The End of a Year

Despite a late night celebrating my birthday with my family I awoke early and got a grocery shopping trip in. As I stepped outside it was another nice day - in that it was chilly but not cold, overcast but not raining. I returned from shopping and decided to go out on a walk. It was 44 degrees as I headed out and up and over the hill I went. And as I rounded the bend at the bottom of the hill I got hit with some wind, so I turned around and went back since my hoodie was not going to keep me warm enough if there was a breeze. So I walked back home, put on my bright pink puffy vest, and then walked the other direction -down the main road to the next main street, down the hill, back up and around - all-in-all it was a little over a 1.0 mile walk that took me 21:16. (Oddly I know I was walking at a decent pace so the time is confusing; so I will just blame the time on the number of hills involved and perhaps I got distracted by all the Christmas decorations I kept looking at.)

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 553.25
Miles Remaining: 946.75
Weight: 139.8

Another Year Older

Despite still having a semi-migraine, which I still haven't been able to sleep off,  I got up late and then walked 1.0 miles in 14:00 163cals 1%.

New Miles: 1.0

Total Miles: 552.25

Miles Remaining: 947.75
Weight: 137.8

Disaster Rebound

So a fear of mine came true - and while I only have myself to blame I don't feel as though it's all my fault. My fear was that it would become late December and I'd munch down on tons and tons of delicious yet unhealthy food and let my exercising die off. I had all intentions of not letting that happen, for after all who likes their fears to come true? But as family gatherings increased the opportunities for indulgence increased and I feel as though I did okay for a while, but then I developed a cold. That cold prevented me from working out as all I could manage was sleeping and lounging so as to have enough strength to then partake in family functions.

For the last 5 days I have been a useless blob, albeit a holly jolly blob that enjoyed the time with my family, but a blob none the less and feeling more and more blobbish by the day. I saw my desires to never creep back over 140.0 fade into a dream as I couldn't muster up any activity other than blobbing around. I finally started feeling a bit better and just having to fight off sneezes and sniffles just in time to find myself develop an incessant migraine which was also of no help in ending the blob.

But finally I guess my brain and body had enough of being a blob and before 5am this morning I could no longer sleep. My migraine was still around but I am pretty sure that part of my head told me that working out was only going to help rather than hurt myself at this point. And so I got out of bed and started my day - a few hours ahead of my regular schedule. But oddly I was excited to get up and move - which I take as a sign of definitely feeling better. I think most of that has to do with the fact I found myself being able to breathe clearly out of my nose which must have livened me up a bit.

So by 5:30am I found myself on my treadmill - starting out slow as to wake myself up and stretch myself out and see how well my head would take it. After a light .5 miles I was loosened up and while my head wasn't super it wasn't pulsing enough to make me quit. And so I ran for 1.0 mile - stopping each .25 to lift some weights. I took the running easy, to ease my brain into it and not overwhelm myself - and that worked out well - doing laps at 6.3 and 6.5 pace. My lifting consisted of the 20lb kettlebell and doing sumo deadlifts and thrusters at a comfortable pace 10 times each followed by just holding the weight over my head and concentrating on a tight core. After a mile's worth of repeating those things I started on my cool down - a 1 mile walk, the last .75 of which I had my 5lb weights in each hand and pumped or held them in various ways - never going too crazy but trying to get a bit of a burn in.

As I cooled down for that final mile I could feel myself in a cold sweat - the kind of sweat you have when you are sick and have a fever. I knew it was from the workout but it felt so cathartic and as though I was releasing the blob from my body and finally getting over my cold for real. My head still hurt but I was glad to have loosened up my body and given my brain some oxygen which I hope it puts to good use. By the time I got my Total Workout: 35:36 (run/walk time) 479cals 3.0 miles 1% in I re-weighed myself and had nudged myself down to 139.8.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 551.25
Miles Remaining: 948.75
Weight: 139.8

Running in a Winter Wonderland

Alright, so I was neither outside nor was there snow falling or snow on the ground. But given that it is but a few days before Christmas I still believe I can claim that if I was running and the season is Winter and I find it wonderful then my statement of "Running in a Winter Wonderland" must be true.

I slept in since I had the day off and got up and going around 9:40am. By 10:30 I was treading along. I did a walk/jog warm-up lap then a lifting routine (not that it's routine to me, just that it is a set of things I did today) then more running following by the lifting. Much like my last workout except this time instead of running super hard I ran normal-hardish and I added in more lifting.

The lifting portion involved 10 sumo deadlifts with the 20lb kettlebell (both hands holding it) followed by 10 thrusters with the 20lb-er followed by 10 20lb kettlebell throws followed by 20 box jumps. Folloewd directly by another lap. I did laps at 6.4mph, 6.5mph, 6.5mph and 6.6mph each followed by the lifting routine. Then I did a cool down one at 6.3mph followed by 2 laps at 4.3mph in order to actually feel cooled down. The workout was roughly 30 minutes long. Total Treadmill Time: 22:16 2.0 miles 317cals 1%.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 548.25
Miles Remaining: 951.75
Weight: 138.4

Run vs Food

As I was about to go outside to go to the track since it was 56 degrees out I heard some noise in the trees - and feared rain. And I opened the front door and as unwantedly expecting it had suddenly started down pouring! Glad I wasn't a few minutes ahead since I would have been out in the middle of it! So instead of going outside I stayed inside. I detoured to make some noodles and veggies and then once food was done I quickly got in a mile. I did 1.0 miles in 9:52 151 cals 0% and then I grabbed some water and then ate my food.

Most Motivating Song (that kept me running rather than eating): Gaelic Storm "McCloud's Reel/Whup Jamboree" and then fortuitously Guster's "Donde Estas Santa Claus?"

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 546.25
Miles Remaining: 953.75
Weight: 139.6

Go Go Quick Quick

I looked up a lot of old CrossFit Workouts of the Day and understood very little of it. Ryan helped me later and modified one of them for me - run .25 really fast, do 10 thrusters and 10 sumo deadlifts and then repeat - for a total of 5 times. It is supposed to be done for time, but after running you can rest as much as you need to. So I warmed up for a lap and then got into it. My lifting was of 5x each arm of the 15lb kettlebell for the thrusters and then 5x each arm of the 20lb kettlebell for the sumo deadlifts.

The laps broke down like this:
1. 7.7mph/1:56
2. 7.9mph/1:53
3. 8.1mph/1:51
4. 8.7mph/1:43
5. 9.0mph for 1/2 of the lap then 9.5mph/1:34 for the rest.

And then a cool down lap. Total running/walking: 15:03 1.75 miles 260cals 0%. Total Workout time 23:09 minutes. Then I did 100 crunches.

Most Motivating Song: Brad Paisley "Huckleberry Jam" (on loop)

New Miles: 1.75
Total Miles: 545.25
Miles Remaining: 954.75
Weight: 139.2

Quick Run

Did 1.25 miles in 12:02 188cals 0% incline on the treadmill. I ran normal speed and then kicked up the pace for a while since I knew I wasn't doing all that much today. Then I got the exercise ball out and did 30 crunches using it and then I ate some eggs and bacon.

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 543.5
Miles Remaining: 956.5
Weight: 138.2

Monkey Hear, Monkey Modify

I love a December day forecast that calls for rain and temperatures going no lower than 40. It means there won't be snow and it won't feel too cold outside. When I got home it was 46 degrees and so at first I was super motivated to go to the track and run, but then I started talking to Ryan and sat down. It was so hard to get back up. But I just envisioned possibly a week from now where I am relegated to the treadmill dreaming of being outdoors and that got me moving. I visited the track, one of just two people there at the beginning and reaching a max of 4, for my workout.

Of course Ryan had to go ahead and talk of doing a workout where every .25 he was going to do some sort of lifting and so of course I decided to do a similar thing during my workout. I ran 1 lap for a warm-up then stretched a little and then I finished out the mile in 8:49. Then I did 20 walking lunges followed by 20 squats. Then I jogged a lap and for the final 100m straightaway I sprinted. I slowed down quickly turned around and did 20 walking lunges then 20 jump squats. Then I jogged another lap and repeated the 100m sprint part followed by 20 lunges but then 20 squats. On my third lap I am sure I slowed significantly - all that stuff catching up with me but I repeated the 100m sprint/20 lunge/20 squats. I was pretty spent and relieved to have just 1 lap left and since I started off with plyometrics I wasn't ending on them -- so after my sprint I jogged it out for 100m then I walked 300m to finish the cool down lap. Then I jogged another 300m then walked the final 100m to finish up my workout of 2.5 miles in roughly 30 minutes.

In other events today - I did accomplish my goal of having a sub-140 official weigh in. At 140 the scale leaned left and at 138 the scale leaned right - so I was somewhere around 139. I did a mental "Woohoo!" as I was glad I was able to even process what my weight was because the nurse's measuring went in a whirl wind - nothing like the drawn out weighing in seen on The Biggest Loser. Before my run I also weighed myself in to confirm/get an up-to-the-minute measuring.

So after the track I chugged a glass of chocolate milk, ate a yummy spring mix/spinach salad with blueberries, golden raisens, pecans, and a fat free cranberry vinegarette dressing, and then laid on teh floor and had Ryan help me stretch out my exhausted and tight legs.

New Miles: 2.5
Total Miles: 542.25
Miles Remaining: 557.75
Weight: 138.4

A cure for ambivalence

An NPR program on obesity is really effective at curing ambivalence about whether or not to work out. I got home and got trotting. I did 2.0 miles in 20:34 315cals.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and so I was also motivated to do something today so that I am under 140.0 when I get on the scale. I have worked hard to get down to 140.0 and I want to work hard to stay here. So hopefully come the weigh in tomorrow I can have an official number. And hopefully my scale is accurate and it hasn't been lying to me all these months because man if it has that will be super disappointing.

I did 10-10lb woodblock chops per arm, 75 crunches, and 10 push ups.

Most Motivating Song: Miley Cyrus "Breakout" - a good driving beat to get me thru the second to last lap.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 539.75
Miles Remaining: 960.25
Weight: 138.0

Tune it out

As we drove home from church it was a sunny day and it felt comfortable outside. I looked up the temperature and it said it was 35 but felt like 29 degrees. It felt like it was in the 40s; I guess it was my warm fleece talking. I drove to the track and walked one lap and then started running at a comfortable pace. After mile 1 running I thought I'd push myself and do at least 2. During mile 2 I thought that I might as well do at least 3 since it was a nice day. After mile 3 instead of walking for my cool down lap I kept running and decided that I might as well do 4 since I may not get nice weather again. After mile 4 I decided I needed to do at last 5 since if I stopped any sooner I would probably regret it since once it got snowy  I couldn't do this. After mile 5 I thought well 5 is nice but it isn't special, I should do 6. Then after mile 6 I still didn't feel content with the amount I completed and so I kept going and completed 7 miles. After 7 miles running solid at this run-all-day pace I decided I was happy with the amount. So I cooled down with a very slow jog turned to a walk with some stretching.

I didn't bring my watch which at first I didn't like but after some running it was freeing. I listed to my iPod shuffle song after song and lost track of time. Losing track of how long I was running was perfect and left me to absorb the sun, soak up the day, and be in the moment - freeing me from wanting to get home and cross off x, y, z from my 'To Do' list. I just tuned out all the world and tuned out my own world and just ran and ran lost in the tunes in my ears.

New Miles: 7.5
Total Miles: 537.75
Miles Remaining: 962.25
Weight: 139.8 pre-run/138.4 post-run

Notivation

For some reason this week I have woken up around 6am full of energy but unable to get up out of bed to actually do anything but I enjoyed just laying in bed thinking and resting my eyes. Then at 7am I'd fall back asleep, just in time for the alarm to go off, and then I'd feel so incredibly tired and not be able to get out of bed til after 8am. Well today was no different except for the fact during this time I pretending to write a blog post about motivation and how I was so motivated I got out of bed early and got some miles in. It was going to be a great entry about being awake and so making use of the time and starting the day in a great way. But then I fell back asleep.

When I finally got out of bed I didn't have time to do much of anything except to get ready and go to work. But I managed to make myself do 20 push ups. So I did that and called it a win.

I knew though after work I definitely needed to actually do something rather than just think about how great it would be to do something. So I got home and did 2.0 miles on the treadmill in 19:51 314cals. Then I did woodblock chops 10x each arm x2 sets. Then I did 100 crunches. Then I did 20 push ups without stopping. Then I did 20 more push ups without stopping but push-ups 15-18 were almost impossible and the final 2 may not qualify as push-ups in any sort of competition, but they felt like push ups as they were really hard to complete. While I did the no-running portion of my workout I brought up YouTube and exercised to Britney Spears' "Til the World Ends" (2x) - it has a perfect beat for trying to get reps in quickly.

Most Motivating Songs: The Two Man Gentlemen Band "Fancy Beer" got me off and going, Dierks Bentley "Beautiful World" kept me going, then Brad Paisley "Cliffs of Rock City" brought me home. Then as I weight trained of course I found Britney Spears "Til the World Ends. Today I had an all around great musical work out experience.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 530.25
Miles Remaining: 969.75
Weight: 136.6

Decem-warmth

Usually this month accentuates the "Burr" in December but when I left work today it was drizzling but a very warm feeling night. So I got home and ate a meal Little-Ryan-Homemaker prepared during his day off and I ate light since I wanted to run. I went to the track and rain came down a bit harder for my first lap then settled down for the rest. I did a lap in 2:05 and motivated by the time I set a goal to do a 8:00 mile. I did 1/3 of the next lap and started sucking wind and feeling some burn but I kept going. As I neared the end of lap 2the thoughts "Well maybe I'll do just a half mile hard and take it easy for the rest". But I completed the second lap in 1:58 (4:03 total) and since I was on pace I didn't quit. During the 3rd lap I got my head on straight again and told myself to not quit until the mile was done. I did lap 3 in 1:58 (6:01 total), and then during the 4th lap I told myself to keep pace and not slow down and I finished the lap in 1:48 (7:49 total) -- thus achieving my goal of a sub-8:00 mile. Then I jogged a lap except for the last 80m which I walked. Total Workout: 1.25 miles in 10:54.

I did feel like I could keep going but I really wanted to get home and get my dessert which I forewent - French vanilla ice cream topped with carmelized pecans and fresh pomegranate. It was amazing. I did 20 push ups before ice cream, 10 push ups post ice cream, and 10 push ups post blogging.

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 528.25
Miles Remaining: 971.5
Weight: 138.8

Decentber

A day of decent December weather - sunny and 48 degrees. I put on my cold running pants and shirt and covered it up with a bright pink t-shirt and my crazy multi-color and multi-patterned shorts and put on my pink shoes. I am sure I looked interesting and I felt so, and I also felt that I didn't want anyone to look at me but I half did.

It was chilly but once I got going it was the perfect temperature in my gear. I saw another runner who was just wearing shorts and a t-shirt ans she seemed comfortable. That's not for me. I passed by several people doing yardwork and setting up Christmas decorations. It's so odd having an October-ish day in December.  But it's also awesome. It was great to get outside! Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 28:13.

I attempted to do a few crunches but did 2 and then just laid on the floor for 15 minutes watching some movie Ryan had on TV.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 527.0
Miles Remaining: 973.0
Weight: 137.6

In like a lion, out like a lion

I went out to a local bar/restaurant with co-workers for a co-worker's last day send off and drank 2 beers and ate junky food. The food feels awful and is hard to stomach. I guess I have been eating better because anything that is junk feels like junk and makes me feel like junk. I walked an unpleasant 1.0 miles in 14:04 163cals 1% - the walking felt good, my stomach did not, but the singing I did during the walk got me through. 

This monthly resolution of doing at least 1.0 mile per day was good to show myself that doing 1.0 miles is easy - in that it doesn't require a lot of time or effort and so it is a great minimal amount to do and should be done so regularly that you don't have to think "Oh I have to walk" but rather "I could get a good walk in in the next 15 minutes."

Most Motivating Song: The Dandy Warhols "We used to be friends" (only because two lines of the song were in my head for some unknown reason before I walked and some how during the 14 minutes I walked this came up in my shuffled iPod list)

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 524.0
Miles Remaining: 976.0
Weight: 138.6

I feel compressed

Super excited to wear my new Reebok cold running gear. Today started off around 60 degrees and rainy and by night it was very much colder but non rainy. Not that that all matters when my running was going to be on my treadmill. So I put on my cool pants and top and got onto the tready and did 1.0 miles in 11:08 159cals - some walking but a good mix-in of running while also wearing my 1lb hand weights. The gear felt good and the pants so comfy I may just wear them as my new lounging pants. The top is good but a bit too tight under my armpits and my elbows when my elbows are bent.

I talked to Ryan for about 20 minutes and then he mentioned he thought about running some. I had thought about running again too so I hopped up and ran 2.25 miles. I did 1.0 miles in 8:51 doing .3 at 7.0-7.5mph and .2 at 8.0mph (7:30 pace) then I slowed it down to 5.0 for around 1 minute to recover and then I did the remaining distance of 1.25 miles at 6.4mph and then walked .25. Total Workout: 2.5 miles in 24:07 391cals 1%. By the end of that run my top was too hot and I had to roll it up over my sports bra. My pants didn't feel too hot but that may just be that the heat of my shirt was too overwhelming that it didn't allow me to realize my legs were also hot, since comparatively my legs were cool.

Most Motivating Songs:
Nickel Creek "House of Tom Bombadil" (Workout I)
Bruce Springsteen "John Henry" (Workout II)

New Miles: 3.5
Total Miles: 523.0
Miles Remaining: 977.0
Weight: 138.2

Sorry but I gotta run

I got home and fortunately Ryan needed a few more minutes to finish making the fajitas and so I got on the treadmill and walked 1.0 miles in 14:34 164cals 1%. I needed to get the walk in immediately since at 8pm we were meeting up with my aunt and uncle for some margaritas on Margarita Monday and there was no way I was going to eat a pound of fajitas then walk or walk after margaritas. Being filled with either -itas would make it difficult to exercise! 

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles:  519.5
Miles Remaining: 980.5
Weight: 136.4

The Advent of the Hurried Walk

After I put up and decorated the Christmas Tree I did 1.0 miles in 14:20 164cals 1% while wearing my jeans (since I hadn't change from church). I got the mile out of the way and went back to enjoying some Christmas songs on this first day of Advent. Only when Christmas season truly begins do I deck the halls with the few decorations we have and put up the tree and I let the Christmas songs play and play. 

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 518.5
Miles Remaining: 981.5
Weight: 137.2

One Year Runniversary

I convinced Ryan to walk with me on my one year anniversary of this Journey1500. We went to the woods and walked an Eagle Scout trail along the local creek. We wandered about 1.0 miles in the calm of nature on a nice overcast afternoon.

I got home and still wasn't satisfied with my time outdoors so I went to the track. I walked .25 in 4:20. Then I did 1 mile in 8:27. Early on in the mile the two people who had been there when I arrived left and so I had the whole track to myself - a wonderful gift on a peaceful November evening! So I ran my mile appreciating the isolation of just me, the blue sky highlighted with bright pink then red then purple, and the songs on my iPod shuffle. I thought I would just do one more lap at a jogged pace but i was enjoying myself so much that I kept on jogging and did 1.0 miles in 10:00. I jogged another .5 at the same pace and still loving life I discarded my jacket and took off on a quick lap to really soak up the evening, the feeling of the night, the joy of life, and to push myself while I appreciated all that I have accomplished thus far and that I was healthy enough to run. I did .25 in 1:38. Glorious evening in solitude. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in about 30 minutes.

I then did 150ish crunches while watching The Biggest Loser holiday special. I did 150 for certain since I counted those but then I just stayed on the floor for the hour and occasionally did some crunching and leg lifts.

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles: 517.5
Miles Remaining: 982.5
Weight: 137.6

Black Friday

For some reason I decided to go shopping on this blackest of Fridays. I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and picked up some Reebok cold gear compression pants and shirts for 50% off and running gloves and running face mask and running headband. So now I am super prepared to run in the cold weather. The only thing missing is the motivation. Today was set to be a warm day in the mid50s and was super sunny. I bought in preparation for the cold winter that lie ahead and in the hopes at some point I will feel caged up and desire to run outdoors. And when that feeling comes I will be prepared!

I got home and ate some cereal and then did 1.0 miles in 14:39 164cals 1% on the treadmill.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 513.5
Miles Remaining: 986.5
Weight: 138.0

Giving Thanks

1.0 miles in 14:43 (4.1mph) 164 cals 1% 138.0. During the walk I reflected on many of the things I am thankful for in my life since it is Thanksgiving and I figured such a thing would be a thoughtful use of my time. Here are some of them: My good health, that I have a job, Ryan, Ryan's good health, that Ryan has a job, my family and that they are all in good health, that I have so many people that love and care about me, that Ryan and I have a wonderful house, ...and I am sure tons of more things. 

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 512.5
Miles Remaining: 987.5
Weight: 138.0

Cat Walk to Cat Nap

Got home from work and sped walked a mile at 4.4mph for one lap and then 4.5mph for the rest. Completed 1.0 in 13:32 162cals 1%. Just as I was wrapping up Ryan came in the door so it was perfect timing. I followed up the walk with a cuddle nap on the couch. The nap nearly turned into a night's sleep for me but I eventually got up and went with Ryan over to our friend's house for some hanging out and CatchPhrase.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 511.5
Miles Remaining: 988.5
Weight: 137.6

Feeling Beefy

Ate a lot of food brought over my my mom-in-law, a delicious beef barley stew thing, and then nigh regrettably immediately got onto the treadmill and did  1.0 miles in 14:06 163cals 4.3mph 1%. I was very full but it ended up working out, in that I didn't lose all the food I had just put into me. For .65 of the walk I used my 5lb weights in each arm and either held them straight over my head or pumped  them in some fashion in 30 second increments - changing up what I was doing every 30 seconds and not stopping til the mile was complete. It was good to get my arms into the mix again and feel like I have some muscles.

New Miles: 1.0 miles
Total Miles: 510.5
Miles Remaining: 989.5
Weight: 139.4

That's Brisk Baby

Cloudy overcast and 45 degrees with some bits of wind but at least by the time I walked at 1:30pm it had stopped raining. Did the work 1.0 mile path at a brisk pace.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 509.5
Miles  Remaining: 990.5
Weight: 138.8

Sunday Walk

Sunday mass and brunch with my family as per the usual. Then once home again I went out on a solitary walk for 1.0 mile for the first part of my 3 mile loop and back. I saw a neighbor I have talked to a few times before and we chatted for a minute about Half Marathons and full marathons. He wants to do the Marine Corps full, which my friend Nikki recently did, and his friend says San Francisco's is difficult due to the hills. Did my walk in 16:26.

Cloudy but nice temp. Enjoyable mile. Though I probably should have run.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 508.5
Miles Remaining: 991.5
Weight: 137.6

Room for Living

I was excited since yesterday for the weather forecasted for today - mid50s and sunny! At this time of year it equates to being able to run outside comfortably - in my high school sup soccer team shorts and my Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2010 long sleeved shirt.

So after I spent the morning installing new curtain rods in our living room, waiting for the temperature to rise, while also listening to Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and 75% of This American Life. I also enjoyed watching traffic on our street as a neighbor was part of the community house tour. Writing this all up sounds like I had a busy morning in my living room. Finally just before 1pm I deemed it temperturally mature and I went out and ran passed all the strangers and around the neighborhood on my 3 mile loop.

At first it was a struggle since I have deemed Woahvember the sequel to Walktober and I haven't been running all that much. I walked for 40 seconds after mile 1 and then for 15 seconds 3 minutes later and then at minute 22 I walked for 20 seconds. I then felt decent enough to keep running the rest of the way.  I ventured past a Holiday Craft Show at a local church and decided I should come back and check it out.

I completed my 3 miles in 29:08.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 507.5
Miles Remaining: 992.5
Weight: 137.8

Do Tread On Me

I got home from work and changed and got onto the tread. Did my 1.0 miles in 14:26 163cals 1% and then got ready to enjoy the weekend. What I looked forward to the most: Doing whatever it is I want to do when I want to do it.

New Miles: 1.0 miles
Total Miles: 504.5
Miles Remaining: 995.5
Weight: 138.2

Go Speed Pacer

As soon as I got home I put the milk away and then got onto the treadmill for a quick walked mile. Little did I know just what I was about to do to myself - as I kept increasing the pace to see if I could walk at speeds quicker than 4.1mph. It was also in an effort to get the mile over with quickly. I got up to 4.5mph and thought that would be my max. But after a short break to see my visiting mom-in-law who stopped by to bring me some shirts she bought me, I got back on. For fun I increased the pace and was amazed to see I could still walk at 4.8mph (12:30 pace). I know I jog at 5.0mph so this was neat. And then of course out of curiosity I had to tick it up to 4.9 for a bit and then to 5.0 for 1 minute. 5.0 was the limit and anything over that would have forced a jog. So I finished out my mile at 4.9mph.

While walking I realized that the speedwalkers out there are crazy. This was difficult to walk so fast. It required concentration and a tightened core and vigorously pumping arms, so vigorous it was on the verge of flailing. (And so close to being uncontrolled that I bashed my left hand into the treadmill front handrail and it hurt quite a bit.)

Total Workout: 1.0 miles in 13:24 156cals 0%

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 503.5
Miles Remaining: 996.5
Weight: 138.0

Distractions

After a detour of a shopping trip and then fun organizing my new stuff (nice curtain rods, euro pillow, owl teapot and tea saver, scrapbook paper) I finally settled down and got my mile in. I walked and ran' mostly running at 6.2mph and for 15 minutes at 6:40 pace. Which pretty much settles the precious track trip - that I misread my watch and I think my lap time was rather 8:00 pace meaning a 2:00 lap rather than a 1 minute lap. This makes complete sense since 8:00 pace is good and 4:00 pace is impossible given my struggle at 9.0mph for 15 seconds. Once done with my 1.25 miles I turned on the TV and built a small media storage shelf. Total Workout: 1.25 miles in 13:19 190cals.

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 502.5
Miles Remaining: 997.5
Weight: 138.2

Come a long way

On my drive to work the NPR station must have lost signal since it was just dead air, and so I turned on the alternative radio station and lo and behold by quirky coincidence a song by Michelle Shocked came on. "Come a long way" has these lyrics: "I've come a long way. I've come a long way. I've gone 500 miles today."

Then at lunch in temps in the mid50s I donned by rain jacket and did 1.0 mile walk.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 501.25
Miles Remaining: 998.75
Weight: 139.2

And I will walk 500 miles

Lunch walk with Matt my co-worker = 1.0 miles in on an overcast but warm breezey afternoon = 498.25

In the evening it was dark and windy but also 70 degrees and so I told Ryan I was going to go to the track. I asked that he join me so we would do my 500th mile together. He said no and went to take a nap. Then finally, as I went to put on my shoes and leave he said that if I waited until 7pm he would join me. And so I excitedly waited by jogging .75 on the treadmill in 9:31 116cals  0% = 499.0. So now I am all prepped to reach 500 miles with Ryan!

So we went to the track to walk by spotlight. We did 1.0 miles together in Lane 6, completing the mile in 19 minutes. I then did a quick lap on my own in Lane 5. I feel like I saw my watch say I did it in 1 minute but there is no way that is possible (a) since I can't do a 4 minute mile, (b) because I was going fast but not uber-fast, and (c) because it was dark and I probably definitely mis-read my watch. But I do like to think I could do a 4 minute mile, run uber-fast, and read properly. Total Workout: 1.25 miles in approximately 20 minutes.

Most Exciting Thing About the Walk: Ryan walked with me!! Yay! Though while we were walking he told me that the only reason he said he'd walk with me was that he wanted to take a nap and he needed someone to wake him up at 7:05 since his cell phone isn't working, and so he knew that if he said he'd walk with me I'd wait for him. I told him that was mean but that I would take what I can get. The bright side of this is that he knows me well.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 500.25!
Miles Remaining: 999.75
Weight: 139.8

Let's Go on a Walk

I feel like I say this a lot, but it doesn't make it any less true, it was a gorgeous day! My family had a Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving so that almost all of us were together since my sister will be on vacation for the actual turkey day. So with the annual family hoopla - The Pre-Hoopla Hoopla - I got to be outdoors for a bit and play some knock out. I made it to the final 3 one round which is pretty decent considering the size of my family and the uber-competitiveness we all have. From there I went to a friend's party to eat food and semi-watch football. I spent a decent amount of time outdoors enjoying the warm breeze and wonderful 60 degree temperature. But all I wanted to do all day was go on a run or a long walk. Do finally at 4:30pm I was able to get out and on a walk.

Like usual I couldn't convince Ryan to join me. But unlike usual as I got ready to venture out a new tune popped into my head and I started making up lyrics and singing it to myself. I headed out the door and the tune followed me the whole time. I sang it at a self-audible level and made up verses all along the way. It was quite the productive 27:06 and 1.25 miles since by the end of it I had a song in head, and almost in hand! So I walked thru my house doors, over to a notebook, found a pen and sat down and wrote out my lyrics. Then I got onto the computer, opened up GarageBand and recorded the tune.

"On a Walk"

C'mon on a walk with me
We're gonna see what we can see
Gonna say hi to everybody
Let's go on a walk

We're gonna stroll on down the lane
You might think it rather plain
No it's not, it's not insane
Let's go on a walk


We're walkin' and we're talkin'
Havin' a wonderful time
We're walkin' and we're talkin'
It's so very fine


Sometimes it's nice to skip along
As we hum a little song
No it can't, it can't be wrong
When we're on a walk

Sometimes it's nice to sing a tune
As we walk under the moon
It's just what, just what we're doin'
When we're on a walk


We're walkin' and we're talkin'
Havin' a wonderful time
We're walkin' and we're talkin'
It's so very fine

So c'mon on a walk with me
We're gonna see what we can see
Gonna say hi to everybody
Let's go on a walk

Sometimes when the sunshines
It's so very grand
Sometimes when the sunshines
You'll just hold my hand

So c'mon on a walk with me
We're gonna see what we can see
Gonna say hi to everybody
Let's go on a walk

We're gonna walk on down the street
You might think it rather neat
No it can't, it can't be beat
Let's go on a walk

We're walkin' and we're talkin'
Havin' a wonderful time
We're walkin' and we're talkin'
It's so very fine

So c'mon on a walk with me
We're gonna see what we can see
Gonna say hi to everybody
Let's go on a walk
Let's go on a walk
 
Most Motivating Song: "On a Walk" by Mo 

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 497.25
Miles Remaining: 1102.75
Weight: 140.4 (because I have eaten junk the whole weekend; yikes!)

Unwelcomed Wake Up Caw

As I lay in bed, sleeping, awaiting the buzzing of the alarm I had set for 8:00am, the crows beat the clock to the punch and provided me with an unwelcomed wake up caw. I eventually arose from bed at 8:30 to start my day; having allowed myself that extra time to recover from the crows and energize myself for the day.

After some light cleaning (wrapping up work what was left over from the night before) I got onto the treadmill and did my daily mile. As I thought about my plans for the day I realized I needed to get my mile in now before the day got away from me - where I am going out with friends, followed by more going out with friends, followed by going out with Ryan and some of my family. So I did my mile.

1.0 miles in 14:42 159cals 0%

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 496.0
Miles Remaining: 1104.0
Weight: 138.4

Raked Leaves

Raked leaves for 45 minutes. Treadmilled for 1.0 miles in 11: 07 0% 153cals; mix of walking-running.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 495.0
Miles Remaining: 1105.0
Weight: 137.4

Woahvember

With the end of daylight savings it now is dark by 6pm; so sad. And it will relegate me to a life on the treadmill for a few months. 1.0 mile walk on treadmill 158cals 14:40 0% incline.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 494.0
Miles Remaining: 1106.0
Weight: 138.4

A Belgian Trip

Off to Washington DC for a conference Monday-Wednesday. I told my co-workers my plan for November and so we found a way to get me my 1.0 mile per day in - We walked to restaurants.

So on Monday, November 7 for dinner we walked to and from Founding Farmers = 1.0 mile. On Tuesday, November 8 for dinner we walked to and from Kramerbooks & Afterwords = 1.0 mile.  On Wednesday, November 9 for breakfast we walked to and from Le Pain Quotidient, a Belgian restaurant, where I ate a Belgian Waffle with berries = 1.0 mile. Then at night, finally back home, I walked on the treadmill for 32:59 2.25.

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 + 1.0 + 2.25 = 5.25
Total Miles: 493.0
Miles Remaining: 1107.0
Weight: N/A-N/A-139.8

Taking the "No" out of "November"

Sunny day, near 60 degrees. In the early afternoon I coached the final soccer game of the season to round the near perfectly defeated season of all losses and one tie. Then I came home and laid on the couch as a waste of space for almost an hour and then I finally got up to do stuff. It was at that point I remembered I needed to walk at least one mile on my monthly resolution for November of doing at least one mile per day. And so not bothering to change from my comfy loungy pants and my long sleeved soccer coaching shirt, heck I didn't even change into a work out bra, I got aboard the treadmill to walk it out. It was .25 in when I decided that I needed to take pictures of the holly bush outside since the Autumnal sunlight was hitting it so perfectly. And so after about 5 minutes of doing that I returned and walked out the remaining .75. My right side stitched a bit, which has happened every time I walk or run since running at the track two days ago. Hopefully that goes away soon. Simple, straightforward (minus a brief distraction) and easy to complete - Total Walk-out: 1.0 miles 14:44 164 1%

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles:  487.75
Miles Remaining: 1012.25
Weight: 138.6

Early Morning "Good Morning"

Earlier in the week I made plans with two friends, Darcy and Nikki, to run early Saturday morning. Well in actuality they made plans and I joined despite the early hour. So I was up before 7am and drove to North Park for a 5.0 mile run. We started at 7:30 and did the 5 miles in 49:03.

As we started the daylight was just starting to take hold and it was interesting to track the change of exchanges of "Good Morning". When we started we would exchange "Good Morning!"s with each person that passed us, and despite the 29 degree temperature there were indeed a decent number of people. And then the lighter it got the fewer people would say "Good Morning!" as we passed. I imagined plotting this on a chart where you could see the correlation between the number of "Good Morning!"s mapped to the brightness of the day. By the end of our run we seemed like the crazy people saying "Good Morning" and half the time we were met with no comment and looks of surprise. I can see the benefit of waking up early and going running just for the camaraderie. 

Despite the chilly start - which required long pants, tucked in T-shirt, long-sleeved hooded running shirt, running sleeveless jacket with hood, safety vest, and gloves - by the end it didn't seem all that bad to be out and about. And to cap off our great start to the day Darcy and I went to Bruegger's Bagels to grab some post-run nourishment - Western Egg Bagel (with 26g protein) and Orange Juice.

I thought I would be super tired afterwards and just want to go back to bed, but alas the opposite happened and I felt so energized and ready to take on the day!

New Miles: 5.0
Total Miles: 486.75
Miles Remaining: 1013.25
Weight: 138.4

Mile in 7:12

A nice sunny but slightly chilly night I ran outside with my Pittsburgh Half Marathon long-sleeved shirt, safety vest, blue shorts, and pink shoes. Half mile to the track then 2 miles at the tack then half mile home. I completed mile 1 in 10:15. Then I walked a little, stretched a little, and then I went off to try to get a record mile time.

And in Lane 2 around I went 4 times. Lap 1 in 1:43 then I forget the rest. But I completed the entire mile in 7:12! Record mile time! Then I took a nice easy lap and then I did 1 lap of 100m straight-away sprints and then I jogged slowly on home. On my way back I saw a friend in his car and I waved hello. What a nice way to cap off a nice evening outdoors.

Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 31-ish minutes. 

Most Motivating Song: Boondock Saints Theme

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 481.75
Miles Remaining: 1018.25
Weight: 136.6 (pre)/135.8 (post)

Putting the "No" in "November"

Gorgeous Autumn day again and so during lunch I enjoyed a 1.0 brisk walk. On my way back into the building a man said "Beautiful day, is it?" and I cheerfully said "Gorgeous!".

On my walk I realized that a brief 3 days into this month I have walked or run each day and so I thought about trying to keep this up and do something each day and if I did I'd be "Taking the 'No' out of 'November'". Or if I just relaxed and did nothing I'd be "Putting the 'No' in 'November'". Or I could flip it and put the 'No' in 'November' by saying "No, I will not be lazy!".

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 478.75
Miles Remaining: 1021.25
Weight: N/A

Lights! Camera! Action!

Date night with my sister Bridgette to listen to Sudhir Vanketesh talk about sociological things at Duquesne University. On the way back to the car we looked over the hillside and saw a movie scene being filmed on Pittsburgh's 10th Street Bridge. We stopped for 30 minutes and watched a whole lot of inaction. We stayed until they did another take of the scene - where a hot red car with black stripes supposedly driven by Tom Cruise speeds thru traffic avoiding vehicles/vehicles avoiding him. It was such a nice night under the Duquesne lights looking out over a super bright bridge with a temperature around 60 degrees - it was so refreshing and energizing.

When I stepped in the door I had this energy building inside and it directed me to change into running clothes and run! It must have been the combination of intellectual stimulation, the invigorating fresh air, pent up energy from sitting all day and the gratefulness I had for finally being over all my migraine feelings that urged me on. I ran for 2 miles at 6.1/6.3mph then did .5 at 7.0mph then .5 at 6.2mph then cooled down walking at 4.1mph. Total Workout: 3.25 miles 32:53 511cals.

Still with some energy, and looking forward to a slice of homemade caramel peanut butter cheesecake, I grabbed the 20lb kettlebell and did 10 waist-to-shoulder straight rows then I did 20 full-squat-extension-up-to-shoulders rows then 10 more of the first kind. Feeling like that was something I turned the Journey1500 gym lights out and grabbed water and my cheesecake then relaxed for the night.

Most Motivating Song: Dierks Bentley "Sideways" (3x)

New Miles: 3.25
Total Miles: 477.75
Miles Remaining: 1022.25
Weight: 137.6

Picture of the 10 Street Bridge during the movie shoot: 

Positive Start

I moved the radio back to the gym (which I had recently moved to the living room) to listen to the news as I walked. I walked at 4.1mph and then at mile 1.4 I jogged for a mile at 5.0mph all at 3% incline. I focused on form with good foot strikes and keeping my ab muscles tight. It felt good to move and get a workout in. I needed to not over exert myself as I continue to fight off a migraine which I've been fighting for about a week. All day my neck and upper back muscles were super tight and I feared working out would make things worse, but it actually helped me relax and feel better and forget bout my mind for a while. I love when walking/running makes a migraine better, but I hate that the outcome of walking/running isn't predictable. It could be great or it could go horribly awry.  Glad I got my November off to a positive start. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 40:59 522cals 3% with 1lb weights.


New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 474.5
Miles Remaining: 1025.5 
Weight: 139.6

Oct-snow-ber

First glance out the window in the morning shocked my eyes - snow! Snow laying on the ground! Snow falling from the skies! In October!! I grabbed the camera and took a picture. Nothing like needing to rake leaves and shovel snow at the same time.

Given the snow I did not go outside to walk or run; it looks like I've transitioned into the 5 months where the Treadmill and me are the best of friends. I walked 1.0 miles at 1% incline in 14:39 (4.1mph) 164 cals.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 471.5
Miles Remaining: 1428.5
Weight: 139.8

I'll run today

Sunny, wonderful Autumn day with temperatures in the 60s. Enjoyed myself a 1.0 mile lunch time walk. Fresh air, beautiful sky. The sun does make me so happy and refreshes my energy.

Excited to get home and run, which I forced myself into since over the last few days I felt in a rut of thinking "I'll run tomorrow." rather than thinking "I'll run today." To get myself away from that mental state I got myself out and running, the nice weather was a helpful motivator.

I donned my Montour Trail long-sleeved shirt and my Adidas 3/4 length pants and my safety vest. Half mile to the school track then 2 miles there and then home. I ran 1.0 miles in 8:15! I knew I was running decently fast but it felt good and not too strenuous and half a mile in when I saw I was at just 4:08 I was shocked and was motivated to keep going strong. Then I took an easy lap. Then I did 100m hard run/sprints straight away and slow jogged the curves. I didn't time them but it felt speedy. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 34:01.

New Miles: 4.0
Total Miles: 470.5
Miles Remaining: 1329.5
Weight: 138.2

Army Strong

1.0 mile walk on treadmill in 14:19 163cals 1% incline because I finally got myself to do something. 

Since minute 6 did 1 minute full arm extension overhead (arms separate and then together) with my 5 lb weights, 15 sec rest, 1 min bicep curl (extended out left and right of body), 30 sec rest, repeat. 3 sets. A nice easy 1 mile in terms of walking, a tough mile in terms of my arm but glad to build some arm strength.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 466.5
Miles Remaining: 1033.5
Weight: 138.8

Pretty covered in Pink

Pink shoes, white socks with a pink Nike swoosh, pink shorts, pink long-sleeved shirt, black head band, blue safety vest. I walked up the hill to start my run and when I reached the top I looked off into the distance and saw dark, scary clouds. I debated for a few seconds and then all parties agreed to not run outside in case the clouds were a storm. So back down the hill and into my house and onto the treadmill I went. I opened the curtains and opened a window and got some breezes of the cool evening air.

I ran the first mile at 1% incline and 6.2mph. I then lowered the incline and kept the pace, and then I increased the pace, running at 6.3mph for a while then in the last mile constantly increasing the pace until I ran 2.5-3.0 at 7.0mph. I did 3 miles in 28:30. Then I walked for .25. Total Workout: 3.25 496cals 32:05.

New Miles: 3.25
Total Miles: 465.5
Miles Remaining: 1034.5
Weight: 138.6

Worthwhile Distractions

Decided I needed to take a walk, so went on the treadmill at 1% incline and walked for 2.75 miles in 40:15 450cals. I wanted to do 3 miles but before I could Ryan informed me our friend was having a backyard fire so I stopped, changed, put on some warm clothes, and then sat in a back yard and talked with friends for a few hours.

New Miles: 2.75
Total Miles: 462.25
Miles Remaining: 1037.75
Weight: 139.8

Awesomeness Daydream

Out of work at 3pm. Went running 3 mile loop 4:30-5:00. I wore my green shorts and my long sleeved Montour Trail Half Marathon long-sleeved shirt. My legs were a bit chilly to start as it was quite windy and a standard nice Autumn day, but by the second mile they were fine and my arms were overheating even with my rolled up sleeves.

I ran by a church where somebody had just gotten married. Bubbles blew in front of and then around me. That was fun. I used those people as motivation - hoping I'd be at the far end of my loop when they were leaving the church so that they would be like "Woah how'd that girl get down here? She was just up there!" which is a daydream I often have that makes me feel like I am awesome. And I am like "That's right. I did indeed run that far. Cuz I am awesome.". And yes, this is just 3 miles, but this awesomeness daydream is applicable for any distance. It's purpose is to make me feel good about who I am and what I am doing - to give me that boost of self-confidence and energy - and it works every time. Total Miles: 3.0 in 28:17.


Most Motivating Thought: The Awesomeness Daydream (I also think some Dierks Bentley helped me along but his motivating powers were second to my daydream.)

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 459.5
Miles Remaining: 1040.5
Weight: 138.8

To Spite Myself

Rainy day with gray light. Pretty much no motivation to do anything. But I had told myself I would run today, so a little after 7pm I hopped onto the treadmill and set out to do a minimum of 3. I set it to 0.5% incline and started with a walk and quickly transitioned up to a run, did .5 miles then walked for a minute, did another .5 miles and walked for over a minute, got close to 1.5 and walked. Then from 1.5 to 2.0 I ran and kept mentally trying to break myself thru the desire to stop and walk at 2.

I worked hard for that .5 miles and did manage to tell myself "Look, you are only doing 3 miles. At most that is another 10 minutes. So you better run this." And run on I did. Finally at mile 2.8 I passed the point where I didn't have to constantly tell myself I wanted to run and had to run, I actually wanted to run. Go figure. You tell your brain you are doing 3 so when you close in on that 3 your brain gets happy. It also helps to have finally found a motivating instrumental song that I looped. So I ran it out until mile 3.1 just to spite myself, err, challenge myself. Then I walked to 3.3 and was so re-motivated to run  that I took it back up to a jog and did .5 at 5.5mph. Then I walked it out to 4.0.

Most Motivating Songs:
The Known World "Synesethsia" (3x) - This is the one that got me into the mood to run.
The Shins "Sleeping Lessons" - This is the one that took me from my cool down walk back into a jog.
Ram Jam "Black Betty" - This is the one that waxed me nostalgic for soccer and I couldn't help but want to keep running as I cooled down.

New Miles: 4.0
Total Miles: 456.5
Miles Remaining: 1043.5
Weight: 139.6

Walktober

Monday, October 10 - 1.0 mile walk during lunch.

Tuesday, October 11 - 1.0 mile walk on a nice Autumn day; cloudy but with a warmth still in the air but with leaves turning colors and falling oh so subtly from the trees. At night I watch Season 12 "The Biggest Loser" and for 1.5 hours I did a semi-cardio workout with my 10lb weights and many squats, crunches, punching, random.

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 = 2.0
Total Miles: 452.5
Miles Remaining: 1047.5
Weight: N/A

Sunbuddy

Continued glorious weather and so ran in the early evening from about 5:30-6:00pm outside. It was hot out! So great! I did my 3 mile loop in 28:47. Inside I did the woodblock chop 10 each side with the 10lb weight and then did one more set of 10 each side. 100 crunches.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 450.5
Miles Remaining: 1049.5
Weight: 137.8

Autummm to Awwwtumn

1.0 mile walk during lunch in such nice weather - in the 70s! At night it was still nice out and so to soak up the nice Autumn night I went and ran my 3 mile loop. I met my neighbors and talked for 5-10 minutes then I ventured out and along my journey I said "Hi" to no less than 5 people. I got home in 28:53.

Nice weather is such a motivator and makes me so energetic! I love the warmth and the sunshine and the happiness of the air. Rain gone and replaced by sun changed my feelings from Autummmn to Awwwtumn.

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles:  447.5
Miles Remaining: 1052.5
Weight: 137.6

Walktober

Continued rain but warm out so I went out on a 1.0 mile walk during lunch. The fresh are was refreshing.

At night I ran on the treadmill since it continued to rain and was dark and dreary early. 2.5 miles in 27:36 390cals 1% (for 0.5 miles) then 0.5% for the rest. 15lb kettlebell throws - 10 each arm then 10 quick upright rows.

Then I hopped onto our "new" exercise bike my parents gave me/helped me load into my car over the weekend to get it out of their house. It is a burnt orange 1950s Vitamaster Exerciser with a stuck odometer and a speedometer with speed ranges of "Warm-up", "Normal", Vigorous" and "Limit".
I biked "Normal" for 2 minutes.

Into the living room I went and did an ab workout with my 2 5lb weights in my hands and the "woodblock chop" - arms raised up over my head and to my right then quickly moved to my lower left as I went into a squat. I did 10 from my right then switched to my left for 10. Very hard to do but felt like I did something good. Followed by 100 crunches.

Most Motivating Song: Brad Paisley "Welcome to the Future"

New Miles: 1.0 + 2.5 = 3.5
Total Miles:  443.5
Miles Remaining: 1056.5

Weight: 138.8

Sleptember

1.0 mile walk at lunch.

September went by so unnoticed by my running and walking feet it feels like I just slept thru it. It's be a fast Sleptember.

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 440.0
Miles Remaining: 1060.0
Weight: N/A

Sun and Run

A gorgeous late September day with temperatures in the high 70s and sun, sun, sun! I coached a soccer game (which we tied though should have won) in the bright sunshine and heat and it made me love the outdoors even more! I drove home with the windows down and got refreshed and energized and when I got home I went outside for a run.

I always feel as though I get seasonal affective disorder, and today I think I found my evidence. After a sluggish few weeks I finally found the drive to run again -- and all I needed was exposure to sunshine for a few hours to soak up its warmth and have it feed my brain to make me happy. These last two weeks I have been getting home from work (some days later than usual) and some days have been warm but others have been cold or rainy and then it starts getting too dark to do anything after 7:30 and so I get into my house and I don't do anything. In no way will this help me in my journey and it will definitely make for a very long fall and winter if I can't find a way to get past this mental hurdle.  

Oddly in this two week span I have maintained a lower weight - consistently seeing pound 137 on the scale. I thought I was doing awesome by doing nothing - and then of course I realized I haven't been drinking my water and that definitely accounts for 1-2 pounds. So today - after hydrating and for some reason eating a lot more than usual yesterday I scaled up at 138.4 (then 137.8 after the run). Note to Self: Continue to be smart of my food decisions.

New Miles: 5.25
Total Miles: 439.0
Miles Remaining: 1061.0
Weight: 138.4

Swing and Sing

Clearly I have gotten lazy as I am letting lots of time to elapse between workouts. But I continue to take the stairs, which have been more exhausting than usual - I actually get winded. I finally realized that I think this is all due to my not drinking enough water. I don't know why but for some reason I stopped drinking self-sustaining quantities of water. So in the last few days I worked on that and tonight I got on the treadmill to at least try to walk off some exhaustion.

I belted out a wide variety of songs as I walked along, making the walk more exhausting than it otherwise would have been. And I had my 1lb weights on each wrist that I pumped as I swung and sung along.

Total Workout: 2.5 in 36:43 1% 408cals.

New Miles: 2.5

Total Miles: 433.75
Miles Remaining: 1066.25
Weight: 137.4

Run before a Stroll

In the DC area for work I hopped on the treadmill for what felt like 3 quick miles but took 30:02. For .25 I ran at 8.6mph which is 6:58 pace. The run felt good - I would run for .5 then walk some then run for .5 then walk - each time increasing my speed.About 3 times during the run my right ankle really hurt and I contemplated stopping if it kept up - but I would pause, roll my ankles a few times, then start running again. The pain was pretty intense but fortunately it was more momentary than anything else.

Once the nice run was complete I freshened up then met up with a friend for dinner and nice warm-aired evening walk around my hotel area.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 431.25
Miles Remaining: 1068.75
Weight: N/A - 140.0ish

Montour Trail Half Marathon

On Friday I spent the evening trying to crack my right ankle to get it back into it's proper place, after a decent number of cracks along with some cracking of my right knee I went to bed. At 5:45am Ryan and I woke up and drove to the southwest of Pittsburgh to participate in the Montour Trail Half Marathon - a course along a reclaimed rail line, part of the Rails-to-Trails program.

The whole way we both wanted to go home, but since that would have been the easy way out and since if I was going to quit I should have decided that earlier in the week  we sucked it up and ran it.

The first mile was all down hill allowing me to do a 9:22 mile pace. Ryan and I ran together for the first five minutes or so and then he went on ahead. I kept at 9:30 pace through the first miles, getting happier and happier with that as I crossed thru mile 4 then mile 5 and then mile 6. The course is an out and back course that goes out to mile 7 then has the finish line at the bottom of the hill so you don't have to go uphill at the end. The rest of the course is nice and flat but with small cinders/dirt most of the way with a few places of asphalt when you cross over roads or bridges. The surrounding nature was gorgeous; it was a nice serene run once the pack thinned out. 

The whole way I felt pretty good and concentrated on "Keep the pace nice and slow, this feels good, don't go any faster. Oh you're speeding up, slow it down, no need to rush. Just go steady and comfortable." And so on I went and kept my 9:30 pace the whole way. Finally at mile 10 I was still feeling really good and so I thought "It's just 3 more miles, you can pick it up a little." and so I did. And then at mile 10.5 my right calf was like "Woah. Woah. Woah. What's going on here? You are running?! Aahhh! I am not ready for this." and I immediately learned my calves had no prior knowledge I had been running. So I slowed it back down a little bit and my calf stopped complaining. Then at mile 11 I picked it up again and then I finally felt my heart beating like I was working hard, it was then I discovered my heart and lungs were happy at my previous pace. But this time I told myself to suck it up since I didn't have much left to do. And then a short time later I got into that groove and was good to keep going on and on. The final 2 miles felt so long but I was good to push it out, and I even started cheering my other runners long.

I completed it in 2:05:15 - a new personal record!! With 1.5 miles left I had the thought that I felt really good and could possibly complete it in 2 hours or less but unfortunately I was 1:53 in and I can't run 1.5 miles in 7 minutes. So It was sad to realize that too late but I still felt good about the run and my time!

From the Results page of the Half Marathon Website: 
Overall Place: 473
Class Place: 32
Clock Time: 2:05:55
Chip Time:  2:05:15
Pace: 9:34

There were 80 finishers in my Class of Women 25-29. There were 825 Finishers: 417 male, 408 female. I feel really good about where I finished.


Ryan had actually fallen behind me since he is sick and took some walking breaks, so after I finished I waited out on the course and cheered him in. He finished in 2:12:39 (10:08) pace - a good time in general but something he was disappointed in.

Then we walked .2 to the bus and got shuttled back up the hill. With all the extra walking around I did at least .4 more.

New Miles: 15.1 + .4 = 13.5
Total Miles: 428.25
Miles Remaining: 1071.75
Weight: 137.2

Ankle Waits

Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles

In the evening hoped on the treadmill to test out the ankle and try to work out some kinks from the previous weekend. It went poorly. I wanted to run 3 miles but instead managed a 1.5 mile run with .5 at 7.0mph and the rest around 6.3 and then all walking. From miles 2-3 did 0.5% incline. It was difficult to move and my right knee and right ankle wanted none of it. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 36:01 467

Most Motivating Songs: April Smith and the Great Picture Show "Movie Loves a Screen" and Rilo Kiley "Breakin' Up"

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles: 414.75
Miles Remaining:1085.25
Weight: 138.6

San Frantastic

Weds, Aug 31 - Airport - walked to the other terminal to meet up with Ryan then to the BART; Golden Gate Bridge - went half way across and back - 1.5 miles; Fisherman's Wharf

Thurs, Sept 1 - Alcatraz - .3 to the cell house; walked around inside for an hour, outside did .25 at min, walked back to ferry - did a min of 1.0 miles and I'd say at least .5 more. Fisherman's Wharf - Pier 39 to Pier 45 and to restaurant to F-line - 1.25 miles.

Fri, Sept 2 - 1 football game; Fisherman's Wharf; Chinatown walk to and back - .7 there and back with some extra walking around so 1.5 miles.

Sat, Sept 3 - 2 football games; 12:30 and 3:30. Loads of running and kicking; 2 minute solo.

Sun, Sept 4 - Ryan played in the National Championship Game; won. Dinner: .75 walk around to restaurant and 2 miles back to hotel

Mon, Sept 5 - Sat on airplane, sat in car, sat on couch, laid on floor.

New Miles: 1.5 + 2.25 + 1.5 + 2.75 = 8.0
Total Miles: 410.75
Miles Remaining: 1089.25
Weight: N/A

Mile 400!

Monday, August 29 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles and Gaelic Football practice. Weight: 139.4

Tuesday, August 30 – Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles. Perfect day. In the evening Bridgette gchatted me and asked if I would be up for a run with her tonight. I said yes and then we coordinated plans. Then at 7:00 she came over and we went on my 3 mile loop with a slight addition of the track where she ran 1 mile and then I walked 1 lap then ran half a mile with her. 

It was a nice perfect, end of summer run together and it was a lot like the olden days where we shared an apartment and often went on walks and runs together. It was a nice paced run full of talking which was a great change of pace.


Total Workout: 3.75 in 41:00

New Miles: 1.0 + 1.0 + 3.75 = 5.75

Total Miles: 402.75

Miles Remaining: 1097.25

Weight: 139.4/140.0

Can't Stomach It

Enjoyed two large bowls of Kashi cereal and then my Mom's scrambled eggs. Then I went to Football practice. At first my stomach was a bit queasy but then it settled down. We did a full-field scrimmage for one hour. I ran some but nothing too crazy. My body was stiff and tight and not happy to be running. I forced myself to do extra sprints during the practice as I need practice at that.

I came home and napped and when I awoke I went on a run, around 2:45pm. The temperature was perfect in the shade, there was some gusty wind but nothing crazy, but then in the sun it was nearly unbearable. The clouds and sun kept toying with me as I ventured out the first mile. And then all of a sudden as I completed mile one my stomach had intense pains. I decided to cut off the one half mile nub and started walking. The pain got worse - just general digestive cramps along with some more female cramps. Instead of looping back to my trail to do 2.5 miles I instead went right back from where I came and hoped to (a) make it home and (b) make it home in time. It was unpleasant and I mixed in walking when necessary. I share this story not to gross you out, but rather to share that you should always listen to your body. There is a fine balance between when to listen to your body and when to push it to do more. Today I forced myself and got lopsided and my body revolted and let me know. Total Workout: 2.0 in 24:41

Most Motivating Song: Tegan and Sara - "Are you ten years ago" - Played three times at the beginning of the run.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 397.0 (New Goal: Make it to 400.0 miles before the end of August!)
Miles Remaining: 1103.0
Weight:  138.4 (but between yesterday morning and last night I went from 137.4 to 141.8 and then I guess I found a better equilibrium over night)

It's Instrumental

Thursday, August 25 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles

In the evening I went on my 3 mile loop but instead of returning home I veered to the track at mile 2.5. My run had started off slow - very tired, hard to will myself to run, and very thirsty. I wanted to push myself more and so despite the extreme want of water I swung up the track where I walked a lap and then ran 3 laps doing quick hard but not super hard sprints for the 100m straightaways. That was tiring but good. Then I jogged 100m and finished out the lap walking then I trotted on home. Total Workout: 4.5 miles in 46:48.

Most Motivating Song: The instrumental I can never remember the name of - played on loop for the sprints and most of the run. Pretty much the only thing that kept me running and blocked out the "You are thirty why don't you stop?" messages.

New Miles: 1.0 + 4.5 = 5.5
Total Miles: 395.0
Miles Remaining: 1105.0
Weight: 138.0

Lunch Walks

Tuesday, August 23 - Lunch Walk: 0.75 miles
Wednesday, August 24 - Lunch Walk: 1.0 miles

New Miles: 1.75
Total Miles: 389.5
Miles Remaining: 1110.5
Weight: 138ish

Adizero Inaugural Run

First soccer practice, so I missed Gaelic Football. When I got home I put on some bright colored clothes and my safety vest and donned my new pink and black adizeros. I wore a bright pink shirt and bright lime green shorts. I looked like a running watermelon.

My calves burned quite a bit which is to be expected trying to run with good form and running with lower profile shoes. The heel to toe drop of the adizeros is 10.9 - nice but not too much.

The night air was cool and provided a preview of Autumn. It was a nice, enjoyable chill rather than an uncomfortable chill.  I completed the 3 miles in 28:27.

100 crunches and 10 push-ups.

Most Motivating Songs: The Dixie Chicks got me started with "Ready to Run" and good ol' Dierks Bentley got me into mile 2-2.5 with "Every Mile a Memory"

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles:  387.75
Miles Remaining: 1112.75
Weight: 139.4

A Shake It Up Call

As I prepared for a quick trip to Dick's Sporting Goods for some new running shoes I was reflecting on this journey I am on and how my monthly resolutions are going. I am not doing so good on the beer end of things, way too many special occasions seem to be happening. But I am doing good on the daily walking and the 3 bad things per week bit. I started thinking about how I went from giving myself a Wake Up Call back in November 2010 and how these monthly resolutions are like a Shake It Up Call so I don't get complacent and so that I make sure to stay on track.

Reflection complete I headed over to Dick's where I looked for my new running shoes. I have decided I also want to shake up my running like Ryan has been doing and switching out my running shoes on some runs. He has his Nike LunarGlides along with New Balance Minimus and Somnio super-minimus and depending on his work out he picks a shoe. Now I don't plan on going full <=> and working down to the trendy barefoot running, but I do want some variation.

With that in mind I found a pair just like my current ones - LunarGlide +2 - but these ones were black with some gold and had "BURGH" on the tongue and some cool "Pittsburgh Marathon 2011" on the inside sole. They were too cool to pass by. Reasons I bought them: 1) They were super cool. 2) I know I like my current shoe and these ones also felt good. 3) Fear of Nike no longer making the shoe I like when I go to buy my next pair. 4) Anything with "Pittsburgh" usually gets me every time.

There was a shoe-down (show down between me and shoes and decision making) between these Burgh ones and Adidas adizero shoes -- the same ones I liked the last time. The Adidas ones felts better than I remember them feeling and I thought they would provide great variation to my running. The inner part of the shoe is solid black and the outer part is super bright pink with black Adidas stripes. Reasons I bought them: 1) They were super cool. 2) They were fun and funky. 3) They will a great Shake It Up shoe.

So I walked out of the store with 2 new pairs of shoes. Reasons I bought them: 1) Both were on sale and I had a $15 off coupon. 

In the evening I went to a Soccer Coach's Clinic put on by the soccer club I am assistant coaching for again; kicked a little and did a few small things. Then when I got home I went to run but my right ankle was not cooperating; it felt like it needed to crack a few times and reset itself. So between that and my knee I turned around and went home. Once inside I put on my new Adidas adizeros and hopped onto the treadmill - I walked a little and then wanted to test out the shoe so I ran a little. I did half a mile in 6 minutes. The shoes felt good, or as far as I could tell given the oddness of my ankle and knee. Did 50 straight reps of the 15lb kettlebells. Did 130 crunches.

New Miles: 0.5
Total Miles: 384.75
Miles Remaining: 1115.25
Weight: 137.6 (pre-dinner); 140.8 (after a few ounces of orange juice, small bowl of cereal, moderate portion of spaghetti, glass of chocolate milk, 2 glasses of water, chips and salsa).

Nights Who Say Knee

Lunch Walk - delightful sunny, low 80s. In the evening had Gaelic Football practice and ran in my cleats on very hard ground. It wasn't a good decision since during the last few runs my right knee has acted up and had some pain; after this workout I definitely had more pain.

New Miles: 0.75
Total Miles: 384.25
Miles Remaining: 1115.75
Weight: 138.6 (I think)

Two Walks

During my walk at lunch I encountered a co-worker who was also out on a walk and so I extended my walk and accompanied her. Gorgeous day in the low 80s. I walked 1.25 miles.

Then in the evening I mowed the grass, changed, and then drove over to the track and walked 1.0 miles.

Nice relaxing day and evening; enjoyed the weather.

New Miles: 2.25
Total Miles: 383.5
Miles Remaining: 1116.5
Weight: 137.6

27:27

.75 mile walk at lunch. Then in the evening out for a quick pace run, completing the 3 miles in a record 27:27 (actually 27:26:99)!  Then I came inside and hopped on the treadmill and ran at 6.3 for half a mile then walked for .25, I repeated that again and again , then at mile 2.25 I ran solid for 1.25 with one mile at 6.4 pace. Then I jogged at 5.5 for .5 then walked for .25. Total Workout: 4.0 miles 609 cals 43:40 0% incline.


Then I lifted the 15lb kettlebell straight 50 times without stopping then after water relaxed in the living room on my yoga mat and did 125 crunches.

New Miles: 0.75 + 7.0 = 7.75
Total Miles: 381.25
Miles Remaining: 1118.75
Weight: 138.8

Long Lunch Walk

There were zero clouds in the sky as I walked during lunch. It was weird. I took the longer route so did over .5 miles.  I mapped it on USATF and factoring in the stairs I did just about .75 miles. 

New Miles: 0.75
Total Miles: 373.5
Miles Remaining: 1126.5

Outdoors and Indoors

Out for a 3 mile run completed in 28:50; I tried to practice Good Form Running and after mile one my calves were burning. I walked for one minute to recover and then I ran again. Crossing back over the main road I lost some time due to traffic but somehow still finished under 29 minutes.

I chugged my 750ml of water in my purple CamelBak, water the plants, and then eased on inside where I powered on the treadmill and got on to continue running. Outside was gorgeous and had I not wanted to find out my 3 mile time I would have looped back to continue running at the track. But since I opted for indoors I opened the back door and two windows and turned on the fan. I ran 2 miles with the evening chilled air breezing on me. I did half a mile at 6.0 pace then walked then kicked it up to 6.3mph stopping after another half mile to walk at 4.1mph. Finally I was back into it and finished out by running solid at 6.3 and then for .25 miles at 7.0mph. I cooled down with a 4.1mph walk for half a mile. Total Treadmill: 2.5 miles in 26:46 382cals 1% incline.

I lifted the 15lb kettlebells - full throws 10 each arm and then 20 straight raises. No crunches.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 372.75
Miles Remaining: 1127.25
Weight: 138.8

Less is More

Lunch Walk: On Monday, August 8 I did my .5 mile loop at lunch.

Today, I sat at my desk with a migraine all day. I got home and continued to have the migraine but it was less intense for a while. Then it started picking back up again. Since in recent times exercise has helped stem off a migraine I opted to go on a walk. I had been dressed in my running gear for a few hours, but never dd go - too scared it would hurt. And so close to 10pm I decided to do something to see if I could make myself feel better. I walked 2.0 miles - the first 1.5 at 4.1mph and the last .5 at 3.8mph. After the first 0.8 I picked up my 1 lb hand weights and carried those to get a little extra in.

I also focused on my form, since early in the evening Ryan had we watching a few New Balance Minimalist <=> (Less is More) running videos on "Making the Transition to Good Form Running" to better form running. The 4 tenets: Posture, Mid-Foot, Cadence, and Lean. So I tried to keep good posture and a few times practiced cadence. I have a feeling it is going to take me a while to make the transition. I have been trying to strike mid-foot more on this journey and I think I am doing that decently well but the posture, cadence, and lean components are going to be a challenge. Learn More: New Balance Good Form Running

New Miles:  0.5 + 2.0 = 2.5
Total Miles: 367.25
Miles Remaining: 1132.75
Weight: 138.6

Slow to start

Sunny day with a men's football game. Pre and post game I kicked around the soccer ball a little with my youngest brother and sister, so I got some running and jogging in.

I wanted to run all day but didn't get to it til 8:30pm. I got on the treadmill and started off slow, walking half a mile then jogging half a mile, then walking more then running more at 6.3mph. I started doing .25 or 1 minute walking then running half to three-quarter miles. Finally after mile 3.5 I got into it and really started running solid at 6.3mph. Ran thru 5.25 miles and walked a cool down. Total Workout: 5.5 miles in 60:19 838cals.

I did 10 straight raises of 15lb kettlebells, then 10 each arm full, then 10 two-handed squat raise. 100 crunches. 10 push-ups.

New Miles: 5.5
Total Miles: 364.75
Miles Remaining: 1135.25
Weight: 139.8

Lunch Walk

Walk at lunch.

New Miles: 0.5
Total Miles: 359.25
Miles Remaining: 1140.75
Weight: 141.4

5 miler

Finally talked myself into a longer run after looking at my weekly planner and for once not ignoring the training plan. I realized if I needed to run far I needed to treadmill it. And so I got on the tready, warmed up for .25 then did 3.0 miles at 6.3mph and continued on to 4.75 at that pace. Then til 5.25 I ran at 5.5mph. And then walked it out to 5.75 in 60:02 879cals. I ended completely at 5.8miles 60:46 887cals. Finally a 5 miler.

During lunch I got out and did my half mile loop.

New Miles: 5.75 + 0.5 = 6.25
Total Miles: 358.75
Miles Remaining: 1141.25
Weight: 139.2

Monthly Resolutions

Over the weekend, as I binge ate and socially drank, I felt my workout ethic fade and definitely realized I have been letting my great plans of self control and improved physical fitness and health slipping away. And then a genius thought came to me - everyone always makes new year's resolutions and the statistics show people most people don't keep those for the whole year. So why not try something different and more manageable - like a monthly resolution?

I said, "Hey thanks brain!" and then I got to work thinking about what it is that I could resolve to do better in August. I'll let myself figure out the following months when I get there, for now I would focus on the month at hand. And so I thought "No eating any junk food/food that is bad for me" would be a good one. And then I thought "Man, August has 31 days this could be tough". And so after many hours of pondering I decided upon my very first Monthly Resolution: Eat only 3 bad things per week.

I like that it is something broken down into weekly increments - I can think ahead to what I have scheduled for my week and plan out my 3 things. For example, Tuesday I have a Pittsburgh Banshees Midwest Championship social at the bar that sponsors us -- I'll set aside one bad thing for that day.

My brain continued to think of other resolutions I could take up this month - and so I will see how the following go: (1) Get out and walk during lunch most days - do my Half Mile Loop and (2) Don't drink more than 5 beers per week.

And so on Monday, this first day of August, I got out into the midday sun and walked .5 miles. This resolution will be good because I can add miles to my journey while doing three things good for me - getting away from my work desk, getting some fresh air, and getting exercise.  The walk was fine, even though my foot was sore from the day before I ambled along my route.


New Miles: .5
Total Miles: 352.5
Miles Remaining: 1147.5
Weight: 141.2

Midwest Champions

Sunday, July 31 off to Detroit for the second divisional Gaelic Football game of the season. Temperature in the high 90s, with a feels like in the 100s, the men ran around for an hour in the sun and then on to the pitch we strolled. If we won we would win the Midwest Championship and not have to play a third game. The first half didn't look too promising; we never found our feet and at the whistle we were down by 3 points. In the first half I had one goal and one point, okay but I could do better.

Back on the pitch Detroit scored a goal right off the bat and then our girl got red-carded, leaving us down one man essentially for the entire second half. Then something miraculous happened - everything just clicked for us. We started winning every ball and we just seemed to have the positioning on every play. I discovered I had two marks on me -  I assume their strategy was to preserve their lead and walk away with a win rather than continue to be aggressive up field and get more points. Turns out it was a bad strategy for them. Once we clicked on there was no turning us off. I scored 3 goals in the second half. And though I lost track of the score I knew it was getting close and sure enough with 3 minutes left the ref informed me we, the Banshees, were up by 2 points. Those last 3 minutes were a feat of great ball control and point scoring. At the final whistle we were up and we had won by 9 points! Final Score: 27-16.

A great "Cross training" day where I was in a position that allowed me to run free and at will but largely in 50 yard sprints. Unknown distance.

New Miles: Unknown
Total Miles: Same as before
Miles Remaining: Same as before
Weight: NA/141.0+ (the Thursday thru Saturday was a disastrous affair of eating large quantities of bad things)

Me and U2

On Tuesday, July 26 Ryan and I headed down to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for the U2 360 Tour. We parked in the North Side and walked there and back. Due to recent laziness and thus limited progress toward my goal I am counting the walking. Plus I say it counts because it is a distance I walked which is all part of this journey I am on.

And so there and back was over 1.5 miles (plus all the walking up and up and up and down and down and down to and from our seats at the tippity top).

Then on Wednesday, July 27 I did some "cross-training" where I cut the grass in the front yard. It was in desperate need of a trimming and I was in desparate need of an excuse to not run. My body felt so tired and sluggish so I cut the grass instead. Additionally, my right foot arch hurt so that was also helping nudge me to not run and rather walk around on soft grass. It took about 30 minutes.

On Thursday, July 28 I walked during lunch. On my half mile walk I saw a cute little hummingbird! This time I saw it for a few seconds and then it flitted behind a large branch. I stopped and then walked a little and found him again -- continungint o hover hear another branch and then he actually landing on the branch for a few seconds so I could get a good look at him. and then he was off again just like that! I feel like I have been in a hummingbird filled world my whole life but only recently my eyes have been opened to them. I think it amazing that I have seen two within a few days.


New Miles: 1.5 + 0.5 = 2.0
Total Miles: 352.0
Miles Remaining: 1148.0
Weight: 140ish

350 Miles!

Comfortable weather, not to hot. So after a 2 hour soccer meeting, that I spent edgy and wanting to run, I went on a delightful evening run at 8pm. I did my 3 mile jaunt and actually did not stop once for walking (other than the downhill right by my house which would be too rough on the knees to run). Completing the 3 miles in 28:21.

Notable Moment: Running by one home I saw a hummingbird! He was so zippy I barely was able to process what it was before he flitted away. I was so excited and then disappointed that he flew away so quickly.

100 crunches and 20 push-ups

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 350.0
Miles Remaining: 1150.0
Weight:139.6

Feels Like a Workout

Did some yard work - wheeled 11 barrows of 7 shovelsworth of pebbles to the back yard; took 30 minutes. Then rested a little then got changed and went running. Clouds moved in and it felt a little cooler, though when I checked the weather when I got back it was 89 degrees with a "feels like" of 96 degrees. It was good. I think I was fine because the air was so humid every time I breathed in I hydrated. My motto was slow and steady. At mile 1 I smartly opted to cut off a half mile from my run and so I completed 2.5 miles today in 27:35.

The dirt on my legs from the yardwork slowly melted down to mud as my leg sweat built up. I loved it. I felt like I was an important athlete again and pretended like I was dirty from a hard fought soccer game.  Speaking of which, I talked to the President of the local soccer club today and re-upped to assistant coach in the Fall with the same team. It will be fun to do soccer again in the Fall, there is just something about soccer and Autumn weather that I love.

New Miles: 2.5
Total Miles: 347.0
Miles Remaining: 1153.0
Weight: 138.0

100+ degrees

3 miles in 32:46. Slow and steady. Brief walk each half mile after the first mile, final mile ran straight. To track, 2 miles at track, and home. Over 100 degrees.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 344.5
Miles Remaining:1155.5
Weight: 138.4

Lunch Walk

Overcast day but super sticky and hot; walked off some soreness in a my half mile loop at work. By the 10th minute I finally felt a little looser and not as tight and stiff and sore. Definitely a good half mile and worth the effort to try to get my body recovered.

New Miles: 0.5
Total Miles: 341.5
Miles Remaining: 1158.5
Weight: 138?

Quantifiable Distance

A typical July day found me scorching hot in the sunshine. Atypical for me in recent years is to find me out on a grassy field ready to run around at 1:00pm. But here I was, finally getting back to me, and all covered in "spfity"(SPF-fifty), cleats on, soccer socks pulled high, wide receiver gloves suctioned to my hands. I made my re-debut on the Gaelic Football field for the Pittsburgh Banshees, my team since 2003 that my ankle injury got me away from and where it felt like so long ago that I felt like me on the field.

But there I was. Geared up and ready to go. Assigned to the Corner Forward position I took the pitch and the game played on. I ran around in the heat, not feeling all that bad. Perhaps it was the training I have been doing, but more likely it was the fact that I was put in a position that requires minimal running - or at least "minimal" compared to the running that the Half Backs, Midfielders, and Half Forwards do -- all areas I used to happily trot along in. It was a great way to ease me in as I was unsure of my ankle, highly worried I would roll it, and scared. But once I was on the pitch and playing all that uncertainty and all my worries rolled away and I, finally, felt like me again.

I enjoyed making loads of runs, sometimes to midfield just for the fun of it and because my mark was tired and I was not. I enjoyed getting the ball, taking on my mark and other players and going to goal. I enjoyed scoring goals again - I some how netted 4 (and should have had more). I ran and kicked and cut and juked and played carefree and didn't once feel a pain in my ankle or stop to think I wasn't ready for this. It felt good!

And then the game ended and I stopped running and then sat and watched the men's team. And then I got sore. I tightened up some and later at night my ankle did some of its random "Oops I'm not aligned perfectly" shananigans, but mostly it was good. And most all resulting soreness was from my moving of muscles I have let sit and forget and not my little ol' ankle.

So all in all a victory for my right ankle and a mental victory. I let go of the fear and I ended up all right. Grant it, I can't be assured this day's experience will ever happen again. But I can rest assured that on this day my experience was more perfect than I allowed myself to imagine it could be and I am so grateful for that.

I ran today and though I did not cover any quantifiable distance for my journey, I closed such a mental distance between who I was and who I am; I brought myself many steps closer to me feeling like me again.

New Miles: Unknown
Total Miles: Same as before - 341.0
Miles Remaining: Same as before - 1159.0
Weight: 137.6 (pre-game); 140.2 (post-game and dinner)

Ever changing goals

Time: 28:58

From minute 14 I aimed to get under 30 minutes. From minute 20:00 I wanted it to be well under 30 minutes (meaning less than 30 but likely more than 29. From the hill of my street I wanted to be done in 29:30. From the last down hill of my street closing in on the driveway I wanted it under 29. And so I pushed out the final 5 seconds to bring me home in 28:58.

One stretch break stop half a mile in and the clock kept running; about 20 seconds worth. No real wait for traffic today. Hot but not humid. Evening sun glare in face but I'll take the sun and warmth. 

I also walked at lunch today - so +.5. Plus 100 crunches and 20 push-ups.

This is going to be a long 1500 mile journey if I can't think of anything good to write about. It's not a good sign when the summary of my workouts are already mundane and I'm less than 350 miles in.

New Miles: 3.0 + .5
Total Miles: 341.0
Miles Remaining: 1159.0
Weight: 138.0

Enough with excuses

During my half mile walk during lunch (which I am going to start tracking as part of my Journey) I reminded myself I haven't run in a while and I need to get going again. Enough with excuses -- severe cold, several day migraine, family get together -- I need to find time to run and walk.

So at 7pm with sun shining in the hot and humid evening I went out on my normal 3.0 mile loop. Surprisingly once I got going I felt decent and had no need to stop and walk - other than for cars when crossing streets and one brief time when I needed to stretch when my left lower back started hurting and one brief minute when I stopped and talked to my friend's dad who I saw out in front of the house and just had to say "Hi" to. I finished my run in 30:28.

Then for a cool down I cleaned up the back yard which took about 30 minutes since it was a post-party clean-up.

New Miles: 3.0 + .5
Total Miles: 337.5
Miles Remaining: 1162.5
Weight: 139.2