Fitness Friday 1/3

As I mentioned in my New Year's post, I'm going to start participating in Fitness Friday with Jill Conyers.

Since it's still so close to the New Year, and I'm just finding my new blogging groove, I don't really have too much to say this morning.

So, I'll just share this pic I found on Pinterest the other day. What a great thing to keep in mind as we enter the new year and all year long!

Here's my weekly recap, starting on the 1st.

Jan 1st

• Started my #sunmoonchallenge with 1 sun salutation in the morning and 1 moon before bed. If you're joining the challenge, be sure and like me on FB for a daily check-in!
• 3-ish mile run with Sallie
• New Year's Workout

Jan 2nd

• #sunmoonchallenge
• Arms and Abs 

Jan 3rd

• #sunmoonchallenge
• 3 mile run

Highlights
The arm workout I did yesterday was TOUGH! I was so sore immediately afterward that washing my hair was ooh! so rough!! The soreness subsided for most of the day yesterday, but it's back with a vengeance this morning - especially my elbows. :)

Today's 3 mile run was AWESOME! It was SO COLD 41°F that I ran my fastest pace in a LONG while. I just wanted to get out of the cold. Ha! But it felt good running at that pace. I didn't feel like I was dying. At all. No, I felt like a gazelle.

How's your New Year starting out?
On your best runs, which animal do you identify with? I always like to imagine I have the grace and speed of a gazelle. Not sure why.

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Marathon Monday #17

I think you'll really be pleased with my training last week.
I know I am. :)

	The Plan	The Reality
Mon, 11/18	2	2
Tue, 11/19	4 Hills	4
Wed, 11/20	REST	REST
Thu, 11/21	5 Speed	5
Fri, 11/22	REST	REST
Sat, 11/23	15	REST
Sun, 11/24	REST	15
TOTAL	26	26

I GOT IN ALL MY MILES!!!

I decided to skip the hills and speed work after the previous weekend's killer half marathon. My legs needed some rest + the marathon course isn't very hilly + it's the start of taper = easy running.

Last weekend was so dreary outside. I've really become a huge sunlover. When the sun doesn't come out to play, neither does Clarinda apparently. :( I went to bed early Friday night. Slept in late(r) on Saturday. Got up for a few hours and went back to bed for a few hours long nap. Lounged around the rest of the afternoon, and then hit the hay early Saturday night. Guess my body really needed some REST!

I probably would have had much more energy on Saturday if 1) the sun was bright and shiny and 2) if I'd just gone for a run.

Usually I'm tired after a long distance run, but it's a different kind of tired.

The kind that pumps you up. :-)

My 15 miles on Sunday were long and a little boring - despite my music. I wasn't really feeling it, but I kept plugging along. I kept thinking about how great it was going to be at the marathon when I'll have a running partner. Can't wait to meet you, Katie!

I know I'll need someone there to keep pushing me. To help me forget how many more miles there are. Someone to distract me so that the miles really fly by.

If you've been following along my Marathon Mondays since August, you'll know that I skipped quite a few weeks of training and my longest run was only 19 miles, of which I walked most of the final 6. I definitely could have done better.

Saturday, we watched a trailer for Ender's Game. The following quote really resonated with me.

So, while my training wasn't stellar by far, I know I'm ready enough.

Bring. It. On.

Up this week? The taper continues. My right lower leg has been a bit wonky today, so I think there will be a lot of stretching and rolling and icing along with my short(er) runs this week.

How does the weather affect you and your workouts?
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Here it is.

I can't believe it's already the end of March. 2013 is really flying by!!

March started out pretty strong. Thanks largely to the 5 by the 5th virtual race series. That always seems to kick my butt into gear.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem very long before I could feel a big slump coming on. And boy did it hit me hard. I found it super difficult to find the time/motivation/desire to workout, go for a run, or even ride my bike to work. I was eating like crap and feeling just the same.

I knew why and knew I needed to change, but simply couldn't find it within myself.

Around mid-month, I signed up for 3 virtual races for the second half of March. I did one right away for St Patrick's Day, but then just couldn't seem to get off the couch to get in the other events.

The Running with Spatulas virtual series was from Mar 18-29.

There were five options to choose from: 10K run, 10K walk, 10K bike, 30K any way, and 5K run/walk. I was feeling ambitious when I signed up for the 10K run, bike, and 30K any way.

And then I sat and sat and sat.

Finally on Mar 28, I went for a 10k run after work. I really didn't want to, but I'm glad I did! It was probably my slowest 10k in forever. I had to fight a lot of crowds on Las Vegas Blvd, but I did catch a glimpse of the volcano show at the Mirage. :)

I also stopped to take a couple pics for the #runchathunt.

Friday morning came really early after staying up too late watching a movie, but I still managed to hurry enough and get out earlier than usual. I added a bit of distance to my morning commute, which allowed me to get in the 10k bike option. Phew!

Of these 3 races, the one I was the most excited about was the Jelly Bean virtual race - and the only one I'd signed up for ahead of time.

This race has four options - run a 5k, 10k, or 1/2 marathon OR bike a 21K (half marathon). Last year, I managed to completed all 4 events, but this year, I haven't even done one. Boooo!!!!

I suppose I could use my 10k time from the RWS race on Thursday, but somehow that feels like cheating to me. :D.

I still have today and tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get out there for a 10k run this afternoon and (hopefully) convince Jeff to join me for a 21k bike ride tomorrow.

I've got a few challenges in mind for April, but I think that's for another post. :)

What are you up to this weekend?
How do you stay motivated when you find yourself falling into a slump?
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Delays

Two days ago, I was supposed to begin my long-anticipated training schedule for my marathon in June.

BUT I felt sick to my stomach all day and had to struggle to get through the school day. I had two huge lessons to do on Tuesday, so I took a nap after school on Monday and then also went to bed at a decent hour.

My lessons went well yesterday, but I was still feeling pretty tired and weak, so I put off starting another day.

TODAY I MUST GET BACK ON TRACK!

I went to pinterest for some inspiration.

And I found the perfect pin!

BUT when I clicked on it, it said, sorry, this pin has been deleted. Bummer!

What did it say?

ME 

AGAINST 

MYSELF

I'm the only one stopping me at this point.

I need to get back on track.

TODAY!

It's December!

Which is scary.

And overwhelming.

IT'S CRUNCH TIME!!

Of course, I've pretty much been saying that since September, but now I really am down to the wire.

Here's what I still have to finish:

• Read TWO books
• Write THREE papers (one 4 pg and two 3-5 pg)
• ONE quiz
• ONE final (scheduled for a week from today)

My plan, my hope, is to have all that finished by the 15th, which will give me about two weeks to finish my online portfolio. I started this earlier in my program and haven't really looked at it in a couple years now. It will take a lot of work, but I think two weeks is pretty reasonable to finish it.

I'll admit this past weekend and early part of this week, I had a completely defeatist attitude. I doubted highly I would be able to finish everything, and I wondered if it was really worth it to push myself so hard to student teach and get my license in MN when we're planning on leaving the state next summer.


Source: iiiinspired.blogspot.com via Susie on Pinterest



But writing this out, it doesn't seem that bad.

I CAN DO THIS! Right?