Pre Jack Rabbit Tuesday run

So since last Wednesday I've been pretty okay about running I guess. I missed my Thursday workout and didn't make it up on Friday. I attempted to run on Saturday but after snacking and rushing out to run I just made myself feel sick on the run and it did not work out so well. I walked most of the way back. I was suppose to go out with my honey but I wanted to fit in a work out before. Unfortunately we had a late breakfast and therefore were starting to get hungry yet weren't ready to eat lunch so we snacked on nuts and random stuff around the kitchen. It didn't translate very well during the run. The first 1.5 miles went well, the latter 1.5 miles didn't.

We decided to just stick around her place and run to and through the park and back. It looked like it was starting to get busy in the park as it seem the "Light the Night" event was going to take place. An event held to collect funds to fight Leukemia and Lymphoma. As we ran through the park they had balloons and pictures of various individuals affected by it from adults to kids. I have to admit I started to tear up and can say I pretty much cried as I ran. That was challenging and don't recommend it but I couldn't help but think about my honey and her battle against cancer and now facing issues with blood and bone marrow. Well I was able to pull myself together and get to our 1.5 mile point in one piece. As we headed back I just couldn't deal with the heartburn and feeling in my chest. It got pretty bad I felt I couldn't breathe properly. I couldn't take a deep breath. I just walked back. I wasn't going to fight with my body and frustrate myself some more. I felt bad for my honey who wanted to attempt going to her uncle's wife baby shower. I pretty much ruined that.

The good thing about not going out was that I rested some more for my run/race the next day. I had a half marathon scheduled to run and this race was going to help us gauge how our pace for the marathon was going to work out. I was excited to run this half marathon to lock down my MGP and not for a PR. Yay I could take it easy!

The next day came and I went to pick up my buddy, R, and his sister, A. My honey came along and I was so happy that she was going to be there for me. I was feeling good about myself, my body and this race. It was very humid so I was a bit concerned about that but again I wasn't "racing" for a PR so I wasn't too worried. I took off with A and we were going a bit faster than I wanted to. At times I wanted to slow down and I kinda did but I didn't slow that all that much because I wanted to see if I could push myself. I lost my running buddy right before the 8 mile mark so I was on my own for the next 5 miles. I felt good the second loop around the park and I was able to push it in the last 2 miles. One thing I noticed was that I was actually able to push myself on the hills. I usually feel like hills don't bother me much for the most part. I don't complain about them as much as other people do. Overall I did the run in 2:15:38 an average pace of 10:22 min/mile. I was hoping to do it with a 10:30 min/mile pace and I did much better. YAY!

With those results I get to say I will do the marathon in less than 5 hours! According to race time predicting calculators it is 4:42:47. That translates to a 10:47 pace which is actually less than my 10:50 -11:00 min/mile pace I had in mind. Of course the last 6 miles are going to be so unfamiliar that I may very well end up doing it at that pace but I'm happy to see that I can possibly do it in 5 according to the world wide web and its predictions. :) It is funny because in my registration I had stated a finish time of 4:40. I am glad to see I wasn't too far off. I wish Timex had a 4:40 pace group but it is either 4:30 or 4:45 so I will have to be right before the 4:45 group.

Now all I need to find out is my number! I cannot wait. I received the news that we will be getting it next week so I cannot wait. I hope I end up on the lower part of the bridge as my colleague stated that there is no incline there. I rather deal with them later on in the race. And on that note the marathon is only a little over 25 days away. That is the last time I will mention a countdown. I hate countdowns well maybe not but this one I do.

Wednesday update

So for once this week I actually rested on a Monday because I did my recovery run on a Sunday...well that and then some. Tuesday I met up with the JackRabbit group and I was nervous. I was hoping my legs were well recovered and would hold up during the evenings' work out. We were scheduled to do Strawberry hill loops, never did them before so the "new" element was great and something to look forward to.

We warmed up as a group and we actually stuck together. I stayed in the back as usual as I wanted to warm up my legs slowly and cautiously. When we got to the point were we were suppose to take off at 1/2 MGP I still took it easy. I kept focusing on how I was feeling and my body was still not ready to go and I also kept thinking about the upcoming 1/2 marathon we will have to race at this weekend. I so didn't want to burn out just on this run. We were going to do the loops for 30 minutes and I felt like that was going to feel like forever. Once I got up the hill the first time I felt great and my legs and body kicked into high gear. I was still behind the group but I sped up more than a whole minute. The next loop I sped up some more by 20 seconds. Right before this I was practically tailing my group as they started to slow down and I was speeding up. I caught up to someone having a hard time breathing and I slowed down just to keep her company. Once I saw she wasn't going to keep up I took off and told the coach about her and finished the 2nd loop. I was suppose to do one more loop but since at this point I lost track of the group and I had heard another pacer tell her group it was over. I was not sure if it was over for my group as well. I didn't want to run the loop by myself as there was a gentleman hanging around the dark quiet ramp and by the time I realized I had to do one more loop I had already started the cool down run. I was okay with it because I felt strong and again I didn't want to kill myself and ruin my chances of having a good run on Sunday. I want to feel like I can go more and not feel burnt out. I got home tired, tired, tired and hungry. I am definitely needing more sleep these days and I try to make it a point to get it.

Yesterday I was due to run a 3.5 run and I did but it was quite pathetic. I started Tuesday's run with some heartburn but nothing too bad and yesterday again the heartburn. I had some Mango yogurt/pudding that someone made and it seems that it is not sitting very well with me. I hurt and felt gassy in an acid-y kinda way and my legs and foot were feeling all kind of aches that I just walked every so often just so that I could do the distance and get back home. I'm glad I did it but I am concerned about my foot. It isn't 100% yet after Sunday...oh oh, I hope I didn't injure myself too badly. I'm suppose to run today but since I have an after work gathering I will take off and run Friday instead of resting. I also have my tennis ball to roll my foot and hopefully that will help. My goal for Sunday is to run at a 10:30 min/mile pace to prove that 11 min/mile will be possible for the full marathon. I know I can do it but with the foot pain and borderline burnt out feelings I've experienced I'm a bit concerned. I have been strategizing though and I think I got it in the bag given that my foot doesn't become a problem. I'm looking forward to this 1/2 and not for the purpose of setting a PR but just to prove I can pick a pace and stick to it. I've done it before but since I've felt weak lately I feel I need to prove it to myself again.

Weekend of running. Lots of it.

So I did my Tuesday group run and then I didn't do any running until Saturday. Boy did I made up for it though. Saturday we did our first 20 miler of the 2013 marathon training season. 4 loops in Central Park. FUN!!!! I hate to say that I'm getting so tired of Central Park, I am really struggling to keep in interesting. But alas Central Park it is for about 5 more weeks! Then on Sunday I did the Bronx 10 miles. 30 miles in one weekend...woah!

So Saturday we did 2 upper loops which means Harlem Hills 2 times, then we did the lower loop 2 times. Cat Hill 4 times...etc etc. I felt strong loop 1 and 2 so 10 miles down and I'm feeling good. It looks like I struggled again around mile 12 then again around mile 16 and on. I was upset because on our last 18 miler I felt great so why was I struggling at the 16 mile point?? Well here are a few explanations and things I will need to adjust by marathon day.

1. The hills killed me. I need to get use to these hills for marathon day because bridges = hills and I'm sure there are hills all along marathon path.
2. Fuel properly. I was relying on the Gatorade that they were providing and so I didn't properly eat my chews and I'm sure out went my energy and my mental reliance on it.
3. I did take a few of those earlier miles at closer to 10:50 min/mile pace when I should have stuck to a 11 min/mile and saved myself for the later miles.

I'm hoping to remember these lessons for marathon day. I want to run the marathon ( the whole thing) but I want to do it as smart as possible.

Now on Sunday I'm suppose to do a recovery run and up until this past weekend I usually either don't do it or I do it on Monday. Well I was signed up for the Bronx 10 miler and I really didn't want to skip out on another paid run. I paid for both NYRR long runs and didn't attend either. I debated for a good 2 weeks on what to do up until the day of the race. I set myself up to go and show up ready to run it. How much of it I was going to run was still up in the air even as I ran it. I paced myself the whole way at about 11:30 pace (well I think because my watch was dead and the mapmyrun app isn't the bestest) and I felt quite okay running the whole time. I felt some aches and tightness but nothing that was extreme so I kept at it. After the fact my knees, left ankle and the arch of my left foot hurts but I'm hoping nothing that some ice and rolling cannot take care of. We shall see how I am doing by Tuesday. Hopefully a-ok. Until then I hope to maybe add planks, squats and lunges to my routine so I can strengthen my legs. :)

Post Tuesday run

So I have been dealing with that slight swelling issue and it is still slightly swollen but it doesn't hurt. Not sure what to make of it. I have basically been off my feet, meaning not running, the past 2 days. I didn't recover run after our killer "16" miler. Yesterday our group met again and I was so happy that it was just a good ole MGP run. So we did about 6 miles of just easy running. YAY! Well in reality we ran harder than MGP and my pace according to MapMyRun was 10:33, however, it felt comfortable.

My foot was a bit sore afterwards but I iced it a tiny bit last night and last night and today I have been wearing a compression brace on it. Hopefully that will help. I will ice it some more tonight. I will also do my easy 4 miler at about MGP or slower.

Now the one concern I have is that my BM has changed....no longer in the morning. Hmm I do not like that and it will need to change by Saturday morning because I need to get it all out before I run. :) Gross I know but hey it is all a part of the running business. :)

slacking off again on the blog

So it has been a full week since I have blogged on my running, eating...lack of wanting to run. Well let's see if I can just pick it up again. 

So this is how my weekend went.

Friday night I managed to get to bed early but unfortunately my honey's tub was out of commission so I couldn't take a wake up shower. I guess since it is cold out again I may not need the wake up shower as much anymore. 

Saturday I woke up got dressed and ready and ate my waffles with raspberry preserve as we don't have much syrup and we didn't have fresh bananas just really soft ripe ones. I took my honey to her colleagues to get showered and ready to work and I went off to meet the running clan. So besides the construction going on in certain streets on the east side, all of 5th was closed due to the German parade. Needless to say parking was a hassle. I saw a spot at the very last minute when I had resolved to put my car in a lot and practically stole it from someone. Sorry dude, I was in a rush and had just enough time to still make it to meet my group. Thankfully my car was whole! Yay!

When I met up with the group I find out we are running the bridle path of Central Park...8 loops total! All of us were not happy. It is suppose to be "softer" terrain and we were going to take it "easier" to be ready for our 20 miler next week. RIGHT!! It wasn't so bad the first 4 loops, you really have to tune out that you are going around and around. When we turn around to loop the opposite way, things got challenging. I think there was more inclines going the other way and running on gravel and trying not to trip on rocks got a bit more challenging. Needless to say on the last loop my legs were pretty much done and I even tripped. Thankfully I didn't fall but that trip did totally discourage me. I ran some more but then gave in to my desire to walk. I let the 2 girls I was with just go on without me. As I tried to walk I was hurting. I was tight. I tried walking on the grass but that wasn't helpful. I had a hard time walking and tried stretching but just couldn't. Finally on the regular path I saw the pacer with 2 other runners and told them I was done and I was going to go to my car. He yelled that I should stretch and I told him I was trying to and off they went. I tried to stretch some more and was almost in tears but I didn't cry. I walked down Central Park and to my car, and I think I might have just completed about 15 miles at the end of it all. 

I went home and on my way bought some ice, my coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I was definitely going to take an ice bath! My first ice bath. I did it and it wasn't so bad. Maybe drinking coffee and wearing a long sleeve running shirt helped. I will definitely do it again.

Well the next day at my mothers I get a slight pain and when I go to feel the area I realized it was swollen. I iced it with some frozen grapes, hey it was what my mom had, and I bandaged it up. I realize then that it was a good thing I stopped running when I did because I could have made it worse had I pushed myself. I need to learn not to be too negative about things and take my training in stride. I will make it in the end but most importantly I want to make it injury free.

I was suppose to run yesterday and the plan was to run but with the swelling that was cancelled. I had thought about running this morning but since the swelling was still there last night I decided that I would attempt it at night instead just to give the swelling time to go down. Now I am at work sitting as I usually do and hope that my foot will be better for tonight. I meant to bring an ice pack with me but I completely forgot and I didn't even bring a bandage for compression. I was ill prepared for today. I don't think it is that bad and it was just the abuse my legs took from running on gravel and rocks, but i will take it easy and respect it.

Yesterday as I ate a healthy dinner I briefly watched the documentary "The Secret". Quite interesting and it had me thinking about all the things I want to accomplish and how I need to really sit down and focus on those things. 1. I want to finish this marathon healthy and happy and under 5 hours 2. I want to go on vacation after the marathon. I have been thinking Argentina but I am open to any affordable vacation so I have to figure out what exactly that is. 3. I want to thin out my body. I want thinner thighs and my flat belly back. I need to write down all I am grateful for and all that I want to accomplish. These 3 things are easy to accomplish so I have no worries about them but I really want to focus on bigger things such as being happy in a career or job doing something I enjoy every day and living in a home and being comfortable with my honey. The phrase: "Your wish is my command" sounds delightful!

Okay now back to my current reality and to tasks at hand. :)

Quickly eating wise:

Saturday:

Waffles with a bit too much raspberry jam

milk

Honey stinger chews

caramel macchiato

turkey bacon, egg white and cheddar cheese on whole wheat english muffin

almond vanilla biscotti from Starbucks

sips of v8 with lemon (new favorite drink!)

pork chop, eggplant and pear, asparagus

white slice

avocado salad with grilled chix

more v8 with lemon

Sunday

omelette with spinach and swiss

pancake

coffee

black beans with sour cream

english muffin with cream cheese

OJ

fruit tart

frozen grapes

more fruit tart

1/2 cupcake

chix with cinnamon

brussel sprouts

pumpkin

Monday morning

steel cut outs with raisins and chia seeds some 1 % milk and skim milk

2% latte

hard boiled egg with cheese

Weekend recap into Tuesday

Friday:

I ran 3.5 miles. I didn't want to, surprise surprise but I did it and felt good about it. I have to take a day to upload my results to see how good I really did. I did hurt in certain areas like my right hip, and left knee.

I cannot recall what I ate for dinner as my honey picked me up after my run so I could spend some time with her. I do recall that I wanted to be in bed by 9pm and I was eating at 9pm. I wasn't too happy about that.
I do recall eating a medley of string beans, zucchini and mushrooms and we shared a big baked potato. I think we had pork chops.

Saturday:

I woke up and had waffles with bananas and syrup. I successfully ate it all. I had a nice tall glass of milk.
We ran 18 miles but first I forgot to start my watch and then it seems like I must have paused it because the total mileage did not equal 18. According to someone we did it in 3 hours and 14 mins...not bad really if that is the case. I felt alot of tightness in my legs especially calves. I could not stay still and I could not stretch properly.

If there was one day I would have wanted to do an ice bath it would have been then but I wasn't able to.  I got home and and had to skip my relaxing routine. I didn't get to soak in an ice bath, I didn't get to soak at all. I got right into making some breakfast. I had the last of a chicken sausage which quite frankly I wasn't all that crazy about but I still ate it. I made 2 eggs, heated up a flour tortilla and cut up 2 cheddar cheese sticks to melt into it all. I really didn't enjoy it but I ate most of it. Next I had to just shower quickly and get dressed quickly, at least I was able to put myself together well. I drove myself over to my honey's again and met up with her family and friends to go to Saint Gennaro's festival in the city. I ate horribly. Canolli, mozzarepa, delicious cappuccino, coffee gelato and zeppoles. Bad, Bad, Bad! Hopefully I burned enough during the run and walking we did during the festival.

I cannot recall what I had for dinner. All I know is after the festival I fell asleep was super groggy for a long time and eventually was watching the boxing match despite wanting to really be in PJ and in bed. I think I just ate leftover pork chops and veggies. I didn't even eat the potato, I wanted no more white carbs.

Saturday was a super long day.

Sunday:

I thought I had a doctor's appointment for a physical so I woke up got ready and didn't eat. I get to the office to find the doors closed and finally decide to listen to my voicemail where it says my appointment has to be rescheduled. Good going Lizzie. On my drive home I was thinking I would go do some beauty errands such as get threaded and maybe my nails down, but I realized my threading card was home. I kept driving home but stopped at a Starbucks to get some caffeine and food as I didn't want to make anything. I just wanted to go into my place get my threading card and go. I picked up a double tall caramel macchiato and a turkey bacon egg and cheese sandwich. When I got home I realized I needed to do some laundry and it was early enough that I could take advantage and get it done. So I did that instead. I only focused on my running stuff and did one load. After laundry I relaxed a little then went to get my mom at church. We ate together. I just had some black beans with cheese and she made tortillas so I had some yummy tortillas. Too many actually but I didn't care.

We then went to Best buy to exchange my faulty headphones and luckily there was a sale so I got some money back. We then headed to Macy's my mom's favorite shopping store. I dropped my mom off at home and headed back to my honey. I thought I would just go home but I didn't. I picked up a grilled chicken avocado salad and shared it with my honey it was a perfectly light dinner after eating too much the whole weekend. I think I even ate a canoli and some snickers.

by the way I did no recovery run...ugh, I guess there is always Monday right?!

Monday:

I stayed home as I wasn't feeling well. Breakfast consisted of
Coffee
Pancakes with raspberry jam
turkey bacon
egg over easy

My honey stayed home too so we took advantage and hit the supermarket. Once we got home we had a chicken salad for lunch with tomato, corn and onions on baby spinach and a home made dressing of red wine vinegar with olive oil, Ms Dash and salt. I drank hard cider.

We worked on a puzzle and watched TV and movies. For dinner she made a skirt steak with potatoes and asparagus. I had red wine with my dinner.

I ate an nectarine which I hadn't done so in sooooo long. It tasted delicious and I was not allergic. Yay!

Didn't sleep well guess the wine didn't help. But my honey's cat kept mewing the whole night!!! It is getting cold and she is not happy about it. She lets us know throughout the whole night.

Tuesday:

Made it into work...yay!

coffee from office
Steel cut oats with raisins and fat free milk
2 hard boiled eggs
cheese and 5 crackers
Nectarine
pineapple chix with brocolli
almost 2 canollis

Must get ready and I don't want to go running today.

Friday not really a rest day

I am about to head home and I'm keeping my mind focused on making sure I do a run today. I should be resting but being that I didn't run either Wednesday or Thursday, I will get in the easy run I should have done on Wednesday today. I don't want to over do it as I will need my energy for the 18 miler I will be tackling tomorrow. Fun. I will make sure to get to bed at a good time, I will make sure to get up and have a good breakfast and I will make sure to take my frozen snickers to fuel around mile 16 -17. I hope they stay frozen for that long but know they will not. Last year I did 18 miles in 3 hours and 14 mins well more like 3 and 15. I hope I can get it done in no more than 3:30. I don't want to be that far off my mark. I'm nervous I really am but I'm excited about it.

Well as for today I was better about the carbs than yesterday...kinda.
Breakfast:
steel cut oats with raisins and fat free milk
2 hard boiled eggs mostly egg whites
crack of dawn granola bar

small 2% latte

small chix caeser salad
0% fage yogurt blueberry and acai

mini snickers
mini twix

banana

I will have my leftover for dinner

Thursday nothing

So it is the end of the day and I did not get a run in. I got out of work early for a doctors appointment and after I did a little shopping I went straight home. Once home I changed into my running gear and I went to the supermarket I was determined to make dinner Thai chicken and pineapple stir fry. I would get the shopping done and then go for a run. Unfortunately once I got home from the supermarket I got a little distracted, an hour later I was out the door and complaining about a 5 mile run. Well it seemed that it had rained as everything looked wet but I wasn't feeling anything. Then I saw flashes of light. I thought it was coming from the cars since there was heavy traffic in front of my building. However, after waiting around and looking at the sky I realized it was lightning. I went right back in and called the run off. I thought about going to the gym but I wanted to watch my show at what I thought was 8pm but it didn't even come on thanks to football. So I didn't go to the gym, I didn't do my run but I did get to make dinner and I am excited to have lunch for tomorrow. Yay! Still I did no run and no kind of exercise. tsk tsk.

Food-wise I've been on a feeding frenzy. I have wanted carbs, carbs, carbs.

Breakfast:

steel cut oats with raisins and fat free milk

hard boil eggs

coffee

3 munchkins

1/4 of a bagel with cream cheese

lunch

ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce tomato mayo and oil and vinegar on a roll

I came home to eat 2 small snickers

dinner

Thai chicken and pineapple stir fry I think I had a little more than 1 serving

broccoli

small bowl of cereal with 1% milk

I weighed in at 132 yesterday after weighing 134.6 last week but I think I may have gained it all back today. LOL.

Wednesday nothing

So I did manage to do a few exercises in the morning but other than that no run was done. I cannot get up in the morning and I cannot get myself to bed any earlier. After work it was extra humid and therefore I really didn't want to run and I had to go to my mother's to pick up an important letter. By the time I got home it was late and I needed to get dinner started. I was looking at crock pot dinners and it might be a good idea to invest in one. It would be nice to get home to a cooked meal.

I ate well. Here is the breakdown:

iced 1% latte with 2 raw sugars
Breakfast:
Steel cut oats with raisins and chia seeds
3 hard boiled eggs
Lunch:
Organic chix club with side salad. I ate most of the bread not the edge and not all the chicken
Snack:
1 tiny milky way
1 tiny musketeer
banana
Dinner:
small tamales with chipilin and loroco
black bean soup with moz
bites of watercress salad
ricotta, moz, and spinach/onion quesadilla

I think that was all of it.

Tuesday post run entry

So I didn't get to comment on my run last night as I really don't have much time to do much once I get home and before I must get to bed.

Well It was a very humid night. I hadn't realized it up until I got to the park that it was quite yucky out. As the sun dropped it did feel nice but it was still humid.

Yesterday's workout was the following:

From 72nd west side, Start with a warm up to Columbus Circle and back. From 72nd to 102nd pick it up to marathon pace. Then you'll do a 1.41 mile counterclockwise Harlem Hill loop - cutting across the 102nd St. transverse from west to east and then uptown. For the Harlem Hill loop, shoot for half marathon pace (or MGP minus 20-30 seconds per mile). Once you're back at W. 102 bring it back to marathon pace as ;you head back downtown. The hard work is done once you're back at 72nd St, but please do an easy jog across the transverse and back as a cool down.

I've been sticking to the 11 min/mile pace for most of my runs. Sometimes successfully and most times not. I was determined to do this exercise as close to the instructions as possible and yet try not to burn out too soon in my workout especially with the humidity.

We started out with a light jog down and back up from Columbus Circle and that was nice. Usually we head out way too fast but this time we all ran pretty easy. Felt nice to run with the group. Once we hit 72nd again and went off at MGP, of course we had those individuals who really need to move up to the faster group take off and a core group stuck together at I feel slightly faster than 11 min/mile. I of course was just behind them looking at my watch and trying to stick anywhere between 10:50 to 11:10 for the run up to 102nd. I really didn't want to run alone in these parts of the park at this hour but again I also wanted to be aware of my own pace and be very careful with the humidity. Once at 102nd again I was just behind but I stuck to a pace anywhere between 10:30 to 10:50. I wasn't messing with the hills or the humidity. Downhill i was able to pick up some speed and momentum but even then I tried to save myself for the hills. I felt I accomplished the loop at a pace I was comfortable and happy with. Once we got back around to 102nd and started the trip down, I really wanted to walk but I wasn't tired really so I pushed myself to run at an 11 min/mile pace to about 11:10. I was starting to get very thirsty and I managed to pass a few of those speedy runners that at this point were walking and it felt good to do so. I had to stop for water around 75th and at this point I really just wanted to get to 72nd and stop but we still had to go across on 72nd and back. I ran slowly and sticking to my 11 min/mile pace. At the water fountain another runner caught up and as we started running she just took off and maybe I would have been able to keep up but I would have stopped at 72nd and never gone across. She went ahead and stopped to stretch with the group. I decided to keep going but I walked across until I found my group running back. I turned around and jogged back with them. I really didn't want to go all the way across by myself.

Boy was I drenched at the end and I was thinking of all kinds of cold beverages/smoothies/veggie drinks. I really wanted a veggie drink and not so much a sweet smoothie so I went to Juice Generation and got an ultra pricey veggie drink with a shot of ginger. I think it was more like a ginger beverage with veggies because it was so spicy. I overpaid and it wasn't worth it, I should have just picked up a V8. Oh well next time. I felt great about my work out. I could have pushed more to keep up with the group but I know myself all too well and I know I would have burnt out. I want to start and end my workouts positively and so I have to listen to myself and my body. Yesterday I did and i am glad I did. It has me looking forward to my next run and that is how I would like to proceed for the next 2 months!

Food for the rest of the day:
20 oz veggie drink from Juice generation (all kinds of green with ginger). I didn't drink it all and the cup was not full
picked up peruvian food on the way home. Roasted chicken, dark meat. Rice, Salad, and red beans
glass of OJ

Tuesday pre-run

Time to get ready and into my running gear yet i'm feeling nervous. Not sure why. I was good about eating somewhat today and I even did some exercises this morning but I do have to finish tonight. My biceps are a tiny bit sore from either the tricep dips and/or pushups and wall pushups from yesterday and today.

Todays food log:

Breakfast

steel cut oats, raisins, and low fat milk

snack

coffee from the office with lowfat milk and 2 raw sugars

had a short bread cookie from canada a colleague brought

2 hard boiled egg white part

3 crackers

cheddar cheese stick

lunch

sushi roll - spicy tuna with ginger wasabi and soy sauce

fage yogurt

snack

kind chocolate and sea salt bar

pineapple

Well it is time to get ready for my run. I'll try to write about it once i get home.

Recovery run

So the run I was suppose to do yesterday I did today and it wasn't so bad. I know it isn't going to be so bad once I'm done but its the getting started part that sucks. I ran 3 easy miles but not really. I felt I was pushing myself and although it wasn't much it was more than what I have been able to do lately so it was a decent push. I came home and ran up to the 6th floor. I want to do that more often and get stronger when it comes to taking the stairs. I also did a couple of exercises.

70 jumping jacks out of 100
50 crunches
20 tricep dips (I think I did all 20 mom called when I was wrapping them up and I lost count)
15 squats
20 standing calf raises
5 push ups (sad ones but I did it)
30 sec plank (I thought it was going to be harder to hold but it wasn't so bad)
I didn't get to do lunge split jumps, russian twists or regular lunges but I will improve upon them as time goes on.

I hope I can really get into this and stick to this for the next 2 months.

As for food:
breakfast steel cut oats with raisins and chia seeds with milk
1 hard boiled egg
1 cheese stick (cheddar cheese)
5 crackers
1% latte
a shortbread cookie
lunch
salad with chicken, goat cheese, roasted red peppers, strawberries, artichoke, kalamata olives, spinach, tomato, craisins
fage yogurt
plantain chips
dinner
chicken sausage, eggo waffle with strawberry preserve and ricotta cheese. a bite of pecorino romano, a glass of granache and avocado. Quite a unexpected and yummy combo. :)

Weekend recap

Saturday

I struggled at the end of 13 miles that was really suppose to be 14 miles. My knees were done by 13. Again a reminder that I need to strengthen my legs. I also need to take a look at my pace throughout the workout because I may have actually pushed myself and thus why my knees were done. I want to get compression calf sleeves. Maybe that will help, not my knees really but maybe some calf support will help.

Sunday I was suppose to do a recovery run but of course that didn't happen so tonight I will have to push myself to do it. I did however sleep about 12 hours. I hadn't done that in god knows how long. It felt good but I felt off the whole day. My body was still tired. I also didn't do any kind of strength exercise...so another fail.

My eating habits have yet to improve. I have to figure out a way to remind myself before I eat that I must eat better.  Well essentially the key will be to prepare all of my meals ahead of time. That way I know what I will eat. I give myself no opportunity to deviate.

Here is to hoping and maybe taking this week to set myself up for success. 

13 (14) miles with Jack Rabbit

So I got home yesterday after work and all day my right shin ached. I was tired. I got dressed to run but all I could do is get myself to go for a walk to the supermarket. Maybe it was a good idea given the shin splints?? Well that is what I am telling myself. I am a little disappointed I must say but I thought "hey I do have 13 miles to do tomorrow so I think I will be ok." Whatever gets me through the day.

This morning I woke up and got myself ready for my run. Wasn't in the mood but the nice weather is definitely working to my advantage so I can't complain too much. Parking was tough but I found a spot and got no ticket...hurrah!! Turns out there was a bike race and a race that would be happening later so I guess they all took the parking. Well actually there is also a bit of construction going on so I get the feeling I may have a hard time all of September finding parking. Guess I will have to get out earlier.

Any-who, I got to our meeting spot and off we went. All along I thought we were doing 13 miles...at the end of 13, once I had resolved to do 13 and walk the rest because I thought we were going over, I learned nope it was suppose to be 14. Oh well, I had given my all to those 13 miles so the last little bit was tough. I'm okay with the fact that at least I did a little over 13. I'm enjoying the low mileage week.

I seriously need to get my act together when it comes to running during the week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays AND I need to strengthen my core and legs. Tomorrow I will be adding some exercises to get with it.

Day after

Woke up feeling energized today. And hungry. 

I was going to eat my hard boiled eggs but I just couldn't. Not yet at least. I did not go to sleep right away and therefore didn't wake up early enough to try and do some other exercises. I want to strengthen up some and ideally I would accomplish it in the next 2 months. My body felt a bit heavy this morning. 

Today I will aim to get up from my desk and stretch my legs. Tonight after work I will get a light jog in. I so wish I didn't have to get up early tomorrow but that is exactly why I'm glad that I signed up with Jack Rabbit, it holds me accountable. 

After workout post

So I really didn't want to run. I came home threw myself on my bed and wanted to either take a nap or go out and meet my honey and her friends to eat. Buuuuutttt, since I was tired I knew I wouldn't be good company and I figured at the very least I could get out and just move. I would walk if I had to but at least it was better than laying around doing nothing and feeling sorry about myself and dwelling on my tiredness.

I got dressed and prepared to head out. I was determined to go slow but after what I thought was a slow warm up, I was actually running faster than I was targeting. For the beginning of my tempo run I actually had to slow down as I was going faster than my MGP (marathon goal pace). After that it felt nice to run at marathon pace, I do wish I could push myself like I did earlier this year but I feel happy and comfortable at the pace I'm going now I am just going to keep at it. My shin was hurting at the end so I'm not really sure what that is about....hopefully nothing.

Well another workout done and I feel great afterwards. I have to remember this feeling and hang on to it so that it will motivate me to keep working out.

hello again...for the 100th time

Wow I had completely forgotten about my blog. Today my honey asked me about blogging and to show her how to go about it and I remembered my own blog. I come here and it has been a whole year since my last post.  Well I have managed to maintain my health, weight, fitness...but I do feel I am not as strong as last year. Actually I'm training for the NYC marathon again and hopefully this year I will get to do it. I don't want to spend too much time on getting caught up but I want to definitely get back on track and back to keeping track of my improvements, if any.

Today I'm motivating to run or walk or jog or something. I'm just dressed and going out side to do something. At work I was trying to keep myself convinced that I would run then at the end of the day and when I get home I so do not want to run. i somehow managed to get workout clothes on and I'm going to head out....now. See you when I get back. I want to get back to eat and watch Big Brother 15!! See you in a bit.