Pounding the pavement...

In an hour I'll be out there in the brisk Winter air doing my first run since ummmm, December 28th (when I ran a mile on the cruise ship track but got very bored quickly). ha! I am hoping to get in about 4 miles? We will see how my body cooperates. Once I get out there it's just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other but man, it's much easier to talk myself out of it. But, I can't....

I turn 38 tomorrow. That's no excuse.

.....Running Update.......

Boy, that was slooooooooow going. I started out with all sorts of energy because I was wound up about finding out I had to get my daughter pre-registered for preschool in the Fall. That day. A heads up might have been nice. ha!

So, I started all nice and felt good... then things started to feel off. I walked up the steep hill. I continued to run. Cut it a little short because my body just was not feeling it today. I don't know if this happens to anyone else but when it's cool out do your ears get plugged up? Like you feel like you are breathing out of your ears???? So every breath almost echos through your head???And my toes. I still cannot figure out why when I start to run my toes go numb. Eventually it comes back but it's like my feet are too cold then they warm up and feel fine. So, I had that going on. As soon as I got close to my house my back started to tighten up and feel tweekish. That, was enough for me to stop.

So, a quick 2.38 miles. Came inside and stretched and did 5 minutes of planks/pillars.

I think it'll be easier to do a nice run this weekend when I don't feel as rushed and I can focus on the things that are making me uncomfortable versus just trying to get it done.

Wednesday's Consumption

1. PB and Banana Steel Cut Oats

2. Romaine w/turkey, feta, egg, carrots, snap peas, broccoli, toasted almonds, and tomato

3. Lean Cuisine Pannini (my original plan was pork tenderloin but my husband said he wouldn't be home for dinner so I made whatever was quick and easy for everyone).. then he ended up coming home. ha! Oh well.. tuna sandwich for him. ;)

4. Handful of almonds.

5. Vodka Martini

Steel Cut Oats, Anyone?

I've tried to get on the steel cut oats bandwagon. I always find them, uhhh, too chewy. I'll eat them but it was more of a choking them down type of feeling.

Until....... this morning.

I gave them another shot using this recipe http://eatliverun.com/breakfast-recipes/peanut-butter-steel-cut-oats/. Happy happy!!!!!! This was like eating a pb and banana sandwich in a bowl. I didn't make them the night before (as the recipe says) but just made a big pot that I can now divide up for the rest of the week.

Honestly, I never thought to really put a whole lot of anything in my oatmeal. I've always added a little brown sugar and that was that in fear of the dreaded "extra calories/fat" but who knew it wasn't against the law to throw whatever you wanted into it. But check out this website of all types of yummy goodness!!!

http://www.katheats.com/kaths-tribute-to-oatmeal/

Tuesdays Meals

1. Green Monster Smoothie made with ground flax seeds, spinach, almond milk, frozen peaches, and a banana.

2. Salad made with romaine, carrots, broccoli, snap peas, tomato, turkey, egg whites, kidney beans... Topped with a lower fat blue cheese. I just can't add a nice raspberry dressing on egg... I just can't.

3. A couple slices of Apple

4. Leftover homemade chili and umm, Red wine.

5. Dark chocolate (6 squares) from Ikea with my red wine.

..... and with that I call it a night.

Food Journal

A few years back... well, actually, not a few 8 years ago I did Body For Life. (Hard to believe it was that long ago). The ideas behind the program have stuck with me all these years but I'm not as strict of a follower. My meals usually have a carb/protein/veggies but I don't freak out if I stray from all that anymore.


One of the main ideas of the program was to plan and write down everything... Meals and workouts and feelings for the day. I think that's where I am lacking right now. All my runs over the last couple of months are uploaded onto mapmyrun.com (so I've got that covered) but I need to make sure I see what I'm eating, too. I'll probably bore you all with it and I wont go into exact measurements but it'll be nice to see in print how I'm feeding this ol' body of mine.

Before I get behind, already, here's yesterday:

...Green Monster Smoothie http://greenmonstermovement.com/













Erin's Breakfast Cookie (I just wanted something quick that I could walk around and eat while I was picking up the house)




















...A handful of Raw Almonds


Lean Cuisine Panini (obviously I'm seeing a bad trend here). Already eating stuff out of packages. Must stop.



...Dinner was homemade Chili and a green salad.



...Snack was an apple with peanut butter.



.............Exciting???? no?



Hoping for a better day today.

A Quote...

"It's very hard to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the real competition is against the voice inside you that wants to quit." -George Sheehan.


This hit home for me. I'm competitive by nature but I'm far from the fastest of the bunch. There are times when I'll be running and see people pass me and wonder what the heck, why are they passing me? What am I doing wrong that makes me not as fast as them. I wonder if I stop and walk could I make up some excuse as to why I didn't finish in the top of the pack. But I always keep going and I really have to push myself. I can drive myself insane.

During the Rock and Roll I had to repeat to myself "Pain is only temporary.." over and over and over again... I knew that once the race was over I would be able to feel my toes again and my shins would recover. But I just had to keep going. Had To.

I am hoping this year I am able to enjoy the runs I do. I think I was just doing them last year. Always worrying about "how well" I'd do and what would people think if I didn't finish with a decent time. When you put that much pressure on yourself it's hard to focus on the other parts of the runs that are suppose to be fun.

The first race of 2010 will be on March 14th. I'll be putting longer runs in earlier this year in hopes that the fear of fizzling out early leaves my mind. I've already spent a couple months in physical therapy so they will continue to help me strengthen those areas that I am weak to prevent the same injuries as before. The less I have on my plate I think it will all fall into place.

It's a new year...

It’s funny to think that another year has come and gone. I really do not know where last year went. I don’t even feel like it ended… we are just starting from the beginning. I’ve read resolutions and goals but to me, I don’t think I have any. There are all the things that I like to continue to do… things that I probably should stop doing… and just things I’d like to do someday and not necessarily this year. But are they resolutions? I think it’s just life.