nothing tastes better than slim

ninetydays:

I’ve decided to start a training program for a half-marathon race. I signed up for the NYC Half-Marathon lottery last week and I want to make sure that I’m prepared, just in case. A training program will not only help keep me motivated, it will keep me goal oriented so I don’t fall into a rut and get sloppy with my runs.

Taking the advice of a friend and fellow runner, I’m going to be using one of Hal Higdon’s training schedules (the half-novice to be exact) to get ready.

But since I am trying to accomplish more than just finishing a half-marathon (not like that’s an easy task!), I’m going to ramp up his schedule just a little bit. Hal only calls for two days of strength training a week…I’m going to bump it up to three. I know that adding more muscle to a runner’s body will slow that body down, but I don’t have a runner’s body…yet. I am more interested in losing weight than I am in finishing a race a few minutes faster.

Right now my goal is just to be able to finish a half-marathon. And my buddy Hal is going to help me do it.

Congrats on signing up! That’s awesome!

I ran the race last august (omg so hot) and am jealous that you’re running it this year (fingers crossed!). I did my first half in the fall of 2008 using hal’s novice plan and did great!

Just this morning I realized my half is less than three months away as I’m signed up for a Chilly Half marathon on March 7th. Oy. I guess that means I have to start training too!

divinesecrets:

Trying to decide if I need this from lululemon. I almost never get the random little things like this that I ask “Santa” for, so if I want it I better fork over the $14 myself. I know it’s sad, but I feel like I need a little extra motivation to get outside and run when it’s cold out. Runs like the one I did tonight at the rec are all good and well, but I have roughly 5 weeks until I have my first 5K and it won’t be inside and warm and toasty. I’m thinking this number in purple will be perfect for race day as well.

I got this for channukah last year and wear it ALL the time. It’s not great when it’s freezing out though - then I turn to my balaklava…

Proud to report I met my goal of weighing more at the end of the month than at the beginning of the month - I was definitely 129.x on the scale at the gym (forgot to get on the digi scale at crossfit). That’s not as low as I was last week, but that’s okay.

My goals for December:

• Weigh less at the end of the month than at the beginning of the month.
• Continue crossfitting 4+ times/week
• Run 1-2 times a week on top of that (based on Crossfit Endurance)
• Eat Paleo (non-dairy variation) with 3 cheats/week

It’s totally doable. Especially since there’s no all inclusive cruises this month like last year! With my time off from work, I’m going to get even FITTER! YAY!

I’m trying to find a track near my house to run on. There’s a really nice track at a private school nearby, but the no tresspassing sign scares me.

There’s another high school 1km away, but it’s in a bit of a sketchy neighbourhood. I asked my friend who taught there last year what she thought about me running alone there. She said not to go at night that drugs and prostitution are a big problem.

Right.

Anyway, I think I’ll take my chances next weekend with the trespassing charges. Heh.

Food

[Goal: 2 fruit, 3 fat per day]

B: Eggwhites and berries  [Fr] <— really more like a snack

S: REUNION! 1.5 Bagels, Tuna and Egg salad, Fruit, Piece of cake

L: TBD - Probably none!

S: Snacking on things I was cooking, including biscotti for boy (non caveman - boo), Tasting soup (yum)

D: Rainbow Trout, Zuccini Pasta, Cauliflower

S: Cave muffin!!

Exercise

CROSSFIT!

Rest day :)

Crossfit Endurance

Increasing from last week - trying four rounds of: 200m, 2 min rest, 300m, 2 min rest. Trying to build up. —> Done, not as well as I would have liked. Did sprints between running errands. HEhe.

Food

[Goal: 2 fruit, 3 fat per day]

B: Pear & 10 Cashews [Fr & F]

S: Protein bar (@12PM)

L: Egg whites & 1/4 Avocado & Caveman Cookie [f]

S: [TBD]

D: Paleo chicken fingers. Kale chips

S: Tea

Exercise

I will go for a run. Thinking about starting Crossfit Endurance, so might try the first workout. Or might go with the folks from Nike Runners Lounge. Though running with a group scares me (for no real reason!). I need to just do it! har har har.

Did the beginner CFE Workout - 8X(200m sprints and 2 min rest). I love my garmin!

short on time so had to cut off the run. now time to shower and walk about 2km to meet the sister for (healthy) brunch! yay!

will not have toast and potatoes since want to feel/look good later in the day too!

then VINTAGE SHOPPING!

onemanschoices:

My trainer is into POSE running in a big way. I’ve been to one POSE running clinic here in London, and need to do a lot more. My trainer gives me hints and tips on how to try to do POSE running, but trying to change one of your fundamental movement patterns is hard work and will take time. My trainer said it took him about a year to get it.

I certainly cant do POSE running for more than a very short time, and I usually need a fair bit of external feedback to get there. At the moment I end up hitting the floor with my toes rather than the balls of my feet, which ends up leading to sore calves. I’m also spending way too much time on support (ie feet in contact with the floor). Oh and I’m pushing off the floor rather than pulling my feet up.

So how am I transitioning? Pretty badly! :-)

Ah, you’re working with a trainer 1-1. That makes sense. I learned it in my crossfit bootcamp, but since have been trying on my own. The more time passes, the less I try and do it. I probably have no idea all of the things I’m doing wrong… hehe.

I’ll have to watch out for POSE clinics around Toronto…

onemanschoices:

My new running shoes broken in this morning.

The thin sole (a “neutral shoe”) really makes me aware of the angle my feet are when they hit the ground. Hopefully this will help me improve my running, to be more in the POSE style.

More info on the shoes and POSE running for any interested parties:

• Pose Method - official website (kind of sucks)
• inov-8 F-Lite 230 shoes

Very curious about the transition to POSE running - my crossfit gym preaches this way, but I haven’t been able to get myself to do it for more than a block at a time on my long (~12km) runs without feeling like I’m going to fall over. How are you transitioning?

I had a great weekend with healthy eats. Besides not tracking, there are 3 things I did badly:

• had alcohol saturday night (wiiiiiine)
• had a piece of cake
• ate dried fruit mindlessly sat and sunday

Things I did well:

• Went for a 12km run yesterday
• Said no to a whole number of foods - including toast and brunch and whatnot

Things I’m excited about:

• I might have bought $20 worth of tea - two boxes of dessert herbal teas from a health food shop (English Toffee and Vanilla Hazelnut) and 2 bags of loose leaf teas from David’s tea. Tea after dinner helps me not crave sweetness!

All in all not too bad, and the scale had me at 132 this AM. So 2# until this month’s goal. Would love to hit it for my birthday on the 21st.