My Fitness Pal

                 Have no fear, fellow bloggers, my training plan is here.

I had a few requests to post up my new training plan, so I did. I even put it on it's own page. Feel free to check it out, follow along with me, etc. I have to say, I like the fact that the traiing plan incudes easy walks in them. Sometimes it's nice to go out and just take a short, relaxing walk to keep the muscles warm and stretched. If I hadn't mentioned before, the plan is actually one designed by Jeff Galloway (though I think I tweaked one or two things). I was doing some research about different training plans online and came across this one. I really liked it, so decided to go with it.

He does include a few runs that have "MM" next to them. "MM" stands for Magic Mile. Basically, the Magic Mile is a one mile timed trial run that you do at a good, but hard pace for yourself. You take that mile and multiply it by 1.2 (for half-marathon training pace). This gives you a pace time for your training runs. There's a whole explanation HERE, along with a handy calculator that lets you see different paces/times for different races. It also gives you a walk/run ratio that seems easy to follow (depending upon your MM).
For me, my fastest mile when I push myself is about 13minutes. Therefore, my training pace will be 17:54/mile. When I do "MM" runs, my goal will be 15:36/miles. Make sense? It took me a bit to wrap my head around as well. ut, I think it's a pretty nifty guide.

Another thing I wanted to discuss today was this app I have on my phone called My Fitness Pal. Does anyone else have it? I love it. I was tossing around the idea of doing Weight Watchers online, but I'm cheap and didn't want to pay $20 a month for it decided I liked My Fitness Pal app better (plus, it's free!). I plug in my current height, weight, daily activity level, and how much I would like to lose per week. It then calculates how many calories I should be eating per day. From there, I input what I eat and drink either by searching food, or using my camera to take a photo of the barcode where it auto-searches the product for me. I can also input my cardio and strength training. Just like with Weight Watchers online, if I exercise, I get more calories to eat back. So, if I know I want to have a small bowl of ice cream tonight, I know I will want to burn some extra calories at the gym beforehand. It's pretty sweet.

My favorite part though? You can connect with friends who have the app as well and leave comments for each other. I can see exercises that friends have done and send them supportive reminders when I see they haven't logged in for a few days. It also has a corresponding website http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ that's user-friendly and has some great user forums.

I've been using it for awhile now to try and get myself back on track. So far, it's been a huge help! I suggest checking it out, and feel free to friend me on there (biggergirlsrun2). We can help each other out! YAY!



Every New Beginning

First off, let me say thank you to everyone who left me a comment on my last post. You don't know how much I appreciated hearing all of your supportive and kind words. Truly, thank you!

I had a moment of clarity in between bouts of craziness yesterday.
I've decided that instead of trying to continuously revamp and re-do my plans to reach my goals for this year, I'm just going to start over.

Simple as that.

Today is a new beginning. I'm starting fresh and excited. And, I have new goals!

Turns out I won't be able to do the Diva Long Island Half this year. So, instead, I'm going to do the ING Hartford half again. Why not? I had a blast last year! I'm also in the works of making sure I can get to the Disney Princess Half in February next year (but more to come on that later).

I have been doing some research and I think I found a great training program (designed by Jeff Galloway nonetheless). It's 19 weeks and the runs seems pretty doable. 3 runs a week, plus one easy walk. I realized this past weekend, just how out of shape my body is again. I haven't really run in awhile (though I have gotten to the gym and done arc trainer and elliptical machines- not the same though).When I finished my Race in the Park 5k this past Saturday, I was SORE. I mean, felt like those 3.1 miles were actually 13.1 miles, sore. Today is the first day that I can walk without wincing. That, to me, is unacceptable! I used to have no problem running 3.1 miles and being only slightly sore the next day and I want to get back to that.

I've even started setting up a support system to help me stay on track. I've asked family members, my boyfriend, and coworkers to help me make sure I do my runs and stay disciplined on my training. I'm printing out my training schedule so that everyone has a copy so I have no excuse like, "I can't remember what I have to do today". I WANT to be held accountable for my training. I've even come up with some back-up plans in case a morning run is missed (keeping an extra pair of running gear in my car so on my lunch break, I can sneak in a short run). I feel confident that I can do this.

I'm hoping that you all will hold me accountable as well. I truly feel that a huge part of my success last year at the half marathon was because I was blogging so often and you all were amazing enough to leave comments, supportive notes, tips, tricks, advice, etc. I want to do that again. I'm going to start off slow and work my way up (just like with my training). My goal is to blog 2 times a week, then 3, then 4, etc, etc. Even if I didn't run or train on a particular day, I still want to blog. I may even give my blog a face-lift (if I can figure out how to work this new blogger layout. ugh.).

Sound like a plan to yall? Seems like a good start to me!
Cheers to a new beginning!!

And I'm Back!

Aren't you excited?! 

I am!

I missed you all SO much! Let's never be apart like that again, okay?

I am finally home from dog sitting. I miss Ella (the dog) but I know she's excited that her dad is back home. I was able to go to the gym twice this week since I've been home. That's right- TWICE! Homegirl doesn't play. I went last night (after a very relaxing and much needed surprise pedicure- my toes are NEON PINK!!) and I did the 30minute cross training routine. Then, I went today and did a short 1.2 mile run, just to get myself back into the swing of things. My body still feels tired from being on the go for so long, but I'm glad to be getting myself back on track.

I am concerned because I start rehearsals for a new show on Monday and that is going to take up my evenings for the next 6 weeks. I don't want to fall off track again because it's almost half marathon time!! So, I've devised a plan to keep myself in line. Now, for anyone who knows me (or possibly has read some of my earlier blogs), you will know I am NOT a morning person. Not even close. Considering most of the time I don't have to be at work till 11am or later, I can usually sleep in pretty late. Well, over the summer I have been weening myself into getting up earlier and earlier. I don't like that feeling of knowing that I slept so late I wasted my day away. It makes me feel like I've accomplished nothing- no matter what I might get done the rest of the day. So, I slowly started setting my alarm for earlier times. At first, I would get up at 10, then 9:45, then 9:30. Now, I can usually get myself up by 8:45 or 9 am. For me, that's a huge deal! My intent is to start getting myself up at 7:30 or 8 (depending upon what time I have to be at work, etc) so I can go to the gym or hit the pavement first thing in the morning. I have high hopes that I can do this!! I feel better having a plan of sorts in place for the upcoming chaos.

Also, on a side note, I went to Borders for their Going Out of Business Sale. I was armed with a $25 gift card and managed to snag 2 fitness books, a pleasure read and a book for my niece. I am very excited about the fitness books. One is all about Core strengthening and different core exercises, the other is a running book called "Run For Life". It seemed interesting. I also still have Kara Goucher's book to get through as well (plus 4 additional pleasure reads- oy). I am going to start Kara's book within the next week. And I'm going to do the core book everyday until the half marathon. My plan is to read the book within the next few days and then do 5-8 of the moves every morning. Good plan, yes? It's my own version of the 30 day Ab Challenge.... only, I've got more than 30 days. HA. Eventually I will get to my pleasure reads (I read pretty fast actually).

Ok... enough of my rambling. Have a good night everyone!!

I Have a Plan... No, Really

Lately, with the anemia and life getting in the way, I feel like I've fallen backward with my training. Like two gigantic, Godzilla-sized steps backward. GRRRRR! It's frustrating to say the least. I feel as if I should be able to run longer and slightly faster than I have been but as soon as I start running, my body gives up. You heard me, my body literally gives up before it even starts. Damn traitor. It's killing me. I feel like I'm literally trapped in an overwhelming pit of negativity every time I start to run. How does one get past a hurdle like this? My last two 5ks were good, in the sense that I finished them, but I was disappointed with my times (and that did nothing to help my continuous spiral into a pit of self-loathing). The Red Dress Run was 46 minutes and the GE Road Race was 47 minutes. UGH!!!

I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself, but I don't care. I'm disappointed and I have every right to feel so, don't I? *pout* Fine. I will be positive. Positive begets positive, right? So, positivity it shall be. Instead of moping around that my initial training plans have been drawn and quartered like ancient day criminals, I have decided to regroup and reformat a brand new and improved (though how it can be both new and improved at the same time, I will never know) training plan.

This week's plan goes like this:

Monday- Rest day (fancy that)
Tuesday- 3 mile run (easy pace)
Wednesday- Cross Training and Abs
Thursday-1 mile tempo run (shooting for a 13:30 pace to start with)
Friday- Rest day (because I'm still not 100%, otherwise this would be another cross train day)
Saturday- 3 mile run (easy pace)
Sunday- 7.5 mile run

Once this week is done, I will regroup again and see how I am feeling. Then, I will either tweak my new schedule or continue as I have it now.

On another note-  

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY 100th POST GIVE AWAY HERE!!!!

And now, a positive quote (so we can leave on a positive note- I swear, it's not all sarcasm)

"I often hear people say 'I'm not a real runner'. 

We are all runners, some just run faster than others...

I have never met a fake runner"

-Bart Yasso