reason. I threw in the wok 3 chopped portobella mushrooms, a chopped onion, chopped frozen spinach and cooked through. By this time, the rice was cooked but the fish was looking nowhere near done and I was hungry so I threw the rice in the wok too. It was looking a little grey (stupid mushrooms discolouring everything!) so I threw in a chopped tomato and some chopped up yellow pepper.


The fish became whitefish, sweet potato, corn fishcakes the following night - I wasn't thrilled but they were edible...

THEN, Amy challenged us to 20 minutes running for workout wednesday

Now, I can't take my camera out with me - I already run with my keys in one hand and my water bottle in the other. But you want proof that I ran?



Lovely!!

Last Saturday I announced that I was going to be more accountable. These were my weekly goals

1) 6 mile run on Sunday + 2 runs (tuesday and thursday per my half-marathon programme)
2) track my food and plan my meals so I eat not only healthy foods but stick to my financial budget
3) drink 8 glasses of water each day
4) 2 other workouts/classes at the gym

I managed the running and I did do a spinning class on Monday and my very first power plates class this morning but the food didn't get tracked and I went over my points on quite a few days. Similarly, my water intake wasn't up to par on all 7 days either.

This week I'm having the same goals all over again and I'm going to do them that much better!

-CJ

No food photos tonight - I had another serving of canelloni for dinner with a salad of lettuce and tomato (4).

I also made cupcakes for work and may have ate quite a few...let's just say about three quarters of them are making it to work. Shocking!

Well, I sort of organised, and the cupcakes are made.

I'm all prepped for tomorrow food-wise too.

2 hardboiled eggs, ham and babybel (5)

chicken with sundried tomato pesto, spiralised courgette and carrot (4.5)

mango (1)

toffee yogurt (1.5)

The spiralised courgette/carrot with pesto looks AMAZING. I really had to stop myself just eating it for dinner. Can't wait!

G'night

CJ