Crisp Fall Running

With some changes in my schedule lately, I've been focusing on running in these early fall months. While running has always been difficult for me (actually all exercise is difficult for me), it's also the easiest to make work with any schedule. No matter how hectic. 

All you need is your body and a good pair of shoes. You don't have to drive anywhere to run. You can utilize any time you can afford right into exercise. There's no minimum or maximum of time you need to commit. Only have 15 minutes? Great, run a mile. Running can be a filler in between other work-outs, or it can be the main show. Right now it's the main show for me and I sprinkle in CrossFit where I can. 

Running can be seasonal like the weather. I prefer to run outside over the treadmill. I can only count a dozen times I've used a treadmill (usually during business travel). Running is so mentally tied to environment for me. I need to feel the sun on my skin, the wind brushing past my body, and the sounds around me (both city and nature). I truly use all 5 senses when I run.

You can measure in distance or time. Pick you poison. 

Personally I don't' care too much about my time. It was exciting to beat my 5K time this year, but consistency and the miles were much more important to me. That's why I've set my new goal on a 10K the last weekend in October. It's a night run for charity with headlamps.

This will be my longest distance to date and I'm a little nervous! While Tough Mudder was 10 miles, you don't run the whole time. I don't count it as a "running focused" race because it's more about overall endurance of the body and mind. And teamwork. 

To train for the 10K, I'm doing an unofficial 5 week program. Starting at 2 miles and progressing to 6 miles (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). The 2-3 mile range comes easy to me now. But pushing past that will be challenging for sure. I've also been using the jogging stroller pushing Little P on my runs when I can (50lbs of resistance!) I figure the cross-training will make it easier to run without a stroller when the time comes.

Running is a solo activity. It's all on you. You can pick a stranger as a pacer or someone to beat, but for the most part, it's you against yourself. You can run with a team, but I never found that to work well for me. I worry more about what others are thinking about me rather than focusing on the run itself. 

A week after the 10K, I've also signed up for my very first Spartan Race. It's a Sprint (3-5 miles and ~20 obstacles). Highly concentrated compared to Tough Mudder, so I feel it will be more of an energy burst than an endurance test. 

Here's to a happy and healthy fall and winter to all my fitness friends. And to everyone else, you better get moving! :-)

Running the High Line @NYC with my husband

Running with some strangers as part of a hotel run club (business trip) @Los Angeles

Muddy Accomplishments

I've been a bit busy the second half of the summer! A mix of concerts, family events, and of course, fitness! I'll jump right into the big story: Tough Mudder 2017. As a reminder, I did it in 2015 for the first time and had to skip 2016 because I was 9 months pregnant! 

What was it?

10 miles, 20 obstacles, some mud 

Team of 5

How did I prepare?

My training schedule the weeks prior to the event was CrossFit 2x-3x weekly, Dance 1x weekly, and running about 5 miles total weekly. I was also more conscious of the food I was putting into my body the weeks prior, trying to enhance performance and stamina by sticking with proteins and vegetables, little carbs, no alcohol. Something I should be doing more often but life gets in the way (and I make excuses)!

How did it go?

FUN! I think the extra teammates made the event this year. We ran together, we sweated together, we laughed together, we strategized together. Let's be honest, we complained together. You do not need a team to run the event because other people help you along the way. But having one definitely pushed us all forward and made it more memorable because of the bonding aspect.

Compared to 2015 (team of 2), I felt that I personally performed much better. I felt more confident, I had little to no fear over obstacles (even if I failed them), and I ran dramatically more in-between each obstacle. This kept my heart rate up practically the whole time. We weren't counting to the minute, but time was about the same (about 3 1/2 hours).

Some other differences. At home later that night, I crashed hard. Whereas the first time around I went out and partied until late. I think this was more of a product of age than fitness level. On the flip side of that, the first time I was much more bruised, beaten, and sore for days. This time, I was feeling perfectly normal on Monday morning. It seems like "difficult" has changed slightly for me, and I'm able to bounce back quicker. 

Looking for the next event to work towards! I signed up for a 10k charity night run in NY the end of October. And maybe a Spartan Race in my near future....

Summer is for running

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate running? For starters, I'm terrible at it. Sure I've improved. A little more distance, a little faster. But some people go from couch to marathon in a few months. Here I am 2 years later barely hitting 4 miles at a 10 minute pace.

It makes my asthma flare up. The feeling of your lungs closing is no fun. 

And to be quite honest, I don't look good doing it. Sort of like a wobbly penguin. I swear the boobs throw my balance off.

So why do I run?

I enjoy feeling the sun beating down on my skin. Hearing my own breath. Feeling the beat of my music in sync with my step. Because you can run anywhere at anytime. All you need is your shoes (well, and a sports bra for me). And well, because running is hard for me. So I keep doing it.

The summer in New England is for running. 
The outdoor season is short, and I choose to cherish it.

I've definitely been incorporating more running into my summer routine, sometimes opting out of my other group activities in order to hit the pavement on my own. 

In early June I got another 5k under my belt in Boston. It was hard to navigate the large crowds and I purposely didn't wear a tracker, but I was proud I ran at a consistent pace. No stops.

I've also been striving for once a week lake runs (4 miles). The pretty scenery helps keep me motivated.

In San Francisco, I was fooled into a 4 mile hilly run through the city with friends. They are evil tall people who made me run 9 minute miles with their long lanky legs. 

My big event is coming up! Tough Mudder Long Island on July 22nd. 

12 miles, 20 obstacles. As of now, I have a team of four. Though running is not the focus, it's definitely a personal goal to get through the course quicker than two years ago. 

Fingers crossed for a sunny day and a great experience. 

Tears & Sweat

Long Island Marathon - 5k - My new record time: 29:14
w/ husband and cousins

This past February marked two years into my “fitness journey”. At least the point when I consciously realized I was on a journey. That something was happening. That something needed to happen. I haven’t written in a few months. Not because there was nothing to say. Because I’ve been in survival mode and writing took a backseat.

I have something to say now. Let’s talk about my progress.

• February 2015: 140 lbs, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy, couldn’t run a mile.
  
• September 2015: 150 lbs (muscle, toned, better fit clothing), super active 6x times a week, CrossFit, Dance, Running 5ks.
  
• November 2015 – July 2016:  Baby on the way! It was difficult in the beginning to change the way I work-out, but then I gained this superhero strength in the second and third trimester. The most active I’ve ever been in my life (go figure). And good nutrition! (minus the ice cream cravings). Total weight gain +45 lbs (195 lbs).
  
• July 2016 – November 2016: The baby whale arrives! I get right back into fitness.  Mostly running outdoors. Breastfeeding helps me lose weight and feel better overall. Slow and steady progress.
  
• December 2016 – March 2017: Feeling pretty down and hard on myself. I lost all the baby weight (back to 145 lbs). But my body is completely changed. I feel weak and tired. My pre-pregnancy clothes still don’t fit (and they may never fit again). My busy life makes it hard to prioritize working out.

So where I am today? I had a breakthrough. I cried. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact day, but it happened more than once. During CrossFit and during Running. Yes, crying was my breakthrough.

I did something I didn’t think I could do. More weight on the bar, one more rep, one more loop around the building. I did something I shouldn’t be able to do. Tears streamed down my face. I choked up. A combination of exhaustion and exhilaration.

Tears and sweat.

My body may never be the same again. But I’ll sure as hell be faster and stronger.

Confessions

Confession. I'm still wearing maternity pants. And I'm not sure when I'll stop. All I know is my old pants don't fit me (and it's not a matter of buying the next size up, it's a matter of shape). My hips seem to have widened. Those pants may never fit me again.

Not to worry though! They are super comfy.

Finding the time to work-out has been really hard. I'm physically and mentally exhausted from being a new mom (judgy moms insert "I told you so" comment here). I often have to choose between a valuable hour of sleep, getting my work done, vital chores, or taking care of my daughter...all which come before exercise (though lifting my daughter should count for something...she's getting heavy!)

Confession. I failed.

When I first got back to fitness postpartum, I thought my goal was quantity. Do as much as possible. Everyday. Got to lose that weight. Numbers, numbers.

I couldn't do it. And that's OK.

My new strategy is consistency and frankly, NO goals. I'm trying to exercise about three times a week. And letting myself have off days...because well life gets hard. I just want to feel strong and happy again. The exercise high.

Confession. I have no idea what I'm doing.

While down to my pre-pregnancy weight, I have extra rolls and wider hips. So I'm going to focus on my strength building (or rebuilding). That's what's going to get me through the next few months in this shell of a body I used to know.

So what have I been up to since the holidays have come and gone? Mostly CrossFit, dance, and the occasional run. You won't find me at the gym doing any sort of mundane routine.

I PR'ed  my deadlift at 130lbs. One of the goals I had set when starting this blog was 150lbs. Almost there.