Day 13 -

14:13:421 mILE

Day 12 - Yeaaa!

Well today is my HALF Birthday (10/25)!!!  Um, Yes I do CELEBRATE!!! What other halves can there be?  Well the HALF marathon. 

The one important thing that I want to talk about is WATER.  My tip for you today is to drink HALF your body weight in ounces for good heath.  For example if you are 200lbs. then drink 100oz for water.  It is VERY important to keep hydrated!!!  Our bodies are 70-80% water.  WATER is the the single most crucial thing you can do for the REST of your life. 

I <3 H2O!!!

PS Today was a rest day, BTW!

Day 11 - Making the Time

Soooo, as you can tell I was running around like a CHICKEN with my head cut off.  But I DID get my exercise in.  I actually put something in the oven and went out (because I kinda knew how long it was going to take me) and JAMMED.  I made pretty good timing.

PS The dinner PAR-TAY was a success!!!

2 Miles = 34:14 Minutes

ARGGGH!

I'm being a total slacker!  I'm going to bed right now but wanted to tell you that I will write again soon and make up the lost days.  Exercise has been gettin' done!!!

Day 10 - Zen!

Yet another Rest Day!!!  I have 3 days of rest a week. It kinda feels like I'm not training, but I understand that my body needs a break.  Maybe I will feel more WORTHY of a break when I'm doing more mileage.  I came home early today (because I went to work early) and I felt really RELAXED and didn't do much.  I got to watch some of my favorite shows (which is not a normal occurance because my fav 5pm show is now moved to the 4pm time slot - "Tyra, Why did you betray me?".  The interesting thing is that when I come home and I don't turn on the TV I get stuff done.  Hmmm, Funny how that happens!  LOL!!!  A nice resting activity is looking at nature and understanding that someone larger than myself has created such AMAZING beauty.  PTL!!!

Day 9 - Stretchin' Fine!!

Stretching is one of the MOST vital things to do before exercise.  I have included some pictures of me doing my STRETCHIES before my walk.  The 1st one on the left is the hamstring stretch, this is a great stretch for flexibility.  #2 is the upper thigh stretch and hip flexer.  The thigh is one of the biggest muscles in your body and the hipflexer allows you to do your walk and/or run.  #3 is the alternating calf stretch, I do this at my door step or on the curb.  Make sure that the balls of your feet are at the edge of the step.  Alternate right and left.  For maximium flexibility try picture #4 with both heels going down the step as far as they can go without hurting yourself.  #5 is the shin stretch, just go on your tippy toes.  For a more advanced move alternate between stretch #4 & #5.  I usually hold on to the wall for balance. 

All these stretches should be held for at least 5-10 seconds each.  Alternate sides (right and left) for equality on both sides.  ABSOLUTELY NO BOUNCING!!!  Stretch and hold until it is a little bit uncomfortable but not painful.  If you are in absolute udder pain, that is not good.  Stretching should take about 4-6 minutes before and after your workout. 

1 Mile = 15:33:58

Day 8 - Is not so Great!

Ok so I sooooo did NOT want to walk today, but I did.  That is what's great! My attitude NOT so great! I don't know why I practice Opposite Day. Yesterday I wanted to run (that's right I said run), today I didn't want to get off the couch. Well I did get my limbs moving and into gear, completing a whopping 2 miles!.  I needed some oil like the Tin Man.  

Now that I'm starting to go longer distances I think it will be IMPORTANT to have some up beat tunes. I think the beats will take my mind OFF what I'm doing and help me to SUCCEED. Without music I tend to dwell on the fact that I'm walking not wanting to, as opposed to JAMMIN' to some POP music. My last half marathon I didn't have nearly enough music to keep me entertained NOR was it upbeat enough to keep me motivated. I listened to "I'm Bringin' Sexy Back" and "Love Stoned" waaaay to many times to be proud of. I guess I can say that I HUNG out with Justin for 03:42:12. Haha!

Do YOU have any good suggestions for upbeat running music? I think that music will make a difference if I want to run or walk, during my race.   The BETTER slash faster the beat the faster I will be.  Let's DO IT!!!

2 Miles = 33:45 min
1st - 17:10 
2nd -16:35 (finished strong!!)

Day 7 - WOW another Rest Day???

Today I was at work and thought to myself, ACTUALLY said out loud "I can't wait to go on my walk today!".  The HARSH reality was that it is my rest day.  My Co-Worker was all excited until I told her that it was my Rest Day and that tomorrow I probably won't want to do my exercise.  HAHA!!!  How FUNNY is that?

Well I got my BAD news confirmed today.  I got a 2nd opinion regarding my Gallstones and this Dr. basically said take it out or change diet drastically and live with the GB.  The 1st opinion was just take it out - NO if, ands, or buts.  The problem is that I will have to change my diet weather I keep it in or take it out.  So all the things that she told me to remove from my diet and combined with the things that I don't like is going to turn me into a VEGAN again.  I have ALWAYS wanted to go back but never had a good EXCUSE to do so until NOW. 

So for my "Last Supper", I went out and bought Ice Cream.  Not sure how to justify that but I will let myself have ICE CREAM twice a year - My Birthday and Christmas (Jesus' Birthday)!

Day 6 - Sprinkles???

Well the weather is turning a new leaf, LITERALLY!  It is finally cooling down and today it was gloomy most of the day.  I put on my walking shoes and LAUGHED in the face of the sprinkles of misty rain!  HAHAHAhaha!  But the dogs barking at me on my route kinda FREAKED me out.  I'm not sure why the dogs of the neighborhood had a convention when I was at work today and said when they see the black hooded, teal pants, walker, BARK as much and as loud as you can.  I'm just GLAD that they didn't run after me.  WHEW!!!  I have never heard so many dogs on this route before but maybe they were all couped up because of the rain.  Thank GOD they didn't chase me!!!

Tip of the day, if it is sprinkling or EVEN raining, the training MUST go on.  Like Nike says "JUST DO IT!"  And like my Dad always says "There is NO time like the present."

The show MUST go on!!!  Tell me about what you do on these NAS-TAY weather days.

1 Mile = 15:52:32

Day 5 - And still ALIVE!

Today I took the LIBERTY to sleep in.  I know that my body needs the rest from not only being sick BUT because I'm in training.  Funny thing is that last night I FELL asleep when I was posting my blog.  HAHA!  That's funny!  So if it doesn't make a lot of sense it is because I was half awake.  I read back and thought the post was a lil dull but last night it felt like it had so many more things to say. 

Repair happens when you sleep.  I have heard that your body does the best and most repair between the hours of 10pm to 2am.  So if you don't catch the Zzzz's during that time your body can't fully recover.  Last night I went to bed at 11pm and woke up at 10am.  WOW!!!  I got a couple of repair hours in there.  Sunday is the ONLY day that I get to sleep in and I always try to take advantage of it!  Speaking of SLEEP, I'm coming up on 10pm so I need my beauty slash repair sleep :-)

Today I was a little bit sore.  My muscles are a wee bit tight!  NO pain NO gain!!!

Day FOUR!

So the Mystery Guest of the day was my one and only roommate.  It was a beatiful day and she wanted to get out of the house.  I just wanted to get my scheduled walk in.  But it turned out great!  When I workout, I'm strickly business and am now trying to realize that working out can be fun too.  I think this will be a hard lesson to learn but I am open.

Our two mile walk ended up being not the greatest timing but since I was sick yesterday, I figured out that I was going to be a lil slower than usual.  I didn't get a exact time because I got a text on my phone (which stopped the clock).  But I made a call right before we left so I took the time from there and subracted the time form when we got home.  So I thought that driving around the neighborhood to find the mileage was old fashioned.  LOL!!!

2 Miles = Approx 37 min

Day 3 TGIF!!!

Rest Day Today!  Thank God because I came home early from work sick.  Icky!  Seems as though everytime I start a new regimine my body says "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING TO ME?"  Gheez, didn't know that I was so picky!  LOL!   Tomorrow is a new day and I think that I'm going to take it slow and get some fresh air. 

Day 2 - Whew!!!

WHOA!  5 minutes into my walk tonight, I was D-O-N-E!  I'm thinking "WHAT have I got myself into with all this training?".  But I was far enough away from home, to turn around and go back.  The really cool thing that I did was, do my usual mile walk route but in REVERSE.  Changing it up a bit REALLY helped out.  BTW the best site for all you walkers, joggers, runners out there  is www.mapmyrun.com. You can use this any where and put in a starting point and an ending point and it TOTALLY tells you how many miles down to a tenth of a mile.  It is AMAZING!!!  I <3 this site and it really helps when you don't know how long is 3 miles for example.  I used to do it the old fashioned way, DRIVING around in the car.  Haha!!!

The funny thing is that yesterday when I went to get my stop watch so that I can time my walk, it POOPED out on me.  The next best thing was my cell phone, it has a stop watch that I DIDN'T know how to work it.  BUT I was able to get an ending time.  Speaking of ending times, today since I didn't want to "work out" I totally JAMMED.  I was super SHOCKED that I almost shaved a minute off my time. 

1=Mile, Time=16:04:82

The Dreaded Day 1 - Da Da Daaaaa

Sorry for the sound but I thought that you can just turn your speakers up a lil.  I just got back from my 1 mile walk clocking in at 16:58:11.  That is an awesome start and tomorrow is a new day!!!