Bitches beware!

I am back and motivated whooooo!  Just a quick update that today I ran on the treadmill for 63 minutes and "travelled" 5.15 miles. faster and farther than yesterday. Now it is time for bed.

Dreaming of warmer weather? Time for a vacation already!

The snow keeps coming, and just won't stop.  I would rather run on the treamill any day than endure cold burning windy temps on my face.  I ran today on the treadmill for an hour. 

63 minutes : 4.66 miles.  What's up???

Then I had to go get my car looked at but a very adorable car technician, who unfortunately isn't working when I have to come back again on Thursday for a new part.  Boo.  But while I was sitting there I read through an issue of Runner's World from last year.  (Side note: if you love magazines like I do, but hate paying $3 and $4 some dollars per issue, Half Price Books is your new best friend for currest issues at only 50 cents a pop!)  While I was seriously considering doing a bicyle tour vacation by myself later this year, now I've got a new idea that is rolling around in my crazy impulsive head.  I'm thinking about signing up for a big monumental race (half marathon or more) and planning a vacation around it.  The race could be at the beginning of the week, and then the rest of the time could just be relaxing, site seeing, and time off of work and resting from running.  Then once I come back, it would be time to get back into the schedule and routine and set new goals and not put running off.  Like a certain other time after a certain other half marathon.  But there is one down side to this that has me scared.  I just don't really want to go on a vacation by myself. 

At least on a bike tour, you are with a group of people the whole time.  Hmmm...more to ponder though.

**Today's success: Worked out and had a great run.  Ate decent throughout the day.  Throuroughly stretched out afterwards.  Had my first blog comment!  Woooo!
**Today's Setbacks: Ate two cupcakes.  Considering a 3rd right now.  Realized that my Nikes are not my favorite to run in.  They are light weight and great for other things, but I do not like them for running.  I think I am a tried and true Asics fan.  Those aren't my exact model, but similar. 

Beginning of the week update

I used to hate working out. I hated the sweating, moving, and jiggling about in front of other people. But strangely enough, those things just don't matter to me any more. It's like, my workout doesn't feel complete unless I've soaked my t-shirt in sweat, and my hair is all wet. It's not enough unless I've gone for at least 90 minutes. I could always squeeze in another 10 or 15 minutes. I have it in me. Tell me you think I can't do it, and I will prove you wrong. I'm not embarrassed anymore.

When I run or work out, something amazing happens, and everything else just disappears. The only thing that matters is that I am moving my body. With running, it's one foot in front of the other. Left, right, left, right. Breathe deep in through my nose, and out through my mouth. Nothing else exists. I have complete control over every part of my body. I move it and I tell it what to do. When everything else disappears, this is when I am happiest and most complete.

So an update about last week. My goal was to work out Monday through Friday all five days. I hit 4 out of 5. On Friday, I had a meeting at work, and was on the clock for over 10 hours. Being the end of the week, I just didn't have any energy left after 5 o'clock. I went to see my crush at the bank to deposit money, and I went home and vegged out and relaxed. I should have ran over the weekend, but I'm still struggling with feeling sorry for myself. I need to snap out of that, and begin being grateful and "embrace the wonderful things you do have and enjoy it all to the fullest." Thank you Eric! I'm going to try to keep that in mind more now.

Today's success: Powered through feeling beyond tired. Had a great training session.
Today's setbacks: Eating. It's always that, isn't it?

School Assignment

Media Technology

      Digital Book readers: American companies sold over 6.6 million e-book readers and 55 million smart phones, capable of running e-book readers like the Kindle app, in 2010 (Grimaldi, 2011).  I think this form of technology is pretty amazing.  It doesn’t just apply to books, but also magazines and newspapers too!  I used the kindle app to purchase a book in a previous class, and I also downloaded it for my phone too.  I didn’t read anything on my phone though I must admit.  I’m actually not a very big fan of reading long things on the computer.  This new form of technology is changing the way we shop and communicate though.  Bookstores are struggling, as Borders declares bankruptcy (Grimaldi, 2011).  I think any audience interested in reading would be drawn to this media.  I see people at the gym and at Panera all the time using Kindles, iPads, and other devices. 

Social Networking:  It’s a fast, free, and convenient way to share tons of information quickly.  At first, I only used facebook to see what my friends were up to.  I used Myspace to look at pictures.  I used livejournal to blog about my own feelings.  Now, I use facebook constantly!  I think I might be addicted!  But it was this great new tool initially that connected people within networks (schools, colleges, universities) to be able to share multiple things at once.  The creators of Facebook then expanded the networks to high schoolers, and later on, everyone and anyone who wants to join. 

Shared networking: I’m not sure if this is the right term exactly, but this is a way that people within an office can create a document, and then save it into a networked folder that is accessible by multiple people.  I used to use a shared network folder for a journalism class in high school.  This way the reporters could create their articles and put them into the folder, and the section editors could open it and put the content into a page layout.  It also worked the same way with photos too.  This type of communication and media can actually have two audiences.  The other people using the information, and in my situation, our readers were our audience as well. 

Gaming:  I’m lumping a bunch of different things together here.  Online gamers play games together on servers (the place where the game is hosted).  The game itself is a form of technology where people can come together from all parts of the world to talk and play.  They use headsets and microphones to have live voice chats while they play.  They also use instant messaging built into the game or built into the program that runs the game, or even through an outside program.  The companies who develop and create the games are intending them for the players who are their audience.  People use this technology to communicate, play, have fun, and relax.

References

Grimaldi, P. (2011, February 7).  Book lovers lament Borders’ woes; Economy.  The Providence Journal, A.1, retrieved February 17, 2011 from ProQuest Direct database.

Day 4 - Tight muscles, sore legs

Well, I had training today.  I laid down the law and said no dead lifts today!  Igor said he has the same problem after he does them too.  My back isn't as sore today which is a huge plus, but it's still pretty intense.  After yesterdays sprints, the long run, and crawls, my hamstrings are tight, as are my shoulders. 

The weather warmed up today, so inside the gym it was like a sauna!  Apparently their air wasn't working quite right.  I don't think I've ever sweat that much.  I tried to drink a lot of water while I was in there.  I really need to watch what I eat over the next few days to stay on track. 

My plan was to work out tomorrow too, but I have a meeting that goes until 5, so I'm not sure if I will have the energy after 10 hours at work.  I'm thinking that I should not go tomorrow, and really make the effort Saturday morning.  It's usually pretty hard for me though to drag my butt out of the house on Saturday to work out.  I go-go-go all week, and I'm ready just to hibernate all weekend.  I also need to go to the grocery store for a few staple items. 

Today's success: Working hard and not giving up!
Today's setbacks: Too much evening munching.  Boooo.

Day 3 - Aches and Pains

I made it there today, and I ran the whole 5k in about 35ish minutes, and ran at a faster pace.  That was my goal, and accomplished.  But then I had this cramp/ache/pain/knot in my left thigh - quad side, and I decided not to push any farther than needed.  I also ran 8 minutes at an 11 minute mile, and then two minutes at a twelve minute mile.  I decided not to do any more, like back strengthening work today because my lower back still feels really messed up.  It even hurts up into my shoulders and neck a bit. 

Saw Igor as I was on my way to stretch.  I did some bear walks with him, alligator walk, and a crab walk.  The alligator was a doozey.  I also did 4 sprints with him.  It was supposed to be 5, but we stopped early.  I thought I was going to die, but I just kept thinking one more minute, one more minute, one more minute.  I can, I can, I can.  Then I stretched.  It was good.  Very successful.

Success: Made it to the gym, and worked out for about an hour and a half.  Also, I felt super hot today.  Woohoo.
Setbacks: My back still hurts.  I'm also really tired.  Early bed for me tonight.

My setbacks aren't really too bad for today.  Oh wait!  I ate an extra piece of pizza that I really shouldn't have eaten.  Darn food. 

day 2

posting from my phone today...please excuse my lack of capitalization.

mission work out again...accomplished. i spent almost an hour on the treadmill. ive discovered that it feels better to run at a faster pace and take bigger strides, but it is just not comfortable to go that fast for extended time periods. however, today my whole body aches. what a workout yesterdays but my lower back really hurts and is sore beyond belief. some of those deadlifts yesterday were really hard on me.  so my new plan is to get back to strengthening my back.

im considering a half marathon in may. its such a big commitment, and im not sure if i have the gusto to go the distance again. it is so hard on my body, and the kick betsy's ass motivation isnt as strong like it was my first half marathon.  more on that later...