Nothing really seems worth blogging about, but my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those impacted. I'm nowhere, nowhere near fast enough to even dream about running Boston, but I've crossed other finish lines, & had my kids there, & even crossed the finish line at my first half holding hands with my son. The news that an 8 year old was killed hits way too close to home.
It just feels so personal.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Do you ever have those days
when you feel not so good about yourself?
I've had a hard time balancing work (it's crazy - I took over for a coworker who left, & my workload has doubled) & working out. We ate out a lot when my parents watched the boys (a few days of bliss, followed by me missing them terribly). :-) I haven't been getting any sleep due to the construction happening outside my house (picture an overpass being built about 35 feet from your bedroom window - the work happens 24x7). I'm exhausted, & the sleep deprivation has been foiling my morning workout plans.
Today I was in a crazy funk where I felt very chubby & out of shape. And, quite frankly, freaked out about my half marathon that's in four weeks - that I haven't been consistently training for.
I managed to squeeze in one mile of sprints on the treadmill by bribing my children with chicken nuggets (yes, I have no shame), before they broke into a wrestling match. I ate a healthy salad for dinner, & was contemplating finishing the rest of my run after the kiddos go to bed.
And then I got this from my sister, from our vacation three years ago. . . just when you feel like you haven't made any progress in your fitness journey.
Oh.My.Goodness. And, no, I'm not pregnant, contrary to what the photo reveals.
Now I run half marathons, & weigh 35 pounds less. Even on a day like today, when I'm not feeling my best, I'm trying to remind myself that I've changed my life. I may not be perfect, or as thin as I want to be, or run as much as I want, but I am a different person - I take care of myself, I work out, & I eat well (within reason - I won't quit you, wine!).
I needed that today! And, as soon as Curious George is over, I'm going to go finish my sprint intervals on the treadmill. Half marathon in 4 weeks - I can DO THIS!
I've had a hard time balancing work (it's crazy - I took over for a coworker who left, & my workload has doubled) & working out. We ate out a lot when my parents watched the boys (a few days of bliss, followed by me missing them terribly). :-) I haven't been getting any sleep due to the construction happening outside my house (picture an overpass being built about 35 feet from your bedroom window - the work happens 24x7). I'm exhausted, & the sleep deprivation has been foiling my morning workout plans.
Today I was in a crazy funk where I felt very chubby & out of shape. And, quite frankly, freaked out about my half marathon that's in four weeks - that I haven't been consistently training for.
I managed to squeeze in one mile of sprints on the treadmill by bribing my children with chicken nuggets (yes, I have no shame), before they broke into a wrestling match. I ate a healthy salad for dinner, & was contemplating finishing the rest of my run after the kiddos go to bed.
And then I got this from my sister, from our vacation three years ago. . . just when you feel like you haven't made any progress in your fitness journey.
Oh.My.Goodness. And, no, I'm not pregnant, contrary to what the photo reveals.
Now I run half marathons, & weigh 35 pounds less. Even on a day like today, when I'm not feeling my best, I'm trying to remind myself that I've changed my life. I may not be perfect, or as thin as I want to be, or run as much as I want, but I am a different person - I take care of myself, I work out, & I eat well (within reason - I won't quit you, wine!).
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Giving up sugar
After my big Easter candy blowout, and the way my jeans are feeling, I think it's time to cut out sugar for a week. I'm not going to get too hung up on food that has added sugar (my cereal that I snack on does), but I am going to focus on not eating the following:
I was supposed to get up at 5:00 am to run on the treadmill, but I got about three hours of sleep last night. They were working on a massive, multi-year construction project right outside our house, and the trucks were particularly loud last night, & kept waking up the kids. No fun. I am currently having green tea & feeling like a zombie. I *will* run today, so I'll need to be creative about when I fit that in.
You know who else enjoyed candy this weekend? These little cuties. I kept trying to take pictures, and mouths were always full! :-) Note the chocolate on Sam's face, and Nick's chewing.
How about you? Have you ever given up sugar? How long did it take before you stopped craving it?
- Candy
- Baked goods
- Frozen yogurt (because I like to top it with junk)
- Ice cream
I was supposed to get up at 5:00 am to run on the treadmill, but I got about three hours of sleep last night. They were working on a massive, multi-year construction project right outside our house, and the trucks were particularly loud last night, & kept waking up the kids. No fun. I am currently having green tea & feeling like a zombie. I *will* run today, so I'll need to be creative about when I fit that in.
You know who else enjoyed candy this weekend? These little cuties. I kept trying to take pictures, and mouths were always full! :-) Note the chocolate on Sam's face, and Nick's chewing.
How about you? Have you ever given up sugar? How long did it take before you stopped craving it?
Monday, April 1, 2013
Must stop eating Easter candy
First of all, we had a fabulous, fabulous weekend at the beach. Typically in March, you're in for cold & wet weather at the coast, with (if you're lucky) some sun breaks. Instead, we got this:
The kids did this:
They were also pretty tuckered out after all that fun, so there was a little resting on the couch and napping in the car, as well. Easter egg glasses-optional.
I did manage to get out for one lonely run, and it was stunning. I even brought my phone so I could stop & take pictures. A gorgeous, gorgeous day for a run.
I had big plans to run 7 miles on Saturday, but instead I spent the day at the beach with my cute husband, watching the kids frolic in the sand. All was not lost, I did manage to bike to town with the kiddos in search of ice cream. ;-)
And, it's only fair to say that shortly after that picture was taken, I got a wicked, wicked sunburn on my chest. I didn't even think to bring the sunblock - in March!
Now that I've inhaled a ton of Easter candy, it's time to dust myself off and focus on my training plan once again. Michael's traveling a lot over the course of the next few weeks, so I need to be especially disciplined with my schedule - there's no opportunity to find another time to workout if I sleep through my alarm.
Did you overindulge over Easter? Favorite Easter candy? Cadbury mini eggs!! How was the weather for you over the weekend?
The kids did this:
They were also pretty tuckered out after all that fun, so there was a little resting on the couch and napping in the car, as well. Easter egg glasses-optional.
I did manage to get out for one lonely run, and it was stunning. I even brought my phone so I could stop & take pictures. A gorgeous, gorgeous day for a run.
I had big plans to run 7 miles on Saturday, but instead I spent the day at the beach with my cute husband, watching the kids frolic in the sand. All was not lost, I did manage to bike to town with the kiddos in search of ice cream. ;-)
And, it's only fair to say that shortly after that picture was taken, I got a wicked, wicked sunburn on my chest. I didn't even think to bring the sunblock - in March!
Now that I've inhaled a ton of Easter candy, it's time to dust myself off and focus on my training plan once again. Michael's traveling a lot over the course of the next few weeks, so I need to be especially disciplined with my schedule - there's no opportunity to find another time to workout if I sleep through my alarm.
- Monday - Run around 6:30 or 7:00. 3-4 miles on the 'mill.
- Tuesday - Run 5 miles in the morning + power yoga
- Wednesday - Cross train in the morning + arms
- Thursday - Speed repeats in the morning + pilates
- Friday - Cross train + arms
- Saturday - 4 miler + legs
- Sunday - 9 miler + power yoga
Did you overindulge over Easter? Favorite Easter candy? Cadbury mini eggs!! How was the weather for you over the weekend?
Monday, March 18, 2013
On not being photogenic, and a new running plan!
First things first. This weekend was my baby's 6th birthday. The first few years were hard (especially since are kids are very close in age), but the last few years have gone too fast. The boys say & do hilarious things, & I love this stage.
Birthday party fun.
I love that Nick has three cousins, all close in age. These boys make every party fun.
And then I saw a few lovely pictures of myself. Let's just say that I'm . . . not very photogenic. I'm cursed with a round face, my friends. When you have a round face, it's all about the angle.
Here's me with my sister, last year, at almost exactly the same weight I'm at now (I'm currently two pounds higher). . normal looking face:
And, then there's this glamour shot. . . Hello, there, triple chin! I'm photogenically challenged, I think:
And, this morning.
Pictures from the side are NOT GOOD. Must remember to pose more during photos. :-) This picture was great inspiration for dropping the last ten pounds!
Last week's workouts:
I had a pretty light week, with no running! My original plan was to take a few days off to recover from my half, but then I got a nasty cold, so I stuck to cross training & took it very easy. Here's what I actually did, along with my calorie intake for the day. I'm starting to notice a trend, where I am hungrier on days when I don't work out. . . Not what I was expecting, but it appears there may be some scientific support for this.
This week's workouts:
Today officially kicks off a new training plan for the Mother's Day Half in May. I really, really want to stick to the workouts, focus on speed and getting more hill training in. Here's what I'm planning for the week ahead:
Birthday party fun.
I love that Nick has three cousins, all close in age. These boys make every party fun.
A little brotherly love. . .
And then I saw a few lovely pictures of myself. Let's just say that I'm . . . not very photogenic. I'm cursed with a round face, my friends. When you have a round face, it's all about the angle.
Here's me with my sister, last year, at almost exactly the same weight I'm at now (I'm currently two pounds higher). . normal looking face:
And, then there's this glamour shot. . . Hello, there, triple chin! I'm photogenically challenged, I think:
And, this morning.
Pictures from the side are NOT GOOD. Must remember to pose more during photos. :-) This picture was great inspiration for dropping the last ten pounds!
Last week's workouts:
I had a pretty light week, with no running! My original plan was to take a few days off to recover from my half, but then I got a nasty cold, so I stuck to cross training & took it very easy. Here's what I actually did, along with my calorie intake for the day. I'm starting to notice a trend, where I am hungrier on days when I don't work out. . . Not what I was expecting, but it appears there may be some scientific support for this.
- Monday - Rest day (planned). 1429 calories
- Tuesday - Rest day (unplanned) + power yoga. 2000 calories.
- Wednesday - 30 minutes on the elliptical + legs. 1510 calories
- Thursday - 40 minutes of biking + arms + pilates. 1231 calories.
- Friday - Rest day (unplanned). 1454 calories.
- Saturday - 35 minutes of elliptical + 35 minutes on the bike + arms & legs. 1544 calories.
- Sunday - Rest day (unplanned). 1542 calories
This week's workouts:
Today officially kicks off a new training plan for the Mother's Day Half in May. I really, really want to stick to the workouts, focus on speed and getting more hill training in. Here's what I'm planning for the week ahead:
- Monday - 4 mile easy strides (with 4/30 second sprints) + arms. Power yoga this evening.
- Tuesday - 45 minutes of cross training + legs. Pilates in the evening.
- Wednesday - 2 speed repeats, for a total of 4 miles.
- Thursday - 60 minutes of cross training + arms. Power yoga in the evening.
- Friday - Burlesque or Zumba with a friend.
- Saturday - Run GPR, for a total of 5 miles.
- Sunday - 5 mile run + arms/legs & pilates.
Friday, March 15, 2013
A few things about me
Thanks so much to Stephanie at Now I Run for the Liebster award!
Love the questions. :-)
What is a Liebster Award?
The Liebster Award is for any up and coming blogs that you enjoy reading and a great way to promote them!
1. This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
2. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.
3. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
4. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
5. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
Love the questions. :-)
1. What is your favorite breakfast food? - Hmmm, I don't make it very often, but Huevos Rancheros? I typically have an egg with spinach on bread + fruit & coffee in the morning. Boring!
2. Where would you travel on a dream vacation? Easy - French Polynesia. For more "regular/realistic" vacations, I love the Oregon coast & Las Vegas.
3. How many concerts have you been to? Which was your favorite? Not a huge concert person, but I saw both Dido & Jackson Brown in concert & they were amazing.
4. Where were you born? Washington state!
5. What is your all-time favorite movie, book, and/or song? - Ahhh, I'm bad at this. I easily forget. Hangover? I have low brow taste. ;-)
6. Do you embarrass easily? Most embarrassing moment? - Yes! I think it was when I was wearing a long skirt in high school, & someone stepped on the back, & it came off. It was pretty traumatic at the time.
7. Did you go to college? Where? What did you study? - Yes. Claremont McKenna (California) & University of Puget Sound (Washington) for undergrad, & University of Washington for grad school. Professional writing, business, & an MBA.
8. Do you have pets? What kind(s)? - We have one lonely fish.
9. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? - Tillamook Udderly Chocolate. From the factory! The Tillamook Factory has all of the flavors, & it's amazing!
10. If you could only go to one store for the rest of your life which one would you choose? - For clothing shopping? Nordstrom?
11. How often during the day do you check your email? - For work, I'm online ALL DAY LONG. In the evenings, 3-4 times/night. Part of my job involves international, so I have to make sure things are going well during different parts of the day.
What is a Liebster Award?
The Liebster Award is for any up and coming blogs that you enjoy reading and a great way to promote them!
1. This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
2. The award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.
3. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
4. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
5. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
Not entirely sure about the stats on followers for some of the blogs, but I'm giving the Liebster award to:
In running news, I haven't run at all since my half on Saturday. I'm kicking off a new training plan next week in preparation for my return to the hilly Kirkland Half Marathon, so I thought it was a good week to take it easy & focus on cross training, yoga, & pilates. I'm also attending a burlesque dance class with a friend next week. WHO AM I? Totally outside my comfort zone. :-)
And, my leprechaun is turning six on Sunday. Can't believe it!
Me, today. I used to take daily ugly bathroom pictures, but then my office took out the full-length mirror, so today you just get a self-portrait. Taking my own picture gives me unnaturally large arms. Hot stuff! :-) Still tired & adjusting to daylight savings time. Can you tell?
What are you up to this weekend? Fun plans? Training runs? Races? Fill me in! And, if you are celebrating TGIF, what are you indulging in this evening? I'm planning on a glass (or two! ) of wine. :-)
Monday, March 11, 2013
Ugly race pictures
Well, first of all, I can't believe there are free race pictures available! What an unexpected treat. :-)
And they are truly classics. I take ugly race photos to an entirely new level. These are at the halfway mark, I think?
This one requires a little explanation. I was briefly confused when I crossed the finish line. I was shooting for 2:20, which my Garmin said I could do, so when I saw 2:24 or whatever on the finish line, I was both pissed & confused, as well as being in the normal end of race pain. Of course, in my delirium, I forgot that I started near the end of the pack, so of course the 2:24 wasn't my actual finish time. But, this picture nicely expresses how I felt in that moment. I like to call this "bitter runner". Also, running apparently makes my sports bra cease to work & my chest slides to my belly button. Or else, I look like that all the time & just never noticed. Hot stuff! :-)
Also, after owning my Garmin for two years, I finally figured out how to upload the information to my computer. I'm a slow learner. I've uploaded my race, but can't figure out how to view the details by mile. Is that possible? Doesn't it allow you to view your average mile pace? I just see it on a graph?
How was your weekend? Any fun race stories? Most bizarre thing I saw on my run. . . a woman in full running gear (but no bib) on the trail, carrying a large handbag. Like, a full sized Coach purse. It was. . . strange.
I'm running a local 10K (it's about a mile from my house, so I can't resist!) in April, but my next training goal is for the Kirkland Mother's Day Half. I want to beat my current PR on that course (2:23) & would love to beat my PR from Saturday (2:20). It's a super hilly course, so I need to really focus on both speed work & hill training.
How about you? What is your next training goal?
And they are truly classics. I take ugly race photos to an entirely new level. These are at the halfway mark, I think?
This one requires a little explanation. I was briefly confused when I crossed the finish line. I was shooting for 2:20, which my Garmin said I could do, so when I saw 2:24 or whatever on the finish line, I was both pissed & confused, as well as being in the normal end of race pain. Of course, in my delirium, I forgot that I started near the end of the pack, so of course the 2:24 wasn't my actual finish time. But, this picture nicely expresses how I felt in that moment. I like to call this "bitter runner". Also, running apparently makes my sports bra cease to work & my chest slides to my belly button. Or else, I look like that all the time & just never noticed. Hot stuff! :-)
Also, after owning my Garmin for two years, I finally figured out how to upload the information to my computer. I'm a slow learner. I've uploaded my race, but can't figure out how to view the details by mile. Is that possible? Doesn't it allow you to view your average mile pace? I just see it on a graph?
How was your weekend? Any fun race stories? Most bizarre thing I saw on my run. . . a woman in full running gear (but no bib) on the trail, carrying a large handbag. Like, a full sized Coach purse. It was. . . strange.
I'm running a local 10K (it's about a mile from my house, so I can't resist!) in April, but my next training goal is for the Kirkland Mother's Day Half. I want to beat my current PR on that course (2:23) & would love to beat my PR from Saturday (2:20). It's a super hilly course, so I need to really focus on both speed work & hill training.
How about you? What is your next training goal?
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