Training for My First 1/2 Mary--Take 2

For my birthday, I started training again for my first 1/2 Mary, scheduled for April 28, 2012 in Nashville, TN. I was foolish 2 yrs ago and tried to train for the Memphis 1/2 Mary in 2 months and re-injured my lower back.

This time, I am taking a different approach to the training schedule. I am offering myself much more time, and I am slowing the pace to hopefully avoid re-injury.

So, this was Week One. I am using Hal Higdon's Novice 1/2 Mary Training Schedule, since I can already run 3 miles with ease. I ran my first 4-miler Friday (01/06), the first one since last September. My entire body is sore, but not so much from running as it was from doing 2 days of BodyRock in a row--esp. my glutes. OUCH!

It was colder during the first part of the week with a wind advisory. I had to triple layer my clothing, add ski goggles and a beenie. I also had the K9s for hill interval training 2 of the days. Friday's run was much easier, as it was 68F outside and the K9s were out of town for the weekend!
I made four miles in 50 minutes and only walked 3 minutes and 20 seconds. My Polar estimated me burning 480 cals, I had to do a double-take!!

I am working Saturday/Sunday and will rest & be ready for week 2 starting Monday!

Happi New Year

I don't make New Years Resolutions. I think they are a waste of time and ridiculous. Also, it breaks the "I'll start Monday" rule I try to live by.

Why wait until Monday?

Why not start right now?

I do, however, have set some attainable goals for the year. Ones that are really just carry-overs from 2011.

2012 GOALS

*Training for my FIRST 1/2 Marathon

(April 28 in the Nashville Country Music Marathon:: 1/2 Marathon)

* Ditch this dreaded plateau that has become a MENACE since July '11

*ABS ABS ABS

* 2012 MFP Breaking the Plateau Challenge

hAPPi hOLIDAYs 2011

The time has come for a Christmas update.

Gracious, I have to do better with this blog!

So, my MIL only wanted desserts brought to the family dinner this year, since she and her sister's were preparing everything else. I searched online for a gourmet treat, but to little avail, I did not find something I loved, so I put a few ideas together and wah lah--

Godiva Double Take Individual Trifles

Ingredients

Chocolate Pound Cake drenched in Godiva Chocolate Liqueur

Butter Pound Cake drenched in Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur

Cream Filling

126 g Mascarpone Cheese

1 small jar Nutella

2 Tbs Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur

Crushed Hazelnuts

Whipped Cream

Fresh Raspberries

Layer ingredients as shown in photo with the crushed hazelnuts on top of the cream filling. Refrigerate for at least 4 hrs prior to serving or overnight.

New Perspective

A couple weeks ago, I decided to change my perspective from losing weight on the scale to concentrating on my core--since I am not losing weight anyway. I bought a medicine ball and a fitness bench to help me achieve the goal of getting my core in a state of visualization! I ordered the 8lb ball from WalMart.com for about $30 USD. The fitness bench I bought is made by Reebok and similar to this one from Amazon.com, but I found mine using Oodle.com for $40 USD.

J and I have been playing abdominal ball with and without the bench almost every night for 2 weeks. My abs stay tight now, which is a great feeling.

Another new thing I am incorporating is a "new to me" website called BodyRock.Tv I cannot say enough good things about this website! I have done 2 of the workouts from the site and already know, I'm going to LOVE using these workouts to strengthen my core.

Zuzana is a fabulous trainer. She goes through each workout in a normal routine, and then gives beginner alternatives to decrease the intensity for the newbies--like myself! At first, I thought 12-15 minutes didn't really seem like that long to do a workout, since I am a runner and have become accustomed to endurance training and hours of cardio. However, once I started doing the reps, I QUICKLY discovered these 12-15 minutes seem like a lifetime!

Much of the SAME!

I have tried to post several times on my blog over the past couple of months, but when there is no change on the scale, it kind of makes posting here somewhat silly to me.

I have been at this plateau for so long {since July} that I feel as though I may never be able to go any further down on the scale.

I did increase my cals by a couple hundred, and I thought that was why I wasn't losing, because i wasn't eating enough--but NOTHING!

I sit in bed this Monday morning STILL bouncing back and forth between the SAME 148-152lbs! {{sigh}}

Holiday @ Perdido Key, FL

I am posting this late for July, since it's been rather hectic, and I've really slacked off at journaling lately. These are my most up-to-date photos, taken in Perdido Key, FL. I spent a little over a week there and actually managed to maintain my weight the entire holiday, despite eating out and not really logging every morsel of food!
It felt great being on the beach! I ran a few times and even played a little tennis.
It was nice not having to think about every calorie and maintaining at the same time.
However, that is not sustainable for me atm!

Running Motivation

It’s been another month, and I still have little to report. I am at the same weight at the end of August as I was at the beginning: 149.2!

I’ve been yo-yoing, bouncing around for the past 4 weeks between 154-149. It is totally my own fault with weekend splurges and poor choices.

Last week, I decided to make running my #1 priority. I added the Harbor Town Bay Bridge 2x/week for interval hill training and increased the mileage to 5.4! Surely, 16 miles/week will show some advantage to me on the scale!

Sunsets over The Mississippi River @ Harbor Town
create an inviting atmosphere for running!

Harbor Town Bay Bridge