Week 2 Wrap-Up: January 8-15, 2012

Hitting some road blocks already just the 2nd week of the new year.  The kind of road block that makes you not work out for 4 days.  Well, I hurt my right shoulder.  I think it's a result of too many arm swings in class with the 25lb. kettlebell Monday night.  I ended up doing about 125 reps, yeash!  I didn't feel the effects until Wednesday morning and by 11am I wanted to go home since I couldn't move my neck and it hurt to just keep my head up.  I ended up seeing my massage therapist that night and it somewhat did the trick.  But I knew I would need a few days of rest which meant I was benched from working out the rest of the week, argh!

So, my week of working out only lasted from Sunday-Tuesday.  I was able to get a few milestones in before my shoulder took over.

2012 Week 2 Milestones:
-I rode my bike for 25 miles.

-I was the first woman in my strength training class who completed the workout out of 6 other lovely ladies and I wasn't that far behind the first guy. YEAH!

-I completed my 15 Day Juicing Program, THANK GOODNESS!  I have learned I will not do another juicing program again.  I will continue to juice, but with a complete diet involving protein, fat and other carbs.  I honestly think I juiced my body weight in fruits and vegetables for the past 15 days.  I have to congratulate my friend, C, who also endured this juice diet with me and talked me out of bailing early from the program.  With her beautiful pics of the juices she made and my creativity and marketing skills we may just put out a book.  Some names I've come up with:
"Juicing Won't Kill You but the Hunger Pangs Will."
"Juice....Should Only be Mixed with Liquor and Not Consumed Solely on its Own."
"It's Just Juice (sigh)"
"I Survived Juicing for 15 Days...and Don't Recommend It!"

Week 1 Wrap-Up: January 1-7, 2012

Alright, a bit behind on my blog entries but nothing helps a girl catch up online then to be home sick with a fever/flu.  Kinda sucks to be home from work while it's sunny outside and the hummingbirds are chirping only to feel like CRAP.  Anyway, enough of the sick me whining and time to catch up with how 2012's been treating me.  Let's go back a little to week 1.

First week of the year and I'm starting off strong!!! Checking off all my personal daily goals and workout routines like a champ.  Forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone and into the water more.

Quick milestones of the week:
-Went to my first group pool workout/Master's swim.  I of course was in the techniques group cause I'm no where near Master's level yet.  I can't even swim a length of the pool non-stop yet.  But I'm keeping with it and am looking forward to the day when I can officially say I'm a swimmer...and don't need a kickboard or a buoy.  Thanks to my friend, L, and new found friend, J, for all the encouragement and well, not letting me get out of the pool before class was over which I was ready to do after 10 minutes.

-During one of my solo swim workouts, I swam the length of the pool NON-STOP....with the buoy.  I know it's not a full-length of the pool cause it was just from one side to the other but I'll take it!  That's a huge deal for me even with the buoy. Heck, I told myself I was not getting out of the pool until I was able to swim one length without stopping.  Done and done.  After 35 minutes of trying I finally did it and jumped up and literally said, "F*CK YEAH! That's what I'm talking about!!!" I got a little teary-eyed too from the excitement of achieving my goal.  Man I wish my friends were there to see me.

-Set up my trainer and rode my bike for an hour to get re-acquainted with it.  Funny how not using your bike (in who knows how long) makes you forget the little things like shifting and which lever increases the resistance.  Needless to say it was a "meet and greet" kinda session on my trainer this week.

-Hit track practice and ran 6 miles with my dog this week.  Get your motors running cause I'm getting in the zone again 2012.

-Went to my resistance training class 3x this week even when I was too tired and was psyching myself out about going.  I admit, I drove to the class and slept in my car for 10 minutes just to give myself a little energy boost before class or I would have driven home instead.  MIND OR MATTER!  And of course, I felt so awesome after class, AS ALWAYS.

-Juicing still going on. Totally not a fan of it.  My friend and I have agreed that we both are very grumpy and ALWAYS hungry on this juicing program.  Gosh, DAY 15 GET HERE ALREADY!!!!  Or I just may naw off my arm out of hunger.

Not a bad way to start off 2012.  So bring it Week 2!

Namaste

To all my fellow yogis out there, this is too funny!  

2012-OWN IT!

Today is January 1, 2012.  HAPPY NEW YEAR! Ahhhh, how I always love the new year, fresh start, new beginnings and leaving whatever crap may have occurred in the previous year in the past.  Now, I learned from my goals and injuries last year  that I'm taking a new approach to my goals this year.  No resolutions, I'm not big on resolutions.

Here's what I currently have going on in 2012:
JANUARY 2012-
1. 15 Day Reboot Challenge:
Drink (fresh) juice and eat only fruits and vegetables for 15 days.  I have a friend that just got done juicing only for 30 days and now eats only raw food.  My plan after the 15 days is to eat clean. Here's a link to the site I got all the info from:  http://jointhereboot.com/
Now, I'm already pretty conscious about what I eat (no dairy, no meat with feet (I'm a pescatarian)) but I've slacked off since the summer, especially after my last injury.  I've gone out to eat and drink way more the past few months than I'd like to admit.

2. 60/60 Challenge:
This one I thought of myself.  I am going to do at least 60 minutes of exercise everyday for 60 days.  It doesn't necessarily have to be running, or cycling, but it could be walking/hiking with my dog....I still don't know if shopping counts as cardio, but we'll see, ha!  Personally, I realized from my 30 day challenges last year I need to pick things up a notch and I really like personal challenges for myself.

So, a quick recap of Day 1-
I successfully completed my reboot program and only drank juice and ate some fruit.  Honestly, my body is putting up a fight.  I think it's more mental though cause I'm craving things like no tomorrow- Mexican food, popcorn, pizza, carbs, carbs, carbs!!!!  But I drank my juice and water like a champ while I thought about all the food I ate last night and drinks I had like I was a person on death row.  I just keep reminding myself the first day is always the hardest and it's only temporary.  (say aloud and repeat).  I also got in my 60 minutes of exercise- 6 miles on the treadmill.  Not my ideal environment to run in but at 9pm, I'll take it.

Overall, I'm been pretty excited about 2012.  I have big things planned for this year. 2011 ended on a high note and all I can say is 2012 is going to be SPECTACULAR!  Here's to a New Year, 2012, as I raise my glass of water and drink it pretending it's the glass(es) of champagne I drank last night.

It's Britney B*tch!

I've been taking a strength training class for the past two weeks.  Basically, whenever I'm in the class I feel like I'm on an episode of The Biggest Loser doing a last chance workout cause I grunt a lot, sweat my ass off and my body feels like jello during and after the workout.  Most of the daily workouts are timed and there's usually more guys than women in the class.  I'm usually one of two ladies in the class. Anyway, the other day I was the first one done part 1 of 3 in the routine and ended up being the second person done with the workout.  The guy who finished first came up to me when I was done and said, "Good job.  Yeah, when I saw you were finished the first part I knew I had to pick up the pace and catch up to you."  And at that minute I knew....I knew I actually am as athletic as these guys...and probably am giving them a run for their money! (and these guys aren't old and out of shape either)  At the same time, I also made it a goal for myself to be the first one to finish a timed workout, especially outbeat the guys in the class.  I even told the instructor afterwards and she gave me a high-5 for saying that.

Well, yesterday there were 3 guys and myself in the class.  The workout:  400m run; 30 box jumps; 30 wall balls (repeat 5 times).  I finished it in 25:34 minutes AND was the first one done!  YEAH!!!  I was so amped and barely able to move when I was done, but I knew I beat all the guys in the class and that's all I wanted to do.  I'm not uber competitive, but the other night in class made me realize I'm stronger than I think I am and beating the guys would prove it to myself.

And so, I have a saying whenever I have a kick ass workout and fell pretty badass....."It's Britney Bitch!"  That's right, the opening line of the Britney's Spears song Gimme More (don't judge me).  Whenever I've worked out with my friends and get in a zone there's no stopping me so they've asked me, "What are you on?"  I simply respond, "It's Britney Bitch!"  Pretty much we laugh about it but it's kinda stuck.

So my badass goal of  beating the guys in my strength class----DONE!  Bring it fellas cause...It's Britney Bitch!  

Tough love,

MJ

Invictus

It's time. Time to dust off the cobwebs from this blog and bring life back into it and myself (so to speak). Since my last entry, which I can't believe was back in April, I have basically been dealing with a roller coaster of injuries.  Expect the unexpected and 2011 has been a year of injuries for me.  My last race was in August and basically my left IT Band was trashed after that race.  Not so much a race for me since after Mile 7, I just wanted to get to the finish line in one piece.  So, I basically haven't really worked out since the end of August, traveled a lot in September and October realized I needed change.  During October I did a 30 day challenge where I was a full vegetarian.  Not a far stretch since I'm already a pescatarian but it was a little hard thinking before I eat and ruling out more things when I would be out at restaurants.

November is here and again, I decided to give myself another 30 day challenge.  This month I will swim in the pool at least 15 times.  There, I said it, time to keep my word...and I'm a woman of my word.  Now we're into day 6 of the month and I honestly haven't gone swimming yet.  More reason I had to go public with this challenge, ha!  I did however start running again and even this morning ran 4 miles with my dog.  I signed him up for a 5k in January and we may run a 10k this month.  It was the first time both of us ran in months, but we did great and I actually enjoyed it. See, ever since my half marathon in August, I lost my love for running.  I'm not sure if it was from getting injured again or just mentally, I honestly didn't like running about a month before the race.  And afterwards, just going to track practice for an hour was just blah and frustrating for me.  I decided to take a break and just start working out to exercise rather than "train for an event"....when I was ready.  Well, November 1st came and I was ready.  Ready to start exercising again doing whatever, just exercise!  And that's where INVICTUS comes into play.

If I'm ever asked to describe myself in one word, I always say, "Invictus".  It's a poem by William Ernest Henley. I know it by heart and can totally relate to it.  It's time for me to be master of my fate and make some changes, take action.  I don't know if it's the fact I've been on a 3 month break from seriously exercising along with looking at what the scale's been telling me lately or the fact I'm on a break from wearing my skinny jeans these days, but I'm ready and not in a "all or nothing" kind of way.  I've been working out the past few weeks and truly am enjoying it.  I think the past few years of constantly training for an event have caught up to me and honestly, as soon as I was cleared in June to run again, I did.  And I ran hard, trained hard and realized I became a robot about it.  I lost the joy in it and well, my latest IT band injury was a wake up call since I have used running as my fall back form of exercise.  Not to mention that was one of my worst races ever!  All I have been doing for the past two years is run.  But I think this last injury made me realize I need to try something new and push myself out of my comfort zone.  And so, I will become a swimmer.  I will no longer have an oil and water kind of relationship with water.  I don't think of it as facing my fear, but building my confidence and courage to do the unthinkable of open water swimming in a triathlon (at least for me).

Maybe it's the extra hour of sleep I got last night from Daylight's savings time, but I just fell rejuvenated and full of life again.  And on that note, I end with the poem Invictus by William Ernst Henley:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

If it's important to you, you will find a way.  If not, you will find an excuse.

Tears of Joy

**This blog recaps events that occurred on April 16-17, 2011**

I found my new love, TRAIL RUNNING!  The other week I decided to sign up to run a trail half marathon that weekend...what can I say, I'm easily persuaded when it comes to running races. After paying the registration fee I thought, 'What did I sign myself up for? Uhhh, I've never ran trails!  Well, at least I have 3 hours to complete the course.'
My gameplan-
Saturday: run 6 miles on the course.
Sunday:  Run slow and pace myself to make it under the 3 hour cutoff.

Saturday (04/16/11)-
I decided to bring my dog, Lil G, with me to test out the trails.  Plus, I need to start running with my dog again and figured he'd be a great running buddy so I won't push myself to run too fast.  I wasn't sure how he was going to act though running the trails with me.  The good news is he fell in love running the trails too!

It was strange running the trails.  Strange in the sense you have to watch your footing, maneuver yourself while running and ineveitably you'll get dirty.  And well, I'm a road runner...pavement, asphalt and sidewalks are what I'm use to.  But soaking in the scenery made it all worthwhile.  The trails Lil G and I ran were by a lake and at some point I felt like I was in an issue of Runner's World in their monthly picture of a runner running in a cool location.  All the more reason I love living in SoCal.

After logging in 6 miles I felt a little better for whatever was in store for me the next morning.

Sunday (04/17/11)-
No expectations, just finish before the 3 hour cutoff.  That's what I had in mind for the race.  It was a small half marathon with less than 200 people.  Definitely different from what I'm use to, even my running club has more members than the amount of people running this race.  Also, there were warning about rattlesnakes on the course....once I heard that I was thinking, "WTF?!?!"  I could only imagine what my face looked like when they said that since the guy next to me said, "Don't worry, there's a lot of people running and it's too early for snakes to be out."  My response, "Is it possible to outrun a rattlesnake? Man, I should have warn my running capris rather than shorts."

The race started and we were off running.  Soon we all formed a single file and it was pretty cool seeing a row of people running up the hill and around the lake.  Definitely different from what I'm use to seeing running.  I didn't have a pace set in my head, just wanted to run comfortable and run the entire course.  Well, within the first 3 miles my Garmin died on me.  At that point I was happy I ran some of the course with my dog since I was slightly familiar with it.  But it's an out and back route so I'm just hoping when I turn back there's still people behind me.

My mind started to wander.  I got in my race day mentality.  I started to pick people I wanted to beat before the end.  I started to count how many guys I was passing on the course.  I started to think I could run the course in less than 2.5 hours.  All I know is, I couldn't wait for the turn around point and head back.  Of course, all the fast people started to head back and I could see where I was in the race.  Note to self:  I'm not last.

Finally, I hit the turn around point!  Now I'm in the zone and start to pick up the pace.  I'm feeling awesome! I pass the guys that I was trying to keep up with and now they couldn't keep up with me.  I just kept going and going, taking in the scenery and enjoying the race.  Soon I make it to the last water station and less than a mile to go.  I kick it into high gear and give it all I got.  I see my friends that ran the race with me and they cheer for me.  And then, I cross the finish line!  YES!!!  I get my medal and walk to catch my breath.  I don't see my friends so I walk on the grass and then....I just stop, look at my medal and start crying.  Yes, I cried (thank goodness I had on my sunglasses). I haven't felt this good running in a long time.  [Sidenote: I've only cried at one other race in 2009 after I was sick for some time.] The trail half marathon made me excited to run again!  I was in my element and enjoyed every minute of it- the rocks I tried not to trip over, the dirt paths, the hills and small ravene I ran through.

I was just introduced to my new found love: TRAIL RUNNING!  I told my friends when I saw them that I'm hooked...I want to run trails now, forget the pavement.  They saw how happy I was and even more so when I told them I cried because I felt so good running.  I was euphoric from my runner's high.  It was like I was just introduced to my new best friend, a new love....and that's how I came across Trail Running!  I definitely recommend it if you haven't tried it.  But just a quick warning:  trail running will take your running to a new level and you may become addicted.  I know I'm hooked.

A Watered Down Workout

It's been busy on my end since I last blogged, so let me bring you up to speed with my training.  The other weekend (03/09/11) I logged in a 3 hour run.  My pace was turtle style so I just got in 14 miles running 11:30-12 min/miles. I ran with my my friends, P and E.  Before we started our long run I made the following statement, "Guys, no matter what, I'm running up the No'Torrey'ous Hill today.  Done and done."  They snickered and looked at me, only to make the following comment, "That's fine.  We'll be cheering you on while we both walk up the hill, ha!"  They, like many others, still do not understand my fascination and love for running hills.

Me with a couple of my friends after our 3 hour long run.

Anyway, we completed the run, which I wanted to be 18 miles, but will definitely take 14 out of 18 especially since I ran up the No'Torrey'ous Hill.  I was feeling it in my legs and slightly in my ankles, but didn't really work up a sweat.  I caught up with some of my other friends after the run and told them I feel like Goldilocks when it comes to my running these days.  If I run too fast, I hurt.  When I run too slow, I hurt.  I need to find a pace that's just right for me and I don't hurt.  I'm searching for that number....a time I can look at and know I'm going to be comfortable running at that pace.

I also ran into my friend, J, who I've been talking to after some of the practices.  He told me he had been dealing with tendonitis this season too and recommended I try and run in the pool (aquajog) to help me get in the mileage without over working my ankles.  I figured if this guy qualified for Boston and is running the marathon, well, heck yeah I'll follow his advice!  So later in the afternoon I bought an aquabelt to test out in the pool.

Sunday, 03/10/11-

I woke up ready to run, only this time it would be in the water.  I was looking forward to trying out my new aquabelt.  There is a plus side to running at a slower pace during the long runs. My legs have enough energy in them to workout the next day.  So, my goal for this watered down workout:  Run an hour in the lap pool.  And then, hop into the jacuzzi as my reward!  I started my timer and turned on  my ipod and started running...in the water, in my aquabelt, in the 5' end of the pool.  

Okay, so I'm not sure what I looked like in the pool but I didn't feel like I was "running" since it was definitely not something I'm use to.  The first few minutes felt a little awkward but I didn't worry about how slow I was moving, I just remembered my goal for this session was time on my feet in the pool.  And so I went....back and forth in the lap pool for 60 minutes.  I can honestly say, "I love my ipod!"  If I didn't have my ipod I don't think I could have lasted more than 10 minutes going back and forth in the pool.  Well, I put in the time and an hour finally passed by, woohoo!  As soon as the timer went off, I hopped out of the pool and hit the jacuzzi (another great invention).

As I was sitting in the jacuzzi, I started to really think about my current running state.  And well, I finally came to the conclusion:

I will NOT be running marathon in June like I had already signed up for.  I will be downgrading to a half-marathon.  In the meantime, I will be running to build up my base mileage again, getting stronger (especially with my ankles) and later work on my speed.  All these long runs on the weekend have not been helping my healing process and mentally have been bringing me down.  Now that I've decided to just run a half-marathon, that decision has taken a weight off my shoulders and I no longer feel overwhelmed with my training and running in general. Done and done.

And so, this was a weekend I not only watered down my workout, but watered down my marathon goal in June.  There's always going to marathons, but I have to listen to my body and right now it's telling me a half-marathon is DEFINITELY more realistic than pushing myself to get through 26.2 miles.  Funny how when I first started running years ago (like circa 2003) I was training to run a 5k and now I'm at the point where I think things like....'So, running a half-marathon vs. a full isn't so bad, I'll take it.'  Makes me realize I've come a long way or just have completely lost my sanity, ha!

Sweet 16

This past Saturday was a benchmark in training for me, the 16 mile long run.  My friends and I call it The Beer Run because we take a train up north, then run 16 miles back to our cars that's parked across the street from a great pizza place.  We regroup at the pizza place and celebrate having completed the run with some beer and pizza....oh, and water.  I was pretty nervous about this run since it's the point of no return in my marathon training schedule.  It's my personal wake up call saying, "You better buckle down cause you're just 7 weeks away from running 26.2. miles."

Me and the crew before starting the 16 mile run.

I decided to not run with my friend's dad, P, and run a little faster (still not my usual pace) to about 10:30-11 min/miles.  There were 4 hills during this course and I was ready for them!  I also wasn't sure how my ankles and shins would hold up since I did hill repeats just a few days prior to the long run.  I just wanted to see how my body would hold up running with a faster pace.  The majority of the run I was running by myself.  Luckily I had my ipod with me but for the most part I didn't listen to it.  I love running without music since it helps me clear my heads and think about stuff going on in my life.   And right now, there's just way too much for me to handle.

Mile 10- I'm still feeling pretty good!

By Mile 10 I was excited.  I was hitting my stride and felt I could keep up a 10:30 min/mile pace.  That all started to unravel at about Mile 12.  I was feeling tired.  My legs felt weird and my feet hurt along with my ankles.  At that point I was just telling myself, "Make it another mile running even if you slow down.  Don't start walking or you won't want to run again." And well, the idea of ending this somewhat subpar training run with beer and pizza did help keep me motivated.  By the time I was done...I WAS DONE!  I was over running and started to wonder if I seriously am going to be ready to run a marathon in June.  Honestly, with my ankles not 100% and my training not at its normal routine I need to think about what's best for my body.  And well, I honestly didn't enjoy running the last 6 miles of the run on Saturday.  So I started to think how I would feel if I had to run another 10.2 miles!  I want to run a marathon and enjoy it...not run a marathon just to say I ran one.  In general, I don't like being half-assed about things I do in my life, especially running.

Thinking back at my training last week I basically overdid it.  Here's the breakdown:

Sunday- Ran 45 minutes (moderate)
Monday- Rest
Tuesday- Track 5x 800s
Wednesday- Hill repeats (refer to blog, An Uphill Battle for details)
Thursday- Ran 60 minutes (easy)
Friday- Rest

I think a lot of how crappy I felt towards the tail end of my long run was from overworking my body and also trying to run too fast.  See I haven't ran 4-5 days a week since January before I saw my physical therapist. And I end an intense running week with a 16 mile run, hence, my ankles haven't been too great since the weekend and I'm honestly thinking about changing my goal of running a marathon in June to just running a half-marathon.  I've decided to run my scheduled 18 mile long run this weekend as my litmus test.  But this time I'll be running with my friend's dad again at 11:30-12 min/mile pace.  We shall see and I'll let you know how it all turns out after this weekend!

Drinkers with a running problem.

An Uphill Battle

Yesterday, I put on my running clothes, laced up my sneakers and reset my Garmin and was off.  Time to hit the hill.  For me, I call it the "Tower"ing Hill.  It's right behind where I work and it's basically a bitch, even just driving up it.  See the elevation map below.  Just a straight incline, like going up a roller coaster.

Total mileage up and down the hill= 1.75 miles
328 ft. uphill incline

Now, I ran this hill once with my co-worker back in early January before I was hurt.  My goal was to run up the hill once a week until the marathon.  Yesterday, I was excited to finally get back and try it out.  Plus, it's a metaphor for how my life is right now.  I'm at the bottom of a hill, trudging along trying to make it to the top....an ongoing battle.  Basically, I'm stressed to the max these days and working out has been my only salvation.  Anyway, I ran up the hill and back down the hill.  And I repeated that process 3 times!  YEAH!!! I felt so awesome when I was done 5.5 miles later.

Background info:  So, I'm kind of a crackhead when it comes to running hills.  I LOVE running hills!  I guess since I grew up on the East Coast and never had many hills to run up, it has made me appreciate how bad ass they can be physically and mentally. My favorite races last year were San Francisco Half Marathon and Los Angeles Half Marathon, which were the hilliest races I ran.  Bascially, when it comes to hills I say, "BRING IT!"  

And today...I'm feeling it, in my shins.  I didn't stretch enough last night after my run or ice my legs and they have been throbbing all day.  I even made make-shift ice packs at work to ice my shins while I was at my desk.  I just hope my legs feel better for this Saturday's long run, 16 miles.

On another note:  I spoke to my physical therapist today.  I told him about my progress and had to talk to him about my concern with the marathon.  Even though I've been running again, I'm not 100% back to my regular pace and am not sure if I'll be able to PR (Personal Record) for this marathon.  A few people told me already that I shouldn't think about a PR this time around and just complete the marathon with my ankles all intact.  UGH!  I needed to hear my PT say it.  The doc's official word.  Mentally, I'm not really ready to accept that fact...I'm about 60% there.

Well, my PT told me what I didn't want to hear, "MJ-you definitely are going to have to give your body plenty of time to heal.  This marathon is about completing it, not about a PR.  This season is about getting you better and maybe next year you can think about running a PR marathon.  No expectations for your marathon when it comes to time.  Run it slow."  And the word was out.  It's official.  My brain just hasn't fully accepted it yet.  It is disappointing that my training plans aren't going the way I thought, but that's life.  You gotta roll with the punches.  And besides, I'm still running...so it could be worse...and I've been through much worse where I couldn't even run for 5 months.  All in all, it's been a rough week.  Slowly but surely I'm taking it one step at a time and soon I'll be making my way to the top again...it's an uphill battle right now.  It's only temporary.