Working It Out

So lately I have been struggling to balance work and working out as well as eating right.  This week I was able to only workout 3 nights.

Sunday - 3.5 mile walk
Tuesday - Spin Class
Saturday - 2 mile walk

I am still trying to work my way up running 2 miles in time for my training program that starts on May 19th.  This week I had to stay at work late on Wednesday, went out on Thursday, and laid low on Friday night.  This week I am heading to New Orleans on Wednesday so will have to find a way to work in some work outs while on vacation.  I'm heading to New Orleans from Wednesday - Monday for 4 Days of Jazz Festing!  Today I also signed up for a 5K and 10K to get ready for my upcoming Half Marathon.  Right now I am planning to run in the San Francisco 1st Half.  Also, I found out on Thursday that I was picked to run NWM 13.1 again!  I am pretty excited to run the race again with my mom and excited that my good friend Rosa will be running with me.  She just completed Country Music Half this weekend and am so proud of her for finishing her first half marathon.  Head over and read her running blog if you have a chance - Rosa Runs.

See Jane Run 5K - June 3rd
Packard Summer Scamper 10K - June 23rd

Hot Hot Hot (Pink)

Run/Walk - 3.2 miles / 50 minutes

This week has been crazy but I was glad to finally get out for a good walk/run today.  The weather in San Fran has been quite warm recently.  I'm not sure exactly what the temp was when I headed out but I returned with a very red face (typical).  Today I tested my Garmin and the Nike+ app head-to-head to see which was more accurate/user friendly.  The Nike+ app seemed not quite as user friendly or as accurate as my Garmin.  The Garmin definitely got the distance right (and I verified with Gmap Pedometer).  Gmap Pedometer is a great tool if you weren't able to record your run and want to know your distance.  I will say that my Garmin has had a couple incidents when it hasn't worked (one of significant importance - NWM 13.1) but overall it seems to have come back to life.  I also purchased a new armband (incase Sports Armband Deluxe) today and tested that out as well.  I really liked the armband because it is easy to detach your iPhone from the band without taking it off.  Also, it is easy to put on which I had struggled with other armbands.  I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a new armband.  Overall it was a great walk/run (very very warm) and I was glad that I got in about half a mile of running (baby steps).  I was wearing another favorite Lulu outfit (Wunder Groove Crops in Black and the Tame Me Tank in Hot Pink).  I picked up the Tame Me Tank last Saturday as a reward for conquering Divis.  I didn't get a chance to walk Divis today but hopefully should make it into one of my workouts this week.  Take a look below for a quick photo shot (love GGB) from my workout and the rest of the week's workouts.

Monday - 30 minutes Stairmaster (the real one with stairs)
Tuesday - 40 minute Spin Class at BodyRok with my fav instructor Margo
Wednesday - 30 minute walk
Thursday - Kickball!
Friday - Off

Shoes Shoes Shoes (And Socks)

So one of my favorite things about working out is running shoes (and socks).  I just absolutely love them!  I have fallen in love with the Asics Kayanos.  I currently am sporting the Kayano 18.  I have loved Asics since I bought my first pair in college.  They are a great fit and extremely comfortable.  The Kayano is a structured cushioning shoe which is made for those who lean more towards being flat footed.  I love buying my shoes from either Fleet Feet or Road Runner Sports because they offer 30 day free trials which is great for trying out new shoes!  I would definitely recommend doing that.  I have tried out some New Balances and Sauconys that I didn't like and it was easy to bring them back (and get the love of my life Kayanos).  Also,  I ran my half marathon in my old Kayano 17s and my feet felt great even after 13.1 miles.  I do recommend having two pairs of shoes during training as it definitely helps splitting the miles between two pairs.    

I have also invested in a new Excel 33 from the new Asics' 33 Collection.  They are lighter shoes that more closely resemble the Nike Free line.  I use them mostly for walking to/from work and doing cross training at the gym.  They are definitely a different feel from my structured Kayanos.  

Last but not least....I have discovered Feetures! socks and I am in love.  I picked up a pair once at Fleet Feet and loved them.  I then found them at Sports Basement on sale and picked up a couple more pairs.  I am definitely partial to them and feel they provide a much better fit.  See below for a couple different types.  I am partial to the no show tab and have both the Ultra Light and Light Cushion versions.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Divis Up

4/14 Workout - 3.5 Miles/1 hr

I must say I'm feeling pretty good about exercise this week.  I was able to exercise (at least 30 minutes) everyday this week except for Thursday.  I purposefully took Thursday off after a pretty long day at work ( 7 - 7).  I must say that today was the most rewarding of my workouts.  It was my first day back outside since my half marathon last October.  The weather was on my side but technology was definitely not.  I brought out my Garmin Forerunner 405 from hibernation and charged it up thinking that I would use it during my walk.  I put on my cute Lulu outfit (Wunder Groove Crops-cross between the waist band of the groove crop and the regular wunder under crops & Define Jacket) and headed it out.  As soon as start walking I realize my watch is definitely not working.  I had brought along my iPhone so I downloaded the Strava app that I had heard about and tracked my walk on there. Technology crisis averted.  I walked along the Marina Green and said hello to my old friend Mr. Golden Gate Bridge.  I had really missed running/walking along the water and was glad to be back.  I wasn't the only one as the path was quite packed with runners/walkers/bikers.  While I was walking I decided I wanted to try walking Divisadero from Lombard to Broadway.  This is one of the steepest stretches in the city and I really wanted to prove I could do it.  The two pictures above are the view from the top and the bottom respectively.  I was quite possibly the best feeling to make it to the top and have a 360 view of San Francisco and the bay.  I then headed back down the hill (which is actually much more dangerous than walking up).  My new goal is to be able to run up Divis by May 19th when I start my half marathon training program!  On a separate note: my walking pace outside is faster than my treadmill walking pace.  Proof that exercising outside is better!

Other workouts from this week:
Wednesday - got creative and brought my running shoes to work so I could walk from work to the Vandy cooking event for a good 30 min walk
Thursday - took the night off
Friday - headed home early from from work and got in a 3-mile walk before dinner with a friend

Call Me Maybe

Yup.  I know I'm only a couple months behind but it is kind of awesome.  And great songs make going to the gym easier.

But seriously.  Workouts.

Monday - Treadmill.  So I wasn't feeling great Monday.  My body was giving me hints not to go to the gym but I was ignoring them.  I have been trying to walk on the treadmill before I get back into running so Monday was a walk on the treadmill day.  I was shooting for 3 miles but only made 30 minutes (about 1.5 miles).  My left leg (not the PT leg) was killing me!  I listened to my body (my PT Heather would be so proud).  I was disappointed for not finishing my work out but knew that I was doing the right thing.  I went home, took two advil, and iced my leg.  I'm learning that advil and ice are my new best friends and I should get to know them very well.

Tuesday - Spin Class.  I having going to a new workout studio that opened recently - BodyRok.  It is awesome and they have great spin classes and teachers.  I was racing home from work to try and make my 6:20 spin class.  Fail.  I got home at 6:10 (starving) and knew it was a 15 min walk plus 5 min to get ready and grab a snack.  The classes are only 40 minutes so I knew I would come in quite late and disturb everyone else.  I felt guilty (I had to pay for these classes) and I could have sat on my couch and watched some great shows from my DVR BUT I didn't.  I looked up the group fitness schedule from my local crunch and motivated myself to go to a 7:15 spin class.  I got there earlier to reserve a bike.  I hadn't had much luck with getting a bike at crunch before.  The class was great and pushed me which I needed after yesterday's depressing work out.

Now I need to find time over the next couple of days to exercise.  Like I mentioned I tend to overcommit. Tomorrow I have a cooking class from 6:30 - 9.  Thursday I have Kickball and Happy Hour.  Friday I am meeting up with a friend for drinks.  Saturday is SF Vintner's Market.  I am going to need some creativity to find ways to make it to the gym.  I'll let you know on Sunday how it goes!

Me

One of the reasons I started running in the first place was to get in shape.  My weight has always fluctuated and I wanted to get rid of those pounds for good.  I still find myself saying that same statement a year later.  Ever since graduating from college I have had trouble getting to the gym consistently.  Work runs late.  I'm tired.  I'm hungry.  The gym is closed.  The gym is boring.  These are all excuses I've used in the past three years to avoid working out.  I am picking 2012 as the year to get out of my funk for good.  I am picking this blog as the place to keep my honest about my workouts.  As I mentioned in my previous post I am working on coming back from a knee injury so I am working my way back into running.  I am ready to rock cute outfits and not freak out when I see myself in pictures.  Plus the cute Lululemon workout clothes are another good motivator!

Coming Back Stronger

2011 Goal - Run a Half Marathon.  Done.

One thing I didn't expect leading up to the race and during the race was the extreme knee pain I would experience.  I'm a busy person.  I over commit.  I don't like to say no.  These three statements lead to a disaster when attempting to train for a half marathon alone.  I was convinced that I didn't need a proper training program to learn to run.  Wrong.  Before 2011 I had never run more than 10 minutes consecutively.  I am the person they develop training programs for.  I've always wanted to be a runner so I put my mind to it and made it happen.  I also got a side of 4 months of Physical Therapy to go with it.  Lesson Learned.  Training Program Booked.  My target return to racing is the SF First Half Marathon at the end of July.  I am proud to say I will be training with Marathon Matt!