Anyone else totally frustrated with trying to figure out how much of everything they should eat? I got a book on sports nutrition before Christmas and swear I read the thing, but I am still confused! No one seems to agree on how many carbs an "athlete" should consume and do I really fit into the "athlete" category anyway?? Sheesh. My pace isn't even listed in most running books--apparently I am a "jogger".
Well, someone did share a handy website with me recently: www.thedailyplate.com I've tried Fitday before to track what I eat, but Daily Plate actually has a ton of store brand and restaurant foods in their data banks that you can search for. Makes it much easier for me, being a calorie counting idiot.
I'm hungry and the brownies on my counter are calling my name.....
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Runner wanna-be
Hello! I started running about 12 years ago to lose weight. For about 7 years I would run until my knees wouldn't let me - usually about 3 or 4 months at a stretch - and running in a race never occurred to me. Once I had kids, I really didn't ever get back into running until SoleSister Jeanine last January recruited for other moms from our mom's group to join her and Shelly to train for the Riverbank (offers a 25K and a 5K) in May. Since I again needed to lose weight, I thought joining this group of ladies would be a good way to get back into running with some companionship. So I signed up for the 5K and ran my first race. It was fun. However, my knees still didn't let me train regularly. I have since learned so much from all these ladies about running, and training avoiding injury. I would love to run regularly, but since my body doesn't want me to do that, I've accepted that cross-training will have to do. As long as I can still run events with my Sole Sisters, I am happy!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Training Plans!
Hello!
I am currently training for the 25k with my fellow River City Sole Sisters. I have been looking at the supplied training program by the run directors and feel it doesn't fit me. I have spent the last 7 months after last years race ( my first of its kind) trying to recover from an IT Band injury that I can't see following the same schedule as last year which has us running 6-7 days a week. So, I am breaking from the schedule and actually throwing it away!!! Whenever I look at it I feel nothing but chaos where running has been for me in the past 20 months (the length of my running career thus far) nothing but calmness and joy. I will be running less and hopefully running farther and injury free. Biking is my XTing and I vow this year to not sacrifice the strength training for the run!
And yes, I will be doing the Marathon in October and that really is my focus right now. . .staying healthy, fit and strong to go 26.2 miles!!!!!!
Keep strong to run long!!!!!!!
I am currently training for the 25k with my fellow River City Sole Sisters. I have been looking at the supplied training program by the run directors and feel it doesn't fit me. I have spent the last 7 months after last years race ( my first of its kind) trying to recover from an IT Band injury that I can't see following the same schedule as last year which has us running 6-7 days a week. So, I am breaking from the schedule and actually throwing it away!!! Whenever I look at it I feel nothing but chaos where running has been for me in the past 20 months (the length of my running career thus far) nothing but calmness and joy. I will be running less and hopefully running farther and injury free. Biking is my XTing and I vow this year to not sacrifice the strength training for the run!
And yes, I will be doing the Marathon in October and that really is my focus right now. . .staying healthy, fit and strong to go 26.2 miles!!!!!!
Keep strong to run long!!!!!!!
2 year "runiversary"
It is hard to believe that 2 years ago (and 1700 miles) this month is when I first started running. Gosh it doesn't seem like that long ago! I have Shelly to thank for talking me into training for a 25K with her that year. Boy was I stupid to just jump in like that, but I am so glad now that I didn't know any better!
I have come a long way from where I was 2 years ago. I didn't even know how to turn on the treadmill at the gym back then (seriously!) and barely made it through the first half mile on my first run. Could have had something to do with me setting the pace at 9mm 'cause that's what the gal next to me was running at...... Yeah, I learned a lot about pace and injury right away. I took a full month to recover after that race and then began to build a nice base before getting crazy with the mileage again.
I now run 25-30mpw regularly. One mile is barely a warm up, whereas running one mile without stopping was a huge accomplishment 2 years ago. I can even push a 3yr old in the jog stroller without complaining too much about it!
I like to think that I am now running smarter than I was when I started. Thanks to some handy gadgets (Garmin 305) and technical fabric clothing, I even look more like a runner! Sheesh have I spent some cash on running stuff!! I have at least 7 pairs of running shoes in my closet that have too many miles on them to be good for anything besides gardening! Well, at least my older boys are getting big enough to wear them for play shoes now!
This year is a big one for me. I am hoping to talk my hubby into letting me train for a full marathon..... We'll see....he's not quite on board with the running thing yet. I am hoping that with the kiddos (10, 9, 7, 5, and almost 4) getting older, he will feel less burdened during my long runs. Not exactly holding my breath, but I feel like my body is ready for the challenge and wish my family could be as well.
Not really sure where I am going with this post....I guess just reflecting on where I am, how I got here and where I plan to go... And where is that?? Hmmm....out to dinner would be nice......
I have come a long way from where I was 2 years ago. I didn't even know how to turn on the treadmill at the gym back then (seriously!) and barely made it through the first half mile on my first run. Could have had something to do with me setting the pace at 9mm 'cause that's what the gal next to me was running at...... Yeah, I learned a lot about pace and injury right away. I took a full month to recover after that race and then began to build a nice base before getting crazy with the mileage again.
I now run 25-30mpw regularly. One mile is barely a warm up, whereas running one mile without stopping was a huge accomplishment 2 years ago. I can even push a 3yr old in the jog stroller without complaining too much about it!
I like to think that I am now running smarter than I was when I started. Thanks to some handy gadgets (Garmin 305) and technical fabric clothing, I even look more like a runner! Sheesh have I spent some cash on running stuff!! I have at least 7 pairs of running shoes in my closet that have too many miles on them to be good for anything besides gardening! Well, at least my older boys are getting big enough to wear them for play shoes now!
This year is a big one for me. I am hoping to talk my hubby into letting me train for a full marathon..... We'll see....he's not quite on board with the running thing yet. I am hoping that with the kiddos (10, 9, 7, 5, and almost 4) getting older, he will feel less burdened during my long runs. Not exactly holding my breath, but I feel like my body is ready for the challenge and wish my family could be as well.
Not really sure where I am going with this post....I guess just reflecting on where I am, how I got here and where I plan to go... And where is that?? Hmmm....out to dinner would be nice......
Monday, January 7, 2008
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Moms!
I'm not one to make resolutions so much anymore--but I do think about what I can do to improve my life and my attitude more around this time of year. I think it's inevitable--people talk about giving things up, losing weight, saving money, etc. So it's on the top of the brain a bit more.
I have decided to at least make sure I can incorporate some sort of fitness activity into my day every day--but not to make it a standard "go for a run" or "hit the gym" mentality. Here in the midwest we have a lot of options--especially in western Michigan. In the winter I can take the kids sledding--call it a hill workout every time I have to climb back up. I can go snowshoeing or ice skating (in my head I can spin around like Dorothy Hamill--the reality isn't QUITE so graceful, but I can hold my own even if I can't do a double axle). In the summer we can swim at the beach (we're only a bit over 1/2 hour away from the great sandy beaches of Lake Michigan!), or we can play baseball or soccer. Sometimes we'll take walks under the guise of being a "sprinkler hunt." The reward is going thru those sprinklers touching into the streets a bit so we can cool off.
Of course I love my running days, too. My team and I have already been trying to figure out which races we want to run this year--all the while I am saying a little prayer in my head to stay healthy and with my bones all solid and intact. It's hard to take the sport for granted when it can be put on hiatus so quickly with a stress fracture! We are excited to get in our first race of the season in March. Before March we don't have a lot of options here in this area!
Hope you enjoy following along in our blog -- it's fun to receive encouragement from you all, and we hope we are providing some sort of motivation and enthusiasm in return!
I'm not one to make resolutions so much anymore--but I do think about what I can do to improve my life and my attitude more around this time of year. I think it's inevitable--people talk about giving things up, losing weight, saving money, etc. So it's on the top of the brain a bit more.
I have decided to at least make sure I can incorporate some sort of fitness activity into my day every day--but not to make it a standard "go for a run" or "hit the gym" mentality. Here in the midwest we have a lot of options--especially in western Michigan. In the winter I can take the kids sledding--call it a hill workout every time I have to climb back up. I can go snowshoeing or ice skating (in my head I can spin around like Dorothy Hamill--the reality isn't QUITE so graceful, but I can hold my own even if I can't do a double axle). In the summer we can swim at the beach (we're only a bit over 1/2 hour away from the great sandy beaches of Lake Michigan!), or we can play baseball or soccer. Sometimes we'll take walks under the guise of being a "sprinkler hunt." The reward is going thru those sprinklers touching into the streets a bit so we can cool off.
Of course I love my running days, too. My team and I have already been trying to figure out which races we want to run this year--all the while I am saying a little prayer in my head to stay healthy and with my bones all solid and intact. It's hard to take the sport for granted when it can be put on hiatus so quickly with a stress fracture! We are excited to get in our first race of the season in March. Before March we don't have a lot of options here in this area!
Hope you enjoy following along in our blog -- it's fun to receive encouragement from you all, and we hope we are providing some sort of motivation and enthusiasm in return!
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