Three Workouts in One Day!

I don't know what got in to me, but I say it all of the time. When I don't feel like doing something, somewhere within I get this burst of energy out of no where once I finally start. That's why I hate skipping workouts. I know I can possibly muster up the energy, I just need to try. And, you never regret "gettin' it in".

So, today I ran the C.H.U.K (Cops Helping Unique Kids) 5k for cerebral palsy. I went not caring about my time. Sometimes when I do that I PR, but others I don't. Today was an "other". Anyway, I finished the 5k and was supposed to go somewhere else and run 5 more miles to complete my 8 scheduled for Long Run Saturday. Yea...so I didn't feel like it. I said well, to make it up, I'll just go to the gym and do something. Fortunately, the classes remaining for the morning were two of my favorite: Cycle and Body Works Plus Abs.

Now, this will be my second time taking a cycle class at L.A. Fitness. The first instructor was cool. The music was .... not. The instructor from today was on some serious cycle stuff. I don't know. It's probably me. I forget I'm still new to the gym scene and haven't experienced all types of trainers attitudes. But she was so serious she made me want to burst out laughing. And the music... it got better. I still prefer KTX and spinning to "hood" music, lol. But, those classes aren't convenient for me. Anyhoo...

I made it through the class, of course. But knowing that I had just ran a 5k and sort of gave my legs their all...I didn't follow the exact resistance she instructed us to because I wanted to actually be able to finish the entire class. And I did. It was cool, but umm...don't think I'll take her again *Kanye shrug*

I went ahead and stayed for the Body Works Plus Abs class and finally got to listen to some music I can work with! The instructor is kinda ratchet..and hey, that makes it fun for me, lol. (Speaking of ratchet, let me head over to DatPiff or something cause my current playlist is TIRED!) But that class...she really had my arms burning! I'm glad I stayed. My upper body gets neglected too often so these classes really help me stay on track. I just can't lift weights consistently and get a good workout in...at least not by myself with no one watching. So yeah, that's the reason I like the classes...to make sure I'm not JUST running. Too often do I have to swing and stretch my shoulders during a regular run or even during a race because my shoulders and upper body get tired or feel plain 'ol uncomfortable. It's because I need so strengthen that area, seriously. I noticed when I was consistent with upper body workouts...doing my planks and all. I felt no discomfort. So there ya go, that's the culprit.

So, I technically completed 3 workouts today and that makes me feel really good. =) I'm really, really back on track now :)

My 1-Year "Racer-versary" & Today's Workout

Packet pick-up area at ACS's Starlite Stride 5k

This past weekend I celebrated my one year anniversary of racing. :-) I ran the Starlite Stride 5k Run/Walk to benefit the Atlanta Children's Shelter. This was my first race last year, except it wasn't at night. It was cool. Pretty low key. Much less people and theatrics than last year (Phaedra from Real Housewives of Atlanta who is/was on the board and her cameras were there following her, as well as a former Falcons player). I wasn't expecting much. I'm glad actually. It's a genuine charity and I could tell they went the cheap route on everything. To me that shows they could actually be putting the money back into the facility and the kids it supports. One of my near future goals is to volunteer here.

I didn't get an overall PR, but I did beat last year's time by a little. Clock time said 29:51. My watch said 29:38. The best part of the race was high-fiving some of the children cheering us on while running through the second mile.

Today's Workout
I wanted to run the trail this evening, but the weather kind of ruined that wish.

Before I did anything, I had breakfast...

Mixed Berry Smoothie

1 cup of mixed berries 

(strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

1 cup of spinach

1/2 cup of orange juice

1/2 cup of plain nonfat yogurt

1 serving of vanilla soy protein powder

348 calories

...and then got to it.

45 minutes of intervals on Level 9.

The 2 extra minutes were from working in reverse.

Who knows if that's how many calories I really burned. This HRM didn't come with a chest strap, which I hear is more accurate. The elliptical calories can't be accurate either, because I didn't hold on to the handles the entire time for it to accurately measure my heart rate and account for my level of intensity (& those inclines were intense).

No gym access, not always a problem!

And after that, I came home and did a 20-minute circuit training, including the short warm-up and cool down.

Race Recap: ATC Hearts & Soles 5K, My thoughts

According to my half mary training plan, I was supposed to do 5 miles today. I forgot I signed up for this race, so I did 2+ extra yesterday with Back on My Feet Atlanta and then the 3.1 mile race today. Here's some of my crazy thoughts before, during, and after this race that I almost skipped...for real.

BEFORE
"I do not feel like getting up for this race in the morning."
"I might skip it since I didn't pay for it."
"I should text ____ and tell her I don't feel like going."
"Man, I ain't signing up for anymore winter races. Bump that!"
"Alright, let me get up. When I get home, I'm going STRAIGHT back to bed!"

DURING
"I hate the start of a race...all bunched up and stuff....move."
"I hope no one trips and falls."
"I hope I don't trip and fall."
"Lord, please be with me."
"Wtf(feezy), they said this was supposed to be all flat!"
"C'mon tiff"
"Stop latching on to other runners, and speed it up...get out of your comfort zone."
"my playlist is sucking right now"
Not so great mixtape comes on, "oh, SKIP...canNOT listen to that!"
"Ugh, how much further."
"Almost over, yes."
"Oh well, I can't keep up with her"
"I invited _____ who ONLY lives 5 minutes away and that bum didn't even show up. Lazy self." lol

AFTER
"28:12 clock time, maaaan...I could of done under 28, but oh well."
"Thank God!"
"Yay, I might of PR'ed!"

...and I did with an official time of 28:02. Not a huge improvement from my last 5k race in October (in my opinion). I really don't like out-and-back routes, but the race was free for ATC members and in a neighborhood I grew up in. I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to represent. I would of never imagined years ago that I would be running that street one day...ever.

My Splits! I'm really shocked at the first 2 miles, really!

10 miles on schedule tomorrow!

Race Recap(s): Moonlight Run 5K & Atl Marathon Relay

I have had one eventful month of running in October! It all started with me finally achieving my goal of completing a 5k in under 30 minutes in the Firefly Run Atl 5k! Next, being proud of the increasing amount of women who come out and join my running group's weekly runs of which I volunteer and lead weekly. It feels so good that while you're accomplishing your goals, you're also inspiring others whether they say it out loud or not. Next, was another night 5k I completed, with a little soreness in my knee, but I PR'd once again with a time of 28:46. I just couldn't believe it! And then, the achievement that almost, but not really trumps them all, yet it's what all of my other accomplishments have led up to... I'm talking about my participation in an actual marathon-related ANYTHING yesterday!

Waiting for the 7am race start in 30something degree weather!

Just yesterday, I completed, along with my four member team, a marathon relay. There were four legs of the race. The first leg ran 5.5 miles, second leg ran 8.4 miles, third leg ran 5.1 miles, and I (the fourth leg) ran 7.2 miles! This was a HUGE thing for me. I'm tearing up just thinking about everything I've done to change my life physically and emotionally and how it all seemed to lead up to yesterday's race.

Definitely felt the need to order this in time for the race

Where do I start? Well, first of all, I had no intentions on running in this race. I had actually signed up to be a Mile 20 volunteer just so that I could at least SEE what it's like to run a marathon (this may be a 2013 goal of mine). But, per the vision of my running mentee, who had the idea of putting together a team of women who are all pretty new to distance running, we were formed...actually about a month before the race. We were all pretty nervous, but had already been working on increasing our mileage, so we knew it could be done. We quickly just thought of a team name and went out and practiced the route.


I practiced my mucho hilly 7.2 miles (which ended up more than 7.2 in actuality), twice. The first time I practiced, that was my first time running 6 miles, let alone the 8 it ended up being because we got the route a little wrong. I realize that's not an excellent way to increase your distance and that I should of increased my mileage slower than that, I think. (I now realize that may be the culprit of my knee soreness). That first practice of the route was excellent, I killed ALL of the hills (GA is very hilly), kept a consistent 9:30 to 10:00 pace throughout, and never had to stop. The second week, I experienced a little knee soreness, still didn't feel the need to stop, felt good after mile 3 anyway. So I thought everything should be great on race day. I thought I'd just eat a little cleaner, keep up my upper body and core exercises throughout the week, and everything should be smooth sailing on race day.


So, race day. I was anxious, of course and ready to get it over with. Adrenaline was definitely pumping. My knee didn't hurt at all, I didn't have any bowels trying to escape, thank God! Everything was actually smooth sailing. The route was a little different from what I practiced in the beginning, because there was an extra hill that um, I wasn't prepared for in the beginning. Nevertheless, I made it to the top and through to mile 5 and THAT'S where the (excuse my french) SH*T started to hit the fan! The last two miles or so of that freakin' race (reminding you, I've practiced this part) was BRUTAL! I mean, I struggled. I stopped and walked a couple times. I was so mad at myself for stopping and walking on race day when I didn't feel the need to stop the TWO times I had done the route the before. I knew my team was waiting on me at the end, and at some points I could care less even about that. There was a lot of self talk involved, a lot of switching songs on my playlist, and encouragement from my fellow running group member who had been using me as a pacer the whole time (little did I know) that somehow got me near the end. Speaking of switching playlist. I'm scrapping the entire thing and starting ANEW!


Once I finally reached the near end, and probably had the look of "F this ISH!" and "why the HELL am I doing this ISH again?" look all over my face, there was my relay team waiting for me. Once I saw them, I got this sudden boost of energy in my legs and sprinted with them towards the finish line. Our team goal was to finish the marathon in 4:30 minutes. Our clock time said 4:32 minutes.

My goodness! What a wonderful feeling to be a FINISHER!

I had a good overall pace, even with the stops during the end (my split for mile 7 was like 11:something, and the rest were 9's and 10's). I felt no pain, like I said. I was just TIRED towards the end. I don't know what I needed to get me through. I hadn't trained with carrying water or whatever. I always made sure I had proper nutrition and hydration prior to the event. Because this was only 7 miles. Or so I thought. I definitely don't know about participating in the Thanksgiving Half Marathon now. Not because I don't think I can do it, but because I may need to give my body a rest. I may just focus on doing my first 10k race in November or December instead, I don't know. Overall, I am pretty proud of my team. At least we finished. Now, to get our correct official time.

Nike dri-fit shirt, Yeah! I love race goodies!

This from the shy girl who never liked to sweat and hated P.E.

Race Recap: Firefly Run ATL

I'm super late with this post...

The FireFly Run Atlanta was my first night 5k (10/1/11) and it was so much fun! At first I was going to use this as a "fun run", but with a $35 registration cost, I quickly recanted that thought.  I decided this was going to be the perfect race for me to earn a new personal best in the 5k.  Not only had I done the route several times with my running group (before they made the route public), I loved that it was at night and we'd have glow-in-the-dark gadgets, etc.  I love, love, love running in cooler temps.  Matter of fact, that's how I started out.

The most exciting news is that I PR'ed! Yep, I'm finally apart of the sub-30 club, finishing at 29:10.  I had a goal of finishing sub-29, so that 10 seconds is kind of annoying.  I'm blaming that on the hill at the very end though.

In other news, I'm back down to 140lbs (my original -60lb weight goal and what I now consider my "race weight") I have two more races this month. One is another night race I'm doing for the camaraderie and in support of another up and coming runner.  At the end of the month I'm doing a major race (at least for me), the Atlanta Marathon Relay. I'm very excited to be apart of a relay team, and not until last week did I think being apart of a marathon (besides volunteering) would be occurring so soon.  But more details on that in a later post.  

Here's a few pictures from my night race...(I vow to get better with remembering to take pics in the first place lol)

Race Recap: HBCU Alumni Alliance 5K

I participated in my second race ever this past weekend. The race was organized by the HBCU (historically Black college & university) Alumni Alliance organization to raise money for scholarship.  Although I did not attend an HBCU, I still wanted to show support.  This was a good beginner 5K race and a lot of the women in the group I run with participated.  

I didn't finish at the time I hoped for.  It was actually worst than my first 5K, but I think had there not been a few minor, but major glitches related to organization of the race itself (ahem!), I probably could have gotten a way better time.  For starters, walkers lined up first which slowed me down in the beginning just trying to maneuver my way to the front of the line.  Secondly, I don't really know what time the race started because I didn't hear a horn, whistle, flute, or anything that would let me know the race is officially starting.  

I don't consider this my official finish time, considering all of the shenanigans I mentioned above.  The route was hilly.  I definitely want to return for a re-match because I KNOW I can do better than this sucky time!

HBCU Alumni Alliance 5K Run/Walk - 6/25/2011

The one great thing I can say about the race is that I got this really cute shirt to commemorate and met some amazing women from my running club.  

I burned 339 calories.

Race Recap: My 1st Race

Atlanta Children's Shelter 5K -  6/11/11 - Piedmont Park

I chose the ACS 5K (3.1 mi) race to support the stabilization of homeless families with young children.  Kids shouldn't have to suffer.

I started my Nike+ GPS app a little early, so technically I ran 3.4 mi in 31:47 (9:20 pace).  I had no prior knowledge of the exact route, so this wasn't bad considering it was very hilly!  Hopefully I'll meet my time goal of finishing a 5K in under 30 min. at the next race in two weeks (HBCU Alumni Alliance 5K).

I RUN to maintain my weight loss and it's a challenge I've always wanted to conquer.

Calories burned = 230 calories in 31 minutes