Days Twenty Five and Twenty Six

Yesterday I finally bought myself some proper shoes! I was planning on taking them out for a run yesterday, but I was called into work :( I made it to the gym in the morning at least, so I did get a good workout.
Today I took out my cute little blue shoes and the dog and I took a good long run. I think it was around five miles, but it's hard to say. We took a number of detours and checked out some new places. I meant to take the pedometer I found awhile back, but I completely forgot this morning. But that's fine, I know we ran a good long time and that's all that I care about. Now the poor little bugger is curled up on the couch blankets sleeping like a rock. He had a great time, but I bet his legs are tired!

Day Twenty Four

This was the reception I received this morning when I jinggled the leash. I was tempted to join him in ignoring the day, but I laced on my shoes and headed to the gym. I had a horrible headache with some neck pain, so I stretched a bunch and kept the cardio light. I'm hopping I'll feel a little better later so I can take the sleepy runt on a sunset run by the water. Maybe I'll even convince the skinny husband to come along :)

Day Twenty Three

Today was a semi rest day. I went of a half mile run in my moccasins, trying to build up to some barefoot running. Then I came home and did about twenty minutes of pilates. I had a lot of house work to do and wanted to get in some baking (ugh, I ate three bacon cupcakes! but they were awesome...), so I didn't take the time to go to the gym. But I'll count it as my rest day, so I'm not too worried.

Day Twenty Two

I woke up sore, groggy, and in no mood to work out. But I pulled on my shoes and drove to the gym anyways. It's amazing how rewarding pushing through the morning resistance can be! I warmed up on the elliptical, rolled out the stiff bits on my thighs, and did all of the weight machines and ab workouts. After a few minutes stretch I then left the gym and went on a 4.25 mile interval jog by the water. It was gray and sprinkling ever so slightly, which to me is the perfect running weather. I went through a park I have driven past but never really explored, and today I discovered I've been missing out! I'll have to take my husband there to play catch when it warms up a little (yes, we have mitts and play catch sometimes. It's a great way to do something active together!). I watched some wildlife while I took a little break before the return leg of the run, and then returned to the gym just as the rain really started. I stretched some more when I got back, and of course drank lots of water. Its amazing how a good workout can make the world seem like a better place!
I recently discovered the nike+, and while I can't imagine spending that much for a running "toy", it is really cool and I am a little full of lust. They have a fun commercial related to that product and one of their challenges, and watching it made me want to go out and run again!
Nike Commercial

Day Twentyone

Since its cold and rainy I am heading to the gym for 3 miles in the elliptical plus the circuit. But I feel more like going back to bed.

Day Twenty

I ended up doing pilates instead yesterday. It was a challenge as always. Once again I didn't meet my goals, but I did walk a hell of a lot. I'm not at all worried about my endurance!
The week ahead:

4.5 m run

3 m run or cross

4.5 m run + strength

Rest

50 min cross

8 m run

Days Seventeen through Nineteen

I had company this week so my workouts got a little derailed. I made it to the gym on Thursday, and managed to squeeze in two miles of running yesterday. I did get in a lot of walking though. So while I would have liked to have fit in a little more structured exercise, I'm not terribly worried. I need to do housework today, and I'm not sure if I'll have time to go to the gym as well. But hopefully I'll get in 30 minutes at least of cross training.

Day Sixteen

I'm a little blond some days. I looked at my maps a little closer, and it turns out I ran more like 5.5-6 miles total yesterday. I felt amazing afterwards, but boy was work last night a challenge! I have to work early today so I won't be able to go to the gym, instead I'll be running to work. It's a total of 2.3 miles, so I'll pair that with a bunch of stretching, a couple genle miles walking the dog, and some yoga tonight and call it good.

Day Fifteen

I just got back from an excellent run. Unfortunantly I just looked up on google maps how far I went and it wasn't nearly as far as I had hoped. The goal for today was 4.5 miles, and it looks like it was more in the 2.5-3 mile range. Drats. I really wish the bay trail had mile markers! In happier news I ran way more than I walked, which is a big improvement. I have to take the dog out this afternoon, so I'll try to squeeze in another mile.

Day Fourteen

I just got back from the gym, where I did the circuit and also got in 20 minutes on the elliptical and 10 on a bike.
I'm a little discouraged that the scale isn't moving, and while I have trimmed up I am not slimming down as much as I would like. I'm only ten pounds lighter than I was when I was inhaling fried chicken sandwiches and french macaroons on a daily basis and working out about 1/8th as much as I am now. I wish loosing weight was as fast as gaining it...

Day Thirteen

Well I put in about ten miles this week, which is three miles under my goal. I think it will be better next week to take a full day of rest during the week so that I am not so spent by the end of the week.

Weekly goal:

3m Cross

4.5 m run

4.5 m run + strength

Rest

50 min cross

7 m run

Day Twelve

I went on a 2.6 mile jog/walk this morning with my four legged run buddy. We would have gone longer, but he has limits. When your legs are only an inch long, 2.6 miles is a really long way. We racked up maybe another .75-1 mile walking about this afternoon, which isn't as much as I'm scheduled to go today but I'm ok with that. I ended up not really taking a day of rest yesterday since I figured if I was at the gym I might as well do a full workout.

Day Eleven

I went to a marathon training meeting last night at See Jane Run in Oakland. It looks like a great program, but it's a bit out of my price range. I did pick up some good advice however, and I was highly inspired being in a room of other "regular Janes" all sharing this goal.
Today is mostly a day of rest. I'll be heading to the gym in a few minutes but I will be taking it easy. Time to roll out the knots, do some yoga, and work on my belly a bit (I don't really take a rest from that. I'm determined to get a nice belly!)

Day Ten

Off to the gym again. Another round of circuit training, but I also will be putting in a few extra rounds of cardio. The goal is to do at least three miles.

Day Nine

pic not related

Due to encroaching darkness I only made it three miles yesterday (my neighborhood isn't all that safe even in the day). I did however walk a whole lot while at work, and on many of the trips to and from my car I sprinted through the mall and the parking garage. I'm sure I will build a reputation for being crazy, but I'm ok with that.
Today I did the circuit at the gym and went a mile on the elliptical at a nice high resistance. I love how it feel like walking through jello.

Day Eight

I will be getting off of work a little early today, so I am going to take advantage of the extra daylight by taking a four mile walk. Assuming of course that the rain doesn't entirely blot out the sun.

Day Seven

Today I went to the gym and got some pointers on using the foam rollers. I had a hard day of work yesterday so I took it easy and stretched out my very tense thighs.
My flour avoidance thing didn't go perfectly today... but that doesn't mean I'm throwing in the towel. Tomorrow is another day!

Week in review

I added a number of sprints to my daily dog walks as well, but I'm not counting those into my weekly tally. I've been adding sprints whenever I can actually. Walking from my car to work? Run. Walking back from an errand? Run. Any time I'm walking alone and not carrying something large, I try to run it. I am sure I look silly, but who ever said exercise looked slick all the time?
My mission for the coming week is to all but eliminate flour for a week. It's such a weakness of mine, I'm a lover of starchy foods alas.

Miles traveled: 9+
Weight: 158 (ug, its up five pounds from December)

Day Six

Today is all about the elliptical and intermittent bout of speed. The goal is 30 minutes, and then using the weight machines of the circuit only. I'm really looking forward to my day of rest tomorrow! Even though I've been going to the gym 4-5 days a week for a few months now, adding in jogging and intensifying my workout has definitely used up more energy.
I had been planning on entering the Alameda half marathon in June, but a friend of mine is doing the Oakland half marathon at the end of March and she convinced me to do it with her. Eep! No time to waste now! But it'll be a good 28th birthday present to myself.

Day Five

Circuit with added core work. Learned a new move on the workout ball yesterday I want to repeat. Along with some balance exercises on the little inflated blue disk thingimigig.

Day Four

Circuit training at the gym plus 2.25 miles on the elliptical at high intensity using the advice of Cranky Girl Fitness

scenes from a run

I should remember to take my camera with me more often. I've been driving past this area for years, but until I took up jogging I never once stepped foot on the waterfront that is practically in my yard. I've been missing out.

Day Three

Back to the gym for circuit training. Taking it light on the cardio today.

Day Two

Second verse, same as the first. A little bit slower and a little bit worse.
Not really worse, but I will be walking farther and stopping to do sets of crunches and stretches more frequently. Total 2 miles.

Day One

(photo swiped from Flickr)

Run one mile. Pretty scenery helps. Music helps too. Total 1.8 miles with warm up and cool down.