thekatisalie

Great advice all around… and I am glad to see others have had issues, too. I do love to run. I love to be outside and sweat and get pumped up. I was a short distance hurdler when I was in middle school, but was taken out rather quickly by knee and ankle injuries. My Yogi friend told me that my inflexibility could be detrimental to my running right now, too. I was a Yogini for awhile, but quit when life got busy… since I have lost more flexibility than I even started classes with. Maybe there is some logic there, too. I don’t know. I really do enjoy running. I don’t want to be a 50 miler or a marathoner, but I would like to get through a 5k without having to walk. My dreams aren’t big… but they are my motivation!

I could certainly try that! I am up for anything at this point. Hill sessions, rolling hills on the treadmill... anything.

Ok, so I am a little cranky, so maybe writing a wrap up right now isn’t the best idea… but here goes. Failed - Goal #1: Run one mile without stopping. [sTA]4 Failed - Goal #2: Lift weights twice a week at the gym. [sTR]4 Huge Success - Goal #3: Improve mile time from 14:35.[STA]3 Huge Success - Goal #4: Eat clean at least 3 days a week.[CHA]2 Huge Success - Goal #5: Pay down credit card debt by 1/2 current balance. [WIS]2 Accomplishing three of five goals ain’t bad, I know. I am just frustrated with myself at the moment because I have been running for almost two years now and I cannot run a mile without feeling like I am going to die. I did .75 miles once and the excitement I felt was incredible… never again have I been able to achieve that. I get to .35 miles and I just can’t push any further. I am blaming the weak ankle for a lot of this. It has been a huge setback and I am really crushed mentally right now. It is feeling better every day, but I know the less I run, the less I am getting where I want to be. Taking time off is torture. Absolute torture. I did NOT get to the gym for weights as I intended. I blame me for that. For letting work tire me out so much that I didn’t go to the gym. For allowing myself to skimp by. I can’t tell you how frustrating this is for me. I am my own worst enemy, and right now me, myself and I are not on speaking terms. Eating clean was great! That seemed to be the easiest. Improving my mile time was fairly easy as well. I am not between 13:25 and 14:00 on every run. NOT where I want to be… but I am improving (so why the frak can’t I run a mile!?) Paying down the debt… huge kudos to me. Especially because before I paid it down, I almost doubled it… So you know… Good job, me. I am not done. I haven’t lost any weight. I need to make more of this a priority and find alternative cardio to do between runs. I start yoga tonight, I start seeing John again for weights on Wednesday. THIS journey is over, but I am not done. Not even close. I WILL LOSE 15 POUNDS BY JANURARY.

Oh man do I hear you...

Thanks for that suggestion -- After the race this weekend, I am going to try that out for sure. I also started the c25K again, just to see if that helps. I am forcing myself to run slower and I am playing to my ankle injury quite a bit. This means going from a 10 minute pace when running to a 12.30 pace, which is frustrating, but I hope it helps both the ankle and the improvement. I also bought a new pair of shoes (again) after getting my run evaluated by a running coach. He was befuddled by me because I pronate with one foot and supinate with the other, but he thinks it is due to my knees (patella femoral syndrome). They are Karhu fulcrum shoes… so we will give this one last go. If that doesn’t help the ankle, it is time for the doctor.

Another quickie: Yesterday was a succumb to weakness day and I only had one clean meal (10pts). I did go for a run, but my ankle (BOTH OF THEM!) were killing me, so it turned into a woggle (still, 10pts). My right achillies is still sore from biffing it on a rock at the Warrior Dash and my usual tendon issue in the left foot is slowly getting better. Also made a CC payment… so 10pts. Total Tuesday: 30pts Today will yield no run, two clean meals and another CC payment (woot pay day!)… so 30pts. Wednesday Total: 30pts Looking forward to my running assessment tonight. Hoping they have a reason for my tendon issues… and that it is fixable. Week Four Overall: 80pts

Here’s a quickie. I’ve been resting since Saturday. I’m antsy to go for a run, since I have Go Commando in two weeks (same thing as Warrior Dash, only a little more Tough Mudder mixed in). I am going to start out light with only two miles tonight, just to see how the ankles are doing. I am also starting back up with the c25k program, since I am not seeing a ton of progress toward my running a mile without stopping goal. I have been after this goal for almost a year, and I believe I should have been there ages ago with how often I run, so we will see what happens now. Yesterday: 2 clean meals – 20pts

Oh Drew.

Ooooh co-op veg! Do you have a weekly share?? We have one and love it.

I have been awful at updates since wok has been crazy. We now have a roommate, too… so I’ve been in crazy mode. Here is a summary of last week: I did my usual two clean meals with dinner being the sad exception twice. So that means I should have 140pts for my meals last week. I was saving up my ankle for the Warrior Dash (good thing I did, since I wrenched BOTH of them on my run!), so I only had two runs for 20pts. I did not have any training sessions, so 0pts for weights, but I did two yoga sessions, so 20pts for extra work outs. I made one payment on my CC for 10pts… which means I should be at 190 for the week. A terrible score, but still. I did SOMETHING still in the midst of all the crazy. Also, I am arbitrarily giving myself an extra 30 points for the following: Running the Warrior Dash Swimming for two hours Dancing for an hour I think that sounds fair. Total for week three – 220pts And now... Photos from the Warrior Dash!

WARRIOR DASH TOMORROW!!! That is all.

Haha, this. Exactly this.

I lost track of this thread! Glad to see other Twin Cities folks!

Thank goodness you both leave. I if one of you had to stay and fight until you left, that would be a rough night.

waaaaait you want to cage fight? my hubby was in BJJ and training for MMA fights until he blew his knee out in cardio kickboxing.

Hmm. Interesting. I was just reading a feww articles on water retention, and I did go from 48-64oz of water a day to 16... and I've been eating out a bit due to beign off site with work... I bet that combo is what is fueling this! More salt, less water... I'm off to rehydrate!

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I am going to look into the water retention issue and see if I've added something recently that is irritating my system... Cause that is insane, right? I mean, I know it has to be water, because my clothes don't fit any differently. Well, they are a twitch more snug, but... Meh. I can try sprints at the gym (though I hate the treadmill) and I might add doing cardio on different machines. I liked thos suggestions a lot. My gym is hotter than hell, so running outside might be an option if I go before 8am or after 7pm when the air cools a bit! If the storms stay away... I also added the stairs to my daily life. I'm on the 4th floor at work. No reason to take the elevator. I just keep telling myself it is out of service and I have to take the stairs... I might also add a walk at lunch two or three times a week. You guys! Look at you motivating me and making me feel more positive!! Thank you

Thanks, Drew I am interval training right now, since I still can’t run a full mile without walking. I don’t know what the heck is going on with my body. Since I started seeing John, I feel confident in my weight circuits and the variety he provides, but I am not even seeing a shred of results. It’s really, really frustrating. I have been running 9 miles a week steadily for two months, eating more conservativly for at least one, and doing weights for one. You would think SOMETHING would show by now! *sigh*

I know I am three days behind in updates, but I need to vent. It was a long weekend full of work and power outages and storms. I am three weeks into new diet/exercise plan and here is my gripe. I have put on 3 lbs and I am constantly swollen, no matter how much I keep hydrated. What the heck is going on? I understand that I may be gaining muscle and that could be the issue, but on week two I was down 4 lbs. Week three… I am up three. Not up three from week two. Up three from my starting weight. I am getting disheartened and frustrated. Is running nine miles a week, eating clean 90% of the time and lifting weights/doing yoga twice a week honestly not enough? If that is the case… then what the hell is? Because I am doing more now than ever, and it isn’t making a damn of difference. /end rant.

First of all, to everyone I haven't been checking in on... I am so terrible. SORRY! It's been a miserable few weeks at work with lots of... work... to do. It's been piles of stress, but it should calm down after next week. That's a far way away, but... Mer. It'll come, right? I missed an update yesterday, but I ran and had three clean meals. My run time was slower (13.46) because of the weather being 20 degrees warmer than my last run. It was 89 yesterday, and I was STARVING, so I had a miserable run. It felt like work, which was the worst. Today I had no run, but I had two clean meals and made a CC payment. I did buy a pair of Brooks. I buckled down and bought the shoes I am finally fitted for, so I hope this ankle stuff gets better. They are BRIGHT yellow and pink Glycerin 11s and they actually have ARCH SUPPORT! Did you know that existed?! With my horrible high arch and my supination, I am hoping this is the ticket to a smooth ride (on these gel babies!) Three clean meals - 30pts One Run - 10pts Wednesday yields this kitty 40 points. WEEK THREE Running total is: 80pts Two clean meals - 20pts One CC payment - 10pts Thursday yields this kitty 30 points. WEEK THREE Running total is: 110pts Week One Mini-Challange - +1 CHA

Oooh man. But I am such a shut in! How am I gonna breach my fears and reach out to someone... new?!

FINALLY! A full update! Goal #1: Run one mile without stopping. No run today. I took two days off, since the Warrior Dash is next weekend, and I am really keeping things in check with the ankle. I want to kill the Warrior Dash, so... Gotta rest AND run. Goal #2: Lift weights twice a week at the gym. Well, my gym only has four trainers now... so scheduling with John has been hard. I will make two more appointments with him before the Warrior Dash, maybe three... But none today! Goal #3: Improve mile time from 14:35 No progress today, but I am at 13:13 now! AWESOME! I feel epic. Goal #4: Eat clean at least 3 days a week. This seems to be the easiest for me during the week, and the easiest goal. I'm pretty swell at hitting this one unless it is a weekend. Yet again, three clean meals. Goal #5: Pay down credit card debt by 1/2 current balance. Waiting on the money again... So, let's tally today's points: Three clean meals - 30pts Monday yields this kitty 30 points. WEEK THREE Running total is: 40pts Week One Mini-Challange - +1 CHA

AHHH! GUYS! Look what I did the next day!!!!! So tired from the week of crazy. Let's sum up last week Two clean meals - 20pts One Run - 10pts One Yoga work out - 10pts Sunday yields this kitty 40 points. WEEK TWO FINAL TOTAL is: 210pts Week One Mini-Challange - +1 CHA It's Monday and it was a bad day all around. No work out, only one clean meal... Gotta amp it up for this insane coming week! One Clean Meal - 10pts Monday yields this kitty 10 points. Week Three Running Total - 10pts

Also, I mentioned our dirndls for Beerfest. Here is the finished project with us three gals... and a German! Dieter loved our handmade dirndls so much we got to stop and chat in German (which I speak) for a bit! As you can see, we got caught in the rain a bit. But it only got more soaking when the full fury of God broke open. Three dirndled dames were dancing in the rain.

Ok, it has been a suuuuuper busy weekend so far, so here is a quick update. Friday I killed my mile time with at 13.44 minute mile split. Holy crap, right? Goals one and three are starting to look a little more doable. I can run .35 miles without stopping now... And I feel good. Ate three clean meals for Friday, despite being home from work, which made me proud! Saturday was not so good... but I knew that. It was the St. Paul Summer Beerfest, so I ate like crap (White Castle!) drank a ton of beer, and then ate like crap again (Sarpino's Pizza!). Here is hoping today will be better! Three clean meals - 30pts One Run - 10pts Friday yields this kitty 40 points. WEEK TWO Running total is: 160pts 1 credit card payment - 10pts Saturday yields this kitty 10 points. WEEK TWO Running total is: 170pts Week One Mini-Challange - +1 CHA