Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Lack of motivation? Stuck in a slump?

I knew it would hit me again sooner or later.  It usually hits a few months after I join a gym.  This time it was 6 months before it really hit me.  Yesterday and Sunday I had a serious lack of motivation to get myself moving.

While I was sitting at work yesterday, I could see how nice it was getting outside and all I wanted to do was go outside for a run.  Once I got home, I knew that I still wanted to get outside, but was not able to do so at that time - had other things that I needed to take care of first. Plus we kept going back to the TV and Facebook to get more information of the events that happened in Boston this afternoon at the Marathon.  I knew several people that were in Boston for the big race and wanted to make sure they were all ok.  (thankfully we did find out that they all were safe and unharmed).

By the time we finished dinner and I would have had the chance to get outside, the motivation was gone.  I kept telling myself I should at least go downstairs and hop on the treadmill.  That never happened. It didn't help that I was still hungry after dinner (long story, but basically dinner was a flop, didn't like what we made and I kept trying to supplement dinner) and the Cinnamon Cheese Squares that were baked last night kept calling to me.  I wasted the entire evening. The first really nice day in weeks that I could have been outside enjoying the spring air. Next thing I knew, it was time to head to bed so that the alarm could go off (not so) bright and early.

What a waste of a perfectly beautiful day!  :(  I did end up eating one of the bars that was calling to me... but it was only one.  Previously, I would have eaten 3 or 4.

I am hoping that getting to the gym for my training session tonight will help get me back on track.  With a 5k and a half marathon coming up in the next month, I need to keep focused!  Today is a new day and I am determined to make it through on a positive note!   I found a few different workouts that I want to try on my non-training session days to try and bring a little more variety to my routine.  Today is another beautiful day and I will make the most of it!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Sweet Tooth alert!

This afternoon, while sitting at my desk working, I had a ginormous craving for somethign sweet.  Before I headed towards the vending machine to see what I could find, I remembered about my chocolate stash in my desk!  Thanks to a post on Facebook a few weeks ago and a trip to my local Target store, I had a small stash of "Unreal" chocolates in my desk drawer.  Up until that Facebook post a few weeks ago, I had never heard of this brand/company and wanted to give them a try.  For those of you that are not familiar with them, Unreal is "Unjunked candy".  Taken directly from the back of the wrapper:  No Artificials,  No Hydrogenateds,   No Corn Syrups, No Preservatives, No GMOs".  Sounds like a winner to me!

Up until today, I had only tried their Candy Coated Chocolates with Peanuts (ie Peanut M&M's).  Those were not quite as sweet as an M&M and had a very smooth flavor.  My son said that they had a slight carob taste to them.  I had to agree - and I do like carob so I was not going to complain.

Today was the Peanut Butter Cups turn!

WOW!

These are fabulous!  It is probably a good thing that I don't have another package of the in my desk, they would probably be gone!  Taste was wonderful, texture was perfect.  I decided to take a look at the nutritional information for these Peanut Putter Cups, compared to a classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  Overall the fat, calories and carbs were all lower with the Unreal version.  The biggest difference was in the sugar content.  The traditional Reese's has 21g of sugar, while Unreal Peanut Butter Cups only have 11g!  Plus counting the fact that the Unreal does not have any of the "junk" in the Reese's.  Taking into the account that the Unreal does have a lover sugar content as the Reese's  I did notice that I did not get that sugar buzz/headache that I usually get when I eat a Reeses (which is why I hardly ever get them anymore!)

Now before anyone says anything... I know that this is still candy and is not to be eaten daily!  I just know that I am always looking for ways that I can reduce (and eventually eliminate) artificial flavors etc form my diet, without feeling that I am completely depriving myself of occasional indulgences, like candy bars.

(side note)  I did try the regular chocolate candy coated pieces (i.e. &M's) and I did not care for those.  They were not terrible, just not something that I would buy again.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Running like a fool

The 3rd Annual April Fools 5k... on Friday the 5th of April.  I am thinking that the joke is that is was NOT run on April 1st!  
After a busy week of work, playing catch up on projects that piled up from taking the previous week off for spring break, the run was a welcome challenge.  

With  shoes laced up and bib numbers pinned Elizabeth and I headed to Appleton after work.  We laughed about the last race we did together. It was the Scheel's Run for Home 2 years ago.  In the process of completing that 5k, we experienced rain, sleet, snow and various combinations of the all three.  After the first half mile, it was not even worth trying to avoid puddles, It was just easier to run right through and keep going.  The freezing temperatures were the whipped cream on top of the hot cocoa that we should have got when we finished.  When I reached the finish line, I got my medal (this is one of the few local 5k's that actually gives medals!)  and waited for Elizabeth to finish a few minutes behind me.  Once we both had our medals, we made a beeline for the car, in search of our extra sweatshirts to warm up.  Forget waiting around for the awards ceremony, we just wanted to warm up!

Fast forward to today, mild temperatures in the 40's, the sun is shining and the is no sign of rain or snow for hundreds of miles.  Also helps that this race is run in the evening, instead of just after sunrise!  We arrived at Players Choice (location of the finish line) and hopped on the bus to head to OSI, where the run was starting.  Matt met us with us there - my pacer!  Due to some technical difficulties with buses and getting everyone to the starting location, the race ended up starting a little late, nut nothing worth complaining about - it was a gorgeous night for a run (yes a little chilly once you were outside but that would be short lived once we started moving!

After mile 1, I was feeling good.  Pace was at an acceptable 11:something minute minute mile.  Off to a good start!  Mile 2 was just a good, I was still feeling pretty good.  Shortly after we passed that 2 mile marker, Matt told me that we were at 21 minutes (and some odd seconds)!  That was a 10:something mile!  WooHoo!!  Shortly after 2 miles, I felt the wall coming, but was determined to run through it.  I could see the building off in the distance that represented the finish line.  I was not stopping to walk, I wanted to finish it the way that I started.  When I came around the last corner and could see the timer at the finish line, I was shocked to see it was only at 34 minutes... Did I really just finish this in less that 36 minutes?  Unbelievable!

Once across the finish line and catching my breath, Matt informed me that we just pulled a time of approximately 33:11!!!  I think this pulls out as one of the best (If not the best) 5k time that I have ever done!

What's next?  Scheel's Run for Home in 1 month!  Let's just hope that the weather is better than 2 years ago when I ran it!  Not sure which is worse - running in sleet, slush and freezing rain or sweltering heat (which was the Packers Training Camp 5k 2 years ago) Thoughts?  What is the worst conditions you have run in during an organized race?  I think I have run through it all... not sure which is worse!