Ecstatic!!!

Sorry no interesting post today, kids. BIG Anatomy exam in the AM!

*****However, did I mention that:

The

Hubby 

Comes 

Home 

Next

Week!!!!!!

For those of you who don't know, he has been deployed and I haven't seen him since November.

So there you have it. Tomorrow I promise a real post. You know like with workout stuff...

Sports Sunday & Animal Stalking

  

     Were you stalked by a coyote today? No? Well I was. This is the second time in the last week I have been stalked. At least I haven't seen a rattle-snake while running like Rose did.
     It's Sunday, which reminds me off football and I'm not going to lie I can't wait for it start back up again.

Pro or College, I really don't care. I like them both!

    I had a GREAT workout today! I did a tempo run on the treadmill, which was really boring after spending the last two weeks running outside. I usually run an 11 min. average, but am hoping for 10 min. miles during my 5k next Sunday.

Run Breakdown:

Mile 1- 9:05

Mile 2- 9:16

Mile 3- 9:19

   *2 min recovery in between each. I wasn't sure how long I was supposed to do this for. So I stopped at three.

   Afterward, I made some delicious salmon and salad.

I really should have titled this post simply "S"... sports, stalking, salmon, salad. Well it's back to my least favorite "S", studying....

Do you have a favorite sports team??

Finding a balance, life's little complications

     If you have been reading my blog lately, you may have noticed I have been REALLY excited about running! And I have increased my distance a lot. And I have made this blog look pretty sweet (at least I think so). BUT, I may have forgotten to mention that I am taking 15 credits at school and applying to nursing school.

     So today I really wanted to get out for a nice bike ride since it's a non-running day. But, here I sit. Reading, writing, studying, highlighting... mostly highlighting (I'm kind of obsessed). Remember I said I had addictions and obsessions: see here.

     I'm kinda bummed right now. But I guess it has to be done. I have kind of neglected studying lately. 

Maybe I'll do one of my cheesy video workouts. I just have too much energy to sit here much longer. 

     Tomorrow, I am headed out for a tempo run though. No matter what. I have my first race next Sunday. Yes, it's only a 5k, BUT it's my first race! And I want to do decent. 

Do you do tempo runs? Do you think they help?

What do you do for exercise when you can't get out for a run because it's too dark?

1/4 marathon... HUGE accomplishment today!!

..yes I know it's usually called a 10k.

Run Further Fridays

     Friday is my day to push myself. I have no school and therefore more time to convince myself that I can run further. My furthest run so far had been 5 miles. Last week. This week I wanted no less than 5, but I REALLY wanted 6.

     On Monday I made that desire public by posting it on Rose's blog when she asked what everyone's goals were:

Heather Elliott @ the desire to run said...

My goal is a 6 mile run this week. Very advantageous of me as my furthest run was a 5 miler on Friday. But I CAN do it :) 

April 4, 2011 6:14 PM 

So in an effort to make it all 6 miles, I had to do whatever I could to prevent the blisters... they plague me. Talking to my mother the other night, she mentioned duct tape. Not sure if she meant it literally, but I had no athletic tape. So duct tape it was.

 It worked amazingly!!!

     I ran all 6.24 miles without stopping except to take pictures for you my bloggy friends. Even still, less than 30 seconds total. That in itself is a big deal because I have asthma. More on that at a later date. It deserves it's own post.

     So now I grace you with pictures of my not-so-average views while running...

Yes, that is a tank machine.

And a missle. I see these babies launch all the time.

Run Recap: Mile by Mile

    Let me start by saying: I have never been prouder in my entire life! Mile 1 sucked, because well mile 1 always sucks. Mile 2 sucked because an old, gray-haired, wrinkly man passed me. That made me feel a bit defeated. I mean an 80 year-old man was lapping me. But by mile 3, I realized I was halfway done and was really getting into it. Mile 4, the legs started to feel like lead but I found some Black Eyed Peas on the ol' iPod and pushed through it. Mile 5 was the home stretch and I felt untouchable. 

By the time I was here, I only had a mile left and felt totally excited!!!!

See, I told you I was excited!!!

     So tomorrow I think I'll take it easy. And by easy, I mean I think I'll knock out 20 miles on my bike. IF(and that's a BIG "IF") the weather cooperates.

What's your biggest running accomplishment?? I'm new to this running thing, so I totally give you permission to top my 6 miles with an Ultra. I'll be there some day!

It sounded like a good idea....

    Today was supposed to be an easy workout day. All I had planned to do was a simple (or so I thought) yoga class.
     At some point during my day I got bored and REALLY wanted to go running. But I am really trying to not to do too much too soon, which I always do. You see, I kind of have an addictive personality. When I get interested in something I become OBSESSED! In the past this has caused me a lot of pain and usually results in me giving up on my venture to become a runner. So in an effort to avoid this issue, I decided to go spinning.

   I was dreading it a bit because I find it to be a bit torturous. So I gave in to another addiction: Vodka.

Just kidding, it was just some coffee.

     After the coffee, the neurons in my brain started firing and I had a bright idea.  I would bike to the spin class. It was, after all, a good warm-up. Very good idea... more on this later.

     Spin class was AWESOME! I am really noticing a change in my cardiovascular system. Boy was I sweaty!! I had an hour in between spin and yoga so i did a little stretching and then relaxed sweated like crazy in the sauna. It has been a sweatastic day!

So I was totally psyched about yoga... then class started :( It was a super small class today so the instructor spent a lot of time praising correcting our stellar crappy form. Her main target: ME. I'm not so limber. I nearly fell on my face, luckily she caught me. In the end it was a good stretch i suppose, but not as enjoyable as I had anticipated it to be.

Now, back to the wonderful idea that was not so wonderful. Remember 3 hours before when I had that great idea to ride my bike to spin class??? Well by the end of yoga, a crazy storm had started and it was hailing!!! Luckily a nice stranger let me put my bike in the back of her car and gave me a ride home. Yes, I said a stranger gave me a ride. Don't worry I'm safe.

What is with this weather?? Don't I live in sunny California?

What's the worst weather you have been caught in while out for a run or ride?

Well that run blew...

... actually that was the wind. Holy moly. 
     
     When I got home from school today it was really windy so I relaxed at home for a bit thinking the wind would die down. After a while, I realized I was losing precious daylight and decided to check the weather channel to see what the wind's plans were. 

Local Weather Alert

Special Weather Statement for Santa Barbara County Central Coast, CA

Wind:

From NNW at 23mph gusting to 29mph

Well crap....

     So then I spent the next ten minutes making excuses and telling myself skipping one workout would be okay. Then I remembered all of you, my wonderful bloggy friends! And I put on my shoes and went for a run.


     The wind was horrid since I was running into the wind almost the whole time!! But hey... it was a better workout right? Is it possible to get wind burn when running, because I think I did.

Lessons learned:

     In an effort to not get discouraged by the wind, I thought "hey if i look cute everything will be better." So I donned my cute Juicy sunglasses. Bad choice. I spent the whole run pushing them off of my nose. I should have just worn the not-as-cute but super sporty and made-for-running sunglasses.

     On a positive note, I am gaining more followers yay!! Honestly and truly, I am so thankful for you guys! Especially those that are not my family. O man that sounds harsh... What I mean is that you guys (non family members) keep me accountable. If I quit running, you'll stop following. So you guys are totally awesome. My family, whom I love, has to follow me know matter what :) That's what family does.

   I'm sore, so tomorrow I think will be a yoga day... don't worry I'll blog about that too!

What's your favorite non-running workout??

Am I having "follow me" problems??

It was brought to my attention today that some people are not able to "follow" my blog. My blog lists this person as a follower when I look, but she is told that she can't follow. Anyone try to follow me and couldn't?

I have received a few "comments" from people who aren't followers but I just assumed they thought the post was interesting but my blog want something they wanted to actually follow. Maybe there is something going on here.

If anyone has any information, let me know. My email is listed under my contact me tab in case ya'll can't comment.