Double Digits

I really should be studying for my 9 AM midterm that I have tomorrow but I can't hold in my excitement any longer! Today I ran 11 miles!!!!

The proof:(My Garmin didn't start working until .8 into the run...equaling 11 miles total. I'm assuming the final time would have been about 1:56!)


I had missed my last two long runs and was nervous that with my upcoming trip to Florida I would get sidetracked again. My half marathon is less than a month away and with temperatures in the 40s, I knew it was now or never. I started "prepping" last night by drinking a bunch of vitamin water and eating some whole wheat pasta with the last of my Grandma's sauce. I made a great playlist and read a couple of blog posts on how to enjoy long runs. The furthest I had run up until today was 8.5 miles and that was with a friend, so I was beyond nervous about this run.

Today I woke up and had 2 clementines and lots of water before heading to class. About an hour and a half before my run I ate a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, a banana, and drank a gatorade. I figured that would be the most filling and fueling food I could eat before a big run. I was so nervous all day that I felt myself becoming really nauseous and anxious at points. My mind was really tearing me down and I was filled with thoughts of "there's no way I can do this", and "I'm going to dissapoint everyone when I can't finish this race". These negative thoughts started after a pretty tough 6 mile run on Tuesday. I had just returned from a sedentary weekend at home and knew I had to get a run in ASAP. I couldn't believe it but I had to stop after both the first and second miles and walk due to a cramp in my side! I haven't gotten a cramp since the summer and could feel my nerves creeping. I was able to finish the last four miles without stopping but was still pretty upset with the run overall.

Today I ran the entire 11 miles without stopping except for the occasional traffic light! One thing I did realize was that those traffic light stops definitely helped. Even if I stopped for 5 seconds, it was enough time to just shake out my legs and keep going strong. I ended up finishing in a little under 2 hours which is great for me and right on target for where I want to be in my first marathon (average speed = 5.6 mph). My legs were super tight after the run but I'm sure that's to be expected. I also was starving once I got settled at home and was shoving pretzels in my mouth like crazy! I think on my next long run I'm going to experiment with gatorade/gu/some other energy fuel during the run to see if it helps/hurts.

Overall, I am SO proud of myself. I accomplished something I never imagined I could. I remember during soccer and track when I used to try to cheat my way out of running a complete mile! During this half marathon training I feel like I've been coasting a little. Keeping up with the workouts has been rough, but the workouts themselves haven't been that challenging. This was the first time I really had to push myself and push through the pain multiple times. I just kept repeating to myself that IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EASY! If it was easy, everyone would do it. So this is my big step at taking pride in this accomplishment and not diminishing it based on a time. I am proud. Period! Now off to study and eat some fro-yo. Florida in two days!! wooooo!

Comparisons

It's been a rough few days! I've had a loooot of school work this week and had a big exam this morning that I was studying for until 4:30 AM last night! Ahh the wonders of being a college student. I also have gotten back into my workout schedule which has been really hard. I was so sore on Monday after my strength training workout...it felt like I hadn't been in the gym for months, let alone just one week! I always find it so crazy how quickly my body gets out of shape (not that I'm saying I'm out of shape now). It feels like it takes years to build up strength, and then in just a few weeks it goes away! Crazy.

After my exam this morning I felt great knowing I had a little break coming up. I had taken off work tonight because I had plans, but since they fell through I was looking forward to my afternoon run, and then some quality TV watching. The weather in Boston was BEAUTIFUL today. It was about 50 degrees and sunny. Gorgeous. I went for a 4 mile run around the river and finished in exactly 41 minutes. For me this is really great. That's about exactly a 6.0 mph pace (I give myself an extra minute for the random traffic light stops and people that get in the way). Still, I find myself comparing my run times to my friends and the bloggers that I follow. It feels like everyone around me can just easily run 8 minute miles. It makes me a little apprehensive about the half marathon because I know for a fact I won't be keeping up a 10 minute mile pace the entire time. I don't know why sometimes I get so stuck in the comparisons that I can't really see my own successes. I do the same thing with my body image. Sometimes I feel like it won't matter how much weight I've lost or how good I think I might look, because people around me will always look better. It's unfortunate and it's something I feel like I've struggled with my entire life. When I got back from my run, I decided to look back to the goals I wrote down in August. One of my favorite goals I wrote was: Do not diminish, but take pride in my successes. I feel like I need a constant reminder that everyone is on their own path, people will always be ahead and behind me and I only need to concentrate on my successes, my failures, and my journey.

In other news, I found a do it yourself frozen yogurt place in Boston (Mixx Frozen Yogurt Shop)!! All I can say is oh my god. This place is awesome. Just check out this picture:Since it was my first time I overdid it a bit and tried a little of every flavor yogurt and a million toppings! This thing was unbelievable though and I cannot wait to go back.

That's all for now. I'm going to NY this weekend and can't wait to see some of my friends and family. It's been a looong time since I've seen a few of my friends and I'm getting pumped to have a fun night in NYC with them. Adiiiios!

Sickling

Wow it's been a long time since I last wrote...woops!

First off, Hi Mom :)

Second, I am sick. I was really hoping to go through the whole winter without getting sick but I guess that's a bust. I usually am sick every other week so this has been a long stretch without being sick! Unfortunately, this means that I haven't worked out since Monday and my entire schedule and life feels like it's been flipped upside down. My eating has spiraled out of control and I've been sleeping sooo much. I know most people lose their appetite when they get sick but not this girl. I just get bored and hungry! Usually my nights are spent getting work done, but since I haven't been working out a lot of time has opened up in my days. Now, I've been spending the nights in my bed eating. Not good. I really want to get over this so I can back to my training. It's just over a month until the half marathon and even though that sounds like a lot of time, what that means to me is 5 long runs left. Not a lot. I also am going to Florida in a few weeks and NEED to get this eating under control. I'm making myself freak out a bit because I feel like I'm back in the "I'll start tomorrow" mindset. I need to just keep telling myself that there is no starting tomorrow because nothing ever stopped! I'm just having a rough few days.

This weekend I'm going on a spirituality and leadership retreat. I was really excited for it because 1. it's free 2. it sparks great conversation and 3. it's a nice break from the city, but now I'm just worried. This sickness is making me exhausted all the time and I don't know how I'm going to function. The days start with 6AM yoga and I just don't know how I'll get myself up. I guess we shall seeee. We also have an assignment which I'm stuck on: Find an item that symbolized to you something about who you are as a spiritual person. It can be related to your religious identity or not, but it should reflect something about you at your deepest spiritual core. I have no idea what to bring! I can think of a few things at home that I'd bring with me but there's nothing in my little mess of a room that makes sense. I'll have to do some quote searching...

In other news, Valentines Day is coming up which I'm going to try to ignore. Next weekend I should be heading to NY to see some friends and hoefully get to seemy family. I'm excited but quick trips to New York always stress me out a bit. It doesn't seem like it, but it's actually a really long trip! 1 hour on the T + 1/2 hour waiting at the bus station + 4.5 hours on the bus (minimum) + 1 hour train from Penn + 1/2 hour of random things = about 8 hours! Practically an entire day. Oh well. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

So now that I wrote it down, I think I want to make a few goals for the next two and a half weeks (until I leave for Florida). Hopefully this will help me stay on track until then!

GOALS
1. Get better!! #1 priority
2. Once better, get right back on half marathon training plan
3. Be slightly more stringent with eating
4. Lose 4-5 pounds - I know this isn't a huge amount of weight but I think it's a fair goal...and 5 pounds will make a difference in how I feel in a bathing suit!

And finally some random food:Last night's dinner: leftover chili that I made for the superbowl mixed with some spaghetti squash! So good!Little salad on the side with greens, tomatoes, snap peas, marinated mushrooms and balsamic.Breakfast this morning: 1 egg and 1 egg white cooked over easy, a side of seriously burnt toast (I hate our toaster!!) and an apple. I've been eating sooo many apple since my sister bought me an apple slicer for Christmas. I love it!! I hate biting into apples and the slicer just makes it soo easy to eat.A delicious piece of cake/pie? from our school's winter formal a few weeks ago. This thing was so good I finished the whole thing!And this isn't food (obviously) but here is the dress I wore to the formal. I LOOOVE it but I hated shopping for it. Dress shopping is always harder for me than any other type of shopping. Things just never seem to fit correctly and I get sooo frustrated. A big thank you to the friend in this picture who put up with shopping for me for 2 days straight :)

That's all for now. Good night!