Merry Christmas!

I wish I had some super cute pictures of my family opening presents, or the neighbor gifts I gave out, or even of our tree.  But...I don't.  I spent this morning recording on the video camera and neglected my other.  Sad day.  Anyway, My husband surprised me this year with something WONDERFUL!  A Kindle Touch.  I'm really excited and I love it.  So, of course, as soon as it was charged I had to find some books to purchase.  First ones I found?  Runner's World Essential Guides: Weight Loss and Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running.  Yup, two running books.  I am also seriously considering Run Less, Run Faster.  I've heard lots of good things about that training program.  Looking at my book choices, I might want to consider a subscription to Runner's World.  Apparently, I like their stuff..
Well, I'm really looking forward to reading both of the books I bought and focusing on my half-marathon goal for 2012. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

*By the way, I also bought The Help and I'm loving it so far!

A new chapter begins

Anyone who has made a major change in their life knows how great it is to have a partner along for the ride.  Someone who had the same goals, can perk you up when you are feeling down, is there to support, and, yes, there for you yourself to support.  I always feel I can do better if I'm helping someone along the same path as myself.  For some reason it just gives me more drive in my goals.  Well, this week I have been joined in my fitness goals.  Not just running, but eating better and losing weight to feel better.  I'm so excited because, though I've had great friends there to support me along the journey, I now have my BEST friend!

Our wedding day.  I was 190 lbs, the lowest I could
remember having weighed in my life.

This summer, I was 266.  The highest I have ever been.

My husband and I will be working together to eat healthier and be more active.  This will make meal planning so much easier and *hopefully* fewer temptations. D and I are both sugar junkies. Especially ice cream and oreos, sometimes eaten separately but most of the time mixed in the form of a shake.  This will be good.  I can't wait to see how much better we both feel and I'm excited for the examples we are setting for our girls.  I hope to look like my wedding pictures again, and perhaps even better.  With twenty pounds down since this summer, I'm on my way.

update and some running gear deals

Obviously I have been gone for a bit.  These last few months have been full and I don't see myself coming back to my regular blogging schedule for a little while longer.  That said, I scored some awesome running gear deals that I just had to share for those, like me, who are on a tight budget.

-Old Navy had a discount code for 30% off right now.  I love their compression gear and I scored a pair of capris (I know, wrong season, but a deal is a deal) for $10.50 and a moisture-wicking jacket for $29.50.  I'm so excited and can't wait for that package to come.  By the way, the code is HOLIDAY

-My one and only BondiBand decided to take off last week.  I was so sad that it dissapeared but it gave me a reason to buy some more.  Finally.  I used the code FIVE to get five new BondiBands for $25.  A little bit more than a replacement, but hey, I'm worth it.


Quick update on me and running.

 -I have lost almost 20 pounds!   I participated in a local weightloss challenge and took third place and I feel so good.
 -I can now run for at least 15 minutes without walking.  That is huge for me since until September I had never run for more than five minutes at a time.
 -I have a tentative half marathon planned for April 2012.  There are a few factors that may change that.  However, if they fall through, I start training on December 26th and I can't wait!

Are you an under, over, or neutral?

Pronater, that is.   I did some high tech research, took hours evaluating and studying....Ok really, I just searched "over pronate" on the internet and I actually under pronate.  There is a super easy way to tell which one you are, just look at the wear on an old pair of shoes.  I actually found these two great videos that explain what is happening when you run, how to tell, and what kind of shoes you should get based on your gait.





So why all this talk about the way I run?  Well, it's time for new shoes.  Again.  I didn't realize how quickly I would go through a pair of shoes, especially since I just went and bought the cheapest pair.  At Kohls.  Without talking to ANYONE who runs.  Or even looking at my old pair of shoes.  I know, I know.  I'm still getting used to the idea of spending $100+ on a pair of shoes.  At least they were Asics.  I took the easy way out.  Or so I thought.


You see, lately I've been having quite a bit of trouble with my ankle.  It's weird because I've actually cut back on my mileage.  Then one day I looked at my shoes.  The soles are completely worn down on the outer edge.  I under-pronate.  But, to make matters worse, I bought a shoe for OVER-pronating.  Not good.  They are correcting a problem I never had, and making the one I do have worse.  So I'm looking for some new shoes that are neutral.  I'm thinking New Balance, mostly because that was my first pair of running shoes and I love them!  However, I do want some advice, are there any other under-pronaters out there?  What shoes do you recommend?  Don't worry, I'll be going to my local running store as well, I'm just curious about your experiences.

A little hiatus...

...but I think I'm back.

In case you haven't noticed, it's been awhile since I blogged.  I'm sad to say it's been awhile since I ran as well.  I'm not really sure what happened.  I finished my 10k, which was amazing!  I even sprinted at the end to pass another runner, thanks to her encouragement (nothing gets the blood pumping like the person next to you yelling "Go, go, GO!")  And then....I just sort of quit.  My ankle and knee were hurting for the first few weeks I took off.  A ligitimate reason to take it easy, but the next three?  I really had no excuse.  Yes, I need new shoes, and it might be a little bit before I get them, but there is still some use left in the pair I have.  What really happened?

My 10k was a big milestone.  6.2 miles with a hill, and I did it.  I had finished.  Now what?  Yes, my next goal is to run a half-marathon, but honestly,  I don't know when, and after the 10k I really felt that I couldn't do it yet.  So I'm putting that one off for a bit.  That left me with no goal, no training plan.  So what did I do?  I gave up.  I came up with excuse after excuse not to get out and run.  Well, that ends today.

This morning I awoke at 6 a.m. and was out the door by 6:15.  It felt so good.  I was much slower than I've been, at times I felt I was running through jello, but I did it.  I have a goal, a training plan and it feels good.  Up until now, I've been doing the walk/run plan but I really would love to run a 5k without walking. Hey, I'd even settle for a mile without walking.  I was going through some old training plans and found one that takes eight weeks to get you running 30 minutes straight.  I'm starting on week two because the first one is 1/2 Run/walk...I'm a little beyond that.  So for the next seven weeks I will be out there four days a weeks building running time, not miles.  I'm excited and it gives me a reason to blog again. The reason I haven't been blogging?  Well, thats another story, which I may share.....later.

Last of the Virtual Insanity 5k's

The ladies over at Mom's Run This Town have been so awesome this summer!  Each month they've had a different virtual 5k race with some great prizes (I really hope I win this month, free fuel belt!)  I can't believe it's already August and the summer is almost over.  That means the series is at an end and for this month RoadID is sponsoring the race.  Not sure what the prize is yet, but you can bet it will be good.

So what are you waiting for?  Head over to the MRTT website and register.  Be sure to tell them I sent you, then go and finish this series with a bang!

quick post

Yesterday was Track Tuesday, or speedwork.  Whichever you want to call it (actually, whichever I want to call it since this is my blog.  I should probably make a decision huh?  I hate that :)  Anyway, I was nervous because I hadn't been feeling well all weekend and had a nice little visitor.  My goal is to do 400 meters in 3:09.  I hadn't been able to get that goal, or be consistent at all in my times yet.  I really wanted to get home fast so as I began running, that was my mantra.  "The faster you run, the sooner you'll get home."  Four times around the "track" and I was finished.  A little worn out, but not too bad.  I was sure I had gotten my goal....maybe.  I came home and checked out runkeeper....I blew it out of the water!

Lap 1-3:01
Lap 2-2:36
Lap 3-3:03
Lap 4-2:45

Wow!  I guess it's time to go for a PR in the 5k.  My last one (which I never did a race report for)  was 43:37  Not my best time but far  from my worst.  And it was after only 5 hours of sleep, half before and half after a trip to the emergency room.  I might need to do a race recap.  This needs some explaining.  Anyway, there are a few 5k's coming up in my community so I'm looking into one that I can rock!

In other news, my 10k is coming up this weekend, hills up and down,  my earliest start time yet and no playlist.  I might be a little nervous.  At least I know I can run that far....

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some Yummy cocoa and $25 to iHerbs.com!  It ends Saturday.