Test

This is a test to see how blogging goes from iPhone.

I am testing the photo feature with a photo of my brand-new shiny oven!

Committing to the next step

I did it. I signed up for the DC Triathlon on June 17, 2012. My first Olympic distance triathlon, and another mile marker on my quest to a half ironman. Yea. :)

Another small victory

There is 2.4lbs less of me to carry around this week. Total of 7.6lbs since I started. Compared to what I would like to lose, it wasn't much. But for the week, I'm very pleased.

2012 Season

So, this is what I'm planning right now for my 2012 season. Only one race is actually signed up for (the half marathon, my first!), with the rest as planned but not yet financially committed.

April 29 - IronGirl Half Marathon
May 19,20 - Warrior Dash
June - DC Triathlon - Olympic
August - 70.3 National Harbor (?)
October 27 - Run for your Lives Zombie Run
November - Run through the Grapevine 8k

Setting up some big goals for next season. First half marathon! First Olympic distance triathlon! First 70.3 half Ironman triathlon!

Scary, but exciting. I know my body can do this.

Run through the Gravevine 8k

My first cross country race, done with my work friend Camille. Let me tell you, this course was HARD. It was held at the Linganore Vineyard in Mt Airy, MD. The course wound through the vineyards and around the property, and included a run near the river and up a very steep bank. This place had some BIG hills to it. See here.

But it was a gorgeous day. Sunny, a bit cold, some wind, but nothing horrible. Thought about wearing the long sleeve tech tee you got at registration, but I'm glad I went with what I wore. Oh, and at the end, instead of a medal you get a wine glass. How cool is that.



Right now I'm planning my season for next year. Apparently, even though my legs are tired and I'm still recovering from a cold, I am feeling ambitious. Will post soon.

Unofficial

As of this morning, my scale said 200. Let's see if I can not blow it this weekend. That's when I have my hardest time. I'm at my house, around food all the time, and I just want to EAT. Yesterday was like that. All day long, I wanted to put food in my face. Sure I was hungry every now and then, but this was more than that. It's like I had a fear of not being able to eat on this new eating plan, so I had to put ALL THE THINGS in my mouth. I don't know if it's because my stomach is adjusting to the new foods, and it's getting confused on when it's hungry and when it's not.

Either way, I'm feeling good about the work I've done this week. Yea :)

204.6 207.4
40.5%

148
18%

A new day, a new start

Today, is the day I take over my life, and become an active decider instead of a passive receiver.

Today is today that I decide my life has to change. I have to pay more attention. Attention to what I do, to what I eat, and how I live my life.

I have set some lofty goals for next year in my life. Ones that scare me, was that excite me, and ones I cannot reach unless I make a change.

I have changed my eating habits for the better, ear more vegetables now, more whole grains, and no meat as I become vegetarian. However, I have not paid attention to splurges, or the amount of healthy food to eat. Ever so slowly I've been gaining weight. A half of a pound here, a pound there, it never seems too bad. Until one day, you will come up and realize to 20 pounds heavier than you used to be. And that was when you still had 40 pounds to lose potentially.

I need change, I need structure, and support. I've decided to join the five week weight watchers program at work. I will use these five weeks to change my habits, and see how well I can do on this new plan. My cooking well change, my snacking will change, and it is in the hope that my body will change, and that I can start on the path to be a healthier me.

Atholton 5k

I did it!! I ran my 5k on Sunday, and I kicked some butt! It was just shy of a true 5k, but it totally still counts. AND I did it in under 35 minutes! Okay, by two seconds (34:58) but it still counts. This was the fastest thus far I've been able to run a 5k. Yea!

Just got this in my email from dailymile.com ... I ran over 11 miles last week! Yea...feeling good. I have plans to go run another 3 or so miles today. Maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more, depends on how my knees and feet feel. But I am PUMPED.

Also, I trained for a total of 2:51 last week...my first triathlon took just minutes longer than that, just shy of 3 hours. This year, my goal will be to do it within 2:30. Boo-yah.

Hey Sarah, awesome training last week!

Your Training for 02/28/2011 - 03/06/2011

Miles:	11.31	Comments:	3
Time:	02:51	Motivations:	0
Calories:	2697	Among Friends:	6
Workouts:	5

It's rainy and cloudy outside today, and perfect weather for napping and watching movies all day. Seriously, all I wanted to do was lay under the covers, snuggle with my kitties and be a slug. It took me awhile to get out of the house and get to the gym, but I'm glad that I did! Today, I ran for 10 minutes straight! This is seriously awesome in my book. I've not done that since high school, when I was super heavy into sports year round and in the best shape of my life.

You know what else is awesome? In just under a month, I have doubled the mileage I am covering in a run. (By run, I mean a run/walk combination.) Last month, on 2/11 I did a 1.5 mile run. Today, I did a 3.32 mile run. This just boggles my mind. AND the run segments don't feel nearly as much like a slow torturous death like they used to. They are still hard towards the end for sure, but less like death, more like torture light. And really the first few sets of jogging feel 600 times easier now than they did a few weeks ago. Apparently they are telling the truth when they say if you stick with it, it will get easier.

Today I did the first 8 running minutes of my working in my new Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) Bikila LS! Totally different way of running and feeling, and I loved it. My legs were feeling a bit heavy and sluggish from my workout + busy day yesterday, so I was a bit nervous. I focused on foot placement, landing placement, and keeping my feet and legs soft and light. I really wanted to run the whole thing in my VFFs, but I did that once before and was so incredibly sore for many days after. I did have some small amount of foot twinge, and I wasn't sure if it was because of the VFFs or because I'm still so new to running and my feet are still adjusting.

Thus far, my legs feel fine, as do my feet. Whatever twinges I felt are gone now. Tomorrow is an off day for me, but I'm actually looking forward to running on Sunday and seeing what I can do. Since I've been running in the morning, thus far I've been doing all treadmill workouts. I might try running outside on Sunday - we will see what the weather is like, and how much motivation I need to HTFU.

Sweet Sweaty Victory

So I had a great workout this morning. I actually ran a 5k this morning on the treadmill! It may have taken me 45 minutes to do it, but dammit it still counts. AND I ran for my longest duration yet - 8 minutes! Sweet victory I was beyond happy with this. I was also gross and sweaty by this point, but who cares? It's not like I'm trying to pick up anyone at the gym. (Although WHY do all the hot people come work out by me? Is it because my bright pink, sweaty self makes them look better?) Except for you, hot nice treadmill guy - you can come run by me anytime. ;)

Emotions are running high over here, as I'm packing up things for my roommate to take back to my ex this weekend. It makes me sad, and thoughtful, and wistful. Le sigh. It is incredibly hard to NOT eat the entire tub of home made vanilla buttercream frosting that I have on the counter (next to the burnt cupcakes). I admit, I had a spoonful only. ... Okay I had two, but that was IT. AND I logged it in my Lose It! app on my phone, so it is accounted for. Boo-yah, Buddha belly.

New Start to a New Year (Season)

So, good thing no one reads this, as it's been MANY months since I've posted anything. Life has been messy and complicated and just insane. Recently some of my responsibilities and time commitments have ended, so I am focusing back on training. (AKA my long distance relationship ended.)

So, I decided to take control of my fitness and health, and I joined a 5k program. I love the name, it's called the "Hibernation to 5k" program, and at the end of the program in March we actually have a 5k to race! So, full disclosure, I don't like running. Yea yea, I did a triathlon last year and there is running in there. Mainly I shuffled along painfully until I could get to the finish line, get my medal and get to the food! So I decided, it's time I take a step back and learn how to *enjoy* running. It doesn't matter how fast I am, or what pace I keep. All that matters is that I relax and enjoy moving my body, feeling the wind on my face and the sun shining down. Or, at least just enjoy the process since it's winter and there is really cold wind and very little sun. And the scary thing is, I *AM* enjoying it. More than I expected. Oh sure, I'm still slow and can't run a full mile yet. And sometimes I find myself hating it and wishing I could stop. But overall, I am enjoying it.

This program lasts another month, and then I've signed up for the follow on program that is to a 10k or 10m. I'm actually thinking of doing the 10 mile program, and try running the Baltimore 10 miler at the end. I've never run that far before (farthest race is an 8k I did like 8 years ago) so it makes me nervous to contemplate. I figure I might as well try! Especially as I might aim for a half marathon with a friend in August. Ahhh crazy!

So that's where I'm at, and that's my plan. Yee-haw, let's get this show on the road.