For the First Time...

I felt like a real runner today.

Source

I was at the gym doing a 10k run for my current training. I ran the first 1.3 miles straight through, then walked for 3 minutes/ran 7 minutes for 90 minutes. I was pouring sweat, settling into a nice pace, pumping my arms when I needed an extra boost, and running through every excuse I had to stop or cut my run periods short. This chick managed to do 6.22 miles in those 90 minutes! Woohoo!!

I NEVER would have thought I could do that. EVER. And for the granted it's only about half of what I need to run for my half marathon, but the pacing felt good and I felt strong. It's the first time I've done a run and not been panicked about the possiblity of being swept off of the Disney Princess course.

I was, at one point, a week behind on my training, but now I am only 2 days behind. Thursday I am doing a short run of 3.1 miles and then over the weekend I am doing an 8 mile run. Once those are done, I will be back on track.

How is everyone else's training going? I stop by and read blogs when I have a free moment, I just don't always have enough time to actually sit down and write out a blog post of my own. Maybe once the holidays are done? Who knows, right?

Anyway, in other awesome news, I bought a pair of size 16 jeans at Marshall's the other day and I didn't muffin top over them! Plus, the size 16 jeans I bought at Old Navy on Black Friday are too big on me. I'm excited because while the number on the scale isn't going down, it is staying steady but my clothes are getting a little bit bigger on me. It makes me feel good. It makes me want to stick with my training because if I do, I might be able to squeeze into a 14 by the time I go down to Disney in February.

Here's a comparison just for fun, so you can see what I sometimes have a hard time seeing:

Myself and my friend Joe in fall of 2010 before I started running. Size 22

My boyfriend and I this past fall- after 2 years of running for me. Size 16

Here's hoping I can keep whittling myself away!

Excitement Abounding

Remember on my last post how I was discussing the various types of hydration I was researching? I wasn't sure what method I wanted to use in the upcoming months (I start my official half-marathon training in 2 weeks). Well, it seems fate made the choice for me- I won (Just) Trying is For Little Girls' Nathan Sports Hydration Belt give away! Soon, I will be the very excited owner of a Speed 2 Hydration belt and I cannot wait to strap it on and run!

Also, I was out shopping with my mother the other day and I came across a fantastic pink, short sleeve, Reebok tech shirt. So, I bought it. I intend to wear it this Saturday for my 5k run, depending upon the weather of course. I'm going to be a runner full of awesomeness with my blue shoes, pink socks, gray/green shorts, pink shirt and pink bandana. Yea, be jealous. I will put a picture up of my outfit later because it's going to be just that awesome!

In other, even MORE exciting news (yes, it just keeps getting better) I had to go out to a birthday party Friday night and forgot to bring a change of clothes with me to work. At 8:30, Chelsea, Kurt and I pulled up into a school parking lot to attend a PTA meeting to help promote our latest program. Lo and behold, we were the only ones who showed up for said meeting. We waited for over 30minutes, in a haunted parking lot no less! (The school was built on the same location at the infamous Hartford Circus Fire of 1944). While we were waiting, we heard some strange calliope sounding music playing! We think it might have been a nearby ice cream truck, but the music did play for almost 20 minutes.... FREAKY!

Anyway, after our failed PTA meeting, Chelsea and I dropped Kurt off at home and headed out to our friends birthday dinner. As I said, I had forgotten a change of clothes, so Chelsea said I could borrow some of hers. (Isn't she adorable?!) Let me explain, Chelsea is like a size 6.. I am a size 16. Bit of a difference in clothing, wouldn't you say? But, for some odd reason, Chelsea had some old size 14 things laying around and she threw them at me to try on. I ended up trying on this cute little black dress and it fit! And, IT LOOKED GOOD! It wasn't too tight or anything,  it fit so nicely, so she gave it to me to keep! A SIZE 14 DRESS!! I never thought I would live to see this day! BEYOND EXCITED!!!!! YAY ME!!! WOOT WOOT!!

....Ok, my celebration has died done some... on to the rest of my weekend recap....

I feel bad that I only did a 1 mile run this weekend as I had wanted to run at least 3miles but time constraints and exhaustion overcame me. I suppose it's alright though because I'm supposed to be tapering this week for the 5k. But it's so nice out today, I'm hoping to get in a short 2-2.5 miles. My plan for this week is:

Monday: 2- 2.5 miles

Tuesday: Cross Training

Wednesday: 1.5 mile Tempo

Thursday and Friday: Rest

Saturday: 5k run!

Update: I did complete a 2.55 mile run today. I decided to run to rehearsal again for multiple reasons: it saves me on gas, and it gets my mileage in for the day. Two birds, One stone, Awesomeness abounding! I ran kind of slow, did 2.55 in 46minutes. Blah! Oh well, I will cross train tomorrow, do some ab work, and then run again on Wednesday.

Questions of the Day:

1. Have you ever won a Give Away? If so, what was it?

I just won my first one and I'm thrilled! Can't wait to try it out! 

2. What is your all-time favorite race outfit?

As this will be my first "official" race, I have to say I do like this outfit. Though, the reindeer outfits we wore for the December 5k were rather spectacular, if I do say so myself. Check it out: 

 

It's the antlers, they totally make the look :)

3. Did you watch the Boston Marathon? Were you rooting for anyone in particular?

I did watch it. I was rooting for Ryan Hall for the men, and multiple women! All in all, a fantastic race!

Edit: I'm also super psyched because over the weekend, I surpassed 20 followers! Yay! And a big thank you to everyone who takes time out to read my blog :)

A Little of This....

Howdy Howdy Howdy!

Tonight is probably going to be a short update, but oh well, I suppose not every day needs to be a novel haha.

First, we shall start out with a story..... Today I went shopping for a new bra for the show I'm in (because the one I was wearing is too big, which is fun times). I decided, whilst shopping for my brassiere, to also try on a pair of pants, just to gauge where I am size-wise in a particular store. I managed to slip into a size 17 comfortably, which was exciting. I didn't try to push to a size 16 though. The 17's were comfy on the waist, but loose in the legs, so I figure I have a few more pounds to go before I hit a 16, but it's not far away by any means. Hooray me!

Here is today's stat updates:

Food

Deli sliced chicken sandwhich with honey mustard and 1 slice of American cheese (white) on whole wheat bread- around 550 calories
Can of Light Italian Vegetable soup- 200 calories
Pistachios- about 85 calories (for the small serving I had)
Veggie Burger with Honey mustard- 180 calories
Small serving of Kielbasa and Sauerkraut- 140 calories
Redbull sugarfree 12 oz- 15 calories

Grand total: 1170 calories


Exercise

Acting for 2 hours- about 500 calories
Dance for 30 minutes- around 300 calories

Grand total: 800 calories burned!

And I swear I'm going to start next week with the weigh-ins because I have to get a working scale. Tomorrow's plan is to run another mile and a half, though I may push it to 2 miles tomorrow if I really feel like it. Then, more dancing and acting with the show tomorrow night.