Impatient Patience

Silly title? Maybe...but I am a self-declared and well accepted walking and talking oxymoron.

*I break my foot and then fall again on crutches.

*I tell everyone I am learning patience through all of this, and I am pretty much lying to (the inside of) my face.

*I tell myself I can still do upper body and core workouts, with a super positive and happy voice. Then I do them for the first week, and say, ehhh.

C'mon now. 

My situation is not bad. Not even all that stinky. 

*I have read 3 books. 

*I have watched some sweet movies (yes, I totally will take that as a positive right now).

*I am re-teaching myself the discipline of making my lunches and dinners over quick and easy meals.

*My husband and I are forced to communicate in different ways, as I am pretty much home most of the time (aside from work, and the occasional times I am "allowed" to venture out on my hobble foot).

*My dog is ECSTATIC about this new arrangement of me not leaving her.

As hard or difficult I may think a moment is, it is just that: a moment. 

I have decided to conquer a few health goals at the same time. Not the greatest idea, but like I told a friend the other day, "most of my goals were fitness related before, and now they simply cannot revolve around that."

So, I am trying to do as many (girl) push-ups as I possibly can. But, I am also taking the time to check off a few other things on my list. One of those is, again, making wholesome meals, which is not as hard as I had made it out to be in my head. Another is to decrease the amount of medicine in my body. This is a pretty personal one, so if you have any questions concerning this please do not hesitate to message or email me, I am happy to discuss.

When you make changes for/to your body, it is not going to be easy. 9 times out of 10 it is going to feel like a struggle. But, those 9 times out of 10 are also totally worth it. I am proving to my body that it can heal itself. That I can overcome fears and anxieties that once plagued my everyday.

Broken foot? Yeah, it does suck. I really want to go for a run. Do some squats. Rollerblade. Anything at this point. But, is God telling me to "wait, a minute" and pay attention to some other aspects of my life? You bet.

Now, go on a walk/run for me..mail me the burned calories and I'll see you out there in 6 weeks ;)

Fitness Friday: Goals

These are not "New Year's Goals."

These are Allison needs to continue to work hard...and then work harder to reach her goals she has had for several months now.

GOALS:

1. Eat 3 FULL servings of veggies every day.

2. Run a 1:50 half-marathon (long term goal is a 1:45 PR).

3. Do more interval runs outside rather than on the treadmill.

4. Worry more about toning up/getting stronger rather than my weight.

5. Fit comfortably in this dress (It fits, but my mid-section needs to be tighter for me to be able to not 'suck it in' while wearing it).   -------->  

6. Run early in the morning..i.e. stop procrastinating in general.

7. Make wholesome dinners more often for my husband and I.

8. Get my Master's in Historical Preservation.

9. Visit Germany and Poland (to be able to SEE what I study).

10. Measure out my portions for snacks...I have gotten away from this and have noticed (negative) differences.

11. Read the Bible and my devotional daily, no matter the excuses I may try and come up with.

As you can see, many of my goals are fitness or health related, but they delve into other parts of my life. When I eat better, relax about being a certain weight (or being the weight I "used to be"), stop procrastinating, and workout regularly, I am happier and more at ease. I want to enjoy a healthy life, indulgences included. 

I don't have cheat days, I have dessert when I want it, but sometimes it is lighter and sometimes it is disgustingly chocolately. 

Keep me accountable! And, if you have goals you are looking forward to accomplishing, please share. If you need support or encouragement...or a kick in the rear, I would be happy to be your I'm not going to let you fail buddy :)

Happy Fitness Friday! 

Re-learning the Same Lesson

Cold weather running= it can be a beautiful blessing and a horrible, icy curse. 



This depends on: 

1. Your own personal abilities
2. The right gear
3. Running smart
4. Easy tips and tricks


1- If you know for a fact that when it dips down below 30 degrees your chest becomes inflamed when you run, then take that into consideration. If you have an injury that becomes tight/worse when outside in the cold during exercise, then take that into consideration. If you are coming up with excuses to not run in the cold, take that into consideration.


2- Shoes spikes, face masks, thermal tops/bottoms, fleece zip-ups, tech gloves and thin scarves that are breathable. All of these are some tools that are necessary when running in winter weather. Not every run will you need spikes or face masks, but if there is snow and ice covering more than half of the ground you will be running on then I say wear the spikes...and if the temps start dipping into the low teens/there is a cold wind, the face mask will help protect your skin. (Remember this is small enough you can always take it off, better to bring it than regret not having it 1/2 through your run).


3- Treadmills, dreadmills; however you refer to these machines, they do come in handy for winter running. (Intervals too for us soft centered runners). If it is TOO cold (aka your chest/breathing cannot keep up with your activity) or the ground is too slick to run on, then hop on the treadmill, turn on a podcast and pretend you're running through the Swiss Alps with the Von Trapp family. Be smart, be safe. I learned the hard way that running when it is too icy, without the right gear can very often result in an injury, a bad run, and taking unwanted days off from activity. Don't let your pride get in the way of your fitness :)


4- One little trick I have always done is drinking a mug of coffee before a run. It not only warms me up but it also helps to open up my air passages better [in the cold weather]. Another is my warm-up. I do 10 reps of jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, squats, and arm stretches before I head outside. My body is more prepared for the cold this way.

These may be things you have already read or heard from someone, but reminders aren't a bad thing right? If I start to write about these same things more than 3-4 times, then please say something then. 

Good luck out running old man winter, and run hard, run smart!

Fitness Friday: What a Twist!

Thank you M. Night Shamamlana and late night cartoons for my oh so creative blog title today.

Another Fitness Friday post is here! 

What did Allison learn this week?

Slow and steady & Fast and Feisty are both necessary and productive. What?

Gross, I have to do both?

Yes.

I am finally committing to learning how to pace myself. This means I need to slow down on my long runs and give it all I got on my [race] pace and interval workouts. AND take it easy on my easy runs.

I have been sticking to this for about 3 weeks now and I have felt a noticeable difference in my pace and overall running performance (for the better, I might add). 

Your body should not get used to stagnant activity. I learned this last year and had to change up my routine enough that I can keep it guessing most of the time. This means that once in a while I take off 2-3 days in a row and then get right back into my routine to "shock" myself a little and continue to get stronger.

I hope this helps, and PLEASE share what you've got goin' on...or what you need to have goin' on.

A Rainy Fitness Friday

A plus of running in the rain? You usually can't tell what's sweat and what's rain ;)

This week I felt like a failure. My eating wasn't the best and I didn't work out that much.

Even though it felt like a disaster in the moment, when I look back I realize some positives.

The eating has no excuses. But, why beat yourself up over it? It's already in my body, I need to move on.

The lack of exercise was because of a stomach bug I was dealing with. I had a couple of good days, but I rested because I should not have been jumping around, running, etc. When your body tells you it needs rest, listen.

Fitness Friday!

What have you done this week that you want to share? Or better yet, give the rest of us some ideas! :)

Pump Up Your Run

I have been avoiding intervals outside for a long...long while now. I have been consistently sticking to the dreadmill to get these workouts done.

But, for some reason, I felt like it was time yesterday to end this weak spell.

Since I ran 7 miles last Thursday I am pushing my long run to this Thursday, so I put 4-5 miles on my schedule yesterday. I was grumbling during my warm-up, feeling kinda bored with my usual run. So, 3 minutes into it I decided to sprint. Well, I got tired, so I slowed down...and there you have the start of my intervals.

The first 2 miles were great, the third mile was HARD. First, because I was running hard and my body was starting to feel it, and second, because I had done some strength workouts in between miles 1 and 2.

It went like this:

2 miles of 400 m intervals (sub 7min/mile and 10min/mile+ recovery pace)

20 walking lunges

10 standing bicycles

10 front squats/ static sumo squat/ jump squat                                                  

10 push-ups

X3

1 mile 400 m intervals

20 walking lunges

10 kicking bicycles (single leg kick; opposite arm to opposite leg)

10 squats 

10 push-ups

X3

2 miles at average pace (mine was 9:10ish)

walking/stretching cool down for 10 minutes

Ta-Da! 

Honestly, the last 2 miles felt like a 'breeze' after the sprints and strength workouts.

And, of course, you can personalize this more to your likes/dislikes and your focus for that session.

Enjoy (seriously), and get out there!

PS: for a "how-to" on different kinds of squats check this site out: Jillian Michaels squat workout guide

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week I have stuck to my running schedule and even completed an 8k at 9:10 p.m. on 11-12-13...cold, but super fun and everyone was full of energy! It was also my friend's first race, so that is DEFINITELY something big to celebrate : )

Share your tips, tricks, guilty pleasures, goals, or accomplishments...

Magical Podcast and A Food Review

I have finally found the hidden treasure that is podcasts.

I like listening to music when I am doing faster runs (tempo, intervals, or farltek), but for my long and easy paced runs I was getting tired of the same routine. I do enjoy running with nothing blaring in my ears, especially when it is nice outside or right around dinner time (the lighting is always GORgeous)...but, sometimes you just need a little distraction. 

Cue the clouds opening and harp playing?

JillianMichaelsPodcast.com

Jillian Michaels' podcast are keeping me busy these days. She is funny, gives great and realistic advice, and the shows themselves vary in topic so much so that it's hard to even categorize her podcast. I have been listening to them for about 2 weeks now, usually 2-3 times per week. I haven't gotten tired of her or them in the least bit and I have even learned some neat tricks. Imagine that...learning and running, shew whee, am I an overachiever or what? ;) 

But, really, I do recommend browsing through ITunes and sampling the huge selection of shows they offer. (PS: Most are free!)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To do something (sorta) new today, I am going to, very amateur-ly, review a product.

Yesterday I was having some stomach issues, no details needed (I could have probably even gone without stating that)...and so I wanted to keep my food as neutral as possible. I have family visiting so we all ate dinner at my parents' house and my mom made baked spaghetti. Now, her baked spaghetti isn't all that bad and she does add spinach, but it was still a little too heavy for me. 

I went ahead and brought some Fage 0% Greek yogurt over (my favorite) with some frozen cherries and an Amy's Rice Macaroni and Cheese Gluten Free dinner. I know, frozen meal, but I liked the ingredients and I was majorly craving cheese.

When I first cooked it I was a little worried because I could smell the rice pretty predominately, but shew whee, I am glad I didn't base my opinion on just that. It was soooo good! I wasn't even expecting it to be that delicious, but it baked up perfectly, with the top layer have a little "meatier" texture to it.

The cheese was REAL and tasted real good ;)


                                                         I give this dish 4.5/5 stars!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week has been up and down with my healthy eating habits...but I am on week 2 of my new workout routine (lifting 4X per week with 5 days of running and other cross training). 

Today, when I couldn't run as scheduled I still walked [briskly] for 30 minutes and then walked to work. 

What are some things are are doing/have done this past week to improve your healthy lifestyle?! :)

What's to Come

*Rock 'n' Roll Cleveland Half Marathon race report

*Iced Pumpkin Cookies recipe

*"Fall into Fashion" Mosaic ed.

                             *Training changes for my half marathon on November 30th

*Homemade turkey noodle and veggie soup recipe

                                                             *Fitness Friday!

Check back later today :)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Where free encouragement, bragging, advice, recipes, complaining, and shiny pictures come to meet.

Countdown

Here we are. Within the week of the Rock n' Roll Cleveland Half-Marathon. This will be my second half and my husband's first.

We have decided together to treat this as a fun race only. We have goals, of course, to run the whole way, a very loose time goal, and to FINISH. Jake did not train as long as he really needed to ;) So, I know it will be tough, but I promised him I would not leave him and we would cross the finish line together.

We also joked that he could ride in a wagon and eat donuts while I run. No. I mean, no thank you sweetheart.

I tapered on Monday and did a "quick" 6 miles at just under a 9 min/mile which was very encouraging. My feet felt really light the whole time which was awesome. I am planning on running an easy 4 today and maybe 3 tomorrow, but beyond that I will lighten up my leg workout this week and just do some cross-training in between; I will take Saturday off completely.

I have to be a good wife though, and say how proud I am of Jake. He knew he wouldn't have the adequate time to REALLY train for this race, but he registered anyways as support for me and a challenge to himself. Although he had ups and downs during his running he kept promising he would do the race, and well, he is. I am so thankful that he will be there with me, it is going to be a blast.

The weather is supposed to be rainy, windy, and cold. Haha, but eh, when you're not trying to PR that can be fun weather to run in (I say that now). 

We will keep you updated, send your fastest miles our way! ;) 

Free Encouragement

Look at these as many times as you need to, and then one more time.

I know I need to.

Have a strong day!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Please share any fitness news, goal, training, advice, recipes, or any other exciting lifestyle changes you have made :)

Go

  

Get out there, now!..or maybe later if you're working or something...but you get the point, right?

Monday: I was lazy; long run day turned into running 3 miles at 5 p.m. (PS: I had the day off)

Tuesday: Husband was off + feeling lazy...by 11 a.m. I got my butt in gear and did my long run plus the strength workout I was scheduled for (when I got off work).

It was not fun, I was hungry and tired, BUT it was my fault that I had to combine my long run day with leg day...that is what procrastination gets you.

This is just friendly-ish reminder that you will never regret moving, never regret crossing off your goal for the day/week/month/year, and you cannot replace that feeling of accomplishment once it is done.

GO!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday Show&Tell and share and brag and ask and...you know.

It's herrrrre..again. Let's get to it!

My "show and tell" is that my long run of 9 miles went really well and yesterday I actually committed to a tempo run and ran at a sub-8:30 minute mile, which for me is speedy ;)

When to Keep Moving

As you saw, I was sick over Labor Day weekend. Not too bad, just a nasty sinus infection, but enough to keep me from running.

So, thinking I was all good to go, and feeling a bit plump, I went out for a run on Monday.

I went in the heat of the day, not so smart, and mixed with healing from the congestion I was a running mess.

I walked the first mile (an actual smart decision on my part, I'll take it!) and then began my run.

shutupandrun.net

I was so frustrated because my pace was slow and I kept having to take walking breaks. It is unnerving to have completed a half-marathon at a pace you thought your body was not capable of to then not be able to finish 3 miles without stopping. 

I was feeling angry and prideful and anxious. I kept thinking, how in the world am I going to run 13.1 miles in a month, let alone beat my old PR. Well, I threw that out the window, but for good reason. Yes, I will run/jog those miles to the best of my ability, but Jake and I made a pact to treat this as a fun run. We will run at an easy pace and just enjoy the whole experience, plus it's his first one! I can worry about my time at another race in the fall :)

Anyways...

After such a rough day on Monday, I got back out on Tuesday when the weather was beyond ideal. I was still feeling slower than I thought I should be and so I ran my first mile WAY too fast and was already somewhat fatigued (I had 6 miles set to complete). So, I made myself slow down and not stop. That's right, after those first 2 iffy miles, I was not allowing myself to take any walking breaks, unless for water.

And, that's just what I did. I resumed my normal "longer run" pace of 9:15 and it felt good. It also burned in my chest and I almost took that as needing to stop, but I knew better. I knew I could do this, I knew I had control over my breathing (as loud as it might be), and I knew I would complete my goal. 

I did not stop until I reach 5.5 miles (I had gotten over-zealous and ran the last mile sub-9/min.) so I was a little winded, but I felt good. I finished out 6.2 (10k) miles and kept it at my goal pace. I have not felt proud of pushing myself like that in a long time.

This is one of those moments, when it is good to push through. This is one of those moments when you need to mentally change your attitude and know this is possible.

I will finish that half-marathon, dang it.

Bad Acronym

So
I
Can't
Knock...out my runs right now.

Ugh, I know it's not clever, but I am tired ;)

I am sick, ill, gross, whatever you would like to call it, and I will not be working out for a couple of days (nor posting, most likely).

I also wish I was one of those people who didn't eat as much when I am sick, sadly, I think I eat more because I am not as busy. I have been trying to at least stick to grapes (1 lb. down). My husband actually got me these green grapes that are supposed to taste like cotton candy...weird, at first, but they grow on you. Plus, he is just too sweet, aww.

See you soon!

And, stay healthy.

Fit Friday

Fitness Friday!

As a reminder: share an accomplishment, goal, upcoming event, training, advice, Personal Record, recipe, or anything else you can think of!

Free encouragement, butt kicking, and praise are included.

Get Ready for Friday!

littleremindersoflove.blogspot.com

I think we need to start a {new} tradition around here. And, I think it should be called something cheesy like "Fitness Friday."

So, every Friday if you have a goal, accomplishment, or some other healthy/exercise/food related tid-bit to share, please do! 

I hope this catches on. I admit, it is sorta selfish. I will get to read about all these amazing steps others have taken/will take towards healthy lifestyles, inside and out; it is going to help with my determination like crazy. But, I think it will benefit all who share and read these posts.

I will also welcome any comments on Facebook as well! (The link to my page is above on the menu).

Get excited, get pumped!

See you tomorrow.