Hot Chocolate 15k/5k

I was both nervous and excited to do this 5k. I mean, who wouldn't get excited for hot chocolate and chocolate fondue? I was pumped.

I should start by stating that I am NOT a "real" runner. I am a walker and a beginning wogger (walking and jogging intervals) but I can not run for any substantial distance. This is where the nervous part kicked in. The race coordinators had strict rules that everyone must maintain a 15 minute mile pace (or be rerouted). So my initial goal (after finishing) was to not be rerouted at all.

I woke up at 4 am, anyone that knows me will realize how amazing that is all in itself. I am not a morning person at all. Met up with my partner in crime for the race and headed to Seattle.

It was chilly outside and the corals to start seemed to take forever to cycle through. I started off jogging, I made it a little over a 1/4 mile (personal best) then moved to a brisk walk. I repeated this pattern for the entire 5k. I finished the race with a time of 50 min, 21 seconds. It's not quite a 15 minute mile, but I was NOT rerouted! Success!

The hot chocolate at the end was worth it...Chin up, Chest out & Attack

March Recap

March was a successful month for me exercise wise. I logged almost 68 miles (a personal best), completed the Seattle Hot Chocolate 5k (without being rerouted...more on that later). I will be doing a race recap separately.

I participated in the "no girly push-ups" challenge and did better than I thought but got hit with a lil depression and fell off at the end.

April is starting strong and I have logged about 15 miles so far. Bought myself some running shoes so I'll be adding more "wogging" this month as well.

Week 3/4-Check in

The last few weeks have been a real struggle. Some major life changes have taken place and I feel a bit out of sorts. My head has either been up in the clouds daydreaming of backpacking through Europe or in a state of panic.

I've made progress in the challenge, though again not as much as I would like. This seems to be a common theme for me...boo!

Currently, I'm at 8 "real" push-ups. Added to that I am doing counter push-ups and am at 3 sets of 17 (2x a day). I started out at 2 sets of 10 (1x a day), so I feel good about this!

On another plus, I'm averaging over 3 miles a day walking or wogging. I completed the Seattle Hot Chocolate 5k on March 3rd.

Here's to Week 5.

Chin up, Chest out & ATTACK!

Week 2-Check in

This challenge has been difficult, not only because it is hard.  Also, because I seem to be having the worst luck.

Here is the break down:  Truck battery died, left me stranded (fun).  Broke a tooth (more fun).  By Friday of last week I was bitchy and in pain, so I finally went to the dentist.  Well my broke tooth was fractured in such a way that they had to do an emergency extraction (sooo much fun).

What that boils down to is I made a ton of excuses as to why I couldn't do the push-ups this week.  Yes, I know exercise is a great stress relief.  I just wasn't feeling it.

Here is what I did do....2 days of 4 push-ups.  Since 4 seems to be my max.  Week 3 goal is #6.

I also decided that I need to do something else...since I am getting super frustrated with not improving as fast as I think I should.  This week I am adding modified push-ups.

Not "girly" push-ups...counter push-ups.  This will help me build some (much needed) upper body strength and I will feel like I am actually making progress. Like the one in the picture, only using my kitchen counter not the wall.



So, let's get out there and DO this.  Chin UP, Chest out, and ATTACK!

Week 1-Check in

SOOOO Week 1, was not what I expected or what I would have liked.  Here's the good, the bad and the ugly.

Good-I am up to 4 push-ups (started at 2, so progress).

Bad- I only did the challenge 2 days out of 7 last week.  I am lacking some serious motivation and have been dealing with some "new" headaches (that's part of the ugly).

Ugly-My form is something to be desired, and I could probably do more push-ups if I wasn't so intent on doing them right :)  I have been dealing with a "new" type of headache.  I should say that I have daily headaches and migraines several times a month (I have for years) and I can deal with those.  These "new" ones are kicking my rear, I spent more than 48 hours in bed and the rest of the time wishing I was.  Trying to figure out where they are coming from, and the only thing that I can think of is that I have been exercising more. HA, isn't exercise supposed to be good for you?

That leads me to Week 2.  I keep going back and forth between starting week 2 and redoing week 1.  Well since, I am starting tonight I better decide.

The No “Girly” Push-Ups Challenge!

So I have decided to take part in a challenge, called the No "girly" push-ups challenge.  I first heard about it on Twitter and then found it on Alex's blog (Alex tries it out and several others, she was just first).

This morning was Day 1.  I am way out of shape and could barely do 2 push ups. Yes,  you read that right TWO!  I fully understand that 2 is better than 0, but I am still not happy with myself.

Anyone that knows me, knows I am not a morning person...so that fact that I tried this in the morning should say something about how I am dedicated to making changes in my life.  I don't know that I will succeed in this challenge of 100 push-ups by the middle of March 2013.  But I will succeed in being able to do more than TWO!

I used the website (100 pushups)  to determine my level.  I am at a 1, which means I can do less than 5 push ups.  My goal is to at least be at a 4 by the end of the challenge.

Motivation Monday

Sometimes motivation comes from a likely source be it a spouse, a family member, a friend or from within yourself. And sometimes it comes from a virtual stranger.

Last week, when I was discussing my lack of motivation a friend in an online group gave me the following advise: Chin up, Chest out & Attack!

At first, I thought it was an odd quote. But the more I repeated it to myself, the more it motivated me. I do in fact feel better when I have my chin up. I see more things around me and simply enjoy more. Chest out...that makes me feel tough, like I can conquer anything that comes my way. Attack the issue!

Everyday since then, I have repeated it. While I have a long way to go to meet my goals, I feel strong enough to chip away at them. There really is something to be said about self assurance.

"Chin up, Chest out & Attack"