Quick Update

Exercise
I snoozed right through my running time this morning... but I'm thinking at least I set the alarm, right?  So I'll have to run tonight.  Instead of running this morning, I did abs (while Blas was snoring), push ups/planks (while Blas was snoring), and leg lifts/holds (yes, while Blas was snoring).  Last night I did my arm workout with the medicine ball.  As I was doing the shoulder presses, my joints were snap, crackle and popping enough to rival Rice Krispies... so much so that Blas (who wasn't snoring, but would be shortly) said, "What IS that NOISE???"  I guess it's been a while...

Eating
I stuck to the eating plan.  I had a Cliff, Jr. bar for breakfast.  Hot tea around 10.  A shake at 12:30.  Yogurt around 4.  A Lean Cuisine (Lemongrass Chicken, which was really tasty) around 7:30.  Loads of water.  I got on the scale and had dropped 3 lbs. from yesterday.  Gotta love water weight... tomorrow's weigh-in will be a better test.  So far today, I've done the shake for breakfast and the hot tea right now.  I've got a bar if I need it, another shake, a yogurt, and I'll have a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice (or Jenny Craig... I've got some left) for dinner.  Hopefully this week will get me back on track with the healthy eating.  Being "on a plan" certainly takes the thinking out of eating, but I don't want to be "on a plan" for the rest of my life.  Instead, I want to use it as an opportunity to retrain the brain for better portion control and decision making. 

Moving Forward
This blogging (journaling?) really helped keep me motivated (and honest) during my 30 for 30.  If anyone is looking to drop/maintain/not gain weight during the holidays, writing down both your goals and what you've done to achieve them (diet and exercise, slip-ups, etc.) is a great tool.  Feel free to use the Comments function so that we can provide each other with ongoing support. 

Happy training,
Kellee

Random Thoughts...

I had a lot of random thoughts running through my head today during my run... but first, the run details:

The Long Run
According to GPS, I ran 8.06 miles in 1:41:39.  I was running at a pace of 12:36/mile.  If I were able to maintain that pace for the entire 13.1, I would finish in approximately 2:45... which is 6 minutes under my goal (and a whopping 36 minutes faster than my previous best!)  I am DEFINITELY on the right track!

Random Thoughts from My Run

• People who run on Sundays are infinitely more friendly than people who run on Saturdays (excluding the FDCers, of course).
• What's with the rooster?  I am used to seeing peacocks when running through the Grove, but not sure I'll ever get used to seeing roosters when running on Key Biscayne.
• I'm really thirsty.  (Followed by) I love orange Gatorade.
• There really is nothing more magical than the view of the city from Key Biscayne (in darkness on the way out over the bridge AND at daybreak on the way back over the bridge).
• I made it to the TOP!!!
• Crap, did my toenail just fall off?
• Didn't shuffle play this song already?  'Cause I'm pretty sure I don't have that much Pitbull on my running mix.
• Where the f&%$ is the bike rack?
• The ginormous pack of bikers is significantly less impressive than the single rider.
• Wow, did I really just pass the skinny girls?
• Ok, now I'm pretty sure my toenail fell off.
• I'm going to make red velvet cupcakes today.
• (Re: an oncoming - shirtless - runner) Wow, he has nice abs.
• (After we passed each other) Damn, that dude smells like the line at Disney World.
• I'm feeling pretty good.  Scratch that, I'm totally rocking this run.

And, my crowning glory:

• If engineers have figured out how to construct a garment so that my boobs don't bounce when I run, why have they not yet figured out how to construct a garment so that my butt doesn't jiggle when I run?

Now you know what goes through my head when I'm running a solo 8 miles :-)

Happy training,
Kellee

You know what ROCKS?

Working From Home!!!
Our washing machine went caput last week, so we had to make a decision... keep buying new underwear OR buy a new washing machine.  We opted for the new machine.  The delivery window was 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. today.  Since I work in north Fort Lauderdale and live in South Miami, getting to and from work for the delivery with only a 30 minute heads up was not going to work... so I worked from home.  I really wish it was something I could do on a more regular basis.  I got to take Christian to school, go grocery shopping, exercise, not get stressed by my 88 mile commute, and oh yeah, I got more work done here at home than I ever get done in the office. 

Today's 30 Minutes
I am feeling a little sore/tight (especially my hips and quads) from yesterday's long run, so I wanted to take it "easy" today.  My street is part of a "circle" in the middle of our neighborhood that measures exactly 1/2 mile.  I did 4 loops in 30 minutes for a nice and easy 2 mile walk.  Walking is a great way to stretch out tight muscles and joints, or alternatively, to just get up and moving! 

Looking Toward the Future
I learned about a really amazing opportunity today that would take my fitness goals to a whole new level and bring some much needed awareness about ovarian cancer.  As I find out more information, I'll share it.  But, for now, just know that it is AWESOME!!!  (How's that for a teaser???)

Happy training,
Kellee

6.3 for 63!

Birthdays
Today would have been my mom's 63rd birthday.  The picture is of Mom & Dad from my wedding.  Wasn't she beautiful?  Last night, I mapped out a 6.3 mile run and set my alarm for 4:30 a.m. (yes, I hit the snooze button once) and took off on a run for mom.  I had my iPod shuffling my "mellow" playlist and ran to songs like Coldplay's "Fix You" and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors."  I felt I was running with a lightness that I hadn't ever quite experienced and when I was finishing, Gavin DeGraw's "Chariot" came on.  Now, I must admit, I have always had a particular fondness for this song because of the lyric from the opening verse: "Your favorite fruit is chocolate covered cherries..."  But today, as I was struggling toward the end of the run, it was the chorus that resonated with me, "Oh chariot, your golden waves - Are walking down upon this face - Oh chariot, I'm singing out loud - To guide me - Give me your strength."  So thanks, Mom, for picking such a perfect song to see me through to the finish.

There's another "birthday" in the Cueto house today... baby Connor is 11 months old!  I cannot believe how quickly time has passed.  I am more and more in love with my little stinker (and he is a stinker) every day!  Connor's belly laughs have got to be the best drug in the world.  If I could figure out a way to bottle and sell them, I'd be rich!

Goals, Revisited
In addition to maintaining a fitness level (and incorporating 30 minutes of exercise per day), I also have been on a weight loss journey.  I've lost about 40 lbs. (give or take) since January.  I actually lost the weight between January and June, and since that time, I have not lost a pound!  Of course, June is when I started to increase my exercise and worry a little less about my eating, so the plateau makes sense.  However, I still have more weight to lose.  40 lbs. may sound like a lot, but all it has done it taken me from the "Obese" category on the BMI scale to the "Overweight" category.  I have another 15 lbs. to lose if I want to get into the (high) range of the "Normal Weight" category.  So, it is time to revamp the diet.  My goal is to lose 10 lbs. by Connor's first birthday - exactly one month from today.  Taking into account the holidays, my goal is to lose the final 5 lbs. by the end of the year.  15 lbs. in the next 11 weeks.  That is definitely doable!  Anyone want to join me?

Happy training,
Kellee

P.S.  If you're my facebook friend, you'll see that I actually ran 6.4 miles.  I'm calling the .1 an extra birthday candle!

Be careful what you wish for!

One is the loneliest number
So remember yesterday's blog, where I escaped to my bathroom for 5 minutes of peace and quiet?  I often wish for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes of "alone" time (multiple times per day).  This morning, I arrived at Kennedy Park at 6:25 for a 6:30 start for today's seven miles.  And no one else showed up.  Seriously.  Seven miles, alone.

Team FDC meets for its long runs on Saturdays.  This year, Blas decided to train with me for the half marathon.  But with Christian and Connor at home, we can't go to the training runs together.  Thinking there were likely more husband/wife runners in our situation, I volunteered to "lead" a group on Sunday mornings ("lead" = "show up").  That way, Blas could get the support of the large group on Saturdays and I would have no excuses for Sundays.  This is week 7 and aside from Labor Day weekend and triathlon weekend, there has ALWAYS been at least one other person on Sunday.  But not today.  Apparently I wished a little too hard for that "alone" time.

So how'd I do?
I ran the 7 miles in 91 minutes and 30 seconds.  I'm still working on getting over a cold that struck the day of the triathlon... and I felt pretty crappy for the first four miles.  However, I did some quick division and multiplication and if I maintained my overall pace for the entire 13.1, I would finish in 2:51:14.  Do you remember my goal?  2:51:24.  NO KIDDING... I would have beat it by 10 seconds.  So obviously, I have some work to do.  The good news, though, is that I ran with a negative split.  For the newbies out there, this means I ran the second half faster than the first half.  This is a good thing.  I did the first 3.5 miles in 48 minutes (13:42 per mile pace) and the second 3.5 miles in 43:30 (12:25 per mile pace).  The final mile was actually 11:30.  The second 3.5 miles even included stopping to say hi to my friend's mom while she was out walking her dog on Edgewater.  (Incidentally, I'm not sure which of us was more horrified by the chance encounter - her, having just rolled out of bed with no make-up or me, with no make-up AND dripping sweat!) 

So what did I learn?
Doing the long runs alone pretty much sucks.  I'm sure that with a buddy, I could've gone at least a little faster.  I wasn't completely alone, though.  I'm the obnoxious runner with the iPhone strapped to my arm with no headphones so that everyone around me can enjoy my musical selections.  (I got nervous when I hit the Coral Gables border, convinced that The City Beautiful wouldn't appreciate my nod toward safety, and would instead issue me a citation for noise pollution!)  Beyonce, Prince, Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Marvin Gaye, U2, Eminem, Pitbull, Pink, Diddy Dirty Money (or whatever he's going by these days) and many others joined me on this run.  (Note to self: The Lazy Song only works in my running mix when it comes at the END of the run, not during Mile 2.)  The TEAM aspect of training is essential and today my team consisted of me, top selling artists, and the little voice in my head that kept telling me to keep going.

The little voice and I also laughed about how "old" Kellee would have rationalized that a 90+ minute run would count for 3 days of 30 minutes of exercise.  The "new" Kellee will be at it again tomorrow.  Another day, another workout.

Happy training,
Kellee

P.S.  To the biker or runner or Great Dane who took a horse sized dump in the middle of Edgewater, screw you THANK YOU for testing my reflexes at 7 a.m.  I truly appreciated it.