Something's going right...

Last night I ran 7.05 miles. That’s a “run with no walking” PR for me!!!!! My average pace was 11:33, and my plan called for 12:34!! I also ran my last 3 or so miles at 10:30ish…. HOLY COW!!!
Can you tell I’m a little excited about this? It kinda makes me want to run long runs every day….Well maybe not EVERY day : ) When I finished I IMMEDIATELY texted Amanda to tell her how it went, just like I did after last weeks long run!

I had a beer with my girlfriend Elisa after my run (she bartends at the bar that is conveniently located on the trail we run) then met The Hubs for dinner (he was working….24 hour Sushi restaurant!!) and met his new partner!! When I got home I took a HOT bath this time, just wasn’t feeling the ice bath, and put on the good ‘ol CEP Compression sleeves! I wore them around while I did laundry (and by “around” I mean on the couch!) and slept in them! My legs feel AMAZING today!!! I’m LOVING this plan, LOVING how I feel during/after my runs, and LOVING how much my fitness/running has improved!!!

I feel like a big part of all this improvement is my diet, and my supplementation. I drank a protein drink when I got back in the car after running last night…we just bought EAS protein and I LOVE it, like actually enjoy drinking it, I don’t have to choke it down!

I started taking women’s active multi-vitamins, and am still drinking the Amino Acid drink before runs and lifting.

I also started taking Glucosamine this week in hopes to keep my joints healthy!

Maybe I feel so good because I'm finally training properly, and maybe it's because I'm giving my body what it needs? Either way, I'm loving this!

Runners High

I decided last night when I hit the craziest mid-run Runners High I've ever had, that if everyone ran, the world would be a MUCH happier place!

I decided to keep doing my long runs on Katy Trail in Dallas.  Last night there weren't as many people as last week, but almost every person I ran by waved and/or smiled.  Runners are just happier people I think! How could you not be happy with a serious endorphin release regularly?! 

I wonder if my husband thinks I'm nicer when I'm running a lot.....?

Switching Shoes & Strawberry Milk

Ok so I keep reading all this stuff about chocolate milk post run as a recovery drink.....And I'm all about it....except for the fact that I don't like chocolate....at all....therefore I don't like chocolate milk.  I love me some strawberry milk though.,...does strawberry have the same effect/benefits?

Also I have been wearing Asics Gel Cumuls 12s....I'm on my second pair.  I want to try something different but I'm not really sure which way to go?!  I've read a lot of people like the Mizuno Wave Riders and Brooks.  Any suggestions on a new pair to try?!  Please and Thank you!!

Mmmm Margaritas...

So first off.....SkinnyRunner is giving away a pair of Mizuon Wave Rider 15s!!!  I REALLY want to win this one....Mama needs a new pair of running shoes!!!

Next - I FINALLY had a run date with O-No today!  The Hubs and I went to the gym....I did a smidge of some leg workouts, and stretched a ton.  I was surprised how awesome my legs felt after my 6 miles yesterday!

So O-No and I did 3.5 miles.  My legs were a little tired, so she ran a little faster than me...but all in all it was a good run!  Followed by a Blue Moon at our fave little bar on our running trail!  To bad it got randomly cold and started raining! 

So we came home and enjoyed these little beauties....well this is the "after".,.Mmmm Margaritas.....

And I'm sure you're sick of these pictures....who am I kidding?  How could you get sick of this face?!!? 

Hello Long Run & the PNW

I just finished my first LONG run on the plan Amanda @ 5MilesPastEmpty created for me!!  It was my long run that was due LAST Sunday (as in a week ago) but packing for Portland kinda snuck up on me....so I made it up today.  Yup I'm a long run short but oh well!!

Vacation was FABULOUS!!  The PNW is gorgeous for sure....but damn is the weather gloomy and cold!  It was 75* when we left Texas....so getting off the plan to snow/rain and 30* was SO not fun!  Oh well I got to snuggle, feed, rock, cuddle, and play with this face all week.....It makes the fact that I only got in 2 runs (1-1miler and 1 - 3 miler both on treadmills....BOO) all week SOOO much better!!

Isn't she the YUMMIEST thing you've ever seen?





So training is going surprisingly well this go round!  I actually ran the full 6 miles.  I stopped in the middle to stretch - I woke up from a dead sleep with the worst calf cramp I've ever had today....so some stretching was MUCH needed.  It was a solo run in the dark on a trail in Dallas that is HEAVILY populated in the evenings.  I decided this was safer than my normal run through the neighborhood/highway access road.  Then I refueled with this....

...and took an ice bath.  I have a run date tomorrow with O-No and have to have fresh legs!!

So literally the day after my sugar post....I had this....

Umm I think it was white chocolate mousse, with sprinkles (little kid style) frosted animal cookies, blackberries, gummy bears, and cookie dough.  All the toppings little kids would pick.  My FAVES!! So much for that sugar detox thing....

I am finally starting to see results in my endurance, my speed, and my body.  Eating right, keeping my carb intake low, and running and lifting are seriously starting to take a good effect on my body.  I weighed myself when I got back into town (after a week of late night pizza and 24 hour donut shops) and I had gained 4 pounds.  That was on Friday.  Today I have already lost 3 pounds, just after a few days of eating right and working out regularly!  LOVING this!!  Results make it so much easier to get off the couch!

Dear Sugar....

Dear Sugar,
You are basically my arch nemesis (I feel like that's not the right term, but it sounded right in my head) I have done excellent on this Primal Diet....with the exception of you Sugar.  I can't help but take a little taste of the cookies in the breakroom at work, or say no to the ADORABLE Girl Scout that lives across the street....or resist the sticker her mom put on the 3 BOXES I ordered that says "NEED more cookies?" with her phone number and email address on it.  That pack of sour gummy worms in the cafeteria, or that my neighbor at work is snacking on...CAN'T.RESIST. Or how I torture myself watching Cupcake Wars and frequently find myself googling my next cupcake creation...for no specific ocassion. Or the intense craving I continuously have for donuts and ice cream (and YES I do want them together....) YOU ARE EVIL!!!! BUT Oh So Delicious..... 

I need a SERIOUS sugar detox.  I think this is the one thing keeping me from losing those last few pounds and getting rid of my LOVE HANDLES.  PS who named them LOVE handles?  Nothing about them resembles anything I love...except my sugar addiction maybe....And maybe making me slower?  HELP.....

Anyone have any good suggestions for a sugar detox/advice for fending off the cravings/ANYTHING TO HELP ME!!

Maybe I need therapy?

Listen Up

So I want to start this post off with something important....BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS when you run....especially when you run alone, or in the dark.  A friend of Beth (SUAR) @ Shut Up And Run went out for a run on Saturday morning, and still hasn't come back.  They found her shoe, but as of now have no other leads as to what happened.  All they know is she's still missing.

I run at night, A LOT, and alone, A LOT, and with my headphones (NEVER EVER in both ears, always just in one....) and I don't wear my music when I run in the dark.  My husband is a Police Officer, and paranoid.  Sometimes I get really annoyed with how paranoid he is...then something like this happens and I remember why he's like that, and that it's only because he loves me. 

So please please please pay attention to what's around you when you run, even during the day.  Carry pepper spray or a pocket knife, or hell even a big stick will do.  You will probably never need it....but you'll be DAMN GLAD you had it when you do.

Go visit Beth's blog, read her friend's story, and PLEASE tell someone if you know any details.