7 Days of Running

I am hopping back on the train. The workout train.

In order to do so, I set myself a mini challenge for the week. I am running EVERY day this week. Starting with 2 miles a day (with 2 exceptions- one my Garmin crapped out and I was running at lunch so I just called it a run at 1.8 miles or something. The other was yesterday, I ran a mile and the calves got pissed so I walked the last mile home). So far, 5 days and 5 runs. Boom.

Next week, I am thinking of adding a 3 mile run on Saturday and keeping 2 mile runs during the week.

I need a food goal for next week though. I am a terrible eater. Running was to be conquered this week so I think each week I will add something either food related or workout related until I am a completed ATHLETE if you will.

I know it might be better if I had a long term plan in place but I find that to be daunting. Then I crap out on it one day, get discouraged and gain 15 lbs. Its a terrible cycle and if I could afford a therapist to work that shit out I would be on it. But I can't. So it is up to me to change it.

In honor of my week of running, and my subsequent aches and pains, I am giving away KT Tape to one lucky follower. I've never done an official review of it but I will this weekend and I'll throw it up for you. Anyway, comments section- Boom, same as always. I'll make it easy this time:
1. Leave me a motivating quote in the comments section and you will be entered into the contest.
2. Leave me a food goal for the week and you will be entered into the contest.
2 ways to be a winner people. Do it.

Contest ends....February 27th at midnight and winners announced February 28th on this here blog.

Off the Wagon

Not the alcoholic wagon (you'd have to get on that one to fall off)...but the health kick I was on came to an end last week due to a combination of things- a creepo hitting on me, a busy schedule and not feeling so well combined to just derail my focus. And in the process my progress.

I'm back up to 161 from 155 and I'm depressed about it.

Nothing like hopping on the scale to kick your ass back into gear though. I'm readjusting my schedule for a bit (see ya 5 am workouts) until I feel more comfortable about hitting the gym. The guy is seriously a weirdo and I do not want to encourage him to spend any time looking in my direction. Hopefully an early morning sabbatical will encourage him to look elsewhere. I may even pick up those weightlifting classes since the 5 am workouts won't be an option anymore.

The food is my biggest issue but this week I will get back on cooking for myself every day. I started tonight by making a boca burger with a side of potatoes. Lately I've been hungry every hour or so which is freaking me out but I'm not sure what to do about it except eat. Rather than reaching for something completely unhealthy, I made myself a salad.

Another thing I think hurting me was the bread. AGAIN. As soon as I was able to eat it, I was shoveling it into my mouth. I need to continue on the Lent path and just steer clear of it. It's like a drug for me. Once I have some I just cannot stop craving it. There is no balance for me at this point with bread so for now, I just need to cut it from my diet until I feel ready to incorporate it in a healthy way (bye pizza, pasta, bagels and subs...)

So, with that being said, I'm hoping back on the workout train with a 30 minute run tonight per my Team Challenge training. Tomorrow will be a 4 mile run. Wish me luck!

Also, song of the week, getting me pumped up (thanks to hearing it/ dancing it at a wedding) is Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's Crank That. Just watched a video of Knowshon doing the dance at the UGA-Auburn 2007 football game and it has me all pumped for my run.

Ward v Erin Wrap Up

Sorry I have not updated this lately, running has been GRUELING. I have compiled a list of things I learned this week through my running with Ward to raise funds for CCFA.

1. I CAN RUN FOR 7 DAYS STRAIGHT. And I enjoyed it! I have never even run two days in a row- I've always been fearful of shin splints and ankle pain and knee pain and any other kind of pain you can think of.
2. I CAN PUSH THROUGH IT. There were days that I had no desire at all to run. Days that my body wanted to rebel. But my mind persevered and drove me to get out there and hit the pavement. Or the treadmill. Either way.
3. PAIN IS YOUR FRIEND. Pain lets you know when to stop. It lets you know when you are pushing yourself too hard, not enough or just right. Most importantly, pain lets you know you're alive and kicking.
4. I'VE STILL GOT THAT COMPETITIVE SPIRIT. And trash talking just gets me amped up.
5. MY DAILYMILE PEEPS ARE THE SHIT. So much support and encouragement comes from these people. And we've never met! Yet when I'm up they are cheering me on. When I'm down, they are cheering me on. And they help keep me on track. Reporting to them keeps me honest and some days its the only thing that can get me out there to run.
6. MY CROSS TRAINING IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I've always heard this is the case but I've never seen the results myself. The weeks leading up to the challenge to raise cash for CCFA I was running maybe three days a week for about 30 minutes. This week I was up at 5 am running for an hour on the treadmill. And I was kicking ass at it.
7. I LOVE THE WAY I FEEL WHEN I'M DONE. Good or bad run there is always a sense of accomplishment. My body feels used in a good way. And I have more focus during the course of the day. I will definitely be kicking up my running a notch after this!

So now, the results... My total mileage for the week was 40.53 miles. Ward turned in an excellent performance on Saturday to drive his total mileage up to 54.85 miles! Both of us ran our most mileage in a week and I loved every minute of it. Total mileage for the two of us combined: 95.38. Bringing our cash money total to $219.37 for Team Challenge and CCFA. It is an incredible feeling to know I was a part of something and it was really cool to spend my days calculating and plotting and getting excited to run. HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE thanks to Ward who came up with this idea via dailymile and kept me going through the week.

Days 2 & 3- Ward vs. Erin

Alright, we have reached hump day and My.Body.Is.Screaming.At.Me. I don't even have the energy to flirt with the hot guy. When he attempt conversation I just nod weakly. Thank god for Sports Center or I'd never have made it through the past three days! That and the mantra "It's all about the money." Sorry Ward, you won't be drinking this week!

Yesterday, I was determined to get 6 miles in 60 minutes and I succeeded with 6.08 miles! Of course, Ward went further. I say this as though there was a doubt. He runs way more often than I do since I typically run about 9 miles in a week. Ward ran 7.04 miles yesterday outdoors IN SHORTS because he is awesome like that. And also, stupid like that. Sorry Ward, just speaking the truth.I like to be in my little bubble with Sports Center and hot gym guy. Sorry, that's what motivates me! Especially when I wake up and the temperature reads 26 degrees. F that people. I must scare him because Ward was tweeting to my friend Barbie about getting me drunk that night at dinner. I laughed and countered that no matter how hung over I was I would be running 6 miles. In fact, in college I would often go running hung over or still drunk and speed up the recovery process. I'm not saying it works for everyone but it does for me. Especially if I can puke in some unsuspecting neighbors' bushes.

Today, my body hated me. It took more than usual to get out of bed but I did it. I dragged myself to the gym and hopped on the treadmill for 6.35 miles of hell. I cannot say anything good about this run except it's over. Ward on the other hand ditched his shorts and tacked another 7.06 miles. Apparently, my bitching over my pain on Twitter stirred a compassionate string in Ward's heart as he offered to give me a day of rest tomorrow. No way, Jose. I did agree to only run 4 miles because I've got to get to Sunday and at the rate I'm going I won't be able to sit by Friday!

Total Mileage through Wednesday: 38.84

$$$$: 89.33

Day One Ward v. Erin

I know it's not really versus but I am looking at this like a challenge. The outdoor mileage guy Ward versus treadmill 30 minute girl Erin. I'd say we came out about even with Ward pulling out a slight edge for being an all around bad ass. For example, this tweet came from Ward in response to my mentioning that I was getting up at 5 am for a run:

runner_23 @fromfat2fit2010 wimp, 4:30 for me

Make sure you add him and start harassing him. He is pretty entertaining and earns bonus points for being a Yankees fan (speaking of which Ward, the website has a contest to go to Spring Training. I got all excited- until I realized you have to live within 75 miles of Yankee stadium. Busch league.)Anyway, he's the victor for today because homeboy made good on his promise and was up early in the morning running IN THE RAIN. Excuse me? F that, my friend. I know I have said this a hundred times but get your ass on dailymile if you are a runner. Trust me, you will love it. Plus, who doesn't love making internet friends. There is nothing creepy or pathetic about that anymore. In fact, making real life friends is far creepier nowadays. Ward got his butt in gear this morning and ran 6.76 miles. Again, in the rain. And in 54 minutes which is something I could only dream about. In comparison, I ran 5.55 miles in an hour. Whatever, I ran for a solid hour on the treadmill so that's a moral victory.

Total Mileage: 12.31

$$$$(cause that's what I'm all about!): 28.31

One week...OF RUNNING

So, as some of you may know, I am getting ready to begin training for my second 1/2 marathon with CCFA and Team Challenge. We are heading to Boston in June to run 13.1 miles to raise much needed funds and awareness for the 1.4 million people suffering from Crohn's and Colitis. You may wonder how I got into this or why I'm bringing this to your attention now but hold on to your pants, I'm getting to it.

When I was a kid, I vaguely recall my dad being pretty sick. I say vaguely because my parents divorced when I was five and I only saw him every other weekend if we were living in the same state at the time. My first vivid memory of his fight with Colitis is actually of the most major part of his disease. It was the summer time and I was probably 10 or 11 at the time. He lived in an apartment complex which in my mind was awesome because every other weekend we would go play tennis and hang out at the pool. My brother and I ate junk food and shared a water bed and generally were spoiled brats. I think a couple weekends in a row we didn't go over there but I thought it was due to softball scheduling. In reality, my dad was having a surgery to remove his colon. When we came to his apartment and he took us to the pool I WAS MORTIFIED. My dad had a scar running from his chest down his stomach and into his swim trunks. All puckered and pink. And he had a sac on his side (kind of hidden but you could definitely see it) that was basically cleaning his system of his urine. I actually hid in the apartment the rest of weekend and pretended to be sick. What I didn't know was my dad had been suffering for years and this was the only option. He would be unable to enjoy life with his kids or even provide for them if he did not take this step.

Fast forward to January of 2009. I checked my mail and had a ton of flyers and junk mail. Nevertheless, I flipped through it just in case a stray bill had gotten lost in there. I found a small packet for Team Challenge. I had been feeling restless and thought to myself how I really needed to get back in shape. I wanted a goal for the year but I was hesitant. A few days later, I opened the packet and read about it. Like a sign from God, I learned that Team Challenge raised money for CCFA and it was like I could give something back to my dad. I could acknowledge the pain and suffering he had gone through. I could show him how much he meant to me. And I could help other people suffering this same disease. So I showed up for a meeting. I went two weeks without going out to pay the $75 sign up fee. And I started fundraising. My dad and his company raised a majority of the funds and I barely trained.

In July of 2009, I flew to San Francisco and headed to Wine Country for the Napa to Sonoma 1/2 marathon. I got to explore and area I've never visited, I was able to meet people from all over the country, I had my first wine tasting, I hung out with people I was helping and, best of all, the night before the race I returned to my hotel to find my Dad waiting for me! He flew from New Jersey to watch me finish up this amazing journey. My longest run had been 6 miles so I was nervous but knowing he would be waiting for me at the finish line pushed me. I finished in 2 hours and 39 minutes and ran the entire thing. It was amazing. I vowed to do another and now I am all signed up for the inaugural Boston 13.1.

To date, I have raised almost $1300 for CCFA and the Boston 13.1. My friend Ward has promised me that he will donate $.23 per tenth of a mile that he and I run combined this week. Therefore, I'm halting my cross training approach and running for a solid week. I am really nervous because I don't usually run multiple days in a row but my brother sent me some kick ass shoes and the money I will raise will be the motivation. I will keep you posted as the week progresses!

To learn more about CCFA, click here. And to donate to my 1/2 marathon, click here.