Another One Bites The Dust...

Another weekend flew by...why does it feel like it's ALWAYS Monday? Granted, with my job...they all tend to blend together, but a weekend at the cabin always makes it feel like a real weekend.

I won't bore you with Superbowl details because despite being invited to 3 different parties (we pay to have friends or they just feel bad for us) we choose to stay at home in our sweats and compression socks.

Rewind.

Weekend involved this...

All coolness and fashion goes straight out the door up North. And makeup. Wade's super lucky I shower and brush my teeth when up there. So hot. 

3 movies...Sideways (oldie but a goodie), Friends with Benefits (love me some JT and Mila), and Contagion (Holy Shit that's creepy).

We had a 10 miler planned for Saturday, but it was SO cold and we were SO unprepared so we decided to do it Sunday at home (in warm weather) and instead got our hearts pumping with a little sweat sesh on the front patio and long dirt (aka soft) driveway. It was fun and refreshing AND made me feel less guilty for eating a large sum of cookies over the weekend. On the plus side, we ate healthy home cookin the whole weekend...

We had a great time, just relaxing and being nature loving nerds. We stopped at "our spot" along the creek on the way home for a picnic lunch to break up the drive and enjoy the weather.

I was a little weary of this 10 mile run...after last weekend and a week of extremely tender IT band/leg issues. But I really wanted to try it out and promised myself to take it slow and cut it short if needed.

It was on the slow side. It was pretty warm. And I almost cut it short at mile 7 when I felt a twinge in my leg...but I pushed through and was really happy I did.

And remember that whole home cookin and healthy comment above...hmmm yeah. We ordered pizza and wings for Superbowl. And it was deeeelish!

A Random Post

1. I got my hair did yesterday. And went to a work Happy Hour afterwards where I got a lot of compliments. Guess I should brush and/or wash my hair more often cause I didn't think it was anything too special/noticeable. Guess I need to lay off the ponytails at the office. Hmm.

2. I'm 29 years old, yet still get zits on my face like a teenager. WTF.

3. I started my day out with a 6+ mile hike with my hiking buddy Lynn, Wade and my furry BFF. Longest she (the dog that is) has ever been. Champion. Oh and get your dirty grill OFF my pillow. Rude.

4. Spring has arrived in my eyes....it's been BEAUTIFUL out this week. I have ran in shorts and tanks/t-shirts everyday and was even slightly warm. And then I drove up North late afternoon today and saw this...

5. I booked Wadester and I a week at this little gem today...Marathon training doesn't look so bad now that I know this is my reward. Countdown is ON.

...Off to be classy and drink some beer. ;)

Home Gym

After a 2.5 year relationship with my lovely gym, I have broken up with him. My visits had become sporadic, the dues were very high and quite frankly, dealing with all the people that were there was just downright annoying. I personally have never been a social butterfly while exercising...a smile or a wave is fine...but creepy stares and attempts at conversations get really old. Really fast. Oh and the family that drenched themselves in cologne/perfume before every workout...I could smell them as they entered downstairs as I was upstairs. Nauseating.

So that's that.

Before I starting running, they gym was perfect for me. I could go and get some weight training done, hop on a cardio machine, stretch or do some yoga all while under the same roof. And I'm not saying I'll never belong to a gym again...but right now, it's not working for me.

Running and training for half marathons takes a lot of time so my gym visits had been lacking in lieu of running. I'm OK with that. Being outside vs. in a cramped gym, yes please!

So I accepted my change, cancelled my membership and purchased a couple new small pieces of equipment to satisfying my need to lift weights and strength train. Body weight and plyo is all the rage right now, so why not jump on the wagon?

Cross-training has translated into my road bike + trainer = killer workout, no impact. I've even switched things up by putting it outside on my back patio, listening to music, using the gymboss for intervals, watching a cycling video and even a Lifetime movie.....sweet!

Don't worry, that's not my house.

I have been more consistent with getting in small but effective workouts at home. It's easy...I run and then bust it all at the same time...no getting in my car to go to the gym. I've been searching the net for a few fun, fast and intense workouts using the bare minimum for equipment.

Ab Work....in the comfort of my living room.

I borrowed this workout from Julie over at PB Fingers and it's awesome, sweaty and effective.

My attempt at 7W2R is not done...I'm going to skip over the first few weeks and move to the advanced workouts....the first few weeks were too basic for me, too quick and too boring (sorry Brett).

Be Patient

I ran yesterday. It wasn't epic or anything. But I ran.

I had 5 on my schedule and I planned on running 5 unless I felt pain. I was actually excited to run...the weather was gorgeous, I was excited to get a few miles in and I was excited to start being consistent with my weekly mileage and of course, running pain free. I started out with a slow pace (I think, I was running garminless) and was running with a huge smile on my face when I realized I was feelin good.

I was secretly fist pumping in my head.

And then I hit about 1.75 miles and I got a dull pain in the same spot I had last Saturday...I brushed it off and then had a little pep talk with myself:

Bad Me: It's fine, just shake it off
Good Me: Turn around, danger

This went back and forth for a few seconds. Good Me won. I kicked it in reverse and headed home. I walked a couple times and worked on running really slow. It wasn't an awesome run, but it was something...and learning to take things slow is something I am learning in this "sport" of running. It's supposed to be fun, not painful.

I'll try again today.

On another note....my official race time from Saturday was 1:53:45 - average pace being 8:41.

4 seconds slower than my official PR, which is nuts considering this course was much tougher, uphill and I was hurting. One reason running with a watch kinda sucks.....however it is a confidence booster - I CAN be faster and I WILL be faster ;)

P.S. Wade and I went to dinner with a good friend last night...Mexican food. It was delish but man I felt like I had a salty taste in my mouth when I woke up. Blech!