Get it!

It's amazing what a difference a few weeks can make! Over the last three weeks, I have put in over 30 miles. Last week alone, I got 18.25! Also, last week was the first time I ran 4 miles without stopping in years. My 4 mile run was meant to be my long run for the week, and that's exactly what it ended up being. Starting my week off like that was awesome, but I didn't really end up having anymore lengthy runs the rest of the week. I had a 3.1 miler on Saturday, but that was about it.

So, for this week, I've decided to bump up my milage a bit. Monday night, I did 2.25 as an interval run on the treadmill. I forgot what an amazing workout that is! I literally had sweat dripping off my face when I was finished. Last night, I knew I needed to work on tempo, so I set out for 4 miles again at a faster pace than last time. I killed it! My last 4-miler was 14 minutes per mile. Last night's....drumroll please...12:27 per mile!!! I had to stop at the half way point because my shin was killing me and my quad was starting to cramp. I stretched for maybe 20 seconds and kept going. My last mile split was actually 12:01! I was definitely tired afterward, but felt like I could do anything!

My hang up now isn't time. My hang up is the fact that I LOVE food, so, even though I'm ramping up my miles, I'm not losing any weight. :( I started a Little Black Dress 30 Day Challenge on Monday because I have a LBD and can't fit into it anymore. Plus, my arm jiggle could knock someone out. Also, wall push-ups have become my new best friend. My wrists hurt too bad to do actual push-ups, so wall push-ups are right up my alley. Each workout for my LBD Challenge is short, so I do 2 sets of everything. I should probably take some before pictures and measurements, so I can see the change.

Another thing I'm doing is #100bysummer. The goal is to run 100 miles by the first day of summer. I'm already 30 miles in for this challenge, and there is still 6 weeks until summer. Woot woot!

Until next time...
Happy running!

4 miles

So, my desire to run a half marathon by my 30th (ugh!) birthday has taken me to a new level. On Monday, because I was sore on Sunday from running 5 miles in two days and planting flowers on Saturday and Sunday, I set out for my 4 mile long run. Please keep in mind I had also really psyched myself out on Sunday with the fear of not being able to actually run 4 miles, so I was a little nervous. I knew that if I wanted to run the whole thing, which is ultimately my goal every time I lace up, I was going to have to keep my pace slow. So, that's what I did. 14 minute mile slow. However, I was able to actually run the whole thing! By mile three my big toes were starting to cramp, so I really had to push through. At mile 4 I met up with a friend who was just starting her walk, so I ended my run and did a short cool down with her. Now, for some reason I am constantly hung up on my time. I'm not sure what this hang up is or where it came from, but I just can't seem to shake it. I want to be a fast runner, but I just feel like that is something that will probably never happen. It is for that reason that I always end up running solo. Oh well!

Last night I did a quick recovery with my neighbor and was able to knock out a short 12:30 mile. I didn't run far, but I knew that if I didn't run I would regret it when I crawled into bed. So thankful I did! Tonight, I'm going to go for 3 miles or so. I need to lead up to either a 4.5 or 5 miler on Sunday, so I can't keep running short distances. I seem to have plateaued on my weight loss. I'm not eating as good as I was, and I'm just doing cardio. I know this is the problem, but I haven't had time to go get my gym membership. If I don't get it before school is out, I will have time to do it this summer. I just have to keep pushing myself and stay motivated. I know I can do it!

Until next time...
Happy running!

Almost back to normal

So, I'm finally seeing a decrease in the number on the scale!!! While I know that doesn't mean much, it is nice to see it finally going down. My pants and shirts are all starting to feel looser, and I was able to get back into a pair of shorts and a skirt I could barely get into last summer! I've been running regularly, with the exception of the last two weeks, and it's beginning to feel like Spring in Kansas.

In order to keep up my momentum, I am starting the Tone It Up Bikini Challenge today! Doing only cardio isn't going to get me down where I want to be, so I'm going to do this challenge in order to, hopefully, start toning things back up. I'm tired of being jiggly! I'm going to take some before pictures tonight. Most likely won't be sharing those, but I'm excited to see the changes. I'll be posting regularly on here and on Instagram with #createyoursummer and #100bysummer. Help me stay motivated!

Until next time!
Happy running!

That moment when...

So, running every day, as of right now, is not something I'm pushing myself to do. Once upon a time, running every day was something I couldn't do without. Now, that I'm trying to get back into it, I don't want to burn myself out. After running 1.5 miles the other night (farthest distance in a while without stopping!), I hit the exercise bike last night. My goal was 10 miles, but I ended up pushing it to 11.1 miles in about 45 minutes. Felt good, but I didn't feel like it was much of a workout.

Now, let me tell you how I gauge a good workout vs a mediocre workout. If I am dripping sweat, it's a good workout. However, if I'm barely sweating I don't feel like I've really done much. In all honesty, it felt pretty good to know I wasn't beat after my workout because it felt like I'm getting more in shape, but I was a little bummed and felt like I needed to do more. Until...I had to walk back up the stairs to get some water. Holy moly! OUCH! Yep. 11 miles on the bike was a heck of a workout, even if I wasn't dripping sweat. :)

Until next time...
Happy running! :)

The Plague and a Mile and a Half

So, thanks to the plague, last night was the first time I was able to workout since my last post. I came down with a terrible, awful, snot slinging head cold. I knew I wasn't dying, but I pretty much felt like I'd been hit by a train. My nose was raw and my head throbbed for about a week and a half. After that, I was just out of energy and didn't feel like working out. Last night, as I was standing outside with the dog, I realized it had been two weeks since my last workout. I decided that was enough of that crap, and hit the treadmill. I covered everything up, set my speed, turned on Biggest Loser, it was triathlon night, and started running. I had to step on the rails a couple times to catch a quick breath, but stayed with it. At 1.1 miles, I checked where I was and I felt pretty good. My goal was to run farther than last time, so I kept going. At 1.25 miles, my legs started feeling heavy and I had to coach myself through the last quarter mile. I knew it was all in my head, so I talked myself through. (Good thing my hubby wasn't home because he would have thought I had lost my mind. Even the dog was looking at me funny!) I kicked up the speed every .1 mile and made it to a mile and a half! Super proud moment! Haven't done that for a while! :) The only bad thing was that I gave myself a headache. I tend to do that sometimes. I realized it was because I haven't been guzzling the water like I had been. Today, I'm back on my ACE and drinking as much water as I can. My headache is better today, thank goodness, and I'm feeling good! One of the girls I work with even told me I look like I am losing weight! Whoop! Ready for another good workout tonight, but will probably hit the bike and give my legs a little rest from the treadmill.
Until next time...happy running!

2014: New year, new goals

What a lazy lard I have been over the last few years! It's hard to believe, but since I met the love of my life my exercise has screeched to a halt and I have put on 50 pounds. Ugh. I can't believe I just put that out there...

However, it's a new year, which means time for new goals. After hearing my mom rave about ACE, her "skinny in a bottle", I decided to try it. My first go 'round with this "miracle pill" left me sobbing in my cereal and for some reason I couldn't stop. Didn't take it anymore. Yikes! I'm enough of a bawl bag as it is, I didn't need any help. About three months ago, Mom tells me that there is a new formula for ACE and it shouldn't make me cry anymore. After carrying a bottle around with me in my purse for about a month, I decided to try it. Lo and behold...it works! I have more energy, I'm not starving all the time, and I'm actually starting to see a decline in the number on the scale!

Pair that with actually using my treadmill and exercise bike for more than a dust collector and I'm seeing results! Last week I was able to run 1.25 miles on the tread before I stopped. College basketball is what helps keep me going, so hopefully that will last until Spring when I can get outside. I was hit with the plague last week, aka a head cold/sinus infection/grossness. I haven't done much since last Thursday, but I'm starting to feel a little more normal and I have to get back at it tonight.

Maybe posting here will help hold me more accountable...I don't know. I do know, though, that I can't keep giving up. I run at a snail's pace now and feel like I did when I initially started running 5 years ago. I can't let that stop me. I'm done comparing myself to others and I'm ready to start comparing myself to me!

Until next time...
Happy running!

Getting my groove back!

Wow! 2 posts in 1 day! I'm on a roll!

As I said this morning, I got on the scale and realized I have a LOT of work to do. So tonight, after going to town and getting a few things at Sam's Club, I came home and forced myself onto the treadmill. I really wasn't feeling too bad about the day and was pretty energized to get a workout in (since I skipped all weekend). One of my friends posted today about quality over quantity. I took it to heart. After warming up walking .2 miles, I started my run. Shins were feeling good...breathing nice and easy...and I started thinking.

You know, I use to use a half mile jog as my warm up. What has happened to me? There is no reason that I can't get back to that. Run your half mile without stopping.

The inner monologue continued throughout, mixed in with the words to some of my favorite songs, and I hit my half mile mark. Wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. With the first half mile done, I wasn't stopping. At the mile mark, I started feeling a bit slower.

Man, my legs are getting tired. Wait...no, they aren't. Quit whining and keep running, fatty! You can easily run a mile and a half without walking. Don't quit!

At about 1.2, I had to step off real quick and turn on the fan because I was drowning in my own sweat. Yes, I sweat like a disgusting man and there is nothing I can do about it! I got back on and kept going. I checked my time and wanted to keep it under 18 minutes, so I pushed my speed from 5mph to 6mph and really ran my last .1 mile.

What a great feeling! I wasn't gasping for air and I had hit my mile and a half without feeling like dying! I'm getting my groove back and it feels GREAT!

Tomorrow, the forecast is calling for temps around 50, so I'm taking clothes and running after school.

Until then...Happy Running! :)