Super Dolphin Day 5K

On Saturday, February 22, my sister and I competed in the 35th Annual Super Dolphin Day 5K.  This was the very first 5K I have ever attempted to run.  I was excited and nervous on the morning of the race.  If you've been reading my previous blog posts, you will remember that leading up to the race, I was plagued by side aches.  I really didn't want a side ache to put a damper on my first 5K.

About two minutes after the gun sounded, signaling the start of the race, I got a crippling side ache.  I was furious, but I didn't want to give up.  I decided to use a breathing technique my friend Julie told me about.  I was elated when Julie's breathing method worked!  My side ache didn't go away, but it lessened and I never stopped running.  I'd wanted my sister to push my pace, but the side ache wouldn't allow it.  My poor sister had to slow her pace to run with me, but we finished and had fun in the process. If she had run at her normal speed, she would have placed second in her age group.  I did appreciate having a running partner, but when we run our next race, she is running at her pace and I am running at mine. Homegirl needs a medal!

The obligatory pre-race photo.  We never took a post race picture -- too sweaty!

Below are my stats from the race.  If you can believe it, I actually got a PR even with the side ache!  It was only a 9 second PR, but I'll take it.

Finish time - 29:40
Previous fastest time - 29:49
Ranking in the female 30-34 age group - 7th out of 19
Ranking out of 287 female finishers - 79th  

I had really hoped for a time in the 28 minute range, although I am pretty proud of myself for even finishing.  Our next race is the Turtle Crawl 5K on May 18.  It just so happens that my mom will be in town, so she is going to join us.  It should be a fun family event!

SEVEN months down...

It's been seven whole months since I started this journey.  SEVEN!  At the beginning, I would've never imagined that I'd make it this far.  I've still only had one cheat day.  My willpower -- at times -- shocks me.  The old me never would have been able to turn down doughnuts or ice cream cake. Although, I am on the downhill side of this challenge (only five months left!), it doesn't make it easier.  New obstacles pop up every day that try to throw me off track.  Each day, I do the best that I can to try to make a healthier me.

If you recall, last month was a bust.  It was the first month where I didn't lose a single pound, and to top it off, I was a slug.  My motivation was missing and try as I might, I couldn't seem to locate it. This month, I decided to see if there was a reason for my lack of motivation.  I started using a program called LoseIt to track my protein, carb, and fat intake.  After a week of tracking, I noticed the problem.  My protein intake was low and my carb intake was on the high side.  No wonder I was tired and hungry all of the time!  As soon as I increased my protein intake and decreased my carb consumption, I started to feel better.  It's funny how your body "speaks" to you sometimes.

Another pleasant surprise to getting my diet back on track was weight loss! I am two pounds down from where I was last month.  I realize two pounds is not a huge weight loss, but I will take it.  Since I began this challenge on July 21, 2012, I have lost 16 pounds.  I am now 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight.  I really don't think I will get much lower than my current weight, and I am fine with that.  As long as I keep losing body fat, I will be a happy camper.       

This month, I have stayed pretty consistent with my PT.  I plan to make some changes to my PT program next month, but stay tuned for those.  My sister and I have a 5K on Saturday that I am excited and terrified to run. The truth is, I am super competitive.  I want to get a PR in the race, but I am having weird abdominal pain.  Every time I run lately, I get excruciating pain on my left side.  The pain lasts for DAYS after I run.  I noticed yesterday it hurt when I carried my son around as I walked.  I will make a doctor's appointment after my race.  I swear if I have to walk the 5K, I am going to be ridiculously furious.  I have worked my booty off to prepare myself for this race, and I am not going to let some mystery medical issue get in my way.  Gosh, I am stubborn. 

Physical Training Log

Another week of PT bites the dust!  The 5K I am running is next Saturday (2/23), and I am quite excited.  Lest you forget, I am running with my sister who averages EIGHT minute miles.  I am not that fast, so I am slightly terrified that she will either leave me in the dust or I will cross the finish line and puke in the nearest trash can.  Oh what fun!

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop twice

= 29:49

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 3.15 miles.  This was a PR for me!  My previous fastest time was 30:41.  I was quite proud of myself, as I thought I was running slow.   

Monday, February 11, 2013

Run to the end of the street and back

-then-

Kettlebell swings (35 pounds) x 15

Sit-ups x 15 

Complete 4 rounds 

-then-

Run to the end of the street and back

= 11:01

* According to mapmyrun.com, the run portion of the workout was approximately 0.64 miles.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Row x 250 meters

Snatch balance (15 kilos) x 5

Push-ups x 10

Complete 5 rounds

= 12:40

Have a super weekend!

Two physical training logs and Lose It!

I apologize for being absent these last couple of weeks.  My husband's been out of town, my sweet boy is sick, and we've had a lot of other randomness going on.  My PT logs for the past two weeks are a bit on the minuscule side due to the aforementioned, but I did what I could with the time that I had.

On another note, I decided to start tracking my food consumption using a program called Lose It.  It has been a really eye opening experience for me. I thought I was eating great... boy was I wrong!  I am eating far too many carbohydrates and far too little protein.  I never would have thought that was the case.  Programs like Lose It are great for keeping you accountable. I hate to see when I've gone over my allotted calories for the day.  A word of advice, don't try to cheat the system by not putting in everything you've eaten.  You are only cheating yourself.

Remember, the workouts listed below are a representation of what I completed.  Please consult your physician before beginning a physical training program.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop once

= 14:55

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 1.60 miles.  

Monday, January 28, 2013

I walked the neighborhood loop with my baby in the BOB
= 30:00

-and-

Squats x 15
Sit-ups x 10
Burpees x 5
Complete 5 rounds
= 6:16

* This workout left me sore for days!  I am not sure if my soreness was due to the pace at which I completed it, or what.  Ouch!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Run the neighborhood loop once

= 14:33

* According to mapmyrun.com, I ran approximately 1.60 miles.  I ran this a bit faster than I did the week before, so I was happy!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

I walked the neighborhood loop with my baby in the BOB

= 30:00

-and-

Snatch and front squat technique work using 33 and 38 pounds

-and-

Back squat (33 pounds) x 7
Ball slam (25 pounds) x 7
Complete 5 rounds
= 4:43

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Row x 1000 meters
-then-
Overhead squat (33 pounds) x 5
Sit-ups x 10
Complete 5 rounds
= 9:12

Have a great weekend!!