Hi everyone! I've been MIA once again. Things have been pretty crazy, first vacation, then starting a new job but I've got my act together and will be regularly posting once again. September 13th marked my 1 year anniversary of blogging. Crazy how fast time flies. I still remember creating my first post like it was yesterday. I'm reminded of the feeling especially because the 5k that I had blogged about is taking place this Sunday. Which leads me to lesson #1: Unrealistic GoalsAfter setting a realistic goal for the 2014 Berkeley Heights 5k, I proceeded to set an unrealistic goal for 2015. Win my age group. The difference between a 27 (and change) minute 5k and a 21-23 minute 5k is pretty large. A more reasonable goal, would have been to get a goal of top 3 in my age group. You live and you learn. So, I've adjusted my goal to place in the top 3 of my age group. Another unrealistic goal I had set, was to run 1,000 miles in 2015 (I only realized 6 months into it I had run less than 1/3 of that in the entire 2014). Running 321 miles in 2014 and expecting to TRIPLE my mileage in one year? Not realistic (and likely not healthy). It took my a while to come to terms with it. But, I've already completed 445 miles for the year and am looking to finish the year between 600-700 miles. Setting goals is a difficult act to balance. You don't want to set a goal that is too easy to achieve and you don't want to set a goal so high that you can never meet it (I'm talking shorter term goals). Long term, I want to run a 5k under 20 minutes (realistic). Setting that as a goal for 2015 = unrealistic. Don't set yourself up for failure like I did with TWO goals this year. Eventually, maybe I will win my age group, and I'm going to run as fast as I can on Sunday to try and make that happen. If I don't, guess what? That doesn't mean I failed. It just means my timeline to reach the goal was wrong. Sunday's Goals:
Back on trackAs I mentioned earlier, my posting has been sporadic at best. I've used the excuse of recovering from my stress fracture and even vacation but it's time to get back on track!
This time of year, I begin using my new planner. Today is that day. I've transferred all of the dates from the old, into the new and a commitment to myself to post regularly again. Future posts to include: more recipes, results from the 5k this weekend, organization tips and running / fitness / bikini body guide updates. Stay tuned!
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Week 9 has come and gone! I completed all four of my marathon training runs for the week but my bikini body guide week 9 workouts carried into week 10. This morning I did week 9 abs & after work I did week 9 legs to finish out the week. My legs are puddy! I had to modify a few exercises because I only had one bench. But wow. Really hard day! Bring on week 10! Running has been going better than expected! The interval runs are very challanging but I feel so accomplished when I finish. This week is going to include some new running shoe shopping! My poor Pumas are almost dead but I'm hoping to keep them around for short races because I love the two color shoes in one pair. In week 9, I ran only 14.9 miles but my pace was much faster than usual - 8:49! 178 miles or about 18% to my goal of 1,000 miles for the year! I can't believe month 2 is over! One month left of the bikini body guide 1.0... Interested to see how difficult 2.0 is! Now for running... The building up phase is complete and the general phase has begun. This phase is preparing me for the main phase, which is the most difficult part. I'm really enjoying the interval training and can't believe I'm able to survive running 7:30 intervals for 3 minutes. Even with a missed long run, I am still on pace for 1,000 miles! Week mileage: 26.3 - average pace: 9:40 Month: 68.9 miles - average pace: 9:51 Miles in 2015: 163.3 My favorite Puma shoes are almost at the 300 mile mark... Looking into new shoes to rotate. I'm thinking Hoka One Cliftons. Anyone ever use those? I've heard good things and it has great reviews. Week 4 recapThis week included my longest run ever: 2 hours and 2 minutes. It was only Monday of the week and I was worrying about the run. Would I be able to complete it? My left knee has been bothering me. Nothing major, just enough to be a nuisance running. I made sure to really stretch through the week, which seemed to help! So, week recap:
Monday: 40 minute Gipis marathon training run and Week 4 BBG Arms and Abs Tuesday: Week 4 BBG Legs and Cardio Wednesday: 40 minute Gipis marathon training run Thursday: 40 minute Gipis marathon training run Friday: REST Saturday: 2 hour and 20 minute Gipis marathon training run Sunday: Week 4 BBG total body The last time I ran over 2 hours was my 1/2 marathon back in October. By the end my body hated me and I felt like I was 100 years old. I was expecting to feel the same after my 2 hour and 20 minute training run, but surprisingly, I did not! I'm really impressed with how well my training has prepared my body for the run. I'm not an experienced runner, so for me 2 hours and 2 minutes is like "whoa!". I took goos with me, which ended up being expired.. YUCK. I only had one though. The texture wasn't right and as I finished the first one, I had a feeling it was expired. Thankfully my genius husband suggested I bring clementines with me. So, he pealed and separated a clementine out for me and bagged it up. It really helped! It was weird chewing the first few times. But I felt better each piece I ate throughout the run. I also noticed that at the end of this run my stomach didn't hurt. After my 1/2 marathon, my stomach was upset for the remainder of the night. I must admit I almost cried when I got home after my run. I usually run Gipis & Nike+ simultaneously, but for a long run I was concerned my battery wouldn't last so I only ran Gipis. With about 20 minutes left my music stopped so I took my phone out of the inside of my jacket. Somehow, I'd gotten locked out (I'm guessing that it considered my jacked rubbing an attempt to unlock and after a few 'bad tries' it locket). I try to unlock my phone and it said to wait 1 minute. I'm panicking! I know I have about 20 minutes left because it gave time remaining updates every 10 minutes from 40 minutes down to 10 minutes. The last I had heard was 30 minutes and I knew I had run almost 10. Finally, I get my phone unlocked and it says 21 minutes left. I decide that my phone will not freeze in 20 minutes so I put my armband back on over my jacket. 10 minute warning comes and goes... I'm in the parking lot near my house. I usually have to run around the parking lot at the end of my runs so I take a peek at my phone to see I have a little of 3 minutes left... then it happens. Music stops. No big deal, I think to myself. Then I realize my phone completely turned off. It must of crashed because when it turned back on I had 60% battery. So, I don't know my splits and I don't know if I beat my half marathon time. I think I might have because I ran the entire time, during my half marathon I had to walk a few times. But, I'll never know. I think I am going to invest in a GPS watch so that doesn't happen again. What type of GPS watch do you use? So, here is the total of my first month's journey to 1,000 miles Week 4 mileage: 25.7 miles Month 1 miles: 94.4/80 905.6 miles left! Week 2 does not technically end until Saturday but weather dependent I will not be running again until Sunday.
This week’s workouts were: Monday: Rest Tuesday: AM- Bikini Body Guide abs and arms, PM- 1hour 5 minute Gipis (running app) run Wednesday: AM- Bikini Body Guide legs and cardio, PM- 1hour 5 minute Gipis run Thursday: 1 hour 5 minute Gipis run Friday: AM- Bikini Body Guide full body Saturday: Rest *weather permitting – if it is supposed to rain all day Sunday, I will be running on Saturday* ***UPDATE: Weather did not work on my side, so I had to run on Saturday. This caused some differences in running totals.*** This week is the longest run time wise per day of my training program. Four runs of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It doesn't sound like it is that much, but I am also doing the Bikini Body Guide and didn't want to neglect those goals because of running. Monday was a much needed rest day after running Friday, Saturday and Sunday the week before. Tuesday was a great day, I felt great during both workouts. I am surprised how great I felt, had negative splits and completed the run with an average pace 34 seconds per mile less than the program called for. Wednesday = death! Felt great after the morning workout but when it came time to bundle up and run after work that day I was just exhausted. I learned a valuable lesson from it. Love the process. The first 3 miles of the run I fought with myself, “I don’t wanna do this”, “I wanna go home”, “UGH”… once I realized fighting with myself wasn't accomplishing anything, I gave in and decided to embrace the process. Part of the realization came from knowing that at my current pace I wasn't going to complete the run in the recommended time. To me, what was the point of even running if I wasn't going to meet the goal for the day, so I gave in and began to enjoy it. After embracing the process I was able to finish with an average pace 2 seconds per mile faster than the plan. I was so drained after the run though. I decided to take the morning off the next day and focus on finishing the run after work. It ended up being the right choice. Thursday’s run 16 seconds under the program goal. Although I almost didn’t go, (thank you hubby for encouraging me to run) I really enjoyed getting out and just running. I feel fortunate that I’m able to go out and run. I’m really trying to remember that every time I go out. Friday completed week two of the bikini body guide with a full body workout and the end to a long week. To sum it up: Week total: 33.4 miles Total 2015 miles: 50.13 Only 949.87 left! I'd love to hear from you: What races are you registered for in 2015? I haven’t registered for any yet but know I want to do several 5ks, maybe a 10k and a ½ marathon. 2016 will be the year of my first full marathon! 1,000 miles in 2015 has officially begun and here is a quick a recap of my first week at it… I’m still sick. This stubborn head cold / sinus infection won’t seem to let up but I had to push through and run anyway! As a note – I’m not just running to reach my miles; I’m following the Gipis marathon training program to prevent over use and increase speed and endurance. The week called for three 55 minute runs and a 1 hour and 5 minute run. I ran Monday (see previous blog post), tried to run on the dread-mill Tuesday and failed miserably. I didn’t even reach the mile mark before I called it quits, more running Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a total of 22.9 miles. In addition, I re-started the bikini body guide and did the 2 required circuits Tuesday and Saturday. The hardest run by far was Monday, I was very sick and breathing was hard but I pushed through and managed to get the run done.
This week is going to be a very difficult week. I’m actually exhausted just planning the workouts. The week plan includes three 1 hour and 5 minute runs, a 1 hour and 20 minute run, and 3 bikini body guide workouts. The plan is to rest today. My body is exhausted after the weekend. Morning workout of the bikini body guide circuits: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and after work runs: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. This will allow a rest day on Friday so I can complete the 1 hour and 20 minute run on Saturday or Sunday. The following week will be much easier. The runs decrease to three 25 minutes and an hour and 55 minute run. Looking forward to that break! So, to sum it up: 22.9 miles completed 10:32 average pace 977.1 miles left or 2.29% complete Before embarking on my 1,000 mile journey in 2015, I’ve decided to write a little about my journey and how I’ve ended up here.
From about the time I was able to walk I was doing gymnastics and cheerleading and as I got older I was active at least 5 days a week, often having two workouts a day. Fast forward to college – I decided to quit the D1 cheer team that I was on and eventually transferred schools and joined their D3 squad. I had managed to stay active and never really gained too much weight. College came and went and I began a desk job. The weight really started to pile on (I’m only 5’3’’ so any weight gain really shows). Eventually, I got engaged and lost the weight (full disclosure- I lost weight the wrong way) to fit into my wedding gown for my 2011 wedding. After the wedding, the weight just started piling on. I understand that some people would not have considered it “piling on the weight” but to me I was fat and unhappy with myself. Each person’s fitness and health journey is their own and no two are the same. I felt miserable, stopped caring about clothes and avoided taking pictures like the plague. I didn’t want to face that I had let myself get so out of shape. 2012 through September 2013: I realized I needed to make a change and completed 3 rounds of insanity. Towards the end of 2013 I registered for a 5k with my sister and discovered my love of running! September 2013 – August 2014: Running, cross training: stair master, bike, weights, etc. August 2014 – December 2014: Bikini Body Guide – completed the entire 12 week program without skipping a single resistance workout & continued running. So here I am… the conclusion of 2014 and I’ve decided to run 1,000 miles in 2015. Along with that, I’ve also gained a new outlook on eating. I’m trying a new program where I’ll be eating a much larger breakfast than I currently do and smaller meals after. I know people who’ve gotten great results. I’m going on vacation in August and my main goal is to feel amazingly confident in a bikini. I LOVED being in a bikini back in the day – I really took that for granted and will fight to get it back! I had two resolutions in 2014: run a 1/2 marathon and better keep in touch with friends. I accomplished both! So, I decided to set a lofty goal for 2015. I haven't been incredibly consistent with my running and if I wan't to win races, I need to become consistent. So, my goal for 2015 is to run 1,000 miles! I'm planning 50 weeks (2 week buffer), so I have to run 20 miles per week. I've set the goal in RunKeeper so I'm ready to go. I have off from work from December 23rd - January 4th so I'm hoping to get some good mileage in the first four days of the new year! My goal for 2016 is to run a marathon so reaching my 2015 goal will really set me up nicely.
Want to join 1,000 miles in 2015? Let me know! What are your 2015 resolutions? |
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