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