A Bit of a Stretch

Yesterday was run day, but by the time I got off work we had temps in the 30's and 30 mph wind, so I changed clothes and ran two miles in the basement with Pandora. The Songza and I weren't feeling each other yesterday so I rocked out to some Prince and then to Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean and Sage the Gemini. There are many jokes in our house about this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=X8LUd51IuiA since Erik's football coach has a "catchphrase" - All Gas - NO BRAKES!

You Tube Workouts

My workouts are getting more high tech! Fitness on Demand through Time Warner Cable has gotten rid of some of my favorite Ellen Barrett workouts, but the good news is they are available on You Tube. Working out through the laptop would be a pain but since Brian got Chromecast for Christmas I can send You Tube from my phone to the TV - which is AWESOME!!! I did the 45 minute Power Fusion workout last night and then had to lay on the floor and pant for 10 minutes after the workout was done. There has to be at least 200 squats in that workout. Hopefully these strong quads and calfs will help me push forward for the half! Before dinner we took the boys for an hour walk since we had record breaking temperatures yesterday (78) and snow forecast for today. Oh Nebraska - you're so crazy!

I Made it to the TOP of the Hill!!!!

Erik is home for spring break!!! Friday I got off early, took the dogs for a walk and took on some deep cleaning at my mom's house. I had planned to ride the trainer but then I went and got my toenails done and got groceries and I was ready to crash and burn. Saturday morning I put in an hour on the trainer with the documentary A Place at the Table (it's excellent) and then went to my mom's for clutter cops and donating clothes to the mission. It was a productive morning and in the afternoon we took the boys for a walk and then relaxed a bit as a family. Sunday morning after church I went for my 3 mile run and for the first time ever I ran all the way to the top of the hill. I averaged 13.5 minute miles which I think was pretty good for this stage of training. After the run we had lunch, I hit the showers and then Brian and I took the dogs for a walk in the cemetery. I'm not sure if it was the run, the fresh air or the time change but I had to have a nap yesterday afternoon before we watched the Husker Men secure their spot in the playoffs! Hopefully we'll settle in to a normal week now!

Wind Training is my Archnemesis

Yesterday after a busy day at work I went for my massage (Sharon Maricle saved my sore hip!!!) and then met Brian to sign the loan papers for our new car =) Very exciting! When we got home I threw dinner in the oven, changed into running clothes and did 3 miles - slowly!!! VERY slowly. With an average of 15 minutes a mile. I thought my hip was better but maybe it was still slowing me down. At the end of the first mile I considered giving it up but I made it to the end. In my defense, we had a south wind at 20 mph! Dinner was "made up" and delicious. I took 1 baked chicken breast and 1 can of white beans, 1/4 cup of cilantro, 2 Tablespoons fat free sour cream, half a teaspoon of cumin, half a teaspoon of onion powder and half a teaspoon of chili powder and let them "mesh" all day. When we got home I cracked open a can of mild green chile enchilada sauce and in an 8x8 pan poured a little enchilada sauce, 3 torn corn tortillas, all the filling, a small sprinkling of shredded mozarella (I wanted it white) and 3 more torn corn tortillas and the rest of the sauce. Brian baked it at 350 for 45 minutes and it was perfection! I plugged it into the recipe calculator as 4 servings (1 cup each) and it is 300 calories per cup. We had it with brown rice and salsa and then I had to have a big romaine salad with mine. The rest of the night was housework and laying on the couch watching television.

I Should Never Be Left Alone with the Netflix

Last night we had not spicy Beef Chow Mein for dinner. I added some hot sauce to make it yummy!!! Might have to go get sriracha pringles at Walmart this weekend. I LOVE spicy food any more. After dinner I did an hour on the trainer and watched part of a documentary called "Hungry for Change" which was all about the need to eat a clean diet. I totally get it. But it seemed like a lot of other things I had watched. The one thing I really didn't like was the effort to place the blame on someone for America's poor dietary habits. Oh well - I'll try another documentary next time!

Never Eat and Run

Yesterday was CRAZY busy. I worked all day, went to a funeral visitation, registered for STOP class and then stopped by Brian's office to look at a new car. We are now the proud owners of a Blizzard Frost (white) 2012 Toyota Highlander. Pretty exciting stuff! After that I took our dogs for a 3.5 mile walk, made dinner (Eggbeater Frittata with yellow and orange peppers, roasted mushrooms and fresh strawberries) and then went downstairs for my 2 mile run. I obviously ate WAY too much for dinner. At just over 1 mile I had some pressure and fullness but I decided to push through. (That's what runners do isn't it?) The last quarter mile I felt like someone was kicking me in the back and squeezing my ribs. After my run I took off my shoes and socks then laid on the floor in the basement and prayed for relief. Finding none I went upstairs and took an alka seltzer (Brian is AWESOME) and rested on the couch until it was time to go to bed. The rest of the week calls for two 3 mile runs (I'm trying to pick a route) and then my usual cross training. I promise to some day be a better runner and do regular strength training and yoga!

Run, Run, Bike, Run, Practice the Method

Sorry, I haven't fallen off the planet, even though it seems that way! Thursday after work I ran two miles in the basement with the Songza. Some days we are completely in sync, other days I think the device is confusing me with Erik. Friday I got off early, and got a speeding ticket! I was scheduled to run on Saturday, when the forecast high was 8, but Friday was a gorgeous spring afternoon so after lunch out with a friend I put on my running gear and did 5 miles (our house to Essex and back). After the run I collapsed on the couch for a bit, chugged a bunch of water and then we headed over for dinner at my father-in-law's office. Saturday was bitterly cold as promised but Erik was home and we went to see Wayne Brady at the Lied. After an hour on the bike laughter was the best medicine! Sunday morning was all about church, then we had lunch with Erik, I ran two more miles in the basement and I submitted the final project for my Master's!!! Monday I worked later than anicipated, threw together leftovers for dinner and then did 30 minutes of Tracy Anderson Method - Beginner 2. This morning my legs, butt and shoulders are still on fire. It is amazing to me that I don't sweat during the workout but feel like I might die the next day!