February 1, 2011 -- A new challenge begins!

By mutual decision, we decided that the February challenge could go (at least) two ways:

For those of us who tried January's challenge, we recorded what we did on January 28 and will add 5 miles to that total by February 28.  My goal for Feb 28 is 94 miles, Maureen's goal is 90 (I can't imagine that she'll do fewer miles than I will...she's too awesome).

For those of you that are new, your challenge total is 84 miles.

Remember, 1 mile of walking, jogging, skipping, hopping, running, chasing = (drum roll) 1 mile. 
AND 20 minutes of any exercise also equals 1 mile.  So if you really don't like much of the above, put your time in doing exercise.  You can use an elliptical machine, too....whatever you like.  Just get the time and/or miles in.

Good luck and watch out for the groundhogs!

January 31, 2011 -- 100 and done

One hundred miles put in this month.  I can't believe that I actually finished.  At first I thought, oh yeah, no problem.  And then about 10 days into this challenge, I thought: HOLY CARP!  What was I thinking!?!  But it was awesome to have a goal and push myself on the days that I didn't want to do anything.

Next month, the challenge for me is not much different.  I will admit, there's no way I could have done this without the treadmill. I really love the combination of the treadmill and Netflix.  I might miss Netflix when it comes time to start running outside again.  Nah...it's too nice to be outside.

A big congratulations goes to Maureen for finishing this challenge with me...and to Nikki who is keeping the challenge spirit and will continue in February.  Anyone else?

Soooooooo....

The bottom line: 100 miles down, 0 to go.   

Ah, hello there February.

January 30, 2011 -- Light at the end of the tunnel

It has certainly been nice having these bleak type days in January as "vacation," although it would have been better to have had a plan.  Spontaneous days are great, too.

I don't even know what I've done the past few days except tend to my mileage, make a pot of chili, make some awesome quinoa, visit some friends in Philly yesterday, give my dog a hair cut and bath, plow and harvest an endless amount of crops, clean a little, shovel the driveway, shovel the deck, shovel the yard (shoveling snow is much better than shoveling dirt, if you get to choose), get my next grad class situated, and watch a bunch of Netflix (but I do that during my mileage build up, in general).  OK, so maybe I have done a few things.  I feel better now.

Here it is for the next to last day of the challenge: 3 miles on the treadmill, 30 minutes circuit training = 4.5 miles.

Bottom line: 9 - 4.5 = 4.5 to go.  Hard to believe that it's almost over.

January 29, 2011 -- Workout-lite

It's been a very long day so the workout will be light.  Maybe 2 miles, at most 3.  I'm just writing beforehand because I'll probably forget later.  Well, maybe not "forget," but maybe not feel like writing.  So I'll put in for 2 miles tonight and if I have to edit later, so be it.

I went into Philly today to meet with some friends, nothing to speak about right now.  Afterward, I took Sean to dinner at a new local restaurant using a restaurant.com coupon.  The restaurant was eh, but the people were SOOOOOOO nice, so we'll probably try it again. 

But this is the first time that I've gone out to eat in a month.  I've been doing the 17 Day Diet and staying pretty close to it.  (My jeans are much looser these days.)  But anyway, although I don't feel that I ate that much, my stomach is kabloooey.  I mean huge, expanded, gargantuan.  Anyway, just by not eating my normal regimen of food, I can feel a huge (kablooey) difference.

If I do anything different from 2 miles, I'll come back to edit... but as for now my

bottom line is 11 - 2 miles = 9 miles to go.  See ya tomorrow for a real workout.

January 28, Part deux -- Feb 28th setup

Not heeding my own advice, feeling spry, loving another day off, I put in 5 more miles today.  That makes my bottom line as 11 miles to go with 89 miles in.

That makes next month's goal 94 miles by February 28.  Not easy, but still doable.  

Please feel free to log in your goal for Feb 28 here.  Good luck!

January 28, 2011 -- 28 + 5

Now if I'm looking forward, which I guess I should be, I might need to consider the "angles."  What I'm talking about is that we've decided that next month's challenge will be today's mileage plus five.  Hmmm...if I do that, then I'm just about back at 100 miles for 28 days.  So if I put in 4 miles today, I'll have 12 to do, i.e., 88 done.  Next month looking at 93 by February 28.  Hmmm...  Que sera, sera.

Another snow day, another day to get the housework done to have a relaxing weekend.  Does that really exist?  Let's hope so.  I'm going to try to do that.

We'll chat later.  Have a great day!

January 27, 2011

Not putting any miles in today.  Shoveling for hours upon hours is enough.

Bottom Line: still at 16 miles to go.

January 26, 2011 - Snow White, Snow Bright

Wooooooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

OK, that's out of my system for tonight.  We actually got out of school at 12:30 today.  Holy moly!  Tomorrow is going to be another wait-and-see story.  Like I always say, if we have to have winter, we might as well have snow, too.  (I'm sure there are a lot of dissenters out there.)

I did a little grocery shopping, I visited my goddess and bought my arils.  Yes, arils.  That is my new word of the day.  Arils are those delectable morsels of goodness in a pomegranate.  I always called them "seeds" before, but they are actually called "arils."  And I love them.  And I love the goddess that puts them in plastic containers so that I don't have to tear pomegranates apart anymore and have fingers that look like I murdered someone.

I made a pot of miso which I haven't had in ages.

Then I watched Ellen...(it's her birthday) ... then Oprah ... then Dr. Phil.  Hopped on the treadmill and also worked out.

 3.5 miles on the treadmill, 30 minutes circuit training = 5 miles. 
Bottom line:  21 - 5 = 16 miles to go.  (I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!)

January 25, 2011 -- Idea for next challenge

While on the treadmill tonight, I was trying to think of something for next month's torture...uh, challenge.  Here's an idea, tell me if you think it's a good one.

On January 28, record the number of miles you've put in.  Then, by February 28, the challenge is to put in at least 5 more miles than you had on January 28.  ???  How's that sound for those of us who tried the challenge this month?  So when January is over, it's over, new challenge begins.  C'est la vie; c'est la guerre.  Right? 

Let me know your mileage on January 28 and I'll log them in here for you if you want.

Now, how to challenge anyone new?  By February 28, you need to log in 84 miles.  That's 3 miles per day, which is actually pretty doable and easier than the 100-mile challenge.  But we won't scare you away, because frankly, the 100-mile challenge wasn't unreachable, but it wasn't exactly easy either.

As tired as I was tonight, I got myself on the treadmill and I watched the people that inspire me: The contestants on the Biggest Loser.  I love that show.  And again, as tired as I was, I know that it was mostly mental fatigue and not so much physical fatigue.  Every time that I could give someone a very evil look for suggesting exercise because of my mental state, I am always grateful to have exercised.  It totally changes my outlook and attitude.  (I'll be a lot happier when it's time to be outside, though!)

Bottom line: 24 - 3 = 21 miles to go.  (That sounds really good to me!)

January 24, 2011 -- What's next?

I should be sleeping now.  This will be short (I hope). 

I'm trying to put together a relaxing weekend for myself at the shore.  I do like the shore during the winter.  Talk about serene!  I need to get away from the house and my cleaning rampages that seem to do little. 

Does anyone have any ideas for a challenge for February.  100 miles in 31 days was difficult enough...we'll reinstate it in March.  But February with 3 fewer days.  Nah.  Nope.  Nyet.  Non.  No.  But if someone could come up with something exciting ... because we all know how exciting February is, i.e., if exciting means shoveling tons and tons of snow out of the driveway.

OK...short and sweet.  1 mile on the treadmill before 1 hour of Pilates = 4 miles.

Bottom Line = 24 miles to go.

January 23, 2011 -- Happy Feet

Determined to exercise without blisters, I went to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy new socks.  It did not end there.  In fact, I ended up buying two pairs of new running shoes.  I have never, ever bought a pair of shoes that cost $140 before.  I still haven't.  These shoes were marked down to $100 and I had a coupon for $10 off.  Who can resist that?  And if there's one thing I know -- if you find a great pair of shoes, especially running shoes, get 'em while they're hot and now I have two pairs.  Yay! 

Did you know that there was this stuff called "Glide?"  It's an anti-chafing gel...just great for my toe that was getting a blister.

Holy moly -- there was stuff there that was 75% off.  ooooooooooo.  I'm not a big shopper, but I can get used to those kinds of prices.

And are my new shoes great to run in ?  Yup yup yup yup yup.  A dream.

OK, so as we approach the last full week of the challenge, what should we do next month...with shorter days.  I don't think this was exactly easy.  I'm still not even sure that I'll reach 100 -- I'm pretty sure it will happen, but not 100% sure.

Today's bottom line
4.5 miles on the treadmill  , 1.5 miles of exercise = 6 miles
34 - 6 = 28 miles to go.   woooo hoooo!

January 22, 2011 : Shoes and Socks

How can it take 4 hours to clean a clean kitchen?  No, that's not a riddle...but it sure does make me wonder.  I guess clean is a subjective word.  I did all that fun stuff like clean the refrigerator, line the cabinets with...liner.  That doesn't sound like 4 hours.  How did that happen?

The other day I started to get a blister between two of my toes.   Time to put out big money for socks.  It also might be time for a new pair of shoes.  If you are reading this, what are your preferences in shoes and socks?  I'm running on Asics and have not yet splurged for good socks.  That will happen tomorrow.

Today's workout was 3.5 miles on the treadmill and a half hour (1.5 miles) of circuit training/strength training.

Bottom line: 39 - 5 = 34 miles to go. This number makes me want to do a lot today.  I hope that blister doesn't mess it up for me.

January 21, 2011 -- 10 days to go! Uh oh!

Can we make it?  100 miles with 10 days to go?  Well, can I make it?  I'm really tired tonight but I'm going to put in 3 miles.  They will more than likely be walking miles, but at least there will be some miles.

I'll be back.

January 20, 2011

It's Thursday.  I get home late.  Too tired to do anything.  Had a salad for dinner...ate in bed.  I'm loving the cinnamon popcorn that I made.  Yummy.

No exercise.

Bottom Line:  43 miles to go.  Pray for snow!

January 19, 2011

A very busy day.  It's almost 10pm and I'm finally here.  Almost time for bed. 

The 17-Day Diet continues in another cycle.  I'm on it.  No time to get into it now.

Today on the treadmill, I did a different type of workout.  I would jog @ 4.2mph and then I'd go to 5mph for a quarter mile, then bring it down again, bring it up again.  It's a good way to burn calories.  Also good to get me running at 5mph.  I need to do more of that.  I did 2 miles on the treadmill, 1 hour of Pilates = 5 miles.

Bottom line: 47 miles - 5 = 42 miles to go.  42 is starting to look very good...almost like 30something.  :-)

January 18, 2011 -- a day of rest

Tuesday isn't generally known as a day of rest, but it needs to be exactly that for me today.  My exuberance for the challenge during this weekend has begun to take its toll.  Yesterday, on the treadmill, I couldn't eek out jogging over 2 miles.  I did walk the mileage yesterday, but couldn't jog.  I'm a bit sore today.  Time for a rest.

I made a delicious, low-calorie snack.  I made that big, mushroom popcorn and instead of using salt, I sprinkled on cinnamon and Splenda.  Wow!  It is really good.

But I am really tired.  Saying that, it makes me wonder how irritating people were today or was I just tired.  Combination of both?  Perhaps.  But there were some irritating people in my life today.  Tomorrow will be better.  I'm going to sleep soon!

Bottom line: 47 miles to go.

January 17, 2011 -- Parting is ...

Today was the day for Brianna to return to school.  Not loving it.  Each time that she goes away and then comes home for break, it seems like we're developing a lovely mom/daughter adult relationship.  That part, I'm loving it.

I got to visit a fellow teacher today that now lives in West Chester.  (Hi Nikki!)  What a cool place to live at -- an equestrian center.  Those horses are like big dogs.


After WC, I worked out big time -- 3..25 on the treadmill and an hour of Pilates.  It was pretty rough jogging today...I should have taken a rest day.  My legs were really tired.


School tomorrow.  Terrible weather coming tonight...does "two-hour delay" sound reasonable?  :-)

And lastly, Happy Birthday, Dad.  I miss you and I wish you could have met your two children.  They're pretty awesome and you would have loved them so, so much!  (He would have been 81 years old today.)


Bottom line: 53.25 to go - 6.25 miles today = 47 to go.

January 16, 2011 -- midway to the 31st

It's midway to January 31 and I'm not midway to my goal.  I'm not really too far off, but still not midway.  Did 5 miles today, 4 jogging (.5 incline @ 4.1 mph) and 1 walking (1 incline @ 3.3 mph).  Thank you, Netflix, for making this a lot less painless on the treadmill.  Running outside is pretty nice, using the ipod...but treadmill running is pretty boring.

A very productive day.  I cleaned my now somewhat less dungeon-like laundry room.  That took quite a while.  The good news is that I threw out a lot of stuff.  That's my favorite part.

Back to Netflix:  I've gotten through 3 seasons of Nip Tuck, 2 seasons of Dexter, and 2 seasons of The Tudors.  I tried watching Pillars of the Earth (a fantastic book), but it was too disjointed for me.  So I switched to Weeds.  I used to watch that a while back. 

More about yogurt:  I've found that the thickest yogurt I've made so far has been with half 2% milk and half powdered milk.  Surprising.   It seems like this combo yields more water.  All I have to do is put a coffee filter in a strainer, pour in the yogurt, and I get yogurt the consistency of sour cream.  I can stand a spoon up in it.  This is, btw, using Fage yogurt as my starter.  I like it a little more drinkable.  Next time, I'm going to use my own yogurt as the starter and see how long I can do that.  This seems to be quite a long experiment that I get to enjoy. 

I am loving getting back into running -- ok, I'm really jogging, but what the heck?  I'll be debating whether to register for the Broad Street Run.  That sounds like something to accomplish.  I just can't imagine running/jogging for 2.5 hours if I can keep the pace of 4 mph.  I really can imagine 1.5, but 2.5?  We'll see, we'll see.  I'm not going to sign up until the last moment because I want to make sure that I don't have any injuries or needed rest time before my Run Amuck 5K.  I can't wait to do that!!!

I'm on the 16th day of the 17-Day Diet.  I have to admit, I'm already doing the 2nd phase of the diet because I couldn't stand my meals without some type of grains.  Seriously, if cheating means having a piece of multi-grain  toast or a bowl of Special K, well, so be it.  I didn't have any bad foods; I've resisted cookies, donuts, pizza, and stuff like that.  How much did I lose so far?  I don't weigh myself, for me, it's all about how the clothes fit.  Being 5'9" never brings me to those small numbers for weight, and I know the weight where I look good...so it's about being healthy and how the clothes fit.  (And no, that's not a cop-out.  That's how it is for me.)  I can't wait to fit into the stuff that's been waiting for me in the closet. 

On the bright side, I've quit smoking and truly consider myself a non-smoker.  Not even an ex-smoker.  A non-smoker.  That's it.

Bottom line: 58.25 to go - 5 miles today = 53.25 to go.

January 15, 2011

Being that by today or tomorrow I should be at least half-way to the goal -- 50 miles -- I need to get some serious mileage done this week just to catch up!!!  So here I go for the first round of adding to those miles.  Putting the miles on in the morning is a luxury, so I'll take advantage of that situation for the next three days.

How is everyone doing?