Overtraining? Naw!

Okay, WHAT a day for exercise! PHEW! hahaha

Started with an easy 5K around the track in the morning after class with Mi. I mean, easy as in, my personal goal this morning was just to get the stupid thing finished. We were not running very hard, my breathing was under control (which NEVER happens) so I KNEW we were going SUPER SUPER slow.

Then we finished it. In 29:20!! YUP, that's right! We shaved 38 seconds off from last week - INSANE! And I didn't even notice we were doing it!! That drill sergeant of mine is TRICKY....hahaha BOOM, baby! 29:20!! Oh yeah, I'll take it!!

THEN I came home. A couple of times, actually, but one time I came home and got to work outside getting rid of the snow in front of the house the plow had left so I couldn't park my car where I always park it. SO we ran the fastest 5K known to man (hahahahahahaha riiiiiiiiiight) this morning and I shoveled for 40 minutes this afternoon... BOY I was pooped.

WAIT, that's not enough for one day! NOOOOOOOoooooo.... I had SOCCER tonight!! GAH!

Thankfully we had no goalie sooooo The Gazelle started in net and quickly switched out for....yours truly! I'm not nearly as bad as I remember being, but goal is far from being my strength. I let two in. OH well.

And now, movement is done. I'm going to bed. :)

Killing Time

I think I found the time - it's right HERE!! Here while I wait for my class to start in 25 minutes....

This morning I actually got up and ran on Optimus Prime. It was fantastic. I put 'Enchanted' in my computer, plugged in the speakers, and went for a good 5K. Well, a bit of a wimpy 5K, but Optimus Prime and I are still getting used to each other. AND I hadn't had breakfast - not really sure how to get that one all sorted out... anyway.

OH, and some AWESOME news: I had an academic advising appointment today and found out that not ONLY can I graduate next spring, as in, I only have a year left, BUT I only have 4 credits left to get, which MEANS in one year without taking any summer classes and taking a lighter course-load than I've had this year I can GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, yeah. So that's fantastic. :)

AND here's something fun to kill some MORE time (I stole it from PosseRae's blog...THANKS my friend!)

ONE WORD ANSWERS
1. Where is your phone? Bag
2. Where is your significant other? Work
3.Your hair color? Skunked
4. Your Mother? Gorgeous
5. Your Father? Hilarious
6. Your favorite thing? Little Miss
7. Your dream last night? Probing (HA!!!)
8. Your dream/goal? Retirement....
9. The room you're in? Lecture
10. Your hobby? athletics
11. Your fear? prodding
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Progressing
13. Where were you last night? Sleeping
14. What you're not? Simple
15. One of your wish-list items? Moving
16. Where you grew up? Haven't ;)
17. The last thing you ate? Cereal-bar
18. What are you wearing? Black
19. Your TV? relaxing
20. Your pet? psychotic
21. Your computer? lifeline
22. Your mood? fantastic
23. Missing someone? Always
24. Your car? Freeing
25. Something you're not wearing? Watch
26. Favorite store? Smart Set
27. Your Summer? Inside
28. Love someone? Fervently
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When was the last time you laughed? Constantly
31. Last time you cried? Overwhelming
32. Something you crave? Lunch!
33. Why you blog? motivation

Where does the time go?

Okay okay, so the treadmill's up, it's amazing, it's beautiful, it looks like Optimus Prime moved into my office, and I LOVE it.

I've been meaning to take the set-up picture all week and write about my first run and my latest LOWEST WEIGHT ON RECORD ;) BUT where is the TIME?! I can't believe how much time just seems to have FLOWN by this week! WOW!

Anyway, we got the treadmill set up, it's HUGE, but not nearly as huge as the box. It fits in the office, but now the office doesn't fit in the office so well, so we have to work on that. ;) BUT it's fantastic and I love it. It's so pretty!! I ran on it on Friday. Haven't again since 'cause it was a super-super-super busy weekend, BUT hopefully this week will be better.

I just thought I'd let you know that I'm still here and still trying to stay accountable to you.

OH, and that when I weighed myself on WiiFit....the other day.... Thursday, maybe? I forget.... ANYWAY, I was 166.0lbs, which means I'm rid of ALL the Christmas-break weight PLUS an additional .2 lbs, which I will definitely accept. AND 5.5 down since starting ShopGirl's Challenge.

AND on Thursday night at soccer (go CHIMPS!) I ended up playing like, the whole game (at least it felt like it) up in midfield/forward and I scored another goal. Felt good. :)

Okay, that's enough nothing for today. Ciao!

Delivery Day

It's HEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Under 30

HI hi hi!!

OHMIGOSH I'm SO exhausted today!! BUT I had to get on to tell you - thanks wholly to Mi's evil-twin the Drill Sargent we finally pushed and got my 5K time UNDER 30 MINUTES!! WOOHOO!!! hahaha

Okay, so this is probably not too huge a deal. I've been running for a few months now and have been able to complete the 5K with relative ease for most of those few months having not started from sedentary blah blah blah. BUT over Christmas I DIDN'T run, with that ridiculous cold AND getting back INTO things I haven't RUN 5K yet since, well, whenever I did it last before Christmas. Just timing and whatever has always been off, so I've been more a 30-minute workouter including my warm-up. SOOOOOOOOoooo I finished my FIRST 5K of 2009 and it was my fastest EVER.

I guess I should tell you how 'fast' we did it, eh? I'm just not sure if your minds can handle such an incredible accomplishment.... ;)

Okay, okay. I'll tell you. Ready? 29:58!!

HAHAHA YUP! That's right! I did it in TWO SECONDS short of 30 minutes! BOOM BABY! Hey now, two seconds is HUGE at the Olympics.....

Anyway, then after the run from h*ll (I reeeeeeeaaaaaaally had a hard time staying motivated to push through to the end - my legs started out feeling like lead, my breathing wanted to just STOP after about 3K - it took all my concentration to keep going - if I was concentrating on running I was hyperventilating - if I was concentrating on breathing I was losing speed....) we went for a swim. It was pretty wimpy, I'll admit, but having just run 5K I don't think I was expecting anything else! Anyway, swam a few laps, gave Mi some pointers and/or encouragement (read: made fun of Mi, who is NOT better at me in swimming - I'm revelling in this fact! hahaha I hope you still love me, darlin'!)

So yeah, between all the running and swimming and then all my classes today (I'm on campus from 10-6:30 on Tuesdays, thankfully not always IN class which is where the time for the workouts comes in!!) and then an hour or so of Little Miss, I'm POOPED!!

Learning some fascinating stuff about exercise intensity, overload, and training effect, actually, so when I've less activity to report on and I'm feeling like tapping into my head I'll hopefully write about it - it's definitely good to know!! :)

Bring it on, Fates! I'm still here!

So I've decided that when I tempt the fates with one of my posts i.e. my last one, they ALL descend upon me and just have at it! HOLY COW!! WHAT a second week of the semester!! Mr. Man asked me this past week if life is ever going to let up - we could really use a break. Like a real break. Not like Christmas break, which we'd been counting on, with illness and broken-down-vehicles and no time to rest, but a REAL break.

Anyway, if I'd found the time I was desperately searching for during the week to write here I'd have entertained you all with the latest tales of our woes, BUT it's another new week, we're STILL HERE (HA! Take THAT oh-conspiring-ones! That's right, you're going to have to BRING IT ON to beat US!), amazingly, still together, still in love, still enamoured with Little Miss, still in business, still FIGHTING!!

I find myself repeating over and over Blue Belle's mantra: 'I can do hard things!'

SO, HERE, finally are my SMART goals (SMART: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, with a Time limit) for the semester as completed for my 'Training Principles' class:

Cardiorespiratory Endurance
By the end of the semester I aim to be able to run 5K in 26 minutes. Current time 30-31 minutes. Would also like to train to be able to run 10K in one session. (This is prep for 5K race in Mississauga in May)
Will run more regularly (3-4 times per week) adjusting speed and incline of treadmill accordingly, to increase.

Muscular Strength
By the end of the semester I aim to be able to do one one-armed push-up. Currently not able to fully complete any.
Will work on two-armed pushups working toward single armed push-ups 2-3 times per week including holding myself up with one hand in plank position, working towards ability to flex and extend elbow while holding body in plank position. Will also regularly practice yoga and pilates to aid completion of goal.

Muscular Endurance
By the end of the semester I aim to be able to do (at least) 50 push-ups in a row. Currently able to do: 16
As with Muscular Strength goal will work on push-ups and one-armed push ups, and regularly practice yoga and pilates to help.

Flexibility
By the end of the semester I aim to be able to sit and reach the heel of my hands to my toes. Currently able to reach mid-fingers to toes.
Will 3 times a week practice yoga and pilates to encourage increased mobility and flexibility in joints, including pilates and yoga poses that target reaching hands to & past feet.

Body Composition
By the end of the semester I aim to have lost the rest of my pregnancy “fluff”. Will aim to lose 10 pounds but main measure will be pant-size (may not actually lose weight if muscle mass increases); will fit size 8.
Will accomplish this by working on above-listed goals and adjusting diet to reduce fast-food and dessert intake.

Okay, got it? THOSE are the goals. That's what we're working for this semester. Keep checking - I'll be posting about my progress!!

At SOME point last week...I forget when, I WiiFitted myself for:
Weight: 168lbs
BMI: 27...I think just 27. I'd have to double-check and/or do the math and I don't wanna do the math right now. ;)

Commence Week 2

Okay, so the house is better. Yesterday Mr. Man and I called in reinforcements (Dad and Bravo) and we went berserk. We completely revamped our living room and office, cleaned the kitchen, tidied everywhere....it was WONDERFUL. There's still work to be done (especially when my treadmill comes! BUT we've planned it's home, so YAY!) because it was SO bad, we need much more than a day to get on top of everything, but this should be manageable. And the hope was to make it MORE manageable i.e. I got rid of the area rug in my living room because I can't sweep it and it's a much bigger hassle to get the vacuum from the basement to get rid of the dirt than to run a broom through the area and I'm all about hassle-free!!

I did NOT specifically work out yesterday because I spent the day cleaning. Heavy lifting, constant moving....broke a sweat but didn't really raise the heart rate noticeably. Anyway, as PosseRae pointed out cleaning is exercise so BOO-yah!!

THIS week I'm hoping to get better into the swing of the new semester. I do have two classes for which exercises and logs etc. are mandatory (yay Kinesiology!) so that should help keep me going, and ShopGirl's challenge. Anyway, by FRIDAY I should have completed my SMART goals for my Training Principles class: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-limit, and have my log started sooo I'll get that stuff posted ASAP so we actually know what we're looking for this semester!!

In the meantime, a huge shout-out to Roo, who's also jumped on our exercise-blogging-training bandwagon! So let's DO this thing, shall we all???

If cleanliness is next to Godliness...

...then I must be the devil incarnate!!

GEEEEEEZE!!!

Okay, so MYSELF, I'M clean. Like, I showered today and I even used soap!! PROMISE!! But my HOUSE?? TOTALLY different story. Not only is this thing untidy but underneath all the clutter I'm CERTAIN is dirt. There must be. Because I haven't been able to rummage through the clutter well enough to CLEAN the dirt in...well, I don't think I'll admit to you how long. hahaha

WHY is this relevant?? I want to to some yogilates tonight - Little Miss is in bed, Mr. Man's on his way home from work and we have a stay-at-home-and-play-a-game date, and I figure, HEY what the heck? I'm in a weight-loss challenge and seriously seriously need to get back with the yogilates to complement my awesome running, why not? THEN I look in what used to be my living room, where I usually DO the yogilates. Yeah. Not going to happen. Like not a chance in h*ll, which is apparently where I reside.

I have been TIDYING and CLEANING all week and I CANNOT get on top of this. Driving me NUTS. It's Mr. Man's birthday on Monday and at the moment I think the plan is for all my in-laws to descend upon us Sunday to partay - where the heck am I going to put them? Currently they won't be able to get in the door, let alone sit down somewhere!!

SOOOOOOO no yogilates tonight. I'm going BACK to my cleaning. Maybe in a few days you'll actually be able to tell that I've cleaned something....
_______________________________
AND on a TOTALLY different note:

You have GOT to go check out this FANTASTIC new blog by MrsSuzyQ a.k.a. The Treadmill Goddess. I was absolutely riveted. Give it a read and let's give her our support!! KUDOS, MrsSuzyQ; I'll be checking up on you!

Back on TRACK

hahaha I'm all about the puns tonight - I just left the best comment on a blog. ;) hahaha Then with the TITLE.... MAN I'm killer! ;)

Okay, okay. So I'm here to report on the run today and share some fun, um, news, I guess.

Today I ran wearing THE SHOES! (Angels: aaaaahhhhhhhh!) It was fantastic. Actually, it felt weird, and probably how it should have been feeling all along! hahaha They're SO comfortable!! I was sad to take them off and put my boots back on. It's like running in SOCKS but without the jarring impact of stocking feet on hard ground.... ShopGirl, if these babies fit you as magically as they fit me, they're AMAZING!!

Now, I didn't run ALL Christmas break due to the cold, okay? And though I'm all better there's still like, the post-cold disgustingness goobering around. I actually choked on it today, but that's another, yes, very gag-inducing story. ;) AND Mi, whose excuse I did NOT get (lazy? what? TEASING, darling!) didn't run over her break EITHER, so when we met up today we were quite the pair! hahaha I'm 'running' SUPER slow to ease back in, she's arguing with me that running at that speed is using up more energy than if we were going faster and using momentum and all whatever blah blah blah (I hate it when we use our Kin smarts against each other...)and all the while we're arguing (obviously running our fastest if I have all that excess air to argue with...and actually sing along to Michael Buble, which I also did....). THEN Mi's knee started bugging her with her tight, unused-over-the-break IT band rubbing uncomfortably, so we stopped so she could stretch. Then we kept running. Then we stopped again 'cause I was whining (I'm SO good at whining) and Mi's knee was bugging her again. Then we walked a lap, ran a lap, walked a lap, ran a lap. We finished running the last two laps, did our 5K. And I'm pretty sure we didn't start the walk-run thing 'till after at least the first 3 were done. SOOOOOoo yeah. We're easing back into it. Give my lungs the week to get used to it again. ;)

And FINALLY, today, I've accepted ShopGirl's Challenge to drop that (silly, bad measure) BMI down. Furthest down by March 31 gets sushi lunch. Except ShopGirl etc. lives in Senior's City and, well, I don't. hahaha I'm fighting for bragging rights and smaller pants! SO, I'll keep you updated on my stats, at least, and at the end of March tell you who the big winner is - ShopGirl, Spart, TooKool, or YOURS TRULY!

TODAY: (the challenge starting point - thank goodness I was sick and put weight on over Christmas! hahaha)
Weight: 171.5lbs (that's up 5.3 since last time I weighed myself - yikes!! No WONDER I feel like a whale!!)
BMI: 27.57

Happy New Year

Hi there!

I haven't blogged because I haven't exercised. I still haven't, but figured I should let you know what's up. :)

I'm just now, finally, getting this stupid cold up and out of my chest, so should be able to get back at it hopefully this week. Now, of course, because I've put that out into space the rumbly remnants of this stupid cold will hang on forever... I had every intention of running over the Christmas break, buuuuuuuuut.... there we have it.

I would, though I haven't worked out yet (don't worry, I will. It's actually REQUIRED in two of my classes this semester: 'Training Principles', and 'Functional Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription' - I'm REALLY looking forward to these classes!!) like to FINALLY give you the rest of the low-down on my super-amazing-awesome Christmas presents!!

FIRST off, I got a gift certificate for a fantastic little runner's shop, where I quickly went to procure a new pair of SHOES!!


Asics GEL-CUMULUS 10

Remember how I had an inkling my runners were a bit too big and the beautiful blisters I managed to give myself?? Yeah, they were SO too big. AMAZING I was previously that inept at running-shoe buying. I can't stress ENOUGH the importance (and absolute PLEASURE) of having a pair of shoes that fits you properly (AHEM Blue Belle!).

SO with the stinking cold I had the whole break (which really just between yesterday and today has seemed to FINALLY vanish) I haven't run with them yet but I've worn them ALL over my mom's house for days on end, and can't wait to hit the track with them tomorrow (right, Mi??) It's going to be like running on clouds....

Okay okay okay, and I know I mentioned my incredibly-awesome-way-too-generous present from Santa and the conspirators (Mom and Mr. Man) - MY TREADMILL!! So after days and days of research, in-store testing, exhaustive questioning of sales staff bargain hunting and finally indecisiveness I was able to narrow my search to two machines. hahaha I could NOT decide from that point, to Mom made the final, executive decision, being the gift-giver, and I am getting....(drum roll, please....)

NordicTrack Elite zi

I'm super stoked. It's got a 3.0 chp motor, 60inch long belt, adjustable cushioning that reduces impact up to 33% as compared to road-running AND is the machine that a relatively negative-on-NordicTrack site reviews as being NordicTrack's best, and ticket back into the treadmill game. AND it's on SALE! hahaha

I won't have it for a while, though, because I hemmed and hawed so long that we didn't get it ordered before Mom left for vacation to Florida , but the plan is to order it pronto when she gets back next week. I'm sure I'll have tonnes to report when I do get it, so be as super excited as I am. :)

If you ever have an inkling to shop for a treadmill, do yourself a HUGE favour and do some research!! In most cases we found sales staff COMPLETELY useless and unhelpful. My decisions were based on going to the stores, seeing the models, the prices, picking what I liked, going home and checking out every review site I could possibly find and comparing them with the manufacturer's claims and on and on and on. By the end of the process I was helping other people in the stores maneuver around the useless sales staff.... So be careful - it's a big purchase and you want a machine that's going to do what you want it to without breaking down a few months in.

Hopefully I go for a run tomorrow on the track at school. Check back and make sure I do, will ya'? ;)