Saturday, February 28, 2015

Best laid plans

Well to my disappointment there was no rail trail running this afternoon. My day was too hectic and I was having a hard to synchronizing with my runner friend. So I scrapped it and went to the gym. I could have gone by myself but at that point in the day I was limited on time.
But I will say the gym was good. Busy (not surprising from a Saturday afternoon) but I had a "break through" I ran almost 3 miles with NO knee pain!!!!! AAHHHH I was so happy! :) and still am ,LOL! I had great stride and the whole thing felt right. I was trying not to pay attention to my mileage,  but I can't help looking down when I'm on the treadmill. But I was freaking myself out, like, "What if I'm cured", " No knee pain ever again!" haha not so fast. I started feeling it creep on and then realized it had been 2.75 (ish) miles with no pain! There was one day last week I didn't get past 1.5 miles without pain.
PROGRESS!!!! It's a beautiful thing. And ps so is the weather in Michigan, about 21* and sunny. SO SUNNY :)
I'm thinking I may sneak in a rail trail visit tomorrow morning before I head to work. (It's not my usual weekend to work, I've got a special inventory task to do for my boss). But how knows, I might let myself off the hook and just have some family time in the morning before I head in. There's always Monday while P is in preschool :)
Have a wonderful weekend!!

Friday, February 27, 2015

"Strong" was the word of the day

This morning at the gym it was quiet. And it was a none running day so good and bad overall. (I like when its quiet up there and I'm alone, but have a hard time filling my time with none running things).

Usually I have a plan the night before. I don't like to wing it the morning of. So this morning I decided it would be a rowing day. I haven't used the rowing machine in a few months because for awhile each time I used it my back would be sore. I try to consciously use the machine correctly. I've even watched you tube video's on it.  Currently no soreness or aches in my back noted :) hooray

I did moderate resistance on the rowing machine ( 8 out of 10, 10 being most resistant). Then I did leg presses 2 sets of 3 x 12 @ 180#, donkey kicks 2 sets of  3 x 10 @ 70 # (increased from 60#). Then leg extensions 3 x  12 @ 70# and leg curls 3 x 12 @ 80# and finished with the elliptical calling it a day :)

Tomorrow I have high hopes of getting on the rail trail with a running buddy. We probably wont run much do to the ice, I just wanna get outside and get my body moving. Last time we went out we walked 7 miles! It was awesome :)

Some of my favorite things

Even though it is no longer Christmas I still have a list of my favorite things, Here are just a few things I am loving right now :)

  • Pearl Izumi running shoes (Women's EM road N2 running shoes) to be exact. This is my second pair. The first pair has been retired, ie I wear them around town doing errands, +/- wearing them to work :)
  • Nuun electrolyte tablets - tri berry. I use 1/2 tablet on the days I do strength and cross training. I use a whole tablet on days I run. Love them!
  • Luna protein bars: Chocolate chip cookie dough , its even gluten free! And tastes awesome!! 
I am hoping that in May, when I get my trail running shoes, they too will be Pearl Izumi's (I am loyal like that).  Why May you might be asking, Because I will go to Runners Performance and get properly fitted and then be able to run in them on the trails and return if need be within for 10 days! That's the coolest thing about Runners Performance. Plus in May I can says my trail shoes are a Mother's Day gift :) I have a tendency  to  have my gifts picked out, just making it easier on the hubs! LOL also known as I get what I want :)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

plants and veggies and dyes oh my!

The last few days I have been reading up on Ultra running. I am one of those people that need to read up on things to get a handle on them. And nothing (in my opinion) is better than a good old book. I don't have a kindle and I rarely read on the computer. I am obsessed with magazines though. ( They are truly my vice in the world and rice crispy treats, lol)
I am currently reading "Eat & Run" by Scott Jurek. (See here). I am loving this book for a few reasons:

  • He is an ordinary person for a regular upbringing
  • He started with a different athletic outlets (skiing) not running
  • He recognized the good in plant based diets but still was human and would slip up and eat McDonald's.
  • He gives you recipes in his book 
I like when people are real. He is an amazing ultra runner and he figured things out on his own. Its a pretty cool adventure to read. Highly recommend. :)



I actually tried to go without meat yesterday, just curious how running would go this morning. Yesterday was my rest day, but I still got all my steps in. (I stood and walked in place for most of the Wendy Williams shows while P listened and sang to "Let it go" on the computer).
Surprisingly I was a vegetarian from the age of 12 - 25! Crazy right?! I started eating meat when I was 26 after I got pregnant so I've been doing it for 6 years. I wanted to make sure I was getting all I needed when I was pregnant for P. I was not a good vegetarian, I didn't really like veggies. I ate a lot of crap to be completely honest. I would say I have a pretty good diet now. The reason for that is I uncovered A LOT of food allergies. They consist of eggs, shellfish, artificial flavors (dyes mainly) and a gluten sensitivity. Its made me really have to choose wisely when I eat. It's just like any other allergy, as you get reactions they get worse each time. When I accidentally eat something I shouldn't (usually at restaurants) I get a headache within 30 mins after eating which then will lead to a migraine with nausea and vomiting. I'm usually laid up for 24 hrs! Life it too short for that crap!!
But I'm interested in this plant based diet Scott recommends. I'm going to play a little bit with it in my daily life.
So this morning I only ran 2 miles but walked 3.5 on a incline. My knee started hurting earlier than it had this week, (frustrating!) Resistance band training still in full effect. Fingers crossed!!


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

This morning felt good

Got up after a hard (literally didn't more) nights sleep, and was doing my morning wake up/walk by 5:05. This morning I just kinda took my time finding my rhythm.  I was a little thrown off by another treadmill goer this morning. I am usually the only one on the treadmill that early. And besides that, we had the same outfit on, which made me laugh to myself, of course, cause no one talks that early in the morning. The only sounds are machines running and the local morning news.
So as I warmed up I noticed she was doing some run/ walking. I also observed that she had on new shoes. (There is nothing else to look at sometimes that early for years now, so I notice little things like when people get new shoes) But it occurred to me maybe she is training for a race of some sort. So then I get excited thinking about a new runner and wish maybe we did talk, but I got over that pretty quickly.
I enjoy the quiet. Its my "me" time.
Anyway as she was running a few treadmills down, I started up my running at my ultra running speed of 4.5 mph. The girls form was a little off, she was really dropping her left shoulder and her stride was not smooth. I'm not judging I only noticed because as I started to run I found myself pacing with her which wasn't the best idea for me. So I had to really concentrate.
She didn't last long, which made me wonder why. But it's not my concern. So after that I decided to just go for as long as my knee would allow. I'm trying to not be so controlling when it comes to running. I was it to feel more free ( like it should be).
I ended up walking for a mile, do to the fact I was adding songs to my running playlist. I did do an incline of 1.5% during the miles I walked. Then back to 0% for running. or jogging, is it jogging now that I'm only at 4.5 mph?
Oh well doesn't matter. I ran for 3 miles before my knee hurt. Then walked a bit and ran another 0.5 miles.

Grand total of running and walking ( run-3.5, walk 1.75) = 5.25 miles 599.6 calories and 79 mins total.

I stayed on the treadmill to get all my daily steps done on my garmin vivofit, which is amazing I got all 10,500 done by 6:30am! (and then some). I'm currently + 1500 steps and it's 8:15am! I did my strength training when I got home so that's out of the way too. :)

So overall a good morning! The running felt great and I'm pretty sure if I didn't have knee pain I could have run all 5.25 mile. Soon!! Soon!!

Monday, February 23, 2015

my problem with facebook

So I was one of the last people to join facebook about 2 years ago. I started because I had a pampered chef business I thought would benefit from social media (which it did not). And I will admit it was a good excuse to see what all the hype was about. After New Years of this year I told myself I needed a break. I wouldn't say I was obsessed but I would check it 1 to 2 times a day. I would find myself having family moments and thinking "I should put this on FB" instead of living in the moment and enjoying my time. So I deactivated my profile which in its self is a total process. Which made me hate FB even more. I was leaving for personal reasons but I had to go through hoops to deactivate. Then I immediately got an email saying you can come back, blah blah blah. So it's been almost 2 month without FB and I'd say the first week was weird and I kept going to my phone to pop on it, then remembered it was the devil. But today after preschool was cancelled again do to cold whether ( preschool closes when the high school its run out of closes) I just really need some confirmation. So I logged in ( with no problem whats so ever) and quickly checked the preschool's page and got off. I then received multiple e-mails saying "glad your back" "here's what you missed." And I was immediately annoyed. So I went back on to deactivate myself again! Now I know I could just stay away, but unfortunately I don't have that type of discipline I need things completely cut out.
Good riddance (again)Facebook !!

what a slow morning

This morning after an internal struggle to not talk myself out of going to the gym, I made it there by 5:05am. It is beyond freezing cold outside here in Michigan. The windchill is unbelievable. Schools have been closed for the last 3 school days do to the weather. So none the less, this mornings drive was frigged.

So this morning was a slow one. I only got about 6 hours of sleep and I could feel it. I started with my usual 5 min walk/warm up/ wake up on the treadmill. Then did leg presses 3 x 12 (w 108#) donkey kicks 3 x 10 /leg  (w 60#) . I moved to the ball and did 200 crunches, then 3 x 12 triceps dips, and 3 x 25 squats. I went back to the treadmill with the thought I'd run, but instead I walked at a 3.5 mph rate at an incline varying 1.5%-4.0% for 40 mins. I was so tired I couldn't shake it.

I kept telling myself "you can nap when P going to preschool." And then it was cancelled. So probably an early night for me tonight and a run tomorrow morning.

I hope everyone in the cold states, which I'm pretty sure maybe all the states now, stay warm!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Monday mornings coming quick

So with my job I have the worlds most unique schedule. I work tues,weds,thurs, sat and sunday and then I'm off for 8 days until the next tues I work. Its pretty crazy, I know, but pretty amazing all at the same time. This schedule works really great for me and my family. And working at a 7 day a week clinic we see only urgent (non routine) appointments on saturday and sunday. It's Urgent care so you never know what's coming through those doors. Which is pretty fantastic in my opinion.
I do find the Mondays after working the weekend to be hard to gather motivation. I have recently started putting my cell phone across the room so I can't snooze for an hour. And once I'm up I'm usually good. :)
This  up coming week is my week off. I plan on a 6 day workout week with running at least 3 of those days. I am still doing my resistance training, but I will admit I did miss it last night. It was over a 12 hour day filled with everything including a 3 hour surgery. Needless to say I was beat!
So here's to a great workout week on a non work week!!

Friday, February 20, 2015

My first Ultra has been paid for!!

So I've decided to make things official and pay for my spot in the 50km in September! I thought doing so makes it more real, and with money being spent I think I'm more likely to do something. $93.00 total (after tax or something) is a good chunk of money. But I do believe well worth it. When I told my husband I was going to register for it and how much he replied with "It's not much more than a 5k." Well yes and no. We are getting a 2 day hotel stay out of this adventure as well. We try to make things like this fun for the whole family and my daughter is a huge hotel fan! Loves the pool and hot tube especially! So this will be a nice trip for all involved.
I am so early on this that you can't actually book rooms at the near by hotels yet. haha. So I'll be doing that in the up coming months.
I am on day 6 of my resistance band training to help my hips get stronger. I haven't been running but once this week. It's been hectic here with work this week and this morning I woke up with a severe headache (which I believe was self induced do to a food I ate yesterday, I have a TON of food allergies) So it makes me even more upset when I've done it to myself.
I actually wont be back in the gym until Monday because I am working all weekend. So that give me more time with the resistance band and hopefully Monday I'll see some amazing results!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Off Day.

Luckily the title doesn't mean I had an off day. Just a day off. I should probably clarify. I was excited to get back to work today after having a few days off so I could tell a few of my running work friends about my new interest in ULTRA running :)
I work with a very supportive group. One co-worker is a triathlete, another is a duathlete and another one is a recreational runner. I was most excited to tell me running co-worker because I think ULTRA running is something she could be interested in too. :) Or I guess I can hope. She asked for the website for the 50k I'm running so that's a plus. However she could be just humoring me! haha
I'm heading to day 4 of my resistance training. Tomorrow morning I will run a few miles to test it out and I am looking for a total turn around or I will be totally disappointed, lol. High Hopes!!




Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Darn Old Knee!

So after deciding on the 50k in September I thought I should get up to the gym and get a good run in. Well 3 miles into my run I remembered I have a pesky old problem, runners knee! I've been nursing it for almost a year now!! It will actually be a year in March. It crept up about 1 week after my one and only 8k, and I just haven't gotten a handle on it. I did 3-4 months of rest, strength training on the bike and elliptical. I did squats and leg press or donkey kicks to strengthen my glutes and thighs. From what I read that was where I needed to focus, so I did. Then I'd try to run with no luck, no relief from pain. I tried tapping my knee and when that didn't help. I stopped running again. This summer I did sprints with my daughter while out on the rail trail and that didn't seem to bother my knee. But when I did distance it would flare up. So I took up biking this summer and actually contemplated a triathlon. I thought about it and actually looked into one near where I live. But I kinda never got excited about it, like I am for my 50k! (whoot whoot!!)
So back to my knee. This last issue of Runner World Magazine has a whole article about strengthening knee's. Its in 4 phases so a total 4 month, but it never says to stop running which is interesting. Well I am currently on day 3 of phase 1. I use a resistance band and I am building strength in my hips. So I am hoping it works. The Dr they interviewed in the article said he has all his runners start these exercises before they are even seen and most don't need to be seen. So I am hopeful!! 93% have no knee pain after these phases. I am really hoping I am not the 7% that still does!! haha Nope I am going to think positively. :)

Today I ran 2.5 mile and walked 1.5 miles making it a total of 4 miles on the treadmill. Knee pain started around mile 2.0. But I am only 3 days into the resistance training, so fingers crossed!  

New Beginnings

I'm starting a new journey and I'm taking this blog along for the ride. I have decided to run an Ultra-marathon this fall!! Now I know fall seems like a long time away seeing as how we are in the middle of winter but in my opinion it's just enough time to prepare. :)
I started looking to Ultra Running (ultra-marathon i.e. any race over the standard 26.2 miles of a marathon) after watching Desert Runners on Netflix. I came across this film and thought, looks interesting worse thing that could happen is it's terrible and I turn it off. ( the best thing about Netflix you can just move on if you don't like what you are watching!)   I have since watched it 5 times in the last 2 months. I've even had my husband, who is not a runner, watch it with me so he could appreciate Ultra running. The people I saw are utterly amazing! I mean how cool would it be to do what they've done. So I looked into it. Mind you reading this, I have only ran 7 or so 5k's and 1 8k! And now I'm looking into the 4 desert series. I needed to get a grip and fast! haha The entry fee alone made me gasp and then I proceeded to add it to my "bucket list" which now includes one thing, running the Roving Race via racing the planet by the time I'm 40 (I've got 8 years to save $3600.00 for an entry fee).
So with this new dream in my head I needed more information. So I went to amazon and bought 4 books. Three Ultra and 1 by Kara Goucher, because I read her article in Women's Running Magazine and I think she's pretty cool. But there isn't a whole lot out there, internet wise, about ultra running. And I'm pretty curious!
I began searching the internet for local races as well. And I found one about an hour and a half away that is a 50k trail run! It sounds awesome! I gave my husband the low down and he seems pretty supportive. We have already talked about making it a long weekend with our daughter at a hotel with a pool and a hot tub which (I think) will be just what I need post 50k!
I am excited about this new adventure and hope you come along with me on my ultra footpath! :)