Getting Back on Track!

I was logged into RunKeeper last night and was checking out how many miles I have ran for the year. I ran week 3 run 2 yesterday and was wondering how far I have ran and how far I will run by the end of the year. See... some days I can't even turn off my brain while I'm running and "clearing my mind".

I haven't done much snooping around in the web application RunKeeper, but so far I like it. It shows me a map of where I ran, the elevation, my pace, and all sorts of other good stats. In January, I ran 5 times for a total of 10.15 miles. This was a portion of me trying to get back on track with running and then restarting C25K. So far this month I have ran total of 4 times for a total of 8.3 miles. Each month I'll be adding more miles than the next until I level off at 5K. There are all sorts of reports you can pull off of RunKeeper.

Before heading out to the track yesterday I was putting on my running shoes and even though I bought them at week 5 last year I still LOVE them and found myself admiring them. Soooooo.... I took a picture!

Kevin and I have finally decided which 5K we're officially running in! On May 5th we're going to run in the Fiesta 5K. The 5K supports the Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins. They enable the world’s best ALS scientists to collaborate and access funding so that they may continue work to rapidly develop new treatments and find a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. We have a friend who was putting together and team and I thought May would be perfect timing for us AND hopefully perfect weather! Here is more information.

So yeah... I'm still moving and shaking. Some days are harder to get out there than others. But once I'm out there I'm soooo glad that I am. The weather this winter has been very mild so far and has helped me continue to push myself to get outside and not let my fear of running on a treadmill wimp me out!

Don't Forget to Love Yourself!

So it's Valentine's Day. Happy day full of love, mushy cards, yummy candy and sweet smelling roses.

AND if you're a mom its the week where you have to remember to send out cards to the grandparents and close family members, put together something special for the daycare kids at the last minute, and hunt down the  perfect card for the hubby or whoever is the most important person is in your life..... and if you really want to go alllll out you might even want to shave your legs.

We run around trying to get everything together for everyone. We want them to have a special Valentine's day and to feel loved. My question to you is.... do you take time to stop and love yourself?

It doesn't matter if you're single, married, dating, picked someone up at the bar that night or have a lot of people to spread your love too.... if you're not loving yourself, then what's the point? Now Valentine's day in my eyes is one be overly lovey dovey day where you SUPER express your love for whomever is in your life. Yes... yes... you should be expressing your love every other day out of the year but Valentine's day is the day of Love Super-sized. Sometimes we get caught up in the day to day and miss an "I love you" or a kiss in the morning but I know on a day to day basis I also forget myself.

I was due to start Week 3 in my running this weekend but being away and snowed in, it just didn't happen. I didn't feel like running yesterday and now here we are today.... I decided to do what was best for me and my body and start up Week 3. I'm so glad I ran. I was able to clear my mind and enjoy the weather. And THAT is how I showed myself some love today.

How are you showing yourself love?

Running Forward!

I've finally been able to get some running in! On Tuesday the weather was beautiful and I got a great run in as planned. These runs are nice because there is more walking than running! I take time to breath in the nice weather around me during the walking portion of the runs.

I was supposed to run yesterday but it was cold and supposed to rain. It just stayed dreary all day and I didn't pack my running stuff. I curled up with Book 4 and dove into Teddy's childhood during my lunch break. I wasn't too concerned about not running because I knew today was coming....

Today was in the UPPER 50's and once the storm clouds from the morning rolled out it made for perfect running weather. Maryland winter weather this year is really out of whack. One morning we wake up to ice on the ground then a few days later we're hearing thunderstorms on the way into work!

The sky was soooo beautiful at the track this afternoon that I took pictures during my walk intervals as the clouds rolled out. Enjoy!

Found a large puddle to avoid this afternoon.....

The blue skies were trying to peek through for me

Sloooowly and surely.....

TA DA!

Those gray skies were rolling to the other side of campus and out to route 50!

TRYING to Start Over!

Sigh.... I finally got on the ball and ran Week 1 Run 1 last Thursday. It was much needed considering I had taken Connor to the doctors for his 2 year well visit and his 28lbs, 35inches long, 100% cuteness was a hot mess through shots and the "inspection" from the doctor. At one point he ran down the hallway to the waiting room and threw himself on the floor while screaming his lungs out. Sigh.... I won't be doing that alone ever again....

After I dropped Connor off at daycare and before I headed into work I decided to go for the first run. It was 29 degrees.... COLD! BUT I layered up and went for it. I was cold at first but then warmed up to the point that I shed my gloves and ear warmers by the time I was doing my cool down walk. I felt great, the run was great and the stress was gone.

So running on Thursday would make my next run on Saturday. I had a pretty busy schedule for Saturday but knew I would be able to squeeze it in that morning. Until.... I woke up to this:

Ice... Ice... EVERYWHERE!

SNOW AND ICE!! Well it was really just ice once we got out there and started tromping around. So in my book there is no way that I am going to run on ice. Just not happening! I decided that I would wait another day and let the roads get clear.

Sunday rolls around and as I walked from the grocery store to my car my face felt like it had nearly froze over and was about to fall off. Then my decision to run or not to run (I was leaning way towards not running) was made when I got home and Kevin had been called into work. I can't go off running and leave Connor home by himself napping!

So here we are Monday.... I packed my gear to run on my lunch break. Its supposed to rain but I planned to run on the treadmill at the gym to make sure I get my run in. I despise running on the treadmill but I have to get a run in! I walk over to the gym (I work on a college campus), change my clothes and head for the gym.... only to find.... there is a sign that says "Class in Session". I literally had "WTF!!!" dancing in front of my eyes! The Faculty/Staff hours are from 12 - 1... it was 12:15.... Sigh...........So I have yet to get Week 1 Run 2 completed!

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and in the upper 40's and I plan to run on my lunch break on the track. At this point I'm thinking I might as well start over again. It's much harder to run in the winter than the summer. Less daylight hours, its bitter cold and icy. At least in the summer you can run in the rain because its not freezing cold and if I don't get a run in on my lunch break I can run when I get home because the sun is still up.

Still trucking but feeling like I'm being pushed back by the universe. Sigh.....

Starting Over...C25K

Source

I didn't want to start all over again... but I'm coming to terms that I'm going to have to start C25K over again. I wonder how many people complete it and then go on a running break and then have to start all over again? I know I'm not the only one.... the vacation, being sick and holidays just totally did me in. Sigh....

I tried running last week. I programmed my app for a 5min warm up walk, 20 minute run and then a 5 minute cool down walk. I got tired quick but pushed my way through. Around 15 minutes into my run I started loose my breath. Usually I would have slowed my pace a little and let my lungs catch up. This time, I decided to take it as my sign to end early and start the cool down walk. I'm glad I did. I was so sore for days afterward. I was also horrendously sick that evening. I don't know it it was dinner, running for the first time in a month and a half or dehydration or maybe all three but I felt like death.

Kevin also went off track with his running this past month as well. Before he went for his run on Monday he mentioned he was on Week 1. We talked about him starting over again and I started thinking about it.

Before my lunch break today, I started eyeing up the C25K website again. I thought would start at Week 3 or Week 4.... but no... I'm starting from the beginning. Week 1. I can focus on distance and speed this time. Well.... I grabbed my gym bag and went to head to the locker room when I realized I left my headphones at home. Damn. I totally made my very last excuse for not running, grabbed my Nook and enjoyed eating my lunch in one of the study rooms at the college. I'll start tomorrow! So here's to starting over and Week 1!

Whatever Happened to....Running!?

Yep! I totally slacked on running since vacation in November. After vacation I got one really good run in and poof! I got sick. When I started feeling better during my winter break I thought about running while Connor was in daycare BUT then decided I should rest just a little longer. Now it's the new year and I'm ready to get rolling again.

I know I'll need to "bounce" back but I'm excited to do so. Running has been the only athletic thing I've done in my life that I've actually enjoyed.I have still yet to run an actual formal 5K and there is one in May that I am eyeing up.

My mom and step father bought me some winter running clothes for Christmas and my dad and step mother bought me a gift card to Under Armour where I bought myself two more running tops. I'm supplied to stay warm and now its time to get out there.... soon.... Stay posted!

Today's Run = Fail

UGH! Nothing but excuses for my failure. However after going over my excuses in my head, I know what I have to do to move forward to prevent future slip-ups. I only made it to 2 miles! Sigh.... I'm proud of myself for listening to my body but sad that my body couldn't be pushed further.

Excuse #1: I let too many days go in between my runs. My last run was on Wednesday! It was great too, made it to my 3.1 mark only let myself slack off and then only make it to 2 miles before feeling like I was going to fall over. I was supposed to run Friday but had a lunch thing at work to go to and then dinner out with family. It left no time to run. Saturday it was raining and icing so running was out of the picture. Sunday.... I think laziness kicked in and I used Connor's upset belly as an excuse not to run.

Solution #1: GET ON A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT! I'm officially keeping myself to a Monday, Wednesday, Saturday schedule. NO MORE EXCUSES!

Excuse #2: I started feeling really crappy and my stomach started getting upset around 1.5 miles. Why may you ask? Well... I ate a great breakfast of oatmeal and a protein drink BUT when I got to work I only had coffee... ZERO water and munched on candy this morning. How do I expect my body to run when its fueled with JUNK! I totally undid my great breakfast start!

Solution #2: I need to start focusing on my intake. I haven't changed my diet since I started running. I'm not talking about going on a diet BUT be more conscious of what is fueling my system. I'm drinking way more coffee in the morning than I used to in the last month and a half, and my water intake is slowly decreasing every day. Get on the ball girl!! Start eating better! Drink more water! Its an easy thing to do!!

Excuse #3: Having excuses! The first two excuses allowed me to be mentally defeated and then that lead to a physical defeat.

Solution #3: I'm a procrastinater in heart and I need to recognize legit reasons for missing a run and total bull shit reasons.

Wednesday I'll be sure to fuel myself with the best of anything and everything an push myself to the 3.1!

C25K COMPLETE!

Well... I'm done!! Done the program that is.... I plan to keep running and get Kevin and myself registered for a 5k in the next month but boy does it feel awesome to actually complete a program dedicated to getting you in shape. My last run was smooth sailing and actually enjoyable!

I've been meaning to blog about how I get a note from the universe in my inbox every morning and I will another time, BUT this morning the note read:
 

"Every fortune, gold medal, and trophy...

Every comeback, triumph, and celebration...

And every kiss, hug, and hand held, Amanda...

Were first a thought, a whisper, or a dream.

Go, Amanda, go!
    The Universe"

I found this on Pinterest a while ago.
http://pinterest.com/pin/375253639/

It really spoke truth to me this morning. When I first started this journey I did it half heartily and  with the assumption that if it got too tough I'd stop. But as the first week was completed my thoughts became focused on completion and my dream became doing it.

Right now I'm about a half mile short of running a 5k. I can run the time asked but I haven't reached the distance. Over the next two weeks I'm going to add 3 to 5 minutes to my time until I reach the final goal.

I'm so glad that Kevin and I did this together. It was helpful to have him to bounce ideas off, complain too, and celebrate triumphs with. I'm looking forward to pushing forward over the next two weeks to reach the 5k mark so we can start the next part of our journey.

So if I can complete this you can too! I know of at least two others that have started running since I started posting these adventures. Time for you to start! Get the first step out the door and the rest will follow!