Getting in a Run

After working on the farm all day, quitting time ended a bit earlier than normal, so I had time to get in a run this evening. 5.1 miles in 61 minutes! I believe that even includes stopping for a drink of water and a quick chat with my teammate, Danielle.

During this run, I ran across the Red River bridge into North Dakota and back. Beautiful run as the sun was setting and geese were flying overhead. I tried taking a picture, but didn't want to stop long enough to snap a clear one!

I should really get some interval endurance training in next opportunity.

Run or Dye [for Daylight!]

Today, I ran a 5k fun run for Daylight Center and School.

In rural Kenya, nomads practice "sapana," a rite of passage empowering men to make decisions for their community. During this ritual, young men are "painted green" with goat refuse. At Daylight, we want to encourage these nomads to empower both boys and girls to be leaders in their communities with another rite of passage: education. So as a symbol of joining the Daylight community in this mission, a few of us got painted at Run or Dye!

After waiting in the cold for about an hour and a half, our wave finally started! I sprinted out the starting line, and then walked for a minute or two to warm up my cold ankles, then I ran then entire 3.1 miles. Thank you, again, Brianna, Emilie, and Kari for doing this with me!

Also, special props to Emilie. Our group didn't want to ride back in the buses (and have to wait in another long line), so while Brianna and Kari rode to brunch with some of our awesome fans, Emilie and I ran another 1.5 miles to brunch!

So, in all, I ran 4.6 miles. Whoo hoo!

Run/Walk 2:1 Endurance Intervals

I think endurance training was a success today! I ran 5.9 miles before my knees and hamstrings started complaining and I stopped.

I completed 23 sets of 1-minute run and 2-minute walk intervals in 69 minutes. This means I was only running a third of the time, but I still managed to average an 11:41-minute mile! But as I've stated before, the objective is distance, not speed, and I am very happy with my 5.9 miles today.

Worse case scenario, I just do endurance intervals for my leg of the marathon relay...

Two-Day Tin [Wo]Man

So yesterday, I woke up sooo sore! Wowza. But I had anticipated this, which is why I scheduled "stretch yoga" in my training plan. It took awhile, though, before I made the time to do the hour-long P90X stretch session. I felt much better afterward. Still a bit sore, but at least less tin-man like.

This morning, I still woke up sore! As planned, I have taken the entire day off of exercise. I definitely needed the 72-hour break between scheduled runs to recover from the first one! Let's hope it's long enough - I need to get in some endurance training tomorrow.

Flying Farmers

Yesterday, I get a text from my friend Danielle that says: "Do you run? Alex is trying to get a relay team together for fargo marathon." I'd never considered a relay for a marathon before, but that seems like a way more likely accomplishment in my life than running a full marathon by myself. So I ask her when it is. ...it's May 18th, less than 4 weeks away.

I was finally persuaded into signing up with the relay after being assured it was just for fun, and it would be fine if I ended up walking most of it.

This morning I woke up to a flood a texts deliberating over what our relay team name should be. It was finally decided: Flying Farmers. I won't even get into why that name does or does not fit.

I decided it would be a good idea to see where I'm at, running wise. It's been almost a full year since I've consciously exercised!

This morning, I ran 3.1 miles in 38 minutes...then walked the 2 miles more home, since I was a bit optimistic when I plotted out the route I was to take. Our puppy Byron came with me. It was his first time on a run - ever. And I was surprised. He never lagged behind! New running partner?

Each person in the relay is responsible for 6-8 miles, which means, I'm just barely half-way to the minimum distance right now.

To avoid injuring myself, I've developed a training schedule. The objective is to gain miles, not speed. If you do both at the same time as a runner, it is a recipe for injury!!!

• 04/24 - Run (nonstop, easy pace for as far as possible)
• 04/25 - Stretch yoga (to relieve those sore muscles!)
• 04/26 - REST DAY
• 04/27 - Run/Walk 1:2 (alternate 1-min. run with 2-min. walk for as far as possible or up to 8 miles, whichever is less)
• 04/28 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 04/29 - Run
• 04/30 - Stretch yoga
• 05/01 - REST DAY
• 05/02 - Run/Walk 1:1
• 05/03 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 05/04 - RUN OR DYE 5K FUN RUN
• 05/05 - 30 min. Bike or Aerobic Dance
• 05/06 - Run
• 05/07 - Stretch yoga
• 05/08 - REST DAY
• 05/09 - Run/Walk 2:1
• 05/10 - 30 min. Aerobic Dance or Swim
• 05/11 - Run
• 05/12 - Stretch yoga
• 05/13 - REST DAY
• 05/14 - Run/Walk 3:1
• 05/15 - 30 min. Swim
• 05/16 - Run/Walk 4:1
• 05/17 - Stretch yoga
• 05/18 - MARATHON RELAY RACE DAY!!!

Fell a Giant, Resurrect a Legend

I know I haven't posted in awhile. I guess I took the 1500 calorie at no exercise rule to the extreme, and just have not exercised in awhile.

Luke bought a bike last week and has had fun exercising with that. During my intense weight loss plan earlier this year, I discovered that biking is actually an excellent way to burn calories (not fat burn, but great cardio and heart exercise).

With Luke's new motivation and mode to exercise, I decided it was about time to update my bike. The Giant bike I've owned for the past 5+ years is way too big. It's an upright bike, and the frame is just unnecessarily huge. It's too heavy for me to carry up and down stairs, or even maneuver up and down stairs. At least it lives up to its name...

About a year ago, my mom was going to throw away her 1980s(?) World Tourist Schwinn bike and I told her I would try to sell it. She gave it to me, and I cleaned it up, and then discovered that only men's Schwinn bikes from yesteryear are of value to people.

I hung on to the bike, and am now making it my own!

So, I sold the Giant for next to nothing (but I'm happy to be rid of that problem), and then I took my mother's bike in to be repaired. At the very least, it needed new tires and a basic tune up. Our friend, Ben Erickson, a bike enthusiast and a co-op owner of The Hub, assisted in this venture.

Long story short, I took out my mom's 3-speed Schwinn for a spin today. I wanted to time myself on my 3-mile circuit to see how long it would take, but I forgot to look at the time when I left. Ah well, I guess I'll just have to go out again tomorrow!

Mississippi Walk

This evening, Luke and Baxter and I went on a nice long walk. It was a gorgeous evening, especially by the river. And Baxter made a number of human friends; at the end of the night, Luke and I stopped in at one of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood for some refreshment. We sat on the patio, and our server brought Baxter a bowl of water and a dog treat. Baxter isn't used to restaurant patios, especially those that are located on public sidewalks, and he felt he needed to greet EVERYONE that walked by!

Strength

Power 90 strength training routine. Done!

Belly, Butt, Thighs

Today, I did the Belly, Butt, and Thighs routines from Crunch Pilates. I realized I've been focused so much on my arms and legs, that my core area hasn't had much exercise. It felt good!

Lean vs. Defined Muscles

Today was another strength training day. I'm starting to get bored of this Power 90 routine, and I would actually like to build up some defined muscles, rather than have lean muscles, and this routine really emphasizes lean muscles (lighter weight and more reps).

Fat Burn vs. Cardio

Today, I walked with Baxter on my 3-mile running circuit. It took 45 minutes to complete. Then I did my Power 90 strength training.

Now that I do not have to focus as much on fat burning, I'm considering starting to run more often than walk. But walking is so much more relaxing!

New Motivation

Well, I weighed in yesterday at 117.5 pounds! Half a pound below my final goal weight. So I am officially done with that low calorie-consumption diet! I so look forward to eating cheese again!

So, after weighing in, I never exercised. I guess I decided that a day off would be a good reward. I will continue to count calories, though, as the next challenge is to retrain my stomach to know what the new calorie plateau feels like (so that I don't under- or over-eat).

According to an online caloric intake calculator, for me to maintain my current weight with no exercise, I am able to eat 1500 calories per day. With my handy Calorie Count iphone app, I am able to use this 1500 as a starting point, and if I exercise on a particular day, it indicates that I have calories on top of my 1500 daily calories to consume. I think this will help motivate me to keep exercising, so that I can splurge a bit.

Today, I continued my strength training regimen with Power 90 disc 2.

Last Stop?

This morning, I went for a walk with Luke and Baxter outside! Beautiful morning for it. We did a 3-mile circuit in 55 minutes. At right is a picture of the train that went by during our walk. It was only 4 cars long.

Later in the afternoon, I did disc 2 of Power 90 for strength training.

Tomorrow is weigh in! We will all see if I made my goal of weighing 118 pounds. If that is the case, then I have some diet planning to do in order to transition to maintenance rather than weight loss. After 6 weeks of being on this weight loss diet and exercise plan, that will be a new challenge!

Packing Up and Going Home

Well, this morning, I woke up and finished cleaning and organizing the storage room! It only took 3 more hours to finish and pack up my dad's pickup with items to take to a second-hand store.

Before leaving for Saint Paul, I even made time to do the 35-minute Pilates for Dummies routine, and Power 90 Abs!

Last Deep Clean

This morning, I did Power 90 (disc 2) right away when I got up. Man, what a strength training workout! I had wanted to go for a walk later in the day, but being that it is my last day in Halstad (I go home to Saint Paul tomorrow!), I decided to take on one last project for my dad and clean out my parents' storage room. 5 hours later, I'm finally calling it a night! Hope to finish up in the morning before I take off!

Pilates

This morning, I was about to do some Pilates when I received a call from my Fargo chiropractor, stating she could squeeze me in that morning. Excellent! So, I went to Fargo, ran some errands, and then came back and finally did all 35 minutes of Pilates for Dummies DVD and 40 minutes of Crunch: Pick your Spot. A total of 75 minutes of Pilates!

Above and Beyond

What a hot day in Halstad! 95 degrees!

I went on a walk with Baxter this morning for 75 minutes (to resolve the 15 minute deficit from Tuesday).  Rather than do the regular 3-mile circuit, I decided to cut across town, then weave a bit along the main streets back to the edge of town with a hut dike that Baxter and I walked along. During my walk, I came across two very active older women who were going for a stroll. Way to go them!

After my walk, I did disc 2 of Power 90 strength training. Unbeknownst to me, the strength training routine on disc 2 is 40 minutes long (compared to the 30-minute routine on disc 1). So, I actually did an extra 10 minutes of exercise today (above what is scheduled and from Tuesday's deficit)! And what a workout. Much of it was the same as disc 1, but with less time to complete the repetitions, and an added section that requires you to do as many pushups and squats as possible. Whew!

Red in the Face

I felt really gross this morning when I woke up. Just super sweaty...I know you all want to know that. So, I took a shower rather than diving into exercise. I knew this would mean I would most likely put exercising off until later in the day, but I worked out rather late yesterday too, so, as long as I get all my time in, it's good.

Well, I started exercising at 8:00pm! My mom realized that she consumed more calories than she intended to and so she was going to bike them off. As I returned a friend's bike just yesterday, I wasn't able to bike with her, so I decided to run with her! That's right. I haven't run in about 8 months, but I decided to give it a go. For those of you who may not realize. I may be in good weight shape, but I'm not in good running shape. Regardless, I did pretty good! I ran just over 3 miles without stopping or walking and averaged a 10-minute mile. Excellent, if you ask me!

My mom got really concerned halfway through the run because my face was really red. My face is always red when I run; in or out of running shape. So, that didn't concern me. I did feel like puking when I finished, but I was never in danger of passing out. The picture above was taken after I finished my run, to demonstrate my red face. I know I have crazy, semi-crossed eyes...that may have been from the run too :)

When I returned from my run, I gave myself a few minutes to recover, then performed the stretching pilates DVD with Trudie Styler. This way, I didn't have to consciously stretch after my run! I hate going through the motions of stretching before and after a run, so this was a fun way to do that.

After that, I did the "Hip Hop Abs" DVD to offset my deficit of exercise on Tuesday. Now, I just have 15 more minutes to make up for that lost day...

Biceps and Bicycles

Yeah, I didn't exercise yesterday. I won't delve into the details, but I got obsessed with some computer work and then got a really bad migraine from staring at the computer all day and truly couldn't do anything. Also, I have forgotten just how dull my hunger senses get when I'm infront of a computer. Not eating when I should have probably also affected my migraine.

Anyway, being that I didn't exercise yesterday, I needed to make up the time today...

I started with Power 90, as usual. I forgot that today I was going to go to Disc 2 of the set, but I guess I will do that on Friday. I gave Disc 1 a big last push today!

Then I went on a 70-minute walk with Baxter. Another sunny day, and my tan is filling in very nicely!

After that, I realized I needed to return a bike that I have been borrowing (but not successfully using). So I decided to go on a very long detour to return it... I biked with a moderate effort for 35 minutes before returning it to its owner.

Feeling good! Now, I just have 45 more minutes to make up tomorrow for my lack in exercise yesterday!

By the way, I weighed in at 119.8 pounds, bringing my total weight loss to 12.2 pounds! Only 1.8 pounds to go to reach my new goal of weighing 118 pounds.

Bright, Sunshiny Day

Another Power 90 day today. Then went on a 3-mile walk with Baxter. Boy it was hot today! And sunny! I got a tan while on this walk! Whoot whoot!