Tuesday, October 13, 2009
It's Like Fall In Your Belly
There is no better feeling after working out than a strong autumn wind on your face, seeing little kids gleefully get out of school, and then coming home to a pumpkin-candle-scented apartment and eating granola.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Scary-thon
Today marks the beginning of Week 4 of the training plan (only 13 weeks to go--yikes!), and this is where it starts getting harder.
Not to say that the weeks leading up to this haven't been somewhat hard, but this is where I'll really have to start pushing myself, as the mileage begins to increase significantly. I also need to be more careful about what I'm eating and drink a whole lot more water each day. I over-carbed yesterday and whoa, was I tired when I woke up this morning.
I'm not going to lie, when I think about the task the lies ahead, I get pretty scared. Even though my mind has yet to wrap around the fact that this is 26.2 miles that I will be running, I'm still (obviously) aware of the craziness that is a marathon. Eee.
Eeeeee.
Eeeeeeeee.
I also need to be really careful about not getting injured at work. Running a few miles and then being on my feet for nearly 9 hours does not a happy Holly make; I have also (in the past) hurt my heels and ankles at work, due to some precarious wooden steps.
I also may or may not have slipped and fallen on my butt a few times. But, never you mind.
I also should stop writing "also" so much. It's beginning to look strange.
But, regardless, I just need to really be careful: to stretch more, to allow more time, to be better to myself, because now is where the real challenge begins.
Eee.
Not to say that the weeks leading up to this haven't been somewhat hard, but this is where I'll really have to start pushing myself, as the mileage begins to increase significantly. I also need to be more careful about what I'm eating and drink a whole lot more water each day. I over-carbed yesterday and whoa, was I tired when I woke up this morning.
I'm not going to lie, when I think about the task the lies ahead, I get pretty scared. Even though my mind has yet to wrap around the fact that this is 26.2 miles that I will be running, I'm still (obviously) aware of the craziness that is a marathon. Eee.
Eeeeee.
Eeeeeeeee.
I also need to be really careful about not getting injured at work. Running a few miles and then being on my feet for nearly 9 hours does not a happy Holly make; I have also (in the past) hurt my heels and ankles at work, due to some precarious wooden steps.
I also may or may not have slipped and fallen on my butt a few times. But, never you mind.
I also should stop writing "also" so much. It's beginning to look strange.
But, regardless, I just need to really be careful: to stretch more, to allow more time, to be better to myself, because now is where the real challenge begins.
Eee.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Some Observations
1) I pushed my power walk pace to 14:15 and my running pace to 11:30 without getting totally exhausted, and feel even better about the possibility of me not passing out during the marathon!
Dos) I met yet another person who has run a marathon (the one in Chicago). It's really encouraging to know that, even though a marathon is still a huge feat of strength and a major undertaking, regular people do it and survive!
C) I am beginning to see muscle definition in my chubby calves--hooray!
IV) I have been trying out different foods to eat before I run (since I don't usually like to eat before working out). I've done yogurt and granola and will soon be trying bananas with peanut butter.
Five) I love my running tights so much--they reduce jiggle like nobody's business.
J-E-L-L-O-No-mo(re).
Dos) I met yet another person who has run a marathon (the one in Chicago). It's really encouraging to know that, even though a marathon is still a huge feat of strength and a major undertaking, regular people do it and survive!
C) I am beginning to see muscle definition in my chubby calves--hooray!
IV) I have been trying out different foods to eat before I run (since I don't usually like to eat before working out). I've done yogurt and granola and will soon be trying bananas with peanut butter.
Five) I love my running tights so much--they reduce jiggle like nobody's business.
J-E-L-L-O-No-mo(re).
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I Am Not Made of Iron, But I'm Still Awesome
Hello, gentle readers--I'm still alive, uninjured, and I haven't given up!
I am merely a busy (read: exhausted) bee, but I will honestly try to update more frequently (every other day at the minimum), so that I stay focused :) And plus, it's fun!
Anyway: My workouts have been going well lately. I am still unable to run the entire time, but I'm pretty consistent with power walk 3 minutes, jog/run 2 minutes. It seems that the first minute of running is always the hardest; after that, my lungs begin to adjust and it gets easier.
By the way (and bear with me because this sounds unrelated, but it is), in our apartment, we don't pay for cable, so we get the basic channels (ABC, NBC, etc). One of the channels we get--along with Telemundo!--is NBC Universal Sports, which often does replays of the Olympics, marathons, and more.
So tonight, after coming home from a very successful outing in Manhattan (I finally bought "Dirty Dancing"--score!), I sat down and turned on the telly. UniSports (as I shall call it--man, I am abusing parentheses tonight) was replaying the IronMan competition from Summer 2009 and--can I just say--WOW.
I mean, I know a marathon is intense (and therefore, yay me), but a marathon plus a 2.3 mile swim, plus 112 mile bike race? Holy muscle cramp, Batman. I got tired just reading that sentence. Blergh.
Being aware of how ridiculously tough IronMan is makes the marathon look easy-peasy! And hey, if you've never seen any clips of IronMan, here you go: Anything Is Possible.
Iron is an understatement: these people are made of GOLD (and maybe one day, I will be, too.)
I am merely a busy (read: exhausted) bee, but I will honestly try to update more frequently (every other day at the minimum), so that I stay focused :) And plus, it's fun!
Anyway: My workouts have been going well lately. I am still unable to run the entire time, but I'm pretty consistent with power walk 3 minutes, jog/run 2 minutes. It seems that the first minute of running is always the hardest; after that, my lungs begin to adjust and it gets easier.
By the way (and bear with me because this sounds unrelated, but it is), in our apartment, we don't pay for cable, so we get the basic channels (ABC, NBC, etc). One of the channels we get--along with Telemundo!--is NBC Universal Sports, which often does replays of the Olympics, marathons, and more.
So tonight, after coming home from a very successful outing in Manhattan (I finally bought "Dirty Dancing"--score!), I sat down and turned on the telly. UniSports (as I shall call it--man, I am abusing parentheses tonight) was replaying the IronMan competition from Summer 2009 and--can I just say--WOW.
I mean, I know a marathon is intense (and therefore, yay me), but a marathon plus a 2.3 mile swim, plus 112 mile bike race? Holy muscle cramp, Batman. I got tired just reading that sentence. Blergh.
Being aware of how ridiculously tough IronMan is makes the marathon look easy-peasy! And hey, if you've never seen any clips of IronMan, here you go: Anything Is Possible.
Iron is an understatement: these people are made of GOLD (and maybe one day, I will be, too.)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Hope In the Form of a Stranger
It's late, and I've not been home from work very long, but I had to share this before I went to sleep.
I customer came in and bought a cupcake tonight; she was probably in her late 20's, nice and normal looking. As I rang her up at the register, she commented on why she was buying the cupcake: "I just ran a marathon yesterday and now I just keep eating everything!"
I was so excited! "I'm running a marathon in January," I replied, ecstatic. We only spoke for a minute or two, but it was such a good feeling to talk to this stranger who understood what it felt like. "It's not that hard, you'll be able to do it," she told me. She herself was not a runner; this had been her first marathon. Right before she left, she imparted to me one more nugget of marathon knowledge:
"It's so worth it; it's emotional and you'll just cry at the end of it, but it's great!"
Tonight, she became my favorite customer, and I really hope I see her again in January so I can tell her about how it wasn't really that hard, and how I cried at the end, and how it was so worth it.
I customer came in and bought a cupcake tonight; she was probably in her late 20's, nice and normal looking. As I rang her up at the register, she commented on why she was buying the cupcake: "I just ran a marathon yesterday and now I just keep eating everything!"
I was so excited! "I'm running a marathon in January," I replied, ecstatic. We only spoke for a minute or two, but it was such a good feeling to talk to this stranger who understood what it felt like. "It's not that hard, you'll be able to do it," she told me. She herself was not a runner; this had been her first marathon. Right before she left, she imparted to me one more nugget of marathon knowledge:
"It's so worth it; it's emotional and you'll just cry at the end of it, but it's great!"
Tonight, she became my favorite customer, and I really hope I see her again in January so I can tell her about how it wasn't really that hard, and how I cried at the end, and how it was so worth it.
Quickie 4
Sorry for the wait, folks! It's been a busy week, so here's what's up:
1) This has not been my strongest week; I've been pretty exhausted between training and work.
2) My hip joint is bothering me less, but still, boo.
3) I'm starting to not hate fake bacon. Fakeon. Facon. Whatever.
I am sure, however, that the moment I taste real bacon again, I will cry with happiness.
Sigh.
1) This has not been my strongest week; I've been pretty exhausted between training and work.
2) My hip joint is bothering me less, but still, boo.
3) I'm starting to not hate fake bacon. Fakeon. Facon. Whatever.
I am sure, however, that the moment I taste real bacon again, I will cry with happiness.
Sigh.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happy Birthday WDW!
That's right: On October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida officially opened it's gates!
Opening day attendance was around 10,000 people, and though Walt himself wasn't around to see it, his presence was felt throughout the park.
From the rides to the restaurants to Mickey and Minnie and all the gang--I don't think Walt could have envisioned such a wonderful outcome. Walt Disney World truly is the happiest place on earth, and I, for one, am glad to see that each year it gets bigger and brighter and more beautiful.
Happy Birthday, Walt Disney World--I'll see ya real soon!
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