Proper Attire

The Pixie Dust faded, just as I thought it would.  The first mile of my run was pretty good, but then I was struggling.  I didn't even do 3 miles!  It could have been the weather - it was about 20 degrees cooler and it had rained earlier in the day.  But at least I went out there, right?!  Nearing the end of my run, I told myself that I had to go to kickboxing, too, since I didn't perform my best.  I knew none of my friends were going, so this was my first solo class at the gym!  It wasn't as bad as I thought - not as much fun and laughing to get my through, but still a good workout.

I never know how to dress properly if it's not warm out.  I tend to put on too many layers.  In my mind I know that I'll get hot a couple minutes into the run, but that hasn't stopped me from throwing on a zip-up.  Half way through my run I get uncomfortable and maybe that affects my performance.  Jeff Galloway has a section of what to wear in different temperatures, I'll have to reread that section and follow it!

Kickboxing

Yesterday I had a lot of energy for kickboxing!  When I'm like that my friends say that I'm on my "gym crack." haha  Looking back I probably should have tried to fit in a short run beforehand.  I didn't sleep too well the night before, so maybe I ate the right foods.  I ate a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner as compared to normal.  I'll definitely be trying this out more in the future.
I love the actual bag work that we do in class, I have made a personal goal to knock over my bag with a round house kick... I'm so close!  My favorite part of the class has when he tells us to put our bags off to the side, though, and we do some type of stations.  Maybe it's because I'm already exhausted and it's a challenge to manifest the energy to do it.  But it feels so rewarding when we start our cool down stretches!  Last night we did different types of burpees, Kettle bells, and abs.  I have to be one of the only people in the class that doesn't mind burpees.

I've been wanting to try out different classes at the gym.  They recently added three classes with a new instructor:  Turbo Interval, Core Conditioning, and Boot Camp.  I feel like I need a friend with me to brave that first time at a new class.  I'm working on my running partner and one other friend, so we'll see!

Do you go to classes at your gym?  If you do, what are you favorites and why?

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! :)

Why is food so delicious?

I decided yesterday that I really need to start watching what I eat again.  I wouldn't say that I eat badly, but I find myself snacking more and that really adds up.  I used to be strict with calories, using an online food diary to track what I ate.  It really did helped me lose weight, along with my running.  When I joined the gym in January I hit my lowest weight at 117.  And now I'm 129?!  What the hell!  I know some of it is muscle for kickboxing and running, but seriously twelve pounds!  So today I started that calorie counting, which some people say isn't great for you to do, but it works for me.  I'm doing really well today!  Great run yesterday and a good diet to follow! :)

Oh. My. Goodness.

Yesterday I really thought I was definitely going Kickboxing and that I'd try for some kind of run beforehand.  Whelp, that plan changed - for the better, I would say!  I hit the pavement after work, only expecting 3 or 4 miles.  I DID 7.1!!!!! Forrest Gump must have taken over my body because that is crazy for me!  I have never ran more than 4.5 in my life!  Maybe not running for six days did me some good.  I also hit my fastest mile time to date - 9 minutes and second mile the pace was still about 9:15.  Then for miles 3 to 7 my paces stayed relatively the same around 10:15 - 10:30.  That, I think, made me the happiest.  I didn't slow too much adding on!  This run made me fully aware that I CAN DO THIS!  I just ran a half of the Half Marathon, and I know I could pull the rest out of myself! :)  I'm so incredibly happy and proud of myself right now.

Does this happen to anyone else...  Lately, when I run my fingers and hands get swollen.  I've only noticed it the past couple of runs.  At the end of the run yesterday, it hurt a little bit to make a fist.  And that's why I skipped kickboxing, I didn't want to hit the bag and hurt my hands.

Side-tracked

So yesterday I had every intention to go for a quick run after work.  A group of girls were going to Red Robin after they were done work.  But I decided to be semi-girly and curl my hair and look "nice" to go out.  Not a great excuse, but I figured I could afford skipping occasionally this early in the game.  I have plenty of time to train in the future, and in a few months I won't have that leisure.

Today I'm back on the grind.  Definitely kickboxing and hopefully a run.