It's spring, which means the weather is uber unpredictable. Okay, that's not entirely true. It must be somewhat predictable based on jet streams and high or low pressure systems and whatnot or else weathermen/women would be out of work. Perhaps the more accurate statement is that it is constantly changing. It seems to be on the up and up though...save for 4-5 days of rain.
At any rate, I am trying to make a better effort in getting outside to run. Although I like my treadmill and appreciate the convenience, outside is definitely more interesting.
My running has been sporadic the last 3-4 weeks. I had been so good, so disciplined, but then we were going on a cruise (torture, I know) and the week before I only got three days in because of packing and cleaning and a sick kid. The week of the cruise I ran one day. I aimed for two, but it is rather difficult for me to run on a treadmill, on a moving ship, in the ocean. Seriously, if I fall off of a treadmill on DRY LAND, imagine my lack of coordination in the ocean. The week after returning I did three days. Two with one mile each and one with 3 miles (with Bethie! I so ♥ my running buddy!). This week is getting better. I did one mile (lame, I know) on Monday and Tuesday. Then 3 miles (outside) on Thursday in 40 degree weather, and 3 miles today (outside) in 70 degree weather. I've noticed that my legs are awesome. They just go, and actually a little "faster" than last year, which is encouraging. My lungs, however, are having a little bit of a harder time.
What I'm frustrated about, is that I haven't been lifting or doing pilates. I really want to get back to pilates soon, before I feel like I'm back at ground zero. I'm thinking that I'll change up my schedule. I'm pretty close to my "training season", so I want to switch to 4 days running and doing pilates on non-running days.
I still need to pick my races too. It's hard to decide and, for me, cost is a factor. We'll see.
Here's hoping the rain stays away for a little while. I do enjoy running outside again. I'll just have to make sure I pack a variety of running clothes because the temperature sure can vary.
Thursday
February 25, 2010 - No falling! Woo!
No falling tonight during my run! Woo! I was again facing the wall. I think that's best. =)
Last week...? or was it the week before?...I upped to the 50 minute pilates video. It's challenging, which I appreciate when I'm not currently working out. During the DVD, however, I can't help but wonder why Mari Windsor hates me so much. =P
Last week...? or was it the week before?...I upped to the 50 minute pilates video. It's challenging, which I appreciate when I'm not currently working out. During the DVD, however, I can't help but wonder why Mari Windsor hates me so much. =P
Wednesday
February 24, 2010 - This round goes to the treadmill
Today I have felt off. Overtired, a little dizzy, hungry, general malaise. But still I wanted to get my run in the evening. Lately, I've been exercising late, and I believe it's compounded my exhaustion. My late exercising is due to watching the olympics so I had moved the treadmill to be at an angle so that I could watch the TV. Let's do some math... angled treadmill + lightheaded + tired = disaster.
Last night, I noticed it was difficult for me to focus on running and watching figure skating because I ended up running on the side of the tread. Fortunately, my treadmill squeals when I run off-center thus enabling me to correct myself. Tonight, however, I had the added factor of exhaustion. Let's peek into my thoughts during the run...
I am tired tonight. Maybe I won't run 3 miles, maybe just 2.5 or even just 2. No, don't make excuses. Just run the 3. Run it easy, and you'll be fine.
...
Oo! Bobsledding. Why would anyone watch bobsledding and think, 'yeah! I want to race down a thing of ice at 80 mph'?
...
Hmm, getting warm. Maybe I'll turn on the fan? Nah, I'll wait a little bit.
...
William keeps asking me questions. I don't have the energy to answer him. So tired. Maybe just 2 miles... No! run the 3!
...
And...fan on...
...
This safety key is poking my belly. Maybe I'll take it out. Hm. That's just asking for something to happen. I'll just shift it a little bit.
...
Okay, I liked it better in the other spot. I'll just shift it back.
...
1 mile. Time to up the speed a little bit.
...
It's not as interesting to wait a whole mile before increasing my speed. Let's see, if I run at this speed for 3 laps instead of 4, then the next speed for 3 laps, the last two laps I'll increase even more.
...
I just might get the 3 in tonight. This isn't so bad. I really am tired though.
...
Coming up to 1.75 miles.
...
Hmm. Did my foot just step off the tread? That's weird. And my other leg is still going with the tread. I think I might fall. (audible scream) Hmm. I'm on the floor but is the tread still going? I have the safety key attached, don't I? I fell to the side, does it reach that far? No, it's on the floor next to me. So why is the tread going? Well, the treadmill beeped like it turned off. Yes, the tread definitely is stopping. Yep, I definitely fell. Okay system check: left leg - good. Arms - good. Rear end and back - good and good. Right leg - scrapped on side of treadmill. Sore but like a rug burn. Nerves - shot. Motivation - total shutdown.
An ice pack later, some arm work with weights, and some burn cream to ease the stinging of my leg, I was perfectly fine. In some ways, it's good I was so out of it. I didn't tense up, because it all happened so fast, so I didn't hurt myself worse. I'll give this round to the treadmill, but tomorrow night is a new night. Maybe I'll put the treadmill back to facing the wall. Running at the wall seems a little safer for me. =)
Last night, I noticed it was difficult for me to focus on running and watching figure skating because I ended up running on the side of the tread. Fortunately, my treadmill squeals when I run off-center thus enabling me to correct myself. Tonight, however, I had the added factor of exhaustion. Let's peek into my thoughts during the run...
I am tired tonight. Maybe I won't run 3 miles, maybe just 2.5 or even just 2. No, don't make excuses. Just run the 3. Run it easy, and you'll be fine.
...
Oo! Bobsledding. Why would anyone watch bobsledding and think, 'yeah! I want to race down a thing of ice at 80 mph'?
...
Hmm, getting warm. Maybe I'll turn on the fan? Nah, I'll wait a little bit.
...
William keeps asking me questions. I don't have the energy to answer him. So tired. Maybe just 2 miles... No! run the 3!
...
And...fan on...
...
This safety key is poking my belly. Maybe I'll take it out. Hm. That's just asking for something to happen. I'll just shift it a little bit.
...
Okay, I liked it better in the other spot. I'll just shift it back.
...
1 mile. Time to up the speed a little bit.
...
It's not as interesting to wait a whole mile before increasing my speed. Let's see, if I run at this speed for 3 laps instead of 4, then the next speed for 3 laps, the last two laps I'll increase even more.
...
I just might get the 3 in tonight. This isn't so bad. I really am tired though.
...
Coming up to 1.75 miles.
...
Hmm. Did my foot just step off the tread? That's weird. And my other leg is still going with the tread. I think I might fall. (audible scream) Hmm. I'm on the floor but is the tread still going? I have the safety key attached, don't I? I fell to the side, does it reach that far? No, it's on the floor next to me. So why is the tread going? Well, the treadmill beeped like it turned off. Yes, the tread definitely is stopping. Yep, I definitely fell. Okay system check: left leg - good. Arms - good. Rear end and back - good and good. Right leg - scrapped on side of treadmill. Sore but like a rug burn. Nerves - shot. Motivation - total shutdown.
An ice pack later, some arm work with weights, and some burn cream to ease the stinging of my leg, I was perfectly fine. In some ways, it's good I was so out of it. I didn't tense up, because it all happened so fast, so I didn't hurt myself worse. I'll give this round to the treadmill, but tomorrow night is a new night. Maybe I'll put the treadmill back to facing the wall. Running at the wall seems a little safer for me. =)
Thursday
February 4, 2010 - Cravings!
Okay, running while listening to Isabelle play trombone is entirely different, i.e. easier, than running and trying to watch William imitate me. Yeah. I'm not that coordinated. Good news, no Julias were harmed in the attempt to see what William was doing.
Meanwhile, Matt's grandmother was shocked that I wasn't having dessert. I'm telling you, my bathing suit is not going to wear itself. And I only have 6½ weeks until our cruise! Clock's a-tickin'!
On that note, all I want to eat this week is a gigantic plate of nachos. Nachos with the real fatty, salty tortilla chips, meat, tons of cheese, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, black olives. Then one of those volcano chocolate cakes. And maybe a margarita or two. That's what I want. But, I'm not going to have that. Well, maybe on our cruise. ;)
Meanwhile, Matt's grandmother was shocked that I wasn't having dessert. I'm telling you, my bathing suit is not going to wear itself. And I only have 6½ weeks until our cruise! Clock's a-tickin'!
On that note, all I want to eat this week is a gigantic plate of nachos. Nachos with the real fatty, salty tortilla chips, meat, tons of cheese, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, black olives. Then one of those volcano chocolate cakes. And maybe a margarita or two. That's what I want. But, I'm not going to have that. Well, maybe on our cruise. ;)
Tuesday
February 2, 2010 - Trombone Running
No, I'm not running with a trombone. Rather, I am attempting to run while parenting. Isabelle doesn't like to practice trombone on her own. However, I would like to accomplish other things instead of sitting and keeping her on task. (Hey, she has to learn self discipline!...as do I, come to think of it...) Sometimes I will play the piano with her, but the last two nights, I've had her practice trombone while I run on the treadmill. Sunday night, I noticed that she was playing to the beat of my running. Whether this is a happy coincidence, I'm not sure, but it proved to be motivating for me and, I think, her.
Last night's run was mentally a challenge. I'm tired. I'm in week 5 of "The Controlling of My Eating 2010 Campaign! Woo!"...yep, that's the official name I gave it...and I'm feeling like I'm hitting a little bit of a wall. Granted, the eating/exercising/losing weight is going splendidly, but I'm still ready to be done. Deep down, I know that I'm never done. I will also have to be healthy, even though I would love a big ol' plate of nachos right about now. At any rate, I really just wasn't feeling it last night. Isabelle must have not been feeling it either because her notes were not steady and she kept going flat. I didn't stop running, but I did opt to have her do some slow scales and concentrate on breath control. At one point, I was singing the scales with her. Of course, I probably didn't sound that great singing scales and running at the same time. What a pair we were last night. In the end, I think she benefited from my suggestions and her needing help distracted me from what I didn't want to do. We may have to continue this. Although, come spring, Isabelle is fully intending on riding her bike or scooter while I run. Maybe she'll even run with me if I'm running a mile. Given her cross country performance this year, I'll be running with her.
Last night's run was mentally a challenge. I'm tired. I'm in week 5 of "The Controlling of My Eating 2010 Campaign! Woo!"...yep, that's the official name I gave it...and I'm feeling like I'm hitting a little bit of a wall. Granted, the eating/exercising/losing weight is going splendidly, but I'm still ready to be done. Deep down, I know that I'm never done. I will also have to be healthy, even though I would love a big ol' plate of nachos right about now. At any rate, I really just wasn't feeling it last night. Isabelle must have not been feeling it either because her notes were not steady and she kept going flat. I didn't stop running, but I did opt to have her do some slow scales and concentrate on breath control. At one point, I was singing the scales with her. Of course, I probably didn't sound that great singing scales and running at the same time. What a pair we were last night. In the end, I think she benefited from my suggestions and her needing help distracted me from what I didn't want to do. We may have to continue this. Although, come spring, Isabelle is fully intending on riding her bike or scooter while I run. Maybe she'll even run with me if I'm running a mile. Given her cross country performance this year, I'll be running with her.
Thursday
January 28, 2010 - Advice from a 3-almost-4 year old
Last week I was running on my treadmill while William was playing on the computer. When I finished, he said, "Mommy, that (indicating the treadmill) will make your tummy flat."
I chuckled and said, "yes, it will help. Do you think Mommy has a flat tummy?" William just started at me. He looked as if he was weighing his answers in his head before speaking. I turned to my side and asked again. Again, William regarded me quietly, looking first at my belly and then at his own. "Yes," he finally replied, almost hesitantly.
Fast forward a few days, when I was driving home from the store with both kids, I was listing off the things they needed to do when we arrived home. Here's our conversation:
Me - "Isabelle, you need to study Social Studies, take a shower, and read your book. William, you also need to take a bath."
Isabelle - "And what are you going to do Mommy?"
Me - "I'm going to run."
William - "So your tummy will be flat?"
Isabelle (bracing for Mommy to burst into tears) - "Huh?"
Me - "William told me the other day that running on the treadmill makes people's tummies flat."
Isabelle (sounding relieved) - "Oh! Yeah! Soon you'll be skinny like me! Well, you are getting skinnier but soon you'll be tall and skinny just like me!"
Me - "I am losing weight, but I'll never be skinny like you."
Isabelle - "Why?"
Me - "Because I have hips."
Isabelle - "I have hips too!"
Me - "Yes, but mine are curvy. I have curves."
William - "That's because you have boobies."
Me (not hearing him correctly) - "I have boogies?"
William - "No! You have BOOBIES!!"
Me (laughing) - "Where did you learn that word?!"
William - "From Daddy."
And finally, from a couple of nights ago. This time it was with Matt. Matt was changing t-shirts and William was in the room with him. The conversation, as told to me by Matt, went something like this:
William - "Daddy! You have a fat belly!"
Matt - "I do?"
William - "Yeah! You need to (moving arms in running motion)"
Matt - "Run?"
William - "Yeah. You need to run so you can have a flat belly."
Yikes! Good thing I'm exercising and eating healthy! Those little kids can be such critics! Sheesh!
I chuckled and said, "yes, it will help. Do you think Mommy has a flat tummy?" William just started at me. He looked as if he was weighing his answers in his head before speaking. I turned to my side and asked again. Again, William regarded me quietly, looking first at my belly and then at his own. "Yes," he finally replied, almost hesitantly.
Fast forward a few days, when I was driving home from the store with both kids, I was listing off the things they needed to do when we arrived home. Here's our conversation:
Me - "Isabelle, you need to study Social Studies, take a shower, and read your book. William, you also need to take a bath."
Isabelle - "And what are you going to do Mommy?"
Me - "I'm going to run."
William - "So your tummy will be flat?"
Isabelle (bracing for Mommy to burst into tears) - "Huh?"
Me - "William told me the other day that running on the treadmill makes people's tummies flat."
Isabelle (sounding relieved) - "Oh! Yeah! Soon you'll be skinny like me! Well, you are getting skinnier but soon you'll be tall and skinny just like me!"
Me - "I am losing weight, but I'll never be skinny like you."
Isabelle - "Why?"
Me - "Because I have hips."
Isabelle - "I have hips too!"
Me - "Yes, but mine are curvy. I have curves."
William - "That's because you have boobies."
Me (not hearing him correctly) - "I have boogies?"
William - "No! You have BOOBIES!!"
Me (laughing) - "Where did you learn that word?!"
William - "From Daddy."
And finally, from a couple of nights ago. This time it was with Matt. Matt was changing t-shirts and William was in the room with him. The conversation, as told to me by Matt, went something like this:
William - "Daddy! You have a fat belly!"
Matt - "I do?"
William - "Yeah! You need to (moving arms in running motion)"
Matt - "Run?"
William - "Yeah. You need to run so you can have a flat belly."
Yikes! Good thing I'm exercising and eating healthy! Those little kids can be such critics! Sheesh!
Wednesday
January 27, 2010 - Future Running Plans
After a 3 month hiatus and many pounds/inches gained, I'm back to running. Mainly thanks to 1) a honeymoon (finally, after 10 years!) cruise looming in March, and 2) a supportive hubby, Matt.
I'm not happy about my weight gain. Actually, I'm not happy about last running "season" either. In short, there were a lot of other emotional stresses going on in my life, and I turned to food for comfort. So my running suffered. And my waist line suffered as well.
All of this ended on January 4, 2010. It was on that Monday that I stopped binge eating, started journaling what and how much I'm eating, and started working out again. Three weeks in, I'm feeling pretty good and staying on track. I'm running only up to 2 miles right now, so that the running boosts my weight loss.
This year does not hold a marathon for me. But I hope to run a half marathon or two, as well as some other races.
Mainly, I will continue this adventure in running because I learn a lot about myself through this process. Last year I lost sight of that. This year my goal is to be healthier, inside and out. No more relationships with food. Hopefully, I'll stop my self-depreciating talk as well. I know Matt would be happy about that. I'm a work-in-progress. But I've learned that life isn't going to start "when I lose the weight". Life is happening right now. And if I'm not conscious of that, I'm going to miss out on it altogether.
That's enough pontificating from me. Thanks for listening.
I'm not happy about my weight gain. Actually, I'm not happy about last running "season" either. In short, there were a lot of other emotional stresses going on in my life, and I turned to food for comfort. So my running suffered. And my waist line suffered as well.
All of this ended on January 4, 2010. It was on that Monday that I stopped binge eating, started journaling what and how much I'm eating, and started working out again. Three weeks in, I'm feeling pretty good and staying on track. I'm running only up to 2 miles right now, so that the running boosts my weight loss.
This year does not hold a marathon for me. But I hope to run a half marathon or two, as well as some other races.
Mainly, I will continue this adventure in running because I learn a lot about myself through this process. Last year I lost sight of that. This year my goal is to be healthier, inside and out. No more relationships with food. Hopefully, I'll stop my self-depreciating talk as well. I know Matt would be happy about that. I'm a work-in-progress. But I've learned that life isn't going to start "when I lose the weight". Life is happening right now. And if I'm not conscious of that, I'm going to miss out on it altogether.
That's enough pontificating from me. Thanks for listening.
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