Somtimes

Sometimes I don't think that I adequately express myself in my blog posts.  I don't think any one is actually reading this anyway so it's mostly just my random ramblings... Sometimes I don't have much to say.  I'm not tracking any tangible goals, I'm just tracking the progress in my quest into a healthier lifestyle.  I'm not dieting by any means.  I really, really enjoy my food and, while I have at times struggled with my eating habits, I don't want to deny myself a single tasty bite.  Like, last night Eron made Spaghetti alla Carbonara there was nothing healthy about it, well, we did use whole wheat pasta but we didn't bother to cook a vegetable.  So let me be very clear - I'm not in this to track weight loss, in fact I don't plan on stepping on a scale unless it's at my doctor's office.  I will let you (who ever you are) know when I get excited about putting on a pair of pants that I haven't worn in a year.  My ultimate goal is to feel good in my skin.  Always.

So, I just realized that I'm okay with calling myself a runner.  You see, other times when I tried to lace up my running shoes I'd end up walking more than running and I'd be embarrassed to say that I was running because in reality, I wasn't.  When I said I was more of a walker I got guff about being lame - uh, not cool btw.  We all have to go at our own pace and at least I was getting out there.  I digress...  At any rate, I get to call myself a runner.  I know I'm not racking up the mileage but I am making an effort to get out there.   Seriously, yesterday was a crappy day for a run.  When I got home the sun was already fading quickly and there was a slight drizzle on top of the dropping temperatures.  Super gross. But I had it in my head that I had to get out there and not make excuses.  As I was heading out the rain picked up, but I was already outside... on the driveway... just a couple yards from the door that I just walked out of...  Too late to turn back.  I pouted a little, sucked it up and decided that it would be a good test to my dedication.

It's not like I'm totally racking up the miles, but I like to think that I'm thinking more like a runner, and well, running WAY more than walking during my runs.  My goal each and every time out is not walk and not get down on myself when I decide I need a walk break.  Obviously when I first started I was lax with my walk breaks, I wanted to be sure I was giving my legs ample time to get used to what I was asking. 

Last night on my run I was struggling around what I thought was the 1 mile mark and I was contemplating a walk break, but at that point I was met with a hill.  Crap.  I don't walk hills so I powered through and actually finished feeling strong.  I give myself mental pep talks, things that I think are silly... a "get it gurl" or a "you can do iiit" said in a Rob Schneider tone, and then there are the motivational ones - "I don't do it because it's easy, I do it because it'll get easier" or a "You're rockin' it!"  Hey, I run by myself and sometimes I need that little encouragement.  I'm my own cheering section. 

Tonight for dinner - Shrimp tacos.  Mmmm... can't wait.

Pretty Proud

I don't know about you, but I had a pretty awesome holiday weekend with family.  Sure, I may have eaten just a little too much, had a few more than normal cocktails and I missed a run and a gym day, but I got a pretty solid run in and I did make it to the gym.  I accomplished everything I wanted to.  Score.  I did manage to leave my running shoes at my mom's house... in Maryland.  Bummer.  She put them in the mail yesterday.  Thanks mom!

Yes, yes, all things well and good... BUT what I'm pretty stinkin proud of at the moment is that I went for a run tonight.  I know, I've been running for awhile now and it shouldn't seem so epic, but I got a late start because my ipod was dead and I wanted to plug it in for 10 minutes, I was wearing  the wrong shoes, it was cold, dark and rainy.  Gross.  AND even though I didn't have my Nike+ because it's in my other shoes I'm pretty sure I rocked it!  AND I bumped up my distance today to 1.75 miles.  I ran the whole thing.  I'm proud and  I think I have every right to be.  So there.  

Older

Last week started off on the right foot, we gymed and I ran as I had scheduled... I hit a snag on Thursday though.  I had a hair appointment right after work and then Eron and I had dinner plans, I had hoped to get a run in before dinner but it was late and cold so I opted to run after work on Friday.  Yeah... about that.  My run didn't happen.  No big deal.  I wasn't going stress about it.  One skipped day wasn't going to hurt me and I'd bounce back with a great workout on Saturday.... Umm... the workout didn't happen either. Errrm... I decided that it wasn't important that a workout was skipped, it's important how you come back.

I had a solidly crappy run on Sunday.  I was hoping fresh legs would carry me through.  Not so much there.  So, we gym it up tonight.  With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us I'll be missing at least one gym day and one running day but, with the help from my mom, I scored some free day passes to the Y by her place!  Eron and I will be able to get a workout in on Saturday.  Hooray for planning ahead.  I'm going to also try to get a run or two in at the hotel gym.  So here's the plan:
Monday - Gym
Tuesday - Run
Wednesday - Travel
Thursday - TURKEY DAY!!
Friday - Run at hotel
Saturday - Gym
Sunday - Travel

Depending on when we get in on Sunday I may try to squeeze in a run, but I'm pretty sure it won't happen. There are a lot of things going on this week.  Wish me luck.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Wallpaper

I have good intentions of blogging more often but I just don't do it.  Sorry.  As it turns out, I sit at my computer all day working and when I get home I'll go for my run or head to the gym and I'll think about all the things I want to tell you (no idea who reads this).  My random thoughts on people driving in the neighborhood, the folks walking their 4 Greyhounds (!!!), thoughts on safety, strangers and running in the dark.  I have a fantastic story about a gym experience that contains the word "Roid-a-riffic" but it happened so long ago that is seems irrelevant.  But, at any rate, I get home and I'm tuckered out.  Eron and I will jump straight into making dinner, showering, perhaps running off to hockey or social outings or just hunkering down for the night to watch the shows we didn't have time to watch earlier and I just don't want to pull my computer out.  

I've been running.  I blew off my Thursday run last week because I stayed late at the office late and it was cold, rainy and dark when I got home and I just didn't want to pull on my running tights.  So there.  Instead, I ran on Friday... with a miserable headache and a not so happy stomach.  I really didn't want to go.  I was tired, wasn't feeling well and I slightly grumpy.  It happens.  But Eron was on a business call when I got home so I couldn't  sit and whine to him, so I sucked it up, changed, laced up my shoes and hit the pavement.  I fully anticipated walking most of the route but I was determined to no be down on myself about it.  At least I was getting out there and as it turns out, I ran the whole thing and PR-ed the mile.  I guess the cold and looming dark were good motivations.  I also realized that just because I don't want to doesn't mean that I can't. 

Eron and I had a fantastic date night on Friday, slept in a bit on Saturday and hit up the gym.  I'm still getting comfortable in there and I'm trying new things.  I think I finally decided what machines I need and want to do and the order in which I generally want to move, it's only a struggle when people are camping out on the machines I want and having their own little social hour.  I plan on posting what I'm doing later.

The rest of the weekend was dedicated to stripping wallpaper from the living room.  Granted, it was just a boarder but it was a good introduction to wallpaper removal.  Heaven knows we have enough of it in the house and it has all got to go.  Right now the focus is the living room.  We have a new couch being delivered in two weeks!!  I'm so excited about this.  I did manage to wash all the laundry, well, except for the pile on the bedroom floor, I just haven't bothered to fold it yet.  Oh well.

Suprise!

1) I lied last week.  I was only active 5 days in a row.  I forgot that I bailed on the gym on Saturday because I was cranky, my legs were cranky and I had things to do in the kitchen.
2) I didn't want to go for my run yesterday because I hadn't been rocking the 1.5 mile distance and I may have been a little tired and cranky.  I surprised myself by running the whole damn thing AND PRing the mile.

Let's catch up with last week's goals:
Monday- Gym - DONE
Tuesday- 1.5 mi run - DONE
Wednesday- Gym - DONE
Thursday- 1.5 mi run - DONE
Friday- Rest. - DONE
Saturday- Gym - DONE
Sunday- 1.5 mi run - DONE

I know, I can't even believe it myself.  I'm so proud.  This week will be the same as last week:
Monday- Gym
Tuesday- 1.5 mi run
Wednesday- Gym
Thursday- 1.5 mi run
Friday- Rest.
Saturday- Gym
Sunday- 1.5 mi run

Wish me luck!

I Don't Even Know

Today will mark the 6th consecutive day of activity.  I woke up this morning a little sore and stiff and really dreading my planned run in the evening.  Did you catch that?  I start early in the morning thinking of excuses not to run.  As my morning progressed I was feeling better, less achy and sore and I'm actually looking forward to my run tonight.  I'm also looking forward to being able to pat myself on the back when my run is finished.  I have successfully completed 6 days of training and I'm very much looking forward to a night off tomorrow :)

So, what's been going on this week?  Well... on Tuesday I slipped into my local running store to see if they might be able to help me with my insoles.  I've been suspecting for a little bit that my insoles were leading to a little bit (not all) of my knee pain.  It's never smart to run in bad shoes, you'll just hurt your self.  So, I went in looking a little lost and was helped by a really nice, knowledgeable guy.  He asked why I use a particular brand of insoles and  I honestly couldn't answer the question.  I've run in Asics with Spencos since high school.  Some 14 years.  Ouch.  It was standard procedure to buy a new pair of shoes and a pair of Spencos so why would I ever change something that wasn't broke?  *shrug* Well, long story short, the very nice gentleman fit me with a new brand of insoles and even trimmed them down for me.  Which was exactly what I was hoping someone would do for me.  Thanks, dude!  He then told me that I had to break them in over the next week or so and that I wasn't allowed to run in them. Wha'??!!  Boo.  I laced up my old shoes and knocked out a mile and a half when I got home.

What else?  I'm getting more comfortable at the gym.  With Eron's help I've found 8 machines that I'm comfortable using, plus a few others that I'm comfortable subbing in if some ones decides to plant themselves on a machine for half an hour.  Seriously?  Why do guys (and it is usually guys) think it's cool to camp out on a machine for 30 minutes?  Like, the leg extension?  You can't do anything on it except, well, extend your damn leg.  Do it, get off your cell phone and let me work in.  Also, when I do get my set it I better not find that you're lifting the same weight as I am.  You are a big bulky dude.  I am a small and less strong little girl.  *grumble*  /rant  Also, I'm pretty sure if I asked you might move along.  But hey, I said I was getting more comfortable at the gym.  I didn't say I act like I own the place.  heh 

I am proud that I'm learning to not take myself too seriously at the gym.  I can laugh at myself when I nearly nail myself in the face when I adjust the spring loaded seat.  Who decided it was a good idea to spring load a seat back?  I don't run into the locker room and hide when the seat squeaks and sounds like I farted.  I didn't!  I will not, under most circumstances, make eye contact with anyone.  I'm there to get my workout on and get the heck out the door.  I am not there to socialize.  I will poke at Eron from time to time and give him a smooch in the middle of the gym.  I hope he doesn't mind, cause I dig it.  Is that wrong?  Is PDA in the gym acceptable or does it detract from his masculinity?  K.  Think I've written enough today :)