time to refocus

First, thank you for all of your sweet comments last week.  Really, my journey has been what it has in large part because of your support in motivation.  I also really appreciated the fact that you didn't beat me up for being slightly disappointed in my time, and thought Carrie's description of it as the 'deal or no deal syndrome' was perfect.  I think I must have the sweetest blog readers out there :o).

With the half being over I was completely at a loss for what to do in the gym.  Well, partly because last week I knew I should be taking it easy.  My body was crying for it.  And I did, I didn't work out at all last Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday.  Monday I did the elliptical, and Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday I went with a run/walk combo.  I still probably went a little harder on the runs than I should have last week, but it is like I don't know how to function without running anymore (not to mention I sort of LOVE the calorie burn, but that is beside the point).  Funny isn't it?  I toyed with not running anymore after my 5K.  I still hated running.  Now it is all I want to do (sort of).  When we were in Georgia my dad said to my mom "When Ashley was growing up did you ever think she would be a long distance runner?"  She of course said no, and I said "Hey, in January did any of us think I'd be a long distance runner?  Absolutely not."  Life can change so quickly.

As far as running goes I would love to run another half, possibly in the spring, but I don't know.  In the last three months or so my, ahem, monthly friend, has gone a little wacky, and my only guess it is because the increase in running.  Not a huge deal, except I know at some point we are going to want a Baby J 2.0 and I don't want running to make that more difficult than it needs to be.  I think for the time being I'm setting a goal of running a 5K in 27 minutes or less.  I figure if I can run the half at a 9:13 pace, with a little speed, tempo and hill work I should be able to manage a 9 minute mile for three miles.  Right?  I plan to run at least 3 days a week, and I'm going to try and make sure my total mileage is no less than 10 miles a week.  That way the next time I do want to run a half I've definitely got a solid running base and can work on speed training then as well.

Also?  I have GOT to get back into strength training more.  Without a trainer I'm a little unmotivated to do strength workouts, and I'm still a wee bit embarrassed with trying to set stuff up and what not.  I don't know why.  I know what I'm supposed to be doing, and surely no one at the gym really cares what I'm up to, but I'm always paranoid people are judging.  Lame, I know.  On Saturdays I've been taking a class, sometimes it is great, sometimes I don't get an excellent strength workout.  But at least I do something!  My goal is to find another class that I like (that incorporates strength training) so I can attend at least two a week.

The other thing I need to do is get my nutrition back in check.  I've probably said that a couple times, but with the holidays coming up I need to find some of the will power I had during the beginning of this journey.  Running so much the last few weeks really skewed portion control and such for me.  I needed more fuel and I constantly felt hungry, not to mention I was paranoid about under-fueling and not being able to perform at my best.  I've maintained my weight loss so I'm not too worried about that, but I know I'm taking in too much sugar, and if I keep eating like I have been I will start to gain some back.  I had a little goal to lose another 5 pounds, and I'd still love to, but it isn't something I'm going to kill myself for.  Again, I know at some point in the next year I'm hoping I'll be growing a human, and there is no point in making myself miserable to lose 5 pounds when I'm going to gain it back anyway.  If I can maintain where I'm at and eat healthy in general I will be happy.

In regards to the holidays coming up, I wanted to pass on something from a blog I read, Run Eat Repeat.  Monica is hosting Pile on the Miles this year, where the goal for November is to rack up miles instead of pounds.  You can get all the info here, but the short version is you turn in your mileage each week (only walking and running are counted) and if you cover 5 or more miles your entered into a drawing for prizes.  Motivational tools are great so if you're looking for a reason to keep moving go check this out!

And lastly, because posts without pictures are generally lame.  I let you laugh this one up.  I was excited to get pictures from the half, hoping there was an awesome one of me running at some point.  Errr, there wasn't.  Most of them looked like this:

Yep, the only photos of me were from the finish line.  I was literally SPRINTING to the finish, so I was more or less on the verge of death, and apparently running with a girl wearing superman underwear.  I can tell in this photo that I had crossed the first mat that they announce your name over the speaker, so I was trying not to cry because I was so happy, while still trying to get to the finish line as fast as possible.  I definitely finished strong, but maybe wasn't the most attractive about it :o).  Oh well.

Again, do you guys have any questions regarding weight loss, fitness, running, etc. that you want me to answer?  I had a reader request to do a Q&A on Move it Monday, but I can't throw out any answers without any questions :o).  Thanks!

Link up your health/fitness/weight loss related posts below!  Also, if you are going to link up, could you have a little link back here in your post please?  I'd love for others to come join us, I need you guys for motivation!