Cross Training?

Yesterday N and I went on a great maintenance run - 35 mins - felt great! My feet are still a little sore from the healing blisters but all is well. My cross training activities this week have involved packing and moving boxes. All the stairs had to have done something for my legs right? Looking forward to our 6 mile run this Saturday and then spending a few hours unpacking and decorating the new place before heading out to go shopping. :)

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

...but I feel fat. So, I'd love to know how one can eat on points and exercise consistently but yet feel fat and not lose weight. Ugh. I know I just need to be patient but come on! Anyway - I had a great run today - a little short but I have a lot of work to do tonight and was feeling a little overwhelmed. Nicole and I ran a 4:1 for 25 mins but at a faster pace than normal. It felt great! We are going to run again tomorrow and do a longer run, as long as I don't punk out after field day. The thought of the 6 mile run coming up on Saturday is a little daunting but I can do it.

For anyone interesting - Sunday from 2-4 at EES Dobson is a Women on the Run expo - I'll be selling my Stampin Up stuff and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Dobson runners. They'll be LOTS of other demonstrators - door prizes - 50/50 - and Chinese raffles etc - So come and support the Dobson Easton ROCKS runners!

3 miler

I'm getting pretty comfortable at this 3 mile thing. :) Too bad I can't do 3 miles again on a Saturday ever again. Ha. Today was our 3 mile timed run so that our coaches could put us in pace groups. I made group I - which is a 12 min mile (a far cry from where I started in training). That puts me at a 3 min run, 1 min. walk ratio for the entire 1/2 marathon. I'm not sure who else is in my group yet. A few of my favorite running buddies are in the group right ahead of me doing a 4:1 - which is what I've been running. The run felt good today - was the first time I ran with my Ipod in ages. It helped tremendously since we were to run on our own, which I haven't done in ages either. I still love my sneakers! No aches or pains - although my right hip area was tight before we ran. I really need to do those stretches and strengthening exercises I ripped out of running world. They had an article about "hip popping/clicking" - which is my only running issue. It hasn't caused a problem when running like it used to last year but I almost constantly now have a small popping anytime I walk. It's just a matter of strengthening that muscle so I need to do that so it doesn't cause problems as we increase miles.
On a fundraising note: I am at 87% of my goal! WOOHOO!!! My supporters this week - who of course are rocking my world are: Frank & Ellie, Steph & Chris and Kristy (not sure if I mentioned her $130 donating from the jewelry party before). I know I have 3 more definite checks on their way plus the money we split from the beach house raffle puts me WELL above my goal. So... I am going to increase my goal from $1,000 to $1,310 ($100 per mile). I'm constantly amazed at the generosity of my friends and family. You guys ROCK for ROCKS!

P.S. - The VA Beach 1/2 marathon shirts just went on sale - I've been waiting for them to list these since I decided to join - I am SO going to order one today! :)

drooling...

I want this. I would love to know how far I run and determine my pace. It's on sale at Amazon for only $88. I can't justify spending the money but I want it. hm... I'm drooling! (Also drooling over the awesome banana chocolate chip coffee cake I'm eating).

8 points

I earned 8 activity points today and I'm gonna go get a reduced fat banana chocolate chip coffee cake from Starbucks to get rid of the 8 activity points. :)
I did a bit of pilates and yoga earlier today then ran tonight. I am certainly tired - sore muscles - definitely going to take it easy tomorrow. I'll probably just do an easy run tomorrow and then rest Friday to prepare for the timed 3 miler Saturday morning.
On the weight loss side - I'm ALMOST back down to my 50lb weight loss since I started WW. I had reached that goal a few months ago and quickly gained 12lbs. back. If I work hard my weigh in on Monday could put me back to my 50lb loss. Then it's all smiles from there. That will make me the lightest I've been since freshman year of college! It took me long enough but it's SO worth it. This marathon thing is so helpful in forcing me to workout in addition to eating right!
I also just bought my 10% weight loss gift from life is good. WW encourages people to reward themselves every time they lose 10% of their body weight. I used to reward myself with food...DUH - could be the reason why it took me so long to lose. My next 10% is only 6 pounds away - so it's ordered but I can't use it until I reach the goal. :)

Training Day 1

LOVE IT! Let me say it again - I LOVED this morning. But let's back up a bit. Amy said to eat healthy the day before - hydrate well - get enough sleep - and get up about an hour before the run and move around. Hm...didn't so a lot of that. Let's start with yesterday - Debbie bought her girls donuts - I ate a few mini frosted donuts...then went to Rams Head in Annapolis for dinner. It was the first day in 3 weeks I've eaten off points. I had a bacon cheeseburger, french fries and a glass of beer...oh and peanut butter pie. Whoops! I paid for it this morning a bit in the bathroom, which I assumed. I was a little worried that I would also pay for it on the run but my stomach eventually settled down and I was just fine. Having so many people running together was encouraging. I was also encouraging to set the pace for a group of 3 milers and feel good about the pace. I have come a long way in just a few months. It makes me excited to see how much farther along I'll be come race day.
We ran today at a 4:1 ratio for 3 miles - which took about 38 minutes. I felt so good when we were done, I totally could have kept running. That fact alone made me feel tons better about this training. I don't have to increase milage for another 2 weeks so I'll be more comfortable at the 3 mile by then and definitely be ready to increase milage. I'm also loving being awake and alert so early on a Saturday. I have the whole day ahead of me - running done, breakfast done, shower done and normally I've only just woken up by now.
On a fundraising note: I'm now are 33% of my goal! :) My newest supporters are: Becky, Mary, & Debbie! Love them! Cards are on the way...gotta make some more today. Off to the outlets with Nicole then home to be productive!!! Many smiles today from the happy runner. I promise next Friday I'll eat healthier (at my fundraising Cookie Lee party.....anyone wanna come???).

NEW SHOES!!

So... look at my cute new shoes! Huge props going out to Fleet Feet in Annapolis! Some of the crew headed there this evening to get fitted for running shoes. They were totally knowledgeable and low and behold told me I am NORMAL (or at least my foot is!). These sneaks are totally comfortable - love the color and the fun wave in the heel! I am actually excited to go running tomorrow to officially try them out. I also got a new bra - gotta protect the ladies (sorry gentlemen). It was from a company called Moving Comfort. I have never felt more comfortable in a sports bra before. Totally need to check out this company more.
On another exciting note - today was my Weight Watchers weigh in day - I lost 3.8 pounds last week. Still have a few pounds to go until I am back to my 50 pound weight loss...I can totally be there within the next two weeks (I hope). I just can't express how much better I feel physically, emotionally and mentally lately. I'll be even better in 31 more school days. :)

On my own...

This weekend I am home alone. Normally I catch up on school work, clean, and sit in front of the TV. I hadn't exercised since our group run on Wednesday and I knew I had to run today. And...I did. I am normally not that self motivated but when you have new running clothes and a new running watch why not run?
I just got back from doing a 4:1 ratio (4 minutes of running and 1 of walking) for 30 minutes - walked about 5 mins prior and about 6 after. I did have to take two minute walk breaks twice. I wanted to stop so bad after 25 min of running. It's all such a head game so I talked myself into it and finished out what I had intended to run. My body felt tired but good -no aches or pains. My knees have been really good lately and my hip is still sore a little but I think that is improving. At least it doesn't pop - I must be strengthening those muscles! Hopefully I can motivate myself to run again tomorrow since I won't be able to run or do pilates :( on Monday.
Monday Debbie, Nicole, Donna and I will be heading to Fleet Feet in Annapolis to get fitted for running sneakers. I'm excited to actually get real sneakers and to retire the ones I've been using now for a while.
Training officially starts next Saturday so I treasured sleeping in this morning until 10. I won't be able to do that again until September!!! Well...off to shower and run some errands. I have 2 bags of clothes to drop off at good will - they are just too big for me...oh shucks..I might just have to buy some new clothes to replace them. :)
On a fundraising note:
As of this week I've pulled in almost 25% of my goal! Thanks goes out to this week's supporters : Ellen and Fred (waiting to see what he sent but he told me a check is on the way so I'll give him credit this weekend!)
Thank you cards will be coming to those folks soon - on tonight's agenda is making cards with my abundance of Stampin Up goodies!

Today x 7

I ran today - third day in a row! It was 75 degrees and it felt HOT. Becky and I ran 3 mins with a 1 or 2 min. walk break for a half hour. It was encouraging to know that my pace group will probably be a 3:1 or 3:2 ratio so I'll just have to keep up what I did today for 13 miles...haha. That was the daunting thought. 13 miles and late summer heat. It's hard to imagine that I'll be doing this in a few months but I am SO excited. I'm also so excited to have a day off of running tomorrow. I'm a bit sore - my left knee hurts a bit and my right hip was popping while I was walking today but was ok while I was running. Those are my common running issues so hopefully as I continue those will work themselves out through cross training etc.
On fun training gear news : My water belt and blister free socks arrived today. I NEVER thought I'd wear a "fanny pack" but I tried on one to hold my water bottle and "snacks" along the way and the one I bought isn't too bad. I'm just trying not to think about how I look while running and just focus on functionality of it. My new blister free WrightSocks are the most expensive socks I've ever purchased. Normally I get 5 pairs for what this one pair cost! I can't wait to try out my new gear though! I'm still waiting for my Timex Ironman watch to come in the mail. The next big purchase will be my running sneakers!!!