I Tried a Mile a Day for One Month

This year one of my biggest goals is to get my body into a healthy state. So I bought myself a used treadmill for Christmas and decided I should try to run a mile a day.

It's kinda a crazy idea, since I hadn't exercised much in, like, a year (except for that one month in the fall when I "trained" for and ran a 10K at Disney World). But I figured aiming for a mile a day would be easy enough to do even after a long work day, even if I just walked it. One mile is better than no miles, right?

So I started. And by day three made an exception that I could skip up to two days in a row, but I had to make up the miles (thanks a lot, insane work day that was unexpectedly 13 hours long and involved the police). Somewhere in the middle of the month I conceded that my goal would be 26 miles instead of 31, because I realized I wasn't thinking about my vacation when I made the goal.

And then by the time I left for vacation, I had done 22 miles in total.
Did I hit my goal? No. Do I feel awesome about those 22 miles? HECK YES!

While I do wish I had met my goal, this is the most consistent I've been with exercise in forever and I could feel my body getting stronger every week, which is the ultimate goal. Also? I RAN 22 MILES LAST MONTH. Every run my breathing gets easier and my heart rate is more stable. My mile time isn't great. I basically walk with little spurts of running. My pace is slower than a lot of walkers (my average pace for January was 17:57), but I'm moving my body and taking steps towards a healthier me, and that feels amazing!

What made me the most excited today (and led to this blog post), was that I went for an outside run for the first time since October because it was somehow 60 degrees in February in Massachusetts. And it was amazing. To set the stage: I spent last week walking and eating a lot of junk around Disney World with my family. I did not exercise, and I did not make good diet choices. My ankles/calves were so tight and sore from all the walking last week. BUT.

I ran my fastest mile time in, like, two years. My running spurts were longer than the last time I went out and my heart rate and breathing recovered quicker. I thought for sure it would be horrible after a week of unhealthiness, but it was the best run in a very very long time! All those little steps from January actually made a difference!

So now I'm looking at my February goals list and setting the same one: A Mile a Day. 28 miles by the end of February. I'm excited to see where I am come March first!

What are your goals for 2019?

Disney Princess Half Marathon

In February 2014 I ran my first ever half marathon...and I finished it!

If you're unfamiliar with Run Disney events, Disney organizes races of different lengths throughout the year at both US parks. The courses literally go though the parks, costumes are encouraged, and Disney characters are all over the place.

It was the middle of 2013 when I first learned about these events (particularly the WDW Princess HM) and sent it to my bestie saying we should get in shape and do it "next time". She promptly told me we were doing it this time. It basically went like this:

So, nine months before the race, I stepped on a treadmill and went for my first ever run. I've never run. I've been the adamant "I hate running" chick. But now....while I still hate the treadmill, I'm starting to like running. Sorta. It's a weird sport.

By the way, I suck at running. When I say I'm "running" what I really mean is "I'm walking fast with some bursts of running in between". My average pace is considered power walking by most tracking tools. I am getting better, though! Very slowly but surely.

Anyways, the main event starts uber early, since it needs to be over for the parks to open. We were up at 3am to get into our Princess Woody and Princess Buzz costumes (best friends....princess-themed race...do I really need to explain our decision?) and to the bus with plenty of time to spare. Then we spent an hour or so waiting in our O corral, excited but sleepy.

Finally, it was our turn to start! As each corral starts, Disney sends the runners off with fireworks!

Then the run is on! Because we weren't used to the heat, and we both had a rough start that morning (and I was having...female issues), we ended up power walking most of the race, but still. We finished! The course for this race was more highway than I expected, but hey- it's the Disney highway! And they've got a lot of character photo-ops along the way. We didn't stop, since we were going way slower than we expected, but it was still high energy and fun! Disney runners are the greatest, most encouraging people ever!

Here, have some race selfies:

So, the course. It starts outside Epcot, onto the Disney highway heading past the race track towards Magic Kingdom. The most exciting part is when you turn a corner and realize you're on Main Street heading towards the castle. It's this burst of energy at the half point of the race that spurs you on! After running through Tomorrow Land, you come up behind the castle and there're two heralds blasting their trumpets as you run through the castle! Then you head out the back of Magic Kingdom, back on the highway, and end up at Epcot via back stage Epcot.

Just before you reach the finish line, at mile 13, there's a live gospel choir spurring you on to the end. And at the finish line? Mickey and Minnie are giving high fives. It's super exciting, and then they give you a medal, a cold towel, and a snack box!

That's what I look like after a crazy 13.1 mile expedition that I fully didn't expect to finish! At mile 3 I was certain I wouldn't finish, had a brief revival around mile 6 at the castle, then lost faith again from mile 8 on. It wasn't until around mile 12.9 that I thought I might actually make it. But I did. I still can't fully believe that I did a half marathon.

The night before we left, RunDisney announced a brand new race in DisneyLand: The Avengers Half Marathon!! Guess what we're signed up for?

Also on this trip? Other amazingness. I had dinner in the Beast's West Wing. THE WEST WING! It's forbidden, you know.

Belle had the napkins folded like roses (obviously), We got to see THE rose, and Beast was even home to meet us. Yes, I tried the grey stuff (and, yes, it was delicious).

And, to satisfy my geekiness, I had a butter beer in Hogsmeade after a terrifying broom ride around Hogwarts.

This was such a fun week! Definitely one for the memory bank! 

Have you done a RunDisney race? What did you think?

"Yoga for Runners"

Wow! This book was so much more than I expected when I first requested it! Felstead uses this book to chronicle the whys and hows of yoga, focusing on the benefits for runners. She goes in depth with full descriptions and sketches of the anatomy involved with each move. Every aspect of the running/yoga connection is covered, including dealing with injuries and adapting for pain.

Despite being comprehensive and so in-depth, this book is very accessible and easy to understand. Felstead includes several series of yoga poses to accommodate every need and schedule, from 10 minute TV sessions to 90 minute whole-body routines. Every exercise is described in detail through muscle group specific chapters.

This is an amazing resource for any runner or yoga newbie, like me. A great way to relax and enhance your running through a yoga practice. I will definitely be referring to this often.

Recommended. 4/5 Stars.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As Cool As Lincoln With a Machine Gun Riding a Bear

Jon Acuff posted this on his Facebook today with the caption, "Dear Monday, I'm coming at the week like this. You've been warned."

I'm adopting it. I have a bunch of things I've been putting off, and this week is the week to get them done! Watch out, Monday!

I've started early. Last night I completed my first Christmas present (my brother's). And today I ran the Doctor Who Virtual 5K with my friends! Look at our smiley, shiny faces at the start of the run:

At the finish line, my brother did the honors of bestowing upon me the Coolest Race Medal Ever:

Look, K9! Look, a Sonic Screwdriver! Look, the TARDIS! Look, Gallifreyan! And it says, "Basically, run"!!! Awesome-sauce.

What kind of awesomeness do you have going on this week?

The Time I Got Rad

September's adventure was so great! 

We drove down to Seekonk, sat in traffic, and made it just in time for our corral to start at the Color Me Rad 2013 event! What a BLAST!

This is our Before Picture. Notice the very white shirts? Color Me Rad is a 5K run where along the course they throw colored powder (and occasionally liquid) at you, like this:

Now, I've mentioned before that my friend and I signed up for a half marathon. Because we're crazy. So this was a nice intro to organized racing (even though it wasn't a race. It wasn't even timed.) But, it was hotter than I usually run in. And I learned that eating breakfast at 6:30am, when you don't start running til 10am is a bad idea. At least for me. It was a very tough run in that sense since I was basically running on empty. But I made it! It was so exciting to see the finish line come into view:

We got a little separated from each other in the last color pit, so we didn't finish together, but we all finished!! And then we walked back to get a finish line shot. I love this picture. 

Once we finished (and doused each other with additional color), I don't think was there any white left on our shirts. My glasses were covered, there was color in my ears and nose, and I had nice little colorful sweat rainbows at my elbows...and I couldn't have been prouder! 

After the run, we rubbed off as much as we could and went to the mall in our finisher t-shirts. And somehow we must look like respectable grown-ups now, because even though we were sweaty and colorful, the man at Tiffany's still offered to let us try on the diamond rings! It's probably a good thing we didn't go in to the store like we did to the Color Me Rad Color Blast:

This was such an awesome event and I would highly reccommend it! It's designed to be a fun event, so anyone can do it! There were people in wheelchairs and moms with strollers. Definitely a really really fun time that you should do if you have the chance! This may be my favorite picture from the day, my first-ever completed organized run:

Sadly, Color Me Rad doesn't have medals, but they do send e-badges:

I am a finisher!! WOO HOOO!!!

Anyone ever do Color me Rad or something similar? How'd you like it?

I'm baa-aaack!

Hello again, blogging world! I took a little sabbatical from blogging for a bit to relax and recharge, but I am now back, and I have a plan! I've decided to (try to) blog three times a week. And I've given those three days names.

You're already familiar with Freedom Fridays. Now say hello to Magic Mondays and Workout Wednesdays! Monday's will be whatever I feel like blogging about: life, book reviews, adventures, whatever passes through my mind. Wednesday's will be an update about my diet and training.

So without further ado, I present to you, dear reader, the first ever Workout Wednesday!

I gotta say, I'm really proud of myself this week! I have been kicking major training butt! There have been big changes in this realm since the last workout update, so lets get you caught up.

My gym stopped offering P90X....right after I got a cheaper price on my unlimited classes for agreeing to a longer contract. But, as an alternative, they started offering a Functional Movement class at a time that is so much nicer that 7am! And I am LOVING this class. A ton. I get super sore each time, I get pushed to my limit, and I love it. I've never done Crossfit, but I think this is like a non-cultish version of that. Kbs, DBs, RFTs, AMRAPs....it's like learning a new language! This week (meaning since last Wednesday), I made it in 3 times (my goal!!).

Also, since last blogging, my best friend and I decided we're crazy. We decided since neither of us run, we should sign up for a half marathon. Because that's logical. Now, in my defense, if anything would ever get me to run, it would be this:

The Disney Princess Half Marathon. We're signed up, our hotel is arranged, and the training has begun. No, seriously, I've become a runner. Why? Because I get to run through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, before they open, including on the Disney highway and BEHIND THE SCENES while all the characters cheer me on. Did I mention they encourage costumes? And that Mickey and Minnie give out the medals? Or that you start with fireworks? So I think you see I had no choice.

This week I ran 3 times, each run better than the last, including a long run of 4.5 miles (from home to the gym for a FM class!). This week I also realized just how far a half marathon is by putting it into local landmark perspective. I'm insane for signing up for this.

Total mileage this week: 10.42 miles. I think I'm even starting to like it. Weird.

Today I signed up for this:

A Doctor Who Virtual Race! The official details are here. Basically, you sign up for the 5K or the HM, do your miles on the honor system (with an official bib and everything), and they send you an awesome Doctor Who medal!!! I'm so excited!! The whole time I'll pretend I'm in an episode. Knowing myself, I'll have a whole storyline thought up and it will be epic.

My diet has been fairly good this week. I ate out 3 times (two with friends, once because I just didn't feel like making food), but tried to make healthier choices. I've cut out all cookies, donuts, cakes, and candy for the month. I tried to also cut out Coke, but I decided to just make that one an all-the-time change and limit it to very infrequently. This month, I've only had two cokes. Which is a huge deal for me. This week hasn't been so good with fruits/veggies, but has been good in other ways.

I'm also down a pound this week! My goal is to be down 10 pounds, or one pant size, by the time I go to Iceland. Oh yeah! I didn't tell you I'm going to Iceland! In exactly one month. With my 2 best friends. We're gonna hike glaciers and ride furry horsies through lava fields and see the northern lights. It's going to be amazing.