Trying to be “fast” again

This week has been the 2^nd week of “Fit for Summer”.  So far so good, class was actually so packed last night I ended up in the last row – I don’t like that.  It was a lot harder to hear and see what exactly we were supposed to be doing.  We ended class with a good 10 minutes of Barre work – I was really glad that I have kept up with going to “Booty Call” class because that’s the muscle group we were working and it was super tough – I can only image what most of the class was feeling…and based on the cries and “Oh my Gods!” it was bad :)

Future Whootie

On Tuesday I started “officially” training for the Baltimore 10 Miler.  This race is just under a month and is kind of a cult thing.  It always falls on a HOT and HUMID day in June.  The course is a hilly semi out-and-back and is usually torturous to run…but it’s also so fun!  This will be my 4^th consecutive year running it with some BFFs. The race almost always has an awesome premium and you are greeted at the finish line with an ice cold towel and slice of watermelon.  So worth it.  Not to mentions the 2 drink tickets you get :)  Last year we spent the post race on a giant inflatable slide meant for kids. 
 

For training – I have decided to use the same Men’s Health Half plan – since it worked so well for a 10 mile distance the first time.  This time I will remember to hydrate, and even if I fall apart after 10 miles, it won’t matter because the race will be over.

My weekend “long” run will be at a small “race” out in the burbs.  It’s put on by a local running store and it’s called the “Full Moon Run”. It starts at 9pm and you are given glow sticks to light your way.  No headlamps or other lights are allowed.  It was a lot of fun last year. It was totally overcast which made for almost total darkness.  Plus I had no idea the distance – so just kept running until we hit the turn-around point.  It ended up being a 10k – surprise!  I am hoping that some Saturday I will get a little more “umph” back in my running.  Since the ROC half it has seemed l am going so slow – my pace hasn’t really changed, it just feels harder.  I need to get some more pep in my step – asap!

Tomorrow evening will be fairly epic.  A friend is hosting a night called “Gin & Ti-tonics”.  We are watching TITANIC and drinking gin & tonics made with ice cubes in the shape of a sinking Titanic.  It will be the perfect start to a 3 day weekend! Woo!

Recap and the return!

Oh, hey…I forgot I started a blog!

So, in a major FAIL – I haven’t updated in FOR-EV-ER!  But, after a small intervention this weekend (aka – Alyssa asking why I haven’t updated) I am back!

So here is the super-fast-forward summary of what’s been going on +plus an actual recap of ROC half marathon:

-gym time
-running (seems so slow lately!)
-Color Run! (so fun!)
-Started a new 6 week program at the gym “Fit for Summer”

Roc Half Recap

The Friday before the race (aka Carbo Load Day) was pretty EPIC.  After work that night I met up at Carolyn and John’s apartment with Alyssa and Eric.  We were greeted with the TV blasting Turquoise Jeep videos in preparation for the concert we were seeing SEVERAL hours from then.  We got ready for the show by eating some pizza and having wine.  John called to confirm what time TJ would go on stage – 11PM!  This triggered everyone to put down the alcohol and switch to coffee and soda. (def not showing our age there or anything)

We made it to the show and had a great time! 

The next morning I flew to Rochester for the race!  I spent that day picking up my race packet – the bib for this race was awesome – a photo and you name on it! Then, hung out most of the day visiting family at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Later, we drove out to see my brother’s new place in a town a bit outside of Rochester.  We had a mini adventure looking for a place to eat – which included almost being killed by a rabid gang of cats and a raccoon. (OK, really we just pulled into a little family restaurant – but then saw about 7 cats and a raccoon all hanging out at the dumpster – staring at us…we did not eat there)

Luckily, we found a good pizza shop – I got a sandwich, nothing special the night before the race, But, they did list “Chicago Style” deep dish on the menu – so I ordered a small one to go and planned to eat it the next day after the race.

On race morning, my cousin, her husband and her friend picked me up.  It was nice that it was a smaller race – I think about 4-5k total for the races so we got to park in a garage 1 block away from the start.

The weather was perfect that morning and though, the speaker system was shoddy – there was a nice National Anthem and then a sing-a-long to “Sweet Caroline” in honor of the Boston Marathon runners and victims.  I was “Bum! Bum! Bum!!ing with the best of them!

The course was great – however it was not the course I went in thinking I was running.  The day before – my uncle commented about looking at how hilly it seemed.  I panicked a little and saw I had been looking at the wrong elevation chart the whole time, there actually was some decent hills in this race – not as bad a Baltimore…but they were there.

We ran past some of my old favorite coffee shops that I used to go to as a teenager, some nice old mansions including the Eastman House, museums and even spent a lot of time in Mt. Hope Cemetery – looking for famous people buried there like Frederick Douglass.

We were also cheered on A LOT!  There was a contest among the different neighborhoods – and they all did a great job.  I was a little nervous about crowd support, being used to bigger races in Bmore and DC, but ROC was out cheering us on! In the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood people were dressed up like her, and my favorite site was in another neighborhood while going up a long and steep hill, people placed a nice comfy looking Adirondack chair out at the end of the yard and wrote in chalk on the street a giant arrow pointing to the chair with “Temptation” next to it.

Overall this race was excellent – it felt almost easy the first 10 miles and we were pacing to finish in 2:05. I never felt like I was struggling or hurting even going at a pace faster then I trained at.  That was until about the 10 mile mark.  Since I felt SO GOOD, I totally failed at following my normal race rituals…things like oh, HYDRATION.  I grabbed a drink at one H2O stop maybe around mile 7 or 8 had a sloshy sip or so while never breaking stride.

I normally have 2 Gus in a ½.  One around mile 5 and one around mile 10 – they ones I use also have a little caffeine in them – for some extra energy.  This time I had zero.  Another fail.  I started getting a creeping side stitch around mile 10 – worked it out – then it hit me on the other side.  By mile 11 I had them BAD on both sides to the point I was hunched over.  My pace had slowed to over 11 min/mile.  I finally spotted the last water stop and grabbed a cup and chugged the whole thing.  I started out slowly again – but was able to eventually get closer to a 10 min mile again for the last ¾ mile or so – then sprinted the best I could to the finish line.

I finished in 2:10 – which was still 10 minutes faster than my previous PR.  I am happy with the time – but know I would have totally killed it if I had drank more water and had a GU on the course.  After a few minutes of seeing stars and feeling off – I had some more water and felt fine again.  The deep dish pizza didn't even see me coming a few hours later :) 

The Gun Show

Wednesday Workout Wrap-Up: Barre Class
Thursday Workout Wrap-Up: 2 mile hill run, "Booty Call" class
Friday Workout Wrap-Up: Upper body strength

So glad the weekend is finally here!

This morning I woke up before my alarm and felt pretty awake.  Today would be a perfect day to stay home and rest.  It's gloomy and pouring rain with some thunder and lightening.  Unfortunately that was not an option.

According to my 1/2 training, today was to be an upper body strength training day.  I got out of bed and grabbed my weights and found a couple On-Demand videos to try.  One of them I chose because of the name alone - "The Gun Show"...how could you go wrong with that?  

 I was glad to work only upper body today b/c I think my legs are about to murder me in my sleep.  The past few days have been "lets beat the crap out of my legs" days between hill running, barre and the HIIT class I did - they were thankful for a break.  I also got a ride to work today so they didn't even have to walk or ride the bike....you're welcome legs!

Tonight I am getting together with my BFFs for dinner and probably a horrible Netflix movie.  Hopefully the rain is gone by then because we also might hit up a food truck gathering.

Mmmm...Street Meat

 Saturday I get to hang out with this cutie:

Please don't steal me!

I'll be watching my friends little lady while they head out for a much deserved lunch and movie...Jurassic Park in 3-D!  What could be better? :) 

Sunday will wrap up the weekend with a lovely 8 milers....let's do this!


 

Where the eff did Spring go??

Saturday Workout Wrap-Up: sleep - that counts sometimes
Sunday Workout Wrap-Up: 7 miler
Monday Workout Wrap-Up: Yoga Meltdown (and softball)
Tuesday Workout Wrap-Up: 2 mile interval run and a HIIT + Core class

So last week we left off with an impending trip to "The Barn Show".  On saturday morning I met a couple friends and we headed off to the "country" to go to this "Barn Show".  We arrived and that is basically exactly what it was.  A barn.  A barn with stuff in it you could buy.

The Barn!

It was a really nice day - so we checked out what the barn had to offer. There was a lot a refinished furniture, old lamps, vases, baskets...basically all kinds of stuff.  I left with a new soap dispenser made out of a mason jar and a matching shaker.  It was a set, but someone broke one of them before I got there...so mine will be for Old Bay....proof that I am officially a Marylander now. 

After the Barn, we spotted a huge plaza with both a Wegmans and a Target...aka Heaven.  We hit up Weggies for lunch and it was great.  While we were walking around they were playing this little gem in the store:

I immediately downloaded it when I got home, knowing it would make my long run the next day extra special.

And...it worked.  I jammed out to some Many Moore on my 7 miler on Sunday morning.  The weather was perfect and there was a ton a people out enjoying the nice day, so there was plenty to look at.  I ran into my friend Lily out walking her dog and I am also 80% sure I also ran past Michael Phelps riding a bike.  He is a pretty recognizable dude and lives in the neighborhood. 

I RIDE BIKES TOO!!!

Monday I had a softball game after work.  We lost, but always have a fun time.  When I got home I decided to revisit an old DVD I haven't done in a while.  Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown.  It was a nice way to end the day - it can be tricky, but in no way compares to any of her other videos.

The calmest you'll ever see this girl. 

Yesterday ended with my interval run from work to the gym where I tried the first night of a new class called HIIT + Core. HIIT = High Intensity Interval Training.  This is when you do short bursts of high intensity work followed by a short rest period.  So we did a lot of running, jumping jacks, high-knees and basically every variation of jumping known to man.  This part went on for the first 30 min of class followed by 15 min of core work.  It may have been from being tired already from the run, or maybe that the room was about 100 degrees, but that may have been the hardest class I've taken so far.  I'll be back.

Today the temp hit well into the upper 80's - maybe even 90...so where the heck did spring go?

Meanwhile I heard it was dark, dreary and in the 40's in Rochester...so who knows what my race day weather will be at the end of the month.  I won't be surprised if I am running through snow. 

Opening Day!

Thursday Workout Wrap-Up: 2 mile hill run
Friday Workout Wrap-Up: 35 min upper body strength training

Three day weekends are the best!  Especially when they start like mine did.

Last week at Easter dinner some friends were talking about their "Noodies and Nails" night...then room got really quiet and pretty much everyone, in unison said "WHAT!?"  Turns out it was some of the girls getting together to eat noodles and do their nails.  My friends Lindsay said "Oh, I thought you were doing your nails while watching something like "Magic Mike"...wait! That's a great idea - let's do that!"

So Thursday I made myself get up early to get my run out of the way - something I haven't done in ages.  It was actually nice to get a morning run in and then be done for the day.  It was also nice that it was only a 2 mile run and my training planned called for hills.  Luckily, the park right down my block delivers that with no problem and a full loop around the park is just over 2 miles. Score!

Patterson Park hills

After work I headed over to Lindsay's house for our own Noodies and nails night.  Lindsay picked up all kinds of Thai food and I brought over the movie and nail polish.  Go time!

I forgot to take a picture of the noodles, but they were delish and we ate ourselves into food commas. 

I painted my nails a nice shade of Orioles orange.

Let's go O's!

We also had fun making fun of the movie. We couldn't decide who was grumpier...Kristen Stewart of the girl in the movie - what do you think?

Friday was pretty much a holiday in Baltimore.  It was Opening Day for the Orioles.

I started the day sleeping in a bit and then getting in my upper body strength for my 1/2 training.  I did this routine and this video: 

Then it was time to head out for the game!  We met up with some friends Andrew and Melissa - it was Andrew's birthday too, so even more reason to celebrate.  We ended up with perfect weather and and O's win!

Today I am headed out with some friends to something called the Barn Show - I am not totally sure what this is...but I think it's something like if a barn was a store.....more to come on that!

A Lot of Updates - sorry!

Friday Workout Wrap-Up: No More Trouble Zones (and crying- this never gets easier!) + run home from work
Saturday Workout Wrap-Up: Final Evolution Class (Spring Edition)
Sunday Workout Wrap-Up: Played Catch
Monday Workout Wrap-Up: Softball Game
Tuesday Workout Wrap-Up: 2 mile interval run
Wednesday Workout Wrap-Up: 35 min lower body + rolling


Holy Cow! I can't believe its been almost a week since my last update.  There has been a lot going on and this week has flown by!  Thank goodness, since it's a 4 day week for me, and anytime you know you have a day off from work coming up, the week usually CRAWLS by.

The weekend started off with my final Evolution class. They made the last one nice and challenging.  During this second round of class they have added in a lot more running drills and moving about the class which I really like. The space is on the small side, but they do a great job making it work.  Not to mention, as the class goes on people dropped out.  I was surprised by the end how many seemed to disappear! I also found out that I was the only person who used all of their free classes.  With this series, in addition to the 3 days of class, you got a bonus class to take whatever you wanted.  I went every week  - I paid for it, I'm going!

At the end of class we did our final assessments. I am happy to report I lost another 12 pounds over those 4 weeks.  Plus many more inches - top to bottom.  As soon as I get my final numbers chart emailed to me I will post.

Later on Saturday I got together with a couple friends to paint.  We decided on a picture one of them had recently taken on a trip to Ireland and got creative.

All of our pretty Irish sheep!

Sunday was Easter and I had plans to spend the afternoon at my friends Korey and Cherrisse's.  I was making lasagna to share.  I started the sauce and meatballs on Saturday night - it was smelling awesome.

Before heading over to their house my roomie and I met Korey to play catch in the park for a bit.  Monday was going to be our first softball game of the year, so we figured we better shake some of the rust off.  

It was nice to throw the ball around a bit and hit too.  Definitely rusty though!  After about a half hour or so of playing we had to call it quits...not because of rain but because I took a line drive to the leg.  It was one of those things that happens so fast but yet in slow motion and there is nothing you can do about it. It hurt pretty bad, but I think mostly because of the shock.

WARNING!! If you are easily grossed out - do not look at the picture below.(or if you are my Mom)  I will preface it with the fact that I bruise incredibly easy - so it looks a heck of a lot worse that it feels.

After icing the leg and putting my lasagna together and int he over it was time to head over to K & C's place for dinner and games with friends.

Delicious Dinner Spread

There was so much food - my picture captures only like half of it.  There was ham, my lasagna, potatoes, breads, cookies, beet salad and Rolos sandwiched between Ritz crackers.  Those went like crack - good work Donnie!

Monday was my first softball game.  The temp throughout the day dropped A LOT and it was realllllly windy and cold during the game.  We played against a team that was super fast and seemed to hit everything - so it was basically a good practice for us :)

I got a hit and also made the best play I think I ever have in the history of me playing softball.  So, lucky me!   It was good to catch up with old teammates and even better to get compliments like "you are looking skinny!" and "You look great, I had to do a double take!"  Everyone loves hearing those kinds of things!

If you haven't lost interest yet - I will continue to blab on for a few more paragraphs!  Tuesday I started my half marathon official training.  I suck at following plans and usually just wing it - so I found a nice 5 week plan - which I am turning into a 4 week plan :)

Week	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Sunday
1	2 Mile Fartlek*	Lower Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	2 Mile With Hills	Upper Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	Run 7 Miles
2	2 Mile Fartlek	Lower Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	2 Mile With Hills	Upper Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	Run 8 Miles
3	2.5 Mile Fartlek	Lower Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	2.5 Mile With Hills	Upper Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	Run 9 Miles
4	3 Mile Fartlek	Lower Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	3 Mile With Hills	Upper Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	Run 9 Miles
5	3.5 Mile Fartlek	Lower Body Strength W/ Foam Rolling	3.5 Mile With Hills	Rest and Foam Roll	Race 13.1 Miles

*Fartlek is Swedish for “speed play.” That means you include three to six faster paced intervals per session ranging from 10 seconds to 2 minutes.

I got my 2 miles of intervals in and was surprised how hard they actually are.  I didn't wear a Garmin so my the end of my run I had know idea if I was running a 9 min mile or like a 15 min mile...it felt like the latter.

The training continued today with my lower body strength which was a combo of a lot of the leg work and barre work from the gym plus this video from Tone It Up!

Tomorrow I attack the hills at Patterson Park!

Spring Fever

Tuesday Workout Wrap-Up: AM: 12min Plyometric Tabata, PM: 3 mile run home from work Wednesday Workout Wrap-Up: Evolution Class

Where is Spring already?  We got some actual sunshine yesterday and it was such a tease.  Today is gloomy and rainy and gross.  I am ready for some nice warm weather!  With Easter this Sunday and Opening Day next Friday, Spring Fever has officially hit me!

In case you were more curious about the "Beach Babe" meal & fitness plan, here is an overview:

I must confess that I missed my AM workout yesterday - but I rode my bike to work...so I am counting that as a little something.  Plus this afternoon I got ambitious and took the stairs up to my office...that's 9 floors.

This week is the final week of round 2 of Evolution.  So, the pressure is on!  I have a number that I want to see on the scale on Saturday, so any extra calorie burn I can fit in this week is happening.  I took a walk yesterday during my lunch break - to a new Marshall's that opened up a few blocks away.  Shopping burns calories, right?  I did get a really cute new workout top...so win-win.

I also realized yesterday that I have a half marathon in 1 month!  I am excited for this one for several reasons.

1) It's in my hometown! (Rochester, NY)

2) The elevation rocks!  In fact, it's pretty much the opposite of Baltimore.

Rochester - aka downhill!

Baltimore - all uphill!

3) I am running it with my cousin, Megan. She has been training like crazy - and will probably kick my butt.  It's her first race and I am so excited to run it together!

4) We are dedicating the run for my grandma and are making special shirts to run in.She is going through Chemo now - so 13.1 miles is a cakewalk, right!?

5) I don't really have a goal time in mind...but considering the course, and running this race 20lbs lighter than my last half....things could go my way!

Birthday Trip

Saturday Workout Wrap-Up: Evolution Class
Sunday Workout Wrap-Up: 5.5 mile run
Monday Workout Wrap-Up: Evolution Class

What a weekend!

I don't know if its age or what, but I cannot seem to be able to sleep much past 8 on the weekends lately. It's getting old - and I vow to not get out of bed until at least 9 this upcoming Saturday!  This week was like most recent Saturday mornings. Up early - coffee and cereal & watching New Girl and The Mindy Project.  

Zooey might be the only person with bigger eyes than me!

After relaxing a bit I got ready and out the door for another tough Evolution class.  We ran a lot of drills and did some serious arm work Saturday.  I was feeling it!  After class I ran home to a living room devoid of furniture.  I should preface that with the fact that when I left there were 2 strange men trying to move of of the sofas out of the front door.  I should preface THAT with the fact that my roomie/landlord bought a new couch and was ditching the old ones...makes more sense now, right?

I had a quick lunch of my turkey taco leftovers - sitting on the living room floor - classy all the way.  Then, quickly showered and got ready to hit the road!  I hopped into the car and headed up to Philly....well slightly outside of Philly for my friend Carolyn's 30 bday celebration.

We hung out at her and her husband's apartment for a bit. Caught up then headed to the party that her sisters and parents were throwing.

There was tons of yummy apps and even a birthday girl signature drink.  It was a local rhubarb spirit mixed with tonic water and strawberries - very unique & yummy! The party was lots of fun - even included trivia :)  Hats off to Carolyn for handling entering a new decade a lot more calmly than I plan to be. 

The bottle was a little tricky to open

The next morning I headed out pretty early.  Carolyn was off to run 30k for her birthday with one of her sisters who is training for Boston.  I decided to hit up a Ross near her house for fun before heading home.  They opened at 9:30am - I arrived at about 9:35.  I ended up spending a long time in there checking everything out.  It's nice to do a little window shopping alone sometimes.  You get to take your time and this time that also meant trying on a million things.  I took a ton of clothes into the dressing room - mostly for fun and in sizes that I haven't worn in a million years.  It was fun and exciting each time I tried on something new and it fit and looked good!  I somehow got serious and only walked out with a new jean skirt, some flavored coffee and a couple running tops.  Most of the other things I tried on were sun dresses - and since it SNOWED today I guess it was good I left them behind since I won't be wearing sundresses any time soon.

After what ended up being almost 3 hours of shopping at Ross and looking in a few other stores I hit the road back to Baltimore getting home around 3.  When I walked in the door, the stairs were about halfway done being stained - I was greeting with "Hi! Hope you don't plan on going upstairs for a while!"  OK. Now what to do - I couldn't unpack or crawl into bed to watch DVR shows...alright, I have running clothes on - better hit the bricks.  I took a nice casual 5.5 mile run around the neighborhood and even ventured into a few blocks I've never been too (aka the hood)

Tomorrow morning I'm starting a 5 day nutrition plan called Beach Babe - from Tone It Up blog. I did this a few times over last summer before a beach trip and felt really good.  It's got lots of yummy recipes and if focused a lot around fruit.  The only tricky parts are making sure to fit in the 2 workouts each day  - and then starting the day with a drink they call Bomshell Spell  that is made from pineapple juice, lime, honey and apple cider vinegar.  My first dose is made and waiting for me in the fridge for the morning...between that and the tabata workout I have lined up...I'll definitely be awake!

Taco Thursday

Thursday Workout Wrap-Up: AM: Elliptical. PM: Booty Call Class
Friday Workout Wrap-Up: AM: No More trouble Zones. PM: Jump rope Challenge??

TGIF!!

Confession - I totally forgot to complete my own challenge last night! major FAIL.  I remembered when I was about to fall asleep - and I wasn't about to get out of bed to jump rope for 15 min at that point.  I'll try to sneak it in today.  Although I did already do some minor jump roping this morning with my BFF Jillian Michaels.

Amazon rocks and I got my new No More Trouble Zones DVD in a day!  Awesome!

I love to hate you!

I can't quit figure out why this is the hardest workout EVER - but it is.  I guess because it's non-stop.  All the moves are combos - so you aren't just doing a set of lunges...you are doing a set of lunges AND a fly-out with weights.  You aren't just doing crunches...you are doing crunches AND chest presses. Also - in the video they are using 3lb weights.  I only have 5lbs...so there is that too.

Needless to say I have been nice and sore all morning.  In addition to the soreness left last night at my Booty Call class.  45 minutes focused on creating a perfect Whootie.

Dinner last night was one of those meals where you just start pulling things out of the fridge - add a little of this, a little of that and before you know it d - voila! Dinner!

I had some ground turkey I knew I needed to cook - so I started browning that and pulled out a green pepper and onion.  I added a bunch of seasoning like garlic, cumin and red paper flakes.  After after that I added in some salsa and let everything simmer.

I had some taco shells that were still good, but at 180 cals per tortilla I decided to use one FlatWrap.  One of these has 90 cals and is pretty big.  I cut it in half and  BAM! - 2 taco shells!

I mixed some corn salsa with leftover brown rice from Monday and had a Mexican fiesta! 

Yummy!

I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend (hello, captain obvious!)  Tomorrow after my Evolution class I am heading up to the Philly area for a friends 30th birthday party!  I believe the theme is a cocktail party - so looking forward to getting a little dressed up and enjoying an adult bev!

I volunteered to be DD so my friend and her husband could enjoy the party to the max - but found out she has to be up super early on Sunday to meet her sister at 8am to run 30k!  I was invited along...right now my max mileage is 13.1 and I in no way will be joining in for all 18 miles on Sunday.  I said I would probably head out for about 6 - 8 of those miles as long as it's on some sort of out and back trail.

PS - delayed review from ealier this week.

Freeze dried vegie snacks - meh.  I had a little over the past 2 days and I'll probably finish the bag today.  It's nothing to write home about (or in your blog about)

Chocolate calcium disc - AMAZING!  It's just like a delcious decadent peice of dark chocoalte! So good...I am so sad I forgot mine today!