Yes, I run during tech week

So, tech week, for you non-theater people, is the week before the show opens. For actors and techies alike it involves basically living at the theater. And when you add on that its community theater and most of us have jobs/school/etc... well, you can imagine.

Saturday, before I headed up to Baltimore for a bachelorette party, I did my last week 4 run. it felt great. Sunday, I was in the theater from noon-10ish. Monday, Memorial Day, I did Day 1 of week 5. Tuesday night, was in the theater from right after work until around11. Joe and I had planned on getting up on Wednesday morning to run but it didn't happen. So, we got up today. Day 2 of week 5 is two 8 minute runs with a 5 minute walk in between. It went pretty well! I'm excited about day 3, which is a straight 20 minute run!

Joe is still faster than me. But maybe the 20 minute run will be a good equalizer.

The race is on June 21, so we have to run every other day from here on out to hit week 9 for the race. after that, its just a matter of maintaining and allowing it to get easier. I think I'll feel good if i can get in 10-15 miles a week running from the 5k through the triathlon.

On and Off the track

So, this month has been a crazy one, especially the last couple weeks. I'm working on costuming a musical and that has taken most of my time and energy. Finding time to stay on track has been difficult.

This past week I managed to get in my Couch to 5k week 3 runs. These runs consisted of the following intervals: after a 5 minute warm up, run for 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, run for 3 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, and that set was repeated twice. I felt it was too easy, so I repeated it 3x. I did this run twice (you're supposed to do 3x/week). Even though I didn't get in my 3rd day i am going to start week 4 this afternoon. I feel good about that decision: because I added the extra interval on both runs, technically I did all of the intervals I had to do this week. Also, even with the added interval I felt the runs were pretty easy.

I was going to start week 4 yesterday, but my body wasn't cooperating and I ended up napping instead. Then, i was going to wake up this morning to run, but again, body beat mind and I couldn't get myself up. I need to be more careful in taking care of myself when I am stressed out, especially when it comes to eating well.

Last night at dinner I had two cokes. I very seldom drink soda at all. It tasted great and was very refreshing, so I don't feel too bad about it. My diet for the day was pretty bad. For breakfast: a fruit salad (good) and a slice of cold pizza (not so good). Then I had a Starbucks grande triple soy latte (not bad). When I got home from the theater I was famished but didn't want to eat anything much since we were going out for dinner so I had a pudding cup (100 calories... not great) and 4 slices of hard salami (um... what?). For dinner, we went to Joe's Crab Shack, split the "double dip" appetizer (bad) and i had the broiled seafood platter - Tilapia (good) Shrimp (good) Crab something or other (bad - yummy but made with mayonaisse) and a side of broccoli (great) and rice (um... not good?) We got home and I had some raspberry sorbet (not bad) The problem is I haven't been planning snacks... I'll get busy, forget to eat, but then when I remember to eat, make bad decisions.

I feel good about today though. The extra sleep will help. After work I'm going to go to the gym: I don't have to be in the theater tonight. I have to get my run in, and I'd like to go to Pilates, at least to explain why I haven't been there, and I do like the cross training. I'll probably have to run on the treadmill after Pilates though which I don't like to do. Or, I may skip Pilates and just do a bike and run workout. But I am committing some gym time to myself tonight even though I have a lot to do with the costumes.

Looking ahead, tomorrow is the day we can sign up for classes through Fairfax County (which is where I've been doing Yoga and Pilates through. I'm dropping Pilates: I'm feeling a bit bored by it and I don't like the classes through the county as much as I did at the gym back before the wedding. I'll get back into it eventually, but I need a break. Its not worth it to me at this point. I'm keeping Yoga though. Also, we are going to add swimming. I'm going to sign up for the 2x/week class, and sign up for all three months. Joe is going to start with a 1x/week class for two months, and the third month join my 2x/week class. So my schedule starting on June 22 will be Swimming Monday and Wednesday, and Yoga Thursday, plus 3x/week running.

Biking: Joe and I need to buy bikes. I'm going to see if I can borrow one from my friend for a little while since I'm a bit strapped on cash right now: signing up for the next round of classes plus my car is up for inspection and registration renewal... it might be another month before I can get a bike. Plus, I'm able to use the stationary bike at the rec center the days I'm in there.

As much as I'm loving costuming this show, I'll be glad when it's over so I can focus on training for this Triathlon!

Running when sick?

So, i've got pink eye in both eyes, and i've had a sore throat for the past 4 or 5 days. i was worried it was strep or something else bad, so i went to the doctor today: pink eye confirmed and i received some antibiotic eye drops, but the throat and chest and congestion: just allergies. So i'm going to really start using the neti pot regularly, and i picked up some zyrtec. But other than that, and lots of liquids, i'm really not that sick. I don't feel 100% but all in all, i can head back to work tomorrow.

So, i decided that i needed to go for a run today. 2.3 miles for my couch to 5k week 2 run. When joe gets home we're going to do the second day of our 100 pushup challenge.

Food is the hardest thing for me. In general i eat pretty healthy: i gave up soda a long time ago and now only have one every once in a while. We eat whole wheat bread and pasta, brown rice, we avoid anything with HFCS. We try to get mostly organic produce and meats, and soon we'll be getting items from our farm share and going to the farmers markets more. My biggest problem is that i am lazy and even though i love to cook, never feel like i have time. And even though losing weight is not my priority now, i know i would actually lose weight if i could better control my eating. So, thats that.

So far...

I wanted a place to write specifically about the different athletics that I've been doing. I never really considered myself an athlete until recently, and that was only because a good friend of mine pointed out how impressed he was at all of the activities i do.

This is what i am currently doing:

Pilates reformer class once/week (Mondays at 7pm)
Vinyasa Yoga class once/week (Thursdays at 7pm)
Couch to 5K running program 3x/week
One Hundred pushups challenge 3x/week

Joe and i are training for a 5k which is on June 21 to prepare us for a sprint triathlon we're doing in Williamsburg on Sept 13. We still need to register though...

I am currently about 5 weeks into the current pilates and yoga classes, and i'm on week 2 of Couch to 5k. we started the one hundred pushup thing a few weeks ago, but fell off of it, so today was day 1.

So, today's report: I've got a nasty cold but knew i had to run today to stay on schedule. It was drizzling out, i felt crappy, but Joe and I still went out and did the Couch to 5k week 2 run. He's a faster runner than me so we don't really run together, but we try and do at least our warm up and cool down together, plus stretching. I actually felt better when i got back. I've learned to really love running.

Then, we did the first day of the push-up challenge, and it was pretty easy for me. I think i've gotten better with the chatarunga prep we've been doing in yoga.

Yoga class on thursday was very inspiring for me. I had a bad week at work and was stressed out and felt very off. I wasn't looking forward to class and had thought about skipping it. but, i made myself go and after warming up on the bike (only 3 miles) got to class. it was amazing. We did a new salutation series (Earth Salutation) which was incredibly grounding. by the time we got to our balance poses (we did one legged big toe hold) i was able to do them! i'm standing there, balanced on one leg with the other one in the air off to my side, and i'm thinking "if i can do this, my life must be pretty balanced after all!" it lead to a great weekend. My challenges in yoga: Chaturunga is the first one i'd like to be able to do. its basically the opposite of plank: in plank you hold yourself in the "up" pushup position, but in Chaturunga, you hold yourself in the down position, with your elbows tucked in against your sides.

Also, i try and get in some time on the bike at the gym to work up those muscles for when we actually start training for that part of the triathlon... we don't actually own bikes yet.

My schedule for this week:
Monday: Pilates (if i get there early, bike)
Tuesday: Morning run
Wednesday: off
Thursday: Morning run, Yoga in the evening (biking if i get there early
Friday: Off
Saturday: either off, or start week 3 of running
Sunday: either off, or start week 3 of running

eventually i'd like to try and get one or two more days of yoga in on my own but i find it hard to stick to something when i don't have a class or race to motivate me.

Update: I just registered myself for the triathlon!