Catching a wave...

So, as you know, I have been going to therapy for my neuroma on my foot. I also have been waiting for my inserts to help alleviate the pain associated with the neuroma. Anyway, they have not arrived yet, but my training for my half marathon must go on.  This is officially the first week of half marathon training, and I was hoping to have them now so that I can begin to break them in.... Anyway, I had a race on Sunday. It was the LVRR's SuperBowl 10K. I was super worried about it, as mile 6 is when I usually get pain in my foot. So, since I set goals for EVERY race, I kept these simple...start, finish, have fun. But, also finish in 2.5 hours and  hopefully race pain free. The day before the race, it snowed, so on race day I added not to get hurt. 

This was my view before the race, how I could not enjoy every single moment with scenery like this!

  Well, I was happy that I had a race buddy to run with. I had met Jo at one of the BCR outings, she is an ultra runner, and it was great to have her for company for the race. She kept me sane the whole 6.2 miles. I was happy that I finished the race in 1 hour and 9 minutes, but more importantly my foot did not hurt me.

This is me after the race, some cute couple were fighting over how I should stand for this picture...

As much as I know I complain about going to physical therapy ( I want results when it comes to therapy right away) maybe physical therapy is helping me after all.  I just can't wait to see how my foot and my running evolves once I get the inserts.

A friend of mine over at Crazy Healthy Fit started a burpee challenge that runs until Valentine's Day. I started the challenge late in the game, but I also am fully committed to it.  I know her challenge ends on Valentine's Day, but I am going to keep doing them. I actually am going to keep track of them until the end of February so I can see how capable I really am. Here is my tally from the 4th. Since then I added 3 more sets of 10 on the 5th and I have yet to do my 10 today. I usually do my first set in the morning, but my sweet babe was sick so I didn't get any sleep.

So, since my sweet babe had a fever, I have gotten little sleep. I didn't get to run yesterday, and although I was supposed to run today, I chose a quick swim. That was something I knew I could do while the wee one napped. Glad I got that in. Tomorrow I will hit the dreaded treadmill for a 3 mile run, and then Saturday I will be out for 5 (weather depending). I have exactly 80 days until my first half marathon of the year, and it looks like my calendar is booming with races. I have planned for unofficially 4 half marathons this year! Oh, I hope my foot will cooperate, so I am planning the rest of my races after the one in April.  

I plan to continue my burpees daily and swim 1 to 2 days a week. Plus try to squeeze in 3 days of running during the week and then I have my long runs for the weekend.

Here's to excitement over the next 12 weeks! Sweat Pink!

 

An unhealthy relationship

My name is Michele and I have err had an unhealthy relationship with ice cream. I am not sure if it was an addiction, no, it was. And admitting it is the beginning of the healing process. See, I relied on ice cream when I was sad, frustrated, scared even bored. I never went to it when I was happy or excited, it was for only when I was feeling bad about something.  It is about time that I stop this relationship before it gets any more addicting, or more detrimental. I made a promise to myself that this was going to be my year. My year for a better me. It has to start with what I bring into my body, working out will not erase all of the bad choices that I make. So, I am kissing my ice cream to the curb. I am now in the market for alternatives to ice cream, and by alternatives I don't necessarily mean food. Whether it is to turn to meditation, or yoga, a walk or something, I will find something else that will help break the ice cream addiction. I am not saying that I won't eat the ice cream at parties or other times like that, but I am not going to eat it when I am feeling blue. In this new adventure of healthier me, I continue to stay gluten free. I am disappointed that Ben and Jerry's has not developed a gluten free ice cream, but then again, for me that is a good thing. I will just need to look into other brands, choices, healthier decisions when I NEED sweets.  But, I feel this is going to be a huge learning curve for me. But, I am excited to see what coping mechanisms I come up with now that ice cream is out of the picture. If you have any suggestions as to what I can or should try as a pick me up.
I am going to keep this short, the ND-AL game is on. ND isn't playing pretty right now, but hopefully things will turn around.
Have a great night my mateys!

Insanity

I took an unintended break from Insanity. It turns out that for my sanity, it was probably the best thing to do. See, I wasn't sleeping, so doing insanity before I went to bed helped, but it was really just a band aid on top of other problems.
Anyway, I am starting it again, and committing to myself that I have, no wait, want to do this. I have the awesome privilege of being one of the 15,000 women chosen for the inaugural NWM and I want to be in my prime! I want to be ready. I guess, it also goes to state that I want to run it pain free, which is why over the last week I have had xrays and even an MRI of my right foot to find out why I get pain in my foot at mile 6. As of right now, the xray was negative so there is no stress fracture. I go to the doctor's on Wed to find out the MRI results and then to see what is the next phase. I will keep you posted.
But, I am not going to wait until then. My foot didn't hurt with Insanity, so I am going to start it again. I owe it to myself. I lost 57# in one year, I know I can do it, I just HAVE to do it. So, again, I am taking back my me time. If it means I get up earlier in the morning, that is fine too. My daughter has been sleeping later, so maybe if I go to bed earlier I can get up earlier and work out. That is what I have to do. I can and will do this. For me. For her. I will try to update at least once a week on Insanity. Sundays are my rest days, but I will see how it goes. I will definitely update you on what the foot doctor says, since that is what is keeping me from running longer. That and music. I do need a new play list. Anyone out there offer me a good list of songs to help get me pumped and stay pumped for 2.5 hours of running. And go. Oh, and I am in the market for looking for a better sports bra. And go. I was hoping to go to Lululemon's Princeton location next weekend just to browse, but I am on call both days next weekend. Maybe for my 4 day weekend for year's end I will go. Just to browse and maybe hit the clearance. In the meantime, I am going to focus on what I have that I can do for me...exercise, eat right, spend as much time with Makayla as possible.
I have a feeling 2013 is going to bring me great things, I hope you are there for the ride.
Thanks for hanging on so far!

Sad yet exciting day

Today, is a sad yet exciting day. How is that possible, you may be thinking, well sit right there and I will tell you. Today is the night before Thanksgiving. Ok, still don't get it. Thanksgiving last year was my first 5K race EVER!! And here it is, the eve of that day 1 year later. I am running that race again tomorrow, as I may every year because of it's significance to me, and I cannot believe how far I have come.  Today, I took down my display of my race bibs from Nov 2011-until today. When I started running, I only imagined signing up for that one race, but something clicked. I never felt so alive as I am running. It's my chance to push myself, and it was something I wouldn't have known had I not signed up for that first race. I cannot believe that a year later, I have run a few 5ks, a 10k and 2 half marathons! Not only that, some of my friends are coming to me asking me for assistance to get them into running. Wait?!?! How did that happen? When did people start looking up to me?!?!  So,  I took down my race bibs and put them in a safe place until I figure something else to do with them. Today is the day that I start with a clean slate. I will reflect on what races I want to participate in this year and what races I most likely won't repeat. I will be looking for longer races (Preferably greater than 5K) and will think of other ways to work in cross training. I just cannot believe how fast that year has come and how when I am having a talk with someone over running, when it comes to a 5K I say "It's only a 5K," not intending for it to come out that way. Ahh well. I will work on that.  Later today, I will be running steps with Bob. He got me hooked on running them, I blame him for my steps obsession.

Tonight, I will be beginning our Thanksgiving festivities.  It will start with taking my daughter to my old high school to see the Bonfire. My high school plays a football game every year (I believe this is the 160th meeting) and the night before is a huge bonfire.  The seniors in high school started collecting wood Mon and then slept out last night to protect the pile of wood. Tonight it will get set on fire. My daughter was too young last year to go, but this year we will be taking her. After that, my cousin and his wife will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Eve party. My cousin's wife's family comes up for Thanksgiving from Tennessee and we celebrate their arrival. I cannot wait. In the meantime, my sister J will be traveling from Chicago to join us tomorrow for food, family, fun.
So while this blog is about my fitness and all that, this blogpost today was a little about everything else. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving eve, but an even better and blessed Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be Thankful this year, and I cannot wait to see where the new year will bring me.

The Fighter

I don't know how I found this song, but I did. The lyrics seem to be where I am right now, wanting to give them hell.  Who is them? I don't know. I think the them is more my doubt, because I am sure that I am not the talk of anyone out there. But, these lyrics....

Give 'em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life 'til we're dead
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me

There goes a fighter, there goes a fighter
Here comes a fighter
That's what they'll say to me, say to me, say to me
This one's a fighter

That's how I feel right now. I need to be a fighter, I need to keep on moving on.  

 

 

Today was an unintended rest day. I didn't sleep well on Wednesday night, and when it was time for my alarm to go off, my daughter climbed into my bed and wanted to snuggle. I am all about spending this type of quality time with her, and I wouldn't trade that in for anything in the world. I made up my mind to just work out then when I came home, but, quality time with my sweet babe is more important. So, today, I made it a rest day.  I enjoyed the moments of spending time with my daughter. I want her to know the sacrifices I have made to get healthier so I can be around for a long time for her.

As you know, I have been doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. If you have been following me on instagram and/or twitter you can see the occasional post workout photo. Like I stated there, I am not sure if the workouts are getting easier so I am working harder or if I am just not as in shape as I thought, either way, it is kicking my butt. Starting tomorrow, I will be going back to an ab routine that I did a while ago as a challenge with some of my friends. Even if I do them 3 days a week for starters, hopefully it will help my core. My core is insanely out of shape.

 

I am focusing so much on the fitness, but I think I need to start looking again at my nutrition. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way.

Speaking of nutrition, with Christmas being a little over a month a way, and my birthday less than a month away, here are an example of some of the books that I am hoping to incorporate into my life. I am not asking anyone to buy them for me, but just trying to shop around so that I can eat healthier, cleaner.

 

I hope you all have a happy Friday! I will be running with my BCR friends this weekend, I have another race scheduled for Thanksgiving, it will be sentimental to me because it was this exact race last year that was my first race EVER! And look at me now. I would have never thought I would be where I am today. How far I have come and how much further I am going to go. I thank each and everyone of you for supporting me and helping me every step of the way. Thank you!



ACK!!!

OMG! I feel like I have blogged in forever, and it wasn't that I didn't want to either. With hurricane Sandy taking our power in almost everywhere, we were ones of the fortunate ones who didn't lose power, but we did lose internet/cable/phone. Until this morning!! Back to a normal life I guess. Anyway, let me back track up to today...
Friday, we left bright and early for Chicago to visit my sister. You can read all about that over at my other blog Shelze's World (not yet, I didn't blog there yet, come one I just got internet back). Anyway, I knew that while I was there I would have some able bodied person more than willing to watch the babes so I could go for a run. I forgot my Garmin in the haste, so I had to use my mapmyrun app on my iPhone.  Saturday I chose was the perfect day. It was my first run since my half marathon, so I didn't plan on running far, just slow and steady to stretch out. I ended up going 4 I think. I love my sister's neighborhood, it was nice and flat and had a beautiful park with a 0.44 track in it that I incorporated into part of my run. Between the sights being all new to me, and the constant airport and trains, there really was no boredom for me. It felt really awesome to run again, and I didn't even have any pain. I really only planned on getting in that one run, but I packed so much fitness clothes just in case.  With hurricane Sandy, we found out on Sunday that our flight was canceled for Monday so since I knew we were spending another day there, I decided to run on Monday. With my mapmyrun app on hand, I set out for a 6 mile run. I don't know how accurate my speed was, and I hope it was really accurate, but since I didn't have my Garmin for me to constantly check, I actually ran all 6 miles with splits less than 10 min/mile. ALL 6 miles of them!!! I was so totally stoked. The run itself was awesome, no pain (I really hope it was just my shoes) and I thought I could run forever!! I absolutely loved how flat it was. I think I have made up my mind about one of the full marathons I want to run next year! (ACK!!)
While we were there, I did plan on continuing my 30 day Shred, but with the lack of sleep (I am totally ok with that) I chose to continue my week of rest post half. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't completely inactive. With 4 kids under 6, there were lots of walks to the playground and lots of walks themselves. It was nice to get to hang out with everyone, and come Monday morning I will be back in the zone for 30 Day Shred.

Yesterday I received in the mail a flyer from Lehigh Valley Road Runners with all of the upcoming races in the next month. I am so excited, there are so many races I haven't raced before, so I am looking forward to running this year. Thank you LVRR for a well timed and mailed flyer!!!

Today, I plan on running steps at Lafayette. Me and my arch nemesis doubt have a date so I can kick it's ass. Tomorrow I will be back to running with BCR to an undetermined distance at this point. In 9 days I have my first race since the half and I am looking forward to it.

Have a great Friday and an awesome weekend!!

Runner's World Half Marathon

This is a long overdue race review, but sometimes life happens. Anyway, as you know, almost a week ago now I ran my second half marathon. Everyone asks me how I did. I don't really know how to answer that. Physically, I finished. Was I pain free, no. Was it my IT band, no, actually, that felt really good. See, back in May I began to develop some foot pain on the ball of my right foot (yes, only that foot). The pain was not constant, and it only occurred once I reached mile 6.5. (yes, I know that that too is weird). I took it as my body telling me that my shoes were worn out and that I needed a new pair. So, I bought the next generation of my current shoe, because even though I love those shoes, they are not available. Fast forward to 6 weeks before the half. Still having the foot pain, although I relate it now to breaking in the shoes. Went back to the store where I bought the shoes and they allowed me to exchange the shoes for wider ones. Now, I know these new shoes won't be broken in on time for the half, so what do I do. I try to wear the new ones on long training ones to give my old shoes a break. Still pain :( So, fast forward to last Sunday and just know that I am wearing old shoes. Mile 6.5 came and my foot started to hurt. By mile 8, I really wanted to quit, but I had Holly and April to help motivate me. (Well, really they carried me through it because I didn't want to let them down). So, I guess you can say that I should be happy I finished. I am. I knew in the  back of my mind that I should be able to do it in about 2.28, that was my time at St Luke's. But, my runs had been cut down between life and work so I had my official goal to finish in less than 3 hours.  I am happy that I was able to finish it in 2 hours and 35 minutes, but I am not happy that I had so much pain. The nurse in me decided that it is not a stress fracture, 1 because it only starts to hurt at 6.5 miles and 2, because it doesn't hurt all the time. But, I am also going to be smart about it. I am going to see a podiatrist to look at my foot just to make sure there isn't something mechanically wrong with it. If I am going to survive a full marathon in 2013, I need to be able to run longer than 6.5 miles pain free.
Ok, so now, what did I think of Runner's World Half Marathon and Festival. I think that the organizers of St Luke's should take some notes. Having the expo in a tent outside allows for people like myself to feel less overwhelmed and claustrophobic. It really did allow a lot of free movement in an out of the expo. However, I do not think that there were a lot of vendors and definitely no free samples. (St Luke's was very crowded and very overwhelming, so I do not know if there were a lot of free samples, but, I do know that I did receive a few).  The race loot. I do not know how I feel about the "virtual race bag." I think it takes away from the whole race feel. We did get a pretty decent race shirt, but that was it. No bag, no free sample of the magazine, no pen, nothing. Then, when we went to the vendors, they didn't have bags either. So if you were planning on spending a lot of money, you wouldn't have had any place to put the goods. My only other gripe with the expo was that Shalane Flannagan was there on Sunday (race day) but she was only available from 10-11. I don't know about you, but if a race starts at 830 (it did) where would most average Joes be at 11 am (still running!!!) I was and still a lot disappointed that I didn't get to meet her.
The area for the half both the start and finish was awesome! I haven't been exposed to a starting area like this one, but I definitely thought it was awesome. Definitely enough bathroom facilities at the starting area, just not enough in the finish area.  I don't know how the food was, I didn't stick around for it, but I hear I shouldn't have missed it.
   Now, onto the race. What can I say about this race. One word hilly! The first 6.5 miles was the bulk of the hills, with one more long hill at I think mile 10. I am really glad that I had done the stadium steps because I believe it helped me with the hills (I will definitely continue that torture). Once we got out of Bethlehem proper, I think the run was beautiful. The fall colors really were a nice backdrop for the run, and we also couldn't have asked for nicer weather. It was beautiful.  I appreciate all of the effort that the citizens of the neighborhoods that we invaded did in supporting us. I definitely appreciated the "Got Chafing" sign, because it was at that point that I realized I had forgotten my body glide. I wish that the water and gatorade stops were a little more organized, but I do appreciate their timing. It seemed like every time I needed water we were at a water stop. I do wish there was more entertainment, although I am glad I found out before the race that there was none otherwise it would have been a longer 13.1 miles.
The finish area was awesome, although I really think that mile 12 was really mismarked. I think I was at 12.2 on my Garmin before the race marker came up. I know that really isn't a huge discrepancy, but when running 13.1 every mile marker matters. At this point of the race my feet were on fire. I got to see my family at mile 12,

photo courtesy of my husband

I briefly paused for my daughter to give me a kiss, and heard her crying as I ran away. After 12, it was only a matter of time to the finish. Every since I started running, my cousin told me to make sure you don't get passed at the end, that you do the passing. I KNEW I had to finish hard. Somewhere after 13, the road turned to bricks. I knew then that it was a matter of seconds until I was finished. As soon as both feet were on the bricks, I turned on the jets. I knew I HAD to finish hard. It was for all of the training. I believe I passed like 4 people at the finish.

I crossed the finish line and that was it. No one hung the medal around my neck. No one draped with me the alien cape. I walked around people loitering in the finish area. I finally got my medal. It was a really nice medal, I just wish it was put around my neck, not just handed to me.

Will I do this race again, most likely. Will I complain about the hills, definitely. Will I do it faster than 2 hours and 35 minutes, YOU BET!
Happy Friday!!

Race Day!

Today is race day! It is what the last 12 weeks have been for. I am not sure how I will do, all I can hope is to do my best. I know how fast I am capable of running, I know how fast I want to go, but I am just going to start, finish and enjoy every moment. It is the first time this race is being done, so there are no expectations. After mile 7, the race is all down hill or flat. Just have to make it that far! So, for today, here are my mantras....

 

 

 

Good luck to all the runners today who are running the Runner's World Half Marathon. I hope that no matter what your goal is, you will achieve it, but that you will also remember to have fun doing it! Good luck! Kick ass!!

This time of year

This is a beautiful time of year. The weather is getting cooler, the colors are breath taking, yadda yadda yadda. What I don't like about this time of year, is that it gets so dark so soon.  Way too early if you ask me. In the summer, it is light until about 9 pm. Which works well when you work until 730 at night. You still have time to come home and take your daughter for a 2-3 mile run. Well, not this time of year. It is dark before I even get out of work. Makes it nearly impossible to take M for a run. Maybe I really do need to invest in a headlight, and reflective gear, and all of that jazz. Maybe I should get her a headlight so that she can enjoy the nighttime runs with me.

I am supposed to be training for a half marathon right now. Supposed to be is such a good key phrase. I mean I get my long runs in, but it's the short weekday runs that aren't getting in :( Well, maybe I can now get 1 in a week with M being in daycare, but is it too late? How will my half marathon suffer with only my long runs?!? I know that if I don't get a good time, I will be mad at myself, but who can I blame, only myself. I am trying to get some cross training in, I still try to run steps with Bob at least once a week, on my off day, because who wants to run steps at 8pm? I am currently doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, with the hope that it will help me with maintaining some of my cardiovascular capacity. I know it isn't the same as running, but at least it is something? Trust me, I am not complaining, and I don't regret having M, I just wish that maybe I worked a different shift and then I could still possibly run before I picked up M from daycare. I really need to talk to my uncle about getting my bike back. I could at least add that on Sundays and then I could have that as cross training too.  

Let me not complain, things are looking a little better. I was having pain in my foot, which I went to Aardvark to talk to them about it.  From what the salesperson told me, it is possible that the cut of the shoe was too narrow, so they were willing to exchange it for a wider shoe. It's like I got a new pair of shoes for free! I don't know if they will be broken in in time for the half marathon, but at least I have a new pair of shoes, right. 

I am hoping to next month start Beachbody's Insanity program. A few "friends" of mine are Beachbody coaches, and while I know that I cannot be like them, I look up to them, from both of running awesomeness and nutrition awesomeness. Hopefully the 30 Day Shred will re-ignite my weight loss quest and I will be able to keep it going with Insanity and hopefully add Shakeology as supplements.

I know this sounds like me doing nothing but complaining, but getting it off my chest makes me feel better.  I will hopefully sleep well tonight not having this on my chest anymore. I will get up tomorrow morning and do week1 day7 of the Shred. I will do what I can do keep myself moving forward in preparation for my half marathon. I will continue to be in awe of my friends who are running full marathons this weekend and hope they know how their sacrifices they make for their running definitely does not go unnoticed. My hats are off to you guys! All of you amaze and inspire me!

I don't do well with changes...

Right now, the hardest thing that I am having to deal with is not running. Yes, I love having the 1 day off a week, but it doesn't leave me time to run. I really wish that it was still light out longer. I have  no control over that. My husband works 11p-7a, so I can't really run in the morning. When I get home from work, he lays down to sleep and I put M to bed. Some nights are harder than others. Tonight, for example, it took almost 2 hours to get her to bed. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On Monday, she starts day care again. While, I don't necessarily want to see her go to daycare, she keeps asking about going to school.  I am hoping that my husband will use the time that she is in daycare and sleep. Before, he watched her while I worked and then my parents watched her in the afternoon so he could rest. Hopefully, now he will be able to sleep for the 8 hours she is in daycare and then be able to watch her once I put her down to bed so I can hit the treadmill. I know, I know, this is my fitness blog. I am getting to that. Starting tomorrow I am going to do what I can at home while the wee one sleeps. Starting tomorrow I am going to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I know it isn't much, but it is something. It is more than what I am doing during the week currently (which is nothing). I have noticed how my mood, my energy, my eating has been affected by the fact that I am not active. I didn't realize how much everything revolved around my physical activity. I mean I did, but at first I thought it was just because I was adjusting to 10 hour shifts. Now, I realize that it is because my weekly mileage went from 16 a week to 10, and now I also don't have my gym time. What a huge shock to my body!

I am really hoping that will all change starting Monday. M will still go to school even on my off days, which will open up some needed me time, and it won't compromise the us time. I need to get up earlier to get my fitness in, so starting tomorrow I am going to try do me. I am going to do the 20 minutes of Jillian Michael and follow it with my 20 minutes of Abs. It's the baby steps, but hopefully they will get me on the right track to feeling better, eating healthier and getting back on the right track to how I felt before I went to 10 hour shifts. Before I let my fitness go, without even trying.

The above all sound like excuses. Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one. But, the buck stops here. I am taking back my fitness. Hopefully!

Run-Yoga-Walk

Saturday was supposed to be a 10 mile run. Supposed to be is the key word. I have to stop planning my mornings down to the last second. Take Saturday for example. I had signed up to do free yoga at a local running store. I really enjoy yoga and wish it was more affordable, so when ever there is an opportunity for me to try it for free or reduced price I sign up for it. Anyway, yoga was at 9 so I knew I had to be finished with my run by 830 so that I could leave to get there on time. Of course, my run started late which then meant that my narrow window of opportunity was even narrower. My run felt great, and it was beautiful. It was around mile 2 that I got so stressed over the time constraint that I stopped running to look at my Garmin because I didn't think that it was possible that I was only running 20 minutes! I started to freak myself out that my Garmin stopped working and on and on and on I went. Then, at mile 3.6 the path that I was on ended and I had no idea what or how that happened. I was certain that my running club wouldn't have chosen a path that wasn't long so I got really nervous. I hadn't seen anyone on my run and since I had never been that far on this particular path, I wasn't sure I knew what the heck was going on. So, I just turned around. Then, I started even more to worry about my time limit. And the pain in my foot. And the time, and the pain, and on and on it went for 3.6 more miles. Finally, I got back to my car. Met up with 2 of the guys from the running club who were there, chatted briefly and then headed to yoga.

This yoga was yoga for runners and we did a great deal of time stretching. I LOVE the yoga classes that I have taken at this studio and since that is one of my few experiences of yoga I didn't really know what to expect. Except for the fact that the yogi was doing a lot of plugs for her business, it was an alright class. I did a lot of stretching, but since the yoga classes I have taken before were hands on, I was disappointed with the lack of touching where the yogi assists you in the correct position. That being said, I will be doing the next free yoga session.

Did you notice how I talked about the foot pain with running. I was/am concerned that it is something wrong with my foot, so since the local running store where I purchased all of my running shoes was hosting the yoga I thought I would talk to them about my pain. I wanted to rule out/ rule in a shoe problem before I went to the doctor. Turns out my generation of my running shoe is cut smaller than the previous generation. Which means I have to get a wider shoe. Luckily for me they are doing an even exchange for the new shoe so I get a brand new pair of shoes for free, but with only 3 weeks until my half marathon, that doesn't give me enough time to break in my new shoes. Guess I will be wearing my older generation shoes for the half. Oh well. Hopefully with the new shoes my pain will go away. If not, I guess I will be off to see the doctor.

I woke up Sunday and my IT band was a little sore. Perfect I thought. (Sarcastically of course). But I knew that I would have the opportunity to walk since I was doing the American Heart/Stroke Walk. It was a beautiful day, and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I got to walk 2.2 miles pushing my daughter. It was a lot of fun, and something my IT band needed. A nice slow stretch.

I spent all day today at work walking. I really should use my Garmin at work one day to see how far i really walk in a day. Maybe I will.  Anyway, I am trying to get shorter workouts in this week with my taper starting next week. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to stretch it out really well, and come Wednesday, i will be running steps again. In the meantime, I guess I should work on getting to bed sooner. A lack of sleep really wears you out for the day.

I hope you had a great Monday!

Happy-Healthy-You!

Holy Moly!

Where did the week go?!? Here it is almost a week since I last posted a blog. You would think I didn't do anything, and well you are kinda correct. I have been very diligent with my ab challenge, and I will continue to go strong. I did run 10 miles yesterday, and although right now it feels like a long time ago, my legs on occasion still remind me of the fact.  I  could come up with a lot of reasons why I didn't blog, but to me the only sound like excuses. But, on reflection, I have decided I need to get my me time back! I really enjoyed the runs M and I did after work, but now, it gets dark too early for me to do that with her. Well, I used that as an excuse not to do anything. Not anymore. I am going to get M back on a sleep schedule, and hopefully that means I will have an hour from when she goes to bed to when the hubs leaves for work to use the fitness center where I live. Either to do cardio on the bike, or treadmill or elliptical, or to use some of the weight machines, I need to do something. I have been very moody, and whiny and not caring for myself in ways that I used to, but I relate that all to the lack of endorphins this past week.  So, I am going to take it one day at a time, and do everything in my power to take my me time back. I cannot allow myself to fall off the wagon when I was having fun and loving what I was doing every day.
So, while Wednesday is my day off this week and I will most likely be running steps again, I need to plan ahead as to what I am going to do the other days. I know that taking back my me time will also help me sleep better at night, something we all need anyway.

With that, I bid you farewell.  Here are some motivational phrases that really pertain to my situation. I haven't quit, and I won't I just met a speed bump along my journey.

The last one, I KNOW is true. I need to get my good mood back!

Happy-Healthy-You