1/2 Marathon in Review (Talladega 21000)

 

So on September 16, 2012, I finished my first 1/2 marathon.  I mean, if  you had asked me in March, 2012, if I would run a half marathon ever in my life, let alone this year, I would have said "Heck NO!"  Seriously, I just wasn't that into running.  But, I completed an obstacle course in April and was so pumped about the challenge that when a runner friend said, "Hey, let's do this (this being the Talladega 21000)" I said, eh, why not?  So I commenced training, I guess around late May or early July.  I was very fortunate to have a friend who had done 1/2 marathons before and triathalons and marathons to push me along the way. 

Training wasn't too rough, if you don't mind getting up at 4:15 a.m. and running in the dark during the hottest part of the year!!!!  I mean, really, could I have picked a worse time to start training?  I don't mind the getting up at 4:15 a.m. part.  I do that anyway.  I have two small kids and a more than full time job so the only time I usually get to work out during the week is at 4:15 a.m.  I was also very fortunate to have a husband who understood the challenge and my commitment to it and encouraged me along the way.  And of course, as soon as I mentioned it to our crazy running friend, he was all in (that's us next to a car at 'Dega)!

Anyway, when race day came, I was a bundle of nerves.  During training, my last few runs of 10 miles were good but the last long run I had before race day was 11 miles and it was horrible (no, I never ran a full 13.1 during training).  During that horrilbe 11, I had cramps in both sides and my legs just wouldn't loosen up - I thought I would never be able to run 13.1 if 11 was like that.  Then the Tuesday before race day (a Sunday), I ran 5 miles on seriously hilly terrain without socks (because I had left them at home), and had ginormous blisters on the arches of my feet.  Brilliant!!!!  So I was unsure if I was actually going to make it to the finish, both mentally and physically.

Well, the planets must have been in alignment and God must have heard my prayers because I did make it and I finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes (10:10 per mile pace). 

When we first started, I struggled to keep a slower, steady pace as people raced past me.  I am seriously competitive (bet you could not have guessed that!) so it was all I could do to hold myself back.  But I just reminded myself that they would be walking later and I could make up time later once I found my rhythm.  Well, the first 3.5 to 4 miles were tough.  My legs just would not loosen up.  It usually takes about 2 miles for my legs to warm up but this was different, this was just plain pain.  Finally, though, the legs felt fine and then I was cruising.  The scenery was great too, always changing so you didn't get bored running a loop, and they had quotes from the movie Talladega Nights posted along the way which gave us all a good laugh.  I found my rhythm about mile 6.  I wish I had started out a touch faster but with my legs behaving the way they were, I think I was lucky not to be walking!  Well, as time went on, I did start passing all those people that had sprinted out of the starting gate.  It felt great!  When I came out of one of the tunnels from the pits, my husband and son were standing there.  I think that was probably between mile 10 and 11.  It was so encouraging to see them there cheering me on that I think I even picked up my pace some.  I cannot describe the feeling when I finished.  I was just so thrilled and excited.  I felt a little worn out but I didn't feel overly exhausted or like I was going to hurl.  It was totally awesome!  I mean, the boys beat me but, who cares!  I finished!

 

Some things I found helpful -
(i) good music - I listened to K-Love on iheart radio on my phone during the race, I varied my music during training;
(ii) cardio tracker/trainer - I used it during training to know my pace and used it at the race to know my distance - there are tons of free ones out there;
(iii) eating right the entire week to two weeks before race day - I did tons of research and got out of the "I gotta lose weight right now" mindset and into the "I need to fuel my body correctly for this race" mindset - I also experimented with meals and what worked for me during my long runs during training - food can really mess you up on race day;
(iv) hydrating myself for 3 to 4 days before race day;
(v) supportive family and friends;
(vi) a good training plan (you can find free ones all over the net);
(vii) a running buddy that will keep you accountable when you don't want to train.

I would highly recommend the Talladega 1/2 marathon for anyone wanting to run one and I will probably do it again next year.  It's not a boring loop and they actually make it a lot of fun!  My husband has his first 1/2 marathon in a little over a week.  Seriously, when the heck did we become runners????

1/2 marathon around the corner!

I am so incredibly nervous.  In 4 days, I am running my first 1/2 marathon.  I have never run 13.1 miles and will not until the day of my race.  The longest distance I have run is 11 miles and it was not pretty.  I had run two ten milers before my 11 miler and felt pretty good about both of those.  11 . . . not so much.
Anyway, everyone has been so encouraging and I am so very afraid I am going to disappoint them!  Everyone thinks I am going to finish way under the time that I set for myself (granted, it's ridiculously slow for me) but I just don't see it.
One of the sponsors sent out an email today about picking up our race packets and I immediately wanted to go in the bathroom and hurl.  Yes, I know that all I have to do is finish and my finishing time will be my best 1/2 marathon time ever!  Yes, I know that it's all in my head and as long as I finish that's all that matters.  Yes, I realize this is my first 1/2 marathon and so I shouldn't put so much pressure on myself.  My problem is I run with guys that have run 1/2 marathons already.  They are a full foot taller than me and have bigger strides and I always feel like I am slowing them down or not running to their standards.  They are so nice about it - saying it doesn't matter, that they enjoy the company, that their legs are tired anyway so they need a not so aggressive pace today.  I appreciate them saying those things, but I feel that deep down, they really wish I would pick up the pace.  So, I  am ALWAYS putting pressure on myself about running.  I know no females who like to work out like I do so I always end up working out with dudes.  I don't mind, but it would be nice to have a female work out buddy every now and then.  But then again, I find girls to be irritating and overly silly sometimes too. Oh and I can say that because I am a girl!  But I guess if another female enjoyed working out as much as I do, then she probably wouldn't be so silly.
We have this hill near my office.  We call it the hill from hell.  We run it on occasion.  It starts out so gradually that you almost don't know that you are running up hill.  Then you turn the corner and there it is, the uphill climb that keeps going and going and you turn a corner and you are still going up and up.  And the worst part?  Our trek doesn't include a turn around so that we get the benefit of running down it!  Granted, there are some down hill parts but we don't run down the hill from hell.  I would probably fall on my face anyway.
Anyway, I digress.  I think I am going to be a hot mess Sunday morning, eating my bagel and banana, while chugging water.  My husband was going to run the 1/2 too but bailed because he didn't think he could be ready in time.  He is right - I have been running for years, even if only short distances and he has just recently gotten serious.  Smart of him to realize it and change his plan.  He picked a 1/2 in November and is training for it.  I cannot believe either one of us is running a 1/2 this year.  It's incredible and scary all at the same time.  Wish me luck!

I remember . . .

I remember where I was on this day 11 years ago.  I was in law school getting ready to go to class.  We were all gathered in the student lounge talking, sipping our morning caffeine of choice, the news playing in the background - a typical morning before classes.  Then the news abruptly switched and we learned of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center.  I remember the disbelief.  I remember thinking "This can't really be what they are saying happened."  And I remember on the live feed watching the second plane hit and the entire room gasping. I remember the silence as we watched in disbelief.  I remember thinking I was not going to make my class.  I remember classes canceled and other professors that insisted that classes continue.   I remember the somber mood around the common areas of the law school that day.  I remember panicked calls to my parents trying to see if my brothers (both living and working in NY at the time) were okay.  I remember not being able to get through to my parents for what seemed like hours as the phone lines were crazy with frantic callers all across the country.  I remember trying to call my brothers direct knowing it would be impossible to get through.  I remember seeing professors that so intimidated me in classes, unbelievably distraught and their faces drawn with grief.

After the initial shock, I remember the anger.  I remember being ready to go enlist and ready to kick some terrorist you-know-what.  I remember talks of next targets and pre-emptive strikes and whether there would be another draft.  I remember crying a lot, empathy for all those who lost loved ones that day and for those courageous and brave people on United Airlines Flight 93 who sacrificed themselves to save others.  I cannot to this day fathom the courage it must have taken those people on that flight to do what they did. I also remember the insecurity after the attacks wondering if there were other plots already in motion of which we had yet heard or learned.  I also remember the families.  I remember children that have grown up without fathers and mothers, brothers that lost sisters and sisters that lost brothers, parents that lost children, wives that lost husbands and husbands that lost wives.


I remember all those things and on days like today I also remember how I am blessed.  I am blessed to live in this country where I can worship whom I choose, and where others sacrifice their lives to keep me and my family safe. Where I, a woman, am free to work, free to speak my mind and free to become whatever I want to become; where my children will grow up with boundless opportunities if they put in the effort.  I am blessed to have a wonderful, loving family, even if I might complain sometimes.  I am blessed to have children that drive me crazy at moments, to have a husband that can annoy me with his dedication to watching his teams play rather than helping with housework, to have a job that is so demanding, to have so many constraints on my time and so many obligations, responsibilities and commitments that sometime seem so burdensome.  I am blessed because I am alive to experience these things.  And though I may take things in my life for granted from time to time, I will never forget . . .

Running Gels

So I am a little over half way through my training program for the half marathon.  Yesterday was my longest run to date - 8 miles.  In anticipation of the 8 miles and to get kind of used to the idea of taking gels during a run, I bought some gels on Friday at a local shoe shop.  I have never used gels before - I've never had the need.  One of the employees at the shop gave me some tips about using the gels and my running buddy did too so I felt pretty good about the idea.
I got up Saturday at 4:15 a.m. (yes, even on a Saturday!), chugged some water, stuffed the gel in my sports  bra (a Vanilla Hammer Gel - see pic at left), put on my headphones and headed out the door.  Putting the gel in my sports bra was my first mistake.  I ended up with little cuts all over my chest from the packaging!  So about mile 5 I decided to try the gel.
The guy at the shoe shop warned me that the gel was really thick and that I should probably cut it with water, but I don't run with water (my second mistake).  The gel was so thick that I gagged the first time I shot any of it into my mouth.  I had to convince myself to swallow and not think about it.  I am very sensitive to the texture of food and it keeps me from eating some foods that are probably really, really good.  Anyway, I got the gel down.  It didn't taste bad at all, it was just the texture that got me.  I actually highly recommend this one.  At the time I took the gel, I happen to be running by a yard that had its sprinklers running and I seriously considered and actually pictured myself running over, sticking my mouth over the stream of water and chugging out of the sprinkler.  I didn't, but I came really, really close.  
The gel really helped too.  It wasn't some instant rush that I got but I could tell that it gave me some more "oomph" to keep going the next three miles.  I am excited to try the other flavors and brands we bought.  My next investment will be some kind of water carrying device - either a water bottle that has a "strap" of sorts that goes over your hand with pockets for gels or a belt with bottles for water.  I have heard the belts are difficult because they slide and slip and generally don't stay in place but the hand held water bottles have their issues too, like not being able to carry as much water as a belt.  Maybe I'll try both.

Barbarian Challenge 2012

So we did it.  We actually finished the Barbarian Challenge in Gadsden on June 23, 2012.  I was a little nervous but confident I could handle it - yeah, that was BEFORE I actually got there and BEFORE I started running the course.  During the race, there were times I just wanted to survive.  Yes, it was that hard. 

We didn't run in the first heat as that was supposed to be for those people who wanted to win it all.  Well, I wanted to win it all but, come on, this was my first one.  So we ran in the second heat at 9 a.m.  While we were waiting to be let loose, the first guy from the first heat came across the finish line.  We all cheered and pumped our fists encouraging him to cross.  He did - in 48 minutes.  I thought, "Yeah, I can do this.  He is not even muddy and he finished at a decent time." 

So with all the confidence in the world, they let us go.  First obstacle - climbing over two lines of rusted cars.  Easy.  Second obstacle - military crawl through a mud pit with electrified wires at your back.  Yep, I got shocked at the very end - I was not at all thrilled about that.  After that, it becomes a blur.  There was a creek we had to go through but they didn't have the end of that stretch marked clearly so about 50 of us (in the front) kept going down the creek.  Well, finally someone yells for us to come back because we went to far.  Cost us probably 6 minutes (there and back) and then we were in the middle to end of the pack. Then came the hills.  There were some water obstacles - I think one of them was a giant dumpster filled with water you had to jump in, go under some buoys and jump out - there were some rocks we had to scale down and a giant slip-n-slide down a giant hill.  I have a nice bruise on my left upper thigh from a nice rock under the tarp they put down.  So at some point there was a rope climb - hand over hand.  I was impressed that I actually got up the rope and rang the bell.  The problem was, I had to wait about 5 minutes for my turn - Hello people, two ropes are not enough for heats of 200 people.  Seriously, think about it.  So that waiting allowed one of my teammates to catch up (seriously, I was about 4 minutes ahead).  Ugh!  The only thing I have on these guys is endurance!  They are way stronger and way taller (i.e. longer strides) than me.  And he didn't complete the rope climb - he tried and slid down and decided to move on.  Oh and the slide down - let's just say I had rope burns in unmentionable places that required me to wear spandex under everything for two days. Yikes!

And then there were the hills.  This is the part I thought I would not survive.  Seriously, "hills" is not a realistic description of these things.  I literally was bear crawling up some of them.  And they just went on and on and on.  I don't know how many of them there were but it seemed like a million. 
I found a running buddy at one point - we kept encouraging each other to just pick 'em up and put 'em down.  It's all you could do at points.  But I finished, and that is what matters.
And I finsihed nicely too (if I do say so myself)!  14 out of 133 for my age group, 192 out of 869 overall.  Our clan came in 7th out of 35 clans (Yay Coach Crystal Fitness Clan)!  Oh and I beat two male members of our clan by a good 8 minutes (yeah, I am the only female in our obstacle course group).  The other male member beat me by 1 second.  He actually waited for me at the finish line before crossing - he said he felt it wasn't fair to beat me since he didn't really do the rope climb.  Eh, I'll take it.



So here are my lessons learned:

1.  Wear spandex under your running shorts or wear running pants (avoid rope burn at all costs!).
2.  I am not as fit as I thought I was.
3.  There is a secret (unknown to me) to finishing this thing or the guy that finished in 48 minutes cheated. 
4.  The human race is naturally encouraging and helpful when thrown into a challenging situation (we all encouraged each other along the way).
5.  I need to challenge myself more with my workouts if I ever hope to finish faster.
6.  Lock the port-o-potty door when you are changing (I forgot and the poor guy that opened the door got a nice view of my very large white behind).
7.  Looks can be decieving - I was very unimpressed with the set up when we first arrived but would definitely do this again and recommend it to others!
8.  Running is better with friends.
9.  Do not eat an "everything" bagel before racing.  The onion flavor does not taste good as you burp it up along the race course.
10. Sometimes the people in front don't know where the hell they are going.  :o)

A half marathon and the Barbarian Challenge this weekend!

So unbelievably, I have decided to do a half marathon in September.  It's here in state only about an hour away so that really helps.  www.talladegahalfmarathon.com.  If you had told me 6 months ago that I would be training to run a half marathon right now I would have told you that you were crazy.  I have never been "a runner".  Run for fun, for exercise, for whatever but not seriously like this.  I am in week two of training.  Training is not horrible.  It's about 3 days a week right now and it actually has started out at distances I am pretty used to running but at much slower paces - now that just drives me crazy.  I see no reason to slow my pace at this point if I am running the same distances I have been.

My husband has decided to do the half too.  And he has NEVER been a runner, not even the casual runner I am.  It should be fun!  At this point, I just cannot imagine running 13.1 miles.  The longest I have ever run is 6 miles.  Doubling that and then some just seems an unsurmountable task, but I am going to try.

Today is speed training.  One mile warm up, about a mile at a pace a little faster than I am used to running, a half mile recovery, a mile at the faster pace again and then a half mile cool down.  I am experimenting too.  It is getting lighter earlier here so I am up in the hopes that it will be light enough in about 20 minutes to go run before work.  It's getting too hot to run on my lunch hour outside at work.  Plus I know the distances around here and at work it would be a little harder to figure out.  I hear the birds already so that's a good sign.

This weekend is the Barbarian Challenge in Gadsden.  www.barbarianchallenge.com  Now this one I am nervous about.  I think it will be fun as we are doing it with a couple other people but I am a little worried about the obstacles and the course.  Plus it's almost a mile longer than the Warrior Dash we did in Jackson, MS a couple months ago.  I think I will finish it but will I finish it faster than the three guys I am running with? That's really my goal - to beat the boys!  Wish me luck!

Be a Beachbody Coach! It's easy!

So, maybe you are thinking of signing up to be a Beachbody Coach or maybe the thought has never crossed your mind.  Here I will try and explain the pros (and cons) and why I signed up to be an independent Beachbody coach.  If I don't answer your question, please feel free to email me (coachcrystal@coachcrystalfitness.com) or comment on this blog and I will get back to you asap!

So why did I become a coach?  Two reasons (i) discount on products, and (ii) accountability.  First, discounts.   When you become an independent Beachbody coach, you get 25% off all of your purchases.  I am buying the stuff anyway, why not get it cheaper!  Some people become coaches just to get the discounts and there is a huge benefit in doing that.
Second, accountability.  Before I even heard the phrase "be a product of the product" I knew that if I became a coach, I would be more focused on my fitness and push myself harder.  I mean, how can I tell you that you should focus on your health and fitness if I am sitting on my couch eating potato chips all day and not working out?  What a hypocrite I would be!  I wanted to keep focused and push myself to the next level and knew that becoming a coach would help.  Plus, I love working out with other people and getting people to push themselves to a new limit!  It's so much fun to watch people accomplish something new or even be challenged myself (like I have been lately by my running buddies).

If those two reasons are not enough there are other benefits to becoming a coach: You also get (i) 25% commission from your customers’ purchases (unless they are Club members. Then your commission is 15%), (ii) 50% commission on your customers’ Beachbody Club member dues, (iii)  bonuses as you increase your business and coaching level, (iv) once you reach a certain Coach level (called Emerald) customer referrals from Beachbody (the Customer Lead Program), (v) free websites maintained by Beachbody (but I highly recommend also creating an independent website like I did www.coachcrystalfitness.com), and (vi)  free support and advertising to grow your business (if that is your goal).  No one is going to force you to grow your business, however.  You can do as little or as much as you want - it's up to you!

There are some costs associated with becoming an independent Beachbody coach and it would not be fair if I did not provide those as well.  So here they are:

The initial cost is $39.95. This gets you your tool kit, access to an online office, training programs, coach support to grow your business, written materials, national coach calls, resources to get answers to all your questions as well as any questions of those you are coaching and three of your own Independent Coach websites (one for Shakeology, one for Ultimate Reset and one for everything else).

The monthly cost after the initial start up cost is $14.95 per month. This continues your access to all of the above and Beachbody’s maintenance of your websites.

In addition to these costs, you are “encouraged” to purchase or sell at least $50 to $55 worth of products every 35 days. I say “encouraged” because if you don’t have these sales, you will remain in “inactive” status. This means you will not get referrals from Beachbody (though this requires more than just “active” status) and you will not be eligible for certain coach programs. When you first start your Independent Beachbody Coach business, you will likely be purchasing the products yourself. For most, making sales of $50 to $55 every 35 days will not be a big deal as you are likely buying Shakeology and other supplements monthly.  We buy so much Beachbody stuff for ourselves and for our families that we have no problem meeting this requirement.

When I first signed up to be a coach, my very first customer was a huge surprise to me and the last person on Earth that I thought would buy anything from Beachbody - my mom.  She didn't work out regularly and really wasn't focused on her health and eating habits.  She came to visit one week and we sat down with the website and determined what her goals were and which program she should start with.  We narrowed it down to two.  She thought about it for a couple of days and when she got home, she ordered the one she was most comfortable with.  She loves it and is always sending me emails about how great she feels on the days she works out and how happy she is that she started the program. 

Don't worry, you don't have to run out and become an expert about anything.  Beachbody provides you with all the support you could ever need.  They are the experts!  And you don't actually have to be with someone while they are working out to be their coach.  You are there for support and encouragement, just like I am for you!  I love working out and really like getting others involved and focused on their health and fitness.  I wish the world were a healthier place and being a coach is my attempt to spread information about how we can all be healthier while becoming and remaining healthier myself.

I hope this blog helps.  If you still have questions, email me at coachcrystal@coachcrystalfitness.com or comment on this blog and I will get back to you asap.  If you are ready to be a coach just click the button below and get going!  I would love to help you grow your business!  I can (and would love to) be your coach when you sign up and will give you all the support you need!  All you have to do is list me as your referring coach either by (i) screen name: CrystalHolmes; (ii) email: coachcrystal@coachcrystalfitness.com or (iii) Coach ID: 135090, when prompted.  So, let's go!

Nike Free Run + 2 review (v. Reebok RealFlex)

So, yes, I am late to the party but I am really into this minimalist trend lately.  I had been running in my Reebok RealFlex for quite a while and loved the flexibility and lightness of the shoe.  But, I have pretty much worn out the Reeboks.  I have been told I have a neutral pronation.  I also have a very high arch - so high that I have a bone that sticks out on the top of both my feet making wearing certain shoes very difficult.  With typical shoes that cover the top of my foot, I can usually only wear them an hour or two before they start killing my feet.  I love the RealFlex because the upper is barely there and never bothers my foot and has a super flexible sole.  So switching to a new type of shoe is a very difficult and lengthy process for me.
I started looking into getting more minimalist and ran across the Nike Frees and Nike Free Runs.  It was hard to compare where the RealFlex fit in to the Nike system as far as minimalism, but after trying on a Nike Free Run 3.0 v. 5.0 and Nike Free Run 3.0 v. 4.0, I think it is closer to a Nike Free Run 3.0 v. 3.0 (which I could never find in a store) or a Nike Free 3.0 (which I could never find either).  I ended up buying a Nike Free Run + 2.0.  If you don't know anything about the systems, the lower the number the more minimalist and the Nike Free is more minimalist than the Nike Free Run.  The "+", if you don't know, is for the data tracker that slips into the inside sole of the shoe, which I don't have but don't really have a need for at this point.
So here are my thoughts:

There is more arch support in the Nike, which I am not a big fan of.
There is less heal support in the Nike which I am a fan of.  I could definitely tell on my first run that I was sitting back more while running instead of leaning forward.  I had never noticed this before I switched shoes.  I thought my calves and shins would be horrendously sore after my first run in the Nikes (3.5 miles), and though they felt more fatigued than normal, I was not sore the next morning.
I think it will take me some time to get used to the upper because it seems like so much material after running in the RealFlex, but I do like the glove like fit.
As for the sole, I can definitely "feel" the road/terrain more in the Nike than in the RealFlex.
And, of course, the Nikes have made me slow down my time per mile in attempting to get use to a new stride.  I have really been working on reducing my time so this is a big deal for me.  But, its a sacrifice I am willing to make to be a little more natural in my run.  I will just have to keep working at the time aspect.  I don't know that I like the Nikes much more than the Reeboks.  I will have to try the Reeboks again in a week or so and then really see the difference.

P90X2 Hybrid and questions about Running Shoes

So, I decided Insanity by itself just wasn't doing it for me as far as strength this time around.  Instead, I am now doing a hybrid of P90X2 and running/Insanity.  I have really kicked it up on the running.  Just two weeks ago I was running a mile in about 11 minutes and 15 seconds (5.5 miles).  My latest run was 4.4 miles at 9 minutes 47 seconds per mile (on the same type of terrain)!  Obviously I wasn't pushing myself with my running but thanks to some colleagues who run all the time and my husband who has really gotten into running lately, I am working on it.  I think my biggest hurdle at first was my stride.  I am 5'2" and everyone I run with is 6'2" and taller, so their stride is almost twice mine.  We calculated it one time and on a 5.25 mile run, I was taking 2500 more steps than my running partners!  That is crazy!

So here is my hybrid -

Monday - Crazy run up the hill of Hell. 5.25 miles.
Tuesday - X2 Core
Wednesday - X2 Yoga or Recovery/Mobility - unless I am feeling sluggish and yucky then its Total Body.
Thursday - Insanity meets XFit at the Y for 45 minutes (its a class) and then 4 mile run on relatively flat terrain.  This day is tough!!!!!
Friday - Rest if necessary (see Thursday's work out) or if I am feeling pretty good Total Body (if I didn't do it Wednesay or Balance and Power if I did).
Saturday - Another run on somewhat hilly terrain.  Usually around 4 miles.
Sunday - Yoga or rest (uh, the hill of hell is tomorrow).

After a few weeks, I'll switch out the X2 workouts to the second phase ones.  I love hybrids because I don't feel like I am locked into one particular routine!

Now onto the shoes!  I need a new pair.  I have put several hundred miles on my current pair and I need a back up pair for the Warrior Dashes we plan on doing.  I have been looking at the Nike Free Run 3.0.  They have differing levels of support  (starting at v. 5.0 and going down to v. 3.0) depending on how minimalist you want to get.  I currently have Reebok's RealFlex.  I think they are pretty close to the Free Run 3.0 v. 4.0 or v. 3.0 as far as minimalism.  I cannot find the v. 3.0 anywhere in the stores to try them on.  Anybody use the Free Runs?  What do you think?

Warrior Dash - Jackson MS

So a friend at work sent me a link to the Warrior Dash (www.warriordash.com).  I had never heard of it before and decided it sounded AWESOME!  So me and my husband (www.coachcrystalspadawan.wordpress.com) signed up for the April 21 race in Jackson MS along with one of our friends.  We tried convincing a few others but they chickened out!
Anyway, I figured I had the running part down, no problem.  I run 5.5 miles regularly.  Plus, I have done Insanity numerous times and P90X numerous times and just finished P90X2.  I was worried about the obstacles, climbing walls in particular.
Well, it was freaking freezing cold that Saturday morning!  We were running on crazy adrenaline.  I drank a 5 hour energy (yep, I use them all the time), and the boys were chugging Monster energy drinks.  We opted to run in the first wave at 8 a.m.  Best decision ever!
So we start the race to Eye of the Tiger - what a brilliant way to get everyone hyped up.  Mud, mud and more mud.   Mud everywhere.  I remember standing in the gate waiting to start and seeing that people had duck taped their shoes on - I thought that was totally odd and unnecessary.  Well, after the first mud pit, I ended up running past a girl who was wearing one shoe - maybe duck tape was necessary after all!
Anyway, running ended up being the hardest part, especially the last .9 miles.  I started out at a faster pace than I normally run because I was running with the boys.  They are 6 foot 2 inches or taller and I am 5 foot 2 inches - for every one step they took I took 1.5 to 2.  But I refused to let them start out ahead of me.  (Yes, that's me jumping over fire - one of the last 4 obstacles)

Anyway, so the key ended up being well-hydrated.  When the boys stopped for water along the way, I kept going.  I always try to drink a ton of water (at least 32 oz but hopefully 64) before I run.  In my first Dash, I ended up in the top 15% overall and top 4% for women my age (why the heck do I have to have an age group????!!!!).  At the end we were all drunk on adrenaline and ready to run again!  Of course, we didn't do it.  It was freezing cold and overcast.  We went and got a beer instead!

So the boys are signed up to do another Dash in GA while I am out of town.  Then we are all signed up to do the one in AL in October.  I am pumped.  I think I am going to IN for the one in August and have convinced my sister and her girlfriend (and they have convinced some of their friends) to do it too.  I am totally addicted!  It's a good cause too - St. Jude.  You can choose to be a St. Jude Warrior and commit to raise a minimal amount of money for St. Jude, which I did.  Cannot wait to do it again!

Goals and Self Defeating Behavior - Kick your subconscious in the butt!

So I have been doing pretty good working out and eating better and losing weight and toning up, etc.   And then . . . I reach a goal and think "So I am here.  I wonder if I do this, how much I will gain back . . . " and so then begins the downward spiral.  I mean, I reached my mini-goal and now I am back up 6 pounds!!!!  I am ticked!!!  But we've all been there right?  NOT ANYMORE!

I heard someone say the other day that we are comfortable in our "box" and if we strive for something different and we get there, we subconsciously start to undo what we did to get to the goal so we could get back to our "box."  He used the example of all the multi-million dollar lottery winners that go bankrupt.  I always think, "Well, they are just stupid!  I would be so much smarter with that money."  I like to think I would but would I subsconsciously start to self destruct so I could get back to my box?

So subconscious - here is your kick in the butt.  When we reach a goal, we are going to create a new "box" into which we fit and we are going to set up the beginnings of another box for our next goal so we can see it and then we are going to burn all the boxes behind us.  Got it???  There is no going back.  I refuse.

Running and Shakeology . . . is it worth it? Does it work?

So today I ran a little over 5 miles.  Trying to cut my time down somewhere between 10 and 11 mph.  Right now I am right above 11mph.  Anyway, good run.  This giant boxer scared the ever loving crap out of my at one point though.  He usually minds his own business and gives me a cursory glance but today, after I had passed him, he came running up behind me and barked.  I nearly jumped out of my skin because I was trying to pay attention to the dog that was in the yard coming up.  Anyway, he then proceeded to run along side and sniff me and jump up and down.  I think he just wanted to play but it took me a little while to calm back down.  We have covenants in our neighborhood that require dogs to be fenced in, but apparently some people think those covenants are optional. 

So onto the second topic of my blog . . . Is Shakeology worth it and does it really work?

In a word . . . YES!  I talk about this on my website some (http://www.coachcrystalfitness.com/) but thought I would bring it up here too.  I am one of the most skeptical people on the planet (thank you law school) and always think I can do something cheaper than what someone else is offering.  So it obviously took me a long time to give in and try Shakeology.  Seriously, I had been doing Beachbody programs for two years before I tried it.  I love it!  I don't ever eat as many vegetables as I should and I hate taking supplements because they upset my stomach.  And my husband eats like a two year old (you know, really picky).  Well, actually my two year old eats better than my husband.  So we thought we would finally give it a try since we really wanted to eat healthier.  We love Strawberry (we get that every month) and I like the chocolate too.  Greenberry is good if you add some fruit but is third among the three choices.  The taste is great - trust me, my husband would not drink it if it wasn't.  It's so nutritious and tastes great too!  I mean, how can you lose?  I have a shake for breakfast every morning.  And there are so many recipes, you won't ever get bored.
So now to what really made me hold out so long - the price.  Yeah, I know, you look at it and say "OUCH!"  But if you really think about it, it's $4 per shake (and we sometimes only use 1/2 a serving so that makes it $2 per shake).  You probably spend more than that on your lunch and your lunch is nowhere near as nutritious (I don't care what you are eating for lunch, it's not).   And the health benefits are real.  It has helped both of us with digestive issues, it helped me break a fitness plateau and I have a ton more energy than I used to.  I used to come home after work and just want to flop on the couch and put a show on for the kids after working all day.  Now we are outside playing in the yard, playing basketball or any number of other things in the afternoon after work.  I just cannot say enough about the difference it has made in my energy levels. 
We also factor it in as part of our grocery budget so we are not having to come up with the extra money to buy it, we are just buying less at the grocery store (which really means we are buying less junk - which is good).  You really should give it a try.  You really have nothing to lose - Beachbody gives you a moneyback guarantee! 

I vow to stay busy . . . . and blog more often!

So weekends are the hardest time for me as far as eating well.  I eat when I am bored and/or stressed and weekends present both those situations for me more often than not. 

This weekend, I vow to stay busy cleaning out closets, getting my hair done, grocery shopping, playing with the kids outside . . . anything to keep busy!  :o)

This morning, I just couldn't stomach Yoga another day this week so I threw in Insanity Cardio Recovery.  My heart rate monitor went crazy and quit working in the middle of the workout so I am not sure how much I burned but who cares! 
Mommy guilt reared its ugly head today too.  I volunteered to drop off the kids this a.m. (my husband usually drops them off and I pick them up) and my 5 year old daughter did not want me to leave.  She gave me the sad eyes with the stuck out lip and glued herself to me while I tried to leave.  It just breaks my heart sometimes that they spend all day in the care of other people and then I see them for a few hours before bedtime.  I think most moms have the mommy guilt.  I know that being with other kids allows them to learn socialization skills and my daughter is learning a ton in her K4 class and it also gives me an opportunity to work and flex my brain.  But sometimes . . .

So tomorrow's work out will likely be a run in the a.m.  I haven't decided yet whether I am going to do another week of Phase III or do a recovery week next week.  I really don't think I have given Phase III a fair shot so I may go one more week.  Anyway, I have to be in tip top shape by May 1.  The big family get together begins May 19 and I wanna look my best!

Oh and I vow to blog more often than once a week.  Work has just been so busy that I am working all day and then working when the kids go to bed until I am literally falling asleep at my computer at home.  Maybe it will slow down soon . . .

Weekend running in the country

I love going to my in-laws.  They are some of the best people I know.  They live in the middle of nowhere in a very beautiful part of the world.  And they love my kids like crazy!  Anyway, every time I am here, I must run!  There's just nothing like running on a hilly dirt road with the only company being a few dogs, the birds, the rising sun and my music. 
So yesterday I ran about 6.5 miles total.  First, I ran about 4.5 on my own.  I came back to the house to get my husband who said he wanted to go walk with me after I finished running and he finished his Insanity work out for the day.  Well, we ended up going up the street to help grandma move a giant tractor tire instead.  So sitting aroung grandma's, my husband asked if I wanted to run down to the stop sign (about 1/2 mile one way).  I said sure!  He is trying to get ready for the Warrior Dash we are doing later this month in Jackson, MS, so I always go if he asks.  So we start running and get close to the stop sign and decide to keep running for another 1/2 mile. We turn around to come back and are getting close to grandma's and decide that we should sprint to the driveway.  Well, my calves were on fire when we stopped!  My legs are still pretty sore but I think I am still going to have to get out and run this morning before church.  I just cannot pass up the opportunity!
Going to do at least one more week of Phase III of X2 but am thinking of then doing  a rest week and starting Insanity.  We will see.  Happy running everyone!

P.A.P. Upper and Lower - That's it, really?

So I started Phase III yesterday with PAP Lower.  Good work out but I was kind of disappointed when it was over.  It is essentially 8 moves, four times.  You do four moves and then start over with those 4 moves until you have done each of the moves 4 times.  Then you get a rest and do four different moves, etc.  I mean, my husband comes up stairs sweating like crazy and I broke a sweat, but just barely.    And I was trying very hard on the moves and giving it lots of effort so I know that was not the problem.
Woke up this morning and was a little sore on one side of my glutes. That was it.
Then I did PAP Upper this a.m.  Same thing.  8 moves, four times each.  I think I am going to have to throw in some ab ripper at some point as the abs on upper and lower just don't seem to be a whole lot of work.
Anyway, I am not giving up on it.  It was my first time for both workouts and the moves were challenging but I turned off the dvd player thinking that it just wasn't enough.  But I was not impressed with Plyo the first time I did it either and it came to be my favorite X workout.
I am afraid though that Phase III may get monotonous.  I am sincerely hoping not!  You do PAP Lower, then PAP Upper, then Yoga, Rest day, PAP Lower, PAP Upper, Rest day.  Same eight moves two days a week and then a different set of 8 moves two days a week.  We shall see! 

I will say that I have noticed a significant change in my physique.  My arms and abs are more defined and when I squatted down earlier today I could really feel the muscle in my leg when I put my hand on my quad.  It was wonderful!  I have been really hoping to get my legs in better shape.  Someone even complimented me on my arms the other day and a lady at the gym said "Your abs are ripped up!" And that was a huge compliment because her abs were pretty "ripped up" too!  Patience and consistency is the key!  Watch out bikini - here I come!!!!!

Mini goal reached and now I really weigh what my driver's license says!

So as of this a.m., I have reached my mini goal as far as weight!  It used to be my ultimate goal but I decided to make it my mini goal when I got real close and see if I could lose just a little bit more!  Anyway, totally excited about it as I have not weighed this since I don't know when and now I really weigh what my driver's license says! :o)  Mini goals and rewards (non-food) are a great way to keep on track!   My reward for reaching my goal is to spend as much money on clothes as my husband spent on his grill!  It's going to be awesome!  I cannot wait.

So tonight is pizza night with the family from out of town and I am going to do my best to behave.  I may get one thin crust cheese piece but I am so afraid of messing up and never getting back here that I might not!  No beer for me though.  I can at least resist that.

Today was a rest day after our crazy Thursday class at the YMCA (love that class!).  I am still in my recovery week so I will either do Yoga or go for a run tomorrow (probably depends on whether I resist the pizza or not!).  Next Monday starts Phase III of X2.  Excited and anxious all at the same time!  I hope you all have a relaxing and productive weekend!

Should I work out if I am sick??? That depends . . . .define "sick".

That depends on your definition of "sick".  If I have a cold, stuffy head or sinus infection, you bet I do still workout.  If I am running a fever or throwing up, however, I opt for a rest day.  I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with working out on days you are slightly under the weather.  Take this morning for instance.  I have had a crazy sinus infection for about a week now.  I knew I was going to do Yoga this a.m. but when I woke up, my right eye was on fire!  It was like someone shoved sandpaper in it at some point during the night.  So I splashed it with water a bunch and did the 68 minutes of Yoga with my eyes closed for the most part.   When I got out of the shower, my eye wouldn't stop running.  Now (in the afternoon), it has gone back and forth all day from dry as a desert to runny as a river all day.  It's something I can do nothing about right now, except let it run its course, so why should I let it slow me down?

And even before this a.m. I did my crazy Thursday class at the gym last week (which was probably day 2 of the sinus troubles) and continued the rest of the week/weekend through my normal routine.  I did a crazy cross fit class on Monday (I totally forgot about my teeth hurting (sinuses) when I walked/jumped, when my legs were burning because of all the squats!).  Monday was pretty awesome though because we jumped in the pool after the work out and did laps.  So refreshing!

I mean, if you want an excuse not to work out, you will find one and illness seems to be a convenient one.  That being said, there are times when you should let your body rest.  If you truly have body aches, fever, vomitting, or other big time symptoms, I don't recommend working out - give your body the rest it is asking for.  If, on the other hand, your allergies are acting up, you have a cold or some other minor illness, strap on those tennis shoes and press play!

This whole article was prompted by a phone call on Thursday by a very good friend of mine.  She asked if I wanted to go to lunch and I said, "Can't.  It's crazy work out day at the gym."  And she said, "You are working out when you are sick???"  It truly never dawned on me not to until she said it.  I am addicted.

Why do the numbers on a scale matter so much????

So my stepmom and I started this diet and today begins day 4 (we have 13 more days in this first phase).  Well, the diet is really, really tough for the first week and I am totally ticked this a.m.  I got on the scale this a.m. and have GAINED WEIGHT!  Seriously????  We took our kids to the movies last night and I completely resisted all the popcorn and candy that the family ate!  I mean, I could eat all that junk and gain weight!  I don't have to torture myself watching everyone else eat that stuff to gain weight!  Why am I resisiting in the hopes of sticking to this diet and losing these last few pounds???  So frustrating! 
Yes, I know that gaining weight is part of any diet.  Weight fluctuates from day to day based on a variety of factors (water, how late you ate, how much sodium you ate, etc.) and I shouldn't take any one day in isolation.  Well I am really not isolating today - the first day I lost a little weight. The second day I stayed the same and then today I gained!  And today is a rest day to boot!  I am trying to convince myself that I don't need to go run and that I need to give my body a rest but then the little voice inside says, "Yes, but remember the scale this a.m.???"  Ugh!
But alas, I will not give up.  I will continue on with the diet.  You want to know why?  Because I feel better and that is what is important - not the numbers on the scale.  Regardless of what the scale says, I have noticed a difference in my body.  The diet is also a cleansing diet and I feel healthier.  My stomach is flatter (yes, you can tell that in just 3 full days), I didn't "gain" 3 pounds over the weekend like I would normally do (I say "gain" because its usually not a true gain in that short of a period, its usually water), I know someone else is being tortured right along with me (thanks Mom!), and I will NOT let food win!  I have a goal and I will reach it!  Scale be damned!  Who invented the personal scale anyway????  I would like to kick him . . . . . really, really hard.

So next week is recovery week and I am really excited for that!  I will still do my cross fit class with my buddies on Monday and the crazy YCross class with the same group on Thursday but the rest of the week will be Yoga and Recovery.  Yay!  Then on to Phase III of X2.  My husband is already in Phase III and every workout comes up stairs all sweaty and out of breath.  Hmmmmm . . I am a little nervous for Phase III but I love to change it up after awhile so should be fun!

Throw out the Junk!

So here is what I threw out in the trash this a.m.  We had lots of left overs from the fun weekend with friends but it all had to go!  I realized that if it was in the house, we were going to eat it!  I cannot resist the greasy, salty goodness of potato chips.  And even though my daughter's princess sugar cookies (in the baggy in front) were not that good (she didn't like them), I was eating those too!

My husband was somewhat upset when I told him Monday night what I was going to do.  He relented though and said it was like "talking to a wall" when I got it fixed in my head that we were doing this (or any other idea I get fixated on).  He did get to keep his favorite snack (pigs in a blanket with a special mustard sauce) but that was the only one.  
So, if you cannot resist it and it isn't good for you, throw it out!  Who cares that you don't want to waste it since you bought it (that was the hard thing for me to get over)?  You feel better when you don't eat that garbage and we have started buying less now when friends come (some of the above friends brought with them and wouldn't take home - see?  they don't want it in their house either!) because we  know they will bring stuff and we will throw it all away if they won't take it.
I did notice that my husband made a considerable dent in the Paddy Pudding (green dirt cake) sometime Monday night as there was quite a bit left earlier on Monday and just a very small amount by Tuesday morning!  Hmmmmmmm . . . .

This morning was Plyocide.  I always wake up thinking "I am not going to make it through it today".  Then I tell myself to just go downstairs, press play and do what I can.  Within about 10 minutes I am racing the clock trying to hammer out as many reps as I can.  I have no idea what happens to change my attitude but it does change!  And by the end, I am slamming out some plyo pushups!  Seriously, me, who I thought would never be able to do a plyo pushup is hanging tough with the people on the dvd.  The first time I saw them on Plyocide, I was thinking "You have got to be kidding me."  But I tried one and was very surprised I could actually do one.  Now if I could only do pull ups unassisted . . . .

Our P90X protien bars came in this weekend so we were excited about that!  They really are the best protein bars I have ever had (and I have tried a lot of protein bars).  If you are interested, check out http://www.coachcrystalfitness.com/ and click on the nutrition tab. 

I really need my strawberry Shakeology to come in!  It should be here by the end of the week (hopefully!).  I am thinking a Shakeology flavor review may be in order later this week.

Friday - Whoohoo!

Well, Friday finally got here!  :o)  Not that it makes a whole lot of difference since I have to work some this weekend but there is something about Friday . . . .

Yoga this a.m. I am totally sore in the right places from my class at the YMCA yesterday at lunch.  Love it!  Then decided it was too gorgeous today not to go for a run so I put in about 3 miles at lunch today too.

I think I might be hitting a plateau again so I think I am going to shake things up a bit.  Not quite sure how yet but it may involve stripping the diet even more and moving on to the third phase of X2.
Tomorrow is St. Paddy's Day so I am trying to be extra good today as I know there will be beer and other "not good for you" stuff eaten at the get together tomorrow at our house.  Should be lots of fun though.  I will definitely have to run or do something tomorrow a.m. in the basement.  Supposed to be Back and Base, but my Base is pretty sore right now.
Maybe I should drink Greenberry Shakeology tomorrow in honor of St. Paddy's Day!  I have been sticking to the Chocolate and experimenting with it.  I cannot wait until our Strawberry Shakeology order comes in!

I need to find something to put in my shoes (or work out bag) that takes the stinky work out smell out.  Anybody have any ideas?

Ahhhhh . . . Monday and what I eat to get lean

So I am so exhausted tonight!  I did a cross fit class today with about 5 other people from work.  We go every other Monday for a change up in routine.  We all work out to some degree or another at home or in the gym.  Several of us do Insanity or P90X (or X2 for me).  It's good fun!  I love having the challenge of trying to beat the guys that go to the class.  Plus we really encourage each other too.  Something to be said for working out in a group!  I wish I had a big enough basement to invite people over to work out!

So I have had several people ask me what I eat to stay in shape and lean.  It's the same thing you have seen all over the internet.  No "bad" carbs (rice, pasta), only whole grains, lean meats, veggies, low sugar fruits, tons of water (no carbonated beverages), Shakeology, etc.   I know, I know.  I didn't want to believe it when I did the research.  I kept thinking that there had be some other way than giving up my favorite pastas and carbonated drinks.  Maybe I could work out harder or eat less calories.  Well, I could work out harder and could eat less calories but the carbs were going to stick to my middle when I ate them no matter what.  The only way I can get the lean cut look I want is to give up those things (that really weren't that good for me anyway).  Well, it was hard at first.  It really was.  I mean, we were in church one day and I made a comment about the song director dragging the songs on and on and my husband leaned over and said "you really need to eat some carbs".  But after sticking with it for just a short period, I really was able to cut the stuff out fairly quickly.  I don't know the last time I ate pasta or rice.  And I haven't had a carbonated beverages in ages.  They don't even taste good anymore!  Granted, I still do eat a piece of bread here and there, I mean, I am not perfect but it is a lot easier to be satisfied with one small piece every once in a while now.   And it works.  If you really are dedicated and stick with it, you will see the results.  Be consistent and be patient.  You will get there!

Where to begin!

Rest day today.  Really needed it!  Doing a work out with friends at the gym at lunch tomorrow for something different.  My husband started doing the P.A.P. workouts this week and has me scared to death of them.  Think I will stay in Phase II at least one more week!
Cleaned my car inside and out this afternoon.  Who knew a 2 and  4 year old could mess up a car so much!   The kids tried to help but I think they just spread the dirt around a lot.
We tried Greenberry and Chocolate Shakeology this week for the first time.  I think the new strawberry flavor is my favorite still but the chocolate is really great if you like chocolate (and I do!).  I have to add fruit to the greenberry still but it doesn't take much really (1/4 cup of blueberries today).
This first round of X2 is going by so very fast.  I am not sure why that is.  I did base and back Saturday  morning and realized that it was my 3rd week of the second phase.  It seems like I just started the program.  Oh and when I did base and back and ab ripper 2, I cut a workout that is scheduled for 71 minutes down to about 44!  I had to hurry.  We were supposed to go out of town and my alarm didn't go off so I had to rush.  I just fast forwarded through some of the talking rests (you know, when Tony is talking and every one is standing around).
Thinking of doing the warrior dash in Mississippi next month.  Should be fun and my husband agreed to do it too which makes it all better.  Anybody else out there do those crazy runs?

Plyocide!

What a day.  I am exhausted.
So Plyocide this a.m.  Still love it but it truly drains me.  Then I wasn't prepared at work for how hungry I got and so came home after work and totally blew any healthy eating for the night.  Yoga tomorrow.  How I am looking so forward to it!
My calf is acting up again.  I find it funny that it is just assumed on Plyocide that you can do plyo pushups.  Its not an option, there are no modifications.  It just is.  And who in the crap decided the frog burpee was a great idea?  I can hardly get 12 of them in the 30 seconds we get.  Anyway, its a challenging work out and I burn a ton of calories doing it.  I still have to pause every now and then to catch my breath but the pauses are shorter and fewer.
Okay.  I gotta go to bed!

It's National Nutrition Month!

So do something healthy!  So if you have always wanted to eat better/healthier, do it now!  Don't think that you have to make huge changes to make a difference.  Eating healthier is a process, at least it was for me.  Many people tend to go all in or not at all and end up quitting because the restrictions are too much all at once.  You should make small changes that will eventually get you to eating the way you want to.

So here are a few little changes you can make:
1.  If you aren't drinking at least 8 glasses (8 ounces per glass) of water a day (and some people need more), make it your goal for this week to drink at least 8 glasses of water at least 4 days.  It's not that hard, I promise.  I keep a refillable water bottle (32 oz) on my desk and drink and refill it all day long.
2.  If you drink multiple carbonated beverages everyday, reduce the number by one per day this week.
3.  Eat dessert every other night rather than every night.
4.  Quit eating out of the bag/box.  Put some in a bowl or on a plate.  You over eat if you eat straight out of the bag/box.
5.  Get all the food off your counters/out of site once you are finished eating.  If it's there, you will graze.
6.  Switch the bread on your sandwich this week to a whole grain bread.

Little things add up over time.  I didn't just wake up one day and say "That's it.  I am never drinking a Coke again" and then stop drinking/wanting them.  I gradually reduced how many I was drinking each day and then eventually was able to cut them out all together.  I cannot remember the last time I had one!

Just remember, it's baby steps.  And if you set a goal for the week and don't make it, don't beat yourself up.  Look at what you did accomplish and set a new goal for next week.

X2 Chest Back and Balance w/ Ab Ripper

So 4:15 came really early this morning.  I just wanted to sleep!  But I knew how good I would feel if I got up and pressed play so here we are.

My calf is feeling much better after a day off yesterday.  Not sure exactly what I did to screw it up but it isn't hurting nearly as much today.

You know, on some of the moves on this DVD they have a goal of 25.  I cannot remember which one it was exactly but I just laughed this morning when I saw the "25" in the left hand bottom corner.  I thought "Seriously? I am lucky to kick out half that."  But its a goal, I guess.  Need to stick with this phase a little longer than 3 weeks, apparently.  I do love that about X2 - you get to decide how long you should stay in a phase without feeling any pressure to "perfect" your moves in 3 weeks.
And let me just say, I hate abrinome!  That is the worst!  I am trying my hardest to keep my legs straight, feet flexed, legs at a 90 degree angle and my shoulders on the floor, all while trying to twist my middle to get my legs closer to the floor.
Plyocide tomorrow!  I love Plyocide!

Remember - its National Nutrition Month.  Do something healthy for you and your family!

Anybody else struggle with a day off?

Now that I have gotten used to working out 5 or 6 days a week, I really struggle with taking a day off to recover/relax. I know I need it but sometimes it's just hard.  Working out in the morning really sets the mood for me for the rest of the day.  I feel good, I feel like I have worked hard and accomplished something.  I miss that on my days off.

Trust me, I know I need the day of rest and recovery, especially since I screwed up my calf last weekend.  But I kind of spend the whole day beating myself up about it.  I have actually skipped a recovery/relax day and worked out when I should have rested.  I feel it later in the week - I am more tired, my workouts are less productive, etc.  You just need the day off!

And to make matters worse, it's Sunday.  Anybody else get the Sunday blues?  You know what I am talking about - when you cannot enjoy Sunday evening because you know you have to go back to that paper laden desk on Monday and the phone calls and the bosses and the demands and the time constraints and everyone saying they wanted their stuff done yesterday.  Yep, those are the Sunday blues.  And the Sunday blues make me EAT!  Which is why I need to work out!  It's a vicious cycle . . . . .

Well, I start week 3 of the second phase of P90X2 tomorrow.  So there is that to look forward to. Just have to get through this day of rest . . . .