Time Management

For me, it seems like running is always at the bottom of my list.  There are so many other things to be doing.  Meals to cook, rooms to clean, laundry to be folded.  And when I started working as a substitute teacher, my days were so "off"--I never knew what the day had in store until I logged on the system each morning to see if a job was available.

And now, my life is about to get every crazier.  I was offered, and accepted, a long-term substitute job.  I'll be in the same class room for 8 weeks while a teacher is out.  And this makes my time management skills needing some work on.  This past week I started the job and when to the gym on Monday, and then running outside on Thursday.  My father in law had the kiddos as well on Tuesday afternoon, but I was so worn out from school that I just stayed home and rested.  Sometimes the best thing to do is rest rather than run your body down even more. 

This weekend was super crazy.  Hubby had a ton of jobs to apply for, as well as homework to get caught up on from the week and things to turn in this coming week.  One kiddo had ninja class, and I needed to get things done ahead of this week including making a week of lesson plans.  But I am happy to say that I got a 2.20 mile run in on Saturday, and then 6.0 miles on Sunday.  My Sunday run was the longest one of the year so far, and it was super slow.  I think the turtle beat me back to the house.  But honestly, it felt so good to get out for a run.  I really do like getting out to run early on a weekend morning.  On Saturday I ran in the afternoon and cut the run short.  Every intersection I got to I had to wait for a minute or longer to cross the road because of all the cars out at that time of day.  On Sunday mornings I can run into Cambridge while the rest of the world is still sleeping....no stopping (or at least not for long), the silence of the day was all aaround, and since there are not a lot of cars and people, I felt like I had the roads to myself.

I am excited that spring is just around the corner, and I can see Boston again on foot.

February update

I can't believe that I have not posted in almost a month!  WHOOPS!!! And so much has happened, I almost don't know where to start.  But like any story I will start at the beginning.

One of my goals for 2016 is to get through an entire month of WHole30.  Hubby and I started, and I made it....through Day 16.  That day he decided to go to the 7am CrossFit class.  Which left me getting the kids fed and dressed for school on a day that I had to work as well. (Remember how I said I started working as a sub at their school??) While he usually takes them to the same building that I am working, getting there 30 minutes before to read the lesson plans and get acquainted with the room helps me start the day in a non-frantic fashion.  So I got through that, and then he came home late.  I was so burned out of cooking every.single.meal.  I needed to just heat up some pizza and devour some chocolate cake. I broke. But I seriously learned a lot on my eating habits, what I like (ranch dressing!), and what I don't like (coffee without sugar is just not worth it). When we move, I can see us replenishing our pantry with healthier foods and maintaining a 80/20 lifestyle.

Running has been extremely hard during this winter.  On February 1st, it was 63-degrees, so I ran into Cambridge that day in shorts and a t-shirt.  This past weekend, the low was around -7 degrees. Hmmmmm..... So I have been spending a lot of time at the gym working out on the elliptical and bike.  Keeping my cardio up is the plan for now.  I am not sure how my plans will fall out for the Winter Vacation we are on this week. But I am certainly trying my best.

Two weeks in

So we're two weeks into the new year, and so far I have not fallen THAT far behind.  I decided to go back to work as a substitute teacher, so that makes my schedule very flexible.  It also makes life a little crazy because I usually do not know until 6am if I am working that day or not.  It also cuts into time at the gym, so when I do have a day off I make to make the most of it!

Hubby and I are going to try Whole30 starting next Tuesday.  We were trying it in December but I did not plan as thoroughly as I am now, so hopefully we can stay on it longer than 48 hours! I am really excited about it, the recipes do look very yummy.  The day that I was on it, I realized how little food I could eat and be full from it.  A lot of veggies and smaller portions of protein really do make a difference.  I am unhappy with how I look, and after stepping on the scale this morning and weighting 152 I am REALLY unhappy with my weight.  Hopefully eating healthier will help me lose weight, and help me get faster in my running as well.

My gym is rearranging their weights today, and so the plan that I spent TWO HOURS creating is pretty much down the drain. :(  They have taken out all of the machines that I do for my leg workout A, so I am back to the drawing board for designing a leg workout that can challenge me and slim my thunder thighs.

New year, same goals

So already for this new year I have been to the gym and totally destroyed my hands rowing. My weight lifting gloves were in another gym bag, so now I have four lovely blisters on my hands.  And crazy me, I decided that after rowing (which can be a great upper body workout) I was going to do a bicep/triceps workout.  That is when my hands really started to hurt. Ouch! The pain!

I saw a woman at the gym yesterday who had shoulder muscles that would make a man drool.  I mean, there was some serious definition to her.  I told Hubby THAT is what I wanted. I always want to workout to have a toned and defined body.  Think Jennifer Garner from "Alias", rather than Linda Hamilton of "T2".

I have my workout plan mapped out for at least the first four months of the year, getting me to at least my New York Half-Marathon on May 1st.  Fingers crossed that I can stay somewhat on track, getting in 1008 miles for the year!

Disclaimer: I am NOT a personal trainer and have no experience in that field.  This monthly plan was made for me, by me.  You should consult a professional to create your own, I am only showing you what I have created for myself.

Goals, not Resolutions, for 2016

I read somewhere where someone said they don't make resolutions for the new year, because ultimately they fail.  Rather, they make goals, because it is something to strive towards. Sounds about right, don't you think??  So at my workout today, I wrote this entry in my head, and here are the goals I want to accomplish in 2016.

1. To complete the Whole30 diet once. We tried recently, but failed before the end of Day 2.  It sounds great, but I did a big shopping trip a week before starting, and that grocery trip was NOT preparing for the diet.  So we had sooooo many tempting foods in the house.  So rather Hubby and I decided to press pause, and restart the diet in a few more weeks.  At that time there will be no more pizza in the freezer, and fewer than 15 boxes of pasta in the house. 

2. To complete 1008 miles of cardio.  This is half of 2016, and while it is reachable, I am going to be pushing myself in this.  I ran or did elliptical for around 550 miles in 2015 (an increase from 470 in 2014). To diversify this goal, and to not bore myself out, I decided that I can do four exercises to complete the miles: running/walking; rowing; biking; elliptical machine.  Each of these much have the resistance increased from 1. So if I am on the elliptical machine, I usually set it to resistance 8. But not something that is easy and I can "phone in".  I can decrease the resistance for a few minutes, but I MUST be working and pushing myself.

3. To complete 5 more half-marathons in 5 different states. Pretty easy so far--I have New York, Maine and New Jersey already paid for and on the books! We are still not sure where we will end up after Hubby graduates from graduate school this spring.  We could stay in the New England area, we could venture to California.  We'll go wherever the job is, and because of that uncertainty I cannot book anything after May. :(

4. Lose 5 pounds.  Ok, this might be wishful thinking. :)  But I know that losing the weight will certainly help me get that elusive 2:29:59 in a half-marathon that I have been chasing for more than 3 years now.  Fingers crossed, right?!?!

So there ya go.  Short, sweet and to the point.  I'll have to remember to check back this time next year and let you know how I did!

Need your help!!

I feel that I am such an indecisive person.  If I make a decision, I will research it to death, until I am so overwhelmed with facts and figures that I just CAN'T make a decision. And so I am looking to others to help me figure out my medal holder as well.

I received a gift card to ETSY for Christmas, and I want to get this medal holder to display my medals from all 50 states. The elevation map I have already chosen (my hometown), but I need something at the top.  I have started a survey, can you help me out??

Click here to access it and let me know your favorite motivational quote! I'm going to be looking at this for a very long time, so I need something good.

Looking ahead to 2016

Now that we only have 16 days until 2016, I felt the need to write about what I am going to do next.  Of course, I am continuing my #50in50before50 journey, and have three states on the calendar for next year: Asbury Park Half Marathon (NJ), Greater Bridge Half Marathon (NY), and Fort Edgecomb Half Marathon (ME).  And I have been so lucky to have so many friends support me in my journey.  After each race, they congratulate me and proceed to tell me they can host me when I come to their state. With sorority sisters and Army wives opening their homes and hearts, I feel so fortunate to have people who will have my back in their trying life journey.

Since our family does not know where we will be living after July, it is tough to plan for 2016, but by May I will have completed 10 states, or 20% of my journey, and still have 13 years to complete this endeavor.  That is 3 races a year, which is totally doable, so I am not too worried.....yet.

Another thing I need to figure out for 2016 is how to keep myself motivated.  Races on the calendar are ok, but this 2015 in 2015 Challenge has really pushed me to take my running to a new and consistent level.  The sad thing for 2016 is that the group I have been doing this with does not want to continue it into the next year.  Which is fine, I realize I can be very Type A on some things, and because I am such a "numbers person", it was a fit for me but not for others.  I have taken some time off after this last half marathon, but will end the year with about 525 miles, a 55 mile increase over 2014.  So what should I strive for next year?? Some months are good, some are bad, and I am not sure what I want to set a monthly goal (ie--run 50 miles per month), only to fail the second or third month. I might try to do 1008 in 2016, but increase the amount of things I can do.  This challenge was only running and elliptical machine, but to increase the mileage without killing myself I might add in rowing and biking.

Something to think about and ponder while running.....