Three more days till the run! This week I'm supposed to be doing short runs only. I did 4 miles this morning, I'll do 3 tomorrow and then 3 or 4 on Thursday. I'm trying to do the short runs a little faster than my long runs. I'm still surprised at what a slow runner I am...i mean, I know I have short legs - anyone that knows my dad and mom can see where I got them from. We're a long torso/short leg gene pool. But I don't think I can blame my 10 minute mile on that. I used to do solid 9 minute miles....maybe that will be my goal.
As for my commitment to eating whatever fits in my palm - I'm not doing too well on that. I'm hoping that by writing about it, it will instantaneously fix itself. We'll see tomorrow.
I went to dinner with Mr. Byu (serg) after work. We got all the way home after he picked me up from the office and I started getting depressed thinking about cooking something out of nothing. So, we went to a place called Art Cafe and had pizza and salad. Why is it that before I eat pizza I find a way to think that it's actually diet food and then after I'm finished eating, I'm so clear about the fact that it's not..at all diet food. Dang it! The mental battle is killing me! I need some motivational thoughts or something here! At least at home there was always young cute chicks that I would see going to work or shopping, or at the gym, that would give you that female competitive motivation - here I dont feel it. It's just me and how I feel about myself - which is usually okay until I try on something that is tighter than I ever remember it being..and we don't have a dryer so i cannot blame it on shrinkage.
Tomorrow is another day.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Runs
Somewhat related to the last post, I wanted to blog about my half marathon training, since this is the only media where someone could actually publish anything about their experience of "slower than jogging but quite as slow as walking" excruciating race training. Everything I've read on Runners World mag online is a little intense for my running level - we are talking about people actually recommending to others that they tinkle (or poop...I'm not kidding) in their pants during races in order to shave minutes off their finishing time. Wow - my nephew Julian would be great at marathoning if that's part of the deal.
Like I said in my previous post, someone dropped out of the race so I decided to take their spot and run. That gave me 3 weeks to train. I'm not completely out of shape, but I haven't been running at all. I mean, if I signed up for a 3 hour challenge on the elliptical, I would easily crush it.. No problem -that's the only cardio device at my gym that I can tolerate. The treadmills are always broken or there is a 5 person line at the one that works and with no A/C it's just too hot for me to deal with running. I've done some running outside here but it can be a challenge trying to actually run while basically sucking on a muffler and dodging cars flying by jumping into the forest (no sidewalks, no curbs, no nothin besides mud). Oh, and every road seems to be on a steep incline...add that to the fact that you stick out like a sore thumb jogging in your special sport gear, with your expensive tennis shoes, and your IPOD. You just sort of feel like a freak while everyone you pass on the street is like carrying loads of fruits in vegetables in bags on their backs...or running in their street clothes as a form of transportation to get to their job.
BUT! I HAVE TO TRAIN - so I did find one treadmill that I like to use at the gym. It's actually on the roof by the gym pool - so it's open air and nice and cool and no one knows it's their so it's always free to use. There are actually two treadmills there, but one has been broken for a full year.
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It's not a horrible view but running in the same place for an hour is not so stimulating. On the weekends we (Serg, me, and Scott) have been doing the long runs in an area called Gigiri where the UN and US Embassy are. It's safe and quiet with nice streets and not a lot of traffic. We have a 2 mile loop that we go around and around. It has some pretty nasty hills but for those long runs, anything is better than a treadmill. Since we've been running out there for a while now...even before training, we would go there and run during the weekends...many of the house guards and people that work around there have gotten used to us and cheer us on when we pass them. This one house guard that I pass counts my loops for me - makes it more fun. Yesterday was a 10 miler - i didn't feel so hot. Definitely did better the weekend before. I've been really congested and having a hard time pulling in air lately. Hopefully my cold will clear up by this coming weekend - for the race! I'm doing about a 9:50 mile right now..not awesome, but not walking - which is all that is important to me!
I'll let you know how I do - Unless I have scared you away forever by writing this much about my training runs already. haha. I'm an annoying blogger - I'm aware of that.
If you have any helpful hints for race day - add your comments!
Lenna
Like I said in my previous post, someone dropped out of the race so I decided to take their spot and run. That gave me 3 weeks to train. I'm not completely out of shape, but I haven't been running at all. I mean, if I signed up for a 3 hour challenge on the elliptical, I would easily crush it.. No problem -that's the only cardio device at my gym that I can tolerate. The treadmills are always broken or there is a 5 person line at the one that works and with no A/C it's just too hot for me to deal with running. I've done some running outside here but it can be a challenge trying to actually run while basically sucking on a muffler and dodging cars flying by jumping into the forest (no sidewalks, no curbs, no nothin besides mud). Oh, and every road seems to be on a steep incline...add that to the fact that you stick out like a sore thumb jogging in your special sport gear, with your expensive tennis shoes, and your IPOD. You just sort of feel like a freak while everyone you pass on the street is like carrying loads of fruits in vegetables in bags on their backs...or running in their street clothes as a form of transportation to get to their job.
BUT! I HAVE TO TRAIN - so I did find one treadmill that I like to use at the gym. It's actually on the roof by the gym pool - so it's open air and nice and cool and no one knows it's their so it's always free to use. There are actually two treadmills there, but one has been broken for a full year.
I've been doing 5 or 6 miles 2 times per week and then 3 fast miles 1 time per week and then a long run on Saturday outdoors. Here's the scenery from the rooftop of the gym where the treadmills are:
It's not a horrible view but running in the same place for an hour is not so stimulating. On the weekends we (Serg, me, and Scott) have been doing the long runs in an area called Gigiri where the UN and US Embassy are. It's safe and quiet with nice streets and not a lot of traffic. We have a 2 mile loop that we go around and around. It has some pretty nasty hills but for those long runs, anything is better than a treadmill. Since we've been running out there for a while now...even before training, we would go there and run during the weekends...many of the house guards and people that work around there have gotten used to us and cheer us on when we pass them. This one house guard that I pass counts my loops for me - makes it more fun. Yesterday was a 10 miler - i didn't feel so hot. Definitely did better the weekend before. I've been really congested and having a hard time pulling in air lately. Hopefully my cold will clear up by this coming weekend - for the race! I'm doing about a 9:50 mile right now..not awesome, but not walking - which is all that is important to me!
I'll let you know how I do - Unless I have scared you away forever by writing this much about my training runs already. haha. I'm an annoying blogger - I'm aware of that.
If you have any helpful hints for race day - add your comments!
Lenna
Friday, June 17, 2011
Oh, there's that 5 pounds I was looking for!
Hi this is Debbie downer writing from Down-in-da-dumpsville. Somehow I got on the scale this morning and gained 5 more pounds than the amount I’ve already put on. I’m seriously baffled and not sure what’s going on. Let me explain why – for the past 2 weeks, I have been running my hiney off trying to prepare for this half marathon next weekend. It was sort of a surprise deal, someone dropped out, so I decided that it’s been a while since I tortured myself by running a half marathon without training, so I am taking their place. Plus the run is in a conservation park with lots of wild animals so I figured that the scenery would be amazing, even if I’m crawling on all fours – at least I’ll be at home with the rest of the 4 legged animals.
Anyways, so I’ve been running an average of 25 miles a week for 2 full weeks – granted I have been working out around 5 days a week before marathon training, but 25 miles a week is like 2500 calories burned…which tied with my decent low carb, high protein diet during the day, should equal a negative pound or two. But no, apparently it actually equals 5 pounds more. I fell into a deep dark depression after seeing that. I mean, really, I am gaining weight like it’s my real job out here. And I feel like I need to put it out there – no more shame, you know? Just say it – I’m getting larger and I’m frustrated as hell. So, I did a little research on this to try to figure out how to solve this extremely frustrating conundrum that I’ve been in – not just in the last 2 weeks, but in the last 3 years (more like the better part of my life). Here’s what I read about gaining weight during marathon (or half) training:
1) Some people think they can eat more because they are training and then end up eating so much that they blow the calorie deficit that they earned by running.
I’m allowing this in as one of the possibilities. During the week my diet from 8am to 6pm is the model regimen according to most nutritionists: oatmeal with nuts and cranberries for breakfast at work, fat free/sugar free yogurt, lunch of salad with chicken or chicken with some good carb like quinoa or a veggie, fruit, and a handful of almonds in the afternoon. Sounds fine right? I do just great during work hours – no issues there. After all, I have no car at work since Sargento drops me off and there is really no where to walk to for snacks/food around my office (which is a whole other issue because I literally do not move during the day from my desk..THERE IS NO WHERE FOR ME TO GO!). I digress – anyways, after getting home in the evenings, I make dinner – and the only thing I can think of is that I’m eating too much at dinner or snacking while I’m cooking. The Sergion and I eat the same exact thing usually and he keeps telling me that I’m a chick and I’m supposed to eat less but that just doesn’t seem fair! How does a person get used to eating less while the person sitting across from them eats as much as they want (and doesn’t gain weight)? How do I reset my mind to see that my portions are too high and then what’s the best way to adjust during those 3 to 4 weeks of getting used to it. OR how do I eat one thing while he eats another? I don’t know. My other issue is, why does it feel okay to eat things when someone else eats it too? It’s like I have temporary amnesia that I’m upset about my weight gain and that extra food is going to cause my issue to get worse? But I really don’t think I’m eating more now than I was 2 weeks ago before training, so why the weight gain if I’m burning more anyways?
2) Muscle built during training will add pounds to the scale.
This is the one that everyone wants to believe. But seriously, I was doing more weight training BEFORE training for the half mara – so I just don’t buy this one..sorry.
3) Training for long races causes you to drink more and so you have more water weight than normal.
Um, no – if you know anything about me, water flows outward WAY more than inward, I sweat like a polish sausage on a hot grill. Thanks for trying out though.
4) You aren’t eating enough protein to burn fat so your body shuts down.
I don’t know..i mean, maybe. But I eat like 2 chicken breasts a day – freaking Kenyans are stick thin and they eat mashed carbs all day everyday – so is this rule just for Americans? Just so I can rule this one out – I will try to add some egg whites in there somewhere, but seriously, if a couple of additional egg whites a day was the reason I wasn’t losing weight all these years, I will quit my job and open up a chicken farm.
So, really we’re stuck with #1 as the most probable cause – I’m just eating too much when I get home. Dang it. I was hoping it was something else. Okay, so to deal with this I will commit to the next 30 days of eating portions that fit into the palm of my hand for dinner. This is my public commitment (read: humiliation). If I get hungry after dinner, I will eat a handful of almonds or an apple and then lock my fridge. And yes, there is a lock on our fridge – weird right? I think it’s for people that are worried that their house help is stealing their food – either that, or it’s a protective measure because someone realized that we are the type of people that leave things to mold in our fridge so long that there is danger it could come alive and walk out.
That’s the 6.
You're welcome to give me your suggestions or take on this rediculousness.
 |
| How I look these days |
Hi this is Debbie downer writing from Down-in-da-dumpsville. Somehow I got on the scale this morning and gained 5 more pounds than the amount I’ve already put on. I’m seriously baffled and not sure what’s going on. Let me explain why – for the past 2 weeks, I have been running my hiney off trying to prepare for this half marathon next weekend. It was sort of a surprise deal, someone dropped out, so I decided that it’s been a while since I tortured myself by running a half marathon without training, so I am taking their place. Plus the run is in a conservation park with lots of wild animals so I figured that the scenery would be amazing, even if I’m crawling on all fours – at least I’ll be at home with the rest of the 4 legged animals.
Anyways, so I’ve been running an average of 25 miles a week for 2 full weeks – granted I have been working out around 5 days a week before marathon training, but 25 miles a week is like 2500 calories burned…which tied with my decent low carb, high protein diet during the day, should equal a negative pound or two. But no, apparently it actually equals 5 pounds more. I fell into a deep dark depression after seeing that. I mean, really, I am gaining weight like it’s my real job out here. And I feel like I need to put it out there – no more shame, you know? Just say it – I’m getting larger and I’m frustrated as hell. So, I did a little research on this to try to figure out how to solve this extremely frustrating conundrum that I’ve been in – not just in the last 2 weeks, but in the last 3 years (more like the better part of my life). Here’s what I read about gaining weight during marathon (or half) training:
1) Some people think they can eat more because they are training and then end up eating so much that they blow the calorie deficit that they earned by running.
I’m allowing this in as one of the possibilities. During the week my diet from 8am to 6pm is the model regimen according to most nutritionists: oatmeal with nuts and cranberries for breakfast at work, fat free/sugar free yogurt, lunch of salad with chicken or chicken with some good carb like quinoa or a veggie, fruit, and a handful of almonds in the afternoon. Sounds fine right? I do just great during work hours – no issues there. After all, I have no car at work since Sargento drops me off and there is really no where to walk to for snacks/food around my office (which is a whole other issue because I literally do not move during the day from my desk..THERE IS NO WHERE FOR ME TO GO!). I digress – anyways, after getting home in the evenings, I make dinner – and the only thing I can think of is that I’m eating too much at dinner or snacking while I’m cooking. The Sergion and I eat the same exact thing usually and he keeps telling me that I’m a chick and I’m supposed to eat less but that just doesn’t seem fair! How does a person get used to eating less while the person sitting across from them eats as much as they want (and doesn’t gain weight)? How do I reset my mind to see that my portions are too high and then what’s the best way to adjust during those 3 to 4 weeks of getting used to it. OR how do I eat one thing while he eats another? I don’t know. My other issue is, why does it feel okay to eat things when someone else eats it too? It’s like I have temporary amnesia that I’m upset about my weight gain and that extra food is going to cause my issue to get worse? But I really don’t think I’m eating more now than I was 2 weeks ago before training, so why the weight gain if I’m burning more anyways?
2) Muscle built during training will add pounds to the scale.
This is the one that everyone wants to believe. But seriously, I was doing more weight training BEFORE training for the half mara – so I just don’t buy this one..sorry.
3) Training for long races causes you to drink more and so you have more water weight than normal.
Um, no – if you know anything about me, water flows outward WAY more than inward, I sweat like a polish sausage on a hot grill. Thanks for trying out though.
4) You aren’t eating enough protein to burn fat so your body shuts down.
I don’t know..i mean, maybe. But I eat like 2 chicken breasts a day – freaking Kenyans are stick thin and they eat mashed carbs all day everyday – so is this rule just for Americans? Just so I can rule this one out – I will try to add some egg whites in there somewhere, but seriously, if a couple of additional egg whites a day was the reason I wasn’t losing weight all these years, I will quit my job and open up a chicken farm.
So, really we’re stuck with #1 as the most probable cause – I’m just eating too much when I get home. Dang it. I was hoping it was something else. Okay, so to deal with this I will commit to the next 30 days of eating portions that fit into the palm of my hand for dinner. This is my public commitment (read: humiliation). If I get hungry after dinner, I will eat a handful of almonds or an apple and then lock my fridge. And yes, there is a lock on our fridge – weird right? I think it’s for people that are worried that their house help is stealing their food – either that, or it’s a protective measure because someone realized that we are the type of people that leave things to mold in our fridge so long that there is danger it could come alive and walk out.
 |
| Our lockable mini-fridge |
That’s the 6.
You're welcome to give me your suggestions or take on this rediculousness.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Looky what the cat dragged in
I have been way negligent with my blog. It's now been over a year since we moved to Kenya and I've only blogged a handfull of times. I think about it all the time but my laziness prevails and my thoughts go unwritten. But now, I am here, in front of all 3 of my readers to make a committment to posting at least 3 blogs a week. There is plenty to talk about afterall.
Since this isn't technically a blog posting about anything specific I will not count this to my 3 for this week - this one is just a freebie! haha
Since this isn't technically a blog posting about anything specific I will not count this to my 3 for this week - this one is just a freebie! haha
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