T + 2

Been slacking on the blog front but still plugging away at the running/healthier eating habits business which is a good thing because the Out & Back Party Run in Philadelphia is this Friday. That's right - as in two days from now. YIKES!

Here's what we know:
1) That I CAN run four miles straight, though it's never been road tested.
2) That at even my best four miles I'm still waaay slower than Michele "just signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon" Killian. I'm at about 13.5 min. per mile and she's clocking around 10 min. per mile. Suffice it to say, I plan on flying solo Friday but am hopeful that the other runners motivate me and my time improves.
3) I have some cute new warm weather gear thanks to the folks at the Under Armour outlet (yes, dude with the tattoo sleeves, they ARE for me!). I still can't believe that I went directly to the UA store and directly home. No Pottery Barn, no Coach, this girl was on a mission - albeit, an unfamiliar one.
4) We're staying the weekend in Philly and possibly making a trip to AC Saturday, so I've got some fun stuff to think about while I'm running.
5) For all intents & purposes it appears that we are being robbed of Spring. The heat and humidity that we are currently experiencing is unseasonable (hence the new lightweight running gear). The forecast for Friday in Philadelphia is partly cloudy, high of 67 degrees, much cooler than the beginning of the week - woot! Fingers crossed for no rain.
6) Still not sure how much of a "party" it will be afterwards considering we're not sure our hubbys can even get in!  :(

New Gear

Ok, so if my last blog was 4/11 I'll update my progress since then:
4/14 -6:26 a.m. (blah)  4 miles in 55:14
4/17 - 8:24 a.m. .26 miles in 3:33 LOL - it was sunny but so freakin' windy my eyes were watering and my body was swaying, had to pack it in!
4/19 - app crapped out recorded it in two half's but didn't account for the fumbling time between the phone shutting off, restarting and getting my tunes and timer back up & running (all while still running) 2:21 miles in 29:57, 1.58 miles in 23:19.
4/24 - Easter Sunday 7:53 a.m. only ran 2 miles (26:58) because it was so warm and I was overdressed, plain & simple. I kicked into high gear though at the end and my time was decent.
426 - LAST run before the Out & Back 6:45 a.m. 4 miles in 54:24. So so hot! It was 67 degrees when I got to the track I wore a racer back tank and some sweat capris I dug out of the lounge wear drawer. Was so hot when I finished I couldn't stand the thought of eating breakfast and took a cold shower - by choice, not because Shawn had used all the hot water - which I think he probably had!

I know that I can be silly and a bit of a smart ass about this - but I wanted to take some time and address something really wonderful that's happening as a result of this journey I'm (or should I say "we're") on.
I've been getting little notes, posts, comments of encouragement that are truly touching. I've had people tell me that I've inspired them to start a walking regimen, people tell me that I've inspired them to run their first 5k, and most recently a friend from high school sent me the following message:

"Hello Lady....I want to start with a CONGRATS on all your hard work and also a THANK YOU for the ongoing inspiration. I have been running for quite some time,but have yet to hit a race. I am starting a running program next week that is an 8 week course. I am highly considering the Half in Philly....just cuz I need a super goal.
I have been going to an intense bootcamp 4x's a week and have made great strides, but was still struggling a bit. So, in reading your weekly updates, I finally broke down and joined weight watchers last week. I weighed in today and lost 3.8 lbs. You were the first person I thought of!

I hope your struggles/adventures are still going well....I am rooting for you (and Me!)

thanks for some additional inspiration!!"


When I began this blog/challenge I NEVER imagined the overwhelming amount of support that I would receive - nor did I set out to inspire others. What an incredible motivator - I need to keep plugging away at this for me...and for anyone reading this that might need that extra push.

I do have more to share but maybe I'll just save it for my post race update - I think this is a fantastic spot to wrap this post up. You'll be with me in spirit on Friday!!

Updates, updates, updates

So so much happening with this running business. I've got some pretty big updates to share with my "official" followers and those of you who sneak a peek at my blog via facebook or twitter postings just to be nosy :P.

First and foremost, I hit another milestone this weekend in running 4 consecutive miles without stopping! It was a beautiful day on Saturday, and following breakfast and a vet visit with my doggies, Shawn headed into the office and I headed to the track.

I was virtually alone at the track minus the small group tossing a lacrosse ball back & forth in the in-field and the lady with kid running wildy for a few hundred feet and then gasping for air, only to then work on his perfection of the backward run. I started off with the long sleeved tee/fleece vest/running pant combo but right around the 2 mile marker the vest HAD to go. I need ideas for light weight running shirts with either pockets that zip or a space big enough to fit my Droid and car key in - again, welcoming suggestions. Because I was fresh out of pockets, the phone went into the sports bra - hey, you do whatcha gotta do! The run went ok, I felt pretty good, my Pandora was kicking out some inspiring tunes and it was sunny yet breezy.

I finished the 4 miles in 55:22. And though I'm not particularly happy with the split - I'm feeling as though I'm accomplishing good things. I may not enjoy the actual "running" part - but I'm gaining self-confidence, I'm feeling more energetic (in general, not after the runs), and overall, a bit more optimistic. That being said, after the run, I went directly to the wine store - I did not pass go, I did not collect $200, right to wine store. Found some great deals and got enough bottles to fill our wine rack (which holds 6 bottles, relax). Even though I've yet to open any of them, at that moment, I had every intention of doing so.

What I wanted more than wine, however, was food! Directly beside the liquor store is a pizza joint, and for the only time in my life that I can remember - I ordered a single slice of pizza. This girl was exhausted from the run and starving from the light breakfast she had had 5 hrs. prior, what I didn't want was to wait 20 min. for a slice of pizza...but I did, with my wine in tow, and in my super sexy running gear. At that point, I could have really cared less what a single soul in that pizzeria thought of me. The pizza was divine, and worth every point and minute spent waiting. Equally divine was the 2 hr. nap that followed my late lunch & work-out.

I lost 3lbs in the last week thanks to the Weight Watchers Points Plus program/running combo and feel pretty good about that...and the fact that I was able to eat pizza, chocolate fondue, have a few drinks, etc. I need something realistic w/"cheat" days if I'm going to stay the course - plain & simple.

My sister updated me on my progress as well (these #'s don't include the 4 mi. on Saturday):

"You have successfully completed 39 runs
You have completed 59.83 miles
You have clocked ~850 minutes of training time
Which converts to ~14 hours of running :-)
And you say you can't run for two hours lol."

Another terrifying update is the fact that we may have very well "found" my 1/2:

Philadelphia Marathon 2011

www.philadelphiamarathon.com

Friday, November 18 12:00 PM-9:00 PM Saturday, November

Because I have made it this far and would really like to see this journey through, Shawn and I have made the decision to hold off on the IVF process until January of 2012. And though it stings a little bit, I have to believe that by then I will be in fighting shape and spirit. Now of course, if a little miracle should happen upon us in the meantime, we would be thrilled - one thing we know from experience is that the best laid plans are sometimes broken, and that can be where you find some of the best stuff life has to offer.

Tread lightly...

So, I'm doing a bit better with my blog frequency. Lots happening, and I feel I should document it.

First let me state that I only got one run in last week due to the ever comedic Mother Nature. Winter 2011 is/was/will forever be known as the Winter that just wouldn't die. You know the whole "March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb" business - uh, yeah, not so much. This was apparently opposite year for the month of March, and those among us craving Spring like a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity were S.O.L.! To further prove that she's the funniest of all forces in the universe, she gave us one heck of an April Fool's Day prank...snow, yep, snow.

By the time the rain and the prank snow rolled out last week, the weekend was upon us. Saturday I spent the day getting myself pampered at the spa with my mother-in-law. I feel like monthly pedicures should be offered at no charge for those of us in training for a 1/2 marathon.

Sunday, rather than run, I hit Gold's Gym with my very best girlfriend. At times it's hard to find time for us to chit chat and catch up, we decided that it was time to make a date and do what we ladies do best...no, not gossip, multi-task :). We spent a half hour on the elliptical, then we did some ab, core and arm work-outs that her trainer had taught her. I did not fall off the balance ball for once, and must have been doing something right because if I so much as coughed the next two days, I still felt it. After the work-out we re-fueled at Ruby Tuesday before heading out to do our grocery shopping. She made my most hated of chores enjoyable, and it was nice to reconnect, even if over our mundane weekend tasks.

Monday brought seasonally warm temps and a double dog walk after work. We did a little over a mile though the dogs make it feel much longer with their pulling, barking, stepping on each other, relieving themselves in the middle of the street, etc. Tuesday brought, wait for it, more rain! Yes, it is impossible for those of us in South Central PA to enjoy two consecutive days of sunshine and warmth.

Something else has begun this week, which should have those close to me or within arms or ears distance particularly concerned - the return to Weight Watchers. And though I'm flying solo this time around, it's a new program that seems like an o.k. fit for me. In the past I lost nearly 100 lbs. on the program, I'm hopeful that with this plan, in addition to the miles I've been logging, I will start seeing some results. Aside from the constant eating and peeing, I feel good. Oh, and thank you God for "activity points"!

My husband mentioned to me on Sunday that he thinks he wants to quit smoking. When I asked what brought that on, he stated that he just doesn't enjoy it as much anymore. Now, anyone that knows Shawn and I understands that smoking is our worst vice...period. And while I'm a pro at the cold turkey I can do without it business, Shawn hasn't ever really gotten to that point. Lately I've been a cigarette in the a.m., a few in the p.m. kind of girl. It is a very social thing with us. We have a cigarette outside while the dogs do their business or play in the yard, we talk about the day, etc. To finally, once and for all quit, will be so much easier once both of us are on board. I'm crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath. So, dieting and quitting smoking, consider yourselves warned - those in my presence may want to tread lightly...

This morning I was up and at the track by 6:30 a.m. The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m., I must do a better job of actually getting up at that time, rather than pushing the snooze button, once, twice, sometimes three times.
It was nice this morning, around 35 degrees at the track. I wore my gloves for the first mile and a half. I got the stink-eye from an older lady because I became one of those runners who had to actually say something about the walkers clogging up the first lane at the track. Oh, well, she wouldn't have wanted this girl to plow her over. I was barely awake, and definitely cranky. She's lucky an "excuse me" is all she got. C'mon - there's like 5 other lanes Miss Daisy! My time this morning was 38:02 for 3 miles. It was a personal best for a 3 mile and I was love love loving my Pandora for selecting Usher's More and Flo rida's Club Can't Handle Me at the precise moments I needed an extra push. Word.