lola's adventure:from couch to 1/2 marathon!!!

[VernRDH]

Great job lola -keep up the great work!

 

[toystoryduo]

Keep up the good work, Lola!

Enjoy your rest night from running!

 

[lolakat]

Thanks Vern and Tracy!

Rested last night and went to bed early. Tonight I will start week 4 of the MfM program which is a 40 minute run/walk with 3:2 intervals. I'd like to hit this one hard and maybe break the 13min/mile again... we'll see how I feel tonight.

Food yesterday:
B: Apple
S: Bunch of saltine crackers b/c I was starving and didn't get to eat lunch until 3pm. so not worth the calories
L: hummus and pepper strips
S: SF/FF Cappacino
D: ceaser salad with shrimp
S: SC ice cream sandwich.

My mom and grandma are coming to visit this weekend and I can't wait to see them. We are going to the state fair. Should be interesting. I've never been to a state fair and certainly not a Southern state fair. I hear they have fried twinkies and a burger with two krispy kreme donuts as a bun.

 

[eyor44]

You are doing so great Lola! If you feel really bad about getting rid of the clothes, can you box them and put them in the attic or basement? or how about donate them to a resale shop that benefits homeless or a church program.

YAY for mom and grandma coming to visit. Y'all are going to have a great time. Enjoy the State Fair, but watch out for the fried foods. Southerns will fry anything. We just had a picnic at work and a Hawaiian Master Chef competition. Somehow fried spam dogs (think corn dog) were included. We have done twinkies, oreos, moon pies, pretty much anything that we think will hold together in the fry pot has been tried at least once. Not saying it's good, just saying it's been tried.

 

[lolakat]

Lisa, I'm going to kepe the bigger sizes in the attic for now. I had kept the 12s and 14s for a long time but finally decided to donate them when we moved. It is harder to find nice stuff in bigger sizes so I will hold on to what I have. Unfortuanately, I've been up and down on this weight loss journey a few times before and as much as I want to say I'm never going back I know it is always a possibility.

I will deffinetly try to stay away from the deep fryers at the State Fair!! I don't want my daughter to even know that stuff exists! Maybe just some old fashioned popcorn or cotton candy for her.

I ran for 40 minutes last night. I really kicked my butt and did my fastest pace ever by A LOT!! 3.28 miles in 40 min: 12.19 min/mile pace I was working hard and felt about ready to vomit after a few of the running intervals. I think I will continue to push as hard as I can with the mid week runs and take it easy on the Saturday long runs. My goal is really just to finish the 1/2 marathon but if I could have some extra time to take pictures along the way without fear of being swept that would be a bonus!

Food Yesterday:
B: Banana
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC swedish meatballs
S: apple
D: peacan crusted chicken and asparagus
S: SC ice cream sandwich.

Tonight is WW weigh in. Hopefully I am moving toward "Onederland." Still hoping to make it there by the end of the month.

 

[eyor44]

awesome pace! You Go Girl!!!!

I think you are going to be just fine at the 1/2 and not have to worry about being swept. I didn't stop for pics this year as I wasn't sure and each one I got to had a line and I walk, not run, so I wouldn't be able to make up the time as easy. But lots of runners do stop.

On being sick while running. Do you drink water while running? Take sips instead of mouthfuls and not a lot at one time. That might make a difference. I know they say hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. but too much is not good.

Keep up the great work and you will be in Onederland before you know it.

 

[lolakat]

Thank you for the advice. I do need to think about the way I hydrate while I run. I only recently started drinking at all during the runs and I do think it makes me feel a little sick. I will try to take smaller sips more regularly and see if that helps.

I did 30 minutes of cross training yesterday morning before work. Did the hills on the tredmill again for about 2 miles. It was relaxing compared to my Monday night run. Today is a rest day.

Food Yesterday:
B: Banana
S: FF/SF Cappacino
L: LC butternut squash (I think I'm done with this one for a while once I finish the ones in my freezer. Can't take those limp pea pods)
S: Apple
D: ham steak and baked apples

Did my WW weigh in last night. Lost 2.2 lbs

Currently weight: 200.6 lbs (sooooo close to "onederland")
Starting weight: 244 (WW starting weight 230.6)
Total loss: 43.4 lbs (WW total loss 30 lbs)

My daugher weighs about 42lbs (she is tall and her BMI is totally normal). I keep thinking, "how did I manage to walk around all day as if I was carrying my 3 year old everywhere I went!" I can't believe I ever ran that first mile!!

 

[eyor44]

With regards to water, you might want to start training for the water stops during the marathon. The first one will be at about 1.5 miles and then about every mile after that. Some people carry stuff with them, but I just rely on the water stops. When I am training, I have a water bottle and find a place to leave it beside the track. My tracks are 1/4 miles. Beginning at mile 2 I will carry the bottle around one time and take a few small sips. Then I use it every mile are so around. That is what works for me.

Also when you get into the higher mileage you will need to think about food. I can't eat when I am walking (makes me sick) so I use the Clif Bloks. I have a couple blocks at miles 4, 8 & 12. 2 blocks each time works for me which equals one bar. They are a gummy like substance kind of like gummy bears. I don't care for gummy bears, but love the clif bloks. You must drink water with them. So I eat them on one turn and then water on the next. Just something to think about.

for WW!
Just think for the next week, you can picture yourself walking into "onederland". That is so awesome!

Did you ever think you would comment that two miles of hills was relaxing?

 

[toystoryduo]

Way to go, Lola!!! You're almost in Onederland!!! Keep up the good work!

Great news that your mom and grandma are coming for a visit!!! Hope you all have a wonderful time!

 

[lolakat]

Thanks again for the helpful advice Lisa. I haven't figured out if I will carry water with me or not yet. Since I'm on a tredmill most of th etime it is easly to forget about those types of details. I think I will try out a belt to carry water first but if I hate it maybe I will train to just use the water stops like you do. I need to do some testing on the various gels, goos, blockes (all sounds so appitizing doesn't it ) out there too.

Yesterday was a rest day from running. Today is a 40min run. I'm going to try to do my long run outside this weekend. I finally have 2 days off 19 days so I'm hoping to sneak it in. I think I'm way too dependant on my treadmill. I bought a new ipod nano to run with. The thing is super cool and soooo tiny. I also got one of those nike + gizmos. I'll have to see if I like that better or the Garmin. So far I haven't tried either since I've only been on the tredmill.

Food Yesterday:
B: Banana
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC apple cranberry chicken
S: Apple
D: pork chop and asparagus
S: WW ice cream bar

We had planned to take my DD to the state fair last night but around 1pm I got a call from our nanny that she had a fever and was not a happy little girl. I left work early and we just cuddled on the couch last night. It was so sad she was all punky and listless but she looked up at me and said, "I'm better mommy, I can go to the fair and get strawberry ice cream." Poor little thing. I took her to the Dr. this AM and she's fine, just a little virus. Hopefully she will perk up by tomorrow. My mom and grandma will be getting in tonight and I'm hoping we can all go to the fair together.

 

[lolakat]

Got up and did 40 min run yesterday AM before work. Did 3.25 miles in 40min for a 12.37 min/mile pace. I ran mostly at 5.5 for 3 min then walked at 3.7 mph for 2 min. I ran the last 2 min walk break.

Food yesterday:
B: banana
L: salmon/spinich/fingerling potatoes (work lunch)
D: pecan crusted chicken and brocolii
S: WW ice cream sandwich.

Tonight is supposed to be 30 min of cross training but I may end up skipping it. There is a lot going on with my mom visiting etc etc.

 

[eyor44]

Your DD sounds so sweet. Hope you have a wonderful visit with your mother and grandmother. and I hope that DD is better and she can get some ice cream at the fair.

 

[lolakat]

Ended up skipping cross training on Friday. There was just too much going on and I felt like I was getting a cold. Still didn't feel great on Saturday but I did go out for my 5 mile long run. Made my way up to the Tobacco trail. It was awsome. I used my new Nike plus with was great. If it is acurate I was able to run a lot faster outside than it seems I can on the tredmill. I was able to keep up a 10 min/mile pace most of the time during my runs. I found I tended to walk a little slower though. All in all I went 5 miles in 58 min 20 sec which is an 11.66 min/mile pace I had been anxious about moving my run outside but it went much better than I could have hoped for.

I really think there must be something wrong with my tredmill. It seems to be so much harder for me to run on there compared to other tredmills or outside. Oh well, at least I am training harder than I think not easier. I'm looking forward to another outside run next Saturday. Then I will be trapped inside for the next 2 weeks.

Food has been a little rough b/c of my family's visit. We went to the state fair Friday afternoon. I took picutres of all the crazy fried foods but didn't eat any. DD did get over her cold and finally got her strawberry ice cream.

Food Friday:
Breakfast: Egg white omlete with veggies
L: sandwich thin with reduced fat peanut butter
D: BBQ chicken breast, 1/2 corn on the cobb (healthest food I could find a the fair)
S: Skinny cow ice cream sandwich


Food Saturday:
B: Omlete with chedder cheese and veggies
L: none
D: 1/2 a cheesecake factory chicken piccata, I also had a few bites of my DH's cheesecake
S: Skinny cow ice cream sandwich

I've slipped up on my food a little this weekend (more on that in tomorrow's entry). Not a huge deal but not what I should have been doing. But I was very proud of my 5 mile run so I guess it balances out.

 

[VernRDH]

lola- GREAT job on the 5 mile run!!! You did awesome!
I will tell you that I think treadmills are not quite calibrated right, mine does the same thing. I think I am going so slow on it, then when I get outside I am flying in comparison. But it is good training, and if its all you can do, then thats what you do. I really cannot run on my treadmill anymore, it just screws up my gait too much. I don't mind walking, but not running.

Keep up the good work, don't worry about the food. You will get back on track. Glad you had a good time with your family.

 

[lolakat]

Thanks Vern.


Yesterday was a rest day. I'm back on the tredmill tonight. The mid week runs go up to 45 minutes this week. I'm not looking forward to runni9ng on the tredmill again after my awsome experience outside on Saturday. Oh well. I guess it gives me a little more structure for these training runs and will make my long runs more "special."

Food Yesterday (not so great)
B: 2 fried eggs , 2 pieces of wheat toast and half a biscuit with butter
S: A few handfulls of sourdough pretzels
L: none
D: Maggiano's eggplant parmasean with half of the spaghetti that comes with it and several bites of DH's pumpking cheesecake (which wasn't even that good I just couldn't stop eatting it!)

I fell off the wagon a bit yesterday especially with dinner. The worst part is they give you a second helping of your order to bring home! I'm going to try to eat it half at a time. But I still have a half of my cheese cake factory dinner to eat too this week. So dinner three nights this week will be so so in the calories department. I know I could just toss it but I'm just too cheap for that

We had a great weekend with my mom and grandma here. I miss them so much. I got a ton done too. I hired someone to clean the house so when I get home today it will be sparkling!!! We bought the matress and bedding for my daughter's "big girl bed" and the painter will be here tomorrow to paint her room. We painted four big strips of sample colors on the wall yesterday so we could pick one (so hard!). Hopefully by the end of the week she will be all moved into her "big girl room." We bought a new TV for the living room and set up the geek squad to come install it. It is a truly ginormous 55 inch monstrosity. My DH is in heaven. We finally hung up all the art around the house that his been leaning against the walls since we moved in. I changed my daughter's clothes over from summer to winter and packed all her old stuff up in the attic. Plus I got my beautiful long run in outside, went to the state fair and spent loads of time with my little girl! With only 4 days off a month I try to pack them as full as possible and I felt good about this one!

 

[lolakat]

Did the 45 minute run last night. I am still fighting off this little virus so it didn't feel great but I'm glad I got it done. I did 3.83 miles in 45 min for a 11:44 min/mile pace. I used my nike plus while on the tredmill and found out that even the clock on my tredmill is off by over a minute. I know I can't be sure that the nike plus is 100% accurate but I trust it over my ancient tredmill so I will use it for now to track my pace and time. Tonight is 30min of cross training.

Food yesterday.
B: Banana
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC Chicken Carbonara
S: Apple
D: 1/2 a cheesecake factory chicken carbonara
S: SC icecream sandwich

Tonight will be WW weigh in. Hopefully this is the day for "onderland"!!

Our new cleaning lady did a fantastic job yesterday. It felt great to come home to a squeaky clean house. Today we have the painter coming to do my daughter's room. I can't wait to get her big girl bed set up. She is so excited!

 

[momof2minnies]

Lola great job on fitting all that in and the long run too.The treadmill is the pits but I am glad someone invented it for these miserable New England winters.


What do you do you that you only get 4 days off a month? Ugh it must be tough.

Congrats to your little big girl! That is exciting.

Linda

 

[eyor44]

Here is some that you have passed through the gates of "Onederland".

Sounds like a great weekend. I'm glad your outside run went so well for you. And you had your mom and grandma for a visit. Truly wonderful weekend. Your food looks okay. You didn't over do and that is a tough one.

 

[toystoryduo]

Sounds like you had a great weekend, Lola!

Your pace on your mileage looks really good! Keep up the good work!

I'm sorry to hear that you're not feeling well. I've been battling some kind of "bug" for the past week or so myself. I hope you start feeling better soon!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

[lolakat]

Hi ladies. Thanks for stopping by!! I really appreciate the encouragement.

Linda: Without getting too much into job stuff... I'm in healthcare and I'm working in a situation where me and one other person are trying to cover something 24/7 that should be covered by 3-4 people. There are just not a lot of people out there that do what we do and we are stuck until we can recruit more. I love my job but hate my hours if that makes any sense. I plan to stick with it for another year or two but won't be able to hang on much longer than that if we don't find another person.

I did my 30 min of cross training (hills on the tredmill) yesterday. Tonight is a rest night.

Food yesterday: (not so great again... had to finish the Maggiano's left overs. )

B: sandwich thin with reduced fat peanut butter
S: SF/FF Cappacino
L: LC cranberry/apple chicken
S: Apple
D: magginano's eggplant parm and about 1/2 the spagettii that comes with it. (I really ate WAAAAY to much of this but it is so darn good!!)
S: SC ice cream sandwich (should have skipped this too after that big dinner)

I weighed in at WW yesterday and lost 4.2 lbs.
I made it to "onderland"

Current weight: 196.4
Starting weight: 244 (WW starting weight 230.6)
Total loss: 47.6 lbs (WW total loss 34.2 lbs)

I had a hard time choosing a new mini-goal but I decieded to choose getting to 193.5 lbs even though it is only a few pounds away. It is a significant weight to me b/c that is the weight I got down to and spent about a year at after I had my DD. I was happy there and to me that is an acceptable weight for my body. It seems by body "wants to" live in the 190s and I've spent most of my adult life in the 195-215 range. It still puts me in the "overweight" BMI but with my height I feel it looks OK on me. The top of my WW range is 175 and that is also my top "normal" BMI. I think I will see if I can get there as a long term goal but getting to 193.5 will be a good start. I'm hoping to make it there before my 8K race November 20th.