pr's and that good stuff

So yesterday, at the gym, I set a new PR for myself! I benched 75 ibs. 5 times, 5 times, people! Yes! Knowing that I pushed myself harder helps get me pumped up, it helps push me to do even more. I also had my husband there with me to spot me, he is an excellent "coach", he makes me feel like I can push my self harder than whenever I go alone.

I'm a very shy person and I hate, absolutely hate asking for a spot at the gym. I don't think that I have earned the right to do that yet, at least that is how I feel, since I am a newbie to the whole lifting thing. Although, I think I have found my new love, lifting! I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy running. I look forward to waking up at 4:30 in the morning just to go to the gym while everyone else is asleep, before work. It gets me pumped and ready for my day!

I just wanted to brag a little bit!

running

Lately I have put my running on the back burner thanks to my shin. I believe that my shoes are to blame. Darn shoes! I need to get fitted for some good ones, because there are so many different types out there. My shin feels better now, although, it has been like 2 weeks since I have ran. I plan on running on Saturday, so hopefully I will be able to run! I'm so anxious to get back to running..

I feel so lost whenever I can't run (I know I just began, but still). That is time that I get to myself, I think about the day, work, home, family, whatever. You name it, I just think about all kinds of things. It's so freeing to be out there running, with the wind in your hair, watching the sun rise, hearing the birds chirp. Most of the time I leave early enough in the morning to watch the sun rise, and there aren't very many people out, so it's quiet and I can actually think.

Even when I don't go out there by myself and run, there are occasions when I take my daughter, it still feels awesome! I like taking her with me because she just babbles about things, like the birds, the flowers and trees and such. It is interesting to see the world through a 3 year olds point of view! I'm hoping that by taking her with me when I do that it will show her how much she could enjoy running in the future.

Running has helped me push through my attitude of giving up. I used to start things and give up on them if I didn't get it right away, but with running it is different. It's like a whole new world out there to explore that I did not know even existed, so I can't even think of giving up now! There are so many races out there and places that I would like to run, so I see no giving up in the future!

So for now my view will continue to look like this:

And what a wonderful view this is!

What makes you run? What makes it important to you?

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the color run, part 2!

So, I signed up for another color run, like 2 weeks after my first one! This one was in Winston-Salem though, pretty much the same distance away as Charlotte. Still, I had a blast!

My GPS on my phone didn't work and I didn't take my watch, so I have no idea what my time was or anything like that. It didn't really matter though, because this run was more for fun than anything else! Next color run that I do, I think i'll wear a tutu or dress up or something like that! There definitely is going to be more in the future though!

This time they had colored water as well as the colored powder stuff, which was pretty neat! I liked the shirts much better this time too, but when I washed this one all the color came out. :( The one from the run in Charlotte didn't wash all the way out, but instead the color just faded, needless to say I was a little sad.

There were a ton of people at this one, even though it hadn't sold out by the time it started. There were kids, babies in strollers, whole families, pregnant women pushing strollers with babies, there was just a variety of people! There is going to be another one in Raleigh in September, I think, but I am debating on signing up for that one as I will be towards the end of my half marathon training, so we will see!

Then there was the color party at the end! Wow, so much COLOR!!!

And of course my Race Swag!

I love these fun runs, they make running so much more than just exercise! They make it enjoyable, instead of feeling like you're just exercising, you're having fun!



goals

Have you ever sat down and thought about where you would like to be 5 years from now? I haven't until this past weekend.

I'm a live in the moment, whatever happens, happens kind of person. So I have never really thought about 5 years down the road. Well over the weekend my husband made me write down where I would like to be in 5 years. I honestly had a hard time deciding. I didn't even know where to begin.

I knew I wanted to have fitness goals, physical goals, family goals. So, where do I begin?

I know fitness wise, I want to have:
1. Ran the Dopey Challenge at WDW
2. Become certified as a Personal Trainer
3. Still thinking.....

Physical, I want:
1. To be happy with myself! *most important goal ever!*

That's all I have come up with so far... This goal decision process is hard, because you really have to think about what it is that you really want in the future. I now I sure will be adding to these in the future as I think of them.

Make the impossible possible!

new week, new schedule

This is the last week of the DietBet that I am doing, so I need to work hard at resisting my cravings and not give in to chocolate so I can lose those last few pounds I need to win. That's the hardest part about me trying to eat healthy, is that stupid chocolate!

I've been trying to hit the gym a little harder lately since my running has been sporadic. My shin has been bothering me, so I have been trying to give it a break and not run so much. I'm not sure why it's bothering me like it is, but it is painful! I want to think that it is because of my shoes, I haven't been properly fit for a pair and I am currently wearing Nikes that my brother bought me for Christmas. So maybe one day soon i'll get properly fitted from someone at a running store.

Here's my schedule for the week:

AM
Monday: Chest, Shoulders and Triceps  Check!
Tuesday: Legs and Abs Check!
Wednesday: Cardio Check!
Thursday: Back and Biceps Check!
Friday: Rest Day check!
Saturday: Run 3 miles It was raining so this is getting put off until Sunday :(
Sunday: Chest, Shoulders and Triceps

Les Mills Combat:

PM
Monday: Combat 30 Check!
Tuesday: HIIT: Power Check!
Wednesday: Combat 45 Check!
Thursday: REST Check! (I didn't really rest though, I went to the gym instead)
Friday: HIIT: Shock Plyo Check!
Saturday: Combat 30
Sunday: REST

I will be wearing my Under Armour shoes instead of the Nikes this time for Les Mills, because the Nikes just do not have enough arch support for me. Hopefully that will also help my legs.

I am determined to get into the best shape that I have ever been in! In saying that, though, I am totally not trying to overdo it and injure myself. That would leave for a very unhappy Mandy!

dietbet part 2

I joined another dietbet! I've won the last two that I have started so I figured why not a third one! I joined this one along with 5,994 more people though, which is a lot people paying $25 a piece. The pot is up to $149,850, so i'm hoping to get a good amount of winnings!

I only have 10 more days left, but i'm right on track with the weight loss and I only have a couple pounds left to lose!

So wish me luck!

myrtle beach pnc 5k

I ran the PNC 5k in Myrtle Beach in February. It was a night race, and I don't run at night, and I haven't ever ran a night race before so I wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't bad at all! I did the best that I have ever done that night.

I was nervous throughout the day, so I wasn't able to eat too much, which I thought was going to turn around and bite me in the butt later. Thankfully it didn't, and I did extremely well, for me! I will definitely be doing this run again next year, but i'll be aiming for the half marathon by then! *hopefully!*

My time was 35:43, and I came in 574th out of 923 people and 36th out of 53 in my age group, but I thought I was going to die there at the end! I physically pushed myself to my limits that night during the run, which I haven't done before during my training runs. I was determined to do well!

There was a couple children there running the race with their parents and I can't wait until little bit is old enough to actually run with me instead of in her stroller! I remember seeing an 8 year old running with her father and I told her how awesome I thought that it was that she was running with her father! He told me that in 2012 he ran the 5k and got a medal and after she saw the medal she had to do it this year! (See i'm not the only one doing it for the bling!) :)

My daughter was there though, cheering me on! My dad came with her so that she could sit on the sidelines and cheer me on!

I looked a little rough here, but this was while I was crossing the finish line!! As I said earlier I thought I was going to die at the end! But, hey, No Pain, No Gain! Am I right!?

The swag bag that they gave us was really nice, it even came with a blanket! I gave the blanket to my daughter though to cover up with. The medal was really nice, it was my first official medal!

Overall I had a fun time, and the run was really nice. I didn't get to run by and see the beach though like the marthoners did, but hey, it was still great! Maybe next time!

and i'm back!

I know I took a few months off from writing, but i'm back! I am still running, and i've added in crosstraining to my regime. I have also started Les Mills Combat from Beachbody, and it is awesome! It pushes me to my limits and makes me sweat! I have ran a few 5k's, keeping on track with my 13 in 2013 goal, and I have my first half marathon planned in October.

My favorite 5k so far has been the Warrior Dash in North Carolina on the 1st. It was a 3 mile mud run with obstacles, some that I didn't know that I could do until I actually did them! I will be posting race recaps with photos and details. I am so proud of myself for doing all these runs, especially when I didn't think that I could really do them to begin with!

I am on my way to a better and healthier lifestyle, I want to be a good role model for my daughters. I want them to know that it pays off to live a healthy and active lifestyle and that it is all worth it!