Week 2: Running schedule

After my partying like a rock star (not) wine post on Saturday, I am now posting my running schedule.

A little background ~ I have been into fitness for 20 years; and now at age 40 I decided to run a 10K marathon. The most running I have done was 5K on trails or baseball/soccer fields (and it's a struggling 5K). Friday was the first time I have run 4 miles and I was quite proud of myself.

I decided to push the envelope and register for this 10K mermaid run in San Francisco. I am nervous but I know I can do it.

Anyway, I modified a training schedule that I found online to suit my schedule and I have under 4 weeks left. Today I am taking a flexibility class at my gym for the over-exerciser and plan to do that every Sunday. I can't do my long runs on Saturday so I do them on Fridays.

For cross/strength I do mix in a lot of heavy weight training because I love weight training, but I will and I throw in some fun cardio machines and classes at the gym.

My mother gave me some advice and she asked me 'how do I picture my life ~ what makes me happy', so that is what I am doing and actually the point of this blog.

I picture myself as an athlete and that is what I am going to start doing. I have a lot more living spree things planned so stay tuned!

Red red wineeee

I caught up with an old friend last night and drank 1 glasses 'o wine too many... ugh! My aching head.

I'm in the process of training for a 10K on November 12, and this was not in my running diet.

On top of that, I need to work out later today.... sigh

Get your sexy on... work out!

I am so proud of myself. So yesterday I ran with my running club (I feel so official now!.. lol) and today I went to the gym and worked it out!!!! Here's what I did (Upper and Lower 3 reps of every exercise--I also so supersets).

~10 minute warm up on step mill (great for the booty)
~Smith Machine Squat (another good butt exercise)
~Barbell dead lifts (can there ever be too many butt exercises?? I don't think so!)
~Barbell bicep curls
~Seated Military Press
~ Tricep dips
~ Sumo squats with dumbbell (ladies, your rear end will be amazing, I promise!)
~ 3 position curtsy squats with middle squat
~ plank for 1 minute

I feel so strong! And the running is helping with the endurance. I also purchased Designer Whey and made a protein smoothie.

1/2 cup of Zero Vitamin Water
1/2 cup of cold water
1 banana
4 strawberries
2 tablespoons of blueberries
1 scoop of strawberry flavored designer whey

It was pretty good!

Tomorrow morning, gonna try and run 5K without walking! in 30 minutes. Then off to celebrate the 4th with friends.

Found a great running club

I joined a running club this morning and today was my first day. I have to admit, I was intimidated! These were some die hard runners and I consider myself a beginner. They introduced me to everyone and they were all so very nice! I declared myself the baby of the group and was hoping someone would help me out and one guy ran with me, he is good with beginner runners.

I got some fantastic tips and I was able to improve. I'm happy to have found this club, it's much easier when you have support. I know I will be able to do my 5K now.

PS: Was not expecting so many good looking guys! That is motivation for me to keep coming back... ha ha. But seriously, everyone was nice, it wasn't like that at all. People just helping people out.

I'm also going to look for a good detox/cleanse and get back into eating healthy. My systems is so off and I feel miserable. I need to stop all the cheating! Bleckk!

Workin' on my fitness!

As pop diva Fergie says, "I be up in the gym, just workin' on my fitness".

So now that the pity party is over, I decided to have a productive day.

I worked out at the gym (upper and lower)
~ 10 min warm up on step mill (moves incld standing on toes, crossovers and skipping steps)
~ military press with squat using dumbbells (3 sets)
~ tricep dips using bench (3 sets)
~ concentration curls using dumbbells (3 sets)
~ dumbbell one arm row (3 sets)
~ sumo squats with dumbbell (3 sets)
~ rear curtsy lunges with middle squat using dumbbells (3 sets)

Tomorrow I will resume running and will do 3 miles.

After going home and showering, I met a friend for lunch at Thai restaurant (if you are ever in Redwood City, check out Bangkok Bay Thai Cuisine on El Camino... delicious!). We had such a productive chat.

I continued the productivity theme and went home and worked on a few projects. I got everything crossed off my to do list and now about to meet a women's group for happy hour cocktails to network.

Hope your Thursday was good!

Took off 4 minutes on my walk/run

I didn't work out outside yesterday due to rain. I did run/walk on the same trail today and I got my time down. Tomorrow, I'm going to do a flat trail around a soccer field. I also changed my eating drastically, not cheating as much ~ dropped 3 pounds! I'm at my ideal weight, just need to loose 2 inches off my waist.

Fitting in Fitness: Registering for a 5K

I wanted to fit in fitness this morning while DS is with his father. I did the same trail I did a couple of weeks ago; here are the results:

Sorry my camera is out of focus. The trail is 3 miles and unlike the last time, I did add in some running; not a lot. It took me 41 min and 49 sec and it says I burned 618 calories??? Not sure that is correct, something may be off with the heart rate monitor.

I plan to do this again on Tuesday, with a goal of 40 minutes; so got to bump up running. I want to register for a 5K this week.

Added note: This trail has hills and quite a few of them.

Reigniting Fitness

My camera is, let's just say, limited and could not truly capture the beauty of the day.

View from my front door

I thought today would be a great day to reignite my health and fitness. As I mentioned in a previous post, I gained a few extra pounds, since going on a fitness hiatus. I started to get lazy, but happy to report that I'm back on track.

Here's my day...

Today's Menu

Breakfast included coffee (3 sugars), a large grapefruit, gluten free toast with almond butter and water. For lunch I had shrimp salad and water (I only drink water, and of course the occasional glass of wine). Dinner will include a BLT (GF bread, beef bacon, lettuce and tomato and a very small amount of cheese-I usually can't handle cheese but we will see).

My exercise included a 50 minute 3 mile walk. I usually run, but let's just say, I didn't have the proper gear. It took me a while because my neighborhood is very hilly--going uphill is like climbing a mountain, I almost laid out on someone's lawn on the return.

It's amazing how sunshine, good ole Vitamin D, can just change your entire mood. I felt so happy and so great. I had my iPod on I really almost started to break out into dance at one point.

Great great day :) Now I'm off to shower, pick up my little one from school and then run an errand.

PS ~ We will be making cupcakes later, and I know I will not be able to resist; tomorrow I'll take matters into the gym.

Stuck in a rut; a fitness rut!

It's been about 2 weeks since my last work out and even then I wasn't in the mood.

Earlier this year, I was a powerhouse, doing strength training, running up hill, eating healthy and doing a low carb gluten diet. I was counting calories and I even joined a new gym that offered a better facility and more cardio classes.

Now, I'm on a steady decline; I don't work out as much, my eating habits have declined and I gained about 8lbs.

I need to get out of this rut and get reignited. I guess there is nothing I can do but do it.

I think I will start Thursday. I'll just make myself do it.