Getting Faster

So the screencap above are my latest runs from March up until my last run a couple days ago. The two runs at the top (my last two) are starred because those are my fastest paces for 4 miles (9:37 pace) and 3.1 miles (9:24) for the year!! It seems like after I broke my 30 minute 5k time, I have been keeping up with it! It's a good feeling. I am trying to increase my distance slowly - by adding a few more 4 milers in during the week (although doing 4 around the 'hood is one of the most boring runs EVAR!). I was going to do my usual 5k lunchtime run today, which I was seriously going back and forth multiple times as to whether I would go or not... I was about to put on my running gear when I changed my mind at the last second NOT to go. My left shin has been a little achy and my right hip (which has been bothering me for the past 3 weeks) is still tight and sore. I'm not running a race any time soon, so I decided that I need to give my body a rest and NOT push it today. Plus it's over 80 degrees out there. Ugh.


I want to calculate my month to month progress (average pace) and report it here. Garmin's website does it, but it doesn't show the time, it shows the average speed (like 6.0 mph, etc). For my purpose, I will need to break out the calculator! I'll try to do it on my next post.

I also want to schedule a physical therapist consult to see if they can help me with my hip issue. I don't want to make it any worse. Icing helps, but it comes right back.

I signed up for another 10 classes of Bikram (which I have to use in 30 days). I went yesterday and I will probably go tomorrow night. I also got one of my friends to do the other yoga classes with me! We will go to that one every Saturday morning (if our schedules and families allow). I went for the first time in over a month and even though the poses were not as physically demanding as Bikram, I still got a great stretch. And it's more fun with a buddy!

I REALLY need to start working on strength training. So far, the yoga has DEFINITELY helped with running and knee pains. So I am sure that with the extra strength training, I will reap more benefits. I really need to work out my core and flabby arms. Once we get our home gym set up in the garage (Our shed will be built this month - come hell or highwater!!! The shed is where everything in the garage will eventually be stored), I will be able to cross train on my rowing machine and use Joel's weight bench. Then maybe after I get the strength training down, I will finally work more on my diet!! One step at a time!!! :)

Gulfstream 5k: sub-30 5k GOAL!

I have not updated in a while. I have lots of running logs to update/post but, if you really want to see my progress, just check out my dailymile.com profile: here

I've been out of town a lot in the past 2 weeks so keeping up with my running and Bikram has been tough. I've been tried and drained. What I did manage to do while I was away was OK. My first Bikram class after over a week was TOUGH. I felt like collapsing ON THE FIRST POSE. A simple side bend. OMG. I was dizzy and lightheaded and close to blacking out for the first half of the class (the standing poses). I managed to not keel over, at least. The Savasana pose (corpse/relaxation pose) was my savior. The 2nd half of the class (floor poses) was fine. I am going back tomorrow night.

In running news, I FINALLY did a 5k in under 30 minutes! It was the Gulfstream 5k. It was one of the coolest courses I've ever run! For those that don't know, Gulfstream is one of the largest companies in the area - they make business/luxury jets. Joel's dad and bro work there, as well as a few of our friends. The 5k was pretty much an employee and family ONLY race. Joel's dad decided not to run this year, so we had to pretend to be "cousins" with one of our friends to get registered into this super-VIP 5k race.

The first part of the race was ON A RUNWAY!! A plane actually took off while we were running (in the next runway over)! So awesome! Then the course weaved through parts of the huge campus and the last yards before the finish line took us though a hanger where people were working on planes... a pretty cool way to end the run (and it was closed off from the sun, haha).

As I got near the finish line, I was so STOKED to see the clock say 28:XX... it certainly motivated me to kick harder on those last few strides. I completed the race in 29:05 (according to my watch)!!! Go me!!

My previous fastest 5k time this year was 30:05 (Shamrock Run)... a full minute faster!

Wait on Weight Loss

Regarding weight loss... It hasn't been happening for me. I admit, I am not really watching what I am eating. I eat what I want, when I want. Dieting hasn't ever been my thing. But at the same time, I do feel guilty when I do eat crap food... Honestly, I can't put it down (as in consume mass quantities) like I used to, so that's good. I do have a little bit more control with not stuffing myself. But one day we were so hungry and had no food at home, so we caved and got some McDonalds. I got a double cheeseburger meal. I ate it ALL! (Well, excluding the pickles) But that night, my body got upset - literally - and I had to pop three Tums at bedtime.

I do turn away from a lot of greasy food now, it just makes me feel ill looking at it. We go to Chik-Fil-A about once a week. It's Liam's favorite! They have healthy choices there... instead of nuggets, which I used to get, I opt for the grilled nuggets (I like to call them "naked nuggets"). They are pretty good: basically a seasoned chicken breast cut up into 8 pieces. I'm sure there's a bunch of salt on it though. Oh well. Better than deep fried goodness... er I mean, grossness. I still tear up those waffle fries though!!! haha

Weight-wise, I am back up to hovering between the high 130s and 140. Still pretty high for my height - I am only a little over 5 feet tall. I should probably be in the 110s-120s... LOL I haven't been that weight since middle school! I know most of the weight I have gained back is muscle. I actually do look a lot more fit than I did before I started my regular running at the start of 2012. I am actually fitting into size SMALL shirts and shorts now. My normal pants I wear when I run are getting loose in the waist and start falling off when I run in them. It's definitely a good feeling.

(TMI alert?) With the good comes the bad: My boobs are shrinking. I went from a B cup, pre-preggo, up to an E during pregnancy, then to a D post partum, then C, but now my C-cup bras are getting a little roomy. I also still have my preggo pooch that I am pretty sure is not going anywhere unless I get a tummy tuck. Kinda sucks, but that's what happens with some women. Unfortunately. :( Maybe I can get myself a tummy tuck as a "reward" for sticking with a fitness plan at the end of the year?

I would like to think that with my increased running and maybe starting weight training (at some point), I will lose more, and by the time I run the half-marathon in November, I will be a lean, mean running machine! I hope to one day post an awesome before and after photo to show everyone! :)

Benefits of Bikram

I've only taken 4 Bikram yoga classes, but those 4 classes have really changed the way my body works. Most notably the reduction of body aches, like I mentioned in my previous post. But I've noticed other little things too...

1. I can sit with my knees and feet together with very little effort now. Some may think, "big deal!" But it is a new experience for me. I have some tree trunk thighs (sometimes I have to buy jeans a size up because my things can't fit into the legs!), so it's actually WORK to try to get them to come together because my thighs will physically not allow my knees to touch. Well, it's not that bad! But now I can sit all "lady-like" with ease. LOL I think this is possible because in Bikram, about 80% of the standing poses are done with your heels and toes of each foot touching the whole time. I had trouble with this the first class. Sitting with knees and feet together also engage your core muscles, so it's a mini-workout if you sit like this - even more of a workout if you sit on one of those balance balls (I have one somewhere that I used to use at my desk... gotta find it!) 

2. In my fusion yoga class that I take on my off days, I can bend and fold farther than I used to. One of the basic moves is triangle pose (I think?) - where you open your legs and bend over - then touch one hand to the floor and reach up with the other and look up. Before, I was able to touch my palm to the ground, but now I am able to bend over even more and bring my elbow and forearm to the ground!

3. (SORRY ***TMI***) Three words: In the bedroom. Do I need to explain? I would like to keep this PG here!

4. Ability to relax and breathe deep and slow. Those crazy breathing exercises we do actually help with relaxation. I do some deep breathing before I go to sleep and I'm usually out in a few minutes.

But now, I have not gone in almost a week (I am waiting for payday to start my new month)! I kind of crave it! But it's a good thing I have not gone because I'm tapering for my 5k on Friday. I'm going to run today and go to my level one (easier) yoga class tomorrow night... then the next time I do anything will be Race Day!! Woohoo!! Come on sub-30 minute 5k!!!!

Up and At 'em

So I'm getting back into somewhat of a groove of getting my fitness on! I've got 2 different types of yoga (fusion yoga and Bikram) in addition to my running, so I am feeling great about that!!!

photo from http://bikramyogasavannah.com/

I started my Bikram yoga classes (26 yoga poses and 2 breathing exercises in a 105 degree room), on a whim... it was mentioned in one of my fusion yoga classes and the idea of it just got me interested. The Bikram studio here in Savannah offers a $25 ten-day unlimited introductory period and I went 4 times in my intro span. The first 3 classes were awesome and I felt great --- thinking  "hey, this isn't so bad! I could do this multiple times a week if I had the time!"), but the 4th class last night was very challenging. I don't know whether it was my first PM class (the first 3 - I went in the morning) and had a kind of heavy lunch... or what. Because I was getting dizzy, almost to the point of blacking out, and felt just plain WIPED OUT! I really wanted to leave at one point, but they are really against leaving the room in the middle of the hour and a half class, so I fought through and tried to focus and do the poses to the best of my ability. I am glad I did.

The heat isn't so bad, but the sweat is the gross part. What I like about hot yoga is that because you are sweating, it feels like your body is working really hard. Also, I've had noticeably decreased body aches since I started.

Anyway, other than that, I've been running as well. Instead of listing my progress like I have done in the past, I will just post this screencap from my garminconnect.com profile which pretty much sums up the last number of runs since I last updated. My DailyMile.com profile has the FULL fitness training log.

The starred run is my 5K PR for this year so far - 30:12. I hope to break 30 minutes on March 9th. I signed up for the Savannah Shamrock 5K Run. I've run it a couple times before - it's a flat easy course, so I should be able to do it! I also just signed up for another 5K at the end of March. Woohoo!

Latest Runs and "The Runs"

First of all, my training has been going well. I've been getting out and doing stuff (or in some cases, doing stuff at home). I love my yoga class and I think it's definitely helping with core/balance and stretching out the hips and ITB. I do that twice a week, and I am trying to get some running in at least twice a week as well. And then in between, I am slowly trying to work in some strength training at home. Here is a rundown of my latest runs and yoga workouts:

1.
Newport
January 13, 2012, Friday
12:41pm
3.1miles
32:23, 10:27 pace

2.
Yoga - Fitness Witness, Pooler, GA
January 17, 2012, Tuesday
5:30pm
1 hour

3.
Newport
January 18, 2012, Wednesday
12:40pm
3.1miles
31:05, 10:02 pace

4.
Yoga - Fitness Witness, Pooler, GA
January 21, 2012, Saturday
9am
1 hour

5.
Newport
January 27, 2012, Friday
12:41pm
3.1miles
30:23, 9:48 pace (Note: Fastest 5k time this year, so far!)

6.
Yoga - Fitness Witness, Pooler, GA
January 28, 2012, Saturday
9am
1 hour

7.
Newport
January 31, 2012, Tuesday
1:13pm
3.1miles
30:55, 9:59 pace

8.
Yoga - Fitness Witness, Pooler, GA
January 31, 2012, Tuesday
5:30pm
1 hour

9.
Newport
February 2, 2012, Thursday
12:34pm
3.1miles
31:20, 10:07 pace

10.
Yoga - Fitness Witness, Pooler, GA
February 4, 2012, Saturday
9am
1 hour

11.
Richmond Hill
February 5, 2012, Sunday
6:12pm
6.4miles - Long Slow Distance (LSD) (Note: Longest run this year, so far!)
01:14:00, 11:34 pace


The second part of this post deals with a TMI issue, but I need to address it.

As you see, I did my first long run of the year. I planned on only running  4 to 5 miles, or 1 hour... whichever was longer or what ever I thought/felt I could do. Apparently my mind took over and I felt like a beast who could probably run an entire 13.1 if I had the time. It was Superbowl Sunday, I had no interest whatsoever in the game this year (boring teams - would like to have seen some new teams in the game this year), so I decided to take advantage of the time to go for a run in a new location (my bro-in-law's neighborhood). The weather was AWESOME, had a great view of stars and a full moon. The only issue I had was that it was really dark in some areas. I almost twisted my ankle.

Anyway, my supposed 4-5 mile run turned into a little over a 10k! I seriously felt good. But turns out that my family was worried about me and sent my sis-in-law to look for me! LOL Good thing I made it back before she pulled out of the driveway! Anyway, I got back in and stretched out, then took some time to eat some dinner. Shortly after was when the first "wave" started.

My bowels were cramping up so badly, that I was doubling over in pain. It was awful. I usually had some cramping after running, but this was worse and I knew that I was about to do some "christening" of my brother-in-laws facilities. In total, this happened about 3 times, until my sis-in-law noticed and asked if I was ok. I asked if she had any Immodium AD... and thankfully, after I took that, I was feeling better. She also offered me a Gatorade, which I think helped due to dehydration.

SO... lesson: I don't need to be running this long or far at this point in my training. I think I need to keep doing my 3 milers and try to add distance gradually. Or do shorter LSDs, like 4 to 4.5 miles. The half-marathon isn't until November! I have plenty of time to increase mileage. I just got way ahead of myself. I also need to evaluate my diet and what I am eating before running. I had an entire Snickers bar before the run.. maybe that contributed to the GI issues. Who knows? Updates on this as training progresses...

P.S. The weight gain was a fluke... I am back to my normal hovering between 135#!

Week off

I've been sick this past week and just not feeling up for running. I may go this afternoon at lunch. Maybe if I get dressed now I will feel like I will have to go. Weather is nice (69/cloudy) so I should probably do it.

I didn't go to yoga Tuesday because my free week trial had ended and I had to wait until today (payday) to buy a punch card. I will probably go tomorrow morning. I need to get something in this week.

I had a OB/GYN appointment yesterday and I am back up to 139. Not sure how because I was 135 last week and have not been doing anything. How could I have gained so much so fast? Joel thinks it's water retention.

But on the brighter side, the nurse told me that at my last appointment in summer of 2010, I had weighed in at 151! Not a bad weight loss in one year and a half, considering I wasn't doing much. Also, my doctor told me I had the resting heart rate of an athlete (40-something BPM), which surprised me because I hadn't done anything in a week and I was still sick.

Anyway... got to get some work done before venturing out into the 'hood for 3 miles!