Success!

Despite not training at all for two weeks...despite the cold that will not go away...despite this being my first outdoor run of the year...I am pretty damn pleased with myself. I finished 1:12:05 in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day 10K, less than six minutes slower than my best time in the gym. And I finished strong, and ahead of more than 500 people. I once again achieved my racing goal: to not come in last.

Here's some professional photos of me at the finish line. I think I look good.


Boston is now less than a month away. I'm nervous but eager.

Man down!

"Sinus Infection: The Sequel" is so, so much worse than the first one. I think the problem was a) I didn't take the time to rest and recuperate from the one that popped up three weeks ago; b) I've been working a lot of long hours while continually increasing my mileage; c) because of time constraints, I've been going out with my hair still wet (never a good idea); d) leaving the gym all hot and sweaty and entering frigid freaking air; and e) my body just hates me.

I only did two miles on Monday. And that's all I've done this week. I had a fever of 103 on Wednesday and I finally dragged myself to the doctor on Thursday. He gave me the same antibiotic he prescribed when I had a kidney infection -- strong stuff. It's Saturday -- the pills have definitely helped but this thing is lingering like a creepy dude in a doorway. I need to feel better ASAP. My 10K is next Saturday.

The times, they are a-changing

In ninth grade, I quit field hockey on the second day of practice because my coach wanted of all us to run a mile. My response was, essentially, "Fuck that."

The first time I ran a mile -- ran the complete mile, without a break -- was my senior year of college, a full seven years later. I felt amazing on that day.

Today, I felt disappointed in myself because I could only manage to eke out two miles because my ankles were killing me (note to self: stop wearing heels so often). That was two solid miles of running, and I felt bad because I couldn't go further.

I'm just sharing this because I'm pleased with how my mind frame has changed. I know I can be better and do better.

Baby, I was born this way

Born what way, you ponder? I was born to constantly become better. And that's what I've been doing. Tonight, for example: I was tired and had a pretty bad headache but I went to the gym after my assignment. I hopped on the treadmill and used my cheat code to override the 60-minute limit (in your face, the Man!), warmed up and keyed up my "Move Your Body" mix on my little iPod. And then I freaking ran. For 47 minutes straight. More than 4 miles. I felt amazing. I was breathing good, my legs felt fine but my tummy was being a bitch. Perhaps buffalo chicken pizza with blue cheese for lunch wasn't the best idea.

But! I was at more than 5.6 miles at the hour mark, and hit my 10K distance at 66:15. I wanted to shout in victory. I did not. But I'm feeling good, man. The blisters on the inside of my heels are callusing over nicely and I'm actually feeling like I might hit that hour goal I have for the St. Patty's Day Race.

The sinus infection I've had since Friday? Still lingering. But it doesn't matter, because I rock. I was running on a hill program today and hit an even 5.5 miles in an hour AND finished a 10K distance in 67:34, a full 35 seconds faster than the last time I went that far. I am en fuego. I still have 45.5 miles to try to finish this week to meet my training goal (which totally is not going to happen) but I feel great.

I'm actually pumped for the marathon.

Can't...breathe...

It started simply enough last week -- I thought it was just a dry throat thing, around Thursday. I had a ton of other stuff that had to be done so I skipped the gym that day. Come Friday, it's definitely a sore throat but that's cool, that usually just clears up for me. Not this time, no, no. Of course it becomes a full-on sinus infection because I still have a ton of miles to run to reach my goal for the week.

I was in bed pretty much all day Saturday and Sunday and today, even though I'm only feeling about 60 percent, I decided I couldn't just lay in bed anymore, so I dragged myself to the gym. Not only am I still dealing with the new carpet smell in there (damn my sensitive nose) but now they've replaced the treadmills I liked with ones that have 1 hour limits. God damn it. How am I supposed to run my long distances without freezing to death now? Ugh. Anyway, I get on, set a nice slow 5.5 mph at a 2% incline and manage to make it a whole mile before I realize I cannot freaking breathe at all. I keep walking at 3.6 mph for another 20 minutes, throwing some random one-minute runs in there but I realize it's futile. I'm sweating like Nixon under oath and feeling super light-headed. At a half-hour, I stop the 'mill and start a hill program for a half hour. When that's done, I'm .8 shy of 5 miles so I just walk/run for 10 minutes to finish it out.

Note to self: running with a fever is never a good idea. I really hope this sinus infection clears up soon because a) I really hate being sick and b) I want to run.

Last week was not a good week for training. Unfortunately, the myriad other things in my life got in the way -- and they were actual things, not me being lazy. If I had just two more hours in each day, that would be awesome.

But yeah, I only managed to squeeze in 9 miles last week, a far cry from my training goal of 26.6. I'm going to try to make up as much of the difference as possible this week, though we'll have to wait and see on that (for feminine reasons I don't feel the need to go into).

In other news, I have a widget! Huzzah!



St. Patty's Race is coming up soon. I plan on kicking butt.

I feel like Forrest Gump

...because I just felt like running.

Check out this progress, bitches!

My DailyMile profile

Beyond not failing miserably at the marathon, one of my other goals is to finish the Boilermaker, a 15K (or 9.33 miles), in an hour and a half. Based on the fact that I did just over 8 miles in that amount of time, I feel that this is a goal I can definitely achieve.

My 8.15 mile run (sadly, on the treadmill) felt amazing. I kept pushing myself and wouldn't let myself cop out until I passed my previous best, running 25 minutes straight. I made it to 29 minutes (which actually may have been 32, since the first treadmill I was on had a stroke and died only 7 minutes into my workout). I also managed to make it to 5.45 miles in an hour, so I'm getting up to the pace I want.

I feel good.

Like a five-year-old

That's how I felt doing the circuit today. There was an old lady behind me that upped my weight on every arm machine. My legs were, as usual, amazing, but having that old lady (and I do mean old) show me up made me feel that much more committed to working on everything, not just my running. I'll show you, Ethel! (I have dubbed her Ethel.)

This week, I promised myself I'd put in at least 20 miles. As of today's workout, I am at 20.75. I'm so proud of myself. The goal now is to increase my total by 10 percent every week. Twenty-two isn't that much more. I feel like I can do it.

I put in what felt like a Biggest Loser last chance workout on Saturday because I'm crazy, apparently. I started out with 55 minutes on the treadmill, doing my usual mix of running and walking at 5.6 miles per hour (which is feeling easier and easier all the time, so I'll be stepping up the speed soon). This part of the workout was accompanied by "Hot Fuzz" on TV, which was awesome. Then, an hour of Zumba at the gym which was way more intense than the Zumba I did at the church. Then I got back on the treadmill and walked/ran another three miles while watching the Syracuse/Villanova game. I love my Orange. But yeah, that was intense stuff. Toward the end of my two hours and 40 minutes in the gym I felt a little like I was drunk... but I burned so many calories. It was nice.

Thanks to all that hard work on Saturday, today was much easier. I completed 5.33 miles in 66 minutes, making just over five miles at the hour marker. I'm excited about that. I want to be able to get back up to my 6.5-mile-an-hour-pace before Boston, but I'm not going to push. I'm going to take my time.

There will be no running tomorrow, however. I got a lovely blister on my left pinkie toe today due to a stupid sock, and since I've been slacking off on work with weights, that's what I shall do. Not looking forward to it, but it needs to happen.

Zumba!

I've had a pretty busy week, as far as work outs go. Gym on Tuesday and Thursday, shoveling a ton of freaking snow on Wednesday, and tonight I went to my first Zumba class. I was kind of skeptical about Zumba at first since so many middle-aged housewives raved about it, and while that was the majority of my class, it was actually a lot of fun. It definitely got my heart rate up and I could feel it working my core and my legs. I just need to remember to get my arms involved too. I picked up on all the moves pretty quickly, though, so next time there should be more upper body movement.

There's a Pilates class tomorrow morning at my gym. I think I may give it a try.

Also, I miss bread. I'm really craving it today, but I think I'll be okay. I'll definitely be pigging out on some boneless buffalo wings tomorrow night when I spend some quality time with my bestie.

There is much work to be done.

Okay. For reals.

After the flaming train wreck that was my life in 2010, I decided that this year I'm going to be serious. I'm going to get back into my 2008 routine of going to the gym at least three times a week (and my new gym totally has classes too, which I'm psyched about). I'm trying a new diet approach -- giving up bread and bagels in January, March, May, etc., and meat in February, April, June, etc. And, eight days into January, I've already doubled my previous no-bread attempt, so yay me!

I decided that if I want things to go my way this year, I'm going to have to work really hard. This involves doing things I don't want to do, like push-ups and sit-ups. It's going to be worth it though. I am going to reach my goal weight. I am going to run my races and be happy with my times. I am going to rock.

These are my New Year's Resolutions that have to do with my fitness:
• Lose 25 pounds. Again. (I did it once, I can do it again, dammit!)
• Run the following: the Boston Marathon, the Boilermaker, the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day 10K and at least five 5Ks.

I figure that between those goals and my dieting I should be able to lose the weight I want much more quickly than I did before. I also joined the Biggest Loser program at work, which includes a cash incentive and we all know how much I love "free" money.

So. Bring it on, 2011. I'm ready.