Wishful Weekend Weather

I’m excited to be off this weekend.  All weekend long.  What I’m not excited about is this:

I’m supposed to do a 5k on Saturday morning with my work.  No big deal because I can get all bundled up if need be.  However, we are also supposed to take the little man to hunt for Easter eggs that afternoon!  It’s going to be 43º.  It could be worse, but doing an egg hunt in the warm, sunny, 60º weather of my dreams would be so much better!

Guess we’ll just buckle down and deal with it.  It’s not like the weather will be changing for the better any time soon.  Apparently.  Stupid groundhog.

Conquering Couch To 5k

So, apparently you guys like when I post fitness stuff on here!  Who knew?  A couple of my most recent posts (Run Around and Fit to be Tied) got a bit of a buzz.  Yep, I’m getting all sleek and in shape over here at OGT.  I’ve got a few months til summer and I will be spending as much time in a bathing suit as possible.  I have a little fishy of a son, so you can bet we will be saying hi to Grandma from the pool as often as we can.  I better invest in sunblock now…

Back to the runnin’.  I touched on the Couch to 5k method of “learning” to run earlier this year.  I said I had never once completed the program the whole way through.  Well, I am thisclose to completing it this time!  Let me give you a little back story.

I have never been on a team sport.  Not growing up, not in high school, not in college, not ever.  The closest I came to being on a “team” was when I was in a singing group when I was 10.  Nope, I didn’t play any sports.  I worked in high school.  I was never one for running or really even into fitness for that matter.  It wasn’t until I was in college that I started realizing how out of shape I was.  My freshman roommate and some of the other girls on my floor would convince me to go workout in the gym in our basement.  I had no idea what I was doing, so I just kind of made stuff up as I went along.

Fast forward a few years.  OK, several years.  In the summer of 2009 I was at my highest (then) weight of 165.  I knew I needed to do something because I was unhappy.  I felt fat, lazy, and had no energy.  I started walking and lifting weights.  My sister had started running earlier in the year and she lost a ton of weight.  She also started running in some 5ks and she inspired me to want to try running too.  I began the program (I actually use an app called Ease into 5k instead of the c25k one) and I think I got through about week 4 or so.  Then I gave it up.  Can’t remember why, but I did.  I probably thought my body wasn’t built for running.

Despite not completing the program, I ended up losing 30 pounds by walking and doing various other activities at the gym like the arc trainer.  I started the program a few more times but, as before, stopped it by week 4 or 5.  When I got pregnant with Jake, I ended up gaining a ton of weight.  I believe my highest weight was 204!!!  Geez, Louise!

After I had him, I lost about 30 pounds naturally, but I hovered around the 170 mark for a loooooong time.  Finally at the beginning of this year I had had enough.  I wanted my 135 pound body back.  My best friend and I got serious and we’ve been eating right and exercising ever since.  I’ve lost 12 pounds so far and feel a lot more lean and mean.  I still have a ways to go, but I can see the results and I’m determined to reach my goal!

Well, that was a long winded way to get on the topic of my current experience with Couch to 5K.  This time, it’s all different.  I started out pretty strong on weeks 1, 2, and 3, but then I started having some pain on the inside of my shins.  My friend told me she thought they were shin splints and suggested I rest and not run for a while.  This is one of the reasons why I had stopped running period in the past, so I was nervous to take a break.  On the other hand, I didn’t want to hurt myself, so I quit running for a few weeks.

When I got back on the treadmill, I was still a little sore, but not so much I couldn’t run.  I completed my run with ease!  After that, I just kept progressing and progressing.  Some days were really tough, others weren’t so bad.  Last night, I went to the gym fully expecting not to be able to complete the day’s run.  Week 6, day 2 is run 10 minutes, walk 3, run 10.  I did it, but struggled with it.  Week 6, day 3 (last night’s run) was warm up, then run 20 minutes.  Straight.  No breaks.  There was no way.

Well, I was wrong.  I KILLED my run!  Not only did I run the 20 minutes it said to, but I kept going and ran an additional 6 minutes so I could say I ran 2 miles straight!  (Yes, right now I run a very slow 13 minute mile, but I run the whole thing.  So there.)  I was so pleased with myself I put it all over social media!

I’m not completely done with Couch to 5k, but I’m so close.  Now I feel like I could actually, potentially be a runner.  I know they say if you run even one minute, you’re a runner, but in my head that’s not the truth.  That’s not the definition of a runner I see.  My sister?  She’s a runner.  Know what I do believe in?  The term runner’s high.  There’s no other feeling like it.

On a side note, did you all see Google Reader is going to be shutting it’s doors on July 1? 

What blog reading platform will you be using when that happens?

Run Around

I love music.  I have found there is a song to express any emotion or thought I have.  I also know music gets me moving.  Some people can watch TV while they run.  Not me.  I need my music to get my feet going!  Here are some of my current favorite tunes to run to lately:

Scream & Shout – will.i.am featuring Britney Spears

Everybody Talks – Neon Trees

50 Ways To Say Goodbye – Train

Shake Senora – Pitbull

Wait – Chris Brown

This is just a small sampling of the music I listen to when I run.  I have done a few of these posts in the past and I’m always looking for new music.  I tend to listen to Pandora a lot simply to get new song ideas, but I like having a backup playlist on my phone in case Pandora is being wonky and not playing anything I like.  A little known fact about me is I hate the radio for the most part.  Pandora is less like the radio and more like an iTunes playlist on shuffle.

Anyhow, what’s your favorite song to run to?

Color Me Happy…and Healthy

Remember when I wrote this post a while back?  I talked about running in a few 5ks.  Last Saturday, I fulfilled leg one of the 5k journey.  I participated in the Color Run!  I’m sad to say I didn’t run this race due to an injury, but I (along with a couple other ladies) walked it with pride.

Let me spend a minute here talking about my “injury”.  A few months ago, I started noticing when I would wake up in the morning, my feet would ache for a few minutes.  I had no idea what it was, but figured it would get better eventually.  I kept running, not thinking much of it.  When it started to get worse, I began asking other people what they thought it was.  Most everyone gave me the same explanation:  plantar fasciitis.

My shoes were not the best shoes for running, plus I had had them for a looooong time, so it’s no wonder my feet hurt.  I also work retail, thus resulting in me being on my feet most of the day.  The only choice I had was to take some time off from running and to get new shoes.  Well, I haven’t been running, but I kept putting off getting new shoes.  Not that I don’t want to, I just never seem to have the time!  My feet aren’t getting much better though.  I’m not quite sure what to do at this point.  Oh well.  I’m sure I’ll figure something out.

Anyhow, back to the Color Run!  My sister-in-law Shannon, my manager Kristy, and my best friend Carolyn had all agreed to walk with me.  Early Saturday morning, I swung by Shannon’s house to pick her up and then headed over to pick up Kristy.  We arrived in Cincinnati in a decent amount of time and spent a couple minutes getting ourselves ready.  I had picked up the packet of goodies for all the girls the Thursday before.  We got race bibs, sweatbands, color run temporary tattoos, wristbands, and a packet of colored powder to throw.  Oh and a Color Run t-shirt of course!

Once Carolyn arrived from Louisville and got herself situated, we were off to the race.  We did the obligatory pre-race picture and then found a spot amid all the other runners.

It was packed!  I’m not sure how many people were in attendance, but I do know our race was sold out!

The race info said it started at 8:00a and would let people start running in waves.  It said the waves would be released every 5-8 minutes.  So there we were, just standing around talking, taking pictures, and freezing.  (PS…it was about 45º when we started.)

We stood there for at least 45 minutes without moving.  We couldn’t figure out what was going on until we realized we were almost at the back of the lineup!  Before we were even close to moving, people were already finishing the race!

We eventually got past the start line at 9:04a (yep, over an hour after the start of the race!).  Yay!

The way the Color Run works is you walk or run for a bit and then go through these color stations (read: a 40 ft stretch where people spray you with colored cornstarch).  I had fun with it, raising my arms up and dancing around, walking backwards, and other such things.  I wanted to be covered in color!

First color station down.  Orange!

Second color station complete.  Blue!

Third color station (though it’s kind of hard to see). Pink!

Here’s a somewhat far away shot of the color station.  I was taking pictures on my phone and didn’t want to get powder in it.

Fourth (and final) color station finished.  Yellow!

I loved the back of Shannon’s shirt.  It looked like a neat abstract painting to me.

I love this picture!  What a fun day.

Kristy and I had a blast.  We thought it was a great thing to do to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma foundation.  Too bad more of our coworkers couldn’t join us!

It was a great bonding experience.  I love doing things with my friends and family.  I only wish I could do more.  One day…just need to be a manager first!  (Hint, hint.)

After the race, we were all pretty hungry, so we headed over to the Findlay Farmer’s Market and picked up lunch.  A yummy flatbread with chicken, peppers, onions, eggs, and asiago cheese never tasted so good!  I also picked up some fresh pasta and raviolis at Ohio City Pasta, a company about which I’d heard lots and lots of great things!

I wanted something sweet after lunch, so I grabbed a Belgium waffle from Taste of Belgium.  Oh my gosh, you guys.  This waffle was the best thing I’d had in a LONG time!  Light and crisp with little balls of sugar running all through it.  Mmm mmm mmm.  Makes me want another one right now!

If you’re ever in Cincinnati and have a chance to go to Findlay market, go!  Even if just for the waffles…

After all that, we were all pretty beat.  We parted ways and I went home to this smiley little fella.  Life is good.

I Like to Move It, Move It

If you don’t know, I have been spending a lot more time on Twitter lately (@OneGirlsTaste).  Part of the reason is to connect with other bloggers (and part because I like tweeting funny pictures of myself and the boy).

One day, after clicking around on the Internet, I landed on Fitness Cheerleader’s blog a day writing challenge.  Basically she listed out a bunch of topics and you wrote about each one on the given day.  Now, being as I don’t write a daily blog, I didn’t have answers to all the questions, and I just found the article about 2/3 the way through the month, I am not going to be participating.  Or am I?

I looked at each of the questions and picked several out that I could use as inspiration for those times that I don’t have a recipe or an update to share.  Today is one of those times.  It’s really quite handy to have a list of blog topics at your disposal!  I’m very excited she is going to continue this into September.

I chose to talk about workout songs today.  I am one of those people that has to listen to music to really get going at the gym or outside.  Fast, upbeat music makes my feet faster, my heart rate speed up, and just makes me happy in general.  Here are the top 5 workout songs that really get my feet flying:

1.  Hurricane Streets – Hey Monday

hurricane streets

2.  Ignorance – Paramore

ignorance

3.  Got It Made – Theory of a Deadman

got it made

4.  Can’t Stop – Maroon 5

can’t stop

5.  Stronger – Kanye West

Bonus Song:  Real World – The All-American Rejects  (probably my favorite running song)

Man, listening to all these songs this morning has made my feet itch to go for a run!

What is your favorite running/workout song?  What gets your feet moving?

Race to a Healthy, Happy Me

A few weeks ago, my life looked a little different.  I would go to work, come home, and sit.  Sure, I would play with my child and cook dinner for my husband and myself, but the thought of working out was just not present.

Yes, I had a baby almost eight (!!) months ago and it was definitely past time to start getting myself healthy, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of being on my feet at my retail job every day and then coming home to do even more physical movement.  I already had the tasks of making dinner, cleaning, doing laundry, taking care of my boys, etc on my list.  Could I really add another one?

I thought long and hard about adding in some exercise.  Well, actually it was a pretty short internal conversation:

Me:  I hate feeling tired all the time.  I have to work on my feet all day.  Why do I need to come home and do more physical movement?

Me:  You want to know WHY you’re so tired?  You’re out of shape!  If you get your butt in gear, maybe you’ll find energy you never knew you had.  And WHY should you do more movement?  To get healthy!  Duh!  You want to be a good role model for your little boy, right?  That’s why you make healthy dinners.  That’s why you keep the house clean.  That’s why you try to make healthy decisions, right?  Well, exercise is all part of that, my friend.  Now MOVE!

Me:  But I really don’t want to.  I’m fine the way I am.

Me:  Remember that picture you took when you were at a healthy weight and not classified as obese?

Right, that one.  You’re not gonna get that way by sitting on your butt.  Make a decision.  Be fat and lazy or be healthy and in shape!  Whatever your decision, just shut up and do it!

So, after that dialogue I made my decision.  Healthy and in shape is definitely the choice I choose.  I went to the gym the next day and started Couch to 5k!

Now, telling myself to move is one thing.  Having motivation that pushes me is another.  When Jo‘s husband said he was running in the Ghost and Goblin 5k in October, I made my second great decision.  I would sign up to run in it.  Before I could talk myself out of it, I paid the $20 and joined.  No turning back now!

Then, a few days ago, my manager told me our community at work was creating a group to walk in the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes.  Walgreens is an avid supporter of walking and getting healthy.  This is just one more way to get the word out there.  I immediately agreed to walk!

Last weekend, Jeff, Jake, and I went to visit Carolyn in Louisville.  While at breakfast at Wild Eggs (if you live in Louisville, you MUST go!), all these people had on white shirts covered in splotches of color.  What the heck?  Carolyn informed me there was a race called the Color Run that weekend.  Basically the concept is to run the 5k while being splattered with paint powder.  I’d never heard of such a thing, but it looked really fun!

(source)

Well, this morning I was talking to a different friend who mentioned there was a color run coming up in Cincinnati in October!  Yay!  I watched the video below and started to get really excited.

Please tell me…who wouldn’t want to be a part of “the happiest 5k on the planet”?  I’m stoked!

So, my friends, the morale of the story is I made the decision to be a healthy, happy me.  I started running again, I started going back to Zumba, I started eating better.  Basically I started caring for myself again.

And I’ve never been happier.

How are you making yourself a healthier, happier you?

Pep Talk

Every now and then, everyone needs a pep talk.  More often than not, you need to provide your own pep talk to yourself.  I don’t know about you, but getting myself to eat right and work out is a daily (sometimes hourly) struggle.  There are days (like yesterday) when all I want to do is curl up on the couch and sleep.  That’s when my inner dialogue begins:

“I really don’t want to work out.”
“But if you do, you’ll feel so much better!”
“I had such a long day at work.  I’m so tired!  And this couch feels so good…”
“You promised yourself (and Carolyn) you were going to Zumba today.”
“She’ll understand.  I bet she’s tired too.”
“You won’t lose any weight or get any good, heart healthy exercise by laying on the couch.”
“I could clean the house.  That would be exercise.”
“You and I both know you’ll SAY you’re going to clean and then you’ll get sidetracked reading blogs, watching YouTube videos, or sleeping and you won’t do it.  Quit making excuses.”
“But it’s so far away!”
“Are you kidding me?  It’s five minutes.  Plus, remember what Carolyn said…you’ve never regretted doing a workout.  You have, however, regretted NOT getting up off your butt.”
“OK, OK, you win.”

There are a million reasons I tell myself as to why I can’t, don’t want to, or shouldn’t work out, but really there is no good reason.  I mean, heck, if you can’t do anything else, just go for a walk!  It doesn’t have to be a super speedy walk.  Even just getting out and enjoying the sunshine is good enough.  Chances are, when you get dressed and get out there, you’ll go longer, harder, faster than you planned.

The other day I absolutely did not want to exercise at all.  I’m talking I was laying in bed trying to take a nap because I had gotten very little sleep the night before and had worked a full day that day.  Then Carolyn asked me if I’d walk “with” her (in spirit because we live two hours apart), so grudgingly I agreed.  Know what happened?  I ended up run/walking for 45 minutes.  I did the Couch to 5k program’s Week 1 Day 1 one and a half times!  That’s typically what happens to me.

So, when you find yourself not wanting to workout, remind yourself how great you will look and feel after!  And then GET MOVING.

But have your best friend’s number on speed dial.  Just in case.

 

 

Run, Run, Run, Run, Runaway Baby

You know when you get a song stuck in your head and you can’t get it out?  I hate that.  Unless, of course, it’s a song I absolutely love!  Thanks to Katie‘s post about new music, I now have “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars stuck in my head.  Thanks, Katie…    (Also, I decided to steal borrow her blog post idea about current music additions.  What a generous girl!)

I recently purchased Bruno Mars’s cd Doo Wops & Hooligans and I love love love it!  Every song on there is great.  I originally heard a selection of songs on an episode of “Glee” last year.  (I don’t listen to the radio often at all so I tend to be a little late on new music…)  I was immediately drawn in by the catchy tune and clever lyrics.

After downloading the album, I listened to it three times straight through while cleaning the house.  I noticed a couple of the songs would be great to run to.

I also got a great idea from my friend, Lacy.  I was always asking for new music ideas because I got tired of my playlists so fast.  She recommended making a Running station on Pandora based on several of my favorite artists.  I chose The Black Eyed Peas, Britney, Lady Gaga, Avril, Katy Perry, etc.  It works great, especially since my gym has wifi.  I get new songs all the time and don’t have to search for music that often!

Do you have any favorite songs lately, running or otherwise?

Shut Up and Do It (C25k: W5D2)

Greetings from Cleveland!  I woke up this morning at my dad’s house in Cleveland.  I decided I would go ahead and attempt this run even though I was out of my “normal” running environment.

Dad has a treadmill, so after waking and hydrating a bit, I went to the basement to complete today’s program.  After a few minutes on his treadmill, I wasn’t feeling it, so decided to move my run outside.  It was about 50* after all, so it was a nice morning for it.

The program today was:
Warm up
Run 8 minutes
Walk 5 minutes
Run 8 minutes
Cool down

Dad lives in a nice, quiet neighborhood, though it’s not very big.  I had to stay in the neighborhood though, because the road he lives off of is a tad busy and I didn’t really want to risk getting run over this weekend.

The entire neighborhood is probably about 3/4 of a mile.  I think I ended up doing about 3 laps, so about 2 1/4 miles in 30 minutes.  I completed the first 8 minute run and was tired and out of breath.  My heart rate was around 185, so I knew my pace was a little fast (I have trouble pacing outside), but all in all I was feeling OK.

I walked the 5 minutes and then started to run the 8 minutes.  That’s when the mind games started.  I told myself, just get to 4 minutes and then you can stop if you want…it’s good you came out on your mini vacation at all.  After a bit of this, I remembered a blog post I read the other day (unfortunately I searched and searched, but couldn’t find it again) talking about all the negative talk you tell yourself when running.  That’s when I decided to shut up and do it.  Just complete the run.  Yes, I was tired.  Yes, I was out of breath.  Yes, my heart rate was getting uncomfortably high.  But I thought of the feeling I would have when I was done.  And I love that feeling so I just ran.

The verdict?  Sometimes you just have to shut up and do it and you’ll thank yourself later.  I know (now) from experience.

Today’s Playlist (Let me know what you think of the playlist idea):
Heros-Shinedown
Harder to Breathe-Maroon 5
Brick by Boring Brick-Paramore
Luckie St.-Cartel
Right Now (Na Na Na)-Akon
I’d Do Anything-Simple Plan
Don’t Lie-Black Eyed Peas

What do you tell yourself to push yourself forward when all you want to do is quit?

C25k: W4D3

I was not going to run today.  No way.  No how.  Couldn’t pay me to run today.  I woke up with my back in knots (I’m thinking from Zumba last night for some reason).  I was sore, I had a headache, and I was just plain feeling lazy.

Then I read a comment a reader had posted on a previous blog post.  He said he was interested to see how my running would progress.  For some reason, this comment lit a fire under my ass.  I’m not sure why or how, but I immediately got up from the couch, changed into my running clothes, and headed out the door to the gym.

In my previous post, I decided I was going to stick to running on the treadmill because it was easier for me and, since I’m just teaching myself to run, I figure going the easier route is OK for now.  Once I feel a little stronger, I will venture outside, but for now my home is on the treadmill.

I got to the gym feeling with a mixture of confidence and trepidation.  I knew I could do this.  I’d done it before.  This was not my first time at the rodeo.  BUT after the last run I had, I was nervous this run would result the same way.

I am delighted to say today’s run was FABULOUS!  Yes, I was tired towards the end of the 5 minute runs.  Yes, my side and knees hurt a little.  But, YES, I finished the run and I finished STRONG!  I could probably have kept going, but I didn’t have any more time.  I have to be at work in an hour and I haven’t showered yet.  Whoops!

My point of this post is to thank those of you who give me that little push when I need it.  You have no idea the effect your words and comments can have.  In fact, a similar situation happened a few months back where my friend, Heather, gave me a little nudge to get me out the door.  Just know that every comment I receive is greatly appreciated and it can make a world of different between choosing the couch or the treadmill.  Thanks, guys!

Something New!
I’ve decided to start posting my playlists for my runs in case there are more people like me out there who get motivated by great music.  If you have more suggestions for me, please share!  Thanks!

“Breakout”-Foo Fighters
“Faint”-Linkin Park
“Breaking the Habit”-Linkin Park
“Sonny”-New Found Glory
“That’s What You Get”-Paramore
“Miracle”-Paramore
“Fences”-Paramore
“Everybody”-Ingrid Michaelson (Cooldown)

**I have a “Running” playlist that is supposed to shuffle, but for some reason when I hit the shuffle button, my iPod ignores me, thus resulting in me listening to the same artists over and over.