Has it really been almost an entire year?

Well .. here I sit.  I can't believe my last blog post was almost a year ago.  I love love love reading other bloggers and yet when it comes to my own, I think who wants to know what I'm thinking?

Alas, here I am again.  Hopefully this isn't the last you'll hear from me for awhile.  My goal, at least once per week.  I can do this.

Looking back at 2013.  It was a big year for me. 

I ran my first marathon!!!  

My thoughts:  It was hard.

Then I accidentally ran my second marathon!!!

My thoughts:  I thought it would feel easier.  It didn't.  It was still REALLY hard.

So I guess that means marathons are HARD and not for sissies.

This was me about 9 miles in, hitting the downhill part of the course.

Feeling GOOD!

And then I hit the 20's and shit got HARD.

I am SOOO grateful for my husband who jumped in with me around mile 19.

 My moment.

I became a marathoner.

That was Utah Valley Marathon.  I think it's probably the best shape I've ever been in in my entire life.  I was down to my lowest weight of my adult life, without really feeling hugely deprived. I was just committed to the healthy lifestyle.  Then I went on a week long trip to Mexico (WITHOUT kids) and then we spent a week in California with the kids and things just kind of fell apart after that.

I digress .. so when I say I accidentally ran a second marathon, let me explain.  St. George Marathon is kind of known as the coveted marathon in the state of Utah.  You have to get in via lottery however.  After two tries you're guaranteed entry on your third try.  Well I entered my husband and myself just to get one of our "tries" out of the way. And wouldn't you know we got in.  I can honestly say I was disappointed.  Training for a marathon during the really hot months of Utah was not on my list of things to do.

As you can see.  This one didn't feel any easier.

And I ran it slower.  Thinking that that might make me feel a little better towards the end.  Yeah, I was wrong.

I really should have done true race recaps on them both.  However, I'm starting fresh with the blog and that's what you're getting for now.  So 4:21 is the time to beat in 2014.  We (Jerm and I) entered another lottery for the Ogden Marathon .. and got in!  But I actually kind of did want to get into this one.  My goal, is to come in under 4:15.  Running my marathons in 2013 my goal was simply to finish them.  This time around I'll be adding speed work to the training.  So we're running for a time goal.

I just sat down and wrote my January training into my Erin Condren Life Planner.  And I'll be honest, I kind of want to cry a little.  I know it's going to be hard work this time.  I'm going to push myself harder than I have in quite awhile.  Push my work/home/run balance more than I have since this time last year.  But I thrive with goals.  I know this.  I'm hungry for this goal. 

I guess among other things I should really think through some tangible 2014 goals.  I don't love the term "resolution".  I like goals!

What about you.....

Have you run a full marathon?  More than one?  Does it get easier?  (please tell me it does)

Do you like resolutions or goals?  Do you have any for 2014 yet? 

Weekly Review - Week 1

So since I'm actively trying to lose weight using Weight Watchers and as of today I have officially begun my FULL MARATHON training, I've decided that Monday's I will hold myself accountable.  The healthy weight range for my height is 120 - 150lbs.  My goal weight is 135 lbs. 

Beginning Weight  ~  146.5 lbs
Ending Weight  ~  142.5 lbs

I lost 4 pounds this week!!
12.5 lbs to go.

Things that went well:  I was really strict this week with my eating. It was week 1 of Weight Watchers and I stuck with the things that have worked well for me in the past.  Breakfast all weekdays was a protein shake with added fruit.  Lunches were a tuna fish sandwich, and 1 cup of soup (a Light Progresso variety).  Dinners were heaving on the vegetables and then some sort of protein.  Oh .. and I'd have a giant apple for  a snack and also usually a Chobani yogurt as well.  I plan to follow much of the same plan this week as well.

Things that didn't go so well:  It was my nieces birthday yesterday and I ate a piece of ice cream cake.  It was SO good.  I figure that I made up for it a little bit with my ability to not eat my entire piece of chicken parmesan that we had for dinner. My mum makes a MEAN chicken parmesan and I really wanted to finish eating it. 

Meal Plan for this week:

Monday - Lean Cuisene and veggies
Tuesday - Lean Cuisene and salad
Wednesday - Dinner at Mum's (she's doing WW too so I'm sure it will be WW friendly)
Thursday - Veggie Tacos
Friday - Grilled Chicken breast and veggies
Saturday - Weight Watcher Meatloaf (I LOVE this recipe)
Sunday - Dinner at Mum's  (again she'll do something WW friendly)

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 Today's Workout:

Plan:  Run 3m Easy.
Actual:  3.1m  Average pace: 10:42

I really had to work for that pace today.  Look at what I was running in:

Solid snow pack the entire time today.  And it was 9 degree's outside!!  The one piece of gear that saves me the most during these super cold and snowy runs is my trail running shoes that have the waterproof upper on them.  They are AWESOME.  They feel like bricks on my feet compared to my normal shoes but they keep my feet dry and cozy so I'm not complaining.

I was bundled up good.  I think this is the shortest run I've done in months.  For my full marathon I took a Hal Higdon plan and added a couple extra weeks to it to accommodate any potential injuries I have to take time off for.  Also gives me a couple 20 milers rather than just one.

All in all I'm excited to be off to a good start.  With the weight loss as well as the start of my training plan.

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Give me your best tip or trick for a first time marathoner!!??

Still here .. still running

I'm not sure what the deal is with Blogger. I tried to blog last weekend as well only to find that I couldn't upload picture then either.  So I figured out the whole Picasa web albums in the meantime.

I haven't blogged in ages.  But I have still been running.  A lot actually.

Speaking of a lot.  It's been snowing A LOT here in Salt Lake City as well.  Last Winter I think I lucked out because it was pretty mild. I  prided myself on not missing a run because of any silly rain or snow.  So far this year I've skipped one long run completely because of a nasty snow storm.  It's ironic really because I would be more than willing to run in a few inches of fresh snow if it's only for say six miles.  But when it's for a double digit run I just can't do it.  The thought of soaking wet feet for over two hours is just too much.  It sure is beautiful though.

I did run in that above, only for six miles.  It was so peaceful.

Oh, it hasn't just been snowy .. we've also had single digits for like two weeks.  However, the temp doesn't deter me at all.

For two days straight it's been snowing again.  I planned to run 12 miles this morning.  There was no way I was going to slog through 12 miles in several inches of fresh snow. 

Off the the gym I went instead.  It wasn't a good start.  I went with my Kindle Fire in hand with the plan to watch a movie.  I figured that would consume a lot of my running time.  I don't know what the heck was going on, whether it was my Kindle or the wireless connection at the gym but I could not connect to their network to save my life.  The first 5 miles just plain sucked.  What's funny is I trained for my first 5k solely on the treadmill but since then I've really been a 100% outdoor runner with the exception of speed work.  I prefer to do intervals on the treadmill just so I know I'm hitting my paces.  Now the treadmill feels a million times harder than running outside.  This actually leads me to believe I should do this more often to help build some mental toughness.

I basically spent the first 5 miles feeling really angry and irritable because of the technical issues.  I settled into a slow (for me) 11:15 pace.  It felt hard and dreadful.  The treadmill hit the automatic cool down after 55 minutes (it had one of those 60 min max settings on it).  So I refilled my water and decided to get situated with my iPod tuned into the radio station so that I could watch their TV's.  Once I settled in and could get my Kindle to turn back on I also started reading as well.  Ha .. well you know .. not at the same time.  That helped and the next 5 miles kind of flew by.  I had to tough through the last 2 miles but I did it.

It's kind of funny when you're been running on the treadmill for that long and reading a book, once you get off it's like stepping off a cruise ship.  It feels funny to walk.  All in all I'm really happy to have had the mental toughness to run that many miles on the treadmill.  I'm very grateful that I have that option when it's this yucky outside.

Workout:  12 miles  (2:20 mins)

I'm also doing Weight Watchers right now.  I've had a really good week thus far.  When I plugged my workout into my tracker it spit out that I had earned 24 activity points!  I only get 26 points a day.  That means I basically earned a days worth of points .. I just found that funny.  I won't eat those points, I never do.  I'm really trying to find the balance with WW's and running.  I have been very low energy with my runs this week .. another post for another day.

Happy Treadmill Running Friends!!

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Have you done double digits on the "dreadmill"?  What did you do to break the monotony of it?

Several inches of fresh snow .. do you run in it anyway?