August in Review

 

August came to an end with a ten mile run in the Metroparks yesterday with Patty, Dan and John.  August turned out to be very light on the workout side of things due to vacation and an unfortunate encounter between my knee, shoulder, and face with an uneven sidewalk.

Water Ski show in Wisconsin

The uneven sidewalk-OUCH

 
August 2014 Stats
35.84-- running miles
6.81- walking miles
7.58- biking miles
0-- elliptical miles
0-- kettlebell workouts
0-- stair workouts
0-- fitness app workout
0-- upper body weight fitness workouts
0-- leg weight fitness workouts
0- monthly fitness challenge workout
0-- Assorted cross training exercises workouts
50.23-- total miles

Current 2014 Stats
589.81-- running miles
36.00-- walking miles
35.09-- biking miles
4.1-- elliptical miles
8-- kettlebell workouts
6-- stair workouts
1-- fitness app workout
1-- Assorted cross training exercises workout
3-- upper body weight fitness workouts
1-- leg weight fitness workouts
2 1/3-- monthly fitness challenge workout
665.00-- total miles

2014 Mission check-in

Mission #1: Make an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Action Plan: Always have fruits and vegetables cleaned, cut up, and ready for consumption.
Action Plan: Choose healthier options when snacking.
Mission #1 went better in August.  Believe it or not we ate lots of fruits and vegetables while we were on vacation.  Plus I went back to work this month and I always eat fruits and vegetables with my lunch.

Mission #2: Accept and embrace that my best is good enough.
Action Plan: Stop comparing myself to others and compare myself to the person I was yesterday.
Action Plan: Define my own success and measure it by what I am able to do.
Mission #2 is still where I want it to be.  I remind myself daily that I am my only competition.

Mission #3: Run 1400 miles in 2014.
Action Plan: Run.
Action Plan: Run some more.
Mission #3 is moving very slowly.  My tumble didn't help with this mission as I took a solid week off because I really banged myself up.  35.84 miles run in August (810.19 miles to go).
Mission #4: Run happy.
Action Plan: Run training runs and races with friends as often as I can.
Action Plan: Listen to my heart and not the beeps on my Garmin.
Action Plan: Be thankful that I have been blessed with a healthy body that allows me to run.
Mission #4 is golden! I am still loving the run and enjoying time spent with friends.






Mission #5: Do other workouts in addition to running.
Action Plan: Find workouts I enjoy and actually do them.
Action Plan: Participate in some monthly fitness challenges.
Mission #5 went, umm, well it didn't really go much at all. I walked 6.81 miles and biked 7.58 miles.  Now that I have healed from my fall, I need to get back to this.  I was really doing good at the beginning of the year.  Not quite sure what happened since then...

I really can't be disappointed in August.  There were a few challenges thrown my way.  I just had to embrace them and keep my "things happen" attitude.

February in Review

A treadmill hill workout on Thursday was supposed to bring my February training to an end however I just ran out of time to get the workout in so my February training ended with a kettlebell workout on Wednesday evening.

February 2014 Stats
77.7-- running miles
3.06-- walking miles
4.1-- elliptical miles
3-- kettlebell workouts
2-- stair workouts
1-- fitness app workout
84.86-- total miles

Current 2014 Stats
122.20-- running miles
6.14-- walking miles
4.1--  elliptical miles
6-- kettlebell workouts
4-- stair workouts
1--  fitness app workout
132.44-- total miles

2014 Mission check-in

Mission #1: Make an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables.
Action Plan: Always have fruits and vegetables cleaned, cut up, and ready for consumption.
Action Plan: Choose healthier options when snacking.
Mission #1 is still going pretty well for the most part.  I didn't do so well with eating fruits and vegetables when we were in Fort Lauderdale for a girls weekend.

Mission #2: Accept and embrace that my best is good enough.
Action Plan: Stop comparing myself to others and compare myself to the person I was yesterday.
Action Plan: Define my own success and measure it by what I am able to do.
Mission #2 is a daily challenge for me but I am really working hard on this.  In fact, I'm reading a book called "Raising an Athlete".  It not only is helping me with the what and what nots to say to my kids in regards to their chosen sports but it is also helping me understand myself more as an athlete.

Mission #3: Run 1400 miles in 2014.
Action Plan: Run.
Action Plan: Run some more.
Mission #3 is slowly creeping up there.  I got in a lot more miles than I did last month.  There's still plenty of time to achieve this mission. (1277.80 miles to go)
Mission #4: Run happy.
Action Plan: Run training runs and races with friends as often as I can.
Action Plan: Listen to my heart and not the beeps on my Garmin.
Action Plan: Be thankful that I have been blessed with a healthy body that allows me to run.
Mission #4 is staying on track!  I don't stress about missed workouts anymore.  I am just enjoying the journey.
Mission #5: Do other workouts in addition to running.
Action Plan: Find workouts I enjoy and actually do them.
Action Plan: Participate in some monthly fitness challenges.
Mission #5 is going great. In February I walked on the treadmill 2 times, did 3 kettlebell workouts, 2 stair workouts, completed 2 elliptical workouts and one fitness app workout. 

I continue to be happy with the way things are going right now.  If this weather would just give us a break I would be much happier!  Nothing like having frozen eyelashes on our run this morning!!

Our "diamond" eyelashes and eyebrows!

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!!

December and 2013 Goals in Review

Yes, I do realize that there is a day left in December but I am 99.9% sure that I won't be running tomorrow since my best friend and her family will be arriving late this evening.  With that being said, a nice 10 mile long run yesterday brought my December training to an end.

 

December 2013 stats
56.03-- running miles
0-- spin miles
0-- jump rope fitness workouts
0-- core fitness workout
0-- Pure Barre classes
0-- Fitness App workout
0-- walking miles
56.03-- total miles

Current 2013 stats
1,314.54-- running miles
67-- spin miles (3 classes)
19-- jump rope fitness workouts
1-- core fitness workout
12-- Pure Barre classes
1-- Fitness App workout
9.69-- walking miles
1,391.23-- total miles

2013 "to do list" check-in

2013 Running Goals
1. First and foremost 26.2 under 4 hours--enough said
FAIL- I did end up running another marathon that I received free entry into. My goal was to run smart and listen to my body which I did. I also finished in my second fastest time (4:31:43) so I can't complain about that. I will have to try for sub 4 another day....



2. Achieve a second sub 1:50 half marathon so I can remove the asterick from my current sub 1:50 PR
FAIL- I came very close in March (1:50:43) but alas I didn't break into the 1:40's.   I didn't run any 1/2 marathons in December but I did run the Christmas Story 10K and had a blast with the girls!  We shall see what 2014 brings in this area!



Bick, Emily, Kim, me, and Missi


2013 Mini Running Challenges
1. Run 100 miles per month
-56.03 miles run in December...oops that's definitely not 100 miles. 
PARTIAL FAIL- There were several months that I did run over 100 miles but I was not 12 for 12.
2. Run 1300 miles for the year
SUCCESS- 1,314.54 miles run in 2013!!

2013 Non-Running Mini Challenges
1. Cross-train at least twice a week
-This was a fail for December.  I had even told Kim that I would do at least one jump rope workout but that didn't happen....
ALMOST TOTAL FAIL-  There were definitely a lot more months that I didn't get any cross-training done in 2013. 
2. Complete a jump rope workout every day
-Not a single jump rope workout completed in December
FAIL-  This was a pretty short lived one...the streak ended before the end of January...so much for jumping rope every single day in 2013.
3. Drink 50 ounces of water per day (based on my current weight, this is my daily water intake need)
-Done in December and done well.
ALMOST TOTAL SUCCESS-  There were a couple long runs that I didn't hydrate properly for but I felt I was successful for the most part for 2013.
4. Take my vitamins daily
-Vitamin taken every single day in December (assuming I remember to take it tomorrow). 
 ALMOST TOTAL SUCCESS-  I believe there were less than 10 days that I forgot to take my vitamins in 2013.
5. Continue to choose and cook healthier foods
-8 meals made in December.
SUCCESS- I am quite pleased with my results in this area in 2013.
6. Learn to swim...better luck this year
-What's this swimming you speak of......
FAIL- I have no excuse....I didn't learn to swim in 2013.
Overall December was a great month.  While I didn't have 100% success with my goals and challenges I am still happy with how 2013 went. 

We were talking on our long run yesterday about our 2014 goals and I realized and verbalized for the first time that "goals" stress me out.  Therefore when coming up with my 2014 plans, I am going to try and come up with a better "term" for "goals".  I am open to any suggestions any of you may have.  I will be back soon with my "un-goals"?  HA!  Yeah, I definitely need to work on that one!

Perfect 10

Today's long run was another scaled back 10 miler in preparation for the Mill Creek 1/2 in two weeks. I was very happy to see the temperature was around 45* and the sun was shining when I headed out this afternoon. I planned to run around a 9:20 pace today since my training schedule called for an easy long run. Once I got out there I was feeling really good and decided to just run how I felt. The temperature threw me off since I am used to bundling up lately. I had to unzip my windbreaker after the one mile mark. By the end of mile two, the gloves came off. As I got to mile 5 I heard the horn of a train indicating it's approach at a railroad crossing. Fortunately, I was still about a 1/2 mile away from the crossing and the train was gone when I approached so I didn't have to stop and wait. In true Ohio weather form, the sun went down at mile 7 and my hands were instantly freezing. The gloves went back on and the windbreaker was zipped back up for the last 3 miles.

Mile 1-- 9:09
Mile 2-- 9:00
Mile 3-- 9:22 (slow steady incline)
Mile 4-- 9:15 (spent 1/4 mile telling a dog to go back home)
Mile 5-- 9:07
Mile 6-- 9:14
Mile 7-- 9:07
Mile 8-- 9:04 (nice downhill)
Mile 9-- 9:01
Mile 10-- 8:41

Time-- 1:31.00
Avg Mile-- 9:06

Today's run was great. I felt like I could have kept running after the 10 miles but of course I respected my training and ended the run.

Keep running, you're simply the best and you inspire me!!

January in Review

Where did January go?!?!

See the picture below for my ninja look for my 12 mile run today
Temperature: 17* (feels like 2* according to weather.com)
Running Gear: Underarmour tank top, Underarmour long sleeve shirt, lined Ashland University Cross Country windbreaker, my "I feel like a ninja" mask, Underarmour gloves, Underarmour tights, Nike Dry Fit running pants, and of course socks, shoes, and my garmin
Course: 6 miles out and 6 miles back through 3 cities (Avon, Sheffield, and Elyria) with several small hills (nothing like the hills in PA though)
Finish time: 1:59.50 (just under a 10:00 minute mile--not as good as last week, but I will take it since it is COLD).

January statistics:
95.08-- running miles
28.8-- elliptical miles
123.88-- total miles
151.4-- weight as of January 31, 2010
3-- number of scheduled miles missed due to illness (horrible migraine)
47*-- warmest outdoor run
17*-- (feels like 2*) coldest outdoor run

Keep running, you're simply the best, and you inspire me!