Happy graduation! And now for some food

Well, yesterday I met with my PT and after some awkward bending and stretching (seriously? Bend over in front of you as far as possible while you sit at butt-level and watch?) I was given the all-clear to resume running and exercise as usual. HOLLA! But, quite possibly the best part was the awesome graduation cup they gave me. I love me some water bottles and cups.

And, because I've recently discovered them and LOVE them, I have to give a shout-out to popchips. De-licious! And for one bag (.8 oz) it is only 2 points plus! If you don't do Weight Watchers, that is amazing! The same size serving of regular chips is double--or more than--that. A dinky granola bar like Chewy is about 3 points plus. Basically, you're getting a heck of a deal for very little points. And points are like cash--you're placed on a daily budget and don't want to go over. Cuz then you get fat (or at least I do).

And while we are on the topic of food, a great idea I picked up from a colleague: When you eat out at a fast food restaurant or take left overs home, save the salad container and re-use it. They're obviously not dishwasher safe, but they are awfully convenient and easy to clean by hand. The container pictured here is from Wendy's (their apple walnut salad is absolutely yummy and only 9 points plus) and has my lunch for the day--turkey, spinach and reduced sugar craisins salad with ginger dressing. Mmmmmm Mmmmmmmm!

To run- or not to run?? That was the Question!

This morning I woke up at about 4:45 am. (My alarm was set for 5)  I laid there thinking about how far I should run- 3 miles or 4? I had to be back by about 6:15 to get my daughter up for Basketball practice.  Then I started think maybe I would just run this afternoon, but knew that might not actually happen.  Pretty soon- I had been arguing with myself so long that I no longer had time to go run!  Aaaargh!  Stupid Felicia.  So now I am faced with the challenge of running after work (I really have a hard time motivating myself in the afternoon).  Let's just hope that I have had a good energy filled day so I can get in my 5X400 Intervals!  I decided to do Hal Higdon's Intermediate Half Marathon training program.  I am such a goal oriented person, I am very motivated by crossing off those daily workouts!  Wish me luck!!

Say WHAT?!?!?!

I had a mild panic attack this morning. I texted Felicia to tell her that next Sunday would be the 12 week mark until our half marathon.  She, sweetly, texted back, "I thought last Sunday was the 12 week mark". WHAT?! The reason for my freak-out is that marathon and half marathon training schedules are...12 weeks.  When training for my first half last September I didn't quite stick with the program, got behind and was not at all prepared for the race (prior to the 13.1 jaunt that included Doomsday Hill in Spokane my longest run was 6 miles.  Not even HALF!).  I vowed I would be more prepared for my next one and I am already behind. I headed to the gym a little depressed and with a "what's the point" attitude.  Until  I started running.  I got to mile 2 and thought "if I WAS on a training schedule, this would probably be a 3-mile day..." So instead of stopping at two when I got tired (which is another depressing subject--tired at 2 miles???) I pushed through to 3.  And when I got home I looked up my training schedule and realized-- I AM NOT BEHIND!!! According to the training program I am using, yesterday should have been 3 miles and today 2.  All I did, without knowing it, was swap those two days.  I practically jumped for joy when I read that.  Now, I am ramped up for training again and excited to stick to it and bump up my mileage again.

The schedule I chose is Hal Higdon's Novice 1.  It is his lowest beginner training program and I chose it because it assumes you have the ability to run 3 miles several times a week.  While I can do that uncomfortably now, I am pretty sure muscle memory will kick in soon and it will get easier fairly quick (fingers crossed). Even though it is a blow to my ego to start at the bottom, I know that if I lied to myself and picked a higher training schedule I wouldn't be able to stick to it. I have my (hopefully) final appointment with my physical therapist today after running this last weekend to see if I am given the green light to continue.  And speaking of which--I better get ready!

Just keep running, Just keep running...

I love to run. I don't always love getting up before the sun to do it, but I always feel better when I do! I laid in bed this morning thinking, "I don't think I need to go today," but I got up anyway. Why? Why would I do that to myself when I could be sleeping? Well, anyone who really knows me, knows I'm a much better person when I have worked out in the morning. Running is my antidepressant. It truly is. For 6 years I went without my Zoloft because I was running! I just recently went off it again, kind of by choice, kind of not, but I would be just laying in my bed sulking if it wasn't for running. (Or the 4 kids and husband that always seem to want dinner every day!) As I start a new training program for the half marathon Trisha and I are running in May, I live to chant this in my head "just keep running, just keep running, just keep running, running, running..." I love that philosophy and how powerful our minds can be when we have goals and are willing to work! Today as I was running I thought about how lucky I am to have such strong legs. My legs are not skinny- at all. They do not resemble runners legs in any way. But they will keep on moving for me. I've gained and lost weight so many times, I'm surprised any of my body knows what is going on. But my legs are the one thing I can count on to carry me through anything- and for that I am very grateful!

Second Run, First Post

Coming back after a LONG time off due to an injury, I went on my second run in over 2 months today (the first one was last Saturday).  It was also my first time getting up and going by myself in the morning. Normally Felicia and I go together about 5am but with some schedule changes and life happening our workout times and locations don't quite match up.  That, and she is super-runner-girl and I am gingerly jogging so as not to re-injure.  I'll get back up there with her (or as close as possible--seriously, she is fast!) eventually, but for now we are both on different wavelengths.

So, my alarm went off at 5:15 and my first thought was, "I'll go later".  And then I was up and across the room turning my alarm off and suddenly found myself without an excuse to get back into bed.  I WAS tired, but I also wanted to prove to myself (and this blog) that I COULD get up that early on my own and I COULD motivate myself to run on a treadmill for miles and miles on end--ok, I only did 2 miles, but it felt longer.  They were a good two miles.  I started feeling little twinges in my knees so I stopped at the 2 mile marker (I had wanted to do 3, but slow and steady wins the race without pain) and switched to a little walking and then did some rowing.  All-in-all I was pretty proud of myself for doing it on my own, even if it was a semi-short workout.  And it set a great tone to the day! I got some grocery shopping done, renewed my license and still made it to work by 9:30.  I felt accomplished.

See how happy (and tired) I am to be up at 5:15??