Completed the Women's Half Marathon in NYC!!!!

Despite everything I actually completed the NYC Women's Half Marathon in Central Park!!!!!!!!!!!

I was absolutely unprepared for this marathon and I cannot believe I did it.  There were moments when I was ready to give up - when I got this huge blister at mile 6, when my ankles started to hurt at mile 9, right before this huge hill!!!!  But I kept on with the mantra one foot in front of the other and kept on going.

I prepped as best as I could - Vicks Vapor Rub, Toddies, Water with lemon, KT tape for my knee and ankles, Vitamin C, I found an over the counter water inhaler mist thingey.  Carb-loading the night before.  What I did not do, eat the morning of the race, drink more than half a bottle of water (nor did I drink water/Gatorade along the way).

As you know, I really did not adequately train either.  Going out to train 3 days the week of the race does not a training plan make.

So next time, a well laid out plan for a longer period of time!!!  Invest in better sneakers!!!  Have my asthma pump and some sort of pack at the ready that has all my stash.    

But despite all of that, I made it and under the required amount of time to be considered a finisher.

This was me right after finishing, utterly exhausted.  In fact we took a pedi-cab back to the parking garage where the car was...  I could not even think about taking another step!

My sister was there cheering us on and asked if I would do one again.  My original thought was "No!" but of course two minutes later, I was thinking yes, I'll do it again and do more.  And so that will be the plan.

Training - Such as it Was

Thursday turned out to be an unproductive day for me training-wise.  I worked well over 13 hours and still had to pack for my early morning flight back to NJ.  I thought I would work out a bit Friday AM but of course that did not happen.  And worst of all, I had lost my voice and I am still struggling with these allergy symptoms and/or cold.

Friday was an ugly rainy day in NJ.  Not the type of weather to recuperate nor train.  

 

Me on the early morning flight - completely exhausted and sick.

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day.  Went training with my Mom.  Had the fastest time Ive had all week, despite having forgotten my darn asthma pump and with my allergies/congestion, I so needed it!!!  This of course made me concerned with the 1/2 marathon the following day.  More on that in the next post!

Training - Days 3 and 4

Training has not been as intense as I would have liked - mainly because it stormed here yesterday and you know me and bad, dreary, gray weather.  I did get up in the AM and did 90 mins on my bike and planks.  I wish it wasn't so dark at 5am otherwise I would hit the park and do more long distance training.

This morning I did 3.5 miles, 100 hip raises, 200 side leg lifts (100 each side), 14 L-shaped leg lifts (10 second holds).

I am still on my cleanse.  Here is my daily container for work.  :-)

I am not happy with inches lost as my body does not seem to be losing any however I am losing lbs.  Currently I am 7lbs lighter.  Hopefully that's fat instead of muscle. 

 A coworker/friend who I hadn't seen in a minute said I was looking quite fit in this outfit...

 

I'll let you know how I do later this afternoon.  Wishing you well on your journey!!!

 

Training - Days 1 and 2

Next Sunday, I am doing a half marathon in NYC with my Mom.  As you know I have clearly not been training.  I started yesterday at 3 miles and this morning I did 5 miles.  Because of my injury, I am at a steady 17mins/mile which is fine.  To qualify, you need to do an 18.5mins/mile.

Not only did I do 5 miles this morning, I also rode my bike for an hour to help strengthen my knee.  I also just completed another hour and 15 mins on the bike.  So all in all 3 hours and 41 minutes of cardio today!!!!

I plan to do calisthenics before bed this evening.

Of course, it is not just all about the soup and water with lemon cleanse.  I am also being social and meeting some friends out and about.  A new rooftop bar opened in the city and we headed that way yesterday evening.

Starting the Cleanse

I have made the next round of cabbage soup cleanse that I started yesterday.  I made it with a bit of a variation using...

Spicy Vegetable Juice low sodium (a whole thing of that plus 2 things of water), 

red cabbage, 

cauliflower 

spinach

kale.  

I put in lots of...

crushed red pepper, 

paprika, 

chili powder, 

parsley flakes, 

oregano, and

garlic powder.

Let me tell you that soup has a VERY nice kick to it.

 In that water bottle is my lemon water cleanse :-)

 There's my to-go cup below for work

Finally got back on the bike - 1st time I've done cardio since my injury.  I was on for a good hour highest resistance and my knee could handle it.  Yeah!!!!

So now I am somewhat back on track.  Between the cleanse and the biking, I've gotten rid of those extra 7lbs and have returned back to my pre-NOLA Easter weekend trip weight.

Anywho this was all after a night hanging out with a friend at Ruth Chris.  Ordered the best tasting and prettiest Gin and Tonic I've ever had.

The Point of No Return

My measurements have not changed but my weight has (and not for the better) :-(  Granted I have been injured and eating decadent food and this is the week of my time of month but still....  Not happy although I still think I look fine and considering I almost killed myself this week, I feel fine.

I did very minimal calisthenics this morning.  Not really worth mentioning but trying to be more consistent with this blog.

I did go to grocery store this afternoon and bought all requisite ingredients for cabbage soup and water cleanse starting tomorrow.

Me, this AM... Not great but hey those shorts are finally looser.

Totally Off Track in NOLA

This Easter weekend in NOLA was not only decadent but full of injuries, both of which have taken me off my game.  When I am back in the Ville, hopefully my injuries will have healed enough for me to ride again.  I am definitely starting the cabbage soup cleanse no later than Weds and doing the Cayenne Pepper Lemon Water cleanse as well.  All this decadent, rich food needs to come out of my body ASAP.

This is how the weekend started...

And this is how it ended....

Need I say more...?

Conservation flew out the window but whatevs

So conservation lasted one full day!!  Lol.  I ended up having a late business lunch yesterday and the next thing you know it was pig out city (ok, not really but you get the gist)

Needless to say other than the morning work out, I did not do anything except 100 crunches when I got home.

This AM, it was dreary and gray (but warm).  Anyway, you know how that goes. No cardio but I did do calisthenics.  100 leg lifts, 14 L-shaped leg lifts at 10 second holds each leg, a 3 mins plank, 100 hip raises and 100 calf lifts, 120 side leg lifts (60 each side with 60 sec hold at end of each set)

As I was getting dressed, I realized I was wearing a similar outfit to something  I had on in April/May last year so I decided to take pics to see if there was a difference.  What do you think...? 

Being consitent back home

I'm not going hard the way I wanted to but I am consistent.  We can thank those small victories that I feel I often have to remind myself of (I know the grammar is off but hey, what the h...., it's a darn blog!!! :-D)

I did an hour on the bike this AM, one legged squats, weighted V-lifts, one-sided leg lifts, leg lifts (one leg lift at a time, and bridges)

I went straight home so no debauchery.  I head out of town this wknd so trying to conserve until then.. LOL!