After a week off

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated.

I’ve been running, but not as much as I’ve liked. Bad weather made it impossible for me to get out for a week. In the meantime, I’ve been letting Jillian kick my ass.

I’m not a fan of exercise videos but I’ve wanted something to do as an ab workout. This one is still challenging (after doing it for two weeks at least a few times a week). I’ve also noticed a little, um, progress in the muffin top area? I think this may be more due to a concerted effort to eat less bread, though.

So back to running. I got Scott to get out with me on Sunday while we were in MN (and had childcare). Scott hasn’t run since Christmas. I hadn’t run in a week. Me training vs. Scott no training is the only way I can keep up with him.

I am going to say that this is a record pace for me over this distance, at least for the last twelve months. And the best part? I didn’t feel like I was going to die. In fact, I felt like I still had a little left over. This is the best running shape I’ve been in for as long as I can remember. And it’s true: when you weigh less, it’s easier on your body. Period.

Lake Effect

Last run was on Friday night.

We were heading out later that evening to take the kids to a hockey game (Aaron’s first). I was able to squeeze in a quality 30 minutes before we chowed down on rink popcorn and nachos.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling unwell and neglected to put in any miles, other than a walk with the dogs around the block. This morning, same deal.

We’re in the midst of a lake effect snow dumping right now. It makes the roads a complete bitch to run on, and I know I’m better off waiting for the plows to sweep them tomorrow before I head out. In the meantime, I’ve inhaled about a million cookies, scones, and muffins. I don’t know why it is, but I can be really awesome about not eating this kind of stuff and then one day, I just need to completely indulge. It’s not healthy, I know. It doesn’t happen very often, so I’m not going to lose sleep over it.

Since I didn’t get a chance to get out and run, I decided I’ll go back and play hockey tonight. I’ve stayed away after my last injury. I don’t want to go back and feel any trepidation about getting hurt, because that’s usually WHEN YOU GET HURT. I’m just going to concentrate on skating hard and trying to not go overboard. If any of the other guys complain about my perceived level of effort, they can suck it.

In gadgety news, I’m field testing a fitbit one.

Fitbit One (amazon.com)

I originally wanted to get one of these for my mom, who is constantly struggling with weight loss. I hoped something like this could be a motivator to get out and move more. I am a firm believer that you can’t do this with diet alone. You’ve got to get out and move, be active.

I thought I’d give it a whirl first to see how difficult it was to use (or easy) and see if it was something she’d like. So far, it’s kind of fun to see how many steps you’ve taken, though I question its accuracy when you go out for a run). I’m logging all of my food and running in my fitness pal; it all syncs up, which I like. Tonight I’ll see if it does the same during hockey. I believe I can input exercise as normal in MFP and as long as I indicate length of activity (and time), the two programs will talk to each other and work out the details.

I don’t really need something like this to motivate me to get out and run, but having it on does make me think more about getting up during the work day and walking, as I’m likely to sit on my ass in front of a computer all day. Maybe I’ll end up keeping this one and getting her another.

Do you find gadgets help motivate you to exercise? I know that I love my Garmin for running and will admit it does help at times.

Hungry

For whatever reason, I’ve done nothing but eat the entire day while at work.

I thought I’d take a break from the work I’m trying to do (which is part of the reason for the stress eating, sigh) and at least talk about running, in the hopes that I’ll be motivated to get out tonight and do it.

Yesterday I managed to get home while it was still light out and put in something longer than 5K. If I’d had more time, it would have been a longer run.

I didn’t expect to PR on this course, but I did! I think my best EVER on this route is under 40 minutes, but it’s been years since that’s happened. Therefore, I think it’s fair to call this a PR (or at least a post-having-two-babies PR).

Over the weekend I was able to get out twice for a total of 11 miles.

Saturday:Sunday:

I’m trying a new pair of shoes – Brooks Glycerin (last year’s model).

So far, I think they’re decent. I went with a wide size to see if I liked the extra room in the toe box. I sit right at the verge of a wide width for shoes. My toes definitely don’t feel cramped, and even with thin socks (I’m all about the Pro Compression Marathon Socks these days), they don’t feel sloppy.

I am no shoe expert by any means, but I will say I think these feel stiffer. Stiffer doesn’t necessarily mean uncomfortable. I just think they feel less “cushy” than the Nimbus I’m used to.

I wore these for the first time on my eight miler, which probably wasn’t the greatest idea, but no blisters or foot pain! I’ll give them a chance this winter. I’m not necessarily tied to a particular brand or shoe, though I hate Nike and generally think they, along with Adidas and other “sport” brands tend to make shitty running shoes.

Before long it will be marathon registration time, as the folks at Twin Cities in Motion are constantly reminding me in my inbox. We’re signing up again (yes, again), because I can’t have the last marathon I completed be so slow. My goal, though it be slightly lofty, is to run a 4:30. Since I’ve never kept up with my running training through the winter, this has been tough. But I’m running more these days, things feel good, and I think I can do it this year.

I’m also considering the Detroit Free Press Half (I know this has another name now), being that it’s in my hometown, and I’d have available babysitters for the kids (hah). My goal for a half? Two hours. That would require even more work than my full goal, I think.

Running wrap-up

My goal was to beat my November mileage of 42.34 miles. Today, with two days left in 2012, I did it.

Mastitis hit me on the 16th, the day after a really stressful week at work. I didn’t expect to have to deal with this twice in two months, having no problems nursing with my first child. A friend put it quite succinctly when she said it is like “the flu on steroids.” In many ways, for me at least, it is. Round two of antibiotics and I feel back to normal.

The holidays are always a time for me to get in more running than usual; my mom is usually available to watch the kids for a few minutes so I can escape. Suburbia isn’t the most beautiful running scenery, but bare sidewalks and streets? Yes, please.

We spent a week in Detroit and are now in St. Paul as we wrap up our end of the year holiday. Temps were in the 30s in MI but are in the teens here in MN. It’s great running weather, though. It’s been relatively calm in terms of wind. I’m running my usual routes around New Brighton and hope to get out for a longer run of at least five or six miles on New Year’s Eve or Day.

As for resolutions? My fitness resolutions for once are not weight-loss related. Even though I’m still ten pounds from where I’d like to be (forever), I’m going to focus more on strength training this year as I keep up with my running fitness. We’ll undoubtedly sign up for the marathon again when registration opens (sometime this winter?).

Any running or fitness goals for 2013?

12.12.12

I saw on Facebook this morning that someone was running 12 miles today. Since I won’t be able to get out until late tonight for a run (if it even happens), I won’t be putting in that many. But man, I would love to be doing that instead of sitting at a desk all day.

I’ve been running, despite the lack of posts.

We’re about halfway through the month and I still want to log more miles than I did in November (42.34). I’m sitting at 20 right now. I think it’s still doable since I’ll have time to run over the holidays (especially when I’m at my mom’s and she can babysit!). It’s also a necessity, as I have been a complete slave to sugar and baked goods lately. I’m pretty sure I ate my entire alottment of bakery in one day (Monday) when we had an event at work for the students.

This does not include the delicious farewell cake we had for a departing faculty member, which happened a mere 45 minutes later.

The snowfall has been light compared to what we usually get, so I’ve enjoyed running on clean pavement, that is, until last night. Not so bad when the wind is at your back; it’s a different story when you turn the corner and are running head first into a full-out snowstorm. My goal was simply to make it home alive; drivers aren’t expecting people to be out running in weather like this.

But the snow is back, and so are the yaktrax. Speaking of those, I see there’s an even more “advanced” set for runners, which I wish I’d known about before purchasing my current set.

image from yaktrax.com

Might have to give these a shot and save the others for walking when I’m at my office. Anyone give these a try?

Take what you can get

My goal this winter has been to get in a “long” run on the weekend of at least six miles.

Didn’t happen this weekend.

I did get out yesterday for a blissful 30 minutes. When your parenting partner is sick all morning, you take what you can get. I ended up pushing it harder than I have lately and was happy with a quality 5K.

The weather has been unseasonably warm for the past few days, which means some of the snow has melted, leaving skiers in a tizzy. As a runner, I welcome the thaw. We get somewhere in the range of 200 plus inches a year of snow up here. I’m not worried we’ll be cheated.

POTM: The recap

My last two runs of November weren’t particularly noteworthy, but they’re in the books, and that counts for something.

Wednesday

I should have put this run in on Monday but got totally lazy. I am not sure which zaps more motivation from me – the darkness or the cold.

Thursday I could have run. I should have run. I made dinner early instead and we made a feeble attempt at cleaning the house.

Friday

I routed a new 3 mile loop through town that I think I’ll run quite a bit this winter. The only drawback is that the last mile is along a somewhat busier road without a sidewalk. Last night I was actually wishing for freezing temperatures, as I ended up having to run through a bunch of slush for most of the run, which definitely slowed me down. I wasn’t really running for time, more for stress relief. It worked. I didn’t kill anyone.

My total mileage for November for Pile on the Miles was a meager 42.34 miles. My original goal? One hundred. Now even I will admit that was pretty ambitious. I eventually lowered it (50? 75? Can’t remember) and didn’t quite make it. But when I consider I was pretty ill for a week and a half and had the rib injury which made it impossible to breathe, I’m happy that I was able to get out. Now that the snow is really here to stay, it will be a challenge to run as much as I want. I’m going to set my goal for December to beat my November mileage and allow myself to add snowshoe and cross-country skiing miles to the effort.

My weight went up a pound over the holiday but normalized after a week at home. I really do want to avoid any weight gain this holiday season. If I’m gaining weight, then I’m pigging out, simply put. It’s not worth it.

I’d love to hear others’ goals this month if you’re so inclined to share them.