Wednesday, February 25, 2009

WTF?? I thought this was a 5K!

That's the name of the relay team that I'm on for the Wasatch Back Relay in June. All women team; I've never met any of them. I'm happy to note from the team name that they seem to have a sense of humor. Whew!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

friggin' double wide!

Ran to Grimm's Gate plus two laps in the cemetary pushing the boys the entire time. Running up to Grimm's was friggin hard. I couldn't keep up my 12/1 intervals because pushing uphill was just too much. I did 12/1, 3/1, 2/1, 8/1 - whatever it took to get to the top of that route. HARD!!!!! The laps in the cemetary really weren't that bad after running up to Grimm's. We're always worried about the Peanut being so skinny, and I really want him to gain weight... until I start to push that stroller. I just kept thinking (as I was panting and sweating and moaning and groaning) that I'll look even better and have even more endurance afterwards because of their help.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

catching up, the Double Wide, and a long run, the 21-day plan and wheat bread

I ran on Thursday night after an argument. Just up to Grimm's Gate, but I think that being in a really bad mood is helpful to my pace since I finished at 10:34mpm.

Then, I got up on Friday morning and ran again. This time, I ran then USU loop. Apparently, running again so soon isn't something that my body enjoys as my pace was 12:03mpm.

Yesterday, the weather was wonderful, and I decided that the boys would love to be outside, so (even though the weather was great, I wasn't taking any chances) I bundled them up in their snow suits and we were off to run errands. Snow suits were a very good idea as the breeze had a bite to it. And, my "errands" I mean that I had to return a video that was late. Since it's been four months that I've been running without the boys and the stroller, I had COMPLETELY forgotten how stinking hard that double-wide is to push! I was wiped out. The boys are a combined 54 pounds. I have no idea how much the double-wide weighs, but it's enough. It is heartening to know that with the improved weather and more boy accompanied runs, I'll be sleek and trim in no time. Or whatever.

This morning was a long run of about 10.8 miles. I ran out and back on Droubay. The "back" is very similar in distance and elevation climb as leg two of the WBR in June. My plan is to run this at least 1x/week. Keeping this up will contribute to the aforementioned "sleek and trim" bod that had better come this week!

So, the 21-day healthier living plan didn't work exactly the way that I wanted it to. My goal was to lose two pounds more than I did, but then again, I lost focus around the time of little bro's wedding. Still, I managed to lose five pounds in less than three weeks. That's not horrible.

And, as for the healthy eating portion of the 21-day plan, I am determined to do this for about forever. It's really been good for me. The 5-raw-foods/day is hard to do (not to mention, expensive), but I can see the benefits. With the exception of pasta, I've cut out all white flour and sugar is quickly becoming a non-issue (WTF?!?!?). After some good suggestions and some research, I found that my all-wheat bread needed some gluten (which white flour usually supplies which is why they are often used in equal parts). So, I just decided to go straight to the source and buy some gluten. It's cheap and looks like it will last for quite some time. This is good because I think that it will take "quite some time" for me to master this bread thing. What a pain in my ass. Loaf #2 isn't rock hard like the first loaf, but it's nothing to write home about. I'm going to try loaf #3 the traditional way (kneading my own dough? that will be a first) and give my bread maker a break.

Oh - it's been 21 days since I've even had a sip of beer. It hasn't been hard, but I sure wouldn't mind one right about now..... Yesterday would have been better after some guy wrecked into us in the parking lot of the store. His trailer hitch was scratched where it plowed into both passenger doors and flattened our rear tire. Nothing else on his big truck was hurt at all. We need to have body work done. The really good news: nobody was injured. We were very worried about Meatball since the trailer hitch mashed into his door, but all is well.

Monday, February 16, 2009

coupla' runs

Saturday was the 10K at Saltaire. I didn't go. I didn't register or pay, so I didn't feel obligated to run especially since it was snowing like crazy. So, we took our time at the store, and I finally got out the door when the boys went down for a nap. Liz and I started our run and got a call from my friend, Nate, who DID pay for the winter series and drove all the way up to the GSL from Utah County. He confirmed that the conditions were less than perfect. I'm impressed that he slogged it out in the wind and snow. Our run was pretty decent. The snow had passed, and the sun was out. We did a total of 5.4 miles with a good pace.

Sunday was our long run. We managed to get up early and out the door by 5:45. We ran a 5.5 mile loop, a cemetary lap, and then ran up to Grimm's Gate for a total of 9.7 miles. My pace was slower than I had hoped @ 11:45 mpm, but it was the miles that I had to get in.

Thinking a lot about my diet and my commitment to getting healthier during our runs. I'm really trying to get a handle on that whole thing. It's hard, and sometimes I do great. Other times.....

Also thinking about the plot for our (me and IsaV) NaNoWriMo project coming up in November. I don't think that I'm supposed to be thinking about it - as it's an exercise in writing - but I'm a planner. I can't go into it blind. I've tried, and I just can't seem to keep my mind from it. Plus, I've never even considered fiction. Hell, my non-fiction is boring enough; I have to have some sort of direction. Plus, do I adopt a pen name? Something exotic? Something Manhattan? Something Uni-bomber-holed-up-in-a-shack?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

running laps

Monday was a complete rest day. I rolled my left quad, and by Tuesday it was grateful for the break. I did sorta-yoga on Tuesday (I can't find my book, and my memory was limited on the poses) combined with push-ups, crunches, and core exercises. Again, my quad was happy. Wednesday brought cemetary laps (6) at 4:30AM! My average pace was 11:13 mpm. Not bad. Lizzy and I scared up five deer who were passing through, but other than that it was very quiet. Just the sound of me huffing and puffing lap after lap. Oh, and it was COLD! 27* if even that, but I'm really starting to not mind that so much. (Of course, just in time for spring.)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Weekend catch-up

Friday brought a late night run (9pm) in the cemetary. 3.6 miles at an average pace of 11:13 mpm. I actually got the pepper spray out during the last lap because someone came in and stopped. Who goes to the cemetary at 9:45? Then again, who runs laps in the cemetary at 9:45pm? I did spend a couple of laps feeling sorry for myself because I missed the Amy Ray concert that night. Small, close venue.

Saturday, the boys went to Papa and Nana's house for a few hours so that I could really get some things done - which I did. I hated every second of it because I love spending time with them and don't get enough of them during the week. However, I did get all of the windows washed, the devil bush trimmed a bit, the apple tree pruned a lot (but more to do), the bathroom scrubbed, and a 6.8 mile run completed. My average pace was 10:17mpm!!!! This NEVER happens. I realize that it was all a gradual downhill, but even that doesn't seem like a good enough reason for ME to run that fast.

Today, Lizzy and I managed to slog out a 5.5 miler. Average pace was 11:17mpm. It was HARD. I ran as much last week as I did in the entire month of November. I also think that I've hurt my left quad in some way - either by my "blistering" pace yesterday or from stretching wrong. So, today's run was difficult - especially on the uphill portions. The next two days should be resting and cross training. That should give my quad what it's screaming for.

I'm also doing a new nutrition plan. It's all exactly what I should be doing. Five raw foods per day, no pork, no beef, no carbonated drinks, reduced sugar, no processed flour, only healthy fats, eliminate high fructose corn syrup whereever possible, etc. It's not really hard, and I've only been hungry once. I do really need to concentrate on NOT eating sweets - especially at work or at the end of the night. Salads, salads, salads. In one week, I've only had one cup of hot chocolate and one bite of a granola bar. That's it for sugar. I haven't eaten after 7:15pm for a week. I even made my own whole wheat bread which didn't rise appropriately and tastes/looks like a brown rock with walnuts. But, I'm happy to say that it's working. I'll post my results after the 21-day "challenge" is over.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Running the dark might be preferable?

Lizzy and I did the Broadway loop with a lap in the cemetary.

I really had to push myself to up my pace. The first 12 minutes seemed like I was standing still. I really had to talk myself into pushing it after that. The gradual uphill of the run wasn't horrible, but I had to keep reminding myself to keep my pace decent. I did force myself to run up the hated hill to the cemetary. (Any hills done now will only help in the June relay and August 'thon.)

I was happy that this run was in the dark today because I really couldn't see the end of this entire uphill portion - 400 feet over 2 miles. Therefore, it wasn't as discouraging as it is in the daylight! I know that it's only 400 feet, but it's a constant slog - I've never liked it. Not being able to see it was good.

I tried to finish my lap in the cemetary before my watch turned to an hour, but I missed it by 20 seconds! Aaarrruuuugggghhhh! Then, I really pushed myself to run as quickly as I could for the block home. Today's run was really all about making myself move past my groggy morning limitations. My overall average pace was 11:27mpm.

As usual, Lizzy had a blast. Oh, by the way - it was COLD!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Pre-Superbowl long run

Liz and I ran 7.8 miles Sunday morning. We did our route to Grimm's gate and then tacked on the USU loop. I was still tight and stiff - an accumulation of NOT running for most of the week, doing my fastest 5K the day before, not properly stretching ever, and having PMS. (OK - the PMS part probably doesn't mean anything, but I just like to throw it in there as an excuse for sub-par performance on anything.)

My pace was slow - barely under 12 mpm - UG! In my defense, I had PMS (all right, I'll stop bringing it up), it was 23*, and well, whatever. It was slow, but I'm glad that I got it done. Because of my stiffness and tightness, I reduced my run/walk intervals to 9/1. I stuck with them until the last half mile when the hill to the cemetary arrived. I just didn't have enough gas in the tank to run up it, so I took an extra long walk break.

We saw NOBODY. We were passed by maybe five cars, and absolutely NO people. We did manage to spook five deer out there in the dark fields.

I got it done, and then managed to undo any progress that I had made by guzzling beer and chomping on hot wings as we watched the Superbowl. What a great game. I was pulling for the Cardinals, but I have always liked the Steelers. Very exciting game. Our superbowl party consisted of us, the boys, and the dogs. Man, we're getting old.