February Totals

59.5 - February 2011 Miles
98.04 - 2011 Total Miles

4567- Febraury 2011 Calories Burned
6823 - 2011 Total Calories Burned

My miles goal for February was 70. I didn't even come close. February was a rough running month for me due to all of the bad weather that we had and my work schedule changing. I'm hoping to do better next month!

March Goal - 85 miles

Week 8 Long Run

Pre-run

Positive A, my BIL and myself finished our long run a little while ago. This week was 9 miles. It actually went pretty well.

5.8 miles. Time to refuel! Gu!

We ran the local 15k course, but somehow we lost some distance, we ended up having to add on .8 at the end of the run.

My legs were really sore by the end of the run, but that seems to have gone away...at least for now. I'm sure I'll be sore again tomorrow. All in all, I feel pretty good and am looking forward to next weeks run!

Right after we finished the 9 miles

Scared of Sunday...

I've run two 4.5 mile runs this week. My legs are really sore. I've been making a point to eat a little better and to hydrate better. I've also added a banana a day into my diet. My legs are still sore.

Yesterday I purchased a pair compression socks from the local running store. When I got them home and tried them on, they weren't the color that I thought I was getting AND the were really really ugly! I soooo want a cute pair!

Sunday's run is making me nervous. It's my 9 mile long run. Last week I struggled with 8 miles. This week we are going to run a local 15k course..so we will technically be doing a little more than 9 miles. With how sore my legs are today...I think Sunday is going to KILL me...literally! If I'm alive to post about Sunday's run, I will...otherwise, well, I'll be dead ;-)

Happy Birthday to ME!

Me as the Serpentress!

Today is my birthday! I know, I know, happy birthday to me! Yay! I'm 28 now. I feel like I've wasted so much time not running. I'm going to try to make up for all of my years of inactivity.

Anyway, we celebrated my birthday with my family on Friday evening. I hosted a murder mystery dinner party. The theme was a Psycho Circus. It was SOOOOO much fun! We all dressed up as different circus character (I was the Serpentress).

A box of GU!

My New Garmin Forerunner 305!

My family is so awesome! They all knew what to get me! My hubby and kids got me a Garmin Forerunner 305, and a Spibelt. My BIL (the one that runs with me) and his GF got me a box of GU and a GC to Luke's Locker. My MIL, FIL & 2 SIL's gave me a GC to Academy, and did another BIL & his wife. A family friend & my FIL & MIL each got me some Bath & Body Works stuff (to smell good after running!). My BIL & his wife got me a GC to Express (my FAVORITE clothing store). I'm super excited to use all of the items that I got and to go shopping with the GC's!

One of the running skirts that Casey gave me!

My best friend, Casey, is throwing a girlfriend's birthday dinner for me on Thursday evening at the Magic Time Machine. I think it's going to be so much fun! She gave me my present early. She got me 2 running skirts from runningskirts.com. I LOVE them. I just need to be a little more confident about my body before I wear them. She also got me a fuel belt and gave me an IRUNLIKEAGIRL shirt! Love it all!

Week 7

As this week comes to a close, I am proud and disappointed.

First, I am disappointed b/c I didn't have a chance to run AT ALL this week…well, not until today. Things kept coming up and/or my work schedule just didn't allow time for it.

Right before my run!

 Second, I am soooo PROUD! Today's long run was 8 miles. I DID IT! When I woke up this morning, I drank a bottle of water with electrolyte powder in it. Then I ate a banana and a piece of wheat bread with peanut butter on it. I was going to make sure that what happened last week didn't happen again this week. I definitely did better than last week. Positive A wasn't able to run with me this week (she was doing a duathalon), but my BIL ran with me. I feel so bad for him, b/c I am a slow runner. I know that I held him back a bit. I'm just super stoked that I made it. Next week is 9 miles!

When the 8 miles were over!

 Total miles this week: 8
Calories burned this week: 896 (or something close to that)
Time spent running: 1 hour 31 minutes.

Sore Legs

Today I planned to run 4.5 miles. Yeah, that didn't happen. Not after yesterday's run. My shins, calves and back of my thighs are sooooo sore. I figured that I would just let them rest today, and hope to make it to the gym tomorrow.

This week I'm planning on 20 miles. It will be a record setter for me! Go, Kristen Go!

Week 6

Another week and come and gone. Week 6 of my training is over. This week was another rough week. The weather wasn't good, the gym was closed, it was too cold to run outside, my new work schedule is taking up more time, etc.

I ran 16.54 miles this week. I was aiming for a little more, but I guess I should just be happy with what I actually got in. I burned 2610 calories. Pretty good. Nothing much has changed on the eating front...I guess I just need a little more guidance with this part of the training.

Today's long run was a killer for me. I ran 7 miles outside on a local 10k course (then we just added a little more to make it to 7 miles) with Positive A. I'm so glad that her and I have been doing our long runs together, b/c I know that I would never be able to run on a treadmill for that long. She pushes me when I need it, and I push her when she needs it. Positive A did most of the pushing this week. About 1 mile into the run I got a cramp in my stomach that just wouldn't go away. it was also cold out, and I couldn't find my beanie that covers my ears. I got this HORRIBLE headache. Then I became nauseated and light-headed and pretty dizzy. That all started around 3 miles...and lasted the REST of the run. It was NOT a fun run at all. I had never been happier to end a run...but, the good thing, is that I pushed through and completed it. I'm hoping for a better run (8 miles) next Sunday.

Anyone have any specific tips on nutrition during training for me? My diet is pretty bad right now. (Probably why I'm not losing anymore weight).

Another Week Down the Drain...

I'm starting to feel a little down. Another week has gone by where I haven't run what I had set on my schedule. Currently, I only have 4 of the 18 miles done. I'm planning to run today, tomorrow and Sunday to hopefully make up for it...but this rut has got to pass! I'm training for a half marathon, and you can't do that if you DON'T RUN. The weather was bad again this week, and my schedule has been so restricting lately.

So, I totally just looked at the bands that will be playing along the course of the Rock 'N Roll Dallas Half Marathon that I'm planning to run, but I'm not excited about any of them. Aw well, that's ok...I still think it will be a fun run!

I see lots of runners talking about running skirts from runningskirts.com. I never thought I would enjoy running in a skirt, but they are sooooo cute. I just wonder about the comfort level. Are they comfortable? Do they ride up? I'm all about the Nike running gear. LOVE it! Maybe I'll try a skirt sometime soon ;-)

So Over This Weather...

Well, I've been stuck in the house practically all week due to the ice and then the snow. Well, I got out a little bit b/c I had to go to work (I'm an RN, and work nights in the ER)...but other than that, I haven't been anywhere. My gym has been closed, so I've only been able to run 4 miles this week. I was scheduled for 16. This is really going to set me back in my training, but I'm trying not to freak out about it, and maybe just play catch up over the next few weeks.

I find the weather funny, b/c with the amount of ice and snow that we got here in the DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth) area, school would have had a 2-hour delay on the first day and regular days after that where I'm from in NY. Texas is just so unprepared for this weather. The the people cannot drive in this weather either. Ok, that's the only time I'll complain in this post.

Since I haven't been running this week and have been stuck in the house, I've eaten a ton of crap food. I feel awful...but I guess not that awful yet, b/c as I'm typing this, I'm waiting for my MIL & FIL to come over with dessert!

I'm excited! My birthday is coming up soon (February 22). My birthday is a month long celebration. I'm trying to decide what I want for my birthday. My hubby keeps asking me, and I'm not sure what to tell him.