last week

Oh yes, I've been so busy last week that I haven't had the time to jot this down on here. Anyway, I got laid off last week, Monday, Nov. 17 to be exact. The way the current US economy is along w/ the way the company I was working for was heading, I wasn't surprised to get the walking papers last week. Everyone in my company got it, so. So yes, I now have the opportunity to just kind of hang out until I find another job. I've already filed my unemployment papers and all that good stuff. I just have to make sure I do/get all the necessary stuff in to start collecting my unemployment dough.

Okay, so yes, more about last week. Well, after my layoff on Monday, I had some side projects that I had to do and get down by the end of the week. Boy, did it take a while. I literally spent almost all evening Wednesday, all day/evening Thursday and almost the entire day on Friday to work on these projects. It was like my booty was glued to the computer chair the whole time. I barely stepped away from the computer to use the bathroom or eat! Crazy. I know, usually when I'm really deep into a project, I barely take breaks to do other stuff, just cuz I just want to get it done. Anyway, of course, I did take little breaks here and there... so it wasn't that bad! Overall, I'm glad I got them done. Let's just hope the end result is good. I'm really keeping my fingers cross. But hey, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. :)

Now, because I was so busy w/ these side projects, I didn't really have the time to stick to my running schedule. So on Friday afternoon as soon as I finished the last bit of things, I got out of the house and ran! I ran the Lake on Friday and did pretty good. I wasn't trying to beat any previous time, but instead to just run/keep a decent pace. At the end, I recorded a 44:52. So to date, 44:52 is my best Lake time. I doubt I'd do that again, or if I was to... I really would have to run at a steady/faster than usual pace and keep it up. We'll see, I guess. I do know I've been getting lots of practice on this Lake course and my body's used to it... so I'm not super surprised if I do improve on my time.

Okay, what else... oh, I ran on Saturday morning w/ Mark doing his new route around the house, about 3.2 miles. It was a tough course. It only took us about 32 minutes, but OMG, it was brutal! Lots of slight incline/hills here and there, especially towards the end.. ahh! It was just tough. I don't think I will be looking forward to that route again anytime soon... but then who knows. We'll see.

Yesterday was the DSE Great Highway 4 Miles race. Mark and I both ran it and we did pretty good. I accomplished the goal I set up for myself... to run it under 40 minutes. I did it under 38 minutes, which isn't bad at all... so I'm quite impressed. I think Mark said he did it in like 36 minutes or something. We'll see what our actual time is when they post the results later this week.

All and all in regards to running, I like to think I made up for it with three consecutive days of running. Today, I'm debating if I should take a break and rest, or go out and run. I'm pondering w/ the idea of possibly doing two laps of the Lake... so it would be about 9 miles or so if I do it twice. I've never ran longer than a 10k before, so two laps around the Lake would be a real milestone and accomplishment. I don't know... we'll see. :)

Oh, btw, I weighed myself this morning... lost a pound I think. The digital scale says 102.8.. that compared to last week's 103.8.. I guess I did lose a pound. Yay! Now, I just have to do good this week cuz it's Thanksgiving this Thursday and I know I will be eating all those yummy food and be baking lots of goodies. Ahh! Can't wait... love the Holidays.. especially Christmas. It's going to be soooooooooo merry and FUN! :)

Alright, that's it. More later.

yesterday's race

Mark and I finally ran another race! Yesterday was the DSE Polo Fields 5K Race. We've never ran this race or course before.. except for about 1/3 of the course (which is between mile 1-2, the opposite direction). Our route is a bit tougher than theirs I think because you have a slight incline the first 1/4 and also towards the finish versus theirs, having the incline only between mile 1-2 and mostly downhill or flat, all the way to the finish line. Anyway, I'd like to say because of the easier route, my 5K time was fantastic! I think I clocked in at 29:35.. under 30mins like I had hoped I would do. But I also think it wasn't just because of the route, but that I've totally improved on my timing lately. Last week I ran Lake Merced twice, the first in 47:08 and the second in 45:29. That's the same route, on two different days, with two different times... so I say I did pretty good. Oh, also, I clocked in my best mile to date from the race. That was unbelievable! I was just super suprised when I checked my Nike+ thing to see how my pace at the 1-mile marker was and it told me I was doing a 8-something minute pace, ran 1.02 miles for 8-something minutes! I checked at the end of the race and it said I ran that first mile in 8:37! That's definitely a new personal record. :) Of course I doubt this will happen again anytime soon just because I hate going at a faster pace than my overall pace... but we'll see. Let's hope I improve and do better on my timing. In the meantime, I have to really train myself mentally to run longer (time and distance-wise)... if I ever want to finish a half-marathon/full marathon one of these days. :)

For now, I just need to keep running and of course, get geared up for another race this weekend, the DSE Great Highway 4-Mile Run. I hope I do well. It'll be mostly flat, I think, so yes... hopefully okay?! =/ We'll see, I guess. Anyway, I'm just super excited for it! Ahhh! :)

Alright, now onto the whole weight-loss thing. I don't think I'm doing too well. I bought a new digital scale, a much better one I think from Macy's and returned the WW scale I had previously purchased from BBB. This morning I checked my weight and I read 103.8lbs. Of course, I have definitely put on some weight... because a few days before it was reading 102lbs. Anyway, today will be the start of keeping track of my weight on this new scale. Let's hope I improve on my eating habits and do good. I know I did terrible this weekend w/ Priscilla's 16th bday BBQ and eating out last night w/ Mark at the Olive Garden. :P

Okay, more later.

running

So far, I've done okay regarding my half-marathon training. I know I didn't stick to the training schedule just because I felt I could run a little more. This week, for both runs, I did Lake Merced. And both times, I improved my time from the previous Lake run. I'm really proud of myself for doing that. Anyway, let's hope I keep this up.

Alright, now regarding food choices, so far... haven't totally stuck to the whole healthy thing. My calorie count has been quite awful. I think last night I ate about 2400 or 2500 calories. So yes, I really need to buckle down and focus more on that. Also, I know I need to add some strength training workout to my schedule. I was doing that a week or two ago, but I've put that on hold for now. I need to pick that up again.

Okay, more later. :)

training for my first half-marathon?! =/

Today is the first day of a brand new thing. Well, it's more like.. I'm restarting again, except for with a slightly different purpose. I really want to be able to run a half-marathon and survive it, so this week is the first week of a 12-week training I will put myself on. Yeah, I know, silly me. But yes, I really want to do well. So for now, back to hardcore calorie counting, every step counting (putting my pedometer to use again), and exercising.

Starting this week I will attempt to make running a habit again. Kaiser Permanente is having this half-marathon this coming Super Bowl Sunday. I think it's like the first weekend of February of 2009. Anyway, I've decided that I will train for that and make it my first half-marathon. Who knows if I will really run the race, but I just want to train for it. So yes, starting this week I will gradually train my body to eventually run 10+ miles. Yikes! I know!

So here's the run down on this training schedule:

Week 1: run 8 miles total, 2-3-3
Week 2: 11 miles, 3-4-4
Week 3: 13 miles, 4-4-5
Week 4: 15 miles, 4-5-6
Week 5: 16 miles, 4-5-7
Week 6: 18 miles, 5-5-8
Week 7: 20 miles, 5-6-9
Week 8: 22 miles, 5-7-10
Week 9: 15 miles, 4-5-6
Week 10: 23 miles, 6-6-11
Week 11: 20 miles, 5-6-9
Week 12: run 5-4-RACE!

OMG.. lots of mileage. Let's hope I stick with it and do good. Well, first off, I WILL stick with it and I WILL DO IT! :) Wish me luck! :P

Okay, write more later. Stay tune. :)

Alright, just some quickies. Bought a new scale. It's a WW digital scale. Current weight, 104.8 lbs... goal weight, 95-100 lbs.. waist, 27".. below belly, 32" ... ahh! I know, good luck. :)

election day

Today's Election Day. Yes, not just any kind of election day, but a presidential election day. Mark and I got out early this morning and voted. Of course, being the democrats that we are, OBAMA-BIDEN got our votes. Anyway, we'll find out by the end of the week who our next president of the United States will be. Let's hope it's OBAMA! :)

Alright, now... my weight-loss/exercise stuff... so far, doing okay. Still keeping up with my 30 Day Shred DVD. I'm already noticing that I do have ab muscles underneath all that excess icky fat and skin or whatever. You know, the belly baby pouch. I'm just hoping that in time my tummy will get back to normal (okay, not totally of course... u know, pre baby.. but decent). I'm really hoping it'll firm up decent enough again. Let's hope so.

Umm... what else? Oh, still trying to count my calories. Not doing so great in this department, but trying. Alright, that's all for now. :)