#NavigationFail

Some days, the focus is just not there.  There are times when you spend 20 minutes mapping out a route on MapMyRun.com, and then you get out there on the street and totally forget it.  Those days often result in shorter runs, because you're thinking "I don't know where this goes, I should turn around."  Well, friends... the opposite happened to me yesterday.

Ann Arbor's Transportation Department must have been, like many people in Ann Arbor, a little... distracted when they put together the road system.  And by distracted, I mean high out of their minds and goofing around at Taco Bell at 2 in the morning.  There are intersections in this town where four different roads come together...sometimes five. 

Yesterday after work, I mapped out a nice three mile jog through a scenic neighborhood with huge oaks and it was supposed to be pleasant.  And it was!  And then I realized I was at Gallup Park, which is a good 3 miles from my house.  Somewhere along the way, I missed my turn and just kept going.

Now you say, "You got a great workout!"  And while that might be true, I'm in no shape to be running six miles.  I thought I was going to die by the end of it.  And I would have stopped to walk, but I had reservations for Restaurant Week downtown, and any Ann Arbor resident knows that this is an important bi-yearly event that cannot be missed.  So I ran, and ran, and ran.  All for the love of Italian pasta and belgian waffles (?).  Waffles with ice cream--surprisingly delicious.  So in total I ended up running about 6.2 miles, instead of 3.  And now I have no excuse for complaining about three miles.  The lesson to be learned here is to always check the map before running, even if you feel like you know it.

Overall things have been progressing nicely in the fitness department.  I've been running pretty consistently, I joined a gym (that I have actually been to), and I've set an appointment with a trainer for next week.  Someone needs to show me how to work out, because I feel like a n00b in the gym.  I don't even know where to start.  I'm going to try and update this blog more often.  I miss the writing.

Have a great day, and happy running!

The flood of 2011

Readers, I love dreary weather more than most people.  But man this has been a wet spring.  We've had something like 13 days in a row of rain, and the ground is completely saturated.  I've watched a lake form outside of my office, a tree come crashing down on my poor roommate's Suburu Forester, and driven a truck through what didn't used to be a river between a corn field and a golf course.  OUT OF CONTROL.  This hasn't really caused too many problems with my running as of yet.  I ran three days this week, for a total of about 7 miles.  I have a ways to go, but it's a good start.  I even managed to use one of the rainy days to find a gym, which I am excited to start using.

Over the last couple of days, my runs have improved.  Not my times, necessarily, but definitely the way my body is responding.  The only negative was that yesterday the sidewalk jumped up to bite me and I swan-dove into the sidewalk right along Stadium Rd.  I'm sure the drivers that saw me would give me a perfect 10!  A little blood never hurt anyone.

I'm hoping to start at the gym next week, and I will start increasing my runs to three miles or higher.  Looking forward to an active summer!

Looney Tunes Lawn Mowers and a New Beginning

Well peeps, the grass is green, the trees have leaves, and the healthy people are out of the gym and back outside.  I guess I should probably join them.  Somewhere down the line I am going to have to realize that it's not okay to be a healthy person for half the year and then become a hibernating glutton over the winter months.  Oh Jets, you destroy me.

Things have changed a bit from my situation last year.  I am not planning on running any marathons in the near future.  I just want to get to where I'm running 20-30 miles a week.  Also, I moved into a house on the east side of town, so I get some new routes!  That is exciting.  I'm still trying to recover from that near heart-attack caused by that awful german shepherd. 

This new living situation has provided me with a new oportunity for yard work, and the use of this RIDICULOUS contraption:

Seriously, what is this?  Only one of the worst inventions ever created.  Bugs Bunny (or whatever cartoon used it...Wylie Cayote?) makes it look so easy.  It is not.  It is NOT a good time.  At least I'm getting an upper-body workout, but I may be on craigslist before too long looking for a gas-powered machine.  I can't go around with bruised palms all summer.

I ran a little over 2 miles yesterday and it was sloooooow.  I definitely have a long way to go before I get comfortable with this again.  I'm going to look into a gym membership this afternoon.  We'll see if paying for this health nonsense will make me do it, and get me into shape a bit faster. =D  Here's to a new running season!

I love Vick's VapoRub

Our bodies are built with mechanisms to alert us to when we're making poor decisions for it.  Whether it's fatigue from staying up too late, or heartburn from that extra slice of pizza, or a murderous cough from not enough sleep, walking around outside without a coat, and eating fast food all the time.  Needless to say I have wanted to do nothing but lay around my apartment, suck on vitamin-C cough drops, and sip on my bottle of nyquil for the last 5 days.

It's obvious to me that my body is fed up with me treating it like a garbage dump.

Hula Hoops Are Not My Thing

Over the weekend I spent some time with good friends Chelsea and Shelly, mostly messing around with a Wii and shedding most of my dignity.  Over the course of the evening, I discovered that I don't have great balance and apparently cannot swing my hips.  DEATH-TO-HULA.  From what I've been told, the upper-half of my body was doing all the hula-ing.  Put the thing around my neck, I'd probably be fine.  The evening was a success, however, because no one fell down the stairs and all of the tripping over the dog didn't break any bones.

I've written about it before, but balance is important in every aspect of our lives.  Within our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual states...does anyone ever want to admit that they're unbalanced in any of those?  I must admit that I struggled the find the balance in my priorities, and often things turn to chaos because what I want to do at the time may not be the best decision. 

This morning I woke up at 5:00AM to start my new workout schedule.  I had the gym to myself, which was great as I tend to be a bit self-conscious when lifting weights and pushing all of the buttons on the treadmill.  Let's face it people, I really have no idea what I'm doing.  Why is every treadmill different?  They shouldn't be that complicated.

Anyways, I realized how out of shape I was when I finished one mile and that was all I wanted to do.  I did 50 lunges and started lifting...and then almost barfed.  Pathetic.  I've never been good in the morning with anything.  Ever.  And it's safe to assume that will be the case in the future as well.

So as I run from one side of the seesaw to the other (or in Wii terms, stay on that dang tightrope) trying to find the balance between work, fitness, social life,etc., I have confidence I will figure out a solid exercise schedule that will not be interrupted by near-vomiting.  But I can guarantee it won't be at five in the morning.

While you're reading blogs, why not check out Chelsea's thoughts on her intriguing New Years Resolution?  Her blog is located at http://theaveragelifeofatwentysomething.blogspot.com/.

It's The 0-1-1 Son!

Well it's a new year, and it's time to start feeling bad about yourself again.  Heh.  Mr. Positivity is always preaching strong on a Monday morning.  I only say that because it's the time where you make New Years Resolutions, and then look at your track record from the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that... And you also notice a recurring theme.  You didn't keep ANY OF THEM.  hahaha.  I don't know, maybe it's not so funny.  But maybe I'm laughing and crying at the same time.  One of those "Ahahah...uhuhuhuh." *weeps*

So needless to say, we make New Years Resolutions anyway.  Even if we don't keep them, they give us a sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, we'll follow through this year.  They also provide us with somewhat of a "Control+Y" Re-do on life.  We may have already undone what we set out to do this year, but it's time to get back in the drivers seat and start over.

On a more personal note, I have to admit that I haven't done much running since my foot injury.  I've paid for it, because I've gone back to eating my beloved ELFudge cookies and pizzas.  The jeans are fitting a bit tighter these days, and it's definitely time for me to hop back on the treadmill and get my act together.  I'm shooting for 5 days/week in the gym, and I've given up fast food entirely.  Blogging does help keep me accountable, so I've got my fingers crossed. 

Regarding official resolutions...I didn't really make any for the year.  I'm focusing more on the change in lifestyle than on the actual accomplishments.  What kinds of resolutions did all of you make?

Happy 2011 everyone!

So Close...Ugh

Lets get random and drown my sorrows with Hall & Oates. 

My stupid foot has me perplexed.  It's had over two full weeks of rest, a new shoe, ice, and plenty of stretching.  What more could it possibly want?!!  


During my run yesterday I was so optimistic; on that third mile and not feeling any pain at all.  Then right as I turned the last corner I started feeling it again and it accelerated pretty quickly.  I was so close to the end!  At this point I'm just not sure what to do.  I don't want to be over-dramatic, but I feel side-lined.  Depending on how I feel tomorrow, I may need to get an x-ray, though I can't imagine there's anything I can do about it.

Last Thursday I worked out on a bike and an elliptical machine.  I felt fine, but those machines do not provide the same workout as running does, and certainly aren't appropriate for marathon training.  I really don't want to give up on this race in October, but it's about six weeks away, and the furthest I've been able to go at this point is twelve miles...not even half.  If I don't see improvement in my foot, this blog may become more about a quest for healthy decisions and less about running a race.

I guess that proves that while much of running is mind over matter, I have to be responsible and listen to my body.  Hopefully things turn around, though.