jlhughes89

Goal: run 3 times a week B I started out strong, but the last couple weeks I only got in about two runs a week. Goal: increase mileage by 2 miles each week. C With not getting that third run in, I did not get my mileage as high as I wanted. Though over the past 5 weeks I have doubled it from where I started. So not terrible, but not what I wanted either. Goal: cut down to 1 diet coke a day and 1 bag of Cheetos a week after I completed my mileage. A I did great with this. I haven't had a soda in weeks. I have cut down my Cheetos to a tenth of my previous intake. The best part? I don't crave either of them anymore. Main goal: get marathon ready I'm definitely not marathon ready, but I'm on my way. This time next year, I totally believe I will be ready.

So I didn't finish as strong as I like. I ran 7 miles Friday. So that was good. That was also the last day I had my control meds for my asthma. Yesterday and today were tough. I've been hooked up to a nebulizer every couple of hours just so I can somewhat breathe. If you haven't seen someone who takes these treatments, it's humorous to others (and I'm sure once I get some more meds, I will to be amused). I tend to shake like someone with Parkinson's after them. So many steroids are getting pumped into my system that it's hard for me to even hold my phone and type. So I'm trying to type to you before the shaking starts. It all really blows, but I'm trying to stay upbeat. This week and last week were not my best in this challenge, but I got closer to my goals than sitting on the couch doing nothing. Next week (as long as I get some dang meds) will be better. And hey, I started running again. I found some races and challenges to train for. I have started the process of cleaning up my diet. Best of all, I found out what I want to do with my life besides work in retail for the rest of it. I give myself a B for this challenge. Hopefully I can kick bigger asses on the next. See ya soon, scouts.

Same here, which is why I stick to annoying drivers by running on the road. We are supposed to get some weather in the 50s next week! Which means I am hitting the trail! My legs are tingling in anticipation.

Yeah, it is. It's my only one that doesn't slip off my ears. I love it. And Cheetos are delicious, but so completely unhealthy! I usually eat the flaming hot ones, though.

Running is totally always my primary goal. I'll see you scouts next challenge! Though I still haven't decided on running goals. I know I am cutting down the weekly mile increase. I want to work on speed as well, though I'm not sure what a good 6 week goal is.

So I got my run on today! Another freezing two miler. I shaved two minutes off of my time for it. WHICH IS AWESOME! My pace is now down to 9min/mile. I know that is still slow, but I started at like 14min/mile when I first started running last summer. So I am pretty stoked. My goal is to get it down one more minute, but that is another goal for another challenge. Also those are my crappy $15 shoes I bought at WalMart. Woot woot! They aren't the best, but at least a piece of the heel isn't missing like my previous ones. In other news, the dwarf's sister just asked me to do to a tough mudder race with her. Ahh! It's on my bucket list, so I am pretty excited to find someone to race with me. I'm still not drinking diet coke or really any sugary drinks outside of tea with honey. I did try some McDonald's sweet tea the other night and the amount of sugar had me gagging. So I think I am over sugary drinks and aspartame-y drinks. I did have a tiny bag of cheetos. Eeks! Gasp! How can this be!? I didn't have anything to eat at work yesterday, and the vending machine was filled with cookies, chips, and candy. So I caved and ate a tiny cheeto bag. I don't really feel too bad though since I have gone a couple weeks without them. So that is the JL report for the week. Hopefully I will have more to tell you in the next couple days!

The bike is beautiful! I can't wait to buy my first pair of running shoes. So far all I use is my sister's holey gym shoes from high school. Haha.

Thank you, Tom!

Well thank you! I tend to grade myself hard, I guess. Change approved! To a B. Haha

How are things going!? Got any good mileage in this week?

So lots of awesome this week and not so awesome at the same time. Not so awesome: I got little to no sleep all week because my job constantly changed me between third and first shifts this week. So I have been to exhausted to really exist.I also had no gas money and too much ice on the roads for it to be safe to drive 30 miles to my gym. Yay winter! Not... It's a complete butt hat.I have only got a little over 9 miles in this week. Awesome: The interview went SPECTACULARLY! He wanted to hire me on the spot and basically started training me during the interview. If I get this job it could very well lead to an assistant manager position when the current one graduates college. I have an interview next week at my current job for a supervisor position. I don't think I will get it because there are several people who deserve it more, but one of the current supervisors encouraged me to apply anyways. Soooooo we'll see. If I were to get it, then I wouldn't need the second job because I would be getting enough unlike right now where I only get 10-15 a week.I've lost weight and body fat! It isn't my goal per say. However, I had gained a bit of weight when I quit running. So it's nice to see it coming off. Though this time in a healthy way. Last time I lost weight I was not as emotionally healthy as I am now. So I might have starved myself to lose 20 lbs, then ran to lose more. This time I am proud that I haven't really made it my focus. I am more concerned about the races I want to accomplish and less about how much I weigh getting to that point.Besides doing 2 miles out in the snow and ice and single digit degree temps, I got in 7 miles today on the treadmill. I can't make it out to the gym again this weekend (poorness sucks), but I am going to try to run outside tomorrow again. Here's hoping I don't fail.I have stopped drinking soda and eating cheetos entirely. I also have been eating over all better foods more frequently and crappy food less and less. I even turned down the doughnuts my manager brought in one morning. He was sweet enough to bring me bananas and tea. IT WAS AWESOME. I've started a yoga challenge to kind of help wind me down a bit more. I tend to be very wired even without caffeine. Thus why switching shifts sucks. I already have trouble sleeping as it is. So I started this 30 day challenge and have also been meditating. I think last night was the first night in months that I didn't lay in bed for a couple hours before falling asleep. So YAY!Finally, I got a blister on my foot today from running. You might be thinking, "JL, how is that awesome!? That sounds AWFUL!" However, I used to be a dancer years ago. Ballet was my running. I lived it, breathed it, drank every moment of it. Had I continued with it though, I would probably have to get my hips replaced in a couple of years. I already have arthritis in them now. Continuing would have made them even worse. So I quit. That is all besides the point, though. When I was a dancer, every blister,callus, and over all bloodiness that happened in my feet during practice was like a victory that I worked my ass off. So yay that while running I could get that back. So overall, I give this week a C. I might change that if I can get out tomorrow. So we'll see. Anyways, happy day to you all!

I actually got my toe all bloodied up last night while doing yoga. My kitten thought that downward dog was the purrfect time to attack. He seems to only attack my limbs and appendages when practicing yoga. Apparently he is very much against me doing it.

Haha. Very true! The victory would taste less sweet if this was just handed to me.