Friday Five: Good Things

Mar, Courtney, and Cynthia host Friday Five, and this week is Five Good Things to celebrate Good Friday.  I'm not much of a religious type, and I think I'm going with a little bit of a different interpretation.

Here are Five Good Things that I'll be focusing on doing this month!

1. Yoga at least twice a week - this will help manage my stress levels and help with my fitness.  May 1 is the last day of classes, so this entire month is really turning into crunch time.  As in I should be working on homework but instead I'm writing this blog post crunch time ;)

2.  Running at least twice a week - I have lots of good races coming up that I want to be stronger and faster for.  Unfortunately for me, this involves actually running!  I want to reconnect with it before it's obnoxiously hot down here and I have no motivation at all.

3.  Weight train at least once a week - I really want to get back into this.  I've been neglecting the gym, which hurts both my wallet and my heart! Eventually this will be back to more than once a week, but there's a lot of other things going on this month, and I want to give myself an attainable goal.

4.  Watch my micronutrients as well as my macros - I was doing pretty well on a low carb/high fat eating plan, but was sometimes left feeling light headed or dizzy.  From what I've read, this is often attributed to a lack of magnesium, potassium, or sodium (or a combination).  As I transition back to LCHF, I want to make sure I focus on these.

5.  Work on homework every day - I always procrastinate and do everything last minute.  I can't exactly do that with a 10 lesson unit plan that's due.  I have a schedule of what to work on each day, but I'm actually already behind on it!  I need to be able to break this into small chunks, for completion and my sanity.

These are the Five Good Things I'll be focusing on in April.

Do you like to set monthly goals, or yearly?

Lauren

Tuesdays on the Run: Cross Training

Patty, Erika, and April host Tuesdays on the Run, and this week we're posting about cross training!

I will admit that in training up until now, I haven't really done any cross training whatsoever.  Now, I'm getting into it.  Honestly it's not for cross training/running purposes, that's just a plus, it's really just for general fitness.

My main form of cross training is power yoga, which I've posted about before.  I absolutely love yoga and can really tell a difference in the strength I'm building.  I haven't noticed all that much difference in flexibility, although I haven't been completely consistent with it.  Maybe with more practice, I'll get that.  I burn anywhere from 400-550 calories in an hour long class, so that's great too!

I'm working on starting weight lifting as well.  I have a friend who tends to go to the gym a lot to lift, and he has a friend that wants to go with him, so we're trying to work out a schedule for the three of us to go.  I've gone once with him so far, and other than that our schedules don't quite match up, but I'm working on it!

I'm also going to read the New Rules of Lifting for Women.  I've read from a few other bloggers that it's been really helpful for them, and then maybe I'd feel more comfortable going to the gym by myself.  I like going with my friend for the motivation factor, and because I'm completely lost on what to do.  I have the book, and I'll just have to read it now, so I'll try to update everyone if I get on that plan =)

I'm trying to be more consistent with both my cross training and running, in hopes that it will make me a stronger and faster runner.

I'd also love to cycle as cross training, but I never learned to ride a bike!  I love the idea of it, but I think now that I'm 22 (so old, I know ;) ) I've also developed a mental block against it.  The idea of falling absolutely terrifies me to the point of not even getting on a bike.  Maybe I'll be able to overcome this...who knows?

Are there any forms of cross training that you do that I haven't listed here?
Lauren

Weekly Recap

Hi all!

I was still slacking this past week.  I also don't have a weight because as of today, Ray and I are staying at my parents for about two weeks and we started packing up as soon as we woke up to get to the puppy!  She'd been alone since around 4:30 in the morning and we woke up around 9:30.

Last week's schedule:
Tuesday - 4 miles - was never done :/
Wednesday - yoga - I did weights instead (back day)
Thursday - 3 miles - done!
Friday - yoga - done!
Saturday - 5k + 7.9 for a total of 11 - only the 5k was done.  I ate lunch and was watching a tv show while that settled, and ended up falling asleep until dinner time instead.
Sunday - yoga - not done :/
Monday - 2 miles - not done :/
Tuesday - 4 miles - not done :/

So basically, I sucked this last week.  I'm hoping that putting this on my blog will make me more motivated so that I don't have to feel the guilt of posting all these not domes.

Next week's schedule:
Wednesday - 11 miles
Thursday - yoga/cross train
Friday - 2 miles
Saturday - 13k (5k + 8k challenge)
Sunday - 3 miles
Monday - yoga/cross train
Tuesday -  4 miles

I'm a lot more optimistic about this next week.  I really need to get in that 11 mile run to feel prepared for my half at the end of the month, then keep the mileage nice and easy.

Thanks for the encouraging words last week!  Anything specific to get me out for 11 miles tomorrow?
Lauren

Training Plan - any input?

So, I put together my training plan through the beginning of June (when the last half I'm registered for is), and being a rookie I'd love for someone else to take a look at it as well.  Now I know things won't go exactly as planned, and I'm completely ok with that.  I even messed up yesterday's 10 already by doing 5, when it was originally planned for Saturday.  But it's cold out and I wanted to wait until the school gym opened up to use the treadmill, and then I forgot how awful the treadmill was.  I need to learn to suck it up in the cold!

At any rate, here it is, and I'd love any thoughts!

Have you ever created and questioned your own training plan?  What do you think of this one?

Lauren

Thoughts on 2013

I'm just going to jump right into this, and list out a few thoughts.

1. I'm not honest with myself.  This is in regards to weight loss and running.  I don't do either diligently enough, and then wonder why it's not working.  Going forward into 2014, I'll eat cleaner, stop having so many snacks that I don't count, and truly truly try to run 3 times a week.

2.  I don't have enough me time.  I love living with my boyfriend and roommate but I just feel like I don't have enough time alone sometimes.  I do have my yoga, which is definitely me time, but sometimes I just want to be able to sit at the apartment by myself, and I feel like that doesn't happen enough.  I'll try to work in some alone time going forward.

3.  I don't keep in touch with people enough.  This goes for family and friends.  I feel like I have a very small social circle, and I'd like to expand that.  Even if it's just keeping in touch with people from New Hampshire, etc. and not actually hanging out with someone, I'd like to be more social.

4.  I'm not very smart with my money.  I won't go into details, because I'm sure everyone has gone through this.  Going forward I'd like to keep honest track of what I'm spending on, and spend it more wisely, therefore putting more in my savings.

5.  I'm not organized enough.  This is in regards to school, the apartment, all sorts of things.  I'd love to get a super in depth planner to keep track of everything (like Erin Condren ones -hint hint-) and put aside extra time for cleaning every couple days so things don't pile up.

I have tons of smaller thoughts as well, but these are my major ones.

What changes are you trying to make in the new year?
Lauren

Three Things Thursday

1. I ran 9 miles on Tuesday. I will post a more in depth blog of this experience sometime soon. Warning - it will involve some whining but also much positivity and hope!

2. I received this in the mail today, which makes me feel slightly more like a real runner. 

3. I also received this in the mail. It's from myoatmeal.com and I'm super duper excited to try it and will have a full write up for you soon! They were very gracious and sent me these samples to review for all of you. You'll also get an awesome discount =) 

How's your Thursday going?

Lauren

More outdoor running

I had a 9.5 mile run on schedule for today. Well last night I wasn't doing anything (and had skipped my Thursday run :/) so I decided I might as well do it then. I had also already decided that I was going to do all my remaining training runs outside, weather permitting. 

Just before sunset, I headed over to my parents neighborhood. It's gated and mostly retirees, so I figure the worst I'd have to watch out for is a drunk kid on a golf cart. I got there and about five minutes into my run it was really nice and pretty. 

I started with 2:2 run/walk intervals and got 1.34 miles with that strategy. By then it was looking like this: 

I dropped down to 1:2 run/walk and got another mile this way. The humidity was just getting to me. I finally dropped to :30/2, feeling pretty defeated. I did end up doing 4.42 miles overall in 59:05. That's a 13:22 pace, a lot faster than I expected and than I used to be, so I accepted it. I'm going to try 10 miles again tomorrow night but start out at :30:2 and bump up to 1:2 if I feel like I can. I'm also going somewhere a lot more well lit. There were almost no street lights in the part of the neighborhood I was in! That definitely contributed to my negative mindset. I have high hopes for tomorrow though. 

I got back to my car looking oh so attractive and turned my fan up higher than it's ever been! 

I was also super happy that my water stayed cold! (I put an entire tray of ice in it.) 

I believe this run could've gone a lot better but a lot was also mental, so I know what to work on!

How have your training runs gone lately?

Lauren

Updates and Reviews

Hi everyone! I know I've been slacking lately, but it's been finals week after 5/10 extremely stressful weeks of classes, but I now have off until August 12th, so that's exciting! With my EnergyBits giveaway, Ben J. won! So hopefully he'll be enjoying his bits soon. Congratulations Ben!

 I was also on a cleanse for about a week, so I took off from running because I didn't have very much energy to do much of anything. I know starving yourself isn't the right way to go about weight loss, don't worry! I'm well educated. But I had a weigh-in with my parents who essentially pay me to lose weight. I know, it sounds weird, but they know with school and all I need some type of incentive to keep losing weight until I'm back to a 'healthy' one. I've been completely off track this past week since weighing in, but I'm hoping to get back on track. I'm staying at my parents' house to take care of their dog for the next week or so as they're on vacation, so hopefully with no school work and a big kitchen to work in, I'll be able to do well.

I've tried a couple of things from my StrideBox. First, I had the Gu-Brew TriBerry flavor. It had the same effect on me as Nuun, I think. It was a bit of a tart flavor, but that made it refreshing when it was nice and cold through a work-out. I also tried the Bearded Brother's energy bar, and it was ... interesting. It's quite a heavy bar, but not in a bad way. It was alright, but there was something off about the taste to me. I think it was just the dates in it, since those were the main ingredients, but just not quite my thing. If I liked dates, I think I would have really enjoyed this!

I'm looking forward to getting back into my training and healthy eating, especially since there's hardly any time left before Tower of Terror!

Any tips to get back into things?
Lauren

Feeling Good About Running

Last night my boyfriend and I went to the gym, once he got home from work.  It was the first time we've gone since we signed up, but I didn't feel too bad since we have free membership with the rent on our apartment.  It feels weird to go to the gym inside of a mall, but it's close and 24/7!

I wore my Belle shirt from Raw Threads (I'm being Belle for the Princess Half), since I just got it.  I love the shirt!  It's light and does enough sweat-wicking to get the job done, but doesn't leave me with chills.

The before, of course =)

I was going to warm up for 5 minutes walking at 3.5 mph, then alternate 2 minutes of 5 mph running and 3.5 mph walking.  Well I got to my 2 minutes of running, and I felt great! A 12 minute mile pace didn't seem nearly as fast as it normally does.  So of course, I had to test it.  I made a mental note of how far I'd gone and how long I'd been running.  I told myself "You just have to run 12 miles at this pace, make sure it goes a mile, then you can walk."  I ended up running 20 minutes straight!  I've never done that before in my life.  It was a great feeling.  Last time I ran I was having really bad foot and excruciating hip pains.  This time my foot was pain free, and hip just slightly sore (worse when I started walking).

I'm excited about running again!

I think part of this was also from Spirit of the Marathon.  My boyfriend and I saw the new one in theaters, and I absolutely loved it.  It makes me wish I had the money and physical ability to go to Rome and run a marathon!  Italy is at the top of my list of places I want to go (that I've never been before).  It would be so amazing...but alas, just another dream.  The next night I watched the first one on Netflix, and it was equally as amazing.  I like that they don't just focus on the elite runners, but also new marathon runners.  It's nice to see "normal" people doing the impossible!

Overall, I just feel really good about running right now.

Has anyone ever had a re-awakening like that?

Lauren