Category Archives: jogging

Last run in prep for race.

My next 5K is Saturday, so today I did a 3 mile run just at a steady pace. My legs are a little sore from my lower body workout yesterday, too – so need to make sure I get rest tomorrow.
I am pretty excited that DH decided to join me, even though he is doing the walk instead of the run. We get to spend the morning together and then go out for coffee after the race! 😀

Today is a low calorie day in my new cycling program. Yesterday was higher (‘refeed’ day), and I did find today a bit difficult. Kind of hungry right now – not ravenous, or I would eat, but that nibbling feeling.

Gorgeous fall weather today, mid 60s and sunny with a light breeze. So beautiful, too!

HIIT run today… ugh.

Normally I do interval training with my runs, where I increase the pace for x distance and come back. Not too heavy, as I am just working to increase my speed. Well – I decided to do HIIT today with the jog. Went out with John to the track. He walked, I ran.

So – I did 1/4 mile warmup jog, then started the intervals, going all out for 1 minute, then slow for 1 minute. I actually had to increase the rest time to 1.5 minutes because the intervals were that hard. I blew right by John one time and I actually heard him say “Woah” as I zoomed by, kind of funny! I don’t know as I really enjoyed this level of activity. But, it was something different. I know many people swear by HIIT and that is the only way they do cardio, but it isn’t really fun for me. I do like my slower intervals, guess they are ITs instead of HIITs 😀

There are always new levels of fitness to aspire to.

New variation on the 1 minute muffin:
This one is a little fattier than I like to eat, but very tasty. Might try the pumpkin in place of the oil in this one as well, or possibly applesauce.

1/4 cup almond meal
1 egg
1.5 tsp oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
ground nutmeg to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Microwave in a small bowl or silicone muffin cup (large size) for 80 seconds.

This looks a little like a corn muffin, and has a yummy flavor. A bit eggy, but good. Would also be yummy with some cocoa powder added, or almond extract!

** Note, this was actually DH’s breakfast, but that little bite in the picture was from me. I grabbed the camera, and he said “Are you going to put my breakfast on the internet?” LOL.

4 Mile run!!

Today I wanted to try running longer, so I went for 4 miles!! I really think I could do more, but that was enough to try for now.
I didn’t do intervals like I normally do on Saturday track runs because I wanted to make sure I had enough gas to do the last mile LOL! I did do a 5 minute sprint section after the 3rd mile – not really sure how smart that was…..

Anyway, I finished the 4 miles in 43:49 – less than 11 minutes per mile, which I am quite pleased with! Last May I could run 3 miles in 50 minutes. Maybe a half marathon next year isn’t so crazy after all.

Weighed myself before and after the run. I lost 1.8 pounds of water in those 4 miles! Guzzle…guzzle…

Run, food and other musings.

Maybe my race time wasn’t a fluke. Today I did a 3.2 mile run in about 32 minutes. I did my hilly run backwards. Not running backwards, but reversed the route. That was interesting – the hill might actually be worse going this way than the other way! I did not do intervals on this run, but just tried to keep a steady up pace the whole way. I did slow down a bit a couple times, just to bring my heart rate back in line.

Doing well on food. Really trying to keep an eye on the nibbles. Since I have increased my fat ratio (gee, doesn’t that sound like a euphemism for weight gain??) I have been more full, which is good. Trying to get 30% fat.

A post by MizFit about gratitude today really came at the best time. DH and I went out for coffee last night, and I was very unlike my usual radiant self. I was bitching about stuff, and had a negative feeling going (very unlike me). Some of it was PMS, but most of it was just letting the little things get in the way. Anyway, MizFit’s post this morning got my mind back to focusing on the good things, and I do realize how grateful I am for all the wonderful things that are in my life and the changes that I have made. Yeah, so my stocks are tanking; yeah, so I’m probably going to have evict my tenants; yeah, I’m concerned about our business in this economic time, blah blah. That’s small stuff, really. In the whole big picture of things, these are just droplets. I’m ready… and radiant!!!

Sore legs today.

Good thing that I moved my jog to coincide with the shapeover workouts this week. My legs are killing me! I took a short walk today for a little cardio. I have a few days to recover before Sunday’s race.

Yesterday I did a 3 mile jog in 33:39, about my usual pace now. I am shooting for finishing the 5K in 37 minutes. That gives me some leeway with an unfamiliar course and such. It will be fairly chilly Sunday morning, too! Yesterday it was 45 degrees when I was out. I wore sweats, but my short-sleeve wicking shirt. I was really sweaty, but then kind of clammy cold. Ick.
After that jog, we walked to breakfast – so I got another 30 minute walk in, then did my lower body workout. I was ravenous for a lot of yesterday.

I did try the 1 minute muffin with pumpkin today. I just subbed all of the oil with 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin. I cooked it a little longer than a minute. It was yummy and more moist than the oil version. Go figure. John really liked it, too.

Tried another batch of protein bars with oats, will post that recipe and pics when I get a chance. A little more filling than the cookie one, but less calories and less protein. Lucky for me DH is willing to try all my experiments!

Morning jog and latte art.

Went for a jog this morning. Bright and early, since I was up. Was back on my familiar track. I moved to the center of the track, as I wonder a little if the distance really is 1/4 mile around. So, I still had a new PR today. 3 miles in 33:05 seconds!! Just about an 11 minute mile, pretty damn close – quite pleased with that.

I hopped on the scale this morning, and it shows me up 1.5 pounds from Wed. WTF??? This is really annoying. I don’t normally fluctuate this much, I just don’t – so I honestly don’t know what to think.

Went to a jazz festival on the lake today.
That was wonderfully fun. Good music and then we stopped at a cafe. I really love when cafe workers take the time and make your drink special, like lattes should be.
My lovely beverage:

Another good day.

Well, my Broncos won last night! I fell asleep after the 3rd quarter, it was so late. Made me get up a bit later, but not by much because of the construction going on. It was raining when I got up, but I checked the radar and saw a cloud break coming. So I waited a bit and did my new street route jog. There was a big hill about 3/4 of a mile in. I don’t know which was worse, trying not to go head over heels down the hill, or running back up the other side! That was tough. I did 3 miles in 33:55. Pretty close to 3 miles, anyway. I mapped it out on http://www.mapmywalk.com – so who knows exactly how accurate it is.

Ate well today, around 1500 calories. Hoping the scale rewards my good behavior tomorrow 🙂

Morning jog.

So – I managed to only eat a bite of the peach cobbler yesterday. It was quite tasty, but I have to say that I don’t have the desire to eat anymore (at least at this point). So, yay for me on that. I did eat on plan yesterday.

Went for a jog this morning:
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 34:27
Pace: 11:29 per mile.

A wee bit slower for whatever reason. My first mile was faster than the other 2, still trying to figure that one out.

DH wants to bike ride today, so guess I get in some extra cardio! We are biking downtown to see a new art exhibit and then have some coffee. Of course, this will be between football games. Go Broncos!

Oh, and a new look for the blog. Wanted to change things up a bit.

Faster than a speeding bullet

Having a nice quiet moment today. I woke up early, as per usual. Decided to get up and go for a jog. Since today is a holiday, there is no construction outside the house, and the streets are very quiet. Just me and the little birdies out for a run. Gorgeous weather, too – about 55 degrees and sunny. I pushed the jog just a bit, not too much and lowered my time even more: 3 miles in 33:50

Distance: 3 miles
Time: 33:50
Pace: 11:17

Mile 1 – 11:30
Mile 2 – 11:10
Mile 3 – 11:10

I felt like I was pushing a little in the last mile, but I think I actually was flagging and the push kept me on the 2nd mile pace.

On to face a birthday party today! Have a super holiday everyone!

Need to focus more on weekends.

I find myself getting a little lax on weekends. Today I was in my calorie range, but I did snack more than I normally do. I can’t justify the eating with the extra exercise I do on the weekends, even though I want to. I am still in weight loss mode, so it is critical that I regain a tight rein on the weekends.

Tomorrow is my niece’s birthday party, and I will be having a cupcake. They are grilling out, and we are going to bring some Boca burgers so my sister doesn’t have to buy special meat for us (since we only eat local farmed meat). At least I can control that portion of stuff!

I will be going for a 3 mile run in the morning before we go, and starting my new lifting program. I am doing a 28 day body shaping program. Too lazy right now to go get the book and give you the exact title (ironic, isn’t it?). It’s a split routine of 3 lifting days per week and cardio alternate days. The lifting uses superset and pyramids – I am kind of excited to try it! Perfect for a September challenge.

So – my challenge for this week is more forward-looking. I am going to concentrate over the next weekend to buckle down and eat well. Exercise is no problem, as we always bike, but I am going to plan ahead for Sat and Sun.