Wake me up before you go-go

So the title has nothing to do with this post but that darn song has been stuck in my head since hearing it play on the radio on my drive in this morning.  Thought I'd share my pain with everyone.  Now onto the real reason for my post.

I have 3 goals for the next few months of what I'll loosely refer to as training.

1.  Tone and Strengthen - No I'm not fat I know that but I do have areas I'd like to tone and tighten especially and mainly my core.  I've also read in a number of articles that a strong core can help improve your running.  And the strengthening will help with the Tough Mudder.

2.  Improve my running distance - obviously seeing as somehow I was talked into a half-marathon.  I miss the days of having a bucket list and not feeling a certain sense of urgency to get to work on it.  I've had a bucket list for years and always figured I'd get around to the items someday.  Well someday never came but neither did a sense of accomplishment.  I've finally crossed a few items off the list and with this half and the Tough Mudder 2 more will be crossed off.

3.  Improve my eating habits - I know HOW  to eat but I don't always adhere to proper eating habits.  Apparently deep fried is not considered a food group.  I've been reading up on the philosophy of "eating clean" and am slowly incorporating into my own eating habits.  Slow and steady. 

So those are the goals.  Now the plan to achieve said goals.  I've always been self-conscious about my body.  Truthfully I never remember a time that I didn't have some body gripe.  I'm working on loving what I have but its a struggle.  So, how better to measure your improvements then with one of those awful before shots.  It wasn't easy but I've taken one and am posting for all to see. 

Like I said not bad but could be better. I will be using the app Sworkit for my at home workouts.  Sworkit provides random workouts based on the user selected length of time and type of workout (upper body, full body, lower body, core, etc).  I tried it for the first time this evening and loved it.  Really well done for a free app.

My training plan will be to run on Sunday, Tues, and Thursdays with 30 day ab challenge. Mon 30 minutes of a Sworkit exercise Wed with my trainer, Saturday Zumba and 15mins of Sworkit.  Friday is my all out rest day.  And if I feel overwhelmed I'll take another one as needed. 

For my second goal I've been using the Hal Higdon Novice 13.1 training app.  Again love the app and love the slow build of distance and the option to customize the days to my own schedule.  I have been struggling with building distance but am able to redo a week if I feel the need.

To improve my eating I've decided to break the goal down to smaller more manageable and less scary steps.  Each week I will add one new eating goal and by time the half marathon rolls around I should be a lean mean fighting machine.  Or in a hell of a lot of pain.

Eating goal of the week:  Eat a healthy filling breakfast everyday.  Yep I'm starting there because breakfast really is the most important meal of the day or so they tell me.  I've made it many years without out and seem to be doing fine.  But yes I will focus on eating a proper breakfast everyday.  Starting tomorrow - today didn't happen other things to do.  Perhaps I should research what a proper breakfast would consist of.  This may end up being more difficult then running or strength training.

And remember "Nothings impossible, the word itself says I'm possible" until next time happy running.

Cheers, Natasha

How this crazy chick became a runner

I thought I would share with you how I became a runner as well.  The summer before I started grade 8 I went to basketball camp, while I did enjoy basketball (I was not very good) my favourite activities at camp that week were the warm up runs and kayaking.  I loved being able to keep up with the coaches and passing the other girls in camp, I loved that with each run I became stronger and faster.  I ran cross country in grade 8 and found I improved and still loved it.  In grade 9 I ran cross country and track, but also played basketball and soccer during at the same time, limiting my ability to train.  Realizing I was better at running and enjoyed it more I committed to running in grade 10.  That year I qualified for a Provincial competition.  Throughout high school I ran in Provincial and National competitions (please note I ran much faster back then).  After all this, I was burnt out, highly unmotivated and using my asthma as an excuse, and so began a close to 10 year hiatus from running.  Then a few years ago a co-worker suggested I run with her after work, not being able to come up with any good excuses I joined her on that fateful run, in the rain of course.  It was a wonderful run; I was surprised at my ability and being able to run a few kilometres that night.  It happened very quickly, again I was hooked.  That year I completed a 5k and remembered why I used to love racing.  The following year I ran a 10k with Natasha, this was the pneumonia and sprained ankle 10k, but we survived.  I also ran the warrior dash and was reminded of how prone to injury I am on slip and slides, participated in a try a tri (swimming is not my thing)  and I did a 5k in the fall, nothing real to report there, I ran it 3 minutes faster than the previous year though.  This now brings us to 2012 and training for the Downsview Half.  I am also committed to participating in a sprint try relay.  That same co-worker who got me out running will be swimming and my husband will be cycling.  Before I train for the half I am trying to run a 5k faster, although on every run I learn I don’t like going fast and I prefer to just keep going.  Hopefully this year will be less eventful than last year, but with Natasha and I, I seriously doubt that.

Before my first post high school run.  Run for the Cure 5k in 2010.

Before the Try a Try last year.  My expression clearly shows I was crazy when I agreed to the tri and now I am wondering if it's too late to back out.

Warrior Run

On Sunday July 22 I ran the Warrior Dash for the second time completing it in 1hr3mins.  It was a great time yet again this year.  Coined as the craziest fricken day of your life on a 3.2 mile obstacle course.  I don't know about the craziest day but definitely one of the funnest.  Obstacles consisted of a cargo net climb approx 30 feet up, balance beams, belly crawls through mud and under barbed wire, leaping fire and can't forget the slip n' slide.  The slip n slide last year I learnt 2 valuable lessons 1) There definitely comes a point when you are to old for slip n slides and 2) DO NOT DIVE.  This year I remembered these 2 key lessons and sat down at the top of the slide and pushed off - making away with no injury but a short full load of mud.  So I still haven't figured out the damn slip n slide maybe next year will be the charm.

I'd had a rough work day today so I headed out for my scheduled 4 mile run - my longest distance to date.  It was tough definitely but reminded me of my favourite tip for increasing distance or pushing through a mental block - focus on a small achievable distance instead of the total distance left.  Hold on let me explain before you get all up in arms.  Like I said today was my 4 mile run.  So I ran the first mile, did a walk/run for the next 1.5 miles and now this is where that tip comes in.  At 2.5 miles I focused on running just the next 0.5 miles once that distance was complete I was tired and quitting would have been easy but quitting doesn't help you move forward so focus on the next easy.  If at this point I had told myself only 1 more mile I wouldn't of been able to do it.  Instead I focused on just one more lamp post, street light, block whatever is close and feels doable.  I did this for the entire last mile so instead of only running 0.5 more miles I ran the entire 1.5 mile end.  So remember small achievable goals because you can always run one more street light or fence post.  Your mind will always give out before your legs or lungs.

And remember "Nothings impossible, the word itself says I'm possible" until next time happy running.

Cheers, Natasha

Wonderful Natasha!  I feel as though I can offer some insight to the concerns with the slip and slide at last year's Warrior Dash.  This kids is why you should never dive on to any type of slide, ever.  No need to worry after a tetanus shot and a round of antibiotics I was on the mend and there is barely a hint a scar (warrior wound) left on my arm.  The point of not diving onto a slip and slide is solid advice, especially when the slip and slide is located on a ski hill.  One of the race people at that obstacle was telling people to go faster, I looked up and saw some not even making it down the entire way.  Naturally I took this to mean I should sprint up to the slip and slide, which resulted in my diving onto it by accident instead of simply sitting on it.  I did manage to get to a seating position right before the slide ended and I crashed in to what I feel was a very tall and solid man, but only after travelling on torn up grass with rocks first.  My right side took a real beating, swelling and cuts all over my thigh, several cuts on my forearm and a cut on my hand.  Of course all injuries but the hand become infected a few days after the race, and let me tell you the doctor I saw at the clinic did have a laugh at my expense and suggested I refrain from such crazy antics.  Oh if only he knew the trouble Natasha and I get in to together, see half marathon for example.

My Warrior Wound, it actually doesn't look as badly as it felt or looked in real life in this picture.


Might I add:

And that my friends is why you never dive into a slip n slide.

From a non-runner to training for a half

Hello readers whoever you may be

Lets talk about where it all began.  Three years ago I was 50lbs overweight, tired and unhappy with my physical appearance.  I was looking for a way to get started and moving but didn't like the gym - to many people there.  A friend of mine was going through some personal things and was looking for an escape.  We stumbled across this amazing plan, Couch to 5k http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml and thought why not give it a try - her young daughter could join us and my dog, Harley could as well.  Well as easy as Week 1 sounded: run 30 secs walk 1min30secs it was anything but.  We must have looked quite funny running down the road my friend pusing a running stroller, me doubled over barely able to breath with a dog strapped around my waist.  But we stuck with it and lo and behold as promised we improved running a steady 20 minutes in a mere 5 weeks. October 2010 I ran my first 5k - Run for the Cure and survived.  Something I never could have imagined 3 months prior.  Over the last couple years I have continued to run and build on my distance - my longest race being a 10k.  This is where my cousin Sara, the other crazy chick comes into the story.  She had also resumed running - having been a runner in high school and we thought lets run a race together.  Now keep in mind this was in March so we signed up and figured no problem building to 10k in 3 months we both had a solid running foundation.  Well later that month I severly sprained my ankle and in May Sara was diagnosed with pneumonia.  Both her and I only resumed running 2 weeks prior to race day.  As we struggled and huffed and puffed along on race day we muttered to each other that we were crazy, what where we doing here but realized running together was great.  We later ran a 5k Warrior Dash that summer and started rumblings of doing a half-marathon together.  It was just that rumblings, every now and then talk of a half would get a little more loud but quiet back down.  Until a couple weeks ago, her and I both bored at work started discussing it in earnest and somehow before the end of the day we were signed up for the Downsview Half on November 11.  Let the training begin.  I'll be following the Hal Higdon Novice Run your First Half Program.  This could get interesting and most definetly will have its funny times.  Hiliarity always follows my cousin and I. 

And remember "Nothings impossible, the word itself says I'm possible" until next time happy running.