Running in Beauty

Merrily we run along, ahem, jog

I have to start doing a better job of logging in my "runs". I put quotations around run because I personally don't consider it a run if I have to stop to walk. What I am doing at the moment is more like jogging and then walking, jogging and walking. So would this be called, "jogalking"?

This week, I've managed two sessions of "jogalking" with Brandon. Our evenings mysteriously are eaten up that the only time slot we've been able to jog was at 11 pm. On Sunday evening, we didn't even get finished until Midnight! It's just that I feel so tired after work and battling infamous Phoenix traffic on the Loop 202 that I just want to zombie out in front of the computer, watch some TV, go out for some dinner, let it settle, and then browse stores for no apparent reason at all.

I'm going to have have to cut out all this BS next week. Next week, I lay the smack down.

This weekend, I'm signing myself and Brandon up for a gym membership at 24 Hour Fitness. I've recently become more consciencious about the health impacts of running outdoors especially with the air pollution content that Phoenix metro has. Just the thought makes me feel like weekly running outdoors will clog my lungs up with particle gunk. Therefore, I'd feel much better running indoors on a treadmill during the week and running outdoors on the weekends.

A friend of mine already has a membership at the gym we're going to commit to so I'll be starting out a workout routine with her soon. She's aching to shed some baby weight and me...well, I just want to look a sexy, toned beast for my wedding which is only two months away!

Going back to running...
My left hip and my right knee (inner area below knob) have been stinging lately. I'm not sure if my new shoes are to blame but I'm going to test whether or not they are. On my next jog, I'm going to wear my old running shoes to see if I can tell a difference. If so...I may have to buy another pair of shoes. Otherwise...I'll have to take leg strengthening more seriously. I was telling my best friend this morning that because of the resulting pain I get from running on both my hip and my knee, I feeling like I'm walking around like I have a stick up my ass. He just laughed.

Labels: gym, pain

etched in stone by carmen @ 3:55 PM 5 comments

Getting back on track

Sometimes I don't know where the heck my weekends go. It's almost as if I'm not even getting a day off from work at all. On Saturday evening, Brandon and I had dinner (Navajo tacos!) with our wedding photographer, who is also our friend, and his family. We arrived at six o'clock and did not leave until well after mid-night when our eyeballs tinted red from fatigue. ha And I wondered where my day went! I was supposed to leave at least by nine pm so I could get in a run but that didn't happen.

Today was a lazy day. I didn't feel like doing much of anything. My main accomplishment of the day was doing three loads of laundry. I'm going on travel again for work. Tomorrow, my boss and I are driving to Parker, Arizona to meet with two representatives from the Colorado River Indian Tribes Environmental Office. I've never been to Parker either. When I was in San Carlos last week I was not able to get in any exercise so I'm hoping that my Parker trip will be different. Even just a 30-minute walk will do.

Last Friday, I took a break from all the reading I was doing at work and went to a website with a calorie-calculator for daily calorie intake. I'm trying to lose weight within the next two months for the wedding. According to the calculator, I need to limit myself to approximately 1,900 calories if I am putting in 35 minutes of cardio a day. Today was the first day on my diet.

Since this is my first week, I increased my limit to 2,100 calories so my stomach and appetite can adjust to the smaller portions. Otherwise, I'll be getting headaches, feeling lethargic, and just basically being a grumpy, mean gorilla all week.

I'm off to do a 2-mile jog now with my love. I sure hope the heat is tolerable tonight. :(

etched in stone by carmen @ 10:33 PM 3 comments

The Return...

It's official.
I'm back.

I used to blog for a bit on a wordpress account but found that it wasn't as fun as blogger was so I decided to switch back. I think that because most of my fellow running blogger enthusiasts are on blogger, it also makes it easier for you to provide comments and encouragement.

The last time I left off I was working for the Navajo Nation in Window Rock, Arizona. I was a recycling educator and had been living away from my fiance', who was still living in Tempe and working like a maniac for his company in Scottsdale. We endured a 9-month long distance relationship, seeing each other every other weekend or so. Fate was kind when my best friend let me in on a vacancy where he was working in Phoenix. I applied in April, was interviewed, and accepted a new position in a pesticide program. I moved back to Tempe and began my new job in late May.

I'm still working on behalf of Arizona tribes in the environmental realm. I love being able to work my 8 hours and then going home to my fiance' and our cats instead of a lonely, shabby studio apartment. Our wedding is still taking place in late August and everything looks great.

I haven't been running (much) since my foot injury last December at the Arizona Road Racers' 30k, where I was able to meet the wonderful Phil. I just couldn't find the drive to lace up my shoes and hit the asphalt or the trails. Runner's slump? I think it was. As a result, I slowly gained back some of the pounds I had lost and didn't feel as jolly and grand as I once did when I ran daily.

But that will change this week. In fact, tonight I hit the asphalt for the first time in almost two months. I ran my first mile in 11:05. Not bad. I thought it was going to be in the 12's. I'm trying to get used to my new shoes that Hubster bought for me yesterday...Brooks Ariel.

Not soon after 1.5 miles did I begin to feel stinging in my knee...like I was landing wrong. I think it's the shoes correcting my pronation (motion-control) and my legs aren't used to being corrected! I'll see how it goes for the rest of the week. I'm going to walk tomorrow and run a little on Tuesday. Alternation will go on like that for the rest of the week. However, I'm on travel and will be away from a computer until Friday. I will be in San Carlos, Arizona attending an Environmental Investigations Training. In the coming months, I have to work towards earning all of my credentials to become a federal Pesticide Inspector.

I've never been to San Carlos before so I'm very excited. It's home to Apaches. I hear it's gorgeous. Anyhow, it's good to be back. I've missed the community here.

etched in stone by carmen @ 11:35 PM 7 comments