This, That, and a lil Before & After Action

It's been only a couple of weeks since my last blog post so this is progress!

Still been plugging away at this running thing as best as I can...but it has NOT been easy. The heat has been practically unbearable some days...well, it's probably not the heat, but more like the miserable, thick, disgusting humidity. In addition to the summery temps, I have summery indulgence to contend with. I love summer like no one else. I'm a partier, I love back yard barbecues, celebrating seasonal holidays with good food and friends, and just about nothing beats a nice night on a deck with a bottle of wine - just sayin'.
This time of year has proven a bit of a double doozy on the weight loss/training fronts, but I'm doing it.
Just so you know - I worked out EVERY day of our 3 day fourth of July weekend - I knew that I had to offset some serious revelry calories, and for the most part, my diabolical plan worked, bwahaha ;).



"Magenta" Arm Band



While I still do not consider myself one of those "runners", in the past week I have spent another $50+ on running gear/accessories. I should bill my little sister but homegirl won't stay in the state long enough! As I type this, lil miss is relaxing in the OBX, and not quite a month ago the traveling sibling was hitting up Yosemite AND Napa/Sonoma in Cali (a.k.a the HOLY LAND to winos like myself). So, in the sister-coach's absence I decided to class it up a bit at the track and forego the phone in the sports bra look for a moisture resistant, Droid compatible, arm band thingy (yes, the technical term). So far, so good with it - the only complaints that I have are 1) I ordered magenta and as you can see from the pic, magenta means black in some circles, and 2) It's 1/2 a chore to hit "start activity" button on the RunKeeper app, slide the phone into the holder, then get it on my arm...all while running.  I scratch that, it's not 1/2 a chore, it's a full on pain in the rear end.




Creepy Serial Killer Guy



In case you missed it - there was another "Creepy Serial Killer Guy" sighting since my last post...this time I was able to capture the elusive creature in shakey, shadowy pic. I hope my blog readers and facebook friends appreciate the fact that I snapped this pic and endangered my own life so that you may have a glimpse at this anomaly.

Ok - how about some updates:
6/28/11 - 2.42 miles in 30 min
6/30/11 - 2.33 miles in 30 min (MILF Bootcamp Thursday!)
7/02/11 - 3.01 miles in 40 min
7/02-11 - Would you believe I went back out in the heat and walk the dogs?! 23 min - 1.12 mi double dog walk...I don't know who was more exhausted afterwards.
7/03/11 - 6 MILES in 1:25:19 - this was a first, super hot, super tiring (date of Creepy Serial Killer Guy sighting/photo op).
7/04/11 - Spent an hour on the elliptical at Gold's w/Lori - my spent legs could not handle another run, but I knew that there were chicken wings in my immediate future and something had to be done to combat that.
7/06/11 - Janelle sent me an article on a 1st 1/2 marathons that equally terrified and reassured me. I seem to be on track training-wise, but there is an excellent chance that at the finish line I could do any or all of the following: Cry, Collapse, Vomit. The article reassures us that I will, however, still get my medal regardless of my post race condition. Ughhhhh.
7/07/11 - 3.76 miles in 50 min
7/09/11 - 6 MILES in 1:24:45...came home to breakfast and coffee waiting courtesy of my husband who is still amazed by level of commitment to this challenge. Ha - my husband thinks I have commitment issues...weird :).
7/11/11 - 2.35 miles in 30 min - yep, I actually got out on a Monday! (small victories people)
7/13/11 - 3.75 miles in 50 min
7/14/11 - 2.36 miles in 30 min - absolutely GORGEOUS morning here in S. Central PA - temps in the 60's, awesome breeze blowing, I only wish I would've gotten up earlier and could get a longer run in. Again, I am NOT one of those "runners", but I can appreciate that I have run much longer distances in much crappier weather!

On the weight loss front we're motoring right along too...I decided to take some of your advice and try to get some photos. I had my drowsy husband take a cell phone photo of his equally exhuasted wife before she left for the track this morning (photo on the right). Decided to do a little comparison of a similar pic from the Out & Back in late April. I'm technically down 26.2 as of last week since 4/4. I feel I'm losing way more in the inch department - though I'm not sure you can tell by this pic. Really wish I would've taken care of that drawstring bulge before he snapped the pic, and maybe next time we'll get a better shot of my legs...and maybe not take the picture at 6:00 a.m. :).







April 29, 2011



July 14, 2011