Starting the Week Out Right!

Run/Workout: 3.63 miles 
Location: Astoria Riverwalk
Run Time (if applicable): 31:58, 8:48 splits
Run Start: 8:50 am
Temperature: 62 degrees
Weather: sunny and windy


Today wasn't an exciting run per-say. I just have to say how blessed we have been by all of the sunshine! Wind or not, the sun cannot be taken for granted here on the N. Oregon Coast! 


The run itself was just ok. I was feeling heavy and my left calf/shin was twinging. So instead of 4, I stopped at 3.63 back where my car was parked. 


So it wasn't my best run, but I got some sunshine and burned some calories nonetheless!

Nutrition and Weight Update

Well this last month has been tough! I reached the under-140 mark only to pop right above it again! I've been in this tough flippy-floppy stage and MyFitness Pal has been so hard to follow lately. I can't seem to get my hunger under control and I can't seem to get low enough in the sugar/carb department. It's frustration.

I guess the only thing you can do is keep trying. I have been trying to think about grabbing for veggies more than anything else. Days when I run are pretty good...I usually finish the day under or at my calorie goal. But any other day I get to dinner time and things sort of fall apart. I'm not sure what my problem is. I was doing so good!

Well this week I made 2 goals that I am going to focus on that I'm hoping will help:

1) Go for an hour walk each evening. Aside from health benefits (burns about 250 calories), the weather has been gorgeous and I really enjoy walking the Prom during sunset and afterward, when the Prom lights come on. It's so lovely.

2) Reach for veggies more than fruit/cheese. It's really easy for me to grab an apple, banana, canned peaches, etc. The list goes on. But unfortunately, fruits have lots more carbs and sugars so it's not like you can eat an unlimited amount. It's good to reach for fruit over say, a cupcake but you can overeat even on fruits. Veggies on the other hand are super low cal, low carb and packed full of vitamins and fiber. If I have to, I will buy the prepped bags of veggies and light dip (baby carrots, snow peas, celery, broccoli and cauliflower).

As an aside, I am not super focused on losing the last 5 pounds right now. I lost 5 and it's become so hard to keep those off. So my focus has been more on keeping the balance going and then maybe I'll tackle the other 5 pounds later.

"Life's about the journey..." Six-Miler

I love the saying, "Life is about the journey, not the destination" (~author unknown) I believe both are true. When we plan a vacation, half the fun for me is in the planning. When I run a half marathon, the training leading up to it is have the fun/battle for me. I gain so much in the way of mental and physical achievements before I even reach my goal race!

Tuesday I mentioned that I broke my earbuds...again. Today the sun was out, I had no class and I planned on a six-miler in Seaside, one of my favorite classic routes. I could have strapped on my iPhone and used my Nike+ app, but heading out the door I realized my phone battery was low and thought, What the he? and left it behind. Unhooked and unplugged I chugged along in the sunshine. It was a lovely journey ;)

One tidbit was that there is a hill at mid-point that has always been a significant challenge for me. Today I ran it like a boss!!! I'm usually huffing and on the verge of puking by the top but since I have been running a ton of hills in Astoria, I took it really smoothly! What a great feeling!!

Oh yeah...stats maybe?


Run/Workout: 6 miles(as far as I know...), Big Hill 
Location: Prom and Sunset Cove, Seaside, Or
Run Time (if applicable): Dunno! Isn't that great?!? :-D
Run Start: 9:20 am
Temperature: 62 degrees
Weather: sunny and clear


Have a great day!! I'm going to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. 

The Trickle Down Factor

Just a quick note.

I love how running sets me up for good health choices the rest of my day. When I focus myself on a run I have for the day, I am better about what I eat for fuel and how I hydrate. I choose more fruits and veggies and drink a ton of water. 

Funny thing is, the days that I run are usually also the days I remember my vitamins, maybe squeeze in a walk in the evenings, wear additional sunblock, etc. I go the extra mile with my skincare regimen and I brush AND floss twice those days. I may even shave my legs and paint my toenails when on other days I am not a motivated to do so. It's funny!

I think there is something to this. When you purpose yourself to do something healthy, it puts you in a healthy frame of mind that applies to lots of areas of your life. When you complete a workout, it gives you confidence and endorphins make you feel really good about it, and about yourself. So maybe you are more likely to choose the strawberries rather than the strawberry milkshake, or the salad instead of the burger. It just makes you feel so much better. It makes you want to make the effort to take good care of the rest of you too, not just the "running" part.

Just something I have noticed a lot!

Four Miles-Hills, Sunshine, Stress-Relief

The sun has been shining on the good ol' north coast of Oregon! Today was the warmest run I have had in a long time and it felt great! My only regret is that I didn't wear my hat. I don't enjoy having the sun beat down on my forehead and squinting the whole way.

My first mile was easy and felt fast but was really around 10:00 mile. I had several hills along the route and I felt that I took them about the same as I usually do, with a few that felt a tad easier so I guess that's progress!

I broke yet another pair of earbuds somehow however...I'm pretty sure I have gone through at least 5 pairs just this year! I don't know what it is with me and earbuds...

I'm having trouble uploading from my iPhone, a common problem lately I must confess...:( So here are my basic stats from today:

Run/Workout: 4 miles, Hills 
Location: Irving St. Astoria
Run Time (if applicable): 37:09, 9:17 average splits
Run Start: 11:00 am
Temperature: 62 degrees
Weather: sunny and clear

I was just so happy about the sun. I am fully aware of how much I complain (maybe not on this blog but I do) about the lack of sun here. Today and as it appears the rest of the week, I will probably be eating my words. I'm all for it!

It is really, REALLY easy to get a sunburn in Oregon when the sun finally comes out. Everyone soaks up way too much because it is such a treat!  And we're all really white, even the ones who go to tanning beds (true story...and I'm way against them for the record). However, I am not discounted and I have to really be careful. We don't live in Mobile where I had a year-round tan anymore. And I hate sunburns. Instead when I have to start showing skin, whether in workout gear or not, I usually slap on some sunless tanning cream, wear lots of sunblock and call it good. I have got it down to a science.
Today's run was so beneficial. It wasn't about the training of the run, it was about the release. We're covering some really challenging material regarding the urinary system in Anatomy and Physiology (interesting to apply to running with regard to hydration and replacing electrolytes by the way) and my brain was fried by about 11am. Besides that, I am waiting to finish this application process and see if I am getting into the nursing program.

A run was just the ticket. I finished revived, showered and was ready to study some more. Big test tomorrow! Six-mile run afterward(I'm sure I will be blowing off test steam!)

Eleven Miles-Longest Run This Year! Highest Mileage Week Yet!

Woah, I burned at least 1200 calories!!!

ELEVEN MILES!!! (Eleven-point-TWO miles to be exact) Longest training run this year and ever! My first half marathon, my longest training run was 10 miles, and my second half marathon my longest training run was a pitiful 7 miles. This was the longest I have ever run outside of a race environment. I have a very great feeling of accomplishment in that!

I have really begun to like the feeling after a really long run where you are just spent, and you have expended all of your resources. It is cleansing in a way. Not just that, but I ran a total of 24.5 miles this week! It is the highest mileage week yet!

I haven't run this far in my town so I wasn't sure how to build it all up. I used www.mapmyrun.com this morning to get an idea of which streets to turn on, etc. Then I used Nike+GPS for tracking. I also made sure my phone was fully charged, because the app drains the battery.

Let's see...what else? One of the things that annoys me about trying to keep a blog of my running journey is that during my runs I get all of these great ideas, then once I get to the computer, I have forgotten them! It is true though that running boosts creativity.

The weather was pretty good. It was cloudy with patches of sun, then around mile 9 it was just all clouds, some pretty dark. I was kind of afraid of being rained on at the hardest part of my run, but the rain held off thank goodness!  I wore sunblock on my face but not my body. By the time I got home I had a pretty good tanline, which proves that the sun is just as strong behind clouds!

This weekend is Friends and Family weekend at the Nike Outlet here in town so I got to buy a few new items for working out!

I finally bought a running skirt! It's so cute and I only paid $20 :)

I wasn't sure about these because they hit my calf in a weird place but I wore them today and LOVE them!!

Don't you love this shirt? I couldn't pass it up!!

Back to the run...I guess I mentioned the clothing because I wore the pants and was glad that they worked out. No chafing or bunching anywhere :) I will also love wearing it to power yoga. However, my tank was not as great. I usually wear a t-shirt.  My inner arms near the armpit chafed around mile 9 on...not fun! Time to buy some:

Or maybe try these out:

We'll see. But overall the run went great. I love longer runs, they are so relaxed and chill. The last few miles are always a challenge, but I didn't feel The Wall at mile 9 or 10. I just had to make myself keep going. I was kind of aiming to reach higher to 12 miles but I got a sideache and went ahead and stopped at 11.3. I ate these while running:



Note to self...filling my little accessory pants pocket with beans doesn't work very well. As I started to sweat, the sweat whicked away but still got to the beans and they stuck together and to my pants... 

I was really focused on proper hydration. We've been studying the Urinary system lately so I am acutely aware of the importance of water/electrolyte balance. I hydrated the night before, the morning of and I stopped at every water fountain along my route. I ate the beans every few miles too (even with sweat on them). After the run I still felt out of balance. I was slightly nauseous for a few hours post-run and my shower never felt so great!

My body felt so great overall though. I didn't have any problems at all! I'm pretty tired though and resting/recovering. As a post-race celebratory treat, I ordered one of these from Fultano's pizza:

Yummy Chicken Pesto Pizza w/ Sun-dried Tomatoes and Artichokes!

Off to take a nap people...I'm pooped!! 

Another Four Miles

Run/Workout: 4 miles
Location: My garage, treadmill
Run Time (if applicable): 35:58, 8:59 average splits
Run Start: 8:30 am
Temperature: 56 degrees
Weather: N/A

Notes:

This morning we all woke up exhausted. DH had to head North to pick up our travel trailer and I decided to play hookie this morning and run instead.  I have a class at 11am so technically I didn't play hookie, I just didn't take my Kindergartner to school until around 11am (so he played hookie). That being said, I don't condone this decision and wouldn't make it a habit. It worked out best for everyone today though. DS was also very tired. Our morning routine is crazy stressful, and it was nice to ignore it this morning.

So the run...it was good, not great. The first mile was awesome and I thought it was just going to be the best run ever. Then around mile 2.5 it got hard! The last miles were tough. I think the treadmill is a huge mental challenge for me. A 4-miler on the road or trail would not feel nearly as tough as my treadmill 4-milers. It's probably in my head, or it could very well be the physiology behind running on the treadmill.

I wore compression socks and rolled out my muscles, showered and headed out! It was the weirdest day being totally out of my routine, but I think these days are needed sometimes. Tomorrow is long run day!