A Win!

I mentioned having to jump ahead in my From 0 to 13.1 training from week 4 (technically week 2 since I didn't run for 2 weeks) all the way to week 10. Well, I battled mentally with myself to go out running the entire way home.

I didn't get home that evening until 6:30 and it was dark. I saw the lady (with a male counterpart I've seen her running with lately) running down the street and actually was inspired. Was kind of hoping I might get home in time to meet them somewhere along the way; however I spent a little too much time in the apartment for that.

I got the idea (thanks to a visit to for shoe shopping RunOn when they were gathering for a neighborhood 5k) that since I hadn't been out to see Christmas lights, and I hated taking the "V" uphill-both-ways path, that I'd instead wander through the nice neighborhood across the street. So glad I did!

This photo does not do this place justice as it's missing a whole section to the left (darn you Instagram square photos!). It was pretty cold, but I had my new long sleeve cold gear to wear! I kind of love it because it has the thumb holes and a turtle neck that can be pulled up over my nose. Didn't quite need that part, but the hand covering was great!

I did pretty well and made it all 25 minutes! At about 21, I was watching the clock, though. Was pretty pooped! My hips, knees, and leg bones were hurting. Pushed through it! I actually did some more running on the way back because my path was kind of blindly winding through a maze of streets that put me quite far away and I needed to get back to finish up some freelance work. It felt good to have done it!

The fact that I did it and pretty "easily" worries and makes me wonder. Have you ever not done something for an extended period of time and then come back to it, excel, and then get increasingly horrible? I've done this with bowling (not that my 'good' is really that good, but it's 3x better than subsequent games) and computer pinball. There has to be some sort of syndrome or term or something for this as I've heard numerous people mention it (especially with bowling). Anyway, I've done this with running; that first run after a hiatus is amazing and then the days after are just HORRIBLE to where I wonder if I can even run at all. Hopefully this is not the case. And if it is, I'm pushing through it!!!!

That being said, I took Friday off, and sadly Saturday as well. I should have gone out Saturday to run, but I couldn't get out of bed to save my life (which is rare for me) and then when I did it was spent cleaning and packing for my trip. Saturday evening was my company holiday party that I needed to go to early to help set up. Good party. :)  Too much wine, though.

Now, it's Sunday and after an early flight I'm sitting in the Grand Hyatt in Denver watching Sunday Night Football and doing work in hopes of lessening the load for the next couple days. Today is supposed to be the long run, but it looks like I'll be missing that as well (I'm kind of a lazy bones and have no excuse...). The cool thing is that the Grand Hyatt's rooftop track is open! It was closed last visit. The uncool thing is it was 20 degrees when I got in this morning!!! It was oh so awesome and oh so not to see my breath when stepping off the plane. It's 32 right now, but still... ugh. At least their gym is open 24/7. I'm going to make a GINORMOUS effort to get my run in before going into the office early tomorrow. Good thing the office is 20 steps from the hotel. :)

A Confession

Without the daily posting challenge I kind of leave this thing hanging! Not to mention it's been crazy busy with the holidays approaching. Work, freelance, daily duties, overall tiredness, and getting things ready have really eaten up my time. DISLIKE!

I keep thinking "oh, I'll have more time once the holidays are over", but the reality is, there's always something. Something to prepare for, some even going on, some holiday, birthday, whatever. There's always something to take up my time.

I need to make my own free time!

However, that is not right now. My free time through Sunday is overrun with freelance, last minute shopping, packing, work, holiday party, and running.



My Confession:

Running has been a little iffy lately. I've been in a really lame funk the past 2.5 weeks. That was the last time I ran. Probably why I haven't updated because I'm rather discouraged and disappointed with myself. Even though I don't have followers, it still sucks to update this and say I'm failing!

But, I am. I need to be honest with myself.

I've been using the cold weather as an excuse...plus all of the busy-bee items I have on my to-do list. Essentially letting resistance take charge of my life.

Yesterday I vowed to change that. I really don't want to be a New Year Resolution person. I want to be a right here and now person. So, I'm kicking myself in the ass.

How?

I signed up for the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.


It's March 24th! It's also nonrefundable. Technically I won't be ready if I stick with the current schedule. I'm on week 4 of 24. I need to be on week 10 of 24! I'm going to attempt week 10 and see how I do. It's a consistent run of 25 minutes. I'd step back to week 9 but that was a rest and recuperate week.

Today I purchased some cold weather tights and shirt. No more excuses, woman! All of those other things can take a side burner to running. Freelance is due tomorrow, but I have time and can get a run in today. I need to hit up a comic book shop for a present, but I have Saturday before the holiday party. I need to pack, but I have Saturday before the holiday party. I need to clean, but I have Saturday before the holiday party.

If I don't do this I will feel extremely humiliated WALKING the Half Marathon. Seriously. How embarrassing would that be? There's a 4 hour limit! I put down 3 hours, though I'm hoping it will only take 2.5 or less. To think about running THAT long is kind of crazy. What am I supposed to do while running that long? Insert audiobooks! So glad I have George R. R. Martin (with some less than appealing guy reading it) to fill my time and my ears.

I'm pretty excited. I know that exercise helps with my mood, my appetite, and my energy. I don't know what started this funk, but I'm forcibly stopping it right now. Screw you funk!

End of a Challenge

Day 30 #NHBPM:

Well, it's the end of National Health Blog Post Month!

And in actuality, I'm doing this post a couple days after because I didn't have time when I thought about doing it and then forgot when I had time. Figures, eh?

I normally wouldn't have picked a lot of the topics for NHBPM, but I'm glad that I did do them because it made me stop and think. The prompts might not have coordinated with my particular health focus (gastric bypass and a plant-based diet), but I think I was able to substitute appropriately and still do posts that interested myself (hopefully others that read it?).

I definitely would like to do it next year, though at the same time would like to see more substitution options for prompts.

I also didn't really feel a sense of community when doing this -- I was kind of on my own. Perhaps I missed the website where this happened, but there weren't a lot of posts on the Facebook page. I think that would have been nice to connect with other people more. There was the ability to nominate someone for a health advocate award and sadly I didn't because I wasn't aware of 90% of the population blogging!


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Week 2, Day 12:

I've done a great job of getting up early and getting my workouts in! Good thing, too because my evenings are booked.

My One 2013 Accomplishment

Day 29 #NHBPM:

If I could accomplish one thing (anything) in 2013 it would be...

Figuring out what I love to do and make it my life work. 

Pretty simple, eh? Well...it's been an ongoing progress for awhile! Anytime I take the steps to figuring it out, I stop. I don't know if I'm scared to find out what it is and then go do it, or what. I know I'm not really willing to leap into something without financial stability. I would be if I didn't have a $900 student loan bill every month. :)  If THAT was out of the way, I'd be a happy camper. I seriously wish I could just win the lottery, pay off my student loan, and then donate the rest. All I want extra money for is to pay my debt. I can happily live  off the rest of my earnings. I DISLIKE DEBT! I need an anonymous donor!


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Week 2, Day 4  0 to 13.1:

Didn't think I'd go, but I wandered to my complex gym and did my cross training on the elliptical and then my core training (ow). YAY! I was tempted to do the core training and just do a long walk at lunch at work, but instead I did the elliptical. Glad I did!


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Day 29, NaNoWriMo:

This is slowly coming to an end. I will not have met my mark, but I've certainly done better than any other year I've attempted! Still pretty proud of myself! :)

It's Not Me, It's You

Day 28 #NHBPM:

Write about how you deal with mean comments / trolls / snakeoil / or bullies...

I use to get really defensive whenever there were trolls and I'd certainly start firing back. When ever there were comments about my weight or appearance I'd get upset, though attempt not to show it. It was all an internal thing.

Since, though; I've realized that it's not about me. It's about that other person. The reason they're saying those things is because they've got turmoil and issues on their side. So rather than let it get to me I actually wind up pitying that other person. What is so wrong in their life that they feel the need to lash out and be hateful and hurtful? It feels good to know that it won't affect me anymore (at least not for long). I'm glad I've found that place of love!


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Week 2, Day 3  0 to 13.1:

I looked at my schedule and realized that I can easily swap out my rest day tomorrow with one I've missed and just keep it at 2 missed! That still sucks, but it's better than tacking on some more!

Last night I looked at my daily schedule and realized that I can streamline it and be more efficient and productive (scheduling is a passion of mine...sticking to it; not so much).

This morning I was going to hit the gym and do a double set of running and cross training. I feel better and do better working out in the mornings (I've known this...I've just been lazy).

But, I got caught up in some last minute freelance and didn't make it out of the house in time, so I went for the alternate schedule and ran outside (running should be outdoors anyway!). First off, BRRR! It was 36 degrees out! TEXAS! ..actually I won't complain. We need a freeze.

I bundled up with the best I had, did my warm up and took off. YEAH! I really need some cold weather gear (why is it so darn expensive!?).

The path I took is .5 miles to the end of the street which is about 10 min of warm up and then it's a mile to the next big street. It goes in a V shape. The first portion is a gentle slope down, the 2nd is a much more steep hill (and vice versa on the way back). I had thought that I would do the 60 on / 90 off routine as pure running intervals, but that hill the last 1/3 of the first mile kicked my butt!

Nike+ is amazing!

Ultimately I went 3.36 miles including the warm up and cool down. I walked 3 times (not including the beginning and end) for maybe 90 sec (I could measure on the link above, but meh, I'm lazy). My speed was 13.4 mph.

Kind of awesome! The hills were what did it in for me.

If I Could Go Anywhere...

Day 27 #NHBPM:

If I could go anywhere…

Of course I'd pick Australia... Who isn't in love with their accents?!

I'd go just about anywhere. I LOVE traveling. I love seeing and experiencing new places. I would definitely say that while there are plenty of states and areas here in the U.S. of A. that I've yet to visit, I'd fancy somewhere out of country. The culture doesn't change TOO much across America, so definitely jet setting elsewhere. The world is pretty darn GI-normous and calls to me to see every beautiful landscape and experience every way of life!

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Week 2, Day 2  0 to 13.1:

It feels like I'm super cheating right now because I've missed skipped two days! TWO WHOLE DAYS! What the heck?! It hadn't even been a week and already I'm skipping!

Well, I am not beating myself up over this, what's done is done, but I AM making sure that I actually put on my gear and go get my run on tonight. And do some extra cross training for yesterday.

Get 'er done! I'm leaving early so I have some sunlight. TAKE THAT, WORK! HAH!

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Eating For Energy:

I should just start calling this eating. Period. I'm still eatin' the regular ol' veggies. I AM IN LOVE WITH SALAD! All kinds...kale, mixed greens, whatever... not so excited for plain spinach, but add spinach to any other leafy green and I love it. I eat salad at least once a day. AT LEAST. Sometimes for lunch and dinner. I've craved it for breakfast, too...which is a sign I'm lacking in some greens. I was really craving veggies last Saturday morning and while everyone was making omelets, I sauteed some veggies and was completely satisfied. Man, I love me some VEGGIES!

That statement makes me happy :)

A Healthy Interview

Day 26, #NHBPM:

Interview your health...


1. Why are you such a big deal?

Why am I such a big deal? Because I'm basically your everything. You can't live without health! Without health you are as good as done. Gonzo. Your quality of life suffers. Your happiness is nil. Life just isn't worth living without me. I make all the difference in the world. Once people realize what REAL health is like, they will crave it and hopefully stop at nothing to achieve ultimate health. I make or break your world.


2. What do you feel is the most important aspect of yourself? 

There are 5 aspects of me: mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual. I don't think there's one that is more important than the other; they all feed into one another. But, if I had to choose; mental. Without the mental health the others don't come quite as easily. It tends to be what kick starts the others.


3. Where are you currently in conjunction with your maker?

Aside from my maker being lazy on occasion, I've got high marks in the emotional aspect. The mental is probably next, followed by physical (though the fitness part of physical needs a swift kick start). We are slowly working on the spiritual and last is apparently the social, which hasn't seen much attention. She looks like she'll be attempting such things this weekend, though, so I have high hopes. I'd give her a solid 60% on overall health right now.


4. What do you want other people to know about you?

That I matter; that money, power, and possessions mean nothing without me. Work on those 5 aspects of me and you'll be the happiest, most fulfilled person in the world. You don't need gimmicks and fancy gadgets to get me either. Look inward and stick to the natural way of obtaining me.


5. What advice would you give anyone looking to connect with their own health?

Analyze those 5 aspects and figure out where you rate on a scale of 1-10, then sit down and inwardly reflect on how you can make these things better. Don't try to overhaul your life in one big movement, but try to focus on the ones you know you can start now. Need to work on physical health? Start by looking at your diet and activities. Incorporate more fresh, natural foods and substitute for the processed ones. Get out and walk daily or do some sort of fitness DAILY. Need a social life? Invite your friends out and reconnect. Call up an old acquaintance. Join a book club (or other hobby you enjoy) and meet new people. Start meditating and connect to whatever spiritual/higher being you believe in (if that's none, then connect with your own body). There's so many little things you can do! Go out and do them!