Focusing on the Small Victories

Today I did not bring a lunch to campus.

I decided to get a jamba juice, went online, analyzed calories and grams of sugar (no thank you I will not be needing 78 grams of sugar in my lunch today). And I went with the healthier choice, despite my reservations regarding the tastiness of a "low calorie dairy base". But the mango mantra is fabulous, and so much better for you. Here's the stats:

Original Size
280 calories (its like a lean cuisine!)
1 g fat
57 g of sugar
9 g of protein (and that's without the soy boost that I added, so it was like 15 grams of protein)
5 g fiber

lots and lots of yumminess.

and I got some hot wheat bread sans the honey butter (and oh how I wanted that honey butter).

Not a perfect day, but I'm trying to rid myself of the belief that if I don't eat perfect I might as well eat whatever I want....

so today was not perfect, but nevertheless, I did not eat whatever I want.

Done and Done!

I went to bed last night at 8:30 pm. I got up this morning at 4:00 am. (Note that I never said I slept...though I did. A bit.) The 10K started at 6:00 am at Research Park at the University of Utah. So many people! And so many people looking more like "Runners" than I did. Oh well.

I started the race well back, allowing me to pass people throughout the route. This made me feel super cool, let me tell you! If I had started at the front, loads of people would have passed me--not so cool.

Anyway, long story short, I listened to some rockin' tunes on my Ipod, and danced/ran 6.2 miles in under an hour. WOOHOO! I'm super pleased with myself. And I'm already gearing up for my next 10K--hopefully the beginning of September.

Sense of accomplishment? HIGH.

*Picture courtesy of MY MOM.

Today I Went Running

I'll post on my regular blog later. Let's just say I went to bed at 10:30 last night, I woke up around 6:15 and I went running with Joe. He's a stellar running partner.

I need better running shoes, mine are too tight and give me blisters. But I'm making myself prove I'll run 3 days a week and wait til pay day to go buy some.

It was a beautiful morning.

10K, 6.2 Miles, or "Almost a 1/4 Marathon"

I signed up this morning for the Deseret News 10K on July 24th. What a great way to celebrate Pioneer Day, huh?! The race starts at 6:00 AM...and I think that's going to be too early. But I have no choice! The money is in, my name is in, and I pick up my Race Day packet on Tuesday. Wow! I'm really excited, actually.

On Friday I ran 5 miles at the gym. It took me 50 minutes. I run 4 miles on a regular basis and it usually takes me about 40 minutes. My goal is to run the 10K in under an hour. Here's hoping that happens!

My training regimen until then:
Monday = Run 4 miles, ab/core work
Tuesday = Run 6 miles
Wednesday = Run 2 miles and some weights
Thursday = Run the 10K!!

If you want to come watch me, you can find the route online here. Or just stick around here and I'll post my results next weekend. YAY!

Oatmeal=Go Power!

Okay, I feel like I'm back on the track for a week of fitness and healthy living. I got up this morning and went for a 4-mile run. It wasn't the easiest run I've ever been on, but definitely not the worst. I think having good tunes to run to really helps.

I got home in about 40 minutes and did some ab work in front of The Today Show. I hate ab work (but its oh so important! BAH.), so it helped to have something to keep my mind off it.

I decided to make up some oatmeal for breakfast. Its super healthy, and totally fills me up for hours. So...oatmeal at 8:30 in the morning. If I drink lots of water, I can hopefully go until 1:00 before eating a HEALTHY lunch. Let's hope it all works out!

Here's to a new week of healthy eating and living!

I'm eating carrots, but still not a runner

I'm eating carrots for my snack / part of my lunch today, just so you know. Also I'm drinking TONS of water lately...too many trips to the restroom, makes me crazy.

haven't been running yet, it was a crazy week. But I did ride the bike to the grocery store yesterday, which I think counts for something.

What was I thinking?!

What do you do when you like...blow it? I know its just one day, but how do you excuse it when you go to a BUFFET?! Sheesh...

I went to a buffet. This is a confessional blog, right? Yeah, I went to a buffet with the fam tonight for dinner. I feel like I have to eat a whole bunch to get my money's worth or something at said buffet. And I ate A LOT. The guilt didn't set in until afterward, but boy howdy, did it! I didn't eat anything else tonight. I drank a lot of water, but I even avoided dessert at our Enrichment night. Nope...I'm feeling like I did something bad. *sigh*

Back on the bandwagon tomorrow, I guess...

OLD DUDE or My Life as a Runner

In response to Anna's post, I thought I'd offer a quick history of my life as a runner. Because it didn't really start until my senior year of college...

Let's start by saying I got incredibly out of shape during high school. I gained almost 10 lbs. during Senior year alone. And that wasn't from any drug or anything. It was from eating too much and working out too little. I was FAT. And lazy. And just...out of shape. And I didn't do too much to remedy this through much of college. Fast forward to 2004. I was watching the Ironman competition on television and the network did a special feature on one competitor who was in his 70's...nearing 80 if I remember correctly. Here was an OLD DUDE running, swimming and biking in one of the toughest competitions in the world. In that moment all I could think was, "I can't even run a mile...I'm pathetic."

Rather than give in to my pathetic nature and live out the remainder of my life as a loserish tub of lard, I decided that if OLD DUDE could do the Ironman, I could at least run a 5K. That seemed a small enough goal. So how did I do it?

I set out a 3-mile running route near my apartment complex. 3-4 times a week i ran this route. I would run as far as I could, and then I would walk until my heart rate came back down, and then I would run again until I had to stop. At first, I could only run for maybe 5 minutes before I had to rest. Keeping this up for weeks on end, I was able to finally run the entire route without stopping. I ran my first 5K, without stopping, about 2 months after I started this entire experiment.

I found music was KEY to a successful run--especially in my first few years of running. I started out with the old school Discman. I made myself a mix of songs with upbeat tempos that made me want to dance. Instead of dancing, though, I was running. I should also note that if you ever saw me running with my headset on, it would be a normal occurrence to see me singing along or bopping my hands to the beat. I have fun...even if I look weird.

Going further than a 5K distance simply meant practicing. Even after my first 5K, I kept running the same route. I found the more in shape I got, the faster I could make it through the route. The first 5K took me close to 40 minutes I think. In my most recent 5K, in May, I came in under 30 minutes. Plus, the more you run, the longer distance you can handle. I've set routes now for 4 or 5 miles as well. So far, 7 miles without stopping is the furthest I've gone. But it really comes down to setting a goal and then working toward it.

As to side aches, I've found I get them most often when I set too fast a pace, drink too little water in advance, or even if I eat too soon before running. And shin splints might be my expertise as I've developed them way too often for my liking. If you push yourself too hard too fast, shin splints can develop. But that's a great excuse for any of us who want a reason not to work out. Shin splints most likely develop because your shoes aren't supportive enough. I'm a huge fan of Asics. I just by mine at Big 5. But if you really want to find the right shoe for your foot, and you're willing to pay the price for them (Maybe close to $100 or more?), I'd suggest Salt Lake Running Company. They work with you and help fit your foot to the best shoe out there.

Final thought before I post--running really can be fun. A lot of it is psychological. Not psych yourself out before you begin. Just go out there and have a good time. And remember, that starting anything new isn't always easy. You'll be sore and there will be days/weeks you'll want to stop. But let me "TESTIFY" that the feeling of finishing a race or a course you've worked for weeks to be ready for, is one of the best feelings in the world. YOU CAN DO IT!

Becoming a Runner

Felicity: I am dual posting this here on on my regular blog, thus the broader scope of my language. But I do want your advice on this.

After reading my cousin's blog posts lately about my cousin's beginning running excursions it has rekindled my spark of a desire to become a runner. You, Felicity have become a runner. So has our friend Brooke. So have many many of my friends. And though I tried multiple times, including a few years ago, to run, I have never succesfully regularly done so. I keep wishing I could go to sleep and wake up as one of those people who can't sleep without putting in a 30-45 minute run, but alas Professor Harold Hill's revolutionary "think system" was, indeed, a scam, and my thinking has amounted to little more than me being an excellent walker, eliptical rider and cycler. But I think I'm ready to make a plunge. I'm at a time in my life where I want to run. I'm inspired by those around me. And best of all, my lifestyle right now allows me to make time to run (I'm super busy, but my life is more structured than it was during school which makes it easier to run). Plus its summer! And I love being outside. Plus it is easier to go for a run outside than it is to haul my but to the gym.

Unfortunately, I am still slightly scared of running (and scared I will fail, yet again, never to try once more). I need some help so I can relabel myself as a runner and get myself into shape.

How do I avoid shin splints?

How do I avoid those annoying pains in my side? These are one of the reasons I have hated running.

Does anyone know a good place online where I can track my running skills/times/progress?

What is the best system you can think of for becoming a runner? (I searched on google and came up with no fewer than 8 million results, lol). Please note you are advising someone who hated the 12 minute run in gym class and has still never come to appreciate it even when it isn't forced. Also note, however, that I do love the elliptical. I can push myself to do a good half our on that thing at a good pace, but I'd rather be outside.

Where can I get good running shoes, I hear this is critical?

What kind of music do you listen to on your ipod? What should I listen to on my ipod? I have some thoughts and they already make me smile.

Where can I go online to track out good running routes?

Do you want to run with me? Having running buddies can always helps.

Any other good tips? I'm counting on your wisdom.

Thanks!