Day 2 of the gym

Today went really well considering I didn't get any sleep.  We had a neighbor decide that 10pm was a good time to use his snowblower for an hour.  Ugh!  I was not happy.

I did get up and got to the gym to run before meeting with my trainer.  I did an interval run which helped make the treadmill a bit more tolerable.  I did 2.5 miles with 6x1:00 hard and 1:30 rest between repeats.  It felt good.  Thursday will have to be my long run as tomorrow is my rest day.

After my run I worked with my trainer on weights and core stuff.  It felt good.  I thought I'd be sore, but I wasn't too bad this morning.  The only thing that hurts is the bruise I got on my ankle on Sunday.  I can't for the life of me figure out how I got that bruise, but it kills.  Having to wear boots doesn't help either.

Right now I'm enjoying a nice bowl of honey Greek yogurt with Holy Crap cereal and a glass of chocolate almond milk.  It's so good!  If you haven't had Holy Crap cereal you need to try it.  It's amazing!!!!!!!  So full of really good things and lots of fiber.  It's good since I'm just getting ready to increase my iron to 600mg tomorrow.

I have a very busy day today and I'm trying to make sure I have time to get everything in.  Although getting up and going early does help.  I guess I'm off to shower, then start some more laundry and the dishwasher.  I still have to get groceries and throw dinner in the crockpot.  I have a ton of swim stuff to get done as well.  After this weekend I have 2 weekends of nice normal home time so I hopefully can get some other things caught up.

Enjoy your Tuesday!!!!!!

First day at the gym

Today was my first day at the gym.  I got there early to get a short recovery run in before I met with my trainer.  Now I'm off and running.  I have a total of 6 sessions with my trainer to help jump start my workout.  I'm really excited and feel good after the first workout.  We just went through a weight circut after a quick warm up on an eliptical machine.  I'm not really a fan of elipticals, but maybe they will grow on me.  I feel pretty good and I'm on my path to getting stronger.

I know I've needed to add weights to help my running and now I've taken the plunge and am doing it.  I'm excited and I'm glad I'm doing it.

Right now I am eating a great breakfast of leftover homemade stir fry.  Lots of fresh veggies and chicken.  It's really good and what a great way to get my first serving of veggies.  Plus we are out of almond milk so I can't make my smoothie. 

Tomorrow I'm back in the gym.  I'll go around 6:30 and get a longer run in before I meet with my trainer.  I'm really enjoying myself and can't wait for tomorrow!

Robbie Burns 8K

I ran my first distance over 5k today.  I ran an 8k and was really happy with my time.  My goal was to run it in under an hour and I ran it in 58:53.  I felt pretty good running too.  I know where I'm at right now and what I need to do to get ready for my 10k in April.

Here are a few pics from the race.

This past week was really busy.  We celebrated my birthday on Wednesday.  It was nice.  Mike made salmon and blueberry salad with stuffed Portabello mushrooms.  He and James got me a cake as well.  We spent a nice quiet evening at home.  Just what I wanted.

Friday I went and joined the gym.  It was my Christmas/birthday present.  I'm adding weight training to my running and it will give me access to a dreadmill and other machines for my off running days.  I also got 6 sessions with a personal trainer and I start those tomorrow.  I'm really excited about that.  It will get me started.  I'm going early to get a recovery run in before I meet with him.

We have been getting snow this week.  We get some then it warms up and melts then we get more.  I just wish it would make up its mind because its really killing my head.  Plus running outside is crazy.  I am getting some Yaktrax this week so that I can run out in the snow and ice and not slip all over the place.  I want to run outside as much as possible because I HATE running on a dreadmill.  Plus so far I've been lucky with my races and haven't had to run in snow or ice...yet...I know it's coming though.  I would rather be prepared.

I'm looking forward to a great week!

Beautiful rainy Tuesday

I got a really good run in today.  Just shy of 3 miles and at pace that was just a tad faster than my best 5k pace.  I was pretty happy about that.  I love running on mornings like this.  It's a bit foggy and a light drizzle.  The temperature was about 37 so not to cold.  It was a nice run.  Right now I'm enjoying my post run smoothie and will get ready for the rest of my day.

I went back to the doctor last week and they took me off my thyroid medication, but put me on iron pills.  My iron was really low so hopefully this will help.  I am on 300 mg for the first month then I up it to 600 mg in February and then 900 mg in March.  I've been on them for about a week so we'll see.  I did start adding the extra fiber to my smoothies just to help.

Today I'm off to join the gym.  I think we are getting winter this week and last week we had a few days that were just to bitter to run outside.  As much as I hate running on treadmills, I will have to break down and do it on occasion.  I also want to add weight training to my workouts.  I know that will help my running as well.

We are moving right along here.  I'm going to get a few things done and then run some errands before the snow hits.  I also need to make a pot of coffee.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!!!

A Bit Warmer Morning

This morning was quite a bit warmer than yesterday morning.  When we left on our walk to daycare it was around 34 so much nicer.  It looked like it was going to pour down rain at any minute though.  I kept praying that it would hold off at least until we got to daycare.

We had a nice walk.  James just talks about everything on our walks.  Today we talked about books and reading.  He says he is in the highest level for the Home Reading program in his class.  I can believe that.  He loves to read!!!!!  He got several books for Christmas and has already torn through them.  His favorites were Roscoe Riley Rules #1 Never Glue Your Friends To Their Chairs, Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective, and Frankie Pickle and the Mathmatical Menace.  He has read those through several times.  He loved them and has told Mike and I that we HAVE to read them.  I've read them and they are really good.  I have to get on Amazon today and order some more of the Roscoe Riley and Frankie Pickle books.  He thought those two characters were really funny.

The run home was much easier to get started.  My legs weren't as numb.  I got just over 2 miles in so I felt good.  I did finally try my hill after not being off for awhile.  I did get 3/4 of the way up and had to walk the rest of the way.  I wasn't too upset, but Friday I will attack it again.  Tomorrow is my day off since I'm at the University all day.  Thursday I will try to get 4-5 miles in, but I run the opposite direction and down the hill.  So Friday after our walk to daycare I'll run back up it.  19 days until my 8k and I want to be ready!  My goal is 50 minutes or faster.  I think I can do it, but I have to really kick up the training right now.  I just hope its not super cold on the 29th.  But if it is I'll deal with it.

Today is a day of catching up on laundry since Mike the the washer fixed.  I've already put one load in before we left for our walk so I should make a pretty good dent in it today.  I also have some new glasses that I need to wash and the dish cabinet to get organized.  I'm off and running after a nice hot shower, a cup of coffee and a smoothie.

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!!!

Happy Monday Morning!!!!!

It is a very brisk Monday morning too!  Today is James' 7th birthday and my nephew Chi's 4th  birthday.  Two great guys share an awesome day!!!!!!

This morning James wanted to walk to daycare so we did.  It was 23 degrees, but I thought if I could keep him moving it would be a good "warm-up" for my run home.   Yeah...not true.  I wore my running tights, which are warm when you are running.  Walking with a very talkative 7 year old, not so warm.  We got to daycare and I took my time getting my earphones in so I could get some feeling back in my legs.  My upper half, ears and hands were fine, but man were my legs numb.

I started out on my run home and it was like running through jello.  My thighs felt like lead.  I was just starting to get warmed up and into a good rythm when I ran into Mike's dad.  He was out walking the dogs and he wanted to chat.  It was fine, but getting started again after stopping was even harder than getting started the first time.  I ended up cutting my run short not just because my legs were lead, but because of time.  I had to get home and get some emails answered and get started on a lot of different things.

Tomorrow James wants to walk to school again and I'll take a different route home so I won't run into Mike's dad and it will give me a longer run.  I have 20 days until my first 8k and I'm glad I'm running in the cold because I have a sinking feeling that on the 29th it will be really cold.

Today I'm going to organize the cabinet where I keep my baking dishes.  It's now become a danger to open the door.  Part of what I'm doing this year is getting more organized and downsizing.  I'm only taking it in small chunks.  I will do one task each day and they will be short periods of time.  Today I am spending a half hour getting it organized.  I have started a box for the Salvation Army and will make run over there on Friday.  Once everything is organized I should have a better handle on keeping up with everything.

Well, Monday morning is off to a great start!  I'm hoping to keep it going!  Have a great day!

Bowling Birthday Party for James' 7th

Well, today was the big party!  We went to the local Brunswick Lanes and had James' birthday party.  If you have never had a party there I highly recommend it!  They did an absolutely wonderful job!  For 2 hours we got a lane for the 6 kids and our own Party Hero to run the show.  They broke up the bowling with things like the Cha Cha Slide, The Chicken Dance, and Hula Hoop contests.  They ate pizza and we brought a cake.  The kids were having such a good time!  The two hours just flew by!!!!!!

Mike and I would do it again in a heatbeat!  Here are a few pictures from the big day!!!!

Happy Saturday!

What a beautiful day for a run!!!!!  The temperature was perfect for a morning run.  It was in the mid-30s and not too breezy.  I ran almost 2.5 miles and felt pretty good.  It was my first run of the week.  Earlier this week it was really cold.  It was 3 degrees Farenheit early on in the week.  Brrrrrrr.....

Today was perfect for a winter run.  I just wore my running shirt and gloves and was warm enough.  There were some icy spots so I did have to slow down, but that's okay.  I'm hoping its nice tomorrow so I can get another run in in the morning.

Right now I'm off to get ready for James' birthda party at the bowling alley.  And off we go!!!!!!!!

Starting the New Year Off Right...First Run of the Year

Happy 2012!!!!!!  I had a great start to the new year.  Last night Mike and I stayed up to midnight and watched the ball drop on New York.  We just relaxed and had munchies.  It was a nice evening.  We enjoy just having easy evenings like that.

Today I started the new year off with a 5k race.  I was ready for it to not be so hot time wise as I haven't been able to run.  I ran Monday, but it was a short run.    Well, today I ran a best time, 34:54.  I was pretty happy with that.  It was raining the entire race and a bit on the cold side, but it was a fun race.

My next race is an 8k at the end of January.  I'm getting back to a running schedule and program that will help me get ready for that and my very first 10k in April!  I can't wait!

The New Year is off to a great start!