Learning to run in a healthy way

This week started on a very positive note and its all about health. It's amazing how much there is behind living an active healthy lifestyle, specially if this involves running. Somehow I always thought that running was just that, getting off the couch and hitting the pavement and just... run. Well I am learning "the hard way" that there is a lot more science to this than just going for it.

Last week I had pain while running and even though I rested a couple of day I still went for my long run and felt it. I was a lot more aware and careful of what was bothering me and took it easy, which translated into tons of walking. Running in Central Park was fun but definitely didn't account for how hilly the run would be. My lower calf pain kept bothering me but walking when this happened made it feel better almost immediately which took an Achilles injury out of the picture (awesome news) but due to this pain I probably started running funny and developed a different injury "ITBS".

ITBS or Iliotibial Band Syndrome is a pretty common injury for runners, the good news is that I do not really have to stop running but I do have to take it easy. Incorporating exercises that strengthen my leg muscles will help these injuries heal. The Calf strain is due to my butt being week, lol! so I have to work on moves that help my gluts get stronger and my hip abductor to help my ITBS... who would have thought! Thanks to Athletico Andersonville for all the help.

Stretching is also one of the things I need to improve for a healthy running experience. I was sure that STRETCHING or maybe I should say NOT STRETCHING would be part of the problem. I am totally guilty of not taking enough time to stretch before and after my runs and that is something that has to change, so I am committed to work on it.

This made me realize how little I know about running, there is so much more I need to do if I want to keep my body healthy and active for years to come. I am excited about incorporating these changes into my routine, I have great support at home specially now that my fiance is training with me. This will be an improvement to our routine and can't wait to see the results on both of us.

Cheer to healthy training habits, stay safe!

A challenging week

I think one of the hardest things for me at this point when we talk about health & fitness is consistency, I have to say I am not the most consistent person on earth and it's really hard for me to stick to something. Following a training schedule with 2 little ones, a full time job, being in a relationship and planing a wedding is certainly not an easy task. Add to this the fact that this full time job involves travel and junk food lovers and now we have a real challenge.

This week I started on the right foot, but while at it I freaked out a bit when my Achilles started hurting real bad after a 4 mile run. I have heard about so many people getting injured this way lately and how long this takes to heal that I got really worried. This led to me skipping my Tuesday run thinking, well, I can run Wednesday morning. Guess what, that didn't happen either... We have been having really bad storms and Wednesday morning was pouring. On top of that, I was leaving town that same day at noon to attend a client meeting in Detroit with my boss and two others and we decided to drive.

After a 4 1/2 hour drive I was exhausted I took a nap and woke up and got ready to go to the gym at the hotel, it was almost midnight but I was determined to get my run in. To my surprise as I am preparing to leave my room sirens start going off, people are running to the stairs and I hear a message that says that we are on tornado warning and we need to all get to the Grand Ballroom until the warning is lifted... Yeah! there goes my Wednesday run!

Thursday was a lot of fun, first we had a client meeting but once we were done being responsible adults my boss and one of our consultants had scheduled a fishing trip on 70 miles into Lake Erie. We had a blast, definitely a team building experience! After 16 fishes and all the afternoon in the sun it was time to drive back to Chicago, another 4 1/2 hour drive which obviously left no time for running.

I feel like these are all excuses, that is why when its marathon training season people wake up super early and get the runs out of the way before they even start their days. This week was definitely reality check, if I am determined to train for this event I need to rearrange my schedule and make running my priority.

After a week of atomic wings, fries, sweets and pop I am actually looking at next week as a step up in my training routine. For now I look forward to this Saturday's long run, 7 miles in Central Park next to my fiance who had just decided to train with me all the way to the end! Thanks for your support lover, it means the world to me ;)

That's all for now... Stay safe and happy training!

The Marathon training begins!

This week was a good one... Last year I decided to run my first Marathon, I had been running 4 to 5 times per week the prior summer, kept it going through fall and winter of '08 so I decided to register to run the Chicago Marathon on Oct 2009. Somewhere along the way I fell off the wagon, started running less and less and at one point I wasn't running at all.

It was weeks before the marathon and I was ready to bail out when someone told me to try doing the remaining long runs. Now... let me bring up the fact that I had not been running AT ALL! Not on the treadmill, not outside, not 5 miles, or 3 or even 1; I had completely dropped running off my list of to do's. Somehow I thought that trying to do the long runs was a good idea, I had nothing to lose and I could at least prove myself that I was quitting for a good reason, running a marathon without training wasn't a smart idea.

So here came the weekend of the 18 miler and I asked my friend S to come along and do as much as she was able to, we were used to running together and she had been running a ton so why not? I decided to do a run/walk combo of 5min/1min and to my surprise it worked! I can't remember how long it took me but we kept it going through 15 miles until we decided to walk the last 3 to be able to cover the distance. Same thing for the 20 miler, 5min/1min run/walk, S ran 10 miles with me and did the remainder on her bike! 

After these unbelievable results I ran my first marathon, horrible time, but I finished it so this year I decided to sign up again... This time I promised myself I would train.

With that said, I had been trying for weeks to remember to go into the Chicago Marathon website and download the training schedule. I haven't been running much but I was determined to start running once the marathon training season began. 

So last Monday, while at work I finally got to it... but to my surprise, last Monday was actually DAY 1 of marathon training. I was so not mentally prepared for that and I whined all day about it, but last Monday I ran 4 miles! I actually did it! Then came Tuesday and I ran 5 miles, this time with my "Fiance" Dave (yes, we are engaged) who has now started running and it was his 1st time running 5 miles. It was awesome because he kept me going as I whined the whole way about how out of shape I am. 

Then Thursday I didn't run, but I did it on Friday on the treadmill... 4 miles! Never done that before, as I absolutely hate running on the treadmill more than 2 or 3 miles. Then it was the weekend and time for my long run, 6 miles! It's so weird for me to consider that a long run, that was my usual distance when I was running 4 to 5 times per week... anything under that was not really considered a run. I guess I gotta work back up to that.

So we went to Lake Geneva to our friend's house for the weekend and it was time to run, I thought of every possible excuse to not do it, I even slept in, but some how I am sticking to it this time and I ran my 6 miles along the Lake Geneva path, through hill and an uneven trail and with no water. It felt good to finish my "long run" and being able to say that WEEK 1 of marathon training is done. 

Its hard to run now, I feel I am back to square one and I get even more frustrated than when I first started running because this time I chose to be back here, I did this to myself when I got lazy and broke my routine of running. I used to enjoy every second out there and I had a decent pace and was getting faster every day. Now I am back to the love/hate relationship, at having to drag myself out of the house and talk myself out of walking or turning around before I have met my goal distance but I am doing it. I am doing it because I miss loving to run, I miss my long runs on the weekend and all I think while I power through my very hard runs now is that I can't wait to get to that point again!

For all of you out there that feel the same way I feel now, just remember its totally worth it. Soon enough you will look back and smile when you realized how far you've come and how much you once hated what you now love and enjoy so much!

Good luck for those out there training for the Chicago Marathon and let the fun begin!

While I was off

This weekend my boyfriend and I had planned to stay in the city and take the weekend off since we were off parent duty. Because we worked out 4 days in a row we decided to chill all weekend and worry about working out on Monday.

Our weekend was filled with down time and yummy food that was not the healthiest, but I guess you can do that once in a while, specially when your eating healthy and working out.

On Friday we went to Kumas Corner, which is known for having the best burgers in Chicago. This is a metal/tattoo bar that is everything but conventional. Because I am more of a hot dog person my favorite burger so far is the "Goblin Cock", a 10 oz. burger topped with Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, ¼lb. Vienna Hot Dog, Tomatoes, Onion, Neon Green Relish, Sport Peppers, Pickles and Celery Salt Mustard served on a pretzel roll.

While on our way back we drove by Bleeding Heart, a cupcake bakery that had the most amazing red velvet cupcake I've ever tasted. Let me just say, in my defense, I only ate half my burger and maybe half of my cupcakes with probably less than half of the frosting (not a frosting person).

 We also went to Quartino and had the most amazing duck prosciutto with awesome Italian food and of course some great wine. Saturday night was perfect, we headed to the "it" place in the city... Sunda, new Asian cuisine restaurant with contemporary interpretation of traditional Asian dishes. The food was amazing, hot dishes were a lot more impressive than the sushi and the presentation was just amazing. My advice, if you want to hit this hot spot make sure to make your reservation well in advance. I was able to get in Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and that because I knew the manager.

Needless to say, after a weekend of down time and great food I am back to my workout routine and healthy eating. I just can't wait to hit the gym and do some serious cardio to burn all the calories that I put in my body during the weekend.

XOXO!

CM

Back on track!

So I am very excited to say that I feel I am getting back on track, I have joined the gym with my awesome boyfriend and we are loving it. Last week I worked out 3 days, not all running but I did exercise. Tuesday and Thursday I did Hot Vinyasa which I used to do very often a few years ago and let me tell you, boy I was sore! I lost track of the amount of Downward Dogs and Chaturanga Dandasanas that I did and all this at 105 degrees, oh the cleansing! And Saturday I just ran in the treadmill on my new gym. Can I tell you how much I enjoy going to the gym? I don't know at what point I forgot how awesome I feel after I run or finish a workout and head to the lockers to get in the steam room, 10 min of peace and quiet, breathing hot steam and getting rid of toxins can do wonders!

And as far as this week goes, I have gone to the gym every day so far, but I guess its only Wednesday. Yesterday I actually hit the pool which was interesting, after a 30 minute run I jumped in the pool for a 30 minute swim and let me say it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I was so afraid of looking like a fool next to all those experienced swimmers, but I guess once you get into it you really don't care and its you, the water and your lonely self.

Now I am going to start working more on the food so the pounds can start shedding away, I can't wait to get on the scale in a few weeks and see the difference. I just feel an instant relief after working out, it completely switches my mindset and some how cuts my cravings and makes me want to eat healthier and care more about what I put into my body. I am so happy I am craving the gym and craving a healthier lifestyle, all of the sudden all this work just feels easy and instead of "work" it just feels like the highlight of my day.

Can't wait to tell you more tomorrow =)

CM!

Is it not meant to be or what?

So I was bad today and procrastinated my run until almost 5 p.m. The result? When I went to grab my jogger the left tire needed air, which of course resulted in me going to the park with my munchkin instead of going for a run. The good thing is that I did keep the diet going, I just can't wait for her to go back to school next Monday, as running is so much easier when its just me.

I wonder if things like this happen to test your determination, and the problem is that mine is pretty low. When I think back, I could have put the jogger in my car and gone to the gas station and filled the tires, but honestly I didn't feel like it after my "very determined" 4 y.o. would keep asking for mommy to take her to the park. She is definitely way more determined than mommy and many many times she gets what she wants because of that.

I did keep my healthy eating going, for breakfast I had a cheese stick and an apple and for lunch a turkey and mozzarella cheese sandwich on whole wheat toasted.

Dinner was my motivation, I tried to replicate one of my favorite salads, the 7-pepper sirloin salad from longhorn. It was a total hit with my boyfriend, he was totally impressed by my cooking skills which really cracks me up but I love it. I love cooking for him because comments are always positive and he loves eating what I cook, even when I burn the pancakes.

So this salad was sirloin steak covered in a mix of 7 pepper spices grilled on the George Forman Grill laid on mix greens with diced roma tomatoes and pepperoncini with a blue cheese dressing and gorgonzola crumbles. It is super tasty and very filing, good dinner dish to keep the healthy eating going.

So I have mastered the eating by the 3rd day, now I need to master the running. I hope it gets better when my little one goes back to school, the whole weight loss is not going to happen nearly as fast unless I incorporate some cardio.

Now my next challenge is the romantic weekend getaway, Dave and I LOVE eating and wine so calories will go up. Thankfully, the hotel has a little gym with treadmills and I am planning to take my running gear with me =) There is no excuses when you have a gym available, no weather or jogger problems, only your will to get your workout done., should be a good thing!

On another note I tried calibrating my Nike + wristband AGAIN. Guess what, it didn't work! Because the freaking thing wont record the walks... very frustrating! Let me tell you, I've gone through 2 iPod  Nano running sensors and now a wristband and nothing works. Gone to the Nike store and they can't even figure it out. I think next step is a return and going next door to Garmin and getting a cool wrist GPS to track my runs, maybe then I could log them.

More to come tomorrow, hopefully I will get a run in and burn some calories!

XOXO

Implementing changes is not that easy, hopefully it will get better

So yesterday, my first day of changes didn't go that well. Its a little challenging to put my 4 y.o. daughter on the jogger with this weather. Even though yesterday the temperature was not bad I had an interview that took most of my day, so the running went down the drain. I did manage to keep my calories under control, but didn't get to cook because I need to go grocery shopping.

Today I am trying to do better, the ab ripper is down! I am proud to say that, you can always squeeze 16 minutes into your day ;). Now the challenge is what to eat, still haven't gone grocery shopping but I think I have enough on the house to make this yummy recipe from cooking light, check it out.

Three-Chile_Dusted Shrimp

This is an awesome website to keep it healthy, all recipes have their nutritional information which helps to keep the calories under control.

My next challenge is to manage to get the run in, the weather is not bad so I might be able to get my little munchkin on the jogger and get going. For breakfast I had a Soy Chai and a multi-grain bagel with light cream cheese. I still haven't grabbed lunch but I am thinking of a yummy salad with italian dressing.

I will report on the running next, I still have to calibrate my Nike + wrist band which I finally figured out how to do. Hopefully, I can find a way to add my runs to the post. Nike has a cool little graphic that shows distance and pace =) Not that will be anything good, I haven't been running so its like starting from scratch.

It will be cool to document my training and follow my progress, I can't wait to see my pace drop down!

Bye for now!

See ya ;)

P.S. This is how my version of the recipe looked like. I used baby shrimp because that's what I had on the fridge and green peppers instead of red.

Enjoy!