Happy New Year! II

So other than a creepy spam post that I still can't determine the origins of, it's been OVER A YEAR. I am a sucky blogger. However, living life is more important than writing about it so I think I win. The year was good, tiring and stressful at times but I'm walking upright and smiling most days. Too much work but I still love Ed and my family. I got sick a few times for like 6 weeks. Just a horrific cold each time but I have never been that sick for that long and I did not dig it.

The dog is awesome, she is crazy and in her teenage phase and kind of an asshole but we love her. She takes up a lot of time, it can cause anxiety but she loves us so much and makes me so happy to come home to. Plus I now have a great subject to take a bajillion pictures of and that makes me happy.

I was re-reading last year's post and this year's is probably the same. I ran 3 miles today, like 12 minute miles - meh. Friday I did 3 miles in 30 minutes, that's my new bar. I am going to *try* and do the marathon this year, the one and only time, then go back to halves. I like halves, I can improve on them. It would make me happy to just finish an entire marathon once, and not need medical attention. We may get a treadmill. I kind of hate it, but I am NOT good at waking up in the dark and the cold, especially since my job [while back to a full-time real employee with benes - yay] is kind of draining and I dread going to that office always. So we'll work on that, and the treadmill would be a good no excuses back up plan.

I ate ok today, not going to list off that because it's never helped me to quantify what I consume. I eat too much, I need to eat less. A challenge when running turns me into a starving person but again, things to work on - it's a new year.

Other goals, do something I like rather than working constantly, drop the same 30 pounds I've been supposed to for years [I'm down 5 pretty consistently so that's a start], get to 10 minute miles, floss, be healthy. Don't hang out with people I don't like, do hang out with people I do, but don't crowd myself and my schedule. There is lots of tv to be watched by myself. Eat better, calm down, have more energy. God I could go on and on.

Do I need to be accountable for what I said last January? Is that why I write these things? For last year, I def did not complain less but I did get married. Every little bit helps.

Most importantly, I need to be more organized....as demonstrated in this post. Let's get it together!

Happy New Year!

Has it really been 3 months since I last posted? I have a lot of good qualities but apparently stick-to-it-ivism is not one of them. Alas, I am going to make another go at it. It's a new year - 2011, which is crazy. I will be 32 this year, which is also crazy. 32 is one of those ages that I remember thinking "Wow, she is a GROWN UP" about when I heard someone was that age, all the way up through my early twenties. And now I am here.

So, since September I have continued working at my same bogus but lucrative contractor gig. In October we went to Memphis, which was awesome, I would buy a condo there if they were $40k. In November, I felt slightly sorry for myself one Friday night and the next day we wound up with an 8 week old puppy. She is perfect - Nadine. Crazy, and puppies/dogs are hard, but we love her very much. Then later that month I completed the Philly Half after not running since early October due to a painful groin [that's what she said]. I was nervous but determined. My goals were finish, don't stop/walk unless dying, don't die and break 3 hours. I succeeded with all at 2:51, even walking to dinner that night. Walking is a loose term, I was gimping hard-core. And for like a week after. But I am very proud of myself and proud to poo-poo people who thought I was kidding. It was a good feeling - required a lot of Advil and gummi bears and gatorade and I almost cried at mile 12 but the end was worth it. I will actually train for one next year and maybe get up to my goal time of around 2:20-25. We shall see.

For 2011, my goals are pretty simple. Floss more, complain less, run, learn to drive a stick, maybe get married. Side notes are losing 30 pounds and getting my shit together [cue the laugh track, when aren't those my goals]. I started out today by eating ok - "healthy" bagel with 2 fried eggs, tea, some juice, an apple. I had this all after a 2.4 miles run that I completed in slightly less than 32 minutes. Kind of suck city but I hadn't run since November [the Half Marathon] so I was glad to just get out - it's also 50 degrees out [after a gnarly blizzard last week] and I would be an absolute lazy shit if I hadn't gone out. I will work on short bursts and try to get down to 10-11 minute miles. I can do it, I think. I also need a new race for this year. I should do a late winter one but I'm guessing that won't happen. So spring, summer - we'll see.

Ed just made a fantastic sauce, so we had some fusili and salad and garlic bread. Now I am having some wine and probably some chocolate. Not a bad way to start off the year!

Crestfallen

I'm not actually the above, a bit tired and sore as shit [6.9 miles, with hills! 1hr31min, which is bad but a 13.2 min pace is eons above the 15 minute shit I was pulling a few weeks ago, so there]. They just used the word in Mad Men and I think I may steal it and insert it into my lexicon. Crestfallen is the new despondent, embrace it.

So this week was good, I ran Monday and then did the bike Wed and Thurs nights, along with my arms both nights. I am up to 30 reps of my 7 arm exercises - woot! I took Friday off from exercise and did the bike again yesterday [a half hr on strength each time, like 7-8 miles depending on how lazy I am] and my arms, then ran and did my arms today. I am back to drinking after not drinking from 8/22 through 9/3, my version of 2 weeks. So far I've been reminded that drinking makes me tired and/or gives me a headache, so I'm thinking I'll cut that back way more in general. Seriously, Shirley Temples are the shit. Beyond that, I felt good running today, I'm feeling better about the half marathon...go go go!

God this show mades me want a dictaphone and a bar cart.

Case of the Mondays

Indeed. I have a feeling this will continue all week, alas. Woke up early and ran 2.6m in 38 minutes [embarrassing] and did my arms. Ate ok today, that is going better. I think hydrating properly does cut some of the starvation. Banana and a spoonful or PB pre-run [I got the hiccups twice before 9 today WTF]. Egg and english for breakfast, some strawberries, a nectarine. Veggie soup for lunch, yogurt, more strawberries, some gluten free fettuccine frozen thing for dinner [rice noodles, was actually good] and some tomatoes with olive oil and vinegar for dinner. And i just had 2 cookies and a cup of decaf for dessert. I think I've lost like one pound but at least it STOPPED GOING UP. And i did not succumb to my snacking today, if I wanted something I ate fruit. Progress!

This blog has gotten very anal-food-fattie-boring. I should work on that.

Half Marathon Training Commences

I started today with 5.2 miles. I was slow, 1h12m, but faster than I have been lately. It's not as muggy or hot which is helping. And I had a banana and 2 cookies pre-run, plus pasta last night. I definitely hate running at the beginning and like it in the middle and feel kind of like death at the end. I think this bodes well for distances, not crazy distances but 13 miles seems doable? Am I a nut? Probably. I am getting sort of jazzed and sort of nervous. I'm obsessing about how or if I pee while running. Googling this has NOT helped me feel at ease on this subject.

I did my arms last night and this morning, those are getting better. Still eating ehh but not drinking and if I keep exercising hopefully it will work out. Skinny by Christmas!

Aug 26th

Lets see, I was lazy Friday and we had the bachelorette Saturday, preceded by Target and the like. Shopping involves standing, walking, navigating. Yep. Sunday I was probably lazy as well? Monday I ran 3.3 miles in FORTY NINE MINUTES. Wednesday I ran 2 on the track, forgot my watch. Today I tried to run, felt like death because I am semi-starving myself [never mind the 3/4 box of whoppers i just wolfed] and had no energy so I did 7 miles on the bike. I think I've done my arms Sun-M-W-Th, so they are getting better, minus me being fat and having Granny wings.

So exercise is going ok, this week has been hard with being in WF 3x, but I've tried to stuff some in. It is so hard to run without eating as much as I usually do. My next philosophy may be to eat pasta everyday and promise to run after work, but I think those promises might turn into lies. I am still not drinking: 8/22 - 9/3. That has been easier than anticipated and I am proud to confirm that I am not an alcoholic.

I should be able to run this weekend and most days next week. Then a 4 day weekend!!! So looking forward to that.

Top Chef

always makes me so hungry. Distracting myself with blogging so I don't eat my kitchen.

I don't think I ran over the weekend? Maybe Friday, but the weekend was insanely full. I ran 2.4 miles Monday morning. It was raining and I woke up late, glad I forced myself to do it. But 36 minutes. That's 15 minute miles, i.e. slower than my 5k of Misery. Where do I get energy??? I think running in the AM is great due to having it done with and no excuses or exercise dread all day. However, I wolf like half a banana and some water and this does not allow for the needed calories to burn. I will need to figure this out. Maybe I should move to running at night since that would also prevent going out to eat and/or drinking, 2 other waist killers.

Today I ate pretty well [minus the 4 cookies I just housed] and then did 7.5 miles on the bike...mostly because I didn't want to put on a bra. Then I did my arm exercises, I think my arms are getting better. And I am drinking a TON of water and I feel better and it might just be me but I think my forehead lines are smaller??? I pee constantly, which I loathe but alas. Better than a urinary tract infection or dehydration.