it's been a week

I haven't been out since my great run last Saturday. My knee was off all week, with some swelling and stiffness, peaking on Tuesday. So no runs, no walks, no nothing. I'm hitting the treadmill again tomorrow, just walking this week. Hopefully, some stretching and strengthening will make the difference. Fingers crossed!

One of my training partners is C, my sister-in-law who is also my "roomie" right now, since she and her hubby are living with us. Last night, as we sat on the couch watching the SAG red carpet, she suggested that once we start our official training (just a couple weeks off now!) that perhaps we should pay closer attention to our eating. As if the dinner I had prepared (fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli) was not a healthy meal. :-) I agree totally, I'm just not looking forward to it. I did a very good job monitoring my food this past summer/fall when I started this running gig, but in general I have NEVER been good at it. Moderation is not my strong suit when it comes to food. Eating is what I'm good at. So I'm going to spend some time preparing over the next couple of weeks - stocking the shelves with good healthy snacks, doing a little meal planning, etc. We really don't have a HUGE change to make, in general I think I do a pretty decent job of balancing our meals, I just get a little lazy with lunch (mmmmm mac and cheese - at least I've upgrade to Annie's from the other stuff) and late-night snacking. So if I can just keep up my decent dinners and get lunch and snacks under control....

uh-oh

My knee is feeling fuuuuuunkkkkeeeee today. They were both a little sore after my great run on Saturday, but I was feeling fine yesterday. And then today, my left knee is just wrong. Not really painful, but I'm worried about it. I'm "aware" of it, if that makes sense - I can feel things moving around in there as I go about my normal course of mommy duties, and I don't usually feel things as I shift my weight and crouch down to dig legos out from under the bed. So I will probably do some good stretching tonight, and take it really easy tomorrow morning - maybe a walk, maybe a light run, we'll see how I'm feeling.

I think this means I'd better get my strength training underway.

i [heart] new clothes

... in whatever arena they happen to fall. I had a great run today, really hit my stride for the first time since before I was sick. I can't say it felt GOOD to be running, but the time passed quickly and it didn't feel BAD. I credit the new Nike pants and shirt I was wearing. I just felt great in them, and I really do think it made a difference. So thanks M! I've felt so yucky and lumpy in the stuff I had, but I especially love the new pants that M picked up for me - the Nike Perfect Fit Pant. They are soft and stretch in the right places, but the waistband is very wide and doesn't cut in to any... soft belly spots... not that I have those... and they are pretty thick and substancial, but not heavy at all. If I could wear these all day every day, I would. My one issue is that they are a teeeeeeeny bit too long, but that's just the story of my life at 5'2".

Now, I just need some new sports bras. I have one that I like and two that I don't, and as I'm not on top of my laundry enough to wash that one every other day, I end up having to wear the two that I don't. They are just useless, and when you're a D cup, useless just doesn't cut it! So that's my next shopping adventure...

new gear!

My training buddy M went home to visit family for Christmas, and took advantage of a family connection to stop into the Nike employee store and shop for all of us with a discount. Yay! So I got two new pairs of pants, two shirts, a tank, and some socks. I'm very excited to go try them all on, but at the moment (well, when I'm not writing this post...) I'm trying to get some work done so that I can afford these new clothes and the gym membership to go with them!

So far so good this week as far as staying on track with the training. Ran for 27 minutes yesterday, was doing 25 before. Concentrating on keeping my heart rate in a moderate zone, and not worrying about pace right now. Figure that as time passes, if I keep my heart rate the same, pace will increase when my body is ready for it! So another run tomorrow morning, and then back to pilates on Monday.

Started reading the weight training chapter again, and I'm coming to realize that I just find weight training BORING. My plan at the moment is to use the hand weights I have at the house and do the at-home exercises. I haven't decided when in the day i'm going to do it, but setting a standard time is going to be important in terms of actually getting it done! Maybe in time I'll build them into my gym routine, but as for now I just don't think I'm going to pull that off. The cheap gym I joined doesn't have babysitting, so I have limited gym time available to me.

back in the saddle again

I hit the treadmill today after a week away. As you know, I skipped my run on Thursday (1/10) because I didn't feel like getting my butt out of bed. I then skipped my Saturday run, because I was hosting a party for 60 people at my house that evening, didn't get to bed until 1am on Friday night, and decided that I needed the energy for party prep. It was a great party by the way, surprise for my dad's 60th. Anyway, Monday night was supposed to be pilates, but visiting family members invited us for a family dinner (which was lovely) and so... here we are. Amazing how life can really get in the way!

I had some serious "what the heck am I doing, I'm never going to be able to run more than 2 miles" thoughts today. I had a hard time getting my legs going at the beginning of the run, I felt very bumbling and weighted down. But I hit a good stride in the middle and discovered the perfect song for my current running pace ("All My Life" by Foo Fighters) which is an excellent find. That will help me find my pace when not running on a treadmill, provided I'm still using this pace in 4 months!

It's time for me to start re-reading my training book chapters on weight training. I've been avoiding it, because I think working that into my schedule is going to involve getting up even earlier, one of my least favorite things. But it's going to be important for building up my endurance, something that is severely lacking at the moment.

I was reading an article in marie claire last night, and in it, Jill Baek (founder of Rescue Beauty Lounge) said "Before I hit 32 five years ago, I was one of those women who could eat whatever she wanted. But now I have to practice portion control..." I'm amazed at how much my body has changed in the last 18 months or so. I certainly wasn't an "eat whatever you want and be rail thin" kind of girl, but I was a "pay no attention to what you eat and be a decent weight" person. And throw in a little exercise? Heck, I was set. Now, suddenly, I have this poojie belly that makes me look 4 months pregnant, and I just feel thick. I was blaming it on many things, but honestly, it's being 31. Sigh. Welcome to my new reality, right? So along with the weight training, it's time to modify my diet. No more party leftovers for me... mmmm but that cheese is soooooo gooooooood....

chastise me, please

I, Marian L. Blogger, did a horrible thing. Yesterday morning at approximately 7:01am, I turned off my alarm and rolled over and went back to sleep. I did so consciously knowing that I was skipping my scheduled run, that it was violating the contract I made with myself to train. I told myself I could do it later in the day, but I knew that was a lie. So please, please, be merciless. I need it.

lazy legs

I actually survived the pilates class without making a fool of myself, though I have to say I am NOT good at pilates. I think you have to HAVE abdominal muscles in order to tighten them. Although, whatever muscles I do have, I'm certainly more aware of them today. That class takes a lot of coordination, and although I like to think of myself as a reasonably coordinated person, it is revealed to me in moments like pilates class that I am in fact not. Nothing like contorting your body into strange, sweaty shapes in front of a mirror while wearing tight clothing to make you feel really really good about yourself.

I absolutely must go to bed earlier. I was having a hard time staying awake after my run this morning, which to me means that the 3-times-interrupted 6 hours of sleep I got just didn't cut it! Anyway, the run itself was great. It was supposed to be an easy run, so I took it slow and focused on keeping my heart rate down by breathing evenly and relaxing. It went by much faster than some of my past runs. But boy are my legs feeling it today, and I'm TIRED. That should help me to get to bed on time!

skipping

I had to skip Saturday's run, it was a big busy day for us. My husband's new store opened that day, so there was a lot of running around, getting ready for the grand opening. Everyone left the house by 7:00am, so there wasn't a lot of time for running!

I'm catching a pilates class this afternoon with my sis-in-law, and then it is back to the running tomorrow. Time keeps on ticking...

I'm sure I'll do something pathetic in the pilates class, so check back this evening. :-)

the new year

I have to say, it is intimidating to see that little tracker on the side of my blog drop below the 5 month mark - right now it says 4 months, 4 weeks, one day. Time is a tickin'.

Saw a whole bunch of new faces at the gym this morning. Since it's only about my fifth time there, don't know if these are usuals that I just haven't seen yet, or if they were New Year's Resolutioners joining the fight. Whoever they were, I welcome them and applaud them for getting out of bed this morning when it was -10 degrees. YIKES. Cold.

Anyway, ran 25 minutes. I tried to concentrate on breathing regularly and keeping my heart rate down, and I did keep it lower than on Monday's workout. I'm really just experimenting right now, seeing how my body responds to the different things I'm forcing it to do. Basically, I've made myself a giant science experiment, complete with monitoring straps and electronic measurements and everything. Kind of interesting, except for all that exerting, sweating, and working out. Sigh.