Badass

There is nothing like running 6 miles (70 minutes) on the tail end of a cold and then lifting weights to make you feel like a badass. Nice to be done with the long run for the week.

Snack Attack

I ran 5 miles today without stopping (58 minutes)!!! Woohoo! I was really proud of myself...but apparently at out house post run snacks aren't very healthy...

Ready, Set, (Slow)

My friend emailed me today and she wants to do a race at the end of April...whaaaaat? That is only like 7 weeks to train! So I did what any out of shape person who hasn't run in way too long would do...----> panicked ----> dusted off my "no more excuses big girl panties" -----> strapped on the running shoes ----> dragged myself on a painfully slow 3.2 mile 40 minute jog/walk (did I mention how embaressingly slow it was??? - oh well at least it is a start)

Day 2

Day 2: Another 2.5 miles under my belt

You know the problem with a new diet and exercise plan...day 3. The first day you are totally excited to get started. The second day you are determined to be good. By day 3 the junk food cravings hit and you start to feel like exercising takes too much time. So wish me luck tomorrow! (I would really like to bring in 30 in the <= 139 lb range instead of the 140 lb range - the 140s suck).

Running

(Note: Thumbs up nod to 125)

I have been reading 125's blog lately and have been inspired once again by her running (and since I have been a queso eating slug lately I felt it was time to get back on track). Unfortunately I learned that running head on into gusty winds with an energetic 35 lb puppy pulling behind you trying to get at the dog you just passed is even worse then running in freezing temperatures. But even so it was worth it and I feel good about myself today.

2.5 miles done and done

Changed My Mind

So I know I said I wasn't going to post a gross blister picture but I changed my mind - it is too impressive not to post! But I will say that it is amazingly not painful - it just looks bad.

I suppose I should stop running and let it heal.

Another Run Knocked Out

Furthest barefoot run yet. Still loving it. There is one huge problem with the training process though...the skin on the bottom of my feet is not tough enough yet which has resulted in quarter sized blisters on my midfoot and bottom of my big toe. I thought about posting a picture but it is really way too gross to show anyone. :) And with that thought - happy running everyone!

PS - The best thing about running barefoot is that I no longer seem to drag myself through each run miserably - I actually have fun now!!!

My First Barefoot Run

 
Yes, yes you are all probably tired of reading running posts but I can't help myself. Stop here if you don't want to hear anything else about running =)

So let's start by saying that my typical shoe wearing habits include none any time they aren't required, when I have to leave the house flip flops or crocs are often my shoe of choice, and when I can't wear those because I am going to work I am usually wearing some kind of flip flopish or strappy heel with no support that puts me on the balls of my feet anyways. Also my other activities of choice in the past have been ballet and yoga which are both very foot and lower leg intensive (so what I am getting at is my experience may not be typical).

My first barefoot run (well in Vibrams) was AWESOME! I ran 1.25 miles so a very short run and I ran at a 12 minute mile pace so about a minute per mile slower then my typical pace (I felt really good and probably could have kept going but everything I read said to start slow). You really can tell when you are running barefoot correctly, your heel never really touches the ground and you kind of bounce/glide run on the balls of your feet. If you happen to take a step incorrectly (heel strike) you can feel the impact change in your leg immediately so you really never take more then one incorrect step. I probably took a handful of them the first block or so I ran while I got used to the new motion and after that the barefoot stride felt very natural and smooth. I did notice that you have to take shorter steps (or at least I did).

Since I didn't want to risk injury I stopped after 1.25 miles and put on my running shoes to finish my hill training. Seriously after about 2 minutes my knee and hip started to tweak which had started happening during my last run (did not experience this while running barefoot). You have to take all of this with a grain of salt since it is my first run and who knows what my feet / calves will feel like tomorrow or how longer / faster runs will go but I am very optimistic that this could help keep my knees and shins and hips safe. If possible I would like to run my August 5K barefoot (someday I would like to run really barefoot - not in Vibrams - but that is months down the line). More to come...
 

CEP Compression Sleeves

Oh where have you been all my life?!?  I have been reading reviews about compression sleeves lately and with me upping mileage I have started getting some mild shin splits. I bought a pair of sleeves put them on and they are seriously amazing!  I would never have guessed they would make such a difference. When I bought them I was planning on just wearing them for recovery but now that I have tried them it is going to be hard to get them off me.  Bye bye pain!
 

Nearly Barefoot

My entire life I've loved being barefoot...I think these shoes were made for people like me. At the race I ran people wore them and I have seen them on a ton of running blogs. One of our friends has a pair and she totally sold me on them. I can't wait to take them for a short run to see how they do!!! (Apparently I'm going to have to work on building up my calf muscles.)
 

Flounce Ruffle Scarf

 
I dragged B out to a specialty yarn store yesterday and bought some ruffle yarn! Here is the finished scarf. It is on the short side (I actually like scarves this length - about long enough for one wrap) but if you wanted a scarf you could wrap around your neck a few times I would go with two skeins instead of one. I used six stitches for this scarf. This is a great beginner project, really fast knit and fun finished product.



Scarf modeled by Chase.





While I was at the knitting store I also picked up this yarn / pattern - so fun!



And finally on the running front today I did a nice steady long run - woohoo!


 

Where am I with Running?

So I finished my first 5K - now what? Well my sad little brain immediately jumped to "Woohoo! Been there, done that, no more running yippee!". So to negate my laziness I immediately went home and registered for the ERace Homelessness 5K race in Washington Park (August 28th - if anyone else wants to join me).

It still left me with a lack of motivation so my next search was for a 10K. I am highly interested in the Denver half marathon / 10K at the Cherry Creek reservoir on September 11th but I am afraid to sign up because no matter how good my intentions are I'm afraid moving may get in the way of my training / running.

My other goal in July is more cross training which to me = yoga. Unfortunately yoga is a time consuming activity and packing / moving may interfere with those plans as well. But just in case I some how pull off renting a house, moving, and training all at once I thought that I should start upping my mileage. So today I added an extra half mile to my run. :)
 

My First 5K

I finished my first 5k race today - WAY too many hills...I started off well but when I hit the hills I had to walk parts. I still finished in around 33 minutes and since my best 5k time recently was 34.5 minutes I'll take it. Next time I'll pick a flatter course.
Official time: 33:25
 

Running Sucks Today

- 1 week until my race
- 87 degrees out
- 100 degree fever
- side pain for half my run due to too much dinner before exercising
- 1 full minute slower then my last 3.1 miles

Summary: Slow sucktastic run

I hope next week goes better.

Machine Cathedral Windows

 
I just finished my first Cathedral Windows block, I made a pillow because I thought it would be a good starter project. I did it fully by machine and here are a few things that I learned.



- First of all don't be intimidated these are WAY easier then they look - I finished this entire project including cutting, sewing, stuffing etc in about 3 - 4 hours which isn't bad considering there was learning curve time included.



- I used 12.5 inch backing pieces and 4 inch windows. I think if I did an entire quilt I would use bigger pieces.

- If I did this again I may try doing it by hand because it may look a lot less sloppy (that is how these blocks are traditionally done)

- Cathedral blocks are not for perfectionists. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get my corners to line up perfectly (which is kind of the nature of the block since you are folding so many layers of fabric). The result is something like this where you have some perfect corners (where the corners were sewn together)....



...and some way less then perfect corners where you are sewing down loose flaps that made my OCD crazy....I realized that on one of the tutorials they recommended tacking down the loose flaps with a few stitches before doing your rolled edges - this probably fixes the sloppy corner issue and I will definitely try it next time.



- These blocks end up being a little bit lumpy and seamy - I had thought they would make great baby quilts but they aren't exactly snuggly

- While it does take a long time to make the blocks you have to consider that you save a lot of time because you don't have to quilt or bind these blocks

- I found when I sewed down the rolled edges it was easiest to go all the way around the entire window without stopping

- Here is what the back looks like if you do it by machine - a bit sloppy looking for my taste but not terrible I guess



- Some people recommended gluing the window fabric down or the rolled edges down but I found a single pin was enough to hold the window fabric down and I didn't have any trouble with the rolled edge (I think the key is the make sure your piece of window fabric isn't too big so you can get a clean roll).

I will admit that once I saw the final product as a pillow I was a bit sad that I made this as a gift because I LOVE it!





If you want to try your own block here are the links that I found the most helpful.
The Sometimes Crafter
Hyena in Petticoats
Making Ends Meet

Happy Sewing!

In other random news I finished my 3.1 mile run in 34:26 minutes - hooray for being under 35 minutes. I also finished the book The Help the other day - I can't wait for the movie!
 

Challenge Check In

Here is a quick challenge update.

Since May 28th I have run 21.34 miles. I did a baseline run outside with a lot of hills today and it took me 36:01 minutes. So the good news is I am making progress on the running front.  I would like to finish the race on the 4th in under 35 minutes. 

On the weight loss front I am not as happy with my results. I wanted to lose 6ish lbs during the challenge but so far I am only down 2ish lbs which I know is progress but I want it to happen faster. Weigh loss is such a slow journey. 
 

I want to do the slacker half marathon next year! I am in no shape to do a half marathon right now but if I ever do one it will be this all downhill one.

30 Day Challenge

 
I am taking One Twenty Five up on her 30 day challenge. I am going to run my first 5K race on July 4th (registered already and everything).

Today one of my friends finished a 25K and one of my coworkers did a Tri so my 5K doesn't seem all that impressive but everyone's got to start somewhere right? I've managed to get G, B, and one other friend in on it as well!


 

Fitness Goals Update

 
My fitness goals are going alright although my running has come to a screetching halt due to knee pain (I tried to run again today but had to give up after 30 minutes and my knee is already freezing up *sigh*).

Ballet is going well - I went to the Saturday class that I struggled with for a second time an this time it went much smoother.

My greatest accomplishment is that I was able to get into the crooked limb sage yoga pose (see below) - not one of the inversions I wanted to work on but an accomplishment anyways. I am able to hold forearm stand and handstand for a few seconds but not long enough for me to be able to say I mastered them yet. Next steps are side crow with extended legs, hurdler (which I can't even get into), and more stable forearm stand and handstand.


 

365 Project

 
On December 31st I made a random unexpected decision to try the 365 project (why wait until the 1st when I could start right now...yes I am that impatient - seize the moment right?). I have seen a few people who have done it and it seems like a really cool idea! I probably won't post all of my pictures here because why post things twice, but if you want to see my photos you can check them out here.

Here is my first photo (yes, that is Chase's half eaten apple).



Also just because I am really excited - yesterday I welcomed in the new year by running 6.2 miles in 1 hr and 9 minutes! Yippee, I think a few of my friends and I are going to try to run the Boulder Boulder this year...more running updates to come. If anyone else has a 2011 run goal check out running-log.com. It is a cool way to track your running and you can track your progress in teams with other people.