Running Recap Finally!

Hi everyone!

Trying to get back to semi-frequent posting about my running progress, so here is a recap of last week! Being down the cape was really fun, but getting back to my normal routine was necessary after a week of indulgences so I decided to hit it hard.

Recap:

Monday: 5 miles outside before work (nice spring of the moment decision to skip the gym and run!)

Tuesday: 5.2 miles outside again

Wednesday: 3.1 HIIT in the gym and a lift! (check out my friend/EnergyBits ambassador Morganne's Tank Top Arm Circuit!)

Thursday: 4.5 miles outside

Friday: day off (food poisoning fun!)

Saturday: 2.35 miles in the gym!

Total: 20 miles!!

I was pretty damn pumped I must say. That is the most I've ever done in one week.

So now I'm on vacation again! Down in Florida then heading to the Bahamas on Monday until Saturday. Hoping to get in some workouts while I'm on the ship!

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Father's Day Running Update

I totally forget what week I am since I have completely abandoned that schedule...oh well!

Anyways I feel as if I haven't done a workout recap in a few weeks so here we go! Lately, I have been working out with Marisa and this week wasn't too run heavy, but still super hard!

Monday: 1.75 miles + bike + arms

Tuesday: 3 fast miles w/ HIIT +abs

Wednesday: 15 minutes arc trainer/15 minutes bike+lift

Thursday: 1 mile run + legs/abs

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 3x1600 on the track + lift

=ran about 8.75 miles this week definitely the lowest total mileage in a while, but that's okay I think my body needed the rest from running!

Picking it back up hard this week with hopefully a long run mixed in since it finally doesn't seem like it's going to rain everyday.

Also I got new spandex so that's exciting:

Sports Authority had a sale

Hope everyone's weekend is going great and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD! :)

Go Bruins! Run Reflection and a Great Read

So since the bruins are going into OT and I have about 20 minutes to kill, might as well write a blog post?

OK great!

So summer has been flying by! I have almost been home for a whole month and I can't believe it. The new job is great, internship is fun (as always), and running/workouts are finally getting better as well.

So yesterday during my 10 miler, I think I finally hit that infamous "runners high" I used to make fun of track girls talk about in high school (sorry). I felt amazing around mile 7 and had great energy, so decided I might as well keep going. I ate some carrots, triscuts, hummus, and EnergyBits about 20 minutes before my run and had a steady stream of energy! It was great! I never thought I would be able to hit double digit mileage and now I am even more confident that my half will be awesome in October.

Along with this, Marisa and I have been hitting the gym hard almost everyday after work combining cardio with alternating arms/abs/legs days so I've been getting great total body workouts!

So that's a little workout recap!

Anyways, I have been reading Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss and it is really eye opening! You never think about the countless ingredients that are scientifically (and brilliantly?) created and formed by scientists not chefs! These scientists are geniuses and spend so much time researching different ways to satisfy that craving people have for any processed food (or more commonly some salt, sugar, and fat). It really is a great read and I recommend to anyone starting to incorporate a healthier lifestyle!

Next up on the reading list:

So now on to the rest of the week which consists of work tomorrow, NYC on Friday with Kerie, and grad parties on Saturday!

Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Stress, Shins, and an Update

Hi Everyone,

So I gotta to say that this blog has been both inspiring and stressful at the same time. I like that I can measure my progress directly, but I feel that I have put a huge pressure on myself to make sure I am running a certain amount of miles each week, therefore, when I don't do it I just feel bad/that I'm letting people down. Do not get me wrong I still plan on running a half marathon, but the one that I want to run isn't until October, so I have plenty of time until I have to be running 10 miles on the weekends, so I'm still going to ease myself into it.

Also, I think I need to invest in a new pair of running shoes. My shins have been killing me for the past month or so every time I step on the treadmill or go outside to run, so running hasn't been very pleasant. I think I need a more supportive shoe, because my Nike frees have basically no support. I read a bunch of reviews and people have experienced the same thing. I only dread having to drop about $100 on a decent pair of shoes, but I think at this point it's necessary!

Daily Life/Running update time...insert fun music here.

Life: Just started a new job! I've been working everyday 9-3, so I'm working on getting a routine down. I've been so busy, lunch has been pushed to eating everything I can after work, so I have to work on fixing my eating and gym schedule.

Bailey wasn't looking..

Running Recap:

Sunday: rest day

Monday: 2. 35 miles on the treadmill (HIIT)+lift

Tuesday: rest day/shins felt explosive

Wednesday: 6.5 mile run outside-first long run in a while

Thursday: Leg workout in the gym, no cardio

Friday: rest day/super sore

Saturday: either a light run outside in the rain or HIIT (haven't decided yet), planned another 3 miles

Total: about 12 miles

So off to eat oatmeal/workout/whole foods I go then work at 2. My life is exciting!!

Rest Dayz

Hi everyone, I'm feeling a rare mid-week post today!

Have you ever felt super run down/tired and that you just can't catch up on rest? That is me today! I feel like my body is screaming at me for a break, therefore, I am taking a few days off from running.

I think it is necessary to take those rest days. Plural: DAYS. Sometimes I feel guilty if I do not workout everyday, but I learning that rest is needed. My shins have been aching for a few weeks now and the pounding of the treadmill have not helped one bit. Just because I don't run 15 miles a week, doesn't mean that my training is lacking. I am hoping to take off today and tomorrow (working a double 830-3 and 6-close yay), and will pick back up with running on Thursday.

Not related but look at this pup! It is so cute and hangs out all day at work with us :)

I don't know why this came out so wide....

PS Finally a long run is happening on Saturday...

Have a great rest of the week everyone! 

Week 5 Recap

Hi I can't believe it has been 5 weeks since I started this blog/running plan! 

So I'm supposed to of hit 8 miles by yesterday, and it still hasn't happened. I get nervous thinking that I can't do it so I haven't yet, but it's coming soon. I realized that I think I'm just going to loosely follow the training plan and not worry about running specific days, but running at least 2-3x a week with a long run as well. Anyways here is how last week broke down:

Sunday: 1 mile to the gym, Treadmill Run/Walk 1 mile , Track workout: 5x320m sprints with a 160m walk in between

Monday: 4 miles outside finally!

Tuesday: 1 mile to the gym, then hard lift 

Wednesday: off (packing fun!)

Thursday: 3 miles HIIT on the treadmill

Friday: 10k (6.2 miles) on the treadmill

Saturday: off (worked 9 hours)

Total: 17.2 miles 

Not too bad for mileage this week. Gotta hit up a longer run though soon! In the meantime have a great week everyone :)

Week 4

So the last few weeks have been hectic with school ending and projects/papers/exams. So this week was not too run heavy with only clocking in 11 miles for the week.

Sunday: rest from my long run

Monday: 3 miles of HIIT on the treadmill at the gym+lifting

Tuesday: 2 miles (fast pace)+legs/abs

Wednesday: off, projects ya

Thursday: 3.35 mile run outside

Friday: rest

Saturday: was supposed to do a run instead hit the gym ran 2.5 miles and lifted

Total: 11 miles

Only 6 more days until summer break. I wish I was more excited, but that does mean more free time/work/interning/reading/running!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

May Goals

Yay it's May..I really should of made this post yesterday so I could appropriately put some Justin in my post but oh well, it's staying..

Alex at alextriesitout inspired me to set some monthly goals! 

So since summer is coming up quickly (yay!), fitness and nutrition goals are a must! 

1. Keep with my running! (Try to do 3-4 miles at least 2x a week with a long run on Saturday/Sunday)

    Ultimate goal: Run 10 miles by 5/31! 

2. Lift more, have specific lifting days with minimal cardio 

3. Clean eating, but no obsessing/calorie counting. 6 servings of fruits/veggies a day+good clean protein 

    +lots of froyo! 

4. Read more! School is over on May 9th, so working/interning/reading/running all summer!

What are you goals?

Week 3 babbbeee

Hi!

Another week down, can't believe I have less than 2 weeks left of my Junior year! This semester has been stressful so I'm ready for the summer.

So this week I didn't run as much as week 2, but still had some solid workouts:

Sunday: rest day after my long run

Monday: 3 miles of HIIT on the treadmill+abs/arms

Tuesday: 2 miles on the treadmill/2 miles on the bike +lift

Wednesday: rest, group presentation day! (so fun)

Thursday: 3 miles of HIIT+legs and abs

Friday: rest

Saturday: 7.26 miles outside through Carlisle  :)

total: 15 miles (running)


Going to Life Alive later yay!


Have a great weekend/week everyone! 

Runnin' and week 2 recapin'

This was a emotional week and the only thing I could think of doing was running. Almost everyday. I couldn't fathom doing any other type of cardio. So this week was run heavy (even though most were short and broken up) #RunForBoston

Sunday: Ran a mile to the gym. The foot still hurt a bit so I didn't do as much

Monday: 2 miles on the indoor track

Tuesday: 2 miles on the treadmill, one on the indoor track

Wednesday: 2.7 miles to Big Y, rest, and another mile home

Thursday: 1 mile to the gym, 2.62 on the treadmill with some walking

Friday: Rest [Group Meetings all day woo]

Saturday: 5 miles turned into 6 when I got lost at Amherst College.

Total: 18 miles

Here is a really attractive picture of me before my run today:

(notice the biggie poster)

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Week 2 on repeat and a TJ's Find

Hey!

So this week was supposed to be week 2 of my half marathon training, but it was a bust. I only got in one 4 mile run on Monday before I started hurting, therefore, I will be repeating week 2 next week. My foot is still hurting a bit today, so I'm hoping to start running again on it tomorrow (even if just a mile) to build up to my long run of 5 miles next Saturday!

Anyways, Holly and I just came back from arguably my favorite place Trader Joe's (and whole foods of course)! Besides buying so many things making our basket about 50lbs and having a delicious sample of butternut squash risotto, we found the most amazing food/dip....

TRADER JOE'S REDUCED GUILT GUACAMOLE! 
It is made with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and only 30 calories for 2tbsps. Just dunked some scoops chips into a little while ago and it was a struggle for us to stop eating it. Also pictured below is horseradish hummus which is by far the best tasting hummus I have ever had (also sold at Trader Joe's).

P.S. I have to live somewhere within at least 15 miles of a Trader Joe's/Whole Foods when I am older. No other supermarkets even come close to the quality and food choice of these two.

Feet and Food

Let's talk about feet.

So I had been experiencing some foot pain in my arch over the past few days. I usually wouldn't think anything of it but the pain was in the exact area where I had a stress fracture 5 years ago (track problems). Anyways, so today I got an X-RAY and it was clear...which is good news, but I'm not allowed to run until I experience no pain.

So now I'm in an awkward place. I want to run and continue to train, but I know that it will just make the problem worse. The doctor also told me to use the stationary bike while I heal. I hate the bike wah :(

So this 12 week plan has turned into a 13 week plan-or a however long I need plan. 

big mouth bites=pain

Now to be completely irrelevant to what I was just talking about...Nutrition and Exercise!

When I first started exercising, I thought okay great I just burned x amount of calories so now I can have burgers, fries, cake, pizza, etc YAY, but then I was actually gaining weight, not getting any healthier, and justifying my unhealthy eating with a half an hour of cardio. Not a good plan.


So then I got smart. Cut the meat, limited the dairy, and now trying to eat less processed gluten (but pizza, beer, baked goods are sometimes too hard to resist) and eat an unlimited amount of vegetables and fruit.
Better nutrition=better overall health!

• no more medications! 
• clear skin
• increased energy 
• rare stomach aches
• regularity
• better workouts/endurance 

Not saying that I don't eat horrible from time to time, but overall my eating habits have done a 165 (not quite a full 180) than before and I don't think I would be able to train as hard without changing my diet.

Some of my favs:

kale, banana, apple, energybits 

crispy tofu, chickpeas, sauteed veggies

veggies with buffalo tempeh

oats, banana, chunky pb, and walnuts

It's Friday, It's Sunny and I'm not running..?

Is spring finally here?

Basing it off of the forecast for the next week, I think it is safe to say YES. 

source

Well besides Saturday..but anyways..today is Friday, arguably the best day of the week since it is finally the weekend! It is such a beautiful day, therefore, I should be running, right?

Rest Days are necessary!

I've ran the past 4 days, (total of about 9 miles) and my body is craving this down time. Rest is important and just because you take a few days off, does not mean that your progress will be lost. I often feel better after a few days of rest and have better workouts because of them. I used to be crazy (legit a crazy person and would be mad if I couldn't workout) and guess what I hurt myself. Running with a knee brace is next to impossible (at least to me) and wrapping my ankle every morning just was not a fun experience. Since I began taking rest days 2-3x a week, I haven't hurt myself (knock on wood)

So today I will be enjoying my day off with a Starbucks coffee, movies, an intern conference call, and overall a good day. And it's Friday at UMASS so a fun night as well.

 Hoping to get in my 4 mile long run scheduled for tomorrow, but I might push it to Sunday instead, not too sure yet.

So everyone have a great weekend and enjoy the sun! Get outside and walk your dog/cat/lizard/insert pet here...they really want you too...or maybe just mine does.