Procrastination

I have been a huge slacker this week. I have allowed procrastination to keep me from running. Last week I did all of my planned runs plus the boxing classes. This week I did two boxing class and one run. Only one run. Dang. I am kicking myself for sleeping in (sadly 7:30 is sleeping in) most mornings and telling myself I'll do it tonight, cause I never did! With all that being said, I am super glad I forced myself to get up and run this morning.

Weekly Boxing Recap

Incase anyone was wondering, boxing is hard. Such a good workout and I'm glad I'm doing it but it is hard. Really pushes my lack of upper body and core strength.  Mondays class is like a warm up for the week. Starts with some cardio, jumping rope (blah), then bag work and then closes the class out with side step and sprints. Not a fan of the side step. Wednesday class was arm day, yuck. As much as I hate it, I know it is so good for me!! Many push-ups happened, as well as jack knives, planks to push-ups and push-ups with a partner. So very challenging. Three days later and I am still sore! 

Side note: boxing hurts. I have cut up the middle knuckle on my right hand. I'm just that though! :)

Long Run (only run) Recap

My planned run today was to run 45 minutes. Since I had slacked the rest of the week, I decided I wanted to run anywhere between 5 and 6 miles. I knew I would do 5-1 splits, seeing as I am still out of shape. Before leaving for my run, I attempted to map out a 6 miles run. (Having just moved, I have new places and routes to run, love that!! I just don't know them 100% yet.) My attempt at mapping my run was unsuccessful so I just and thought if anything I would do a out and back (even though I HATE them!)  So I aimlessly ran. The first couple miles where rough. I honestly didn't know if I was going to be able to run 5 miles or have to turn around early and call it quites.   But I didn't, I pushed through and got in the groove. I always forget not to judge how my runs will be on those first two miles. My pace will usually set in around mile 3 and the miles will start flying by. I enjoyed just running. I ran a large rectangle around major roads. Really enjoyed it, never saw the same thing twice and 6 miles was finished aways from my apartment so I got a nice long cool down walk. Miles 4, 5 and 6 were very hilly. More so long gradual hills, which might be worse then steep hills. (I really just hate running hills, if anyone enjoys hill running they are just plain crazy.) Anyways, it was a fantastic run! hopefully this next week procrastination won't get the best of me. Ran for an hour and ten minutes and paced out at 11:43.

Next week will hopefully be back on track with 4 good runs. Legit hard core full marathon training starts in one month!! 

Core Pyramid with friends

I convinced Josh and Katie to do my core pyramid with me. Much funnier with friends, many laughs were had! 

Before:

Stretching After:

I have decided that we don't need a couch or anything in our living room so I can have my own personal workout room! I think Katie and Kelsey might out vote me on that. 

Boxing Begins

A few months back I made this brilliant agreement to take some boxing classes with Josh. Today was the day we finally stopped talking about boxing and actually went to a class. 6am class. yikes. I was very very nervous about this. I woke up at least once every hour last night. The class was challenging, to say the least. We started the class with a warm up, 6 minutes of jumping rope. (Yes I can run 13 miles, no I can not jump rope for 6 minutes.) Immediately reminded how out of shape I am! After struggling through jumping rope, it was time to learn stance and how to throw punches. Got to wear some  pink boxing gloves, yey! (sad I didn't get a picture of me in the gloves). Class was mainly punching the bag and adding cardio and strength training in occasionally. Constantly moving, no time to be slacking (I still managed to find time to slack a little bit). Did a couple minutes of step-ups, Spider-Man's, burpees, and push-ups staggered with bag work. I have ZERO upper body strength, all my strength is in my legs. Therefore, everything this morning was HARD!! I say that, but we ended the class with running, so not everything was hard. I was a little tired, seeing as we had been working out for 50 minutes by that point, but I was defiantly more in my element running. It isn't even 24 hours after the boxing class and I am already sore. Very very sore!!



Luke and I worn out after our run



After the boxing class was finished (7am), I decided that I still needed to stick to my running schedule. So I stole Luke from Josh and we went on a run. I was scheduled to run 3 miles but my run keeper kept pausing and messing up. Not exactly sure how far or how slow (I was worn out so it was a very slow run). And since I had done some running at boxing I decided to not stress about my run keeper hitting 3 miles (I typically will make sure it says the exact distance I was to run for that day, one of my little OCD habits). However I am a total dork and wanted to know exactly how far I ran today so I mapped the runs (boxing and my normal run). Ran .68 miles at boxing and 2.5 miles on my run with Luke. Putting me almost .2 over the 3 miles I needed for the day. 

Love starting the day by working out. It's going to take a little getting to use to but I think my morning runs will be back this time around. Goal is to go to boxing class 3 times a week, just 2 more this week (Wednesday and Friday). Tomorrow will be an easy day, just strength training. Thinking I will do the core pyramid again. Wednesday and Thursday are 4 mile runs and Saturday is a 40 minute run. This week is off to a great start! 

And the Training Begins

This week started my "hard core" get back in shape training program. I don't think I have run consistently since the end of March so I am really out of shape, my pace is all over the place and I'm mentally not ready for my marathon training program yet. Hopefully this "get back to it" training program will help. This week I did a couple mid-day runs. I am not at all a fan of hot running (let's be real, who is a fan of hot running). I when I started running I was an avid morning runner but here lately I have not been able to peel myself out of bed. Therefore, not running at all or running in the evenings. My schedule this summer has been very flexible but most of my free time has been in the afternoons, around 3 or 4. Leaving mid-day runs as my only option.

Here is a little recap if my first week of training:

Monday- 3 miles. I ran at 3 in the afternoon and had a 10:49 pace. It was unusually cool for the first day of July, but I am not at all complaining. It was really a great run! 

Tuesday- strength and core day. As I have said before, I don't work out other than running. and that is something I want and HAVE to change to be able to run this marathon. I found this core workout on Pinterest. It was hard and very challenging! 50 crunches, 40 mountain climber (I looks absolutely ridiculous doing these), 30 side crunches, 20 in and outs, 10 scissors. The work back up the "pyramid": 20 in and outs, 30 side crunches (other side), 40 mountain climber and 50 crunches to end the core pyramid from hell. I wasn't sore all day till I went to lay down to go to bed. 

Wednesday- Woke up mentally prepared for and easy 2 mile run. Checked my training one last time before heading out to run, turns out it was a 4 mile day. Didn't have enough time at that point in the day to run and shower before heading to babysit. So I procrastinated a bit and ran at 4pm, yuck. It was hotter than on Monday, made for a trickier run.  Run started strong and was feeling great. That is until the turn around point. Heat was getting to me and my poor hydration was kicking my butt. Walked more than my splits but I was disciplined enough to get out there and keep moving. I ran 4 miles with an 11:42 pace. 

So here is a funny side story and sorry if you find it utterly disgusting, but I'm a little proud and here is why. Kelsey and I run together every once in a while and she always give me a hard time that I don't sweat. I assure her every time that I do sweat she just can't see it. So after my hot 4pm 4 mile run, I am cooling off in my mom's office and telling her how sweaty I felt. I look down and noticed my sweat was visible in my arm pit, gross I know. But knowing that Kelsey doesn't believe that I ever sweat I had to take a picture and send it to her. So now I am sharing with everyone :)

Thursday- Happy 4th of July run with some wonderful ladies. Bethany and I ran 3 miles. Amanda and Holly were over achievers and ran further. It started getting warm during the run, so glad we ran in the morning. Paced out at 11:21. Super sore from Wednesday's run and Tuesday's core workout. Such a good feeling. 

 

Friday- Cross training day = roller skating day. Cross training simple means to do a cardio activity, other than running. Pretty sure my night of roller skating counts for that. AND I even logged it on my run keeper!! Skated a little over 4 miles in a little under an hour. So much fun that it didn't seem like a workout. That's my favorite kind of workout.

Saturday- End of week run. 35 minute run, distance doesn't matter. In 35 minutes I was able to run 3.29 miles. Paced out at 10:41. No splits on this run. Did, however, walk once a close to the end. Worked out great because I was able to finish strong. Ran with Evan, missed running with him. Always run faster with him. Felt the a little tight in my legs from roller skating in the first mile.

 

 

Overall it was a great first week of training. Did all my scheduled workouts and no injuries. Didn't pay a whole to attention to nutrition, hopefully, in time, that will fall into place. Next week, boxing begins (very nervous about this) and I'm sure I will have LOTS to say about this week, so there is something to look forward to.