Fat Girl Learns To Run

What to Eat ----------- Day 251

It seems like there is an article out every day about what to eat and what not to eat.  For me, it all gets very confusing.  The latest one I read was looking at which fruits and vegetables you should buy the organic due to how easily pesticides can penetrate the food.  You are always told to eat your fruits and vegetables; now that might not even be so safe for you.  Personally, I try to buy only the produce that I am going to eat that week and buy the organic version.  This has been a change for me since in the past I went to one of those warehouse type stores were everything comes in a large size.  I remember once buying a dozen kiwis and watching them rot before I ate all of them.  Seriously, was I really going to eat all those kiwis in a week? Now I buy a couple pieces of different fruits so I have variety during the week.  It seems like apples are really the only fruit that have a longer shelf life than the others.  I am getting better at not throwing out food because it is past its prime but I still at times have my lapses.

Speaking of produce, tomorrow I need to go to the grocery store and buy some food for the house.  I have been living out of the freezer for the past couple of weeks but it is now time to replenish.  Hopefully, there will be some good looking produce to choose from.

Blown Away ----------- Day 250

Today was finally a warm day but it was also very windy.  After work today, I went outside for my run.  I usually wear a hat when it is sunny outside but with the wind I thought it best not to wear one.  I didn’t want to have to chase my hat if it flew off my head.  As I was heading toward the path, I really felt the wind.  The good thing was that the wind didn’t make it seem as warm as it actually was.  Since the path I run on winds through the forest preserve, the trees really diminished the effect of the blowing wind.

When I was on the path, my legs felt like lead.  Sometime you have a good run and other times you don’t.  This was not one of those good runs.  I then realized that I hadn’t really run since last Thursday.  Now it makes sense why I struggled with the run.  Note to self:  You need to run more than once a week.  To be fair, I did do other exercise during the past week but for me if I don’t run at least every other day; my legs just don’t want to move.  All in all, I did muddle through 4 miles on the path.  Usually when I am done running my shirt is just soaked with sweat.  The interesting thing today was that the wind was so strong that it dried most of the sweat off my shirt. If you every saw my shirt after a run, you would realize what a miracle that was with the wind.

While having dinner after my run, I saw this chef on TV do a blind tasting with some people.  The people were supposed to guess what the secret ingredient was in the entrée.   To me the entrée looked like fettuccine alfredo. After all the tasting was done, it was revealed that the secret ingredient was cauliflower.  Apparently, you steam a head of cauliflower, blend it was some sautéed shallots and add some parmesan cheese to make the sauce.  I must say that the sauce definitely looked like the traditional Alfredo sauce but it had half the calories and fat.  This is something that I might try over the weekend.

Nodding Off ----------- Day 249

This week didn’t start out as planned on the exercise front.  Tonight I actually worked out.  If I don’t exercise right after work, it is never going to happen.  After exercising, I made some dinner and then watched some TV as I was eating.  All of a sudden, I found myself nodding off after I was done eating.  How pathetic am I.  Maybe the pasta I ate had something to do with it.  Exercising in the evening does not affect my night’s sleep.  In fact, it makes me sleep better.  If I have had a busy day, I might be pumped up after exercising for about ½ hour and then it is downhill from there.  I guess my body just shuts down after a long day.

Usually I am getting my running clothes ready on Wednesday night for my Thursday group run.  Since my running session has ended, I feel out of sorts.  It should be the best day weather wise this week tomorrow so I will definitely go for a run it just won’t be the same.  Maybe I need to get a yogurt during lunch just to keep some of my Thursday tradition going.

Watch and Learn ----------- Day 248

I was at my parent’s house on Sunday for a visit.  Since my son was sick last week, my mom decided to make him some chicken soup.  I have tried to make chicken soup but it never turns out like my Mom’s soup even when using her recipe.  During my visit, I watched her make the soup and her German dumplings for the soup.  Since my mom doesn’t cook using measurements, I really need to watch her cook to know what the food is supposed to look like.  I think I now know how to make chicken soup.  There is just something about chicken soup that makes you feel better when you are sick.

On another topic, let me just say that I hate when the Cubs have night games during the work week.  From a commuter perspective, it is a nightmare trying to get home on the CTA when the trains are packed with Cub’s fans going to the game.  I actually decided to take a train going the opposite way and then get on a train further up the line so I wouldn’t be packed like a sardine on the train.  Needless to say, this increased my commute time home.  I am going to have to check the Cub’s schedule and take a different train line when there are night games.

Unexpected Temptation ----------- Day 247

I am easily tempted by food.  This is an example of how pathetic I can be.  Every time I go to Whole Foods, I walk past the bakery section very slowly and look at every dessert that is on display.  Fortunately, I only succumb to the treats rarely.  Food just gets to me visually.  Also, the smell of food is enticing to me.  Being tempted by food or alcohol is understandable if you are in an environment that promotes eating and drinking.   Today I was tempted by food and drink in an unexpected way - by words.

On the way home from work, I decided to start reading another one of my books that I bought at the book sale last year.  The book was about wine service.  The book focused on a restaurant called Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago.  The first chapter was on overview explaining how the restaurant really tries to pair their food with their wine.  The philosophy of the restaurant is that you can’t change the wine but you can change the food so it pairs well with the wine.  Examples of wines and how entrees were changed to compliment the food were given.  The restaurant offers the diners an opportunity to pair a different glass of wine with each course instead of having to buy individual bottles of wine.  My mouth was salivating at the description of the food and wine.  Now the ironic thing was that I was just going past the train stop where the restaurant is located as I was reading the book.  So close but yet so far.

All of this detail to food and wine comes with a steep price tag.  I’m sure it is all worth it but it is out of reach for me and my budget.  One thing is for sure, if I was invited for dinner at the restaurant, I certainly would accept the invitation in a heartbeat.

Double the Fun ---------- Day 246

When I was leaving the race yesterday and heading home, I saw signs on some lawns that said the Ravenswood race was on Sunday.  I heard about this race at the group run and probably would have run in it if I knew about it sooner.  I am going to have to make some notes about certain races so I am more prepared next to register for them.  I was glad that rain held off until the afternoon so the racers didn’t have to run in the rain.  I was really lucky last week having a sunny day for my race.

On the days that I don’t run, I like to do some weight training.  I like using this 30 minute tape to guide me along.  I also like the 25 minute CD I have from Jillian that has some weight training along with some cardio and ab work.  Feeling a little wacky today, I thought that I would do both exercise programs back to back.  This definitely proved to be a good workout for me.

Being on this weight plateau for a couple of weeks, I really need to shake things up to get the needle on the scale to move.  I’m going to try doing more exercise and changing some of the things that I have been eating.  We will see what happens by next weekend.

Point me in the right direction --------- Day 245

I got up early today since I was supposed to be at Montrose Beach at 6:00 a.m to volunteer for a 10 miles race.  It was really gloomy looking by the lake but it never rained.  My assignment was to be a course marshal.  As I was waiting to head to my post, I heard some racers talking about the Boston Marathon which was this past Monday.  It was interesting hearing their stories about running the race.  I so want to run the Boston Marathon one day.

Since I was there early, I volunteered to be in the group at the beginning of the race.  Having learned from a previous race, I brought along this foam pointing finger that was lying around in my department at work.  The reason for having the finger was to point the runners to the path they were to take on the course.  Let’s just say that the finger was a big hit with the runners.  It brought a smile and some snarky comments from the racers.

During the race, I heard my name and then realized that Laura was running in the race.  As she ran past me, we exchanged some high fives.  When Laura was with CARA she was always working behind the scenes of a race, now she can actually run the race.  After being at my post for about an hour, the last runner went through and I was able to leave.  As I was walking back to my car, the fast runners were finishing the race.  I can’t believe that a group of racers finished running the 10 miles in less than an hour.

On my way back home, I stopped at this restaurant for breakfast that I have wanted to check out.  The restaurant is called Tre Kroner and is this Swedish themed place.  Wanting to have something Swedish, I ordered the Oslo omelet which contained salmon, cream cheese and dill.  I must say it was mighty tasty.  This a restaurant that I definitely visit again.

After seeing about 2,000 runners pass me today, I was definitely motivated to get my workout in for the day.  Later in the day, my son and I both got massages which helped relax our tight muscles.  To keep the relaxed momentum going, I have nothing planned for tomorrow. Yeah me!

Running Reflections ---------- Day 244

About a year ago the idea of running again entered my brain.  After not running for many years, I wanted to find a program that would provide a safe learning environment and a positive running experience for me.  Being older and wiser, I knew that I needed guidance in this adventure because I didn’t want to hurt myself.  Luckily, I found the CARA organization which had all sorts of running training programs.  Knowing my limitations, I started with CARA’s Beginning Running program – Level 1.

The Level 1 program was a combination of alternating between running and walking.  I remember taking the first running steps and thinking to myself if I had taken on more than I could handle. At times I was so out of breath but I plodded through the group run/walk session.  During this session the most difficult week was when we ran for 2 minutes and walked for 1 minute.  In the group, I was always the slowest person in the pack while my son was always one of the fastest in the group.  I did make it through the 10 weeks of the program.

Since I wanted to continue running, I signed up the summer session of the Beginning Running program – Level 2.  This was still a run/walk program but the intervals between run/walk changed and the length of time that the group run increased.  I remember the most challenging week being when we would run for 2.5 minutes and walk for only ½ minute.  I don’t know how many times I told Mike that evening that I thought he was trying to kill me.  Well, I didn’t die and I completed the 10 weeks.

Once I started this journey, I didn’t want to stop but to keep on improving my running.  The next program was the 5k that started in the fall.  Now I was entering the big times.  This session was different since there was a certain distance the group would run.  It didn’t matter how long it would take you to run the distance.  In this run group, I met Shannon.  My favorite run was in week 10 when Shannon and I were the only ones who showed up from all the 4 running levels.  The two of us ran with the 6 group leaders who showed up for the group run.  Talk about having a private lesson with the experts.

When the 5k training program ended, I ran my first race in years on Thanksgiving; the Turkey Trot in Edison Park.  I crossed the finish line but I did struggle through the race; I thought that 3 miles seemed like an eternity.  I kept on running on my treadmill during the cold winter months until the next session.  In February I started the last of the Beginning Running sessions; the 10k.

During this session, I was sad that Laura and Mike had left CARA and were not there every week.  The clinics just weren’t the same without them.  The good news was that Shannon was in this training program and we always ran together.  The greatest accomplishment for me was when I actually ran the 6 miles during one of the group runs. 

Yesterday was my last group run in the ‘Beginning’ Running program?  It felt like graduation to me since I completed all 4 session; a total of 40 weeks. After the run yesterday, all of us went to the bar down the street to hang out.  As we were all eating and drinking, I realized that we were all so different but we all got along so well. Running was our common bond and most of the conversations revolved around running but other topics were also discussed.  One of the conversations was about Groupons which I didn’t know about until a few days ago (Thank you Emily!).

After about 1 ½ hours we all decided to leave and head home.  This part of my running life is over and now the real work begins in about 3 weeks when the ½ marathon training begins.  There won’t be any wild and crazy Friday nights for me (not that I have any now) for about 12 weeks since the training sessions are on Saturday mornings at 7:00 a.m.

Tonight I had the unexpected happen to me.  When I looked through the mail, there was this envelope from the Park District which sponsored the race I ran last Sunday.  When I opened the envelope, I read a letter that said I placed 2^nd in my age group.  The cherry on top of the sundae was that there was also a 2^nd place medal in the envelope.  I ran a steady race but didn’t know how well I did compared to the rest of the runners.  I don’t know how many were in my age group and I really don’t want to know.  Sometimes you just need to show up. 

Tomorrow morning I am volunteering for a 10 mile race that starts at Montrose Beach.  I need to be there at 6:00 a.m. so I better get to bed soon.

Running Finale ---------- Day 243

Tonight was my last day with my running group.  Afterwards we all went out to a bar.  Since I came home late and then had to take care of my sick child, I am going to write more about my last run tomorrow.  Now I just need to go to bed.

Put a Ring on It --------- Day 242

Before I leave for work, I always make sure that I have on my jewelry.  If I forget to put on my jewelry (which happens only in a blue moon), I will be out of sorts all day.  As I was about to head out the door, I realized that the ring that I was wearing was too loose to wear.  Not wanting to lose the ring (which is one of my favorites), I put on another ring.  Losing weight is a good thing but the frustrating thing is that you can’t really target where on your body you want the weight to come off from.

When I started to gain weight, my rings didn’t fit any more so I bought larger size rings.  Now those larger size rings are mostly all too loose but my old rings are still a little snug on the finger.  I’m stuck in the middle.  The other depressing thing is that I have a lot of big rings and not so many small rings.  I guess my best option is to try to sell my big rings on a website.  Having smaller fingers isn’t a bad thing but I would much happier if the weight on my thighs would come off faster.