1 Month to Spain CHALLENGE!
I wanted to quickly add that my google readers did miss out on the pictures posted at the end of my Bloomin’ 4 Mile race report, so if you wanna see them all, you’ll need to actually come to the site. 
So, I have 1 month until I take my amazing summer trip. This trip is going to be about 1/8 amazing work for my professional career, 1/8 harry potter fan girl ness, 1/4 trip to paris, and 1/2 immersion into Spanish culture and joy at seeing my lola.
I’ve decided that since the first part of the trip will be in Alicante, on the mediterranean coast, and I’ll have to wear a swimsuit, I’ll go a bit extra with my training for the next month.
I hereby PLEDGE to continue running 3 days per week, and to also do 5 days per week of the 30 day shred video. I can split them up however I want, and all of that, but I WILL do it. This is a good accountability test! I need you guys to help keep me on track! 
The count down has finally begun! I’m sooooooooooooooo excited I can hardly stand it!
Spain, here we come!
Hey guys, sorry that this race report is a little behind schedule…
So, The Bloomin’ 4 Mile is a club race put on by the Dallas Running Club. It is at a pretty and woody lake in Dallas, and was well attended. There were something like 500 runners at this race.
When I woke up in the morning, I wasn’t entirely sure it Daron would be coming. After all, it was just a “little race” and not terribly exciting, and not really a big goal race, so I had no expectations. In the end he decided to come, which meant so much to me. It really makes a difference when you have someone waiting for you at the finish line.
For breakfast I had a peanut butter and bananawich, but I kept gagging and didn’t really want it… that was weird. I also decided to see what effect caffeine would have on my race, so I went to the tea shelf. The only tea that we had that had any reasonable amount of caffeine was a box of lipton chai bags (which you would later add to milk to make a latte), which I drank black. It didn’t really BOTHER me, but I need to remember to get a tea that is a little less… spicy…
At the race, I got my bib and started stretching a little bit. I really didn’t feel very excited, and I didn’t feel like myself… so the mind games started early.
I lined up, kissed my man, and set off.
I KNOW I started at the wrong pace. I could just feel it. I’m not sure if I was feeling a need to keep up with others, or if I just misjudged, but I rectified it as soon as I could. I felt pretty much fine all the way to the turn around point at 2 miles. Right at about 2.5 miles, the trek that was downhill on the way there, was now uphill (obviously) and I decided that because I felt a little dehydrated, and a little too hot (HRM said my bpm was 194) I should walk up the hill. That took about 1.5-2 minutes.
After that, and after dealing with my “disappointment” at taking a walk break (and yes, I know I shouldn’t be upset about walking) my little heart just felt heavier. I really needed water, and knew that I wasn’t going to be getting any until about .5 miles from the finish line, so I kept going. At some point, my HR got too high again, and I decided that I would walk until I got to the 3.5 marker. This walk lasted about a minute, so I wasn’t too far from it anyway.
When I saw that sign that said .5 miles to go, I just wanted to be back to the finish so I could GET it over with! My legs felt like they weighed about 200 lbs each, and I was just all blah. Rounding the last corner, with the finish in sight, I couldn’t really even sprint to the finish!!! Daron commented later that it was the first time he saw me after the finish line that I didn’t look completely spent.
Anyway, Despite all of that, I am not disappointed in my performance… I know that some days just aren’t good running days… even RACE DAYS!
Even more disappointing than any of that, is that when I uploaded my garmin data, somehow, my race data, and data from one other training run just vanished!!! I really wanted to see my split times… oh well.
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Results and PicturesBIB 1232
AGE 25
RANK 376/430
TIME 48:06.4
PACE 12:01/M
Struggling for balance!
I want to start off by thanking Sarah @ tales of expansion for the wonderful, wonderful Jasmine Tea Biscotti Bites!
A couple of weeks ago Meaghann from the inner workings of a college graduate held another blogging bakesale benefiting her team in training efforts! When I saw these, with jasmine tea, I knew I had to have them!
I love jasmine tea so much, and these are so great:
They have a mild sweetness, but they’re definitely not sugary. There is a slight chewiness, from the dried fruit, but an overall crunch that is completely satisfying. Best of all, the jasmine-y-ness is perfect. The tea flavor comes at the back end, almost a few seconds after finishing the cookie. The lingering aroma of jasmine tea after the bite is the best part. I LOVE that savory ending note, and I LOVE these bites. Total complete YUM.
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Now, once again, its been a few days since I’ve updated, and I’m sorry for that, but I am really having a bit of a struggle finding balance. A few weeks ago, I felt SO in control, and in just a short time, I’ve started to feel so… off. Basically, this semester of grad school is coming to a head, and I’m just tired. I love what I study, but this trio of classes, these 9 hours, have been the most grueling of the entire program.
There are several huge projects all coming due at close to the same time, and I’m having trouble finding time to study, get in 1 hour of excersize most days, keep up with my responsibilities around the house, and be a decent wife (and friend)…(and daughter)… (and teacher). Well, anyway, I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I’m ready for this semester of grad school to be over. OVER.
In other balance news, I FELL down during my run today! UGH. I was so pissed, I was either getting too tired, or hit a rock, or a bump in the sidewalk, or I’m just a clutz, but I sorta fell off to the side (I think it was on purpose that I went sideways) and my hip hit the grass by the sidewalk. I’m so glad I avoided slamming my hip into the concrete, and just hit the grass. Of course, my knight on his white horse SUV insisted on coming to pick me up, as I was about 1 mile away from home still. 
very cute.
So, I’m totally okay, just bruised my pride a little.
In related news, I’m at over 4 miles per session, so that is awesome.
Best of luck to everyone running Boston tomorrow!!! Kick butt!
Goodnight!
10k training progress, and the end of weigh-ins!
Hey everyone!
I hope you’re having a great week!
I’m feeling pretty darn good, most days! It seems that health and fitness really is 90% mental, because I’m still on the wagon and going strong!
Training for my 10k is going well, my training schedule looks something like this:
Monday: short run for time (30 minutes or more)
Tuesday: stride run on the track of varying times and distances
Wednesday: Full body strength
Thursday: short run for distance (usually aiming for 3 miles)
Friday: short circuit of abs, back, arms… maybe a little legs, depending on how I feel
Saturday: long run (working up to 8 miles before the 10k)
Sunday: rest
Along with that, I also try to do yoga once or twice a week, and I’m stretching EVERY day.
So far, I’ve lost 16.4 lbs in 4 months.
Tonight, I set out for a 3 miler, but for some reason, my legs were sooooo tight!! Front to back, top to bottom, both of my legs in their entirety were so sore. I’m going to stretch well tonight, rest up tomorrow, and prepare for my long run on Saturday.
Well, I mentioned my love of yogurtoats, and this morning, I tried a new concoction. Oat bran with raspberry preserves.
I used 1/3 cup of Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran, and a tbs of raspberry preserves… plus a little milk to loosen it up. YUM!
For lunch, I had a wrap, with homemade red pepper hummus, kale, sprouts, and some button mushrooms. Double yum!
Can we talk a minute about how freaking GREAT the White Chocolate Macadamia LUNA BARS are!?!? Seriously good. I’m so glad my Kroger stocks these… *drooool*
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In other news, tomorrow is the end of the biggest loser competition at my work.
YES.
I’m so glad, because I need to stop stressing about the ups and downs of every week. I’ve ranted about much I wish I hadn’t signed up. Mostly because I’m not trying to do a quick big loss! AND, I’ve mentioned how weight loss isn’t even my focus, and that I know healthy living is way more important to me (and that weight loss will most likely follow ) Anyway, I’m really glad to have that weighing pressure off my back.
Have awesome Fridays, guys, and I’ll talk to you later.
Holy YUM!!!!
Hiatus over!
Hey friends! I’m happy to announce that my unofficial blogging hiatus is over! I’m sure you were all waiting on baited breath for my next post… well at least my mom was, (Hi mom!! ) I’m sure!!
I’m feeling so good lately! I’ve been accomplishing great things, and achieving big goals. And in an effort to seamlessly get back in the blogging groove, I’m doing the unthinkable… a bullet point post. Here goes!
Things I’ve done:
- Daron and I have found a great landscaping plan for the backyard, and we’ve started planning things, establishing phases, and doing some prep work! Expect lots of pictures of our progress!
- We bought our tickets to see RENT in May, which is going to be so freaking great, because Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp of the original cast (and the film) will be playing their iconic roles!
- On Saturday, I ran 3.68 miles!!! NON STOP! I can’t believe that, I mean… a few months ago, I was stopping after 30 seconds…and now… well, As Daron says, I’m just going to have to start believing in myself and STOP being so surprised every time!
- I went to Kohls yesterday to buy 2 pairs of “in-between-pants”, which those of you on the health and wellness journey with me, will know are meant to fill the gap between the clothes that are way too big now, and the size you think (hope) you’ll actually end up. Well, after almost having a panic attack at the unearthly number of clothes at kohls, I ended up getting a pair of jeans, and a pair of khakis in a SIZE 10. And people… a size 10 is a freaking dream. At Christmas, I had a few pairs of 16s… and before that, I’d been in 14s for at least a couple years, and 12s a couple years before that. 10s are pre wedding, Jr/Sr. year of high school… I don’t know what I’ll do when I can put on 8s. I really don’t. I had 1 pair of size 8 pants for about 3 weeks in sophomore year of hs… yes, I actually remember them.
- I bought a snuggie and a smooth away!
- I got a good grade on my friday night exam… which should be outlawed, by the way.
Things I’ve eaten:
- While some of my fellow bloggers used fast food breakfast as April Fools Jokes, mine was the REAL DEAL!! This morning, I gave in to the cravings I’d been fighting for at LEAST 2 months, and had a delicious and completely horrible sonic breakfast! It was really SOOOOOOO good.
- Other than sonic I have a new everyday breakfast love… I am in love with Whole Soy & Co yogurt!!! I can’t even tell you how much I love it. I don’t ever want to eat yoplait again… mmmmmm. My favorite method of consumption is with rolled oats. YUM! Thank you Whole Soy & Co for making such delish yogurt. It may not be pretty, but it is soo good.
Things I’m excited about:
- Graduate Meghann is having her second blogger bakesale to raise money for her Team in Training!
- Jenna from Eat, live, run is selling e-cookbooks of DELISH desert recipes for a $10 donation to her Team in Training!
- I’ve got a lot of homework to do, but I’m entering the home stretch for grad school, so that is pretty great.
- My 10k training plan is going wonderfully, and I’m finally having fun with it again. Super Tom from Runner’s Lounge is amazing, and has been an invaluable resource to me. I could NOT have done it with out him. On another note, Runner’s Lounge is awesome, and any of my fellow new runners should definitely go there, and check out the articles and resources available to you for FREE… I’ve learned a lot.
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