A Week of New Things

New Thing #1: Working out with a trainer on Monday and Thursdays.
This was an awesome first week with Melissa.  Strength training, getting on a treadmill at 10% incline, many squats and lunges...I love how strength training makes me feel strong.  Even if it is just the first week.  And even if I thought I was going to puke this morning...

New Thing #2: Barely being able to walk on Tuesday because of Monday's workout with trainer.
While uncomfortable, makes you "know" you worked hard.  I've worked with two other trainers before and I've never felt this sore before.  I'm going to give Melissa the credit for this - and not my pathetic entry point back to strength training.  I'm expecting a repeat of soreness and maybe a little more...not sure when I did this many squats and lunges before...

New Thing #3: A really great long run.
It was so good, I was both relieved and estatic!  It was the first 8 miles of my 10 miler on Saturday.  I chose to walk in the last two with my friend Kari, but I felt like I could have made all 10 feel so good.  OK, this really isn't new, but it has been a long couple of months since I felt this good during a long run.  My form was great, my fueling and hydration seemed spot on.  I achieved my pace goals for the run...and I was a 1:21 faster per mile than last week. 

New Thing #4: A new fuel for runs.
I have struggled in the past in finding gel/chew product that don't upset my stomach.  I was happy to find Carb Boom gels.  They can be a little hard to find, but well worth the hunt.  I don't like their chews - they stick to your teeth...so I tried Honey Stinger Pomegrante Passion Energy Chews.  They were tummy and teeth friendly!  And Honey Stinger is a Colorado company too!

New Thing #5: Eating more and more protein. 
Not liking it, but it's new.  I send my food logs into Melissa and she's set some protein/carb/fat goals for me.  She is trying to build muscle and burn fat - through not only working out but diet (not sure I'm a believer...).  The hardest goal to meet is the "more than 95g of protein."  I've added a protein shake and some times a protein bar.  She'd prefer I don't rely upon supplements, but it makes it hard when I need to keep the fat grams 30g or less.  Plus, I don't want to eat meat or poultry.  More protein has made it easy to keep the calories lower with no hunger, but I have struggled with an upset stomach - I changed my protein powder and hoping this helps (eliminating casein is supposed to).  I won't stick to this for long, it isn't a long term way of life for me and my running goals.   I think I can do this for one or two more weeks and then we'll need to make some changes.  Oh whole grain bread and pasta, I miss you!

New Thing #6: The half pigeon pose.
On Wednesday, my piriformis was screaming, along with an area above my knee.  I went to see Dr. Clark and she got me sorted out and showed me this wonderful yoga pose that really hits the spot.  It's the half pigeon pose.  If you have a tight piriformis and/or IT band issues, check this out!

New Thing #7: A sweet pair of Mizuno Wave Cabrakan 2
Which I took out on the Apex Trail.  Mariah and Indigo were at a Flyball competition, so I was solo.  But not alone.  Look who I got to say hello to! 

It was a little strange at first because they walked right up to me.  Then I saw that they were moving away from a couple of mountain bikers.

Still, it was neat to see them what I thought was really up close.

I know, I know.  You think I'm must be a real city slicker to be so fascinated by what some call as varmin...but I don't think you often see a rack like this!

Going solo made for a relaxing outing with lots of time for pictures!  This is where all the trail photos in this post came from.  I love the diversity of this trail...a little bit of rock, a little bit of tree roots, and some nice non-techical surfaces.  And every time I hit the trail, it looks so different.   All in an all, it was a nice way to take in the fresh, if not cold air!

Here's the miles for this week...
Monday - 3.13 miles plus 60 minute workout with trainer
Tuesday - 4.0 miles
Wednesday - 2.87 miles
Thursday - 60 minute workout with trainer
Friday - 3.18 miles
Saturday - 10 miles
Sunday - 5.54 miles

Total for the week: 28.72 miles

I'm off to balmy North Dakota on Tuesday early afternoon for Thanksgiving.  Sure I'll be spending my fair share of time on the treadmill as the high on Thanksgiving Day is 8 degrees.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Laura

Winter Has Arrived

I hesitate to declare it so, but with four mornings in a row of low 20 degree runs, well I guess it is so...Thankfully, Denver has no snow on the ground.  Just how I like it.  But snow is very close...so close in fact, this morning, I got to run in a light coating of snow on sections of the Apex Trail.  Guess that is what you can find when you are at 6200' - 7300' elevation.

And I was accompanied by the speedy Mariah and Indigo...

Mariah was fast and well, I was slow...and just a little bit of a whiner.  I attribute it to yesterday's 11+ mile run.  Mariah was nice and attributed it to my change in diet.  I tried to keep it to a little whine...it's hard to beat blue skies, fresh air, and happy companions.  No, I don't have any other trail pictures - but I promise next week, I'll have some.  I just didn't want to hold up Mariah any longer than I was! 

As you might have noticed, I tried out Mariah's hiking poles.  They helped me maintain better form on the way up, but they were a drag to run with - so probably not for me.  Not like my Nathan Hydration Vest.  I don't even notice the vest!

I had a good week in the eats and run miles department.  I also found a personal trainer - and I start with her tomorrow morning.  She requires that I send her my food log, so I look forward to her feedback and maybe switching some things up.  In fact I had to send her this week's food log.  She already emailed me to tell me that we need to eliminate "all those processed carbs."  This was surprising - I mean "all those processed carbs" are a few fig newtons and whole wheat english muffins.  So she scares me a little.  But she also said that I shouldn't have a set amount of calories per day - it should be connected to activity.  I was more than happy to consume 2200 calories on Saturday!  I couldn't be happier to have a trainer again.  I'll follow her plan to make me lean and strong - let's see where it takes me.  Working with a trainer is a luxury that I am grateful to be able to swing for a couple of months. Remind me of this when that little whine grows into something bigger!

Here are my miles for the week:

Monday: 3.14 miles
Tuesday: 3.18 miles
Wednesday: rest day
Thursday: 3.34 miles
Friday: 3.17 miles
Saturday: 11.54 miles
Sunday: 5.54 miles

Total miles: 29.91 (yes, if I had known I was so close to 30, I would have down a lap around the parking lot at the trailhead!).  This week, I'll be running longer than 3 miles on two days per week...it's good to have a training schedule again!

Well, the increase in miles has made my IT band cranky, so off to stretch, foam roll and stick!

Laura

Whew! I Found It.

My mojo has returned. 

Day Seven of the 5km Daily Challenge: 6 out of 7 runs are in the books!  Woo Hoo! 

Here are my workout stats for the week:

Monday: 3.18 miles and Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zone DVD
Tuesday: 3.14 miles and setting up the bike trainer (which took me 25 minutes and seemed like a workout)
Wednesday: 3.14 miles
Thursday: 5.04 miles
Friday: 0 miles
Saturday: 4.08 miles
Sunday: 6.0 miles

Weekly mileage:  24.58 miles

I know it wasn't a 7/7 effort - but I got a pretty bad virus that had me in the fetal position most of Friday.  This also accounts for a few less miles than I had hoped to get in over the weekend.  But I feel like my good running routine has returned. 

I capped things off in grand style this morning by hitting up a favorite trail - Apex/Enchanted Forest with Mariah and her puppy Indigo.  I wore my trail shoes for the first time since my 50km and my Nathan hydration vest - which I really like for carrying larger quanitites of fluids.  Even if Mariah picked on me a little bit for carrying so much water - however she took us on a little "variation", so the water was necessary!  It was tough to be back out on the trails (about 1500 feet elevation gain)...but sweet at the same time (what goes up must come down).  We also had September-like weather that makes it all that much more enjoyable.

So that's the running update.  And now onto the eating part...

I eat too much.  I eat pretty well.  But my eating too much of even good food has forced my weight up.  I.Am.Fat.   And not by some arbitrary fashion magazine standard.  Or by comparing myself to all those skinny runners in my running group or the elites who ran the NYC marathon this morning.  The good old Mayo Clinic can vouch for me here. 

And trust me, this isn't an increase in muscle mass.  It has nothing to do with the fact that I'm on the pill.  Or that I became a vegetarian. Or that sometimes I don't get 7 hours of sleep every night.  Nope, it's just that I eat too much.  I'm 10 pounds over what is considered "normal."  Perhaps more disturbing is that I am just 20 pounds away from being obese.  I've never wanted to be more normal than I want to be right this minute.  Not only do I need this for my mind and my wardrobe, I know it will mean positive returns in my running.

I have two goals.  To start January 2011 at 145 pounds - that would let me start the new year "normal."  And on May 1, to start the Collegiate Peaks 25 mile race at 130 pounds (a reasonable racing weight goal - I think).  So between now and January 1, my focus is to limit my calories to about 1400-1500 calories/day for 6 days each week.  More calories on one day/week, lest my body think I'm trying to starve it or I go a little crazy.  And I kicked this off with Kari who checked on me first thing this morning! 

I've never wanted this blog to be about weight loss.  And I still don't.  I'll be updating my progress from time to time here - who doesn't need a little support...However, if you want to see the daily weigh-ins and calorie updates, you won't find it here, you'll need to check it out under the Weight Loss Journey tab. 

OK, time to go outside again before winter realizes that it is running late!  Maybe next time I'll have a little dating news to share...

Laura

Daily 5km

I'm desperately seeking the return of my running routine.  Mojo, where did you go?  I need you!! 

For as much as I whine that I miss my running routine, I've had zero motivation to do a thing about it.  Not anymore and I need all of you to hold me accountable!  Please! 

Today I am kicking off the Daily 5km challenge.  You are all welcome to join in your own daily challenge.  Daily 5km means that I get in at least 3.1 miles each day.  Who doesn't love a new challenge?  It's manageable and will certainly provide tons of entertainment for you the reader.  3.1 miles is doable in any weather condition, because even I can manage to get in 3.1 miles - in rain, sleet or snow as the dreadmill is near.  My target is to run the daily 5km through November and December.  This might be a tall order, perhaps a little nutty, but I'm going for it.  Maybe you should all tell me it only counts if the miles are done outside.  Sure, I'll do more miles on certain days, but I need to be moving everyday.  Heck, I miss having exercise clothes to launder...

I didn't run this morning, but don't fear, the Daily 5km is not lost.  I got my 3.1 miles in after work.  Boy is running at night a lot more scary than in the morning.  Definitely a lot more creepiness out there - at least that is where my imagaination took me.  And lest you think I slept in this morning, ha!  Nope.  I got up and did Jillian Michael's No More Trouble Zone DVD.  Damn, she killed me.  I have far to go, but I am determined to get there.  This morning I managed only 3 pound weights - gosh I hope they were 3 pounds and not 2.   What can I say?  No training plan drives me a little nutty. 

Did I run this past week?  Why yes, on three days.  Wednesday I got out for a measly 1.5 miles.  Thursday, a great 5.5 miles with Mariah and Indigo.  And Saturday, members of my pace group and I met up for an informal run as the group is on break this week.  After my 12 miler on Saturday, I ended the month of October with 82.38 miles.  So I have surpassed the 1000 mile mark for the year at 1058.16 miles.  No drum roll.  The goal was 1400 for the year.  If I were to shoot for this, I would need to start the daily 10km challenge.  And that is not realistic (although tempting in a crazy kind of way - so tempting, I thought about all day long).  1400 would have happened if I hadn't got injured in June and August.  It's good to know that 1400 was a realistic goal.  But now, it is time to reset the goal.  I think with the launch of Daily 5km, I should be able to get to 1325 miles.  I hope I did the math right.  This will be a reach.  Place your bets now!

A word about the 12 miler.  It was extremely hard and uncomfortable.  I couldn't catch my breath and I forgot to bring my inhaler with me.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the trail was peaceful.  It was the perfect fall day.  But I think something in the air really got to me.  Let's just say I won't be forgetting my inhaler again.

Guess what I set up last night?  That's right, the trainer for my bike.  This evening was its maiden voyage.  My bike computer is connected to my front tire.  So that's a bummer.  I need data!  I'm going to see if I can change this so I have distance and speed - is that even possible on the trainer?  I didn't go far or long - don't want to get all crazy with the Daily 5km challenge starting up.  In all seriousness, I'm not sure if I've set it up correctly, so I'm going to consult with my sister-in-law so I don't damage my bike or the trainer!

Still struggling with food.  I ate some fabulous roasted beets last night.  I'm in love with the beet.  Just like I was in love with the avocado a few months back.  Really, it is just so beautiful and yummy too.  Lunch today was a salad made with the roasted beet, quinoa, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.  If I ate beautiful food like this all the time, there would be no strugggle.  Today when I arrived to the office, I found that it is loaded with halloween candy, iced sugar cookies (made by my boss' mom), iced pound cake (made by my boss' aunt) and homemade chocolate lollipops.  It was like the Great Pumpkin threw up in our office.  Damn.  Someone save me from myself.

Laura