Say Goodbye to Outside Runs

This morning it was a gorgeous and sunny 56 degrees when I went for my run. Ran a different loop, west of campus, trying to avoid stoplights and people. While it was more hilly than I usually do, I liked it better than the loop around campus. Took me 31 minutes and 36 seconds to run 2.37 miles, which equals a 13:20 pace. Consistency is my middle name.

This could be the last time I enjoy running outside, since it is supposed to be in the 30s and snowing by Wednesday. Goodbye, Fall. Hello, Winter.

Last day of Pushup Challenge

Today is day 30 of my 100 pushup/day challenge. Remember a few posts ago when I pondered trying to do 50 pushups in a row on my last day? Well, at the gym this morning I went for it and BAM, 50 straight! (albeit on my knees, it still counts!)

I don't think there has been too much change in the appearance of my arms (sad face), but I definitely got stronger. I'll take measurements tomorrow or something to see, but it's doubtful. Just wanted to post my 50 pushups victory. Only 36 more to go today until it's DONE.

Quick Update

Supposed to weigh in this morning, but my scale battery was on the fritz. Hoping to buy a new one and weigh in tomorrow or something. I made a new goal: 190 lbs by Oct 27 (7 days from today) when Robbie comes. Not looking so good, but we'll see. One can hope anyways.

Also, ran 2.25 miles yesterday on the treadmill. Wasn't exactly easy or relaxing, but I did it.

That's it. Busy day. Just ate a Honey Grain bagel with Pumpkin Cream Cheese. OOPS.

The Results Are In

The title says it all: the results from the Fit 4 Fire 5K race are in. Official time was 41:19 minutes. Avg pace was exactly 13:20 minutes/mile. Damn. 21/29 in age division. 118/155 total.

Overall, I'm happy with the results. I shaved some off my total time and ran the whole thing. [x] There are also some pretty sweet pictures they snuck of me while I was running. A lot less attractive than the one Kirsten snapped at the finish line...

9AM: Start of the race...

9:41 AM: Approaching the finish line...
9:41AM again: Dead sprint towards the finish line...
I'm such an unattractive runner. LORD. Oh well.

This is What I've Been Training For

I RAN AN ENTIRE 5K WITHOUT STOPPING! Hallelujah. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't awful. I was prepared to run the path in Wash Park, but the road was a little steeper and a little harder than the dirt path. Regardless, I wasn't last. I sprinted across the finish line to have a time around 41:30 minutes (unofficially). And it felt goooooood. I was just reminiscing about the first 5K I did back in October of last year and how AWFUL I felt during/after. I think I only ran about half of it, and finished thinking I was going to die. Oh how far I've come!

Anyways, enough patting myself on the back. Time to shower, eat and get back to this paper writing! :) happy Sunday!

Oh, and GO PACKERS!

Thursday Weigh In

Since I didn't weigh myself last week, I'm assuming this is a accumulation of weight loss from the last two weeks. This morning the scale said 191.8lbs. Down 2 lbs. Total of 16 lbs since starting MFP, which is 4 ounces from being halfway to my goal. Woot!

Weight=191.8 lbs; Body Fat=26.51% (Acceptable); BMI=27.52 (Overweight)

Run, Run, Runaway Run

Maybe someday I will find someone to run, run, runawaaay. Maybe someday, maybe someday. (Yes, I just quoted a Hanson song.)

Well, today was my last run before my 5K on Sunday. I was going to run inside on the treadmill and do some "speed" training, but it was so nice outside that I couldn't help myself. I just did the loop around campus, which is about 2.11 miles. Last time, I ran this loop in 27:21 minutes; today I finished the loop in 26:48 minutes. My pace was 12.7 minute/mile. Granted I ran the loop the opposite direction than last time, but honestly, I think this direction was harder.

Regardless, it felt good to run, and I'm still confident that as long as I keep my slow pace during the race, I'll run the whole thing no problem. :)

I'M GOING TO PUMP *clap* YOU UP!

If anyone knows what my title is from, we will be friends forever. I picture it EVERY TIME I talk about pumping iron. Hah. I thought since I was over the halfway point of my 100 pushups challenge, I would briefly update my progress.

I haven't measured or taken any pictures since I started, BUT I've noticed a stamina difference. First, let's clarify that I'm only doing knee pushups...not real ones. When I first started the challenge, I had to break them up into 5 sets of 20, and the last set was usually a struggle to finish. Then I was doing 4 sets of 25. Then I missed a few days and was doing over 150 a day. (Oops) But for the past two days, I've done 3 sets of 30 and then a last set of 10. BOOM.

You know what would be awesome? Being able to do 50 in a row. I'm thinking maybe on my last day, I'll try that and see what happens. And who knows, maybe after these 30 days I'll be able to do a real pushup...? All right, that might be unrealistic. Ha.

GO PACKERS!

FALL IS HERE!

As you may have noticed, I didn't make a post yesterday about my Thursday weigh-in. These past few days have been HOT MESSES. I had my first huge media law exam, so we studied and drank wine/ate pizza the night before. Then, something messed up my back that night so I didn't sleep well, and I couldn't exercise. Then we went out AFTER the exam to celebrate surviving. Basically, I haven't exercised in two days AND I've been over on my calories for the past three days. Everyone wave with me as the wagon drives away. *waves*

But this morning, I knew it was time to step it back up. Got up at 7am and went for a run in the brisk, chilly 42 degree air at Wash Park. It was a little TOO cold at first, but once I got going, it was perfect. Unfortunately they are doing a lot of construction on the park's paths, so I had no idea how far I had actually run until I came home and mapped it.Turns out I ran 3.36 miles instead of the 3.1 I was aiming for, but that gives me hope in the 5K I'm running at Wash Park in a week. It took me 45 minutes and 30 seconds, which is a pretty slow pace of 13:50/mile. Now I KNOW I can run the whole 5K, no problem, but now it's the matter of keeping my own pace--I always have the issue of speeding up when others are running around me to keep up. BAD IDEA. We'll see.

And today I promise to be UNDER CALORIES! Well.....at least until tonight when I drink wine. Oops. :)

So I'm Feeling a Little Cocky

Maybe I should say confident. After my completion of a 5k in the gym this weekend, I decided to sign up for a real 5K in two weeks: Fit for Fire 5K in Wash Park on October 16th. It will be my 4th 5K, but I'm hoping that it's the first one that I run all the way through.

The first one was in October 2010 in Erie, CO. It was rough since I had JUST moved to CO and was still adjusting the to lack of oxygen and I had JUST started running and there were fires that made the air all ashy (okay, that last one might just be an excuse...). I have no idea how much I actually ended up running but I had my friend with me so she definitely pushed me farther than I would have pushed myself. Official time: 39:13 (technically it was only 2.8 miles) for a avg pace of 14:01/mile. I finished 387/490.

The second one was the Turkey Trot back home in Indiana on Thanksgiving morning. I ran it with another friend, though we were both kind of not super into running at the time. It was cold and rainy and not so fun. Regardless, I tried to run as much as I could; I ran the last half mile faster than normal since my dad doubled back through the course to catch up with me. Suddenly, I had the urge to impress. Official time: 42:57 for a avg pace of 13:50/mile. Better. 765/796. Wow.

The third one was "That Dam Run" which ran through Cherry Creek and over the dam. I ran the 5K while my friend ran the half-marathon. I was definitely more prepared for this one (March 2011), but it was the first one I ran alone. I ran the first mile straight, then broke the rest up into walking/running intervals. Official time: 42:44 for avg pace of 13:47/mile. Better. 401/441. I swear I must be the last "runner" to finish and the rest are walkers.

For this next one, I don't care about my time. I just want to run the whole thing. Even if I'm shuffling the last half mile, as long as I'm not walking, I'll be happy. My plan is to keep my current schedule: run Wednesdays and Sundays, hoping to run another 5K on the treadmill next weekend....

Pray for me. Ha.

Run a 5K straight: Check

FINALLY. After a year of training myself to not only run, but run in elevation after living at 500 ft above sea level for 22 years, I RAN AN ENTIRE 5K WITHOUT STOPPING. Granted, it was on a treadmille and it was at a very slow pace, but DAMNIT I DID IT. I ran into a friend at the gym yesterday who is doing Race for the Cure tomorrow, and she ran 3.2 miles on the treadmill to "whip herself back into shape." That was it. I knew I was capable of running 3.1 miles so I set out to do it.

Walk 1 minute (0.05 miles) at 3mph
Jog 41:40 minutes (3.1 miles) at 4.5 mph
Walk 7:20 minutes (0.37 miles) at 3mph

Now it's time to shower, make dinner, and relax for a bit before hitting the books again. Ugh.