64 degrees and I’m happy. 8 x 200/2 x 400 on the track today. Could be crying tomorrow since we’ll be back in the 20s.
I’m impressed by everyone’s race tallies for 2016! I sound like the slacker mom here 
1 marathon
1 2.5 mile race
But for 2017, I am planning on doing the “9+1” (run in 9 NY Road Runner races and volunteer at 1) which guarantees entry into the 2018 NYC Marathon. So far, I’ve signed up for 2 in January, 2 in February, 1 in March and a volunteer shift in March. They range from 4M to a half marathon. I need it to stay motivated.
I’m also impressed by everyone’s race tallies.
4 5k’s for me ( planning to run my 5th on Saturday).
I just spent 5 days with too much food, too many sweets, too much wine and not enough activity. I was happy to spend time with extended family, but it just does not feel good otherwise. Started the day out with yoga and walked up the steps at work. Will be going out for a walk soon.
I’ve been eating and drinking so much for weeks! I feel not great! I’ve got to get normalized.
6.6 miles late morning since I’m not working this week. We had bad storms overnight and parts of the trail had flooded and there was some standing water that I couldn’t avoid. Cold, wet feet 1/4 mile in and deeper water 1/3 miles in. No blisters, though.
I feel validated! 
http://www.runnersworld.com/recovery/why-you-should-do-easy-extra-runs
Managed to walk outside with my dog and D1’s dog for 2.5 miles today. Tomorrow, I’m going to the gym to work with my trainer. I also need to get back to working on the stair climb. I also signed up for a 21 Day Yoga Challenge. In addition to the daily yoga, there are 3 workshops with a couple of local yoga teacher superstars. Plus, my favorite yoga teacher (who also owns the studio) is going to lead 2 of the workshops. I’m excited about this challenge. (I did one earlier this year at another studio.)
Wish I could list my races–alas, I’m not a runner. But I do love the idea of challenges so maybe I’ll keep track of my yoga challenges and also the stair climb and see if I can find a few more things like that.
Am seriously debating whether to stick with the cardiac rehab facility (nominal med supervision, next door to ER, limited equipment, no ongoing classes) or go to Lifetime Fitness (some free classes, but can I handle them? Lose the weight watchers membership, which I’m not using because telling me I can eat all I want of something is a disaster? )
The cost for WW plus rehab is roughly the same as Lifetime, though I would be signing a contract vs month-to-month. The reality is I have gained back 35 and I need to get a handle on this NOW. Also need to consider whether I should continue working, because that has not helped my cause at all. Lots of sitting, lots of stress, too exhausted when I get out to exercise.
Today was a big wake-up call.
Sorry, CD. Lifetime sounds like a good option. Do they have trainers? If you could find a good one, that could be a big help.
^^^ Good advice. Try not to get too overwhelmed CD and only worry about one pound not all 35. You can do it. You know what it takes!
I’ll admit to my totally crappy (but delicious!) eating day - my worst of the holiday season. 1/2 bagel, strip of bacon, yogurt and cherries for breakfast. A road trip to Cabela’s and there was a hot cider and donut food truck outside of the place. My girls easily talked H into buying some. Had a full on sugary cider donut dripping in sugar and cinnamon. Then we dined in Ann Arbor at a great Cuban place. I had this amazing dish (called “best snack ever”) - layered coconut-ginger rice, black beans, melted Muenster & cilantro-lime salsa - so delicious. Shared a passion fruit batido, a tropical milkshake made with fresh fruit, crushed ice, vanilla bean ice cream . And garlic cilantro fries. Yum. I might have gotten by with all that, but THEN somehow these gigantic deep fried churros the size of baseball bats with mexican chocolate to dip them in arrived at our table. Definitely a carb overload day.
I can feel the stomach bloat. Sorry to be descriptive. I HATE feeling that way. Did come home and did a 30 minute cardio strength workout. Hopefully that counts for something.
Abasket- that sounds like really incredible food!
It was incredible - and so flavorful! But also, CARBS. And more!!!
CD: invest in a trainer when you start at Lifetime. It will keep you accountable–you can’t blow off your sesion easily because you’re on the hook for the $$$. That helped me a great deal when I started. Also, my personal opinion–you have to click with your trainer. If you don’t like the first trainer you get, find someone else. Personally, I prefer a trainer over 35, but that’s my bias.
Does Lifetime offer group classes of any kind? You might supplement training with the classes.
CD, if you can live without the pay, and your job makes you miserable instead of providing a sanity outlet, maybe it is time to seriously consider quitting and investing in your health.
Absolutely agree: interview several trainers and pick someone that you “click” with. Good luck, and fingers crossed. You are a strong woman, you can defeat those 35 creepers.
CD - if it were me, I would quit the job and focus on my health. I like the idea of a trainer along with Lifetime - a good trainer will be able to make adjustments to your limitations but also challenge you to improve. WW doesn’t sound like it’s doing much of anything for you so I would abandon that ship as well. As Bunsen pointed out, you are a strong woman and have gotten through so much already - don’t quit now! We are all here to support you in any way you want or need. If you’d like an accountability/personal motivator, I’m available!
On that note, I admit that I was a slacker yesterday. Walked the dogs. Pilates this morning. I am more than ready for 2016 to come to an end. My racing history for the year is pretty dismal - a 10 miler, half, aborted full and 4 miler - have a 5k coming up but that’s it. My workout history is far more impressive - I’ve been tallying the number of running and Pilates workouts I’ve done over the course of the year, but you’ll have to wait (I know, you all can hardly stand it, lol) until the year is over to hear the big numbers, haha! I was going to try for another full next year but decided that some confidence building at a distance I could do easily was in order - so improving my half time is the goal for 2017.
sabaray- You had an incredible year! Your combination of running and Pilates and other classes is so great! I admire you. You had the ankle problem, too! The marathon distance isn’t for everyone. It’s sort of like my son and the full ironman distance. It is not a good racing distance for him, and the training level is ridiculous if you work. Somehow, people think that unless you do a full ironman or a full marathon, you haven’t reached the pinnacle of your sport. That’s ridiculous. I remember Lauren Flesham (pro runner) telling someone on a plane that she races 5K and the guy was disdainful. Of course, she’s set many records at 5K, but since she wasn’t talking about the holy MARATHON, the guy shut her down.
I was definitely guilty of falling into that mindset re: the full. I’ve done one full successfully and it’s okay if I only do one. I think right now with everything else I want to do, improving at the shorter distances is a more realistic goal - I think the stress on my body at the longer distance is just too much. D and I are doing a half together this fall that we’re combining with a fun weekend - visit some vineyards, drink some wine, be tourists - have some fun. And run a little too, I guess!
I had a really good Pilates workout this morning - having a sports massage, while painful, really helped with some of the tightness I was experiencing. I was starting to favor one of my hips and that creates all kinds of issues - not going there. Every year I set a goal to achieve - this year I managed to master the full pike, short spine and long spine. Doing a fun barre class tomorrow night - why not?
Lifetime has some semi-private trainer classes to the tune of $199 for a two month session. That’s a chunk of change on top of dues and membership fee.
I like the folks I work with, but this is a small, slowly fading synagogue and it’s the same group of folks who do everything, to the point of burnout. I’m tired of all the people who have lost their personal filters. OTOH, I’m using some of the skills in my wheelhouse. OTOH, I don’t have time to do my big charity quilting project and I can’t go see people or family whenever DH is on the road. DH hates when I’m home all day, hates when I’m working. No pleasing him there, but he is annoyed that we have to plan trips around my $10/hr job. But they desperately need my skills! They will never be able to find someone willing to do this job…and I am spending way too much time sitting and stress eating. DH and S2 don’t help in the eating department, as they ignore nutrition altogether. DH hasn’t exercised in the 33 years we’ve been married. He has no plans to change that.
But my clothes don’t fit, my body is falling apart, my neck/shoulders/knees are all giving me grief, and I can’t ignore it.
I wonder if they have any specials when you first join and perhaps hire a trainer for some individual sessions? That might be enough to kickstart you off into developing some good habits.
Fitness isn’t cheap, which is too bad. My share of our couple’s membership to the gym is $45; I pay $50/hr for Pilates (individual training) and then additional fees for any classes I sign up for. When I worked with a running coach I was paying over $400/month for everything I wanted to do. Add in race fees and my Lulu habit…well…to me it’s worth it. To other folks, it may not be. Would it be possible for you to be in more of a consulting role to the synagogue? I understand wanting to help them but at the risk of overstepping here, I think helping yourself and taking care of your health are far more important. At this stage of my life, I want to do things that make me the happiest.
I can not say how badly I did NOT want to go run today. I am limping towards the end of the year with no motivation. I put on my new Christmas Hoka Bondi 5s and drove myself to the path. I figured I could manage 3 miles (really wanted to do 5) if I got myself somewhere flat and without cars. My legs are very tired, but I liked the shoes a lot and managed 5.1 miles. It never felt easy, though. Sunny and 46.
Couple of months ago I met a young man who is running across the country (San Diego to NYC) to raise awareness of veteran’s issues - especially the high rate of suicide among veterans. I have been tracking his route, and yesterday drove a couple of hours to join him in Virginia and give him a few hours of company, encouragement and moral support. I ran with him for 10 miles, which totally wiped me out! (It was a bit hilly) He has been covering anywhere from 25 to 50 miles per day and has another 500+ miles to go. Website is beastmodeforthebrave dotORG for more info.