What to do when you have a bad day...

Ugh today was awful...I woke up with a migraine and horrible back/neck pain.  I think I'm stressed because of the bar exam application (which I mailed yesterday...yay!) and my body also probably isn't used to all the stress I'm putting on it training for this half.  So today I followed the cardinal rule of training: Listen to your body! I listened to my body and got a massage...then walked for a bit. Training said I should run 2 miles today, and while that definitely didn't happen, I walked for about 35 minutes, and completed 1.46 miles.  It was a really relaxed pace but honestly I don't think I could have done more with how I was feeling...I hadn't left the couch all day except to grab lunch and get a massage and so getting up to go to the gym was the last thing on my mind.  Matt convinced me that if I at least got my body moving and blood circulating it would help me feel better... so I threw on my Reebok Easytones (my fabulous walking shoes that I will have to blog about another time), and got off the couch.  It was pretty miserable at first but I do feel a little better having moved around. 

I watched a little "Without a Trace" on the TV at the gym and read Health Magazine during the commercials... pretty relaxing honestly, I don't know if I should even be blogging about this as a workout.  I did find this really yummy recipe in Health which is a good substitute for a Kir Royale (my new favorite drink that I recently discovered over Christmas break!).  This is the "Skinny Girl" version created by Bethenny Frankel who I ADORE.  I took a picture of it because I didn't want to type it all out while on the treadmill.  So without further ado:  

As far as my training goes, yesterday was a better day... I ran 3 miles at a comfortable pace of about 6mph.  Tomorrow we are scheduled to do another 3 miles so I'm glad I took today as pretty much a rest day.  

"When I'm training for a marathon, I soak in a hot tub every day, and get a weekly massage." --Anne Marie Lauck, two-time Olympian 

Good, she does it too...I don't feel so bad for taking a personal day :)

More Music and Running Tips

I love DailyMile.  I have made so many new running friends and have been able to have better contact with some older friends!  One of my DailyMile friends (Jo) suggested I check into this website that she stumbled across which outlines good music.  I looked through it and it is definitely worth passing along.  Not to say that I am really good at picking out music but a lot of the songs on here are already on the playlist I gave you!!  There are plenty of other songs on here though...some of which I have never heard of but will definitely check out.  There are also one other song I listen to when I strength train that I didn't mention in the last post.  I also downloaded "The Final Zepp" by Charlie Clouser from the Saw3d soundtrack.  Yes it is a bit creepy, however, if you can get past that, it is the most intense music ever and really makes you want to push all the way to the last rep! 


Music suggestions from Fitness Magazine:
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/music/popular-playlists/100-best-workout-songs/?sssdmh=dm17.499590&esrc=nwfitdailytip010411&email=1132199595


Also, my good friend Molly sent me this article this morning and I thought I would share it.  It is 101 Running tips.  Helps with motivation and such.  I will periodically post some of them on the blog if you don't feel like looking through them but here is one to hold you over: "I believe in using races as motivators. It's hard to keep on an exercise program if you don't have a significant goal in sight." --Bob Greene, personal trainer of Oprah Winfrey
Running Tips:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/running-tips-beginners-guide

First day of Week 2: Stretch and Strength

Hey guys, hope you are enjoying the blog!  Today was a day for "Stretch and Strengthen" ("S&S") and so I chose to do both by following along with a Pilates video by Shape magazine.  I've owned this DVD for about 3-5 years now and had only watched it once before, if that!  It went great!  The workout went by really quickly.  I could definitely feel the burn but in a very controlled way so a bit different from running.  Definitely helped me stretch out my hip flexors too.  All in all, I think it was a great little workout.  I will probably get a couple more DVDs just so I don't get really sick of this one.  I also have a 3-pack yoga DVD so I'll probably whip one of those out on my next S&S day.

The DVD was great and came with some useful tips on Pilates form that I will share with you here:

Pelvis: Stabilize the pelvis.  Contract your abs and do not tighten your glutes.
Rib Cage: Keep abs in.  Engage the abs and keep them pulled in to prevent lower ribs from flaring out, causing your back to arch.
Shoulder Blades: Hold shoulders down.  Try to draw them flat against your rib cage.
Head and Neck: Always align head and neck with the line of your spine.  Do not hyperextend.

Make sure to breathe!

 Muggsy also likes pilates :-)

Also, if you are looking for something delicious to refuel from a good workout, try this quick fix: Fage Greek Yogurt (no fat and tons of protein) and add in some frozen berries (I used mixed--raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries) and add on some blueberry Special K.  I let it sit next to me for about 5 minutes before eating it so that the berries would thaw out a little bit.

Running Playlist

I have received a few requests to update my followers on a running playlist.  So here's the deal, I get motivated by seeing other people who look good (i.e. fitness models and celebrities) even though those people's jobs revolve around looking good so they have to work out and most likely have a personal trainer to help them.  So what I do is that I watch music videos when I'm on the treadmill and just listen to music when I'm running outside.  I will give you both "playlists" although I am constantly adding songs or skipping songs that I'm sick of.  Here they are as of Jan. 3... enjoy!!!


Music Playlist:
Mausam & Escape by AR Rahman-- from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack and it is a MUST DOWNLOAD!  seriously, every time this song comes on my playlist I increase my speed by about 2mph.  So inspiring!
Liquid Dance by AR Rahman--also from Slumdog Millionaire--I like these first two songs because they have no words/lyrics, so it is harder to get sick of them
Jai Ho--ok last one from Slumdog Millionaire but this stuff gets me going!
Just Dance by Lady Gaga--I prefer the "RedOne Remix" featuring Kardinal Offishall
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus--sometimes I'm a teeny-bopper
F**ck You by Cee-Lo Green--LOVE this song...one of my new faves
Misery by Maroon 5
Imma Be by the Black Eyed Peas--this is good for a warm-up or cool down or when you want to slow jog--not too fast of a tempo so not great for when you want to sprint really fast
Back in Black by ACDC--the beginning part especially is great to pump you up
La belle et le bad boy by MC Solaar--this is French and is from a Sex and the City episode and I love it...I can listen to it on repeat
Piece of Me by Britney Spears--any song that has attitude is generally a good choice


Music Video Playlist:
I'm Glad by Jennifer Lopez--one of my all-time favorites.  It never got popular so it wasn't overplayed and the video is awesome--her body is amazing and it is themed around Flashdance so it's really fun.  Plus J.Lo's body is a somewhat realistic goal because she isn't a stick figure
LoveGame by Lady GaGa--great music video and Lady Gaga has a surprisingly good body as well
Stronger by Britney Spears--not going to lie, I got sick of this one very quickly and skip it a lot
Just Dance by Lady GaGa--good song, video is alright but the music is good
Alejandro by Lady GaGa--video is so weird, think Madonna "Like a Prayer" but it is entertaining and is 8 minutes long (I would skip the first couple of minutes)
F**ck You by Cee-Lo Green--love this song and the video is really cute/funny
Like a G6 by Far East Movement--good song, might get stuck in your head, video not incredibly entertaining
Poker Face by Lady GaGa--ok yes, I am obsessed with Lady GaGa, you caught me
Jenny from the Block by Jennifer Lopez--oldie but a goodie and I don't care if you guys make fun of me haha
Whenever, Wherever by Shakira--Shakira has a great body too and I never get sick of this song--probably because it is 9 years old and they never play it on the radio anymore (these are generally the kinds of videos I recommend because you are less likely to get sick of them)
Hips Don't Lie (Feat. Wyclef Jean) by Shakira--great song, makes you want to move!
Gimme More by Britney Spears--because no gym experience is complete without Britney
Candyman by Christina Aguilera--I had never heard of this before I went to download Dirty and it wasn't there!!!! (for shame) so I had to download this instead...I love it...the swing music and Christina are super entertaining...obviously she is beautiful and her body is amazing in it too so that helps with motivation--the song itself is catchy and will probably make you want to dance on the treadmill ha!
Replay by Iyaz--can't really explain why I like this, I just do...very catchy
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira-- this song is so inspirational...it is the World Cup song for 2010 and so it shows a bunch of highlights from World Cups in the past--so inspiring!
Wait a Minute by Pussycat Dolls--this song is awesome, can't say enough good things about it
Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado--good beat and fun to run to

Blah

Well I am not much of a blogger but I know posting something will keep my better half running partner happy and enthusiastic about this blog AND also provide more motivation towards our training. So proud of my little Lynn for working so hard this week!

My first week of training has been a complete failure. Not only am I sick sick sick (with congestion, headaches, and a non-operable breathing passages) but I also tweaked my knee very badly skiing at Lake Tahoe. I figured if I ran it would just make matters worse and I would become more depressed that my training was turning into operation couch potato.

Hopefully this week I'll start moving and keeping to the training schedule like Lynn. However, I am not sure how far I will be able to run until my knee aches. At this point, I am still uncomfortable sleeping because of my knee alignment. I have to keep it perfectly straight so that it doesn't hurt. Boo :( This isn't how I imagined training but I still have high hopes and we still have some time!

So glad that Lynn is getting pumped for a 2012 Disney Marathon - even if it means we are getting ahead of ourselves that idea that we will still be running after this half is super exciting :)

Last day of Week 1

Hello bloggers! Well, I finished up Week 1 of training with a 4 mile run. It did not go well to be honest. I learned a valuable lesson today...never run on a full stomach. Here is the TMI of my run: burping, cramping, flat out miserable run. But I finished...I guess that's the good news, just not in a great time (42:55). I knew on my way to the gym that I felt crappy, so I planned to do the run 1 mile, walk 1 minute routine. It worked out pretty well but I just felt sloppy and sluggish the whole time. Tomorrow is S&S (Stretch and Strengthen). I will probably do a yoga or pilates video...kind of take a day to relax a bit because Tuesday it's back to running :) Here is the schedule for Week 2:

Mon: Stretch & Strengthen

Tues: 3 m run

Wed: 2 m run or cross

Thurs: 3 m run + strength

Fri: Rest

Sat: 30 min cross

Sun: 4 m run

And while this is not flattering, here is my post-run picture so I can show you all that I actually did it hahah! Yes I'm sweaty and gross and feel nasty but I completed Week 1 of training! WOOHOO!!!

New PR (Personal Record--yep I'm learning the lingo)

Hello bloggers and followers! Today was great...I had to do 30 min. cross today as part of my week 1 training. I was planning to just kind of take it easy and just do 3o minutes relaxed pace on the bike (truthfully, it was because I was feeling super lazy). I started out going pretty slow until Matt told me "start over" and said that I needed to break 10K in 20 minutes. I thought OK sure... last time I tried to do that I ended up doing about 5.65 miles in 20 minutes so I didn't really think I would make it. But about half-way through, I realized I actually MIGHT be able to do this...so I started pushing. Then, kind of half joking (ok seriously I was like 95% joking) I told him I wanted to do 10 miles in 30 minutes. Once I hit the 10K in 19:33, I realized this actually might be a possibility, so I decided to go for it. It was hard and I definitely felt the burn but it was so worth it just to set a PR! Happy with my training so far! :) I have also been looking into the Walt Disney World Marathon (YES the full and YES I might be a little bit crazy?!) Anyway, Arpita is the one who suggested I look into it and all it took was watching the video on the website to make me want to partake in the 2012 race. Matt watched the video with me last night and now he is wanting to go in on it too. The video is on the homepage: http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wdw-marathon/. I'm ALSO hoping that my friend Molly and her BF will join us as well (although she is MUCH more legit than me...she has already completed a half-marathon)...she's also the one that got me onto the DailyMile! Tomorrow is the long run for week 1 (4 miles)...Update you all tomorrow after that!