What makes a great run?

Today was a scheduled 5 mile run, but for some reason I had it in my mind to do 6. Got on the treadmill and things were feeling great. I always start off kinda slow just to get my heart rate up and loosen up my legs. I started gradually adding up speed. I was feeling great. The miles seemed to just fly by. I looked down and it was 4 miles. I knew I could do 6. So I bumped my speed up to 5.0 I was shocked at how comfortable it felt. When I first started running (and 55 pounds heavier) it was everything I could do to run at 5.0 It was just too fast for me. But I felt good. I even bumped it up to 5.1 I ended up doing just over 6 miles. I wish every run was like this. Things just seemed to fall into place. Breathing was comfortable. I checked my heart rate monitor and my average was 154. Usually it is high 150 or 160. I think I might be making progress!!! This run just felt effort less.

The past couple weeks I have done most my runs indoors. I am going to try to do 1 a week outside. I just think it will give me a break from the boring old treadmill. I feel like it is easier to run on the treadmill then outside. Wind speed and level of ground all play into factor.

Did you get in a run today? 


What is your favorite cross train activity?

Time limits on treadmills?

3.5 miles on the schedule for today. I woke up kinda late. Rushed to the gym. Really was going to stick to the schedule. But I got to 3.5 and felt GREAT! Legs were just loosening up. So I kept going. What really made me mad was when it told me to start my cool down after 60 minutes. What!!! That's really dumb. So I had to stop for 15 seconds to get it to restart. Although, this doesn't seem like a big deal, it IS to me. I hate stopping before I am done. It's that perfectionism in me. I ended up with a little over 5 miles. What's the point of the time limit anyways? They have several treadmills. And....the gym is never that busy to begin with. If I want to run longer then a hour, I should get to without interruptions!

On the topic of running, I am getting up in mileage now. Next week I have a 6 miler. I know this isn't a lot, but to me it's my farthest yet. I have a concern about re-hydrating. I've done research and they say after 1 hour you need something other then water. I tried Gatorade and let me tell you I hate it. It tastes like flavored sea water. UGH. I couldn't choke that stuff down. So, I am on the market to find something else. I prefer something not to sugary. Any suggestions?

Did you get a workout in today? What was it?

Ever been kicked off the machine?

Who needs a personal trainer anyways?

Good Morning!!!

Exercise for today is done. 7:45am and I have completed a spin class, strength training and a very weak 1 mile run. As I was doing that run, I was yelling at myself. I hate doing less then 2 miles. I feel so worthless. I realize I did a spin class, but I've been doing that for a while now. Should have been able to push to 2. The schedule calls for 2 mile run or cross train. Yes, I am a over achiever! I can't help it. I got on that treadmill and thought this was going to be a easy peasey kinda run. Nope! My legs were tired. They were lead...no wait, they were DEAD!!! Once I start running, I don't quit til I am done. Today, I don't know what happened. 5 minutes into the run, what did I do? I walked! What!?! I yelled at myself, and started running again. I wasn't a quitter! It started to feel a tiny bit better after half a mile. But not enough to push to 2. So I finished the 1 mile, and that was that. I feel OK with that...not happy but I don't want to dwell on it like I would have if I didn't start running again. I am TRULY my worst enemy.

Ever heard of a power crunch? Oh my word! They are so wicked. Basically its a crunch with weights on you feet. You crunch up with you upper and lower body. (I hope that makes sense) The first day I did them, I could only do 10! And for 2 days after, I felt it in my abs every movement I made. I am now up to 30 of them, but I really got to work for them. I BETTER get abs of steel doing these babys!

10 days until my first 5K! It's getting real very quickly! I told Matt and my friend Jen, I want a lot of pictures! Specially of me crossing that line! Hopefully I look graceful and not like this.

Source: media-cache4.pinterest.com via Selene on Pinterest

Do you have a trainer? Am I missing anything?


What are some of your favorite low calorie snacks?
I love snacking! I really think that's one of the keys to losing weight. Think about it. If you snack throughout the day, your less likely to binge eat at a meal. Healthy snacking. My favorites include string cheese, apples, carrots and celery. Reduced fat wheat thins and laughing cow cheese wedge is high on the list too!

Through this whole life style change, the hardest part for me has been drinking 8 or more glasses of water. I don't typically get thirsty, or realize I am until lunch time. It's always a struggle finding ways to drink water more efficiently through the day. Not just the second half of the day. The Mr. is loving the MiO. I think it is good, and even though it is zero calories and no sugar, I still wonder what is in it that makes it taste good. Is it good for you? I do use the Mio but I try not to have more then 1 or 2 glasses with it.

I mentioned that the Mr. had back surgery about 2 months ago, right? Well, the Dr. suggested he try out water aerobics. We had been meaning to for a week or two. Last night, we took a Deep water class. I have to say I was surprised at the workout. For me, it wasn't so much cardiovascular, but strength for me. Which, as I mentioned yesterday, I need. I enjoyed the class. The Mr. liked it too. We will be adding this class to the Monday routine. Plus, it's nice we can take it together. That's always a plus. We were the youngest there, however, the instructor was around our age. 

My latest addiction? Only the best oatmeal in the world! I take 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 3/4 cup chocolate almond milk and a spoonful of peanut butter. (I was using equally parts of oatmeal and almond milk, but I don't like it so thick) Seriously, it's what has been getting me up outta bed. I could eat my weight in this stuff! 

On the schedule for today is 3.5 mile run. Also, there is a water aerobics class tonight. The Mr. mentioned it last night, so I think we will be attending another class. Go US!!

Do you drink plenty of water?

Ever take a water aerobics class?

Spin, Spin and more Spinning!

As I mentioned before, I am following a half marathon schedule. Today calls for strength and stretch. Last week I did way more then  the schedule called for, and paid for it on Saturday while dong my long run. So this week I am trying to stick to my schedule..for the most part. When I first started exercising, spin class was one of the first things I tried. I quickly grew to love it. It is more of a workout then I had thought it was going to be. For those that don't know what spin class is, you can find out more information here. I have found spinning to be a great cross train for running. I take a class 3 times a week. I feel like my fitness level in the class has really improved. I remember the first couple classes it was everything I could do just to pedal the whole class. Then I was able to do the sprints, jumps and the "running". According to my heart rate monitor I burn a little less then 500 calories a class now. But when I started I can remember it being closer to 600. I've even noticed this in my running. I still burn a lot of calories when I run, but not like I use too. I guess this is a good sign. I am a big "googler" and I did some research. Something about the heavier you are the more you burn. Also, said something about my fitness level getting better so it takes more effort.

So today's spin class was so refreshing. It was wicked! It was a lot of rolling hills and "running". I like the hills because I feel like they build strength in my legs. I defiantly need that! 48 mins and burned 488 calories. I go to a 6am class so it wasn't too crowded. About 7-8 people. I went to a 6pm class a couple times, but you are lucky to get a bike. It's a lot more people. Although it was a lot more fun and interactive, I prefer to get my workout done in then morning. Even though, some mornings its like pulling teeth to get up, I almost always get up. I think I've only missed 4 classes. Two classes I was sick with a bad cold. I got my manager to go to a class once. She hated it. Complained of her butt hurting. I assured her it would go away after a few more classes. She never went back. I guess its not for everyone.

Other then that class, the only other exercise I will be getting in is strength training. The Mr. will be going to the gym later in the day. I'll do the machines while there. I feel like I am kicking butt when it comes to cardio, but I DREAD strength training. It's so boring. I know its important. Strength training class? Hmmmm, that is worth checking into! Stretching.....I'm bad at this too. So maybe something that incorporates both.

Do you spin? 


Workout in the a.m. or p.m.?


Any suggestions on strength and stretching? Something fun.

How and WHY I started running

Surprise!!!

The followers I have, and I use "have" very loosely, are probably wondering what happened. Well, I have changed the whole idea of the blog. Lets start at the beginning. In January, I realized I wasn't happy with my fitness level. I felt sluggish ALL of the time. So I started counting calories with www.myfitnesspal.com and exercising. I have always wanted to be a runner. I would see runners outside and wish I could do that. I had heard about From couch to 5K, last fall. I tried it, and quickly failed it. I think I tired it the end of fall early winter. Not a good time for a beginner to run outside. So I quit. I tried it again in January, thank goodness we had a mild winter, it stuck. Week after week I was still doing the program. It did take me a bit longer, as I repeated a few weeks, but I finished! 

Then things really got stressful. The Mr. hurt his back. Long story short, he had a ruptured disk. Had surgery and things are much better. But while going through all that, I turned to running. (And prayer! Lots and lots of prayer) I felt like there was nothing I could do. I wanted so bad to give him some relief. But there was nothing I could do, that I wasn't already doing. So running gave that to me. It allowed me to think about something other then him. It gave me a sense of control. Then my twin brother's world came crashing down. He and his wife called it quits after 9 years. He took it hard. So I took it hard. It hurt me to see him go through this. So, again, I took to running.

As of today, my first 5K is May 5th. The flying Pig in Cincinnati. I am beyond excited. I can't wait to take it all in! I am not a fast runner. Right now I am 12:00-12:50miles. I spend way to much time thinking about my pace, when really I should be happy. I mean, come on, 4 months ago I couldn't run 1 minute without feeling like I was dying! But I think we all are our own worst enemy! I know I am! I am currently following a training schedule for a half marathon. I have my eye on the Air Force base Half in Sept, but haven't registered. I just don't know if its something I can REALLY do. I guess time will tell.

Do any of you run?