Saturday, June 30, 2012

Breaking News

As of yesterday....one day prior to deadline, I broke 500 miles!

A goal set and achieved!

Melissa

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

New Shirt

I found my new t-shirt!

That's what I felt like as I crammed in my 2 miles of FARTLEKS tonite at 8:15 pm, when it was STILL 93 degrees out!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Ditto!

I got up at 5:30 am to get to my 6am spinning class. Woohoo! So I agree the week is off to a good start!

No Back Up Needed

Instead of a backup plan, I had a PROACTIVE plan this morning.  I knew that if I did not get my 4 m run in this a.m., that chances were slim it would happen later (too busy).  So I set the ol' alarm clock across the room. 

When it went off, I got up, turned it off, and promptly got back in bed!  But it woke me up enough to make me conscience, and I mustered the resolve to get going. 

"It was a beautiful day . . .the sun beat down .. . I had the radio on, and I was RUNNING"  Thank-you Tom Petty.  Clear sky, 61 degrees, gorgeous out, felt good.  And I had the satisfaction of putting a star on my log.  :)

I was about 10 min behind plan, but I got back in time to take Sam to camp, stretch, shower, eat and still get to my desk.  Now if I can make it through the day without a nap, it will be GREAT!

Mon morning down - it's going to be a good week!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Commentary

I love your "I could do this in my street clothes . . . "  At our local 5K there was a kids run.  Which Sam decided at the last minute he wanted to do.  In a woven camp shirt, twill shorts and crocs.  Doug managed to get his tennies to him last minute (not that Sam was bothered) so he was at the back of the pack.  He finished 4th in this whole swarm of kids (many 2 yrs older). I was so proud of him - in his street clothes!

I do like the idea of a positive mantra.  I will have to ponder that. I would like to put in my SMASH album (which is just collecting things, not writing in it yet) a top 10 list of our favorite running lines. Street clothes is going to make it.  And "it takes longer to scrapbook a half marathon than to run one" (do you remember saying that?)  Let me know what else you come up with!

Backup plans . . . interesting concept.  Tmrw I have 3 m on my list (at a certain heartrate, which I can't do yet b/c no battery - but we'll ignore that).  Rob has to leave for ball at 6:50, Sam has to get to camp at 8. In the evening, all 3 have to get somewhere.  My best bet is to get up at 6 and go before the day gets crazy. Not my strength. Backup plan? 

I need to think through some back up plans for my food (like when I'm stuck and can't get to what I planned to). 

I am a little off my 1000 mile plan, but logging in at 426/1000!  I hoped to hit 500 by month end, and I had a great week (hit my 43 miles) then I gained weight and got pissed and went to NY (although we did walk over 2 hrs one nite! I logged that as 6 m). So I proceeded to do nothing for 4 days. A lot were on the bike this month, but they were "concentrated" miles, which required an effort. Like I not only forced myself to ride to the post office but to take a long route (5 m vs. 2 m). Or not getting exercise in and riding 8-10m at dusk before the day is over. I didn't really start until mid-Jan, so I think I can still catch up!

 And meanwhile, I think I should throw my scale out.

Back Up Plan!

I was on the edge of my seat....anticipating the outcome of your story! So glad there was a happy ending. This is a bit corny...but I get so excited when I see you have posted -- I'm so eager to read what ever you have written. Something positive happened to me today to. Several weeks ago at a WW meeting the leader talked about having a backup plan. We even played a little game where one person would announce their favorite workout....then another person would tell you why you weren't going to be able to do that workout today. Then you had to come up with a back up plan. So let's play! Kodak: I am getting up early and going running today...I'm so excited to do it, cause I'm training for this super cool half marathon in NY. Marathon Mel: Nope -- not this morning! You are going to be distracted by your husband and your 3 lovely children, maybe the dog to. Every battery powered item in your home is going to be dead.....apparently there is a charge-sucking monster sneaking around in your home after hours. So no morning run for you! Kodak: Hmmm..... Normally that would be enough to derail me! But not today! I will alter my plans and go later in the day. My situation today.... I just woke up feeling out of sorts, a little groggy, tons of work to complete before Monday. I need to run 3 miles -- but I don't feel like it. Oh yeh.....what if I walked? What if I invited Tim. I realized at that meeting that I never really make up back up plans. I have one workout planned at one time....no alternatives. So the most minor breakdown causes complete failure. And nothing is more derailing than feeling sorry for yourself cause you failed! So we went for a 7.25 mile walk....no that is not a typo! 1 hour 50 minutes. I was so proud of myself, I could hardly stand it! And I have nearly 17000 steps on my pedometer -- so cool! I then headed to the grocery store to look for some new food items to mix into week. Tonight I will be having a cheeseburger made with a Boca Burger, 2% cheese and a Sandwich Thin. (7 pts) and oven roasted fries. A baking potato (7 oz. cooked) sliced up, sprayed with Pam-olive oil, dusted with lots of spicy seasoning. (4 pts). Tim will have real hamburger.....but that doesn't really bother me. If you like sweets at all -- you must try the WW cherry cheesecake snack snack size ice cream sandwichs for 2 pts. They are amazing! So proud of you today! I know how easy it is to give up on yourself when all those obstacles are throne at you. Impressive! One last thought! I think it's interesting that the mantra is for when you are struggling. I like the idea of using it as more of a preventive device! Maybe you need two completely separate mantras. When Gloria and/or I use to always joke...."I could do this in my street clothes, if I had to!" when we were struggling.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

No Power . . .

Knowing I had a crazy day on tap, I set my alarm at 6 to get my "first official" long run in. But by the time I got moving (6:45) it was too late to manage the morning (b/c where was Doug? You got it - running the Rock'n'Sole half downtown).  No will power.

As I went on with my crazy day, my phone was out of power and I needed to call my Dad. My camera ran out of power and Robbie's team for some reason was wearing these cool throw-back jerseys from 1980. Late afternoon, I wanted to finish my scrap organizing, and my label maker ran out.  I finally mustered the energy to get my run in at dusk, and I am now trying to train to a pace and heart rate.  Dug out the monitor - no power in the watch.  So I decided to use my nike+ thing at least. No power.  But as I was charging in, I saw your post - and on my merry way I went!  At least my ipod did not run out of juice, which I was fully ready to be the case! 


This is some of my little running group.  The illustrious Meaghan is the one who looks like a running freak.  The woman third from the left lost 50 lbs last year.  Amazing.  Remember when I saw you in NY, and had gained weight?  Well, the next week of course 3 lbs come off.  Then I have the all--time perfect week - exercised 6 days, journaled perfectly, and what happens.  You guessed it. Plus 3.  I saw my Dr this week, and she is thinks I have an issue w/ my hypothalmus, but not really sure what can be done about that (unless it's like a tumor!).  She thinks it could be the progesterone I use, so I am going to do the hormone test again.  Sigh.

We never shared our mantras in our group - I wanted to hear everyones.  I like that you are thinking along a postive line. Since it's supposed to be for when you hit a wall, I tried to think of hard things I have accomplished.  I used "I am a Strong Mother of 3"  - there is a lot to that, not just physically, but all of the other challenges with managing "good" kids and a family and working full time. 

So I started a running log to track the official Glass training.  It was satisfying to log my first 5 mile "long" run!

This was long and random.  Maybe it's b/c I have a bottle of ice under my foot!

Progress Report

Greetings from Duluth! The city has risen out of the flood...for the most part. Amazing it has been raining again today. Enough already! Well let's see -- a week ago today I registered for my next half marathon and I have logged 13 miles this week....I'll do another 3 tomorrow to complete my week. I have continued to think about my mantra. I have not finalized a phrase -- but I have identified the 3 things that are important to me when I run....maybe 4. I like to think -- Relax, Have Fun, Explore. I also think of it as an escape....not sure if that's part of the mantra or not. I'll pass that to you Jess and see what you would add. I am also coming up on the end of June -- half way through the year and I am happy to report I'm getting close to 500 miles of my 1000 mile goal. I am also 1.4 lbs. from being free again at WW. I also have a few weeks ahead of me with no weight loss obstacles in my weigh. So I am going to get there! No looking back! I am feeling strong! Marathon Mel :)

Sunday, June 17, 2012

On the road again.....

Well it's official we have a race to run -- 15 weeks to train. I'm caught between being full fledge excited and a state of denial. What do they call it "fight or flight?" I don't think I ever said it -- but I love your quote on marathon running. It is perfectly true! Wish I would have thought it! I may print it out and put it in my food journal to read over and over. I was a spectator at Grandma's Half Marathon.....wow, what a difference. At times it was a little emotional. All week when they were anticipating high humid temps and possible storms -- I was doing the happy dance and feeling pretty proud of myself for not doing it this year. Then the weather changed as it always does.... It was cool, sunny and with a nice breeze of the lake. Ideal conditions by most peoples standards. I stood near the finish line and watched the faces of the runners. Some were struggling, some were determined, some were laughing and talking to the person next to them. Then I missed it terribly. The medal and the satisfaction was just around the corner from them. I wondered which ones had trained, which ones were doing it for the first time, who was doing it because someone talked them into it, who was amazed that they were accomplishing this goal! I came home and registered for the Wine Glass Half. I feel a bit desperate to remind myself of how that sense of accomplishment feels. I longed for that feeling of victory no matter what time you get! So today I ran my first short run post registering. I haven't calculated how many miles my training plan has in store between now and Sept 30th....maybe Indon't want to even know, till they are done. By the way for the record.....451/1000 down on my other goal! I'm a little scared -- but looking forward to the challenge....again! (number 9 for me!) Marathon Mel

Monday, June 11, 2012

Quote

I ran across this sentence in a health newsletter, and I felt that it kind of summed up my opinion of running, so I thought I would share!

"The real gift of (marathon) running is reaveled AFTER the event.  The confidence, the ability to manage your energy and focus your mind, and the awareness of just how creative and powerful you really are becomes a natural part of how you move through life."

Hmm.

I earned "extra points" this weekend b/c on Sat when I was out, my Coach (Meaghan) was out with her marathon training group, so she saw me and knew I was doing my homework!  LOL.

OK - so are we IN for 9/30 Corning?  I need to get on the calendar (or give the weekend up to Doug for some bike event).  I had dinner with a friend last week who is very familiar with that area (she is from Rhode Island) and she said that it is beautiful, esp in the Fall.  Meaghan said that she would develop a training plan for me.  Important for me, since I am only at 4 miles again, and we are about 14 wks out.

As a sidebar, this friend Gail is the one who did the Madison-Chicago Ragner last year and had great fun. This year they are doing the Miami one! We wanted to do that!  Hours later I learned that they are getting transferred to FL (he husband is a big wig at Rockwell, and will become the President of Latin America) so not such a roadtrip as they had planned!  When is yours, anyway?

LET ME KNOW!