It's Time to Start Running Again...

So I took a brief...ok several month...well actually now that I'm thinking about it, half year, hiatus from running because my knees were bothering me so much. It got to the point where I could barely even walk down a flight of stairs it hurt so bad. Of course I didn't go to the doctor so I'm not sure what the actual problem was, but after attempting (and failing) to train for the Kansas City Half Marathon I decided it might be best to stop running for awhile. It was actually perfect timing because this winter has been horrible, and I'm such a baby about running outside in cold weather.

Now that the weather is getting a little warmer (although it was 70 on Saturday and I woke up to snow yesterday morning. Dumb Kansas), I think it's time to start running again.

Cory and I are signed up for the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K on April 5th so I suppose I should have been training for awhile now. I think I've come to the conclusion that this race will not be a personal best, and I will most likely be much, much slower than I was last June. The few times I have "ran" in the last few months, I did a lot of run/walking and was around a 9:30-10:00 min/mile so I'm just hoping to finish this race in an hour. Fingers crossed. Hopefully some of Cory's speed will rub off on me haha! :)

I feel like I need to follow the last bit of training program for the next 3 weeks so I can hold myself accountable. Does anyone have a favorite 10K training program they love? I've always used Hal Higdon programs so I thought I might try the 10K Intermediate Program, but if anyone has any other suggestions they would be much appreciated! Are you training for any races right now? I'd love to hear which ones and how your training is going!

Time to Get Runnin'

Several months ago there was a deal for half price registration for the Kansas City Half Marathon so my roommates and I jumped at the deal. Now that it's actually time to start training I'm sort of regretting our spur of the moment decision.

Even when I'm not training for a race I try to get in at least a couple four to five mile runs a week, but the last several months I've been slacking. I'm not sure what the deal is, but it seems like I've had one achy joint after another. At first it was my right knee. Now it's my left. I know I should probably go to the doctor to have it checked out, but I'm pretty sure they will just tell me to stay off of it for awhile which isn't going to happen. Aleve it is!

It really doesn't hurt too bad while I'm actually running, but you should see me walk down the stairs after I'm done. I seriously look like a 90 year old woman. I'm sure wearing 4 inch heels every day doesn't help my situation, but what's a short girl to do?!

Needless to say training has been questionable these last few weeks. I'm hoping to step up my game this week and actually complete all my training runs. The past few weeks I've been skipping out on the shorter runs during the week.I did squeeze in a 7 mile run with Ashley bright and early Saturday morning. We had perfect weather - 60 degrees in August! Ah-mazing! It was the first time I'd felt good about a run in awhile so that was good news. The not-so-good news was I came back to a super flat tire. I guess that's what I get for trying to be productive before 8 a.m. on a Saturday.

My roommates and I are using Hal Higdon's Novice 2 training program. I've used this same program for every half I've run so I'm curious what other people use. Do you have any others that you enjoy? I feel like after this half in October I should try something different....if I'm still walking :)

Thursday Thoughts with Jen - Vol 2

Happy Fourth of July friends! Time for your second installment of Thursday Thoughts with Jen.

1. Fourth of July's in Kansas are exponentially better than Fourth of July's in Ohio. My last year in Ohio I was in bed by 8:00 p.m. and I didn't see a single firework. I'm sure I could have found something to do, but I like torturing myself. Wahhh I'm all alone in Cincinnati. My boyfriend dumped me. I just kicked my rebound boy to the curb. My family is halfway across the country. I'm SO alone. Someone. Anyone. Everyone. Feel sorry for me. It was really quite depressing. Thank goodness that's the distant past. Fourth of July's in Kansas are one billion times better. Family, Friends. Food...and lots and lots of Harry Potter themed sparkler pictures with my sisters.
2. Now that I've got Ohio on the brain, on one of my first dates with my previously mentioned "rebound" boy, he wouldn't let me walk closest to the curb for fear a car would drive by and splash me. No joke. It. was. amazing. He was amazing. What was I thinking?! This brings me to my next thought - all mothers need to teach their sons the art of chivalry. I won't go so far as to say chivalry is dead, but for the most part men these days are just plain oblivious. They are certainly not courteous. I was walking into work Monday morning carrying my gym bag, purse, lunchbox, water bottle, and coffee cup. I realize I looked like a homeless bag lady, but this particular man let the door slam in my face. I'm afraid I can't say it was the first time it happened. Chivalry is on life support. Let's revive it peeps.
3. Since when do guys use Linkedin to try to pick up girls?! Insanity. I received a message from someone this week that said, "Just wanted to say you adorable." Hmmm interesting. Almost immediately I received a second message saying, "Your adorable not you lol silly me." Silly you indeed. I believe what you should have said is you're adorable...as in you are adorable. Please. If you are going to attempt to pick me up via Linkedin at least learn some grammar.
4. Someone brought their kids into work this week, and can I just say I can't stand screaming children. Whenever I hear one, I can't help but think this is why I have a cat. Is it different when it's your own child?! I hope so. Wailing kiddos seriously make me want to hurt someone. Please pray I have a change of heart should I ever have any of my own. I don't think an orange jump suit would look good with my skin tone.
5. This. Video. Is. Fantastic. I may or may not be guilty of photographing 99.9% of the things in this parody. Sorry I'm not sorry. Day made. 
6. Sleeping on an air mattress with another person could be used as a form of torture. Sleeping on an air mattress by myself? Fine. I can handle that...maybe even enjoy it. Sleeping on one with another person? Absolutely freakin' miserable. It doesn't matter how well you blow it up the night before. Two hours in, the mattress will have all but lost half it's air, and you'll find yourself smashed like a sardine against the other person sweating like Kim Kardashian in labor. Not cute. Not cute at all. Give me a sleeping bag and the hard floor any day.
7. Calorie counts on menus rock. Although they were a bit behind Panera, Starbucks finally joined the party and started posting calorie counts on their in-store menus this week. Such fantastic news! If you didn't before, I'm guessing you will really think twice about that 400 calorie Frappuccino. I'd prefer to eat my calories and not drink them thank you very much...unless of course we are talking vino. That's a different story. Bring on the wine!
8. After college, so I could continue drinking my beloved wine and indulging in the occasional treat...ok fine daily...sometimes twice daily sweet I picked up running. It was THE best decision ever. Running communities are so welcoming and encouraging.  I ran a 10K with my friend Ashley this morning, and it was so great to see everyone out there cheering each other on. Runners are second to none in my book.
9. You know what isn't so great? Being forced to go back to work on Friday after having a day off. It's the worst. Yes I could have used a vacation day, but who wants to do that. Not me...especially not when I might be needing those precious days for weekend getaways. Cat lady no longer? We shall see...
   

A Piece of Advice

Today's topic: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

Do not under any circumstances eat your weight in pita chips then proceed to wash it down with two cupcakes at a bridal shower and attempt to run for an hour outside in the heat a few hours later (yes that was an extreme run-on sentence, but I'm too tired to care). Just don't do it. That is all.

I realize this is a sorry excuse for a blog post, but this is about all I can muster tonight.

Right Now

Yup. It has been nearly a month since I've written a new post. Major blogger fail.

Between the Big 12 Tournament, closing on my house, moving into my house, taking on a couple different baking projects for some friends, the NCAA tournament (still heartbroken the Jayhawks lost), and attempting to have some sort of a social life, I feel like I haven't had more than 2 seconds to sit down...let alone even think about getting out my computer to blog. Fingers crossed I can start getting back into a regular routine this month. My health and my sanity are depending on it! 

I thought the easiest way to get you back up to speed on what has been going on in my life was a Right Now post so here we go...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*obsessing over *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

All the changes I've made to my house in the first week, specifically the new paint colors. So far I've painted the front entry, living room, dining room, hallways, and my bedroom (and I use the word "I" loosely seeing as I put primer on one wall then supervised the remainder of the painting. Shout out to Scott for being awesome and basically painting everything!). Obviously it is still a work in progress, but it is already so much better! No more red and puke green. Yay!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*working on *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Eating healthier and getting back into a regular work out routine. I've been eating out way too much, drinking way too much, and working out way too little. I foresee a juice cleanse in my future...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*thinking about*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Whether or not I should suck it up and run Rock the Parkway in a few weeks or opt out of this race (even though I've already signed up). I hurt my knee skiing a month or so ago and was unable to run for a few weeks, and then I just haven't really gotten back into the swing of things (aka I've been totally lazy and going out Friday and Saturday nights has sounded way better than getting up to do long runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings). I did one 9 mile run two weeks ago, and it was torture. I guess I'm going to suck it up and try to do a long run this coming weekend so that will determine whether or not I will be participating. Wish me luck.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*excited for *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A trip to Nebraska Furniture Mart tomorrow after work to hopefully buy a dining room table/chairs and some accent chairs for the living room. Oh the joys of being a homeowner haha.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*can't live without*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lowe's. It's stupid how many times I've been there in the past week. Ridiculous.

I'm also pretty sure I would have had several panic attacks/nervous breakdowns without my roommate Mal. We may or may not have already called the police to come check out a possible home invasion (which now that I'm thinking clearly was probably just me being stupid and having the garage door opener in my purse). She was also an extremely good sport when I managed to lose our house key (that I swear was in a zippered pocket) during our run...okay fine it was really a walk... and lock us out of the house on Thursday evening. At least we followed it up with margaritas and Mexican....and wine and animal crackers after that. Did I mention I need a total diet overhaul? Yikes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*on repeat*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Currently obsessed with Heart Attack by Demi Lovato and Mama's Broken Heart by Miranda Lambert. Both real gems!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*devouring *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A better question is what haven't I been devouring. Seriously. I'm out of control. I'm way too terrified to step on a scale, and I've been avoiding jeans like the plague.

The worst part is I'm doing it to myself. Of course I had to get celebratory
cupcakes for Mal's first day at her new job! At least we only ate half...

I suppose I need to man up and see what kind of damage I've done the past few weeks. Maybe it is time I complete another one of the things on my 28 Things Before 28 list and try out the Paleo diet this month. We shall see.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*thankful for*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Everyone who has helped with out with random miscellaneous household tasks the last few weeks. Couldn't do it without you all!

To Rock or Not to Rock the Parkway?

I haven't participated in The Domestic Wannabe's Move it Monday in awhile so I'm hopping back on the bandwagon this week. I've been debating on whether or not to run the Rock the Parkway half marathon for weeks now, and I'm still undecided. Decisiveness definitely isn't one of my strong suits. I know that I want to run at least one half marathon this year since I didn't get one in last year, but I really hate running outside in the cold. I'm such a baby.

If I decide to run this race, I think I am going to use Hal Higdon's Intermediate Program, but change it up slightly. Hal has strength & stretch days on Mondays, but there is a 5:30 a.m. Strictly Strength class at Lifetime that I usually go to on Tuesday's so I would flip flop those days. He also has long runs planned for Sunday, but I don't like to have them hanging over my head all weekend (and would like the option to go out on Saturday nights if I so choose) so I think I would get the long runs out of the way first thing Saturday morning. My 12 week training program would be something like this:

I used his Novice 1 and Novice 2 programs for my last two half marathons and actually ran slower than my first half marathon so I'm on mission to PR this race (if I run it). Otherwise what is the point?!? Here are my times from my three half marathons:

Flying Pig Half Marathon Cincinnati, OH - 1.56.28
Waddell & Reed Half Marathon Kansas City, MO - 1.59.00
Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon St. Louis, MO - 1.57.05

The first half marathon I ran was by far the hardest and had the absolute worst weather conditions (pouring rain, thunder, lightening). I had sopping wet shoes before I even started running and had quarter sized blisters on both feet after the first mile. It also probably didn't help that I was running in Nike Shox. Whoops! I guess the miserable conditions and bad shoes really motivated me to finish. I also think the fact that I lived on the race course and was training on a good portion of the hills day in and day out probably helped.

I definitely skimped on the training for my second half (and didn't sign up until the day before the race), and my time clearly shows that. I started training in Cincinnati, but ended up moving back to Kansas midway through the 12 week program and kind of just stopped following it altogether. I ran here and there in the weeks leading up to the race, but usually just on the treadmill.

For the St. Louis Rock 'n' Roll half marathon I trained with my best friend Dani, and we ended up running almost the entire race together. We started and finished together and that is all that matters :) I was close to beating my PR this race, but no cigar. I attribute my slowness in this race to the few extra lbs I was carrying around this time. I had just gotten into a new relationship, and all the cocktails and eating out really caught up to me. I've got the pictures to prove it. Yikes. Note to self - do NOT under any circumstance let yourself gain 5-8 pounds the next time you get into a new relationship.

Here is where I need all of you. Does anyone have any tips for running outside when it is freezing? Honestly, I really haven't even given it a shot, but running from my apartment to the car in the mornings is about all I can take. What type of work out gear do you wear? Looks like I might be forced to make a trip to lululemon in the next few weeks :) Also, is anyone in KC planning on running this race and do you want to train together some days? I'm going to need some motivation (if I actually sign up)!

Me? A runner?

In honor of The Domestic Wannabe's Move it Monday and the anxiety of trying to squeeze back into a pair of jeans this morning after the long holiday weekend - a post about running! Hopefully it will prove to be somewhat motivational for both myself and all of you :)

I would have never ever guessed that I would become a runner. I can’t think of anything I dreaded more than the day we were timed running the mile back in elementary school. Why WHY would people choose to do this for fun?!? Yet somehow I’ve become one of those people.

I really didn’t develop this affinity for running until I was 24 so I guess I was a bit of a late bloomer. There was one summer where my friend Katie and I tried to “get in shape” and would run laps (and by run I mean we probably ran 0.1% of the time and walked/talked the other 99.9%) at the track every morning. However, these “runs” were followed by trips to Hardee’s for bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits so I’m going to go ahead and say those didn’t count.

More of the same story in college. I did work out pretty regularly, but I was strictly an elliptical/aerobics girl. No treadmills for me unless I was walking. From time to time I would attempt to run, but it was just so hard. I would usually give up after less than a minute. Some people are just not meant to run I would tell myself. I am obviously one of those people.

It wasn’t until about a year and a half after I graduated from college that I really got into running. I'd moved halfway across the country for a boy (smart right?),  and I was working at the most miserable place ever. Seriously words can't describe how awful it was, but at least I had my boyfriend. Fast forward a year or so. Bye bye boyfriend. Hello heartache. There I was, single and stuck in Cincinnati for at least another 8 months until my lease was up. After wallowing in self pity for several weeks, I decided that something had to change or else I wouldn’t survive until October so I made the only logical decision. I signed up for culinary school (this topic requires an entirely separate post), and I signed up for a half marathon. Darn it I was going to become a runner.

Having no experience with running whatsoever, I googled different training programs, and ultimately decided on this one:

I like how is says 3 "easy" miles. Like running 3 miles is easy!

The half marathon I had signed up for was only 8 weeks away so I had to jump into the 12 week training program in week 5 (after literally never running further than a mile before in my life). It was a bit of a shock, but I survived. If anyone is considering running a half, I would definitely advise planning ahead better so you can complete the entire training program, but I made do with the time I had. Believe me, that first 7 mile run was difficult, but after feeling the sense of accomplishment of actually completing it, I was hooked. Running was just what I needed. It took up a lot of my time, cleared my mind, and gave me a long range goal. Seriously, running has to be one of the greatest things ever if you are going through a breakup.

The weather conditions were less than ideal on race day (thunder, lightening, pouring rain). I had squishy shoes and blisters the size of quarters before I’d even made it through mile 1, but I finished and lived to tell the tale. Without a doubt, one of the reasons that I’ve been so taken with running is the sense of camaraderie among all runners. Everyone is so friendly, welcoming, and motivational. If you start to struggle, there is always someone there offering words of encouragement to help you keep going.

I wasn't lying about the rain. My hair is proof. Gross.

So here I am two and a half years later...still running. I’ve completed several 5K’s, one 10K, 3 half marathons, and 1 full marathon. I’m telling you, if you’ve tried to run before but given up, get back out there and try again. It is so so worth it. I’m glad I can finally call myself a runner!