Mecember!

My co-worker and I have been discussing fitness and healthy diet quite a bit lately, mostly how we kinda blew it in November. In an effort to focus on eating well and exercising this month, she coined the term "Mecember" (instead of "December," get it?), and I've decided to adopt it, too.

This month is therefore dedicated to me treating myself well. And by treating myself well, I mean eating healthy, nourishing foods (sorry, sugar, you don't count) and keeping active (e.g., running). Sleep is also going to be high on my list of priorities. Oh, sweet sleep... ahem. Anyway.

So, since it's the first day of the month (holy cow, where did this year go?), I'm going to lay out several Mecember goals:

• I will run a minimum of 3 times a week. Even if it's just 2 miles, it's gotta happen. If I'm absolutely being stubborn about running, I can substitute a minimum 3-mile brisk walk.
• I will strive to be at work no later than 8:30 a.m. My arrival at work has been slipping later and later, which means I'm working later, which means I'm getting home later, getting ready for the next day later, going to bed later, sleeping later. It's a vicious cycle.
• I will eat at least 2 servings of vegetables every day. (Fruit is easy for me. Veggies, less so.)
• I will try to call one non-local friend every weekend. I've been awful about keeping in touch with good friends who live far away, and I miss them. So, this will help.

I think that's plenty to aim for now... I'm going to track my goals each week as follows:

Runs:

Work:

Veggies:

Friends:

One last comment before I sign off: In this last issue of Runner's World, a profiled runner commented that she motivated herself by leaving her watch at home during runs.

I love that idea. I'm so time-driven: I always check my watch when I start tiring, and it's easy for me to say, "we'll, I've run 30 minutes today, that's good enough." By leaving her watch at home, she was able to focus on the experience--how she felt, the world around her, and she kept running until she really was done, not until her watch told her she was done. Her runs got longer, and her fitness improved.

So, that's my new resolution. I've already stopped wearing watches otherwise, so this shouldn't be too hard to manage.

Happy Mecember to you!

"They say..."

I've only got a few minutes to post here since my to-do list at work is approaching half-marathon length. But, they say it takes two weeks or twenty days or something like that to form a habit, so even if a paragraph or two is all I can spare, I need to make it happen and form my blog habit.

A quick update on my running, which also has been pretty much nonexistent the last two weeks. A few weekends ago, I worked 19 hours at my part-time job (on top of my 40hr work week) and, unsurprisingly, I came down with a pretty fierce cold. They also say you shouldn't run if your symptoms are above the neck, so I took a break and focused on drinking gallons of water and sleeping as much as I could. Suffice it to say, in the last two weeks, I ran once. (On Thanksgiving morning, which I think I should get extra credit for doing.)

The biggest update is that I gave notice at my part-time job. It's just been too much to manage both jobs and attempt to have a life. I need to be able to spend more time on me: visiting with my much neglected friends, using the Pilates class Groupon I purchased months ago, running, keeping up with out-of-town friends. So, I'll work through New Year's weekend then return to just holding down one job!

I'll post again this week about my December goals, because they also say it's important to set mini-goals when you're tackling a larger goal, and I'll share my new plan to run without a watch... craziness, right? Till then, cheers and Happy Holidays!

Slackers & "Paranoids" Anonymous

It is a good indication that I'm slacking off on running when I slack off on blogging about it. Or, it is a good indication that I've had a good run when I take the time to blog.

I knew it would be challenging to work nights and weekends in retail on top of my full-time job, and I was right. I suspect it's mostly mental: I need to not expect that I'm too tired to get up and run in the morning, or expect that running will ultimately make me feel better and more energized.

Last week, feeling tired was not an obstacle I could overcome. I went a week between runs (Sunday to Sunday), even skipping the 5K race I'd signed up for on Saturday. I don't have any good reason for skipping it, just a few weak excuses. I did run this past Sunday, though, and finished my normal 3-mile route in 29 minutes--shaving a full minute off my time.

And, today, I finally managed my first pre-work/weekday run in weeks (months, really). Who knew it was so light out at 6:30 a.m.? My new curtains are obviously quite effective. I've put off running in the morning expecting it to be pitch black out, but I discovered today that with daylight savings time, it's actually fully light out then. Huh. Who knew. That knocks out one whiny excuse I've been using!

I tried out a new 3-mile loop on campus today and finished in a respectable 32 minutes--not bad given the hills and traffic intersections that I don't normally encounter. So now let's hope I can keep it up and create the morning routine I've been hoping for.

Now, on to the consequences for breaking my own rule by not blogging before 10pm on Sunday. I had planned to excuse myself because I got called into work (retail) on Sunday afternoon, then had to go back from 7-10pm for a team meeting. But, considering I didn't blog until today--three days later--I think there must be consequences.

So, before 10pm tomorrow night, I'm required to complete 100 squats, 100 crunches (bicycle style, so 50 per side) and 30 push-ups. (I'm superbly weak when it comes to arm strength. 30 push-ups will be a challenge.) I can break it up over tonight and tomorrow (but suspect I'll end up doing it tomorrow as I'm working retail tonight).

On a final note, I'm becoming a little paranoid that when I run that I must look awful or awkward or like I'm about to keel over. Sunday morning, I encountered a college-age woman running about halfway through my run and then just as I was finishing up. I had a really solid pace at the end (picking up my knees, pushing into a faster run), so maybe she was just acknowledging that, but she called out to me something like "Way to go" or "Keep it up." I shouted back, "Thanks! You too!"

Now, while this might have been innocuous praise, I did feel like I was getting some funny looks while I was running, and then I was thinking maybe I was purple-faced (I get pretty bright-faced when I run) or my shoulders were abnormally hunched or I was wearing a miserable expression on my face (although I felt fine).

My paranoia was enhanced this morning toward the end of my run: I passed a gentleman and smiled and said "Good morning!" He just laughed. At me.

So, call me crazy, but I am slightly concerned that this is a result of my appearance. I may need to try to get some video of me running or something along those lines to get to the bottom of this. It's quite disturbing.

Or, maybe it's not, and maybe I just need to relax and smile, purple-faced and awkward and sweaty and all.

Running quotes

I started following Running Quotes on Twitter, which posts some great and inspirational quotes. I just had to share this one:


The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. -Jacqueline Gareau


So true. And, it prompted me to go ahead and do what I'd been contemplating: Create my own Twitter account for this blog. So, profile is under construction, but you can follow me now at @agirlandahalf.


Tweet, tweet!

One squat, two squat, three squat, four...

I knew I should have blogged on Saturday, but I put it off. It was SO NICE to have a whole day off, and we are having issues accessing the Internet in our apartment... and, yeah, a whole lotta excuses. So, as I stated in my last post, no blog before Sunday at 10pm means I'll be doing 100 squats this evening. (No way it was happening this morning.) Wish me luck!

I did, however, succeed where it counts this weekend: with my runs. I set a goal to run 6-8 miles, and I did it.

I think it had been about two weeks (eeks!) since I'd run, but I still managed my three-mile route in 30 minutes on Saturday morning. (This is big for me, because when I first started training for my previous half-marathon, I was managing a 12-minute mile. To be starting at a 10-minute mile is exciting for me.)

Also of note for Saturday's run was (a) I thought I was going to die (exaggerating, yes) about three minutes in because it hurt so much when I inhaled and (b) I got a side stitch halfway through, but I pushed through and kept running through both. I may have seriously thought I was going to "be ill" after the run, but that went away soon enough. Gotta get and stay mentally tough for the half. No whining about side stitches. :)

Yesterday, I attempted a four-mile run on the UNC campus. Whereas my three-mile route is nearly all flat, running on campus (and particularly the route I run) is quite hilly, and somehow it seems like it's all uphill... at any rate, I'm still impressed that I finished in about 42 minutes, particularly because I stopped 2-3 times waiting to cross at intersections, and I walked for a minute while I shed my long-sleeve tee for the tank top I was wearing underneath: It was warm out there! I look forward to conquering my four-mile route in the coming weeks. It did feel good to push myself, and my aching hamstrings today are testament that I got in a good workout.

I do think I'm going to need to be fitted for some new running shoes, and soon. Mine are giving me blisters in a few spots (one is on the bottom of my foot), and they just don't feel comfortable anymore. I have been working on improving my form by lengthening my stride, so perhaps that's a contributing factor. At any rate, new shoes are on the horizon.

So, looking ahead this week: I have two weeknights "off" from my part-time job this week, which I think will help me manage some weekday runs. I'm also running the Eve Carson Memorial 5K for Education on Saturday. Let's take a moment to pray for her and her family; my heart still aches for their loss.

Before I sign off, just want to give a quick shout-out to "Stella," "Anna" & "Max Powers" (names changed to protect the innocent... okay, mostly just because it GREATLY amuses me to make up or assign pseudonyms) for a great Pre-Halloween Fondue Extravaganza on Saturday.

I'll be back later in the week to fill you in my squat penance. I may not be able to walk in a day or two, but I'll still be able to type.

Cheers!

Preemptive ouch

Well, I forgot to post before 10pm, but I did run 3 miles yesterday and attempt 4 today. Details tomorrow... along with my 100 squats. Sigh.

Just checkin' in

Alas, I have nothing new or exciting to report about my training this week. (Now aren't you excited to see what I'm going to write about for the next few paragraphs? Haha. Oh well.)

Well, it's a busy week! Between my full-time and new part-time job, my schedule every day this week is 8am (cough, cough, see below) to 10 or 11pm. By the time I get things ready for the next day and climb into bed with clean face and teeth and clothes laid out for the next day, it's after 11:30, usually closer to midnight.

After a few hours of uneven sleep (I've been sleeping terribly this week for some reason...), my alarm goes off a few minutes before 6am. This is my attempt to get up and run: Grunt, lash out arm to frantically hit snooze button on iPhone. Bury head under pillow. Repeat for the next 90 minutes. Bolt awake sometime after 7:30, realizing I need to shower and get ready for work. Go to work; repeat cycle daily. (Note: Between working lunches and working late, I'm not slacking off at work. Don't want you to think I'm a bad employee!)

Anyway, I'm pretty much calling this week a wash and looking forward to running on Saturday. Future weeks shouldn't be this bad. It's just a combination of an unusual part-time job schedule and an evening event at my "pay the bills" job.

But, I gotta tell ya, I'm really pinning a lot of hopes on daylight savings time giving me the boost I need to get up and do my morning runs again, like I did last time I trained for a half. Maybe I need to put a coffee maker on automatic timer on my nightstand.... hmmm.... I'm not really joking about that. Or in my bathroom. So I have to get out of bed to get it. (Note to self: Stop by store to buy 4-cup coffee brewer after work tonight, at 11pm.)

Anyway. Because I am committed to keeping my blog running, I'm resetting my challenge for the week so that if I don't blog about my weekend runs (mileage goal: 6-8 miles total) by 10pm on Sunday, it'll be 100 squats for me, to be completed by 10pm on Monday evening (within 24 hours).

So there.

An integral first step: Setting the goals

They say (or at least Confucius said) that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, I have yet to take my first step--unless creating this blog counts--toward running my second half-marathon.

I chronicled (very sparsely) my adventures in training for my first half-marathon in spring 2009 at the blog www.wherehaveallthenataliesgone.blogspot.com. Well, that's sort of a mouthful, and I wanted to start anew this time, so I've created this blog: A Girl and a Half. Me, and a half-marathon.

While I haven't yet picked my race--my friend "Stella" (names have been changed to protect the innocent) and I are going to train for a half-marathon in February or March. (Side note: Stella, let me know if you'd like a different name.)

So, I've picked an ambitious training plan using my Runner's World SmartCoach iPhone app (no, they're not paying me, nor am I endorsing their program) that should have me race-ready in 16 weeks. It is quite ambitious, so I have a feeling there will be some (much) modification and repeated weeks required. Luckily, 16 weeks from now puts me into early February, so I do have a few weeks' cushion.

My last race, I walked several times. Now, the last issue of Runner's World said that it's not a good idea to set only one race goal; if you set several, you're more likely to have the satisfaction of achieving at least one goal. So here are my goals for this race:

1. To run the entire way--no walking (my "stretch" goal)
2. To beat my time from last time (totally feasible: 2 hours and 25 minutes)
3. To lose at least 5 pounds (very feasible)

Currently, I can comfortably run 3 miles at a 10-ish minute/mile pace a couple (cough, cough) times a week. (Some weeks are better than others.)

Also important to note is that, in addition to my full-time job in communications, I recently took on a part-time job in clothing retail--15 hours a week. So, life is pretty hectic right now. I'm not a morning person, and I'm very easily distracted from training by holidays...

I suppose I should make a fourth goal here, too, to post at least once a week. Although I'd love to post more often, I think that's a realistic goal. And to ensure I stick to that goal, I think I need to create a penalty. So, if I have not posted by 10:00 p.m. EST every Sunday, I will have to do 100 squats or, if that will threaten my training program, I will have to give up cheese for 5 days. (Quite a sacrifice, let me assure you.)

So, here's to posting, and running, and to being a girl who conquers a half.