On the Road Again, Part I

Tonight I'm flying up to Wisconsin, land of delicious cheese (and ice cream, and brats, and beer, and fudge, and steak, and...well, you get the picture). I have two 3.5-mile runs left to complete, as well as another cross-training day. Unlike Florida, where I lived out of my own house, this will be my first trip since I began training that...

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Spoke Too Soon!

Last night after my run, I was feeling great. I was proud of myself for knocking out 5 miles AND doing my toning exercises. I had that postrun clearheadedness, that feeling of what a car might feel after getting a long-overdue oil change---clean, tuned up, raring to go. I ran a couple of errands at the grocery store and dollar store by my gym and headed home for the night. Then, out of nowhere, that dreaded gurgling feeling, accompanied by nausea, a headache, and dizziness. A couple of shots...

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Some News of the Ornithological Variety...

Just kidding...(you Family Guy enthusiasts get the joke, I'm sure) But seriously, Family Guy seems to always be on TV at any given time. I found this out last night (or rather early this morning). I went to bed around 10 pm, which is early for me, because, as I wrote in my last post, I wanted to get up and go to the gym before work for my 3.5-mile run and some strength. So much for that! I ended up waking up at 1:30-ish and COULD NOT get back to sleep. I tossed and turned. I kicked...

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Finding the Time

Today is the first day of my week 4 half-marathon training. It's a stretch and strength day, which was great because my knees and lower back are sore and they definitely need a break from the impact. I'm still getting used to running so frequently, and sometimes my body can really feel it. It's getting better every week though. So today I walked 2 miles and will do my strength when I go to the gym tomorrow morning. I really need to remember to get toning in more often. As the weeks progress, the...

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Babies & Bows

This morning, I knew I wouldn't have time to go to the gym because I had to go to church and take care of the puggies before going to yet another baby shower. So I woke up at 6:30 am and peeked out my front door to check the weather. The temperature seemed tolerable, so I ran a long, hot 2 miles. I thought I might be able to get a 5 K in, but my knees...

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3 Weeks Down!

They say it takes 3 weeks to develop or break a habit. I can proudly say that I've completed 3 weeks of my half-marathon training! I'm quite proud of myself. I haven't missed a single day and during travel, too! I hope this marks the beginning of one of the best habits I've ever had. The first 3 weeks, to be honest, weren't that challenging as far...

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Might As Well Be Running on the Sun!

Today, I had it in my head to do my long run: 5 miles. I got home from work, took out the pugs (my parents are out of town so I'm dog sitting), had something to eat, and then found my dad's Magic Mic karaoke system! I couldn't help but belt out a few tunes since no one was home! Then, after it cooled down a little outside (not really, it was still 97 degrees at 7 pm), I set out for my run. I was already feeling very tired today (all week actually), and the humidity was oppressive to say the least! Well,...

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You Are Invited...

...to my pity party. Be forewarned. I'm in a blue mood today. When I was in Florida last week, I got up at 7 am every morning excited about my run, whether it be 2 miles or 4 miles. I looked forward to the sun shining brightly, its heat on my back. It was the best part of my day. Regardless of whether I went to bed at 10 pm or 2 am, I always set my alarm to 7 am and awoke promptly at that time, got dressed and ready, let the pugs out on the patio, and took off on what I truly felt was my own personal...

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Slaying the Dragon(fruit)

As I get older, I find that I've become more open-minded about trying and experiencing new things. I'm at that point in my life where I'm less cautious, less restrained when it comes to seeking out life experiences. I want to create an amazing memoir, a rich collection of lively anecdotes, the right to say "been there, done that" more often. If I...

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There and Back Again

When my alarm went off this morning at 4:30, I heaved my stiff and sore body out of bed and, in a groggy fog, got myself to the gym to run my scheduled 3.5 miles. I thought I wouldn't be able to run a good run; I thought my leaden legs would struggle and fight me every meter. Then, before I could even talk myself out of it, I was on automatic, choosing more challenging settings on the treadmill. And I took off at an even faster pace and higher incline than usual. I ran the entire 3.5 miles like...

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Yet Another Day 1?

I wouldn't go that far. I'm confident that I didn't venture too far away from my goals and am still very committed to reaching them, even more so now that my half-marathon training is well underway and I'm feeling the improvements in both cardio and endurance. I'm also going to do Mickey's Halloween Family Fun Run 5K on October 2 because I think...

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Back to Reality!

And the reality is that I need to get my eating back on track after a week-long, delicious vacation. Thinking about it, there are some things I ate that I regret eating, like fried chicken, a McDonald's Happy Meal, and random candy. Those are all foods I don't usually eat, and I don't really even crave or like them. But I ate them because 1) they were convenient (the worst reason for eating certain foods) and 2) I was on vacation mode and felt like it was a treat. But why do we sometimes see foods...

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Shelf Life

This morning I woke up early to run my 4-mile long run before I had to help close up the house and pack the van. It was a beautiful, sunny, hot Florida morning. And it was a bittersweet run. I love finishing my long runs. I work hard all week and deserve the sense of accomplishment I feel when my Nike+iPod tells me I have 400 meters to go, then 300, then 200, then 100, then "congratulations, you have completed your workout." But it was my last run along the ponds and palms and friendly neighbors....

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One More Night

I'm writing with a clear mind, so maybe this post will be a little more upbeat! It's my last night in Orlando. Tomorrow, midmorning, we're heading back to Virginia. Even though I hate to leave, there are some things I miss about my lonely little overpriced-and-underwater condo. I miss my bed the most. I miss having 800-thread count sheets and all of...

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Winding Down

As they say, all good things come to an end. Tomorrow is my last day in Orlando before I head back on the road to reality, back up north, watching as the last of the palm trees and Spanish moss appear less and less frequently and the oaks, evergreens, and lush grasses take over the woods along 95 North. It's almost time to say goodbye to sunny, hot mornings and invigorating runs with the sun on my back and the sunscreen running in my eyes, of coming back to my mom's breakfasts of...

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Good Golly!

In a previous post, I mentioned that I loved running in my parents' neighborhood down here in Orlando. Their neighborhood is a gated community that has several small ponds and one large lake. It's designed as a mile-long loop, so it's perfect for running and easy to keep track of how far I've gone and how far I still have to go without...

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Is It A Rest Day Yet??

This morning as I set out for my scheduled 3-mile run, I DID NOT WANT TO GO. My back was sore and I was so tired from going to bed late and getting up at 7 am everyday on my vacation (I want to beat the heat!). But I went anyway and ran a very slow 3 miles and walked another mile to gradually lower my heart rate. And I was so glad I did! I started later (8 am), so the sun was already a fireball in the sky. By 1 mile in, I was bathed in sweat, with sunscreen dripping onto my eyes. But it felt...

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Another Day In Paradise!

When I was 13 and in the 7th grade, my family loaded up our white 1988 Subaru XT6 and took the Amtrak Auto Train from Lorton, VA, to Sanford, FL, for the first time. I can remember being so excited to be going to Disney World for the first time. Some of my classmates who had gone brought back stories of pirates and princesses, fairies, and...

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This Blog So Far

It's been 11 days since I started blogging here at Deedah's Cupcakes & Fitness, and I'm sure no one is reading but Brian. Hi, Gagoo! But that's OK because I really find that blogging has been so helpful in bringing my goals to fruition. If I see it written, if I know someone is reading, I'm less likely to become discouraged and give up. I'm less...

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FINALLY in Florida!

 After over 24 hours on the road (and eating on the road), I'm finally here in Orlando! Oddly enough, it's cooler here than how it was when I left Virginia! My internet is a little spotty so I thought I'd post now that I have it and keep my fingers crossed that it works the whole week! Today I promised a pic of the dreaded continental breakfast! It...

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Cruisin' Down 95...

...to Orlando, Florida! But for now, I'm settled down in Florence, South Carolina, for the night. Eating healthy while traveling is not easy, especially on a long road trip. Highway billboards boast "Porterhouse Steaks for $9.99!" and "All You Can Eat Fried Chicken and Biscuits!" not to mention the countless fast-food stops at practically every exit....

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