Ugh, Flu and Stomach Bugs are no fun!

runwithjess.com



I am starting my second week of the 2015 Winter Miles Challenge.  Last week my goal was 10 miles of walk/run/bike!  I had 1mile walk, 3 miles walk/run and 22 miles of bike at the Peoria Bicycle Club.  I did 26 miles.  I set my goal at 10 miles again this week.  I won't be able to ride this week as I will be out of town Thursday-Sunday.  All of my miles will most likely be walking or running.  I did 2.1 miles today with a walk with Sarah Pug!  Only 7.9 miles to go.  My training plan has been altered based on my life.  I am getting the workouts in but not on the days scheduled!

 

I tried out the Peoria Bicycle Club's indoor trainer ride.  I did it Tuesday and then went again Saturday.  I did what they call a test ride on Saturday.  26 minutes of warm-up, which if you ask me it was a full workout.  Then I had to do 20 minutes, all out, balls to the wall ride.  Then I tested out at a 132 level.  That establishes what level I will continue to ride at.  And since I joined the club and paid for indoor training I will be continuing!  Oh and then I bit the BIG BULLET!  I bought clip less pedals, cleats and new clip less riding shoes!

 

Can't wait for my shoes to come in so I can get my pedals put on my bike.  The new pedals/shoes should make my rides more effective and efficient.  And with the rest of the indoor training season I can get used to getting in and out of the pedals. 

My bike set up at Indoor Training

My new Clip Less Pedals

 

 

My daughter Shelby got sick Thursday night/Friday morning.  Since I was the clean up crew, it hit me all day yesterday and this morning.  I had the Upper Respiratory Flu starting on Christmas Eve, then it turned into and Upper Respiratory Infection, Double Ear Infection and a Sinus Infection.  Then I got the stomach bug.  I am reading for all of this crud to be over.  Spring can't come soon enough.  I'm going to work hard to get my miles in this week.  I have to be ready for my race on 2-1-15.  

Day 1 Winter Mile Challenge

Winter Miles Challenge-2015

 

runwithjess.com is "running" a Winter Miles Challenge that I have decided to join.  Today is the 1st day of the challenge.  I would love to say it went good.  Actually, it went great.  I also started training today for a 5K that I have coming up in 3 weeks.  Today was supposed to be a rest day.  But it was also the beginning of the Winter Miles Challenge and I couldn't let it start without doing my first mile today. 

 

It took me 18 minutes to go a mile!  Way slow but faster than I have been doing!  I am ok with my time because I would have sat in my chair if I hadn't decided to start the challenge today!  Thanks Jess for hosting this challenge again!

 



 And then tomorrow I was supposed to run(did it today), so I am going to go to my first indoor training ride with the Peoria Bicycle Club!  Wish me luck.  Something new!

Peoria Bicycle Club

 

I am also trying to eat healthier.  During December I did the 21 Day Fix!  And I am somewhat trying to follow that food program this month.  Tonights dinner was 21 Day Fix Approved Baked Ziti that I got from rxforhealthyliving.com

 

I made a double batch and froze half of it.  Today I had the frozen batch.  I baked it tonight and it was great.  The recipe calls for Tablespoons of seasonings.  I used half Tablespoons and it was spicy.  I think it should be teaspoons not tablespoons.  Maybe it's a matter of taste.  I still like it and will be eating on it all week.  I love it when I can make one meal last for several meals. 

 

I did really good today on the food until 10:30, then the wine, cheese and cracker got ahold of me, LOL!  Still a better food day today then yesterday!  It's all a work in progress!!!

 

I really enjoy having a laptop.  Makes blogging sooooooo much easier!!!!

Have a great week.

 

 

 

5K in 3 weeks, Really, what was I thinking...?

Super Bowl Shuffler 5K

I found a 3 week training program for a 5K!  I have no desire to kill this race!  I just want to finish it and have fun!

I ran it in 49:56 in 2013 and 48:26 in 2014.  I hope to finish in 53 minutes this year.  Based on my not running lately, weight gain and just not pushing myself too hard I would be ok with that finish time.

The training plan I will be doing:

Week 1:
     Monday: Rest day
     Tuesday:15 minute jog. Quick steps, shoulders relaxed.
     Wednesday: Rest day
     Thursday: 15 minute jog. Quick steps, shoulders relaxed.
     Friday: 30 minute cross training
     Saturday: 20 minute run. Not fast, not slow.
     Sunday: Easy 10 minute jog.

Week 2:
     Monday: Rest day, including stretching.
     Tuesday: 1.5 mile jog, easy effort.
     Wednesday: Cross train 30 minutes.
     Thursday: 1.5 mile jog, easy effort.
     Friday: Cross train 45 minutes.
     Saturday: 2.5 mile run, steady effort.
     Sunday: Easy 10 minute jog.

Week 3:
     Monday: Rest day, including stretching.
     Tuesday: Cross train 30 minutes.
     Wednesday: 2 mile run. Steady effort.
     Thursday: 1 mile run. Steady effort.
     Friday: Rest day.
     Saturday: Light cross train 15-20 minutes.
     Sunday: RACE DAY

The second week I will be out of town from Thursday afternoon until Sunday evening.  The run should work out for Saturday and Sunday but will have to work hard to fit the Thursday and Friday workouts in!  I will do it!!!!

A lot has happened since my last post......

I no longer do Crossfit.  Although Crossfit is an awesome workout, I gained 10 pounds.  And before you say it, no it wasn't muscle gain!  For some reason I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted.  Then I started training for my half marathon.  I didn't run the St Jude 1/2 in Memphis.  A few days before I was to register, my sister asked me to run a half with her.  She wanted to run one in October, not December.  So we found The Dirty South 1/2 Marathon in West Monroe, Louisiana.  Which happens to be 30 minutes from my daughters college, Louisiana Tech in Ruston Louisiana!  I gained 20+ pounds training for my 1/2!  Which means I gained more than 30 pounds during Crossfit and 1/2 training.  That can really screw with your mind!!!!  Since my half I have hardly done anything to further my fitness and weight lose.  I ran my half in mid-October. I a 10k, 21 Day Fix workout and food plan(for 18 days), and a few random workouts here and there.  My oldest daughter Sarah asked me to go get a tattoo with her, which is really not in her normal character.  But I felt honored that she wanted to get one with me!  She got a bible verse tattooed on the inside of her pinkie.  Unfortunately, although forewarned by the tattoo artist, it has completely faded.  Hopefully she will get it in another spot that will hold a tattoo.  She was hoping I would get my tattoo to symbolize my hard work for my 1/2!  I kept looking for one to put on my foot.  I just couldn't find one I wanted.  My youngest daughter Shelby said to me, "You already have 2 tattoo's you aren't happy with, why would you get another you aren't sure about?"  What a wise 14 year old(now 15).  I had kept coming across tree tattoo's that I loved(too big for my foot).  Although I like them for others, I didn't want to get a running shoe and wing or the number 13.1 put on my foot.  I came across a tree I loved.

 



I had a tattoo I got when I was about 18 years old.  I went to get a tattoo and didn't know what I wanted.  So there was a Motley Crew/Theater of Pain CD on the table, so I said, I'll take those masks.  Yep, so not a good idea!

 

 

 

So I decided to get a tree similar to the one above to cover up the masks above.  It took me about 3 hours and 40 minutes to run/walk my half.  It took me 3 hours and 30 minutes to get my tattoo.  If I had to pick one to do again, it would be the tattoo. 

13 leaves falling on one side, a heart in the middle and 1 leaf falling on the other side, representing the 13.1 miles I did!

 

I have decided that I need to get off my ASS, and get going on my health and fitness. 

 

I have signed up for an 8 week winter challenge that my friend Jess at runwithjess.com is hosting.

Winter Miles Challenge 

I will pick my mileage to do.  Most weeks I will pick 10 miles.  I will either walk, run, bike or seated elliptical my 10miles. 

It starts this coming Monday, 1/12/15. 

 

One of my workout partners will be our newest family member.  We adopted Sarah Pug in June.  Yes the dogs name is Sarah(same as my daughter).  She is 7 years old and was named Sarah before we adopted her.  And yes our daughter Sarah picked her out before she left for college.  Although I wasn't sure about getting her, especially with Sarah(daughter) going 12 hours away to college.  Sarah Pug so happens to be the love of our lives!  She was 29 lbs when she went into foster care.  She now weighs 20 lbs.  She has as much need as I do to work out.  When weather allows(not the -30 windchill we have been dealing with lately) Sarah Pug and I will go for walks!  She loves her walks!

 

 

I have also signed up for a 5K in 3 weeks.  I am going to do a 3 week Couch to 5K program to get ready.  The goal is to finish and have fun at the 5K with my good friend Diane and my hubby Aaron will be waiting at the after party!  .  It is called the Super Bowl Shuffler.  This will be the 3rd year for the race and my 3rd year to do it!  It is a great race and an awesome after party!

Super Bowl Shuffler 5K



 



 







I am also trying to find some fun exercises to keep me motivated!  I also have a laptop now and hope to keep up with my blog!

 

Have a great day!

Keeping it real......

There are times when I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to!  And then there are days like Wednesday!  I went to Crossfit on Wednesday kind of under the weather.  I didn't feel good when I started and hoped there wouldn't be much cardio.  Then I got there and wished that it was all cardio.  I found out on Wednesday the Power Cleans are my kryptonite!!!!  We did 15 Deadlifts at 65#! 15 Shrugs at 65#!  15 Thrusters(I think that's what they are called) at 65#! 15 Power Cleans at 65#!  I did all ok until the Power Cleans, they were tough!  And then we had to do 1 Rep Max Weight Power Cleans.  I did 75# ok but then tried 85# and it totally killed me.  I have such a hard time getting my body to do what my mind is telling it to do!

Yep! That's me trying to get the bar above my hips! FAIL!!!!!

Crossfit is not running!  Running is not Crossfit!  But I love and hate both of them.  I couldn't get above 75#!  Why do I think all of this should come easy?  I have never done this stuff before but for some reason I think I should be able to master all of it!  I had a heart to heart with my husband Aaron and he says just do what you can and it will get easier!  He is right!  He also used the line "Practice makes perfect!"  I know all of this!  So why do I still beat myself up?  I weighed myself on 4-1-14, two months into Crossfit!  I haven't lost anything and my clothes are getting tighter!  I have also been following Paleo with a few treats a week for the last 2.5 months.  So my real question is: Why do I keep doing Crossfit and Paleo if my results are less than desired!  When I ran today I hit a 10:39 pace in one of my 60 second sprints during my running today, and it felt awesome!  I know I am getting stronger and healthier!  My trainer told me I would either gain or not lose any weight for at least 2.5 months and that my clothes would get tighter!  He was right so far so I will keep moving forward knowing that I am making healthy changes in my life.  The scale and the fit of my clothes shouldn't be the only measurement for my pass or failure of what I am doing!  

I have started doing a Couch to 5K program again.  I didn't want to get up and do my run this morning.  Thunder hit at about 3AM so I told myself that at 8AM it would still be not great weather to run in, but I got up at 9AM and ran anyway!  And it was FLIPPIN AWESOME!  I only did 2 miles but it was 2 amazing feel good miles!  Never regret doing a workout!!!!!  Only regret skipping one!  Glad I went!

I am going to register for the St Jude Memphis Half Marathon in December!  If I register for race only with no fundraising I have to wait til first part of June.  If I register to raise at least $500 I can register the first part of May!  If I wait til the first part of June I might not be able to register as there is a limit of entrants.  So I am trying to decide if I want to fundraise just to register early!  I am leaning towards yes because St Jude is such a worthwhile cause and I would be pretty much guaranteed a spot in the race!  Yep, I am pretty sure fundraising will begin soon!  So Keeping it real telling you that I am going to start fundraising soon.  Any ideas on a good fundraiser to get a head start!!!!  If I do the fundraising I would be considered a St Jude "Hero".  If raising a little money helps just one kid, it would be so worth it!!!!!

Keeping it real.......

...I hope someday I will learn to expect what I am supposed to expect from myself!

Better go to bed, Crossfit starts to early tomorrow!!!!

Did someone say 1/2 Marathon? Oh, wait, I did!!

I am paid and registered for my Crossfit Competition!  It is called Festivus!  If you want to register and join me, click here to pay and commit!  If I can try it, anyone can.

A competition for BEGINNER  &  INTERMEDIATE  athletes  ONLY!

WOD 1

1000m row FOR TIME. There is a 6 minute cap

Once the running clock hits 6 minutes:

WOD 2

Athlete must establish a 1RM CLEAN in 6 min

***This will be scored as 2 separate WODs. The athlete may rest as needed after finishing row before the 6 min mark. If the athlete does not finish the row in the 6 min they will be penalized :01 for every METER under 1k

WOD 3

10 KB swing 53/35 - Intermediate 35/26 - Novice

20 sit ups

30 Box overs 24/20

8 min AMRAP

***Score is reps

WOD 4

2 minutes max reps:

Wallball 20/14 - Intermediate 14/10 - Novice

Rest 1 minute

2 minutes max reps:

Double under - Intermediate Single unders - Novice

Rest 1 minute

2 minutes max reps:

Burpees

***Score is total combined reps of all 3 movements

Ok, I am insane.  I have also booked rooms for the Memphis St Jude 1/2 Marathon on December 6, 2014.

Here is the link for the Memphis St Jude runs for 12-6-14.

Click here to register to join me when registration starts.

I am patiently(actually very impatiently) waiting for race registration to open.  They had to cancel last years race due to weather, so all that were registered last year get first shot at registering for this year.  Let the registration begin!!!!

I am starting the 8 week Couch to 5K program with a friend that wants to start running.  Then I go into a 10K training, then a 16 week 1/2 training plan.  I am going to read "Run Less, Run Faster" and follow the 16 week training plan for a 1/2 Marathon.  

Today at Pearce Strong/Crossfit I jump roped for 2 minutes.  I haven't jump roped much since 8th grade gym class.  For the competition I have to jump for 2 minutes so I need to get my practice in!!!

Why am I choosing to step way far out of my box/comfort zone!  I have stayed the same weight and maintained the same min/mile pace with my running for over a year!  I need to step it up!  

What are you doing to step up your workout?  How do you overcome a plateau?

New Chapters

New Chapter #1-New food recipes

I believe I mentioned earlier that I started eating Paleo Style!  I decided that I need sauces.  Ketchup, BBQ sauce, Mayo, etc.  But the stuff at the store is either not Paleo compliant, too expensive or tastes like poop! 

So I decided to make my own.

 

Homemade Ketchup

I got my recipe off of pinterest.  Click here for recipe link!

 

I really like this recipe.  It was super easy to make and very tasty.  It has a strong tomato taste but super good on meatloaf.  Did I just mention meatloaf? Why, yes I did.  My hubby wanted meatloaf for supper to go along with my newly made ketchup. 

 

 

So we made our own Paleo Meatloaf!

 

Paleo Meatloaf

Again, I got my recipe off of pinterest. Click here for recipe link!




We really liked the meatloaf.  did 1 1/2 of the recipe and made 3 meatloaves all together.  Ate one for supper.  I ate on the 2nd one for lunches for the week and froze the 3rd for another day!  We did omit the cheese.  Will definitely make both of these recipes again.

 

 

New Chapter #2- Crossfit, really what was I thinking?

 

I went to Pearce Strong(my gym's version of Crossfit).  We had a different kind of workout.  After we were done, our trainer encouraged us to sign up for Festivus a Crossfit Competition.  I am such a newbie at this Crossfit thing but I decided to JUST DO IT!  Eeeek, I got that sick to my stomach feeling I got when I tried new races so I new I just need to do it!  So I am signed up!!!!!

 

Yep, That's me, Mindy D!

Let the training begin!