How To Eat Like A Runner

Alot of times J'aime and I talk about what we should eat that would give us the most energy for our runs but not pack on the pounds. Here's an article she found that I thought I'd post for your viewing pleasure. It's hard to make those wise eating choices! If I had it my way, I'd eat popcorn, chocolate, and Teppanyaki (Benihana's) everyday! :)

http://health.msn.com/fitness/running/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100189101

I Wish I Could Be Happy

So Saturday was a big day. J'aime and I ran 7 miles! I still cannot believe it. I had like a 2-day runner's high. We're more than half way there! Am I happy? Well... I was happy... Until last night. My office was broken into (for the 3rd time) during our youth group program, and my cash and all of my gift cards from Christmas (about $300 to different stores and restaurants) were taken. I even tried to put a freeze on the ones I got receipts for from family; already spent. I am so frickin' mad and sad and just feel violated. We got the guy on camera and someone on staff identified him, but what happens now? My stuff's already gone. Don't know if they've caught him yet. My Christmas presents are gone. I know it's just stuff and I can let those things go. It just bothers me that someone could take from another human being. I ran 3 miles today and had some tears (other drama going on in life). I'm doing my best to cheer up.

Yes!

I just looked up my running schedule and I was only supposed to run 2 miles today! Yes! I did good! :)

Why Are Wednesdays So Hard?

I have the hardest time running on Wednesdays. Jake thinks it might just be my stress level on that day. I went in thinking I was going to run a 4 mile, but only ran 2. I'm always struggling to get going on Wednesdays and it's the most emotionally and physically difficult. Wednesdays I'm really busy... work all day, go straight to the gym, hurry home for my 12th Grade Small Group, then bed. Kinda exhausting. At least I ran at all I guess. :)

I'm finding it hard to think of things to blog about. Any ideas?

No Time To Blog

Don't worry. I'm still keeping up with running... however, the luster of it all has worn off and now it's getting hard to be motivated. (If you haven't noticed already from my recent blogs.) Jake and I are off on a overnight trip in San Francisco, so I've gotta keep this short. Yay! Vacation! I'll post here again when we get back!

Got My Groove Back

I snuck in a run today, 2.5 miles before my 12th grade girls come over. I am so ashamed to say this but, I haven't run in over a week. I was going through a huge funk and really struggling with finding balance in my life. I'm definitely learning alot through this journey. Today's run was at my apartment's gym --- sick. Hot, sweaty, smelly, and just too small and awkward when others are in there. Some kids were in there just to watch the free cable TV and another couple were there lifting weights. When they all left I was alone, and then a random older guy came in. I honestly felt worried for a moment. All of the shades are closed and no one would know if he wanted to assault me. Yeah, I watch way too much Court TV. Or it's Tru now, right? It definitely shaves off some time since I don't have to drive to my gym and wait for a treadmill to be open. I guess this will be my last minute run place.

Very Bad Week

I was in a HUGE FUNK. Work was overwhelming. People tiring. Ministry unending. My personal life was piling up with things that weren't getting done at home. I barely trained. I took Friday and stayed in my pjs and didn't shower and just hibernated --- and then I felt guilty. I know I need a break and need to rest, so why do I feel bad about it? This week I'm getting back on track. The weekend was a great time to get things in order and rest. Onward!

I Want This!

Nike+ iPod Sport Kit (check it out at www.nikeplus.com)
Now your iPod nano does more than play great tunes during your workout: Slip the Nike+ sensor into any Nike+ Ready shoe, and it gives feedback on your speed, distance, pace and calories burned—right through your iPod headphones. Then, iTunes automatically uploads your workouts to nikeplus.com, so you can track your progress, challenge friends and more.

So cool!

Life Gets In The Way of Running

It's almost impossible to find time to run when I'm working in the office in the day and have program at night. For instance, Mondays for youth group and Wednesdays for my small group of girls. I really hope this doesn't make it impossible for me to be ready for the race. Frustrated. It's almost impossible to be completely committed to one thing in life.

I Wanna Sing At The Gym

Tonight, it was back at the gym. Of course, treadmill madness. I'm finding that I sweat in the weirdest places... like the creases in my arms (the place where your elbow bends). It drips. I also have a favorite running song... tonight was all Britney Spears, but actually my favorite song to listen to over and over again that gets me pumped is "Everybody Dance Now" by C&C Music Factory. Especially when it says, "gonna make you sweat... move!" I'm like "Yes! Pick it up!" I watched this guy tonight totally lip syncing to his iPod and I so wanted to break out and sing too. I'm just a little self conscious. I do however punch while I'm running when my favorite phrases in a song come up. When you think about running to music, it's just like being at a club and shakin it for a couple of hours straight, minus the drinks, greasy guys included. lol

I forgot to blog Sunday night when J'aime and her husband and I went for a 4 mile run. I don't know if you've all heard or lived through the intense storms last week. Well, they made for some very interesting tread... broken tree branches all along the streets. And since most of the street lights weren't on, I rolled my ankle on a branch or two. I still felt it today in my 3.5 mile run. I hope I get stronger. Some guy running that night was wearing a flashlight attached to his head. Smart guy! He looked a little kooky. But I bet he didn't roll his ankle.

One cool thing from Sunday night... my mother will be so proud. J'aime cooked us dinner and for the first time in my life, I really liked green beans. They were fresh and crisp and straight from Trader Joe's. I'm going to try and make them her way. I'm so used to limp, mushy, canned green beans. Barf. I'd always sit all night at the dinner table as a kid out of protest because I refused to eat my green beans. Here's the recipe... Saute green beans in some olive oil, pressed garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce. Yum! If you know me, you know that I HATE vegetables, especially green ones. I'm growing up! This running business is completely changing my life! :)

Battle of the Bulge

Yes, I totally admit it. I'm eating whatever I want because I use the excuse that I'm running so much. I'm an idiot. I thought that all of this work would provide some benefits, like a hot bod, but I'm making it impossible, because I'm eating junk. Boo.

Please help me out here...

Am I completely nuts? My idea of gym fashion is a tank and running pants, my hair in a bun, bangs clipped back, and no makeup. I'm there to work, not get a date. Plus I'm married. Does that sound frumpity? By the way, I'm going to start wearing my wedding band to the gym to avoid awkward encounters with single guys (last night I had an encounter). Most of the time I don't wear my rings because my carpal tunnel flares up from working out. My band was no biggie tonight. Yes, I know my middle finger is crooked in this picture. Tragic volleyball incident in high school. Question: Is it just me or is the gym a daytime club for pick ups these days? See story below.


So this girl tonight. I was seriously shocked by her getup. Full makeup. Hair in a cutesy updo with lots of bangs. And then, green shorty shorts, a super revealing tank top, and.... knee high socks with green stripes on top to match the shorty shorts. Oh, did I mention she wasn't even wearing running shoes? Just cute, flat, little tennis shoes. I watched her flirting with guys. I never saw her work out. And, get this. When I was done with my run I went to the locker room and caught her primping and checking herself out in between flirting sessions.

Please find the survey in the top right hand corner. I need to know, am I just a lump when I workout or is this a little ridiculous?

Just Another Day

I guess people are making their New Year's Resolutions. The gym was packed out today. I had to stalk someone for a parking spot. I had to stalk someone for a treadmill. And I only got 30 minutes on the machine. I pulled off a 2.7 mile run with a warm up walk in 30 minutes and then did some strength training on the weight circuit... also busy, so I did one round and gave up. One thing I don't like about this running thing... I'm weighing more than I've ever weighed in my entire life. Yeah yeah, muscle weighs more than fat and my pants still fit great, but it still wigs me out a bit. Also, running inside vs. running outside --- I struggle so much with my asthma and allergies outside. Inside is so much easier. I worry about how I will do in Sac in March. What else can I vent about? I have lots of dirty white socks I need to launder. Ever since the sick blister incident, I've been wearing 2 pairs of socks each run. That's all. Just another day.

J'aime Tricked Me

So, remember when I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how I went for a 4-mile run (the most I've ever run) with J'aime in downtown Sac? Yeah, just got a message from her last night. She used mapmywalk.com to map out the path we took and it ended up being... 5.37 miles!!! No wonder I was so tired and had a blood blister on my big toe! I'm seriously cracking up.

Hey, now I know that I'm almost half-way there to running 13.1 miles. I'm actually proud. There are some benefits to not knowing exactly how far you're running. J'aime, I'm so glad you tricked me! Mentally, I wouldn't have been up for it. We're such a great team!

Happy New Year!

2008's been named the 'Year of the Runner'. Well, here I am! Jk I am so not a runner. Most of the time I feel like a crazy person. I just got done with a 3 mile run around the shops near my apt (thanks to mapmywalk.com - thanks jojo). I ran with my very encouraging husband and I still feel like I have a long way to go. People have asked me, "Are you doing this to lose weight?" Hell no. If I wanted to lose weight I'd just do the Weight Watchers thing and eat less - so much easier! But I guess this run goes along with part of my New Year's resolutions... One, I want to do something I've never done before. So, I'm running a half marathon even if it kills me. Two, I'm going to give up soda for Lent. No I'm not Catholic, but I do like to idea of sacrificing a vice. I drink sooo much soda and from reading Women's Health magazine it's obvious that the stuff is just straight poison, especially since I drink the diet stuff so I don't get a badonk-a-donk. Did you know you can clean a car engine with Coke?

Well, Happy New Year peeps! Here's to new fun, new memories, and trying something we've never done before!