Do What They Do

Since I now call myself a runner, I guess I better start reporting my runs, a la Irene style.

Activity: Run
Date: 07/05/09 6:53 PM
Distance: 3.04 miles
Time: 31:38
Pace: 10' 25 min/mile
Calories: 364

I knew I had to run today since my last run was Thursday night. I was sitting down watching TV in between copious amounts of laundry when hubby informed me that he'd be leaving for poker within the hour. All of the sudden, I found myself dressed and out the door. I even forgot to turn off the TV.

All felt good ... no aches, splints, sore back. Nothing. Nada. Nilch. Loving this part the most I think.

Hoping to run again on Tuesday.

I also took another big step today: I pulled hubby's bike down from the ceiling. Tomorrow I'll inflate the tires and give it a go. If it works for me, then all it needs are new tires which is a cheap fix. Fingers crossed.

Definition

Where oh where is my motivation? I seem to have lost it. I was supposed to wake up early yesterday and today to run or bike, but it didn't happen. I changed the alarm times both days halfway through the night when I let the dog out. My upper body workout last night sucked ..... just couldn't get motivated to do anything longer than 25 minutes. Ugh. It was pitiful. I'm pitiful. It's just not working right now. It's too hot after work. Currently it's ..............................



So I started writing this post tonight while watching a long-ago-DVRed Law & Order. I was sitting there, making up an excuse to not run, and to also get out of chores. I decided that I could blame my laziness on the weather. So I went to check how hot it was outside. And surprisingly, it was only 82 degrees. I seriously thought it was way hotter than that because last night it was closer to 90 at 7:00pm.

So then when I found out it wasn't as hot as I thought it was, I decided that a run might be possible. After having a rather lengthy Facebook discussion with myself, I changed my clothes and headed out.

First off, I love that a 3 mile run is nothing to me. I remember when I ran my first 5K. It was so hard and I had no idea if I could do it. I even went out for brunch afterwards because that's what you do when you've run a "big" race.

Sheesh. Now I use 5Ks as training runs.

Activity: Run
Date: 07/02/09 7:40 PM
Distance: 3.09 miles
Time: 32:25
Pace: 10' 29 min/mile
Calories: 408

I am quite pleased with tonight's run. I haven't run since last Tuesday. Laziness, pure and simple. But I've come so far .... I can now just go out and run. I think this is pretty cool. I still have to stretch A LOT before and after, but still, I'm finally what I've always wanted to be. I'm a runner. A short-distance runner. w00t.

Now I just need to work on being CONSISTENT.

July 1 is the 182nd day of the year

WOW! No wonder I don't feel ready for the triathlon. My workouts were rather dismal compared to May. For the first five months of the year, I did pretty well at increasing workouts each month, especially leading up to May's Bay-to-Breakers. But then June came, and I cut back. Not good. Definitely not good if you're planning a triathlon.

So July's goal is to bump that up again. 6 days a week. Swims. Rides. Runs. Lunges. Yoga. Stretches.

I'm actually going to focus a lot more on stretches too. My Psoas (so-azz) muscles are super weak which is causing me lower back pain. I've been working on stretching them throughout the day, a couple of minutes here, a couple of minutes there. I really need to get this area stronger; I can't be saddle with back pain. Too much to do. And a sore back is quite exhausting.

Daily Goals -- new thing -- might or might not publish all the time

1. Drink 100+ oz of water.
2. Psoas stretches.
3. Stay within calorie range.
4. Upper Body Workout with treadmill intervals.
5. 30 Walking Lunges.

Deferment of Sorts

With great sadness, actually not that much sadness, I must postpone my July 11th triathlon until August. I am financially strapped for the $55 entrance fee, plus my bike needs a major tune-up or if it can't be tuned up, then I need to borrow my husband's bike. Why can't it be easy?

I also don't think I'm ready for it at all. I'm not too worried about the ½ mile swim or the 3 mile run. It's the 16 mile bike ride that is freaking me out. The longest I've done is a 12-½ and my legs were zonked. By postponing, I'm giving myself extra time to get in some longer distances.

So the plan is to keep working out in the morning. I know, I haven't done that since last Wednesday, but it really is too hot in the evenings to be outside. I also need to add more lunges because I think they help out so much. What I think I will do is bike, run, or swim in the mornings, and do mini workouts at night -- yoga, abs, upper body, and lunges. Those I can all do in an semi-air-conditioned house [we keep the thermostat at 80 to save money, so it's kind of cool, but not really].

This weekend my goal is to bike 14 miles with a 2 or 2-½ mile run afterward, and then do another bike ride, not as long.

Holy Hotness Batman

Where did I leave off?

Last Wednesday's workout was 45 min of Yoga for Runners. After all is said and done, it's about 53 minutes and I was feeling it each and every one of those minutes. That's what's great about yoga, no matter how much it kills me, it definitely works. I'm much stronger and my recoveries are much faster, all thanks to yogadownload.com. If Leslie hadn't told me about that when they were doing free Yoga for Runners downloads, I never would have heard about it and never started doing it. And now I can't imagine NOT doing it. Crazy.

I fully intended on doing another brick workout on Thursday, so I rushed right home from work and headed out for a quick run before jumping on my bike. Since there's no one to watch Brian for me on Thursday nights, I have to reverse my bricks .... run while he's still at daycare and then ride on the bike to pick him up. Clever huh? It only took me four weeks to figure that out.

So I'm out running in the neighborhood and would you believe, Sacramento actually decided to get hot that day? The one time I choose to run outside in the early evening and it's 90 degrees. I made it through the 1.5 mile run, with a pretty good pace of 10:46, but was in no shape to get on the bike. I actually got lightheaded and nauseous from the heat. Not good.

I should have gone for the bike ride after it cooled down, but when your son wants to color with you and only you, you really can't say no to that, can you?

I did not workout on Friday.

I did go for a quick walk with my mother-in-law and Brian on Saturday.

I did not workout on Sunday. I did get thrown in the pool though by my brother-in-law.

At one point on Sunday, I told myself that I didn't have to workout on Sunday if I went for a bike ride early Monday morning.

So that's what I did .... the alarm went off at 5:08. I hit snooze twice, then rolled out of bed, ate a slice of whole wheat bread with PB and honey, got dressed, and went to the garage. And out I went. And three miles in, I hit a wall. Not a literal wall, that would've been bad. No my body got very mad at me and shut down somewhat. I turned around sooner than I would've liked and made the trek back home, all the time, wanting to throw up. I'm thinking I need to eat earlier? I know I need to eat something before I ride, but what? Of course it could be the wine that I had the day before.

In any case, I crossed the bridge to working out outside in the morning. For so long, that has freaked me out, but this morning, I survived the early morning streets and plan on doing it again. I have to .... Sacramento is super frickin hot in the summertime.

The ride ended up being just over 7 miles long, with an average speed of 10.7mph. I really need to get my gears fixed. Having only two gears working is not good.

I know it's been said many times before, but a good workout in the morning sets the stage for a good day. During lunch, I left the office and went for a 54 min walk. Food was relatively good too.

Workout Recap

I'm so pleased with my workouts that I can't wait until the end of the week to write about them.

Monday

• 50 min walk at lunchtime -- usually my walks are 30 minutes, but I really needed to clear my head, so I kept just walking.

• 12-½ mile bike ride -- my longest ride to date. I'm a wee bit scared riding on the busy streets, but you can only do neighborhood loops for so long (bbbboooorrrrrrrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg). This ride took me down a usual road, but one I've never done on a bike before. I take this road every day to work and have been for most of the 10 years that I have lived here. But I never noticed really how it goes from "suburbia" to "country" pretty quickly. The atmosphere changes -- barbed wire fences, long and big front yards, and horse poop. When you're whipping by at 55 miles per hour, you don't notice this kind of stuff. Going down the road I didn't have to worry about the wind, but coming back, it hit me hard. I kept going and many times told myself that I didn't have to run if I got back home.
  

• 1.46 mile run -- I did run even after I said I didn't have to. But I did have too. Triathlon is only 23 days away. I have to bike + run. I have to practice transistions. I have to. The run sucked -- my legs were stiff and heavy the whole time, but it got done. I can't imagine what my legs will be like after a 16 mile bike ride. How will I finish a 3 mile run after all that?

Tuesday

• Stayed home to workout since I had to watch my niece and nephew. Warmed up with a 5 min walk, then did 2 sets of 10 "real" pushups* and 2 sets of 10 divebombers. Then I sprinted for 90 seconds and did 20 walking lunges. Next up shoulders. Then a sprint and walking lunges. Then pull-ups. Then a sprint and walking lunges. Then biceps and triceps. Then a sprint and walking lunges. Most of the lunges were Leslie's prisoner lunges.
  

As of 3:00 on Wednesday, I'm feeling the lunge work in all the right places.

A New Week

Last week's workout plan was a good one -- would've been even better if I had stuck to it. While I didn't do most of the workouts, I did do some stuff. Not triathlon-training type stuff, but it wasn't a complete waste of a week.

My back was still an issue last week though which limited and affected my mood. But it is now 110% better, so I plan on kicking it up a notch this week. Plus I need the exercise to take my mind of some issues. More on that later when I go private.

Monday
50 min walk at lunchtime
bike+run

EDIT -- You know what, I really don't like planning. During my 12-½ mile bike ride last night (!!!!!!!!!!), I realized that I didn't finish this post. I got stuck at the "planning" part. I'd much rather report at the end of the week how I did.

It's hard to plan because things change for me so much in the evening. Just found out a bit ago that I'm babysitting my neechew tonight, so my workout will be inside at the home gym. Not a big deal. I need flexibility. I don't like planning because I get more mad at myself if I don't do what's planned. And I definitely don't need to be mad at myself ..... I need to be nicer.


Just a reminder: I'm going private this week. If you want an invitation so that you can read this blog, please email me at katiefeldmom@gmail.com.

Going Private

I'm sorry to do this, but after almost 4 years of public blogging, I'm going to go private next week. I have much to write about, but can't really do it in a public place. I've been censored and how un-American is that?????????

If you would like an invitation, please send me your email at katiefeldmom at gmail dot com. [Why do people write their email address like that? I've always wondered and now that I've actually done it, it seems so weird.]

katiefeldmom@gmail.com -- there, that's better.

If you are a lurker and it would seem weird to send me an email out of the blue asking me for an invitation, please do so anyway. I'm a lurker too so I won't discriminate.

Plan for the Week

Last Wednesday, I messed up my back something fierce. While doing a squat during a Jillian Michaels' DVD, I felt it go out. Not good. It hadn't been a very good workout week to begin with, and then add that to the mix, it didn't make for a good rest of the week. I did manage two yoga workouts and lots of stretching, but that back (and the birthday party planning) held me back.

Finally on Saturday night it felt 80% better and then by the time Sunday morning rolled around, it was 100%. Perfect timing since the birthday party started at 12:00. Whew.

Now it's Monday and I feel as though that entire week was lost. I just looked at the countdown for the triathlon and (holy crap) it's 32 days away. I've got to up my training and start preparing for a 2-½ hour race.

So here's the plan for the week. Hopefully. You know how I hate this, but frankly, with 32 days to go, it needs to be done!

Monday: swim+run

Tuesday morning: yoga/walk
Tuesday afternoon: bike

Wednesday morning: walk
Wednesday afternoon: strength, treadmill intervals

Thursday: bike+run (need a babysitter)

Friday morning: yoga/walk
Friday: yoga

Saturday or Sunday: long-ish bike+run

Words

There are not enough words to describe how much I love my family: my husband, my son, my parents, my inlaws, and my sister+family.

Today's party was a perfect example of how great my family is. Brian's 6th birthday party was today. There were 20 kids plus their parents all at my parents' house. It was definitely a day to remember.

My sister got in the pool and helped watch over 18 kids in the pool. When she got flustered, I jumped in to help her out. I wasn't planning on swimming, but 20 kids on paper is much different than 20 kids actually in the pool at the same time.

While I was in the pool, my mom and mother-in-law took care of the food -- finished making sandwiches, set-up the tables, got the cake ready, etc.

My husband and brother-in-law were awesome "lifeguards". Even though they didn't swim, they watched with a keen eye while sitting in their specially made lifeguard chairs and made sure no one drowned.

I'm not sure where my dad and father-in-law were, but no matter, they rock as well. Both provided much needed wine throughout the day. You can't go wrong there.

My friends rock as well -- special thanks to Deanna and Kristi for taking awesome pictures. When my mom and mother-in-law weren't taking them for me (rarely), Deanna and Kristi were. I've always said that this family rocks when it comes to pictures and they did not prove me wrong. We've got quite a collection.

My son is now six!!!!!

And the wine is telling me to go to bed before I get too much more sappy. 'Night.

Pictures coming soon. Be my friend on Facebook to see more -- on Monday, I'm too drunk tonight to post any. Wine rocks.)

152nd Day of the Year

Time for a HALF YEAR CHECK-UP! Where oh where did half of this year go?

So this is what I wrote on December 23, 2008.

Been thinking about New Year Resolutions:

• date night with hubby once a month
• fix credit
• pedicures with Emily once a month
• fix credit
• more cooking for dinner
• fix credit
• limit eating out to twice a month
• fix credit
• run Bay to Breakers in May
• sprint triathlon in July
• relay team for CA International Marathon?????????
• cholesterol WAY below 200
• fix credit
• read 5-6 books out of my comfort zone -- I think the first book on the list is The Scarlet Letter and I believe my mom is going to read it too.
  

You'll notice that I have not listed LOSING WEIGHT on that list. My main goal right now is to be HEALTHY. That's all I'm concentrating on. I'm sure that weight will be lost, but for right now, it's not a main goal.

Obviously first and foremost was to work on fixing my credit - did ya get that? I only mentioned it a couple of times. Our credit is not horrible, but it's not fantastic and it can be way better. I'm sad to say that I haven't been working that hard on it though. But mine eyes have seen the glory (or something to that effect) and we've both agreed to stop spending money for three months to build up the accounts and pay down some bills. And in the 15 years that I've known my husband, we are JUST NOW actively talking about it and balancing the checkbook together. So that's a huge step in the right direction.

Date Night with Hubby: well we haven't been actively going out, but we have been spending a lot more time together, so all is fine there.

Pedicures with Em: it's a money thing, so no pedicures for us, but we've been to a couple of movies together which has been fun. As a foursome with both husbands, we've been hanging out a lot -- playing Rock Band and sometimes even letting the kids play too.

{So I wrote this whole long post back on Monday, and then it didn't save, so here it is on Wednesday and I need to rewrite the rest of what wasn't saved.}

Dinner: for the first part of the year I barely cooked. How sad. We had a lot of PB&J sandwiches instead. When we had the opportunity to eat together as a family, we didn't do it, and now that hubby is back to closing most nights, we really don't eat as a family. But that all changed about 2 weeks ago when the kid started having some attitude and behavioral issues. I firmly believe it was because of the chaos our house was in, so now, as a rule and one that we've stuck to, we are eating together 5 out of 7 nights a week. Even if hubby isn't home, Brian and I still sit at the table together. It's how I grew up, and it's how Brian will grow up. I'm only sorry I let it fall by the wayside for so long. That went against everything I had known and we paid for it with a backtalker with a head roll added in. No he didn't. Oh yes he did.

Restaurants: Like most things on the list, this too, fell by the wayside, but times have changed in the past month, so in that sense, we are doing better. I'm finally realizing how much a family of 3 costs to eat out, especially if you include iced teas and tip. Silly for us to be out there, when we have perfectly good food at home to cook.

Bay to Breakers: check!

Sprint Triathlon: scheduled to occur in 38 days!!! Been training for it, but I need to up my distances a lot more and do way more bricks.

Relay Team for CA International Marathon: still questionable. Not really high on the list of priorities. Some days I think it would be fun, other days not so much. If I'm gonna do it, it's gotta be fun.

Cholesterol: will be checked in September, but giving up the soda, I'm sure, has helped immensely.

Read 5-6 books out of my Comfort Zone: Of the 24 books that I've read this year, none of them were out of my comfort zone, so this needs some work. Up next on the audio list is Jane Eyre.

Health: Hmmmmm. Where to start? Well I haven't lost weight, but my clothes are all looser. I don't drink soda anymore. I don't eat fast food. I eat lots of fruits and veggies (although I think I could be eating more of them). My workouts have been awesome, occurring 5-6 times a week. I'm doing most stuff right and that's what counts.

So what's in store for the next 153 days?

• fix credit
• balance checkbook everyday
• eat dinner at table
• no soda
• no restaurants with drive-thrus
  
• sprint triathlon
• cholesterol WAY below 200
  
• read 5-6 books out of my comfort zone
• continue reading with Brian every night, even if it's just one book
  
• spend time with the ones that I love
• remembering that life is not all about a scale. It's about how you feel at the end of the day. And most days, I feel pretty frickin fantastic.
  

HAPPY HALF YEAR TO ALL FOUR OF YOU WHO STILL READ MY BLOG!!!

Tough

Before P90X Plyometrics. Fresh face and ready to go.

After P90X Plyometrics, all 60 minutes of it. Jumping. Squatting. Lunging. Rinse. Repeat.

Not so fresh face and in need of a cold shower.

Inside though -- happy camper indeed.

Planning an early morning run tomorrow. Before Mass. And before a trip to Napa. It's got to get done and early morning is the only time. How's that for scheduling?

While I'm doing my run, I'll be thinking of Irene who's doing her San Diego Marathon!!!!! WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is Why

See? In the middle of the night, I had an epiphany ..... I can swim tonight since hubby has the day off. Now this is why I don't like planning, because now I have to redo my schedule that I did yesterday. Maybe it boils down to "change".

But since I already started it for the week, here it goes again.

Monday: bike ride
Tuesday: lunchtime walk, 1 hour swim
Wednesday: lunchtime walk,P90X chest and back
Thursday: lunchtime walk, run
Friday: lunchtime walk,P90X shoulders and arms
Saturday: swim in the morning???
Weekend: brick - ride+run

Another thought I've been dealing with lately. Ideally I would love to be a 3plus-a-week runner. So I think I should do my runs on Tuesday, Thursday, and the weekend. I would love for the weekend to be the longish run since I have more time (obviously). During the week, I would love to run in the mornings (!!!!!!!! still scared to do that !!!!!!!!!) since I'm a single parent on those nights after work/school and it's getting too hot in the evenings.

So if I'm planning on all this running, I need to up the yoga too. I think I'll stick with the 25 min ones and just throw those in there when I have the chance. I should also do the Sun Salutations one too.

Schedule

Activity: Bike
Date: 05/25/09 11:00 AM
Distance: 9.55 miles
Time:8.5mph

Took this ride nice and slow since I was pulling the buggy and the kid to a park. He played for a bit while I read the 4th in the VI Warshawski series and then we came back home, same route, but faster.

One of my to-do list items was to plan a workable fitness schedule for the week. I'm not sure why I hate planning my workouts, but I do. In any case, here goes:

Monday: bike ride
Tuesday: lunchtime walk, P90X chest and back
Wednesday: lunchtime walk, 3 miles run
Thursday: lunchtime walk, P90X shoulders and arms
Friday: lunchtime walk, bike
Saturday or Sunday: brick workout - bike+run

Today would've been a swim day, but the lap pool was closed. Maybe a swim early Saturday morning before hubby goes to work?

Now that the house is in working order, it should be easier to do these workouts, help Brian with his homework, and cook dinner. The housecleaning falls by the wayside since there is not enough hours in the day.