Hello peeps!  Well, tomorrow is going to be crazy busy, so I'm posting this today.  Another week has gone by and I am beyond ecstatic about how week 1 of my half marathon training is going!  the running + the strength training proved a bit of a load because I tend to workout in the afternoons after work.  But the first few days proved how unwise that decision was especially when work gets really busy.  So, I have to defer to my Army default: running in the morning and strength training in the afternoon.


For those of you who do not know, most Army units do PT (physical training) in the morning.  But there are units or posts where you can do PT on your own (kind of a honor code).  Since I arrived in Kansas in April I have been doing PT on my own which works great because I am not a morning person. The good thing about running in the morning is that while it may take me a bit longer to warm up the muscles, I have more energy.  Plus seriously, I have been given the gift of seeing some gorgeous sunrises.  

In easing into this half-marathon plan with lower miles in the front end allowed me to work on my pace, managing to go from a 13:00 minute average pace down to a 11:00 average.  And I am thrilled about it because my foot cooperated with this pace.  Stretching after running is something I rarely do (I know, horrible) so I am also getting better at that.  I noticed how, unlike the times I do not stretch, my legs are not stiff through the day... and as Martha Stewart would say that "it's a good thing".

But can I tell you a secret?  I am totally IN LOVE with my strength training routines because they are a combination of exercises I know with some new variations to challenge my muscles.  I really like working my lower body but working upper body is my favorite.  Loving, loving, loving these routines.  Something about working upper body makes me feel like I am tough...lol.  The exercises on the photos above are my new favorites.  LOVE them!

Now, can we talk about the food portion of this plan?

1.  First a funny story. Remember me complaining about the frequency and amount of food I have to eat in this plan?  I even emailed my coach about it and she laughed but explained why this was important.  So for the first three days I basically force fed myself.  But on day 3 I woke ravenous, like I could eat a horse and his baby pony too!  Holy mollie!  Suddenly I feel like my life revolves around food.

2.  Second, I am a sugar addict.  Because my processed sugar intake went down to like nothing, I had the worst sugar withdrawals ever!  I've never considered myself an addict but this week proved me wrong.  From day 1-3 I experienced headaches and shakes... like seriously: the shakes.  It was the weirdest thing ever!  By day 4 I was feeling better.  Now, my coach is an angel and she does allow me to have 1 poptart post workout with 1 scoop of protein shake (mixed with water).  I know.  You probably have the same expression on your face that I did when I read the word POPTART.  But it turns out that a poptart after a hard workout works.  HERE is a good article on this subject.   And all I am going to say is that I never loved a poptart more.  Haha!

3.  Third, let's talk coffee.  Y'all know I am a coffee fiend.  I love my coffee; Seriously, the phrase "I drink coffee for your protection" was invented with me in mind.  But here is the thing, for the past four days I have not needed my coffee in the morning.  Maybe a sip or two but once I eat breakfast, my desire to drink coffee goes away.  Hmmm.