R3: INSANITY - Day 22

Today was Cardio Recovery.

Almost forgot to log this one! Strangely, this is my least favorite of the Month 1 workouts--OK, second least favorite. I'm pretty sure I've already stated why in detail. This was actually done hours ago. It is really, really nice to be back on schedule again. Hopefully there will be no more setbacks.

Tomorrow: Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs

R3: INSANITY - Day 21

Today was Plyometric Cardio Circuit.

This is my least favorite of the Insanity workouts, so I am doubly glad to have this over with in the morning! It will be nice to just come home and rest with no workout hanging over my head!

Tomorrow: Cardio Recovery

R3: INSANITY - Day 19 & 20

Today was catch-up day, so it was Cardio Power, Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs.

I'm just glad it's done.  

Tomorrow: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Rainbow Dining Day 5: Green

Today (well, technically yesterday) was all things green, which was of course the easiest day of the week.

Breakfast: Granny Smith apple and cinnamon oatmeal pancakes and Granny Smith apple slices

Lunch: Pasta with asparagus and apple slices

Dinner: Oven-fried cornmeal dusted lime chicken, sauteed zucchini and asparagus

Rainbow Dining Day 4: Orange

Today was all things orange.

Breakfast: Cinnamon-honey orange toast, turkey sausage and orange slices

Lunch: Pasta with carrots and carrot slices (not in photo)

Dinner: Balsamic-orange Mahi-mahi, mashed sweet potato and glazed carrots

Rainbow Dining Day 3: Red

Red is a gorgeous color, and there are plenty of food choices that highlight the beauty of this shade.

Breakfast: Strawberry oatmeal pancakes with puréed strawberry topping, Red Delicious apple slices and turkey sausage links

Lunch: Roasted red bell pepper quesadilla and Red Delicious apple slices

Dinner: Grilled beef, roasted Roma tomato stuffed with brown rice and tomato and roasted beet salad

Dessert: Dark chocolate and strawberry purée

R3: INSANITY - Day 14-18

I've had the third week of Month 1 on repeat for almost three weeks. Today, the third week is officially over. Hopefully, I can finish everything in a timely manner with no more delays or setbacks.

Day 14: Plyometric Cardio Circuit - I actually did this. Why I didn't record it is a mystery.

Day 15-17: I made a vow to myself that if I didn't chicken out of doing that half-marathon, the race would count toward these days since it would take at least that long for me to get my mojo back.

Day 18: Today was Cardio Resistance & Power. It was supposed to be Plyometric Cardio Circuit, but I switched them. I have really regressed, and it is depressing. Hopefully I can stay on track and finish this round of Insanity with no more delays.

Tomorrow: REST DAY

Rainbow Dining Day 2: Yellow

I love the color yellow, so today's food pairings were fun! Next week I can hopefully have better garnishes.

Breakfast: Sausage breakfast roll (I know...I broke Lent) and Golden Delicious apple slices

Lunch: Cornmeal dusted fish fajitas with roasted yellow bell peppers

Dinner: Pasta with yellow squash sauce

I made the squash sauce up on the fly, but it was DELICIOUS! Plenty of lemon-infused water throughout the day and no, I still haven't found the will to eat that banana.

Learning to love bananas

I hate bananas. Not once in my life have I ever had any love for those yellow phallic fruits. Even banana-flavored things disgust me.

However, the time for the banana ban in my diet may have to end. After the numerous and increasingly painful Satan's Spasms (some people call the Charley Horses...that sounds like a cartoon character, not a terrible pain that makes you want to chop off your own leg), I must now acknowledge the need to embrace bananas. Since I dislike bananas in all forms, including puddings, breads, ice cream, candy flavors--just anything banana--I'm going to try to learn to like the fruit.

I really do hate bananas, though.

Rainbow Dining Day 1: Blue/Purple

It's all purple.

Breakfast: Blackberry oatmeal pancakes with honey and more blackberries, sliced plums and turkey sausage

Lunch: Beef Stroganoff (no, that's not a blue/purple dish, but it's leftovers and leftovers must be eaten) and red cabbage

Dinner: Light "Restaurant-Style" steak, cabbage and blackberry/plum medley

Technically that cabbage is considered to be red, but it's freaking purple.

Going on the "Eat a Rainbow" wagon

I've seen this plenty of times before, I just didn't like the title. "Eat a Rainbow" sounds like something ogres would do to upset children. Why not add "Unicorns for Lunch!" while they are at it? Anyway, I'm going to do that for the rest of Lent or at least until the farmer starts back with our veggie bags.

Here is my first week of fruits and veggies. I have since added a banana, a Golden Delicious apple, and a sweet potato to the list. There will be a different color featured each day.

13.1

This has been an amazing day.

Today was my very first half marathon, yes, the great 13.1 miler. There were more reasons than this for why today was a good day. For one thing, I wasn't nervous...and I'm always nervous before a race. A really nice guy named Brian came and stood by me, giving encouragement. I was making random comments and he thought I was funny, dubbing me "The Rookie" since it was my first half. The D.J. played the best possible song at the start of the race, Mercedes Boy by Pebbles. I started off with a slow jog, as planned. However, that plan was soon thwarted because I was quickly becoming the end of the run rush. A few minutes later, two cop trucks were behind those of us at the end, and one told us--on his loudspeaker--that we were too slow and needed to hurry up. I confess to turning around and flipping him off. That cop car left and only one followed from that point. A little later, though, his words truly bothered me. It made me feel like the whole city was being held up because I was so slow. I broke my plan and tried to move faster, which only made me more tired. By Mile 3, I was really tired.

I was so self-conscious about what that cop said that I actually apologized to another police person who was blocking traffic, assuring him that I was moving as fast as I could. His response was, "I'm getting paid to stand here. You take your time and finish this race!" He even offered to do the next block with me, and after he stopped, another officer took his place. I was so stunned and so flattered that tears had to be subdued. As I continued, I ran into a woman who said the same thing, "Take your time and finish the race. Don't hurt yourself for nobody!" I tried to keep up my spirit, but the first five miles were murder. My legs felt like lead weights and were so cold that I could barely feel them. My feet were completely frozen and numb. The people in front of me were disappearing. I kept telling myself that if I could make it to half a mile past the 6th mile, then everything would be OK because after that, the countdown to the finish started.

It was really refreshing to have people on the side cheering for everyone. Some even stopped and hugged me--including one dressed as a bear. There were so many people that were cheering for me that I was genuinely stunned by it. I walk around people everyday that act like I'm a freak because I want to be a runner, yet these complete strangers were rooting for me like I was family. A priest came out of his church to to cheer us on, too. I was feeling really confident.

Then, at Mile 7, the leg spasms started. That great misnomer, the Charley Horse (or as I call them, Satan's Spasms), have been a continuous issue for me this year. I know I don't get enough potassium, but I freaking hate bananas. Sure, it is possible to get it in pill form, but bananas have a well-earned reputation. I'll just have to learn to love them, but I digress. The spasms were so strong that I stopped trying to run. At one point, they were so bad that I was leaning against a car in pain, trying to rub them out of my leg. The cop car was still behind me, and he got out. I was preparing my speech about how I wasn't going to quit, when he just simply asked me if I was OK. This wasn't that a-hole, he was a good guy. I rubbed my leg until the pain went away and gave him a thumbs up, slow walking until I could build back up to my original pace. By this time, the marathoners were on their second lap. The elite marathoners were passing me. I was on Mile 8 when I was seriously considering just giving up. After all, I kept the decision to do the race mostly secret just for that potential occasion. Just as I was having this thought, a man ran by with "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me" on the back of his shirt. I felt like that was a personal message from God to me, and started tearing up again.

As I pushed on, something very unexpected happened; something I hope I never forget. The marathoners--these elite runners--started cheering me on. They gave me high-fives and would shout "Keep it up, you're doing great!" These are the people I want to emulate, and they were cheering for ME!

Mile 9 will from now on be the Happy Place. When I saw that marker, the end of the race officially became real, and that finish line felt attainable. From that moment on, I chanted "Just make it to Mile 10..." From Mile 10, it was "Just make it to Mile 11..." and so forth. Mile 12 was too good to be true. One more mile. You can do this. Just one more mile.

I wanted to run the last three miles at the 10 Mile marker, but my legs had other ideas. But for Mile 12, I hobbled that last mile. Crossing the finish line and having people genuinely cheering for you was such an experience. Someone called me out by name, and even though I never saw who that was, it was still fantastic.

I finished the race. I got the medal. It's been a year of running. Almost exactly a year ago, I was doing my first 5K. Today, I finished my first half marathon.

And I can't wait to do another one.

Going for a walk

I went for a walk today, not out of just a casual decision, but as a distance gauge. It's been such a long time since I've been for a walk, that I forgot how pleasant it could be. What was unsettling was that at times I was walking just as fast as my best run times at moments. The walk was easy, no thought. I'm longing for the day when my runs are so smooth and absent of tension. There is a saying that your run doesn't start until you have forgotten that you are running. That organic moment of movement is something that I am eager to obtain.

Another thought that has crossed my mind is that maybe that I'm being too uptight during my runs. There is this constant worry of distribution of energy. Maybe I need to lighten up on the pavement.

Oh well, a six mile walk. I wish I had started earlier so that it could have lasted longer.

Sigh

It's time to bring the food journal out of retirement. I have gotten out of control.

R3 INSANITY: Day 13 FIT TEST #12

I haven't exercised in over two weeks. Every day I would get up and say "Today's the day. This slump is over." Well, the slump did end, but then I became infected by that 7-year-old adorable biological weapon who insisted on hugging and sneezing on me...and this 3 ft tall toxic avenger had friends that like hugging me, too. I've taken cold medicine AND antibiotics and the illness is still clinging. My voice has not returned, either. But today, I simply could not stand another moment of inactivity, so the Fit Test was done, even though the results were disappointing. This decline was expected, but at least I can go to bed with a degree of pride tonight. Doing a crappy workout is better than not doing one at all.

40 switch kicks (-14)
25 power jacks (-15)
80 power knees (-14)
  8 power jumps (-3)
  5 globe jumps (-3)
  9 suicide jumps (-5)
  7 push-up jacks (-5)
26 low-plank obliques (-6)

The last veggie bag of the season