Back in Action

So I have been the worst blogger ever, it's been over a month since my last post.  Part of the reason is because I have really been slacking with my running.  I did my first official race on October 20, 2012.  I had originally signed up for the 10K, but I didn't feel prepared.  So when I went to pick up my bib, I switched to the 5K.  My friend was doing the 5K, too, so I figured she wouldn't be waiting around forever for me to finish my race.  I hadn't run in a week or two before the race so I wasn't expecting a great time.  My time was okay, just over 34 minutes.  It was definitely fun running on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.  And I got my first medal for running, which was a great experience!

In training news: my friend decided to make up a challenge of running 3 miles a day in November.  Knowing that I have do start actually doing my long runs, we decided that I could just do a total of 90 miles in November.  I did three miles on the first.  Yesterday I did 5.25 miles!  It was cold and I didn't walk at all!!  I was so proud of myself.  I kept up an awesome pace (for me), of about 10:30.  I definitely could have gone longer, too, but it was getting dark and super chilly.  I definitely need to start wearing my gloves (which I just found last night while I was organizing my closet) because I could barely move my thumbs when I was finished.
I think I've given up on the gym and kickboxing.  I haven't been there since the beginning of August.  It's just too late at night (7:30-8:30) for me to want to get back up once I relax after work.  I'd probably like to have the treadmill available once we get some snow, but I'll just have to figure something out.  I'm obviously still going to need to train.  I will still have my membership until December, though, so we'll see what happens.

In personal news:  I met a great guy. :)  He came with me to my cousin's wedding on October 27th.  He fit in pretty well with my family.  And he loves Disney, how awesome is that!  He actually did a college internship program there a couple years ago.  So I think I've convinced him to run a Disney half with me at some point.  He would have done the Princess with me if it was a mother/daughter trip.  So right now we're shooting for Disneyland half in September.  That way I could get my Coast to Coast, as well!

Slacker

This week I have been severely slacking on my training.  Monday I went to Kickboxing.  Tuesday I set my alarm for my morning run, but slept right through it.  I couldn't fall asleep until almost midnight, so that's why. I had a field hockey game Tuesday night, though, and I did a lot more running/sprints than I usually do.  Yesterday I missed kickboxing, and felt horrible about it.  I had dinner with my parents, we had business to discuss.  My car decided not to work when I went to leave work yesterday, so I had to get a ride home (I only live a minute or two away) and my mom had to pick me up for work this morning.  Again I decided to sleep through my running alarm this morning.  I'm feeling so tired this week.  I don't know if it's the crazy heat wave we're having, but I'm not falling asleep as easily.  My uncle came to the rescue and fixed my car today, so I'm definitely going to the gym tonight.  Maybe I'll force myself to hit the cardio room before class... we'll see.

Picture Overload

16th - A sign I made my mom for Mother's Day three years ago.

11th - Two awesome letters.

12th - Texture - Flax seed in my yogurt.

13th - Open.

14th - Work.

15th - Thumb's up for my birthday!

17th - My addiction!

And pictures from my fun-filled weekend!!

My awesome Tie Dye Mickey birthday cake!

My bests ready to celebrate!

She made me princess headbands to train in.  So we took a "running" picture.

Birthday Weekend

The weekend was just what I needed.  I woke up Saturday with an alarm in attempt to go for a run.  I had a big internal debate, but decided against it in the end.  It was my birthday weekend, and as much as I enjoy running and knew that I should have gone, I wanted to relax.  The weather started to scare me and my friends coming from home said that it was raining, but it cleared up after we had lunch!  The six of us headed to the beach and the weather was great, cool and just a little cloudy!  We went back home after a few hours, had cake (red velvet - my favorite, and decorated like a tie dye mickey - couldn't get more me), and three of the girls headed home.  The afternoon consisted of naps, TV, pasta dinner, and getting ready.  We went out to Atlantic City, the Mountain Bar in Bally's because it's fairly cheap.  Stayed out until 4AM, haven't done that in a loooong time!  Good thing all I had to do Sunday was go to the beach!  I escaped the entire weekend without getting sun burn - score!
Came home and headed to my parent's house to have dinner with the family.  Saladworks and homemade Peach & Blueberry Cobbler!  Got the cutest card from my niece.  My brother and sister-in-law got me an outfit for running, and in my favorite colors (and apparently my brother picked it out on his own, good job).  My parents got me two Pandora charms (that I picked out with my mom), new running shoes (but I have to exchange them), and my plane tickets for Disney!!!  All in all - best birthday I've had in a couple of years!

Happy Friday the 13th!

Today is the third Friday the 13th of the year, I think that's awesome!  I was never a superstitious person, I do have a black cat after all!  What makes this Friday the 13th even better is that it's the start to my birthday weekend!  I had a horrible birthday last year, so I'm just trying to have fun this year and relax.  I'm heading to my shore house with a couple of my girlfriends tonight.  A couple more are joining us just for the day
to go to the beach tomorrow.  Then we'll head to AC for a fun night out.  And a relaxing beach day again Sunday.  Once I get home I'll have a family dinner and I requested a blueberry and peach cobbler as my cake.  YUM.

I'm going to try my hardest to run tomorrow morning, but I told myself it was okay if I didn't.  I did really well with every other day this week!  But somehow I gained weight again.  Please tell me I'm getting toned and in a few weeks it'll show!

It's Friday!!

Kickboxing was good last night.  I had to fly solo because one friend is out of town, one just got back in and her gym clothes were packed, and the other I don't know where she was.  Weighed myself this morning again.. I'm back where I started with the Biggest Loser! :(  I don't' get it!

A fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador, Michelle at Push.Pump.Progress posted this 26 things about them, so I figured I would give it a shot, too.

A is for age: 23, but just for another 9 days!

B is for breakfast today:  Always coffee.  Today I had Kashi cereal with soy milk, strawberries, and blueberries.

C is for currently craving:  The weekend.  Only about 4 more hours to go!

D is for dinner tonight: I'm not sure yet.. it's only noon.

E is for favorite type of exercise: Kickboxing.  I also love running, it's just too damn hot outside and the treadmill is so boring to me.

F is for a fave food: Peanut butter.  I could eat it on everything it seems - fruit, PB&J, on eggos, with nutella, PB & cheese sandwich, on a cheeseburger.

G is for gross food:  Muscles and clams.  Never tried them, so I suppose I should.  But the idea is just gross.

H is for hometown:  Sicklerville, NJ

I is for something important:  My family.  I don't know what I would do without them.  And in my family I do include my cats, they're like my children.

J is for current favorite jam:  Call Me Maybe

K is for karaoke: I did it once, I was in the background of a bunch of my sorority sisters.  But I don't think I'd ever do it again.

L is for luxe: I'm not big on spending a lot of money.  But when it came to things for my house, especially my kitchen, I definitely spent it.  My house will be worth a lot more once I decide to sell it.

M is for muffins: I love muffins.  A co-worker has a recipe for healthy mini muffins that I could eat all the time.  Now I wish I brought some of them to work with me.

N is for something you need:  Today to be over.  For it to be Sunday so I can run the Color Run.  But really... new workout capris/shorts.

O is for occupation: I am a co-director at a day care.  I work with my mom, it's a family business.  I also do the accounting work for the company, so I can say I use my degree. :)

P is for pet peeve:  Hypocrites, children not saying please and thank you or even hello (goes along with the job), bad drivers.

Q is for a quote: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." --Dr. Seuss

And any form of the "Live. Laugh. Love" saying.

R is for running: I'm trying!  It's just so hot outside and I don't like running on treadmills.  But I'm doing a half marathon in February.

S is for favorite healthy snack:  I'm a big fruit eater.  I also like hummus with veggies.

T is for favorite treat: Ice cream! <3 

U is for something that makes you unique:  On my left arm, I have what I call my Polish birth mark. I have one big and one small white marks (then random white dots on both arms) that do not get tan.

V is for favorite vegetable: Peppers.

W is for today’s workout:  Possibly a run, but I'm not sure because I'm visiting my college roommate tonight.

X is for X-rays you’ve had:  Teeth, collar bone, wrist.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: Yesterday seemed like a second Monday so work wasn't that great.  So the best part of yesterday was leaving work.


Z is for your time zoo...as in animal that I would HAVE to visit when I go:  Tigers!

It's July already?!

This weekend was so nice!  Friday night I had a nice night in, watched Day 1 of the US Women's Gymnastics Olympic trials.  They really gave me some inspiration to work harder at the gym.  We had an intense storm overnight.  I woke up between 1:00 and 1:30AM and it looked like there were strobe lights outside my window from the non-stop lightening.  The thunder was crazy, too!  I woke up early to head to the shore.  I didn't realize how bad the storm was until I got on the roads.  I don't like to take the expressway, so I generally take the back roads - so many trees and tree branches down, and some even blocking part of the roads!  A few towns didn't have power, which meant traffic lights were out.  Apparently half the island didn't have power, but luckily my half did!  Went to the beach for a couple hours (didn't get any sun burn!!).  Then just had a lazy day around the house, played with my niece and watched a movie with my parents.  Yesterday, I intended to get up and go for a run, but apparently my body thought my bed was so much more comfortable than the one I have at my house, and I slept for about 11 hours!  It felt really nice, actually.  A couple friends drove down and we went to the beach.  We went in the water most of the time, which was nice because it was so hot outside!  I got a few patches of sunburn, but not too bad.  When I got back home, I went over to my brother's for cake and ice cream because his birthday is today.

I've been thinking of different workout schedules that involves both my classes at the gym and running (I know I need to start it back up, sooner rather than later).  So my tentative schedule will be:

Monday - Turbo Interval and Kickboxing
Tuesday - Field Hockey (for the next six weeks) and either a run or a class at the gym
Wednesday - Kickboxing and possibly a Core Conditioning class
Thursday - Run and Kickboxing
Friday - off
Saturday - Run
Sunday - off

This week will be a "get ready for this new schedule" kind of week, because the 4th of July is Wednesday and the gym is closed.  And I have the Color Run on Sunday!!!  My first ever race, I'm so excited!!

In other good news, I am now a Sweat Pink Ambassador!!  I'm still trying to figure everything out (it being Monday morning is making everything more difficult).  But I'll definitely keep you guys updated!

Motivation, thank you for returning!

Babysitting was awesome!  Except they said I could have anything I wanted in their pantry.  And of course they have mini snickers, pretzel M&Ms, and cookies.  Had a little binge, but whatever.  She was really good for me, too!  Sunday I did go to the beach with a friend.  We only stayed for like an hour because she got some kind of rash on her thighs.  It was probably for the better, so I didn't end up getting burnt.  Then we got some delicious fro-yo and went to a friend's house to hang out.


Yesterday I tried that new classes that I've been itching to go to for a while, Cardio Interval.  I finally got my friend to go with me and I think she hates me for it.  The instructor was kind of a jerk, but in a "I'm going to make you work hard, and use the right technique/form" way, which isn't too bad in my book.  My friend just didn't like him, so I think she's turned off to the class now.  But since I went once with someone, I'm sure I'll be fine going on my own from now on.  After that we had a half hour break and then onto kickboxing!  I've been doing the class in just socks for the past week.  And now I know why I should wear shoes - I sort twisted my ankle while doing a switch kick.  It wasn't too bad, I took a couple minute break and got right back into it.  But I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and it felt a little sore.  So I wore an ankle brace today.  No time to get hurt because I'm finally back into the swing of things and I'm starting to see results!
I'm debating a rest day, going for a short run outside, or doing 2 classes at the gym again...  What to do, what to do.

Weekend Roundup

This weekend was a pretty relaxing one.  Saturday I got a huge tree removed that fell in my yard a couple of months ago and two other trees taken down.  My backyard looks so big now!  I can't wait to fix it up and "landscape."  I do not have a green thumb by any means but I'm going to try because I want a fun summer backyard.  I'm thinking a fire pit and a cute little area to lay out in.  I went out with a friend Saturday night, for her friend's birthday.  Got home at like 2AM, late for me!

Sunday was another field hockey game!  I got to play defense the entire game, still no subs, though!  So 45 minutes of internals - run/sprint/walk with a few breaks of nothing when the ball was at the other end.  I think I pulled 2 muscles, so I look really awkward walking today.  We lost terribly.  So we celebrated that by going to the local ice cream place after the game!  Yumm!

It's raining today and add the pain I'm in, so I'm not sure I'll get a run in.

Weekend Round Up

No working out this weekend, unless you count dancing the night away in Atlantic City.  I headed down to AC around 7:00PM Friday night.  We went out around 11:30 and I managed to stay out until 5:00AM.  My legs were definitely sore between wearing heels and dancing.

I can clean up nicely.

Sunday was a great day out with the girls at the ballpark!  Gotta love my dad for giving us such amazing seats!

Even though they lost, it was a great day!

Root, Root, Root

Yesterday I stuck to my diet and felt great!  I just need to keep it going to get to where I want to be.  I have to look at it like the half marathon.  It's a long journey, but I can get there!  No running for me, I wanted to let me legs rest after my 7 mile run (still can't believe I did that).  I'm actually afraid that it was a super freak day and I won't be able to do it again for a while.  I know I'm going to have 'on' days and 'off' days so I just need to "keep on swimming."  I went to kickboxing and, boy, did he gave us a good workout!  I was dripping sweat half way through.  Best feeling ever! :)

I'm really looking forward to Sunday, this weekend.  My dad called me earlier this week and offered me four Diamond Club tickets to the Phillies!  Of course I said yes!  So I'm having a girls day at the game... so excited! :)