Change in Running Plans

Like so many other things in life... it doesn't always go as planned.

A few weeks ago i found out that i did not make it into the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco so that sent me on a search for a new half marathon to compete in that was closer to home. My friend Anna at Red Runs is someone that runs a lot in Illinois and so i sought her out as my source for a new race. And there it was... the Chicago Rock n Rock Half Marathon!! It looks like a blast, at every mile there is a band playing so there is no need for an ipod for this race.

Then yesterday hit. I had yet to sign up for the Rock and Roll half marathon and i had been talking to another friend about doing the Color Run in Indianapolis when my boss forwarded me a email about the Chicago Marathon and running it as a part of the American Cancer Society team. It felt like it was meant to be. So I signed up and and am now training for a full marathon as well as raising $1000 for the cause. Next week i will post a link to my fundraising page as well as DIY projects that i am doing in an effort to raise this money before the end of September.

This post is so that i can share with all of you my training schedule with all of you for the marathon.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
2	Rest	3	Rest	2	Rest	4
Rest	3	Rest	2	2	Rest	5
Rest	3	Rest	2	3	Rest	6
Rest	3	Rest	2	3	Rest	3
Rest	3	Rest	2	2	Rest	5
Rest	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5
Rest	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6
Rest	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	7
Rest	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8
Rest	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10
Rest	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11
Rest	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12
Rest	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	14
Rest	4	Rest	7	4	Rest	16
Rest	5	Rest	8	5	Rest	16
Rest	5	Rest	8	5	Rest	17
Rest	5	Rest	8	5	Rest	18
Rest	5	Rest	8	5	Rest	20
Rest	5	Rest	8	5	Rest	9
Rest	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8
Rest	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	Walk 2
Marathon

I will keep you all posted on my progress.

Month 2 Results

After 2 months of

I am proud to announce my weight loss results..

8 pounds and 12 inches!!

I am out of the size 14 and 12 pants and down to a size 10. I haven't been a size 10 since high school. This is so exciting!! Safe to say, my clothing options are limited since my pants are all too big and so i am wearing a lot of dresses with belts as a way to get through this transition. Once i finish this 3 month Beachbody Challenge, I am excited to push it further. I ordered the Advanced DVDs for TurboFire and that will take me into Month 4 and 5. At that point i think that i am going to purchase ChaLean Extreme and do that challenge. 

In terms of my running, I am running 5 days a week and i am up to being able to run 2 miles solid and run/walk 4 miles comfortably. It is crazy how easy running gets the more that you do it. Now i just need to register for a half marathon. 

Month 4 of Couch to 13.1 miles

And here we go with Month 4 of my training schedule! Keep it up!!

Last week i entered into the random drawing for the Nike Women's Half Marathon. I hope that this week I will find out whether i made it into the race or not. If i get a spot in the race, the next step will be to secure a place to stay as well as start shopping for flights. I plan to wrap a mini vacation into this weekend.

tracking sheet (take 2)

A few weeks ago i posted a tracking sheet that i was using for the first month of my Beachbody Challenge. After 45 days i found that i didn't need all of the journal space to write down what i was eating and was looking for something that i could quickly jot down my calories as well as keep track of the water that i am drinking.

I shrunk my first log down to a smaller version where i can still document the things that i do i my food journal but this allows for it to last longer. There is something about logging my calories and checking off the glasses of water consumed that is allowing me to lose weight. We are 3 weeks away from the next weigh in and i am super anxious to see what the results are.

How do you keep track of your caloric intake? Myfitnesspal? Another tracking method?

On another note, stay tuned for some more fitness routines this week as well as a new recipe post.

Month 3 of Couch to 13.1 Miles

So in all the craziness that was last month, i realized that i forgot to post last month's half marathon training schedule. So here it is...

By week 2 of month 3, you should be able to run a 5K with ease and now the training switches over to training for a 10K.

Whoopie Pies

These things are delicious and only 202 calories!
I love it!! 

Ingredients

1/3 cup canola oil

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup nonfat milk

1/2 cup cold water

2 tsp unflavored gelatin

1 cup whipping cream

2/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Coat the sheets with cooking spray.
• Beat oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk; beat until smooth. Let the batter stand for 15 minutes.
• Drop batter by the tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheets, spreading the batter into a 2 to 3 inch circle with the back of the spoon (if it doesn't spread itself). I fit 8 cookies onto a cookie sheet usually. Bake the cookies until firm to the touch, about 8 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Use a clean baking sheet for each batch.
• For the filling, stir water and gelatin in a small heatproof cup or bowl. Let stand for 1 minute. Microwave, uncovered, on High until the gelatin has completely dissolved but the liquid is not boiling, 20 to 30 seconds. Stir the mixture until smooth. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Beat cream, yogurt, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until very thick, about a minute. With the mixer beating constantly, add the gelatin mixture in a steady stream until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until the cream filling is thickened to the consistency of pudding, about 30 minutes. Whisk again until smooth.
• To assemble whoopie pies, turn half the cookies bottom side up and top with a generous 2 tbsp of the cream. Top with the remaining cookies. Chill in the refrigerator until the filling is set about 30 minutes.

Turbofire Month 1

After 30 days of Turbo Fire I can report that I am down 5 pounds and 5 inches. This is exciting!! I can't wait for the 60 and 90 day updates.

Unlike other programs that i have tried, this one does not kill the body. I tried P90x and Insanity but they were a little hard on the body. I feel like i needed to build up to those programs but with this one it was a natural fit. I love it and the energy that goes along with this program. My favorite moves are the sumo burpee and the jab-jab-speedbag- push it combos. This is so much fun!