Hey kids!

1. Let’s pretend that Paleo thing never happened. I’m trying to block it from memory. It was not pretty
2. I’m back to running 3 days a week and x-training 2 days and I feel so good. In fact, after tonight’s run I watched about 30 minutes of TV while I stretched. And then turned it off. Not in the mood. I need to do something. I have this little extra burst of energy. It’s awesome. Last night I cleaned my entire first floor. Cleaned so much I did a teeny bit of reorganizing.
3. My running is only at 2.5 miles no stopping. And tonight technically had a pause when a woman honked at me to ask for directions and when my flashlight caught my earbud cord and things got all haywire. Still, I’m counting it as having run the whole thing.
4. I’m very seriously debating DNSing this half marathon I signed up for. Yes, I paid for it. But I didn’t know I was going to be dealing with too much life and wouldn’t be prepared mentally or physically to train. I signed up for “Totally Bullsh*t Free Training” with Nicole. So now I have to decide if I want to try to run a little part of next month’s race and walk the rest. Or just wait to compete in the spring after this totally awesome training program. I really want my first half to be a positive experience and I’ve walked a half marathon before (plus a full marathon 3 times). I don’t know. Still time to decide.
5. I’m back to eating healthy thanks to a little competition I’m in (super low key with only one other person). It’s just enough to keep me drinking enough water every day and eating enough vegetables. It’s pretty BA because there’s almost nothing else that kept me on track and I was gaining weight and feeling awful. And now I’m going in the opposite direction. Woo!

That’s all. Time to find something to burn off a little more of this energy! Nighty night!

Someone has to tell me. Is it weird that I’m this in love with my new running shoes?

About 18 months ago I met my first pair of Brooks shoes. I had Asics and they made my feet hurt. So I went to a shoe store and the guy actually listened to what I had to say (I told him I was training to become a runner so I would be walking and running and let’s be honest, it would be more walking than running but I was dreaming big!) and he dug through the back room and came up with a pair of shoes that made forever brand loyal to Brooks.

Recently I started C25k for a second time to get ready for a Thanksgiving Day 5k. Monday I noticed my feet were starting to hurt. My shoes didn’t look that terrible, but maybe I needed new shoes. I went to an actual shoe store again and they actually watched me walk barefoot (it’s less creepy than it sounds) and then put another Brooks shoe on my foot (it was then that I realized my shoes really were a heaping pile of mess). I loved them! But I tend to love the first thing I try and buy it. I’m never really unhappy, but I should at least try other options, right? I tried three other pairs. The other two Brooks were ok, but not awesome. And the Saucony were just weird and not for me. So I bought the first pair. And I can’t stop thinking about them. The insoles are bright yellow, they have a flame orange arrow on the side, they are clean and new, and they have that new shoe smell. And they are called Defyance. As if to say, I’m overweight and not the fittest I could be, but I’m going to PR at the Thanksgiving 5k, no problem.

I went to the gym today and usually when I buy new shoes and walk into a gym for the first time I think “Man I must look like a tool. Here’s the fat girl walking in with her water and brand new shoes and is going to “work out”. Today I walked into the gym ecstatic to try running in my sweet new kicks and that everyone should admire how awesome and pretty they are. Because today it was “Here’s that thinner girl who’s be running at the gym three times a week (sometimes 1) for almost a year and check out her new shoes.” And that confidence? That my friends, is how a shoe can make you feel like a million bucks.

It’s weird to love these shoes this much, right? Even if it is, I don’t care. They are fabulous.

Hearts and that new sneaker smell
-Liz

Yo. Muscles.

How are you? Actually I shouldn’t ask that. I know how you are. You are in pain. But whose fault is that? Ok. Maybe it’s mine. A but. But let’s have a little chat. You see. Doing the same activities over and over is not good. One, I get bored. And then Mr. Motivation leaves and I’ll never be able to build you up. Two, it doesn’t help you get stronger because you get good at doing those moves. And then you get bored and lazy and the moves are not as effective. So you and I? Well, we mix things up. And I know when I start a brand new routine or introduce something a little radical you need some adjustment time. And that adjustment time usually involves some soreness. But really muscles. Two new exercises last night and you’re all hurty? These exercises are just slight modifications to moves we’ve already made. In fact, one of them was just me being able to do more of them in a row. And yet. And yet? You insist on bringing the pain. It’s not unbearable, just a twinge mostly. But its muscles that let me walk and work at my desk. So it’s just a little ouchy. Every time I move. Yes ouchy. Don’t argue with me muscles. It’s a word. Because it the perfect description of what you’re doing to me right now. And you know what, muscles? I don’t appreciate it. So can you just back off? Let’s just relax and enjoy the rest of today and let the elliptical not totally stink tonight. And get ready to run tomorrow morning. You know it’s coming. Be warned.

Heart’s and heating pads,
Liz