Today's Tempo Tidbits

Tidbit #1: This is the first training run around my house at 5 AM-ish in 2018 that I was able to do in short sleeves.  Unfortunately, I did it in this pink and purple monstrosity.

This outfit says "I got dressed in the dark."

Tidbit #2: This morning's run was a tempo run that the Runner's World app said was between 5 and 6 miles but this must be the new math or something because, for me, it only came out to about 4.5 miles.

Tidbit #3: Large dog is the WORST at mid-run selfies.  Like really.  The worst.

Tidbit #4: We ran those middle 2 miles way too fast.  Keeping the streak alive.

Tidbit #5: No matter how well large dog and I run, there will always be a cat that is unimpressed.

The unimpressed-o-meter is at full tilt.

And now, for some learning tidbits:

• Again, I'm digging the workouts in the Runner's World app, but it seems there are some basic glitches that need to be fixed before that $60.00 I paid for the app is worth the money.
• How nice of a morning was it for a tempo run? SUPER NICE.
• I hate pink.  I especially hate pink race shirts.
• You know what I hate even more?  When a race has different colors for the men and women's finisher shirts and the women's shirts are pink...because 1950s.  Make them all pink then, dammit.
• Female cat has got crazy unimpressed skillz.  You can tell.

Tomorrow's workout: An easy 4-miler.  At 4 AM.

More reasons I lift heavy weights on the regular.

Today's workouts were as follows:

Because I am a bit more leisurely on Sundays with my workouts (and because it's a good way to procrastinate before cleaning the house that doesn't result in me spending lots of cash in the internet), I had time to do a nice 30 minute indoor bike ride and then do both of Cathe's upper body Lift It HiiT It workouts (Chest, Tris, & Shoulders plus Back, Biceps & Shoulders), and I am happy to report that after all that it is hard to lift my arms above my head, let alone type this blog post.

What I am unhappy to report is that I keep getting a lot of crap about lifting my beloved weights over and over again on the regular.  Instead of writing a bunch of whiny and verbally fist-shaking paragraphs, I thought I would just list out more reasons weight-lifting is good for you.  And away we go...

Reason #1: The cats in your house will be impressed with your weight-lifting efforts.

Hyooman.  Go lift your weights and leave us alone.
We have important things to do.

Well,  Maybe.  Or not really.


Reason #2: You'll burn more calories at rest.

I'll spare you the science lesson (although if you want one just let me know!), but just know that muscles metabolize and stuff, which means they are using calories to do their cell things even when you're not using them.  Fat cells aren't metabolically active, which is why they are known as the "big ugly slugs" of cells.

Not really.  I just made that up.  Their real name is adipocytes, which is classier but not as much fun.


Reason #3: You get more dense.

Your bones do, anyway.  And that's good because when you're old like me you tend to fall down a lot more just spontaneously, and that way your bones won't shatter like glass when you hit the ground.


Reason #4: Recovery cat likes to hang out with you when you're done.

And by "like" I mean "give you evil death glares so you will get away from her."


Reason #5: I've said this before - it can help you run faster.

Get those leg muscles stronger and you'll get faster because...well, the muscles are stronger.  This reason is really kind of intuitive, which is a nice way of saying "duh."


Reason #6: You can take people to your gun show.

The two people on the TV in the background are in awe of the guns being shown.


Reason #7: Hello....you get to use a barbell if you want.

Do you really need any other reason?



The reasons are done, and the learnings have begun:

• Why yes, I do work out in the same few Ragnar t-shirts I own.  Very observant.
• I did all three sets of each exercise for the Cathe workouts with none of the finisher exercises and my arms are freaking jello right now.
• The cats are only impressed when you have treats.
• For those who are of the "runners should just run" mindset, can we just agree to disagree from now on?  Thanks.
• And the barbell should be the only reason you need.

Tomorrow's workouts: Yay some 400s!

Day 4, Week 14: Another 4 pictures, another 4 sentences. And some stupid learnings, as usual.

Picture #1: I decided to do one of the 20-ish minute low-impact cardio workouts on this DVD this morning.

Picture #2: I thought it didn't use weights, but it used fives and threes, making a liar out of me in yesterday's post.

Picture #3: Female cat didn't get the email and she did yoga instead.

Picture #4: Male cat got the email, but thought such puny weights wasn't worth breaking a sweat.  If cats could sweat, that is.

Quick! Learnings!

• After the workout I was all "I doubt that did anything" and right now I'm all "Holy cow I am super aware of my glutes."
• Therefore, these workouts are sneaky.  Sneaky.
• I wanted to write more, but that's going to have to wait until tomorrow evening in the airport...if I can snag some free wifi that is.
• Speaking of airport, tomorrow night I'm on my way to Dallas to kick some asphalt.  
• I wonder what I will have forgotten to pack.  We'll find out!

Tomorrow's workout: 3 mile marathon pace run.  Which means it will be at fast tempo pace har har har.

Day 4, Week 3: Dogs mock me and let's talk about eating.

I went to bed last night with every intention of getting up and biking like a crazy woman in the dark.  And then I went and overslept and had to do a short 3-miler instead with the large dog.  My punishment for oversleeping was the large dog running at such an odd angle to me that he almost pulled me in the ditch for all three of those miles.  As you can see, he thought that was freaking hilarious.

Or maybe he was just laughing at my shorts.  Anyway, even if I can't do my scheduled workout, I like to do something.  I read somewhere that consistency is your BFF--if you make an effort to do something every day, you're gonna do that something every day out of sheer habit eventually and get the results you want.  This little gem applies to good habits as well as bad habits, however.  For example, I used to consistently overeat crappy food.  And it showed.

The day I decided to make a change I started with exercise.  I got up and resolved to do 15-20 minutes of exercise in the morning before work.  Yep, I had to get up earlier than normal, but I also knew I had to make time for this new consistency in my life. 

But I soon realized it wasn't just about moving more.  My eating was a tad bit of a problem.  OK, it was around 90% of the problem.  I needed to view food as fuel, not something I did to self-medicate and make myself feel better.  My diet before I decided to get my eating act together looked something like this:

1) Find the most sugary and/or salty food I could find that came in a pre-packaged container

2) Open container

3) Eat all of it

4) Go find more and eat some more

5) Crack open a soda (Dr. Pepper was my drug of choice) and drink it. 

6) Repeat step #5 at least six times a day.

My diet now looks like this:

1) Eat real food. 

2) But not too much.

3) Make sure to eat a variety of real foods. (I have a tendency to eat the same things over and over until I can't stand the sight of them anymore..variety avoids burning out on them.)

4) Eat your veggies, Terie, even if you don't like them

5) Water water and more water

As a result of mainly my dietary changes, I can now wear these AWESOME shoes.  And fit into that dress.  Oh, and run marathons.

The cat on the table in the background is, as usual, unimpressed by my fashion sense.

So, what are the lessons from today's post?

• My large dog is a jerk
• I need to get my biking act together
• Consistency really *is* your BFF-in both exercise and eating
• Exercise helps, but changing your eating will change your body, for better or for worse
• Impressing cats with fashion is hard

Tomorrow's workout: More lifting of the heavy weights-barbell included!