Running With Perseverance

Training Log: Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon (Week 1)

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Coco

According to my plan and the workouts marked on my calendar, this was my first week of training for the Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon (Washington, D.C., March 17, 2012).

But my attention was focused on training my new family member–and babying my ITB.

Still, I managed a full week of workouts:

Monday
Elliptical: 25 min
Weights: 40 min full-body routine, focusing on single-leg moves to target my hamstring and glutes

Tuesday (First run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 3.8 miles
She did great! We averaged a 9:45 min/mile pace and she trotted nicely by my side.

Wednesday
Elliptical: 15 min
Weights: 40 min full-body routine

Thursday (Second run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 4.0 miles
She bonked at 1.5 miles. Well, I think she was spooked by the dark shadows, shiny puddles, and traffic. We made it the rest of the way with a few walk breaks. Monday I will take her out for a daylight run and see if she is more comfortable.

Friday
Elliptical: 15 min
Weights: 50 min full-body routine
I think I took longer today because I kept stopping to fast-forward through The Biggest Loser.

Saturday (Long run on the bike path)
I got a late start, opting to let the sun wake me up and taking Tiger Lilly out for a walk before I got ready to go. By then, I decided that I need a cup of coffee and a piece of toast (with PB and honey) to fuel what felt like a mid-morning run. (I hit “start” on my Garmin just before 9:00 am.)
I had 9 miles on the calendar, and decided to go for 9-10 because my ITB was feeling better and I had plenty of time. Apparently, my ITB was just teasing me. It felt tight almost right away, although it was more of an annoyance at first. By mile 5-6 it was really bothering me. I stopped at mile 7 to stretch and then tried to keep an easy pace. It felt better than before I had stopped, but it still was nagging. I decided to stop at 9.25 miles (back at my starting point) instead of plodding on to hit 10 miles. I stretched at the park, and then headed home for my foam roller.
Now that I see my Garmin data, I wonder if I started off too quickly. I honestly didn’t feel like I was running that fast.

Garmin data:
Total distance: 9.25 miles
Total time: 1:23:30
Avg. pace: 9:01 min/mile
Split times: 9:15, 8:53, 8:54, 8:47, 8:59, 8:52, 9:17, 9:06, 9:09, 9:03

I also am walking Tiger Lilly at least once a day, in a 1 mile loop around our “block.” She keeps a fast pace and we live in a hilly neighborhood, so my calves and glutes are getting extra action.

Posted in Fitness, Training Log | Tagged Injuries Suck, Long Run, Running, Tiger Lilly, Weight Training | 4 Comments

Chocolate That Won’t Wreck Your Resolutions

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Coco

After my post about brownies, I thought I should share my favorite ways to work chocolate into my healthy living plan.

I like to have a chocolate protein shake before I workout with weights:

This is the best protein powder I’ve tried. There is no icky aftertaste and one scoop has only 110 calories. Dump a scoop in a blender with a scant cup of water and a bit of crushed ice and the result is yummy chocolatey goodness.

Depending on how hungry I am in the afternoon, I may have a 140 calorie Chocolate Brownie Cliff Z-Bar:

(look how I tore into that box!)

or a 190 calorie Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar:

These taste like a big, satisfying Thin Mint. Yum!

On weekends or for an evening snack, I often have a Double Chocolate VitaMuffin:

(I prefer the full-sized muffins to the muffin tops, and don’t like the brownies at all.)
The VitaMuffins are frozen, and 15 seconds in the microwave defrosts and warms them–I love how the chocolate chips on top get all melty and gooey (all for only 100 calories).

Now, these are all good chocolatey treats, but when I need a dose of the real thing, I don’t mess around:

90% cocoa may be too much for most people, but I really like it. It certainly is something to savor slowly, and I never really even want more than one square. I have to be careful about enjoying this at night, though, because I swear it can keep me awake!

Have you tried any of these chocolate concoctions?

What is your favorite way to enjoy chocolate?

Posted in Fitness | 10 Comments

Three Things Thursday (Winter’s Simple Pleasures)

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Coco

Now that winter weather has arrived, I find myself savoring these warm, simple pleasures.

1. Our towel warmer

My husband turns it on for me while I am doing my workout, so my towel is extra-toasty when I get out of the shower. Ahhhh.

2. Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

I don’t usually drink coffee after breakfast, but this time of year I find myself craving peppermint mochas. At least my tall-skim-one pump peppermint-one pump mocha doesn’t have too many calories, but even if it did it would be worth it.

3. The heated seats in my car.

As illustrated in this technical diagram, both the bottom and back of the seats get warm!

What simple pleasures are you enjoying this winter?

Posted in Life | Tagged Starbucks | 8 Comments

Wordless Wednesday (The Tiger Lilly Edition)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Coco

Posted in Life | Tagged Tiger Lilly, Wordless Wednesday | 3 Comments

What’s Your Price Point?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Coco

I don’t like to count calories or keep a food diary anymore, but I do find it helpful to think of my calories as money that I want to spend wisely. If my jeans are getting snug, I may put myself on a tight calorie budget. If I’m running a lot, I might be able to spend more freely. If I’m celebrating a special occasion, I may go on a shopping spree! Thinking of calories this way also helps me decide whether something is “worth it.”

Would you spend 100 calories for one of these brownies?