Down to the wire!

Well, it looks as though I will be on the mad dash this week to finish up my miles. It's been a rainy mess here and since I don't own any outdoor rain gear or a treadmill, running was off limits for me.

Yesterday was gloomy so Kevin and I took our first family nap in a very, very long time! Of course, by the time I woke up, I didn't feel like running :)

I planned on running today, but this morning I woke up with a headache and a sore booby :) - I sometimes get whats called clogged milk ducts and my left breast is very painful, so it looks like running is off today. The up and down movement from running will make it worse or at least feel worse. It looks like this week I am going to have to really get down to business if I am going to complete my own challenge...

At least the sun will be out! These rainy days give me absolutely NO motivation at all!!!

I'm alive...

It's been busy here! Last week I was feeling a little fatigued, so I decided to take a few days off from exercising. I wanted to take a few days to rest, drink a lot of fluids and just enjoy.

On Monday, I set out to run 3 miles:
Duration: 34:58
Distance: 3.25miles
Pace: 10:54min/mile

The run actually felt really good and I could have kept going. I started remembering how I used to feel running 4-5 miles last year. I honestly think running over 3 miles is easier because your body is in a good rhythm and feeling loose.

Yesterday, I mentally prepared myself to run 4 miles. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it, but I was going to try. I wasn't going to worry about pace, just finishing it. And that's what I did...

Duration: 42:53
Distance: 4.00 miles
Pace: 10:43min/mile

Month Total: 22 miles

Yesterdays run felt amazingly good, I was in a good pattern and felt really comfortable. It was actually the best running day this year and needed it badly. I was starting to get discouraged, but yesterday helped tremendously.

How is everyone else doing with their 30 mile challenge?

Baby Blubber

I am 9.5 weeks out from having a baby, and here we are in swimsuit season. UGH. This year probably won't be the year that I feel good in a bathing suit, but, that's okay, there's always next year!

Today, I followed my friends "plan" for running. I ran 2 miles.

Duration: I don't know....for some reason my app (mapmyrun) said 0.00
Distance: 2.0 miles
Pace: 9:56min/mile
Month total: 15 miles

The entire run I felt like I was dying, and my quads were BURNING. I couldn't figure it out until I saw my pace. HA.

Today, I took the day off. I had some shin splints and was feeling as though I needed to take a day. I still being really careful about maintaining my milk supply and making sure that I drink enough fluids. I sure have a hard time consuming extra water, but I've been working on it. The warmer weather doesn't help either, and we don't want Callum's milk to dwindle...that is more important than losing weight!

I hope everyone is doing well with their monthly challenge. I am starting to think of something "fun" (notice that's in parenthesis) to do for July! Any ideas?

Lucky number 13 & And a new plan...interested?

13 is my lucky number. Don't ask me why, it just is.

Today, I hit mile 13 for the month of June. My good friend, Kate (who is an avid runner), has put a little fire under my ass to help me get my 5K time under 30 minutes.

Interested in what she said? Here you go!


1. 100 ounces of water a day (this accounts for the nursing and exercise).  Make sure you keep track - make sure to get it all in your system!!
2. Limited alcohol intake to 1 (yes a good size one is fine) drink a day (this means one glass of wine or one vodka mixer or one something-or-other or beer...But the rule is one a day)
3. Eat normally, eat when you're hungry....just eat normally.
4. Make sure you eat before your run.
5. Whats your music situation?  Do you have good running music?  When / where did you buy your shoes?  Are your boobies well supported?

Here we go!!!

Monday: go out and run 3.1 miles....run it slow, but don't walk...I would rather you run it slow the whole time, than run faster & have to walk a bit....just run it
Tuesday: speed work out: driveway sprints 15 - sprint the length of your driveway, walk back, sprint it, walk, etc. repeat 15 times.  Do 20 crunches, 20 lunges, and 20 push-ups (real ones & then drop to your knees when you need to)
Wednesday:  run 2 miles 
Thursday:  rest day, but do 20 crunches, 20 lunges, and 20 push-ups
Friday:  run 3.1 miles,
Saturday: speed work out: driveway sprints 15 - sprint the length of your driveway, walk back, sprint it, walk, etc. repeat 15 times.  Do 20 crunches, 20 lunges, and 20 push-ups (real ones & then drop to your knees when you need to)
Sunday: run 2.5 miles,
Monday: rest day, do 20 crunches, 20 lunges, and 20 push-ups
Tuesday: run a 5k in 30 minutes or less :)


Here are my stats for today, which by the way, I am pretty proud of...

Distance: 3.1 miles!
Duration: 33:45 min
Pace: 10:56min/mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Month total: 13

New Tunes?

I am looking for some new music to motivate me to run faster.

Check out my blog frog chat over to the right, click on the "what's on your iPod" - I am sure we'd all love to get some ideas on what everyone likes to listen to - or not!

PS - Since it was raining here in Maine today, I didn't get out for a real run, so Kevin and I tried the week one of 'Ripped in 30' again....yeah, that's a great workout! Even Kevin was hurting :)

A little of this...and a little of that...

This morning we spent about 3.5 hours at the beach. Needless to say, I had a tired crew! I put the kids to bed, and had some motivation to do a little work out.

I turned on OnDemand to see what was available and saw some new things from Jillian Michaels. She has a new video out that is called 6 pack in 6 weeks........hmmmm, I surely need a 6 pack after having a kid 9 weeks ago.

It was a pretty good workout! But halfway into it, Callum awoke. I got 15 minutes of a good ab workout in. Then Kevin came home and I had some time to go for a short run.

Duration: 21:57
Distance: 1.95 miles
Pace: 11:14 min/mile
Month total: 10 miles

Since I was running a shorter distance, I would run a 9-10 min/mile pace at every other mailbox or driveway and then an 11-12 min/mile pace at the opposite. It worked pretty good. When I finished running last year, my pace was more like a 9-10 min/mile, so I'd love to get to that point again.

Overall, I had a pretty good work out today. I am still feeling the other day workout in my hamstrings so I am trying to take it easy! I can feel the obsession starting to form!

Hope everyone else is doing well! Keep it up - remember a little exercise is better than none :)

Add 3 more to the count!

Yesterdays workout absolutely KILLED me. I got out of bed this morning and I could hardly walk! It even hurt to move my arms. I joked with Kevin saying I needed a wheelchair with a joystick so I didn't have to move my arms or legs today!

Once I got moving I felt better, but my hamstrings were killing me. I had a scheduled babysitter today so I could get some things done around the house, particularly a run.

I set out this morning with a goal of 3 miles. It was getting hot so I knew I had to do it now or I'd never do it today.

Duration: 33:56
Distance: 2.93 miles
Pace: 11:35 min/mile

Todays run definitely hurt, I think my muscles were so tight from yesterday, but I knew I had to do it - I have to keep up with everyone and finish my 30 miles! My hamstrings were quite tight in the beginning, but they loosened up (a little) during the run.

I was able to keep my pace between 10-12 minutes, so that is a big plus. I have a long way to go to get back to where I was pre-baby, but I am starting to feel good about my workouts...and once I make them a priority in my day, I'll feel better and better.

I can start to feel the "obsession" with exercising start and that's good, because that means I WILL make time for it everyday. Even if it is 10 minutes. Even if it is a long walk or bike ride with my kids. It is still exercise!

Attempting to get "ripped" in 30 days

Two weeks ago I was at Target getting my weekly staples. I walked down the "exercise" aisle and noticed Jillian Michaels had out some new videos.

I picked up "Ripped in 30 days" - it looked interesting and I was interested in doing something different then the shred.

At $12 I thought it was worth the try.

After two weeks of it sitting in our living room unopened, I thought I'd give it a try.

It consists of four "weeks" or levels. It uses a similar approach of the 3,2,1 (3 minutes of strength training, 2 of cardio and 1 of abs). It is 24 minutes long.

It uses a lot of different exercises so it doesn't feel like repetition of the Shred, but some are similar. I think the cardio and strength exercises were very good, and pretty tough for the "first" week.

The ab work outs were okay, I think nothing compares to the ab work outs on her "No More Trouble Zones" - those are amazingly tough and awesome at the same time!

I was definitely feeling it after the workout. My muscles were shaking, shit, I could barely walk!

I highly recommend it if you're looking to change it up a bit! At 24 minutes in length, it's a great workout!!!

5 down......25 to go

I had intended to run during the weekend, but......guess what? It didn't happen.

To further complicate my life, we are moving back to the Washington DC region mid-summer. It will be a tough move primarily because Kevin and I are in love with our life here in Maine. Thankfully, it is temporary!

Anyways, I was able to motivate myself today and headed out for a run!

Duration: 33:39
Distance: 3.00 miles
Pace: 11:12min/mile - have improved that by almost a minute since I've started running a few weeks ago!

I was pretty proud of myself as I was able to run the entire time without stopping to walk - not even once....believe me, I was huffing and puffing and feeling as though I was going to die, and thought about running, but I just thought about all our little Callum went through after birth, and if he can fight for his life, I can fight to run a short distance, right?

So, how is everyone else doing with the challenge?

If you're feeling overwhelmed, do the best you can - getting out there is the most important part!!!

2 miles out of 30.....28 more to go!

Today, I started my 30miles in 30 days challenge.

I didn't think I was going to be able to run today, but my husband graciously took our oldest girls to lunch with him and left me home with our two littles (20 months and 8 weeks).

I dug out our jogging stroller and ran. It sucked. Both kids did great and our newest, Callum slept the entire way. On the way back, the wind was blowing in his face and he didn't like that too much, so he was a little fussy, but overall, it went well!

Duration: 24:55
Distance: 1.99 miles
Pace: 12:30 mins/mile

I did walk some, the wind was whipping hard and with that jogger, it was tough work, but I did it. Two down...28 to go!

How is everyone else doing?