Marathon Training

So, training normally isn't that bad of a deal, except when life surprises you with thinks like walking pneumonia.  Every time I get sick or take a few days off it feels like such a setback.  Well the marathon is in about 7 weeks so we are just gonna keep doing what we can do and enjoy the experience.  I'm looking forward to being able to say that I have ran a marathon but it seems like a long way off...

Tonight's run was one hour on the treadmill.  I used to be able to run around 7 miles in that time but tonight was just over 6 but I'll be ok with that.  I will just keep taking it one step at a time and push myself a little harder each day :)

Something New

So I am putting myself out there and trying something new.  I have joined Under Armour Women which basically is a place to do a video blog of workouts, progresses and challenges you are doing.  I'm gonna try this and see if it helps me stay motivated.  I was doing really good when I was running with Michael but his work schedule is so random and I have gotten into the habit of slacking when he can't go with me.  Anyway, I'm gonna see if I can keep up with this and continue getting fitter and feeling better about myself :)

http://whatsbeautiful.ua.com/

Living in Workout Clothes

So in case you didn't know, I am in search of the perfect me :)  What does that mean?  Well....

A lot of this....

And a lot of this...

And if you want to know the best workout video....

Needless to say, two workouts a day are starting to work and I'm feeling pretty good about all of that.   My fabulous running partner, aka Michael, has been pushing and motivating me along the way and we are scheduled to run our first marathon in December!

Here's to a healthier, happier me :D

How to burn 1,700 calories in a day!

Bike. Bike hard.  For 3.5 hours.  Uphill.

Warning:  Following day one might feel sore, stiff, and virtually immobile.  Emotional behaviors may include and are not limited to crankiness, irrational, moody, and neurotic. 

Consult your doctor before performing this strenuous activity.

Orders, Races, and Awards!

How many things can happen in a day?  I think this was a challenge to me this weekend and let me say, my head was spinning.

Saturday morning I got a call from my husband saying the re-enlistment ceremony had happened and all the papers had been signed.  It is official people we are heading to Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii!  When we got married nine months ago, I never would have thought that we would finally get to be newly weds on an island in the Pacific!  I am so very excited.  Excited to be together, excited for new adventures, excited for new opportunities!  I am still planning on moving down to Texas in July and it probably wont be until winter or spring for the big move.

Another thing that happened Saturday morning was the 10 mile race I have been half-way training for.  Now I decided that the worst part about this whole idea is that I am not a morning person.  Who would have thought that half the city would be downtown at 6:30 AM and they are all so energetic.  Needless to say, there were so many cameras out that I almost freaked out!  Well that is just pre-race.  I must say the running part went much better than planned.  I did not walk for the first 6 miles and for the last 4 I did a run/walk deal because I had some pretty bad leg cramps.  I impressed myself with my time, though.  My goal was to be under 2:10 and I crushed it by finishing at 1:39 at 9.58 pace!  Who would have thought?  Three days later and I am still sore but who cares :)  Guess it is time for my to set a new goal!

That is not all that happened this weekend either!  Sunday night ended on a very happy note when I got a phone call.  I was informed that I had been voted SOU Outstanding Cultural Anthropologist of the year and nominated for the National United Society for Outstanding University Women!  Kinda made my night.

Anyway, these things have really motivated me to finish my undergrad well, but it has also put a lot of pressure on me knowing that all my profs are expecting so much. 

So much to do, so little time!

Back to School

First week of my last term... Happiness!  What does my week look like?  Well here it is...

Monday - I don't have school on Mondays so I decided to spend some quality time in the gym seeing that my 'race' is coming up quick.  A little sweaty and 7.5 miles later I called it a workout, or so I thought.  Heather and I have been talking about biking to some classes this term so we decided to give it a trial run.  22 miles later we were both a little sore. 

Tuesday - Today I had my first capstone class.  Lot of work to do in just a few short weeks.  I will need to finish putting together all my research from my practicum project as well as write an analytical research paper on the struggles of being a homeless teen.  The paper I will have to present at the end of the term as well.  Lots to do!

Wednesday-Saturday - I am heading to Seattle for a few days with some classmates and professors for a national applied anthropology conference.  Should be pretty fun and hopefully I will get to listen to some pretty amazing anthropologists!

Talk about an exciting week back!

Oh Happiness!

So friends, I can officially say it... I am done with this darn term!  I must say it was busy and with the stress of Michael being gone to, I think I reached my limit.  I am excited for the next two weeks to rejuvenate myself and work on some person goals.  For today that means I got an extra hour of sleep, now I am off to spend some quality time on the treadmill, taking the kids swimming this afternoon, and this evening I plan on going out with a group of friends to celebrate another term down!  Yeah, spring break is never really calmer for me but I hope it will be encouraging.

The last two weeks of school really killed my workout schedule and my eating healthy goals.  I am really going to try to get back into this system.  Less than a month 'til the Pear Blossom run so I got to get moving!

Right about 3 months!

Now we all know about army time, right?  The fact that you are given a date and know that it will be sometime around that date but it definitely wont be that exact date... :)  Well that is how R&R is going to be.  So for me, I am planning on my husband getting his short two week leave at the end of may or beginning of June.  That means we are right about three months away!  Three months sounds so much better than four months right?!?  So, today I can't help but be thankful for February being a short month, the distraction of school, and the ability to check days of my calendar.  I so can't wait to give my man a hug!

Michael and I got some great plans for R&R which include my graduation, car shopping, and running away for a week together to see the Oregon places we love so much!  I am not normally a big counter of the days when he gets back just because I know from experience that the dates are always flexible and also it can just get so downright depressing seeing how many days left.  Instead I count the months and obstacles in between us.  This is what I have come up with...

1. Finals next week
2. Spring break trip to see Drew
3. My first 10 mile run
4. My final term at SOU

Of course my list changes and grows but these are the big things I get to look forward to before we are reunited.  I have to look forward to the small things, even if they aren't much fun like finals, in order to better appreciate the big things in life!

No pain, no gain. Right...

So as you have probably observed, I have been training to run/walk a ten mile race at the beginning of April.  However, the past few weeks I have had really bad pain in my knees.  Apparently you are not suppose to go from doing very little exercise to putting in 1-2 hours a day.  I took a week off from the gym, swallowed some Advil, and excessively used ice packs but my darn knees are still yelling at me.  I decided today to head back to the gym and see how they felt.  I think I discovered the source of my pain!  All those dreaded lunges, squats, and reclining sit-ups, yeah, I don't think I shall be doing much more of those in the future.  Guess I'll have to find some new ways to work out the legs, ways which wont cause immobilizing pain!

I am still going to shoot to run the ten mile race and hopefully my knees wont bother me too much.  I have discovered that it is good for me to set small goals for myself.  It helps keep me positive and working towards a better me :)  As long as I don't pass out in the middle of the race, I think I will be good!

I found this necklace on etsy and I must say it is perfect for me!

Training Update

I know we are not suppose to be prideful people, but I must say I am super proud of myself today.  I got my paper done early today so I had some time to dedicate to sweat and tears at the gym.  Wearing some new underarmour shorts that make me feel sexy and one of my husbands army shirts, I mounted the treadmill and started running.  I was so proud of myself because in between running and walking I was able to go for five miles!  This is half of the distance I will have to go for my race and I know today I could have gone farther but I just get so bored.  I mean seriously, how long am I suppose to stay on a treadmill?  Guarantied, if I had moved my legs a little faster maybe it would not have taken so long.... Anyway, work in progress I guess.

To celebrate I took myself down to Sports Authority to get some much needed new running shoes!  So excited about my new Asics!  Trying them out tomorrow before work.

The First Six

Yesterday was our six month anniversary.  I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man!  Unfortunately this special day was celebrated by us on opposite sides of the world.  I wish I could fast-forward the next four months just so I could kiss him again.  The countdown is on!

In the meantime I am running around like a crazy person trying to keep up with my life.  I have been doing good with my working out even if it means getting up early on my days off!  I shall persevere, I shall achieve my goals!

I have decided that good motivation for me would be new running shoes :)  I do love these shoes.

Maybe, just maybe.  First I should get through this crazy weekend of homework!  Three midterms this next week and over 30 pages to write.  Praying for motivation and drive these next few days!

Oh, the crazy ideas!

So I have been known to come up with some crazy ideas once in a while :)  I like this, it keeps my life interesting.  Anyways.  My mom suggested a while back that we should walk the Pear Blossom 10 miler.  I decided that if I were to walk 10 miles it would take me all day, so I decided to run/walk it.  The downside of this crazy idea is that I actually have to learn how to run again.  Now running isn't necessarily a pastime that I enjoy.  I love just about every sport from swimming to bowling, but running was never really my thing.  Anyway, I have been running... well run/walking.  I must say I am very impressed with my progress.  I tend to get sore very easily, but that must mean that I am getting stronger right?  Our gym recently brought in two manual treadmills which I love and am willing to fight for :)  I must say they make you work!

So this has been my goal recently and I hope to have the motivation to last til the end of April.  I pulled out my favorite pair of running shoes again, but I think they are about ready to die on me.  Guess this means I get to treat myself to a new pair of shoes!

 The biggest thing for me with this training thing is going to simply find the time.  Tonight I spent 42 minutes on the treadmill doing my best attempt at running - ok there was a lot of walking too.  42 minutes at an average pace of 12mpm.  I was happy with that.  I hope to do race day in 10 minute miles :)  Here goes nothing!