Happy valentines day!!

***post edit... exercising has gone out the window for today.  I have some serious GI issues and I can't stay away from the bathroom for more than a half hour :-( ugh... not.happy.  Okay, sorry for TMI.... but seriously, you guys hold me accountable whenever I write down my workouts on here!  I have to explain why it's not happening.  Heh, having a blowout on the mill at the gym would be very, very bad.  haha.... gross.  Now that I've painted an amazing picture for you- read on... the post gets better***

As some of you know, the husband has been traveling a ton for work. So this morning he got up very early and got ready to head to the airport. He is gone each week from Mon-Thurs. So, it could be worse.

Anyways, we had a fun weekend. We were able to cook a nice dinner together on Sat night. He gets so sick of eating out while he travels, so this was really special to do for him. We made lasagna rolls. Here is the link for the recipe: lasagna rolls

I just wanted to say how thankful I am for Jon. He works so hard and I am very proud of him. He is my number one fan and supports all my crazy running... And food habits... Haha! He was so sweet to leave me this note on the table this morning. Love.

So this is our 5th v-day together. So awesome. However, today I will spend it going to work, weights, running and snuggling with this furry monster... Aka: Sookie :)  we will prob watch an obligatory chick flick and eat ice cream :)

Any recommendations for a movie?

How are you spending v-day?

If your loved one is traveling today, how did yoy make them feel special?

Planned workout: weights and a hopeful 6-7 miles on the mill.

Victory!!!

This week was VICTORIOUS!!  For Houston, it has been a little chilly.  Nothing like what all of you New Englanders have been experiencing.  Seriously- my family in NH has seen TONS of snow (but, what's new??).  We had some deep freeze warnings and snow warnings too.  Thankfully, no snow.  However, there was a lot of ice.  Check out my side-view mirror!  No,  I wasn't driving when I took this.  Promise.

Anyways, because it was cold I kept everything inside.  On Monday I decided that I would hit up the treadmill and see what I could do.  Last time I  did this- I only made it like 3 miles before pain set in.  So, I had a small goal in mind that I was loosely holding on to.  I said I wanted to see if I could pull 5 miles without pain.  I  put in the tunes and I started at a conservative pace and started.  I had my awesome "Shut up and run" bondi band on (SUAR).  I just kept repeating that over and over to myself.  I  had the TM on 1% incline.  I was so nervous.  How ridiculous does that sound??

I knew I had put in the work to stay up with my cardio- but my fear of pain was just freaking me out.  I decided to  just get lost in my tunes.  Before I knew it- I was at 4 miles.  Really???  No pain?? I must've looked so ridiculous with my goofy smile and sweat pouring everywhere (it was warm in the gym!).  I knew 5 miles would be no prob.  Then I got to 5... felt amazing... so I decided to do one more... and before I knew it- I had run 7 miles.  I called it good at that.  Didn't want to get too carried away.

I was beside myself!!   I was so excited!  Heh, I wanted to go run up to a perfect stranger and give them a high 5- a hug would be sweaty nasty... decided that I would spare someone of that disaster.  I wanted to take a picture to post... but alas... I forgot my phone in the car and when I got home- I had forgotten... Oops.  Sorry.

Tuesday I did my normal weights and elliptical.  I wanted to give my legs a chance to rest.  Then Wednesday: weights and treadmill.  Guess how many miles?? 8.  Pain?  Zero.

This week:

Knee pain: 0   Me: bajillion :-)

Then yesterday it was so nice outside.  So, I decided to hit the road.  Again, I had a loose goal.  I made it to 6 miles and then started to feel tightness.  Then it hit me.  I think I have a plausible contributing factor of what has been causing my pain (besides over-training).  The route I had been doing a lot before I got injured has a zillion left turns.... and I did the same route nearly every day.  Apparently, I don't believe in turning right :-) Anyways, what knee has been in pain?  My left knee.  I never thought about it before.  So, lesson learned: switch it up!   I know I have done that route backwards before- it just felt weird.  I felt lost haha... I have issues I guess.  Anyways, I decided to call it quits at 6.  My body felt like it could keep going- but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

So, what do you think?  Do you think that turning the same way over and over could cause an injury?  What way do you turn the most when you are hitting the roads?

Overall week: Fan-freaking-tastic!!  Princess Half is coming up... Check out that tiara!! 

Excitement :)

Real quick

For those with qualifying times for the boston marathon that didn't get in.... Jetblue is giving away an entry go to this site for more info!!

http://www.jetbluecontest.com/

Hungry Runner Girl Giveaway!

Have you been following Hungry Runner Girl???  If you haven't- you really need to.  I am wishing that we still lived in Provo so we could be running buddies.  Anyways, she is having a sweet giveaway (pun intended... there is candy involved!).  Go check it out HERE!

Happy February!!!

So, I apologize for lack of photos... I need to work on that.  Yesterday and today I had some killer workouts.  I am getting over a sinus infection.  My personal opinion for myself is that I can still workout as long as it is above the neck! If it goes below that... it's a big "no-no".  So, I am being careful! 

I am in the 5th week of my Life the Life program.  I didn't do this to lose weight- just to get stronger.  So far I have lost 6lbs.  I am really impressed.  I can feel myself getting stronger and I can start to see it too.  It is very exciting.  I was so caught up in marathon training for so long that I completely set aside resistance training.  I am so glad to be back at it. 

Yesterday's work out consisted of 3x15's for each:  bench press, flies, lat pulldown (with resistance band), bent over row, bicep curl, incline curl, tricep dips, skull crushers, split abs and lying supermans.   Two words: HOLY CRAP!!   I was dying!!  For my warm up I ran outside for a mile (just testing the waters with the knee) and then after weights I cycled for 30 mins and did 9 miles.

Today: same 3x15's...  wall sits (3x60 sec), walking lunges, step ups, hamstring curls (with stability ball) and one legged bridge (okay.. seriously- I cannot do these!  I have no coordination. I was laughing the whole time).  Again, 10 min warm up on elliptical and then I went to the gym and RAN on the treadmill for 3 miles!  There was some pain- but I stopped before it got to be a problem.

So first run?  I'd say mostly a success :-)  Woot!!  Just wishing there was no pain. 

So, I will leave you with this.  I am like all you other ladies out there.  I am my own worst enemy sometimes when it comes to self-worth.  I am working on it every day.  Janae posted this cute poem on her blog (she is awesome-sauce go check her out here) that I also wanted to share on my blog.  It was a nice pick me up today.

Beauty Tips
For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beatiful hair,
Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise
Walk with the knowledge that you'll never walk alone.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes
Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place were love resides.
-Sam Levenson


What was the hardest workout you've ever done?

-i'd have to say that for me that speed work always always kicks my butt!  However, with the lack of running... I would have to say that yesterday's work out really REALLY kicked my butt!!  It was the hardest workout I've had in a long time. 

What do you do when you are feeling down in the dumps?

-I always make sure to talk with the husband about it.  He is my biggest fan and my complete other half.  Prayer and exercise.  They all go hand-in-hand together for me. 

It's tomorrow!!

So, uuber fast post here...

Tomorrow is February 1st.  You know what that means?? I will be doing an official run tomorrow to see how the knee is.  I know... Disney Princess Half is a blink away- but I feel like I will be okay.  I am not looking for a PR- just a fun experience :)

Here is to hoping that tomorrow is successful!!  I took an entire month off of running!  That knee better give me a green light :-)

PS: giveaway over at bessbefit Love it!!

Geez, I am SO behind in the blogging world!

I think after my "almost" epic fail from the San Antonio Marathon, I have completely neglected this blog.  For reals.  I think I just got so down and out about my knee injury.  Which still hurts BTW...  Sorry, I know this post is long and without pictures.  I'm not that sorry.  I at least wrote something!

Anyways, I decided that I wasn't going to give up and that I was going to take a different approach too my exercise regimen.  As I mentioned in my last post about the 12 week program called "Live The Life" I am in my 3rd week! This "program" isn't meant to be a diet.  It's meant to be a lifestyle change.  I don't eat weird food or anything like that.  It's meant to simplify life.  It was also like paying for a trainer with a nutrition plan.  Except, a whole lot cheaper!

Each week I have different meals and workouts.  I get to eat 6x a day!  For me- this is absolutely PERFECT!  I love love love to snack- just ask Jon. This "program" helps me to not snack at all because I always feel satisfied.  My goals going into this was to become a stronger runner.  This means a lot of resistance training.  I haven't done this much resistance training since high school! I don't have much weight to lose, but my goal was to lose no more than 10lbs.   I have already lost 4lbs :-).

People have asked me how I can stick to this- eating at specific times, eating my prepared meals in public places... I just tell them it's will power and also it's the fact that I paid for this- of course I'm going to get my moneys worth!!  My dad came out to visit last week and he wanted to go to IHop.  Heh, I felt so embarrassed that I wasn't there to order- but I pulled out my food and ate it anyways.  No regrets here... just a little awkward.  Oh and Studio Movie Grille... yes, I stuffed my dinner in my purse and ate it in the theater while my dad and his friend ordered their dinner haha... At least I didn't get "caught".  After my dad was done with his meal- he had an extra plate so I dumped my food on that and made it look like I was eating food from the theater.  I bet they wondered where the rice and salsa came from. So, I apologize if we are ever invited over to your house for dinner... I will probably bring my own food or I might eat before or after you.  Don't take it personally... I'm just trying to reach a goal.  :-)

Okay.. so this is probably going to be TMI... oh well.  The only downside that I have found with this is that... I have to go to the restroom  A LOT.  No really. No I'm not pregnant (for those with suspicions).  I just drink tons of water.  This has made work a little hard.  I work in a back room with no bathroom and because I'm with kids- I can't leave them.  So, if I have to go, I have to call the front desk to ask if they can sit in with them while I made a pit stop.  How embarrassing!  Want to know what happened the other day?  They said "be right there!" and they NEVER came.  Seriously, people!  I drink 4 liters of water a day!!! It was almost a disaster.  Any suggestions??  It's not that I have an overactive bladder (I don't think?) but I think anyone who were to drink as much water as I do - they'd have the same problem.

Alright, to end on a non bathroom topic... I just wanted to say that I received an amazing house warming gift.  An elliptical!!!  While my dad was out here he told me his treadmill broke.  He was asking for my help on picking out a new one or an elliptical because of his knee pain.  To save you from a very long story- I will just say that he completely tricked me!  He made me go to a sports store because he wanted to see them up close and in person so he'd know what to look for when he got home.  There I was blabbing on and on about different features of treadmills and ellipticals and he looked at the sales guy and said "we'll take this one!"  I was in so much shock.  I'm sure the look on my face was priceless.  I almost started balling my eyes out.

Anyways, I have officially canceled my gym membership and I have been working out from home.  I work at a gym so I still have access to that one for free if I need it.  There just isn't a pool or any exercise classes. I absolutely LOVE the elliptical.  No waiting in lines and all the Gilmore Girls I can handle ;)  Win win!  I'm struggling to find a name for it.  My stationary bike is "Wanda" and my garmin watch is "GPSy" get it? like "gypsy"? Anyways, any ideas for the elliptical?  I thought about it at work the other day and the only thing I could come up with was "Stella"... because the only word coming to mind was "stellar"  okay, I'm a dork.  Deal with it.  I'm taking names for the elliptical!