It's hard to stop when it feels so good.

I woke up this morning with the sun shining in my face. It felt like spring. I got up had my breakfast and checked the weather. It was 45, with some wind. Usually I wimp out and take it to the treadmill. But I'm telling you Spring was in the air. Plus, one of the trails I use runs north to south, and there is a line of trees on both sides that kinda blocks out some of the wind. So off I went. Intended on a 3 mile recovery run. But it was one of those runs where my legs felt strong and breathing was in rhythmic  So I just kept going. I even concentrated on form. Not that I have done much research on it, but I just played around with it. I think it was between mile 3-5. I noticed when I stood up straight and chest out a little bit, I felt like I was gliding along with little to no effort. Here are my splits:

Laps10

View Splits

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 1:23:46.4 8.14 10:18 1 :01.0 0.00 0 2 10:46.7 1.00 10:47 3 10:17.9 1.00 10:18 4 10:29.1 1.00 10:29 5 10:02.6 1.00 10:03 6 10:01.6 1.00 10:02 7 10:11.0 1.00 10:11 8 10:13.4 1.00 10:13 9 10:13.0 1.00 10:13 10 1:30.1 0.14 10:53

Weather

46°

Feels like 39°

18 mph WSW wind

Humidity 61%

Source: KDAY

The first lap...in the splits is from when I was in the car and hit start. I haven't learned all the tricks on how to delete stuff, so I just started from there. The weather is suppose to be getting colder so I'm sure I will be back on the treadmill tomorrow, and it will force me to stick to the training plan. Training plan?! What training plan?

Went food shopping today and found the best thing EVER!! I am in love with anything lemon. I just happen to look at the gum selection and see this!

Best gum EVER!!!! I chew a lot of gum for many different reasons. Gum can kill cravings like no ones business.

Other then my awesome run today, I went to the gym and did a hr on the elliptical.  I was planing on taking it easy, but I was barely working up a sweat and I was 20 minutes in. If I'm at the gym, then I'm going hard. No sense in wasting time. So I bumped up the incline and resistance every 10 minutes. I ended on incline 16 and resistance 15. I was struggling. I just hope my legs aren't jello tomorrow. It wont make for a good run. 3-4 miles tomorrow. So I might have to make a few deals with myself to get through it. Ummm, Girl Scout cookies came in. Mmmmmm.

I'm dumb, but not stupid

Last night's post I mentioned my "long run" 7-9 miles that I was doing today. 4:30 A.M. to be exact. I woke up at 3:30 A.M. to get breakfast, hydrate and poop. Started my run as planned. It's was 23 degrees when I started. Not to bad. I wore a extra layer just to be on the safe side. There was little to no wind, so I was happy about that. I almost always start in my neighborhood loop. It's 3 miles. Then I kinda just wing it. I needed to stay close to home because the Mr. keeps his phone on silent at night. I meant to tell him last night to turn it on loud. I forgot. So I didn't want to go to far and not be able to make it back in time for work. I pretty much just run main streets when I go out before the sun comes up or goes down. You never know who is lurking in the shadows. I noticed within the first mile, my thigh was feeling fine. It really only bothers me when I sit down or stand. HAHA. Guess it's from the squats. So I was relieved that it doesn't seem to be a injury. I got to about 5.50 miles and I was getting warm. There is one thing I hate to sweat. It's my hands. I had to take my gloves off. So I took them off and discarded them along a tree I was sure I would pass coming back. Then I took my hat off. Did the same with that. Two miles later I got to a local Kroger. There is a park directly behind it that would lead to my neighborhood. I was going to take it and do my neighborhood again. After all I was only looking to do 7-9 miles. Well the more I thought about it the more I decided I shouldn't. This park doesn't have any lights at all. I would have probably been okay running through there, but you can never be too safe about things like that. I'm dumb, but not stupid. So I turned around and went the way I came. I got completely side tracked with my thoughts because I ended up taking a few side streets (well lit streets) and when I got close to my neighborhood I was a little over 9. Still feeling good and I still had not used any of my fuel I brought with me. So I decided to run to 10 and call it a day. If I didn't have to be at work within the hour, I would have had some chews and just did a half marathon. The two unexpected rest days had my legs feeling refreshed. I have yet to go pick up my gloves and hat that I took off during the run. I'll get them tomorrow if they are still there. I hardly doubt someone would want my old, sweaty gloves and hat. Along my run, I did see a dead cat, a empty police car and clear skies. Stars were shinning bright. I wish I would have been able to see the sun coming up. Stupid work ruining my fun. Here are my splits from the run. Pretty decent. 

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	1:43:49.2	10.05	10:20
1	10:40.9	1.00	10:41
2	10:35.9	1.00	10:36
3	10:37.9	1.00	10:38
4	10:32.7	1.00	10:33
5	10:14.2	1.00	10:14
6	10:21.8	1.00	10:22
7	10:11.8	1.00	10:12
8	10:02.8	1.00	10:03
9	9:57.9	1.00	9:58
10	10:02.4	1.00	10:02
11	:31.0	0.05	9:40

Oh! I am happy to report I didn't have to squat in a bush or crap my panties on my run. There were two different times I was thinking about a plan. Stomach started getting crampy. But it went away. Or well until I stopped running. Gotta cut back on the sugar intake. Also, I love the body glide. I forgot one place to grease up. Where my chest strap for my garmin goes, I got some chaffing there. It's actually really sore too. Kinda bummed. But it's a lesson learned. I won't forget it next time.

Tomorrow will be a rest day. But I will be doing my strength. Thinking about a spin class on Monday along with a run. Bob teaches on Monday, he is by far my favorite instructor. I love spinning to begin with, but he is makes it more fun. 

I'm getting a tiny bit better at stretching after my runs. Not that I think it seems to help much. But it does feel good for the 5 seconds I hold it for. Maybe that's my problem. I'm just impatient.

I know better

Ever do something that you know you are going to regret a few hours later?

Any hands up?

Mine are up.

Today I made a bunch of goodies for a bake sale we are having at work to raise money for MS. I ate like crap. Lots of sugar. So much I bet my veins are clogged with pure sugar. I kept telling myself  "Christy, you have 7-9 miles to run in the morning. You really don't want to eat this." or "You are going to be crapping you pants tomorrow around mile 4". Do you think that stopped me? Nope. Sure didn't. I wonder if I take a chug of Pepto tomorrow morning, it will reverse the damage? I'll get back to you on this.

Bedtime: 9pm
Wake up: 3:15am
Wakeup after snooze: 3:30am
Breakfast and waiting to poop: 3:30-4:30am
7-9 mile run: 4:30-6am
Shower: 6:15ishAM
Work: 7-330
Nap: 3:35

This is my plan for tomorrow. Usually I don't do these kind of runs until summer when it's 100 freaking degrees. But I prefer to get my run over with first thing. I feel better the whole day and I know if I don't do it then I will have a great chance of putting it off and not doing it. Plus a good run really sets the mood for the day. Specially working in retail. You would think I dread getting up the most. Or the fact it's going to be 20 degrees with a slight wind. Although I hate running in cold and wind, it's not what I'm talking about. I dread work. We are short staffed, and Saturdays are busy. I am a cake decorator and orders can get crazy. Oh well, just another day in paradise. I'm blessed to have a job....much less a job I don't hate.

Tomorrow will be my first run with Body Glide. Last week I got some chaffing in some very uncomfortable places. So I will be lubing up on that stuff. Enough to squeeze through a mouse hole. I also picked up some fuel for this run. I can usually run 8 miles without fuel. But as long as things go well, and I don't end up with panties full O crap, I'm sure I will push to 9. I usually use GU's. But I didn't feel like driving more then I had to today. I was already at Kroger's. They surprised me by having Shot Blocks. So I lucked out. I was going to just get a bag of skittles, my preferred kind of fuel.

I need some new music for my runs. Any suggestions? Doesn't have to be "fast" or "upbeat"? Long runs I actually listen to a lot of slower songs, as I am out for distance not speed.

Lastly, I am a bit concerned I might be on the verge of a injury. So the last two days have been rest days. My left leg, the back of my thigh is sore. Hoping and praying and wishing that it's just sore from the squats I've been doing. But why wouldn't both legs be sore? I'll be paying close attention tomorrow while running. I'd rather cut a run short then to get hurt. I've been very lucky so far.

Sunshine takes my blues away

So if you follow me on Instagram then you seen what day 2 of core work and push ups consisted of. I still hate it very much. I almost never have to convince or talk myself into running or going to the gym. But when there is strength work to do, I will think of about 14 different excuses  All at which I could not justify using today. Even though, let me add, my six-pack abs stomach is very sore. The good kinda sore, but none the less very sore. I pushed through. I think you got the picture as to how much I hate planks from the last post. So I started off with that. I was able to do 1 minute off the bat. 45 seconds in I thought there was a earthquake cause I was shaking. HARD. I finished the minute out. Then I moved on to bicycle crunches, squats and push-ups. Push-ups are almost as hard as planks for me. I really should jump back into the pool. I remember when I was a teenager, I use to swim a few miles every Saturday. It really kept my arms in decent shape. Plus swimming is good cross training for running. I think I'm just afraid of getting in a swim suit. The first day I was only able to do 5 girly style push-ups. Today I did 6. It's not even worth mentioning really.

I had plans on going to the gym today. So I could get my run in and then a hour on the elliptical  But someone mentioned to me how it was a sunny day. I got all excited and changed my plans within 7 seconds of hearing so. The sun changes the game. Yesterday I did 5 miles around my neighborhood/city, so I wanted new scenery. I decided to hit the bike trails. Choose one along the river near by. A couple things happened. Garmin died 3 miles in. Mud and geese crap aren't fun to run in. And I over dressed. Got a little too heated. But seeing the sun setting along the river was worth every bit. It's amazing how the little things make the "big" things your stressing about seem not so bad. Work, bills, health, relationships, family. All those "problems". Most the time they aren't as big as they seem. I've had some things on my mind the last two days, things I really shouldn't be worried about because I have no control over it at all. It's up to God. It doesn't make it any easier though. I guess it means I don't have complete trust in Him. I just don't know how to fix it.

Planking- LONGEST MINUTE OF MY LIFE

The last day or two, I've ate like crap. No really. Ice cream, cookies, pizza and more ice cream.

BAD.

The Mr. was off with me today, so we decided that we were going to chill today. No gym. It was suppose to be a cross-train day. No running. So I wasn't too bummed on skipping. Had a relaxing day. Visited with his Dad, made Heaven in a brownie and Chili. Took a nap. Had a embarrassing size of heaven. I was started to feel guilty about not going to the gym. I guess that's good though. Working out is a part of my regular day life, so when I don't do it...I hate myself. So both the Mr. and I was off to the gym. Firstly, I hate going after 5pm, because it is insanely busy. I wasn't too worried though, I was going to do the stair master. Not a whole lot of people use it. It's a wicked workout. I wanted to do 1 hr on it, then a 1 hour on the elliptical  I got 30 minutes in and I thought I was going to upchuck the next 15 minutes  So I was only able to do 45 minutes. But I did up the level. Usually I'm on level 3. Today I did it on 4. (The stairs go faster) I swear my heart rate was at-least 160 or higher for the duration of the time. My point in telling you this, I can tell a big difference in my workouts when I eat like crap. Ugh. I just felt sluggish and fat and slow and lazy and blah and like a failure. I'm glad I don't have too many of these days. 

My favorite piece of mail came today. Runner's world. Each month I look forward to reading it. Really gives good advice and interesting articles. I've read countless articles about how important core work and strength training is in running. I got home from the gym, and decided to man up! Planks first. I have done a few of them. But they are HARD! So I kinda stopped. Today, I was determined to get to 1:00 minute. I did two each of them 30 seconds. I was so mad at myself! Each time I tried, added more fuel to the fire. The third time of FAILING I wanted to punch the wall. I took a break to gather my thoughts. Then tried again. It was the LONGEST minute of my life!!!! But I did it! My stomach was shaking and burning. I love the feeling of success! I also decided to try some push-ups. I knew It wasn't going to be pretty. It's no secret I have no upper body strength. But I was able to do 3 sets of 5 reps- girl style push-ups. I use to do Jillian 30 day shred and she was big with bicycle crunches. I did 3 sets of 20 of those. I'm pretty sure my stomach will be hurting tomorrow. But it's the good kind of hurt. My goal is to do this routine at least 3 times this week. 

Saturday was scheduled long run of 6 miles. Sadly, I had to turn to the treadmill. Got there at 7AM  Lately  the treadmill hasn't been to hateful. But its only a matter of time before my luck runs out and I dread it. I started like any other run on the treadmill, easy pace 5.00 just to get warmed up. Then a mile in I bumped it up 5.2 Usually I don't pay to much attention to speed on long runs. I'm in it for the distance so I don't want to use up to much effort on speed. I got to 6 miles and was feeling great. I figured lets just continue til my allotted time runs out. (The treadmill at the gym I go to has a time limit of 95 minutes)  It was here I started bumping up the speed every half mile or so. I got to 8 miles and was at 5.9 I wanted to get 9 miles done before quitting  I turned up the speed. 6.1 Oddly enough, it was fast but not too uncomfortable fast. I was at 8.50 with 4 minutes left. All of a sudden the treadmill slowed down. I was bummed. I was feeling great! Top of the world. DON'T YOU LOVE WHAT RUNNING DOES TO YOU!!!??? I just called it a day. It wasn't until I was home and in the shower thinking, when I realized what happened. I am too hardcore for the treadmill. I wore it out! Machine can't beat me!!!! BAM!!!!

A treadmill run that I didn't want to cut my wrists.

Just in case you haven't glanced at the date, it is January 31st. So of course I am reflecting. Gotta stay on track to succeed. My New Year's Resolutions was to 1) not lose conscious from over intoxication 2) log 1000 miles in 2013 and 3)Complete 3-4 half marathons 4) take strength training seriously. I just checked and I am at 71 miles for January. 83 was the number if I was going to do the same amount each month. So 12 miles short. Damn. Guess Ill have to make that up somewhere in the next 11 months. I'm not too worried..well about the 12. But I am glad I looked at it. Will be paying more attention to it. Strength training...well I did it twice last week. This week 1. Not going that great. Still haven't lose conscious from drinking. So that is right on track.

I did 7 miles today on the treadmill and you know I didn't hate it too much. I guess I was really into my music. There is never anything on the TV that I can get into. Although, I am not looking at a wall, I am looking at a empty field so the view could be worse. My pace on the treadmill is always slower then outside. I bet I could have bumped up my speed, but I was going for endurance not speed. I always set the treadmill on incline too. Default: I go to 1%, which actually felt kind easy today. I thought about kicking it up a notch, but my stomach started to get if'ey. Must have been the cookie dough and ice cream I had for dinner last night. Don't judge. When I first started running, I had GI issues, but since I been running for a year now, I've learned a few things. What to eat and what not to before a run. Or day before a long run. Which today was only suppose to be 3, I just can't count. A TM run almost never makes me forget I'm running. But today I was in the zone. I would have kept going but my stomach and treadmill only had 15 minutes to go. 

Headbands. Am I the only person who can't wear these? I don't get it. Every time I do they end up falling off. It's frustrating. Is my head too big?

Tattoo. I have been on the fence for awhile on this. Biggest reason is because of where I want them. On my wrists. But been thinking lately. I am 99.8% sure I am a lifer at the place of employment I have. With that being said, a tattoo isn't going to keep me from making a decent living. My right wrist I was the word "Breathe" on it. Most people think I am silly for this. But I am a person who HATES failing. Almost to the point where I push too hard. When I see or tell myself to breathe, it reminds me it is OK to fail. The world isn't going to end. Relax Christy! The second tattoo I want is fairly new, but when I saw it I knew I had to have it. Other then "Kindness matters" its my philosophy in life. 

This would be on my left wrist. I love everything this says. It's pushed me so many times when I didn't think I could do something  I remember the first time I did 13 miles. I wanted to stop so bad at 12. But I kept telling my "mind over matter, Christy, mind over matter. You can do this." And you know what? I finished. I will NEVER forget that run. This philosophy applies to more then just physical activity. Life in general. 

I am a little afraid of dying of ink poisoning though. Which I understand is stupid, I mean come on. I'm not getting a home made tattoo. I'm going to a professional! But knowing how crazy dumb my body is, Ill be the exception. The rare case where something horrible happens. I mean come on, we don't have the best of luck.

Changing goals and a confident long run

You have a problem when you schedule all vacations around a race. I was looking at my Runner's World magazine this afternoon, when I saw a advertisement for The Rock N Roll Marathon in Chicago. My first thought, "Is there a half?" Second thought after finding out there is, "How can I afford this?" I am not a big money maker. I have a decent paying job, that most days, I don't dread going into. My husband isn't Bill Gates. I have already spend 350.00 on races/hotels for upcoming races. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I went to Facebook. I asked if I had any kindhearted friends living in Chicago, and perhaps I could crash on their couch. It worked. I didn't even have to give a sappy made up story about how my best friend from high school died and was going to their funeral. There ARE nice people out there! Luckily for me, it is a person I trust. Most people on my Facebook  I trust. Although, there are a couple people I would have declined..or well at least took my husband's gun with me. So the plan is to leave Saturday morning, stay the night and the race is Sunday. Maybe do a little shopping afterward/relax, then head home. All in a days work, right? I'm so excited. I've been to Chicago once, and loved it. But I was much heavier then and hadn't started running. I do remember thinking it would be a great city to run. The Mr. and I will be trying again for a baby by then, so this could get postponed til the following year. Depends on how far along and if it's "healthy" to run. I'm terrified as it is to "try" again, I won't be taking ANY risks.

This morning I readdressed my goals. I am 10 pounds from my original goal. But when I was thinking about it, my ultimate goal is to get a sub 2hr half marathon time. I don't  care if that's 1:59:59 I want it so bad! The thing is I KNOW I CAN DO IT! But I think I need to be a little lighter then first thought. So I think another 20 pounds will help me reach that. Like I said, it has nothing to do with vanity. It's really about that PR. So I am going to lay off the beer. As of lately, I have really wasted a ton of calories on it. I will still have a drink here and there, but I really need to focus.

This past Saturday, I woke up and was questioning how the long run was going to go. Honestly, it was suppose to be 4 miles. But being the over achiever, I told myself 5. Well, it was one of those runs where EVERYTHING went good. I ended up stopping at 6.43, and only did that cause Hubby wanted to get to the gym before I went to work. I took a rest day the day before and had a unhealthy amount of ice cream. I just know that's what contributed to it. So I might make that as a rest day routine. The weather was great. There were a lot of runners on the trails and people walking their dogs. I love seeing people being active! It was one of those confidence building runs, that reminds you why you go through then pain in the first place.