Tough go

I didn't get a run in during this week either.  Another 3 days of 100+ samples.  Also, got some bad news about my mom's health.  I also haven't been eating as well as I should be.  I've had fast food the last three nights.

Today I slept in pretty late, and didn't plan on running today.  I think my runs last weekend injured me slightly.  My legs have hurt a bit all week.  But with this rough week, I felt like a run would be good for me.  I feel really alone and bored right now.  The weekends really make me wish I knew some people up here.  I figure since I didn't have anything better to do or any place to go, I might as well go run.

I've been using a heart rate monitor, and my 60-70% heart rate is 121-141, and that's supposedly where the most fat burning takes place.  But I can't even jog and keep my HR below 141, so I don't know what I'm supposed to do.  With my legs hurting, I ended up walking anyway, and with that, I was able to keep my HR in that range.  But it was really boring.

I realize this post is all over the place, but so am I right now.  A polished blog post is not something I can get myself to care about right now.

2 for 2

Got another run in today.  This one was just my normal 2.5 mile out-and-back route.  I beat my time for the mile though.  For diner I made a tomato and avocado sandwich.  Wasn't quite as tasty as the picture made it look, but I guess it was still good.  The picture recipe puts pepperoni on it.  That would have been really yummy... I'll do it next time.  Green tea infused with orange for a beverage.

Who knows if I'm going to get home at a decent hour at all this week.

Also, read this:  Facts about Soda

I'm going to try to cut out all soda now.  It's gonna be tough.  I really like Coke.  I'm still going to have to have one every now and then.

Fastest 1 mile today: 10:25.
Fastest 5k yesterday:  35:26

Improvement.

Finally

Finally got a run in today (Saturday).  Like I said, this week was bonkers.  I slept 12 hours last night.  I got up, didn't really plan on running today because it was really freakin cold.  Went out, got my hair cut, my car washed, and some lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  Came home and decided to give running a shot.  It was about 12 degrees, but it was my fastest 5k yet.  Pretty good for not running in a week.  Maybe my legs got nice and rested up.

I bought a heart rate monitor this week from Amazon.  I've determined my maximum heart rate to be 201.  The weight loss/fat burning range is 60-70% of that, so 121-141.  When jogging today, I got up to 170 with a nice jog.  I get to 120 just doing errands around the house.  So I haven't exactly figured out what this means for my jogs.  I don't want to slow down so that I don't go above 141.  I figure I'll keep doing what I'm doing and the heart rate monitor will help me measure improvement.

Fastest 5k:  35:26

What a week

I didn't get a run in at all this week.  We got slammed at work, with three consecutive days of 100+ samples (that's a lot for us).  I was at the lab til 2am Tuesday night (Wed morning), 10pm Wednesday night, 9:30 Thursday night, and 9:30 tonight.  By the time I've been getting home, I've been exhausted.  It was probably good to give my legs a break, but I hate not getting a run in.  It's supposed to be pretty cold this weekend.  Right now it's 11 degrees with a windchill of -6.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Running Through Snow

This weekend wasn't the best for eating healthy.  Friday night I was late getting out of work (go figure) and so I swung by Jimmy John's for a sub.  Saturday, I was at the lab all day.  My boss volunteered to bring us lunch, and he ended up bringing us Chick-Fil-A.  Lately, when I've been going to CFA, I've been getting a salad, or at worst a chargrilled chicken sandwich.  The boss brought us #1 combos with fries.  I'm not one to turn away CFA in any form, so there's that.  Then later that night, I was really craving a burrito from Pachero's.  I went for it.  

Today when running, I could tell my body was reeling from the junk I put in it yesterday.  I ran my fastest 5k yet (37:05), but it wasn't easy.  I felt sluggish and heavy.  Wanted to barf.  Running is 80% mental and fortunately I was able to push through it and finish the run.  I wasn't trying to beat my time but I'm happy I did.  

It was also pretty chilly.  Wasn't the coldest I've ever run in, but there's something about the snow that makes it feel colder.  It just seems to hold the cold in.  Fortunately, the city of West Des Moines plows the sidewalks shortly after taking care of the roads, so I didn't have to worry about busting my ass on the ice.

Thursday

Totally don't have anything for the title.  Yesterday was a horrible day at work.  Because this is a running blog, I'm not going to get into what happened.  I was just furiously frustrated.  I wanted to come home and run but I made the fatal mistake of sitting down on the couch first.  That lead to getting on the laptop, and it was all over before it began.  When I ran on Monday, it was a bad run.  My legs really hurt.  I figured I probably needed more than one day off to recoup.

Tonight's run was pretty decent.  I ran the first mile without walking and set a record for the mile at 10:46.  Still not a land speed record, but better.  I always feel better after I run.  It's nice to sweat the funk out.  It was about 45 tonight.  I like running in this temperature.

Food today:

Green tea/breakfast bar
Jimmy John's Turkey Tom/chips/diet coke
Banana/yogurt/handful of chocolate covered cherrios
Plate of whole grain pasta baked rigatoni