I have been trying to figure out how I can get a good 3 plus mile run in over my lunch break. Well, on Wednesday the 27th of February I decided that the best way to make sure I got 3 miles in was to simply run faster! It was a beautiful day and an outside run was just what I needed. I decided that I could make it around campus with no problem and be back in time to shower and get back to work. I tried to aim for a slightly different route than my usual 3 miles, but after about a mile and a half I found myself right back on track :) No worries, it is still a good route. I ran a personal best that day too, 28:39 for 3.01 miles! You can see my route here. Even though campus is a bit distorted still from the damage of the tornado, it was still relaxing to see the view. I was very proud of myself when I finished in the 28 minute time zone. It really made me think that there is hope of me finishing a 5K in 28 minutes or less! That is my new goal. It seems so weird for me to think, "I'm just gonna run 4 miles today...no biggy"! I used to struggle to make myself think that my goal was to get to 3 miles. It is amazing what we can talk ourselves out of doing. It feels great to continue this running high! Here's to the next workout! Until then...
April
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Milestones Don't Happen Over Night
I have found that looking back can sometimes be hard, but at times we need to be reminded of where we came from to appreciate where we are now.
In September 2008 I participated in my first ever 5K. I thought that since I had run so many one mile runs in high school (which for me at the time had ended 8 years prior) that I could just up and run 3 miles no sweat. I was an athlete and I could do anything I put my mind to. While this does hold true, it also requires the proper amount of training! So, I got out there and kept up with the others for, you guessed it, right at one mile! Of course I could run one, I did it everyday (yes everyday) for 6 years in middle and high school for basketball and softball. But long distance running is not the same as sprinting. I found out the hard way...I jogged/walked the rest of the 5K (which was a Heart Walk by the way, so I did not feel as bad about walking) and finished in a time I did not even commit to memory.
At this point in my life I weighed roughly 180lbs and wore a size 11/12. My measurements were 35 1/2 bust; 35 waist; 38 lower abs; and 44 hips.
This experience did it, I decided that I was going to learn how to run longer distances and my goal was to run the full 5K next year. (Little did I know that I would not be participating in it the next year because I was pregnant in fall 2009.) I trained and ran 2-4 times a week. My first practice 5K was at Homecoming in November 2008. I ran the whole thing in 31:24. I did it! I ran a 5K! This made me ambitious and I decided that why not go further and train for a 10K?! I chose the 2009 Crescent City Classic on April 11, 2009 as my goal. I had 5 months to train. Did I know what I was doing, NO! I did what I thought worked for me and found myself running 3 miles, then 4, then 5, then one day I did it...I ran the whole 6.2 miles on campus! I was so proud of myself because I ran the whole thing in 1:00:29! WOW! I was beside myself. I thought, "I can do this no sweat"! What I had been told though is that before a race you never actually run the distance of the race when you start getting up there in miles. This means I should not have ran that far yet. I thought, "Whatever, I did it once, I can do it again". Oh how wrong I was. I got a sinus infection from my trip just a few weeks before the race and could not train properly right before. When it came to race day I was not prepared for all of the participants. It took me 1:29 just to get to the start line! Then I found myself struggling to breathe, struggling to run! What was wrong with me?! I did this once, why do I feel like I have to walk now? And, I did. I walked several time during the race and finished in 1:13:??. I don't remember the seconds but I do recall being upset because I did not do very good!
After this race I decided to continue to run to stay in shape. What I found was that every few months I was gaining weight! I did not want that to happen. Then the ultimate happened...I found out I was pregnant! Well there goes working out! Or so I thought. I had a pretty good pregnancy and had Khloe in April 2010. I also weighed 219 when I had her...a total of 44 pounds heavier than I started! I lost 34 of it pretty quickly and got back to 185 at my 6 week check-up (just 10 pounds off of my pre-pregnancy weight). I waited the appropriate time (until mid-June) and then hit it hard on working out. I had to remember how to use my muscles again! I spent the rest of the year getting back in the swing of life, especially with a new baby. I decided to run a 5K again in February 2011, my first race since Khloe was born. I actually found myself running almost the whole thing! I finished in about 34 minutes. From here it was all uphill for me! I got ambitious and ran the Azalea Trail Run 10K in March 2011, but did not do so good finishing in 1:25:07. I then decided to do my first Triathlon in October 2011.
Before Khloe I weighed 175lbs and wore an 11/12 sometimes a 10. I measured 35 1/2 bust; 34 waist; 36 lower abs; and 42 hips. After having Khloe (by the beginning of 2011) and beginning to workout again I weighed on average 165 and began to wear a 9/10! I measured 35 1/2 bust; 33 1/2 waist; 35 lower abs; and 42 hips (these seemed to be going nowhere!).
I trained hard for the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon in 2011 (2:23:29) and after recovering I began to incorporated some Body Rock into my workouts to get stronger at the beginning of 2012. This helped me so much! I lost many inches on my body from Body Rock and even bought my first and second pair of skinny jeans within a month of each other, the first being a 10 and then the second an 8! I have found each year that I am getting leaner especially after my Triathlon. I competed in the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon again in 2012 finishing way faster than the year before (1:56:48) as well as the Ride Yellow, 37 mile bike ride in June (2:36:00), the Spartan Race in November, and a 5K Turkey Trot in November (30:30).
I also started out 2013 with a 5K in Mobile February 9th and made a personal best of (29:47) for the 3.16 miles I ran! I have also continued to train for my half marathon scheduled for April 6, 2013.
So, where does this put me now...well I weigh 161.5 on the average and wear a 7/8! And, I just bought another pair of skinny jeans and they are a 6! I measure 34 bust; 29 waist; 34 lower abs; and 41 hips!
I have nothing but persistence and time to thank for my accomplishments. Did I try to get to where I am? Not exactly. If I were in shape and healthy and still weighed 170, that would be ok. If I still wore a 9/10 or 11/12, that would be ok. However, I am smaller and I do weigh less and it is all because I stayed with it and made sure to keep going. This transformation took me from September 2008 until now, February 2013 (4 years and 5 months)! This did not happen over night! Here are some pictures to show you where I was at each phase...
The above pictures are as follows: April 2008, August 2009, I was pregnant until April 2010, May 2011, January and March 2012, July 2012, November 2012, and the last 2 are February 2013.
Why did I post this? I felt I needed to. I needed to show others that it is ok to be where you are. It is ok to look back. Just as long as it is just for a moment in time to assess where you have come from. Remember how hard you have worked. Remember how hard you pushed to get where you are. The road is long and full of hills but with each summit comes the down hill breeze! Keep working out and stay healthy! I would love to hear from you about how you are doing in your training. Blog about it...it certainly helped me!
Here's to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
In September 2008 I participated in my first ever 5K. I thought that since I had run so many one mile runs in high school (which for me at the time had ended 8 years prior) that I could just up and run 3 miles no sweat. I was an athlete and I could do anything I put my mind to. While this does hold true, it also requires the proper amount of training! So, I got out there and kept up with the others for, you guessed it, right at one mile! Of course I could run one, I did it everyday (yes everyday) for 6 years in middle and high school for basketball and softball. But long distance running is not the same as sprinting. I found out the hard way...I jogged/walked the rest of the 5K (which was a Heart Walk by the way, so I did not feel as bad about walking) and finished in a time I did not even commit to memory.
At this point in my life I weighed roughly 180lbs and wore a size 11/12. My measurements were 35 1/2 bust; 35 waist; 38 lower abs; and 44 hips.
This experience did it, I decided that I was going to learn how to run longer distances and my goal was to run the full 5K next year. (Little did I know that I would not be participating in it the next year because I was pregnant in fall 2009.) I trained and ran 2-4 times a week. My first practice 5K was at Homecoming in November 2008. I ran the whole thing in 31:24. I did it! I ran a 5K! This made me ambitious and I decided that why not go further and train for a 10K?! I chose the 2009 Crescent City Classic on April 11, 2009 as my goal. I had 5 months to train. Did I know what I was doing, NO! I did what I thought worked for me and found myself running 3 miles, then 4, then 5, then one day I did it...I ran the whole 6.2 miles on campus! I was so proud of myself because I ran the whole thing in 1:00:29! WOW! I was beside myself. I thought, "I can do this no sweat"! What I had been told though is that before a race you never actually run the distance of the race when you start getting up there in miles. This means I should not have ran that far yet. I thought, "Whatever, I did it once, I can do it again". Oh how wrong I was. I got a sinus infection from my trip just a few weeks before the race and could not train properly right before. When it came to race day I was not prepared for all of the participants. It took me 1:29 just to get to the start line! Then I found myself struggling to breathe, struggling to run! What was wrong with me?! I did this once, why do I feel like I have to walk now? And, I did. I walked several time during the race and finished in 1:13:??. I don't remember the seconds but I do recall being upset because I did not do very good!
After this race I decided to continue to run to stay in shape. What I found was that every few months I was gaining weight! I did not want that to happen. Then the ultimate happened...I found out I was pregnant! Well there goes working out! Or so I thought. I had a pretty good pregnancy and had Khloe in April 2010. I also weighed 219 when I had her...a total of 44 pounds heavier than I started! I lost 34 of it pretty quickly and got back to 185 at my 6 week check-up (just 10 pounds off of my pre-pregnancy weight). I waited the appropriate time (until mid-June) and then hit it hard on working out. I had to remember how to use my muscles again! I spent the rest of the year getting back in the swing of life, especially with a new baby. I decided to run a 5K again in February 2011, my first race since Khloe was born. I actually found myself running almost the whole thing! I finished in about 34 minutes. From here it was all uphill for me! I got ambitious and ran the Azalea Trail Run 10K in March 2011, but did not do so good finishing in 1:25:07. I then decided to do my first Triathlon in October 2011.
Before Khloe I weighed 175lbs and wore an 11/12 sometimes a 10. I measured 35 1/2 bust; 34 waist; 36 lower abs; and 42 hips. After having Khloe (by the beginning of 2011) and beginning to workout again I weighed on average 165 and began to wear a 9/10! I measured 35 1/2 bust; 33 1/2 waist; 35 lower abs; and 42 hips (these seemed to be going nowhere!).
I trained hard for the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon in 2011 (2:23:29) and after recovering I began to incorporated some Body Rock into my workouts to get stronger at the beginning of 2012. This helped me so much! I lost many inches on my body from Body Rock and even bought my first and second pair of skinny jeans within a month of each other, the first being a 10 and then the second an 8! I have found each year that I am getting leaner especially after my Triathlon. I competed in the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon again in 2012 finishing way faster than the year before (1:56:48) as well as the Ride Yellow, 37 mile bike ride in June (2:36:00), the Spartan Race in November, and a 5K Turkey Trot in November (30:30).
I also started out 2013 with a 5K in Mobile February 9th and made a personal best of (29:47) for the 3.16 miles I ran! I have also continued to train for my half marathon scheduled for April 6, 2013.
So, where does this put me now...well I weigh 161.5 on the average and wear a 7/8! And, I just bought another pair of skinny jeans and they are a 6! I measure 34 bust; 29 waist; 34 lower abs; and 41 hips!
I have nothing but persistence and time to thank for my accomplishments. Did I try to get to where I am? Not exactly. If I were in shape and healthy and still weighed 170, that would be ok. If I still wore a 9/10 or 11/12, that would be ok. However, I am smaller and I do weigh less and it is all because I stayed with it and made sure to keep going. This transformation took me from September 2008 until now, February 2013 (4 years and 5 months)! This did not happen over night! Here are some pictures to show you where I was at each phase...
The above pictures are as follows: April 2008, August 2009, I was pregnant until April 2010, May 2011, January and March 2012, July 2012, November 2012, and the last 2 are February 2013.
Why did I post this? I felt I needed to. I needed to show others that it is ok to be where you are. It is ok to look back. Just as long as it is just for a moment in time to assess where you have come from. Remember how hard you have worked. Remember how hard you pushed to get where you are. The road is long and full of hills but with each summit comes the down hill breeze! Keep working out and stay healthy! I would love to hear from you about how you are doing in your training. Blog about it...it certainly helped me!
Here's to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
Sunday, February 24, 2013
You are your own best or worst friend...
I just knew that my 8 mile run would be as fantastic as the 7 mile run I had put in last Saturday. I went to church Sunday with my love and ate a great lunch. Then, with my highly motivated self, I headed out the door on that fine Sunday ready to conquer the world! I got my music in order and started map my run and off I went. Then boom...it hit me...I felt like I was carrying about 20 extra pounds with me. What was wrong?! Why do I feel so lethargic?! I decided it was because I didn't run Saturday and there were too many days between my runs. Then I decided that maybe I ate too much or did not wait long enough before I started running. I told myself for all 8 miles I was tired, my legs hurt, my knee hurt, my arches in my feet hurt, I can't do this today, maybe I can just go 6 miles and do 8 next time, maybe I should have run yesterday or I can do it tomorrow...and so on. But somehow, I kept running. That little voice in the back of my mind kept saying, "You can do it April. Take longer strides, stand up straight, push through this hill, etc". I am glad I kept listening to that voice because the complaints I was hearing just made me mad. Yes, my knee did hurt. Yes, my hips really did hurt. Yes, even today, my arches are sore. But seriously, what did I expect...I just ran freaking 8 miles!! No one can feel tip top after that!
The positive of it all is that I still ran it in under my goal time (1:30:00) and I ran the whole thing. Even though at moments I felt as though I were running in place and that my legs were going to just detach at the hip...I still did it! I ran 8.01 miles in 1:28:48 and you can view my route here. I ended with a pace of 10:57. My goal for this half marathon is to stay between a pace of 10:30 and 11:00 per mile. Even though I did not feel as though I had a good run, I still met that goal. I still have a chance to finish the whole 13.1 miles in 2:30:00 or less. If I got to an 11:00 pace, based on this run, I only had 55 more minutes to go and that would put me finishing in 2:24:00 (roughly). I have to remember that I am training for something I have never done before. That makes me very proud of my milestones. Even if I feel like I am moving at the speed of slug, at least I am doing it! I am also reminded that those middle of the week runs are so very important to this training. Remember, you do not know better about fitness you have not conquered. Listen to the gurus and take all the advice you can and try your best to get it done!
Here is to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
The positive of it all is that I still ran it in under my goal time (1:30:00) and I ran the whole thing. Even though at moments I felt as though I were running in place and that my legs were going to just detach at the hip...I still did it! I ran 8.01 miles in 1:28:48 and you can view my route here. I ended with a pace of 10:57. My goal for this half marathon is to stay between a pace of 10:30 and 11:00 per mile. Even though I did not feel as though I had a good run, I still met that goal. I still have a chance to finish the whole 13.1 miles in 2:30:00 or less. If I got to an 11:00 pace, based on this run, I only had 55 more minutes to go and that would put me finishing in 2:24:00 (roughly). I have to remember that I am training for something I have never done before. That makes me very proud of my milestones. Even if I feel like I am moving at the speed of slug, at least I am doing it! I am also reminded that those middle of the week runs are so very important to this training. Remember, you do not know better about fitness you have not conquered. Listen to the gurus and take all the advice you can and try your best to get it done!
Here is to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Just Do It
I'm tired, I don't want to, maybe I can do it tomorrow, I don't feel well, I can't breathe out of my nose...these are just a few EXCUSES I told myself Thursday because I did not want to run at lunch. Why did I feel it necessary to make excuses instead of just getting up and doing what needed to be done? I really don't have an answer to this question. However, I do know that after talking for a few minutes with a colleague (and after wasting about 10 minutes complaining) I decided I needed to run. I got in the Payne Center, got dressed and got going and put in a very hard 2.5 miles on the treadmill. The worst part of it all...had I not complained for those few minutes I would have had time to run the 3 miles I needed to run!! I had a good run of 2.5 miles in 24:14, but only because I was trying to beat the clock to get that much in!
What I am ultimately tired of is my complaining! I am making myself irritated by it! Haha Remember that when you make a commitment you have to stick to it. Fitness does not just happen on its own, you have to work at it. I am continuously reminded of that everyday and I also remember that I got as far as I did because I did not give up! :)
Here is to the next workout! Until then...
April
What I am ultimately tired of is my complaining! I am making myself irritated by it! Haha Remember that when you make a commitment you have to stick to it. Fitness does not just happen on its own, you have to work at it. I am continuously reminded of that everyday and I also remember that I got as far as I did because I did not give up! :)
Here is to the next workout! Until then...
April
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Get it in while you can
I decided at lunch today, after I had already worked 15 minutes into my lunch break, that I would run after work. I could leave a few minutes early and get Khloe and get at least a 2 mile run in and do some cross training. Well, I did get Khloe, it was beautiful out, and we made it home and got changed before 6pm. It was still a little light out and I did not plan to run too far away from the house (we have a few side streets I could run down to get my miles in). I made it about a half a mile and Khloe was getting "really cold mommy" and by three quarters of a mile I was loosing my sun fast. So, I made it 1.23 miles with Khloe in tow and ran for 13:03. Not terrible, but at least I did something. You can view my route here.
I got us home, fixed dinner, and fed Khloe. While she ate I did a few Body Rock routines to keep my heart rate going. Here is my workout:
2 sets of the following 4 exercises
12 Switch lunches then kick back leg forward and meet the opposite hand
12 Hanging pull ups (I put my feet in a chair for support)
12 bag pick up squats (pick up the bag, put it on a shoulder, squat, then put it down. Repeat on opposite side)
12 Tricep dips
This only took me about 10 minutes or less, but it worked me hard! I forgot how easy Body Rock is and how much work you can do in such a small amount of time. My goal is to get up tomorrow and do a Fit Test. Then, I want to run 3 miles on Thursday at lunch. Hopefully I have some good news for you!
Here is to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I just kept running and running and running...
I woke up on this fine morning and decided that I was going to run 6 miles. I should have run 6 miles last Saturday, but I did a 5k on Sunday in Mobile instead. So, I got a good breakfast in me and some coffee, let it settle, and then off I went. It was cold, my eyes were watering, and my nose would not stop running! I finally warmed up by mile and a half and found that I was at a comfortable 10:17 per mile pace. I did not run a specific route...instead, I just ran. I felt great! I decided that by mile 5 I was going to turn so that I was farther away from my neighborhood and would have to run farther than 6 miles :) I felt good and knew I could do it too. I ended up running 7 miles and kept a good 10:26 pace by the time I stopped. I did this run in 1:13:36! WOW...I had never run this far before and I ran it faster than the 2 10k's I have participated in! You can view my route here.
I felt so great after this run that I thought to myself, "Why didn't I just keep going"? The answer was easy though...I have not done this type of training before and even though I have been in Triathlons and bike rides that lasted longer than what I just did, I still did not want to over do it. I was very proud of myself and I look forward to running 8 miles next weekend (secretly I would like to run 9...but I'm not pushing it!)
Here's to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
I felt so great after this run that I thought to myself, "Why didn't I just keep going"? The answer was easy though...I have not done this type of training before and even though I have been in Triathlons and bike rides that lasted longer than what I just did, I still did not want to over do it. I was very proud of myself and I look forward to running 8 miles next weekend (secretly I would like to run 9...but I'm not pushing it!)
Here's to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I'm still here, still training
Hey everyone! I see that I have neglected my blog for a few months. Well, first of all, after the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon I took some time off. One thing I was told is that after a major race you need to give your body time to recharge.
My next venture will be the Hollywood Half Marathon, April 5, 2013. I began my training with the Thanksgiving run, November 22, 2012, where Scott and I ran the Turkey Trot 5K. I ran a total of 3.2 miles in 30:30, which was great for me! It was one of my best 5K's. I continued to pick up more training miles on Christmas Eve with a 2 mile run in 20:35 in my new shoes!
Unfortunately, I got sick at this point of the holiday season. It took me weeks to finally get better and I had to just suck it up and begin to run again (which made me feel better)! I got in one 400 yard swim on January 24, 2013 and from there made a commitment to put in the miles I needed to train properly for this half marathon.
On January 26, 2013, I ran 4 miles in 42:10. This was my first 4 mile run in 4 years! I was so proud of myself for finishing this run! Then, I got 2 middle of the week runs in on the 29th and 31st. I ran 2 miles in 20:19 and 2.25 miles in 21:45. That next Saturday I told myself I was going to finish 5 miles...and I did in 54:45! Again, I had not run this far in 4 years! It is amazing what you can do if you just put your mind to it!
Last week I walked with my daughter for 1.63 miles and then ran 2.52 miles in 25:00 and again ran 4.01 miles but this time I did it in 40:32. Already I am running faster! This week so far I have ran the Joe Cain Classic 5K, 3.16 miles in 29:47, breaking my record and setting a new personal best!
That brings me to today. I started my workout with a one mile warm up run...and boy did I warm up! I ran a mile in 8:43...WHAT?! I haven't run a mile like that in years...like at least 10! Then I did the following:
20 crunches with an oblique twist, alternating sides
10 push-ups with a knee bend to elbow, alternating sides
20 sumo squats with ball (squat then alternating knee raises to ball)
50 bicycles alternating sides
2 sets of 8 reps squats with 5lbs in each hand (squat then press up)
2 sets of 8 reps per side triceps kick backs 5lbs in each hand
30 second plank hold
WOW! I can already tell I am going to be sore tomorrow! I know I need to do more cross training, so this is the beginning with a little running and strength training. I look to workout at least twice more this week. Here's to the next workout! Until then...
April
On January 26, 2013, I ran 4 miles in 42:10. This was my first 4 mile run in 4 years! I was so proud of myself for finishing this run! Then, I got 2 middle of the week runs in on the 29th and 31st. I ran 2 miles in 20:19 and 2.25 miles in 21:45. That next Saturday I told myself I was going to finish 5 miles...and I did in 54:45! Again, I had not run this far in 4 years! It is amazing what you can do if you just put your mind to it!
Last week I walked with my daughter for 1.63 miles and then ran 2.52 miles in 25:00 and again ran 4.01 miles but this time I did it in 40:32. Already I am running faster! This week so far I have ran the Joe Cain Classic 5K, 3.16 miles in 29:47, breaking my record and setting a new personal best!
That brings me to today. I started my workout with a one mile warm up run...and boy did I warm up! I ran a mile in 8:43...WHAT?! I haven't run a mile like that in years...like at least 10! Then I did the following:
20 crunches with an oblique twist, alternating sides
10 push-ups with a knee bend to elbow, alternating sides
20 sumo squats with ball (squat then alternating knee raises to ball)
50 bicycles alternating sides
2 sets of 8 reps squats with 5lbs in each hand (squat then press up)
2 sets of 8 reps per side triceps kick backs 5lbs in each hand
30 second plank hold
WOW! I can already tell I am going to be sore tomorrow! I know I need to do more cross training, so this is the beginning with a little running and strength training. I look to workout at least twice more this week. Here's to the next workout! Until then...
April
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