C25K W6D2 and The New Gym Finally Opened!

Firstly, I apologize for the lack of pictures today.  I suppose I could add a picture of my yummy dinner.... hmmmm....

So, our new gym opened today, and I am BEYOND excited.  Biggest thing I'm excited about at this point?  Their treadmills have the interval function where you set a walk speed and a run speed, then just hit the button to change it.  Very excited about that.

My run today was great!! I had planned to run yesterday, but this damn rain!!!  The rain is another reason I'm glad the gym opened.  The first 10 minute run was not easy, exactly, but was definitely not difficult.  Then the walk part was easy, of course.  The second 10 minute run was more challenging.  I did end up slowing my running speed at the end from 5.5 to 5.1.  Doesn't seem like a huge difference, but I thought I could feel a difference, and that's all that really matters.  I was dripping sweat by the end of it - and even soaked my shirt.  I have been really hot today, and I'm not sure why....

Now, for my yummy dinner.  Behold:

I made a simple curry with coconut milk, mushrooms, carrots, jackfruit, and green onions.  I used curry powder, garlic, ginger, cinnamon (very little), cardamom, and a little cayenne for flavor.  I served it over bean stings.  I LOVE these noodles - you just soak them in hot water for 5 minutes then DONE!!  I love easy!!

C25K W6D1 - Running in a New Location

Hope you all had an AMAZING weekend.  Mine was great for the simple reason I wasn't working.  On the down side, I was in the car for 8 hours on the way to Oklahoma.  With my back issues (that I don't think I've addressed here.... future post, I suppose), being in the car more than about 20 minutes is KILLER.

Without any more delay, the details of my run....

So, I am visiting family in Small Town, Oklahoma.  It was a pretty exciting run, actually.  New town, almost getting lost, chasing off a barking dog....

I ran around the town for about half of the time, then I decided, after being chased by - and consequently chasing off - a barking pit bull, it may be safer to run around the tennis court at the elementary school.  I finished up my run there and then walked back home.  Thankfully, the dog didn't reappear.

The run was pretty easy, except me being all tense about the random stray dogs.  I ended up not really listening to my music on this run, since I really needed to pay attention to what was going on.  After running W5D3 twice, this run was cake.  The long run was only 8 minutes, which seems like almost nothing compared to the the 20 minute run last week.

I had planned on running on Monday, but I got home late and my back hurt.... so no run Monday.  Then, I planned on running today, but since my trip wasn't exactly planned - I found out I was leaving about 4:30, I got off work at 5:00, I left at 5:30 - I wasn't able to do any of my end of the week chores (shopping and such).  I complete all of that today, so no run today. Unless something really unfortunate happens tomorrow, like rain or something, I WILL be running tomorrow.  Wish me luck!!

C25K W5D3 (Again)

Since my last run was so terribad, I decided to do it again.  I don't know what made the difference - maybe I was more motivated, maybe my Frogg Togg towel is a miracle worker, maybe I was better hydrated - but this run was GREAT!  

I looked so fabulous at work today

  I did a little bit of stretching before I headed out.  I mean, less than 5 minutes.  I don't think it played a part in me running better.... but it could have.  Who knows.  I always MEAN to stretch, but I get so excited to be outside, I just lace up my shoes and head out the door.  I really need to make a point to stop and stretch a bit before I go.  I think in the long run (ha, see what I did there?) it will be beneficial.  

First things first - I had to get my hair out of the way.  I normally do a basic pony tail, but today, I was feeling beautiful and adventurous, so I did something different.  Behold:

Never mind my matches... 

I did kind of a three-tier pony tight to my head.  I really liked this because my hair wasn't swinging around and feeling heavy.  I am pretty sure this will be my go-to workout style.

I was going to go run at the school track near me, but when I drove by after work they were doing something out on the field.... and I hate for a bunch of people to watch me run.  What the heck am I going to do at my next race?? Same thing as last time - find at least one person I want to make sure I finish in front of, and just focus on him/her.  

Off I went, on my usual path in the neighborhood behind my apartments.  It's so pretty out there.  Lots of nice houses, a few ponds, lots of birds... I really enjoy it out there.  The only down side is that there are a lot of cars driving, and they mostly go over the speed limit.  I have to make sure I'm paying attention to everything out there, not just pushing through the run.  But sometimes, you really need to just focus on the run, right??

I walked just a bit, maybe a minute, just after the halfway mark.  Then, right at the end, I walked for 21 seconds before the "one minute left" mark.  I know it was only 21 seconds, because I peeked at my ipod because I had to change the music - nothing will ruin your run like a bad song - and the timer was at 1:21, so I walked until the on minute mark.  I walked a bit in the cooldown, then made up the running time I missed.  I was still plenty far from home to get the full cooldown time in, so I wasn't worried about it.  

So, I made it home, and started in on this post.  Hope you enjoyed it!

Resting with the puppy

C25K W5D3

Geez oh man!! Sorry for the delay in getting back to you guys.  I had planned to run on Saturday, but time with my husband is a little more important than a run.  So, I went on Monday...

 If you've never done the C25K program, W5D3 is your first long run with no breaks.  20 minutes of running.  The first time I did this program, I got stuck big-time on W5D3.  I repeated it about 5 times before I decided to move on to W6.  And even then, I didn't actually finish it.  

Fast forward to yesterday (sounds a bit oxymoronic, doesn't it?).  I started out and pretty immediately felt bad about the run.  I was determined to stick through it though.  I am pretty sure I didn't even run half of it.  It was SO hot.  I was miserable!  I got home and was exhausted.  

Tired after a hard run

As I was trying to catch my breath, I remembered that my sister-in-law had gotten me a gift at Christmas, just for this reason.  Enter, Frogg Toggs cooling towel.  

I plan on putting this thing to use on my next run.  Hopefully, this little baby will make the heat more bearable.  I'll be letting you all know how it holds up!

Unrelated to the run, check out what I made for dinner tonight - BBQ jackfruit riceballs!

C25K W5D2

Hey guys!  I had planned on posting yesterday, since I did run, but I got caught up in some family time and didn't make it to my computer before now.  Hope no one was waiting on pins and needles for me.....

So, the run.  I was actually mentally prepared to not be able to complete it.  I REALLY have to stop doing that.  Thinking you can make it is half the fight.  Even though I had prepared to not finish the run, I DID make it.  I ran the whole run part.  I am VERY proud of me.  One thing I think was holding me back is my music.  I had to re-sync my ipod to a new computer.  If you don't have an ipod, when you do that, it totally wipes your ipod.  No more music.  I had already downloaded all my purchased music, but most of my stuff I've added from CDs. Unfortunately, I don't have all those CDs anymore. So, I'm sure I'm missing some good stuff.... I need to look into getting ALL my music transferred.

I plan on doing W5D3 tomorrow morning.  I really hope it goes as well it did yesterday.

Sorry no pictures this time, but I was busy with my family, didn't have time to take pictures.  Tomorrow, I promise another rosy-cheeked post-run picture for you guys.

C25K W5D1

So, this post was planned for yesterday, but I didn't even get to start my actual run (was still a minute left in the warm up) before is started raining.  There were nasty storms predicted, so I headed home, quick.

Before and after my failed run

Today, we had more rained planned, so I headed out as soon as I got home.  So, my last run, on Saturday, I wasn't able to run the whole thing.  Like I said before, I think it was partially the heat.  I didn't expect it to be so hot so early in the day.  So, I was very excited today that I was able to run the whole run time!! Granted, I wasn't going top speed or anything, but I made it.  

I was really pushing it for this run - not as hard as my terrible run a few weeks ago, but it was tough.  It is so humid right now.

bleh....

Oh, and I saw 2 dead turtles.  One big one and one baby.  Made me a little sad.  *sigh*

Unrelated to running, my husband's grandmother got me a bento box - isn't it cute!?  I'll be taking my lunch to work in it.

C25K W4D3

Starting out on my run

I got up and went running this morning, planning to catch the day before it got warm.  I think I should have gotten up about 4 hours earlier.  Thankfully, there was a breeze, so it wasn't all terrible.  Today, I went running in a little neighborhood behind my apartment complex.  There are hills, turns, flat spots, angry little dogs..... It all makes for an interesting run, if nothing else.  I do frequently pass other runners, bikers, and walkers while I'm in that neighborhood.  It's nice to see I'm not the only one making the effort to be healthier, because some days it sure does feel like I am.  Also, I'm slightly competitive, so if I see someone else running on my path, I WILL pass them.  I know this about me, and I'm not ashamed of it.  Now to the important bits - the run.

C25K W4D3 - 5 minute warm up, then: Jog for 3 mins; Walk for 90 secs; Jog for 5 mins; Walk 2.5 mins; Jog 3 mins; Walk 90 secs; Jog 5 mins; 5 min cool-down.

Me, just before I started out on my run

I made it entirely through the run except the last jog part.  I did end up walking for probably a minute total.  It was uphill and no trees to shade the sun.  Also, the breeze had died at this point.

So, I made it home, and felt a million times better than when I left, thank you endorphin rush!

Just got back home 

Ooh, New Shiny Blog!

I have been running for just about a year.  I did come to a point last year, before I did my 5k, that I felt like a runner.  Then, I injured myself and lost all forward momentum.... Maybe I should start at the beginning.

Hi, I'm Amanda.  I used to be in the Navy, but that ended in 2011 because I couldn't lose the weight that was keeping me out of regulations.  When I discharged, I spiraled into a depression that was centered around my weight and self-image.  This lasted for about 2 years.  During this time, I gained a lot of weight, which helped keep me in the depression.

Finally, I decided I needed to make a change.  I NEEDED to be healthy.  So, in February 2013, my husband and I decided to change to a primarily plant based diet.  That means no meat, no eggs, no dairy.  I dove right in and, for the most part, never looked back.  In the beginning, I did have the odd order of cheese sticks, or get just bean and cheese nachos.... but I mostly avoid dairy now, as I've developed an intolerance for it.  Now, I did not force my husband to change with me.  We agreed that we would not have meat/eggs/dairy at home, just for simplicity sake, but he has whatever he wants when we're out.

Shortly after deciding on a plant based diet, I started running.  I believe that was in May or June of 2013, but I can't be sure at this point.  I decided I was going to run a 5k by the end of the year, and started training with a C25K (Couch 2 5k) app.  In November, I started having some bad pains in my hip.  I'm pretty sure it's from running on a tiny ( 18 laps - 1 mile) track in one direction.  I think this over-stressed the left hip.  So, I stopped running until my planned 5k on 14 December.  I was DETERMINED to do this run.  My goal was to 1. Finish the race, and 2. Don't be last.  I was not able to run the whole thing, but I actually finished under 30 minutes and in the top 25%.  I am VERY proud of that.  But, I shouldn't have done the race.  I ended up in pain again for another 2 months.  I didn't run - or even walk if I could avoid it - until the end of February 2014.  I've started back on the training - back at the very beginning.  Between bad weather and not pushing too hard so I can avoid more injury, I just completed W4D2 yesterday.

So, now we're all up to date.  I plan on posting every day after my run - so that's 3 posts a week, unless I end up hurt or something.  I will be posting pictures, discussing my run progress, and probably posting some yummy recipes.

And now, what inspired the name of the blog: