Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know.
No Weekly Workout Logs for the past 2 weeks.
I haven't had much to write about. I get this way towards the holidays. The procrastinator in me gets all worked up about buying Christmas presents, it (finally) gets cold in the Kansas City area, and, let's face it, when you are newly dating someone, it's so much more fun to snuggle up with them than work out.
But the New Year is almost upon us.
I've always thought of 13 as my lucky number anyway, so here's to a better 2013. A few general resolutions I'm making:
1. Get back to clean eating.
2. Stick to the workout plans and use the tools I'm getting from my weekly trips to the gym.
3. Be a little more forgiving and little less judgemental.
4. Stop worrying so @#$# @#$@# much.
It's snowing here, so tonight will likely be a fancy night in, and I'm ok with that.
Here's to a 2013 we can all be proud of!
xo,
Eliz
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
On Not Running
I don't know how it happened, but 2012 has reached it's final month and that month is already quickly shuffling through its days. When I started this year, I had high hopes for my running. Really high hopes. I never would have guessed that I would have spent more months of 2012 not running.
I suppose it might be easy to glance at things and conclude that I got burnt out on running.
My friends, that is simply not true.
I got burnt out on being injured. On having to walk not because I was tired but because I was in pain. It's physically, mentally and emotionally taxing to constantly battle injury, to feel like nothing that you do helps long-term.
I miss running. I particularly miss running the Sandrat Trail with S & D on Sunday mornings. That trail was ... is one of my favorite places to run. It's hard to justify a 45 minute drive for a run, though, and I've not really made an effort to find a new place to run in my new home. Maybe I'm just a little apprehensive about find a new favorite and then not being able to actually run it. Who knows.
Running isn't gone forever. I haven't given up on it. There are just a few more things I want to get worked out before I get attached to running again. I want to make sure that my body can handle all the training I want to do. I want to hit that 18 minute 2 mile goal. I want to run a sub-60 minute 10K and most of all, I want to finish the Dublin Marathon.
I'm not going to lie, I'm doubtful of that last one. I don't know if my body can take all the miles it's going to need in order to be ready for 26.2 miles. That's a lot of running, and it scares me. It scares me that I may get halfway through training for this thing and realize I'm breaking down again. It scares me that I'll get through all the training, only to have to drop out in the middle of the race. It scares me a lot. Almost to the point of saying "Eh, I don't really need to do a marathon."
Almost.
But I'm not giving up on myself. I know I have the tools and the knowledge to keep myself from being injured. All I have to do is actually use those tools and that knowledge.
So, I'm telling you right now. Be ready.
Be ready to read about speedwork again. Be ready to read about hill repeats (my favorite!). Be ready to read about weight lifting. And push ups. Be ready to read about a sub-60 min 10k at the Hospital Hill Run. Be ready to read how fast I was at the 2 Mile Turkey Trot. And most of all, be ready for the sappiest recount of a marathon, EVER (let's face it folks, I'm a sap).
And I'll be ready, too.
I suppose it might be easy to glance at things and conclude that I got burnt out on running.
My friends, that is simply not true.
I got burnt out on being injured. On having to walk not because I was tired but because I was in pain. It's physically, mentally and emotionally taxing to constantly battle injury, to feel like nothing that you do helps long-term.
I miss running. I particularly miss running the Sandrat Trail with S & D on Sunday mornings. That trail was ... is one of my favorite places to run. It's hard to justify a 45 minute drive for a run, though, and I've not really made an effort to find a new place to run in my new home. Maybe I'm just a little apprehensive about find a new favorite and then not being able to actually run it. Who knows.
Running isn't gone forever. I haven't given up on it. There are just a few more things I want to get worked out before I get attached to running again. I want to make sure that my body can handle all the training I want to do. I want to hit that 18 minute 2 mile goal. I want to run a sub-60 minute 10K and most of all, I want to finish the Dublin Marathon.
I'm not going to lie, I'm doubtful of that last one. I don't know if my body can take all the miles it's going to need in order to be ready for 26.2 miles. That's a lot of running, and it scares me. It scares me that I may get halfway through training for this thing and realize I'm breaking down again. It scares me that I'll get through all the training, only to have to drop out in the middle of the race. It scares me a lot. Almost to the point of saying "Eh, I don't really need to do a marathon."
Almost.
But I'm not giving up on myself. I know I have the tools and the knowledge to keep myself from being injured. All I have to do is actually use those tools and that knowledge.
So, I'm telling you right now. Be ready.
Be ready to read about speedwork again. Be ready to read about hill repeats (my favorite!). Be ready to read about weight lifting. And push ups. Be ready to read about a sub-60 min 10k at the Hospital Hill Run. Be ready to read how fast I was at the 2 Mile Turkey Trot. And most of all, be ready for the sappiest recount of a marathon, EVER (let's face it folks, I'm a sap).
And I'll be ready, too.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Weekly Workout Log
This week was a tough week for me, as I had been fighting a stubborn migraine since Thanksgiving. Part of it was my fault (got lazy about reading food labels) but I'm still certain at least 50% was due to something beyond my control. I actually broke down on Friday & was at the doctors office in a fit of tears, but we did come up with a solution that hopefully will make my life more than livable again.
In any case ...
Monday: BodyRockTV's unapologetic sweat workout + Operation: Gun Show
**this one was ok. I mean, it was good, but I think I'm getting bored with my BodyRock workouts. Just means it's time to switch things up again, I guess.
Tuesday: Killer migraine today. It was pretty awful.
Wednesday: Still wasn't feeling the best but managed to crank out the randomabs workout of the day and an Operation: Gun Show workout.
Thursday: did about 40 minutes of yoga on my own. I thought it would help the migraine a bit. It didn't really, but the yoga still felt good.
Friday: It was date night with ICG so I made some vegetarian chili (apparently it wasn't hot enough ... whatever) and then we went to see Skyfall. I so heart James Bond.
Saturday: Another good workout with my trainer. I worked so hard, I had to stop and think about what came next in the last circuit I did. It's been a long time since I've hit "workout stupid".
Sunday:Yoga again. Apparently, I've missed doing yoga. A lot.
I also met up with an old running friend for coffee and shopping at H&M. We talked about races that we might do in 2013, and she invited me to join the Monday night running group. This one pretty much meets up and does a quick 30 minute run so they can have beer and food without feeling guilty. Sounds like the group for me! I said I would be there, unless it was really cold. (Preview for next week's workout log: it was REALLY COLD on Monday. Oh well)
In any case ...
Monday: BodyRockTV's unapologetic sweat workout + Operation: Gun Show
**this one was ok. I mean, it was good, but I think I'm getting bored with my BodyRock workouts. Just means it's time to switch things up again, I guess.
Tuesday: Killer migraine today. It was pretty awful.
Wednesday: Still wasn't feeling the best but managed to crank out the randomabs workout of the day and an Operation: Gun Show workout.
Thursday: did about 40 minutes of yoga on my own. I thought it would help the migraine a bit. It didn't really, but the yoga still felt good.
Friday: It was date night with ICG so I made some vegetarian chili (apparently it wasn't hot enough ... whatever) and then we went to see Skyfall. I so heart James Bond.
Saturday: Another good workout with my trainer. I worked so hard, I had to stop and think about what came next in the last circuit I did. It's been a long time since I've hit "workout stupid".
Sunday:Yoga again. Apparently, I've missed doing yoga. A lot.
I also met up with an old running friend for coffee and shopping at H&M. We talked about races that we might do in 2013, and she invited me to join the Monday night running group. This one pretty much meets up and does a quick 30 minute run so they can have beer and food without feeling guilty. Sounds like the group for me! I said I would be there, unless it was really cold. (Preview for next week's workout log: it was REALLY COLD on Monday. Oh well)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Weekly Workout Log
FINALLY! Getting back on track ... it feels good, folks, it feels good.
So here's what I did this week:
Monday: Rest. No real excuses, I just felt lazy.
Tuesday: BodyRock's Don't Wake me Up Workout plus Operation: Gun Show Tuesday workout
***this was a quick 8 minute workout, but super good. The 20 tricep dips afterwards were a killer, because my legs were shaking.
Wednesday: Random Abs and Operation: Gun Show Monday workout
***OMG this random abs was tough! I couldn't believe how hard I was working! And I really love the OGS Monday routine. I feel so BA when I finish 3 rounds of tricep pushups.
Thursday: Ummm .... I got my hair done. And then I hung out with Ice Cream Guy. Whoops.
Friday: I left work late, Ice Cream Guy left work early and we were scheduled to drive to Tulsa for the big ball. I got in a round of pushups. Meh.
Saturday: Drill Sergeant Mom workout on my HIIT Trainer App. I though it was appropriate for the weekend :). Also did a few rounds of curls and kickbacks and some stability work for my knees and hips. That hotel gym was a pretty awesome gym, actually ...
Sunday: I had every intention of working out on Sunday. That was until we went to a bar Saturday night. Did you know there isn't a clean indoor air policy in Tulsa? Or Oklahoma? I smelled so bad Sunday morning, there was no way I was going to make myself sweat while smelling that bad.
Yuck.
I know. Crappy excuse. It was a fab weekend, though. I'll tell ya all about it later.
So here's what I did this week:
Monday: Rest. No real excuses, I just felt lazy.
Tuesday: BodyRock's Don't Wake me Up Workout plus Operation: Gun Show Tuesday workout
***this was a quick 8 minute workout, but super good. The 20 tricep dips afterwards were a killer, because my legs were shaking.
Wednesday: Random Abs and Operation: Gun Show Monday workout
***OMG this random abs was tough! I couldn't believe how hard I was working! And I really love the OGS Monday routine. I feel so BA when I finish 3 rounds of tricep pushups.
Thursday: Ummm .... I got my hair done. And then I hung out with Ice Cream Guy. Whoops.
Friday: I left work late, Ice Cream Guy left work early and we were scheduled to drive to Tulsa for the big ball. I got in a round of pushups. Meh.
Saturday: Drill Sergeant Mom workout on my HIIT Trainer App. I though it was appropriate for the weekend :). Also did a few rounds of curls and kickbacks and some stability work for my knees and hips. That hotel gym was a pretty awesome gym, actually ...
Sunday: I had every intention of working out on Sunday. That was until we went to a bar Saturday night. Did you know there isn't a clean indoor air policy in Tulsa? Or Oklahoma? I smelled so bad Sunday morning, there was no way I was going to make myself sweat while smelling that bad.
Yuck.
I know. Crappy excuse. It was a fab weekend, though. I'll tell ya all about it later.
A Recap of Trotting on Turkey Day
Thanksgiving this year was different from the past ... oh 15 or so years.
This was the first time in all of those years that my immediate family celebrated in my hometown in Iowa, rather than traveling to my mom's hometown in Minnesota.
This was the first holiday without my bad-ass Grandma.
Before Thanksgiving, my dad made a comment to me during a phone conversation that we wouldn't have much to do.
Really, it was almost like a challenge: find something to do!
So, I found a local Turkey Trot, and encouraged the entire family to attend. In the end, it was an event shared with my siblings, while the parents stayed home, cooking. And Jeff joined us, too!
I knew it was a small race, and thought maybe this would be the race for me to place in my age group, but I also knew that I was still feeling pretty tight in the hips while running, so it wouldn't be a speedy race.
My brother is 6'4" and a former cross country runner, so I knew he was going to be quick, even at his old age of 31 (hehehehe). My sister signed up for the walk and volunteered to wrangle Jeff, so I was left to just feel things out.
The race wasn't chip timed and I didn't bring my Garmin - did I mention it was only 2 miles? So when the whistle blew, I just set out at my usual comfortable pace. Then I decided I could go a little faster. Took out a few gals that I thought might be in my age group (yes!). About a half mile in, the tightness crept up, and for the first time, I noticed how it affected where my foot landed (a tight left hip made my left leg come in at a much sharper angle than my right) and there I was, half running like a runway model.
Since the course was an out and back, soon the speedy kids were heading back towards the start/finish and there was my brother.
We totally high-fived.
In any case, I eased up a little, but still managed to keep whoever was chasing me (she was a heavy breather) behind me ... until the turnaround. When we got there ... SHE TOTALLY TURNED IN FRONT OF ME!
"CHEATER!" I screamed in my head, "YOU ARE A CHEATER!"
However, I soon realized it didn't matter because I needed to give my hip a stretch. She would've passed me anyway.
She was still a cheater.
As I was heading back, I met my sister, who was wrangling a very excited Jeff (runners do that to him). So, I took him and we bounded off. Man, that dog can pull hard for being only 15 pounds! It wasn't long before we had the finish in our sights and I did my best to pick things up so I came in at a decent clip - no sprinting, mind you (I had pretty much assumed there were at least 5 ladies in my age group who had already finished) - but a decent clip. I finished in 25 something .... 27 something ... I don't really know. It wasn't fast. But then again, I wasn't focused on being fast. I just went out there and ran. I actually forgot to pull off the tab on my race bib to give to the finish people and didn't do anything until my brother reminded me that I should. Oops.
So, I went back and said "I forgot to give this to you, but I don't really care how I place ... so whatever." They laughed.
My brother ended up 2nd overall and 2nd in his age group. We had expected him to get 1st in his AG because the guy ahead of him ... well, was also in his AG. But, they gave him both awards. I was just kind of minding my own business when I hear my name.
Uh, really?
Wait, seriously? There was only 1 other person in my AG? In the 20-29 AG, there were only 2 people running the 2 mile?
Well DAMN! I'm running this race every year! Next year, though, I hope to run it faster than Army requirements. For the dudes.
This was the first time in all of those years that my immediate family celebrated in my hometown in Iowa, rather than traveling to my mom's hometown in Minnesota.
This was the first holiday without my bad-ass Grandma.
Before Thanksgiving, my dad made a comment to me during a phone conversation that we wouldn't have much to do.
Really, it was almost like a challenge: find something to do!
So, I found a local Turkey Trot, and encouraged the entire family to attend. In the end, it was an event shared with my siblings, while the parents stayed home, cooking. And Jeff joined us, too!
I knew it was a small race, and thought maybe this would be the race for me to place in my age group, but I also knew that I was still feeling pretty tight in the hips while running, so it wouldn't be a speedy race.
My brother is 6'4" and a former cross country runner, so I knew he was going to be quick, even at his old age of 31 (hehehehe). My sister signed up for the walk and volunteered to wrangle Jeff, so I was left to just feel things out.
The race wasn't chip timed and I didn't bring my Garmin - did I mention it was only 2 miles? So when the whistle blew, I just set out at my usual comfortable pace. Then I decided I could go a little faster. Took out a few gals that I thought might be in my age group (yes!). About a half mile in, the tightness crept up, and for the first time, I noticed how it affected where my foot landed (a tight left hip made my left leg come in at a much sharper angle than my right) and there I was, half running like a runway model.
Since the course was an out and back, soon the speedy kids were heading back towards the start/finish and there was my brother.
We totally high-fived.
In any case, I eased up a little, but still managed to keep whoever was chasing me (she was a heavy breather) behind me ... until the turnaround. When we got there ... SHE TOTALLY TURNED IN FRONT OF ME!
"CHEATER!" I screamed in my head, "YOU ARE A CHEATER!"
However, I soon realized it didn't matter because I needed to give my hip a stretch. She would've passed me anyway.
She was still a cheater.
As I was heading back, I met my sister, who was wrangling a very excited Jeff (runners do that to him). So, I took him and we bounded off. Man, that dog can pull hard for being only 15 pounds! It wasn't long before we had the finish in our sights and I did my best to pick things up so I came in at a decent clip - no sprinting, mind you (I had pretty much assumed there were at least 5 ladies in my age group who had already finished) - but a decent clip. I finished in 25 something .... 27 something ... I don't really know. It wasn't fast. But then again, I wasn't focused on being fast. I just went out there and ran. I actually forgot to pull off the tab on my race bib to give to the finish people and didn't do anything until my brother reminded me that I should. Oops.
So, I went back and said "I forgot to give this to you, but I don't really care how I place ... so whatever." They laughed.
My brother ended up 2nd overall and 2nd in his age group. We had expected him to get 1st in his AG because the guy ahead of him ... well, was also in his AG. But, they gave him both awards. I was just kind of minding my own business when I hear my name.
Uh, really?
Wait, seriously? There was only 1 other person in my AG? In the 20-29 AG, there were only 2 people running the 2 mile?
Well DAMN! I'm running this race every year! Next year, though, I hope to run it faster than Army requirements. For the dudes.
 |
| Picking out my AG prize |
 |
| I'm #1?? Ok! |
 |
| Sibling photo with the Turkey. Boo. Yeah. |
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