Enjoying the Break

It got up into the 50's today!  AAAAAAAND in two days another snow storm.  This weather here in Northeastern Ohio is out of control!  I got out a little early at work today, brought home some Chipotle for dinner, then took the kids and the dog for a walk around the block.  The kids practically ran the whole way around as I walked quickly behind with the dog.

We got home and I couldn't wait to get changed.  We got the kids in bed and I changed into my running gear and out I went!  I had a hard time, but it felt great to get out and enjoy the fresh air.  I ran 2.25 miles with a brief walk in there somewhere.

So this graph on the right here shows my time and elevation during my run and the bottom half is where my heart rate was during my run.  I was glad to stay in zone 4.

I am just so nervous about this upcoming 10k!!!  I hope I can do it!  I may see my Orthopedic specialist that helped me with my ankle when I broke it.  My knee just feels off and I think I want him to check it out.

It just feels sore and like there is something lose back there and like an air pocket.  When I was running today I could definitely feel like something was twisting wrong.  I may need a brace or something to keep it still?  Who knows, but hopefully my doctor will tell me!

I have a friend on my fitness website.  His name is Kevin.  I try to keep up with all of my friends but lately he has been such an inspiration to me.  He recently lost more weight and got past the 200lbs lost mark.  He wrote up this amazing blog comparing his journey to a job he held when he was younger.  It really resonated with me because I am at the "I'll just quit" phase in my journey even thought if I did, I know I would not only let myself down but others around me would know it!  So thank you BeingKevin .  I really needed that kick in the ass today!!  You can read his blogs HERE!

Well, tomorrow is supposed to be another gorgeous day.  I may just run a mile at lunch just to get out and enjoy it.  At least enjoy it before snow storm #2 hits!  Hope you all go out today and enjoyed the weather!  Thanks for reading!

~ <3 ~
Me

Ahhhhhhh....Smell That Sunshine

I was SO excited when a friend of mine asked me to go running with her today!  The sun was out, it was cold, but warm enough to pump the blood through my body!  I ran home and got into my outside cold running clothes and drove to the local metropark!

Now I am sure while we were running I felt as though I looked like the women to the right there.  The first mile for me is ALWAYS the hardest!  I always know when I go over 1 mile because it just gets so easy to run!  We had decided to run 4 and walk the last mile JUST in case my knee decided to become a literal pain.

Two miles go by and I am fairly close to my running buddy!  I have to say for not running past the 3 mile mark since November I felt like I did fairly well for myself!  We get to the end of the road and start back up again heading back to our cars.  We hit mile 3 and I give a hearty "YEAAAAAH".  The gentleman passing us thought it was amusing and laughed at me, but HEY!  I was so excited!

Now, by this point I felt like I looked like this guy to the left here LoL.  I was getting tired and my knee was feeling sore as was my shin!  WHAT THE HECK!  It was always past that 3mi mark that my knee bothered me before Thanksgiving.  BUT, I kept going!

Finally we got to the 4 mi mark and I was glad because my knee was screaming!  SO, we walked the last mile back to the cars and that was it!  I felt AMAZING!  I did 4 miles pretty much non stop with just a few seconds of a walking break.  We went up hills and down hills!  I am sure I am going to be sore tomorrow, but what are you gonna do?  Right?

I can't wait to keep going with my 5k-10k training because right now it seems impossible to run 6 miles!  I know by the end of my 9 weeks I will have it down, but it makes me nervous!  What if I can't do it!  I don't want to hit the time limit and just be done!  I know this all sounds so negative, but it's what I have been thinking of lately!

Ok, I have karate class tonight depending on how my knee feels and then it's home to relax and sleep :)  Thanks for reading and thank you to my barefoot shuffling friend who made my run possible today!  So much better than the gym!!

~ <3 ~
Me

The Journey To 10K

Wait....so......what is this running thing again?

So, I have been "working out" maybe two days a week....it has been enough to maintain only a 6lb weight gain.  I also have been eating like I was starving to death and haven't seen or tasted food in years.  Whatever....it's been bad and that is that.

I have kept up with my once a week karate group class that my Dad teaches, and then maybe one day after work of running?  That part only started recently.  So, i decided that last week was THE week!  I have a 10k in May my friends and that scares the CRAP out of me!

So, I got my 5k-10k App ready ( Download Here ).  I really do miss my Zombie trainer though....I had him with their Couch to 5k App.  I would be laughing out loud while I was running.  It broke some stresses when I almost gave up and it kept me moving.  Off topic, however I recommend that app to EVERYONE!

I started on Friday and did day 1.  The way I function though it put me off for a week.  The app/program itself actually trains you three days a week.

 
So ideally when we don't have THIS weather.....I can run in the evenings and keep with that schedule!

ANYWHO!  I can't stop babbling in circles today!  Back on track here.

Ok, so THIS week I did my Week 1 Day 2 on Wednesday morning...which was really a bad idea because I then had a 770 calorie burn at karate group class.  I not only was a bit sore at my class.  I was also sore in the AM!  Feel the burn right!?

So Thursday morning is a strength training day and it has been kicking my butt!  However I do notice my upper body strength improving so I can't complain.  My Thursday mornings are brought to me courtesy of Jay.  He is a personal trainer at my gym.  He is young with a young family.  AGAIN off topic LoL  He has been working on strengthening my hips and thighs because I have been having some knee pressure while running.  It's been really great!

I went today at 7am and did week 1 day 3!  My knee started to get that air bubble feeling again that hit me in November.  UGGGHHHH!  I did realize that my running shoes are almost a year old and have been used 3 times a week.  I can't NOT do this!

I called Second Sole and talked to Doug?  He always answers the phone.  He looked up my records and said "WOW!  Yeah bring the shoes in and I will check the wear, but you may need some new shoes".  Now, these shoes are SUPER expensive, but they made my feet so happy!  So I am going on Sunday during the kids nap time to hang with Doug and my running shoes...maybe we will bury them and find my back up pair.

I just re-read through what I have typed so far....this has nothing to do with my title...such a jumbled mess!  What is wrong with me today!  FULL MOON!!!!

Ok so I started my 5k-10k App and have completed week 1....there are 8 weeks more and then my 10k in May.  BAM there ya go :)  If you have managed to stick through all of that and get to this end BLESS YOU MY FRIENDS!!!  I apologize for rambling on and posting such a confusing mush of typing.  I will keep you posted on my training and let you know how it goes!

~ <3 ~
Me

Feeling Great!

So two weeks ago I got SLAMMED with a knee injury.  I ran Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and BAM that was it.  I could barely make it up the stairs Friday morning.  I took of extra activity for a full week.  I DID however attend a Karate group class Wednesday of last week.  I felt decent, but the knee still felt kind of funny.

This week I went to the same group class last night.  The difference is I wore my HRM (Heart Rate Monitor).  I burned 351 calories!  I couldn't believe it but the Garmin doesn't lie!  I thanked my Dad for kicking my ass :)  He was the instructor for the class.

I had quite the work out.  I did karate with him over 10 years ago and I got really in shape and was used to the physical movements and abuse the body takes.  Yesterday not so much and here is the proof.

I bruised my right knuckles and then I rubbed skin off my left knuckles.  It seems worse than it is and it was an AMAZING work out.  I really enjoy it and I missed it a lot.

SUPER psyched with the weather here in Northeastern  Ohio!  Today it was 62 degrees this morning and I took advantage of it.  I ran 4.5 miles and walked .72 miles.  Puts me at 5.26 I think :)  I missed it so much and at times I did feel that air bubble behind my knee cap.

I didn't push myself too hard for fear I would have the same issues and not be able to run!  It is frustrating because I miss it so much and if I can't keep up with it I may cry. :)  Thanksgiving came and went and I really didn't over eat!  I couldn't believe it!  Almost like my body can't handle as much food.  That makes sense because I am sure my stomach has shrunk at least a little bit over the last 6 months.

Tomorrow is 6 months since I started my new lifestyle and yes, I plan on taking photos.  Probably Saturday morning.  I can't believe it but I also don't feel like that much time has gone by because I feel like I am still learning and growing.  I am sure that will be a constant thing in my life.

I want to write a reflection post this weekend looking back over the last 6 months.  So much has changed.  It's been an amazing ride and I am so thankful to be able to share it with you all!

~ <3 ~
Me

Same Sweater....New Me....Bad Knee!?

So, I have posted this beauty before in a past blog.  I am mortified I ever let myself get to that point, but what are ya gonna do!?

I was going through drawers trying to find SOMETHING to wear in this cold Ohio weather.  I dove into my sweater drawer.  I need something warm that will fit.  Even if it hangs off me a little bit, I just need it to look somewhat nicely.

As I was going through my drawers I came across this same red sweater.  When I see it, this is the picture I see in my mind.  I almost put it in my donate pile when I thought "The lines on that seem slimming enough....I wonder if it would fit?"

So, I put it on and BAM!  This is how it fit!  I still feel like my face shows my weight, but I realize I have a strong jaw line and chin like my father, so I shouldn't complain.  He is a handsome person :)  I couldn't believe how different I made this sweater look now compared to just a few years ago.

Why did I save it after seeing this picture of me!?  Maybe for a day like this!  I felt amazing in the sweater and it was comfortable.  It was a LITTLE loose, but I felt it still looked somewhat cute! Please no need to tell me any compliments.  I am not fishing for them.  It is just taking time to enjoy this new me!

Now, onto the bad news!  I was doing SO amazing running last week!  I ran Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  By Thursday I noticed my right shin and my knee were feeling a little pressure.  Friday morning I could barely make it up or down our small flight of 6 steps.

As anyone would do.....instead of contacting my physician I turned to the trusted internet!  The only common explanation I could find was that I bruised my knee or knee cap and that was why it felt like I had a huge air bubble behind my knee cap.  The solution/treatment you ask?  Elevation, ice compress, and Advil.  NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!  Did I do something wrong?  I was averaging 13-15,000 steps a day and I was feeling AMAZING!  Was it just too much at one time, or was it my shoes?  I invested in an amazingly supportive pair of running shoes.

I don't know what happened but I am sad.  This has now made me realize to stick with my 3x weekly running with some strength training.  I have GOT to do he strength training!!!  I just need a buddy because doing that by myself at the gym makes me pretty panicky :(

So, to lighten the mood....my old new sweater was a pleasant surprise but my knee is still throbbing *sniffle*.  What is a girl to do!?

~ <3 ~
Me