Back at it after the weekend

After a pretty low key weekend at least workout wise (all I did was the 5K), yesterday I sure as heck made up for it.

MONDAY

Lunch

·        2.25 mile walk around the lake

·        100 lunges

Gym

·        3.25 miles of 0.25 sprints.  Did 0.25 at a 6.0 jog, increased it to 8.0 (up to 8.7) for 0.25, then back down to 6.0

·        Lift legs (curl, extension, & press) increasing weight on the last set for everything

·        Sit-ups (crunches & twists) with a 10 lb weight – 200

·        Push- ups – 100

·        Planks – 4 ranging anywhere from 20-30 second hold

·        Stairs – 20 minutes

·        Elliptical – 20 minutes as a cool down

Needless to say I ate like a champ last night for dinner – Steak, sweet potato, little red potatoes and green beans.  Washed it all down with a Miller Lite!

40 minutes

I have successfully taken 40 minutes of my lunch every day this week to walk along the lake.  It may not seem like much, but I have walked over 10 miles this week.  One day earlier in the month I wore my watch on the walk, so I know how far out 1 mile is.  I make it past that point every day and walk back.  I also throw in 60-100 lunges along the way.

I am up to walking the lake a total of 10 times during lunch in May.  That is 20 additional miles I have done this month.  Think about it, 1 mile is approximately 100 calories.  That is 2,000 calories I have burned just walking along the lake.  More importantly it is a brain break.  I feel so much better the second half of the day.

See how long I can keep this up in the Texas heat!

2nd -2nd place North Trail Half Marathon

This weekend I ran the North Trail Half Marathon, with Megan, and it may be one of our last races together for awhile.  She is moving to Austin, but will still come up for races, and I will of course go down there.  Sunday was Mother’s Day and you couldn’t have asked for much better weather in May in Texas.  It was a small race on a (paved) trail down by White Rock Lake/Flagpole Hill. 

Megan and I ran the first 11 miles together.  Neither one of us was 100% -she had a family party/fish fry the day before and I had a sand volleyball tournament.  So we were both out in the sun and running around the day before.  We ran along, talking and pushing each other at different times.  Then at mile 11 she left me, she had a goal of beating the girl in the orange shirt.  I didn’t care, we were ahead of the girl in the pink shirt I wanted to beat.  Starting at mile 8 I knew I had 52 minutes to be under 2 hours (my only goal of the day).  I kept calculating every mile, and I could have over a 10 minute pace and still be under 2.  Considering I didn’t run a single mile over 9 minute pace, easy peasy.

Finally I started calculating trying to be under 1:55 (my last half marathon).  1:55 is an average day for me.  I want to start consistently being between 1:50 and 1:55.  I figured I would be 1:53:30ish.  Much to my surprise I ended up at 1:52:42 and was pleasantly surprise.  They medals at these races are kind of weak, but the race is generally small and I can place.  They gave flowers to all the female finishers for Mother’s Day, and they always have beer.  Megan took second in the age group and I took third.  It was my first time placing at a half marathon.

At the awards ceremony the guy said he made a mistake, and that there were no third place trophies.  Major bummer!  But then he clarified that he had actually gotten two 2^nd place trophies instead of 2^nd and 3^rd.  So the 3^rd place people got 2^nd place trophies (or he could correct it and send you a 3^rd place one).  So Megan and I were laughing that we both got 2^nd place trophies!  I was the 2^nd – 2^nd place finisher.  Made even funnier by the fact that one the run, we were discussing that my only goal was under 2 hours and she said even if we finished in 2:02 we should just say we ran a 1:62.  And how people celebrate their 39^th birthday for a long time.  From now on, I may just say that I finished 2^nd.  I might be the 5^th – 2^nd place finisher, but I might just go with it.

 

Other highlights of the weekend:

~I found/created a quick little 2 mile loop through the small park by my house.  Just to switch things up a bit.

~I tried out the Run On social run Saturday morning.  There is a new store opening in Flower Mound, might be a nice way to meet some local runners

~Played sand volleyball tournament with Kerry, Joe and Corri.  It was fun playing with them again

~Saw a friend from home and his wife.  Nice to catch up with him after several years!

5 for Friday –

1.      iPod – I am one of those people that need prefer music to run to.  My iPod wasn’t working the other day at the gym and I thought I had charged it the night before, but maybe I was wrong.  So I plug it in last night and the little orange light indicates it is charging.  I walk by it later and the light is off.  Apparently, it isn’t continuing to charge.  IT is currently plugged into my work computer, and nothing.  Guess it is time to finally install iTunes on my computer and start buying songs.  Might need to buy a new iPod.  Need to make a list of songs, good thing I love my lists.

2.      Running – I think I have figured out my next big running goal.  A sub4 hour marathon at White Rock (Dallas Marathon).  That race is Dec 8, and should be cool enough.  I ran Chicago in 4:10:21 and have gotten faster and had more long runs under my belt.  So hopefully I can pull it off.  Just have to be diligent with the training again.  I think I can, I think I can.

3.      Gym – has been going really good.  I am able to lift at least twice a week, sometimes I get a third day in.  Monday is my leg day and Thursday is my arm day.  If I make it on Wednesday I try and left the circuit/full body.  Been increasing the weights and playing around with the reps/sets.  I can definitely tell a difference in strength and am starting to actually see improvement in my arms.  Spin class is definitely back to being a staple in my life.  I think I have been the last 4 weeks straight!

4.      Nutrition – Been going pretty good.  On the weekends I have been making egg white scrambled eggs with veggies.  Made some taco ground turkey and mixed it with brown rice, corn, tomatoes and avocados for a taco salad type thing.  I think I have had 2 pops in the past month/month and a half.  One of those pops I dumped most of it out because it was too sweet for me.  My newest plan is to bring in a pitcher of water to work and make flavored water out of fruit.  Plus it will save me about 6 trips to the kitchen per day at work.  Here is where I got my flavor ideas.

http://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2012/09/17/fifty-awesome-flavored-water-recipes/

5.      Shopping spree – Somehow I got the bug to spend some money, which rarely happens to me.  I hate shopping mainly because I hate crowds, sales people and spending my money.  That being said I went on an online shopping spree this week.  May is one of the months that I get the third paycheck (paid 26 times per year, normally 2 per month, but 2 months you get the 3^rd check).  I think of them as bonuses.  I bought orange compression socks, signed up for a few races, jeans and several tops.  They should all arrive next week!

It is spring time in Texas

Which means, busy busy busy.  Somehow my next two weekends went from completely free to completely full.

This weekend RunOn is opening a new store in Flower Mound, which is good for several reasons, but potentially bad for my credit card.  They are having a Grand Opening Day which includes a social run and discounts!  Maybe I will meet a local runner or two.  They will also be having social runs on Wednesday nights. 

 

Saturday will start with a RunOn social run in the AM then I am playing in a volleyball tournament with Kerry, Joe and Corri.  I haven’t played with them in a long time and am super excited!!  Sunday morning is a half marathon, and potentially one of my last races with Megan for awhile.  L.  And a friend from home is going to be in town and I am trying to fit in a meal and some drinks between all of that!

I actually signed up for a 5K for next weekend.  It will only be my second of the year, the first being the St Patty’s Day one.  It is local, it is cheap, and it is for the Humane Society, so I talked my friend into doing it with her dog.

Working out and eating went pretty good last week and going good so far this week.  Yesterday I killed my legs and it felt great!

April recap/May goals

April Goals –

 ~Miles: 85 – Check – 91

 ~Gym Unicorn: 10 days – close - 8 days

 ~Sit-Ups: 2000 – Check - 2050

 ~Push-Ups: 1000 – Close - 970 (if I would have known I only needed 30, I would have fit them in)

 ~Lunges: 2000 (1000 per leg) – Close - 1890

 ~CPCU: All vocab typed -  Fail - decided to take April off

I am extremely happy with how April went.  I was close to hitting all my goals and that included 5 days in Illinois and a run in with the flu.  All the hard work paid off as I am less than 2 pounds away from the weight I want to be.  I know I have to keep it up once I get there, but I am happy to be back to (close to) where I want to be.

May Goals –

~Miles: 80

~Gym Unicorn: 10 days

~Sit-Ups: 2000

~Push-Ups: 1000

~CPCU: All vocab typed and chapter 1 & 2 read.

Keeping May pretty close to April goals.  I think they are challenging, yet realistic enough to work around when ‘life’ happens.