...a Christmas run, that is!
With Chica hosting family at her home this year and with me having kiddos at home anxiously waiting to open Santa's gifts, we decided that we would meet at the track at 5:30 am. Yes, your beautiful little eyes did indeed read that correctly. We.Met.At.The.Track.At.Five.Thirty.A.M!
What were we thinking? It's f-ing Christmas day... Speaking of...not thinking is what helped me get through our run today. Last night the hubs and I had a an all day wrapping, cleaning, stocking-making, baking day at Casa Bella and ended up going to bed at 2am. At that point I am having a ping-pong type head debate about whether I should try to go to sleep only to wake up only a couple of hours laters and be groggy as hell or pull an all-nighter and risk literally pulling an "narqui" (totally, making up this word...) and falling asleep right there on the track. That little debate and mulling over some unsettling news kept me up for another hour and a half, and when my brain finally decided to shut down and my eyes finally closed, my two year old princess walks in the room. Grrrr! Luckily, I have the best husband in the world and without even hesitating got up and tended to our little girl. (Sigh and sigh again, for all those husbands in the world that do sweet things like this!) So an hour and a half later, my alarm goes off and somehow, don't ask me how, I got in my car, drove and ended up at the running track.
Chica arrives, punctual as usual, and she looks about as excited as I am rested. Again, I have to wonder, what were we thinking? I put myself in auto-pilot, only allowing the most minimal and primitive brain waves to travel through and head towards the track. We do a warm-up lap and we start our run. I use an iPhone app, called Runkeeper, and it is how I track our runs, our pace and times. Since I started running with Chica I have been tracking our work outs using this app, but now that we have entered the part in our training where that walking has been eliminated (other warm-up and cool down) I decided that I would only use Runkeeper to track our stats during the running portion. I wanted to see a true average pace and not an overall average pace taking into account the walking we do at the beginning and the end. Today we had an overall average pace of 12:45 min/mi. At some points of our run we were running in the 10 minute pace! Super impressive, if I say so myself. Today's workout was a 25-minute run and while I can not say that we "rock it", I will say that we completed it. Even as tired as I was, I really felt like I could have gone longer. Not saying that my muscles weren't getting a workout, believe me I could "feel" it, but I really felt like I could have gone another 5-6 minutes. This has to mean that my endurance is increasing and even though I can't really tell, I am indeed improving in all aspects of my running. Even as tired as we were, we did a pretty good job. Go, us!!!
These, behind-the-scenes improvements, has me pretty excited thinking about what the next couple of months hold for Chica and I. For lack of a better word, I am exhilarated just thinking of our next run, exhilarated for next week and the weeks after that. This is sooooo, so, so, so becoming my addiction. While this is, in my humble opinion, a great addiction to have, my new found love for running will just have to wait a day. After a quick Christmas evening visit to Casa de Chica and while saying our goodbyes, I hesitantly suggested to Chica that we skip tomorrow's run . After over 12 hours today of non-stop "go, go, go" I knew I needed to make tonight an early night and try to sleep for as long as I can the next day. As soon as the words left my lips I literally saw Chica sigh a sign of relief. Apparently, Chica went non-stop too and was all pooped out!
Christmas was a success, good food was had, friends were hugged and plenty of love was shared and we even managed to squeeze that run in. Hope YOUR Christmas was just as wonderful!
Tonight, I bid you an early goodnight, tomorrow...I rest!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
The Mayan calendar ended but...
the world did not! Surprise...surprise!!!
That meant that Chica and Ihad got to do our 22-minute "long" run this morning. I don't think neither of really "felt" like it and/or thought that we had the energy to do this run. This morning when I heard the alarm go off, I think that for a split second I might have been a tad disappointed that the Mayan calendar doomsday prophesy did not come true. Kidding, kidding...kinda...no, I am really just joshing you! Kinda....
I think that during these times in training when our minds and bodies are telling us, "please, no, stay in bed, I am begging you..."we have to press on and just put one foot in front of the other and see what happens. Today, was definitely one of those days. We found a steady pace and just ran and ran and ran. 22 minutes later and we were DONE! Phew!
Thankfully, both Chica and I are major gabbers and we engaged in some major heavy-breathing chit chatting. I am beginning to think that during these runs we might just solve all the of the world's problems.
It is four, 4, yes, you are reading this right, cuatro dias until Christmas! Eeeeeek!!!! The hubs and I are going to attempt to conquer the hordes of last minute shoppers and get the last of our shopping done!
Wish us luck, from what I hear, we are going to need it!!!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
That meant that Chica and I
I think that during these times in training when our minds and bodies are telling us, "please, no, stay in bed, I am begging you..."we have to press on and just put one foot in front of the other and see what happens. Today, was definitely one of those days. We found a steady pace and just ran and ran and ran. 22 minutes later and we were DONE! Phew!
Thankfully, both Chica and I are major gabbers and we engaged in some major heavy-breathing chit chatting. I am beginning to think that during these runs we might just solve all the of the world's problems.
It is four, 4, yes, you are reading this right, cuatro dias until Christmas! Eeeeeek!!!! The hubs and I are going to attempt to conquer the hordes of last minute shoppers and get the last of our shopping done!
Wish us luck, from what I hear, we are going to need it!!!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
To run or not to run...
Today we started Week 6 of the Couch to 5K training program! Yay!
Yesterday, though, I was near my death bed. Okay, well maybe not near my death bed, but it sure felt like it. I was so sick with cold/flu like symptoms and yuckiness and was really pissed thinking that I would possibly have to cancel on Chica. I am not sure what the rules are about continuing training while sick but I was going to do everything possible to get better before today's run.
So, I went psycho on my sickness! I took as much Echinacea as I could without overdosing. (Can you overdoes on Echinacea???) Was drinking an Emergen-C packet every couple of hours, took an allergy pill and one of those flu-teas. And, it worked for the most part. Today woke up feeling much better, not 100%, but better and was able to complete my run with Chica.
So how did today's run go? It felt a little like I died a little death every time we had to run. I craved and yearned for the walking in between, and more than yearning for the walking I really wanted to be home curled up in my bed lying underneath my comfy down comforter. Hmmmm...sounds heavenly! It turned out to be a very good workout and I think it was exactly what the "doctor ordered" because I feel it did some good reducing whatever nastiness was trying to get me down. Taking the cold in consideration, I do feel that three days off between runs is too long of a break. So, while we were cooling off, Chica and I, decided that we would add one more day of running to our week. Maybe, as we start a new week it won't be so hard to get back in the swing of things.
At least for me and for today, in regards to the cold, the decision to go ahead and run was a good one and it paid off. Tomorrow we run again and will end this week with a 22 minute run. Eeek!
Gotta tell myself., "we kicked ass last week and we will kick ass again!"
I am beginning to see how this running business is a huge mental challenge more than a physical one.
What about you? Do you rest when you are sick or do you push yourself and go for that run?
Well, I have to get back to the life of being a mommy and stay-at-home wife and hang the running shoes up, for now....
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Yesterday, though, I was near my death bed. Okay, well maybe not near my death bed, but it sure felt like it. I was so sick with cold/flu like symptoms and yuckiness and was really pissed thinking that I would possibly have to cancel on Chica. I am not sure what the rules are about continuing training while sick but I was going to do everything possible to get better before today's run.
So, I went psycho on my sickness! I took as much Echinacea as I could without overdosing. (Can you overdoes on Echinacea???) Was drinking an Emergen-C packet every couple of hours, took an allergy pill and one of those flu-teas. And, it worked for the most part. Today woke up feeling much better, not 100%, but better and was able to complete my run with Chica.
So how did today's run go? It felt a little like I died a little death every time we had to run. I craved and yearned for the walking in between, and more than yearning for the walking I really wanted to be home curled up in my bed lying underneath my comfy down comforter. Hmmmm...sounds heavenly! It turned out to be a very good workout and I think it was exactly what the "doctor ordered" because I feel it did some good reducing whatever nastiness was trying to get me down. Taking the cold in consideration, I do feel that three days off between runs is too long of a break. So, while we were cooling off, Chica and I, decided that we would add one more day of running to our week. Maybe, as we start a new week it won't be so hard to get back in the swing of things.
At least for me and for today, in regards to the cold, the decision to go ahead and run was a good one and it paid off. Tomorrow we run again and will end this week with a 22 minute run. Eeek!
Gotta tell myself., "we kicked ass last week and we will kick ass again!"
I am beginning to see how this running business is a huge mental challenge more than a physical one.
What about you? Do you rest when you are sick or do you push yourself and go for that run?
Well, I have to get back to the life of being a mommy and stay-at-home wife and hang the running shoes up, for now....
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Friday, December 14, 2012
Nailing it & Ola Lola's
Goal: To run 20-minutes straight, marking our Couch to 5K (C25K) mid-way mark.
Outcome: Total and complete SUCCESS!!!
This morning I woke up and for some reason I was really freaking out. Thoughts swirled around my head, "what if I can't do this?", "it's been so long since I had to run for this long without stopping," "what if I have to stop to walk?", "will I be a total disappointment to Chica?" and worse I kept thinking that if I couldn't do it it this would be a huge disappointment for me. I would be totally and completely disappointed in myself. I know that bad days will come. I know that some days I won't do as well. But, today was a big deal for us. If we could do this then we knew the rest of the training program would be a cake walk. Plus, us being able to do this would validate our hard work and the program itself. So I treated it like a race of sorts. All yesterday and last night I made sure I was hydrating well, I even went to bed early to assure I got plenty of rest. I didn't want anything to get in the way of today's run.
We got out there and we warmed up with a 10-minute brisk walk and then we started our run. We had a very interesting and intriguing conversation going and that made time go by so fast. Before we knew it we were about 5 minutes from completing the 20 minutes. No pain, no cramps...No extreme fatigue! We had done this! We really rocked this run! Completely nailed this!
It. Felt. Great!
Anybody watching us must have pegged us silly as they saw us embrace each other when we finished the run. Maybe for some it was only a 20-minute run! But, for us, this was a big deal, it was our 20-minute run.
We had "trained" for this. We had earned this!
And our reward: Da'Bowls...or so we thought...
Unfortunately, Da'Bowls didn't open until 9am and we were done with the run by 7am. For some odd reason didn't think of checking their hours until this morning...sigh. We were way too excited about what we had just accomplished so we had to find an alternative place to celebrate. That is how we ended up at Ola Lola's Garden Bar & Grille instead of at Da'Bowls. Breakfast was fabulous and delicious, the atmosphere was chilled and really perfect and I even got myself a celebratory pomegranate mimosa. Is 7am too early for a mimosa? I vote NO!
Here are a couple of pictures of Chica and I. No makeup and still a bit sweaty but feeling sooooo good!!!
There are still plenty of short term goals we have yet to accomplish. Da'Bowls will come soon, enough.
Outcome: Total and complete SUCCESS!!!
This morning I woke up and for some reason I was really freaking out. Thoughts swirled around my head, "what if I can't do this?", "it's been so long since I had to run for this long without stopping," "what if I have to stop to walk?", "will I be a total disappointment to Chica?" and worse I kept thinking that if I couldn't do it it this would be a huge disappointment for me. I would be totally and completely disappointed in myself. I know that bad days will come. I know that some days I won't do as well. But, today was a big deal for us. If we could do this then we knew the rest of the training program would be a cake walk. Plus, us being able to do this would validate our hard work and the program itself. So I treated it like a race of sorts. All yesterday and last night I made sure I was hydrating well, I even went to bed early to assure I got plenty of rest. I didn't want anything to get in the way of today's run.
We got out there and we warmed up with a 10-minute brisk walk and then we started our run. We had a very interesting and intriguing conversation going and that made time go by so fast. Before we knew it we were about 5 minutes from completing the 20 minutes. No pain, no cramps...No extreme fatigue! We had done this! We really rocked this run! Completely nailed this!
It. Felt. Great!
Anybody watching us must have pegged us silly as they saw us embrace each other when we finished the run. Maybe for some it was only a 20-minute run! But, for us, this was a big deal, it was our 20-minute run.
We had "trained" for this. We had earned this!
And our reward: Da'Bowls...or so we thought...
Unfortunately, Da'Bowls didn't open until 9am and we were done with the run by 7am. For some odd reason didn't think of checking their hours until this morning...sigh. We were way too excited about what we had just accomplished so we had to find an alternative place to celebrate. That is how we ended up at Ola Lola's Garden Bar & Grille instead of at Da'Bowls. Breakfast was fabulous and delicious, the atmosphere was chilled and really perfect and I even got myself a celebratory pomegranate mimosa. Is 7am too early for a mimosa? I vote NO!
Here are a couple of pictures of Chica and I. No makeup and still a bit sweaty but feeling sooooo good!!!
 |
| Bella (Left) and Chica (Right) surrounded by PR's beautiful flora @ Ola Lola's |
 |
| Breakfast of Champions! |
I end today's post on a high note, feeling great and super kick-ass!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Sacred Numbers, Halfway & Da'Bowls
This morning I woke up with numbers on the brain. Secret, sacred numbers. My secret and sacred numbers. These special numbers are sacred to most women... Some will even go as far as to stretch the facts, conceal the reality and lie (don't worry, I don't keep anything from Chica) about said numbers. And right now, I am about to expose them to you...
In the spirit of honesty and transparency I will admit that I was pretty f-ing disappointed with my weight this morning. What is it about women and the obsession with that magic weight number? My hubs can see my body changing, other people can see my "weight loss", my clothes are fitting better and even I can see myself transforming when I sneak a look in the mirror. Yet, here I am, frustrated with what the scale said this morning.
Quizas, the scale is conspiring against me...Quizas...
Tomorrow Chica and I have a run. This run will officially mark the halfway point in our couch to 5K training program. It requires us to run for 20 minutes straight. I keep saying over and over again that Chica and I will rock this, actually I know we will rock this. I know, know, know we can do this! And still I am a tad nervous. Nervous for me. I don't want to disappoint anyone. So I start to tell myself, again, again and again, I. Can. Do. This!!!!
On that note I bid you goodnight, gonna join the hubs for movie night en la Casa Bella!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
Bella's Not-So-Secret Sacred Numbers
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 142.8
Waist: 31.25
Hips: 37.5
Bum: 39.25
Thighs: 23
Biceps: 11.5
In the spirit of honesty and transparency I will admit that I was pretty f-ing disappointed with my weight this morning. What is it about women and the obsession with that magic weight number? My hubs can see my body changing, other people can see my "weight loss", my clothes are fitting better and even I can see myself transforming when I sneak a look in the mirror. Yet, here I am, frustrated with what the scale said this morning.
Quizas, the scale is conspiring against me...Quizas...
Tomorrow Chica and I have a run. This run will officially mark the halfway point in our couch to 5K training program. It requires us to run for 20 minutes straight. I keep saying over and over again that Chica and I will rock this, actually I know we will rock this. I know, know, know we can do this! And still I am a tad nervous. Nervous for me. I don't want to disappoint anyone. So I start to tell myself, again, again and again, I. Can. Do. This!!!!
A couple of weeks ago, Chica and I, agreed that setting up a reward for a short term goal could help with the motivation as we inch our way towards our long term goal of running a half-marathon. Hmmmm...rewards...what to get, what to buy, where to go...think...think...think... Then out of no where like a sign from the cosmos above, we knew, and that is where Da'Bowls Açaí Shop came in. A fairly new açaí bowl shop owned by some local surfers. These heavenly bowls are full of fruit, homemade granola and honey and this shop prides itself in using organic and local ingredients. Chica hasn't tried them yet, but I promise her and you that they are fantastic! Fantabulous! Extraterrific! Fabulicious! Wonderstacular!
So, tomorrow we face our training program mid-point challenge and the reward is being able to say we kicked its ass...
and a big yummy bowl of açaí!
On that note I bid you goodnight, gonna join the hubs for movie night en la Casa Bella!
Love&Hugs,
Bella
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