When Your Fat Jeans Become Your Skinny Jeans

[Alta818]

Thanks, Alta! I'm getting nervous about my relay but even if I walk/run some of the distance, looks like I'll be ok on time! Didn't you do a half or a full marathon?? Can't remember... I gain more and more respect for distance runners every day!

I think it's normal. Every single runner, or triathlete gets nervous before. Especially the day of. Our mind jumps around because of all the excitement, the adrenaline, and the possible things that can go wrong too! haha! I did do a full marathon. I started with a half. I am now doing my first triathalon June 26th!! I'm nervous too!

This morning on my run, I was actually wondering as my thighs were pounding from the soreness of all the varied workouts we just did in bootcamp, how the hell my thighs were going to adjust from swimming to biking long distance, to RUNNING last!???? ...I thought of the the thighs pounding and feeling heavy. Uggh.. Really made me want to PRACTICE MORE! We are actually thinking of doing the longest race they offer the Olympic Distance Traithalon in a relay too! Not sure if relay just yet, but that definitely adds to the pressure and ease of it. Pressure because now my time is dependent on others on my team, and vise versa,..what if I'm the slowest on the team? ...And ease, because, the entire distance doesn't have to be finished all by me. That's huge! Teamwork.

All in all,...You'll do great!! Keep it up! Having support on the day makes it so much funner too.

 

[Alta818]

Wow..just read about your gummy bears. That's control! He eats just 10? haha. My bf is the same. Me on the other hand, I would have snarfed down so many my stomach hurt! ...And done it on repeated days over and over again,..until they were gone! ! They are my favorite in the freezer! Little cold bears! hahah! ! Congrats to you for PORTION CONTROL!! yeaaa!! That's what it's all about!

 

[Laura F]

Its fantastic that you are running in a race like this. I wish i could do that but I find it really difficult to find suitable groups to do stuff with. I never want to pay the money. Its all allocated for something else usually.

As to cramps, that can be deydration and lack of salt.

Racing is what keeps me motivated... It does get expensive, though! All the little entry fees really add up after a while. And things like the Tough Mudder obstacle course are WAY more expensive than a normal race. I am going to take advantage of it now, before I, too, have to allocate elsewhere!

I definitely struggle to keep myself hydrated. I'm getting better during working hours but the weekends aren't so great, and Sunday's run sure didn't help. Now that I think about it, I WAS unusually thirsty today... Bananas are also supposed to help, I think, and I have had two since swim last night. Waking up with a cramp is THE WORST!!! I've absolutely been there before; that's usually when they hit, ugh.

Side note, I had to edit that last paragraph because I used the world "definitely" in pretty much every sentence, haha.

 

[Laura F]

For me the closest cities where they offer runs are Toronto which is an 18 hour drive from me and Winnipeg which is an 8 hour drive from me. I've seen a few advertised in the US and that would be about a 5 hour drive.

Sheesh, you weren't kidding.. They'd have to be some pretty special races to get me to go that far! I did a race in Oklahoma last year, and am doing one in Florida in May. Relay is in New York, obstacle course is New Jersey, potential half is in Rhode Island... I could easily get to Maine, New Hampshire, or Connecticut if I really wanted to branch out. Depending on the city, of course, but I can get to all of those states in under two hours. Kind of makes me want to see how many states I can run in!

 

[fortyfour]

I definitely struggle to keep myself hydrated.

Do you drink water from a bottle in sips or by the glass. I am drinking by the glass and i do it at regular intervals based on some little event. Eg when i get up. Before i eat a meal, before a walk, after a walk etc. That way i noticed that it ends up adding up to quite a bit.

I learned a couple of years ago that your body can only really absorb about a glass of water an hour. So there's no point drinking a litre an hour. I don't know if this varies during a running race. If the race is long like a marathon you'd obviously have to drink during it but its only for an hour, i think you wouldn't need to drink too much during a race.

During one olympics on a bicycle race i saw a woman have to stop and pee. I reckon she was drinking too much if she had to do that.

 

[Laura F]

I am TIRED. I did 5.5 miles on the treadmill last night, in just under an hour. Am a little mad that I stopped with maybe 70 seconds left to go in the hour, but I was running at 7.0 which is a little too fast for me at the end of a hard run! I was proud, though, because I had a stitch in my side that started early and would not go away, but I modified my run instead of just giving up. I paused for a minute at 1.78 miles, thinking I wasn't getting enough oxygen, but it came back again the second I started back running. So I lowered the speed, and upped the incline. Alternated hills @ 5.0 mph with jogging and running and after a while the stitch went away! I have gone running or swimming for four days in a row, which is pretty cool for me. I used to be an every-other day sorta gal. Couldn't drag myself out of bed today, though, and going out after work to celebrate a co-worker's last day. Let's hope I get up early tomorrow!!

 

[fortyfour]

To avoid stitches and to make them go away, lift you head up. Open your airway so you can get more air in. A guy I used to run with taught me this and i believe it works.

I think you are right about the oxygen but you get more of it by keeping your head lifted up.

 

[chubbygirl]

Wow great run Laura! I'm only working my way up to 6.2 mph right now but I'm really enjoying the daily running again. I got a cramp in my calf about a week ago and it was totally because I was dehydrated. I got them a couple times on my trip too - too much booze and not enough water.
Keep up the excellent training!

 

[Laura F]

I did do a full marathon. I started with a half. I am now doing my first triathalon June 26th!! I'm nervous too!

Triathlon, wow!!! I haven’t ridden a bike in like a zillion years, and am just now learning to swim, haha… so I can’t even fathom doing a triathlon! You’ll do amazing though!!!!

We are actually thinking of doing the longest race they offer the Olympic Distance Traithalon in a relay too! Not sure if relay just yet, but that definitely adds to the pressure and ease of it. Pressure because now my time is dependent on others on my team, and vise versa,..what if I'm the slowest on the team? ...And ease, because, the entire distance doesn't have to be finished all by me. That's huge! Teamwork.

I love the idea of doing such a major event as a relay. Bonding with my co-workers who are doing the 200 mile relay race in May has been a wonderful experience, and we haven’t actually had the event yet! I’m doing one of the easiest legs, but still, they need me, whether I’m doing 23 miles or 13, and that’s a cool feeling. And even if it takes me almost as long to do my 13 as it takes someone else to do their 23, they sure as heck don’t want to be responsible for 13 MORE miles!

Wow..just read about your gummy bears. That's control! He eats just 10? haha. My bf is the same. Me on the other hand, I would have snarfed down so many my stomach hurt! ...And done it on repeated days over and over again,..until they were gone! ! They are my favorite in the freezer! Little cold bears! hahah! ! Congrats to you for PORTION CONTROL!! yeaaa!! That's what it's all about!

I don’t know how most guys can control themselves like that! Although he did eat 3 servings of my homemade lasagna on Sunday, and I certainly did not, so I guess it all evens out, hahaha. I definitely had my moments where I ate WAY too many (and I never feel good the morning after a good gummy bear binge) but I’m trying hard to control myself now! I will be SOOOOOO happy when they are gone, though! I’m afraid I’m going to get to the last few servings and just eat them all at once!!!

 

[Laura F]

Wow great run Laura! I'm only working my way up to 6.2 mph right now but I'm really enjoying the daily running again.

Trust me, I wasn't running that fast the whole time!!! I like to kick it up a bit at the very end. I usually average 5.7 or 5.8 when I do a long run on the treadmill. 6.2 feels like I'm flying, which is so interesting to me because I averaged that during my last race... So how can I do it for 6 miles on the street but hardly any distance on the treadmill?? I mean, I know that's normal, but still...

Did my longest "run" ever yesterday out on the street. I put it in quotes because I walked more than a couple of times, but I covered 7.67 miles in around an hour and twenty minutes, maybe a bit more. I was wearing cotton socks and got terrible blisters, though. I need to buy new socks ASAP!! Made walking yesterday a little painful. Today wasn't bad, thankfully.

Feeling in a bit of a funk today... Managed to avoid excess sweets, and munched on 4 peanut butter crackers and a couple of hard candies instead. Wanted, no, PLANNED to stop and get a bag of Nestle Flips for the train ride home, then contemplated a donut.... Ended up with nothing, whew!!

 

[chubbygirl]

Wow awesome work resisting!! Can't say the same for me. I bought a bag of cookies and after eating two I put them away and told myself I would leave them for when hubby came home and a few hours later they were all gone!
Great run!! I seem to run a lot faster outside too. My treadmill runs are also around 5.7 and 5.8 but I usually do the opposite and start around 6.5 and slowly work my way down as I start to run out of energy. Sometimes I finish around 5.5.

 

[Laura F]

Wow awesome work resisting!! Can't say the same for me. I bought a bag of cookies and after eating two I put them away and told myself I would leave them for when hubby came home and a few hours later they were all gone!
Great run!! I seem to run a lot faster outside too. My treadmill runs are also around 5.7 and 5.8 but I usually do the opposite and start around 6.5 and slowly work my way down as I start to run out of energy. Sometimes I finish around 5.5.

Well, unfortunately, things changed once I got to my boyfriend's place.... STUPID GUMMY BEARS! AND STUPID ICE-CREAM ENJOYING BOYFRIEND!

I take it back, he's not stupid. But we did walk to the corner store specifically to get Ben & Jerry's. Dinner was healthy, though, salmon and broccoli, cooked at home so nothing at all in there to feel guilty about.

I'm not sure what is wrong with me but the past 24 hours have turned into a cranky sugar-fest. It's like I'm getting ready for TOM, but I'm not. I am just overly tired, I think. Tonight I'm going with boyfriend to pick out his first-ever pair of prescription glasses, then to swim, then hopefully for a quick run. Tomorrow, however, I am going to go home, put on the TV, and pass out as early as humanly possible. Friday we get out early, and Monday we have out, so I am looking forward to a nice long weekend!

It's interesting how everyone has their specific running routines. A co-worker of mine and his girlfriend have opposite techniques.... He starts out faster like you, and she starts out slower like me, so he says he always takes off and then all of a sudden she'll go flying past him towards the end. For the first few months that I started running, I ALWAYS picked up the pace a bit at the halfway point; and then when I did my 5 mile race in November, I remember hitting the 3 mile mark and then all of a sudden I was subconsciously running faster. I passed quite a few people and never saw them again.

The race is four weeks from Friday!

 

[Laura F]

I am a klutz. I drop things, I break things, I run into things. And for some reason I never want to admit it. The same way I don't want to admit that I am always running late. Last night I broke the handle off of my favorite coffee mug while doing dishes, went to finish washing the inside and sliced my finger. This morning I woke up early, was out of the shower by 6:45, and was scrambling to get out the door by 8:10. Hair only half dry, only makeup was a little powder. And in my journey I slammed by elbow hard into a bookshelf.

I don't know why I am always surprised by these events. On Friday I spilled my first beer, about three sips in. At the ballpark, meaning it was an EXPENSIVE beer. On Monday I cut myself good on a knife while doing dishes. Boyfriend had cooked, my job was to clean... Whoops, instead he had to bandage me up while I looked the other way. It didn't hurt too bad, but it was bleeding way too heavy for my liking. I broke a glass last week. Also while doing the dishes. How is it that I am that awful at this task?

And as far as running late, well, that's just an every day occurrence. I meet a friend maybe once a week at the same time to go for a walk at lunch. A couple of weeks ago after I had arrived on time for the second or third time in a row, I discovered that she always plans to get there a couple of minutes late since she knows I will be.

I have a feeling I can fix the running late thing easier than I can the being clumsy thing. I hope so, because I don't want to be "that girl" forever! And I'm not ALWAYS like that, there's just no in-between... I'm either a few minutes late or freakishly early!!

 

[chubbygirl]

Sorry to laugh but it sounds like you need a dish washer!
I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is - it's probably all in your head. I'm pretty notorious for being late too. Like when I show up on time my family cheers.

 

[Laura F]

Sorry to laugh but it sounds like you need a dish washer!

What's bad is that I HAVE a dishwasher... I just don't ever use it! Living alone and not really cooking means I'd run out of coffee mugs and spoons constantly but it would take weeks to fill the rest of the space. I may have to buy new coffee mugs, haha.

 

[Sunflower2]

Hows your last few days gone lovely? xx

 

[Laura F]

Hows your last few days gone lovely? xx

Thanks for checking in I had a nice long relaxing weekend, and it was wonderful. Went to my first professional hockey game on Thursday. Got out of work early on Friday because we always get out early before long weekends. Yesterday was a Massachusetts holiday (Patriot's Day), and also the day they run the historic Boston Marathon. Took advantage of the nice weather on Friday and went for a long run. Ended up doing 8.4 miles! My longest run to date. Got a terrible blister as a result, unfortunately. I'm used to that, they're normally not a problem, but I went on another run on Sunday, just shy of 4.5 miles. THAT caused some problems... blister is now infected, and it hurts like hell. I'm slathering on antibiotic, didn't do any exercise yesterday, and I think today is going to have to be an elliptical day. I hope it gets better soon!

I FINALLY finished the gummy bears up, and went to the grocery store some night last week and bought ZERO snack food items. Bought bananas and a cucumber and a pepper and yogurt and cottage cheese, etc etc... So snacking has been much better than it had been, at least when I'm by myself. Boyfriend and I aren't such a good influence on each other, unfortunately. We had lots of drinks on Saturday, plus Mexican food, plus desserts. Tried to be healthier and got a salad on Saturday night, but was so disappointed in it. I just wanted boyfriend's pizza!

Yesterday was apparently napping day. I took THREE little naps throughout the day! Boyfriend had to work but he works from home, so I lounged around at his place. I had planned on staying for a bit then getting home and being productive there. But I had woken up freakishly early for some reason and couldn't fall back asleep. That resulted in nap #1 at 10:30. We went out around noon to watch some of the marathoners (who, by the way, looked amazing considering we saw them around mile 24). Then I fell asleep again briefly around 2 maybe. He got done working at 4 and wanted to nap because he had also woken up freakishly early. I was just watching tv but then passed out again, too! I mean, they were only little naps each time, but still, three in one day? I usually have trouble getting in one! Needless to say, I had a bit of a hard time falling asleep last night, and am am little tired today.

 

[Laura F]

Tuesday, April 19, 2011:

Food thoughts for the day:
Was NOT a good eating day. Had LOTS of little mini Reese's eggs. AKA all of the ones that were in my possession. PLUS the three no-bake cookies I had brought for dessert. I am happy at least that I packaged and froze the cookies in groups of three, so I only defrost one little package at a time. And the Reese's are gone, so they won't be there to tempt me tomorrow. Also had TWO grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. That's a lot of cheese. My tummy is angry at me for that.

Exercise:
4 miles on the elliptical, in around a half hour. Did hills, at level 4. I rarely use the elliptical, so I wasn't sure what level to do. Also planned on staying longer, but was having trouble moving normally... I was putting too much weight on my toes, but putting any less was hurting the blister. And I am not going to risk making that any worse!

Random thoughts for the day:
I have plans every day from this Thursday to the following Saturday, with the exception of this coming Saturday. That has pretty much never happened before. Circus on Thursday, hanging out with former co-workers on Friday, nothing Saturday, Easter at the boyfriend's house on Sunday, drinks with former co-workers on Monday, swimming on Tuesday, dinner with a friend on Wednesday, work busy season party on Thursday, and concerts on Friday and Saturday. Whew. I better get my butt up early in the morning to do my workouts!

 

[AussieSwede]

Wow... I read on all your post and very inspiring.... I would like to share some thoughts too... And will right inspiring journal like this... Thanks for sharing..
________________
Having a problem with your body? I got some suggestions here!
, and

 

[Tigpuppy]

Hey Laura!

Sounds like you are doing pretty well - even with the little splurges. I think we all have those from time to time.

I had to chuckle about your klutziness - you sound just like me! I'm forever spilling stuff on myself or other people (or onto my computer!) and am known for tripping over the lint on the carpet. I even once accidently stabbed myself in the chest with a paring knife, and another time stabbed myself in the side of the nose with a grass clippers narrowly missing my eye! Thank goodness I wear glasses normally, or I WOULD have!

I've lost count of how many times I've cut or burned myself while cooking. And not just little cuts either. One time I thought I just knicked my finger, but that darn thing was gushing blood and WOULD NOT STOP! I was running late to pick up the kids, so just wrapped a ton of gauze on it and was heading out the door when I walked past the cutting board and noticed something stuck to the side of the knife that I had left setting there. It was a chunk of my finger! I had cut the whole side of my finger off right next to the fingernail, from the last knuckle to almost the tip. No wonder it wouldn't quit bleeding!

When I brought home a treadmill hubby asked me if I thought that was a wise decision due to my lack of natural gracefullness. Well, I'm proud to say that I've only actually fallen off the thing once! We just won't mention all the near misses I've had though....

I hope you're having a great week - enjoy your runs and don't hurt yourself!