Guilty?

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in a long time: I blew off a cross training workout. And felt really guilty about it. I chose to use the good weather to clean out my flowerbeds, helped the husband change out a broken outdoor water faucet, and went to dinner with a couple work friends (and may or may not have left hubby downtown with his buddies and stopped by Red Mango by myself. For the second time in two days. Don't judge. )

And I felt really down on myself, and then thought "No." Healthy means mental and physical, and sometime doing things around the house and with friends are just as healthy as the elliptical, right? Right.

Do you ever feel guilty for skipping workouts?

This could be dangerous!

Last night, the husband and I ran the first 4 miles of Saturday’s 10k course – and it is rough: super hilly, curvy, and un-shaded. After about 20 minutes of trying to run the hub’s 11:00 “easy” pace,  I had a small mental meltdown, but was able to keep running intervals until the end.

After the run, we went to try out our area’s first fro-yo place, a Red Mango that opened last week. I have had major yogurt and topping envy from everyone else’s blogs, and was super excited to try the goodness for myself. Let me tell you, this could get addicting very quickly – there are so many options!  I had a medium bowl of half plain/half raspberry cheesecake yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and fruity pebbles. Amazing – so much better than ice cream! When I was in college, there was a fro-yo place we went to all the time, and I have it missed it terribly (it was before the idea of adding one’s own toppings existed, but it was still awesome).

What is your favorite yogurt combination?

Long running

Hopefully you have dry weather where you are - it is pouring here! Yesterday, I went for my first run longer that 5 miles since Princess (um, so over a month ago. Not sure how that happened!) It was 83 by the time I got home from work, and the heat made it seem impossible to run! I ended up doing 4:1 intervals most of the way, and finished 6.65 miles in 1:25, with a mile pace of 12:47. Not too fast, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I purposely chose a hilly route to try to get over my mental "hills are evil" issue, and though I walked up some of them, I'm starting to feel stronger.

I also did measurements last night: I lost .5 inches in my chest, and .25 around my thigh! Not huge losses (and not really in the areas I'd lose from the most) but a loss is still a good thing.

I also registered for my first 10k, coming up next Saturday! It's not a common distance around here, and I'm anxious to try a steady-fast pace for something longer than a 5k.

What's your favorite distance to race?

I've been bad . . .

I broke down and bought a new pair of these:

which are way expensive and way something I don't need. But are fabulous - and my old pair are more like . .  disgusting. I also got a few things online at the Old Navy sale going on today.

What do you splurge on?

Thai Food

We successfully made it one whole week with only one lunch-out and no week night dinners out! This may be the first time in the four years we've been together that I can say that about! We had:
Monday- Crockpot tacos
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Barbeque Chicken Mac and Cheese
Thursday - Grilled salmon and veggies

Last night, we went out for a new cuisine for both of us: Thai food! Everyone I know, blog-world and real-world, eats it all the time, and the Thai food scene locally is huge. I ordered Pad Thai, and the husband ordered a steak and veggie dish. It was really, really, good! I ordered a medium level of heat, which bordered on too spicy, but the flavors were really nice.

Tonight, we're going to the grocery, then to my parents to celebrate my Dad's birthday. It's been pouring the rain today, but I'm hoping it will dry enough for a few miles tonight.

A joke and an update

If Muhammed Ali had a son, and gave him the same first name as the president, what would his name be?

Last night, I got my hair cut and then went to the Y for much needed cross training. After a 4 mile trail run on Wednesday, my shins were not at all happy with me. I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical, then 30 minutes lifting arms and doing squats and lunges.

I just realized today that I have a half marathon in 6 weeks! It heas really crept on me! I feel pretty good about my overall fitness, but need to get back to regular long runs.
I'm working this weekend, but am planning on doing a 7miler Saturday. What are your weekend plans?

*Feel free to answer the joke in the comments!

Chilly Hilly Runs!

The sun has been shining in my part of the country, but it has been super cold and windy! After Saturday's 5k, I realized a major issue of mine during races is struggling on hills. Every where I run has some up-and-down to it, but I tend to plan my runs to avoid major "ups". Not anymore! The husband and I had a little time before I went to school last night to get a run in, so we headed to a hilly loop and did 1.76 miles in 18:10, 10:22 mile pace. Even after a run that short, my hamstrings are sore today!
How do you train for hills?