Welll … I ended up running for an hour.  Which was somewhere between 7 and 8 miles (I need to recalibrate my nike+ hardcore).

Anyway, here’s my run:

Notice my playlist is titled \m/ \m/ … that’s for metal.

I spent a good 20 minutes stretching out and LO! I can touch my left toe!!! I haven’t done that in years. Especially since I’ve been injured.

I’m currently enjoying my new favorite post-run treat. A faux-chocolate malt.  I haven’t quite gotten an official recipe down, but this is kinda what I’ve got going …

1-2 frozen bananas (peel/slice before you freeze)
1-2 bananas
5-7 ice cubes
1/4 c milk (you might have to add more towards the end
chocolate milk mix to taste

Toss it in a blender … ice and frozen naners first, add regular bananas and milk. Blend until desired consistency … add chocolate milk mix. Tastes like a chocolate malt!

Something was up.  I don’t know what, but whatever it was finally caught up to me.

So 10 pounds that I shed during that time have crept back up on me in a very unflattering manner.  The weight I lost was mostly muscle.  Let’s just say it didn’t come back in that form.

Here’s where most of my readers (all 5 of you?) groan.  Well, you  know what? I like to look a certain way, and dammit, I know if I work at it, I can get there. I’ve been there. I worked HARD to get there.  I’ve been lazy.  I need to quit being lazy.  Despite what you may think, you don’t get this body for free.  I was damn lucky to have maintained it the past few months, but my luck is beginning to run out.

It begins today.

I’m getting my ass out of bed and working out in the morning. I’m starting with Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred.  It’s painfully hard.  Even for somebody who’s in as good of shape as me (haha, which isn’t as good as you would think actually).

I’m going to bring the DVD, my weights and mat home with me when I go for Thanksgiving.  I’ve got an elliptical at home and some of my old favorite running routes live on the gravels back there.  Turkey, do your worst.  I’m ready.

Today was day one.  I was GOING to get up and run.  But it decided to thunderstorm.  I remembered that Jillian was waiting for me in my living room.  So, I hung with her for 20 minutes.  To me, that’s not a good enough workout. So, I’m probably going to hit the gym over lunch today. And by probably, I mean I AM going to hit the gym.

Also, I’m burning P90X from my work computer and taking it home with me.  I need an ass-kicking workout. I want to be ripped again.

Here’s my inspiration …

Lolo and Jillian.  Yes, I found a picture where Jillian looks BEAUTIFUL and less like a man (I think she’s gorgeous anyway, but I’ve heard other people say otherwise).

Anyway.  I’m uncomfortable where I’m at right now and that needs to change. I’m afraid I’m going to continue packing it on like I did last year, and I don’t want to get to that point again. I saw the magic number on the scale last month. I want to see it again.  And I want it to stay there.  But I want to do it the right way, not the wrong way.

I also realize that means I’m going to have to cut out a LOT of the crap I’ve been eating lately (sorry, no more beer and Fong’s Pizza for me).  Sushi can stay (thank god).  Fortunately, I’ve fallen in love with some healthy food (arugula, tomatoes, cottage cheese, beets, etc) over the years, so I should be able to get back into the swing of things.  I just have to watch myself.  And THINK before I eat.  THINKING is the biggest part of holiday weight gain for most people, or I should say lack thereof. I’m vowing to think before I eat this year.  For real this time. Food is fuel.  I need to think like an athlete again.  Hopefully I can get strong enough to do my half marathon in April this year.  But I have to start somewhere, and it begins now.

I ran for 35 minutes, sticking with my plan of increasing my time by 5 minutes a week until I get up to a respectable distance (ie. 7 miles or so) then going by increasing miles instead and adding a day of shorter speedwork with intervals. Right now I’m running 2-3 days a week and crosstraining on the other 2-4 days of the week. 

Overall, taking the break from running has really helped me improve. I’ve stepped back and thought more about things I didn’t before like form and speed. I’ve realized the importance of crosstraining, stretching and strength training firsthand—rather than just reading an expert opinion on these matters and ignoring it.

Anyway, I think I’m going to bounce back in a good way if I continue to be strategic about running rather than just plugging away countless miles.  I’ve been paying more attention to my body’s signals lately. If I hurt somewhere — more than just a regular soreness — I take care to rest or pay extra attention to that when stretching or strength training.

Anyway, here’s yesterday’s awesome run.

I’m kind of excited to see the under 8 min/mi speed at the end. I don’t fully realize my potential. I’ve been running the same speed for so many years that it’s inherent like breathing or a heartbeat. I keep starting all my runs at that pace but realize I can go faster as I get warmed up. Maybe I should jog a 3-5 minute warm up, stretch, then turn on my nike+ for the real run portion?  Or is that being too competitive/anal? I don’t know. I’ve never really run competitively, but I might start once I get back in the game for good (as in more than 4 miles and 2-3 days a week). 

Also — I reset my resolutions on nikeplus.com to realistic goals now that I’m honestly recovering/recuperating (you know..only 7-8 months after the initial injury). This month: 20 miles. I’m only 7 miles short. I can definitely make it.  

Just thought I’d pop in and say I’ve logged over 1000 miles this year on Rec Milers since August.

These miles are actual miles run/walked/jogged, 2 miles per 8 glasses of water a day, 1 mile per serving of fruits/veggies a day, a few miles for so many minutes of weight lifting, exercise class, exercise bike or elliptical. But yes, 500 or so of them are running miles.

So I guess that means I get yet another Intramural Champion t-shirt and another Rec Milers club shirt. I’ll have to pay 5 bucks a piece for them, but hey, cheap t-shirts.