I am finally feeling better. Still not 100% better but better. After I had the stomach virus, I had some weird respiratory illness which made exercise nearly impossible.
In better news, I have seen more bands perform this month than in the last year. Snoop, Kid Rock and Joan Jett at BSMF, Indigo Girls in Nashville (with the symphony), and the Old 97s. There are many others but these are the highlights!
I slowly getting back into it all and reworking my eating. More to come...
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Minor setback...
I am currently sitting on my couch with a blanket and robe catching up on my DVR. I have the stomach virus. :( This put a halt to my workout for today!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
First 5K of 2014
I can't believe that it is April and I am just now getting to my first 5K of the year. It was for John P Freeman Elementary. I walked. It was a very small race but fun. I wore the wrong shoes. Now starts the quest for the right ones!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Today's workout
Went to Boot Camp today. It was thunder and lightning outside so no suicides! Yeah!! Making it up by doing tabata push ups...YUCK! Grateful that I have a great coach and supportive classmates! So glad tomorrow is Friday.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
I did it!
Since January, I haven't really gone for a run. Sure, I sprint and run at bootcamp but no sustained running. Tonight, I went to take a check to my neighbor. As I left the comfort of my front porch, my feet just took off. I ran about 0.25 mile to my neighbor's house. I walked about a half mile. I ran the last 0.25 mile back to my house. It felt right and good.
It is time to get back to it.
It is time to get back to it.
The Beginning - About me (Long Post)
Where do I start? How about 3 years ago. I looked in the mirror just after my 32nd birthday and thought to myself - "You look miserable." See, I was about 100 lbs overweight and exercise was a 4-letter word. There and then, I decided that the only way to change was to do something different, something outside my personal comfort zone. But what?
I started trying to exercise on my own: walking and using workout videos. What I was doing best is making excuses why I couldn't fit exercise in my day. I was working 12-hour shifts as a pharmacy manager which really took all of my energy. I need my sleep, right? So, I started looking for a personal trainer who might help me keep accountable. I found one (Becca) who was starting a new BootCamp style class at 5:30 in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I contacted her via Twitter (I am such a nerd), and she reassured me that all fitness levels are welcome. I figured that I would sign up and do the first class or 2 and quit if I didn't like it. There were only 3 of us in this class and I looked like the other 2 put together and 6 inches shorter. However, I survived not only the first class but also the entire 6 week program. Turns out I kinda liked it and I could start to see results.
After 5 or 6 months of BootCamp, I was still going strong. Then, I lost my job. This was a very stressful time for me and I slacked a little as I transitioned to a new position. This new position was with a physician's practice. This particular office was very active (the physician has her own triathlon team, the practice manager is an ultra-marathoner and one of her NP's is a fitness instructor) and sponsored a few 5K's in town. I have walked a few 5K's, mainly the Race for the Cure as my mom is a Survivor. At the same time, some friends from college decided to meet up in Austin, TX for a 5K in March. As a practice, I agreed to join the physician's office 5K team for their February race. I had started trying to add a little run to my long walks. Of course, after the 5k in March, I was asked to do another in April and a goal was born. I would do 12 5K's in 12 months (February to February). I did accomplish the 12 5K's by December 2012; so, I modified the goal to be 12 5K's in 2012.
What did I do next? Well, I needed a new goal. Remember the crazy fit people I work with? They suggested I run a half-marathon next. Run 13.1 miles in 2013. That has such a nice ring to it. I searched for a great half-marathon all around the US (focusing in places where I knew someone and I might have a place to stay). I found the Detroit International Half-Marathon. I liked it for a few reasons: my best friend lives in Detroit, the race is walker-friendly, and it requires a passport because the race crosses into Canada and back. I started training in January, got injured in February. Restarted in earnest in May (I may be the only person who gets slower the more she trains), and finished the Half-marathon faster than I had anticipated (under 4 hours) and with tears. I was so happy to see my best friend at the finish line. Unfortunately, my loving feeling towards racing was on the skids. I completed another half-marathon at Disney World and just stopped like Forest Gump.
I have amazing friends who are both supportive and enablers. Another friend of mine found a Marathon in China on the Great Wall, and we decided to do it. Did that sink in? My friend and I decided to complete a marathon on the Great Wall of China (there are stairs, right), and I have just stopped running. Ok, so that race isn't until May 2015. Whew, I have plenty time, right? Well, except that my friend feels like we should run a "practice marathon". We found what looks like an amazing race in Philadelphia in Nov 2014 (Portland and Richmond were a close 2nd and 3rd). Here I am today, starting all over again, training for a marathon. Follow along with my ups and downs as I learn the ins and outs of marathoning. Fear not, I will be run/walking the race.
I started trying to exercise on my own: walking and using workout videos. What I was doing best is making excuses why I couldn't fit exercise in my day. I was working 12-hour shifts as a pharmacy manager which really took all of my energy. I need my sleep, right? So, I started looking for a personal trainer who might help me keep accountable. I found one (Becca) who was starting a new BootCamp style class at 5:30 in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I contacted her via Twitter (I am such a nerd), and she reassured me that all fitness levels are welcome. I figured that I would sign up and do the first class or 2 and quit if I didn't like it. There were only 3 of us in this class and I looked like the other 2 put together and 6 inches shorter. However, I survived not only the first class but also the entire 6 week program. Turns out I kinda liked it and I could start to see results.
After 5 or 6 months of BootCamp, I was still going strong. Then, I lost my job. This was a very stressful time for me and I slacked a little as I transitioned to a new position. This new position was with a physician's practice. This particular office was very active (the physician has her own triathlon team, the practice manager is an ultra-marathoner and one of her NP's is a fitness instructor) and sponsored a few 5K's in town. I have walked a few 5K's, mainly the Race for the Cure as my mom is a Survivor. At the same time, some friends from college decided to meet up in Austin, TX for a 5K in March. As a practice, I agreed to join the physician's office 5K team for their February race. I had started trying to add a little run to my long walks. Of course, after the 5k in March, I was asked to do another in April and a goal was born. I would do 12 5K's in 12 months (February to February). I did accomplish the 12 5K's by December 2012; so, I modified the goal to be 12 5K's in 2012.
What did I do next? Well, I needed a new goal. Remember the crazy fit people I work with? They suggested I run a half-marathon next. Run 13.1 miles in 2013. That has such a nice ring to it. I searched for a great half-marathon all around the US (focusing in places where I knew someone and I might have a place to stay). I found the Detroit International Half-Marathon. I liked it for a few reasons: my best friend lives in Detroit, the race is walker-friendly, and it requires a passport because the race crosses into Canada and back. I started training in January, got injured in February. Restarted in earnest in May (I may be the only person who gets slower the more she trains), and finished the Half-marathon faster than I had anticipated (under 4 hours) and with tears. I was so happy to see my best friend at the finish line. Unfortunately, my loving feeling towards racing was on the skids. I completed another half-marathon at Disney World and just stopped like Forest Gump.
I have amazing friends who are both supportive and enablers. Another friend of mine found a Marathon in China on the Great Wall, and we decided to do it. Did that sink in? My friend and I decided to complete a marathon on the Great Wall of China (there are stairs, right), and I have just stopped running. Ok, so that race isn't until May 2015. Whew, I have plenty time, right? Well, except that my friend feels like we should run a "practice marathon". We found what looks like an amazing race in Philadelphia in Nov 2014 (Portland and Richmond were a close 2nd and 3rd). Here I am today, starting all over again, training for a marathon. Follow along with my ups and downs as I learn the ins and outs of marathoning. Fear not, I will be run/walking the race.
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