Brooklyn Jogger

Boot Camp kicked my ass

2009-03-28T10:32:00.003-04:00

Okay folks. I am currently maintaining two blogs. One for my fitness rants and one for my regular everyday life stuff.

Brooklyn Jogger has a number of things on her fitness plate right now:

For my 29th birthday I got a personal trainer/boot camp fitness class. It isn't as scary as one on one training, 'cause I work with a small group. We meet twice a week for the next seven weeks at 6 am. Yes. 6 am.

Anyway, Day One was tough, but I handled it. We did fitness assessments.
Mile Run: 10:26
Sit Ups in 2 minutes: 52 (Holy shit sit ups are way harder than they were in 7th grade. I had the 2nd highest # in the class.
Plank: 55 seconds
Push-ups: 10 military, 14 on my knees (in 2 minutes)
Waist Measurement: 32.5
Body Fat %-26%
Weight: 135

Okay. Day One done. I was a little surprised at my body fat # and my waist measurement, but whatever. In 7 weeks, I am going to be a skinny bitch.

Day Two. Holy shit.

It has been two days and I am still sore. All over. Is that okay? Should I go to the doctor?

I cannot be this out of shape. I think I have mono. Does that cause body aches?

Brooklyn Jogger is changing...

2009-03-15T22:30:00.002-04:00

Or you could say, expanding her repertoire beyond the field of fitness...

Look for me at

www.brooklynblogette.com

That's right. Blogspot no more.

Look out honey 'cause I'm using technology...

2009-03-09T21:21:00.003-04:00

Back on the treadmill for the first time in a while.
Inspired by Peaches cover of Iggy Pop's Search and Destroy, I kicked it into high gear and ran 7.1! Totals: 3.1 miles in 43 minutes.

I feel pretty good right about now. I think the warm weather coupled with the smokin' soundtrack is inspiring a return to race...

On another note, I have been reading this book:

What is interesting about the book is how it focuses on the psychology of weight loss as opposed to the science. I had not really considered myself an emotional eater--But the "sabotaging" thoughts that Beck details as signals of an unhealthy relationship with food were dead on descriptions of my day to day food choices: It's been a rough day, I can eat this, Just one doesn't matter, Everybody else gets to eat it, why shouldn't I, etc.

The book is actually a 6 week program that has a task to accomplish every day, essentially helping you develop responses to your sabotaging thoughts.

Does anybody else have sabotaging thoughts about food or their body image?

A Challenge...

2009-02-21T13:15:00.005-05:00

Those who know me know I love plans. I love order. I love lists. Give me a List and I'll give you my undying love. Okay, maybe it's not that bad. Really though, I respond to systems.

Every year, I sign up for the SELF Challenge.

check it out at : www.self.com

Anyway, it is a 12 week Fitness and Diet Challenge they run from March through May. Two years ago, I completed it and my name was in the magazine! That is either very cool. Or very lame. Whatever.

Some of the benefits I like are an online workout log and food calculator, online forums for inspiration and guidance.

Also, you can have buddies! ( You all see where this is going?)

They see how much you are working out and can send inspiring (or scary) messages to keep you pumped. Every year I beg. I mean BEG people to be my buddy. Some people say okay but never sign up. Some people just say no. WTF?

Be my f-ing buddy. Jeez.

If you are interested in being bullied into being my buddy, please contact me.

finding new footing...

2009-02-08T11:56:00.002-05:00

I just finished a 5 mile run.walk in the park with J. Temps were in the 50s and it felt like springtime. We did 3.5 miles last Sunday with the pup.

In between was a hell of a week. The news dropped that my high school is being shut down by the City of New York (this is the second time this has happened to me). At Thomas Jefferson High School, I had no qualms about the school being shut down: there were intruders in my classroom regularly, weapons, weed smoking in the hallways, more than 40 kids in some classes. It was a mess.

At Brandeis, there are issues. Gang violence is up. Being late to class is totally without consequences. Girls are bringing blades into the building in their gums. But, it is no TJ. What percentage of the problems at Brandeis arise because we are 30% over capacity with 3000 students? Almost all of them. Our graduation rate is 33%. But that does not take into consideration the fact that over 30% of our students are English language learners in this country for less than four years, many of them having little experience with formal education.

They will open four new schools in our building, each with 500 students each and call it a success. Is it a success because there are four new schools or because they actually have a REASONABLE number of students in the building? Could Brandeis have been successful if our enrollment was capped at 2000?

We'll never know.

I struggle with my decision to be a teacher--is this a fruitless effort? Are my students going to be screwed over in new ways every year?

My students found out their school was closing from the reporters waiting outside the building for them at 7 am.

The first thing they asked me was, "What is going to happen to our teachers?"

They are used to being screwed. It was nothing new. They were worried about US.

I am going to go to work tomorrow and teach. I going to teach about pronoun usage, give a quiz on how different cultures explain death, talk about Ralph Ellison's use of sound devices in Invisible Man, spout prolific on the importance of doing their homework every day, congratulate a student that shows up on time for class...

And try to make it to the gym. After school.

Guilt

2009-01-25T10:43:00.002-05:00

I live a pretty active lifestyle. I teach on my feet all day. I take public transportation. I schlep groceries, target bags, laundry up and down the streets of Park Slope. I walk my dog at least twice a day, sometimes 3 if J isn't around.

So why do I feel guilty when I don't run in 20 degree weather? Why is lifting weights not enough in my warped little brain?

I have not run in a week and a half. For a number of reasons:

1.) Last weekend I chaperoned a student ski trip. I also got vomited on and stayed up til 5 am caring for a drunk girl. I woke up at 7 after the 5 am night to chaperone a day trip to the shopping outlets, and was up til 3 doing bed check and putting out fires. I hardly slept at all so....

2.) I caught a cold. James did not believe I had a cold because I don't complain 24 -7 like he does when he has the sniffles. Today he asked where all the tissues went and I said, "Dude, I used them because I am sick." and he said, "You really are sick?!"

3.) It is cold and snowy in NYC. I guess this isn't an excuse. But, when it is cold, I really want to just sit under a blanket and stare at my dog.

Today, I went to the gym and would not let myself run. If I run because I want to- that is one thing. But if I am running out of guilt, Is that healthy? I don't know.

For the next couple of weeks, I have a new policy: I am not going to workout because of guilt.

I will do things I enjoy.

What are your thoughts on this?

Frederick got a pig costume...

2009-01-08T21:37:00.001-05:00

Enough said.

Some things to celebrate...

2009-01-08T21:24:00.002-05:00

1.) I ran for 30 minutes straight. Okay. I walked for one minute. It is very clear from the graph when I walked. But I walked fast for that one minute. Then I ran some more!

2.) It is January 8 and I have logged 4 runs in this new year.

3.) Consequently, this has been the least stressful week of school this school year- in spite of the fact that a big yearbook deadline is looming, finals are next week, one of my kids brought a box cutter to school, etc...

Ms. Flintstone.

2009-01-05T21:19:00.006-05:00

Today, I woke up and my hair looked like this:

So, I used a hair tie and clipped the bangs back like this:

Then, a student told me, "Ms. Russ. You look like Pebbles and Bam-Bam."

How can a single person look like Pebbles AND Bam-Bam? How?

I did 20 lunges at the gym...

2009-01-05T21:15:00.002-05:00

...and now I can't walk up the stairs. Perhaps ignoring weight training while I focused on running was not such a wise idea.

I am never lunging again. until friday. poop.

Look-Proof that the Irish run!

2009-01-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

“Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?’”
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian

I'm baaa.....acckk...

2009-01-04T15:14:00.002-05:00

That's right folks! After my holiday hiatus, I am ready to return to full time brooklyn jogger blogging...

To recap-I did a little running over the holidays: squeezed in 4 short runs over my 10 days off...not too bad, considering I was in North Carolina...

Today, though, I returned to my BrooklynJogger roots-man I missed running in the park!

Now, I overdressed a little for this run. I was superexcited about my new jacket (see post below) and wanted to reassure myself that running outside in NYC in the winter can be totally comfortable. I did not, however, consider that today was a pretty warm winter day- 41 degrees.
I wore: long john pants, an undershirt, a pair of workout sweatpants, a long sleeve reebok turtleneck made for cold weather, a scarf, my new nike hat, my jacket and gloves. Just walking, I was hot! I immediately took off my gloves and carried them around for the run. They came in quite handy as a tissue. No matter how warm you are when you run, if it is below 50, your nose runs, too.

Gross.

Why I love James!

2008-12-14T20:12:00.001-05:00

James got me THIS for Christmas!
My Nike Cold And Wind Thermal Women's Running Jacket is going to be perfect for running in the park this winter! No more treadmill....

Races to Run...

2008-12-14T20:07:00.001-05:00

Anybody interested in running...

1.) / NYRR Fred Lebow Classic (5M) / Saturday Jan 10 / Central Park
or
2.) NYRR Gridiron Classic (4M) and Football Toss / Sunday February 1 / Central Park
or
3.) NYRR Al Gordon Snowflake 4M /Saturday Feb. 21/ Prospect Park, Brooklyn

I need buddies!

I am going to run the Ukrops Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond on March 28...I want to build up to it...

Goals this week

2008-12-14T20:02:00.003-05:00

As stated in an earlier post, I ran 10 miles last week. This week I am going to push for 13...So, As of this morning, I have run 122 miles. By next Saturday, I need to have hit 135.

Today I squeezed in two mini workouts, totaling ALMOST 2 miles. Almost. Poop.

I also lifted weights. :)

I may be red faced...

2008-12-13T12:40:00.003-05:00

...but I'm not embarrassed. My Mom is Irish and Czech. I inherited that Irish fair skin. This was never a problem until I started working out and running.

As soon as I get on a treadmill, my face turns BRIGHT RED. It looks like I am a drunk 55 year old man in the middle of a heart attack.

During my runs, I don't really think about it. As soon as I am done though, everyone in the gym looks at me like they are worried I am going to pass out.

Does anyone have a solution for this? Are Irish people just not supposed to get their heart rates up? I guess the Irish aren't really known for their athletic abilities.

On another note, check out my stats for my run!

You see that "average pace"? That means I ran the WHOLE run! That's right. Except for my warm up and cool down I was running at an 11 minute mile pace! I have finished my C25K and am on to just running straight!

I was very excited. This week, I ran about 10 miles. Next week (beginning tomorrow) I plan to run 13. That means I will need to squeeze in one 4 miler. I can do it!

That's right, b*@&es!

2008-12-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

I got up at 5:45 a.m. to run!

I ran 2.6 miles. I was shooting for three, but hey- I'll take it!

Plans for tomorrow...

2008-12-09T22:14:00.002-05:00

Squeezed in a mile tonight- with the puppy...who is still recovering emotionally from the crazy pit bull attack last week. Poor little guy freaks out when ever he sees another doggie on the street! He is getting a little better.
Poor baby Fred.

Waking up at 5:45 tomorrow to get my run in. After school I am too damn exhausted to function. Today I fell asleep sitting up in a chair...not for ten minutes either. For an hour.

That's right. I am a black belt napper, apparently.

3 miles down...

2008-12-02T21:13:00.003-05:00

Tonight I ate 4 pieces of pizza. In my defense, it was thin crust. And it had green peppers.

Still, I feel a little bit like I am going to throw up after my 3 mile run.

When we got back from the gym, we noticed Frederick was a little stinky. Very stinky in fact. Stinky like gasoline. Gasoline!

So, we gave him a puppy bath. Here we are, gasoline puppy and vomity momma dog, in all our brooklynjogger glory...

accountability post

2008-12-02T06:42:00.002-05:00

So, my plan was to run 3 miles last night. But, J said if I went tonight, he would go too.

Watch for an update tonight!

WTF!

2008-11-29T17:19:00.004-05:00

So-I am working on adding My Mini-Me widget to my web page- It will update with my latest stats everyday...If I can get it to work...

Anyway, I opened up my mini-me and she was naked on a unicycle!

Crazy!

My run today!

2008-11-29T17:17:00.000-05:00

a new philosophy?

2008-11-29T17:07:00.003-05:00

So,
November was a tough month- at work, at home, at the gym.

And even though I did not work out for 2.5 weeks, I am not going to beat myself up.

1.) In June I weighed 143. I weigh 135. I am making progress.
2.) Today at the gym, I ran my fastest mile yet: 11:33 and ran at 6 mph for a good portion of my workout.
3.) I work hard at school and at home and it is time I cut myself a little slack.

I am starting a resolution revolution. I resolve to not resolve to lose weight by January 1st.

That's right. Wherever I am by January 1, I am going to be happy there.

This month, I am going to try to establish habits I can MAINTAIN for the long haul.
No more good on paper-not realistic in the real world plans.
No more this much by this date.

Today, I reorganized: my fridge, my office (aka 3 plastic drawers), and 2 junk drawers. Strangely, the whole house feels cleared out. I think those junk drawers were really stressing me out!

With all these clean surfaces, I am feeling confident and clear-headed.

December is going to be an awesome month.

The Mirrors at the Gym...

2008-11-29T17:04:00.002-05:00

...are giving me a complex. Today, I finally realized why.

See, I will be feeling all fit and fine after a long run--until I head downstairs to the weights. A room surrounded by mirrors that make my ass look fat.

Today, as I watched a dude struggle to do a single bicep curl with a 150000 lb weight, I realized that the mirrors are for the DUDES! To make them look bigger.

The male ego is a fragile fragile thing.

Stick around....

2008-11-28T16:07:00.000-05:00

I am coming out of hiding...

Apparently, I cried away a pound...

2008-11-12T20:21:00.003-05:00

Although I had a less than stellar day (see below), I figured what I needed was a decent workout and I would feel better.

Well, I was right. I feel refreshed and ready (almost) for tomorrow...

I am baking cookies for the security guards and creating a pump me up playlist to listen to on the train tomorrow that will most certainly answer the question: What would Jay-Z do?

On top of feeling better, I weighed in at 133...

Now this may seem like not a big deal, as I have weighed 134 for forever. But that's the point. I have never been able to crack 134. It was my super duper plateau weight.

And I lost a pound.

It could be the new fiber one bars I have been eating.

It could be the two days in a row I have included weight training.

It could be that my old iPhone was literally weighing me down...

Either way. I'll take the pound.

Please don't poop on me. I love you.

2008-11-12T18:56:00.002-05:00

Å new student asked if I lend out the books I keep in my office.

My heart warmed.

Of course I do, sweetie.

Of course, my iphone is stolen.

If one more adult responds with, "You really shouldn't leave your valuables out." I might scream. Or cry. Though I have cried enough today. Even on a nice cop's shoulder. She was nice. Everyone told her I was a little fragile.

Ran a mile and lifted weights...

2008-11-11T11:10:00.002-05:00

Number 1- In that 10 minute cardio, I managed to run a mile! Honestly, on both intervals, I didn't want to stop. But, I held back. I don't want to burn out...

Number 2- It has been a long time since I have done a crunch! Holy crap.

Number 3- I need to focus more on stretching. Hitting my toes hurt a little. I always forget about stretching and running really tightens you up...

I'm changing it up!

2008-11-11T09:59:00.002-05:00

So, starting today, I am adding a new element to my workouts: weight training!
Now weight training is not new to me, in fact, I am pretty sure it saved my butt with the broken foot because it was the only thing I could do for many months...
The problem is, I could never do it with cardio.
And when I started back on running, I have focused only on cardio.

So now I have to find the happy medium: Integrating Cardio and Strength training so that I can get all benefits of both: building lean muscle mass, improving heart health, increasing bone density, getting ridiculously skinny, etc.

So- Here is my new plan:
I am going to work out 5 times a week. (Shut up, I can do it!) I am using the 5 Factor system as a base, so bear with me. The 5 Factor Plan claims that the ideal plan is three weight training exercises (an upper body exercise, a lower body exercise, and a core exercise) book ended by 5 minutes of cardio, five times a week. Now, if you do the math, that comes to 5 workouts at 25 minutes long each.

There is still a little problem with this (in my brain.) Where is the cardio? 10 minutes of cardio (broken into 5 minute increments) does not seem like an adequate amount. I'm not just talking about weight loss here. I am talking about heart health.

So, three of the five days, I am going to expand the workout at the end. Instead of doing a 5 minute cardio blast at the end, I will do a C25K workout.

So, for example, Today is not a run day. Today's workout looks like this:
5 minute warm up (cardio)
2 sets of 25 Dumbbell Fly
2 sets of 25 Tap Squat
50 Crunches
5 minute cardio blast

Now, tomorrow is a run day.
5 minute warm up
2 sets of 25 one arm row
2 sets of 25 deadlift
dumbell core exercise
25-30 minute run

OH! I forgot to tell you about another element of the plan: supersets! So I do not do the upper and lower exercises separate from eachother. I do 25 dumbell flies (is that the correct plural?) and 25 tap squats. Rest 90 sec. Repeat.

Now this all seems very complicated. But it's not- question mark? I feel like having a complicated system actually works in my f-ed up brain. I like schedules, and puzzles. Simplicity apparently, is not my bag.

So-if you are interested- here are the strength training exercises for the 5 day plan
Day 1
Dumbell Fly
Tap Squat
Crunch

Day 2
One Arm Row
Deadlift
Dumbbell Crunch

Day 3
Chest Press
Lunge
Reverse Crunch

Day 4
Shoulder Press
Pullover
Twisty Crunch

Day 5
Hammer Curl
Tricep Extension
Double Crunch

Off to the gym!

It's difficult to run when you're coin slot is hanging out...

2008-11-05T21:01:00.002-05:00

Today during my Week 6 Run 1 workout, my winter sweatpants kept falling off! This could be for two reasons:

1.) I am damn skinny and didn't notice

2.) The elastic in the 2 year old sweatpants has worn out.

I am sure it is Reason #1. Either way. I was paranoid that my butt was peeking out...The drawstrings are permanently locked as they have been washed too many times without being untied, so tightening was a problem. I finally looped it around itself enough that it stayed put.

Relief.

Until I had to pee and couldn't get my pants off.

Sigh.

In regards to my lack of posting, there is a reasonable excuse: a lack of exercise.

Poop.

Also, I realized today that I haven't had a single vegetable in the last 6 days.

Does everybody go through periods like this?

Whatever. I worked out tonight and will work out tomorrow. I am hatching a new workout plan/schedule that I will unveil tomorrow. It still includes my running, but I am going to try to shake things up with weight training! Try to contain your excitement...

By the way, it felt really, really good to run today.

Unless I want to change the name of my blog...

2008-11-05T19:38:00.002-05:00

I better get out there and jog, right?

I am listening to Eye of the Tiger and trying to get pumped up for a run...

Don't I look intimidating?

www.brooklyn.blogspot actually sounds pretty good right.

I will update with run stats in an hour.

Naked Running!

2008-10-28T18:00:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody.

Sometimes my Mini-Me Widget thing malfunctions and my mini-me is messed up. While changing her to "winter gear", this is what appeared.

Apparently, I am a big fan of running topless!

Do you notice how svelte she is getting? Me too!

So, I ran my 20 minute run last week, but I can't get the damn image to load!

I ran 2.7 miles in 35 minutes! Hot!

I made my own running playlist for this one:

American Boy- Estelle featuring Kanye West
Womanizer - Britney Spears
Speakerphone- Kylie Minogue
Cookie Jar- Gym Class Heroes
4 Minutes to Save the World- Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake
Stronger- Kanye West

100 miles down...

2008-10-21T22:33:00.003-04:00

So today I hit a number of milestones.

#1- I have run 100 miles since I started re-running! I think that is my most awesome accomplishment yet...

#2- The intervals today were supposed to be 8 minutes run, 5 minute walk, 8 minute run...I ran 11 minutes, walked 3.5, and ran 10 minutes! I also ran 3.1 miles in under 40 minutes! I may not be a speed demon, but I am getting there...

#3- After having a cheeseburger for dinner (i know. sigh.) I weighed in at 134!

And, I am definitely getting my nails done tomorrow. I earned it...

i made it to the gym!

2008-10-20T22:01:00.002-04:00

I have promised myself that if I work out tomorrow, I will get a mani pedi before Parent Teacher Conferences!

I need someone to kick my ass.

2008-10-19T17:57:00.004-04:00

So...I did an awesome job last Monday AND...didn't run again this week.

No excuses this week. I am running 4 times. Starting tomorrow.

Please email and harass me and remind me how good I will feel, how I am not too tired, how I can watch that episode AFTER my run ( I have TIVO for god's sake), how much nicer I am to people when I am taking care of myself.

I am not kidding.

Week Five, Run #1

2008-10-13T17:17:00.002-04:00

I have a busy week ahead of me: Grades for the first marking period are due on Wednesday, the PSAT is Wednesday, I have a field trip to the movies with my Seniors, and I have a stack of short stories inspired by Catcher in the Rye and written by 10th graders to get through.

Inspired by the marathon of The Biggest Loser (thank you Tivo!) I decided I needed to make sure I ran today in preparation for the week.

Now, don't think I ran 5.58 miles! When I do a long workout like this, I do my C25K workout and I bookend it with really long brisk walks. So, the loop from my house to the park, around the park, and back to my house is about 5.5 miles. I walk up the park, do my workout- which puts me about halfway around the park-and walk briskly home. What is good is that my pace has improved so dramatically and my running intervals have gotten so long that my official workout gets me pretty far around the park.

This workout was run 5 walk 3 times 3. Workout #2? Run 8 walk 5, times two. #3 will be warm up walk 20 minute run (!) 5 minute cooldown. Altogether, a tough mental week.

Wish me luck!

2008-10-13T08:53:00.003-04:00

Yes, I wore my Obama shirt to the Obama Bake Sale. Shut up.

Everybody loved the Babka for Barack. It sold out within the hour!

Manning the station! From left: Melissa, Me, Tory (hidden behind me), Laura (found us on Craigslist!) and Jenna

Money!

Frederick was the official bake sale mascot. He definitely stole a cupcake. Then he crashed from the sugar...

Joyce (in light blue) replenished our cupcake stash and brought a cupcake tree!

She made patriotic on the insided cupcakes...

We got a Tivo...

2008-10-13T00:05:00.002-04:00

So, it's pretty amazing that I got up off the couch at all...let alone run 3.42 miles! I don't have to work tomorrow, so today was a real lazy day. (especially since the bake sale was pretty exhausting yesterday.)

I wasn't sure I was going to even get through my workout, but when I was on the treadmill, I just went for it. I added a minute or more to each of my intervals and pushed my speed up to 6.0 for the final 5-6 minute push. Technically I ran a 5k!

Baking for Barack = Success!

2008-10-12T12:07:00.002-04:00

So, the bake sale was amazing! We sold out of EVERY single baked good we had, and we had a ton. Over the course of the day, Barack supporters would drop off more stuff to sell- it felt like a whole Obama community was forming in the neighborhood...

The weather was perfect and everyone was out with their family. We had only one person yell at us all day. Basically, he came up and asked for 3 reasons we were voting for Barack and we weren't allowed to mention the word change. We gave him more than 3 reasons, nicely, too- we were in a real positive mood! He told us we were uninformed and that Obama is a racist who hates white people and that he is going to put Louis Farrakhan in his cabinet. At that point, we were just like, "It's cool dude. We all have our vote and we'll use it the way we think best." Trying to end the discussion. Then, another customer at the bake sale and asked him if he lived in the neighborhood. The McCain guy was like, "Are you wearing a pink shirt? Are you asking me a question wearing a pink shirt?" It was totally hateful. At that point, we were like, Dude, it's time for you to go. You're not here for a real discussion. You are just here to be mean. The worst part of the whole story? McCain dude was holding a baby the whole time he yelled at us and the guy in the pink shirt! So, it's not like we were gonna yell at a guy with a baby. Sheesh.

Except for that one experience, we got only positive feedback!

Total money earned: $750!

Joe and Melissa have great pictures that I will post soon!

PS- Great work everybody who helped and thanks for planning it, Melissa!

Baking for Barack Preview

2008-10-10T23:06:00.004-04:00

Hey Folks! Tomorrow is the Bake for Barack! Bake Sale in Park Slope Brooklyn...Melissa made amazing cupcakes and I decorated them! Don't they look great? I'm also making chocolate chip cookies with sea salt sprinkles and caramel double chocolate brownies! Tons of friends are helping out, too!

Tomorrow is supposed to be 75 and sunny in Brooklyn...the liberal elite will be out in droves! With their wallets!

Obama '08!

Yom Kippur- No School!

2008-10-09T14:17:00.004-04:00

No school today! So what was I up to? Well, I got in another run. These week 4 intervals are tough! 5 minute warm up, 3 minute run, 90 second recovery, 5 minute run, 2 min recovery, 3 min run, 90 sec. recovery, 5 min. run. On the last 5 minute interval I pushed it out and ran for 6, just to show off...

Also, I got some baking done for the bake sale on Saturday! For those that don't know, my friend Melissa and I have organized a Bake for Barack Bake Sale in Park Slope. It is going to be awesome and alot of our friends have volunteered to help out. All proceeds go to...you guessed it, the Obama-Biden Campaign. We are super pumped to be active participants in this election...I am going to take lots of pics and will post on Saturday.

Today I also had to go to the the dermatologist...Why? I have poro keratosis- basically little "crop circles" that pop up all over my arms. The derm thinks I am too young to have them. (They normally "crop up" (haha) in your 40s and 50s.) This 28 year old former lifeguard is paying her dues and wearing sunscreen EVERY DAY for the rest of her life. Anyway, poro can potentially turn in to skin cancer, so I have to be super diligent with my check ups.

That's all the news that's fit to print, for right now anyway.

I am going to be baking like crazy for the next couple of days, but am going to squeeze in a run tomorrow evening!

PS- My friend Joyce has started her own blog, too! Check it out at: www.bostonchomper.blogspot.com !

Why Camille Should not run to her own playlist...

2008-10-06T21:40:00.002-04:00

Camille should not run to her own playlist for a number of reasons.

1.) Camille likes to pretend that she is a rockin' female drummer when she is too familiar with the music. This manifests itself with her treating the treadmill display as though it is a complete drum set, with a snare to the bottom left, a cymbal at the top right, and a bass drum at the bottom right. Every two minutes, Camille gets lost in her fantasy of being on stage and tries to use her foot pedal. This hurts her.

2.) Camille sings along to the music. Quietly, she thinks. Other gymgoers say no.

3.) Camille gets so excited about upcoming songs that she skips the current song, accidentally skips the song she wants to hear, tries to skip back-then snags her headphones with her left and accidentally tosses her nano on the floor of the treadmill. It flies off the back of the treadmill. Camille follows suit.

4.) This is actually connected to reason #1. Camille sticks her tongue out the side of her mouth like she is doing a tough math problem whenever she pretend drums...

My stats...

2008-10-05T11:26:00.002-04:00

So, I squeezed the final workout for Week 3 of the Couch to 5K program in this morning while my laundry was cooking at the laundromat. Afterwards, I snuck downstairs at the gym to weigh in on the "doctor" scale. I don't trust my scale at home...

Now, I am loathe to post my stats. Still, I am always frustrated with bloggers that don't share their progress in a measurable way and just talk about how much more "energetic" they feel. So, I will share. (Picture me giving you the evil eye right now.)

Currently, my weight is 135.2. I am 5' 5". I am down 7.5 lbs since I was weighed at the doctors office June 18, and down 5 lbs from the middle of August.

In high school, with track, volleyball, softball, lifeguarding, tee-ball coaching, and the snowboarding club I weighed in at 126. I was also a C-cup. C-cup is my dream cup.

In college, I worked, ate, and studied. By graduation, I was 150. I stayed 150 until I began running in 2005. I got down to 135 and held steady until...I broke my foot playing tennis with my aunt. (check out her blog One hundred acres in my links!).

That broken foot (August 2007) derailed my running and fitness. I didn't gain that much weight (my eating habits have really improved since college!), but I had less energy, and felt like a bum. Whenever I would try to workout, I would push myself too hard and hurt my foot or my ankle in a new way. I couldn't get into a pattern.

Until now. I sucked it up and decided I couldn't just start running like I was training for a marathon. The Couch to 5K program has really given me my confidence back in many ways. I feel good at the end of my workouts, not defeated. I am excited on days I "get" to go to the gym, unlike before when I felt like I "had" to go to the gym.

So, that's my story. My goal weight right now is 125. Now, I think this will be too thin for me. BUT, I want to see if my cup size goes down significantly if I lose the weight. (Can you tell I am sick of my tatas?) If I get down to 125 and they aren't smaller- well, I will look like a porn star for 2 days and will eat everything in sight until I am back up to 130, my happy weight.

I will also resign myself to life with double d's. At least for the time being...

So what if I didn't run...

2008-10-04T14:40:00.002-04:00

Today was a beautiful day in Brooklyn, so I decided to walk through Prospect Park with James and Frederick. I didn't do any running, but we walked almost 4 miles! We also ate a muffin.

Here, Frederick and I are preparing for our walk...

I need to eat more...

2008-09-30T13:19:00.004-04:00

Today was one of the first days I almost didn't complete my run. This morning, all I ate was a hard boiled egg and a cup of coffee and I certainly paid for it at the gym. Those 3 minute running intervals were extremely tough. The good part is, I pushed through. Still, I left the gym without lifting weights because I was feeling lightheaded. Boo.

When I ran track in high school, I would eat nothing all day except a snickers bar and then go to practice. I passed out ALMOST every day. It got to the point where I knew to just go to the bathroom and sit on the floor at a certain point. I don't even think my coach knew...

Man, was I stupid.

Anyway, this run was a victory. Now I am going to eat something!

Tonight is Taco Night.

2008-09-29T16:29:00.001-04:00

Awesome.

No-No-No-Notorious...Boobies.

2008-09-28T19:54:00.003-04:00

I finally decided that housekeeping did not excuse me from my workouts and made it to the gym with 35 minutes before it closed! I was rewarded with a sweet new playlist made by Suz at kissmyblackass.org:

1.) Eve- Tambourine

2.) TI- Bring 'Em Out

3.) Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy & Lil' Kim- Notorious

4.) Ice Cube (Feat. Mack 10 & Ms. Toi)- You Can Do It

5.) Eminem- Lose Yourself

6.) Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee- Shake Ya Tailfeather

7.) Black Eyed Peas- Pump It

8.) Ludacris- What's Your Fantasy

Pretty much whenever I felt like slowing down, ANOTHER awesome song came up and kept me motivated. A great playlist all around.

On another note, a number of people have asked me about how I strap down my double ds as I am pushing it on the treadmill. Well, I have tried a bunch of different bras. Number one rule, if you have anything bigger than a C cup, a bra from Target is not going to cut it. Neither will two bras from Target. (I have definitely rocked up to THREE sports bras to wrangles these ladies in...)

I am proud to say that I have found the BEST running bra out there for ladies with boobies:

Bendon Sport Max Out High Impact Support Bra...

This thing does not give an inch: left, right, north, or south. Plus, it's cute. Now you may not think this is a big deal, but then, you have not suffered with wearing bras built like Army tanks to strap your girls down. Sports Bras for ladies with tatas are NOTORIOUS (ha ha) for being Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. I could run shirtless in this bra and not feel overexposed or be ashamed of my bra. You just can't beat it...

BTW- How many euphemisms for mammaries did I squeeze into this post? I should get an award...

Housecleaning...

2008-09-28T16:34:00.002-04:00

Does cleaning the kitchen count as a run?

Sigh.

All about the Benjamins...

2008-09-24T21:21:00.002-04:00

is not the greatest song to run to...So sad.

Still, I squeezed a run in tonight...I didn't run Monday and Tuesday and I definitely want to get three runs in this week.

I am running Week 2 of The C25K again. I want to make sure I am really comfortable with my current intervals before I move forward. All my reading shows that Week 3 is when people start dropping off. I also know that if I push myself too hard I won't run for weeks.

Good news? Those 90 second runs are a breeze AND I have been pushing my speed up to 6.0 on the treadmill. In my last run, one of my intervals was an 8 minute mile pace.

Even when I was running regularly and training for my 10 K, the 12 minute mile was my mental stopping point. I think I am going to come out of this a faster runner! Sweet...

On another note. Frederick is growling at me. He wants to go out. And 90210 is on and my hair is in curlers. Again, sweet..

Sundays in the Park with Camie

2008-09-21T18:02:00.000-04:00

That's right kids. Today I run/walked 5.5 miles! Woo-Hoo! I am pumped...

I went around the big loop at Prospect Park. Brooklyn is such a great place to run. It was a gorgeous afternoon and everybody from every neighborhood was just hanging out in the park, enjoying the beautiful day. Really inspiring.

Frederick

2008-09-21T15:33:00.000-04:00

This is my dog Frederick. He is a big fan of the Tar Heels, hence the Carolina Football Jersey.

He is NOT a big fan of walking. I have a fantasy of walking Frederick up the park (less than 1 mile away) and loosing him on the green hills of Brooklyn.

Whenever, we actually do get to the park, Frederick lays down and pretends he is dying.

He is not contributing to my running progress. That's my point.

2008-09-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

So, the temperature dropped into the 60s today, which meant I got to break out my fly new nike track jacket. Sweet.

I ran 1.8 miles in my workout, then another half mile calibrating my nike + sensor, so that it will be more accurate.

I'm proud because I had 3 slices of pizza for dinner (poop.) and usually after a meal like that, I would sit around in my underwear on the couch and watch Law and Order episodes.

Last year, I thought maybe Law and Order marathons on TNT were the reason I wasn't working out, so I totally downloaded about 200 episodes to the computer, thinking if I watched them on my ipod nano at the gym, I would work out more. Clearly, this plan did not work. Also, it got to the point where I couldn't save a single word document on the computer because all of my Law and Order episodes were taking up the computer's memory.

Anyway, since I have been running more, my Nike + mini-me has gotten a little more svelte and has learned new dance moves...

See? I think there she is pop, lock, and dropping. Or she is about to start a fight with someone. She looks pretty angry.

Actually, today I DID get very angry in public. Hmm...This teenage boy on the escalator at Columbus Circle stuck his digital camera up the skirt of a girl above us on the escalator and totally took a picture! Before I even had time to think, I yelled, "What the F@1%$ are you doing?" He was like, "It's just a joke." and I said, "It's not F!1%$ing funny."

All in all, an awesome NYC interaction.

Guacamole + Run = ?

2008-09-15T20:19:00.000-04:00

#1- I think I need to calibrate my Nike Plus sensor again because the treadmill said I definitely ran more than 2.09 miles today. Also, It isn't really showing the intervals - I run for 90 seconds walk for 2 minutes. Shouldn't that look like a more pronounced squiggly line?

#2- I didn't eat much today as I was very busy dealing with students' social workers, mothers, guidance counselors, estranged siblings, imaginary friends, etc. The result of my busy no eating day is that I came home and inhaled a giant bowl of guacamole. Let's get something straight though. This guacamole fest was no accident. That's right. I planned and looked forward to said guacamole all afternoon. I can't even say I "lost control." sigh.

#3- Running after guacamole was certainly suitable punishment...

#4- By the way, I was supposed to run this morning, not after dinner. I woke up at 5:45...and went right back to bed.

Final Run of Week 1 of Couch to 5K

2008-09-14T20:32:00.000-04:00

So, I have had a very busy day...I graded 180 homework assignments, 49 quizzes. I cleaned my apartment, packed up the laundry, met with friends for a drink and an appetizer, shopped for groceries. And! I just finished a run...

The best part is, I felt like I could have kept running. The 60 second running intervals seemed almost too short. I held back though. I have learned what happens when I push myself too fast for too long.

For those interested in a playlist for the Couch to 5K program, I use Suz's playlists from her website kissmyblackass.org . Her music selection is much more fun to run to than Robert Ullrey's techno mixes on iTunes. She mixes hip hop and pop, but still includes the verbal cues to run and walk. It really makes the program easier.