Labor Day Weekend

The weekend was wonderful. We were down the shore with my family.

I rested. A lot. I ran about 2m on Sunday but Saturday I did nothing. Monday we came back and went on a 15m bike ride. My back was agitated and now is majorly so. I took Tuesday off mainly because of the rain but ultimately because of my back.

We'll see what I manage tonight. Back pain is the worst. The absolute worst!!!

My goal is to run 9m tomorrow after work. Well really, leave work a bit earlier to get this accomplished. We'll see how that goes. I am in massive amounts of pain with my back. It's awful.

Anyway that is it.

Another Notch, Another Run

Ran a full 3m on the treadmill yesterday. "Strongest' 3-miler yet, well since I've been back anyway. I still get really tired but less so each time. I suppose it is all about conditioning. It's been about a month since my surgery so time to kick it in gear.

I am still running the Phila half on 11/20. My goal time is 2:10. We'll see how acheievable that is. SHould be nice weather at the very least. I am running the Staten Island half as my training test run. That is in October. I am also running the 5 miler kickoff in the park on marathon week- should give me some speed testing. Other than that. I need a real plan now that I can run so today, because it's Friday, I made one. I did it in Excel. Spent a lot of time on it. Can't post it here because my pc skills are lacking.

So I'll leave you with a beach pic of myself I love...

HAPPY WKD!


Want to run the Miami RNR marathon/half? Check out this blog:
http://www.runtothefinish.com/2011/08/win-entry-miami-beach-rock-n-roll-half.html?showComment=1313772167546#c5682708189736532317

Finally a hill workout

So last week's hill workout was miserable. Last Thursdays run was also miserable. My legs feel like lead and I am exhausted and really out of breathe. So much so, that I skipped this weekends run in order to give myself more resting time.

Dum dum dum.... yesterday was scheduled as a hill workout. This week marks 15 weeks until the half. I know it's a lot of time, but I wanted to really work on speedwork and strength and here I am hardly able to run 3 miles at a 12 min pace- HOW did that even happen. I blame the anesthesia. Nothing else changed. The day before surgery I ran 2m at a 10:45 pace PRE hour long trainer workout. That was three weeks ago today. Insane.

So yesterday I did my hill workout which went something like this: 1) Warm up for 10 min (I walked 5 and ran! yes ran! 5 minutes (at 12min pace but still) and then did 5 intervals of hills. Each interval was 2 min at 4.0 incline at 5.0mph pace followed by 1 min of 5.2mph pace (11:30) followed by 3 min of recovery (where I walked- recovery is recovery). Then after the 5 intervals I ran another 5 min and then walked 3. Overall it was a 46ish min workout (the last interval i didnt do the 3 min of walking, I walked 1 and ran 5) so that was really satisfying.

I am def starting to feel better. my stitches in my nose even partially came out! hooray! Almost three weeks later but oh well.

I am hopeful that this Thursday I will be able to run another 3-4m and attempt to run 4-5m this Sunday/Saturday but know that if I run 3m its still the first week I've been able to run 3x so take it for what it is. I know there is plenty of time, but jeez! Meanwhile, our bike race is in 6 weeks and I've only ridden my bike once. WHOOPS.

Update

Well  I have been obviously missing since my surgery.

I had septoplasty on 7/21 and boy is it a surgery. It was a Thursday and I did struggle to recover. My surgery was for 8 in the am on Thursday which was ideal because I was home by noon. And yes, I even managed to have a light lunch. It's really hard to do anything when your nose is impacted. You need your nose to do absolutely everything. I was breathing out of my mouth for quite a few days. Overall the surgery was uncomfrotable but not painful.

I did have anethesia, morphine and vicodin- who knew! Thursday/Friday were really tough with a whole lot of doing absolutely nothing. Saturday I finally started to get better and lo and behold, Saturday night came down with a fever. Sunday was awful. My fever spiked up to 102 and I was achey and just miserable. Monday was more of the same. At my post-op doctors appointment my lovely doc (who I do really like) let me know that I had caught a cold or more than likely a virus of some sort. I was on antibiotics and she calimed my nose was healing well so just to push fluids and rest. Monday night I seriously was in tears. So much pain, so much discomfort and a fever that wouldnt break from its 102/103 threshold even with ice packs on my head and under my arm pits. Monday night my fever finally broke and I ended up taking Tuesday off because I was exhausted.

Anyway last week was hell back at work... I consistently felt like I had walked into a shit show. Wednesday I was really quite out of it and Thursday was a 13 hour day. Friday I got home at 7 pm and got into pj's. I didnt get out of bed (for more than an hour) until 7 pm on SATURDAY! So yea, still recovering. I finally worked out yesterday. 25 min weights workout. The positive is that I was using my 18 lb kettlebells which is what I was up to 10 days prior. The bad news is that I was exhausted, sweating like a pig and had an abnormally elevated (for me) heartrate.

I think I am going to attempt our TNT hill workout tonight. I need to just throw myself back into it? right?

Central Park Conservancy Run

Well I'll start by saying that post race I developed a low grade migraine. I call them low grade bc it didnt fully develop. My nose spray and allergy meds basically keep me with a low thud in the lower right hand corner of my head. Lovely.

Unclear how I always thought this was hydration related.

I didnt run the race to race, I ran to run with other people. By 8 am it was already in the 80s in the sun and it was hot out. I havent been running outside so it was more hot for me! YUCK. I walked up all the hills and tried to not 'push' it, to avoid any headaches which clearly didnt work. But oh well I tried.

My time was a miserable 46minutes. Hey, honestly with all the walking to not over exert myself (and cause the swelling which causes the headaches) I thought it would be worse.

Onwards and upwards. Surgery is Thursday morning. I think it would be beyond comical if I had the surgery and afterwards had such a great air flow to my head that not only did I not get headaches I also ran faster.

Hey a girl can dream!!

Another 3m

Hadnt run much because I tweaked my back. Can't forget so often that I am not a superman.

Ran 3m at the gym after a hiatus since the Wednesday prior. Felt great to run. I forgot how great the after work run can feel. Totally let's you leave it all on the floor. That's a luxury these am workouts just aren't giving me.

Yoga tomorrow in my living room pre work/allergist. We'll see. It's going to be another busy day.

Saturday is the CP Conservancy Race and Sunday I need to get out on Peppy- poor thing has been couped up inside!

Sinus surgery changed to this upcoming Thurs. HOORAY!

Exhausted but back on track.

I came back from a few days off with a lot of motivation. Ihope that it gets me back on track. I also go tmy paperwork for my surgery on the 28th. YIKES! It's real and maybe will cure me of my headaches or as I refer to them, my running headaches.


Went to the trainer this am. upped by kettlebells to 20 lbs. My routine was pretty intense. We did some new abs and stretches in the beginning as well as some shuffle things with the VIPR. I think Rachel is really trying to give it to me (like I asked). Then we did the following circuit 3x with 10 reps per arm  (15 lbs mainly with a smattering of 20 lb usage until the last one where I used the 20lb exclusively):

• single armed swings
• clean and press
• gobblet deep squat (means with the 20 lb kettlebell)
• single leg dead lifts
• single arm bent rows
• pull backs
• snatch

Even though I am feeling it I am also feeling really good. Tonight is running with the old TNT crew in the park- I am excited...it's really weird to not be running/training for a marathon, but oh well. It's weird that that is weird too I suppose. Tomorrow may need to be a day off or yoga. Thursday is a run and trainer. Friday idk. Saturday is a run with TNT YAY! 7 am start! What a day!. Sunday depends as well. ack!

For whatever reason being 6 months away from turning 30 has totally motivated me into getting into amazing shape. Unclear how that worked but I'll take it.

skipped today

i totally skipped working out today. i had to be at the office pretty early and i was just too damned tired tonight to make it to spin. i know, i know, i even had paid for the soul cycle. honestly though, some days you're just too tired. i am getting in bed now.

we leave for our mini break tomorrow early am. should be nice and relaxing although its forecasted to rain which would be a bummer. oh well. we'll see!!!

be back at you next tuesday!

A quick am run

I ran a quick 2.5m this am. I want to get up to running 4 and 5m each am, but hey, take what you can get. My allergies (a hot topic these days) have been making me quite fatigued as does my allergy medicine, Allegra-D. It is, however, the only allergy medicine that seems to work for me. Oh well.

My plan for the week is not too too solid. Today was a short run and I have dinner with a dear friend, I hope to not pig out. To nullify the chance of pigging out (too often related to not eating quite enough), I have brought my snacks and lunch for the day. Tomorrow I will probably run aghain and go to yoga if my day works out as planned. Or maybe we will take the bikes out in the am. Wednesday I have my trainer appt and hope to do 30 min on the elliptical prior. Thursday night I want to take a soul-cycle class (i really love it there guys, I have to admit).

That's all I've got. Friday am we are off the the beautiful Dominican Republic, my home country. I am excited.

Peppy anyone?

I bought a bike. It's a Cannondale. It has pink handlebars. I love it.

I never have ridden a bike. I mean, I know how to, but I never rode a ton as a kid. I didn't own a bike. Last year at this time I even think I might have blogged about how biking is stupid.

Uhm yea, did I mention, pink handlebars???

My bike is named Peppy. I love her. Mainly because she is pink

I rode for about 40 minutes or just shy of 10 miles. It was pretty invigorating. Didn't get a headache but my head is a bit cloudy.

Tomorrow I will run 4 miles on the treadmill pre work. Maybe I'll even head outdoors and run the reservoir 2x and back and forth to my house. That's about 4.25m and it's a nice am run. It's a nice run period but I have just been so freaking lazy!!! And scared, I am pretty scared of my sinuses and allergies and of getting a headache. It's terrible to be scared but its also reality.

We are headed to Punta Cana for the 4th of July. Pretty excited.

Queen MIA

I have been mega MIA. I also havent been running. Since realizing my headaches and migraines were directly related to running (well really everything over an hour long) I have taken quite a hiatus.

My surgery is late July. I am excited to see if it will help.

I ran this am. Getting back in the 3x a week groove with a 4th 'run' as a spin class (delicate flower, remember?) That plus 2 weight sessions and a yoga session should rip me into shape. Now just getting there should be fun.

I have the 2 weight sessions, 1 elliptical and 1 spin session down so I just need to fix the rest of it. Work has been C-R-A-Z-Y and is settling back into a normal 11 hour day so that is 'nice'. Sad, but nice.

NOthing else to report. We're headed to Punta Cana for the 4th of July, a recent development. Should be fun and I am excited. Trying to slim down a little (even if its just in my head) over the next few weeks pre trip.

I'm back though OH and I bought a bike! I will be riding up the West Side Hwy these days so please, plan accordingly and stay off the trails. My bikes name is Peppy. Peppy the pink bike. She is rad.

Welcome to SUmmer

Happy June 1st everyone! It is a hot one out there. I am not used to being completely sweaty upon arrival to work post subway and 10 min walk. It's gross!

I have been quite down in the dumps lately. I have gained a bit of weight (unclear why?) and have been working quite a bit as well. I've been quite stressed to be perfectly honest.

On other fronts I've been suffering from migraines which are apparently allergy/deviated septum related which means I am a septoplasty candidate and my surgery is scheduled on July 28th. This is good because I hope it will help w the headaches and the weird plugged ear thing I get when I run sometimes but it's bad because its depressing and a bit scary.

I havent been running because I've been trying to stay away from the park. We'll see.

I have been spinning 2-3x a week, going to yoga 1-2x and working out w the trainer 1-2x a week. I'm hoping something will give. It's so freaking tough to get eating under control a) when you're at work for 12-14 hours a day and b) when I'm traveling.

I need to get on schedule for the Bronx half. I am determined to run even though I'll have had surgery not too long before (a  month). I'll have to be super on my training in order to pull it out. I will need all of June and July to get the mileage back up there. We shall see. I am starting next week ;)

Nothing else to report. An SF trip is on the horizon for Sun-Tues. Awesome, more travel, perhaps a bit less stress? We'll see.

An update/lack thereof

Still no running. Very unclear why but not very motivated. Am meant to run w the boss tomorrow. Will get back on track in June. promise.

An update

I didnt run the 10k last weekend. I was EXHAUSTED and actually slept 12 hours straight through before we went away for the weekend.

There has been no running this week. What in the hell is wrong with me?!

Running down no dreams?

I ran Thursday when I got back into town last week. Was super weird to run up and down the West Side after having run on the beach the am before. Really made me think of how varied running can be.

I unfortunately spent the next 3 days in bed with a terrible migraine which I imagined was brought on by my allergies which have been awful this season. Tuesday I then proceeded to have a terrible neckache/stiff neck which I assume is related to holding my head still while I had the migraine. Oy vey!

I forgot I had signed up for the Healthy Kidney 10-k this weekend. Whoops. I hope to get out and run tomorrow am before work. Friday I have another session with my trainer. I really need to watch what I'm eating and work out more. I've gained a few pounds which I am not happy about. I also think my dry cleaners has majorly shrunk my pants (honest their tight in the crotch! like what?) which isnt helping!!

Nothing else to report. It'll be a busy weekend but that's normal, right?

My last run

So I havent run in a while, well not consistently. I have been using the dreaded elliptical (which Ive come to not mind lately). I am itching to run again.

Last night I went on a 3.6m run/walk with my boss. I talked the whole time and had no issues with the hills and talking in CP. That made me feel really strong. I couldve run more but was time constrained on the back end and we started really late since we both got caught up at work. For whatever reason it was nice to feel 'strong'.

I am currently up, headed to the gym, and then will continue on with some errands. I need to pack myself and my bf and get ready for my work trip which is tacked onto vacation. It's a lot of bags to say the least. And a lot to remember between vacation, a wedding and a work trip. All int he Caribbean mind you. Work attire in the Caribbean is tricky. I also need to stop by the office and catch up on a few things, clean my desk, AND get my pc. Somehow making sure I was fully organized yesterday was super overwhelming. The nail place I love (and need to go to) is over there anyway so I figured, hell whats the difference.

I am super excited for warm weather. I am bringing my running shoes, skirt and a few tops. Some tennis stuff too and will wash it out as necessary. I only brought 3 outfits and we'll be in Virgin Gorda/St Thomas for 7 days. Not a great ratio, but hey, we'll hike and swim and be active and I am so excited. I am also excited to lounge and sleep.

This week was a weird busy one for me. Monday I did weights for 45 min. Tuesday I missed bc I was exhausted and wanted to run outside. Wednesday I had my trainer and did 30 min elliptical. Last night I ran for call it 40 odd minutes. I am headed to the gym now to get 30 min of elliptical in and then an hour of weights w the trainer. It's the best I can do right? Well honestly, for this week it felt like it. I was at work from 830-9 Monday, 730-9 Tuesday, 9-10 Wednesday and then yesterday was an easy day clocking in from 845-730.

Anyway back to running. I might be here for the womens 10-k now so I am hopefully going to sign up for that soon. I need more goals though, tangible, soon-ish ones!!!

Another week flew by!

I had a very full workout week. I did yoga Saturday, spin Sunday, weights Monday, cardio Tuesday, weights Wednesday and will run tonight. I have a trainer session tomorrow and Saturday I will be on vacation :)

Enjoy the time I'm away!

Some running and reminiscing about a cleanse

On Day #1 of the Cleanse I legit thought I would die. I was dizzy, hot, cold, clammy, downright miserable. I even ate avocado off the 'cheat sheet' because I was so damned hungry. Day #2 I started with a banana, ran 30 min and felt great so I stuck with the cleanse. By the end of the day I had so much energy and just felt GOOD. Day #3 I wasn't going to do. I was busy, I had lunch plans. I had a veggie egg white omelet and wanted to gag. I drank juice all pm and had steamed string beans with 1/2c of brown rice for dinner. This am I ordered juice from the gym, brought a leftover juice (yesterdays) and really wish I had more juice. We're going to a fancy dinner tonight and all I want is juice.

Part of me wants to juice for next week before vacation. My stomach is flatter, I feel great. I worked out for an hour yesterday with the trainer and did an hour of cardio this am and honestly, I feel great. I feel like I have energy and like idk.

Today I wish I was drinking juice.

There is something comforting about knowing exactly what you are having and when you are having it. there is something comforting to me about knowing your calories and nutrients. these blueprint cleanse people are on to something.

I am lucky. I can afford to buy these, clearly they are a luxury and are quite expensive... I really don't know what to do. Should I or shouldnt I?

Not following my baseline

So, if you've been reading my blog for a while, or if you know me, you'll know I'm quite finnicky about what I eat. I believe in being healthy but also enjoying life. I love large dinners and wine but also eat mostly vegan on a day to day basis...  I enjoy raw restaurants, will pick fresh fruit as a snack 9 times our of 10 and really do like how I feel when I'm exercising. I don't like chemicals or hormones in my food and make real attempts to avoid this. I've read all the crazy healthy people books like Fast Food Nation, In defense of food, and some crazier ones like the China Study.

At the same time I have been known to eat a sleeve of Oreos (honestly not since I had swine flu in Feb 2010) and overeat so much my stomach is distended.

I also, do not believe in fasting, "dieting" or restricted calories in a danger level. Before a month ago, I wouldve told you, I don't believe in cleanses.

Now, I've read a lot online, I've heard Dr. Oz preach and I've also read about all the fanatics. I believe that to truly cleanse, the body does a decent job. If you want to reset your metabolism (if you will) or just 'start fresh' I do think limited diets can be helpful. However, once when I was not as skilled/knowledgeable as I am now, I did Master Cleanse and almost passed out day #1.

Ironically, I am currently doing Blue Print Cleanse for 3 days with a co worker. I got the idea from my boyfriend who used it to jumpstart healthy eating before starting a diligent workout plan... and he was pretty solid while doing it. He wasnt sick or tired and he didnt feel weak or out of it.

We are doing the excavation cleanse which is the most stringent. Its 900 calories, as such, I'm adding in an avocado, a cucumber and a sweet potato (the avocado is on the cheat sheet) to make sure I'm closer to 1200. Apparently day #1 is tough, day #2 is awesome. If I don't feel OK tomorrow, I won't continue. I also want to do yoga tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

I need a schedule for working out so here goes:
Monday- 1 hr w the trainer
Tuesday- OFF
Wednesday- yoga for 1 hr
Thursday- 3m run, 1 hour with trainer
Friday- 4m run
Saturday- yoga
Sunday- 60 min spin

Not the best plan but not the worst. I liked the break off running. It's nice to skip a week every now and then!

Freaky Friday

I love Fridays. Always have, always will (I hope). I love Fridays more than Saturdays and definitely more than Sundays. Sundays are impending gloom, Saturdays you are rushing through everything that needs to get done so you can enjoy the weekend. Fridays are all about hope and anticipation. I love it. I particularly love not having to run on Saturday mornings. I love winter running if not only because it affords me the luxury of not having to wake up at the crack of dawn to get my miles in before the sun rears its hot little head. I am running the Colon Cancer 15k this Sunday. I have never run a 15k so I will PR. That's a nice thought as I sure as hell know that it will be no sort of PR. I have not worked on speed. I have not worked on anything really, except getting myself back up to running up to 10m without feeling shitty. I suppose that's some sort of positive outcome. The More half marathon is next Sunday. Unclear how that snuck up on me, but it did. I wanted to PR this half. At the very least I wanted to PR on the course which I believe to be the same as the Manhattan half in 2009. It was 13-18 degrees that day and it was so freaking cold out!!! I doubt I will PR. Ce'st la vie.

I ran 2.75m at the gym today at 9:40-10:40 pace. I also did kettlebells for 30 min.

I'm at 210 minutes of working out for the week. Clearly Sunday will be another 100 at least... YAY for reachign my time goal!