siiiick....

Okay, so the weekend wasn't quite as productive as I had planned. I didn't go swimming or hiking, but on the plus side, I did (a) get the main part of my hallowe'en costume, (b) spend a fun nite with girlfriends w/o passing out (from exhaustion not alcohol), (c) have a great time in the country, and got quite a workout - running, climbing ladders/trees etc, and (d) cleaned my room (quite the accomplishment...it's been a sorry state lately. So all in all, not too bad.

Yesterday, I fell asleep a couple hours before dance class, but woke up from my nap in time to still go. Instead I went back to sleep for another 2 1/2 hours...wondering "why am I sooo tired??". Turns out I'm sick. Woke up this morning with sore ears and throat, and swollen glands. :( Dammit. I skipped my first class so I could stay in bed, hopefully sleeping it off, since I have 2 long days coming up (tomorrow and thursday). I do have to work on (hopefully finish) a lab report this afternoon, and go to school for my nite class (7-930...boooo) b/c I really can't miss it. Plan to get to bed early tonite and hopefully will be feeling better tomorrow. Oh yes, am also skipping kick box class, which I love, since I'm feeling so crappy. :(

weekend plans

Quick update...good thing I got that morning run in Wednesday - it was a loooong day with no other time for a workout! Went straight from school to work and didn't get home till after 9pm, then had to write a report due the next morning. (Didn't get to bed till 2am :( but had managed to get to bed by 12:15 Tuesday nite...not sooo bad). Thursday, I had lab & class, then came home and did laundry and went to work for 5:30. The night started off slow, but picked up right before close - grrrr. Didn't get home till almost 11:30pm, with verrrry tired feet!

Ok, weekend plans. After class today I'm heading to the bf's and we are going Hallowe'en costume shopping! Yippie....I love Hallowe'en!! Later on tonite, I'm meeting some girls from school for a 'Girls' Nite In'. (Hope I don't pass out after one drink!) Saturday, I have to work at the office job, then am planning to go swimming (yep, I remembered to check the schedule!) in the evening. No Saturday nite plans, but should probably take it easy and mayyybe get some housework done! Sunday I am hoping to go on that hike, but so far have no one to go with. Either way, I'll be going to the valley in the afternoon, visiting some family and apple picking! Should be fun, and possibly a low-key workout? We'll see!

Oh yes, forgot to mention...noticed during kickbox class Tuesday that I'm definitely in need of core strengthening! Usually try to go to a core-type class on Wednesdays but had to miss it this week b/c of work. Will definitely be keeping that in mind tho!

Morning Run!!

As you can probably guess, I went for a run this morning! Yaaaa for me! I had to leave for school by 9:15, so this is an accomplishment, and I really want to try to make it a habit. I only had time to go for 20 minutes, but the point this morning was to drag myself from my cozy bed in time to do it, so I would remember how good it feels to start the day off by exercising. It felt great! Woke me up. Felt energized all day (well most of it anyway). I had to work right after class, a long shift, and now I have a report to write, so this is it for today. Just wanted to write how great I felt today, as a reminder for days I don't wanna do it!!

To Dos

This week's To Dos:

1) Work at office job before class on Tuesday
2) Kickboxing class (Tuesday)
3) Work at serving job after class on Wednesday
4) Finish lab report and pre-lab assignment (due Thursday)
5) Work at serving job Thursday nite
6) Reading...lots...lots for each class
7) Spend Friday afternoon with bf...possibly hallowe'en costume shopping!
8) Friday nite '"girls' nite in" w/girls from class
9) Work at office job Saturday and possible go apple-picking in valley with family
10) Go hiking with school outdoor rec group Sunday morning and/or apple-picking (if we didn't go Saturday)
11) Swim??...not sure if my schedule fits the pool's schedule this week
12) Look up pool schedule

Am trying to get to bed at a decent time...working toward a regular schedule! Last nite was in bed (without tv / laptop) by 12:20, which is really really good for me! Also am going to try to get up early for morning workouts. Seems like a good week to start since I got so much sleep on the weekend, plus got up early today to work before class and it wasn't that hard! Will update.

work, sleep and eat

That about sums up my weekend. After a long, tiring week of mid-terms (plus lab report), I worked till close on Friday, opened on Saturday, went from one job straight to the other on Saturday, and opened again on Sunday. Saturday nite I went to a sexy girl party, which was fun, but afterward I was too pooped to go dt with the girls. Sunday nite I went to the bf's grandparents' place for thanksgiving dinner, and within 1/2 hour of getting back to his place was asleep (I blame turkey!!) and slept straight through...13 hours!! Oh my...that is some powerful turkey! Or maybe it was the full week of late-nites studying followed by 4 shifts in 3 days... Today was a beautiful fall day so after all that sleep we headed outside and raked leaves. It was so nice out...must get outside as much as possible before it gets cold. Tonight we had a second turkey dinner, at my parents' place - yummy! Now I should get some studying done before bed, as I have a busy week coming up. Someone at work is sick so I have some extra hours this week.

Fitness goal this week: 3 workouts...going to kickbox class tomorrow, as for the other 2, nothing planned yet...

training plans

Damnit. Just when I'm all excited to start training, apparently race season is over. The only local race I can find is the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve, but I will be working since the race is at supper time. Drat. Instead of quitting before I even start, I have decided to focus for now on fitting exercise into my schedule more regularly, building up a fitness "base", and putting myself on a training program for a different goal (more on that later). I am definitely planning to train for the MS Bike Tour next August (I've wanted to do it for a few years now), and the Bluenose Marathon in May (though I haven't decided between the 1/2 marathon and the 10K...), and I think there's a Joints In Motion 5K at the end of March (the Chilly Chilli Joint Jog). Three events to look forward to...that should keep me motivated!!

exercise = the highlight of my day??

Not having the greatest day so far, but on the bright side, thinking that my workout was the highlight of my day is probably a good thing...make me want to do it more! I started my day by sleeping in and missing my bus (early bus). So I draaaggged myself out of bed and got ready in time to catch the next bus (the one that gets me to school just in time for class if I book it up the hill), and watched it go by as I was tying my sneakers. Damn it. I didn't have enough cash to cab to school, so I missed my class, however, I still had to go to school since I had just received my loan documents (FINALLY!) and had to have them processed. I decided to go get that done and go to a core-type class at the gym before returning home. The class was great...the instructor does really different (for me) exercises on a stability ball, and I feel like I get a really good workout plus work on balance too! Also, I asked for tips on squats (because doing a bunch of them makes my knees sore) and she seemed to have good advice, which I will try out next time. So all is good, I'm feeling good etc. THEN...after waiting 30 minutes (or more) for the bus - GET THIS - the bus driver stops, lets 2 ppl on, then pulls away with me standing outside the door of the bus!!!! WTF??? I wasn't down the street, running and trying to catch it...I was RIGHT THERE!! I could see the driver! I literally could have knocked on the door, had I not figured that he was going to notice me because of the fact that I was standing 2 inches away!! So, I didn't knock, just kinda gave a wave, and the bus drove off with me running beside it yelling "HEY!!". It made me sooo mad. ARRRRGGGGGG! I started walking toward home, but had to stop after about 20 minutes and wait for the next bus because I was getting blisters on the backs of my ankles where my socks were too low (double arrrggggg!). And now I have to write a lab report and do a pre-lab assignment...sigh.

take two!

I tried blogging about a year ago, but after a month or two, I suddenly couldn't log into my account to post (I could still view it). I have no idea why, but what with starting school, I didn't really have time to figure it out.

So why the second attempt? Why now? Glad you asked! Over the weekend I started reading a blog on the Women's Health website, about 2 women training for triathlons (Play to Win), and I noticed that people reading their blogs were being inspired by them (to run/bike/swim, push themselves, set goals, get fit, etc. etc.) AND the women writing the blogs were being inspired by the readers' comments (not giving up on their training/goals because they didn't want to let anyone down). Hmmm... Then on Sunday, I ran in the Run for the Cure - a 5K, which I finished in 36 minutes! As someone who doesn't run regularly (umm...I think I went for a run about 4 times over the summer and once in September...whooops - so much for the training I was planning to do!) and who normally can't run for 10 minutes without taking a walking break, I was really excited about this! The crowd (8,200 ppl) motivated me to push myself harder than I thought I could...I was sore the next day, but not limping-in-pain sore! I decided before I left the race grounds that I wanted to sign up for another 5K, seriously train for it and see how much I can improve that time! Apparently all I need is a goal and ppl to motivate me and hold me accountable! I got this blog started yesterday - October 1st seemed like a good day to start fresh (mini new year's)!

So, do I have time to blog?? Uhhh...probably not, but that doesn't ever seem to stop me! I am thinking it could be a good before-bed activity, to unwind and de-stress after looooong days. A little background info: I'm a full-time student (2nd year, studying dietetics), I work 2 part-time jobs, have an amazing bf I try to see a couple times a week (get a little cranky if I don't!)...add in dance class, kick-box class, obviously homework and studying, and family and friends who would like to see me (I think...) now and again....well I guess u could say I'm pretty busy!

I think working out more, and being more consistent with it, will really have a positive effect...not just getting in shape, feeling healthy + fit and all that, but also help me sleep better, have more energy, keep disciplined/focused etc. I'm excited to get a plan into action!

Advice/comments are always welcome!