Happy Monday, internet world! While I’m not necessarily glad that the holiday season is over, I am glad that the crazy weeks are over and that I can get back to a normal schedule. I start my final semester of undergrad on Wednesday so I will definitely enjoy being on a set schedule for the next four months.
I’m not going to pretend I was perfect during the holidays. I went to parties and gatherings and yes I ate. If I wanted a red velvet cupcake, then I ate it. And I didn’t even feel bad about it. Backsliding a little bit did put back on a few pounds, but I know that being back on a normal schedule this week will put me back in a good place.
This past week I logged a total of 25 miles on the road. Some of those are walking, some of those are racing, and some of those are running intervals. But a total of 25 miles isn’t too shabby. I followed the training plan almost to a T this week, just moved a few days around while still getting the intended workouts complete.
In addition to my training plan, I’m also part of a group that wants to “streak”. The only rule is that you have to cover one mile per day and doesn’t matter if you run or walk. I’m on day 7 and intend on making it the entire 365 (Lord willing). On Friday, I just didn’t want to run/walk/crawl/anything. Period. I didn’t want to move my body. After a very late afternoon nap, I woke up and decided to put my big girl panties on and get out there. It was dark and drizzling so I didn’t want to go down to the bike trail. What’s a girl to do? I just strapped on the Garmin and decided to just walk/run back and forth in my driveway. Even though I probably looked stupid out there, I still got it done. 3 miles is 3 miles, no matter how it gets done.
On Sunday the training plan called for a 4 mile run. Yikes. My boyfriend and cousin wanted to go crawdad hunting so they took me four miles up the road from where they would be at so that I could just run straight to them. The entire four miles was through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and completely along the river. So peaceful. While I didn’t run the entire way, I attempted to run .10 mile then walk .10 mile. I did pretty good at sticking to this interval. The goal was to maintain a 12:30min/mile which would be 50 minute effort. I was spot on! But most of all I was just glad to be done. It is slightly frustrating that I used to be able to cover this distance over 10 minutes faster than I did yesterday, but that’s just where I’m at and I have to be okay with that. Time will make me faster. Effort will make me faster.
Right now, I’m happy with the progress I’ve made. I’m moving right along and learning to love exercise. If I can just isolate my clean eating, then I would be unstoppable. The diet portion will take longer for me to get accustomed to, but it will happen. For today, I’m proud of where I’m at and where I am going.
Great Runs!!
Amazing! Way to go! 25 miles/week? WAY better than what I’m achieving these days. Guess I need to find my big girl panties…. 😛
Oh stop it you 50k runner!! You already got your big girl panties on!
*Had. I seem to have lost them over the holidays….
Totally would love to do the “streak!” Maybe I can find the time in my crazy schedule to make this happen. Between grad school, working, bus duty, monthly after-school meetings, and extended contract tutoring.. I get exhausted just talking about it! LOL Maybe I can go walk during my planning time or something! I think 22 laps around the gym is a mile.. (maybe). Inspiration!
At my gym the pool is 36 laps = a mile (or 72 lengths).
you are sooooo busy. i just tell myself that if i have 15 minutes to be lazy, then i have 15 mins to be sweaty. but it sounds like you dont even have lazy time!
I think that’s what holidays are for. 🙂 I ate whatever I wanted at holiday parties too, and rarely felt badly about it. Of course, I felt a little different last week when I weighed myself. 🙂 But I had fun!
so glad you feel the same way! I didn’t want to feel guilty about enjoying the holidays. And stepping back on the scale was just extra motivation.
loving the positive attitude. i completely understand the food issue. i went back to counting calories. this is really hard for me-but i got on the scale on monday and realized i had gained every pound back. it’s hard-i’m envious of those people that can eat/drink what they want and not gain an ounce. i am just not one of them. do you do weights in addition to the cardio? just curious.
Oh, Elizabeth! Believe me when I tell you that I understand every emotion that comes with stepping on the scale and realizing that you have not only gained weight, but gained allllll of your weight. those lucky gals (and guys) who are constantly eating bad food and drinking whatever they want make me envious too!
you can text me anytime and we can motivate and hold each other accountable for our food! i’m not currently strength training right now (lack of equipment at the moment) but plan to get back at it soon. weights have always been one of my favorite things!