It's a new month, which means newish goals! I have a lot of room for improvement, and I don't want the progress I did make in April to go away, so I am keeping some of my goals from last month and adding in new ones.
First, the old goals:
1. Go to bed by 10:00 p.m. This is a repeat from last month, and while I feel that I am doing well with this, I know if I took it off my official goal list, I wouldn't be nearly as diligent about going to bed at a decent hour. I am going to give myself one night a week to stay up later than this, however.
2. Blog 3 times a week. I'm really doing this for all of you, dear readers. You know you can't get enough! :)
3. Don't eat after 8:30 p.m. I am changing this from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 because we have been eating dinner later and later recently because Charlotte has decided not to go to sleep as quickly and easily as she once did, and we don't eat until after she goes to bed. I also have been working out at night, and sometimes I want a little snack afterwards.
4. Exercise 3 times a week. I didn't do a good job of this last month, so I am trying again, with the 10 minute minimum still in place.
5. Read Seeking God's Face every day. I need my time with the Lord so badly. I wish this didn't have to be a goal and that I just did this every day with no problems, but the truth is that I struggle with consistency in this area, so on the list it will stay.
Now, the new goals:
1. Log all of my food every day. I am back to using SparkPeople, and it has been really helpful for me. I wasn't really tracking my food intake at all, and it's scary how much I was eating without even thinking about it. My primary aim is to just track everything--the good, bad, and ugly--so I get back in the habit. It does me no good if I am not completely honest with my tracking, so even I if I have a terribly high caloric day, I am going to try and track every bite. (If you are on Spark, my username is Erin1022. Be my friend!)
2. Stay within 1800 calories a day. My SparkPeople range is actually 1250-1610, but I haven't eaten in a range that low for a LONG time, so I am trying to be realistic for now and will reevaluate next month.
3. Only weigh myself once a week. I have been weighing myself almost daily, but instead of motivating, it's just depressing me, so I am going to limit weigh-ins to Wednesdays.
4. Read one book. Yes, only one. It is embarrassing how little reading I have been doing. I have 2 books that I have started and would really like to finish this month (One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick), but I will be happy if I finish one of these.
5. Write down 3 things I am thankful for every day. I have been feeling really discouraged lately, and I want to remind myself of how blessed I am and am hoping this practice will help.
I think 5 old goals and 5 new goals is enough, don't you? : )
Do you have any goals for the month? Share them with me!
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
April Goals in Review
Earlier this month, I set 5 goals for April. Then I proceeded to try to follow them without actually keeping track of my progress. Just so you know, I wouldn't recommend this particular approach because then you reach the end of the month and realize that you can't accurately report to your hundreds tens of followers how you did. Alas, that is precisely the approach I took. However, despite my lack of true goal tracking, I'll give you a loose update on how I did with my goals.
1. Go to bed by 10 p.m. I know I stayed up past 10:00 every Friday in April, but I did make a concerted effort to go to bed earlier. Still, I'd guess I stayed up past 10 p.m. an average of about 2 times per week. It helped that I am so stinkin' tired all the time, so I had extra motivation to go to bed earlier.
2. Read Seeking God's Face every day. Honestly, this is the one goal I thought I would do really well at, and I probably did the worst at keeping it! I don't know how many days I missed, but it was at least 10 over the course of the month, which I'm not at all proud of. I am determined to do better at spending time with the Lord consistently. I have no excuse not to, and I need that time to keep me from getting all lost inside my crazy head.
3. Exercise 3 times a week. I met this goal one week. I didn't exercise at all last week, but I blame strep throat for that. I exercised twice a week the other two weeks.
4. No eating after 8 p.m. I did really well with this goal, except for on Friday nights, once again. Apparently I like to throw discipline out the window on Friday nights.
5. Blog 3 times a week. I did not do this every week, but I definitely blogged at least twice a week, which, sad to say, is good for me. After all, I only blogged 5 times TOTAL in both January and February!
All in all, it wasn't an especially successful month, but I am glad that I set these goals, and it definitely helped me to have them in the back of my mind. Though I didn't do a great job of tracking them, I did remember each of them, and I know I would have been even less disciplined had I not made them. I am planning to make more goals in May, so stay tuned!
How did you do with your goals in April?
1. Go to bed by 10 p.m. I know I stayed up past 10:00 every Friday in April, but I did make a concerted effort to go to bed earlier. Still, I'd guess I stayed up past 10 p.m. an average of about 2 times per week. It helped that I am so stinkin' tired all the time, so I had extra motivation to go to bed earlier.
2. Read Seeking God's Face every day. Honestly, this is the one goal I thought I would do really well at, and I probably did the worst at keeping it! I don't know how many days I missed, but it was at least 10 over the course of the month, which I'm not at all proud of. I am determined to do better at spending time with the Lord consistently. I have no excuse not to, and I need that time to keep me from getting all lost inside my crazy head.
3. Exercise 3 times a week. I met this goal one week. I didn't exercise at all last week, but I blame strep throat for that. I exercised twice a week the other two weeks.
4. No eating after 8 p.m. I did really well with this goal, except for on Friday nights, once again. Apparently I like to throw discipline out the window on Friday nights.
5. Blog 3 times a week. I did not do this every week, but I definitely blogged at least twice a week, which, sad to say, is good for me. After all, I only blogged 5 times TOTAL in both January and February!
All in all, it wasn't an especially successful month, but I am glad that I set these goals, and it definitely helped me to have them in the back of my mind. Though I didn't do a great job of tracking them, I did remember each of them, and I know I would have been even less disciplined had I not made them. I am planning to make more goals in May, so stay tuned!
How did you do with your goals in April?
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Ready, Set, Goals!
Remember when I used to make goals every month and oh, I don't know, actually attempt to accomplish something? Yeah, I hardly remember it either because it's been so long since I did that. However, I have decided that this month will be different. I'm tired of going to bed every night and feeling like a failure because I still haven't _______. The only way to remedy that is to make solid, achievable goals and then work at them. With that said, here are my goals for April:
1. Go to bed by 10 p.m. This is tough for me because I am a night owl by nature, and the late evening hours are one of the few times I can actually have to myself. I have realized, though, that staying up late makes it harder for me to get up in the morning, which means I sleep later than I should and end up feeling frazzled and grumpy and out of sorts because I didn't start my day with God. Which brings me to my next goal...
2. Read Seeking God's Face every day. My friend Kim (who also recommended the Scripture memory trick I mentioned Monday-clearly she is my spiritual guru) told me about this book, and it is revolutionizing my Bible study and prayer time. It is essentially a prayer book that is based on the Church calendar, and each day has selected Scripture passages, suggested prayer points, and prayers excerpted from historic Church documents like the Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms. I like it because it allows me to focus in on a specific passage of Scripture while also meditating on that passage and praying through it. I can't recommend it enough, so check it out!
3. Exercise 3 times a week. Full disclosure: I am counting as little as 10 minutes as satisfying this goal because I have been so fatigued recently that some days that may be all I can handle. I exercised very sporadically in March, and I do love a good cardio session, so I am hoping I can make this work.
4. No eating after 8 p.m. Let's face it: nothing healthy gets eaten after 8:00 p.m. And by that point I have already eaten more than enough calories for the day, so there's no excuse in letting late-night munchies get the best of me. I developed this nighttime habit when I was still taking Prednisone (a steroid that made me feel ravenous), but now that I am off that medication, my hunger has not been nearly as insatiable.
5. Blog 3 times a week. I really enjoy blogging, but you wouldn't necessarily know that from the scarcity of my posts. It's a nice hobby for me, and I want to be more consistent, so I am going to aim for 3 times.
Those are my goals for the month. I think they are all measurable and achievable. I wasn't going to blog about them but then decided that I would appreciate the accountability, so here they are. I will report back at the end of the month, if not weekly, about my progress.
I would encourage you to sit down and think about some measurable goals you can make for yourself this month. If you already have some, share them with me!
1. Go to bed by 10 p.m. This is tough for me because I am a night owl by nature, and the late evening hours are one of the few times I can actually have to myself. I have realized, though, that staying up late makes it harder for me to get up in the morning, which means I sleep later than I should and end up feeling frazzled and grumpy and out of sorts because I didn't start my day with God. Which brings me to my next goal...
2. Read Seeking God's Face every day. My friend Kim (who also recommended the Scripture memory trick I mentioned Monday-clearly she is my spiritual guru) told me about this book, and it is revolutionizing my Bible study and prayer time. It is essentially a prayer book that is based on the Church calendar, and each day has selected Scripture passages, suggested prayer points, and prayers excerpted from historic Church documents like the Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms. I like it because it allows me to focus in on a specific passage of Scripture while also meditating on that passage and praying through it. I can't recommend it enough, so check it out!
3. Exercise 3 times a week. Full disclosure: I am counting as little as 10 minutes as satisfying this goal because I have been so fatigued recently that some days that may be all I can handle. I exercised very sporadically in March, and I do love a good cardio session, so I am hoping I can make this work.
4. No eating after 8 p.m. Let's face it: nothing healthy gets eaten after 8:00 p.m. And by that point I have already eaten more than enough calories for the day, so there's no excuse in letting late-night munchies get the best of me. I developed this nighttime habit when I was still taking Prednisone (a steroid that made me feel ravenous), but now that I am off that medication, my hunger has not been nearly as insatiable.
5. Blog 3 times a week. I really enjoy blogging, but you wouldn't necessarily know that from the scarcity of my posts. It's a nice hobby for me, and I want to be more consistent, so I am going to aim for 3 times.
Those are my goals for the month. I think they are all measurable and achievable. I wasn't going to blog about them but then decided that I would appreciate the accountability, so here they are. I will report back at the end of the month, if not weekly, about my progress.
I would encourage you to sit down and think about some measurable goals you can make for yourself this month. If you already have some, share them with me!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Missing: My Running Mojo
Once upon a time, I was a runner.
After years of living a sedentary lifestyle, in 2008 I started exercising, and in 2009, I began running, something I never thought I would do. I started with the Couch to 5k program, ran in my first 5k race, and I was hooked. While I didn't always love the act of running itself (let's face it, it's HARD), I loved how I felt after finishing a run, and I loved the calorie burn that running provided. From the beginning of my running journey, however, I struggled to gain momentum and find my groove. I would run very consistently for months then either get burned out or get bored. I got in a rut of only running short distances, which prompted me to train for a half marathon that I then decided not to run. After that experience, I took a couple months off from running, and just as I was getting back into a routine, I got pregnant. I ran sporadically for the first trimester and even a little bit in the second before deciding to stick to walking, as running just felt uncomfortable.
After I had Charlotte, I couldn't WAIT to get back into running but struggled to find time to workout when Charlotte was a newborn (and for months after that). I did finally manage to finish Couch to 5k again and ran a 4-miler on my 30th birthday that October, but then my running fell off until the new year, when I decided to try yet again to complete a half marathon. Training for a half the second time around was really a wonderful experience. I enjoyed my runs a lot more and felt confident and ready to meet my goal. I finally crossed that half marathon finish line in March 2012 and felt on top of the world. Still, after the race I floundered a bit since I had no real goal to reach for, and my running was rather inconsistent through the summer months. I still managed to run a few races, though, and when fall rolled around, I started to find my running groove again. I set a new 5k PR and came within SECONDS of finishing in under 30 minutes, and a few days after that I ran 4 miles for the first time in months. I was looking forward to the cooler months ahead and thinking about running the Andrew Jackson Half again and maybe even running another half in the latter part of 2013.
Then I got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and my running came to a complete halt. For weeks I was so sick that running was impossible and yet I couldn't wait to get back to it. Then, slowly, I started to regain my energy. I was discouraged by the thought of having to start all over with my running and discouraged by the fact that my doctor strongly advised against my doing any more half marathons, but I rang in the new year by running a mile without stopping. I thought I was back on track.
The truth is, though, that the run on January 1 is the only mile I have run nonstop since the year began. Last week I could barely run for four minutes straight on the treadmill. I am so frustrated that I have lost all my endurance, and while I know part of it couldn't be helped because I was sick for a solid two months, if I had been more consistent with my running after that first mile, I wouldn't have lost all of my running base. I truly am back at the beginning again. I don't want to go through Couch to 5k for what seems like the 100th time, but I think I need to. I just can't go out and run a 5k tomorrow, and that kills me.
Not only have I lost my endurance, I have also lost my speed. Before I got sick, I was finally getting faster at races and getting so close to meeting my goal of a sub-30:00 5k, and now I am back to running a 12-minute mile. There is nothing wrong with a 12:00 minute mile except for the fact that I have been there and done that and am ready to move on.
I can't move on, though, if I don't get up and MOVE. It's time to stop whining and start running! I may be starting over, but at least I know that I can do this because I've done it before. I will get my mojo back!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I better get to bed so I can get up and hit the treadmill. :)
After years of living a sedentary lifestyle, in 2008 I started exercising, and in 2009, I began running, something I never thought I would do. I started with the Couch to 5k program, ran in my first 5k race, and I was hooked. While I didn't always love the act of running itself (let's face it, it's HARD), I loved how I felt after finishing a run, and I loved the calorie burn that running provided. From the beginning of my running journey, however, I struggled to gain momentum and find my groove. I would run very consistently for months then either get burned out or get bored. I got in a rut of only running short distances, which prompted me to train for a half marathon that I then decided not to run. After that experience, I took a couple months off from running, and just as I was getting back into a routine, I got pregnant. I ran sporadically for the first trimester and even a little bit in the second before deciding to stick to walking, as running just felt uncomfortable.
After I had Charlotte, I couldn't WAIT to get back into running but struggled to find time to workout when Charlotte was a newborn (and for months after that). I did finally manage to finish Couch to 5k again and ran a 4-miler on my 30th birthday that October, but then my running fell off until the new year, when I decided to try yet again to complete a half marathon. Training for a half the second time around was really a wonderful experience. I enjoyed my runs a lot more and felt confident and ready to meet my goal. I finally crossed that half marathon finish line in March 2012 and felt on top of the world. Still, after the race I floundered a bit since I had no real goal to reach for, and my running was rather inconsistent through the summer months. I still managed to run a few races, though, and when fall rolled around, I started to find my running groove again. I set a new 5k PR and came within SECONDS of finishing in under 30 minutes, and a few days after that I ran 4 miles for the first time in months. I was looking forward to the cooler months ahead and thinking about running the Andrew Jackson Half again and maybe even running another half in the latter part of 2013.
Then I got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and my running came to a complete halt. For weeks I was so sick that running was impossible and yet I couldn't wait to get back to it. Then, slowly, I started to regain my energy. I was discouraged by the thought of having to start all over with my running and discouraged by the fact that my doctor strongly advised against my doing any more half marathons, but I rang in the new year by running a mile without stopping. I thought I was back on track.
The truth is, though, that the run on January 1 is the only mile I have run nonstop since the year began. Last week I could barely run for four minutes straight on the treadmill. I am so frustrated that I have lost all my endurance, and while I know part of it couldn't be helped because I was sick for a solid two months, if I had been more consistent with my running after that first mile, I wouldn't have lost all of my running base. I truly am back at the beginning again. I don't want to go through Couch to 5k for what seems like the 100th time, but I think I need to. I just can't go out and run a 5k tomorrow, and that kills me.
Not only have I lost my endurance, I have also lost my speed. Before I got sick, I was finally getting faster at races and getting so close to meeting my goal of a sub-30:00 5k, and now I am back to running a 12-minute mile. There is nothing wrong with a 12:00 minute mile except for the fact that I have been there and done that and am ready to move on.
I can't move on, though, if I don't get up and MOVE. It's time to stop whining and start running! I may be starting over, but at least I know that I can do this because I've done it before. I will get my mojo back!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I better get to bed so I can get up and hit the treadmill. :)
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Good Intentions, Zero Follow-Through
Plans. I have lots of them. I plan to make all sorts of new recipes, read all kinds of new, life-enriching books, achieve new fitness goals, teach Charlotte Mandarin (not really). But so often those plans? They remain only that: ideas in my head, not realities. After all, it's easier to use the same old recipes over and over again; I don't have time to read books (but plenty of time to read my Facebook news feed); it's winter and our treadmill is broken, so I don't want to run outside, etc., etc.
If there is one thing I am good at, it's making excuses.
And then I beat myself up because once again I failed to live up to the expectations I had for myself. Not a day goes by that I don't think I could have done so many things better, but when I am honest with myself I realize that many days I don't give the effort required to achieve those things.
I am realizing anew how incredibly lacking in self-discipline I am. I haven't exercised consistently since I got out of the hospital, and while for about a month of that time I really didn't have the energy to exercise, I do now. There is no reason for me not to be able to exercise at least 3 times a week. The only thing standing in the way of that is me and my excuses. What is most pathetic about this is that at the end of January a new gym opened up across the street from my office, and I got a membership to that gym for free. FREE. Do you know how many times I have been since I joined on January 31? Three, and one of those was just to attend an orientation. How dare I squander something that was just what I needed after my treadmill broke? How dare I not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity?
Even worse than a wasted gym membership is all the time I waste on things that do not matter. I say that I never feel like I have enough time, but I spend a good portion of my evenings watching TV or browsing the Internet. Charlotte is in bed by 6:30, Stephen and I eat by 7:00, and I don't go to bed until 10:00 p.m. or later. At the very least I have 3 hours every evening that I can use to do whatever I want. That adds up to 15 hours during the week and even more on the weekends. How can I say I don't have enough time?
What it all boils down to is priorities. I make time for the things that matter, and if you looked at a week in my life you would conclude that the things that matter to me are Facebook and my iPhone and the Internet. What kind of legacy is that? What kind of example am I setting for my daughter? Most importantly, what message am I sending to my Heavenly Father? I'm not saying that I should never use the Internet or that Facebook is evil, but I am saying that when those things prevent me from spending time with the Lord, there's a problem.
One of the ways that I am attempting to combat this excessive waste in my life (if that phrase even makes sense) is giving up Facebook for Lent. I realized last week how much time I spend scrolling through my news feed, and I decided that a break would be good for me. I have missed it more than I care to admit, but it has been good for me.
I am also trying to be more intentional with my time spent reading God's Word, and I am really enjoying YouVersion's Psalms reading plan, which will take me through the book of Psalms in 31 days (I highly recommend the YouVersion app or website. They have tons of free reading plans, and you can listen to audio versions of Scripture as well).
Do you struggle with self-discipline? How do you work on being more disciplined?
If there is one thing I am good at, it's making excuses.
And then I beat myself up because once again I failed to live up to the expectations I had for myself. Not a day goes by that I don't think I could have done so many things better, but when I am honest with myself I realize that many days I don't give the effort required to achieve those things.
I am realizing anew how incredibly lacking in self-discipline I am. I haven't exercised consistently since I got out of the hospital, and while for about a month of that time I really didn't have the energy to exercise, I do now. There is no reason for me not to be able to exercise at least 3 times a week. The only thing standing in the way of that is me and my excuses. What is most pathetic about this is that at the end of January a new gym opened up across the street from my office, and I got a membership to that gym for free. FREE. Do you know how many times I have been since I joined on January 31? Three, and one of those was just to attend an orientation. How dare I squander something that was just what I needed after my treadmill broke? How dare I not take advantage of this wonderful opportunity?
Even worse than a wasted gym membership is all the time I waste on things that do not matter. I say that I never feel like I have enough time, but I spend a good portion of my evenings watching TV or browsing the Internet. Charlotte is in bed by 6:30, Stephen and I eat by 7:00, and I don't go to bed until 10:00 p.m. or later. At the very least I have 3 hours every evening that I can use to do whatever I want. That adds up to 15 hours during the week and even more on the weekends. How can I say I don't have enough time?
What it all boils down to is priorities. I make time for the things that matter, and if you looked at a week in my life you would conclude that the things that matter to me are Facebook and my iPhone and the Internet. What kind of legacy is that? What kind of example am I setting for my daughter? Most importantly, what message am I sending to my Heavenly Father? I'm not saying that I should never use the Internet or that Facebook is evil, but I am saying that when those things prevent me from spending time with the Lord, there's a problem.
One of the ways that I am attempting to combat this excessive waste in my life (if that phrase even makes sense) is giving up Facebook for Lent. I realized last week how much time I spend scrolling through my news feed, and I decided that a break would be good for me. I have missed it more than I care to admit, but it has been good for me.
I am also trying to be more intentional with my time spent reading God's Word, and I am really enjoying YouVersion's Psalms reading plan, which will take me through the book of Psalms in 31 days (I highly recommend the YouVersion app or website. They have tons of free reading plans, and you can listen to audio versions of Scripture as well).
Do you struggle with self-discipline? How do you work on being more disciplined?
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Weigh-In Wednesday: Goodbye, 2012!
Is anyone else surprised that Christmas is next week? I am. The holiday season, including Thanksgiving, totally sneaked up on me this year. I blame it on being in the hospital. (I have found that I can blame a lot of things on being in the hospital. It's quite handy, really.) Anyway, I am excited about this Christmas for many reasons, but one is because for the first time in three years, I have the entire week of Christmas off from work! The law firm where I work will be closed, and as work has been insanely busy the past few weeks, I welcome the break and the chance to be with family and celebrate Christ's birth.
I was thinking the other day about goals to make for the coming year, which of course made me reflect on the goals I made for this year and whether or not I met them. Since I'm sure none of you remember what my goals were (I barely remembered sometimes, haha), here they are:
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Did I miss the blog post wherein Erin rejoiced over reaching her goal weight?" No, dear reader, you did not in fact miss that post, but I have in fact reached my goal weight. The last weigh-in recorded on my blog was October 17, near the very beginning of the illness that I later learned was ulcerative colitis. On that date, I weighed in at 170.8 pounds. This morning, I weighed 157.8 pounds. I've lost 13 pounds in the past 9 weeks. At one point after being sick, I was down to 150 pounds (I lost a crazy amount of weight over the span of a few days the first week I was out of the hospital), but over the past 4 weeks I've fluctuated between 155-158 pounds, and I am very happy with that.
It feels weird to celebrate this achievement because I didn't really "achieve" it. I got sick and ended up in the hospital. Still, I am happy that I haven't gained all of the weight back, and I am happy that I managed to lose 90 pounds on my own before getting sick, so I can look at losing another 13 more with the help of a chronic condition as a gift. A gift that means I now wear a size 12, a size I don't think I ever wore for any significant length of time. A gift that means I had to go shopping for new clothes. A gift that means I feel a little more comfortable in my own skin.
I still don't know what my goals for 2013 will be, but I am pretty certain that losing weight will not be one of them. :)
I was thinking the other day about goals to make for the coming year, which of course made me reflect on the goals I made for this year and whether or not I met them. Since I'm sure none of you remember what my goals were (I barely remembered sometimes, haha), here they are:
- Reach my goal weight (between 155-160 pounds). Check.
- Run a half marathon. Check.
- Read through the Bible. Check. (Well, almost. I am 96% of the way there and have no plans to flake out at the finish!)
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Did I miss the blog post wherein Erin rejoiced over reaching her goal weight?" No, dear reader, you did not in fact miss that post, but I have in fact reached my goal weight. The last weigh-in recorded on my blog was October 17, near the very beginning of the illness that I later learned was ulcerative colitis. On that date, I weighed in at 170.8 pounds. This morning, I weighed 157.8 pounds. I've lost 13 pounds in the past 9 weeks. At one point after being sick, I was down to 150 pounds (I lost a crazy amount of weight over the span of a few days the first week I was out of the hospital), but over the past 4 weeks I've fluctuated between 155-158 pounds, and I am very happy with that.
It feels weird to celebrate this achievement because I didn't really "achieve" it. I got sick and ended up in the hospital. Still, I am happy that I haven't gained all of the weight back, and I am happy that I managed to lose 90 pounds on my own before getting sick, so I can look at losing another 13 more with the help of a chronic condition as a gift. A gift that means I now wear a size 12, a size I don't think I ever wore for any significant length of time. A gift that means I had to go shopping for new clothes. A gift that means I feel a little more comfortable in my own skin.
I still don't know what my goals for 2013 will be, but I am pretty certain that losing weight will not be one of them. :)
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Race Report: H&M Relay for Life 5k
I'm going to call this race The One That Got Away. It didn't go at all how I'd hoped, but I still enjoyed myself. I signed up with the sole goal of getting a PR (personal record). My previous best in a 5k race was 33:12, set in March 2010. Recently I've been consistently running miles in the 10:30-10:45 range, so I had high hopes that I could beat that 33:12 time, especially since I'd run 3.1 miles the Sunday before in 32:48. In addition, the race was advertised as "flat and fast," so everything seemed to indicate a PR for me.
The race wasn't very organized, and the instructions we got at the starting line about where the turn-around was were slightly unclear. I just hoped that there would be people around me I could follow so I would know what I was doing. After several minutes, the race finally started. I let a bunch of people pass me, as is my usual practice, and focused on finding a good pace for me. The first mile was indeed nice and flat, and I finished it in 10:11, which is a new personal best for me. I was feeling good, if not a little warm. There were quite a few runners around me for the first mile, and then slowly some began to fall behind while others raced ahead of me. Before I knew it I was running by myself, which always seems to happen to me in races. It was around this point that I saw spray-painted on the road "5k turn," and I saw several runners ahead of me turning there. But what I also saw was that someone had written in chalk over that and had drawn arrows up ahead to signal that the turn for this race was still a little bit up the road. So I kept going after trying unsuccessfully to tell the others that they were turning at the wrong place. There was a water station at the turn, and though I wanted to get clarification about the turn, two other women were talking to him and I didn't want to lose time by stopping, so I turned around and kept going. I didn't see a mile marker for mile 2 and missed the alarm on my Garmin, so I had no idea when I actually finished 2 miles but knew I had more to go. My pace had slowed considerably because there was more of an incline at this part of the course, but I was still hopeful for a PR as I made my way back to the finish line and tried to pick up my pace. I saw my pace go down to 9:48 at several points, which made me happy.
However, as I approached the finish, I looked down at my Garmin and saw that I had gone 2.8 miles and was already at 30 minutes. I was so disappointed and knew there was no way I would get a PR, and I was also confused because I was still a good distance from the finish line at that point. Still, I kept my pace good and strong and tried to finish as fast as I could. The finish line was actually inside the minor league baseball stadium, which was cool, and I saw Stephen and Charlotte right before the finish and waved and gave a thumbs up. Finally, I crossed the finish, and someone called out my name over a loudspeaker, which I loved.
(One of the few pics Stephen managed to get while he juggled a squirmy toddler.)
Stephen also filmed a video as I rounded the bases before the finish line. It's cute because you can hear Charlotte saying "Mama."
What I did NOT love was the time I saw on the finish clock and on my Garmin: 34:49. I was even more frustrated when I saw that according to my Garmin I had actually run 3.37 miles and not 3.1. I didn't know what to make of this, and I still don't. A friend on Facebook suggested that I didn't run the tangents of the course, which is definitely possible, but there weren't all that many curves in the course . It's also possible that my Garmin gave an inaccurate reading, but it's never been off by such a wide margin before, and the sky was completely clear and unobstructed during the whole race. If there had been mile markers along the course I could have had a better idea of how my Garmin was matching up to the course. Only mile 1 was marked (and my Garmin was right on track with it), and then they marked every kilometer, which wasn't at all helpful.
Average pace if indeed I ran 3.1 miles: 11:13
Average pace for 3.37 miles according to my Garmin: 10:19
Placement:
6/16 in my age group
13/36 females
33/61 overall
Even though I was pretty disappointed after it was over, I still did well and didn't walk at all. I also finished in the middle of the pack in each category, whereas I normally rank near the bottom. Plus, I got a technical shirt and water bottle with my registration, and I do love some good swag! :)
Now I need to find another race to sign up for so I can get that new PR!
The race wasn't very organized, and the instructions we got at the starting line about where the turn-around was were slightly unclear. I just hoped that there would be people around me I could follow so I would know what I was doing. After several minutes, the race finally started. I let a bunch of people pass me, as is my usual practice, and focused on finding a good pace for me. The first mile was indeed nice and flat, and I finished it in 10:11, which is a new personal best for me. I was feeling good, if not a little warm. There were quite a few runners around me for the first mile, and then slowly some began to fall behind while others raced ahead of me. Before I knew it I was running by myself, which always seems to happen to me in races. It was around this point that I saw spray-painted on the road "5k turn," and I saw several runners ahead of me turning there. But what I also saw was that someone had written in chalk over that and had drawn arrows up ahead to signal that the turn for this race was still a little bit up the road. So I kept going after trying unsuccessfully to tell the others that they were turning at the wrong place. There was a water station at the turn, and though I wanted to get clarification about the turn, two other women were talking to him and I didn't want to lose time by stopping, so I turned around and kept going. I didn't see a mile marker for mile 2 and missed the alarm on my Garmin, so I had no idea when I actually finished 2 miles but knew I had more to go. My pace had slowed considerably because there was more of an incline at this part of the course, but I was still hopeful for a PR as I made my way back to the finish line and tried to pick up my pace. I saw my pace go down to 9:48 at several points, which made me happy.
However, as I approached the finish, I looked down at my Garmin and saw that I had gone 2.8 miles and was already at 30 minutes. I was so disappointed and knew there was no way I would get a PR, and I was also confused because I was still a good distance from the finish line at that point. Still, I kept my pace good and strong and tried to finish as fast as I could. The finish line was actually inside the minor league baseball stadium, which was cool, and I saw Stephen and Charlotte right before the finish and waved and gave a thumbs up. Finally, I crossed the finish, and someone called out my name over a loudspeaker, which I loved.
(One of the few pics Stephen managed to get while he juggled a squirmy toddler.)
Stephen also filmed a video as I rounded the bases before the finish line. It's cute because you can hear Charlotte saying "Mama."
What I did NOT love was the time I saw on the finish clock and on my Garmin: 34:49. I was even more frustrated when I saw that according to my Garmin I had actually run 3.37 miles and not 3.1. I didn't know what to make of this, and I still don't. A friend on Facebook suggested that I didn't run the tangents of the course, which is definitely possible, but there weren't all that many curves in the course . It's also possible that my Garmin gave an inaccurate reading, but it's never been off by such a wide margin before, and the sky was completely clear and unobstructed during the whole race. If there had been mile markers along the course I could have had a better idea of how my Garmin was matching up to the course. Only mile 1 was marked (and my Garmin was right on track with it), and then they marked every kilometer, which wasn't at all helpful.
Average pace if indeed I ran 3.1 miles: 11:13
Average pace for 3.37 miles according to my Garmin: 10:19
Placement:
6/16 in my age group
13/36 females
33/61 overall
Even though I was pretty disappointed after it was over, I still did well and didn't walk at all. I also finished in the middle of the pack in each category, whereas I normally rank near the bottom. Plus, I got a technical shirt and water bottle with my registration, and I do love some good swag! :)
Now I need to find another race to sign up for so I can get that new PR!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
30 Day Challenge Update
Nine days of the challenge are DONE! It has been fantastic to participate in this challenge and see all the members of the Facebook group posting about their progress. I am motivated by them daily, and knowing that I have to report to the group gives me that extra dose of accountability and motivation that I need. I haven't gotten as much exercise as I hoped to each day, but I have gotten at least 10 minutes each day and will definitely continue that.
My starting weight: 174.2
Current weight: 173.6
Loss of .6 pounds
It's only .6 pounds, but I'll take it! I have GOT to get out of the 170s, though! I have been in the 170s since February. It's time for us to break up!
My exercise so far has consisted of: running; walking with Charlotte in the stroller; lifting weights; doing crunches; punching; and jumping rope. I've enjoyed having more variety in my workouts and am going to try to keep my workouts varied so I work different muscles.
One thing I've learned is how easy it is to fit exercise into my day. I've been exercising for a long time now so this realization shouldn't be new, but somehow it is. In the past if I had a busy day, I would tell myself there was no way I could get a workout in, but that doesn't have to be the case. Even if I overslept and didn't get any exercise in the morning, I have found a way to exercise at night, even if it's only for 10 minutes. I discovered that it's fun to workout while watching TV and created little circuits to complete during the commercial breaks. I also used to think that a workout was pointless if it was only 10 or 15 minutes long, but even 10 or 15 minutes is beneficial and adds up over time.
Every minute spent exercising is one minute I don't spend being lazy.
It's not too late to start your own 30 day challenge! Let me know if you'd like to join the Facebook group, too! We'd love to have you!
My starting weight: 174.2
Current weight: 173.6
Loss of .6 pounds
It's only .6 pounds, but I'll take it! I have GOT to get out of the 170s, though! I have been in the 170s since February. It's time for us to break up!
My exercise so far has consisted of: running; walking with Charlotte in the stroller; lifting weights; doing crunches; punching; and jumping rope. I've enjoyed having more variety in my workouts and am going to try to keep my workouts varied so I work different muscles.
One thing I've learned is how easy it is to fit exercise into my day. I've been exercising for a long time now so this realization shouldn't be new, but somehow it is. In the past if I had a busy day, I would tell myself there was no way I could get a workout in, but that doesn't have to be the case. Even if I overslept and didn't get any exercise in the morning, I have found a way to exercise at night, even if it's only for 10 minutes. I discovered that it's fun to workout while watching TV and created little circuits to complete during the commercial breaks. I also used to think that a workout was pointless if it was only 10 or 15 minutes long, but even 10 or 15 minutes is beneficial and adds up over time.
Every minute spent exercising is one minute I don't spend being lazy.
It's not too late to start your own 30 day challenge! Let me know if you'd like to join the Facebook group, too! We'd love to have you!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Let the Challenge Begin!
Okay, everyone! The 30 Day Challenge starts TODAY!
My starting weight: 174.2
My starting picture:
As a reference point, here are 2 previous pictures I took to track my weight loss progress. The first one was taken in June 2011 when I was 196 pounds. Charlotte was around 3 months old at the time. The second one was taken in January at 184 pounds.
My shirt is definitely getting looser! I still have a ways to go, but I can see a little bit of a difference. I'm not really expecting to see much change at the end of 30 days, but who knows? I will take measurements later today as well. It's been a while since I did that, so I will be curious to see the numbers.
Good luck to everyone starting the challenge! It's not too late to join in!
Good luck to everyone starting the challenge! It's not too late to join in!
Monday, April 30, 2012
So Excited!
You guys, I am beyond thrilled that some of you want to join me in the 30 Day Challenge! I almost didn't even ask if anyone was interested because I was afraid no one would want to. I'm so glad I told my wimpy self to take a hike and asked because right now there are 30 people signed up for the challenge! Accountability is a HUGE help when tackling a goal, so I know this will help all of us make it through the 30 days.
I created a Facebook group, so if you commented on my last post that you wanted to do the challenge, you should have received an invitation from me. The group is closed, so I'll need to add you. If you are not friends with me on Facebook but would like to be, add me by going here. If you did not get an invite from me, please let me know!
The challenge officially begins on May 1, but of course you can start whenever you want. It's not too late to join the Facebook group. Leave a comment on this post, and I'll add you as soon as I can.
Let's get moving!!
I created a Facebook group, so if you commented on my last post that you wanted to do the challenge, you should have received an invitation from me. The group is closed, so I'll need to add you. If you are not friends with me on Facebook but would like to be, add me by going here. If you did not get an invite from me, please let me know!
The challenge officially begins on May 1, but of course you can start whenever you want. It's not too late to join the Facebook group. Leave a comment on this post, and I'll add you as soon as I can.
Let's get moving!!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Get Moving: A 30 Day Challenge
I've decided I need a challenge to get me revved up for weight loss,
and I came up with one I've wanted to try before but never really
followed through on (how many times has THAT happened, I wonder?). I'm
launching a 30 day challenge, to begin on Tuesday, May 1. During those 30 days, I am going to exercise every single day.
The only rule is that I have to exercise for at least 10 minutes each
day. I can certainly do more than 10 minutes, but not less. And here's
the real kicker: if I miss a day, I have to start the whole challenge over again. So if I'm on day 8 and decide to be lazy and not exercise, the next day becomes day 1. That's all there is to it!
I'm really excited about this challenge. I know it will be difficult to get in some form of exercise every day, but I know I can make time for at least 10 minutes a day. Just think: if I only do the minimum for the whole challenge, I will still have exercised for 300 minutes! That's not too shabby.
I'm hopeful this will help me realize that fitting in exercise is not so hard and is definitely worth the investment. There have been times in the past where I've slept in and not had time for a longer workout, and so I wouldn't do one at all because it seemed silly to only do 10 or 15 minutes. I'm no math genius (I did major in English for a reason), but the last time I checked, 10 and 15 are still greater than zero! Every little bit of exercise helps, and for every minute I'm exercising, that's one minute I'm not sitting around being a lazy bum!
On Tuesday I will post my starting weight along with a picture and will also take measurements so I can track any inches that I might lose during the challenge. I will post updates at least once a week on how the challenge is going.
Now, here's a question for you: who wants to join me? I'd love to have others join in on the challenge so we can support each other. If there's enough interest, I'll even form a group on Facebook where we can all check in with our progress and encourage one another. You don't even have to focus on exercise for your 30 day challenge. Maybe you want to challenge yourself to write every day or spend time in God's Word every day or drink 8 glasses of water a day. The choice is up to you! If you're interested, leave a comment on this post!
There are only a few days until May 1. Let's get moving!
I'm really excited about this challenge. I know it will be difficult to get in some form of exercise every day, but I know I can make time for at least 10 minutes a day. Just think: if I only do the minimum for the whole challenge, I will still have exercised for 300 minutes! That's not too shabby.
I'm hopeful this will help me realize that fitting in exercise is not so hard and is definitely worth the investment. There have been times in the past where I've slept in and not had time for a longer workout, and so I wouldn't do one at all because it seemed silly to only do 10 or 15 minutes. I'm no math genius (I did major in English for a reason), but the last time I checked, 10 and 15 are still greater than zero! Every little bit of exercise helps, and for every minute I'm exercising, that's one minute I'm not sitting around being a lazy bum!
On Tuesday I will post my starting weight along with a picture and will also take measurements so I can track any inches that I might lose during the challenge. I will post updates at least once a week on how the challenge is going.
Now, here's a question for you: who wants to join me? I'd love to have others join in on the challenge so we can support each other. If there's enough interest, I'll even form a group on Facebook where we can all check in with our progress and encourage one another. You don't even have to focus on exercise for your 30 day challenge. Maybe you want to challenge yourself to write every day or spend time in God's Word every day or drink 8 glasses of water a day. The choice is up to you! If you're interested, leave a comment on this post!
There are only a few days until May 1. Let's get moving!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
I'm Not Stopping Just Before the Finish Line
I checked my blog archives, and it's been roughly two months since I decided to take a break from blogging about weight loss. I was kind of surprised because it felt like longer to me, although I'm not sure why. I can't say I've actually missed writing about weight loss, but I have felt a little bit that not writing about it has caused me to become rather lackadaisical in my approach to weight loss. Basically, I'm not losing any weight. Well, let me correct that. I've lost about 4 pounds, but 4 pounds in 2 months? That's hardly a weight loss success story.
Admittedly, I was primarily focused on training for my half marathon during those 2 months, and as my runs increased in distance, so did my hunger. I don't think I went nuts with my eating, but I let more things slide than I should have because hey, I had just burned 1,000 calories running! What's a little pizza compared to that? However, I am no longer training for a half marathon, nor am I running. In fact, I've run a total of THREE TIMES since my race on March 31. I've only exercised five times this whole month. That's pathetic.
In summary, I've lost very little weight and done very little exercise.
So what's going on here? Laziness. Lack of discipline. Apathy.
All of that stops. NOW.
I weighed 174.4 this morning. That means that I only have 19 pounds to lose to get to my goal of 155. Nineteen pounds is NOTHING. I am so close! There is no reason I can't be at my goal weight by the end of July. To do that, I need to lose a little over 6 pounds a month. 6 pounds is not a lot. It's a very doable goal, and I'm going to reach it.
No more excuses. Only results!
P.S. This is my 1000th post! Woohoo!
Admittedly, I was primarily focused on training for my half marathon during those 2 months, and as my runs increased in distance, so did my hunger. I don't think I went nuts with my eating, but I let more things slide than I should have because hey, I had just burned 1,000 calories running! What's a little pizza compared to that? However, I am no longer training for a half marathon, nor am I running. In fact, I've run a total of THREE TIMES since my race on March 31. I've only exercised five times this whole month. That's pathetic.
In summary, I've lost very little weight and done very little exercise.
So what's going on here? Laziness. Lack of discipline. Apathy.
All of that stops. NOW.
I weighed 174.4 this morning. That means that I only have 19 pounds to lose to get to my goal of 155. Nineteen pounds is NOTHING. I am so close! There is no reason I can't be at my goal weight by the end of July. To do that, I need to lose a little over 6 pounds a month. 6 pounds is not a lot. It's a very doable goal, and I'm going to reach it.
No more excuses. Only results!
P.S. This is my 1000th post! Woohoo!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
What Next?
It is has been my experience that without a specific fitness-related goal, I flounder. Hence the reason I haven't really worked out at all since my half marathon until this morning (and even then I only ran 2 miles). Having the half marathon to train for gave me motivation and focus and helped get me out of bed on days when I would have preferred to sleep a little later. Now that the race is over, I am left trying to figure out what my next goal should be. Obviously, I have a goal to get to my goal weight, but I need some sort of fitness goal to accompany that so I stay on track. I have a few things in mind but would love my readers' input as well. Here is what I've come up with:
1. Sign up for another race. I could do the West TN Strawberry Festival 10k on May 12. I wouldn't have to do much training for this, just keep up a consistent running schedule until then. I'm defnitely not going to run any long distance races over the summer because I'm a wuss when it comes to heat, so a 10k is the farthest I'd be comfortable running at this point.
2. Complete 30 days of 30 Day Shred. I've done the workout itself many times, but I have never tried to do it every day for 30 consecutive days, mainly because I've always thought that you shouldn't work the same muscles two days in a row. Am I completely wrong on this? I have never managed to get past level 1 on the DVD, so I think a focused, concentrated approach like aiming for 30 days straight would be really challenging. My main concern is injuring myself because of overuse. I suppose I could always do the Shred every other day for 60 days, too.
3. Find a weight lifting plan and stick with it for 30 days. I have little to no motivation to strength train, but my body desperately needs it (hello, flabby stomach and thighs and arms!). If I could find a good plan to follow, that might help. I have a 2-month YMCA membership that I need to use before it expires in June, so perhaps I should see if I can find any workouts that incorporate gym equipment that I otherwise wouldn't have access to.
That's all I've got. I'd love to hear any suggestions from you all about what my next fitness goal should be! If you know of any great, inexpensive workouts, please share!
1. Sign up for another race. I could do the West TN Strawberry Festival 10k on May 12. I wouldn't have to do much training for this, just keep up a consistent running schedule until then. I'm defnitely not going to run any long distance races over the summer because I'm a wuss when it comes to heat, so a 10k is the farthest I'd be comfortable running at this point.
2. Complete 30 days of 30 Day Shred. I've done the workout itself many times, but I have never tried to do it every day for 30 consecutive days, mainly because I've always thought that you shouldn't work the same muscles two days in a row. Am I completely wrong on this? I have never managed to get past level 1 on the DVD, so I think a focused, concentrated approach like aiming for 30 days straight would be really challenging. My main concern is injuring myself because of overuse. I suppose I could always do the Shred every other day for 60 days, too.
3. Find a weight lifting plan and stick with it for 30 days. I have little to no motivation to strength train, but my body desperately needs it (hello, flabby stomach and thighs and arms!). If I could find a good plan to follow, that might help. I have a 2-month YMCA membership that I need to use before it expires in June, so perhaps I should see if I can find any workouts that incorporate gym equipment that I otherwise wouldn't have access to.
That's all I've got. I'd love to hear any suggestions from you all about what my next fitness goal should be! If you know of any great, inexpensive workouts, please share!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Race Report: Andrew Jackson Half Marathon
Saturday was an awesome day. Stephen and I woke up around 5:45 that morning because I planned to leave the house around 6:40 so I could get to Union University, the race site, around 6:50 (start time was 7:30). I had been bummed the night before that Stephen and Charlotte wouldn't be going with me because I didn't want to wake up Charlotte to go to the race (she usually sleeps until 7 or 7:15). However, Saturday morning she woke up at 6 a.m., so the whole family was off to the race site after much scrambling. I checked in, got my free shirt, attached my bib to my shirt, and got all my gear. I was ready!
I was super nervous before the race, but fortunately I timed my arrival to the race site well because I didn't have much time to stand around and over-think everything. Before I knew it, someone was calling for all the half marathoners to assemble at the start line. I gave Stephen and Charlotte a kiss and headed toward the back of the pack, since I knew I wasn't going to be among the fastest runners. I let out an audible sigh of anxiety, and the woman next to me smiled and asked me if this was my first. I told her it was, and she said, "It's not that bad. You can do it!" Even though I didn't know this woman, I really took comfort in her words. I could do it! I made sure to get the playlist cued up on my mp3 player and got my Garmin ready to push start the minute my feet crossed the starting line. The siren went off, and we were off!
I waited for the first surge of runners to take off before I started running. There were some people around me, but not too many, and I focused on finding my pace and enjoying myself. The first mile flew by, but I was a little dismayed to see that I finished it in 11:27, which was way too fast for me to maintain. I tried to go much slower my second mile and succeeded. It didn't take long for the faster runners to disappear from my sight, and soon I found myself running alone, with 2-3 runners about 100 feet in front of me and several behind me. I picked two runners in front of me to act as my own personal pacers since they seemed to be running a fairly consistent pace. I ended up following one of those runners the entire race, and it was really helpful to have someone to keep in my sights and help me stay focused on a steady pace. When I hit mile 3 I said loudly to a woman who happened to be right behind me, "Only 10 miles to go!" She wasn't amused and didn't even respond. I didn't care though because I was having a blast and was practically giddy about the fact that I was out there running in a race I once thought was impossible to complete.
The first 6 miles went by in a very pleasant fashion. My times were still a bit all over the place, but weren't nearly as fast as that first mile, and I felt good and strong. The course was through neighborhoods and rural areas, and the first half was mainly flat, with lots of shade. Given the fact that it was already 62 degrees when I had left my house at 6:40 that morning, I knew it was going to be warm by the time I finished, so I was glad for any shade and any hint of a breeze. I took my first Gu at mile 4 and planned to take the others at miles 7 and 10. I ended up running miles 3-7 right next to another woman, which was nice. She wasn't terribly chatty, but we exchanged a few words of encouragement, and I liked having someone else near me to break up the feeling of isolation.
At mile 7 I started to struggle. The sun was out in full force, and I was starting to get hot. I also felt like the road we were running on at that point was far too long, and there started to be more rolling hills. Mile 7 ended up being the slowest mile yet, but I told myself to just keep running. I rejoiced in the fact that I was over halfway there. The woman who had been keeping up with me must have been struggling as well because she soon fell behind, and I didn't see her the rest of the race.
Miles 8 and 9 were hot and brutal. I struggled mentally through them but got a boost right when I hit mile 9. My boss and his family came out to cheer for me! The course ran right by the front of his subdivision, so he and his wife and 2 daughters were all there cheering for me when I ran by, and it gave me such a shot of motivation! It was around that point that I thought to myself, "Okay, I've got this. I can do this."
Mile 10, however, was even longer than mile 7, and mile 11 wasn't much better. I struggled to keep running and ended up taking a walking break somewhere in mile 11. Even though my legs felt fine, I was SO HOT. I filled my handheld bottle at each water stop the last 4 miles. I was grateful for the fact that I had worn a sleeveless tech shirt and pitied the people I saw who had worn long sleeves (what were they thinking?!). Still, when I passed the mile 11 marker, I tried to put the thoughts of how hot I was out of my head and focused on the fact that only TWO MILES were left! When I saw that I finished mile 11 in 12:10, I knew I had to finish stronger than that. I tried to push myself and was aided by the course, which had a nice downhill towards the end of the race. I smiled the entire time I ran down that hill, knowing I was so close to the finish and so close to achieving my dream. I never saw the mile 12 marker, but my Garmin said 11:57 for that mile, which was better, but I knew I could do more.
Just in time, the song "God Is Enough" came on, and I focused on nothing but those words and the feel of my feet hitting the pavement. By the time the song was over, I had the mental boost I needed to give it my all at the end. When I rounded the final corner and saw the finish up ahead and saw my parents and Stephen and Charlotte, I kicked it up a notch. I sped across that finish, giving a yell of victory and throwing up my arms in triumph. I finished my first half marathon in 2:36!
Crossing that finish line was amazing. I couldn't believe I had done it! My legs were fatigued, I was dripping sweat, and I smelled rotten, but I had finished, and I had the medal to prove it (though I'm showing everyone the back of it and not the front--oops):
I ended up running that last mile in 11:27, the same exact pace as mile 1! I placed 18/22 in my age group, which is obviously not great, but I didn't run the race to place first.
Running the half marathon was a wonderful experience. I actually had fun, and it wound up not being as hard as I thought it would be. Yes, it was challenging, but it wasn't impossible. I reached my goal.
If I can run 13.1 miles, I can reach my goal weight!
My splits, for those interested:
Mile 1: 11:27
Mile 2: 11:55
Mile 3: 11:41
Mile 4: 11:53
Mile 5: 11:54
Mile 6: 11:43
Mile 7: 12:07
Mile 8: 12:01
Mile 9: 12:02
Mile 10: 12:09
Mile 11: 12:11
Mile 12: 11:57
Mile 13: 11:27
I was super nervous before the race, but fortunately I timed my arrival to the race site well because I didn't have much time to stand around and over-think everything. Before I knew it, someone was calling for all the half marathoners to assemble at the start line. I gave Stephen and Charlotte a kiss and headed toward the back of the pack, since I knew I wasn't going to be among the fastest runners. I let out an audible sigh of anxiety, and the woman next to me smiled and asked me if this was my first. I told her it was, and she said, "It's not that bad. You can do it!" Even though I didn't know this woman, I really took comfort in her words. I could do it! I made sure to get the playlist cued up on my mp3 player and got my Garmin ready to push start the minute my feet crossed the starting line. The siren went off, and we were off!
I waited for the first surge of runners to take off before I started running. There were some people around me, but not too many, and I focused on finding my pace and enjoying myself. The first mile flew by, but I was a little dismayed to see that I finished it in 11:27, which was way too fast for me to maintain. I tried to go much slower my second mile and succeeded. It didn't take long for the faster runners to disappear from my sight, and soon I found myself running alone, with 2-3 runners about 100 feet in front of me and several behind me. I picked two runners in front of me to act as my own personal pacers since they seemed to be running a fairly consistent pace. I ended up following one of those runners the entire race, and it was really helpful to have someone to keep in my sights and help me stay focused on a steady pace. When I hit mile 3 I said loudly to a woman who happened to be right behind me, "Only 10 miles to go!" She wasn't amused and didn't even respond. I didn't care though because I was having a blast and was practically giddy about the fact that I was out there running in a race I once thought was impossible to complete.
The first 6 miles went by in a very pleasant fashion. My times were still a bit all over the place, but weren't nearly as fast as that first mile, and I felt good and strong. The course was through neighborhoods and rural areas, and the first half was mainly flat, with lots of shade. Given the fact that it was already 62 degrees when I had left my house at 6:40 that morning, I knew it was going to be warm by the time I finished, so I was glad for any shade and any hint of a breeze. I took my first Gu at mile 4 and planned to take the others at miles 7 and 10. I ended up running miles 3-7 right next to another woman, which was nice. She wasn't terribly chatty, but we exchanged a few words of encouragement, and I liked having someone else near me to break up the feeling of isolation.
At mile 7 I started to struggle. The sun was out in full force, and I was starting to get hot. I also felt like the road we were running on at that point was far too long, and there started to be more rolling hills. Mile 7 ended up being the slowest mile yet, but I told myself to just keep running. I rejoiced in the fact that I was over halfway there. The woman who had been keeping up with me must have been struggling as well because she soon fell behind, and I didn't see her the rest of the race.
Miles 8 and 9 were hot and brutal. I struggled mentally through them but got a boost right when I hit mile 9. My boss and his family came out to cheer for me! The course ran right by the front of his subdivision, so he and his wife and 2 daughters were all there cheering for me when I ran by, and it gave me such a shot of motivation! It was around that point that I thought to myself, "Okay, I've got this. I can do this."
Mile 10, however, was even longer than mile 7, and mile 11 wasn't much better. I struggled to keep running and ended up taking a walking break somewhere in mile 11. Even though my legs felt fine, I was SO HOT. I filled my handheld bottle at each water stop the last 4 miles. I was grateful for the fact that I had worn a sleeveless tech shirt and pitied the people I saw who had worn long sleeves (what were they thinking?!). Still, when I passed the mile 11 marker, I tried to put the thoughts of how hot I was out of my head and focused on the fact that only TWO MILES were left! When I saw that I finished mile 11 in 12:10, I knew I had to finish stronger than that. I tried to push myself and was aided by the course, which had a nice downhill towards the end of the race. I smiled the entire time I ran down that hill, knowing I was so close to the finish and so close to achieving my dream. I never saw the mile 12 marker, but my Garmin said 11:57 for that mile, which was better, but I knew I could do more.
Just in time, the song "God Is Enough" came on, and I focused on nothing but those words and the feel of my feet hitting the pavement. By the time the song was over, I had the mental boost I needed to give it my all at the end. When I rounded the final corner and saw the finish up ahead and saw my parents and Stephen and Charlotte, I kicked it up a notch. I sped across that finish, giving a yell of victory and throwing up my arms in triumph. I finished my first half marathon in 2:36!
Crossing that finish line was amazing. I couldn't believe I had done it! My legs were fatigued, I was dripping sweat, and I smelled rotten, but I had finished, and I had the medal to prove it (though I'm showing everyone the back of it and not the front--oops):
I ended up running that last mile in 11:27, the same exact pace as mile 1! I placed 18/22 in my age group, which is obviously not great, but I didn't run the race to place first.
Running the half marathon was a wonderful experience. I actually had fun, and it wound up not being as hard as I thought it would be. Yes, it was challenging, but it wasn't impossible. I reached my goal.
If I can run 13.1 miles, I can reach my goal weight!
My splits, for those interested:
Mile 1: 11:27
Mile 2: 11:55
Mile 3: 11:41
Mile 4: 11:53
Mile 5: 11:54
Mile 6: 11:43
Mile 7: 12:07
Mile 8: 12:01
Mile 9: 12:02
Mile 10: 12:09
Mile 11: 12:11
Mile 12: 11:57
Mile 13: 11:27
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
A Reason to Run
It's half marathon week! I vacillate between being incredibly nervous and incredibly excited about Saturday's race. Mostly I am just ready to cross that finish line! While I have some lingering doubts about whether or not I can actually finish the half marathon, for the most part I feel like I've done what I could to prepare. I didn't always meet my goals for my runs during the week, but I faithfully completed all of my long runs, including two 9 milers and a 10 miler this past weekend. Of course, that means that come Saturday I'll still be running 3.1 miles longer than I have in training, but I'm trusting the training and adrenaline to carry me through. I know one thing: I WILL cross that finish line, no matter what! I may have to walk, hobble, or slowly jog across the finish, but I will finish.
Just a little less than 2 years ago, I decided not to run the half marathon I'd been training for. Honestly, I've regretted it ever since. I can't believe I put in all that work, all that time, and didn't run the race! But I can't change the past, and I have to admit that I've enjoyed the whole process a lot more this time around. What's interesting to me is that last time I was training I did walk/run intervals, but this time I'm running without planned walking breaks, and I would think that I would enjoy the walk/run method more. I'm not really sure why running has been more enjoyable this time, but maybe it's because I don't feel any pressure to finish this half marathon. I did feel pressure last time, as imaginary as it may have been. I am doing this for ME and only me, so I don't have anything to prove to anyone else.
I am running because I love to run. I am running because it makes me feel strong and happy and free. I am running because I am grateful for these legs that God has given me, and I want to keep them healthy. I am running because I am not the same girl who used to sit on the couch and stuff her face with junk while watching The Biggest Loser. I'm not the same girl who used to go shopping for clothes and come home crying because once again the number on the jeans was bigger than it had ever been before. That girl didn't dream of running a half marathon; she couldn't even imagine running half a mile.
When Saturday comes, I'll cross that finish line with a smile on my face and perhaps tears in my eyes, and I'll know that I had it in me to become THIS girl all along.
Just a little less than 2 years ago, I decided not to run the half marathon I'd been training for. Honestly, I've regretted it ever since. I can't believe I put in all that work, all that time, and didn't run the race! But I can't change the past, and I have to admit that I've enjoyed the whole process a lot more this time around. What's interesting to me is that last time I was training I did walk/run intervals, but this time I'm running without planned walking breaks, and I would think that I would enjoy the walk/run method more. I'm not really sure why running has been more enjoyable this time, but maybe it's because I don't feel any pressure to finish this half marathon. I did feel pressure last time, as imaginary as it may have been. I am doing this for ME and only me, so I don't have anything to prove to anyone else.
I am running because I love to run. I am running because it makes me feel strong and happy and free. I am running because I am grateful for these legs that God has given me, and I want to keep them healthy. I am running because I am not the same girl who used to sit on the couch and stuff her face with junk while watching The Biggest Loser. I'm not the same girl who used to go shopping for clothes and come home crying because once again the number on the jeans was bigger than it had ever been before. That girl didn't dream of running a half marathon; she couldn't even imagine running half a mile.
When Saturday comes, I'll cross that finish line with a smile on my face and perhaps tears in my eyes, and I'll know that I had it in me to become THIS girl all along.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Not Every Run Is the Best Run
With my half marathon less than two weeks away, the pressure is on! On Saturday I had another 9 miler on my schedule, and I was looking forward to it all week. Then Saturday came, and I didn't want to do it. I had to go a little later in the morning (around 9:30) because Stephen had to take our dog to the vet, and it was already near 70 degrees by that point. (Apparently we're skipping spring and going straight to summer. Lame.) I knew it was going to be hot, and I have gotten so used to running in 40- and 50-degree weather that I knew the heat would be a rude awakening. Still, I knew I had to do it if I was going to be ready for my race, so to the park I went.
This run was the first one where I was using energy gels. The last 9 miler was tough because I didn't drink enough and then had serious gastrointestinal issues later on. I decided that the Gatorade G2 may be the reason my stomach was always upset after my runs, but I still needed to replenish my electrolytes, so I decided to buy some Gu energy gels. I bought 3 flavors: vanilla bean, lemon sublime, and strawberry banana. I brought the vanilla bean and lemon sublime with me and planned to take them around miles 4 and 7. I also brought 2 16-ounce bottles of water with me. I run a few laps around the park's trail and then run in a nearby neighborhood, so I left my water bottle by my car so I could just stop briefly to drink some water before continuing my run. I felt good about my plan to stay hydrated and fueled, so I started my playlist and began my run.
The first few miles weren't too bad, but it wasn't five minutes before I already had sweat running down my face. Despite a forecast that called for a chance of rain, the sun was out in all its brightness, and I could feel beads of moisture start to form on my forehead and in the crooks of my arms. But I knew dwelling on how hot I was would only make this the world's longest run, so I tried to distract myself with my music and just run. This worked most of the time, but I still watched my Garmin a lot more than I have in the past. I took my first Gu (the vanilla bean) at 3.75 miles, and it was so yummy! I really didn't expect it to taste very good, so I was pleasantly surprised at its taste. It was a very sticky, gooey substance, and I chased it down with a considerable amount of water before starting my run again. (I'm going to have to figure out a way to run and fuel/hydrate at the same time, but I'm not there yet. Even in past races I've always walked through water stations because I end up choking if I try to run and drink at the same time, but other runners seem to manage it.) After my brief break I headed into the neighborhood. Here I managed to tackle some hills and kept a relatively steady pace the whole time. With the exception of my first mile, which I consider a warm-up, all my miles were between 11:45-11:55, and I was happy with that. Still, I wanted the run to be DONE! It was hot, and I was not enjoying myself as much as I have on previous runs. I toyed with the idea of quitting at 7 miles, but I knew I had to finish this distance so I would be set to run 10 miles this week. I told myself the morning of my race could be really hot, and I certainly wasn't going to let heat prevent me from running the race, so why let it prevent me from finishing this training run?
I took my 2nd Gu and more water at mile 7 and headed back into the park to finish the last 2 miles. Not too long after I had taken the Gu, my stomach started to feel unsettled. I realized I had probably drunk too much water too quickly, and it was all sitting in my stomach like a brick. I ended up taking a walking break (my first one) for about a minute and a half before running again and actually felt much better. When my Garmin beeped to signal the completion of mile 8, I looked down and saw 12:26 as my time. I thought, "Oh, no you don't, Erin, you're not going to finish this run at a snail's pace!"
So I finished mile 9 in 11:15, the fastest mile of the whole run. :)
My run on Saturday wasn't my best run, but I still got out there and gave it my all. If I do the same thing the day of my race, I know I'll finish and finish strong.
FTC disclosure: Gu did not compensate me in any way for my review of its product. The opinions in this post are entirely my own.
This run was the first one where I was using energy gels. The last 9 miler was tough because I didn't drink enough and then had serious gastrointestinal issues later on. I decided that the Gatorade G2 may be the reason my stomach was always upset after my runs, but I still needed to replenish my electrolytes, so I decided to buy some Gu energy gels. I bought 3 flavors: vanilla bean, lemon sublime, and strawberry banana. I brought the vanilla bean and lemon sublime with me and planned to take them around miles 4 and 7. I also brought 2 16-ounce bottles of water with me. I run a few laps around the park's trail and then run in a nearby neighborhood, so I left my water bottle by my car so I could just stop briefly to drink some water before continuing my run. I felt good about my plan to stay hydrated and fueled, so I started my playlist and began my run.
The first few miles weren't too bad, but it wasn't five minutes before I already had sweat running down my face. Despite a forecast that called for a chance of rain, the sun was out in all its brightness, and I could feel beads of moisture start to form on my forehead and in the crooks of my arms. But I knew dwelling on how hot I was would only make this the world's longest run, so I tried to distract myself with my music and just run. This worked most of the time, but I still watched my Garmin a lot more than I have in the past. I took my first Gu (the vanilla bean) at 3.75 miles, and it was so yummy! I really didn't expect it to taste very good, so I was pleasantly surprised at its taste. It was a very sticky, gooey substance, and I chased it down with a considerable amount of water before starting my run again. (I'm going to have to figure out a way to run and fuel/hydrate at the same time, but I'm not there yet. Even in past races I've always walked through water stations because I end up choking if I try to run and drink at the same time, but other runners seem to manage it.) After my brief break I headed into the neighborhood. Here I managed to tackle some hills and kept a relatively steady pace the whole time. With the exception of my first mile, which I consider a warm-up, all my miles were between 11:45-11:55, and I was happy with that. Still, I wanted the run to be DONE! It was hot, and I was not enjoying myself as much as I have on previous runs. I toyed with the idea of quitting at 7 miles, but I knew I had to finish this distance so I would be set to run 10 miles this week. I told myself the morning of my race could be really hot, and I certainly wasn't going to let heat prevent me from running the race, so why let it prevent me from finishing this training run?
I took my 2nd Gu and more water at mile 7 and headed back into the park to finish the last 2 miles. Not too long after I had taken the Gu, my stomach started to feel unsettled. I realized I had probably drunk too much water too quickly, and it was all sitting in my stomach like a brick. I ended up taking a walking break (my first one) for about a minute and a half before running again and actually felt much better. When my Garmin beeped to signal the completion of mile 8, I looked down and saw 12:26 as my time. I thought, "Oh, no you don't, Erin, you're not going to finish this run at a snail's pace!"
So I finished mile 9 in 11:15, the fastest mile of the whole run. :)
My run on Saturday wasn't my best run, but I still got out there and gave it my all. If I do the same thing the day of my race, I know I'll finish and finish strong.
FTC disclosure: Gu did not compensate me in any way for my review of its product. The opinions in this post are entirely my own.
Monday, March 12, 2012
The Difference an Hour Makes
I don't know about you guys, but Daylight Saving Time has me all messed up! I had a hard time going to sleep last night (Stephen and I both did), and then I ended up sleeping through my alarm this morning. I've been super-sleepy all day long and have yawned approximately 1,182 times. It's pretty ridiculous! I hope to go to bed a little after 9 tonight and be up at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
It's been about two months since I committed to waking up earlier during the week, and while I wish I could say I happily jump out of bed when my alarm goes off at 5:20 every morning, this is not the case. Truthfully, the amount of times that I actually got up right after the alarm went off are few (I tend to get up around 5:35 or 5:40). However, I definitely am getting up and exercising and reading my Bible in the mornings with far more regularity than I used to, and that is a huge deal for me. I love starting the day by exercising my soul and body, and I truly do feel like it makes all the difference in how my day goes. Today, for example, I have felt rushed and sleepy and out of sorts, and I know it's because I overslept and didn't have time to properly get ready this morning. I didn't exercise or spend time in God's Word, and I was actually feeling rather grumpy when I got to work this morning.
While I'm not 100% successful at waking up when my alarm goes off, I do get up more than I sleep in, and for that I'm grateful. I love waking up while the house is still quiet and asleep, and even though I don't think I'll ever truly be a morning person, I have certainly come to see the value of waking up early.
If you wake up early to get things done (whether it's exercising or reading or writing), what tips do you have for getting up?
It's been about two months since I committed to waking up earlier during the week, and while I wish I could say I happily jump out of bed when my alarm goes off at 5:20 every morning, this is not the case. Truthfully, the amount of times that I actually got up right after the alarm went off are few (I tend to get up around 5:35 or 5:40). However, I definitely am getting up and exercising and reading my Bible in the mornings with far more regularity than I used to, and that is a huge deal for me. I love starting the day by exercising my soul and body, and I truly do feel like it makes all the difference in how my day goes. Today, for example, I have felt rushed and sleepy and out of sorts, and I know it's because I overslept and didn't have time to properly get ready this morning. I didn't exercise or spend time in God's Word, and I was actually feeling rather grumpy when I got to work this morning.
While I'm not 100% successful at waking up when my alarm goes off, I do get up more than I sleep in, and for that I'm grateful. I love waking up while the house is still quiet and asleep, and even though I don't think I'll ever truly be a morning person, I have certainly come to see the value of waking up early.
If you wake up early to get things done (whether it's exercising or reading or writing), what tips do you have for getting up?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Best Run EVER
Saturday I was slated to run 7 miles again. About 2 miles into the run, I decided to make it 8. I felt good, and when I realized that mile 3 was faster than my previous 2 miles by 30 seconds, I felt REALLY good. I enjoyed the weather (cloudy and upper 40s) and the scenery and the time to zone out. When it was all said and done, I was thrilled to see that my average pace was faster than my standard 12 min. mile. Here are my times for each mile:
Mile 1: 12:02
Mile 2: 12:03
Mile 3: 11:33
Mile 4: 11:31
Mile 5: 11:21
Mile 6: 11:30
Mile 7: 11:11
Mile 8: 11:25
Did you see that mile 7?! I was ecstatic when I saw that time. I know by most runners' standards, that pace is a snail's pace, but I hardly EVER run that fast, and the fact that I ran that fast in my seventh mile is even better! I finished that run feeling amazing. I can't remember enjoying a run so much!
Take that, stupid scale! :)
Mile 1: 12:02
Mile 2: 12:03
Mile 3: 11:33
Mile 4: 11:31
Mile 5: 11:21
Mile 6: 11:30
Mile 7: 11:11
Mile 8: 11:25
Did you see that mile 7?! I was ecstatic when I saw that time. I know by most runners' standards, that pace is a snail's pace, but I hardly EVER run that fast, and the fact that I ran that fast in my seventh mile is even better! I finished that run feeling amazing. I can't remember enjoying a run so much!
Take that, stupid scale! :)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Just Keep Running
This weekend I was supposed to run 7 miles. I wasn't looking forward to it. For one thing, I only ran once this past week, and for a measly 2.5 miles, so I wasn't exactly prepared to run 7. Also, despite the fact that January was one of the mildest Januarys I can remember, all of a sudden winter decided to show up, and it was going to be COLD over the weekend. I'd more than likely end up running 7 miles inside, which would mean at least 90 minutes on the dreadmill. Finally, we had plans to go to Memphis to visit my family to celebrate my mom's birthday (she's a Valentine baby), and I knew if I was going to run I would have to get up early because we needed to leave the house around 11. This list of excuses is typically enough for me to just give up on running for the day, but I knew I had to do it if I was going to stay on top of my half marathon training, so I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m.
Yes, that's right, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. on a SATURDAY. I used to think people who woke up early on the weekends to go and run were crazy. Now I am one of those people. And I probably am crazy.
But I was a crazy person running on the treadmill by 6:20, and I was actually feeling pretty proud of myself. Of course, it's easy to feel proud of yourself when you actually haven't run the 7 miles yet. Around mile 2.5 I started to think that I might lose my mind if I had to spend 4.5 more miles staring at the closet door. Even though I had a movie playing on my Kindle Fire, I was bored to tears. When I hit the 3 mile mark I decided to brave the winter weather and take my run outdoors. I changed into warmer clothes, grabbed my mp3 player and Garmin, and headed out the door.
Approximately 5 minutes later, I came back inside, convinced that I would a) die of frostbite or b) get blown away by the tremendous wintry gusts if I stayed outside. I changed back into my original clothes and hopped back on the treadmill, steeling myself for the torture that lay ahead.
But somehow, it wasn't torture. Sure, I was dripping with sweat and huffing and puffing and still staring at the closet door, but the run really wasn't terrible. In fact, I even enjoyed parts of it! Who knew?! :)
95 minutes later, I had logged 7.5 miles (7 mile run with .25 mile warmup and cool down). The best part was it was just a little past 8:00 a.m. when I finished, so I still had the whole day to look forward to! I am so glad I didn't skip my run. Whenever I am tempted to skip a workout, I remember that I always regret skipping a workout but I never wish I hadn't worked out. Mind over matter, friends!
Yes, that's right, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. on a SATURDAY. I used to think people who woke up early on the weekends to go and run were crazy. Now I am one of those people. And I probably am crazy.
But I was a crazy person running on the treadmill by 6:20, and I was actually feeling pretty proud of myself. Of course, it's easy to feel proud of yourself when you actually haven't run the 7 miles yet. Around mile 2.5 I started to think that I might lose my mind if I had to spend 4.5 more miles staring at the closet door. Even though I had a movie playing on my Kindle Fire, I was bored to tears. When I hit the 3 mile mark I decided to brave the winter weather and take my run outdoors. I changed into warmer clothes, grabbed my mp3 player and Garmin, and headed out the door.
Approximately 5 minutes later, I came back inside, convinced that I would a) die of frostbite or b) get blown away by the tremendous wintry gusts if I stayed outside. I changed back into my original clothes and hopped back on the treadmill, steeling myself for the torture that lay ahead.
But somehow, it wasn't torture. Sure, I was dripping with sweat and huffing and puffing and still staring at the closet door, but the run really wasn't terrible. In fact, I even enjoyed parts of it! Who knew?! :)
95 minutes later, I had logged 7.5 miles (7 mile run with .25 mile warmup and cool down). The best part was it was just a little past 8:00 a.m. when I finished, so I still had the whole day to look forward to! I am so glad I didn't skip my run. Whenever I am tempted to skip a workout, I remember that I always regret skipping a workout but I never wish I hadn't worked out. Mind over matter, friends!
Monday, January 23, 2012
January 2012: Week 3 Report
Last week's weight: 180.6
This week's weight: 180.4
Total loss: .2 pounds
Total lost in January : 3.8 pounds
Can I just say that I am REALLY ready to say goodbye to the 180s?? Do you know how long I've been in the 180s? Since August. That's five months, friends, and that's enough! I WILL end this month under 180 pounds!
What went well this week:
1. Time with God. I had good time with the Lord every day this past week, and that is HUGE. Even if other things didn't go as planned, I made sure that I spent time reading God's Word.
2. Exercise. I got in 182 minutes of exercise this past week, including a 4 mile run on Saturday. I felt GREAT after completing that run, since it was the first time since my 4 mile race that I have run that distance. I plan to run 5 miles this weekend, which will be my longest post-pregnancy run.
What went badly this week:
1. Tracking. I did track every day but Saturday, but there were a few days that I did not track all of my meals, and I know that it was more than likely intentional on my part because I knew inputting those calories would show that I ate above my allotted range. Of course that line of thinking is stupid because I still went over my calories whether or not the numbers showed it, so I just need to stop trying to lie to myself.
2. Weekend munchies. Weekend eating=age-old problem I still haven't conquered. I tend to be lazier about tracking and therefore less stringent about nutrition, which means I eat things that aren't the best choices and then wonder why I don't lose any weight. I can exercise all I want, but if I'm not putting good things into my body, it's a waste.
If I were giving myself a grade for the past week, I'd give myself a C. This week will be better!
This week's weight: 180.4
Total loss: .2 pounds
Total lost in January : 3.8 pounds
Can I just say that I am REALLY ready to say goodbye to the 180s?? Do you know how long I've been in the 180s? Since August. That's five months, friends, and that's enough! I WILL end this month under 180 pounds!
What went well this week:
1. Time with God. I had good time with the Lord every day this past week, and that is HUGE. Even if other things didn't go as planned, I made sure that I spent time reading God's Word.
2. Exercise. I got in 182 minutes of exercise this past week, including a 4 mile run on Saturday. I felt GREAT after completing that run, since it was the first time since my 4 mile race that I have run that distance. I plan to run 5 miles this weekend, which will be my longest post-pregnancy run.
What went badly this week:
1. Tracking. I did track every day but Saturday, but there were a few days that I did not track all of my meals, and I know that it was more than likely intentional on my part because I knew inputting those calories would show that I ate above my allotted range. Of course that line of thinking is stupid because I still went over my calories whether or not the numbers showed it, so I just need to stop trying to lie to myself.
2. Weekend munchies. Weekend eating=age-old problem I still haven't conquered. I tend to be lazier about tracking and therefore less stringent about nutrition, which means I eat things that aren't the best choices and then wonder why I don't lose any weight. I can exercise all I want, but if I'm not putting good things into my body, it's a waste.
If I were giving myself a grade for the past week, I'd give myself a C. This week will be better!
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