dont ask what week it is..

.. ive given up keeping track.. but i have come to some realizations..

1. im so not ready to run the half in sept..
2. i think the goal was too big and sorta subconsciously held me back from getting out there and running (along with my crazzzyyy busy schedule and sheer laziness)
3. im gonna start a bit smaller.. a 10k.. in and around the same time period as i was planning for the half and who knows, maybe run the 1/2 next year :)

stay tuned!! :)

week 3..

..maybe i was wrong.. it can get worse.. week 3--> see week 2 *sigh*

week 2 - disaster! :s

so this was week 2.. and if there is one word i can use to describe it, it would be: DISASTROUS! for a number of reasons.

1. i didnt run once this week!!! not one time.. but it wasnt my fault- it was the craziest busiest week i have had since the Walk.. meetings, friends, work.. i just wasnt physically home ever to go out and run, and sleeping so late that morning running before work was not an option..

2. i ate terrible terrible food!!! there was so much non real food eaten this week- including: nachos, fried calamari, cheesecake, M&Ms, sushi- and not just sushi- but all you can eat sushi.. *sigh* im pretty sure i gained 4lbs..

so week three is next week and its going to be better- really it cant be any worse than this :s just afraid im really gonna have to kick it up a notch- 15 weeks left to train!!!

week 1!

So I did it- completed week 1! Last night was a gorgeous night for a run.. I almost didn't make it (that's becoming a recurring theme :s) I had all day, but stuff kept coming up- weekends are bad like that! No matter how much time u think u have, I usually almost always have none.. I even had a friend from half way around the world that read yesterdays blog about feeling disappointed a missed my scheduled run on Saturday, and she kept messaging all day encouraging me to get out there – thanks yaar xx - its nice to know ppl are routing for you.. even when they are so far away..)

So when I did get out last night- and had a slow start.. I guess 2 days off ur body gets use to that break.. and all ll I kept thinking the entire run was- how will I ever make it to 3min of running tomorrow?!!!

After I got back home, I was glad I went out (like every time I get out and run)- it was such a nice night with a perfect warm breeze.. I didn’t get to do the extras I was planning for the weekend runs, hopefully next weekend I will make it out earlier and get some fun stuff in.. but im excited to go today and try for the 3:1 run/walk and I think I will increase the distance by a little bit too- oh i mapped my route.. im currently running 3.28km in 24 minutes- kinda slow- its a 7.19 pace.. but hey- its week one- and its not my fear of a 10min pace :)

excuses excuses..

..so today was supposed to be my first weekend run, where i spend a bit more time doing something extra, either hills, or the football field or something cuz its the weekend and i have more time..

but that didnt happen.. i didnt go on a run today :( its not too late- i can go now still.. but im too lazy to change out of pjs, and it looks cold and rainy, and im filled with all kinds of excuses- but its not my fault- im not that person yet- im not that runner that loves to run that cant live with out it- clearly i can- and today i just did *sigh*

so yesterday was my official day off! today i was supposed to run in the morning, but i had a dentist appointment at 9:30am.. and being a saturday, and not having to get up early for work, i wanted to sleep in as much as possible.. it was also raining in the morning.. so when i got home, the world cup was on.. so i watched that.. i went out shopping, came back home to watch another match.. all of which i didnt particularly enjoy, and could have done without.. and any of that time could have been put towards getting out and running.. but.. i didnt! i read a lot on line, other blogs, news, facebook, watched the friends marathon.. an over all boring sit at home do nothing type of day..

but u know, this is the first weekend that i have had off in months.. with the Walk done 2 weeks ago, the work load has definitely slowed.. i mean there is still post Walk stuff to do, but its not meeting after meeting or  call after call.. so i guess i just needed that couch potato day?!

uughhh.. kinda annoyed at myself that i let that happen.. i could have had this lazy day and spent 25 min out running- whats the big deal?! but tomorrow is another day.. the end of week 1, so i will sleep in, get up and run first thing.. rain or shine- unless its rain- then i will wait till the afternoon :p

day 4: beautiful night..

what a fantastic night for a run!! i got out today while the sun was still out and what a difference it makes in running! the sun just makes u feel awake and energized.. i loved it.. but there are pros and cons with running in day light!

pros:
-no scary bushes or people or vampires! it also doesnt help that i dont run with glasses or contacts, so my vision is already blurred so when its dark- a see or think i see a lot more than what is there!

cons:
-there are people on the streets! i dunno, i dont like to not be running when there are people around.. its weird.. like today.. my 2 min of run time were almost up, but i came across a bunch of firemen hanging out in front of a store that wasnt burning down, and i couldnt just stop to take my 1 min walk break, so i kept on going for an extra minute.. people make you keep running which is a pro, but a con when ur looking at ur watch every 15-30 seconds to see if its time to stop yet! lol

ur love is my drug..

so i lied.. i can listen to ur love is my drug over and over and over again.. lol.. the question is.. do u wanna have a slumber party in my basement.. do i make ur heart beat like an 8 0 8 drum.. is my love ur drug?! ;)

day 2 & 3

so runs 2 and 3 were definitely better than day 1! i managed to get out a little earlier while it was still light out (at least when i left home)- so that was good.. and even got a nod and smile from another runner i crossed paths with :) hehe im glad it wasnt still raining tonight.. cuz that was really going to be a challenge for me to get out- i know race day= any weather- but who likes to get wet? im definitely not that runner yet :P

i still had a small problem with the stabbing feeling in my sides, but not so much the heart attack these times.. i feel i need to take stretching a bit more seriously.. not just.. hey- im stretching, ya- im a runner, whatever lol so ive taken some good advice and looked up different stretches from the running room's website.. hopefully this helps with the sore legs post run as well..

my schedule is kinda aggressive right now- run 6times a week.. friday's off, and planning for longer runs and hills/ track/ football field relays on the weekends.. but im planning to do a gradual increase and still at a 2:1 run-walk ratio right now.. next week- 3:1! :)

i did indulge in a starbucks cookie and americano today.. i couldnt help it.. i was tempted at work and told starbucks will actually help my running lol.. so i caved! my last supper a few days late ;) but i think it actually worked! i could push myself faster the times i was running.. now that could all be in my head?! but hey.. if i can get starbucks in while im training.. it works for me! ;)

lovin' real food

so being back on my real food diet, u need to go grocery shopping often cuz well, real food needs to be fresh :p so i usually go shopping 2-3 times a week.. and i went tonight- and i love it! i love real food.. there are soo many real food options at the grocery store in the summer.. fresh corn, broccoli, strawberries, watermelon, mangos, blueberries, avocado, nectarines, apricots, grapes.. mmm.. add in some fat free cottage cheese, tofu, tuna, chicken breast.. im a happy camper!! who wants to eat processed and high fat bad for you foods when u have all these yummy choices that are soo good for you?! mmmm.. not me!

*real food diet* eat anything that you can find naturally out in the environment: fruits, vegetables, proteins..  no processed food or anything that cant be found in its current form (ex pasta, bread, cookies :P)

day 1: run 2 walk 1

so today was day 1. i almost didnt make it- that would have been a bad start, but i did.. although a little later than planned.

so before i tell you about my run- which was a lot tougher than i remembered running being- one thing i  cleared up today- the doubts i had about a half marathon being a big deal- ALL GONE! i ran for 24 min.. i dunno how many k that was, i kinda dont want to look it up cuz i know its probably pathetic, but running for 2hr, for 21.1k- is a big deal!! a half marathon- nothing to sneeze at!!

so i started out with a run 2minutes walk 1minute ratio.. which was an alright pace to start with for this week.. but i am not (yet) that person that loves to run!! if i didnt have to, i would reconsider lol.. but a few things i need to change before my next run (which is tomorrow):

1. go when its light out- running at night- its wayyy too cold!!! running back against the wind- not fun!!! no ppl on the streets- hardly any street lights- an over active imagination thinking ppl will jump out of cars or bushes, or that vampires will come out to eat me- scary (unless it was edward.. hmm.. that wouldnt be so bad)! i need the sun, even if it isnt warm (race day can be any temp), i want it to still be daylight!

2. i need better music! 24 min = 6 to 7 songs.. there is only so many times u can listen to kesha talking about ur love being her drug :p if you have any suggestions- pleaseee pass them along!!

3. i need a new watch.. when i first started running last fall, i bought a cool watch to monitor my walk run timings- mostly so i could know when it was time to walk again lol.. but since that time, i havent been able to figure out how to turn off the alarm so it goes off each morning, and now the glow light doesnt work at night- which is ok- since i wont be running in the dark again.. but.. still- need new watch..

4. . i have to eat something small when i leave work so i can get home and be ready to run rather than get home starving, eat dinner, be too full to run for the next 2 hrs.. then run into issue #1

5. stretch. dont underestimate its importance!! i didnt stretch enough and felt like a knife was stabbing me in the sides and i was having a small heartattack half the time :(

overall though, day one was good- tough- but good. this is going to be a long journey.. and all i know is that when i cross that finish line, i better have a fireman holding a sliver tray with my medal in a tiffany's box (i hope that not just for the full marathoners)  ;)