My Journey to Faster - By a Slow Motion Runner....

A week in review...

2006-09-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

So last week I ran my long run on Friday morning b/c my running budy was out of town for the weekend.

Recap:
19.5 miles (I mis-calculated and was 1/2 a mile short of the 20 I needed)
Time: 3:31
Average pace: 10:49 (whooo hooo!)

I'll come back and post more but its Sunday and I gotta get back at it today. Only 5 more weeks until my marathon!!!!!

6 weeks and counting...

2006-09-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

September 10th?
Last post August 13th.
Oops.

12 mile run today. Average 11:00 miles. Not bad, not bad.

Last week 18 mile run @ about 11:30. Bad. Bad. But I felt like crap so at least I finished it.

I'm going to focus and bear down for the next few weeks. Focus. Focus. Focus.

I need to run the miles and eat the right foods. Oh and figure it out while traveling.

Today -- ran 12 miles

Food (not pretty)
Pre-running
1 slice of whole wheat toast w/peanut butter
2 cups of coffee w/2 percent milk
Lunch
1/2 turkey sandwich
2 servings of blue tortilla chips w/cheese sauce
Potato salad
Snack
Lofat, no sugar ice cream w/a little chocolate sauce (yum!)
Dinner
2 tortilla shells w/refried beans and salsa
tortilla chips and salsa and guacamole (1/4 cup)
1 corona light

dreaming....

2006-08-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

Long run yesterday. I was supposed to go 14 but got out there, felt great, hooked up with some other Chicago marathoner and went 15...

Total time 2' 48"
Total distance 15.27
Avg 11:00

M1= 11:24 - started off w/the 11+ min/mile group, downhill
M2 = 11:32
M3 = 11:32
M4 = 11:44 - ran w/some new people, different up front pacer
M5 = 11:36
M6 = 10:53 - ditched previous group, ran with a woman and her daughter, from M6 about M10, and the were FAST! But it was good challenge
M7 = 10:35
M8 = 10:38
M9 = 10:10
M10 = 10:03 - holy crap, slowdown!!
M11 = 10:42 - back by myself
M12 = 10:40
M13 = 11:15 - getting a little tired
M14 = 10:46
M15 = 11:24 - ALL UP HILL
m15.27 = 3.06 (11:30 pace)

So I'm thrilled with the overall pace of 11 minute miles. If I could really do that for the marathon that would be a 4:48/4:50 which would totally rock my time goal of 5 hours.....dreaming. I'm just dreaming....

2006-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

It seems like evverytime I post a "plan" I don't follow it. I took yesterday off. Mostly due to a headache and a kneeache but honestly probably just due to plain laziness.

Weight-wise I've been consistantly STUCK. And I know, intellectually, that I have to write it all down if I want to be able to track it and make changes, but that seems like so much effort to me. So its a fork in the road that you have to make a choice at -- effort and write it down and lose the weight or...no effort, don't write it down and stay stuck. A decision I've yet to make.

I took the day off work today. I was supposed to have a shoulder surgery but I"m afraid of what interferance it will have with my running (doctor said probably a few weeks, but he's not an athlete and possibly never ran a step in his life so how would he know). My fear is that it will be too long and ruin my chances for Chicago. So I've decided to delay it until after October.

And for vanity reasons, I'm on vacation in eleven days and don't want stitches and an open wound being an issue while I'm traveling/laying on the beach/swimming. Or looking bad in my bathingsuit.....Vanity I tell ya.

MIA

2006-08-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been quite MIA. Busy traveling and not running.

2 weeks ago I only ran ONCE during the week (awful) and then had a horrible long run in Chicago. Ran up and down the lake and it was hot (think 97 feels like 105) and I was a little dehydrated thanks to dirty martinis)

Last week I only ran twice during the week again. Due to a lot of traveling. However I had an awesome long run on Saturday - 12 miles w/an 11 minute/mile average.

THIS week -- I've turned over a new leaf. With only a few short weeks (10?) to go, I've decided I have to be deligent. I've been getting up at 545 and running before it gets too hot. Whoo hoo me!

Monday - Ran 3 easy
Tuesday - Hills, total 3.5 miles
Wednesday - Tempo run 4 miles @ 10min pace
Thursday - I didn't run this morning, I'm either going to do a track work out tonight or just take it off to rest my knees and not over do it.
Friday - 5 miles easy (planned)
Saturday - long run 14 miles (planned)
Sunday - rest

Not too much else, still working on our bathrrom remodel -- ugh -- but there is tile up on the walls of the shower and I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...I just hope its not the light of a train coming at me.

Lessons in Running

2006-07-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Well I learned several lessons on my run today. The hard way.

Plan your route ahead of time. Nothing like not knowing how long it is.
Check out how many trees are on a planned route. It sucks to run in the mid-day sun w/out any trees for relief.
Take all 3 bottles on the fuel belt. Don't leave one behind thinking that you don't want to carry the extra 8 oz. Stupid move. I really would have liked more liquids
I am very good at making excused to myself and I am a very guilable person who will believe what ever I tell me.

So it was hot. And I started late b/c of ahem, *warning TMI* stomach issues. And the run didn't got as well as I wanted and I certainly did NOT have enough liquids with me. All good lessons I guess. Rather learn them know than later....like in the marathon....

Long run:

Total: 9.45

Time: 1:46:22

M1 -11:14

M2 - 11:08

M3- 11:29 (up hill and first water break, I kept my watch running and walked while I took in water)

M4 - 11:24 (another up hill, over an over pass and a second swig of water at the top)

M5 - 10:59

M6 - 10:34 feelin' it

M7 - 11:08 - couple of rolling hills

M8 - 12:06 - all up hill. Fatigued and started making LOTS of excuses. Like "oh I ran hard last night" or "Oh, its been 2 miles since I last sipped water" or "Oh go ahead and walk you don't want to endanger yourself." Now granted it was hot but I was no where near dehydated. Wimpy excuses.

M9 - 11:21 - I kicked myself in the ass and said I had to run the last 1.5 home

M9.5 - @ a 10:53 pace. I really tried to push it on the last 1/2 mile

Smokin'

2006-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

So its Sunday morning and I was supposed to do my long run yesterday but I woke up to pouring rain. So I got dressed anyways and went to running group just to see if any of my peeps showed up. None did. And for me, its just not worth the heart ache to run that long in that much rain. So I came home.

It all works out for the good -- I'm traveling tomorrow and won't have an opportunity to run so I ran 3 on Saturday - long run Sunday - rest Monday. Much more doable. And I think I'll do a speed or hill workout on the treadmill on Tuesday.

Good 3 mile run yesterday...I generally start out real slow and I'm not sure that I know how to make myself start faster....

Total miles = 3.06
Total time = 30:45
Avg pace = 10:10
M1 - 10:20
M2 - 10:10
M3 - 9:35

Smokin'

I'm also having a lot of fun discovering other people's running blogs. There are so many inspring people out there!

2006-07-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last night I muddled through a mediocre workout. I was not (with a capital N-O-T) in the mood to workout.

First I have to set up the scene....

On the way over to the track I sported some serious attitude towards the husband (as you can well imagine it was his fault we had to go work out, you know, since he was driving).

I screwed around with some "stretching" that much more closely resembled sitting on the ground and finally started to run. Well, the first lap I could not get a breath. I believe the phrases sucking wind would literally apply here. So I'm thinking to myself, I feel really tight in my chest. And it feels like my sports bra is extra tight.

So I stop running, contort my body to reach up the back of my shirt and feel for the hooks....and realize that I've put the bra on the wrong hook. So I (still while walking around a public track) unhook the bra, rehook it in the right spot and resume the warm up. Ahhhh much better, I can now grab a solid breath.

Who knew a maladjusted sports bra would cause such a bad mood and such breathing issues. So now I'm annoyed and not any happier and I launch into my workout...

The workout

I ran 1 mile to warm up and then did speed work as follows
2 x 200 w/200 slow in between
1 x 400 w/400 slow in between
4 x 200 w/200 slow in between
1/2 mile cool down
Total miles = 3.25

I only ran the 400 repeat b/c as I was running the 200, I passed another runner just as I was getting ready to slow down and I couldn't stand the thought of running by some one and then slowing down and potentially getting re-passed so I just kept going.

I had some mild hamstring twinges which kept me in check, I didn't go too wild with the paces. Ran 8:40-9:00 minute miles on the speed portion and then 10:30-10:50 on the breaks in between.

I left the track feeling like I could have done better but I was sweaty and I did the workout I intended too (with the exception I needed to run another 1/2 mile to cool down) so despite a crappy start and lacking the desire to do so, I got the speed work out in for the week.

Check that off the list.

Will run for food....

2006-07-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Oxygen deprived

So while I'm running, I work out a lot of problems in my head. It amazes me sometimes what I can figure out work-wise while I'm out running. I'm a consultant and so a lot of times I've got unresolved answers in my head and I'll just roll them around in my brain as I pound the pavement and occasionally, I'll have a total ah-ha moment. Though I suppose it is a little scary that some of my better ideas come when I totally lack oxygen.

Tangent about my weight

One of my goals on my way to faster is to lose weight. I suppose I should be abundantly honest here and just 'fess up.

Hi, my name is Rebekah and I'm moderately overweight. I'm 5'8" or 5'9" and weigh 174.5.

I've been STUCK at this weight for 2 years now because I've been training for marathons the whole time and so the scale hasn't moved. Oh well. Now. Well. That's just not true is it.?

Because that makes no sense. The truth (oh how I hate you truth...) is that I ignore what I eat when I'm running because, well, I'm running! So! Many! Miles! So I deserve to eat! whatever! I want!

Of course, we all see the fall out of this. I'm still at 174. Now, I'll never be a super thin super model. Just not built like that. I've got boobs and a bit of a belly and neither of those go away easily. Even when I was 140-ish about 3 years ago I still had boobs and a belly, albeit it smaller.

So this time around, I'm keeping track of calories and making sure I eat enough to fuel my body but not just whatever the hell I want. Running 3 miles does not mean you get to consume 1000 extra calories in the form of chicken fingers and french fries.

And I'm writing this to remind myself that if I stick to it, it works. Because as of this morning after 10 days of conscious eating (whole grains, whole wheat, no whites, lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats, and few processed foods, oh and dairy) I'm down to 172.5 and for me that's an amazing drop. Especially when that damn scale hasn't moved in soooo many months.

To the workout report....

Yesterday was an easy 3 mile run. I got out of bed late and almost bagged the run but knew that I had a work event that evening and would not be able to make it up. So out the door I went. It was a 3.1 mile run and I kind of tried to make it a tempo run.

Tangent: (I need like the wavy lines and the dooo dooo dooo like in Austin Powers? is it?) the first time around with marathon training I just ran. That was it, same pace, some plodding around for each work out. Second time around, pretty much the same thing. This time I know I have to work some quality work outs in.

So anyway, I ran 3.1 miles in 30:41 with 9:54 average (whoo!) My best 1/2 miles split was a 4:50 which is a 9:40 (go me!) and boy was I sweaty afterward! I battled some stomach issues which slowed me up towards the end but it was a good hard workout and my legs are a little sore today.

I'm proud, I've stuck to my running schedule for the most part this week.

Monday - Hills 5.5 miles
Tuesday - Off
Wednesday - 3 miles easy
Thursday - (planned) speed workout at the track. I need to run 1/2 mile to warm up, another 1/2 mile to calibrate my watch, then I'm going to 200 meter repeats w/200 cool downs. And I think I'll do 4 of those (1 mile) and then I'm going to 400
Friday - 3-4 miles easy
Saturday - long run - probably just 9-11 miles, more if I feel good.
Sunday - off

Holy Hills Batman!

2006-07-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

So I did my first hill workout last night. Total time 1 hour 4 minutes. 5.7 miles total for an average pace of 11:18 which included several walk breaks at the top of the hills and one walk break on the way back b/c I felt myself overheating.

The hill work out goes as follows:
-Run 1.7 miles to the hill (highway overpass)
-Charge up the hill and the run back down, easily x 3 times
-Run 1/2-1 mile to recover
-Charge up the hill/back down x 3 again
-Run 1.7 miles home

Boy was it hard! But boy did I feel good about the workout. I usually HATE hills but I really enjoyed the workout last night and it went really quick.

Tonight is 3 miles, just easy to stretch the legs and then off to a cookout for our running club.

Splits

2006-07-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Because I have a new nifty toy (Nike Triax V10)
Thought I'd get some of my splits from Sunday down....

Total 2 hours 3 minutes
Avg pace 5:33 (for 1/2 mile) = 11:07
Best 5:12 = 10:24

1/2 mile splits (need to remember to switch to 1 mile splits on long runs)
5:57
5:14
5:30
5:33
5:33
5:23
5:34
5:26
5:12
5:20
5:36
5:45
5:40
5:31
5:23
5:29
5:29
5:28
5:38
5:39
6:06 - HILL!
5:43 - HILL!

Total mileage 11.08 miles

Long run

2006-07-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY
Long run of 11 miles. Maintained just under an 11 minute per mile pace until The Hill at the end. Its a 1 mile hill and this week it KICKED my ass! I couldn't get my lungs underneath me. But I kept my legs moving an only walked for just a minute or so at a little flat spot on the hill, that way I could not burst a lung. Felt pretty good.

Up this week...CONSISTENCY is the name of the game. And that means - Run 4 days this week. Not neccessarily killer mileage each time but I've got to get out and run. October will be here before you know it...

2006-07-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

So Sunday was the ultimate rest day. I spent 80% of it on the couch with a small stomach flu. Ugh. My legs were a little sore from the hard run on Saturday. A feeling I haven't had in a longgggg time. So that's good.

I uh..."rested" on Monday (read lazy). And then traveled on Tuesday. This morning I got up late and thought, whoops, no time for a run. Then I realized I had limited opportunities Thursday so I'd better run today. So I did a short warm up, speed work for 2 miles and walked a few blocks for cool down. So it wasn't a super long workout but good on quality. I was drenched in sweat. Good feeling!

You've gotta run faster to run faster....

2006-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

So I did run Friday. 3 miles and each was progressively faster as planned. However my legs felt like lead! Lifting each was a monumentous task. Nevertheless, I perservered....

Saturday was my long run w/the group. I ran w/a women who is faster than me thinking it would be a good challenge...was it ever! About 8.2-8.5 miles in 1:26 so thats about 10:05-10:20 miles per minute. I generally run my long runs at 11:00 min/mile pace so it was a real challenge. I kept thinking the whole time...."You can't get faster if you don't RUN faster!" Which just might be my new motto.....

Legs. A little sore today. Eh.

So total mileage/weekly recap

Monday - Rest day
Tuesday - X-training - Kyaked for 1.5 hours (travel day)
Wednesday - Speed work, 3 miles
Thursday - Softball
Friday - 3 miles, increasing speeds
Saturday - 8 miles
Sunday - Rest
Total for the week = 14

Yikes -- suprisingly a very light week, I felt like I did a lot more running than that! I really needed to get more miles in!
Plan for the upcoming week

Monday - 4 miles
Tuesday -Xtrain - lift weights at the gym at hotel
Wednesday - Run or off day, traveling for work
Thursday - 5 miles, if no speed work on Weds, then on Thursday
Friday - 3 miles - easy
Saturday - Long run - 10-12
Sunday - Rest
Total = 22-24 much better.... Just need to be mindful of the mileage and make sure its not too much

Sacraficing cocktails....

2006-07-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a rest day. I did the speed workout at the track on Wednesday and Thursday are my softball games, so I designated it a recovery day.

Today I had every intention of getting out of bed for a run and the next thing I knew....8 am. Time to go! So running means making sacrafices some times and I'll be sacraficing my happy hour cocktails w/a friend and instead going to run. Plus my FIL and MIL are coming into to town and I probably need to be home to greet them. That would be the polite thing to do....

So hopefully the plan is to get home by around 2 or 3 and get out for a run before the ILs get here around 430-ish. I'm shooting to do 4-5 miles with increasing speeds each mile -- start at 11:00 to warm up then to 10:30 - 10:15 - 10:00 - 9:45 for the last very difficult mile.

2006-07-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Just to see if I can figure out how to post a picture in here......This was hiking in New Hampshire this weekend.... There was a state park on the way to my cousin's house that Doug and I stopped and hiked at..

Not so speedy work out

2006-07-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

So last night I did a speed work out -- 1 mile warm up; 6 x 200's with 200 recovery in between each; 1/2 mile cool down for a total of 3 miles. It was good work out, I like how fast speed workouts go, its like before you know it, you've ran 4 laps of the track and poof! a mile is done. On the other hand, the "speed" part of the work out is a little depressing for me. I'm not fast. Not by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I'm pretty darned slow especially when I'm attempting to sprint.

Oh well, I don't think the point of the speed work outs is to enter the olympics or even be like the guy on aol commercials (ha ha) its just to push yourself and work those fast twich muscle fibers. (who's been reading Advanced Marathoning by Spitzer? Its me, its me)

Though w/my Nike Triax I've noticed that I don't run as slow as I thought that I did. I discovered it was a tinge off last night. 1/2 mile = 0.52 on my watch so I adjusted it a little and got down to where 1/2 mile was consistanty = 0.51 and 1 mile = 1.02 so that's pretty accurate - less than 2%. But what that meant is that I'm capable of running WAY faster than I think/thought I was. I was watching the read out (read: obsessing over the readout) and thinking, Noooo - I don't run THAT fast.

See I've always thought I was an 11 minute miler. With my Nike Triax (dear lord, this sounds like a commercial) I'm finding out that I'm capable of running 10's and sometimes into the high 9's. I'm inherently lazy. And I've been pretty content being a slower runner. I have lots of fun, can hold long in depth conversations w/out losing my breath and.. oh yeah, see the problem. Lazy. So on one hand I'm pleased to know I'm CAPABLE of faster but on the other hand, the knowledge that I can be faster means harder work and improving and I'm just not sure if I'm ready for all that.......

Ohio=Flat

2006-07-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

I spent the last week in New Hampshire. Clearly god's country. It is so beautiful up there. I kayaked and hiked and boated and napped in the sun...it was beautiful.

But I don't know if I've mentioned that I live in Ohio. And its Flat? As a pancake. Did you know New Hampshire is not? Tell is to my quads. And my knees. And for some reason all my other leg muscles. 20+ miles on hills was rough.

Although by the end, I was really enjoying it and kind of digging the up hill knowing that there was a downhill to come. For every action, a reaction kind of thing.

I ran in a 5k but didn't have a PR or even clost to it because I opted to run with my aunt who runs a slightly slower pace than me, but she needed to company. I did however, kick it in the last 1/2 mile and passed two boys who I battled to the end. THAT was fun.

I also have a new running toy....a Nike Triax V10 and I love it. I love it more than anything. The only bad thing is it means that I might have the capability to a better runner now. I was pretty happy with just being a subpar runner but it seems that maybe I'll have train in earnst now.

Am also trying a new shoe. Have always run with the NEW BALANCE 1221s but they have stopped making it. I went and got fitted and among my choices were a NB 1222 -- the replacement but it was purple and the Mizuno Wave Nirvana (both motion control shoes, both felt good) so I went with the Mizuno. I really like it, its much lighter than the orthopedic New Balance 1221/1222 so hopefully the minor blisters I've got with it can be overcome with a little wear and lots of body glide.

Tonight is a speed work out. 1 mile warm up with I will not do running around the track for fear of slitting my wrists of boredom but then I will step foot onto the track for the 6-8 x 200 repeats with 200 of recovery in between then leave the track for another 1 mile cool down or so.

lazy part deux

2006-06-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Well last night, I did make it to the gym. I ran 1 mile on the dreadmill and it was fine. I should have kept going, kept running, but instead I went and lifted weights. I had really limited time so I rationalized or maybe made the right decision, that its not often that I have weight machines and free weights at my disposal so I should make use of them.

And this morning, was planning to get up and run and yeah...didn't work quite so well. Luckily there is time tongiht, my plane lands at 530 and so I've got lots of time this evening (assuming I don't get delayed, cross your fingers!)

I have got to figure out how to motivate myself right outa bed.

Introducing the snooze button...my new love.

2006-06-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I managed to somehow get my lazy butt out the door on Tuesday for a run. Albeit a super short run, it was a good one. After my usual 5 minutes of doggin' it and running slow, I got into a nice tempo and but for some time constraints, I think I could have really run for an hour or so.

Wednesday I traveled and had an early meeting which is really no excuse but not only did I travel and have an early meeting, I ate an obnoxiously large and rich dinner. So tonight and today, paying the penance. Today I'm just eating as healthy as I possibly can. Tonight, long run on the dreadmill and lift weights at the hotel gym.

I'm having a long affair with the snooze button. Beep beep beep beep....smack smack, snooze. ten minutes later...Beep beep beep beep...smack, smack, snooze.....Rinse, lather and repeat.

I swear, I snoozed for a FULL hour this morning. Seriously. An hour that I could have been exercising and running and then done with it for the day. What a waste!

lay-zee

2006-06-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday I was supposed to run and I was Lazy. But really that word should be spelled L-a-y-z-e-e for me. Because thats what I did. I laid around -- on the couch, then back in bed for an afternoon nap. Sometimes I listen to intently to my body.

"Oh what's that body? You want to be a loser and sit around all day? and then finally around 2pm, after all the exciting non-activity you need a rest, a nap? Okay. Whatever you say..."

So needless to say I didn't get a long run in this weekend. Did not. Nope. No Long Run. Oops. In fact no running Saturday or Sunday. I did run Friday and am planning on running and lifting weights at lunch today.

Foodwise, eh. Meh. Eh. It was D's birthday so we spent Saturday and Sunday dinner's at birthday celebrations which included steaks, ribs, macaroni salad, and desserts, both nights. And we stayed at my BIL and SIL's house and they tend NOT to have much in the way of healthy foods/snacks so its sometimes difficult to eat as healthy as I'd like.

Not much else to report. I'm going to run a trail run in September, a 12 mile trail run. I'm REALLY looking forward to it! I think it will be a blast!!

Drop and give me 20...

2006-06-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well. Startling revelation but did you know that in order to benefit from training, you need to actually train? I know. Shocking.

I could NOT get my ass outa bed this morning. Anyone have ANY TIPS AT ALL for that? Its like I keep snoozing and being lazy and I just. Can't. Do. It.

So I'll have to run tonight after my plane lands and after my softball game. And that will be the punishment for not getting up and just doing it like I planned. Seriously. Punishment? Listen to me, working out shouldn't be a PUNISHMENT?

On the flip side of this militant slave driver that I'm acting like (or perhaps its a split personality thing) I had promised myself that June was the time where I was going to (because I wanted to take the month after my marathon and just maintain my physical fitness levels)

Take it easy on the training, only run 2-3 days a week with long runs on Saturday/Sunday, 2 of the short runs done already and so the 3rd is just a bonus run
Focus on weight training - one session done this week, check
Focus on nutrition and losing weight.

So why oh why, when I'm doing what I said I'd do, am I being so hard on myself? Why is it so easy for me to be mean to me?

Quality over Quantity.

2006-06-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well, its been just a few weeks since my last marathon (18 days, but who's counting) and I'm back at it again. Last time my recovery took oh....4 months. Not kidding. My first marathon was May of 2005 and I didn't do any serious running until late August, early September. Pretty pathetic.

But I just feel so darn healthy and good. I think what was key last time was not running 6 days a week. Except for a freaky shoe incident which caused a foot/hip problem, I felt strong. So the plan this time is run 3 days a week plus one long run and lift weights/xtrain the other days. And also to get some QUALITY work outs in. Last time I was just running to run. Time didn't matter, just get the miles in.

This time I'm working in some tempo runs (yowzers are those hard for a lazy runner like me) and some fartleks and some building run (I don't know if this is the correct term but its where you run one mile as warm up then mile 2 is quicker, mile 3 is quicker than 2 and mile 4 is quicker than 3 and mile 5 is a cool down mile)

So starts my hopeful journey to break 5 hours.

On the nutrition front I've really been watching portion control and calories and feel like I might be making real headway in that area....maybe.

2006-06-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

(pictured to the left, hubby and I pre-marathon)

I DID IT! I FINISHED MY SECOND MARATHON!!!!!!! Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City -- I'd HIGHLY recommend it!!!

he cliff notes version for anyone who doesn't want to read the extended race report is:

Gorgeous day - 60 degrees at the start, 75 at the end (TOO HOT).
Gorgeous, relatively flat course along Grand Traverse Bay with a view of the water the whole time
I ran the race in 5:06:23 which was a 14 min 10 second increase from last marathon.
Pace was 11:42 mile. Pace the first time was 12:12 so its a 30 second per mile improvement, so I'm pleased.
I wanted to break 5 hours, but didn't but that's ok. It was HOT and the water stops were 2 miles apart and so I don't feel too bad. I lost it in the last 1.5 miles and had to do a too much walking.

The long version.....

Race start was 7am. It was a great temperature but I was already wary that it was too warm, in that I was totally comfortable. I started off slow which resulted in me getting passed by like 70% of the runners behind me. I SHOULD have started off further back but who knew.

It takes me 3 miles to get comfortable so I just surrendered for miles 1-3 to the fact that I'd have to work the aches and pains out. So I did.I made friends between miles 2-3 -- Christine and Mike. We all chatted and got to know each other until fat asshole came up.

Fat asshole was this guy who was an ex-race coordinator, and had run over 160 marathons (blah blah blah..I'm so awesome) who WASN'T EVEN ENTERED IN THE MARATHON but was running just for fun. Anyway he joined the three of us and stuck around until Mile 6.2. I hated him. I told him my time goal and he told me I'd better "pick up the pace then". Fuck off mister. Around mile 7 I ditched my friends Christine and Mike with a waive. My split times were just a little too slow and so I said "See you at the finish!"

Miles 7-11 were good, saw my family at 7 and 11 but miles 11 to the turn around were rough. It was HOT and not shaded. There was a water stop at 12 and then the turn around was at 13. At the half way point I was at 2:30 EXACTLY. But that meant I'd have to run the same race on the way back and I just didn't think it was possible. My tendancy is to slow down in the second half. That freaked my out and so my next mile split was a 10:45. Oops. Slow down my dear.

Saw my family again at 15. Was SOOO thirsty so I got gatorade from them and walked for a second. I was starting to break down some. I did runners math and some how thought, oh I've only got 9 miles to go. Uh no....11, that was a tough realization at mile 16 when I thought, wait 10 miles to go but...oh crap. I kept telling myself that I just had to make it to mile 20. Made it to mile and 20 and was still pretty on pace for a 5 hour marathon.

20-22 they were lots harder. Saw my family again at 23 and was feeling beat down and a little teary. I was brushing against the wall at that second. At mile 24 I said F-it to my time dreams and I just worked on pushing myself to run as aggressively as I could when I was running....but I was running on empty. Things felt physically good. No aches. No pains, its just I was shot, mentally and mentally.

So the last 2.2 miles were rough, I wayyyyy slowed down and probably lost 3-4 minutes in those last miles. But I'm proud (and sore) but I my recover is MUCH better than the first marathon. I trained only 3-4 days MAX a week this time around and while traveling 4 days a week and sometimes I didn't train at all so I think thats a real testiment to what I was able to accomplish.

Upcoming plans is to focus on weight loss over the next month and then re-start training in July for the Chicago marathon in October of this year. This will be my first time of 2 marathons in one year. Hopefully keeping up the fitness level and then be a little leaner will help get me under that elusive 5 hour mark!!!

long time gone...

2006-03-22T05:18:00.000-08:00

Its been awhile. I've been battling a muscle injury in the hip. Or at least I THINK its a muscle injury. But I've got some great long runs in despite that. Two Sunday's ago 14.5, this Sunday 10 miles. I rode the bike Monday and did some stretches and strengthening exercises and took Tuesday off. I'll see how the hip feels later tonight to see if I work out tonight or not...I think I've picked a more aggressive marathon, 7 weeks from now, so I really want to crack down on the eating and see if I can lose 10 pounds in 7 weeks and be very strict about my training....

Foods I ate yesterday 3/21
100 calorie pack (100) L
coffee w/cream 50 (150) M
veggies, salad lo fat dressing 200 (350) L
sushi, eel 250 (600) L
fat free brownie 200 (800) L
pirates bootie 130 (930) L
chipolte burrito bol 485 (1415) M
1/2 serving of chips 200 (1615) H
sourcream 100 (1715) H
guac 100 (1815) H
puffins 200 (2015) L

Foods today 3/22
coffee w/cream 40 (40)
'nother coffee w/a creamer 20 (60)
oatmeal 140 (200)
chipotle hard tacos 390 (590)
1/2 serving of sour cream 70 (650)
biscotti 110 (760)
iced coffee w/sf vanilla, skim milk 30 (790)
2 glasses of wine 300 (1090)
tortilla chips
guacamole
enchilada
*no clue how much. Tried not to "stuff" myself. I don't easily 1,000 calories?
Total 2090

Saturday

2006-03-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Exercise - Ran 4 miles, fast!

Foods I ate
b-oatmeal 140 (140)
b-coffee w/1% milk 20 (160)
l-soup 250 (410)
l-crackers 100 (510)
s-brownie 150 (660)
s-crackers 100 (760)
s-cheese 100 (860)
s-pretzels 25 (885)
s-carrots 50 (935)
s-lite ranch 50 (985)
d-big piece of lasagne, made w/lofat cheeses, 400 (1385)
d-small glass of wine 100 (1485)
d-garlic bread 250 (1735)
l-1/2 apple 25 (1760)

Total consumed 1760
Total burned 400
Net for the day 1360
Deficit created 640

TGIF

2006-03-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

The scale and I are having a fight. Why do I get on it the morning after I travel when I KNOW that I'm retaining water and all bloated from being stuck on a plane for 2 hours. But Noooooo, onto the scale I hop. Like a complete moron!

I want to go to work's happy hour today but also need and want to run. Wonder if its possible to go the HH and not have a drink....then go home and run?????

Update: Well I went to happy hour, had only 1 glass of wine and few bites of appetizers. Came home and just didn't feel well. Slept for an hour before dinner, barely ate and then went back to sleep for a few hours...pretty sad and pathetic.

Exercise:

Food:
b-oatmeal w/brown sugar and LF milk, didn't eat much of it 150 (150)
b-coffee w/1% milk 50 (200)
l-bread 120 (320)
l-pringles 100 (420)
l-peanut butter 180 (600)
l-banana 100 (700)
l-water 0 (700)
hh- glass of wine 150 (850)
hh-1 cheese stick 90 (940)
hh-1 chicken finger 110 (1050)
hh-dipping sauce 50 (1100)
d-tiny bit of steak, not feeling well 75 (1175)
d-baked potato 150 (1325)
d-peas 50 (1375)
d-spray butter 10 (1385)
s-tea w/milk 25 (1410)
s-sf popsicles 20 (1430)

Thursday - travel day

2006-03-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

I ran this morning, 40 minutes, about 4 miles-ish.
Burned 400 calories

Walked another mile in the middle of the day 100

Total burned 500

Foods I ate
Luna bar 180 (180) L
Coffee w/1 cream 25 (205) H
chipotle hard tacos w/black beans 390 (595) L
diet pop 0 (595) L
1/2 serving of guac 125 (720) H
carrots & celery w/ranch 150 (870)
pirates booy 130 (1000)
3 bites of a shitty sandwich 100 (1100)
diet coke - (1100)
chicken breast 150 (1250)
bbq sauce 100 (1350)
peas 50 (1400)
salad w/lite dressing and bacos 200 (1600)
celery 20 (1620)
peanut butter 150 (1770)
4 popsicles, SF 40 (1810)

Total consumed = 1810
Less burned = 500
Net calories 1310
Deficit for the day 690

Wednesday

2006-03-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

Things I ate...
Fruist 100 (100)
Yogurt 90 (190)
Coffee w/skim 50 (240)
creamer 25 (265)
turker burgere 200 (465)
whole wheat bun 200 (665)
french fries 250 (915)
ketchup 75 (990)
coffee w/skim 100 (1090)
Juices 20 (1110)
Carrots and celery w/ranch 150 (1260)
luna bar 180 (1440)
salad with goat cheese and nofat dressing 200 (1640)
crackers 100 (1740)
cheese 210 (1950)
1 piece of sushi 25 (1975)

Pushing the envelope right up to the 2000 huh.

Sunday....end of the weekend

2006-03-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

So I did good last night. Didn't over do it but enjoyed the offerings.
Drank LOTS of water while I was there...

Today--I hate Sundays
Means the end of the weekend....

After a major internal battle this morning, I got myself dressed in my running clothes and out the door to go to running group. The internal conversation went something like this:

-I don't even know if I can run more than 3 miles right now. I think I'd rather run poorly this afternoon.
-You won't go running this afternoon. You'll just make more excuses
-No, no I won't. I really just want to run on my own this afternoon and do 6 or 7...
-LIAR
-No really, I'll run.
-LIAR LIAR

So thankfully the good me won out and I went to group. And my friends were there saying We Missed You! (So nice) and I ran 11 miles! (yeah for me!!!) And in a great time. I averaged 10 1/2 mile pace until The Hill at the end and I had to walk some. I feel sooooo good!

Foods I ate today:
b-oatmeal 140 (140)
b-coffee w/milk 20 (160)
s - (after 11 mile run, recovery 220 (380)
l-2 cups of pasta 500 (880)
l-plus spray butter 20 (900)
l-carrots 25 (925)
s-piece of cheese 150 (1075)
d-potroast 450 (1525)
d-potato 150 (1675)
d-veggies 50 (1725)
d-wine 150 (1875)

Activity-
Ran 11 miles. Burned 1,100 calories.

Net calories =
Consumed = 1,875
Burned 1,100
Net = 775
Calorie deficit = 1,225

Saturday, Saturday!

2006-03-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

So today requires a little thought and planning....
i know I want to run today. But when? What time?
Its already *gasp* 9:40 and I've got no idea how I wasted 1 1/2 hours since I got up.
I'm going to a house and home show with a friend this afternoon and then tonight we've got an "event" a Gala to go to. Where there will be wine (yeah! boo! mixed emotions about it) and "grazing tables". Translated, yummy appetizers and cheese and crackers and yum, but lotsa calories. So for this reason I feel that my day time foods should be calorically low, but sufficient so I won't DIE from hunger and that my run should be substantial.

Foods I ate today
b-coffee w/milk 25 (25)
b-oatmeal 140 (165)
b-blueberries 50 (215)
l-salad w/cheese
l-yogurt
d-1 slice of lasagne
s-@ the event:
glass of wine
lite beer
1 crepe w/fruit and chocolate sauce
1 brie filled puff pastry

Exercise: Plan---Run 4-6 miles

TGIF

2006-03-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

Frick. +1800 calories.
Damn wine. Damn wine.
How I love you....
Hmmmm perhaps if I'd gotten my ass up off the couch at some point today it wouldn't have been so bad. Lazy ass.

What I ate today

Oatmeal 140 (140)
Coffee 25 (165)
salad 25 (190)
dressing 100 (290)
bacos 50 (340)
soup 260 (600)
100 cal pack 100 (700)
popsicles 20 (720)
crackers 50 (770)
cheese 50 (820)
brown rice 200 (1020)
veggies 25 (1045)
glass of wine 150 (1195)
second glass of wine 200 (1395)
salmon dinner 350 (1745)
york peppermint patty, snack sized 75 (1820)

Running

2006-03-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

I ran on Sunday and Monday.
Skipped Tuesday b/c of some lame excuse I made up...oh yeah, I worked until 9 and then traveled on Wednesday.

I am NOT going to beat myself up over skipping 2 days. Beating myself up just puts me in a bigger slump and makes running seem like a chore. So instead I'm just going to mentally make myself look forward to tonights run. Can't wait!!!

Thursday

2006-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Back in Columbus. I pigged out last night. Scale wasn't friendly as a result. All I can say to that is DUH.

Food I ate today...
b-breakfast bar = 90 (90)
b-coffee w/cream = 75 (165)
l-cup of bean soup w/bacon 150 (315)
l-1 cup of rice 225 (540)
l-chicken breast 200 (740)
l-vegetables 50 (790)
l-water 0 ( 790)

big lunch tuesday

2006-02-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

foods I ate today..
breakfast 315 (315)
lunch 845 (1160) YOWZERS -- that is just waaaaaayyyy tooo much!
snacks 200 (1360)

I ate a big lunch on purpose today. And i was hungry from my workout last night.

workout report

2006-02-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

Ran yesterday 3 miles and felt really really good. The actual TIME wasn't so great. But I felt strong. I had some problems with my hip.

Its a very pointed pain. Right on the hip bone. Yesterday during my run it started out w/my hip and then b/c it was bothering me, I altered my stride and my knee started nagging me, and then finally the ankle. Doh!

So tonight I only ran 2 miles on the treadmill and then ran/walked another 1/2 a mile. I ran the second mile doing not speedwork, but um....I don't know what to call it. I start at 6.0 mph on the treadmill and then increase it every 10th of a mile by 0.1 until I can't stand it and then I slowly decrease the milage back down every 0.05th of a mile by 0.1 until I'm back to normal running speed.

Its a tough work out but I feel strong and like I burned some calories.

Monday

2006-02-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

Food for today
b-1/2 of an egg beater omelet 200 (200)
b-1/2 order of potatoes 200 (400)
b-little bit of fruit, like 3 bites of apple 10 (410)
b-1 piece of whole wheat toast 100 (510)
b-honey and butter on the toast 100 (610)
b-starbucks coffee w/skim 50 (660)
l-salad w/dressing and carrots and bacos 150 (810)
l-chicken noodle soup 150 (960)
l-4 crackers 35 (985)
s-coffee w/skim 50 (1035)
s-biscotti 100 (1135)
d-falafal salad 250 (1385)
d-1/2 a pita 50 (1435)
d-carrots 100 (1535)
d-hummus 200 (1735)
d-rasberries 50 (1785)

Workout - Ran 2 miles, walked 1/2 mile. Ran the 2 miles super hard. 300.

Summary
Consumed = 1,785
Burned = 300
Net calories = 1,485
Calorie deficit = 500

2006-02-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

Alright. Enough with the pity party. Its time to start running again.
Just because I'm traveling does NOT mean its an excuse to be lazy.

Get off my ass and get out there. Go go go! Its that first run is the hardest and hopefully tonight or at the latest tomorrow, I'm out there. I'm running. I'm doing it! At a minimum I've GOT to go to my group run tomorrow. Gotta gotta gotta gotta.....

Scale....

2006-02-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

Got on the scale this morning....
171.6

Holy. Shit.

Back in Ohio...

2006-02-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

What I ate today:
b-banana 100 (100)
s-granola bar 140 (240)
l-chipotle burrito bol, chicken, rice, black beans, corn salsa and lettuce 500 (740)
s-2 guiness 100 each 200 (940)
s-cheese stick 50 (990)
d-small piece of pizza 150 (1140)
d-soup 300 (1440)
d-crackers 150 (1590)
s-crackers 50 (1640)
s-cheese 100 (1740)
s-popsicles 70 (1810)

Hair cut day.

2006-02-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

I got my hair cut today. Yowzers!
Expensive but WORTH EVERY PENNY!!
I'm going home tomorrow!!! Yea!! Truth time to see what the last 2 weeks have done to my waist line!!!!

Food I ate today:
b-coffees with cream and milk 100 (100)
b-oatmeal 140 (240)
l-split pea soup, large 300 (540)
l-crackers 25 (565)
l-carrots and celery 50 (615)
l-ranch dipping sauce 150 (765)
s-Fruit, BIG thing of it 100 (865)
d-Big salad w/stuff 500 (1365)
d-1 glass of wine 150 (1535)

Exercise - walked about 3 miles, (0.5 to work, 1 to the hair salon, 1.4 on the way back to hotel)

Repent sinner.

2006-02-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

monday, the day to repent...

Foods I ate today:
b-lfat blueberry muffin 250 (250) okay, I THINK it might have been a full fat one :(
b-fruit 100 (350)
b-juice 20 (370)
b-coffee w/skim 40 (410)
b-coffee with creams 50 (460)
l-salad w/veggies 50 (510)
l-black olives 20 (530)
l-cheese 25 (555)
l-chicken 80 (635)
l-potatoes 100 (735)
s-pretzels 300 (1035)
d-salad 25 (1060)
d-pasta 250 (1310)
d-salad dressing 100 (1410)
d-toppings 100 (1510)
d-diet pop 0 (1510)

Total consumed 1,510

Weekend = excess

2006-02-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

Why oh why can't I keep control over the weekend?

Friday:
b-yogurt and fruit
l-sandwich from deli, 1/2 pastrami and 1/2 salami
d-aquavit = lots of salmon, few meatballs, bleh, STUFFED

Saturday
b-eggs, oatmeal, little bit of potatoes
l-big salad & piece of cheese cake
d-pasta w/vodka sauce, bread, and 1/2 a canoli & glass of wine

Sunday
b-spinach and provolone omelet (1/2), potatoes, toast (Big pieces)
s-granola bar
l-2 large slices of pizza with diet pepsi but not the crust (uh yeah like that saves soooo many calories *eyeroll*)
dinner - still to come but I'm going to keep it lite!!

yesterday and today

2006-02-16T16:43:00.001-08:00

yesterday
total calories 1850
total burned 450
Net for the day = 1400

today
b-oatmeal 140 (140)
b-honey 20 (160)
l-salad w/shrimp and drsg 300 (460)
s-coffee w/cream 25 (485)
s-juice 40 (525)
s-kellog bar 90 (615)
s-celery/carrots 40 (655)
s-ranch 150 (805)
d-lomein noodles 200 (1050)
d-thai food 600 (1650)

exercise - little yoga

Speed work

2006-02-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

Ran 3+ miles
Speed work today
Calories burned = 300

The speed work was tough. Really difficult but well worth it. I feel like I had a good work out and feel strong. Must. Hold. Onto. Feeling......

What I ate today
b-yogurt 90 (90)
b-fruit 50 (140)
b-coffee w/milk 50 (190)
s-fruit leather 70 (260)
l-burrito 675 (935)
d-refried beans 250 (1185) oops need a little more than that!
d-steak, 5 oz 500 (1685)
d-spinach 15 (1700)
d-popsicle 70 (1770)
d-carmel ruce cake 10 (1780)

Snowed in.

2006-02-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

I'm in NYC.
We are snowed in. No doubts about it.
Eating will be a little challenging thanks to perhaps limited choices but we will see. We are getting showered and ready to go out and explore and see whats open. Hubby is not going to get out on his flight tonight we don't think. So I'm on hold w/the airline (for 30+ minutes) to get him on a Monday flight. Hopefully.

Foods I ate today:
b-oatmeal w/raisins and brown sugar
b-small amount of eggs
b-small amount of potatoes
b-1 sausage patty
b-coffee w/skim
l- 1 1/2 slices of pizza
d-chinese food, not much, reasonable portion

um overall not a stellar nutritional day.
could-a been worse
walked probably 3 miles in the snow.
so lots of exercise.

Get a grip...

2006-02-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

I've been out of touch with my food habits for the last few days....need to get a grip now.

Friday
Hubby came to NY to visit. I was food-wise in control for breakfast
b-oatmeal
not too bad for lunch
l-salad & water
and then....
s-1 1/2 beers @espn zone
s-some potato chips w/blue cheese and alfredo (as if chips weren't bad enough)
and then....
s-3 glasses of wine (yeah is this technically a snack)
d-bowl of pasta with garlic and butter sauce - blech
and then in the middle of the night
*puke*
*puke*
*puke*

Saturday
Did pretty well. Mostly b/c of not feeling real hot
Lots of hot peppermint tea
b-1 sausage patty
b-1/3 cup of potatoes
b-hot tea
l-big turkey sandwich w/mustard
d-1/3 a steak
d-1/6th of a baked potato
d-1 glass of chardonnay
d-spinach, steamed
d-1/2 slice of cheesecake
d-coffee w/cream
**the big victory was that I wasn't stuffed after dinner. I could have eaten more steak and been stuffed but I decided it was NOT worth it. If I was going to induldge it was going to be in a controlled manner.

Week in review

2006-02-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

Beginning of the week weight: 175.2

Day	C.Eaten	C.Burned	C. Deficit(Over)
Friday	1325	-	675
Saturday	1650	-	350
Sunday	2170	-	(170) Oops
Monday	2350	-	(350)
Tuesday	1565	250	685
Wednesday	1545	-	325
Thursday	1525	-	475
TOTAL			1900

another day...

2006-02-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

Foods I ate today
b-oatmeal 140 (140)
b-coffee w/milk 50 (190)
l-chicken burrito 500 (690)
s-pretzels 200 (890)
d-chicken 100 (990)
d-veggies 25 (1115)
d-rice 200 (1325)
d-sauce 200 (1525)

no exercise. hip hurts. getting out of work early and will go for a run

Deeps thoughts. Deeply thoughtful? Just deep.

2006-02-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

Motivaiton is SUCH a hard thing for me. And I don't just mean getting moving. Its EVERYTHING. First getting motivated to GO work out. Then getting motivated to run the first mile. Then not talking myself out of quitting right away then not to walk, then not not not not.....AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I think that's why I like running outside so well. It means that I can run a certain distance OUT and then I HAVE to turn around and get myself back. Its like I can "trick" myself into running further by stranding myself too far away to get back.

Ugh. Does anyone else suffer from this affliction? I just DO NOT have those days I think "Wow, I cannot wait to run!" Now there are days that I'm not feeling too bad about it or once I get moving I'm totally in to it. There are days I feel like I could run forever.

Hm. Maybe I won't ever be that person who itches to go out and run. Which is sad. I'd really like to be that person. Perhaps I'm better off just accepting who I am rather than bemoaning the fact I'm not naturally skinny and don't just lurve running.

I am some one who needs a kick in the ass to get going but:

I like, no LOVE, how I feel when I'm done running
Love being able to tell people I've run 2 half-marathons and 1 full marathon and am training for #2
Love being able to define myself as a runner
Love the immediate connection when you discover another runner
Love that both my husband I do it and its a couples thing
Love my running buddies that are my pace buddies
Love how my legs look when my mileage increases
Like that I sleep better when I run
Love that it controls my weight better.

Okay, so since there all those AWESOME things I love about running perhaps I can just DEAL with the fact that I'm not a natural runner and it takes me a bit more effort during the actual run.

Sunny side up.

Glass half full.

Me 2, Laziness 0

2006-02-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

I did NOT want to go running but I did! A whole 1 1/2 hours after I was supposed but I dragged my ass off up the bed and did it. I'm traveling right now, NYC, and have been for 2+ months which has wrecked hell on my running life. But since I've really got NOTHING else to do after working 11+ hours a day, I might as well get my butt on the treadmill.

Foods I ate today
previous, added up on paper, prior to work out = 1185
d-yogurt 90 (1275)
d-popsicle 70 (1345)
d-little bit of chinese, steamed chicken & broccoli with a tad of brown rice 200 (1545)

Calories burned - Ran 3 miles and walked a little 325

Back on Track.

2006-02-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

Gotta get back, back, back on track...

Foods I ate:
-----------------------
Coffee w/milk 50 (50)
banana 150 (200)
oatmeal 140 (340)
lunch 425 (765)
popsicle 70 (835)
pretzels 200 (1035)
pirates booty 130 (1165)
brown rice 1/2 cup 100 (1265)
chicken and veggies 200 (1465)
sauce 100 (1565)

Running - burning calories (250)

Net calories for the day 1325

2006-02-06T16:58:00.000-08:00

I was lazy today.
Too lazy to make good decisions.
That is not a good thing.
I need to be a more responsible eater.

Foods I ate today...
b-granola bar 140 (140)
b-coffee w/milk 50 (190)
b-oatmeal 140 (330)
b-pria bar 110 (440)
l-turkey burger w/fixings 500 (940)
l-fries 400 (1340)
d-salad 150 (1450)
d-lasagne 400 (1950)
d-lasagne, veggie 400 (2350)

oh dear lord.
bad choices.
bad choices.

Sunday

2006-02-05T10:13:00.000-08:00

Foods I ate today (Sunday)
b-5 crackers 40 (40)
b-cereal 90 (130)
s-10 crackers 75 (205)
s-cheese slices 125 (330)
s-hot teal 0 (330)
s-popsicles 20 (350)
l-rice cereal 300 (650)
d-kettle chips 200 (850)
d-cheetos 200 (1050)
d-homemade pizza, 4 slices @ 200 ea 800 (1850)
s-popsicles 20 (1870)
s-beer x 2 = 300 (2170)

2006-02-05T10:01:00.000-08:00

Foods I ate Saturday
bGranola bar 140 (140)
b-Coffee with milk 50 (190)
l-Cosi 3 bean chili 165 (355)
l-1/2 hummus swich 200 (555)
l-4 potato chips 25 (580)
d-spaghetti, penne pasta 2 cups 400 (980)
d-sauce, home made w/sausage and meatballs 250 (1230)
d-parmesian cheese 100 (1330)
d-2 pieces of garlic bread @ 150 each 300 (1630)
s-popsicles 20 (1650)

Sick. Still.

2006-02-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Still sick.
Dr. tomorrow.

Foods I ate today:
b-hot tea (0)
b-coffee w/cream 25 (25)
b-granola bar 140 (165)
b-more coffee w/milk 50 (215)
l-lobster bisque 300 (515)
l-1/2 piece of salmon 200 (715)
l-1 piece of bread 50 (775)
l-little o'bit of butter 20 (795)
l-1/4 cup of sticky rice 100 (895)
d-soup 340 (1235)
d-crackers 50 (1285)
d-diet sprite 0 (1285)
s-popsicles 40 (1325)

Week In Review

2006-02-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Day	C.Eaten	C.Burned	C. Deficit(Over)
Thursday	1650	-0-	350
Friday	1685	-0-	315
Saturday	2040	-0-	(40)
Sunday	1650	-	350
Monday	1550	-	450
Tuesday	1625	250	625
Wednesday	1345	150	025
Thursday	1650	-	350
TOTAL			3205

Thursday

2006-02-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

What I ate Thursday...
Hot tea 0 (0)
Soy crisps 140 (140)
creamer 25 (165)
big salad 400 (565)
bean soup with crackers 200 (765)
snack 200 (995)
rice 560 (1650)

Exercise - uh no. What is that???

Still coughin'

2006-02-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

Cough cough cough.
Throat is killing me.
Walked for 30 minutes tonight. Took the long way home.

Foods I ate
b-Hot tea 0 (0)
b-Yogurt 100 (100)
b-Fruit 75 (175)
b-Creamer 25 (200)
l-Sushi roll 200 (400)
l-Lomein 1/2 cup 150 (550)
l-Pot sticker 75 (625)
l-Chicken 100 (725)
l-extra b/c I think i under estimated 100 (825)
d-salad, lettuce 20 (845)
d-chicken breast, grilled 150 (995)
d-ceaser dressing less than 2 TB, 125 (1120)
d-parmesian cheese, sprinkle 25 (1145)
d-mashed potatoes 200 (1345)

Calories burned, walked 30 minutes, approx 150

Down and out

2006-01-31T18:41:00.000-08:00

Still down and out with strep.
I don't FEEL bad but its hard to swallow and its starting to move into my head some.
Bleh.
So much for the running part of this blog.
I can only talk for about 5 minutes at a time w/out my voice disappearing.
How sad.

BUT! BUT! BUT!
I went running.
Granted, only two miles but it qualifies as running none the less!

Food I ate
b-Oatmeal 140 (140)
b-Creamers 100 (240)
l-chicken 150 (390)
l-salmon, 4 oz. 200 (590)
l-veggies with garlic 50 (640)
s-fat free brownie 180 (820)
s-honey in my tea 50 (870)
d-1/2 samosa w/beef 100 (970)
d-Tandoori shrimp 150 (1120)
d-Nan 180 (1300)
d-beer 150 (1450)
d-rice 1/2 cup 100 (1500)
s-celery and carrots 25 (1525)
s-ranch dressing 100 (1625)

Calories burned = 250

laryngitis

2006-01-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

Lord. The streak of bad luck doesn't end. Today. Laryngitis. No voice. Thank goodness for the internet or I wouldn't be able to express myself today.

Food I ate....
b-Soda 200 (200) crap tricked into a real pop
b-Pretzels 25 (225)
b-Coffee with milk 25 (250)
b-3 creamers 75 (325)
s-Oatmeal 140 (465)
l-Split pea soup 200 (665)
l-crackers 25 (690)
l-salad 20 (710)
l-salad dressing 60 (770)
l-veggies 10 (780)
s-hot tea with splash of milk 10 (790)
d-salad 10 (800)
d-goat cheese 150 (950)
d-craisins 50 (1000)
d-fat free balsamic 50 (1050)
d-chicken panini 500 (1550)

Forecast - Rain, Wind and no running.

2006-01-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Weather Forecast
Rain. Wind gusting up to 23 mph.
I forcast that I'll do my long run on Monday.

Food I ate today
b-coffee w/milk 25 (25)
b-oatmeal made w/water 140 (165)
l-2 slices of whole grain bread 150 (315)
l-turkey 50 (365)
l-1 slice of provolone 100 (465)
l-4 slices of turkey bacon 140 (605)
l-mayo, lite 1 TB 40 (645)
l-2 pickles 10 (655)
l-carrots & ranch 100 (755)
d-2 lite beers 200 (955)
d-2 chicken fingers 400 (1355)
d-french fries 200 (1555)
s-truffle 75 (1620)
s-tea w/milk 25 (1650)

3,500 equal 1 lb

2006-01-28T05:01:00.000-08:00

Trying to determine what my current calorie requirements are, then what to eat/work out to creat a 3500 calorie deficit to lose weight. Its totally mathmatical. Most articles, calculators say that its 10* body weight + body weight to exist. Then exercise on top of that. So using that logic I need about 1,925, so lets just round to 2,000 (I spend part of the week working in NYC and walk to work and easily burn an extra 75 calories a day doing that).

Creating a calorie defeciency of 3,500 calories per week equals a lost pound. I'd like to go for 2 pounds per week. Its reasonable and safe. So if I can create part of it through exercise and part through food, that is ideal.

Food for today
b-coffee with milk 25 (25)
b-turkey bacon, 6 pieces 200 (225)
b-egg beaters 1/2 cup 50 (275)
b-2 lite sausages 80 (355)
b-more coffee with milk 25 (380)
l-3/4 cup of white rice 150 (530)
l-1/2 cup of red curry 250 (780)
l-1/2 cup of stirfy veggies 50 (830)
l-1/2 cup of paid thai 200 (1030
l-hot tea 0 (1030)
d-tortilla chips 150 (1180)
d-dip 100 (1280)
d-lettuc 20 (1300)
d-chicken breast 150 (1450)
d-fat free salad dressing 40 (1490)
s-wine 500 (1990)
s-pretzels 50 (2040)

Formula for a good run?

2006-01-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

A good night of sleep + a healthy breakfast + no food poisoning = a good run?

We shall see.

The little guy is down for a nap, once he wakes up I'm going to go for a run. Hopefully it will be a good one, but if not, then okay. I'll just take it as it comes. Run and walk if I have to or slow it down. Can't expect a fabulous run after taking 3 days off of my regular running schedule. But I'm going to try for 4 or 5 miles.

Nice and slow and just enjoy the run and MY time.

Crank up my running mix and just cruise. My current favorite running song right now is from the movie Hitch its Now That We Found Love remix. It just pumps me up and gets me running. That and Will Smith's Party Starter.

Food for today....
b-coffee w.milk & cream 100 (100
b-few bites of egg white omelet, icky 50 (150)
b-1 small pancake 110 (260)
b-syrup 100 (360)
b-small amount of butter 25 (385)
s-hot tea with milk 25 (410)
l-8 shrimps in hot sauce 100 (510)
l-1 flour tortilla 200 (710)
l-1/4 c of refried beans 80 (790)
l-bite of chicken finger 25 (815)
l-1 french fry 20 (835)
s-3 triscuits 50 (885)
s-1 oz of cheddar 100 (995)
d-2 glasses of wine 300 (1295)
d- pizza, 1 slice 320 (1615)
d-1/ bread stick 70 (1685)

The other half of the equation, food.

2006-01-26T19:04:00.000-08:00

Ridiculous. I didn't run. Still not really recovered from the food poisoning but also just lazy. Tried to control calories today. lets see how I did....

b-lemon poppy seed muffin 200 (200)
b-2 pieces of bacon 85 (285)
b-coffee with cream 50 (335)
s-gatorade 50 (385)
l-1/4 of a club sandwich 200 (585)
l-2 chicken fingers 150 (735)
l-7 fries,waffle 250 (985)
d-bowl soup, veggie 300 (1285)
d-4 crackers 40 (1,325)
d-salad 0 (1,325)
d-sld drsg 100 (1,425)
d-cheese 100 (1,525)
d- 1/2 cookie 125 (1,650)

While it was not a day full of good nutrition choices at least it was reasonable calories. Tomorrow I want to get back on track with running. I know foodwise will be challenging. We are headed out for breakfast. My plan is to do egg white or egg substitute and no cheese on whatever type of omlet I get. Hopefully my stomach is back on track and I can get a run in. I feel fat today. Huge actually. I need to remember that running makes me feel lean and strong and slim. Even if I'm not.

I must run

2006-01-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

My long runs are sundays. So that means, monday's are rest days and then back at it on tuesdays. Today is thursday. I must run.

I didn't run Tuesday or Wednesday due to what I can only describe as a hellacious case of food poisoning. So now that I've kept enough calories "in". I must run.

Its amazing how quickly I find myself slipping back into the lazy life style I once led. Two days off of running and I'm currently mentally trying to justify one more day off. Seriously? Are you trying to undo all your good/hard work. A little secret about me? I'm inherently lazy. In all area of my life and running is no different. So today is Thursday and I must run.

So a 4 mile minimum, I could stand to go longer but I've got to get out and run at least 4. Its a gorgeous day. No reason not to. Nothing to do today. Get.Out.Run.Now.

Running just as fast as I can.....

2006-01-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

That is my theme song. Running just as fast as I can. Well sort of. If I were totally honest I would tell you that I don't necessarily run as fast as I can. I might just be a little bit of a sand-bagger. Pushing myself is not a phrase that I use or put into practice very often. So this is my journey in search of several things, among them

start thinking of myself as a Runner.
third half marathon - under 2:15.
second marathon - under 5 hours
weight loss/healthy eating
speed. or at least more speed than I'm currently exhibiting

Running History

Last August, 2004, I turned 30. And as I reflected on my mental "to do" list before I was 30 I realized that there were something I had yet to cross off. Among them, run a marathon. So in November of 2004 I joined a running group and started training for my first marathon.

Prior to that I was at best, a sporadic runner. 3 miles here, 3 miles there. Longest run was 8 miles prior to the marathon training.

I ran my first 1/2 marathon in April of 2005 and my first marathon in May of 2005 and then another half marathon in October of 2005. Half marathon times of 2:20 and 2:30 and a full marathon time of 5:20:33. I feel that these are all ok times for a beginner, but I think I'm capable of more.

I also gained 5 pounds training for the marathon. What a bunch of crap. This time, I'm monitoring calorie intake and trying to eat healthy.

truths I've Learned: Running does not equal a licenses to eat. Everything.