Saturday, August 20, 2011

Energy Run--Monroe

Ran this morning in the Energy Run in Monroe, MI. It was a 5K at the local community college and raised funds for adult literacy. Kurt decided to sit this one out since his hamstring is bothering him, so I headed out myself this morning. Got there, and heard the end of the kids 1 Mile run, which is always so cute to see. The little kids running are always adorable. Anyway, got my t-shirt and put it in the car (BRIGHT orange), and pinned on my number, 163. Walked to the start of the race, which was at the back of a field. Race was pretty tough. It was not on cement or roads at all, but instead, was through trails covered with branches, logs, etc., with hills--and through grass that was pretty long. So, mostly trail like running. My time was a lot higher than normal, but I think it's because I have a harder time running on grass and dirt trails. The trails had a lot of really sharp turns as well, which made it interesting and relaxing, but a harder run. Better workout than usual though! :). Anyway, the age group medals were different as well, in that they grouped ages in groups of 10 instead of 5 (meaning I was in the 30-39 age group). Ended up getting 3rd and got a kewl medal. My # was also drawn in a raffle and I won a picture frame, which was kewl. After race food was bagels, bananas, oranges, and water. I drank like 4 little water bottles, the race got pretty hot in the sun. Loved that this race was local!

Had a massage this afternoon with Kurt at Biundo's Salon and Spa in Monroe (they had a $10 off each massage coupon on facebook), and ran some errands this afternoon. Drove to Westland tonight and had dinner out with Auntie, grama, Dad and Kurty at Eastside Mario's, which was super yummy. Hopefully, I can use those carbs at the run in the morning! :). Doing another 5K for the Vietnam Veterans United.

Booked our flights to San Francisco this week. Have not booked the details of the trip or anything, need to kinda figure out how much time we want to spend in San Fran vs the redwoods hiking and stuff like that, but have been too busy to look into it a ton. Need to do that soon.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Can't Feel my Arms

This is a positive statement, however. :).

Tonight, I started working out at a studio again (this does not mean the rest of my workouts will end, I just want something to build and tone muscle more than running and biking do). Before law school started, I worked out at a studio called Animal Instinct. Loved it a TON. Best workout of my life. I started out there doing kickboxing, added in a Core class, did some Pilates, and ended by starting to learn Krav Maga. I got some of my friends at the time to go with me, and the workout made one of my friends actually vomit. My kinda workout! :).

Enter law school and the end of my working out career.

Exit law school, begin insanely busy career, working 80+ hours a week, and still not taking care of myself.

Enter taking care of myself, but by working out at home, running, and biking, and loving summer.

Find studio again, which is now called The Fighting Fit, has two new locations. Same owner, same awesome people. I stopped in yesterday to get pricing, a schedule, and information in general.

Stopped in today at 545 PM to sign up and take my first class! Yay! Tonight, I just took basic kickboxing which, kicked my butt! I cannot feel my arms. Still. 3 hours later. Class was awesome. For those of you who have taken cardio kickboxing, this is entirely different. You wear wraps and gloves, actually HIT pads and bags, and do a lot of other training as well. Training included running outside (around the block), tons of abs, tons of push-ups, burpees, squats, kettle bell workouts, etc. Amazing all over workout. Plus, I ran into a friend of mine from the 5Ks, so that was kewl as well! I knew one person! Can't wait to take the other classes as well, once I can feel my arms again. They have a class that sounds awesome called Cage Rage, another called H.I.I.T., another that does Xtraining, a kickboxing bag class, and combo classes. Anyway, I just know taking classes here is going to improve my running and workouts in general. I was sweating and exhausted the bulk of the class.

We ran in one race this past weekend, in Brownstown, called the Wood Duck Dash, which was on Saturday. Was a very pretty race, through Lake Erie Metro Park, which is not far from our house. Loved running over bridges over the water and through the trails in the woods. Ended up 4th in my age group/female, and Kurt was thrilled I did not place as he hates staying and waiting for the medals, LOL. It was fine though, as I had a lot of plans on Saturday and needed to get going. The run felt really good, and I could tell my 5 Mile runs earlier in the week had helped my 5K time and endurance. Saturday afternoon, I headed to Canton to pick up my Aunt and head to the Milford Art Fair. It has really gotten huge! Prob twice the vendors from when I was last there. Ended up buying a really pretty wire pearl ring, and some drink mixes for fat free, calorie free drinks that are SUPER yummy and a good change from diet soda. Had lunch with my Aunt after that and headed home to get ready for dinner out with Kurt, and our friends Cassie and Ken and Zyon, at Crave in Dearborn. Had awesome sushi and a great time.

Sunday, I got up and the weather was perfect for running, so I ran 6 miles and stopped when it started raining. I worked part of the day as well, and ran some errands.

Work has been insanely busy, as usual. I feel like I am running all day long every day. Tons of court all over the place (mostly Detroit and Monroe for me, but Kurt has been in Detroit, Pontiac, Mt. Clemens, Ann Arbor and other district courts locally). Tons of appointments in all three offices.......Am thrilled Kory had been in all week, love when he has short breaks from school.

The mosquitos have been crazy around here lately. Ugh on mosquito bites.

Oh! We finally joined the Jefferson Rec Center, which is part of the high school I was on the school board for. Anyway, we rode the bikes up there and walked around. It is insanely cheap (like $100 per year per household) and I am looking forward to using the pool (I want to train for a tri, and can swim laps in the pool), racquetball (we are going to learn to play and they have courts), the track (for running NOT on a treadmill in the winter months).....We basically joined because there are a few machines Kurt does not have in the basement and does not want to buy cuz they are really pricey and they have them there (including leg press and a back machine).

Hope everyone is doing well!

Sunday, August 07, 2011

You Look Like an Athlete

Race this weekend was super fun. Put on by the Detroit Lions in Allen Park, near their training facility. Instead of medals, they gave out glasses with Detroit Lions and the race info on it, and there were a lot of Detroit Lions prizes and stuff. Anyway, the race was at 900 AM, and of course, it was gorgeous and sunny and hot and muggy. And, I have not been running as much because of the heat, except on the treadmill (have been biking WAY more). So, I was just hoping to just get through the race without passing out. The course was fun. Neighborhood residents had sprinklers on for us to run through, and there were a lot of spots with water and/or gatorade. Anyway, I did way better than I thought I would, clocking in at 26:01. Got 1st in my age group and 77th overall. Kurt clocked in just less than 30 minutes, which he was OK with since he has not been running at all lately because of injuries to his hamstring and back. Our friend Jeff got first in his age group, and our friend Paul got 2nd in his. Anyway, I really liked this one and will do it again next year for sure.

Had a massage after the race at a place I had booked that I had a Groupon to, and could not believe that the therapist underSTOOD deep tissue. I will be back for sure. I don't even think he was using all his strength with me, but I was kinda sore from the run. My dinner plans that night got postponed, so I decided to stop at the mall to use a coupon I had, and ended up buying nothing. Went home, and Kurt and I decided to go out for sushi, which was super yummy.

Yesterday, went on my sunday morning bike ride. I love these rides. It is generally gorgeous and sunny and I just ride and ride. This morning, I went over 13 miles. I can really tell the difference in my legs/muscles from adding the biking in too. Love that. At weigh in yesterday morning, I was my lowest weight to date, weighing in at 66.2 pounds less than when I started in September. I was thrilled with this, as I kinda stopped tracking my food and have been eating healthy choices, but eating when I am hungry, so I am sure I am eating more than I was previously, but I am still losing, so that rocks! I just kinda want to maintain now though, and make sure my clothes continue to fit. I guess if I gain a lot or my clothes get tight, I will start the tracking again. Speaking of that, I was looking for a particular supplement at GNC, and was kinda annoyed by the lady's reaction who worked there. She basicaly would not even SHOW it to me, because I think she thought I should not use it as I don't need to lose any more weight. I really don't think that's ANY of her business, and then she started lecturing me on eating breakfast, that I should drink protein shakes, etc. Umm, no. Did not ask your advice on my life. I don't eat breakfast because I am not hungry in the morning and food makes me kinda queasy in mornings. If I get hungry, I eat a banana or granola bar or other fruit. Anyway, I will not be going back to that GNC. Or Ill take Kurt with me and tell them the product is for someone else, LOL.

This morning at court, one of our attorney friends stopped me in the hallway and said to me "I just saw Kurt and was telling him that you two seriously look like athletes now, you both look amazing!" That totally meant a lot to me, as that is what I want to look like. I am not into the waif skinny look, and want to look slender, but with muscle tone as well. Apparently, whatever I am doing is working! Or at least it is to that guy. : Kurt even commented on my arm muscles tonight while we were working out, so all those push-ups and kickboxing bag workouts must be showing finally! I'm kinda jealous of my friends who can accomplish the same results in a lot less working out, but since I dont have the time or schedule to do anything more structured, I gotta keep with my own thing, which works (albeit slowly).

Our Labor Day trip is selected by a roll of the dice. I had narrowed it to three places, Kurt added three more, we assigned each place a spot on the dice, and we rolled. Number one came up twice immediately and so San Francisco (focusing on the redwoods and hiking) is it! :). can't wait. Have not booked yet, as I need to finalize dates, but can't wait for our second trip to cali this year! I have always wanted to see the redwoods, so I can't wait. Oh, the 6 choices were San Fran with redwoods, Calgary with Banff national park, glacier national park in Montana, Honduras, Vancouver, and Puerto Vallarta. This is a shorter 5 night trip, so we cannot pick anyplace crazy far. Any recs anyone has for places to stay, hikes to do, would be appreciated.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!