Marathon Week Wrap-Up

First off, a big thank you to Steve for spearheading this challenge, I was really challenging myself with the distance and making time for myself. If you are new to my blog, I've been sick for about a month (no lie) and I haven't been able to run. So making time for myself to walk was a challenge in itself.


I am thankfully, feeling much better, I have one more day of antibiotics, and I am hoping that is the end of it. I haven't been on any other cold medicine in the last 4-5 days. Fingers crossed! I am looking forward to running again, I left off at week 4 with my Couch to 5k program, and I think I am going to restart week 2, since I've been sick for so long, all my build up is gone. Thankfully, my next 5k isn't until September, so I've got plenty of time to get back into something that resembles a running form. 


I have to say, I don't think I will ever be a distance runner (thinking half or even full marathon), as I feel like I lose interest in it. I need quick little bursts that I can accomplish something in. Who knows, maybe my opinions will change. Heck, only 2 short years ago, I never even thought about running... since then I've done a 5k!


I had only 1.1 miles to finish off my Marathon Week challenge, and I was at work, so what did I do, laps around the fire station's apparatus bay. Let me tell you there wasn't much to look at. This station is old! And there is a lot of equipment crammed in there. But it wasn't about my surroundings, it was about getting the mileage in and finishing strong!


What I loved about Marathon Week was getting out on some of the local trails here in New Hampshire and really getting to see some of the natural beauty. Despite the mosquitoes trying to carry me away (you can burn more calories trying to swat them away, right?), I still thought that it was really wonderful to be in that kind of environment. 

Weighing in and Marathon Week

First off, let me say, that I am so over being sick, I've been on  Augmentin for my sinus infection for a week, I still have a few more days left, but I am on day 29 of being sick! I hate not being able to run, even all this walking and activity for Marathon Week has made my cough VERY productive (don't worry, I won't go into anymore details beyond that...)


Marathon Week has been super thus far, I've been at least walking every day and getting some serious mileage in. Some days, it's all at once, most days it's broken up into smaller walks. It's been nice to shake things up a bit. The balls of my feet have been killing me! I guess they aren't used to all this activity. 


Some reflections on the week: 

• First off - I a super proud of myself for even attempting this, if I were able to run, I don't think I would have as much of issue with this, but not being able to run, definitely made this a challenge. 
• My H2B joined the challenge, Ben said that he'd join in the "fun" and he's been doing great, he did a big long walk on Monday (think like 14 miles) and he's been awesome. So proud of my guy!
• I have spent more time walking without music than I have with music this week. It's a nice change of pace to actually listen to the world around you. 
• I hate bugs... especially bugs that chase you.... and mosquitoes, they are just nasty. 
• I've found some great new places to go for a walk and can't wait to explore some more.

As of right now, I am at 25.1 miles for the week that includes just over ten miles of biking yesterday at the gym. I am currently at work, for what looks like a 48 hour shift, so I won't be getting out of work until Sunday morning. So I will only have to do a "small" walk on Sunday in order to complete the challenge. I am super proud of myself. 

Thank you to Steve for setting up and hosting this challenge, it's been awesome, just like he is!

And now, for the weigh in. Friday is my typical weigh in day, so here it is: 305.5.

Not really sure why I had a 1.5 pound gain this week, it may be the Augmentin? Or maybe just all the increase in activity from this week. I'm still tracking my food using My Fitness Pal and I haven't gone over my calories any day last week. I guess we'll have to see if it comes off next week or the week after (when I'll be fully off the Augmentin). It's a little frustrating, but I am not going to let it get me down. 

This week was my step mom's birthday, she's recently had to switch to a gluten free diet, so dad made her a fried dinner, we had homemade french fries, chicken, haddock, scallops and shrimp. All of the breading and seasoning was gluten free, it actually tasted better than how he usually made it! For desert, we splurged, dad got her a carrot cake that was gluten free, and I am not usually a big fan of carrot cake, but this one was excellent. It tasted more like spice cake than carrot. 

I've tried several meals that she's cooked now and if I may brag for a moment, my step mom has ALWAYS been an excellent cook, and she's been working hard trying to find good substitutes for her meals that she loves, and she's really doing an excellent job of things. I am so proud of her and proud of my dad for at least trying her gluten free recipes. 

And lastly, for those of you who remembered... here is a picture of me, while on one of my walks from this week.

Please don't mind the bra strap in the picture, this was an hour into my walk on a hot and humid day... 

Marathon Week is here!

If you follow the hilarity on twitter that is Team Awesome (Kerri, Steve and myself) you will know that Steve is in full #MarathonWeekPolice mode. Making sure that only mileage from Monday at 12:00am and on counted! 


Steve is awesome, but if you know him, then you already knew that, anyways, this Marathon week challenge that he issued is just that, a challenge. Yes, would it have been easier to start on Sunday, why yes, I had nothing to do all day. In fact I got a good nearly 3 miles in on Sunday, it would have been great to have that count. However, part of the whole thing is that it's a challenge and it's not supposed to be easy. 


Kerri and I jokingly said, we were going to be the ones on Saturday night at 11pm walking laps around the house just to get the rest of our mileage in. And seriously, if I had a pedometer, I totally would have been walking laps while at work. I've got nothing better to do than wait for the ambulance to get back from the hospital (hence why I can write a blog post at 3:30 in the morning). 


I am looking forward to this challenge, I think it will be a great challenge to not only get the mileage in but to make time for myself and what's important to me. Which is an area that I've been doing well in, but it could always be better.


26.2 miles here I come! 


I believe that I am also going to issue a personal challenge to take a picture of me at least once while working out. So call me out on it if I don't post a sweaty ass picture here!

Weighing in, in more ways than one

There is a lot going on in my world right now, some I openly talk about here on the blog and other stuff in my private life. It's been a really trying time and I've been stressed out. Hopefully after last night, things will begin to mellow out.

Today is National Donut Day, I purposely avoided Dunkin' Donuts and opted to forgo my iced coffee, because I knew that with any beverage purchase, Dunkin' Donuts was giving out a free donut. I didn't want to give in to temptation, so I oped out. Not going to lie, it felt really good to be able to do that for myself. I didn't want to sabotage my day.

Also, today is Friday, my weigh in day, I stepped on the scale to see a 304. Which is a loss, and not only a loss of the gain I had last week, but still continuing down beyond that. Since starting tracking again with My Fitness Pal, I've lost 13 pounds. That is since May 1st. So in a little over a month I've lost 13 pounds. I am sure it's a lot of water weight, because that seems like a lot of weight to loose in one month.

Still a bit bittersweet for me, this is only like the fourth time I've lost the same weight, but I need to remain focus and celebrate the small victories for me, and hopefully, I will be able to end the madness that is the 300's for me.

I am now on day 22 of being sick, and I am waving the white flag, I will be starting the new antibotic tonight, I really didn't want to, but I am not getting any better and really I need to. By the time I finish the medicine, I will have been sick for over a month, which is just insane. HOPEFULLY I will begin to feel better....

I am looking forward to starting Steve's Marathon Week Challenge on Monday, I think it's going to be challenging to find time to get that amount of activity in, but that's why they call it a challenge. I think it will be a great accomplishment and a huge motivator for me. Have I mentioned that I love Steve! He's always there when I need a pep talk...or a swift kick in the pants (virtually, of course)

End of May 2011

So I have impressed myself this month. I've completed the month with at least 23 days of activity, in fact, I completed 24 days of activity.

I am both happy and pleased with my efforts this month, despite being sick. My weight is still fluctuating, but I won't get discouraged. I am determined.

An update on being sick, I went back to the doctor's today, I was put on a z-pac to resolve my sinus infection last Tuesday. Well the sinus infection and sinus pressure did resolve, but now it's just a lingering cough, semi productive. So after going to the doctor today, I was told to wait another day or two, if the symptoms still persisted I was given a prescription for another antibiotic. And I was told to rest, relax, and take some cough syrup.

I am hoping that I won't need to use the other antibiotic. I also am unable to continue running. The doctor said, it's best to wait until I am feeling 100% better. I can walk, but no running. I am a bit upset about being sick for 19 days, and not being able to continue with my couch to 5k training, this is a set back for me. But I know I will be back and in full force. I may have to do some weeks over again, I am not sure how far this is going to set me back, I am glad my 5k isn't until September.

I am going to be participating in Steve's Marathon Week Challenge. To walk/run 26.2 miles in one week (Monday June 6th through Sunday June 12th). I am hoping that I am feeling better and able to really kick butt in this challenge. You can follow on twitter, we'll be using the hashtag #MarathonWeek