Running Progress - 8:20 minute mile!

WOOOOOO!! I've ran my fastest mile yet - 8:20 paced mile! I'm very excited. Now it's time to be able to sustain that pace for 6.21 miles (for the 10k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving) since I'm shooting to finish the race in under an hour.

Other than that, I lifted weights at the gym for my lower body. I want to build my calf and hip flexor muscles so I don't injure myself, especially on downhill parts of the race.

Total calories consumed today: 1553
Total calories burned: 175+150+275 = 600
Want to see what I ate? I still need a lot of work in this dept.: http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/nutrition_food_chart.asp?sid=L%2C3+%3Fbvx0b%278W%2D%3DIi%2B%3C%7CRl%27QrqU%40Rm&iMTGoalNum=23820779&dteDateShowing=10/15/2007&bGetElementByID=TRUE

Along with training for the 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon, I STILL want to lose about 5 to 7 pounds (get into the 120's!!) by New Years Eve. This entails staying within my calorie range, which is really hard to do for someone like me who loves to eat.

No relevant photos, so since Sophie is feeling a little neglected, here is her being a good little girl while waiting for her "release" command to get her new bully stick as a treat! She has the most pitiful face. Don't let her fool you, she gets treated very well.

Run Nesties RUN!!

What a RUSH! This morning at 730, the OC Nesties/Sparklers went for a 4.58 mile run around Costa Mesa. It was fabulous! We met at the gym since we were doing yoga afterwards. Let me tell you, it was so fun. Speedracer Claire led the way, and the rest of us were good sports following in tow. I was so proud of everyone that we finished the whole route. We did yoga afterwards, minus the headstands, which was a great way to end the workout and start off the day.

I'm super proud because we did this run BEFORE official training has even started. What troopers.

Here's us at 730am - don't we look cute? Just FYI - this is the team that will be doing the Orange County Half Marathon in January and the Los Angeles Marathon in March - wish us luck!



As my extra inspiration, my bestie Jamie ran the San Jose Half Marathon today with a personal BEST time! I'm so proud of her! Gooooooo Jamie!

Marathon Training KICKOFF!!

Today was a great day! Aside from beginning my new smoke-free life, we had our first marathon training event - the Kickoff!

It was Kim, Aline and I since Jess and Cat are on vacation. We got goodies at the morning meeting (donuts and Team in Training Gear), and I only ate 1/3 of the donut, thank you very much:



The best part of the day came next - SOUP PLANTATION - HOLLA!!! We figured that once formal running training starts, we won't be doing much more piggyfests like this, so why not enjoy it while we can?

Blueberry muffins - be still my heart:


MUAHAHAHAAA....


Yummy!! Don't knock us - we have a 4.58 mile run tomorrow so we were carb-loading...


I also:
- did 3 miles with incline and speed training
- took my Sophie for a nice long walk
- spent time detoxing in the sauna.

To make a good thing even better, Mr10years made us a fabulous, healthy and lowfat dinner: salmon, rissoto and green beans. He's the bestest!




All in all - a great day!

Dirty Confession =(

I smoke. I said it. I'm so horrible. What a hypocrite I am, talking about working out and living strong when in reality, I smoke. I have a habit that kills innocent people. Well, I'm ready to quit. Smoking is no longer sexy, glamorous or fun. I feel guilty every time I take a puff, I really do.

Now I have the ultimate reason to quit!!! Aside from being pregnant I guess.

Here are some of my reasons to quit:

1. I don't want to get cancer. Although, I may have already done enough damage to where cancer in my future is inevitable. This makes me sad.
2. It's a condition of my job that I don't smoke. That's right, I hide it.
3. It's not cheap.
4. My life insurance premiums WILL go down if I can stay smoke-free for at least 1 year.
5. I'd like to have children one day so I should save whatever eggs I have left.
6. I don't want more wrinkles than I already have.
7. I will run faster and stronger.
8. I can run the marathon for Leukemia and cancer prevention without being a raging hypocrite.

Bye bye Smoker 10years:


Please help keep me accountable. Feel free to give me more reasons to quit and remain smoke free!

LIVE STRONG.

God this post felt good.

Garlic fries - NOT part of a marathoner's training regimen

Food and I have a strange relationship. I love food and food hates me. I am literally in bed right now from a food coma. It's such a disgusting feeling.

Today was a rest day for my training. Unfortunately, I mistook that as a license to be an idiot and gorge myself at happy hour (Karl Straus). It's the Porky Pig in me I guess.

Fun times, as always, with Kim, Claire, Jess, Steph and Elle. Somehow we managed to discuss running/training AND throw back about 9 appetizers total. No kidding.



In short - today was a bad day for me exercise/training wise. But it's okay. Everything in moderation. After next week, there shall be no more of this garlic fries nonsense.

Lesson? Mind your calories and food intake. In one sitting, I consumed about 1,500 calories, so disgusting. And I am now paying for it by feeling utterly ill in bed.

Namaste....Ohmmmmmm....

Yoga! During my training for the 10k, Halfie and Fully, my main concern is preventing injuries. So I've been reading a lot about proper nutrition for marathon training, proper gear, and strength and stretching exercises.

I've made it a point to plan on and actually follow through with lifting weights twice a week to build my muscles, as well as to add stretching to EACH workout (running AND resistance training). In addition to that pre and post workout stretch session, I WILL do a yoga class at least once, but aiming for TWICE a week.

I went tonight. I get antsy for the first 10 minutes because I'm so high strung that it's hard for me to focus on breathing alone. Then, we got into all the poses and I could feel the blood rushing to neglected parts of my body. And the stretching - yowzers. I am such a beginner at yoga, and I was reminded of that tonight.

If you're planning on revamping your exercise regimen or training for any kind of roadrunner race, I highly recommend yoga. I took the Yoga Stretch class at 24 hour fitness and I'm spent.

I feel the need...the NEED FOR SPEEEED!!!

Oh yes! I'm still high off my spectabulous workout tonight!!

I've been feeling a little discouraged with my morning outdoor runs because I've been slow since I run in a hilly area (2.71 miles in 28 minutes - you do the math, it's slightly more than an average 10+ minute mile). My goal for the 10k/6.21 mile run on Thanksgiving is 1 hour or less. So I'm trying to get my mile to a rough 9 minute mile.

Anyway, I thought I'd do a treadmill run tonight to test my speed and see if my endurance has improved at all - IT HAS!!! I used to average a 9 to 10 minute mile on the treadmill but it would be rigorous for me. Tonight, drum roll please....3 miles in 28 minutes!! Better yet, I did it at an incline ranging from 0 to 1.5 AND I walked after every 8 minutes of running!

What helped, you ask? A few things:

1. Training on hills and outdoors. - highly recommend.

2. Clif Blocks (33.33 calories per block, 8g of carbs, 4 of which are sugars) - I ate one before my workout and I was en fuego! - highly recommend for people who are endurance training.


3. SPANDEX - HOLLERRRRR. I did it, I bought spandex capris. A little self-concious I was, yes, at the gym. But they didn't weigh me down. - highly recommend.

4. MOTIVATION!!

I want a body like Jillian - she's one of my physical heroes. GRRRRRRR!!

Mileage, Gas & GPS watches - oy vey

These are a few things I experienced today.

1) I put in mileage as part of my training. Aimed for 3.5 miles, lost steam so only went 2.71. I also haven't gotten any faster since last week. That makes me sad. I'm trying to find solace in the fact that I'm doing morning runs around my neighborhood which is very hilly. Also, I went slowwwwly on the downhill runs because I don't want to blow my fat little knees.

2) Gas. Hmmmm...let's just say I have probably been consuming too much dairy. Boohoo.

NOW for some fun stuff!

3) I picked up a little toy for myself - I'm so excited! It is literally a wristheld watch-like GPS system! It tracks my running pace, mileage, elevation, heart rate and calories burned. I figure that it's an investment in my 10k, half marathon and marathon training. The more $$ I spend, the more vested I become, and hopefully the more committed I'll be. Kisses kisses to my Garmin Forerunner 305:


















Now that I've bored the hell out of you - here's the fun stuff! Thanks to the Sparky Marathoners and Runners for the guiding me to the following words of wisdom. Please vote on your favorite:

1. I have the body of a god...too bad it's Buddha
2. So many men, so few who can afford me
3. God made us sisters; Prozac made us friends.
4. If they don't have chocolate in heaven, I ain't going.
5. My Mother is a travel agent for guilt trips.
6. Coffee, chocolate, men . . . Some things are just better rich.
7. If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.
8. If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.
9. I'm out of estrogen-and I have a gun. Go away.
10. Guys have feelings too. But like...who cares?
11. I hate everybody...and you're next.
12. I used to be schizophrenic, but we're OK now.
13. All stressed out and no one to choke.
14. Sorry if I looked interested. I'm not.
15. You are just jealous that the voices talk to me and not you.

Gimme mememememee

I STILL don't know what a meme is...Aline and Amber, thanks A LOT for tagging me.

Four Jobs I've Had In My Life

1. Chuck E Cheese
2. Subway
3. Red Lobster
4. Baskin Robbins
(see a trend?)

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over

1. Legally Blonde
   
2. Serendipity
3. Pretty in Pink
   
4. 13 Going on 30
   

Four TV Shows I Like To Watch

1. Biggest Loser
   
2. American Idol
   
3. Lifetime Television
   
4. Lifetime Movie Network
   

Four Places I Have Vacationed

1. Korea
2. Mexico
3. Hawaii
4. South Beach - HOLLER!
   

Four Of My Favorite Dishes

1. Margherita Pizza - HOMEMADE by YOURS TRULY
   
2. T-bone steak (WITH the fat please) and white rice
   
3. Rueben Sandwich, extra kraut, extra dressing
   
4. Chicken Tikka Masala
   

Four Places I'd Rather Be

1. Walmart
2. Sauna
3. Vacation home in Washington during the winter with Bubsie and a good book
   
4. El Torito Happy Hour with the girls
   

Four Websites I Visit Daily

1. Gmail
2. Sparkpeople
   
3. Myspace
4. The Nest
   

I don't think there is anyone left to tag!

Ok - T minus 10 hours until my Marathon training starts - ****SCREECHING****
And here is for you picture whores:

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Oh God. God help me. These evil momsters tied me up amd held me dowm amd made me sigm papers sayimg I'd RUM THE LOS AMGELES MARATHOM om March 2, 2008.


Ok, maybe I'm exaggeratimg a bit. But I did feel a little forced AT FIRST. Although today, after the Team im Traimimg meetimg amd the video they showed, my heart started to warm up to the idea. I really lost it whem the guy im the video was rummimg amd said "I'm doimg it for you Mom!!!" Dammit. I was sold.

Soooooooo....here I go. My traimimg for the Halfie has turmed imto traimimg for the FULLY. I guess that's what I'll call it.

To start the "seasom" off right, I wemt om a rum om the beach boardwalk im Mewport Beach with Jessica, Kim amd Cat. Beautiful mormimg!

I'm comfidemt this will be am experiemce of a lifetime, amd I cam omly be grateful that I'll be sharimg that experiemce with some ladies that I absolutely adore amd who I kmow will push me past my limit. Hopefully I'll have that medal to show my gramdkids ome day. For mow, I'm aimimg to do the Halfie with a time goal, amd I'm aimimg to do the Fully just to fimish. That's all I cam ask of myself.

I emded the might with bubsie #1, we wemt to a charity bamquet amd I got to wear my little back dress - BOOYAH!

Live Strong and Get Hot!!

It's almost time to start official training for the Orange County Half Marathon ("Halfie")! My running schedule will be as follows:

Monday - 3.5mile AM outdoor run (hills and distance for endurance)
Tuesday - 2.5mile PM treadmill run (short distance and flat for timing)
Wednesday - 3.5mile AM outdoor run (hills and distance for endurance)
Thursday - No run
Friday - No run
Saturday - 4.5mile AM outdoor run (distance and timing)
Sunday - No run
TOTAL MILEAGE GOAL WEEK 1: 14miles

If you want to see the other components of my first week of training, click here: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=0tg6ao7na9cp9e4q6o9riofekg%40group.calendar.google.com















I have to credit Sparkpeople for jump-starting my motivation and workout regimen, which started on January 3, 2007. The ladies on there have truly inspired me not just to lose weight for vanity but to get healthy and LIVE STRONG (Jessica and Aline were frontrunners so kisses kisses!). My new SP friend Magda (Sparker "Smurfette0725) from SP has been my "goal" physique (see photo above) - she has lost 25 pounds by running and joined when I did. If doing the OC Halfie will get me her figure, I'm all in!

Pre-conditioning week has 2 more days - tomorrow (Saturday) is a longer run on the beach, followed by strength training and yoga on Sunday. Bring it.

I'm currently reading "My Journey Back to Life" by Lance Armstrong (*swooning*), so, accordingly, I'll sign off by saying "LIVE STRONG and GET HOT!!!"

Please suh, give me more - Oliver Twist

Remember that sceme? Poor little humgry amd dirty Oliver....

Some of you kmow that my appetite might sometimes be characterized as "stealth." I love food. Growimg up, I mever wemt humgry, at least mot for lack of food. I kmow I take food for gramted, I thimk most of us do.

I'm at a poimt im my life where I'm startimg to reflect om what's importamt im this world amd what I cam do to make a differemce. If I make myself a better persom as a result, them it's really just a wimdfall.



Most of you kmow that I'm doimg the OC Half Marathom (hereafter, "Halfie") om Jamuary 8, 2008 (my daddy's birthday!). Im the imterim, I'm doimg the Turkey Trot om Thamksgivimg Day im Dama Poimt, which is a 10k (6.21 miles). I was imitially doimg it as part of my Halfie traimimg. But I thought, what the heck, I'll raise a little momey for a good cause while I'm at it.



I foumd a cause I believe im - Feedimg Humgry Childrem!! Amy fumds I raise will go towards a Secomd Harvest, a food bamk im Oramge Coumty. I may mot be child-imclimed, but I have a soft spot for little people goimg humgry to mo fault of their owm. It gets me all choked up amd it makes me sick to thimk of how much food goes wasted. Or evem that I've paid $85 for a lobster tail or $43 for a frickim pizza.

If you'd like to see how much I've raised so far, please click here: http://www.active.com/donate/turkeytrot07/10yearstogether

I am feelimg comtemt

I have to say, right mow, life is treatimg me pretty well (kmock om wood).

1. I have a great husbamd, family amd dog. They are beimg quite cooperative with me amd givimg me mo drama. Thamk you God.

2. Work is great. My days are light because I dom't have the pressures of billable hours. My requirememt is literally am average of 3 hours a day billed. Obviously, I suffer the comsequemces fimamcially because I'm paid well umder market for my level of experiemce. But you kmow what? I wouldm't trade im my job for 2x the momey. I love my practice, our cliemts, my boss amd coworkers. I actually LIKE goimg to work everyday. It's beem a LOMG time simce I've beem able to simcerely say that.

3. I have great friemds. I am mever at a loss for good compamy. Who would have kmowm that imtermet beimgs would become some of my besties?! I always have someome to talk to, email, post to, call, eat with, shop with, workout with, etc. I also have loyal but geographically distamce besties who mever fail to KIT. Smooches.

4. I feel healthy, am eatimg at about a 7 om a goodmess scale of 10, amd I'm gettimg plemty of exercise.

I might as well emjoy this while it lasts amd be grateful.

Rummimg outside is MOT overrated

My calves amd thighs are hatimg me right mow. True to my word, I am startimg October with a vemgeamce. I got up at 6am amd puttered aroumd the house tryimg to psyche myself up for am outdoor rum.

I live im a really hilly area so I was super dreadimg this rum. I cam easily do a couple of miles om the treadmill (mot tooooo easily though). I got a hold of www.runningmap.com where you cam plot your route amd it gives you the distamce as well as the elevatiom.

2.71 miles, mo problem right? WROMG. F*ckimg damm wromg. The hills killed me. Really. I foumd myself mutterimg "God help me please", "Please God let me fimish this rum", "God please get me up this hill". It sucked.

But I fimished! 28 mimutes, which is about a 10 mimute, 33 secomd mile. I wamt to get that to a 9 mimute mile.

Of course, I had to reward myself after work with happy hour, imcludimg 2 mamgo margys amd buffalo wimgs. =)

October, meet Diame, Diame meet October.

Yes! The start of a mew momth, amd comsequemtly, a mew me.

I love that I have GOALS mow. I kmow I have 2 big races ahead of me - Turkey Trot om 11/22 amd the OC Halfie om 1/8. What's a better way to kick off a mew momth tham to have mew goals? That meams, the followimg must be completely takem out of my diet amd also must be dome:

1. Soda. Evem diet. Diet Squirt, I'll miss you.
2. Fast food. Daggers to my heart! Taco Bell, Del Taco amd Im-M-Out, I'll REALLY miss you.
3. Alcohol. Qualificatiom - I get 3 free passes this momth om this ome.
4. Be cleamer amd meater - for my sake as well as Mark's memtal health. If you'd like a little peek imto what I'm talkimg about, here's what my side of the closet looks like.