Another long absence

November 2019 - another long absence.  Lots going on this year...

I started this year with high hopes of getting back to a consistent running routine, better eating, etc., but the Cliff Notes version is my Mom passed away in late March and then 2 weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Lots of stress and sadness between the 2 as you can imagine.  6 weeks of radiation treatments through May and June, and been trying to regain my energy ever since.  Not to mention grieving...  Sigh.

Anyways, I just completed a 12 week oncology rehab program last month, and am a few weeks into a wellbeing program at my local gym working on getting back to exercise and better eating.  Started Couch to 5k program yet again.

I'm doing the NYRR Ted Corbitt 15k in a couple weeks (will be walking it), as usual to raise funds for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  

And I'm already signed up to run the 2020 NYC Marathon also to raise funds for pediatric cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Please join me in supporting their work: 

mskcc.convio.net/goto/ElizabethNYC2020

I'll start posting regularly now for accountability.

and now it's October?

Jeezum crow, a few more months gone this year.  Not much going on, that's for sure.

I'm heading to NYC this weekend to cheer for my friends running the NYC Marathon - 11 friends, at last count.  I'll be stationed at my usual spot at corner of 92nd and 1st, just around mile 18.  After all my friends pass there, we'll head over to 92nd and 5th, around mile 24 just before runners head into Central Park for the final push.

If you want a demonstration of the human spirit, go and watch the NYC Marathon.

When I get back to work next week, my hours shift to 7:30 - 4:00 (we're usually 8:30-5).  This helps in a few ways:
1.) I get more daylight hours during the long dark sludge of winter in VT, and
2.) I get home before hubbster and can get on the treadmill for my run before dinner.  That will help a TON with my consistency.

jeezum crow

Well, it's late August, and not much running happening here.  Quick catch up from my last post (which was January - what?).

So, back in January, I secured a number to run the Chicago Marathon through NYRR's Team For Kids.  And as usual, I threw my name into the lottery for the NYC Marathon - and how about that, I got selected for NYC as well.  Well, since I was already committed to Chicago, I cancelled my 2018 NYC entry (which gives me guaranteed entry for 2019 NYC).

However, I needed to deal with a medical issue this summer, which involved 3 weeks off from work to recover and an extended break from impact activity.  I haven't run since mid-June, and am just starting back with the Couch to 5k program now.  Having said all that, no Chicago Marathon for me this year.

So now starts the very long road back to running, with just some 5Ks this fall, the NYRR Ted Corbitt 15k in December (will do that run/walk), and then a very slow build-up in mileage.

2018 already?

So, here we are in another new year.  1.) I can’t believe how fast 2017 went – that’s crazy.  2.) I can’t believe it’s 2018 already.  Which scares me given what I’ve got on my plate this year.  A marathon again – OY.

It’s early January and I’m getting to be fairly consistent with exercise in general.  BUT, I am still having a good bit of discomfort with my heel/Achilles (yes, the same injury that’s been bothering me for the last 5 years).  I am absolutely 100000% convinced that taking off the extra 30 pounds I’ve been carrying around for the last several years would help my cause considerably.  As always, the challenge is how to do it (and how to muster up the mental energy to do it).  I can track my food and calories until the cows come home but if I don’t actually cut back on the amount of crap food I eat, the weight is not going to come off.

What I’ve found in past cycles of losing weight (because, yes, I am one of those folks who yoyo – I’ve lost the same 40 pounds several times), is that if I can get consistent with the exercise, that cleaning up the food happens more naturally.  Once you know what amount of effort it takes to burn 200 or 300 or 500 calories, it’s easier to cut out the crap that doesn’t really help fuel you well.

Anyways, I'm doing the "100 Day Challange" this year.  John Bingham, who used to write for Runners World, started this challenge - it's 100 days of at least 30 minutes of intentional movement, could be anything.  

Day 1 - walking on the TM in the basement

Day 2 - personal training session at the gym

Day 3 - walking on the TM in the basement

Day 4 - run/walk on the TM at the office before going to cribbage league

Today is day 5, so I'll do something when I get home from work.

quick update

So, let’s see where we are now…  I’m starting to feel like I’m back in a good groove with regard to running/exercising in general.  

I started the Runners World Holiday Run  Streak on Thanksgiving day (run at least 1 mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Years).  I got through 4 days, and then decided maybe it wasn’t the best idea for me.  I’ve had Achilles tendonitis off and on for 5+ years now, and have a hitch in my gitalong, as they say - meaning I’m pretty sure I’ve got a cartilage problem in my right knee – it catches occasionally with some significant discomfort – mostly on the uphill.  So anyways, although I decided that streaking isn’t the best idea, I did get into a good mindset about exercise in general.  No pressure on pace, but let’s just get something going most days of the week.

I’m still working my way through the Couch to 5k program as a structured way to ease back to all running rather than run/walk.  And on the days I’m not doing C25K, I’m walking 40 minutes or so at a good clip.

Next step will be to add in some strength training to maintain muscle mass while I’m trying to lose weight overall.

Today's activity

So I'm taking this wellbeing class at my local gym (as I think I mentioned in my last post).  Since I'm now working earlier hours for the winter (I get out of work at 4 instead of 5), that gives me a good chunk of time to hop on the treadmill at the gym before my class starts, probably 40 minutes or so.

Then I have my class which is an hour of lecture/discussion (not sure what tonight's topic will be), followed by an hour of some sort of group fitness (no idea what that will be either).

Other item of note - we have about a bag of Halloween candy leftover from last night - but being the genius I am, I bought candy that I absolutely detest (Mounds and Almond Joy - both have coconut which I think is vile).  So no being tempted by what's at the house.  And seems like no one brought their leftovers to the office today, so that's good too.

Back at it again!

So, once again I’m starting a post with “wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything here!”  Literally, my last 20 posts probably started with that.  But anyways, I’m back for the duration.

What’s going on lately, you might ask?  Well, my fitness is still meh, and my running is meh, and my stupid heel/Achilles is still meh. 

Having said all that, I started a wellbeing class at my gym recently, so I’m getting a good bit more consistent with my workouts than I had been previously.  Also, as part of the class, I had a biometric screening done that included a body composition test – and now that I have a breakdown of lean mass vs non-lean mass, I have an accurate resting metabolic rate, which allowed me to set an accurate calorie goal for the day.  That in and of itself was a real breakthrough on the food side of things – it gave me an achievable target to shoot for every day with my food and calorie tracking on MyFitnessPal (food tracker).  And on days when I’m more active, I know to fuel appropriately.

Where I’m a bit confused is with my fitbit (activity tracker, for those who don’t use one).  I have it synching with MyFitnessPal, and MFP automatically adjusts my calorie goal depending on how active I am that day.  However, I think MFP is giving me too many calories for the level of activity I’m doing.  For instance, just because I get a good number of steps from parking far out in the parking lot, or going the long way to the bathroom during the workday, doesn’t mean I should get an extra 500 calories to eat that day.  So I’m thinking to unsynch my fitbit and MFP, and adjust my calorie goal only for intentional exercise, like a 30 minute power walk or a 2 hour hike or a 20 minute walk at lunchtime, that sort of thing.

Because absolutely positively, I’m convinced that my long-standing Achilles/heel problem is exacerbated by my carrying an extra 30 pounds.  No doubt about it.  So although I’m getting more consistent with my exercise, I need to get the food in line too.  Some people say you can’t outrun a bad diet, and although that’s true, for me, it has always helped to get the exercise consistent and then better eating follows.  Because when you know how many miles it takes to burn off a Snickers bar, it’s a lot easier to resist them.  Says the girl who's had 2 snickers minis today (damn colleagues bringing Halloween candy to work already?!!).