Not a Bad Weekend So Far...

I drool over new RW training guides! 

Ahhhh. This is me. I finished my first 10k training run in a veeeery long time this morning. Yes, I said morning! I haven't had the energy to do a morning run in a long time... or it might be the fact that I just prefer to sleep than get dressed in compression shorts and a sports bra at 6:30 or 7 in the morning. But today I did... even after a 30 minute snooze before I actually got up! I'm interested in seeing if this is because I started taking a supplements for my thyroid.

I drove to my nearby park with the hopes of running a 10k to kick my butt into shape again. Some days it's a rough time to do just a 5-miler at this park cause you pretty much have to run every single paved trail in the park (not counting the sidewalk along the main road that borders the park) and it can be daunting for some reason. So I started out on the outer boarder sidewalk to go to the "top" of the park - figuring out my path to get 6.2 miles done - aka basically how to add in an extra mile after doing the typical 5 mile path that will also easily get me back to my car. Well! As it turns out.... there is a brand new paved trail that connects a new neighborhood to the main park, just past all of the ducks and geese (side note: thankfully the boy geese were gone today - they're meanies! Trust me, I speak from experience!). Can we say, "SCORE!!!" 

See the tiny little clearing in the center of the left picture?
That's where the path goes and you have run up a weaving
trail to get there. The right picture is at the very
end of the trail at the turnaround. 

This new trail is just about 1 mile one way and was deserted. The first part wavy so that everyone can manage the hill. BTW, another score! This hill is great to train on! Then it straightens out a bit. What's nice for the lone runner is you're surrounded by houses... if you ever get in trouble... run to a house!

For a 10k, I feel pretty good. I was hoping that my core workouts would make a different, and I so far I could tell that my torso wasn't tired as much as I'd though. My hips were a little tired, though, so I need to make sure that I had hip strengthening exercise to my routine.

It was hot, but not crazy hot, which was a blessing of being able to start running at 7:30am. My pace was slow at an average 13:05 a mile. But it is summer time. Ugh.

So this was a great time this morning. But soon enough I'll have to go to work. Booooo!

Yesterday, on an unexpected day off I went shopping with the girls in the family. I scored big at Old Navy and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Can you see hints of the my cat Jack?
He gave his approval of my new clothes by laying on them. 

A awesome sports dress that fits me like a glove from Dick's - pretty much 50% off. Black everyday shorts in my new size. A pair of running shorts that I'll use for my cross training. A new sports bra to wear whenever (not running) and a new mesh-back tank for whenever and cross training. I can't wait to start wearing them!!! Too bad I can't wear them to work... well, maybe I can get away with the dress.

Speaking of work... I'm going to finish my coffee before getting ready for my Sunday work day. How work doesn't spoil this nice weekend!

Peace out, peeps!

How's your weekend going?  

OMaD - Week 26 Recap

This week in the One Mile A Day challenge: Summer heat and humidity SUCKS!

June 21 - June 27

Day 166: 2.08 Miles - Intended a 5k, but after a downpour earlier in the morning and with me sleeping in till later in the morning this run was blah and very sweaty. Plus, I had limited amount of time till I had to meet up with the family for the Father's Day lunch!

Day 167: 1 Mile - Walked a mile after a big but healthy dinner. Then I had ice cream. Hee hee.

Day 168: 1 Mile - Late night walk around the apartments.

Day 169: 1 Mile - Celebrated someone's birthday today after a busy day, but got a walk in to help with eating lots of BBQ and cake! 

Day 170: 1 Mile - Just a mile today. My dinner was later than normal and still felt full to the point that I didn't feel like running in the heat and humidity.

Day 171: 0 Miles - Went to book club where I don't read the book dinner with coworkers/friends where some of us bunkered down for a while when the storm blew through. No walk tonight afterwards because of the lightening!

Day 172: 1 Mile -An unexpected day off from work! FREEEEDOM on a Saturday! Went shopping with the mom and sis, went to the grocery store, talked to my brother abroad, and tidied up the apartment a little. Not too bad for the fact that I didn't make the RSVP for the Dallas Running Club's Annual Picnic since I didn't know until yesterday that I could have the day off.

Oh! and a special note two the two buttheads who threw a rock at me from a second or third story balcony and hollering "Hey! Hey!" and "Hey, bitch!" to me. If you want a girl's attention on you... don't throw things can call them bitch! Seriously!!!!! I'm so glad I got the satisfaction of not giving you a single lick of attention from your shenanigans!

Total Miles this week: 7.08 Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 328.85 Miles

How was you're week? 

How do you deal with men heckling you while you're out doing your thing? 

OMaD - Week 25 Recap

Back on the horse again... and it sucks. Oh, and Tropical Storm Bill makes it up to North Texas. Yay! Not. So not only is it crappy to get more serious on running, but now it's going to rain on me all week? Whah? Thanks!

This is how I felt after my first 5k training run this Sunday!

June 14 - June 20 

Day 159: 4.11 Miles - A hard 5k run this morning that made me feel like Andy. Then I walked a mile while chatting with a friend on the phone.

Day 160: 1 Mile - Walked a mile before I set out on my big mission... getting baseball tickets for my birthday in a few weeks!

Day 161: 2.09 Miles - Walked mile in the morning before work and just before it started to rain. Then I got :: really:: pissed off at the very end of the work day so I ran another mile at a 09:42 pace the moment I was home and in my running gear. At least I was smart enough to stop after the first mile. Since I'm a bit out of shape I was likely to hurt myself.

Day 162: 3.36 Miles - Well, Bill is here! It's been a very blustery day and occasionally wet! I did 2.36 miles on the elliptical before I bailed out - using my minor stomachache as an excuse. But I walked the usual, and less strenuous, mile around the apartment buildings to make up for.

Day 163: 1 Mile - A morning walk then my what's becoming the current usual-core-and-arm-workout: 10 pushups, 15 crunches, 15 my version hip lifts, 20 biceps curls, 20 lateral arm raises, and 20 tricep curls.

Day 164: 1.5 Miles - Good day at work. Meet a coworker and her SO and friends at the Dallas Museum of Art's Neighborhood Block Party afterwards. Even though it was a "dedicated mile" I'll count 1.5 miles towards the challenge.

Day 165: 0 Miles - After work I had a coffee with a friend and we talked till midnight. So nice!

Total Miles this week: 13.06Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 321.77 Miles

Video found here. 

How was your week?

Food Friday - Salsa and Parm Sweet Potato

One way I get a good serving of my veggies is having a sweet potato for lunch or dinner. I've paired sweet spuds with broccoli and carrots and seasoned with the classic butter, salt and pepper, but after awhile this gets pretty boring and bland.

Recently I've discovered a new blend - Salsa and Parm Sweet Potato. It's nothing fancy... simple ingredients that can be easily measured if you need to really monitor your intake. It's yummy! 

There's so much going on in this picture! Ack!

Ingredients 

• 1 sweet potato 
• 1 TBSP butter 
• 2 TBSP parmesan cheese (I use the good ol' powdery stuff)
• 2 TBSP salsa 
• Salt and Pepper to taste 

Receipt 

• Microwave sweet potato till cooked through. I buy ones that are already wrapped in plastic, but if you buy fresh - stab poke the spud a few times with a sharp knife then wrap in a damp paper towel. Microwave for 6-8 minutes.

• Cut cooked potato in half, spread on butter (let it melt!) and season with salt and pepper. 

• Top potato off with parmesan cheese. 

• Serve with salsa on the side. You could also spread the salsa on the spud, but I like prefer it on the side. 

OMaD - Week 24 Recap

I'm so behind in getting these weekly One Mile a Day challenge updates posts. 

June 7 - June 13 

Day 152: 2 Miles - Spent some time at the gym with mom and sister.

Day 153: 1 Miles - Happy National Best Friend Day! I spent the day with my two bests, and was able to walk a mile with Jennie!

Day 154: 0 Miles - Long day at work and driving places. 

Day 155: 6.11 Miles - Back to Elliptical Wednesday! It was slow going and a bit of a struggle. I feel so out of shape, but I did it!

Day 156: 1 Mile - First walk around the apartments after quite some time.

Day 157: 1 Mile - Lesson learned during this mile walk.... mosquitos can still be around even if there isn't any standing water near by. Itchy!

Day 158: 1 Mile - Walked around the apartments FaceTiming with my brother whose studying abroad! then I got to see Jurassic World with the rest of the family! Awesome movie, people, awesome!

Total Miles this week: 12.11 Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 308.71 Miles

How was your week?

OMaD - Week 23 Recap

Don't about you... but allergies hit me big time this week! Ack! And it is HOT, people!!!

May 31 - June 6

Day 145:1.12 Miles - Went out hoping for a 5k, but cut it short after a mile. My legs were into working hard. I also got to spend time with work friends at Medieval Times! Goooo Blue Knight!

Day 146: 1 Mile - A walk after dinner.

Day 147: 0 Mile - Hello, allergy cold #2. Ice cream after late night at work then straight to bed with a sore throat. Chilled with my mom till it was time to go to work.

Day 148: 0 Miles - Happy National Running Day! Wish I could say I ran today, but I still feel craaaaapy!

Day 149: 1 Mile - Walked a mile in the morning heat. Feeling better. My legs aren't running, but my nose is running now. It's like it wants to do a marathon! Oh! And here's to having coughing fits in the middle of a Walgreen's, where everyone thinks that I have the plague! 

Day 150: 0 Miles - Got to the family house with full intentions of attempting a run once it cooled down, but opted for "family time" by going to Panda Express. Oh well. It was really too hot anyway. More ice cream for me too!

Day 151: 0 Miles - After busy day at work, I decided to join a coworker and friends for dinner and drinks that ended up as a midnight ride to get my car out of a tow yard. Yeeeah! What an eeeffing day!

Total Miles this week: 3.12 Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 296.60 Miles

Image found here.

How was your week?

In case you didn't know....

In case you didn't know... this is what I call "Race Buddy Solicitation."

On Sunday, while I was doing my thing on the elliptical, my phone goes crazy with ba-bings! from my running buddy H. She was wanting me to do the Badass Brazos Half Marathon in Waco that is at the beginning of August. She won a free entry, and a fellow runner is planning for the 10k. So, technically, all I need to do is pay for registration, drag myself out of bed at an ungodly hour for a car ride to Waco, run, eat, then ride home. Not bad.

It's tempting.

Hmmmm. My analytical brain is going...

PROS

• Get my butt kicked before Marathon Training begin.
• It's a Run On! race (quality).
• Water stations nearly every mile. 
• Free ride to and from race. 
• Gas covered by another runner.

CONS

• Get my butt kicked before Marathon Training begin.
• It's at the tail end of my vacation week (something me and my besties are trying to figure where to go!!!)
• It's in August! In Texas. Hot!!!
• It's $65! Ok... more like $72 or so with race insurance (I feel like I need that insurance). 

Hmmmm... I think I can find the money for it or at least I think I can.

I'm partially sold. We'll see what happens.

Would do this race?

Ooooooh! Smoky Mountain Half Marathon

I was scrolling through my Facebook News Feeds, which seems to know me way to well nowadays, and I saw a sponsored link for the Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon. For once, I was the sucker and clicked on the link.

I am now sold on this half marathon! Seriously!

First off, I discovered that the race Start is just 20 minutes away from a best friend's house. Score! It ends in an area that she and I love (there's a great ice cream place there!). Score! The course is "slightly uphill" and seriously, the elevation isn't that bad looking. Score! The race is September (aka nice weather!). Score!

Check out that "slightly uphill" course with a 3.5 hr limit.

I vacationed in this area two years ago in August. It was wonderful. Beautiful. Perfect. I'm in love!

I'm doing this race!

The thing is... I have to wait till 2016. This year's race doesn't match up with my Marathon Training this fall. Booooooooo! So, yes, it's on my 2016 race calendar, fo sho!

I can't wait!

OMaD - Week 22 Recap

What happened to May?!?!?

May 24 - May 30 

Day 138: 0 Miles - Road trip back home after the concert!

Day 139: 1 Mile - Managed to squeeze in a mile walk with my brother after a huge storm passed and right before the sun completely set.

Day 140: 3.11 Miles - Got a 5k in before work! Score!

Day 141: 0 Miles - After work I took my brother around to get snacks for his flight to Spain for a study abroad program. Well worth the sacrifice. Foam rolled a bit to work on some kinks.

Day 142: 0 Miles -Worked late tonight after a morning day getting to the airport.

Day 143: 1 Mile - Doggy walk after dinner.

Day 144: 0 Miles - Spent the evening hanging with friends - no walky for me.

Total Miles this week: 5.11 Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 301.71 Miles

How was your week?

OMaD - Week 21 Recap

Omigosh! Where did the time and May go? How did I not post this sooner?

May 17 - May 23

Day 131: 1 Mile - Calm Sunday. Walked around talking to a friend on the phone. Someday I'm going to talk to her in person! Someday. You here me, K?! 

Day 132: 0 Miles - A Zero Day today. Got back from the car repair place and decided that it was ice cream and not being a grown up time. But I did borrow a foam roller to work on some kinks.

Day 133: 1 Mile - Did a walk with the family's dog before work. 

Day 134: 6.08 Miles -Well. First off... I registered for the Dallas Marathon this morning! After work it was elliptical time!

Day 135: 0 Miles - I felt like shit today. Sinus headaches lead to nausea while at work. Got home and couldn't even do a load of laundry let alone do my usual 5k run.

Day 136: 0 Miles - No miles today. Afterwork I went to out to eat with friends.

Day 137: 0 Miles - It was road trip day! Went out of town with Jennie for a concert and had an amazing night all together. Worth missing my mile.

Total Miles this week: 8.08 Miles

Total Miles Thus Far: 296.60 Miles

How was your week?