Driving

Yesterday I spent a good amount of time on the road. It has been a while since I made the drive I did. And this time it rained the entire time. It was miserable.
The rain. The spray off the big trucks. The fog like conditions. Just miserable.
I am literally screamed at the conditions in my white knucled solitude of a rental car at least twice.

I am glad I got some hill drills runs into my day before the day started,  before the rain started. I am sure it helped in some way.

I can only imagine the stress of the drive has played with my muscles in some way. I don't know just yet as I am still lying in bed.

Thought I'd squeeze in a walk this morning.  But no sooner did I turn over to get the phone to check the weather... skies opened up out there.

Sadly it will be another day's worth of driving for me.  And it is a haul this time. I will leave as soon as I can after this morning's meeting. I am just not looking forward to it.

Hotel treadmill is in my future.

Yogurt

Oh the marketing of yogurt.  Which variety  is truly healthy. So hard to say these days.
Some slap on the term Greek and everyone assumes its a healthy variety. Until you read the label and realise it isnt a thicker strained variety... they put gelatin in it to make it thicker.
Some are so sweet.  Surely that can good for you.
I found two fruit flavors that I like thay seem to be lower in sugar but I am sure that is debatable.
Chobani has a pineapple fruit on bottom that is good.  And with even less sugar is a blended coconut flavor.
I had been buying these for ease in an attempt to get an afternoon dairy with some fruit.
Of course I came to thw revelation that's really not enough fruit to count.

This week I am using 2% Fage and ran it and somw frozen strawberries througg my Ninja.  Good flavor. Hopefully a bit more fruit than the prepackaged variety. Hopefully less sugar.

Food

Well I am always tinkering in the kitchen.  These days there is always a quest to get enough protein and veg in a meal.
And I don't alway succeed.
Last week I opted for a chicken and spinach dish.

Raw baby spinach as the base.  I am going to heat up later so no need to cook now.
Sauted onions and Portobello mushrooms and spices.  Mixed in with somw ricotta cheese.
Finish off with 3oz grilled chicken.
Gave me my protein, dairy and veg for lunch.
It was different than the typical salad doused in dressing.
Now to remember this again later in the training.

Walking

I just struggle to get up at the crack of dawn to run.  I did well with it for a while but in the past year not so much.
So I opted for a little mental inventory.  What would I get up for? And decided that a morning walk would work. 
I don't need my heart rate monitor. I don't need my interval alarm. Shoot I don't even need a sports bra to just get out there and walk.
Roll out of bed. Find the appropriate # of layers (it was cold this morning). And get out there. 
In a half hours time I can cover 2 miles.  That's 2 miles more than I had been doing in the AM.  So I am sticking with this.

Running running will have to be in the PM.

Finding ways to get motivates and stay motivated

http://helloendless.com/10-ways-to-increase-dopamine-to-boost-your-productivity/

This looked like a good list to start with.

Been a while

I feel like I need to officially track my progress to this craziness that is the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
It is a few days more than 4 months away.  The official start date is Wednesday.. mostly because Tuesday is my birthday and I don't want any added pressure before then.

So I decide short little quips of my training could be a motivator.  It has helped in the past.  And maybe a bit more insightful and useful than one sentence observations allowed on Twitter and Facebook.

We shall see.

Until then... today is a birthday celebration
Gotta go dry my hair straight and get ready

AFTER WEEKS OF RAIN - IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THERE!

make it a good one

Run in the winter

So the Cooper River run is a 10k.  And that's what the latest running group would be focusing on. Timed runs due to the early darkness that time of year.  speed work Wednesdays - which didn't happen all that much for me.  Not sure what happened with those days.  I think there were some work meetings.  And I am pretty sure there was weather.  And long run Saturdays.  Again I think the weather creeped in there a bit.

In order to prep for race day - the running group always does another race during the training.  You know to deal with the logistics and nerves that happen on race day.  This time was a 4 mile race on some of the local trails.  The nice thing about this race - it was pretty convenient to my home.  Relatively speaking. 

Again, it turned out to be a good pace run for me.  The first mile under 12 minutes AGAIN.  Yay me.  The hills on this course weren't that kind.  Oh well.  Neither were the frigid temperatures and - wait was that a snow flake?  But it was a good time..

Well that is until I woke up sick on Monday morning.  I am sure it was a combination of the weather and other things.  It pretty much took me down for the count for a few weeks.  Sore throat.  Bronchitis.  Head cold.  Hacking up who knows what.

So the focus was diverted in February.

Running 2015

The easiest way to fill in the gaps is to go by topic.
Work - nothing new.  Quite possibly that is a lie but for the most part.
Home - new carpets downstairs.  New white couch and chair.  Now leather loveseat.  It was the post Bacchus deal he and I had.  I would replace the items that just got worn out in his old age and illness.
It is also a good deterent from bringing home any new cute pug puppies.
Car - the same.  Getting some miles on it.  That's for sure.
Bike - upstairs on the trainer.  Need to get it outside one of these days.
Running...  well that's been a good part of this year so far.

Over the holidays I focused pretty much on prepping for a race in January.  It was a 4 mile race is conjunction with the Super Bowl.  It started uptown near the stadium and went from there. 
So the training focused mostly on some long runs... but with a race that is only 4 miles long the long runs weren't that lengthy.  We did speed work.  I had not done that before.  Shoot I don't know the last time I was on a track.  It was pretty neat.  This concepts of running fast.  I liked it.  And then some easy and temp runs during the week.  It was a good game plan.  And my pace and endurance did pick up for that first race.  My first mile was under 12 minutes - always amazing.  And the overall pace was good as well.

As one race was coming to a close a new running group was forming.  This was for the Cooper River Run.  Due to the uncertainty of work schedules I knew this race was not going to be on my list.  I couldn't commit in time.  But I joined the group anyways. 

gaps in time

I keep meaning to get back on the blogging bandwagon... It just seems that I have so much to fill in from the gaps that it overwhelms me and I don't. 
Well maybe I will get on that this month.  Lots of travel coming up. Airport time is good for typing.

And then there's the nutritionist

This isn't moving along quite as stellar as I would like.  I know, it is all me but... 
So as part of the running group we did 2 events on nutrition. 

The first was with the one running coach.  He is all about food and nutrition.  I might even call him obsessed.  But that's not a bad thing when you can pick someone's brain on the subject.  As a result of those conversations it was suggested that perhaps I wasn't getting enough protein.  So I started tracking my food.  I reopened my MyFitnessPal app and started logging in the food.  What a miserable task that is.  Well it turned out that not only was I not getting enough protein, it appeared I was not getting enough food.  I wasn't getting enough into my menu on a daily basis.  And then I found myself binging on bad foods at least once a week.  A brick of cheese and a box of crackers is NOT A MEAL!!!!  But I was hungry.

So the second edition on nutrition, they brought in a nutritionist.  And that was a broader view on what to eat before a workout, during a workout and after a workout.  FYI - I historically do not eat before a workout.  I have coffee when I get up but a meal does not happen.  I hated our Tuesday night runs because my stomach and digestive track just seemed so full all the time.  And to think about eating while working out?!?!  To date my workouts hadn't been THAT long.  Well at least in my mind they hadn't.  Little did I know.

So that's when I decided I would meet with her individually.
As it turns out - wow, there is a whole lot more food in my day that I need to be getting in my day.
We have broken it down into carbs. meat, dairy, fruits, veg, fat.  So far I have mastered breakfast.  At least when I am on the road and on work days.  Lunch when I plan ahead seems to be coming along ~ok~.  Well except when I travel.  Why do people want to eat so much food for lunch.  UGH!  And dinner is a struggle.  I think I have decided that soup after a workout is the easiest way to get all the food groups in a quick and easy manner. 

I was supposed to be down a whole bunch of pounds by now.  I was doing well for a bit there.  And then life on the road and the holidays kicked in.  So we continue to go back to the drawing board.  Hey, this is meant to be a lifestyle change and it is a work in progress for sure.

The latter part of 2014

Shall I recap the last few months or maybe I should start off where I stand right now... Hmmm...

Well the second half of 2014 saw me joining a running group that I have kept up with since June.  Not sure that my running has improved but I think it has.  My longest run at this time has been 8 miles.  It wasn't fun but I did it.  My longest unofficial timed run was a 10k.  Technically I missed the group's 10k as I was in Nova Scotia at the time.  So instead I mapped out 6 (VERY HILLY) miles and made a go of it.  The last official race I did was back on a cold oh so cold (20s) Saturday in November.  The majority of the group did a half marathon.  Let's be honest my ability to train for long distances with my work travel is hard.  So I did the 5k instead.  The nicest part about it - surely not the cold - was that I took a minute off my average mile pace.  YAY me. 

So now, I am looking to take that pace and make it a bit faster.  If I can get to an average 12 minute mile pace I would be happy.  In time if I could get it to 10 minutes it would be like high school again.  Yeah, don't hold your breath on that one.

So today we are off to do some speed work (hopefully before the rain) to keep focusing on that goal.

As for the running group.  It is in a weird state of transition at the moment.  Most runners wanted to take a break after their half marathons and around the holidays.  So it has dwindled down to just me and another woman that I have been running with.  Even our coach seems to have lost interest.  You know that's when I probably am at my best - bucking the system and all.

A new group is supposed to kick on in in a few weeks time.  And they are assuming I will be there.  We shall see how that goes.  It is to prep for a race I am not going to do sooo....  I just don't know.

So sad we had to say good bye

As with my dad the rush of memories are just exhausting and wonderful.  I just wish we had more time.  Will miss you always. 

Little guy

Ben Howard - Highland Drifting

No run

We interrupt the previously scheduled morning run qith a dog emergency.

For those that know me I make a conscious effort to note my food when I am truly focused.  Which I have been.  And I noted too much wine the other night and the subsequent sandwich and chips the next day.  And I noted the healthy food as well.

The culprit I always try to stay on top of.... fresh beets! 
You know the color goes through the system pretty much unaltered.  Had a doctors visit on the subject alone.  Inagine my embarrassment.

So this morning getting the dog is his cart and I notice a ting of red in his urine.  I take him outside to go potty and eat.  Sure enough crazy red urine.

Text my friend the pharmacist.
Call the vet.
Text a friend just to calm down. Their dog always has blood in urine problems.

And then I come back inside.  There is a dish on the floor by his corner.  I curse that it didnt make it in the dishwasher last night. Mutter mutter mutter as I bend down tom pick it up.

BEETS!  I had beets this week.  Bacchus had the bottom of the plate goodness from them last night.

Called the vet back. Cancelled the appointment.  And made a note to not only remember what I eat but to also remember what scraps I give the dog.

Now to swim.

Phew

Friend swim today

My friend's neighborhood pool opens early for lane swimming. So we are going to try to do that this morning. 
We were to meet at 7.  It's been postponed to 8. I am thinking she had Friday night plans.
So I guess I'll get up now amd do a quick run.
Haven't worked out since Tuesday.
Blek

love the angst anger sadness

swam some
ran some
this week...
and then got sidetracked...  thunderstorms and all
try again this weekend...
signed up for a 10k training course- not sure what that will be
not doing the related race as I will be in Halifax

http://youtu.be/dc-zMUlznAA

Swim bike fish produce

Ok maybe not exactly what one would expect.
Finally got myself going this morning.  Waking up in my own bed with a window open and the overall peacefulness of a May morning made it hard to motivate too quickly.
Got up did laundry made coffee and finally hit the road.
I am a bit unnerved for next Sundays.  I am so not ready for the race.  When you spend so many weeks on the road training is impossible.  People have inferred I should plan better that is achievable.  Folks thats not really true.  There arent enough hours in some days.
So here I am a week out.
I swam the wee little 200 yards for th sprint racing in the outside pool. At 2 minutes per 100 yards my pace was rushed. Colder water. Nerves. Will do it again tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday.
I rode for 40 minutes. I would say I pushed that too.  There were no hills on those rides in Orlando. Never realised the huge difference.
No run yet for today.
Got gas on the way home AND went to the new fish market... scallops, flounder,  salmon..
Then stopped at produce market.

The afternoon consisted of prepping the fish.  More laundry. Scrubbing the patio.  Killing som weeds. Pruning the oleander.

Next up a shower.  Trying my darnedest to lay low this weekend. 

Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) tweeted at 6:30 PM on Fri, May 23, 2014: Hey coach – think I earned my Blue Bunny pit stop today. http://t.co/GB5bxAej5M #BlueBunnyWinBig for $20,000 vacation http://t.co/Pwq7RfRW7o (https://twitter.com/JimmieJohnson/status/469968526216687616) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

And the rest of the week

We bought 4 days worth of tickets to try to take it slow around the park.  Days one and two seemed to work out OK for that.  Days 3 and 4 really rushed by.

We spent the whole day at EPCOT on day 3.  It was supposed to be a late start day with the intent of staying until the light show.  Late start didnt really register.  I think we were there by 10.  And we did stay through until to end.  Probably should have gone a little later on that day.

Day 4 was Magic Kingdom with the end of the day at EPcOT.  We did OK with that except WOW was I grumpy grouchy and tired yesterday morning.
We used the FastPass+ pretty effectively yesterday.  No wait for Pirates, Big Thunder Mountain or Splash Down Mountain.
Waited forever for Peter Pan ride.  Still not sure why that thing is so popular. 

From there we rode the monorail over to EPCOT. That is always a must.  Its like a lot more memories travel with me to this place than the new ones that are made.  If that makes any sense.
We waited in line for Test Track.  Actually it was easier than trying to coordinate with a FP+.  It is a fun ride.  For all the rides, I remember the exhibits as a child seemed more interesting and less silly video game oriented. Hmmm... 
From there we walked over to the United Kingdom for lunch.  Ate way too much!  Guess we didnt really need those crisps or mushy peas with the bangers and mash... 

The evening was just a crash...  back to the room a little after 5.  We took naps, baths, watched a movie and went to bed.

Today is a slow day.  Trying to motivate to get on my bike.  Then I guess there will be some pool time.  And then some shopping,  dinner and packing.

Tomorrow's ride home is always a chore.  Especially trying to balance our exit time in light of Orlando commuter traffic.