Week Four ~ Completed

I had been waiting for this week.

It was an easy week.

I needed this week.

My long run this week : 6 miles!!

Six miles seems like a walk in the park after fourteen.

My knee thanked me for this easy week too.

It's hardly bothering me any more.

I am enjoying it because I know it will be short lived.

Even though this was my easy week and I didn't work out twice a day this week at all, I still managed to pull a total of 32 miles this week.

Feeling good and ready to start another week.

Have Time?

"Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

-Edward Stanley

Whatcha Eating: Clean Beef Stew

While my parents were in town this past weekend, I thought I would try a clean recipe on them. It was a crock pot recipe so that made it even better (less time in the kitchen preparing the meal=more time spent with them). It was a hit. The recipe: Beef Stew. Highly recommended!

3lbs lean boneless beef

1/3 c flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 T oregano

1 T basil

3 T olive oil

1 large onion chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots chopped (I added another)

4 ribs celery chopped

2 sweet potatoes, 1 inch chunks

1 T tomato paste

3 c beef broth

In a large ziploc bag place the flour, sea salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Shake bag to mix. Add cubed meat to bag and shake until meat is coated. Set aside.

In a large non stick skillet, place 1.5 T olive oil and set over medium high heat. Remove meat and place in skillet until lightly browned. Place meat in slow cooker. Add all other ingredients and mix gently. Cook covered for 6 hours.

I liked this recipe because there were no "weird" ingredients that I had to go out and find...I am starting out slowly in to this whole thing. I don't know why this is considered a "clean recipe" really, aside from not using white potatoes. ?? Anyway, it was a nice mix of spice with a hint of sweet with the potatoes. Serve with a side of green beans and you are good to go. For more recipes go to http://www.cleaneatingonline.com/.

Week Three ~ Completed

Week three of my Marathon training was a little bit more difficult than one and two. I had a 14 mile run looming at the end of the week. Finding the time and the energy was hard with PMSing, my parents being in town, and the weather being nasty. Add an injury from the end of week two (I messed up my knee) and it took everything I had to keep following my schedule.

Total mileage for the week: 33 miles.

Aside from my knee killing me after last week's 12 mile and this week's 14 mile long run, I am feeling like I am getting stronger and a little bit faster. Last night, on my long run on the treadmill, I was able to average 10:09/mile. After finishing, I felt as if I had a little more left in me...it made the higher mileage in a few weeks seem more doable.

This coming week looks like an easy week. The longest run I have to do is 6 miles...should allow me to baby my knee a bit. Looking forward to it!

Marathon Quote

"You can never be sure. That's what makes the marathon both fearsome and fascinating. The deeper you go into the unknown, the more uncertain you become. But then you finish. And you wonder later, 'How did I do that?' This question compels you to keep making the journey from the usual to the magical."

-Joe Henderson

Whatcha Eating (the first edition)

I have been giving a lot of thought and research (not as much action or self control as I would like) in to finding ways to improve my diet. I have also enjoyed reading about and searching for clean eating recipes.

I don't know about you, but when I put junk it, I feel like junk. I *love* carbs and sugar and that's been my downfall. I am not a picky eater at all and will give most anything a try at least once. I love my veggies...especially green ones. I am not ready to go totally clean just yet...maybe down the road.

So, I am excited to share pictures of what I have been eating and/or recipes that I find...feel free to share too.

Lunch today - 2 hard boiled eggs (halved with pepper), 1/4 c of raisins, 1 whole zucchini (sliced and sprinkled with pepper and Parmesan cheese) broiled in the oven for a few minutes.

Week Two ~ Completed

I've had to look at it all week.

There. On my calendar.

Sunday: 12 miles

The last time I ran that kind of a distance was back in September.

But, my marathon training schedule said to run 12 miles, so that is what I had to do.

There was no way that I was running that kind of distance on a treadmill. I didn't feel like torturing myself today. So, I mapped out my route in the nearby town of Woodstock using Map My Run. I got the general idea of where I was supposed to go.

Last night, I slept the best I have in weeks. I got up and got around for church. I had a bowl of cereal before heading out the door. After church, I ate a sandwich on the way to my husband's parents house (my starting point) and had a few m&m's once I got there. Then I was off to tour the town on foot.

I wanted to start out slow because of how sick I got on my run on Friday. I didn't want that to happen again. So, I tried my best to keep a 10:45 pace until I reached the 4 mile point. It was comfortable and allowed me to enjoy the route and the beautiful trees with frozen fog on them. Some points were just breath taking...it made me wish I would have set out with my camera in hand. Around mile 4, I had to pee so bad and decided to take a short cut back to my in-laws for a potty break (squatting in the snow didn't sound worth it for a run as unimportant as this...race day maybe). I arrived back at the house with a little over 6 miles under my belt in a little over one hour. I paused my watch, did my thing, grabbed a few more m&m's and a sip of water. I was back out the door.

The last five point five felt really good. I looked down when my watch beeped to let me know I had hit ten miles and saw my time as 1:45:29. It was energizing to know that I only had two more miles to go. I ran into the wind almost the whole rest of the way back, which was miserable, but I finished with a time of 2:05:39 and still felt like I had more in me.

I finished this week with a total of 38.5 miles. I am chugging along. I am looking forward to the hard work this is going to take and you better believe I am going to cross that finish line with my arms in the air.

Playlist : Free to Be Me

This song is one of my favorites right now:

Playlist:Replay

Don't know what it is, but this song makes me run faster. Enjoy.

Marathon Quote

"The marathon's about being in contention over the last 10K. That's when it's about what you have in your core. You have run all the strength, all the superficial fitness out of yourself, and it really comes down to what's left inside you. To be able to draw deep and pull something out of yourself is one of the most tremendous things about the marathon."

-Rob de Castella

Mind

The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince.
~Vincent Lombardi

Soda or Pop (depending where you're from)

The average American drinks more than 48 gallons of soda a year. To reduce our consumption, a group of doctors, scientists, and lawmakers have proposed adding a "fat tax" on cola and other high-calorie beverages, such as energy drinks and sport drinks, and well as on candy. A poll was taken and they asked people, "If you had to pay extra for soda and candy, would you think twice before making a purchase?" Seventy-eight percent said Yes. What about you??

*results from a fitnessmagazine.com poll

Exercise and Weightloss...

Do you know how much exercise you should be getting to drop a significant amount of weight?

Do you wonder why you are working out and seeing hardly any results?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, adults need at least 50 minutes of exercise 5 times a week to lose weight. To maintain your weight, you need 30 minutes a day 5 times a week.

Increase your workout intensity and duration and you will begin to see the results that you are looking for.

One down...

I've got the first week of marathon training under my belt.

Today was my long run.

I ran on the treadmill.

For. ten. long. miles.

I must say, I have never ran more than 5 on the treadmill before. I never imagined that I would be doing ten miles on one.

Not as bad as I thought it would be, but it definitely wasn't enjoyable.

I miss running outside.

So, for this first week of training, I have logged 38 miles.

It only goes up from here.

Marathon Quote

"The difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot coals."

~Hal Higdon

*All of the quotes that I am finding about marathons are so inspiring (gulp).*

Playlist

I'm a big fan of Nickelback and have a few more of their songs on my ipod. Here's my playlist suggestion for this week:

If the shoe fits...

Shoes are the single most important thing to a runner.



I went to a Running store back before my first CRIM almost two years ago and was measured and fitted with a pair of Asics. Before this, I was a die hard Nike fan and wore nothing but. I was, however, willing to give this new brand a try and it was instant love after my first run in them. I have gotten Asics ever since...same make and everything...Asics Gel Nimbus 10, size 8.5. Loved em!



I have a lot of miles on the shoes that I have. I trained for the CRIM and my half Marathon in them. I am sure I have hundreds of miles on them and it shows. I have worn two holes almost straight through the back in both shoes and the soles are pretty worn down. After getting money for Christmas, I was certain it was time for a new pair....looking around, my Gel Nimbus 10s are the thing of the past, which almost put me in to hysterics. I hate change.



So, after much thought, I decided that I would, in fact, give the next model a try and go with the Asics Gel Nimbus 11s. They came yesterday and I have yet to try them out. Today is a rest day in my training schedule so I will have to settle for short walks around the house and long stares at them laying in the box.




They are going to have to win me over because of the year I had with my old shoes.

Let the Training Begin

I have officially begun my Marathon Training. I am pretty excited about actually having it all scheduled out for me already. The first four weeks are pretty decent weeks. After that, the long runs get longer. I have to remind myself that this is a 16 week process and that 20 miles looming out there on my schedule is something that I am going to work up to.

My gym membership has been wonderful! I knew that I was a weakling. Give me a pair of running shoes and strap on a Garmin and I can run for a while. Cardio is what I love. Give me a set of weights or a machine that works my legs or abs and watch me try and walk the next day...pretty pitiful. I have realized just how much I am lacking. Today is the first day that nothing on me is sore and I can walk down the stairs normally and sit up unassisted. I have been working my muscles out through the pain and hopefully will be able to see and feel a difference soon. I not only want to push myself in racing this year, but I also would like to tone and challenge myself in strength.

I am looking forward to seeing a transformation the next 16 weeks...I am pretty terrified of what comes next. :-)

A New Year, A New Habit

My best friend and running buddy, Hollie, has gotten me a subscription to Runner's World for the past two years...she's great. My last issue had a little log book tucked inside. I have never consistently kept a log of my workouts or how many miles I have run. I guess 2010 will be the year. It has a place to not only record your mileage and time but also has a blank to record your mood or how you were feeling. It will be good to look back and see what was going on during a week or what kept me from going farther or faster. Don't have a exercise log but want one? Make your own and keep a record of what your doing...motivation to start racking up the mileage.

It will also be a wonderful tool to be able to prove to my hubby that I do in fact need a new pair of shoes. :-)