Pilates - not as bad as it sounds!

Really! I mean it! Well, mostly.....it's hard! No joke. I really feel like my body is changing though. And my weight is finally going down. Part of that is simply due to the fact that I'm doing something different. I think that makes a big difference. And not just the pilates. I've been doing some different things when I go to the gym, as you know. So I'm helping myself. And, honestly, I'm eating better. The good news is that I'm feeling better - which seems to happen when I'm eating more fruits and veggies and fewer cupcakes. Go figure!

I had a really good run today! How far? Who the heck knows! But it was over 6 miles and I felt really fast and strong. Didn't see too many of my friends, though. That's odd since it was so nice out this am. Anyway, it was a good run. It might have been under ten minutes per mile. But, who knows!

I a combo of pushups, situps (crunches, actually), and the plank when I got home. 3 sets. Almost stopped at 2, but I did my planned 3.

We've been having a lot of lunches brought in this month because work is so busy. And I've done well at eating the healthy stuff and eating an appropriate quantity. Both are difficult for me! Anyway, I knew we would be having some chicken, bread sticks, and pizza so I brought my own veggies and whole grains mix and just added chicken. Once I start on bread sticks - it's over!!

Good Morning

Wow! And another scorcher coming today. Going to hit 100 and then break tonight and only be 87 tomorrow. Something to look forward to! So I ran on the TM again today. Did 4 miles this morning plus my exercises. I'm planning and hoping to be outside tomorrow but we'll have to see.

I'm going to Duluth today to have lunch with Grandma. Taking Poppa with me and he's already upstairs waiting for me even though I've told him several times we're not leaving until 9:30! What a guy.

Raw Meat!

That's what my muscles felt like! Now that I've typed that header, I don't understand it! But people say that - I felt like raw meat. Don't they? I think they do......maybe they don't!

At one point this morning Shauna was chuckling about my trembling muscle (look at that poor thing!) and I said, "It looks like it is twitching after I've been electrocuted!" And she agreed so much she is going to borrow that description. I live on through pilates!

But, dang, was today a hard day. For real. Right from the beginning we did this thing that was so difficult and it just continued on from there. Whew. I was sore and worn out all day.

I did run there and back, so I got in a 3 mile run. I'm meeting the other instructor on Thursday. Shauna has to be somewhere at 7:30 so she asked if I wanted to come early. No thanks! 6:30 is early enough!

I'm interested to see how sore I am tomorrow. So is Shauna. She asked me to report back.

Good Morning

Another scorcher here today so today I ran on the TM. Did a whole 5 miles and felt good about it. Then did the push ups and sit ups. I was one mass of sweat when done even in the air conditioned basement. It was 85 and dew point of 78 when I was ready to go so thought it best to stay inside.

Not 115!

Move to San Diego! It was 80 at 1 pm today. Nice day - sun felt delicious. Know what else felt delicious? My bed! I've been so worn out and I totally didn't want to get up today. And I did get a good night of sleep.

It was actually a tiny bit cool when I left this am. I did 6(ish!) miles and it was a good run. About mile 4 or 4.5 I really wanted to just go home (see - tired!) but I did my final loop.

And I actually ran hills today! It has been so long since that has happened. I didn't take a long lunch. Just enough to do those 5 hills. But it was good to get out. Like I said, the weather was nice!

Good Morning

Sauna City. That's our new name here. Unreal. I did run 2 miles outside this morning in the soup and it was unbelievable. 82 when I left the house and dew point in the mid 70's. Just like running in a sauna. I just wanted to see what I could do and I did 2 miles but it had to be worth 4 on a normal day! Think I will be confined to the TM the rest of the week. So, I won't be doing a 10 miler this week I'm sure. Mother Nature just hasn't cooperated with me at all this whole spring and summer.

Mucho Updates

Hi! I've been doing stuff, but I have not updated! So one update on my weekend is what will happen, I guess. I didn't get home till about 9:30 on Friday and, frankly, I'm just feeling a little down or bummed. I blame work. I just don't like it there. But I've been thinking of school things and it is interesting what you said a couple of days ago that maybe I'd become a pilates instructor. Because Angie said to me a couple of months ago, "You should be a physical therapist." And I have been thinking....yeah! I should! But it is scary because, no matter what education I seek, I'm going to have to quit my job. And how do you do that when you're an adult!?! Fear is holding me back and I think it's why I've been feeling so low this weekend.

Enough of that!

By the time Friday rolled around, I was tired! But I still got up at 5 so I still made myself run. It was short and slow. I only did 3 miles. But that's OK. I got out in the great wide world.

Then I had pilates on Saturday. I love it so much and it was sooooo hard. She really challenges me. And when I don't do things perfectly (because they are difficult beyond my ability) she says, "The next time we do this you will remember today and you will really know how far you've come!" But she also tells me when I'm doing super great or doing things exactly right.

And I really do think my foot is better. And she told me that she gets really rapid/positive feedback from her clients with plantar fasciitis.

Now today I did The Stairway to Hell again. 40 minutes on interval. And it was hard. I had it set too high at first and when the fast time came I was running. I turned that WAAAAAY down! But I was dripping sweat when I was done. Totally good workout. And I finally found it online. This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.amazon.com/StairMaster-SM00140-001-SM916-StepMill/dp/B001AS4YVC

Good Morning

Late this morning getting on here because of the Wannigan Days 5K. It went well! About a hundred people. First one so they were a little disorganized. And their route included a long, long downhill into Interstate Park and then a fairly long uphill out of the Park along highway 8. That uphill nearly killed us all! But I made it. My nike+ says my time was 30.05 so I was happy with that. Not sure what the "official" time will be. Not chip timed. There was a thing on the bottom of your bib number that a person pulled off of you when you crossed the finish line. It had a bar code on it so I suppose they scanned that to get your time. Never seen such a system before so don't know how it works. And they announced that they will email official times to us on Monday. It was fun though. Angie came to cheer me on and take some pics so that was great. Also quite a few people I know from the church and community were there so that was nice, too.

Now a day off tomorrow and then I'll attempt a long run (10 miles) on Monday. But it's going to be hot, hot, hot so I don't know that I can do it. Guess I will have to take my phone so I can call for pickup if I need it.

I did it!

I ran to pilates this morning! That was my plan/dream and why I wanted a place so close to home. But work has been getting in the way. Today I was just a tiny bit late leaving and I thought maybe I should drive. But I decided instead to run faster! And I did! My run there was under 10 minute miles. It was fun and a challenge.

And I had another great session. We did a lot of balance work today. And a lot of hip/glutes work. Interesting thing is that my foot has been bothering me a lot less. Now, that could partially be because I am running less due to the fact that I'm not in training. But I like to think it is pilates!

I do feel like I am finally getting more muscle-y! Boy, I'm so glad I gave them another chance!

I meant to tell you that I got takeout last night from Tao. I usually don't get takeout but I was just too over it to contemplate cooking and their food is healthy. The have meat but he makes his own tofu. So I got tofu with veggies in black bean sauce and brown rice. It was good!

Running!

Hello! I'm home at a more reasonable time! Another very busy day, though.

OK, I weighed myself today. I guess I just couldn't help myself. But I started thinking - how sad will I be if I don't weigh myself all week and then I do and I end up weighing what I did last time? That's equally depressing! So I did it. I'm just sad that I gave in to the urge!

I had a really good run this morning! How far? Who the heck knows! Over 6 miles though. It is a really cool week here, so it was perfect running weather this am. Clouds and everything. But it was a good run and I felt really strong. One of my best in a long time - you know, actually fun. Not my best time ever, but good!

Then I did the abs video (10 minutes) with that one really irritating teacher.

And that's it! Good day. Pilates tomorrow.

Good Morning

What a gorgeous morning here in DePere! Party cloudy and temp about 60 when I ran. I went down to the river (1/2 mile from their house) and then ran 1.5 miles up the river trail. Just a beautiful paved trail right along the river. Gorgeous! So I did 4 miles this morning and had a pace under 10! 9.58. I was surprised especially because I forgot to take my water bottle! So no hydration along the way but it wasn't that hot so it was fine. I was going to take tomorrow off but now I want to run the river trail in the other direction. Can't understand why I've never run that before here. Always walked and ran just around the neighborhood. Now they're moving! Sure enjoyed it today though. I've run that every day if I lived here.

Quick one!

I'm still at work and thought I would do my update from here! Yep, it's late. Oh well!

I had another pilates session today and I just really like it. I like my lady a lot. She is very determined to get me even, strengthen me up equally on each side, and resolve the pain in my right foot.

It was really challenging again. I was hot and sweaty! I didn't run there today because I was already working before I went and just ran out of time!

Good Morning

I did a short 3 mile run this morning. Much cooler than yesterday but I'm getting ready to head for DePere the big birthday party tomorrow afternoon. I should have done the 3 yesterday and the 6 today but who knew the weather would be better today? I sure didn't and I listen to the weather forecast every night! I'm taking my gear to DePere with me but not sure I'll run over there. Feel like I need a day's rest. Wannigan Days 5K is on Saturday and I want to be rested up for that. Might run tomorrow and then take Thursday and Friday off. I'll let you know! Have a good day.

And....ouch!

Yep, I am sure feeling that pilates session today. It just seems soooo easy when I see other people do it, but it is really hard. I can feel it mainly in my back muscles and my inner thighs. But I can actually feel it everywhere to some extent. It did something!

I did go for a 6 mile run today. How far exactly? Unknown. I'm sooo frustrated by technology! The other day it was 6.32. Today 6.1. Exact same route. So I've got no idea what my pace was.

Although it did feel good. Way better then my Nike+ claims. And it was a beautiful morning. And so many more runners! The afternoon heat must be driving the late day runners to the am.

We are going to have a cool week, though. Which makes total sense because we have visitors from DC. Course it isn't burning hot!

I've decided to start weighing myself once a week. This every day stuff is just causing me way too much angst.

Good Morning

Silly me. I slept in until 7:30 and waited for the sun to be high in the sky before heading out for a 6 mile run around the block almost entirely in full sun! It was hot, hot, hot. But I kept chugging along. Walked what I though was quite a lot in the last 2 miles but still got it done in 1.5.33. I was surprised and thought for sure it would have been more time than that. But I can't do that any more. I'm not good in the heat. So if I want to do anything over 3-4 miles I have to get up earlier to beat the heat. Anyway, I did it. Then I did the push ups and sit ups in my cool basement.

Weekend Wrap-up

Well, you've already got my pilates news. I'll email you a link to that Netflix video I've been using. I've only done the hips/thighs and the ab sessions. I'm getting better at them!

I'm really really glad I kept my pilates appointment. In theory, my next appointment is on Tuesday. We'll see!

Saturday I ran 3 miles. To my session and back. It's just over in Kensington, which is part of the reason I really want this to work out! I'd love to run over and run home. Seems like a good morning of exercise to me!

After my session fell apart on Saturday, Bart and I went to the gym! Good news! The have The Stairway to Hell now! So exciting. Great Wall marathon, here I come! I did that for about 30 minutes and then I lifted weights. Man, I hope I can firm up before The Cruise.

Then I weighed myself and I weighed approximately 1 million pounds. I'm utterly befuddled by this turn of events and did NOT weigh myself today!

Good Morning

I really didn't want to do it this morning. Slept until 7:00 and it's 71 and very muggy out there. But I went. Left the house at 8:10. Did the 4 miles around the block. No dogs again today. But lots of humidity! Pace wasn't so great at 10.32 or something like that but I got it done.

Confirming

Yep, I did nothing today! Well, exercise related! Slept in. Worked. Had a dinner date with Jessica and baby (and her mom and sister).

Back at it tomorrow!

Good Morning

I wanted to sleep in this morning and really did not feel like going out there....but I did. I only did 3 miles this morning though because it was so warm running in the sun. Where the road is shaded, it's great. But then you run out of trees and that sun hits you and it just saps my energy. But I did 3 miles with a pace of 10.03 so that's good enough for today. Going to be hot and steamy now starting today and all weekend so we'll see how I do tomorrow and Monday. I'm running that Wannigan Days 5K a week from tomorrow and am still thinking about that half in Red Wing on 7/30. I don't like to run in the heat and humidity though so I don't know.

Have a good day!

Mix: Hard Work and Slack!

I overslept today! I really didn't sleep well last night. I went to bed late and then tossed and turned. Naturally, I was in a deep coma when the alarm went off! I finally rolled out of bed at 5:40 and I was luck I did that because, apparently, I turned off my alarm.

I ran 6 miles this am. Started out great but I was SO hot by the end. My pace was around 10:30. I think I forgot to tell you that a yorkie tried to attack me the other day. I had my pepper spray out today and I made darn sure the owner saw it in my hand. Guess who's getting an air horn??? Yep! I can't wait. You are my inspiration! I wish we could record this!

Then I went to work and worked like CRAZY. I did a really good job of keeping it healthy again. I'm doing well with that! I wish that food wasn't the real culprit with weight, but there you have it. Oh, I also have not had any pop this week! I got some iced green tea instead. Also, we ordered iced tea for the office. We have so much pop around and, as it turns out, a lot of people are interested in an alternative.

Then I went to the gym. And I did TWO exercises. And then I left. True story.