Time to up the anty (and the mileage!)

I'm back! HAHAHA *evil laugh*  I got wrapped up in the holidays, and didn't get to post. However I did run!  I finished my half marathon in November. Since then, I have been running short to mid-distances (3-6) miles, but I haven't pushed too much, for a couple reasons. 1. I wanted to fully recover and 2. It's the holidays! But now Christmas is over, and it's time to PUSH! 

So you may recall that I had a horribly slow time!  I have been doing some runs on the treadmill at a slightly faster pace, and I think it's paying off.  I haven't ran a long distance outside yet, but my 3 mile time was pretty good!  Interesting fact---I run so much better when it's really cold! I am talking in the 20s and 30s. No idea why, but I do. I had my best half marathon then (the temp didn't get out of the 20s the whole race) and best 5k time (it was cross country w/ lots of hills, but I did better than a flat course in warm weather!) It was also in the 20s that day. What gives?  Then I run in Wisconsin, in the snow, in the cold (also in the 20s) and I also got a really good 3 mile time. (There was even ice on the road!) WTF! I am hoping it will be COLD for my marathon! Maybe I need to move to Canada or something. HAHAHA!

So what am I doing? Upping the mileage!  5-6 miles this weekend, then my mid week runs will eventually go from 3-4 miles to 4-8 miles. My long runs will get up to 20 miles.  I am also doing some cross training.  I got the 30 day shred for Christmas. I really like it. It works muscles that running doesn't, it's quick, and it's not something that is likely to result in injury.  Why am I doing this? 1. I need to do some strength training, and that is in the workout, and 2. I am hoping to ramp up my metabolism to burn some fat.  I am not looking to look great in a bikini but any weight I lose will be less to carry when I am running 26.2!

So I shared last time that I was going to eat breakfast. Am I...YES!  I started w/ just some juice and I am up to smoothies now.  I figured out a way to do a quick, cheap smoothie, high in protein. 

Combine
1 c. plain greek yogurt
1 banana
3/4 OJ


blend. Add more or less OJ depending on how thick you like your smoothie.


So far no weight loss, but I have been eating a lot over Christmas. But no weight gain either!


I'll be posting more regularly after the new year!  Stay tuned! Happy trails!

Halfway to 26.2!

Ok so I have been super lazy about blogging, secondary to being super busy with other life stuff :) So a quick recap. When I last blogged, I did 5 miles outside. The next weekend I did 10 miles outside. The following weekend I COMPLETED MY 3RD HALF MARATHON! Let me tell you, it was a test of my will to finish that run. I am an embarassingly SLOW time, and it was HELL to finish!  The course was described as "fast and flat". Fast and flat my ass. It was all hills and very windy.  I had not trained properly. Lesson learned....check out the course if at all possible! I had my worst time ever by FAR! So I am going to make a few adjustments to train for the marathon.

I start my marathon training TODAY! I am nervous but also excited. I want that damn 26.2 sticker! hahaha.  So I am following Hal Higdon's program. I am undecided whether I am going to do the novice or the 3 day runner program. Stay tuned for that.  December is going to be an easy month of training, which is nice b/c it's the holidays. And yes I am fully aware it is going to be COLD! I would rather run in 30 degree weather than 80 degree weather anyway. That is just me. I will blog later on about gear I like for cold weather running. 

Anyway, the race is April 9th in Abilene, KS.  I mentioned that I am going to make a few tweaks in my training program. First, I am going to train at a faster pace. I am starting from short distances (3-4 miles) that are easy for me right now. I am going to train faster to being with, starting on a treadmill so I can feel what faster is like.  Then I am going to try to monitor my times, and push a little harder. Not too awful hard on long runs, that can lead to injury. Second, I am going to incorporate speedwork. There are several ways you can do this, but one method I read was to run an 800 in the time you would to finish the marathon in. (ie, if you want to finish in 4 hours, you should run a 4 min 800).  This might be challenging for me but I am going to try it. The idea is to start by running 1 or 2 800s at that pace, then work up to 10 in a row, with an equal amount of resting time in between.  So this is going to be hard! But I can do it!  Second I am going to confuse my body with unfamiliar cardio and weight training. I think my body is used to running, and I need to kick its ass more!

Second, I am going to tweak my diet. I think I can kick up my metabolism with a few extra changes. I am not out to lose a ton of weight, but even being 5 lbs lighter will make it easier to go the 26.2 miles. First, I am going to eat breakfast (I know I know it's the most important meal of the day!) I just get really sick when I try to eat in the am. So I am going to drink juice the minute I get up! And hopefully then transition to juice and some protein. Second, I am going to try and incorporate more protein into my meals. I am a selective vegetarian, so sometimes this is hard to do. (I only eat locally raised, grass-fed, ab free meat).  I will still need carbs, but I want to increase protein in addition to keeping most of the carbs I eat now.

So that's the plan. I'll keep you posted! I finished a 3 mile run at a faster pace yesterday and it went well. On tap tonight is another 3 miler at the faster pace!

Happy Trails!

Nutrition is for the birds (and for runners!)

Alright, I have 2 weeks of running to talk about since I was lazy and didn't post last week!  Since I last posted, the weather has gotten sufficiently cooler for me, and I have been doing all my runs outside.  Last weekend I ran 5 miles easy outside.  Then during the week I did 2- 3 mile runs on a course that had hills! (yes hills, if you know me at all this is a big deal!)  My half marathon has some gently rolling hills, so I am trying to incorporate some of that into my weekly runs.  The 5 miler seemed super easy! (Probably since I did 10 the week before). The 3 milers also were surprisingly easy even with the hills! Which tells me I am right on track! 

This weekend, I ran 8 miles outside. 3 of those miles were on slightly loose gravel, which I do NOT recommend.  It's hard to stabilize, and I am a little sore b/c of it. Oh well lesson learned. Other than that the 8 miler was great!!!  The weather was wonderful and I found a really good trail (the southbound part is wonderful, the northbound is where I ran into the loose gravel...ick!)

Anyway, one component that helps is eating right before and after a long run.  You will probably have to play with this to see what works for you, but I will share what works for me, so that you can get some ideas.  The night before a long run, I try to eat some carbs.  I don't really "carbo-load" too much, but I do make sure to have some pasta or bread or something. Usually I am eating this anyway, so it's not a problem.  I try not to eat anything too fatty, and nothing that will give me gas! (easy on the cheese for me!)  I typically like to run in the early afternoon, after I have had breakfast and a light lunch. So for breakfast I try to eat some mid-complex carbs (nothing whole wheat or unprocessed grains, these take forever to digest...easy on the fiber here! No gas wanted!) I like pretzels, bread, pancakes.  Thenright before the run (right before being about 1h-45 min before) I eat sugar!!!!   Candy bars, brownies, cookies, whatever! I also have an assload of water. Yes and assload....very specific I know! So I have my glycogen store set up from the carbs the night before, I have carbs that take a few hours to digest headed to my bloodstream (but not too complex...remember gas=bad!) and I have just dumped in an assload of sugar and water! So I am good to go! Plenty of fuel! Now whenever I run over an hour, my glycogen is pretty much gone, and my blood sugar is way gone! So I prefer to eat a gel, or jelly beans, something with sugar.  You need to do this before you get too tired or hungry.  It's like water, if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated, so drink before you are thirsty (and have some carbs before you are tired or need sugar)  I prefer poweraid gels, any sort of fruit flavor (thanks Andrea B. for suggesting these to me years ago) GU is also ok, but its thicker. Hammer gels are nasty crap. Repeat nasty crap.  I also like jelly belly energy beans. These are yummo but they take some time to chew. I would recommend trying a lot of products to see what you like, and what works for you.

For recovery, protein is always a good thing! This is harder for me, b/c I love sugar, but I am meh about protein. Naked juice and Odwalla make a decent protein shake. I also like tuna fish.  Drink slowly! and drink more water!!!!

Only 2 more weekends until my race!!! Next weekend I am going to do 10 miles, then start my taper.  Holy shit it's coming up!

I hope everyone's runs are going as well as mine are!!! Next week I will write about pushing through walls while you are running. I am sure I will have a few during my 10 miles!

Happy trails! And if you have any nutrition tips of your own, please share!!!  Oh below I will post a high protein, clean-eating, belly friendly recipe, tasty and good for any night of the week.


Mexican squash casserole

cook 1 spaghetti squash (microwave 10 min, let cool, then dig out the flesh w/ a fork...should look like spaghetti)

cook together
cumin seed
chili powder
garlic
salt
pepper
1 lb lean meat (beef, chicken or pork)
1 chopped green pepper
1 onion chopped
chopped hot peppers (optional)

mix meat and veggis with squash and 1 jar salsa (any heat level you like!)

place mixture in casserole dish, bake 350 for 1hr (optional...add some shredded cheese on top and cover w/ foil)

serve w/ fresh guacamole. YUM! If you want to add carbs, add baked corn chips or whole  wheat tortillas

More tips---get the right equipment!

So this weekend I ran 10 miles, which is the farthest I have gone all season.  The run wasn't so good, I was very sluggish and tired almost the whole way and I had trouble getting into a rhythm.  My hypothesis is that I have been doing a lot of running and that I need to rest a little. Thankfully, this weekend I have a shorter run planned.  You will find that most running plans incorporate scaling up and then a week of scaling back. This allows your muscles to recover and (hopefully) improve your long run the following week. 

So I made some rookie mistakes this weekend, that I am hurting for today, so I thought I would share! The take home message is get the right equipment!  I can't stress enough how important a good pair of shoes is!  Pay the extra money for a nice pair and get your stride analyzed before you decide on a pair.  The right pair of shoes makes all the difference. I had some knee pain a few years ago when I first started, that has since resolved because I bought the right shoes for me. I run in a men's asics kayano.  My feel swell when I run, so they are a tad bigger than I would buy for walking shoes. Also they have great arch support, and help over-pronators like me!  Which leads me to my second point, replace your shoes often! There are many guides for when to replace your running shoes, mine is when things start hurting that didn't hurt before.  My feet were pounded which never happens! Alas it is time for a new pair!  I have ran a year in them, and it's time! They look fine and will be great for everyday shoes, but for long runs they are so out the door!

This leads me to talk about other running equipment. Let's start with socks. I prefer a thin wicking sock that breathes.  This works for me, but many other people prefer thicker socks to help prevent blisters. Blisters aren't a problem for me, but my feet do swell, hence the thin socks for me!

Next pants and shirts. I recommend wicking pants and shirt. They wick sweat away from you and leave you "relatively" dry.  Try a long run with and without and you will see the difference.  If you skin is prone to acne, this will help with breakouts.  It makes me more comfortable to not be completely soaked in sweat.  I prefer tight pants and shirt.  This typically leads to less chafing for me (gross but it happens!).  Loose clothes that have seams can really lead to some chafing action!!!!

Which brings me to the next topic.....body glide! I love this product. Essentially if you get chafing, apply to said spots and voila!  No more chafing!!!!  Chafing can occur anywhere!  If you wear shorts, you can be prone to chubrub (which is why I wear pants) Even if you don't get this when walking, remember, things swell, especially on a long run. ***POTENTIAL TMI ALERT! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW STOP READING!***  Girls, get a good sports bra!  Good sports bras will save you loads of boob pain and that's just the start of it. Take the time to get measured and get one that fits. Also, there is a decent chance that you will get chafing under your boobs during a very long run (10+ miles).  This doesn't just happen to me, it happens to a lot of girls I know. No idea how or why but oh it happens! I also have not such big boobs, so it doesn't matter how much you are blessed with.  Do yourself a favor, and but some body glide under your boobs before a long run!

Ok that's what I have for today!  Feel free to leave your comments below! Happy Trails!

Tips for a beginner from a beginner!

So while I was running (9 miles this weekend!) I was thinking of 2 things. 1) I was screaming a lot b/c the buckeyes were hammering the hell out of Indiana. 2) I was thinking of all the little tips I have learned along the way, some people have told me, and some I learned the hard way.  So for the next month, I thought I would blog about tips for the beginner half marathon/marathon runner. So to start, I will share how to start!

This is my third half marathon, and I have done several 5 and 10Ks along the way.  I only started running about 3 years ago.  I was pretty damn chubby in high school and college, and the only place I ran was to the fast food restaurant or to the bar :)  I college I think I topped out at 200lbs in college. (YIKES!)  I managed to lose almost 50 lbs my last year of pharmacy school. At that point I was about a size 4 or 6, but I still had trouble running a 5K.  I have gained a few pounds back, and I now wear an 8 or 10 during the off season, and a 12 during the running season (more discussion on this later!), but I am more fit now than when I was a size 4-6!  Don't get me wrong, I have my share of pudge, but I have a significant amount of muscle as well, thanks to running and cross training. 

So how did I start?  I took the first few running steps!  For some reason I agreed to run a half marathon with my BFF Aurelie! So I signed up and paid the registration fee (I am el cheapo!) so by then I HAD to run or else I had thrown my $$ away.  So I just started running.  I followed Hal Higdon's novice half marathon training plan (www.halhigdon.com). He also has 5K, 10K, and marathon training plans.  I won't lie, it was tough!!!!! Especially the first few weeks.  It is really empowering when you can't run, then suddenly you can run 1 mile, 2 miles, next thing you know you are running 13.1 miles!  You just have to keep at it ( more on motivation in another blog) and know that there WILL be bad runs!  My advice to you is, if you want to run a race, pick one and sign up! That will light a fire under your ass to train. Then pick a good training program, and stick with it the best that you can.

Back to the weight issue. Don't expect to lose weight!  Running more makes you more hungry, and you should eat more b/c your body needs the nutrition for the runs and to repair. Race first, weight loss second. I actually gain weight in my thighs and butt when I am running (all muscle!)  So if you go up a pants size, it's OK!!!!  And hey my boyfriend likes it anyway (love you Eric!).  I have struggled with weight issues for a while, and here is what I have come up with.......F-the diet!  I work out 5 times a week, I can run a LONG ass way, and I eat relatively healthfully (yea I promise I will start posting some healthy satisfying recipes). That means I am doing well for my body, and my weight is going to end up where my weight ends up. End of story.  Yes I splurge now and again, but when you know you are doing 20+ miles a week, it's not so bad.  If you want a good run, you need to eat for the run, and eat for recovery (more about that later!)

This week I am running 3.5 miles 2x this week, 2 days cross training (kickboxing and something else) and 10 miles on Saturday! Stayed tuned for more tips and happy trails!

I am a lazy blogger but not a lazy runner!

This weekend I ran 8 miles. Yes your read it 8 miles!  Only 5 more and I will run the whole she-bang, the who kahuna, the whole pie, the whole bag of cookies (mmmmm cookies), the whole 64 slices of american cheese (mmmmm), the whole 13.1!  It wasn't the easiest run that I have ever had, but it was not bad at all!  I should have run outside, but I ran on the treadmill again.  The first run outside after you have been running on the treadmill SUCKS! But after that it should be smooth sailing!

Currently I am running 3-4 days per week and cross training 1-2 days per week.  For crosstraining I joined a workout group at my church. Last week we did a sort of boot camp workout, and I was very sore! I rested 2 days before my 8 miler, but my legs were still a little sore! I need to do some more muscle building exercises I think.  I have been talking to one of my friends (you know who you are ) about possibly investing in the insanity workout or P90X.  If you  have any thoughts please post a comment! I am also considering Jillian Michaels 30 day shred.

This week I am running 3 miles on Mon  and Tues, bootcamp or kickboxing on Wed, then gazelle on Thurs or Fri and rest the other day, the 9 miles on Saturday! I need to get some more jelly beans for my run! I have discovered that Jelly Belly makes and energy bean w/ electrolytes and I really like those!  My supply is almost out so I need to look into getting more!

As far as the eating goes, I need more protein! I am trying to incorporate other grains into my diet including steel cut oats, quinoa, and wheat berries. If you have suggestions please comment! Also any good recipes that use protein powder? That stuff has ALOT of protein, but it tastes so chalky to me!

I will update on my progress this week! Happy trails everyone!

I love nieces and nephews!

I didn't run this weekend. There I said it. AHHHHHHHH. I didn't run one lick. Why? Because I spent all all all my time with Grady Thomas and Zoey Kathryn!  I don't regret one minute of it either! I ate donuts and candy w/ Zoey and we played and watched movies, and had tea, and had sleepovers and made cuppy cakes!. There was zero time for a run. Oh well! 

Am I going to run today? Answer.....NO! Today is my 2 year anniversary so I am going to go home and celebrate with Eric!

No I am not hardcore! There are many things in life that come before running for me! So this week and weekend run are going to be particularly hard for me b/c I need to get back into the swing of things!

So the weekend before last I ran 7 miles. I had planned on running 3 this past weekend and then running 8 this coming weekend. Not going to happen! So I think I will run on wed and thurs, cross train on fri, then do a 5 mile run on sat or sun.  Then next week I will get back on my schedule, 2 runs plus 2 cross trains per week, then 1 long run on the weekend.  I am hoping this is going to work out! If the runs go well I will do 8 miles next weekend.   I still have almost 2 months until my half marathon, so I think that should be just fine.

Why am I training so early? A few reasons. I love the Hal Higdon plan, and it says you only need to run 10 mi before the race. That is true and it works fine (I've done it!), but I like to get up to 15 or 16 and then I don't feel stressed on race day.  When race day gets here I know I can do 13.1 and them some!  Another reason is that random weekends like this past weekend come up where you can't fit in a run. Well if you start early enough you can account for these times. Life happens, what can I say. Is that about on the beam?  (I will be uber impressed if anyone gets this reference)  It's a long way back to Eden so don't sweat the small stuff! Another reason is that sometimes feet hurt, IT bands flare up, and you can scale down and scale back up accordingly when these things happen. When you start with too little time it's much harder to adjust for the random things. Life is both purpose and random, just not equal amounts of each :)

I'll keep you posted on how this week goes! Let's just say I am going to not run tonight and eat some delicious food and not worry about it! And I will certainly not weigh myself! hehehe!

To be honest wich-ooo

Ok so I don't know how to spell it, but in my head I am talking w/ a Jersey accent. Jersey shore is so ridiculous, it's like a train wreck, I want to look away but I can't. And I am happy to report that I now know what "grenade", "smunch", "DTF", and "get it in" mean.  I am not sure I wanted to know, but none the less I know!

So I ran 7 miles on Saturday! I am pretty happy with myself! It was the easiest 7 miles that I have ever done! I will have to say that I was very distracted.   I watched the first half of the buckeye game, and was so nervous for them, that I ran the last half of the game to burn off nervous energy.  Man oh man the time went by fast! A treadmill run has never went so well!

So I have been throwing in some speedwork, and lots of cross-training, and this is one of the best training seasons yet for me. I have to thank the BF Eric for motivating me to push myself. Last night I did 2 miles, increasing the speed every 1/2 mile. At the end I was thrilled and happy even though I was very tired.

So I bought the new disturbed album and the new linkin park album, hoping to get some new music to run to. The disturbed album delivered, but I am not sure I can be motivated to do anything more than sit around w/ the new linkin park album. It's very very different. There is no anger there at all, which mean it is shitty running music. BOO!  Anyway if you have a fave album to run to, post it!  My current favorite is disturbed throwing plates.

Tomorrow I run 3 miles fast, tonight is a cross training night.  This weekend I am only going to run 3 miles. 1 b/c you should throw yourself an easy long run every few weeks, and 2 because I am going home to Ohio to see my new nephew Grady! So excited!!!!!!!

I am glad my interest in running is picking back up again. I am DTR!

M-O-O-N that spells run your ass off!

Ok I haven't posted since Friday! For a few reasons. 1. I have been having some carpel tunnel issues (which have mostly resolved thanks to my brace!) and 2. I had such a bad bad bad week last week.  I did still run, but it didn't go well, and I ate everything that wasn't nailed down!

I did run on Saturday, 6 miles! The first 5 were great, and then the last mile I thought I was going to ride the vomit comet all the way home! I managed to keep down my lunch and finish, but barely.  Whew! I am not 100% sure how I am going to run 13.1 or 26.2 when I had such a hard 6-miler, but I keep telling myself that it has worked out twice before, and if I keep trying it will work out again! 

Monday I ran 2 miles at pace. Let me tell you that sucks!  I ran about 1.5 miles slightly faster then the last .5 miles I escalated pace to a sprint. ick. But I think it is really helping me. Tonight I am either going to do 3 miles or sprints, I haven't decided.  Then Saturday is a big 7 miler!  If it is cool enough, I will run outside. It is almost almost almost cool enough to run outside here, which I am excited about!

I have so much less soreness since I have been cross-training. I do the gazelle a lot which really helps work out the muscles. I get cardio, and it seems to stretch my hams and quads, which is awesome! I joined a small group at church which meets to work out once a week, so I will be adding that in as well. They do kickboxing, so we will see how that goes. I am going to do the low impact version, and see how that blends in w/ the running.

In other news, college football is here and I am loving it! I spent Saturday watching football and a Steven King marathon.  The stand freaks me out everytime. Randall Flag is such a creepy character. M-O-O-N that spells creepy!  I need to run before the Ohio state game at 330 EST this Saturday.  Also Michigan is playing Notre Dame, and my dilemma is that I don't want either one of them to win. Is it possible for both teams to lose please? hehehee :)

 Ok since my wrist is better I will be on here more (b/c I know I am oh-so entertaining!) M-O-O-N that spells see you later taters!

Running helps many ailments!

Well it's been a few days since I posted, mostly b/c I think I have developed carpel tunnel so now I have this damn brace that makes typing really hard :(  But I went on a 3 mile run last night and my hand felt so so much better! It makes me really want to hit the pavement soon so my hand feels better.  So this might be short and sweet b/c it's hard to type.

I ran 5 miles on Saturday! I was on the treadmill on the last few seconds and all the power went out in the house! I damn near fell off the treadmill! hehehe. I can laugh about it now but then it was a little scary to be honest. Then what did I do.......had date night and we ate at red lobster. mmmmmmmm I made sure to put back all those calories I burned!!!

I didn't want to cook on Monday b/c my hand hurt so damn much. So Eric ordered pizza and I had it for dinner Monday and lunch Tuesday.  Then I weighed myself (bad idea) and I gained a pound! WTF??? This always happens I gain weight when I run. How depressing!!!  I am hoping it is the salt from the pizza. ick.  So today I am eating brown rice and spicy eggplant that I made.  I am doing well w/ only eating 1 sweet per day, which has been hard since the arrival of Nutella no-bakes (which everyone wiped out yesterday so they must have been ok!)

Well tonight I will either do the gazelle or a tempo run depending on how I feel, then tomorrow I will do what I didn't do today. WOOT! Then  I am going to take Friday off to rest b/c Sat is a 6 mile run!YAY!
Happy trails!

A recovery day is welcome and important!

Last night was my night off, and I did no exercise at all! I am still sore from the sprints. My gluts, quads, and abs are all sore! So tonight I am going to do the gazelle to work out the soreness. I recorded the real housewives of DC to watch while I am doing the gazelle.  I haven't seen this series yet, but I hope it is as ridiculous as all the other real housewives series! 

This weekend I have a 5 mile run planned on Saturday, and a hike planned on Sunday. Those days may end up switched, but that is ok.  Depending on which day I run, will determine my plan for the rest of the week. 

I am still not doing as well as I would like on my eating habits. I think I will make 1 small change a week, and see how that goes. I think next week I will limit myself to 1 sweet treat a day. YES I have more than one sweet treat per day. Don't look at me that way, if you know me at all you wouldn't be shocked!!!!!! :)  This is going to be a challenge b/c I am going to attempt nutella no-bake cookies this weekend.  For example, yesterday I had 3 no bake cookies AND some cocoa puffs!!! Bad Jamie bad!  Ok so I sweet per day, and I will let you know how it goes :)

Today I had leftover frozen pizza. My hand has been hurting really badly from work, and it hurts to chop veggis. So I popped in frozen pizza last night.  It's so tasty but so nasty and bad for you at the same time! I tried to balance it out w/ some fresh fruit. I also had oatmeal this morning.  Tonight I am going to have a big salad to try and counter balance that as well. Oh since it's Friday I might have a cosmo as well, or 2. We'll see where the evening takes me.  It's date night w/ Eric so I think a cosmo will go well w/ dinner and movie!

I didn't drink as much water yesterday, and I feel a little slower and less alert. Overall this week, I have had more energy, which I think is due to drinking more water. I am aiming for 100oz or more per day.  I probably only had 50 oz yesterday, and I can feel it today.  My muscles are still sore, and I feel pretty tired, despite a good night's sleep. Lesson learned....drink more water!!!!  My poo activity also directly correlates w/ the amount of water I had the day before.  Just in case you are every constipated, you know the remedy....more H2O!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!  I will post how my 5 miler went this weekend!  I think you should also challenge yourself this weekend, and go slightly longer than you have ever gone.  That means if you haven't run at all, go for a walk, and job a until you are tired and then walk again.  If your max is 2 miles, try 2.25. You will be surprised what you can do! If I can will myself to go this far, you can too! And then reward yourself with a sweet treat. hehehehe. Ok maybe that last part was not the best advice, but let's be honest, I am going to head toward the nutella no bakes at the end of my run! :)

I know what a Hazmat team is.

Ok my day started out bad and continued bad. I got in early to work, only to be forced out of the building. When I asked why they just kept telling me "the hazmat people are here". Yea I fucking know who they are, but really what in this building is so hazardous that I need to leave??? So I waited outside for  a while and lost a whole morning's worth of work. BOO!  Turns out a janitor knocked over an unlabeled container that had very safe but very smelly liquid in it. ACK!   A girl from KU news interviewed me. She took my name and asked if I was a freshman.  I didn't know whether to be flattered or offended.  She either thought I looked really young, or sounded really dumb. :)

Did I mention my breakfast was in the building??  So I had to take my friend to the airport.  I needed some food, so I got a hashbrown and a egg mcmuffin minus the cheese and ham from McTerrible.  Now I remember why I don't eat there!!!!  Hello heartburn and farts!     

In other news, last night I did sprints. I did 2 miles, walking for 2 min, running FAST for 1 min. They kicked my ass! I think that means I need to do them more often.  Tonight is my  night to rest, and THANK GOODNESS b/c my ass is tired. Literally I kicked so hard on the sprints that it wore my gluts out. hehe.  That is the thing about running for me, it makes my ass all nice and round.  The upside is that it looks good, the downside is that it gets BIG. Sir mix-a-lot would be proud!!!

Thanks everyone for reading, just having people to vent to and share with helps a lot! Please post your progress or any tips you think would be helpful for me in the comment section!!!!

Eating clean is a colon clean

***readers beware, the following entry WILL discuss poop***
Last night on the gazelle was GLORIOUS b/c I watched the real housewives on NJ.  I love Caroline. I wish she would have smacked the shit out of Danielle :) hehehe

Speaking of poo.....The book I am reading from Meg, the eat-clean diet, suggests to drink loads of water. I drink about 3 big Nalgene bottles a day now.  The book says that drinking loads of water will clean you out, AND IT DOES! 2 poos a day for me since I have been drinking this much water, and not small poos, BIG poos. They are "I am so damn worried I am going to clog the industrial strength toilet at work poos" hehehe.

I have a 2 mile fast run tonight.  During the day yesterday I did well w/ my food but I PIGGED OUT a little when I got home. I had some cocoa puffs and then a big slab of homemade bread with butter and some raspberry preserves. I need to quit w/ the carbs.  I am addicted to carbs. I need to some up with a plan to lay off the carbs. I wish they had something like Antabuse for carbs. *sigh*

4 mile Monday

Well last night I did 4 miles. It is really hot here in KS (still!) so I ran on the treadmill.  The run was fairly unremarkable w/ the typical ups and downs I have in the run. I usually feel good 2 miles in, then I hit a small wall at 3 miles.  Lately I like to run in my underwear, so I am not going to have a fun adjustment when I start running outside. :)  I do pretty well w/ my eating habits during the day, but when I went home I could not leave the peanutbutter no-bake cookies along!  I can't imagine the frenzy I have when I make the Nutella no-bake cookies this weekend (results pending-stay tuned!).  Today my hip is a little sore, so I am going to do my gazelle (the strange machine that Tony Little sells on infomercials).  Sometimes I get some hip pain, and I find if I do the gazelle on my off days that helps a ton. (It's somewhat like an elliptical). I am excited b/c I am going to watch the finale of the Real Housewives of New Jersey while I do my gazelle tonight!   I hope Carolyn takes Danielle the psycho DOWN! :)  Wednesday is a 2 miler, Thursday is my day off, Friday is another cross training day, then Saturday is a 5 miler. Stay tuned!

To 26.2 and beyond

Welcome to the wonderful journey of Dr. Dr. Alan to 26.2 and beyond! I am not a huge blogger, nor do  I follow many blogs. I am mostly doing this blog for myself to increase my accountability. Let me explain.  I started running 2 years ago in graduate school.  I ran a half marathon (13.1) with my bff Aurelie (aka Frenchy)  After that I wanted to run a full marathon. Grad school got in the way (stupid dissertation) and my IT band gave me troubles, so I never ended up running the full 26.2, however I did complete a second half marathon almost a year ago.  Currently, my plan is to run my 3rd half marathon in November and run a full marathon in April.  This blog will outline my running plan and eating plan, along with all the exciting and traumatizing ups and downs that go into the training for these events.  If you so choose, please follow me to be entertained (maybe) and feel free to leave encouraging/discouraging/neutral comments.  I am hoping that by writing about this I will be more motivated! And if you would like to start running, either 1 mile or 26.2 like me, come along on the journey!