half marathon training: week 5: tyly.

Still not feeling all that great.  1.5 mile run (LAME) after cleaning up doggie vomit at 5 am.

day 68: cassandra

Did some cardio at the community center for 35 minutes = 275 calories.

Tyly, I have been feeling kinda "ugh" today, too. I thought running it out would help, but it just made me tired.

I'm about to go clean out the garage and I'm sure I'll probably sweat out about 5 pounds of nastiness. It's SO HOT out there! But it must be done.

half marathon training: week 5: tyly.

I was not feeling 100% today.  I had a scratchy throat all night last night, and it even woke me up at 1 am.  I took a few pills, drank some water, and went back to bed.  When the alarm went off at 5 am, I was not a happy camper.  I tried to run, but I just felt so exhausted.  I did 1 mile at 5.0 and decided to finish the rest after school.  To me, breaking up my run defeats the purpose because I'm not running the entire distance at once, but I didn't have the 3 miles in me this morning.  I was still really congested, my throat still hurt, and I coughed up some nasty phlegm (gross).  I was not at my best.  I'm not sick, so there must be something in the air.

Anyway, this afternoon I completed the run, but I definitely still wasn't at my best.  My throat is still really scratchy (my voice sounds ridiculous), and I am still having congestion issues.  I did finish the 2.0 miles in 25:00.  Not great, but not too horrible considering I'm not at 100%.  I'm proud of myself for sucking it up and making myself do it.

I'm a bit bummed that I had to split the run (I've never done that before), but I guess I should be happy that I did it.

I know better than to run when I am sick and my body needs to rest... but I'm not sick.  There must be something in the air triggering this, because other than the scratchy throat and congestion, I'm fine.

Turbo

I did Turbo Jam today, and it was fabulous. I haven't done it since I got pregnant (the kickboxing, squats, and ab moves were too much with my exhaustion and round ligament pain) and I was SO excited to do it again. Bye bye, Jillian Michaels.

I'm going to try and do it as often as I can, at least 3 days a week. Benji thinks it's very amusing to watch mommy punch and dance around.

half marathon training: week 5: tyly.

I finally stuck to the long walk!  For the last few weeks, this workout has been neglected.  I did 7.5 miles on the treadmill.  I wanted to quit so many times; not because it was physically  difficult, but because it was difficult for me to stay in one place for sooo long!  I was able to watchThe Princess Bride for the first time, and that helped distract me.

day 67/shred #26: cassandra

I.am.so.over.the.shred.

Ran/walked/jogged for 35 minutes on the treadmill then did the Shred.

Seriously ready for it to be over. Soon enough!

half marathon training: week 5: tyly.

I've discovered that I do better with some sort of warm up.  Even if it's just walking Max for a bit.  When I wake up and run immediately (today), my legs feel heavy and tired for the first mile.  My time was crappy.  I'm so frustrated with how slow I am sometimes!!  My schedule started out with me running 25 minutes, then 30, and now I'm at 35.  I may not be building much speed, but at least I'm building some endurance.  Stats:  3.2 miles, 36:05, 11:15 minute / mile average.

whoa: cassandra

I have lost nearly 7 pounds in 4 months. The reality of that just hit me. That's pretty amazing if you think about it!

And my body fat % is 22.7! I have fallen into the green, "IDEAL" portion of my chart. I started in the yellow "AVERAGE" and was pretty close to the "ABOVE AVERAGE" section. Yikes. This, too, is quite an accomplishment.

I get discouraged because I'm not weighing 135 (or something like that). But really...7 pounds in 4 months and a body fat reading of 22.7...I should be proud.

And I kinda am!

day 66/shred #25: cassandra

I ran/walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes = 343 calories. Then I came home and did the Shred. I didn't wear my heart rate monitor this time so I have no clue how many calories I burned.

I was gonna skip the Shred tonight..but I ate Taco Bell for dinner...hahaha.

half marathon training: week 5: tyly.

Oh man. I waited too long to go on my run this morning. I played around online, and I decided to walk Max first. By the time I started my run it was 8:30 am, and you would think that would be ok. Um, NO. It was sooooo hot, and I was miserable. I was pouring buckets of sweat as the sun was beating down on me. Yes, at 8:30 am! Never again. 6 am from now on! I decided to try and make it a bit more bearable by going to different areas of the neighborhood. I was hoping that pretty houses would distract me. FAIL. They are pretty houses on not-so-pretty HILLS. I had no idea that part of the neighborhood was so dang hilly! They weren't real steep ones; just a bunch of the slow, gradual ones. Yes, a bunch. Not one or two, it was the whole dang area! I was trying sooo hard to be thankful for my working legs, heart, lungs, etc., but I wasn't sure how much longer they'd be working! I was so miserable!

On a good note, I was so desperate to finish my 3 miles that I pushed myself to run faster than normal. I'm really proud of my time given the heat and hills. Stats: 3.0 miles, 32:53, 10:57 minute/mile average.

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

I ran/walked/jogged 3.0 miles with Max today. We had to stop for walk breaks, 2 poo breaks (him, not me! lol), and multiple pee breaks (him again!). It was a slow but enjoyable 3 miles with the dog.

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

YAY! I set a new record for myself. Friday is the day I try for a full 10 minute mile (1 full mile with the treadmill set at 6.0), and I did it last week. Here's my progression:

Miles = Speed

First try:

0 - 0.5 = 3.5
0.5 - 1.0 = 6.0
1.0 - 1.25 = 3.5
1.25 - 1.50 = 6.0
1.50 - 1.75 = 3.5
1.75 - 2.0 = 4.0

I did it:

0.0 - 0.5 = 3.5
0.5 - 1.5 = 6.0
1.5 - 2.0 = 3.5

Yesterday:

0.0 - 0.5 = 4.0
0.5 - 1.75 = 6.0
1.75 - 2.0 = 4.0

YES! My walk times are faster and I ran 1.25 miles at 6.0 instead of 1! Awesome!

one hundred push ups: week 1, day 1

I'm doing the one hundred push ups plan. Here's the site for more information: http://hundredpushups.com/

June 12

Set 1: 6
Set 2: 6
Set 3: 4
Set 4: 4
Set 5: Maximum number--I did 10

day 65/shred #24: cassandra

I ran/jogged/walked on the treadmill for 26 minutes and burned 239 calories. Then I came home and did the Shred and burned an additional 172 calories.

There was a 147 sighting on the scale this morning...I know it isn't my official weigh-in day, but just sayin' :)

day 64: cassandra

This is from yesterday. I walked/ran/jogged on the treadmill for 28 minutes; burned 265 calories.

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

6 am run on the treadmill.  I ate too much last night and was still feeling full.  Yuck.  I hate when that happens!  Stats:  30:10 at 5.0 the entire time.  2.5 measly miles.  At least I never quit going 5.0, because Lord knows I wanted to!

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

F Word. Only a 2 speed mile walk and too much food. Blah.

day 63/shred #23: cassandra

I did the Shred in my living today - wow. What a difference air conditioning makes!

189 calories
27 minutes

I'll probably take Texas for a walk this evening to get another 200 or so calories burned.

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

I was up and running this morning, literally. Haha! I crack myself up. :-)

Anywho, it was sooo nice getting to run this morning! I waited until 6 to leave the house, and the weather was perfect. I was trying to let myself go slow (er than normal), but about halfway through I was getting frustrated that I hadn't covered more ground in the amount of time I had ran. I have a hard time with the 'easy' runs. I am just too competitive, even more so against myself. Stats: 31:00, 2.80 miles, 11:02 minutes/mile pace. I seem to be averaging an 11:00 minutes per mile pace pretty consistently. I wish it were faster, but hopefully someday it will be. Of course I run faster than that during my run, but I run slower at the beginning, so it averages to 11:00 minutes per mile. I am no speed demon, that's for sure!

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

Today I did several different sets of arm exercises that I learned from The Shred with 10 pound weights. I also did some cardio with the weights, including shadow boxing, running in place, and jumping jacks. 

half marathon training: week 4: tyly.

I got in my run before church again.  The weather was nice when I started, but the sun was beating down during the last half.  I moved up to 3 miles today.  Still not a PDR, but I'm getting there.  At least now I can feel like I am able to see what my 5k times will be like.  Stats: 3.0 miles, 33:07 minutes, 11:01 minute/mile pace.  I'm working on starting slow and finishing strong.  My last mile or so was run at a 9:00 minute/mile pace, so I'm getting there.  I need to upload my runs on Nike+.  I will try to remember to do that after church, because the iPod is charging right now.  It will give me a better picture of my paces during my runs.

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

Today I had to be up bright and early to be at school.  It was a workday for us teachers, so I figured I may as well be productive.  I got dressed in my workout gear and ran!  I was going to do 2.5 miles, but I wanted my new total to be 30 miles, so I only did 2.3 miles instead.  Stats: 26:10, 2.3 miles.

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

I did it!!!  Friday's the day I try for a 10 minute mile, and I did it!

Miles = Speed

0.0 - 0.5 = 3.5

0.5 - 1.5 = 6.0

1.5 - 2.0 = 3.5

I'm so, so happy!  I've tried for 1 full mile with no breaks at 6.0 the last 2 Fridays, but I've never been able to run more than 0.5 miles consecutively at a 6.o.  

I'm so happy!  What a huge confidence boost to shatter that goal!  

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

Stats: 2.55 miles in 30:00 on the treadmill.  Ran at 5.2 the entire time, so that's progress.  It's the first time I've bumped up to 5.2, but I'm still faster outside.

love this!

"It's very hard to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the real competition is against the voice inside you that wants to quit." - George Sheehan

It doesn't just apply to running, though.  That can be said for any workout!

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

GRRR!  Today is the first day that I have flaked on my training plan.  I went and got my hair cut, and who wants to ruin a perfectly styled 'do?  Haha.  After my haircut, I went and ran some mandatory errands, and by the time I got home, I decided it was a rest day.  I know rest days aren't a bad thing (and are necessary), but I can't help but feel guilty!  I did run for a tiny bit in honor of National Running Day, but not enough to even write down.  Rest days, are ok, rest days are ok... I just keep telling myself that.  I haven't taken a complete rest day since I started, so I should be fine.

No Shred, But . . .

I did the elliptical walker, and it felt great. David does Benji's bedtime (basically, feeds him dinner and puts him to bed) almost every night, so I'm going to work out during that time a few days a week (that way if Benji is fussy and David needs help, I can help after I work out), and then do videos during the day when I can, and just pause and start as needed. I'm also walking Benji around the neighborhood a few mornings a week, and David and I try to walk him before or after dinner almost every night.

So yay, goodbye baby weight and pudge!!!

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

I wanted to run outside today, so I waited until 7:30.  Ugh.  That sucked.  I would much, much rather run in the morning than have to pull myself off the couch in the evening.  Once I drug myself out the door, the run wasn't so bad.  Stats: 30:10, 2.65 miles.  I'll take it.  I'm still slow, but I'm getting better.  I got off to a sloooow(er than usual) start, but that was because I was planning on including some sprints in my run.  I did them!  I know runners talk about pushing yourself to your absolute limit... to your breaking point.  I'm just not there yet.  Don't get me wrong, I do push myself, but not to the point to where it makes me sick, and I feel like I'm going to die.  I think I'm scared to go there.

day 62/shred #22: cassandra

I did NOT want to workout tonight. But I forced myself. Do I feel better for doing it? No!

I was cranky the whole time and SO HOT! My garage is like a sauna (hence, why I didn't want to workout) and I am dripping in sweat. I guess I feel better for working out, but sitting on the couch and eating pizza would have been a much better way to spend a portion of my evening.

Oh well, it's done. Thank God.

23 minutes
164 calories

P.S. A big drop is weight from last week to today, but again, I think those 4 pounds were all junk that was still in my system from Memorial Day weekend. Body fat % keeps going down according to my caliper! So...yay!

half marathon training: week 3: tyly.

Today I did several different sets of arm exercises that I learned from The Shred with 10 pound weights.  I also did some cardio with the weights, including shadow boxing, running in place, and jumping jacks. 

day 61/shred #21: cassandra, updated

Level 3 has me a bit confused...it wasn't that hard and I only burned 170 calories. Hmmm...perhaps I wasn't doing things right.

I definitely need to run or walk later tonight to burn more calories. Blah.

*** I had 30 minutes to spare before I had to shower and get ready for work, so I ran/jogged/walked around my neighborhood and burned 200 more. I am so drippy sweaty! It's HOT outside!