So Close!!!

Well, this week I was supposed to do my longest run so far: 11 miles. I was excited after FINALLY getting to the double digits, but a little nervous because I had to do it on my own, on a 1-mile track at the AnMed campus. Running around in a circle 11 times with nothing but my thoughts wasn't getting me super excited (btw, I don't run with music, headphones, anything...that took some getting used to, but now I couldn't imagine it any other way:D )

ANYWAY, so I start running and it was feeling like it might be a rough one. I had decided to go 3 miles one way, then 3 miles the opposite way until the end. So, I get to the top of the hill after my 3rd lap, and turn around. Then I hear someone yell my name. It was Jen! She had just gotten there (her parent happen to live in the same town as me...so random!) and was starting a 9 mile run. Since we got to talking, I decided to run the whole way with her. Which meant, drumroll please...

I RAN 12 MILES!!!

Holy Christmas. The day after Christmas I did 12 miles. That's only 1.1 miles less than what I'll be running on race day!!! I was super excited:)

Between upping my miles and all the chocolate I've eaten over break (thanks family!), I'll hopefully not have gained TOO much. I just can't turn away from so much chocolate. It's terrible.

Anyway, I've decided that New Year's Day I'm going to run my own personal half marathon. Start of the year with 13.1 miles. We'll see how it goes:) Should be very interesting to see!!! Also, I'm going to attempt to give up sodas until the half. Then I'll take a long hard look at my chocolate. I may have to give myself one soda a day for the caffeine. We'll see!

15 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

92 days until the Cooper River Bridge Run

DOUBLE DIGITS!

Holy crap. Double digits. I've finally arrived!

After an annoying ankle problem delayed my original double digit mark date, I've finally reached it. I did my first 10 miler today, and I did it alone. Everyone's left for Christmas break, but I stuck around so that I could do the 10 miles on the peninsula.

I'm not going to lie and say it was a breeze. I always end up starting out too hard, and the first 3 miles were terrible. But after I got in my groove, around 10:30min/miles, it was pretty good. Then the last mile was rough, but I did it!

I even rewarded myself with a whey protein shake for the first time since I did P90X a couple years ago. I'm hoping it won't hurt my weight loss stuff (2lbs to go!!!), but I thought my leg muscles might appreciate it:)

Ankle is still bothering me, but I iced it after the run. Hopefully after the half I can start working on rehabing it, but I'm going to make it another 3.5 weeks. Hopefully!

25 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

102 days until the Cooper River Bridge Run

LOSEIT.COM

Such a pretty graph!

During peak rugby season I could get down to 163lbs. Since I moved to Charleston, I've been sitting around 169-170lbs, even with rugby:(

Then Kayla got me addicted to www.loseit.com.

I started logging daily when I started my official training schedule, which was October 17. Since then, I've lost 10.4 lbs. That's a solid 10 lbs in 2 months! From my heaviest weight that I actually have recorded (September 20, 2011), I've lost 13.2 lbs. That's ridiculous!

It's heavier than you think!

Hopefully I can stick to it, and I'm supposed to hit my goal of 155 just before the new year. Then I'm just aiming to maintain my weight until the half. Once I hit 150, I'm going to start lifting again. I've probably lost a lot of my upper body muscle with the weight loss, but we'll see!

I'll try to take a photo every Sunday to see where I am. I just wish I had one from 2 months ago! I can definitely tell my stomach is flatter, I'm just not going back to that weight to see!

After 2 months, I'm at 157.6 lbs.
Also, I need a tan.

-Jess

26 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

103 days until the Cooper River Bridge Run

James Island Connector Run 2011

Pre-race...so cold!

Well, the connector run, aka my first EVER 10k was November 11, 2011. It was really chilly outside, and the connector was INSANELY windy. We were running out and and the bikers coming back were having to get off of their bikes and walk at the top. Needless to say, it was really rough.

Also, just the one practice run on the connector (which is apparently illegal now, but not enforced) was not enough. We'd been running on completely flat surfaces, so the inclines on the bridge were really rough. Not really looking forward to training for the Cooper River Bridge Run on March 31st.

Before the run, I had some Gatorade Primes left over from rugby season. You need carbs/energy before a long run, right? Not in THIS form. I payed for that bad life decision the rest of the day after the race. Once my digestive system got back online, it went crazy. Not fun at all. I love it for rugby, not so much for running.

MORAL: Don't drink Gatorade Prime before a run. EVER.

Anyway, between wanting to throw up, the inclines and doing the first 2 miles at an 8min/mile pace (RIDICULOUS), I somehow managed to beat my goal and finish in 57:06 (9:13 min/mile). My clock had it at a little faster, but the tracking chips all started at the same time. So I guess my goal on the bridge run should be anything faster than that!

-Jess

Things I learned this race:
1. PACE YOURSELF!
2. NEVER drink Gatorade Prime before a race.
3. No matter how cold, I can't stand gloves, hats or long sleeves.
4. Practice hills more than once before a race:P

Terrible Blogger, But Still Running:P

So...11 weeks off of the blog. Oops? Silly school getting in the way.

Anyway, though I've been a slack blogger, I'm still training for the Charleston Half Marathon. I even convinced Lindsey and Jen to sign up for the James Island 10k and the half with me! So exciting.

Here's how I'm doing with training:

I had to take a week and a half off (with 2 elliptical sessions) because I was having some really bad ankle pain after our first 9 mile(!) run. I'm just getting back on track, so instead of my scheduled 10 mile run this week, I had to do 8. 

I'll do a separate post about the James Island Connector Run. Craziness.

I'm even working on losing some weight. Kayla showed me this website www.loseit.com. It helps you keep track of everything you eat, and account for your exercise too. It's pretty nice. After nine weeks I've lost 8.6 lbs. My goal is 155. According to the website, I should hit it by the end of the year:)

Since my last post I've moved on from the West Ashley Greenway. I'm running around downtown Charleston, and it's AWESOME! 

How I keep track of where I'm going...lol. My first 9 miler!!!

That's about it for now...I'll try to keep things updated more often after finals!

-Jess

Clemson > Auburn

I wish I was this excited about running. I love Dabo!

I haven't exercised since Wednesday. Yeah, I know, I'm a lazy bum. But I really needed Wednesday off after running longer Monday and Tuesday, then I left Charleston rights after my classes on Thursday to visit the family. Then there was shopping and socializing with Emily and the ruggers on Friday, Clemson football on Saturday (WE BEAT AUBURN!!!), and the drive back to Charleston Sunday. Crazy stuff. I did get some exercise Sunday, because I'm on the DPT 2014 flag football team (we beat the OTs 51-6...in case anyone is wondering:D )

So yeah, that paragraph full of excuses is lame, I know.

Today I got back into things with the long run I was supposed to do yesterday. That's right. I upped my mileage. Who is this crazy person? I officially set out (and successfully completed) a 4. MILE. RUN. Say what?!?

I walked for about a minute at the 1.65 mile turn around, and then to get my water after the 3.25 mile mark. Then I pounded out the last 0.8 or so miles in a run. It took me about 46 minutes to complete (I would have the exact number, but I'm still learning to use my new watch and didn't completely stop it at the end...lol). That's the longest run I've done in a while.

I'm a little achy in places, especially my right ankle. It's been bothering me a bit when I run lately...maybe I'll have to cave and get one of my professors to look at it. My lower back was terrible after the first turn around, and I had to sit down and try to stretch it out before I started up again. Now my left hip is hurting a bit and my right one was clicking when I was doing my ab work out (bicycles, in and outs, etc). Ick. I have a feeling my mechanics are mostly to blame. My right ankle has always clicked when I run, it's just the first time my hip has ever done it. I'll probably take Wednesday off and find some way to motivate myself to run Thursday after class...we have our first neuro exam that day and the class is planning to go out to see Lion King 3D as a group. Hopefully I can squeeze in a  run somewhere.

Enough rambling and procrastinating. I've got so much flashcard making and studying to do before Thursday, it's not even funny!

-Jess

46 days until the James Island Connector 10k

116 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

First Outing With My Half Training Program

So, went out for my first run with the program I joined. The full marathon trainees have been going out for a little while, and were running with us. Way to make me feel inadequate. I definitely felt like a fatty next to those kids:P

ANYWAY, so Tuesdays are going to be our speed work days, and Sundays our long run days. Today we did a 1.2 mile warm up, then 0.5 speed runs, then a 1.2 mile cool down. He set it up for the marathoners to do 2 sets (2 miles) and the halfsies  (as I'll call us). When we were done with the first set, I wasn't feeling toooooo terrible, so I decided to keep going. Here were my times:

0.5 miles - 4 min. 24 sec.
1.0 miles - 4 min. 09 sec.
1.5 miles - 4 min. 08 sec.
2.0 miles - 4 min. 23 sec (I had to walk for a couple seconds...I didn't time it)

Around 7.5 minutes into the cool down (I'll say maybe 0.75 miles, maybe more), I started walking. So probably ran about 4 miles total. Not too shabby. Though now my IT bands and quads are really angry. I was already sore after running yesterday, and my arm is killing me from that stupid flu shot. So I guess I'll be nice and let my body take a day off tomorrow:) It's been doing a lot for me.

I stretched pretty well when I got home, and massaged out my left upper leg really well, hoping that'll get rid of SOME of tomorrow's soreness. I plan on stretching again before bed, and hopefully in the morning:P We'll see how it goes!

Today's Stats (according to my scale)
Weight: 169.2 lbs
BMI:     26.8

Apparently a BMI over 25 is overweight...so I'd need to loose exactly 10 lbs. to be "Normal." Though that isn't taking into account my muscle mass. Because, you know, I'm a beast. lol. I would like to get down to at least 160 again though, so we'll aim for that!

52 days until the James Island Connector 10k

122 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

Never Going To Be A Morning Runner...

So, I've been bad and haven't run since last Wednesday. I know, I'm terrible.

On the bright side, we did max strength testing on bench and leg press. I lifted 110 lbs on bench and 638 lbs on leg press. I maybe could have gotten a few more pounds on leg press, but I definitely maxed out on bench! It really reminded me how much I liked lifting at one point, so Kayla and I decided to go this morning at 8am. My original plan was to go run the Greenway at 7:30ish, then head to meet her at the gym. Knowing me and my love of sleeping in, you can probably guess that didn't happen. lol. I got up around 7:40am, then rushed to get there. Traffic in Charleston from 7:30am-8:30am is evil. As in triples my commute evil. So, got to the gym at 8:20ish and did some lifting for about an hour. Good times.

I did sign up for the half marathon training class at the Wellness Center, so hopefully that'll keep me going. The first meeting is tomorrow, so I'll write up my schedule whenever I get it:)

I got the flu shot this afternoon, then ran the greenway around 6:30pm. That's the best time, because I'm usually done in time to watch Jeopardy. Haha. Then I stretched and did my abs workout:) Fun times.

About 9:30pm I did start getting a bit of a migraine, so I took some Excedrin Migraine and have a cool washcloth on my neck. Idk why it happened, though I could've been a bit dehydrated, so I'm going to try to work on that!

I didn't weigh myself this morning, so I'll do it tomorrow to see where we're at:)

53 days until the James Island Connector 10k

123 days until the Charleston Half-Marathon

West Ashley Greenway

"the west ashley greenway is a ten and a half mile hiking and bike trail located in west ashley, just outside of charleston, sc. the greenway stretches from the south windermere shopping center (on folly road) to johns island. most of the route follows highway 17.  the greenway can be used from dawn to dusk. parking is available at either terminus"

I'd heard a few people mentioning the greenway and I've been wanting to try it out. I've been kind of nervous about jumping back into running outside, but there's only so many times you can run around a 1/6 mile indoor track before you lose your mind. Now that it's getting cooler at a decent running hour, I can try it out! Plus, I had to switch from the conveniently located Bee Street Garage (right next door to the Wellness Center) to another off-campus parking this semester...so yeah. And I figure just driving 3-5 minutes down the road to the greenway will be better (aka more convenient = more motivation!) than all the way to campus, parking, getting into the gym...all that fun stuff.

MOST FAVORITE PART: Gravel/grass. My knees/ankles/back/joints in general aren't the best in the world. So having the option to run on the grass is AWESOME. My body didn't really hurt at all after my little run/walk adventure. They've got a lot of it closed off and it's not marked super well, so I'm relying on my friend who told me out and back was a grand total of 3.4 miles.
days

So...3.4 miles running/walking in 35 minutes and my P90x Ab Ripper X when I goth. Not tooooooo bad. Though I could tell I was really winded when I was trying to sing along to the radio on my drive home (although I've also had a bit of a cold for the past few days). Hopefully this new running track will keep me on my toes for a while!

-Jess

Here Goes Nothing!

Hey guys! It's been awhile since I did anything in the blogging world, but here I go again! I've decided to get more into running, and I've signed up for my first ever half-marathon here in Charleston. I'm super excited, but nervous about jumping from 3 mile runs to completing 13.1!

I had been doing pretty well with the running thing over the summer (I started PT school and only went to class, studied and ran). Once exams started showing up, though, running suffered, and between finals and our two weeks off, I did ZERO running. Yeah, I know, this first week back told me that I should never do that again!

Needless to say, I'm behind where I want to be at this point in the whole training thing. Hopefully this blog, along with signing up for a half-marathon training program at the MUSC Wellness Center, will give me the motivation to stick to my plan. We'll see how it goes!

I'm aiming to post on here at least once a week with a running log, weigh in and possibly a food log. Maybe that'll get me to stop eating all those Hershey kisses sitting around my apartment!

Here's the goal (with a slightly earlier date...lol):

60 days until James Island Connector 10k

130 days until Charleston Half-Marathon