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By kilax, March 14, 2010 1:50 pm

Day 141 | March 8, 2010: strength + cross

I made myself go to the gym first thing Monday morning, to ensure I would actually do my strength workout (I did the routine below twice). I rewarded myself at the end with a 25-minute bike ride and some Runner’s World!

Step Ups w/Dumbbells: 20 ea. leg @ 10 lbs (ea. hand)
Smith Squats: 15 @ 40 lbs, explode up
Isolated Lunge with Hammer Curls: 30 sec ea. leg @ 5 lbs, fast paced
Crunch Fly (on exercise ball): 20 @ 5 lbs
Bosu Lunge n’ Jump: 20 ea. leg
Bosu Push Ups: 15
Bosu 1,2s: 30 sec
Rotator Cuffs (lie on back): 20 @ 3 lbs (ea. hand)
Calf Raises w/Triceps: 25 @ 20 lbs
Shin Developer: 20 @ 10 lbs

Bike Time: 25:00 | Distance: 3.85 (Set on “Forest Ride”)

Day 142 | March 9, 2010: 5 m tempo run

Ha. I should call this my Attempted tempo run. I ended up running during lunch, instead of before work, and Jack (the Garmin) was protesting being in the city by giving me completely random readings on my pace. I wanted to do a one-mile warm-up and one-mile cool-down at 10:00 and 3 miles at 9:15, but ended up with what I’ve noted below. Oh well. Next time will be better (and there probably won’t be many lunch-time runs in my future – they are sadly too much… coordination… I’ll leave it at that).

The good thing is, it was at least 45°F and I was able to run in capris and a t-shirt. Woo hoo!

Time for some blurry cell phone pictures…

The path along Lake Shore Drive

Fat face in front of the Hancock. Yikes! Time to cut back on the sweets!

Distance: 5.00 | Time: 45:27 | 1: 8:39 | 2: 9:28 | 3: 8:59 | 4: 8:50 | 5: 9:25

Day 143 | March 10, 2010: 4 m run + cross

I tend to get super indecisive about my lunch workout at least one day a week, and Wednesday was that day. I was back and forth about whether or not I wanted to do strength or cardio… of course, cardio won! I figured I would do The 30 Day Shred when I got home, but then Steven and I went on a run. Cardio overload!

It was in the 50s when we went out for our run, so I got to wear shorts (!!!) and a t-shirt (!!!). It was dark and so foggy though. We kept running through large, cold patches of fog, then when we got out of the fog, it would be warm again. It was definitely an interesting run! Have you ever gone running in the fog?

Distance: 4.00 | Time: 44:14 | 1: 10:52 | 2: 11:10 | 3: 11:02 | 4: 11:07
Elliptical Time: 15:00 | Distance: 1.90 (Set on “Random”)
Bike Time: 25:00 | Distance: 3.97 (Set on “Forest Ride”)

Day 144 | March 11, 2010: strength + cross

I did a mini-strength workout during my lunch break:

V Bar Pushdowns: 3 x 15 @ 30 lb
Seated Leg Press: 15 @ 70 lb, 15 @ 70 lb, 15 @ 90 lb
Leg Extension: 15 @ 30 lb, 15 @ 30 lb, 15 @ 45 lb
Leg Curl: 15 @ 30 lb, 15 @ 40 lb, 15 @ 20 lb
Shin Developer: 2 x 20 @ 10 lbs
Hip Abduction: 3 x 15 @ 115 lb
Hip Adduction: 3 x 15 @ 55 lb
Crunch Fly (on exercise ball): 2 x 20 @ 5 lbs

And Steven and I went on a leisurely walk when I got home from work.

Distance: 2.50 | Time: 40:05 | 1: 16:48 | 2: 15:26 | 3: 7:49

Day 145 | March 12, 2010: 9 m run (5.25 + 3.75)

I really wasn’t sure if I should run or not on Friday. I started having some pain on the ball of my left foot earlier in the week, and it was still there Friday morning. The strange thing is, it only aches when I am not running, and does not get intensified by running. I wanted to follow the guide I wrote about on when to cut back on exercise… but felt like I didn’t fit any of the pain descriptions – it’s just a dull ache, more of an annoyance. I am going to watch it closely and continue to ice my foot (I think what will really help it is getting more supportive shoes to wear at work!).

Ha, can you tell which foot is getting the ice treatment?

I ran to the park near our house (2 miles) then ran 3.25 miles there until Steven showed up. I took a quick break to eat a granola bar and drank water when he arrived, then we ran 3 more miles together, and I finished off with .75 since I only seem to like whole numbers these days.

It’s hard to believe this was the park covered in several inches of snow just two weeks ago! Now, it is mostly clear!

There was only two snowy spots…

Those damn red-winged black birds are back though. I wonder if I will get attacked again this year!

I had to wear pants during this run because my capris were dirty… and I was too hot! It was in the 50s and windy. When I stopped when Steven got there though, the sweat in my outfit got cold and I felt too chilly for the last part of the run. Wah.

Distance: 5.25 | Time: 52:49 | 1: 10:01 | 2: 9:50 | 3: 10:20 | 4: 10:08 | 5: 10:05 | 6: 2:22
Distance: 3.75 | Time: 39:52 | 1 :10:59 | 2: 10:49 | 3: 10:28 | 4: 7:35

Day 146 | March 13, 2010: strength + stretch

Steven and I did Level 2 of The 30 Day Shred (I used 2 lb weights and he used 5 lb weights) and the 10-minute YogaWorks PM Relax & Restore Segment. I don’t know if I will ever think The 30 Day Shred is “easy”! It gets me every time. I suppose that’s good…

Day 147 | March 14, 2010: 6 m run

Steven and I ran 6 miles together, and it was SUPER windy. When we started out it was cloudy (around 45°) and super windy, then it got sunny… and still super windy. The sun helped a little bit!

Distance: 6.00 | Time: 1:03:59 | 1: 10:28 | 2: 10:34 | 3: 10:34 | 4: 10:38 | 5: 10:59 | 6: 10:41

Week Summary: 24.00 miles

In the first couple of years that I was running, I always just “put the miles in.” I never paid attention to tempo runs, long runs, interval runs, cross training, strength training, stretching, etc., until recently. I just made sure I had the endurance in me to run whatever distance I was training for.

It’s amazing how much you can learn in a year! Since we ran our first half marathon last May, I feel like I have learned so much more about running. The thing is, I wonder if it’s always beneficial to me. I do think it is good that I try to do more stretching, strength training and cross training… but I start to stress out if I don’t get these things in! I feel like I should have an exact schedule for the week: x amount of specific types of runs, x amount of cross training, x amount of strength, x amount of stretching… I guess I feel like my running has lost a bit of its randomness. It feels more prescribed, even though I am the one prescribing it. And it’s not like I develop a schedule for myself that I have to follow each week. I am actually pretty free with my schedule! It’s just that I feel there are certain types of workouts, I should do, as a runner. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Check this out – my blogger friend Jillian can’t run right now because she has a strain in her hip flexor. However, she is part of Robin’s Pay it Forward (PiF) club (where you run 500 miles this year and donate money to a charity of your choice), and wants to continue to donate money, so she is putting one nickel for every mile you dedicate to her between 3/10 and 3/17 into her PiF jar. I dedicated all of my runs (staring 3/10) this week to her. It’s not too late! Leave a comment on her site here!

Comments (43)

By kilax, March 13, 2010 6:20 am

You know you live in a house of runners when it is normal to see this many pairs of running shoes in your garage:

Of course, each of us are actually only using one pair each right now. Steven uses the Adidas pair in the back, but is thinking about getting some Brooks, and I use the Brook Adrenaline GTS 10s on the end… okay, and the ones next to them when I am running in the mud (like yesterday!).

So, why do I still have so many pairs? Well, I do wear them on the walk to work. But at the same time, I just can’t seem to get rid of them. But I know I need to! There is no reason to hold on to shoes for this long… or is there (sentimental value)?

What do you do with your old, worn-out running or athletic shoes? How many pairs are you holding on to?

Erin and I were talking about this last week, and she told me about this Nike program where they accept any pair of old shoes and recycle them so they can be reused. I’ve also hear of other programs that will send your old shoes to people in developing nations. Have any of you participated in the Nike program or any other program?

Comments (45)

By kilax, March 12, 2010 7:50 am

Out of all the concerts/plays/comedy shows/etc. that you have seen, which has been your favorite and why?

I know, it is really hard to decide on just one! We’ve seen Robin Williams’ and Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy routines, we’ve gone to Wicked and I swear I have seen The Phantom of the Opera and A Christmas Carol at least twice each. We’ve also been to a few cool orchestra concerts, and I have been to see a few bands.

Overall, I suppose my favorite was seeing Van Halen with my parents (and roommate’s boyfriend) when I was in college. There was just so much energy in the show! I left the concert feeling super pumped (and went back to my studio to work on some stupid project after my parents left).

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By kilax, March 12, 2010 6:58 am

What a perfect follow-up to yesterday’s rant – a guest post on Gelareh’s blog, Nutritious Foodie, about the importance of finding something positive to share about your day, along with the rants.

Do you make it a habit to share something positive about each day? Head on over to Nutritious Foodie to leave your answer.

Ha, I don’t need to give you a clue on my answer – you all know it is something I am still working on!

Comments (45)

By kilax, March 11, 2010 5:45 am

I am so sick and tired and of saying the same things over and over.

It is mostly reminding people of things they can’t do, should do, or I told them to do, and they didn’t do (and now the shit’s hit the fan, go figure).

Why is this information not sinking in?

Really, on Monday, I had a discussion with someone reminding them about a certain protocol (that we had already discussed in January and December).

They broke protocol on Tuesday.

So I remind them again.

And again.

And again…

I just get so infuriated!

Does this happen to anyone else, or is it just me? Do you ever feel like you are stuck on repeat?

I am wondering if I am not clear enough, or if people just… don’t listen. Or, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt – maybe they are just really forgetful.

Either way, it’s such a waste of time for me to be constantly repeating things.

Sorry to be so vague!

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By kilax, March 10, 2010 7:18 am

I’m so happy it was rain, not snow, pelting me in the face as I walked to work this morning.

I just wish I would have remembered my umbrella!

What signs of spring are you noticing where you live?

I feel like the longer days have snuck up on me. It is light when I walk to work in the morning now (even at 6:30 am) and sometimes light on the train ride home. I guess that means it is time to start breaking out of the habit of immediately getting into sloth-mode when I come home. Darn!

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By kilax, March 9, 2010 5:21 am

I think Data wants a bath…

… okay, maybe not!

What is your pet’s favorite “hiding spot”? What strange places do they get in to?

Back when Steven and I were doing the long-distance thing (me in Iowa, him in Illinois) we used to talk to each other on the phone while we were getting ready each morning.

One day when we were chatting, Steven was about to leave the house when he realized he hadn’t seen Data in awhile. Normally, Data is his little shadow, so it was a bit strange that he wasn’t there, acting as a tripping hazard. Of course, I started to panic, asking Steven if he had opened the garage door and let Data out, if Data accidentally got trapped in the coat closet (a favorite place of Data’s to hide) when Steven grabbed his jacket, or if nazis kidnapped him, etc. Steven looked all over downstairs and couldn’t find him.

So I’m 400 miles away, hyperventilating because I am convinced Data somehow escaped the house and got hit by a car. Steven decides to retrace his steps from the morning, checking the bedroom, closet, and bathroom upstairs.

Steven looks in the bathroom, no visible Data. Checks behind the shower curtain, no visible Data. He thinks about his morning routine, washing his face, brushing his teeth, using mouthwash… “wait a second,” he says (we are still on the phone), “I wonder if Data got into the cabinets when I got my mouth wash out this morning!”

Sure enough, Data was sitting in the cabinet under the sink, like it was no big deal (he must have been there for at least 15 minutes). Steven opened the cabinet door, and Data gave it a second or two (coupled with a few glances of boredom) before he walked out.

Now we always check the cabinets before we leave the bathroom.

Steven, I am sure I told parts of this story wrong, so you can correct me if you want!

Comments (48)

By kilax, March 8, 2010 4:48 am

Duh! What kind of a dumb question is that?!

Well, according to a study done in the Netherlands (whose residents get about 4 weeks of vacation per year) it is not the vacation that makes you feel happy for the longest period of time, but planning for it and anticipating it.

The researchers studied happiness levels among 1,530 Dutch adults, 974 of whom took a vacation during the 32-week study period. Their findings were interesting:

• The largest boost in happiness comes from the simple act of planning a vacation. In the study, the effect of vacation anticipation boosted happiness for eight weeks.
• After the vacation, happiness quickly dropped back to baseline levels for most people. How much stress or relaxation a traveler experienced on the trip appeared to influence post-vacation happiness. There was no post-trip happiness benefit for travelers who said the vacation was “neutral” or stressful.”
• The only vacationers who experienced an increase in happiness after the trip were those who reported feeling “very relaxed” on their vacation. Among those people, the vacation happiness effect lasted for just two weeks after the trip before returning to baseline levels. (One reason vacations don’t boost happiness after the trip may have to do with the stress of returning to work. And for some travelers, the holiday itself was stressful.)
• The study didn’t find any relationship between the length of the vacation and overall happiness. Since most of the happiness boost comes from planning and anticipating a vacation, the study suggests that people may get more out of several small trips a year than one big vacation.

When I first read this article, I kind of thought it was a bunch of baloney, but as I thought about it more, I realized it describes me exactly. I LOVE daydreaming about upcoming “vacations” and races. And sometimes I enjoy the daydreaming more than the actual trip. It allows me to escape the mundane and live a little fantasy in my day-to-day life. It gives me something to look forward to.

And I can definitely relate to the stress of going back to work! I think I could say my mood is worse after coming back from a vacation. As much as I try to be cheery, I just don’t want to be back in the office!

Do you sometimes enjoy planning and anticipating a vacation more than the actual vacation itself? What are your tips for relaxing on vacation (and leaving work and other life issues behind)? Do you have any vacations coming up (share them with me – I am definitely not taking any and will live through yours!)?

I better post some pictures if I am talking about vacations! Here are some from the last two we’ve taken – Aruba and Denver. Can you guess which photos are from which locations? Ha ha.

Wow.

You guys really like cookies – I cannot believe how many people entered to win the Alternative Baking Company cookies. Wait – maybe I can believe it. These are damn good cookies!

I did use the Random Number Generator for this giveaway. There were just too many entries for me to do it the old-fashioned way! Before I put the entries in though, I deleted all the non-entry comments and pingbacks (sorry!) to make it fair.

And the winner is…

#92… Holly from The Balance Broad! Congrats Holly! Please email me your address and I’ll send these delicious cookies your way! (Please send it soon – if they sit on my kitchen counter any longer they may get eaten!).

As always, thank you to everyone who entered. And a big thanks to everyone who provided a recipe! I have so many to try now!

And since I am always asking your opinion on things, please let me know in the poll below (and your responses) if you think I should keep doing giveaways. I really enjoy doing them, and think they are a great way to meet new bloggers, but was wondering what you guys think. Thanks!

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By kilax, March 7, 2010 10:06 am

Yes, it is ironic for me to post this loooong post after asking you about skimming yesterday! But… these weekend updates are always long, and I honestly expect most people to skim them (I mean, I hope you don’t, but come on, let’s be real)!

Day 134 | March 1, 2010: strength

Do you ever have one of those days where you are not 100% alert? You are physically awake… but feel like you never woke up?

That was my Monday morning. For whatever reason, I felt like I was in a complete fog in the morning – despite getting more sleep than I ever do! I think I just had too much going on when I got to work. I was immediately pulled into a meeting that I was unprepared for, then spent the rest of the morning rushing around until I had another 1.5 hour meeting.

Wah.

The point is – taking a break to do my strength workout (not until 1:00!) made me feel more alert. Thankfully! It was an awful morning!

I did the routine below x2:

Step Ups w/Dumbbells: 20 ea. leg @ 10 lbs (ea. hand)
Smith Squats: 15 @ 40 lbs, explode up
Isolated Lunge with Hammer Curls: 30 sec ea. leg @ 5 lbs, fast paced
Crunch Fly (on exercise ball): 20 @ 5 lbs
Bosu Lunge n’ Jump: 20 ea. leg
Bosu Push Ups: 15
Bosu 1,2s: 30 sec
Rotator Cuffs (lie on back): 20 @ 3 lbs (ea. hand)
Calf Raises w/Triceps: 25 @ 20 lbs
Shin Developer: 20 @ 10 lbs

Day 135 | March 2, 2010: 5 m run + stretch

I did a nice, easy 5-miler to recover from Sunday’s race. Only a few things to note:

1. When I woke up and saw that it was 28°F outside, I thought “It’s so warm! I can wear tights!” Yes, I have gone crazy.
2. I was spitting up blood for the first mile. Yay.
3. I took these bad boys on their inaugural outdoor run:

My new GTS 10s! I have been putting off wearing them outside, because I want them to stay pretty… but the bottoms of my feet have been hurting. I figured it was time.

Amy wrote about how she babies her new shoes as well (avoiding puddles and mud)… do you baby your new shoes?

I did the 10-minute YogaWorks AM Wake-Up Segment when I got back to the house.

Distance: 5.00 | Time: 49:27 | 1: 10:30 | 2: 10:10 | 3: 9:58 | 4: 9:35 | 5: 9:10

Day 136 | March 3, 2010: yoga

Steven and I did the YogaWorks Body Slim workout in the evening. You know, I am not sure whether I should be excited or bothered that I could be so much better at it. I’ll stick with excited for now… it means I can still improve a lot – in my own home!

Um, Data? I am not sure if that counts as a “yoga move” or not.

Day 137 | March 4, 2010: 6 m interval run + stretch

I had plans to get up at 3:45 to run before work, and of course, I woke up at 3:15, wide awake, needing to use the bathroom. I just got up and stayed up.

I did 800s with 400 recoveries. I decided to do as many as I could, which ended up being only 4 sets (with a 1.5 mile warm-up and a 1.5 mile cool-down) in the 14° weather . I did the 800s at an 8:30 pace and the 400 recoveries at a 9:30 pace. It is harder to pace myself when I am not on the treadmill, but I think I did a good job.

I did the 10-minute YogaWorks AM Wake-Up Segment when I got back to the house. When I go from downward dog back to standing, I notice I can move my left foot forward more (if I move that foot first into a high lunge to stand up) than my right foot. I wonder if my right hip is tight or something.

I ended up having an hour debate in my head around 11:30 about whether or not I should work out during lunch. I went down to the gym with the intent of doing a strength workout and ended up on the bike. Oops. I am a little… um… un-enthused about my new strength workout.

Distance: 6.00 | Time: 56:00 | 1: 10:14 | 2: 9:13 | 3: 8:54 | 4: 8:39  | 5: 9:28 | 6: 9:28
Bike Time: 45:00 | Distance: 7.88 (Set on “Ozark Trails”)

Day 138 | March 5, 2010: rest

Day 139 | March 6, 2010: 10 m run (4 + 6) + stretch

What a perfect day for a run! It must have been near 40°F, and the skies were a clear blue without a single cloud! Steven and I ran four miles together, then we stopped at home where I had a quick snack, and went back out for six miles by myself. Both runs felt good – except for an awful feeling in my chest from something I ate. Maybe that is heartburn? I think it was the “robusto” Italian dressing I had.

After I got back, we did the 10-minute YogaWorks AM Wake-Up Segment to stretch out.

There were lot of kids out playing while we were running. We passed one little boy who was riding a trike on the sidewalk in front of his house, while his parents watched. After we passed, we heard him ask “Why are those people running?” His mom answered, “Because it’s good for you!” Aww. I thought that was cute.

Distance: 10.00 | Time: 1:42:45 | 1: 10:56 | 2: 11:15 | 3: 10:56 | 4: 11:03  | 5: 10:16 | 6: 10:08 | 7: 9:44 | 8: 9:36 | 9: 9:32 | 10: 9:15

Day 140 | March 7, 2010: strength

I did Level 2 of The 30 Day Shred with 2 lb. weights and I was covered in sweat when I was done. It felt harder than it should… then I looked at my exercise log and realized I hadn’t done Level 2 since January 25th. Oops!

Week Summary: 21.00 miles

I feel like I had a good “recovery” week from Sunday’s 5K (okay, honestly, I feel like I was LAZY this week and I am using “recovery” as an excuse). I felt a few twinges in my shins and my left heel this week, so I have been icing them and watching them for signs of discomfort. My race schedule is kind of filling up, and I don’t want to be injured! I am thinking about a 10K mid-April, have a half on May 1st, and just signed up to run the Chicago Half on September 12 with Robin!

I updated my post “Can techniques to boost confidence in running help with other life goals?” to include a link to the Runner’s World article on Kara Goucher that inspired it. Check out the full article if you have time! It’s really inspiring.

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By kilax, March 6, 2010 9:31 am

Why is it that I can go a whole year without having any soda at all and not miss it – but I can’t seem to go through a day without craving a sugary treat? Aren’t these two items in the same category, brain? The category of things loaded with sugar that I shouldn’t eat/drink?

I suppose actually eating something is more satisfying that drinking something for me, which is why it has been easy to stay away from soda.

Now, I want it to be as easy to stay away from sugary treats. Despite telling you guys about how white sugar affects your body, I have not been able limit my intake very well, even though I want to. When I get a between-meals craving, it is for something sugary. Then if I do have something sugary, I am so overloaded with sugar, that I get a craving for something salty. Ugh. It is time for all of those sugary treats to just be fruit. I don’t feel like I can handle anything else right now.

Do you get in-between meal (“snacky”) cravings? What kinds of foods to do you crave?

I tried to write some shorter posts this week. I tend to get a bit “blah blah blah” and drag things out longer than I should. And I think that we are all pressed for time, and writing posts like that just lends to skimming, which is actually why I put my little bold question at the end of the post – so you get the gist of it. At the same time though, I would love to know more about your thoughts on blog post length, and what leads you to skimming. It’s something I have been thinking about lately as I have not had much time to read!

Please answer my polls below!

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