A run without sun...thank goodness!

I promised I'd tell you about my run...so you'd know I did it...and I didn't..
..tell you that is, but I did run!

My awesome husband bought me a 2nd Nike+ with the transmitter, so I could use my nano (which is much smaller then my iPhone) when I workout. However, it works better if you calibrate it, and for a variety of reasons, most of which are "treadmills suck", you shouldn't calibrate it on a treadmill. So, I have been putting off calibrating my sensor, because while I dislike treadmills, I dislike summer in Houston a great deal more. I find myself far more motivated to run in a nicely air-conditioned gym then to drag my butt out to the 80+ degree heat (at 5am or 8pm, take your pick) to run outside.

I finally accepted I needed to just get over my dislike of heat and go run outside. So I did the walking calibration first, and walked for a mile, and then ran at a steady pace for a mile to do the run calibration. Then I walked another mile. I felt like I could do more, but decided not to push it, because I have only been "back in the game" for about two weeks...most of which were spent at the gym...doing classes. These classes are quite hard, and definitely a workout, but I haven't worked out 6 days in a row in a long time (I was previously alternating, now I'm not.) So, I figured that that three miles was plenty, and I'd just follow my training plan (which I start Monday) and not push it. After all, there is no faster way to get hurt, and hurt people don't run races..not well, anyways.

So, the long and the short of it is: I ran. Not far, but I did. Today I did Step class...and discovered my coordination is my weakness...and my faith in my foot placement is too! :P

Coming up next: a curiosity about what one should wear to a Triathlon? Or maybe food...I do like food!

Last Shuttle Mission, no more excuses..

Shuttle undocked from Station this morning at o'dark hundred. Never again will I be able to say that I didn't work out because I was working a mission. That is a very sad thing, and not because of the not working out.

I did however (for the most part) manage to not eat complete crap during the mission. My frontroom was even convinced (incorrectly) that I was a vegan. That is a very healthy lifestyle, and I have done the vegan thing before, but I don't know enough yet about a properly balanced vegan diet to be training for a half marathon and not eating things I am certain contain protein! However, I am limiting my "known protein sources" to "known good for you" things, such as egg whites, fat-free greek yogurt (I like Fage), fish, and chicken.

Today, I went to Zumba with SG. My plan (as of today, please help me stick with it) is to run Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday...and do something else Tuesday and Thursday. Sunday will be my rest day.

I am not looking forward to either getting up super early tomorrow...or running in the summer heat if I fail at the up early part. However, even "up early" is still very warm...and very humid. Me no likee (I come from a land, from a faraway place...where humidity doesn't exist!)

See you all tomorrow with a run report! This party is started! Ooo-RAH!!

The Nourishing Gourmet

Part of my life's quest in finding a healthier way to live is finding a way to do it that tastes good! Today, I quite literally "stumbled" upon Kimi Harris's blog 'The Nourishing Gourmet'. This is a fantastic resource full of tasty recipes for a variety of dietary needs and budgets! I have only just begun to read it, but I subscribed and am looking forward to trying out her recipes. Tonight, we are going to be eating a modification of her "Curried Sprouted Lentils with a Ginger and Garlic Cilantro Sauce" Basically, due to time restrictions, we won't sprouting our lentils. If we like it, maybe next time. It is so tough when you are leaving town in the middle of the week (we're going to the see the last shuttle launch!!!) to not buy the market when reading blogs like Kimi's!

Update:
We ended up not eating the Curried Sprouted Lentils with a Ginger and Garlic Cilantro Sauce on the night I made this post...and thus, our lentils sprouted anyways, but my better half got over his fear of sprouted things, and we discovered a new favorite! If you like lentils (and curry, ginger, etc.) you'll LOVE this recipe. My one suggestion would be to double the sauce recipe...however, my nickname is "saucy wench" and there is no pun there...I really like sauces, in general, so judge for yourself. :)

The Last Supper

I am regarding today's lunch as my "last supper". I brought one of my favorite lunches...Cheese Enchiladas! However, I also just got my health report back from my doctor. Genetically, I am pre-disposed to being at risk of high cholesterol, and it seems that risk has become a reality:

Vital Signs:

Height:  58.66 inches

Blood Pressure:  129/80

Weight: 126 pounds

Pulse:  92

BMI: 25.80

Laboratory Tests
Lipid Profile:
Total cholesterol:             212   (normal 125 - 199)
Triglycerides:                   129   (normal 40 - 149)
HDL cholesterol:              57    (normal 40 - 70)
Total Chol/HDL ratio:       3.7 ratio   (normal 2.0 - 5.0)
LDL cholesterol:               138    (normal 60 - 99)
VLDL cholesterol:             25    (normal 0 - 30)

I guess it is a good thing I decided to become more active, right?


However, physical activity alone will not be enough to help me get healthy. I am also changing my diet to eat healthier, which means giving up my other vice: frozen raw sugar cookie dough. Yes, I am aware that eating raw dough is generically discouraged. I say, the crime is worth the punishment. Of course, I have never had salmonella, so perhaps I am to quick to judge? Nah...cookie dough is good!

I have been reading up on all manner of "home remedies" I can use to help me get my cholesterol and blood pressure under control. For example, eating garlic can help lower blood pressure and eating brussel sprouts can lower cholesterol. In addition, drinking green tea (tea in general is another addiction of mine) can also help lower cholesterol.


I welcome suggestions and resources, so if you have information to share, please do!

A beginning, of sorts

All good journeys start in the middle. This one is no different. I decided to start running about a year ago. Several of my friends are runners, and had been trying to convince me that this dreaded activity could actually be enjoyable. A year later, I actually agree with them, but I still have a long way to go before I'd call myself a seasoned runner.

All good stories start with a goal. My goal long term is to run. My goal short term is to run in the RunGirl Half Marathon on December 11, 2011.

All good goals have a history...and a future. My first race was a 5k, the Yuri's Night Fun Run on April 16th, 2011, I finished in under 39 minutes. Since it was my first race, it was a PR...but it was also a PR in terms of time vs. distance that I had run previously during training. I used the iphone app Kinetic to help me train, and I really liked it. I'll be using it again to train for my half marathong. I also participated in the TriGirl Triathlon as a part of a Relay Team (I was the runner,) on May 8th, 2011. Our team finished 22nd. I had a great time, and the Biker from my team and I both plan to compete individually next year. (I am a little underwhelmed by swimming in open water, but I'll live.)

So that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Join me on my journey from now to Half, and from Half to Tri...and from there, who knows? This will be fun.