Rollin' Out

Before you think this has turned in to a cooking blog, let me explain:

I got to the gym this morning and did my little mix up of a workout : 15 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the treadmill, and 15 minutes on the bike.  I did arms and abs after that.  I left the gym and my legs felt so tight.  I don't have a foam roller, but today I was wishing that I did!  Next best thing?  Yep, that's right...a rolling pin.  I rolled my legs out a few times and I was good to go.  I think I will need that rolling pin again tomorrow after my 7 miles.

I might start doing Favorite Food of the Week Fridays for a bit.  I have been really trying to watch what I put in my mouth this week.  I have been counting calories for a couple of months now...not so much to skimp on them to lose weight, but to make sure I am getting enough of what my body needs...a healthy balance of carbs, protein, and fat.  I have known about PB2 for a while now, but I had never tried it.  Last week, I tried it for the first time and loved it.  I loved it so much that I went out and bought some of my own.  I mix it up and dip my apple in it...it's good for dipping banana in it too.  So, this was my pick for my favorite food of this past week.  I love peanut butter, but this is a healthy alternative without all of the fat.

We have some big snow on the way and I am hoping I can make my trek to the gym tomorrow for my seven mile training run on the hamster wheel.

Happy Running!

Excuses? I think I have one...

When it comes to training, I try to stick to the motto : No Excuses.  It's really easy to do until you have a really good excuse...or what, in your mind, seems like a good one.

With my husband's new job, he is usually able to start later than he used to...which allows me some extra time to sleep before I need to get up and head to the gym.  Since his start time varies day to day, I make sure to ask him the night before to know when I will have to set my alarm.  I worked last night and so I sent him a text to ask.  When he replied, "Six," I knew the probability of a five mile run was pretty slim.  I'll admit I had a little bit of a mental argument between the side of me that likes my warm bed and the side of me that screams :Hard work, Dedication, No excuses!  Eventually, I knew that I had to suck it up and get out of the house.

My alarm went off at 4:30 (after 6 hours of restless sleep) and by 5:03 I was on the hamster wheel plugging along.  After the six miles I did on Saturday, the dread was still fresh and I knew this would be more mental than physical for me.  After I had three miles under my belt, I seriously considered jumping off and calling it a day...not because my body wanted to quit, but because my mind had had enough.  I averaged a 9:30 pace for my five miles...that seems to be my comfort zone lately...one that I am hoping to break.

I was thrilled to jump off that machine that makes every. single. minute. seem like an eternity, but even more thrilled that I didn't let an excuse get in my way.

Now to mentally prepare for the seven that I have to do this weekend.

Happy Running!

Back to Training

It's hard to believe that it's that time already.  It snuck up on me.  I got out my calendar the other night and counted the weeks until my half marathon and was surprised when it was just less than twelve.  So, it was time to jump on a training plan.

In 2013, the only race I ran was The CRIM...so, I feel like I am pretty rusty and I can't just wing it this time like I have in the past.  I also want to do well.

I found a plan I liked and jumped right in.  This morning called for a 4 mile run.  The weather has been less than cooperative lately.  When I woke up at 4:15AM and heard the wind howling, I was so thankful, once again, for my gym membership.

My 4 miles felt good today.  I kept an easy pace (9:30/mile) and before I knew it, my run was done.  Before I let myself get too excited about how much easier that went than expected, I remembered that I have 6 miles to do on Sunday...on the hamster wheel.

One day at a time.

Happy Running!

Playing Catch Up

Back in September, I had a bit of a health scare.  It stopped me in my tracks, literally, and made me put my relationship with running on a back burner for a bit.  Not only did it give me the much needed rest my body needed, it also gave me a refreshed appreciation that I am able to run.

Running is a gift.

Weeks later, after being cleared by my doctor, I slowly got back to it.  My body was weak, I had lost about 12 pounds, and I knew I needed a move.

I joined a gym.

I never thought I would go back.  I needed so badly to "get away" a year and a half before when I cancelled my membership.  I had become stagnant and everything was so boring.  I truly am thankful for the year and a half I spent on the open road, out in the elements, watching the sunsets and sunrises and everything in between...but I am also happy to be back in the gym, especially in this weather!

I have been working on my whole body and not just running.  I feel great, my hip pain is totally gone, and I feel stronger.  I am really looking forward to building more muscle, increasing my speed, and getting back to racing this year.

Almost a week ago, I walked in to Complete Nutrition.  I have been upping my protein and trying to eat cleaner.  I met with a girl there and had an analysis done.  I stepped on that analyzer and was a little freaked out as to what it would say...I was hesitant to even do it...but, I was pretty pleased with my numbers!  The trip provided me with a lot of new information and was an encouragement to keep going and doing what I am doing.  I have a trip planned to go back in there the middle of February to step on the dreaded analyzer again to see if my muscle mass has increased at all and see if any other progress has been made.

That, coupled with a few races already on the calendar has been much needed motivation.

It feels so good to be back!

Happy Running!

Cone of Shame

On Tuesday, I took my Henry boy to the vet to be neutered.  It turns out he is a bigger baby than I originally thought.  He made sure to let everyone know, in true Husky fashion, that he was not happy and very uncomfortable.  He wouldn't leave his incision alone so they sent him home with "the cone of shame" to be kept on for the next two years of his life...not really, just for a few days until it becomes a little less uncomfortable for him.  He is running in to everything and almost has one side of it chewed off...really, I expected nothing less.  He hates being cooped up not able to do anything.  I cheated and took him for a mile walk this morning...he loved his little bit of freedom.  I am really looking forward to taking the cone off of my pretty boy and having him run with us again.  Until then, I guess I have to listen to him "talk" back to me and tell me how upset he still is about the whole ordeal.

 

Oh, Henry!

 

 

 

Coupler

Last week, I got up early to take my pups for a run.  What I usually do is take Zoey out for three to four miles and then run a victory lap with Henry (usually one to two miles).  Henry was raring to go and in true Husky fashion, wanted to "talk" about it.  He let me know that he was not going to be left behind this time.  I thought, "What the heck" and leashed him up too.

I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as we ran our morning run together...all three of us.  Zoey was quick to show Henry the ropes.  He seemed most comfortable running about a half body length behind her on her left side.  Sometimes, on the route I run, there can be a little bit of traffic.  I usually say, "over" to Zoey and she moves over beyond the shoulder of the road in to the grass.  It was nice because all I had to do was say the word and Zoey would move herself and Henry over.

It was after our first run together that I knew I needed a coupler.

And my husband was kind enough to let me pick one up on Saturday:

Potty break is going to take some getting used to with the coupler on, but all in all we had a fantastic run!  It was such a blast...and if we had a bigger house and a fenced in yard, I would get one or two more to add to my pack.

For now, I am thrilled to run short runs just the three of us.

(All tired out after our first run all together)

Changing it up...

This was our playground today.  I've been needing a change of scenery lately.  After Zoey was attacked by two dogs on our last long run, I am hesitant to take the same route with her.  So, today I loaded her up in the van and we took a short little drive to the trail.  It was a gorgeous day and I think we both appreciated the new route.  We had a lovely eight miles.  I brought her home, leashed up my baby boy, Henry, and off we went on our one mile victory lap.  I am really looking forward to when he is able to join us!