Week 20
Down 1.5 pounds (30 lbs lost so far) !!
Ran 10 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 260
Total mileage for May: 41
Yes! Finally hit that 30 pound mark. I can’t believe I lost that much or believe that I weighed that much just about a year ago. But the journey isn’t over yet, still would like to lose 15-20 pounds, and don’t worry it’s still in the ‘healthy’ weight range.
The half marathon is tomorrow. I’m getting excited but also nervous. I’m going to have to leave at 6 am to make sure I arrive early. So that will give me enough time to digest a bagel before the race. I’ll be sure to post tomorrow with a recap!
Half Marathon in 4 days!!!
I’m so nervous but also excited… I really hope to run it in 2:30, which seems possible. But I just have to keep the mental state of running rather than giving up and walking. What’s also really important is music. I’m trying to put together a mix that’s just about 2:30 with some really upbeat songs. I have been downloading some mixes but I’m so fussy with music that they aren’t perfect. So we’ll have to see.
IN OTHER NEWS! (in the non-fitness/running life)
I’ve been hired as a new music therapist for a hospice in Newton, MA. This will be their first music therapist and they are looking for someone to start the program. HOW EXCITING! I never ever thought I’d have the possibility of doing this only 9 months out of school, but heck I’ll take it and run!
So excited, really this is a major step!
Week 19
Up 1 pound (28.5 lbs lost so far)
Ran 16 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 250
Total mileage for May: 31
Alright up a pound… oh well. It was Richard’s last week in town before he goes home (England) for 3 weeks, so it was a splurge. It was also the beginning of tapering for my half marathon which is SUNDAY! AH!
I’m not too nervous about it as I’ve done one previously (you can read the description here) and practically walked the last half as the hills were insane. So this time, I’m almost positive I’ll beat my previous time of 3:04, and hope to aim for a 2:30, but we’ll see. Just finishing will be an accomplishment!
But this week I did tons of biking! As you see, I have a mini folding bike which is perfect for getting around the city. However, Richard lives in Fenway and I live in Watertown, about a 5 mile trip one way. I can take the river paths almost the entire way, which is awesome and beautiful. So when I go home (new jersey) for memorial day, I plan on bringing my regular sized bike back. It will get me there quicker, and I can also use it for forms of exercise.
Week 18
Down .5 (29.5 pounds lost so far)
Ran 21 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 234
Total mileage for May: 15
Not bad for birthday week! I have so much to update about so get ready…
My birthday was Tuesday and yes I pigged out. I’m happy to say I made cupcakes for myself and gave about half of them away and still have the other half in the fridge. So I didn’t eat all of them last week.
This weekend was one of extreme exercise. Friday night after work I headed to the gym and did about 40 minutes of cardio. Then I cycled over to Richard’s place (about 5 miles) but somehow managed to drop my bike on my foot, leaving a hefty bump right on the top of my foot.
Saturday was my scheduled 12 mile day. So yep, I did it. I went out wearing a tank top and spandex shorts, looking super scandalous even though it was only 60 and overcast. I went from Fenway to Museum of Science, crossed the river, then all the way back to Harvard (or nearby) and then back to the Mass Ave bridge then up comm ave to the commons and then back to fenway. 12 miles is far. I did pretty well, meaning I should be okay for the half in a couple of weeks. The one bad thing was water, I didn’t bring any because there are tons of fountains by the river, but I was wrong. There are tons between mass ave and museum of science, but the other way, there are none. I passed by 2 and was so thankful to see them only to realize they had no water! So I stopped by duncan donuts to get some water. But running that far made me realize how far I’ve come. ALMOST down 30 pounds but realizing I can run the full length of the mass ave bridge (and much more) without dying.
Then this morning I cycled back to mine only to realize the walk for hunger was today! So I ended up biking against it for most of it, but thankfully memorial drive was closed (and is closed every sunday ?) so that made it much easier.
Phew, maybe this next week will be the one where I reach that golden 30 number!
Week 15 + 16
Down 1.5 pounds (27 pounds lost so far)
Ran 21
Total mileage for 2012: 187
Total mileage for April: 41
I had no weight loss in week 15, but 1.5 lbs in week 16. So that’s good. It’s been a stressful couple of weeks, but I managed not to go overboard. As for running, this past week I only logged 4 miles. I did a lot of cross training but had a lack of miles. However, I did a 10 mile run today, and it felt nice (despite being drenched by rain after 2 miles). I’ll be ready to do a half marathon in a few weeks.
My next race is next weekend, a 10k, and the last one at age 22!
Week 14
Down 1.5 pounds (25.5 pounds lost so far)
Ran 20 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 166
Total mileage for April: 20
Pretty good, pretty good! I’ve been keeping around the same weight for about a month now and I’m ready to start losing again. I guess I hit a plateau (or maybe just making excuses for not being as strict as I should be). This week may be a bit tough as I had a death in the family and will be heading to michigan this weekend. But I’m determined to keep going.
I’ve also decided on a race for April and May! April 29-10k and May 20-half marathon! That means I have to up my half marathon training a week as I was planning on doing one a week after, but I think I can handle it.
Race 1: September 4, 2011 - Half Marathon - Kent, England
Race 2: October 11, 2011 - 10k - Boston, MA
Race 3: November 26, 2011 - 5 miler - Westfield, NJ
Race 4: December 18, 2011 - 5k - Somerville, MA
Race 5: January 1, 2012 - 4 miler - Salem, MA
Race 6: March 11, 2012 - 5 miler - Lowell, MA
Race 7: March 31, 2012 - 5k - Brighton, MA
Race 8: April 14, 2012 - Barefook 5k - Brighton, MA ??
Yes! More than halfway there. Yesterday was the 7th run out of 12, and I did pretty well for how much stuff I’ve been doing over the past couple of weeks. In the course of 2 weeks I was in DC, NJ, and VT, yet live in MA. So it’s been a lot of road travel and stress. My time was 29:30 which is AWESOME, as that is probably my fastest 5k. I’ve done longer races at a better pace but for a 5k that was my shortest time. I’m excited about the April race. There is a barefoot festival in April and I really would love to do the barefoot 5k. It is tricky training for a half marathon and getting adapted to running barefoot, but I still would like to do it. I ran barefoot a lot over the summer but then when I was training for my first half, I realized I wouldn’t be able to do it barefoot. But I’m pretty sure I can handle a 5k.
Week 11
Down 1 pound (25 pounds lost so far)
Ran 18 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 128
Total mileage for March: 29
Wooo hoooo down a pound, and successfully half way there! I kept up with 30 day shred too! However, for week 12 I can tell you now that I haven’t. I went to tour DC and have been super busy that it’s been hard to get it in, but mind you, I will be finishing it one day hopefully before March is over. I ended on Day 5 of level 3, SO close! just 5 more days of it and I will have completed it, just not in 30 days.
Half marathon training is going well. This weekend may be a bit tricky to get my long run in but that’s why you plan in additional time in case something comes up.
Week 10
Up .5 pounds (lost 24 pounds so far)
Ran 7 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 110
Total mileage for March: 11
Alright, up .5 pound, whatever… I’ve been keeping up with the half marathon training as well as 30 day shred. I just began level 3, and holy moly is it tough! Half of the trouble is that I live above someone and hate to make it sound like an elephant for them, so I may just have to do it outside or in the basement from now on. I did the 6th race of my 12 races in 12 months but I’ll do another post about that later on, when I have more time. Here’s to hoping this week is more successful.
Week 9
Down 1 pound (24.5 lbs so far)
Ran 10 miles
Total mileage for 2012: 103
Total mileage for February: 27
Total mileage for March: 4
I’m basically halfway to my weight loss goal. Originally my goal was to lose 40 pounds, but now I’m realizing I could lose 50 and still be healthy and happy! I’ve been keeping up with the 30 day shred, up to day 5 of level 2. It’s been really helpful! And I’m on week 2 training for the half marathon, so that’s also been keeping me busy! :)
