The Gym

As you know, I have joined the gym. I really wanted the opportunity to lift weights and, frankly, I come up with a lot of excuses not to run outside. Now that it is warming up I know I would need to hit the pavement by 8 if I do not want to roast. Of course, I could run in the evening but, hey, I am lazy. By 6 PM I am done!

Yesterday I ran 3 miles and lifted weights. Today I ran 5 miles - just under 12 minutes per mile. My intention is to do light cardio and weight lifting on M/W/F and long distances (for me!) and speed work on T/Th/S. My goal is to get back to a ten minute mile by August. Very doable, I think.

I will keep you posted!

I'm dying!

I wanted to get some exercise in this morning but the thought of running my normal route left me a tad bored. Thus I decided to run up and down this gigantic hill over by the Balboa tennis courts. It took just 3 minutes for me to recognize the true enormity of this hill. It is long and it is steep. It took me about thirty minutes to do it 10 times. It was more challenging then any 4 mile run in recent memory.

I need to include a workout like this at least once a week - I think twice would be even better. Hills really help with speed during a normal training run.

As I mentioned, eating well has been my recent issue. I had a really healthy day yesterday and I am off to another great start today. And, happily, I like everything I am eating and I feel great.

Update

Hello stranger!

I put in good runs yesterday and today - four miles each day. My time needs a lot of work, but it feels good to be out and about and doing something to improve my health. As I told you the other day, I am feeling better/happier then I have in a long time. Because of this, I want to run. And because I am out and about I feel even better.

That said, recently my eating habits have been wretched. I think a lot of that is based on the fact that I have been so tired. Yesterday I made something to freeze, so that should help a lot. I also made a really good WW bread.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/8 cups water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flaxseed oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 tablespoon liquid lecithin
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup flax seed
• 2 tablespoons bread flour
• 3 tablespoons whey powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 
  
• I skipped the flaxseed oil and used olive oil (it was $12 for a tiny amount!) and I did not use lecithin. I did some research on lecithin and I understand that the liquid lecithin tastes horrible and you need a substantial amount more to get any nutritional value. Also, you have to be sure to mill your flax seeds. I actually just bought Red Mill milled flax seed.
• Anyway, give it a try! It made good bread.