Sisters(in-law) are doing it for themselves!

4.35 mi with my SIL!

Night at the track

1.75 mi at the track tonight! I wasn't the only one there taking advantage of this low humidity!

Milestone!

I can't emphasis how slow I run. My form is sloppy and a speed walker can pass me easily. Even with that, I have passed people before. Tonight at the track, I passed this couple not once but TWICE. I've never passed anyone twice before...not even walkers. In fact, often walkers pass me as I slog along. Even though my legs felt twice as heavy tonight, when I passed by them the second time I felt like Flo Jo!

JUNE IS CONQUERED!

As of yesterday afternoon, I am now DONE with every workout that was scheduled this month! All skipped workouts were made up, every single workout is DONE! *singing "I'm gonna get a present...I'm gonna get a present!*

Getting it done...with a little bribery

On the last day of every month, I plan my workouts for the next month. I wake up every morning with a scheduled workout or rest day (I do my meals the same way, but I shop once a week). Not once this year have I completed an entire month without skipping days, usually due to sloth. This month, I promised myself a gift for completing every workout. TWO WORKOUT DAYS LEFT! I'm feeling so proud right now! I even made up three days that I missed! I'm going to have a reward for each month as a motivator!

Some relationship advice

Date a girl who runs

House Run

I know I shouldn't be up this late, but after getting my run killed by oversleeping and thunderstorms, I decided to run around the house for about an hour around 11 P.M.

National Running Day

They like it! They like it!

Hello Chick!

I never run without my shades, which I couldn't find this morning. All I could find were these big, red, attention-that-I-don't-want-getting Hello Kitty shades that my niece left in my car. But I was so glad to be on the pavement this morning I didn't even mind the extra stares that I got. It was only a 1.83 mi run, but my soul feels like it's sitting in a hot tub right now. :)

A minor, slightly erratic rant regarding fat stereotypes that I endure

Being a female of Rubenesque proportions, people make assumptions about me regularly. Here's the truth: yes, I'm big. But guess what? I'm not diabetic. My blood sugar was so great that the doctor checked it three times because he was convinced that wasn't possible for someone my size. The only time my blood pressure goes out-of-whack is when dealing with jerks and the pains that come with Life. Otherwise, I'm healthy. I've finished 54 races since January 2012, including two half-marathons (13.1 miles...each), a 10K (6.2 miles), and five obstacle runs--something they've never heard off--such as the Spartan Race and the Barbarian Challenge. Some of the finest men I've ever seen in my life have grabbed my hand at races and run with me across finish lines. I'm training for my first marathon (26.2 miles). Newsflash: I'm just getting warmed up. While their butts were asleep or watching TV, I was running at 5 A.M., running at 10 P.M., running in the rain, the cold, the heat, running at night despite my fear of it, running with weapons to protect myself from creeps, walking when I got tired then turning around, going home. Those are things that I do before most people hit their snooze button in the morning or set their alarm clocks at night. I've completed the Insanity program THREE TIMES. I bet my knees are in better shape than 2/3 of the people that assume mine are worn out. My weight will come off when it feels like it. Until then, I'm going to just keep going down the road of health and enjoy the ride. My size does not define me and neither do body-shamers. I'm bigger than that.

The Death of Dr. Pepper

This may seem lame, but this is a big deal for me. I can't bring myself to drink soda. Wine or something-plus-diet Coke/diet Dr. Pepper have always been my go-to, at-home chill drinks on those days when I just wanted to unwind. I've had a bottle of rum sitting in my fridge because I couldn't bring myself to drink soda. Now I'm blending it with fruit into a loaded smoothie. Out-of-the-blue and for no reason, soda just became physically repugnant to me. The idea of drinking one is nauseating right now. I also got take-out with my niece. Can't eat it. I tried. I've had the guilt of throwing food away drilled deep in my head since childhood, yet the only thing I want to do with this take-out is toss it. This has NEVER happened before. Clean eating, I think I'm ready for you.

Marathon Training Day 3 & 4

Day 3: It started off great. I got my miles done, running half of them as scheduled. I felt great and went home to finish it with some yoga. After the yoga, I headed to the grocer's only to discover that a weirdo that I encountered at a gas station a few weeks ago had followed me home and was parked outside across the street from my home. I couldn't see the driver. When I got in my car and cranked it, the driver started that truck. I watched him in my rearview follow me to the grocer's. He parked his car next to mine and came to my door. I started snapping pictures of him with my phone and he started running. I got out of my car and started snapping pictures of him as he escaped and took everything I had to the police. Apparently they've been getting more complaints about him. I filed a report.

I wasn't afraid, I was pissed. I'm STILL pissed. I was shaking with rage the rest of the day. No one lectured me about changing my run/walk routes, which I appreciated, because my front door opens up to the street where he was parked. I'm not changing my fucking routes anymore. If he tries to come near me again, I'll be ready for his ass. I don't care what happens, I'm done with these bullshit, useless precautions. They don't work. I know they don't work. I'm sick of society putting the responsibility and blame of dealing with predators on their targets. I'm done with enduring this bullshit. This time I'm fighting back.


Day 4: Today was a day of "supposed to's". I was supposed to x-train, but I switched workouts because thunderstorms are supposed to happen all day tomorrow. I was supposed to go to the trail, but decided to take my miles around the neighborhood. I was supposed to run, but decided to walk. In the end, I suppose that it doesn't matter as long as I got off the couch. I'm feeling really proud right now. 5K in the afternoon.

Marathon Training Day 2

Tonight was unnecessarily stressful, thanks to people that can't follow simple directives. Added stress caused by d***ish response to reinforced plea to follow directives. Nevertheless, even though I waited really late to do my xtraining, it is DONE! I'm feeling really proud right now. It's ridiculous that I waited this late to workout, but at least I worked out! Chased this with some nighttime yoga.

Playing Catch-up: Little Rock Half Marathon (3-2-14)

(Copied from 3/3/14 Facebook post)
 
I had an AMAZING time this weekend in Little Rock with my awesome BGR sisters Shilonqua, Kimberly, Temeka and LaJuana! Half marathon #2 is DONE with an unexpected PR! The weather went from acceptable to chilly to rainy to "What the...is that snow?" to freezing, "I think we may be in the first stages of hypothermia" sleet in a matter of hours. Thank you, Mr. Medic Person for helping me with those awful cramps I got at the finish line, even though I tried to limp away from you to get my medal. Thank you, BGR Little Rock for the pre-race goodie bags and for being such gracious hostesses and thanks to Little Rock Marathon even though it had to shut down early because of Winter Storm Titan. The lipstick table at Mile 12 was a cute idea! Thanks to my SIL for creating what was the best looking tutu at the race. Congrats to all of my wonderful travel companions for finishing strong and congrats to Shilonqua for completing her 10th marathon!

Marathon Training, Day 1

Yes, you read it correctly. Marathon training. The "M" word. Not 3.1 miles, not 6.2...not even 13.1. No, the big one. Twenty-six point freaking two miles.

I'm ready to be a long distance runner. I've wanted this for so long. My race is chosen and it's in November. There is plenty of time to do this. I want to know what it feels like to RUN 20 miles just because I could. It's time to stop letting sloth rule my life. I don't understand why I do when I know how awesome I feel after hitting that pavement. Part of the problem has been sleep, but one of the major obstacles of that has (hopefully) been permanently nixed.

I want to do a marathon. As frightening as the prospect is, I want this checked off my runner's list. Today is the first day on that path.

My journey starts now.

Happy Mail

Worth the read: 1200 Calories

http://sophieologie.me/2013/09/26/1200-calories/

Food Fixes

There are no words in the English language that can convey how much I stink at making Chinese food, especially lowfat Chinese food. Every attempt has been an exercise in blah. Today, however, I decided to give it another go. I added a tablespoon of dry Sherry to this Cashew Chicken dish and it made a HUGE difference!