1/2 Marathon Training - Week #4

Week #4 is in the books and somehow I'm wwaaaayyyy off my prescribed workout calendar, but whatever......

Monday -        Run 1 mile (9:30) + 30 minutes on the elliptical + 25 minutes of weights

Tuesday -        Run 3.94 miles in 35:00 (that's an 8:52 pace) + 15 minutes on the elliptical (1.52 miles)

Wednesday -   Run 3.63 miles in 35:00

Thursday -      Run 2.01 miles in 19:37 + 15 minutes of arm weights

Friday -           Run 5 miles in 48:22 (that's a 9:37 pace)
Saturday -      15 minutes of arm weights
Sunday -         Run 3.60 miles in 35:00

Total miles (running) = 19.18

Reflections:
* Nice overall mileage! I wanted to up my total running miles from last week, which totaled 16.03.
* No real rest days - Saturday was a slow day, but I did something every day!
* Sunday is usually my long run and this week I just wasn't feelin' it - that's life. No biggie. I'm in week 4, I didn't need to sport a 8+ miler this week.
* I'm having fun with the weight-lifting and toning - I can notice a difference in my arms; not in my abs so much.

I'm happy with my progress. I definitely need to get a 5+ miler in this week and I'd love to hit an overall 20-mile week (high hopes)!

1/2 Marathon Training - Week #3 in the Books

I guess you figured out the my running weeks run from Monday- Sunday.

I haven't really been following the training schedule I came up with -some days I do more than prescribed and some days I do less, or different.

Here's how week #3 went down:

Monday - Strengthening work on arms & abs; stretching = 50mins

Tuesday - Run 4.02 miles in 36:45 (9:07 pace)

Wednesday - Strengthening work on arms & abs = 40mins

Thursday - Run 3.71 miles in 35:00 (9:25 pace) + Elliptical x 15mins

Friday - Walk 1.70 miles in 25:00 + Level 3 of 30 Day Shred (killer, but awesome)

Saturday - Rest

Sunday - Run 8.3 miles in 80mins (9:37 pace)

Total running miles this week: 16.03

Thoughts: I'm proud of my long run today- my training schedule only required a 6 miler, so I'm pretty pumped about that. I'm also pretty happy with the pace I've been keeping during my runs. I'm giving myself the range of 10:00 - 11:00 per mile for the actual half marathon - just so that I can factor in nerves, water breaks, any potential potty breaks, and any needs to slow my pace or even walk (if I cramp up). All in all, I'm really happy with the mileage I'm able to cover at week #3 of training.

I do want to increase my weekly mileage - maybe trying to add another running day in or upping the mileage during each run.

I'm ready to start week #4 of this stuff!

Blogs

You know me and my blogs! Jeremy saw this today and made sure that I saw it; now I share it with you!

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/weight-loss/8-amazing-blogger-weight-loss-transformations

Great stories!

Blueberry Muffins

I'm posting this recipe because I totally altered it from one I found online and I want to jot it down before I forget. I tried just a tiny corner of one and they seem to be pretty good (Jackson reports '2 thumbs up'). The lemon zest was a good addition!

1 cup spelt flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 packets of Sweet n Low

+

3/4 cup applesauce (I used my Mom's homemade, but would typically just use a jar or 2 of baby food applesauce)

3/4 cup low-fat butter milk

1 egg white

+

1-2 tablespoons of fresh lemon zest (I chopped it finely)

? blueberries (I just kept adding till my heart was content - it was at least a cup)

Stir all ingredients together, spoon into muffin tins (sprayed with baking spray) about 3/4 full (they don't rise )

Bake @ 350 for 20-25 minutes

Cool

and get this:

Mantra

If this were my Facebook page, it might read:

Amy Hudkins wants a new mantra.....any suggestions?

Post sumpin'....let me know....

what's that one line (or many lines) that gets you going? or gets you through?

Also, think about becoming a 'follower' of my blog -

I feel like I create posts just for me, but my 'visitor log' says otherwise.

I'm just wonderin' who reads this blog.

Thanks. Happy Monday, Happy blog-reading, Happy MLK day.

Week #2 Training in the Books!

Week #2 of 13 is done and here's how it went down:

Monday - 40 minutes of strength and stretching

Tuesday - 3.75mile run in 35:00

Wednesday - 3.0 mile run in 27:55 + 15 minutes of hip strengthening exercises

Thursday - 2.0mile run in 17:53 + 30 minutes of arms, abs strengthening

Friday - X-training - 2.75 miles on elliptical in 30:00 + 1.10mile walk on treadmill in 15:00

Saturday - REST day - seriously, I didn't do any exercising

Sunday - 7.25 mile run in 70:00 minutes (it's my long run day of the week, so I make the most of it)

I pretty much followed the routine this week, except I added a little (2.25 miles) onto my long run today!

Everyone always asks how I can manage running on the treadmill; they always ask, "don't you get bored?" or will say, "I hate running on the treadmill." Well, see, I'm a little spoiled, because this is the treadmill I run on. She's a beaut! I can keep track of time, distance, pace, heart rate, etc. and it inclines and declines. I can just plug my headphones in and watch TV, so although I prefer to be outside running (in the sun), when I gotta get my distance in, this will more than do!

 Here it is, all set up to go with all my stuff.

As of today's run, I can officially run at least 1/2 of a 1/2!



Three Things Thursday

As I've increased my blog snooping, I've noticed that everyone (well, not everyone, but many) bloggers have a post called Three Things Thursday. It seems to be any random 3 things.....

So, I'm going to start my own 3 things Thursday posting. Starting today.

1. It's snowing again today. I seem to be longing for some nice outdoors-running weather (thinking, "bring on the hills, pot holes, road kill, running-short tan lines) but alas, Senorita Treatmillio will be paid a visit from me a little later this a.m.

2. I'm considering altering my 13-week 13.1 training plan a bit - I'm scheduled for a 5-mile run for my 'long run' this weekend, but I'm planning on trying for at least 6, if not more. So, do I just keep my plan as is and do more than is scheduled each day/week? Or do I remake the plan with more challenges? IDK.....

3. Blog snooping has led me discover so many different levels of runners  - everything from super-human (like Beth from Shut Up and Run) to.....well, people like me, who are just learning that running is more than just walking fast (I"m just learning terms like tempo run, long run, splits, fartleks, compression socks, 13.1). Up to this point, I was pretty much comparing myself to every other runner and focusing on what I 'could be doing' or 'should be doing.' Whatever! From now on, I"m just gonna run!

Happy Thursday!

Half Marathon Training - Week 1 (of 13) Done!

Week 1 - Check! Here's how it went:
Monday - jog = 12:00 + 30-Day Shred (killer, as usual)
Tuesday - run = 3.67miles in 35:00
Wednesday - run = 2miles in 17:17 + 15:00 on elliptical (1.55miles)
Thursday - run = 3miles in 28:11 + UB strengthening for 15:00
Friday - walk = 2.24miles in 35:00 (supposed to be a rest day but I just felt like I needed to do something)
Saturday - 30-Day Shred + Jillian Michaels Ultimatum Wii game
Sunday - run = 5.2 miles in 50:00

Feelings/thoughts = feeling good. Honestly, I feel like I've taken a step back because I didn't put in major miles this week. But, I'm trying to take this all in stride and realized this is week 1 of 13 weeks of training. In another week or 2, I'm sure that I'll be thankful for that 'rest day' that's built into the week.

I'm ready for week 2 to start tomorrow. Mondays are 'strength and stretch' days for me since Sundays will be my long run. That's a nice way to start the week. I'm pretty much in the gym and on the treadmill for all of my workouts because this is what it looks like outside:

Inspiration(s)

I'm going to be headed out for a 4-miler this morning (that's what's on my training guide, but I may just try to go a tad further than that:).

I'm meeting my BFF @ the gym this morning and we're going to kick some butt on the treadmills!

Then we're head into the office for about 1 hour - semester starts tomorrow @ 9am (yikes) and the syllabus has a slight change; instead of not needing to teach until Tuesday afternoon, I now need to be prepared to teach tomorrow! No biggie - my run will help put that all into perspective!

I spent a little time this weekend 'blog-snooping' and found some new blogs to follow. Reading blogs takes a lot of time, but the inspiration that I get from reading them is well worth it. I am continually amazed at how many healthy, fit, sporty Moms are out there attempting to make strides in their running routines.

I must say that my motivation for running has not dwindle in the least, but my focus on nutrition and weight loss has taken a bit of a hit - for the past 3 months I've just hovered around the same weight - I go up a pound or 2, then go down a pound or 2. In some respects, it's good because at least I've figured out how to maintain, but now it's time to start bringing that number down again.

Tomorrow I will be starting my food log -this always helps me get my weight in check. I think it's because I feel more accountable for what goes in my mouth when I know I have to write it down. Probably somewhere in the back (no, probably in the front) of my mind, I have a fear that someone will see my log and evaluate my eating habits, therefore making me want to have a nice-lookin' food log!

Check out some of the blogs I have listed on the right side column - good stuff!

Is the Glass 1/2 Full or 1/2 Empty?

It really doesn't matter, because the emphasis here is on 1/2.

I registered today for my first 1/2 marathon!

It's perfect.

Cook Forest

April 2, 2011

11am

12.5 weeks away

Gotta go run some!

I'll keep ya updated.........

January 2, 2011!

January 2 has become my January 1!

It gives me an extra day to figure out what I want out of the new year ;)

January 2 of 2010 was a monumental day for me and I want to keep that momentum going, so I'm starting my resolutions today!

My resolutions are mainly fitness related, but since health and fitness were my complete focus in 2010, I'd like to focus a little more holistically in 2011, so I'm adding some other domains into my goals.

At work, I co-teach a wellness course to college freshman. We teach them about wellness, the various domains and activities they can do to increase their levels of wellness in all the domains of wellness. The domains of wellness that we teach are:

Physical, Spiritual, Psychological, Social, Occupational, Financial, and Environmental.

We encourage our students to analyze each of the dimensions and establish goals in each of the areas to increase their overall wellness, creating a holistically 'well' individual!

So I wonder, do I need a goal in each dimension?

 I fear if I create too many goals, I won't be able to accomplish any of them,

so I think I'm going to keep it simple this year.

1. WEIGHT:

Lose 1 pound per month. I think this should be very manageable for me since I had some great success with weight loss in 2010! My reason for continued weight loss has more to do with wanting to increase my running speed and pace, but I do still have 'target areas' on my body that need some fat reduction.

2. FITNESS:

a. Complete a half marathon, a 15k, and all 8 races in the Hollidaysburg YMCA Race series. In addition, I want to run several additional 5k races in the area and try to run race (probably a 5k, but 10k would be OK too) out-of-state (this will give a chance to go on a little vacation). For each one of my races, I will set a goal or 2 to accomplish!

b. I also am incorporating more strength training into my workout routines in order to tone and strengthen my muscles for running.

c. Take a yoga class.

d. Try to do more 'family fitness' activities.

3. NUTRITION:

a. Continue to follow the Weight Watchers points plan most days of the week.

b. Eat a bigger breakfast and lunch and a smaller supper.

c. Prepare and eat majority of suppers @ home - hoping to get the boys involved in meal prep so they understand how important healthy meals are.

d. Focus on water intake.

e. Drink more tea (preferable green).

f. Limit soda (esp Diet Coke) consumption.

g. Try to switch to natural sugar substitutes (like agave nectar) instead of artificial sweeteners.

4. OTHERS:

a. Spend less, save more (plan grocery trips and use coupons).

b. More family time (games, movies, etc).

c. Date night once a month (grocery shopping doesn't count as a date:).

d. Visit nephew Aidan often.

Did I say that I wanted to keep things simple?

Maybe these are more complex than I thought.

At least these goals will keep me moving forward!

Good luck to you if you have resolutions for 2011!

Last 5k of the year - Best One Yet!

Twilight Race @ Lakemont Park!

Time: 24:12 (unofficial)!

New PR(personal record) for me!

Perfect way to end this year for me.

My festive "Happy New Year" toes. I was doing everything I could to give myself some extra luck! Guess it worked.

 Just before the race, a local news anchor recruited Jackson and Jude (and some other kiddos) to be part of a commercial she was shooting for a new series about children and fitness. The ad will be on the local news on Monday!

Before the race. I did a pretty good job of matching my outfit!

Even my blue gloves matched! The girl just to the left of me (with the big smile) is one of my OT students, Andrea. We ran together (that is until about the 3rd lap through the park when I started to slow down and she started to pick it up. I told her, "GO!" and boy did she. She did awesome! Go Andrea!)

Who wouldn't be inspired to do their best when they see this little cutie along the course?

Or this little cutie holding his hand-made sign?

Here I come around the corner - just starting my last lap through the park. You can see Andrea just ahead of me in the pink.

I'm pretty sure I was gasping for air on this shot.

Always my favorite race photo - the 'I'm done and back with my gang!' photo!



I finished 8th in my age category (not sure total # in age group) and 207th overall. Once the official stats are posted, I can update this!

My goals for this race were:

1. Finish

2. Try my hardest to come in somewhere close to my best time (26:22). I wasn't sure I could do it, but really wanted to end the year with a PR.

I did get my PR!

Great year!

Happy 2011!

2011 goals coming soon! Have a few things in mind; some BIG, some small.