Training and school

So I've been doing some good training. I finally got up to 10 miles; it was slow and steady but I finished! My sister Jen, who is running my April 3 half marathon, has been pushing me to train which has helped my mediocrity! Today is supposed to be a 10 mile run, but it's rainy and gross; therefore the treadmill is a strong possibility which is SO unthrilling. UGH. 6 miles on the treadmill a couple of weeks ago was bad enough; 10 miles?! Almost 2 hours on a treadmill! NOOO!!! We'll see how this even progresses.

School: working/teaching is going well. I've been working "after-school" (Over time) because the pay is ridiculously good and the work is not hard at all. However, this adds 1 1/2 hours to my day, the usual 1 1/2 I use to go to the gym, so I'm really learning what it's like to have a 9-5 job vs. an 8:10-3:07 job!But otherwise it's going well. WE HAD ANOTHER SNOW DAY! It was too good to be true, I had the greatest time cooking, cleaning, working out, reading, it was amazing.

School: College/graduating. I got my grad info yesterday. I'm going to walk for graduation! YEA! I just have to finish this DARN pesky paper! It's looming and I'm slacking. This week I need to step it up. I have to collect a TON of data, which I've been doing semi-annually, but I should be doing it daily. So I'll step it up.

Ok, many goals for this week: Consistently research/collect data. Type it up. Also run 3-4 times this week.

Of to church and to meet my friend's new MORKIE puppy!

This has been a very busy winter!

Just one of MANY pictures of the Bahamas! All in all it was a successful trip. Ran 3 out of 6 days on the old treadmill, but it felt good! Also did a 5 mile walk into "town"! My training has been alright, running about 3 times a week. I crossed the 10 mile mark on Sunday for a long run! School and college and life has been busy. So sorry to leave you all in the dark...but I'm not even sure anyone reads this anymore since I've gotten so bad at posting! All this to say, I'm running, 1/2 marathon is 3 weeks from tomorrow! Watch out world! More posts to follow!

Snow day!

Yes, it's true, NYC public schools had a SNOW DAY! We found out the day before at about 11am. AMAZING feelings of joy! Work Tuesday became so much more doable, and a day off was an answer to LOTS of prayers. I made sure to make the day count.

In good faith, after a WONDERFUL pedicure with my friends Alyssa and Carly, I went to the gym to work out. It. Was. Closed. Really?! REALLY. In a neighborhood where a large majority WALK everywhere?! I had such good intentions. Instead, I was cold and annoyed with the lack of snow removal on the sidewalks. Instead, we cleaned up, dishes and living room, and watched Couples Retreat. Funny. Clever. We're going to the Bahamas, it felt appropriate.

I ran today because my yoga club was cancelled due to next week being vacation (EEK!). I did 6 miles. 3 miles outside, but it was getting dark, so I had to head into the gym to the treadmill. Read some good people magazine. Carney Wilson: GET A GRIP. Poor lady, but come on! Which leads to a question. Even though I don't think I have that many readers...

What do you do for running in the winter? How cold is too cold to run?

I've been doing it to about 30 degrees, but the snow has created a lot of water, which will freeze once the sun goes down. Long runs especially. I'm just treadmill/gym add I think. Oh well.

And I got shoes. New Shoes. Pictures to follow.

Super nothing

Ok. I'm SO over this cold. Today is the day training begins again. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I SAID THIS?! Ugh. I finally took the advice of many people and just RELAXED this week, and finally, FINALLY, my cold didn't turn into some sort of bronchial/sinus infection. Thank. God. I popped 2,000 mg of vitamin c everyday, which also helped. And then there's my sister Jennifer, who is plugging away at her training program. My blessing and my curse is that I know I can run a lot without prepping. I'm good at that. But that's always in the back of my mind tempting me not to train as hard. I'm going to have to start punishing myself. First punishment: No tv until I work out. There it is. It's out there. I must honor it. Brian will help me. UGH.

Today I'm going to attempt a long run of 6-7 miles, depending on the weather, how I feel, etc. Also, the place we're staying at in the Bahamas has a running trail and fitness center, so I'm stoked about that. We're staying one day at the Atlantis for the first night, and then Breezes for the rest of the week. AH we can't wait!

Can I just say God is good? I was working at the restaurant yesterday, and it wasn't that busy, and this table gave me a $4 tip on a $95 check, and another $3 on a $40 check. UGH. 20% is standard, in case anyone was wondering (Therefore $18-$19 would've been fine. $10 would have been fine. ANYTHING over $4 would have been fine! Haha) but I made the decision to trust God, despite the restaurant being really slow and the tips being REALLY bad. Well, I ended up being really busy, and made REALLY great money because of some really generous people. I also had the highest sales out of anyone in the restaurant. That's pretty great, because this has happened two weeks in a row now. January is the WORST time for restaurant workers, so Brian and I have really been praying for favor. He has had significant favor and blessing with his shifts, as I have with my one shift a week. And the Bahamas is coming. Sigh. Thanks God, this really sets our minds at ease during what is supposed to be the slowest time of the year for restaurant work.

I had to teach HIV/AIDS health lessons at school this week. I didn't like it. I think 4th and 5th grade could hear it, but k-2 should NOT have to hear the words "HIV" etc. They don't understand the stigma and the social-cultural aspect of talking about it, and how people usually get it. We just say, in the lower grades, that HIV can only be passed blood to blood, so if you share a drink with someone you can't get it etc. However, I told some 3rd graders I had a cold, so one of them asked me "Do you have HIV?" I mean, come on. Do they REALLY need to know all about this? I don't think so. It's my job, and contractually I had to do it, but I really think that using the actual words for the younger kids is STUPID. I don't agree with it, and I was very uncomfortable talking about it. But apparently, all NY State has to do these set of lessons in an effort to prevent HIV misinformation. Next thing you know I'll be handing out condoms to 4th graders. Sigh.

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

New Year Goals...

So I decided I'm going to check in on my 2010 Goals every month to see how I'm doing. How's THAT for accountability?!

1. Back to wedding weight: According to Wii fit, 4lbs away. UGH. Always the hardest to lose.

2. Running AT LEAST 3x's a week: I did it 3 out of 4 weeks. That's DECENT for getting back into training!

3. Working out on a college night - NO college nights yet...this week will be the first :-(

4. Run 3 half marathons: I signed up for one half marathon, and I'm signing up for another one AND buying new running shoes tonight! YIPPEE!

5. Still no word on the marathon.

6. Have fun - I had some friends visit which was VERY fun, but I need to work on this. My fun has been limited due to Brian being sick and now I'm sick. UGH. Bahamas. It's better in the Bahamas

7. Save money. Not too shabby. Haven't eaten out all that much or made frivolous purchases.

Bahamas in two weeks.

Yes it's true. I'm SO not ready for bathing suit weather! UGHHHHH. Wii fit informed me that my weight is only 3lbs more than my goal weight....but I know that weight has NO muscle! Running has been such a struggle, but I'm sticking with it. I haven't gone over 4.5 miles yet. SHAME. I'm aiming for 5-6 miles tomorrow. I've been doing some outside/night runs which have been different but fun, but now that it's 15 degrees and feels like 4 degrees, that has ended for the time being! I feel like my puppy dog in the picture above...staring outside without the energy to keep going...

I'm struggling with energy. It's the winter blues I guess. I really want to run, but the energy to get going at 5pm just isn't there after working all day. My sister is signing up for the half marathon with me though. This has been a motivator... but she's just better than me! She's a stay at home mom (CRAZY BUSY) but gets to go to the gym once a day. I on the other hand, can barely manage it. She's a machine, she even won her indoor triathalon! GO JEN GO JEN GO JEN! Oh yes, and did I mention she's a thirty something mother of THREE children under 7? Yea. I'm ashamed. But I do have two jobs; at least that's what I keep telling myself ;-)

Any tips for energy???

And now I've got that tickle in my throat, runny nose and I'm all light headed. Why me? WHY ME?! At least it's before the Bahamas....

Oh, it's on

My brother Jaime likes to say that whenever something dramatic happens. I find it funny.

ANYWAY. Sunday I did a 4.5 mile run outside to punish myself in the cold. I would've gone to the gym, but I had too much backed up housework (Not an excuse....laundry is STILL so backed up...Brian had the flu and was bed ridden for a full week, therefore my laundry person and extra help person was MIA! I missed his help - he's the bestest).

Took the day off yesterday - my lovely friend Alyssa is moving SIX BLOCKS FROM ME! We went apartment hunting and she got a GREAT space - and then Lambeau's puppy training school (He graduates next week!)

Today I went to the gym and did 3 miles in 27+ minutes....I think it was 27:34 or something. That's pretty darn good for me, TRUST ME. Gym was WAY crowded so I did abs at home. All in all a productive week so far.

Off to watch Biggest Loser cheering for my friend Drea on the black team!!!