Oh the Holidays...

Oh the holidays.... I been off of work for the majority of last week and will be for the majority of this week! Loving some time off... and I told myself I would run outside a lot more.... but instead I took Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday off from going to the gym/running. It happens... I got back on the wagon after the Holiday!

Thursday: Ran 3.1 miles in 31.36 seconds for a 10:01 mile pace. (Snow banks suck.... they slow me down)

On Friday I went for a swim.. Jon got me this awesome watch for Christmas that records how long you have been swimming and even your strokes. The stroke part did not work that great because you have say your done a lap before you start a new stroke... but aside from that it was so awesome! I always forget to check what time it is when I get into the pool and always can not for the life of me remember how far I swam... so this really really helped!

I got a 1725 meter swim in which is just over a mile.  I been thinking about the Iron Girl races... and the swim part is 1/3 of a mile... so it felt good to know I could be swimming for more than that and it be okay.  

Saturday: Went to the gym and lifted a little.

Sunday: 6.2 Mile run. 

I got this awesome new jacket from Athleta thanks to my parents getting me a gift card! The designs on the sleeve is also on the back of the jacket, and they are reflectors which is awesome. Its also bright pink! Its funny I do not consider myself a pink girl.... but for running stuff I love it.

\

So hopefully I can get a few more outdoor runs in this week... but its suppose to be like -24 so I am not to sure that will be happening... to the treadmill it is....

Revised Training...

I am not really sure I what I was thinking when I put that plan together ha-ha... That would be WAY to hard to maintain. I think when I put it together... I was thinking... When am I going to swim? So I had to include it in there... weirdo.

I revised my training plan a bit and here it is....

Its its basically what the Hal Higdon Training program recommends here and here. I just made two modifications. One I really like my body sculpt class in the morning so I am keeping that on Thursday and Sunday mornings! I decided I can swim some Saturdays instead of my class and some Wednesdays instead of my run if I feel like it.

I am also going to need to be flexible. If the weather calls for a beautiful Saturday and a like -2 degree Sunday I am going to flip my long run to Saturday and do a swim on Sunday instead. I also changed what I would for a run on Thursdays. Doing a 5 mile run after already working out that day seems a bit extreme. When I was training for my 10k I would do a small run after I got home from work and it really fit in well! :)

So I hope it works. I would be really nervous only running 10 miles as my longest run before the race... although I am sure it would be fine. If I can run 10 miles then I probably could run 13.2! :) So I decided the plan increasing per mile by week would be best. I am also a little nervous only running over 3 miles one other day of the week. BUT if the increasing the miles each weak becomes harder then I will revisit.

I just need to trust the training! I remember while the 10k training hurt at times my body always felt ready for the next step. :)

So so far this is it.... until I change my mind again!

Only Half Crazy (for now)

So…

My friend Kensie (who I ran the Tufts Healthcare Plan for Women 10K with) signed up for a Half Marathon on April 6th. I am extremely nervous, excited and feeling good about this. 

My worries? I am thinking how am I going to train for this? The majority of my training is going be dark and cold (New England Winter). I am going to need some outdoor flashy running gear and I hope I don't wimp out training because of the weather.  My Christmas wish is quit long with outdoor running gear ;)

Then I think to myself... what is the worst that can happen? You are going to PR because it’s your first half marathon... so any time is your best. Also it’s okay if I cannot RUN it all.... I can walk. I just have to listen to my body and if I need to stop I need to stop. 

As for training programs I think I have settled on this one….

My plan is to be flexible during the weekends, which may mean sometimes missing my favorite fitness class. L BUT if the weather is going to be ridiculously better Saturday, I will do my long run Saturday… but either way it’s going to be a cold one!

Average Temperatures in Boston

January:

·        Average High: 36 Degrees

·        Average Low:  22 Degrees

February

·        Average High: 39 Degrees

·        Average Low:  25 Degrees

March

·        Average High: 45 Degrees

·        Average Low:  31 Degrees

I am excited for March. I think that is going to be one of my favorite times to run, which will be good because I have so long ass runs planned! 10, 11 and 12 miles. I have never ran longer than 6 for my 10k so this will be interesting! 

BUT I like this... and just have to keep this in mind... 

Cyper Monday

I did not purchase anything on Black Friday, Small business Saturday or Cyber Monday! YIKES! BUT Come Cyber Monday I did need something a healthy meal! I am not sure if its the meds I am taking from the strep, being sick in general or from Thanksgiving but I am feel like I feel full!!!

Anyway come Monday it was meatless Monday's in full force. Jon asked he could vote to veto Meatless Monday's and I replied no. Ha-ha but secretly get likes my vegetarian meals!

So what did I make? Quinoa stuffed peppers with a side of green beans! 

Recipe found here. 

I recommend it! 

Thanksgiving

This past Thanksgiving I went up to the Syracuse area... it was a lot of fun.. aside of me getting strep throat. I packed all my running gear and bought some cold weather running gear to motivate myself even more to go out there and run... and I didn't at all. Womp Womp... but I felt better by Friday because I went right away to get some Antibiotics, which was nice!

Anyway I made some homemade Cranberry sauce and sweet potato soup to help with the cooking for Thanksgiving! I bought the soup in the Crockpot and the Cranberry Sauce in a tin throwaway so it really helped with the ease of it and not having to worry about re heating something when I got to my destination!

Jon packed the car.... ha-ha I fixed it. BUT I laughed when I tried to look out the window and there was the trader joes bag in the way and my suitcase flipped to the side with the soup underneath it... boys... 

Jon's home town is so cute! I thought these lights were adorable.... and yes there is already so much snow up there! It was so cold... 9 degrees for a few nights.

 When we got there we got to hang out with this little guy! He is so cute! :)

Drink some Yuengling... my favorite beer ever. BUT its not sold in Massachusetts.. but that is changing!

Thanksgiving... we got to sit at the kids table!

Friday night we were center ice for a Cuse crunch game!

View from the one bar they have in town... 

Saturday night we visited my roommate from college, which split up our 4 hour drive.. which was nice. I love the bars and restaurants in Albany, the look and feel of them are so much fun!

We grabbed a few drinks after dinner then went home! It was good to see her!

AND I got to meet her dog! How cute is she? Turns out that Golden Retrievers are suppose to be smaller then they have been bread to be. She is going to grow a little bit more. :) I like this size dog! 

Jon and I made it home for the first quarter of the Pats game! It was good to be back in Waltham so early! :)

Zero

Weekend workouts? This weekend I participated in my body sculpting class on Saturday and then on Sunday I did nothing. I wanted to go for my long run but it was a whopping 20 degrees out but felt like "0".... it is an excuse but I am okay with that because the Patriots won.

The question of the day was who I was rooting for...(pictured was my game day attire)  I am pretty much in love with Welker. I wanted a close game, Welker to shove it to Bills face, and then for the Patriots to win. Welker did the opposite of that but the Patriots won...Ill take the W.

Weekly Recap

Friday! My favorite day of the week. :)

My week in a recap Ill start from Saturday

Saturday November 16th 

Workout: Body Sculpting Class then 5K. I was in serious debate to go or not to go to my Body Sculpting class before my 5K. I wanted to try to do my best during the 5k so I didn't want to feel tired in any way. BUT in the end I decided to go... more so because I like how my body feels after the class and wanted to get two strength days in for the week. I stopped going for awhile because of some races and work stuff and I just could feel the difference. I find weight training so important So I went. :)

Sunday November 17th 

Workout: 4 mile run! 

Monday: November 18th 

Workout: Rest- I been slacking big time on going to yoga.
Food: Sheppard Pie ... it was ehhh... I should have followed a recipe

Tuesday: November 19th 
Workout: 3.1 mile run on the treadmill. 
Food: Pesto and Pasta and Roasted Brussels Sprouts (which I tried for the first time and was a fan! boyfriend... not so much ;))

Wednesday: November 20th 

Workout: Interval Treadmill workout
Food: Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

So one of the reasons I hadn't been cooking was our oven was not working. It wasn't really our oven but the plug for our oven. BUT all is good now... we are back in action. During these couple of weeks when we were waiting for it to be fixed Fit Foodie Finds posted this amazing recipe for Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole... yummmmm I knew as soon as my oven was working again... I had to make this! If I was hosting thanksgiving I would for sure use this as one of the sides!

Thursday: November 21st 

Workout: Body Sculpting Class
Food: Baked Chicken Tenders, Sweet Potatoes and Green Been Casserole.




All week...

For breakfast I have been having an English Muffin, Almond Butter and a 1/2 of a Banana. BUT I wanted to change it up a bit...

1 packet of Trader Joe's Instant Flaxseed Oatmeal, two Tablespoons of Almond Butter and 1 full Banana. NOW that is an amazing breakfast! 

Fridays are rest/treat day! I am going to do treat Friday next week of what my treats include! :)

Now its time for the weekenddddddddddddddddddddddddddd! 

On the Treadmill

So just because its 28 degrees out does not mean I want to stop working out.. unfortunately this means Gym.  As I said I have learned to hate the treadmill... It actually hurts my knee's more. I could go running outside for miles, miles and miles and I feel great the next day. I run 3 miles on the treadmill...BAMM! Runners Knee.

Well... It is what it is I guess. So I am trying to make the most of it. In the winter seasons I am going to start doing interval workouts on the treadmill. When I first started running I hated these because I felt like I wasn't getting a full workout in (which was wrong) and I want to just go for as long as I could as hard as I could. But know that I have more endurance built up and I can complete a race without stopping I am all for this interval workouts and I can now see how they are a good thing! \

My first treadmill workout this week was Tuesday. I completed at 3.51 miles (with cool down). 

On Wednesday I did an interval workout. I got this over at Carrots N Cake and it was a really good work out! I printed it out because when I am working out I find it really hard to keep track of what I am doing...

The result....?

4.0 Miles in 37:40. Oh Yea! Getting 4 miles down on a Wednesday before 8:00 feels amazing... I walk into work and have already accomplished something for the day. I feel like working out defiantly feel working out in the morning makes you feel so much better for the rest of the day. Although... at night by 9 I am doneeeeeeeee. 

Good-Bye Fall Views

Okay here's to keeping track of everything better!

I have been really bad at going for long runs on Sundays, so last Sunday I was committed to getting one done. It went so-so but at least its a start in the right direction again!

Its starting to look so sad outside! Good bye pretty views... good bye...

All the leaves are now on the ground. 

I ended up getting 4.01 miles in! I don't have my watch with me right now so I am not sure the splits...but it felt good to change up my run from just running a 5k.  I need to keep up with my distance running because I want to run a half marathon in the spring! I get nervous just thinking about it but if I train right, and keep at it, I definitely think its do able!! There are so many races I already know I want to run when next year :) I need to sit down and write out my goals and schedule of training. 

I started really working out in February and I have come a long way! Its funny when I started running I loved the treadmill and dreaded running out side... and now its the complete opposite. BUT its pretty hard to get your but out the door when its dark and cold.... and I need to purchase some cold weather and reflective gear if I  am  going to do that! 

BUT this morning I got a really good treadmill workout in. I am a little excited get off my normal routine and start trying new things which I will talk more about on another time. 

Race Around Waltham: Piggy's 5K Event

I have only been updating when I have been running races- blah! I need to start writing on here more.  I want to start documenting all my workouts and good recipe ideas again! 

So first the probably last race recap until spring....Spring need to arrive quickly. I want to do another race on Thanksgiving weekend because that just sounds fun to me but I will be in NY with the boyfriend, and unfortunately there are none around him. BUT hopefully I will be able to take some nice runs outside on some new courses. 


Anyway- the last race I ran was part of the Race Around Waltham Series and it was the final of the series to benefit the Paul Logue Charitable Fun to raise money to give back to the members of the community in need. I am definitely doing it next year. I did not know Paul but the atmosphere around the race and the event was very special and moving.  

So many runners!

The Women in front of me here with the white shirt on had a Tufts Womens Healthcare 10K shirt on. I was really really hurting during this race... I had to stop a few times. Anyway... I saw her running next to me and it helped. I thought to myself we finished the Tufts 10K we can finish this!

Ya I Finished the Race! 

They printed out the race results as they came in and also texted the results to you pretty much as soon as you finished!! I loved this!!

I finished the race at 26.09 so I didn't PR but that's okay... just gives me goals for next year! 

After Jon and I went home so he could watch Cuse loose.. jk Jon! :) Although they did... ha-ha their football team isn't that good. BUT they have a really good basketball team. 

Sometimes life calls for just pasta! So that's what I had for dinner. 

Then Jon and I headed over to the charity fund they were having for the foundation the race benefited..... had some drinks and then called it a night! I was in bed by 11:00 ha-ha! SO tired from the day!  

Trick or Treat Trot

Last weekend I ran in another 5k! It was in Waltham and a part of Run Around Waltham... which I think I want to try to get the jacket next year.

The 5k I ran this past weekend was really good. My goal was to finish under 27:30 and I finished in 25:10!! I also had to stop once to tie my shoe (when I was doing this I totally thought I was giving up my goal). 

Mile 1: 7:45 (real time) (8:00 minutes tying shoes)

Mile 2: 8.10

Mile 3: 8:28

Mile 4 : (27 seconds for .10 miles)

I finished 49th out of 25:10 made the top 5 out of my age group! 

Let me tell you though... the cold symptoms are still not completely gone which makes running rough! Its also dark now before I leave home to go to work and when I get home from work. I have to start running in the morning at the gym but its soooooooooooooo hard to get back in that routine! Especially with the Sox in the World Series. 

SO next week. Restarting workout schedule and working out in the morning on the treadmill... blah.

I think I am going to try to fit in one more 5k in November then maybe one in December for a Santa run if I can find a good one.... I am going to miss running outside and getting some sunshine at the same time. 

Tufts Healthcare Plan 10K for Women

Ah its been awhile! I been super busy at work and life in general. BUT this past Monday I completed my goal of the Tufts Healthcare Plan 10k for Women. The race was an amazing event.... and I am definitely coming back next year!

So it turns out that some Olympic Athletes and women travel around the world to run in this race. The women who won it was from Ethiopia and finished the 10K in 31.33... crazy right!



I Picked the 8:50 pace time.... it was good motivation! I loved these little bracelets!

Kensie and I waiting to run!

Lining up! 

So many people at the starting line! 

 And my official time! This was my net time so the time I ran over the two recording this.

It was just around what I wanted  to do, but I was hopping for better. I have been struggling with a cold which made the last week of training near impossible. (I ran 2 3.1 miles- one in my fastest 5K). It was more how much this cold has taken effect on my body, I was gagging at one point on my phlegm! YUCK!

I want to get one more 10K in before I do not have to run in snow. May be November 10th! Yikes! SO no slacking of training!

Fall Running

So my schedule this past week was still off but it was a good week.

Monday: Long Run 5.0 miles with my friend Kensie. 

Our Splits....

Mile 1: 9:23

Mile 2: 9:25

Mile 3: 9:34

Mile 4: 9:36

Mile 5: 9:26

and damn does it get dark quickly now... action shot while running. 

Tuesday: 3.0 Mile Run 

Mile 1: 9:02

Mile 2: 8:55

Mile 3: 9:57 (Major Hills)

This run was okay. I decided to take a new route. I live in a very hilly part of my own and I did know know this new route would be as hard as it was. PLUS I had one of worst running stich's of my life... Still got a mile under 9:00 minutes though so I was proud. I would have not thought that was possible if I didn't run under 9 minute miles for most of my run last week, so ya!

Wednesday: Hot Power Yoga... which must I say is no joke. That class is the hardest class I have ever taken.

Thursday: 3.12 mile run

Mile 1: 8:58 

Mile 2: 8:47 

Mile 3: 9:08 (Its always mile 3 that gets me! have to note that for the race)

Mile 4 (0.12 miles): 1:06

Thursday I stuck to a semi normal route. I been trying to change them up so I don't get bored, especially with some of the routes I have had lately. 

But even my boring routes are getting prettier with the fall here... 

Saturday: Body Sculpt Class

She kicks our ass!! 

Then the rest of Saturday I spent up in NH hanging out with my family because my grandfather was visiting... it was a good time! 

Its really starting to feel like fall around here, except this week is suppose to be in the 80s!! What is up with that... everyone is excited and I am not. I like it cooler when I am running and cold when I am sleeping. I am so looking forward for October weather to be here.  BUT I should watch what I say, we have had snow the past two Octobers! 

BUT seriously October is the best month... HOCKEY IS BACK THURSDAY!