Day 324-21

WOOHOO! Ran this morning at 5.0 on a 1.5 incline for 30 minutes … with… out… stopping. YAY! It was awesome. I felt good. Started out going 15 minutes (the scheduled for the 5K training program) and then felt okay so I upped it to 18 to get 1.5 miles in. Then I felt really good so I went 6 more minutes for 2 miles. Then I felt great so I went 6 more minutes for 2.5 miles. Then I was tired so I walked. The other good thing was I was able to bring down my heart rate fairly well in the 5 minute cool down. Yay me!

Day 323-20

Alrighty then. Last night I ran again for 20 minutes around my lake. It felt good. And this morning I ellipticated for 32 again. The food thing…I really need to think about this. I broke down and bought Old Dutch cheese popcorn last night and ate too much of it for supper, oh and my cookies of course. Not a good thing. But at least I’m running. On my 5K training chart today is an off day, so I’m going to take it off. I see Keith today – thank goodness – and I have to pack for the weekend. Woohoo!

Day 322-19

Okay…back to where I should be. I ellipticated this morning for 32 minutes then ran/walked for 15. I found a chart for a training program to run a 5K in 12 weeks. No, I’m not actually signed up for a 5K but this will give me something to go by when I’m planning my exercise days. YAY! And I’m going to go back to my spreadsheet and get that going again too. Tracking is essential!

Next step - food. Again.

Days 317-14 thru 321-18

Quick recap – Wednesday went to the Twins game and took the day off from exercising – my knees still hurt from running the last couple days. Continued recouping Thursday. Friday the same – should have run but then it started raining. Saturday and Sunday I was cleaning and I did nothing. Aren’t I just the model citizen for Runners Magazine? Not.

Day 316-13

Note to self: when planning on running a few miles at night, do not eat Lime Tostitos just before heading out. This will affect your wind and ability to breathe. Thank you.

Ran 2x around the lake/park last night. walked a lot more than the night before – not just because of the chips but my knees were crying a bit and it was hotter out. Oh well…it’s good for me. When I start to get winded because of the heat I just keep thinking about my buddies in the sandbox and figure I don’t have it so bad. It keeps me going.

My food intake is better. I’m so hungry anymore, it’s driving me nuts. I had my spinach/egg thing at 6:30, got to work today (wed) and needed more. So at 7:30 I wrongly had a cinna twist from the cafeteria, and now at 8:08 I’m eating jello. I can’t get satiated. Ugh! I know it’s good because my metabolism is kicking in – thank god for exercise – but it’s just a little scary.

Day 314-11, 315-12

The last couple days were okay. Sunday I was so exhausted after work that I went home and slept for 2 hours. I meant to only take an hour nap tops, and suddenly it was 2 hours later. Oh well. I needed it, I know. My headache had gone away and I felt more alive than I had. It was very good. After that I made up my breakfast’s for the week and grilled up a bunch o’ chicken (which turned out really well this time).

Monday I ellipticated at Bally’s in the morning. Then I worked 8 hours straight and got home a little after 4. Nice. I’m doing that all week. 30 minute lunches suck so I’m not taking lunch this week and leaving early instead. But I got home and needed to work off some annoyances so I ran/walked for an hour or so. It was great. I went around the park 3 times – the long section. I wish I knew how far around it is, I’m guessing if the lake is ¾ mile than maybe adding the park adds another half mile down around and back? So 1.25 miles around the long way? I’m not sure though. I’m going to go with that until I know better – so 3.75 miles, run/walk, plus to and from my house. maybe 4 miles all around. It felt good, I will say. Though by 7pm I wanted to go to bed, I was so tired. I ended up crashing at 9 but didn’t fall asleep completely until after 10. It was one of those dozing hours.

Goal: work on supper. I don’t eat well for supper. I had cereal last night because I wanted something cool but my lettuce is all icky and I hate salad after awhile, especially when i've had it for lunch. So I need to find some cooler alternatives if I’m going to run at night too. Hot food after running in heat just doesn’t sound appealing but at all.

Days 307-4 to 313-10

I have been very lax in keeping up with this blog. Shame on me. I just haven’t been doing well with anything and I hate to even write about it. My friend Tom has been running a lot lately and I wish I could be like him, but I don’t know…I’m in a weird state right now (not just MN, but emotionally too). I had a massage Thursday and Keith wrote afterward confirming our next appointment with the note: “Thanks and take care of yourself every day!! :)” He’s right, I need to be taking care of myself. I’m not sure where or when I stopped. Was it during Alaska or before? My Alaska eating was crap, and I didn’t go to the gym at all during that time so I’m sure that had something to do with it. My sleep schedule has been off, so I know that’s part of it too. Will I ever get on track again? How can I do this soon? Help!

Days 295-23 to 306-03

I’m a little sad. I missed my 300 day mark. Shoot. Of course that was Graduation day and I was running around the entire time anyway.

So I’m not quite back in sync with my life…getting better. You'd think I would be back by now...soon. Less M&Ms, a little more running. This past Thursday I ran around the entire Powderhorn Park, up the short stairs, walked a bit, back down, then up and down the big stairs twice, around the lake once more walking and running, then up the incline sidewalk to 12^th Ave. It was great. But I wasn’t quite in the right mindset. I think I need to change up my music again. It’s getting too predictable and not motivating like I’d like. Though it also just helps keep the beat and I can zone it out just enough to think while I run. Not like I need help with that.

Food is getting better, like I said. It’s grilling season again which always helps. I fire up that bad boy, throw on some chicken and I am GTG – that’s Good-To-Go.

Just got to keep on keeping on. “you can do it!”