Happy Halloween

It's candy time.. I will be eating candy! I didn't have any last year, but as I go through life.. you can't always not eat something. It's all about moderation. Of course, after watching the news this morning and seeing the calorie counts for all the little mini candy bars.. I have second thoughts about sampling them all. Seems the candy bars are all 100 calories or more. I just burned off 700 calories at the gym and now to eat 7 little snickers, Twix.. etc.. my hour at the gym for nothing. Well, I can't really say that because if I didn't burn those calories.. I'd be in bigger dieting trouble!

It was another day that I over slept 15 minutes.. cutting my weight lifting for the day down to 10 minutes. That's just not enough time to do all I want. I need to go back at some point during the day and lift for at least 30 minutes or use my weights at home and do some ab workout.. which might be a better option.. less time required..

Also going back to the chiro today.. I work on my core every day to help my back.. It helps somewhat but not completely.. I can tell every day that it's getting harder and harder to do certain things without experiencing a lot of back pain.. I'll keep working on making improvement.. taking care of me!

Should I? Imagine..?

It's always tempting to skip working out. I haven't had a working alarm clock for a while now. We have a few un-reliable ones, and I'd rather not set them since they never go off when they are suppose to.. it's only at random times, I hear a faint.. beep, beep, beep... so annoying!

This morning I over slept.. it doesn't happen very often.. it was just a 10 minute oops.. The first thing Steve said was "I'm tired.. we should just skip it"... "Well no,.. why do that? I'm up.. it's not too late" I said,..something is always better then nothing. We just do less weights, but still can get in an hour of cardio.. Plus, we can always do our ab workout when we get home.. Nothing lost... Right?

PART 2.. Imagine..

I had an assignment in class to practice using imagery. I decided to try using the imagery technique to prepare for a race. I closed my eyes and decided to think about my past race, the 4 miles in Savage. I pictured the race start, with all the flags around us. I imagined myself running down the narrow path, stepping over the cracks and the crumbling pavement with grass poking up. That's where things get fuzzy.. I was so relaxed.. out I went.. and then realized I was sleeping.  I heard Steve come in the door. Oops.. so much for a visualization technique.. I sure didn't get far in my 1st attempt..

Attempt 2 to use imagery.. Once again I went back to the Savage race.. I decided to do this technique in the middle of the night when I could not sleep.. thinking it would relax me.. and take my mind off the fact I could not sleep at 2:30am.. All it did was get my heart racing.. I'd panic.. and stop thinking about the race because I'd start twisting and turning in bed.. I was sooo restless. Not a good thing to visualize when I am trying to get back to sleep.. Instead.. of thinking about the race and my competition, I tried a new relaxation technique repeating to myself. relax.. relax  with some deep breathing.. That must have worked.. because I did go back to sleep and proceed to over sleep!

At the gym when working out this morning.. I wanted to try the visualization technique again. I thought about running my 4 mile loop outside.. and thought about the scenery I'd pass while running that route. At the end of my 60 minute run, the last minute.. I sprinted.. I visualized the finish line ahead, with one minute before I crossed the line.. My heart was pumping.. I was focused and I kept up my sprint until the minute was up. A great way to practice sprints at the end of a race so I can finish strong.

I can also use imagery for studying.. I tried it for a test I have on Thursday. I have to memorized bones, muscles and terms. I laid in bed going over the muscles  and bones visualizing where they were located. I feel better prepared today then I did yesterday just after that exercise. Still more to memorize.. more terms but that too will come. .and maybe I'll try the imagery for those too! Just have to make sure I'm not too sleepy!

My Sunday....

What did I do with my Sunday? Something I haven't done in a really long time! Absolutely nothing! That's right.. no running, no working out.. just a lot of sleeping in, napping and sitting around. I did manage to frost some cupcakes I made yesterday and set the table, clear it and serve my cupcakes.. Oh.. and made a trip to the store.. just for the ride.

Nothing too exiting... for a Sunday.. A really lazy day but one I really needed. My head feels a little better now that I let my body rest and repair.. I was running on fumes this last race.

I'll update my racing thoughts on my Savage run page.. so check for the update.

Monday... back at it again.. working out.. running..

My running goals.. 4 miles at my race pace.. 7:47 per mile.. I need to start practicing this every day .. even if I do every other mile at that pace for 6 miles... I need to work on getting faster.. stronger!

Sick.. ugh!!!

I'm sad to report.. I ended up sneezing like crazy right after I finished that race today.. that's right.. I sat down a few minutes after I was done running and started sneezing like I've never sneezed before.. one right after the other and here it is.. 11:30pm and I'm still sneezing.. it's all in my nose! Ugh!!! No wonder I was having a hard time running/breathing today. I was feeling a bit off and sore too from working out so hard Thursday night and Friday morning. It didn't even make a difference that I took Friday off and did not run.

I'm hoping to get some good rest tonight.. sleep in until 8am and go for an outdoor run... a slow 6 miles.. fresh air..

... now.. off to pour over the on-line race results.. if there are any??? This was a fun run and it was not so organized like others I have done in the past.. We shall see!

Savage Halloween Fun Run 4 Miles

Another 1st Place for me.. 31:05, pace was 7:47 per mile, for the 4 mile in Savage. Logan and Celina both ran in the 1/2 mile and  Celina came in 3rd followed by Logan in 4th a second later. A great day to run.. I did go out too fast and was at the first mile marker in 6 minutes and 30 seconds.. mile 2 at 15 minutes.. not sure of mile 3.

 

This is what I wanted.. 1st place metal! Got it!!! The other 2nd- 4th you only got a ribbon.. this is why I run!! Yipppeeeeeee

Out of 72 people, I came in #19.. I was 16 seconds short of coming in #1 for all women that raced.. #3 isn't so bad either!! 36 women ran the 4 mile race..

I was comparing my 1st race ever.. the 4 mile in Rosmount 2011, where I got a time of 35:22 (8:51 per min pace). Today's similar race... I improved my pace time by 1:04 per mile! I came in a whole. 4 minutes and 16 seconds faster. I was actually thinking, I should have improved my time by a lot more.. under the circumstances of me not feeling 100% I'll take it!

As far as the race, it was a rolling hills kind of race. Pretty flat mostly, which is nice. A lot of turns, running on the street, paths, sidewalks.. through neighborhoods and along busy roads and next to a lake.. I went out way too fast at first but it really didn't feel like I was running fast until I got to the first mile marker. I realized.. I had 3 more miles to run and I was tired.. I didn't feel like dropping my pace but ultimately I did.. I lost focus.. could not concentrate on my goal of pushing myself.  I just focused on trying to keep up with who ever was in front of me, until I passed them too. It was the home stretch.. after mile 2 where I should have kicked it up a notch.. I had no energy.. I was not feeling right, but didn't really know why? I let one woman pass me up.. she would go on to take the 1st female over all.. I never did my last sprint.. I didn't even try.. well, I did try somewhat when I saw the time was 30 minutes.. 5 seconds too slow.. as the clock changed to 31 minutes, but close enough and I was tired. I have to say.. I was sooo disappointed, there was NO water at the end of the race!! I was not happy!!! The water bottles were back inside the building a long walk away. Thankfully, I had water in the car and Logan went to get it for me. I did not love running 4 miles fast. It hurt.... I'll stick with 2 or 3.. or 1 mile.. I just don't love running fast for 4 miles.. Which means.. I need to train for it! Yes, that's right.. I need to train to run 4 miles at my 4 mile race pace.

Values

Go out and run with them!!!
It's something that will last their life time.. memories of running with mom and dad..

The best sport you can invest in.. and it's free.. there is no cost to run outside.. only your time...something way more valuable then dropping $$$$ on sports you watch them do..

The Wait!

Here is it... 9:02 am and I'm waiting. I'm waiting until 2pm when I can run 4 miles in the Savage Halloween fun run. I've never ran in an afternoon race. I'd rather just get up early like every day, wait around until 9am and run my 30 minute race.

I'm going to look at this late in the day, race start as a good thing.. Here's why! I slept last night.. In fact, I slept really good. I even got to sleep in for the first time in ages until 8am. I got to eat breakfast and I'll be able to hopefully, eat lunch. I should eat lunch to have some energy!!

On the not so positive side.. I just don't like having to wait to run until late in the afternoon. I'm going to worry about it all day. Too much time to change my mind.. to much time to sit around and wait.. and wait..

This is a Halloween fun run. I'm wearing a fun Hello Kitty shirt. This is my costume..simple but I'm still taking part in the dressing up part. Might need to do some type of costume.. shirt for every run from now on.. something to think about!!

Today's race my goals are to:
1. Have fun running it
2. Just to run to get exercise
3. Compete against myself for a better time
4. Maybe place in my age group 1-4th.. (I really want first.. but there is nothing wrong with any place as some people don't ever get to experience that!) (plus, my excitement of placing is short lived..)
5. Just do it!!!!! No matter what!!!!

After today's race, we just have the Turkey Day race in Hastings. I'll be running with the kids in the 1 mile.. Easy stuff.. plenty of people and a good way to start the day before the big feast! No placing involved.. it's just to do it with my kids.. get out and enjoy the day what ever it's like!! Plus, dress up like a turkey for fun..

So here I sit.. plenty to do today.. that I should do.. wait and wait.. the waiting game!

Running BLogs..

I've been doing a lot of reading of other runners blogs. I have yet to find someone at the same place as I am in running. Maybe that's a good thing.. most of these blogs are written by women in their mid 30's and run a lot faster. They do 1/2 marathons and full marathons by the dozens, like it's nothing. I don't need to find another me on the Internet, but someone with similar goals and struggles would be nice.

I always go thought a lot of self doubts.. I want to run.. I don't want to run.. or race. Competition is always a bit nerve wracking. I put too much pressure on myself to always improve and win. Winning means, winning at what ever you set your goals to be for that particular race. My goals change for races, but in the end.. it's always about competition with others.. being the best I can be and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It's exciting and scary.. I'm always happy I did what I set out to do and conquer my fears, because that's all it is.. I'm really only competing with myself at each and every race. To improve my fitness.. push myself and do something I would have never done 2 years ago..

Sometimes.. I need a little reminder.. It's okay to be nervous.. it will be over soon and I will once again feel great about just having done a race. I need races to monitor my improvements and to push myself or I'd never change. It's getting harder and harder to notice changes in the right direction. I don't see huge leaps and bounds in my fitness like I use to. While I dread the wait of the race.. I also look forward to it..

I did the smart thing. took the morning off from running and instead just lifted weights for 30 minutes. I did not do any leg weights.. don't need to make those sore or tired.

My race is at 2pm.. I'll be able to sleep in tomorrow.. spend all morning being nervous.. and go to the race by 12:30.. get there by 1pm.. check in.. stand around.. wait, wait.. run at 2.. 4 miles.. I hope to finish around 30-31 minutes.. 29 would be really great!

I don't know the race route.. I have heard its not very hilly.. but I won't really know till I run it... It's going to be chilly tomorrow 40's.. need to check for wind..

My reward.. hum...?? I'm hoping just a metal or ribbon.. a place in my age group 1 -4th!

Zero...Tune out

Zero
I've been increasing my miles I run the last 2 days to 10 miles a day. This week has been one of those lazy weeks where its cloudy, rainy and I just feel like doing nothing!

Today, I had zero motivation other then to get up and go to the gym. My workout on the cross ramp felt long and I just wanted it over. I had zero desire to lift any weights,  so I did as little as I could in the 15 minutes I had left.

I'm guessing my lack of wanting to workout, has something to do with the weather???  Although  my run on both Tuesday and Wednesday felt fine. Maybe I'm doing too much too soon?

Still going to run in Saturday's race in Savage.. Looked up the times from the past race that was in August in Savage and the race was called something else. Looks like there are some women in Farmington that can run a 6:30 per mile pace. I won't be able to come in first if they decide to run... 2nd I might have a chance!! It's hard to say and right now I don't feel like running it fast.

Yesterday it took 36/37 minutes to run 4 miles.. pretty slow at a 9 min per mile.. or more but there are at least 6 pretty good size hills on my route.

Tune out!
I tune out what I don't want to hear.. Steve was going on and on about peoples experiences when they die and come back to life. This is very interesting to him. He loves stories about it and will pour over the Internet to find information on the subject. I on the other hand could careless. I half listen..

I can relate, Steve's strong interest in life after death.. to my running interest. He doesn't want to hear about it but I love reading about every aspect of running.. I keep it quiet because I know he does not find it interesting like I do..

So tune into what your interest are.. tune out every thing else.. there is a happy place some where in there!

Blah!!!!!!

I have not gotten my eating junk under control. I had pop tarts, ice cream, pizza, pasta and snickers mini's yesterday. Not a healthy looking diet. I probably stayed within my 2300 calories for the day since I still weighted the same today as yesterday.

What am I doing about it? Well, I ran an extra 4 miles yesterday with a friend from my class. She also runs every day so it was nice to have someone keep me company and push me to run more. I ran 10 miles yesterday and worked out for a total of 1 hour and 41 minutes just on cardio.

I should start running more.. adding more miles.. I also need to vary my workout because my body is use to my every day cardio. Today, I cranked up the incline the whole workout and did 1 minute of speed running early in my hour working out instead of saving it for the last minute. It doesn't seem like big changes, but gave me more of a workout without making it too hard.

Today, my plan is to go for a run outside in the afternoon before lunch. I want to run an extra 4 miles at least and maybe drive to run the lakes for another 2 miles. This is one of the last nice days to be outside...

I did notice I can run inside the Dome on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $1. It's not close to home but it is an option to get in some running although, I think its running on cement which is not good for the feet. Not sure if I will do that but it's an option at least. Might just have to figure out how to run in the cold, show.. etc.. after all, I will cross country ski through it all..