The Times They Are A Changing...

Wow. Ok, so basically an entire month has passed-by with out an update (bad blogger!).

Life here has been experiencing so many ups and downs lately... About three weeks ago the "blahs" came to visit and settled in for a while and they didn't come empty handed! They brought with them some really bad eating habits and that nasty cough/cold thing that's been visiting folks all winter long. I was surprised at just how easy it was to fall into all of those bad food habits again, and the result was about 6 pounds! So, how exactly do you get rid of un-wanted guests that seem so persistent to stay put -- apparently the answer is persistence in return! I managed to maintain my workout during their visit and figured if I'd ignore them for a while they would go away...I even went so far as to leaving the country for a nice relaxing weekend up North. So as of today, the "blahs" have appeared to have vacated my premises (I think I've discovered that planning to run 8 miles in one day, for the first time ever in my life was enough to make those "blahs" head for the hills!!).

With the impending work "take-over" just 66 business days away, I am sure the "blahs" will be looming looking for a place to come in and claim squatters-rights or something. But, with every door that closes another will open... (and if anyone stumbling across this blog is looking for, or knows someone looking for an Accountant drop me an email...I'm just sayin'). I've never been one to look forward to changes but on a clearer day, like today, I can look back at all that has changed for me and with me in the past year and I can say that sometimes a change is just what we need!

As for working out and running... My big goal that I set for myself for this year, in spite of all the foot and back issues, was to run the half-marathon in LasVegas in December. So slowly I have been allowed to increase the length of time I've been running and I've been making progress. Then, about three weeks ago Trainer-Steve pulled out a half-marathon training schedule and declared to me that based on where I was at with my running times that I could pick up the training and start following the 8-week schedule starting at about week 3. Hmmmm...I hadn't seen that one coming...at all! He also informed me that all was on track still for me to run the "Bridges..." 5k that I've been hoping to run on March 29th. Yeah.

So here's a breakdown of what's been going on for the past three weeks...

Week of 03/02 - 03/08
41.71 miles - 24.43 on elliptical and 17.28 running on treadmill

Week of 03/09 - 03/15
42.95 miles - 16.84 on elliptical and 26.11 running
my run on 03/15 was a 5 miler outside - this was my first outside run since the 5k I ran in November and messed up my feet. It felt good to be outside, but boy-oh-boy was it tougher than running on the treadmill. This was also the first time I've run 5 miles since about October!! It was a good day! This is also the week that I started to follow the half-marathon training schedule.

Week of 03/16 - 03/22
24.86 miles - 7.96 on elliptical 16.90 running
this is the week that the cold kicked my butt, followed by a nice relaxing weekend in Canada - I had honestly planned on working out that weekend but it just didn't happen.

Week of 03/23 - 03/29
45.81 miles - 13.59 on elliptical and 32.22 running
ok this was an AWESOME week for me! I was a little off the training schedule from the previous week but was back on track by mid-week. I ran my 5k on the 29th with a finishing time of 32:58, which isn't so bad considering I've been running on the treadmill at a 12 minute pace and it was pretty darn windy outside and there were those two bridges to cross... After finishing the race, my foot and back were on the verge of protesting so I chilled out for a bit, watched everyone get their awards and then headed off to the gym to run the additional 5 miles that I needed for the day in order to hit the scheduled 8 miles for the day. Trainer-Steve came into the gym (on his off-day mind you) to stretch me out.

So there ya have it. All up to date now. And today, the foot is a little sore, but nothing I'm really concerned about and the back is feeling great. The schedule has me listed for 10 miles this Sunday and then technically being able to run the 13.1 half marathon distance the following week! I'm still a little uncertain about this, after all the 8 miles I did yesterday was not consistent...but I'm going to do what I can. And then there was this crazy thought that entered my mind....The Hermes 10-miler is coming up in about four weeks.... hmmmm....

Ah yes, the times...they are a changing....

Finding Peace...

So another week has come and gone and although there were a few days of warmth and a few glimpses of sunshine...it is still cold and it is still winter in Cleveland. And somehow, I am still amazed at the fact that it is cold and wintry, you think after 41 years I'd know better, you think we'd all know better and yet at this time of year, each and every year we all dream on warm and sunny days, when the breeze off the lake is refreshing.

Since I've embarked on this journey of health and running, I have been also unknowingly at the onset, embarked on a journey or self-awareness. It has been a wonderful process and much like my running it has had it's ups and downs, its good days and its not as good days. But overall...all is much improved, I feel lighter on my feet and I am learning to enjoy the scenery!

I got to run on 4 occasions this week; Wednesday for 35 minutes, Thursday for 40 minutes, Saturday for 10 minutes and Sunday for 40 minutes. Although I am still running at a 12-min pace, running lately has been like a walk in the park. I am not struggling at all. The running feels easy and is relaxed and I have had no problems with my breathing. I have always looked forward to running but running longer periods of time always worried me, mostly because of my struggled breathing...but now, bring it on! My long term goal (presuming I have a job and the cash and all that jazz) is to run in the LasVegas Marathon in December, well not the marathon distance but the half marathon distance. I know I get frustrated with my slow pace, but the mystical/magical/all-knowing Trainer-Steve insists on me getting my endurance set...my goal is to complete the race, not to break records. So for now, I'm at peace with running my 12-minute miles. Which also means...now that I am up to running for 40 minutes, I am running just over a 5k distance (yeah), which also means I am literally a few steps closer to running the Bridges to Recovery 5k on March 29th!

The week all summed up:
2/23 - M - 6.00 miles elliptical
2/24 - T - 3.58 miles elliptical
2/25 - W - 5.04 miles treadmill (run 35 minutes, just shy of 3 miles) - 1 hr training with Steve
2/26 - T - 4.34 miles treadmill (run 40 minutes, just over 3.3 miles)
2/27 - F - 8.88 miles elliptical (0.66 miles warm-up on treadmill)
2/28 - S - 10.18 miles elliptical (1.90 miles on treadmill, run 10 minutes) - 1 hr training with Steve
3/01 - S - 6.04 miles treadmill (run 40 minutes)
TOTALS 44.06 miles - 6:20:17 - 4,065 calories burned on cardio

February ended on some positive notes and although I may be in a funk today...I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for March.

Now, separate from all my running, training junk I want to give another shout out to G. I am truly inspired by his dedication to a sport and to doing his best and giving it his all! G is playing in three hockey leagues. On his west side league he was voted in to play in the All-Star game this past weekend at the "Q" and although his line didn't give him much to work with and he didn't get any points it was still AWESOME to see him out there on the "big ice". On one of his east side leagues, his team made it to the playoffs but didn't get past the 2nd round, however during that last game they didn't manage to hold on to the lead they had...but they did push the first place team to a double overtime followed by a shoot out. And on his "other" east side league, his team is in first place AND he is the top scorer for the league, and it's playoff time there now. Way to go G! And thanks for letting me a part of the ride...-