AKGirl

Final time - 5:38. Chicago hosts an amazing event with hoards of people cheering the entire way. Truly an event I will never forget, and almost makes up for the fact I am hobbling like an old woman.

Chicago Marathon tomorrow! Details to follow

A 6:30 mile?!? Wow! That is inspiring! Keep it up!!

Tuesday Night Race - 5K trail run. Completed in about 31:45 which is darn good for a trail race for me. And as for DKBG, I passed him early, had a good lead on him, and got a side stitch on the last decent hill, had to walk, he passed me there, and beat me by about 30 seconds. Curses! We shall meet again, DKBG!!

Nice work! Trying to convince my husband we may need a barbell set in the house .... we'll see how that goes.

Monday: Bodyweight workout Bodyweight Squats: 4x20 (from 2x35 - more overall and I can keep better form rather than flailing so badly at the end of the long set when I get tired) Bench Dips: 2x14 (up from 2x12) Incline Pushups (!!) - decided to dive in and see how I did. Did 2x5 on my kitchen counter, up from 2x13 Knee Pushups Plank: 2x45 seconds (up from 2x40) Focused on my diet more today, and I felt more successful. I think I am not eating enough, so I get hungry and then I cave for sweets. I ate more throughout the day and I didn't crave bad food nearly as much. Tomorrow is another secret epic battle between me and DKBG - it's on!

Been a nutty few days, tried to stay on track as best I could with obstacles present. Thursday was supposed to be a run day, but life got in the way, so moved my rest day up a day from Friday to Thursday. Friday I went for a brisk 3 mile walk instead of a run. Not quite the same but got the blood moving. Saturday I was hoping to do my bodyweight workout in the morning, but got roped into volunteering with my husband for National Public Lands day. So spent 4 hours walking around a local park with a heavy backpack, replacing directional signs. Oh yeah, did I mention it was in the snow? First snowfall of the year. So while it wasn't a subscribed workout, I think it was a good functional workout for that day. Sunday I had planned a run day, but due to some crippling guilt from my mother, I spent the day doing a long walk with her in the sunshine. Probably about 6 miles. Not doing much to help my speed, but it is a good endurance workout anyway. So reviewing goals for the first week: - Working toward incline pushups. Going to spend next week building up the number of knee pushups I can complete and then going toward incline pushups. - 9 minute mile - to be honest, I have not done much speedwork for this. I am going to be doing the Chicago Marathon next Sunday, and I'm trying to get through that before I tackle this goal. It may be a bit ambitious to do that in 4 weeks, but if I don't get it this challenge, I will definitely crush it next one. - Diet: Started a new job and have been so harried I have not even kept a food journal. I know I am doing good on breakfast and lunch, but by the end of the day, I get tired and fall prey to rice and pizza occasionally. With traveling to Chicago next week, I know the diet is going to be rough. Try not to go completely off the deep end, but not going to miss out on some Chicago deep dish on my first trip. School: This one, I am crushing. Made the commitment to get up early (5:20) every morning to read a section of my chapter for the week, and nailed a solid 90% on my quiz. This challenge fell at a tough time for me to make huge changes in my life, but if it were easy, they wouldn't call it a challenge. I am going to get through the next week and a half until I get back to town and then really buckle down. How did your first week go??

Getting toward a rough season for avoiding sweets - Halloween -> Thanksgiving -> Christmas. Going to be a challenge for me too Good work so far!

There are weekly trail races here that I see him at pretty regularly. He's gotten faster since last fall so it's providing a good (secret) challenge for me

Day Three - Bodyweight workout Bodyweight Squats: 2x35 (up from 2x30 Monday) Bench Dip: 2x12 (up from 2x12 Monday) Knee Pushup: 2x13 (up from 2x11 Monday) Plank: 2x40 seconds (up from 2x35 seconds Monday) So far, working well on three of my goals. My food goal is not as structured as I would like it to be. I just started a new job today, just got our offer accepted on a new house, and getting ready to go to Chicago to run the marathon next weekend. So actually taking the time to journal my food has fallen by the wayside. I'm making an effort to make smart choices, and am doing pretty good on my meals, but I trip up on snacks. I get stressed and feel I deserve a coffee drink or a cookie. Focusing on my exercise has helped reign in some of the stress demons dancing around my skull. Just gotta convince the free stress demons that snap peas are as satisfying as a reece's peanut butter cup.

Great article on Cracked this morning http://www.cracked.com/article_20028_5-ways-your-brain-tricks-you-into-sticking-with-bad-habits.html

Running is so frustrating at times. I can eat the same thing, sleep the same amount, head out my door feeling about the same, and results will vary. I like to take one run a week without my watch - just enjoy the scenery and move my legs.

good start! Keep it up!

Ooh, I am going to Chicago for the marathon. Know I am going to be cheating a bit while I am there because you just can't get food like that in Alaska.

Day Two - Tuesday Night Races An awesome trail running series offered here in Anchorage. Some gnarly hills. Not sure on distance or time - I'll post specifics when they post results in a day or two. My secret running opponent, Double Knee Brace Guy (DKBG) was there. I kept pace with him for about half a mile and lost him when I had to walk a steep hill and didn't see him until after the race. Until next week, DKBG!