>I love my Camelbak!!

>

Not too long ago (maybe a week), I won a water bottle just like the one pictured. It is awesome! I have done so well, in fact probably gone overboard, with drinking my water! It's a 24 oz bottle and I know I fill it at least 5 times per day!
So, I would like to thank Julie and Matt for hosting the awesome giveaway and picking my name out of a hat!

>Week in Review

>at the start of a new week! Ha. It's just like me, I know.

Last week was pretty good.
I missed one day (Sunday) in half marathon training, but I am ok with that. I am going to pick it up today. I will just be a day behind, but that's ok, right!?

Food wise last week I did ok, but there is ALWAYS room to improve in that department. And this week is a new week and has so far been great! I've done so good today. I logged all of my food in SparkPeople already so I know exactly what I need to have all day long. So far I am under on my calories but I plan to figure that out later on!

Anyway, workouts and training last week went well.

Tuesday -  ran 3.25 miles in 35:17 @ 10:51 min/miles pace
And I guess because that felt so good (ha ha)  I continued on with the following.
ran 2 miles in 22:17 @ 11:08 min/miles pace
I did that mainly because my hubby jumped on the machine beside me. It was great having someone to "pace" with. My workout only called for 3 miles but I went over. I think I was fine with that. :)


Wednesday -Ran 2 miles in 19:58 @ 9:59 min/miles pace
The training schedule called for a 2mile run or cross. I chose the run. I smoked it but I was in tears afterwards due to the pain in my legs. I went home, put ice on them and downed some ibuprofen. I was worried then about Thursday's scheduled 3 mile run.


Thursday - Ran 3 miles in 31:00 @ 10:20 min/miles pace
But I did great on it! Some days my pace is better than others! I was really happy with my workout. I also did a few kettlebell exercises. If you haven't ever used kettlebells... you should try them! They are a great workout!


Friday was a scheduled rest day and Saturday was supposed to be 30 minutes of cross training. Since I coach my daughter's basketball team and spent quite a bit of time pacing/jogging the court for an hour both Friday/Saturday, I skipped the 30 minute cross training at the gym. Does that mean I missed 2 days of training? In my mind, no.. so don't tell me different! Ha ha 


Sunday was a scheduled 4 mile run but I woke up not feeling well. I was dizzy and had a sore throat and achy ear. So, I skipped church (bad) and the gym. I downed some ibuprofen and rested. I think it was just what I needed as I woke up feeling much better today. Since I skipped the 4 mile yesterday that is exactly what I plan to do today!  Depending on my time at the gym and how crowded it is, I may just add the stretch and strengthen part of the training schedule today as well. That way I won't really be a whole day off as far as the workouts go. 


Here is my food log for today:
Breakfast - 1.5 slices of whole wheat toast, one egg, smidge of light mayo (I counted as a full serving though) and 24 ounces of water

Snack - Yogurt parfait and coffee
Lunch - Progresso Light Chicken noodle soup, 1/2 grapefruit, 24 ounces water

Snack - Rice cake w/thin tiny smidge of Nutella (the stuff is great, but the devil if taken overboard!!) and banana
Dinner - Grilled chicken, broccoli, and black beans, 24 ounces water



Yes, I do realize I am slacking on the veggies. I meant to bring a cucumber and tomato with me to add to my lunch, but I forgot to grab them this morning. I do have to run home to get workout stuff so maybe I will grab that then! Ok, I'm out... have a great day!!!

>Would you still do it?

>I had planned out my race schedule for 2010.
In that included the first race coming up on March 13th. I *thought* it was a 5k but got the registration form today and it is just a one mile. Duh, it is called the Thin Mint Sprint, which now makes perfect sense! But would you sign up (read - pay $16) jsut to run a mile and get a t-shirt?

I have another 5k race planned on the 27th of March out of town in my home state and will be joined by my hubby and some childhood friends for it. So, I am really looking forward to that race! Plus hubby said we could go eat at The Marietta Diner afterwards (or later that day) and let me tell you, it is delish! It was even featured on Food Networks Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives.. so you know it has to be good! ;)

Anyway, back to my question...
Would you bother with the 1 mile race or just take that day off?
My half marathon training for that day is scheduled to be a 50 minute cross training workout, if that matters.


And I have one suggestion on changing the name/title of my blog, Thank you!! Keep the ideas coming. :)

>I need a change

>and maybe you can help.

I am not liking the title/name of my blog.
At first it was all I could come up with and it seemed to fit. But now, I hate it.

So, anyone want to help me come up with something else???

>Half Marathon Training - Day 1

>I actually did day 2 today. And I broke the "rule."
I completed the first 3 (plus .25) miles in 35:17.
Not too shabby. I did as  Hal says and took needed walk breaks when I felt I should.
I felt good for the most part with just a little leg pain but I stopped and stretched my legs after the first 1.75 miles and that felt good. I felt after that I was able to run without the pain.

My hubby had finished his swim by the time I was done so I took a quick restroom break and came back. I once again stretched my legs and decided to just run until he was done.
So, I ran another 2 miles in 22:17.
Again, not bad but I found a good pace on the treadmill that works for me.
That being said my goal for tomorrow is to set the treadmill at that pace and get my 2 miles in.

I will not be worrying about time but finishing the whole run with hopefully no walk breaks.
I'm not opposed to walk breaks when I need them. And like Hal says, it isn't so much about how fast you cross the finish line but just about finishing! And that is what I plan to do!

>Throwing excuses out the window!

>I'm still here, in case you wondered!
Lately I have avoided blogging because I really don't have a lot to say. My eating has been so so and the scale hasn't tipped in the direction I would like for it to. And no there is nothing positive at all about the things I just typed.

I had some great runs last week and for those I am proud. Thursday  I had my mind set on just doing 5k on the treadmill in as little time as possible. I had considered some interval running and thought about just increasing my speed and allowing myself to run at the highest speed as long as I could with taking walk breaks if I needed. I guess I could say I did that but what surprised me was the fact that I ran 5.15 miles in about 55 minutes. This is not a bad pace for me. I was actually very happy with it. When I hopped off the treadmill my hubby was still working out so I hopped on a stationay bike for about 13 minutes and managed to go 3 miles. I have no clue if that is good or not but it sure beat laying down in the floor, which was what I really wanted to do at the time.

My legs killed me after my workout. I know it was from the running because they began to hurt during my run. I just pushed through the pain and told myself I could ice my legs once I got home. I ended up icing my legs for another 3 days. Boohoo. I'm not sure if the shin splints I have suffered in the past are creeping back up on me or if I have managed to put too many miles on my shoes since October. Either way, I have rested for far too many days. And I have found an excuse for too many days.

You would think that one would be sick of making excuses. I am, believe me. Yet, for some reason, I keep coming up with another one. Gah. What is wrong with me??? I have goals, right!? As if the one's I have set for this year aren't enough I have gone on and made yet another crazy goal. In fact, I will go ahead and say that it involves THIS. Crazy, I know. Part of me thinks I should just stick with 5k and/or 10k goals and be done (not done with running, just done with distance). The other part wants to push even harder for the simple fact that I like having a goal to keep me motivated. But there are some things that I let play with my head....

Well, here's the deal. I read all these blogs from skinny minnie girls who run and then hear them say things like their doctor has told them they are considered big to be a runner or when I tell people I run they look at me like I have 3 heads and I assume that they are thinking, "Gees, how does a fat chic like her run!?" Stupid, right!? There's the head thing. Who says "bigger" and/or FAT people can't run? Is there a rul saying we fat girls don't have goals too?  Eh, who knows. I want to show those people that I can and I will do it.

But what does all that mean? It means that if I really WANT to prove that to myself (or anyone else for that matter) then I have to quit making those pesky excuses. I have to quit saying that just because I ran hard one day and now my legs are in pain doesn't mean I can't do some form of exercise. So far this year I have ran a little over 18 miles! Not too shabby. So far this year I have lost a total of 2 lbs, which I am sure this week at least half of that has crept back on. And to put it bluntly, that's a complete pisser!!!

So what am I going to do about it?
Suck it up and move right along!
Tonight I have a 3 mile run planned as well as some strength training.
When I get home I will preplan and prep my food for tomorrow!

And with that I am throwing all those petty excuses out the window.

>Give Away alert!!

>Looking for an awesome give away??

Click here! for an awesome iFitness Giveaway! Hurry though it only runs through January 18th!