Week 2 complete and a really spectacular quote!

I ran 4 miles yesterday for a grand total of 50 miles in July.  I ran the first 3.25 miles with Caitlin then finished off the last mile doing a little speed work on my own.  Total time was 42:50, and I felt great.  It was really hot though.  I was very happy for some cold water when I finished.  That means week 2 of marathon training ended with 3 days of running for a total of 13 miles.  There were also two swim lessons (and a short swim practice/goofing off in the pool with Chris today), and an hour and a half of hot yoga.

This morning I attempted to make Caitlin@HTP's delicious looking french toast sundae breakfast.  Let's just say that breakfast was an epic fail this morning.  Banana soft serve really should be made in a food processor, because my blender did not like it.  I am now on a hunt for a small (I don't have a place to store anything huge) food processor. 

I hope that you all are having a wonderful weekend.  I want to end this short post with a really wonderful quote that I read today.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most.  We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?'  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you.  We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us.  And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  ~Maryanne Williamson, used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

Another great work-out

Last night I have swim lessons, followed by a 5 mile run with Caitlin and Ryan.  We did the 5 miles in 57:05, not including stops for water. 

Today is a rest day.  We are celebrating my co-worker's birthday by going out to dinner tonight.

That's about it.  I hope you all are having a great week!

Hot yoga is exactly what I needed

I so completely refreshed!  I love hot yoga!!!  This was my second class at CPY, and again my arms are tired!  I love it!  I also was very grateful for the instructor constantly drawing me back to my center and the present.  It's amazing how one's mind can wander.  I'm off to read and get some sleep.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Working out really makes a difference!

Last night I had swim lessons (I'm sad there are only 3 classes left!) followed by a 4 mile run with Caitlin and Ryan.  According to Garmy 4.07 miles in 45:07 minutes.  I felt really great the entire time, except for being thirsty (our water stop was non-existent since the water fountains were out of order).  As soon as I got home I showered, ate dinner, then crashed in my bed.  I was exhausted!  Tonight I am hoping to go to hot yoga.  My muscles are demanding some hot yoga right now.

Have a great Tuesday all!

What do you mean I cannot spell my name with the Periodic Table?

My experiment is not working, my candidacy has hit a hurdle, and I want to pull my hair out.  And to top it all off, I cannot spell my first or middle name with the Periodic Table.  Luckily I can at least spell my last name.  I know I know, that sounds incredibly dorky, but it makes me sad.  Would it be wrong if I took this into consideration in the future when I name my first child?  Okay so the Periodic Table name part isn't really driving me crazy today (although I was disappointed when I first realized it), but writing about it did make me laugh.  Laughter is the best medicine.

I am seriously looking forward to swim lessons and a run later to help clear my head.  I have just decided that hot yoga tomorrow is mandatory.  My body and mind will be very happy I'm sure.

I hope you all are having a great Monday.

Quick update. Week 1 completed!

I made it through week 1 of marathon training, even though I have been fighting a dreadful sinus headache.  As you know, I ran 4 miles with Caitlin on Monday after swim lessons.  Tuesday I saw the movie Inception, which was unbelievably good!  I consider it one of the best movies I have seen in a long time!  Starting Tuesday night I started to feel under the weather.  I didn't feel really sick, but I could tell that my energy level was lower than usual, and I just felt tired.  Wednesday I had swim lessons again, and we learned the backstroke.  I love it, simply because I do not have to worry about breathing; however, I cannot swim in a straight line to save my life.  We also used swim fins which were fabulous!  I felt like I was flying through the water.  Since my energy level still felt low, I postponed running until Thursday morning.  Caitlin and I met early to run 4 miles in 44:48.  I wanted to go to hot yoga Thursday night, but my body was telling me I needed to rest.  Caitlin and I had a 5 mile run planned for Friday morning, but Thursday night I was feeling pretty lousy.  I met her for the run any way on Friday morning, because I needed my third run for the week.  We only ended up running 3 miles in 34:59... we had a few walk breaks because I felt crappy.  I took the rest of the weekend off from working out.  I didn't even do as much yoga as I have been doing.  Instead I did a lot of sleeping.  I was feeling better today until a couple hours ago.  The pressure in my head is back.  I am hoping this week I will feel up for running 4 days this week.

In summary, week 1 of training:  11 miles of running in 3 days and 2 swim lessons

To end on a positive note, I have been doing at least a little bit of yoga every day.  I am absolutely loving how yoga makes me feel.  I have noticed that I have felt a lot better (sinus headache aside) since I started doing yoga.  I no longer have knots in my back, and my flexibility has improved.  My co-worker/office mate even commented this weekend that I appear to have more of a glow about me since I started going to hot yoga.  I love it!  Yoga is my new friend.  Hopefully I can make it to hot yoga this week!

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!  Stay tuned for week 2 of marathon training (and hopefully more posts.... all these work-outs, work, and school have kept me pretty busy lately.)

I can swim!

 I had swim lessons last night, and we reviewed freestyle that we learned last week.  I had practiced a little at the pool in our complex on Sunday.  Last night the instructor told me that I had good form and had improved 100% since the last class!  YAY!  He also said I was well on my way to being able to do a triathlon.  Now I just need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE to build up endurance.  He gave me a few pointers, and I am hoping that I will continue to improve my form and build endurance.  We are not swimming very far right now, but I figure like running I will just slowly build up my distance.

Last night was also the first run of marathon training!  Woo-hoo!  After my swim lessons, I met Caitlin for a 4 mile run.  We were both really tired, but we did it anyway.  We finished in 44:51.  I am taking a rest day today to go out with my co-workers to see a movie.  I'm planning to do swimming then running on Wednesday.  Then Caitlin and I have a run planned for Friday.  I'd like to run another day as well, but I'm not sure which day yet.  I have a trail run planned with one of the running groups for Sunday.  I sadly will not be up for the 3 mile run in my Vibrams, but there is nothing wrong with my comfy running shoes.  Oh, speaking of my running shoes, those inserts seem to have cured my foot pain!  YAY!

Off to work, followed by tutoring, and movie night!  Have a great day all!

Relaxing evening

I took a rest day from working out.  My arms are pretty sore from yoga yesterday, and my legs needed a rest too.  Tonight Chris and I went to dinner then came home to watch some Dexter.  Little Kirby relaxed on the couch with us.  Now it's time for some Rest Tea, a good book, and bed. 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Sore arms = Great yoga!

Last night I met with Ashley for a 4 mile run (we ran it in just under a 10 minute per mile pace!) followed by an hour and a half of yoga at College Park Yoga.  My friends Caitlin and her boyfriend Ryan also joined me for their first yoga class.  This was my first time at CPY, and I found it to be very different from the previous hot yoga classes I have attended.  This class was much more repetitive and the poses were held for longer than in the other classes I have tried.  This resulted in a very different work-out and super sore arms!  My arms are quite tired today!  I love it! After class, Caitlin, Ryan, and I went to Infusion Tea for dinner.  Yum!  I ended my evening with a delicious cup of decaf. soy chai latte.  YUM!  Then I went home and chilled with the boyfriend while we watched Dexter.  Has anyone else seen this show??  It is so creepy yet great!

Swim lessons, Toe touches, Vibrams, and the Beach!

I have missed blogging!!!!  My schedule has been packed full of fun and exciting events!

First of all, I started beginner swim lessons.  That's right, swim lessons!  I am determined to get this whole breathing-while-swimming thing down, because I really want to do a triathlon one day.  The classes are Monday and Wednesday for an hour.  It turns out that one of the teachers (young life guard guys) told myself and three other people in the class interested in triathlons that the intermediate level would be more ideal.  I figure this class certainly cannot hurt me, and it will help to slowly increase my stamina in the water as well as reduce the amount of "freak-out" from being afraid of drowning.  Then I will take the intermediate class in the fall.  So far we are doing a lot of kick board swimming and beginning strokes with breathing.  I have a way to go, but I am determined to do this.  I forgot just how great of a work-out swimming can be.  Especially when you make it part of a brick work-out.  After the first class, last Wednesday, I met with Caitlin and we ran 4 miles (46:05min).  My legs were tired, and I was starving after we finished!  (We also ran 4 miles on Thursday in 45:11.)  The second lesson (Monday) I did the 4 mile run before swim lessons (39:51min), but that was probably a mistake because it was really hot outside, and I felt light-headed after I finished.  Luckily the pool felt great after that!  My third class was this evening, and I think I actually did free style swim for a short distance! HOORAY!  I am on my way!!!

After my swim, I met with Caitlin and Ryan for another 4 mile run (that is the magic number right now I guess).  We ran it in 46:09 min.  A little under a mile away from the end, Caitlin saw a frog.  Now Caitlin is absolutely terrified of frogs.  I mean really afraid of them.  In the past she has jumped into the road in order to avoid a frog.  Tonight she jumped into me, which pushed me into a fence.  I have some pictures of my injuries, since I joked that I was going to blog about it.  In all honesty, it only stung when it first happened.  The pictures look worse than it really feels (and the pictures aren't bad either).  It was funny though.  Better than jumping in front of a car!

A picture I took in London last year, just for Caitlin.

The brown discoloration is either dirt or paint, so it isn't as bad as it looks.

Other elbow

I am really loving the brick work-outs, because I feel like they are really helping to improve my endurance.  I have plans to do an hour and half of hot yoga tomorrow followed by hopefully a four mile run.  I cannot wait!  I am really craving yoga!  I cannot believe how much I enjoy it.  I have been doing a bit of yoga every day.  Before my first yoga class a few weeks ago, I could barely touch my toes, but now I can easily grab my feet over my toes!  I am so excited!  I am finally able to do downward dog with my heals touching the ground!  I am also able to lower myself from a plank without "flopping".  I am definitely looking forward to getting "yoga arms".  I even have plans to run and go to hot yoga tomorrow.  Yay!

Another really great benefit to extra work-outs is that I am sleeping so well!  I have also been enjoying Tazo Rest tea before bed.  I think it really does help me relax and sleep well.

Now this past weekend, Chris and I went to Sarasota to visit his family.  While we were there, we went to the Fit2Run store.  After my runs last week, I had to take a few days off, because the ball of my foot was hurting again.  We went to Fit2Run to buy insoles for my shoes.  I stood on some nifty device that showed me where how I apply pressure to my feet.  If you notice in the picture, I apply a lot of pressure at the balls and heels of my feet, especially on the left foot (the sore foot).  The insoles that I purchased Aetrex Lynco insoles with metatarsol arch support for the ball of the foot.  My foot is still adjusting to the insole, because it honestly feels like there is a rock in my shoe; however, it has really alleviated the pain in my foot.  YAY!

We also went to the Fit2Run store for another purpose... to buy Vibram Fivefinger shoes!  I tried on three different styles: Bikila, Sprint, and KSO.  I found the KSOs to be the most comfortable on my foot.  The only color they had in stock were black.  Chris's mom was super awesome and bought a pair for myself and Chris (he got sprints in red).

Getting fitted

My new Vibrams!

KSO stands for Keep Stuff Out, hence the mesh covering.

Chris's sprint style

I love them!  They are definitely going to take some getting used to though.  The website says to start slow!  I also went to Sports Authority and purchased a kick board to help me practice swimming and a yoga mat towel.  I love it!

We also went out to Siesta Key beach for a bit, which was wonderful!  That is my favorite beach! (I did not take any pictures, because I didn't want to get sand in my camera or have to worry about it when I went in the water.)  Chris's mom even bought me some new flip flops.  One of them is made out of real yoga mats!  They are very comfortable!  The weekend was absolutely wonderful, and it was exactly the break I needed. 

I hate to just end this, but I am exhausted!  I know my blogging has decreased, but be sure to stay tuned....Next week starts marathon training!  EEK!  I'm so excited!!!  Have a wonderful rest of the week all!

Half way through the year! And I am having fun!

It is official!  I have made it half way through the year (26 weeks) running at least three days a week!  So far my minimum distance has been 2 miles (yes, I know I originally said I would not have a minimum distance).  I think I am going to try and up that distance for the second half of the year.  My first run this week has been a distance of 4 miles, so it will be either 4 or 3 miles.  We shall see.

I have not been blogging, because I have been working like crazy on my candidacy.  I FINALLY came up with a new idea that my adviser approved.  Now I really am trying to get as much work done on it as possible.  While that has caused my blogging to take a back seat, that does not mean I am not working out.  I am still keeping up with the 30 day yoga challenge, with a minimum of 10 minutes of yoga a day.  I am loving how yoga is transforming my body.  It makes me feel wonderful!

In fact, I started today off with a hot power yoga class with Ashley.  Then we went for a 4 mile run (in 43:39) followed by an AMAZING vegan lunch at Infusion Tea.  I decided to order what Ashley was having, because she said it was great, and boy was she right!  I had the pesto panini and Milton special salad along with the passion tea.  Then I ordered a hot soy chai tea to go.  I am in love with Infusion Tea.  I have seen so many bloggers post about it, but I did not know where it was until last week when I ran with Ashley through the downtown area.  We ran past it, and I said, "Oh, that's where that place is!"  That run took place last Monday (28th), and we did 4 miles in 44:10 (right after Ashley came from a yoga class).  She is really awesome to run with.  I'm always having so much fun that I forget I'm running.  The yoga class I went to this morning was at Orlando Power Yoga.  I left the class feeling wonderful, but in a different way than I did from the Guruv yoga class.  In the Guruv class I feel like my head is more clear, but in the OPY class I feel more at ease about being a beginner.  I will have to continue trying them both, because they both left me feeling wonderful.

I did not need it, but the tea timer was just adorable.

 

I also had a two mile run with Caitlin on the 29th (21:11), which was actually cut short by me because my foot was really hurting.  I had been fighting a horrible pain in my left foot in the arch and ball of my foot.  That night I called one of my uncles who is a podiatrist.  I described my foot pain, and he didn't seem to think it was anything to be too concerned about.  He told me to take an Aleve twice a day and get more arch support for my shoes.  The next morning I purchased Aleve and some arch support for my work shoes, and I immediately felt a difference.  That night I went to my second hot yoga class at Guruv.  I LOVE THAT PLACE!  While I was not able to do every pose, because of my foot, I still left completely sweaty and feeling 100% refreshed.  I wanted to take it easy on my foot, since my marathon training will be starting very soon.  I decided not to run again until the end of the week.  That resulted in my waking up at 5:30 am on Saturday to get in a quick 2 miles (20:36) before going to help Caitlin move.  The move went well, and Caitlin's parents were so kind and bought us all lunch and pizza for dinner.  The pizza was 30" in diameter!  I have never seen a pizza so large!  I had to take a picture to show you all.

My old roommate and original running partner was in town for the 4th of July weekend.  We got together for dinner on Thursday and again met up with her over the weekend.  I was super jealous when I heard she was taking ballroom dancing classes.  How cool is that?!  She is doing wonderful, and it was really great to see her again.  I miss her.

And finally, last weekend Chris and I went to check out a local restaurant called CRAVE.  The following is listed right on their menu:

We support locally owned, independently operated farms and businesses. All of our meat is either 100% natural or free range raised. We strive to source all natural or organic produce, dairy and coffee. Our dressings and sauces are made from scratch on premises. We use only the highest quality and freshest ingredients available.

I had a delicious burger, and we both tried one of their shot glass desserts (mine was chocolate and Chris's was keylime).  We also shared a drink.  I definitely enjoyed the food and the ambiance, and I look forward to trying something else on the menu next time.

Me and Chris <3

The new haircut.  It's shorter.  Not sure I like it.

I apologize for such a jumbled blog, and I hope that you all are doing well.  Have a wonderful week, and Happy Late 4th of July!

P.S.  Happy Birthday Grandma (4th), Uncle Dennis (5th) and Mom (6th)!