Jelly bean 5k (gps woes)

So last Friday I completed my second 5k!  It was the Jelly bean virtual 5k put on by Run with Jess.  I have been having some trouble with my phone lately (missed calls not showing, texts coming late)  So when I set out for my run I wanted to be sure I had some way to track it just in case the GPS didn't work.  I mapped out my path and set my runkeeper intervals to time rather than distance.   Five minutes in I knew I was right, my stats said I my average pace was 17:30 and that I had gone less than .25 miles.  At this point I just focused on running when I planned and using my walking intervals.  About halfway through the run I almost laughed out loud when I heard, "Average pace 30 seconds.  Distance 70 miles."  Yeah, something was definitely wrong.  I can't go that fast in my car, let alone on my two feet.

This is what my run looked like according to
my malfunctioning GPS

Final results? As near as I can figure, I finished in 42:30, about the same time as my first 5k. I'm pretty proud of that, second "race" in a row and I didn't slow. I also learned a little tip from my husband: Every once in a while should shut your phone down. I really have no idea how long it had been since I last turned it off. Also, if you are still having trouble with your apps not working, try taking out the battery for a few minutes. After I did both of those my phone started to work better. I guess even electronics need a little break.

4....

I must have told a lot more people around that I am running than I thought, I've had several ask me if this is the weekend and if I'm excited.  Yes and....Yes.  Tomorrow is my last training run before my race.  I just can't believe it.  This week I wanted to share a few things I've found helpful in my training.
The first is Runkeeper.  My husband found this app over a year ago when he got his android phone for Christmas.  (Yes, I am the best wife ever.  He even got it early not, too long after it came out)  He showed runkeepr to me and it was just what I needed to make the switch from treadmill to the road.
I LOVE keeping track and charting things.  On any given day you will find me making small calendars to track certain goals, logging things away.  One thing I loved about the treadmill was instantly seeing how far I had gone and how fast.  Then the next time I would see if I could do any better.  I've since found out that the speed trackers in treadmills aren't entirely accurate. No wonder I could do a 12 minute mile on the treadmill but on the road I could only make it 3/4 of a mile before I would have to stop.  It's just not the same folks.
Now where was I.....oh yeah,  obsessively tracking things.  The runkeeper app is what convinced me to finally join the world of smartphones.  After my contract finally ended with the old phone, we went and bought me samsung intercept.  First thing I did when I got home?  Downloaded runkeeper.  The free version, I just couldn't make myself pay for the pro yet.  It was fine, tracked my distances but that was about it.  Then came the new year and with that, an awesome gift.  Runkeeper let everyone download the Pro version...for free!  This was MUCH cooler.  The running I do usually involves walking intervals(in case you hadn't noticed)  And the pro has coaching on it.  I simply program either how long or how far I want to run or walk and a nice ladies voice comes on and tells me when to switch.  I love it.  I didn't have to look at my phone to see when it was time to run anymore, I just listen for the voice.  For those of you who don't walk when your out, the intervals are actually labeled slow, steady and fast.  That way, if you are doing speed intervals, you know when to kick it up a notch.  Another feature (that I haven't tried yet, it costs more money) is the fitness class.  They have these pre-programed schedules that you can download made by professionals.
So thats it, a [not so quick] rundown of the tracking program I use.  I like and haven't really looked for anything else yet.  When I get more comfortable with my skills I may look into new apps, or *gasp* pay for a Garmin!  But not yet.

*All opinions expressed are my own, I didn't receive any compensation for this"review"  In fact, runkeeper doesn't even know I wrote it.  I just like the app that much ;)

My new friend

Biggest Loser. I think it might be an obessession of mine. Week after week watching people lose all that weight, it's a miracle. Many times I think if I were just there, it would make all the difference. Someone watching my every move, pushing me harder than I ever thought possible. Yeah, if I just had that I could do anything. Then I see Jillian screaming and swearing at everyone....I would meltdown constantly. I really would be the one crying in every shot. I don't do well with pressure.
Anyway, it is a good motivator. Today (I know it's not Tuesday. Hulu. Nuff said) I was watching and was reminded of the most basic principle of weight loss: calories in, calories out. The more you consume the more you have to work to burn it all, the more you burn the more weight you will lose. Well, I hate tracking those things. Books take too long and I never know how many calories I burn when I work out (plus I hate math and waiting till the end of the day to add it all up makes underestimating my calories in very easy). I'd love to get the trackers that you just wear all day, but they're a little too spendy for my budget right now. So what's a girl to do?
 I found a website called My fitness pal It has a huge data base of food and their nutrition facts, including brand names so you don't have to guess if it's close to what you are using. It sets a calorie intake goal for you and then as you add things it shows exactly how much more you can eat. Best thing about it? There are apps for your phone. Yup, you don't have to be tied to your computer to keep track(just to your cell phone, but aren't we all at this point anyway?) that way you can enter as you eat and decide if that extra helping will really fit in or not.
It also has a place for exercise.  You pick the workout and how long you did it and it gives you how many calories you've burned.  Of course, this is an estimate, but at least you get an idea.
I'm still pretty new to it and there are a ton of aspects that I haven't explored yet. I'm loving it so far though and plan to keep using it.