Competitions:

Events I've Completed:

Run for Rescue - 4/30/11 - 5k - 29:05 (finished 2nd in my age)
Ojai to Ocean - 6/5/11 - Half Marathon - 1:56:37 (Ran with Lisa!)
Megan Savage Memorial - 9/24/11 - 5k - 31:16 (Ran with Bill!)
Beach Derby 10k - 11/6/11 - 56:40 (Ran with Nikki!)
RnRLV - 12/4/11 - Half Marathon 2:18 (Ran with Nikki!) Got sick by race end. Sick three days.
Surf City - 2/5/12 - Half Marathon - 1:55:02 (PR) Ran with Lisa and Sarah
Battle of the Boxes-2/23/13-5:04 Mini Helen-8th place overall team finish
Crossfit Open 13.1-131
Crossfit Open 13.2-232
Crossfit Open 13.3-183
Crossfit Open 13.4-54
Crossfit Open 13.5-49
Battle of the Boxes: Unknown Edition- 3rd place finish!

Upcoming:

Crossfit Open 2014!





This is my before photo. I weighed 15 pounds more, was exhausted all of the time and wasn't getting better at crossfit, running or life. It was time for a change.

My before photo

My before photo

Friday, September 28, 2012

Killer WOD

So yesterday I went to get my normal Thursday WOD in.  I keep thinking with this clean diet, my workouts are going to feel easier.  I guess I'm wrong, they are always going to kick my butt.  I don't mind a tough workout, but I am tired of feeling like I'm going to keel over mid way through my workout.    Our workout was:

5 rounds for time of:

15 box jumps
12 toes to bar
9 thrusters (65#)

It seemed like one of the workouts I would've liked.  I've always liked every one of those movements.  So I figured 5 rounds would be tough, but I would do good.  Turns out I was wrong.  I did fine the first round.  By round two my heart was already beating way too fast.  By the third round I felt like I was barely moving.  I had to break each movement in half, which was fine, but I took way too much time trying to catch my breath.  I'm sick of breathing being my issue.  I think once I get this diet thing down comfortably I need to work on cardio stuff.  Not running at my usual pace, but maybe some sprints or something.  I wish there would come a time where I'm just satisfied with where I'm at and not have the next major thing to work on.

The silver lining was that I completed the WOD.  I almost threw up about 45 minutes later, but I didn't so I guess the day was a success.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Walking

It seems that I've lost my running mojo.  I had not run for a few months, deciding to focus on crossfit.  Then I realized my crossfit was suffering without my running.  So I dropped back down to two days a week and was going to start running.  But it was too dang hot.  So I've been on the treadmill.  And have found, I don't like running on the treadmill.  But I do like walking.  So rather than get frustrated, I'm walking more often.  I am aiming for 3-4 miles every day.  Today I am cleaning the house.  But I committed to walk my 3 miles.  So I cleaned until 10:00, then hopped on and did my 3 miles.  Now I'll go stretch and then finish up my cleaning.

I'm finding following the diet to be a bit easier than I thought it would be.  I am still eating too many unfavorable foods, but it's a 100% improvement from where I was.  I've been sauteing 1/2 a banana in coconut oil and topping it with cinnamon and a teeny bit of nutella.  It is the best!!!  I know I've got to keep it as a once in awhile treat instead of a daily treat though.  I'm also eating too many yams.  I've been having a whole one every day.  Half at lunch and half at dinner.  I shouldn't be eating them at all, but they are really good plus very filling.  I've been so hungry that I'm trying to find ways to be satisfied.  Now that I've had a few days of satisfaction, it's time to buckle back down and get to work.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Fail

Well so much for daily blogging.  I was in San Diego when I decided this would be a good idea.  The problem came when I watched three water polo games and then had to drive home on Saturday.  That day was out completely.  The idea of taking 10 minutes to slow down and reflect though hasn't been lost.

I had plenty of time while driving to reflect.  It wasn't exactly meditation, but it was time to myself to reflect.  Stephen was in the backseat doing homework so I didn't have music on or conversation.  I do like the idea of taking 10 minutes for myself everyday.  Sometimes I feel so guilty if I'm not doing something at all times.  It's good to remember that taking a few minutes every day is just as important.

I have also figured out it's not going to work to try to take that time while the family is home.  It seems any time I'm busy, everyone is fine.  But as soon as I want to take a minute for something quiet, everyone needs something.  So rather than try to fight it, I'm going to take the time during the day while everyone is at school or work to find my time.

I'm off to crossfit in a few minutes so I better go unload the groceries.  But I have enjoyed my few minutes of quiet.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Whole Life Challenge

Yes it's been too long since I've blogged anything.  I haven't been very motivated to run and feel like I can't blog if I haven't been running.  It's not like I've been lying around on the sofa, eating bon bons.  I have been going to crossfit 2-3 times a week.  I've also been hitting the treadmill all of the other days.  But I am not signed up for any races.  I felt like when I run races, I have to train and I don't have the time to train while doing crossfit.  So I decided to take a year without signing up for any races, and run just for enjoyment.  That was good in theory, but with the heat, I have found no enjoyment.  So I've been just walking on the treadmill.  It's not the end of the world, but I know it's done a number on my endurance to have taken off so much time from running.  Wednesday I did my first run on the streets in months.  I only went 3.5 miles and I felt like it was the worst run of my life.  I'm used to going out for a run, and running the whole time.  I am not super fast, but I never feel the need to walk.  Well Wednesday, I walked...often.  I felt like a failure.  But the weird this is, when I was done, my time wasn't all that awful.  It just reminds me that I need to be consistent.

This week the Whole Life Challenge that I'm doing through crossfit has challenged each of us to take 10 minutes every day to contemplate. Whether it's through meditation, journaling or whatever it's about being mindful.  So I've decided to blog this week.  It may not be about running, but it will be my thoughts about the day.  It's funny because I thought my thoughts were going to go in a completely different direction today, but once I started typing here I am.

It's been one week since the WLC started.  I didn't think I'd be able to do the diet portion of the challenge.  But I've surprised myself and have been fine with the diet.  I have only lost one point and it was a conscience decision.  I had a tri tip that I'd marinated before the challenge.  I didn't want to waste it, so I ate it and subtracted the point for the marinade.  It's definitely interesting to stop and think about how all foods are prepared.  I'm learning a lot and am glad I signed up for the challenge.