New and Improved

Day 1 of my new and improved journey found me out of bed at 7:00am (which is early for me). I geared up the treadmill and walked. I walked at 4.2mph at 1% incline for 1.5 miles in 20:33 246cals. I listened to Morning Edition on NPR, opened up the curtain to let the sunshine in, and felt good. I followed the walk up by some lifting of the 5lb weights, 10 push-ups, and 75ish crunches. As I was wrapping up Ryan came downstairs and said "No thank you!" about getting up early and working out. If I can be so bold as to claim that with one morning under my belt that that "used to be me". Hopefully my repeated thinking of that will get me into the habit of actually getting up early and working out.

Before soccer practice I ran 2 laps at the track = +0.5. Then after I got home I was still itching to get outside since it was so nice out and so I walked 0.5 miles around the neighborhood in 10 minutes.

New Miles: 1.5 + 0.5 + .05 = 2.5
Total Miles: 866.0
Miles Remaining: 634.0
Weight: 129.8

Funk

So I finally had the complete realization today that I feel as though I am in a bit of a funk. And I was able to pinpoint why - because my very evening-occupied schedule is making me not run like I long to and hence I just feel a bit down in general. And so having thankfully realized that I didn't go to Gaelic Football practice and re-claimed my night.

I got home and I did my 3 mile loop in the 80ish degree evening. I did it in 26:49. The first mile took 10:00 which is actually fast-paced since it is mostly a long, steady uphill and because I lost about a minute due to traffic. That first part left me quite tuckered out. I  mainly was able to go quickly and keep going solely because it was rush-hour and so many people were seeing me run. I keep plugging along and slowed down my pace on the backroads. But then it was back out to the main road again where I lost 20 seconds or so waiting on cars to clear and then I picked up the pace for the final final part of the run. For the final stretch I told myself to get home in under 27:00 and so I pushed it and accomplished my goal. And then I happily stood, walked, and did my best to re-catch my breath.

After a 10 minute recovery I went outside and cut the front grass. I did a few more "me time" things and it all definitely helped me feel better and more centered and hopefully it was enough to get me out of the funk.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 863.5
Miles Remaining: 636.5
Weight: 131.0

Lunch Walk

Walk at lunch before the thunderstorms rolled in. Breezy, warm.

New Miles: 860.5
Total Miles: 1.0
Miles Remaining: 639.5
Weight: 131.4

Memorial Day Runs

During the Saturday Gaelic Football 7-A-Side Tournament I rolled my right ankle really badly. I could not run and it was difficult to walk. By Tuesday I was "mom pressured" into going to the doctor. I went and he ordered X-rays. It took a day to get the results and I learned that fortunately I did not break my ankle. I could walk much better by Wednesday but with the occasional limp when the inside of my ankle would do something unpleasant and make a step painful. The doctor ordered physical therapy for a month.

I was quite relieved to learn I didn't break my ankle again but it did make me wonder whether or not I should retire from football. Should I risk my ability to run?

On Wednesday night I went out of town with Ryan to enjoy the Memorial Day holiday with 20 of our closest friends. I went on a run on Thursday, May 24 morning - running for 30:36 and doing 3.25  miles. On Friday, May 25 I went out for a run but my ankle complained and so at mile 1.0 I turned around and did a lot of walking; I ran/jog/walked 2.0 miles in about 30 minutes. On Saturday, May 27 I got up early and re-did the 3.25 mile path in 30:01. On Sunday and Monday I rested.

New Miles: 3.25 + 2.0 + 3.25 = 8.5
Total Miles: 859.5
Miles Remaining: 640.5
Weight: N/A

My very swollen, bruised ankle

After my run

Lunch Walk

My work schedule and my extracurricular activities schedule is killing me in terms of having time and motivation to run or even walk! Busy week at work so I was stuck indoors missing my walks. At night I had soccer practice to coach on Tuesday, football practice on Wednesday, and soccer practice again Thursday. That brings me to today where after work I am going to happy hour with friends. Now, yes, I see I can control what I do today but still I doubt I will want to run after drinking tonight. Plus Saturday is a football tournament so I should rest up anyways.

So today I did get out into the sunshine and got my usual 1.0 mile walk in. The weather was fabulous and I enjoyed getting out into the sun and then hated returning indoors. But the walk gave me the mental and energy boost I needed for the afternoon.

Fortunately my extracurriculars are healthy things - running around outdoors. But unfortunately I cannot keep track of any distance I cover. On Wednesday before football practice I did 2.5 laps of the field; so that is something. What exactly that "something" is I have no idea and thus I can't count it. This is a bummer. Depending on how depressed this makes me I need to look into some sort of watch or pedometer or some sort of technology that I can wear while doing this stuff to track my distance so I can start counting these journeyed miles. I guess the bright side of not being able to track this distance is that it will take me longer to accomplish my journey and I should be all the more healthy for not having been able to subtract these miles.

New Miles: 1/0
Total Miles: 851.0
Miles Remaining: 649.0
Weight: 130.0

Drizzled Run

Migraine for the last 5 days and all today which has left me out of commission. But amazingly after I got home from work today my migraine cleared up. That made me really happy and so I went on a run in a light rain; refreshing. I listened to NPR until my Sansa clip ran out of battery and then ran the final 3 just feeling the rain and listening to all of the birds who were out eating up worms.

I started out on my normal loop but rather than looping I went straight for an extra half mile and back and then did my loop and then veered out to the track for a mile and then headed home. I thought I did 5.0 miles in 52:08 (and I did lose some time due to traffic; but my pace was nice and comfy - not pushing it so that I didn't encourage my migraine to come back) -- and then I got home and mapped my run and discovered I ran .75 more than I thought I did! I thought my pace was averaged 10 minute miles but apparently I was running more around 9 minute miles. Sweet!

I then did a number (perhaps 100) crunches, lifted my 5lb weights in various ways, and did a measly (but sadly difficult) 10 push-ups.

New Miles: 5.75
Total Miles: 850.0
Miles Remaining: 650.0
Weight: 131.2

Pre-Soccer Walk

I got to the track before soccer practice and walked half a mile and then ran a half mile. Add in the long walk to the field and back and I did 1.25 miles. It was good to get a bit of a run in.

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 844.25
Miles Remaining: 655.75
Weight: NA

Uncomfortable Walks

Shortened lunch walk due to poor choice of shoes: .65 miles. Post-work walk to a bar to meet up with Matt for drinks: A little over .3 there; .3 back - still wearing the blistery shoes. Late night walk on treadmill for 1.0 miles in comfy shoes while Ryan made food and cleaned the kitchen.

New Miles: 2.25
Total Miles: 843.25
Miles Remaining: 656.75
Weight: 130.6

Feeling Mugged

It was great to get a fast-paced run in after work to run out some work stress. I did my 3.0 mile loop in 26:40. It was about 7 0 degrees and really muggy. 75% humidity and more rain clouds overhead. I was just glad the rain took a break so I could get out on a run.


New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 841.0
Miles Remaining: 659.0
Weight: 131.8

Forgotten Walk

On April 18, 2012 I was out of town for work. Once I arrived I went out on a .75 walk around then lake then .25 more to dinner and back for a total of 1.0 miles. So this was really mile 812.0. But since I completely forgot about it until May 6, 2012 it wasn't officially tracked until now. So on May 6, 2012 this mile was finally officially added to my journey total. (Oops!)

New Miles: 1.0
Total Miles: 840.0
Miles Remaining: 660.0
Weight: N/A

Getting Lucky in Kentucky

Thursday, May 4 - I got a 1.0 mile walk in during lunch because all night I was going to be sitting in a car and then for the rest of the weekend I was once again going to indulge... at the 138th Kentucky Derby!

Following the Road trip, Bourbon sips, Betting slips, Mint Juleps, and Horse whips I got home on Sunday, May 6 and in the evening I went out on a run. The sky was overcast and muggy and about 80 degrees but it felt comfortable following what was the super hot Kentucky Derby day! I did the 3 miles in 28:07. I was happy with that as the whole time I was slow and was just hoping to finish at 10:00 mile pace. The end of the run is what I think got me on an overall fine end time since by then I was a little looser and willing to run. It was good to burn off a few of those calories I consumed over the weekend.

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles:  839.0
Miles Remaining: 661.0
Weight: 133.4

Lawn Mo-ing

During lunch I longed to be outside walking but I had to be in a meeting. Not walking threw me off for the rest of the day and my energy just built as I neared the end of the day. I longed to do a mile - whether walking or running.

I got home and took out the trash and recycling and followed that up by getting out the lawnmower and cutting the grass for 40 minutes in the backyard. Before Ryan laid down for his nap he said his night's agenda included cutting the grass. I figured I would give him a head start plus I had a lot of energy which I only wanted to use outside and so lawnmowing was the perfect task. I cut and cut, and cut and cut, and I often looked for Ryan to stroll around the house. Finally as I was cutting the side yard, which was the last bit I was going to do, Ryan came out excited that I had helped. There was still more for him to do in the backyard as I just skipped over some parts I don't like to cut - so when he took over I went inside and hopped onto the treadmill. Fully energized I ran one lap at 6.0mph then .75 at 6.2mph - doing 1.0 mile in 10:00 then I walked a lap. Total Workout: 1.25 in 13:32 198cals 1%.

Yay for exercise! I do feel good. I love the feel of sweat. And afterwards I still had energy! My additional cool down consisted of [the ever glamourous] additional house chores. Originally I thought today would be a rest day, but clearly that did not work out and I am glad.

New Miles: 1.25
Total Miles: 835.0
Miles Remaining: 665.0
Weight: 130.0

May-be

1.0 mile lunch walk on a comfortable, breezy, cloudy/sunny day. After soccer practice I went out on a 3.0 mile run. I didn't feel all that comfortable at all - my legs felt tired, my lungs struggling. I forced myself to do the run the whole way and I completed the run in 27:26.

I followed that up with some weight lifting while watching The Biggest Loser season finale. I lifted my 5lb weights, did sit-ups, did push-ups, and planks.

New Miles: 1.0 + 3.0 = 4.0
Total Miles: 833.75
Miles Remaining: 666.25
Weight: 130.6