Couch to 5k: Week Three

Photo by emples

Fail!

Sadly, this week definitely didn't go very well for me. 

I don't know if it's because the weather finally got cool or if I was just worn out this week or what. It could also have something to do with the intense yoga session I had with a couple friends on Sunday. Who knows. 

Monday I was doing pretty good. Until I got to the end of the intervals. I ended up walking about 10-15 seconds during the last run time. A friend of mine showed up to walk with me and I think I walked really fast at the end to try to catch up with her. 

Wednesday I was able to run all the intervals I was supposed to. I thought I was doing really great! My time was a bit slower than Monday but I could live with that.

Friday. I woke up early and was tired. I wasn't feeling too well to begin with. And it was super cold that day. By the time my 5 minute warm up was "done" my hands were completely numb. When I started running I could feel that the muscles in my legs were still tight and cold. My last run interval was full of fail. I couldn't run the time at all. I ended up running the straights and walking the curves (remember I run on a track) until I finished the number of laps I like to complete.

Week 3 of the Couch to 5k program:

Warm up 5 minutes.

Run 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds. Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Repeat once for a total of 2 repetitions.

Cool down 5 minutes.

My week:

Monday: 2 1/2 miles 28 minutes 57 seconds (walked 10-15 seconds in the middle of second 3 minute running interval).

Wednesday: 2 1/4 miles 29 minutes 10 seconds (ran all required intervals).

Friday: 2 1/4 miles 31 minutes 19 seconds (could not run second 3 minute running interval. Ran straights, walked curves until completion of 9 laps, then walked a lap to cool down).

So...that means I have to repeat this week. I can't move forward to another week until I've mastered the week I'm in.

I am somewhat disappointed. But, on the other hand, I'm not disappointed at all. 

I know I tried and that's what counts. So my body didn't want to keep up this week. That's okay. We'll try again next week. 

I can only do what I can do. I think I definitely need more of a warm up time though. My body just doesn't warm up as quickly in cooler weather as it does in the warmer weather.

And gloves. I definitely need to wear gloves on those cool mornings. It's just to distracting...and somewhat painful. 

So that's that. I will be repeating week 3 this coming week. Wish me luck!

For Further Reading Check Out:

• Couch to 5k: Week One
• Couch to 5k: Week Two
• Couch to 5k: Week Three (Again)

You Look Like a Monkey...

...and you smell like one too!

Yesterday was my birthday.

Last year around this time I was sad and miserable.

Last year I turned 30.

I thought I was going to be one of those people who would take my 30th birthday by storm. I thought I would approach it with vengeance and be more fabulous that day than ever before.

Then reality hit.

I was SO not excited about turning 30. The Hubble was deployed. I felt old. I just didn't want to do it.

Yesterday...I turned 31.

Though I'm not incredibly thrilled with getting older and being 31...I really like being in my 30's.

When you are in your 20's people tend to look at you like you are a kid.

Sadly...there's a reason for that.

I feel like I know so much more now than I did when I was in my 20's.

I am actually super happy to be in my 30's now.

But talk to me in another 9 years and I'll probably be singing the same tune I was last year!

Yesterday started off kind of off. I had a headache. Little Butt woke up with a tummy ache. But I vowed to have it turn around.

 When The Hubble got home from his workout, I was finishing up my shower. When I walked out of the bathroom I found pretty Halloween-y flowers!

Then we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel. I am in lust with their new harvest yogurt parfait and I had to have one. It's so freaking good! If you haven't tried it...you must. It was the apple streusel French toast at first but then I started running and decided I needed a healthier option. The meal that the parfait comes with has eggs, a breakfast meat and an apple bran muffin. I think it's only around for a short amount of time so hurry and go try it! LOL!

When we got back from brunch I opened my present! For the last 10 1/2 years I've hoped and hoped that The Hubble would just know what I wanted for my birthday. That.Doesn't.Work! So this year I told him exactly what I wanted. And he delivered!!!

You may be thinking "where's the fun in that?" if I had to tell him what I wanted. I would know what I was getting right?? No! I was extremely shocked and surprised that not only did he remember what I told him...he actually followed through and went and got it! LOL!

Later that evening, we went out for sushi with some friends. I tried sashimi (raw fish) for the first time and it was SO good. I'm so happy I got it! I think it's going to be my newest obsession. I can't wait to go again.

My friend Lauren made me some cupcakes for my birthday too!

Hummingbird cupcakes with coconut pineapple frosting (the pink) or lemon frosting (the white). Lauren and her husband, John, also gave me a gift card to an amazing liquor store in town. Woohoo! I can't wait to figure out what to spend it on!

Another awesome thing that happened to me on my birthday was that Kristen from That Army Wife Life left me this award:

Kristen is pretty dang awesome and is even a top 3 finalist in the Army Wife Network HH6 2011 Contest. I told you she was awesome! If you have a minute, you should jump over to the AWN site and vote for Kristen in the poll halfway down the page!

And that's how the anniversary of my 30th birthday went down. Yeah...I'm getting older...but I'm loving it!

And many more...on channel four...

Couch to 5k: Week Two

Photo by emples

Success!

Another week of the Couch to 5k program has been accomplished!

I know it's not much but I'm still proud of myself.

Monday, The Hubble had off so he stayed in bed while I took Little Butt to daycare and went to the track. I'm really proud of myself for not letting him deter me from my goals. (Two years ago it would have been a different story).

I don't know what's up with Wednesdays though. Either I lose count of my laps or I just REALLY drag ass on Wednesdays. 

Usually I do 9 laps (2 1/4 miles) during the program's intervals. However, on Wednesdays I only do 8 (2 miles). It happened last week and it happened this week. It's pretty frustrating but I need to find a way to straighten things out on Wednesday. 

Surely I just lose count...right????

Anyway. 

My best friend Insomnia came for a visit on Thursday night so when time to go to the track rolled around...let's just say I was tired. But I went anyway.

Luckily, there were a bunch of soldiers working near the track so that made me stand up a bit straighter and move a bit faster. I couldn't look like a slacker in front of soldiers right?? LOL!

The sky was dark on Friday and I thought for sure it was going to start raining on my head! (It didn't). It was also pretty windy offering me some lovely resistance. But I still did pretty good.

Oh. And taking about 15 minutes to do some yoga stretching at the end of my workout has been helping my recovery time. It's also a really great way to feel calm and loose after running. 

Now for the numbers!

Week 2 of the Couch to 5k program:

Warm up 5 minutes

Run 90 seconds, walk 2 minutes (repeat for a total of 20 minutes)

Cool down 5 minutes

My week:

Monday: 2 1/4 miles 29 minutes 20 seconds

Wednesday: 2 miles 29 minutes 22 seconds (see what I mean???)

Friday: 2 1/4 miles 29 minutes 35 seconds

I thought for sure my time would suffer this week since I was running for a longer time but it didn't. All of my times this week were better than my times last week.

I also have not yet started doing yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Honestly, I'm kind of scared. If I add something new, will that affect my running? Which is more important? 

I think I definitely want to get more comfortable with running. Maybe after I complete this program and am capable of running distances I want then I'll add in more stuff.

One step at a time right??

Have you started a new fitness program recently? How are you doing with it? 

If you haven't started one...do you want to?

For Further Reading Check Out:

• Couch to 5k: Week One
• Couch to 5k: Week Three

When You're Here, You're Family

Have you been to Olive Garden lately??

This past weekend we went to a friend's house for dinner. My friend Lori was having a "clear out my freezer" dinner party before she moved away the next morning and we were invited.

Let me tell you...that was actually a delicious and fun meal. Everything was pretty random but it ended up being a great idea to help her get rid of extra food (without tossing it) and an excuse to get together on her last night here!

Anyway. While I was there and she was finishing cooking, I caught a commercial for the Olive Garden. Their new four cheese sacchetti dishes had me drooling (and not just because I was starving, the house smelled delicious and dinner wasn't done yet)! These dishes looked AMAZING!

So...The Hubble and I decided to do a little shopping in "town" on Tuesday and while we were there we went to Olive Garden. I had trouble deciding between the shrimp dish or the one with chicken. I ended up going with the chicken dish because it offered a garlic cream sauce over the shrimp dish's Parmesan sauce. (I'm a sucker for garlic).

I would post a picture of it, but I ate it so fast I didn't think to take a picture and the website doesn't have one I can steal borrow.

This meal was delicious! I loved it so much!

We also tried their new mini desserts. Here's a picture!

Photo Courtesy of Olive Garden

Being that we aren't too into chocolate we got the 3 without chocolate. We all ended up liking different ones the best. The Hubble loved the tiramisu, I loved the lemon and Little Butt loved the strawberry. Win, win, win!

Anyway. As much as I would love to sit here and talk strictly about food, I try to save that for my other blog.

No. Today I want to talk about people.

When we were there we were seated in a narrow room with booths lining each wall. Some elderly folks sat across the aisle from us. There were 3 of them. 2 ladies and 1 gentleman. The 2 ladies were sisters and the gentleman was the husband of one lady. LOL! That sounds confusing. 

Okay. I'll name them. Mason (the gentleman) and Mouse (the older sister) were married. Then there was Pistol sitting across the booth from her sister and brother in law.

These people had to have been mid to late 60's or early 70's. 

We overhead them talking to their server about beers and wines. Well...The Hubble knows his beer and I tend to know my wines so I couldn't help but eavesdrop. We even tried to intervene to help answer the questions the server couldn't but they were focused and didn't hear us.

So we went about our meal. Until Pistol caught my attention to tell me how cute Little Butt was. 

Somehow, we ended up talking to these people through the duration of both our meals. We learned a lot about them. These were some awesome older individuals!

We asked them questions...they asked us questions. They talked to Little Butt. We ended up covering everything from politics, military life (Mason is a 30 year retired Navy Captain) and believe it or not...tattoos and piercings (they brought up that topic). 

This was one of the most awesome experiences I've had at a restaurant and I really feel the Olive Garden motto of "When you're here, you're family" is true. We definitely felt like we were meeting up with family members when we were there.

I guess I need to talk about this because early on I heard them toast. Pistol raised her glass and said that as long as she had beer, she didn't need hair. She even mentioned maybe having a head shaving party.

Pistol was here visiting her sister before she starts Chemotherapy. 

I've been thinking about them for days. They really touched me. Especially Pistol. 

She is a spitfire of a woman and I hope that she is able to beat this thing. 

We will probably never see them again...but for one afternoon, one meal, they were family. They were so kind and accepting. They are special.

My thoughts are with you Pistol. Thanks for the great meal!

Tag! I'm It!

Photo by Sudhamshu

You better start running while I count to 10! I'm comin' to getcha! 

LOL! Just kidding. But not really. Maybe.

Anyway. I found out last week that I was tagged by 2 lovely ladies. So I am here to share my answers with them. And since you are here, I'll share them with you as well!

The lady that tagged me was The Annoyed Army Wife. I heart her mucho. She had to answer 8 questions from someone else and now I have to answer 8 questions from her then you have to...are you getting the point here? Let's get to it!

1. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

Well. Do you mean when we are looking at the bed or laying on the bed?? LOL! I sleep on the right side. The funny thing about this is that my side of the bed used to change depending on which side of the bed was closest to the door. I always used to sleep closest to the door. I don't know if it was for a quick get away or what. This is the first place that I've slept furthest from the door and it's kind of weird for me. But I'm enjoying it.

2. Do you have an alarm clock that you can dock your iPod in? If so, which one and do you like it? Yes, I'm in the market.

LOL! No. But I need and iHome thing for The Hubble so if you could let me know what you hear back I'd appreciate it! We use our cell phones for alarms and computers/stereos for music.

3. Should I get an iPhone when my contract expires on my current phone (in less than a week)? OccDoc has one and I really like it. I think I'd get an iPhone 3 if I do it. 

Ummm....I would never go with AT&T so my answer is no. I've heard the Droid Incredible with Verizon is awesome. My dad and stepbrother both gave up their iPhones just to get the Incredible.

4. What's your favorite cookie to bake, if you bake?

I bake a lot but don't really bake a lot of cookies. The one I've made most often is The Hubble's favorite. Just regular chocolate chip cookies (I use Ghiradelli chocolate chips) with Heath toffee chips thrown in. So good!

5. What's the most annoying noise in the world to you?

Forks and knives scraping on a plate. Just thinking about it makes me cringe!

6. Who was the first person to break your heart?

My dad.

7. What time do you wake up in the morning usually?

Whenever Little Butt wakes up. Anywhere between 7am-8am.

8. What time do you normally go to bed?

Around 10pm or 11pm. But it takes me a REALLY long time to fall asleep.

The next set of questions is from Kaylee from Devil Dog Darling.

There were only 5 questions for hers. Here they are:

1. WHO do you think would make the best celebrity president? 

Eeeeew. I don't really care for celebrities. Ummm...let's go with Gwen Stefani since she's the Captain of my lesbian boat. The country would be insanely well dressed and we would be pretty rad. But we would also probably be taken over and have to learn to speak Chinese.

2. WHAT kind of crafts do you most enjoy doing?

I love baking (is that a craft??). I taught myself to knit a couple years ago. I like scrapbooking but I never do it. I also love to draw. Lately I've been getting into photography.

3. WHEN you were a child, did you ever see yourself living the life that you are now?

Well, considering I lived this life when I was a child I guess so. I don't really remember anything before the age of 12 so I don't know what I envisioned for my life. But it's not incredibly different from the way I grew up.

4. WHERE do you visit most often in your dreams?

No particular place. It's the people in my dreams that really matter. Like, last night I dreamt that I ran into Amber from Goodnight Moon! at some random store. We knew who each other was from our blog pictures but neither wanted to be the firs to say hi. We ended up being really good friends in my dream. Random right?? Good thing she rocks. (And I promise I'm not completely creepy!)

5. WHY is it so hard to come up with these questions? (In place of why... Tell me one thing that not many people know about you.)

Oh geez. Ummm...I have no idea what people don't know about me. How about...I talk. A lot! Like, I talk to random people in stores. I have to catch myself sometimes and tell people that I talk way too much. However, this talking a lot, to whomever, ensures that I make friends pretty easily. So I guess it's not all bad. Unless you are The Hubble and you are waiting for me to finish a conversation I struck up with a cashier somewhere. He tends to get annoyed with me. ;-)

Now. For my questions to you. I'm just going to come up with 8 so I kind of cover both tags.

1. What is an amazing book that you have read recently?
2. Seen any good movies lately? If so, what was it?
3. What are the last 3 songs you have listened to?
4. What is the very first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
5. Do you have a 'before bed time' routine? What is it?
6. What is your favorite snack?
7. Do you order the same thing off the menu every time or do you change it up?
8. What is your favorite hobby?

Okay. Now I tag 8 people. You are:

1. Amber at Goodnight Moon! (You know I had to after that dream!)
2. Gwen at Chew & Digest Books
3. Sarah at Mowenackie
4. Nicole at Flip Flops and Combat Boots
5. Jessica Lynn at Jesstagirl and Her Officer
6. Annie at Nana GoGo
7. Sarah at Confessions of an Untenured Teacher
8. K at Uncork and Unwined

I hope you all decide to play along. But if not, I understand.

And just one last side note. This here is my 100th post!!! Thanks for sticking around!!! 

For Further Reading Check Out:

• I've Been Tagged...and So Have 8 of You!