Lent Happenings

Life has been a little more busy than usual lately, as you can tell from my lack of posts. Fortunately, work events are done for at least a month, which gives me the entire time to finish up DC training. 19 days! It is way too close for comfort for me.

On top of regular running, Paul and I have added in new workouts to do each day during Lent. After day one I'm pretty sure we both regretted doing this. This is what is on the list for today:

When I first thought about doing these I thought it would be the easiest thing ever. I didn't take into account that I rarely work out 1/2 of the muscles that these moves work out, causing me to be in a huge amount of pain after. Each day is a whole new set, which I like a lot. I'll be very impressed with myself if I can keep these workouts up each day during Lent. I also gave up soda and sweets....I may have already slightly broke the no sweets part. 

I have a 5 mile run after work today, followed by the above exercise. I'll be happy if I can walk normally tomorrow. Happy Monday everyone!!! 

DC Training Update

The Rock n Roll USA 1/2 marathon seems to be sneaking up on me faster than I had expected. Only 26 days until I have to stand at the start line with thousands of other people and wait to run 13.1 miles. Holy crap. This is all that runs through my head when I'm training. I'm not ready. Another thought that runs through my head every step I take while I'm running.

Each big race I do, I swear I won't again. Don't get me wrong, they are so fun and I love the feeling you get after finishing a race. However, I don't love training. I kind of jumped into the running thing backwards, and never really went back to do it the correct way. My first road race ever was my half marathon. I never did a 5k or 10k. This now results in anytime I look at races to do I end up with a half marathon. My problem with that is I never worked on building up my speed. I'm constantly pushing myself to do more distance wise, and when I come up short I am even more disappointed. I always think had I started with a smaller race first and worked my way up I would be doing my races much faster now.

With all that being said, I am still going forward in my training for the half. I did my 8 miles this past weekend and it was rough. I have realized though that the first few miles for me are the toughest, and after that I do better. I think in the future I need to have a better base for running before I start training for a race. I finished the full 8 though, took a little longer than I would of liked, but the key for me was getting it done. Because I had been sick, and then my work schedule, I hadn't really had a chance to run at all for a while. I figure this was more of the reason I was slow than anything else. I have 3 runs planned for this week and then my 10 mile run this weekend. I think the running this week as well as my long run this weekend will help boost my confidence a little for the race.

Hopefully in the next 26 days, not only will I be more prepared in terms of running, but also mentally. My biggest downfall in a race for me is getting too much inside my own head. I have 26 days to figure out how to make that not happen and to make the DC 1/2 my best 1/2 yet. Tips for this are always welcomed!

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Valentine's Day!

I hope you all are enjoying your Valentine's Day! This past weekend I celebrated Paul's birthday. We went out Friday night to dinner at Bertuicci's (so good!) Then went to see The Vow. I cried the entire movie. In the end I wasn't sure if I loved it or hated it. I also got spoiled and was given my Valentine's Day present early. Someone didn't listen to our $50 limit, and bought me this amazing ring. 

It is from the Open Hearts Collection. I have a matching necklace and watch/bracelet from Paul as well. The collection means a lot to me for a few reasons. I like the idea behind it (if your heart is open, love will always find its way in) but I also feel a special connection to it because of my open heart surgery. 

Saturday (Paul's actual birthday) we went out shopping in the morning (new shoes for me!) and then were off to Brooklyn for Paul to get his tattoo!! It was about an hour and a half of going over the design of the tattoo and etc and then about 5 hours of him actually sitting for the tattoo. Here is a more detailed aka better description of it from his blog. At the end of it all though it looked like this...

It came out amazing! She did such a good job, and so many hidden details were put in! We didn't leave until 10:30, so Paul's birthday dinner turned into grilled cheese and a bacon/cheddar/mushroom omelet at a diner. Neither of us had eaten really since lunch so we both cleared our plates. 

Sunday was a relaxed day with some random errands and lunch at Chipotle! The night ended with a family dinner celebration for Paul's birthday and watching the Grammys! 

I am finally feeling better (win!) and am going out for dinner tonight with Paul for Valentine's day. We both are pretty laid back when it comes to plans for that and will end up eating anywhere that there isn't a wait! I am planning to run 8 miles tomorrow (hopeful win) to make up for some of my lack of mileage and get back on track with 1/2 marathon training! 

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!!!

Happy Birthday Paul!

It is Paul's 24th birthday!!! I typically only write about Paul here and there on this blog, mostly cause I don't really want to be one of those girls. I figure though, on a birthday it's ok. This time last year I was rushing out of work early (which was a huge issue at that time) to drive to Long Island to celebrate Paul's birthday. This year I got to leave work at a normal time and drive just 45 minutes to go and celebrate his birthday weekend! Little things like that are making this move to New York even better. Everyday that I live here I know more and more that it was the right choice to make! 

So, here is to Paul on his birthday! Thank you for showing me I could love NY, accepting my ridiculousness at all times, disagreeing with me on just about every sports team, watching movies like The Vow with me, supporting and encouraging me when I struggle to run 3 miles (after you ran 16 of your own), and for always being there when I need a hug and an I love you. I hope you have the happiest birthday and am so glad I can celebrate it with you! I love you!  

In case you haven't heard...

I'm sick. I complain quite a bit when I am sick, so if you haven't heard yet I'm shocked. Unfortunately this led to a lack of running. Some how I have managed to cure myself (for the most part) of the common cold in 4 days! However, since I haven't been able to run (and you all probably don't want to read more details about me being sick) I figured I would finally post about a blogger questionnaire I got tagged in by the newest family member, Jamie. 


So here we go..
1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you've tagged them


Random things about me: 
1. I complain about being sick, but hate when other people are sick and complain. 
2. I get nervous before the start of triathlons, but am oddly calm before running races.  
3. I might be 24, but I still get scared of the dark and find stuffed animals comforting to sleep with. 
4. My best friends (Paul excluded) live in a completely different state than me (and each other). I miss them a ton. 
5. Every winter I swear I will move to California. Every single time. 
6. I probably eat something chocolate everyday.
7. My favorite holidays are 4th of July and Thanksgiving 
8. I have never broken a bone. I have however: fallen out of a window, flipped over the handle bars of my bike, and had open heart surgery. 
9. I currently have my belonging scattered between Massachusetts, Westchester, and Long Island. I usually need something from one of the other places at the most inconvenient times as well.  
10. I enjoy really trashy reality shows. Real Housewives, Bethany Ever After, Big Brother, Survivor, Biggest loser, Jersey Shore...amazing.  
11. Half the reason I do races is for the cool shirts and medals. 


Jamie's Questions:
1. What is your proudest accomplishment?
        - My first half marathon. I still can't believe I finished it in that weather.
2. What is your biggest regret?
        - Pretty good about not regretting things. I have one that I don't really talk about and try to look at as a learning experience. 
3. What was your biggest fear as a child?
       - Probably running out of chocolate. I don't really remember, but I was pretty fearless as a child. 
4. What is your biggest fear as an adult?
       -Snakes
5. Your most embarrassing triathlon story, using exactly 11 words
       -DNF...doesn't take 11 words for that one.  
6. What is the one piece of advice you'd give to the 10 year old version of yourself?
       - Write down how you do back flips into the pool, your 24 year old self will see pictures of you doing this and be incredibly jealous and want to know how.  
7. What is the best meal that you've ever made yourself? 
        - Grilled cheese with apple sauce on the side. It's not complicated, but I only make it when I really need some comfort food and am sick. Makes me feel better every time, makes it the best meal for me. 
8. In or out? 
       - Ummm in? 
9. What is your dream car?
       - Range Rover Sport in Midnight blue. I have no idea why I want it so bad, but I really do.
10. What is the fastest you've ever gone on a bike
       - Well the first tri I did with Paul, he hit 51 going down a hill. I'm sure I was scared and hit the brakes a little more than him, so I'm guessing around 48 mph. 
11. What is your least favorite part of triathlon training/racing?
       - The start of the race in the water. I am slowly working on getting past my freak out during this part. 


My 11 Questions: 
1. What is your favorite race you've ever done?
2. What is your favorite thing to do in your downtime?
3. Who is your favorite running partner and why? 
4. If you got a new dog what would you name him/her?
5. Where is one state you would live other than state you live in now? 
6. Pool or Ocean? 
7. What is your favorite race shirt or medal you received?  
8. What is your opinion on lululemon? 
9. What is that one thing you do when you get nervous? (Bite nails etc.)
10. How old were you the last time you pee'd in a pool...honestly. 
11. What is one tip you would give to a new runner? 


And now for the tags..
The boyfriend
Danica
Liz
Nichole
Gina


Ok so that's only 5 people, not 11 but oh well. Hope you all enjoyed!!! Happy Thursday Everyone!

Monday Morning Blues....

Yes, while I am living in NY (and now an official resident of the state), I still will always love and support my Boston sports teams. The Super Bowl...yeah that was a rough one to watch. Oh and did I mention I watched it with all Giants fans? Yeah you can imagine my face at the end of the night. At the end of the day I will always love my Pats, but it was not fun to wake up this morning and think about going into work to see more Giants fans.

On a happier note, some updates for you on my running! It's actually going well...yes you can all gasp now in shock. I'm getting back on track with my long runs and did 6 this past weekend. I know schedule wise it should have been more, but I hadn't done 6 yet and needed to get it done to start feeling better. It felt long, tiring, my knee bothered me a few times, but I finished it and felt amazing after! If I keep up the pace I had for those 6 miles, come race day I will hit my time goal! I was very excited after that run, and while in pain, felt better about the DC half.

I also went to a triathlon training meeting the other night. A triathlon coach was there talking about the best way to put together a tri training plan for any level triathlon. I was unsure if I was doing any tri's this year (you know with my panic every time I get in the water for some reason), but after talking with the coach about my apparent fear of swimming I started to feel better. I have a few things I need to work on to get past this, mostly because when I'm training I don't get nervous in the water, it's when I have hundreds of people splashing around me that I get freaked out. I am considering at least doing one tri this summer though.

I hope everyone had a good weekend and nobody else is feeling the "post super bowl Monday morning blues"!

February!

Happy February everyone! Now that I've been through a full month in 2012, I wanted to check back in with my New Years resolutions to make sure I was still following them. I, as do most people, have the tendency to start to slack off on my resolutions as the year goes on. I decided at the beginning of every month I would check in and make sure I was still staying on track.

My first resolution was to run a race for every Holiday! Technically my next holiday (if you count it as one) is Valentines Day. I have found two races that I am deciding between at the moment. Race 1 is actually on Paul's birthday (Feb 11). He unfortunately has to work all day on his birthday so I could do this one solo. Race 2 is the next day (Feb 12) and Paul may or may not have work. I'm currently leaning towards doing Race 2. I know the area I'd be running better, and this way I have a better chance of running it with Paul (since it is a Valentine's Day run it would be nice).

Resolution number 2 is to run 2 (possibly 3) half marathons. I am still signed up and training for the Rock N Roll DC 1/2 in March! (It also falls on St. Patrick's Day so another Holiday race planned!) I also am still planning to do the Rock N Roll Chicago 1/2 as well in July. I thought I had found my perfect 3rd half marathon for the year, and sadly it fell apart :( I've been dying to go to Canada recently (not really sure why but I am) and I love Lululemon! I was so excited to start planning and I think I even got Paul interested in traveling to Canada! Then I looked up flights....and it all fell apart. $700 just for a round trip flight, that was not in my budget. Sadly for now the lululemon half marathon will not be happening for me :( . I am still on the search for another one I want to do.

Resolution 3, stretch every morning. Ok this is the one I have been struggling with the most. It requires me to get up and immediately go stretch, or else I don't do it. I would say on average I stretch 2 or 3 times a week in the morning. This is definitely a step in the right direction, but I still  have work to do with it!

Resolution 4 was run at least 10 miles every week. I have been keeping up with this because of training!

Resolution 5 & 6 have to do with faster speed for races. I haven't done a race yet this year, but I will be working to improve my speed as the year goes on.

Finally resolution 7 was to take a pilates class. Unfortunately I have not found one, or put much effort into looking for one either. I have done some at home pilates which I am counting for now, but I know I need to step that up and find a class!

I don't think I've gotten too off course from my resolutions thankfully. I know I have plenty of areas I still need to improve on, but at least I'm on the right track.

Happy Wednesday and February everyone!!!