Running Effort of 2013

If you followed my blog in 2012, it was supposed to be my year of running.  My ultimate goal for running is to do a series of races within a year.  5k, 10k, 10 Mile, Half, and then if I'm up to it a Marathon.  I was well on my way last year by completing a 5k, 10k, and then a 10 miler.  

Then I got pregnant.  (No worries it was planned)

With my body rapidly changing, I couldn't keep up with the amount of running training required and so sadly I put away my running shoes until further notice.  

The reason why running was a huge goal for me last year was that I was really indulging in Crossfit and I loved it.  I loved it oh so much and I was getting decent at it, I looked forward to going to WODs and I LOVED what it was doing for my body and mind.  It's easy to do something you love right?  So for a personal challenge, I wanted to get good at something I hated.  Which was running.  As much as I kicked and screamed about the training, I was true to my programs, and towards the end I was really kicking ass.  

But truth be told, I didn't make my goal of completing the cycle of races.  So guess what 2013.  

With great hesitation on January 1st and January 3rd I got my out of shape, overweight self out and running.  I use the term "running" lightly because I know some people who could walk faster than I ran.  Bottom line, I got out there, got the miles in, and I know the more I get out there, the better/fast I will be.

This is almost embarrassing to post!

Oddly enough I did better on my first run, which I walked most of, so not sure what happened on the second run.  BUT the second run felt better than the first and I'm going to chalk that up as a win.  

Obviously these are horrible times, but looking back at my running journal from last year, I started off pretty slow and by the end my pace was pretty decent.  So there is hope.

I really hope I can make my running goal this year even though now having a baby to fit into all my scheduling, I'm REALLY in for a challenge.  

Fran

It had been a long time since my last WOD and out of habit, the night before my first day back at Crossfit, I checked the website to see if the WOD for tomorrow was posted.  And it was.  And the first thing out of my mouth was mother f*cker.  Dennis then responded with, I was hoping you weren't going to check that. 

To my dismay the WOD for the next day was Fran.  

I'm going to need all of those 4 spaces for my time :/

For those of you non Crossfitters, Crossfit has a handful of Bench Mark WODs, all with girl names, and Fran just so happens to be the most infamous because it's a full out sprint and just plan out sucks. 

the workout consists of 21 Thrusters, 21 Pull ups, 15 Thrusters, 15 Pull ups, 9 Thrusters, 9 Pull ups and then you lay on the floor for about 5 minutes catching your breath and wishing you were dead. 

However, being determined, I packed my 1,000 bags to get me through the day the night before and at 5:30am I was sitting in the Crossfit SoMo's parking lot waiting for the doors to open.  

I had forgotten how cold and quiet Crossfit Boxes were in the early morning and when KC flipped on the industrial lights, a year's worth of memories flooded back to me of 610.  And even though in a new box, I felt like I was home.  

Class started with warm up (and a nice little "welcome back Karen" announcement) and then on to strength.  I told myself with the strength I would start with the bar and go from there. I struggled and was well below my "normal" weights, but that was all to be expected. 

Once strength was finished that awful feeling in my stomach hit.  I set my bar at 45lbs and set a goal to at least finish the WOD with in the time cap of 15 minutes. 

That awful awful awful count down clock went and off we went.  I was spent after about 10 Thrusters.  I did the work out as I could, and rested when I needed to rest.  I was going slow, but steady, and I was already afraid that I wasn't going to finish in the allotted time.  

Before I knew it, I was the last person in the class working, but people were cheering and supporting me, pushing me to finish.  

And then I was done.  Finally.  And Day 1 was behind me and in the books. 

Strength:

2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 Front Squat

70lbs

WOD:

"Fran"

21-15-9

Thrusters - 45lbs

Pull Ups - Green Band

14:12

Cash Out:

2 Minute Hand Stand

2 Minute AMRAP Wall Ball Sit Ups

Digital Mustard - A Brand New Year

I am obviously a little late on this post, but on November 7th, 2012, this little guy made his grand appearance into the world at 3:10pm.  

Mini Dennis?

Sparing all the gory details, the delivery went very well and for all you women out there thinking about having a baby, my advice to you.  BE IN SHAPE!

Pre-pregnancy, I was in what I would consider the best shape of my life.  I was eating well, running consistently, and  WODing 3+ times a week.  And looking back at pictures, I was lookin' pretty good :) 

If you followed my sporadic blog posts since the pregnancy, things went downhill as far as my fitness level.  I did what I could, but being pregnant was a huge roadblock for me and unfortunaltly my exercising was slim to non for the majority of the last 5 months of pregnancy.  However when it was time to push, I really think that all the hard work pre-pregnancy paid off.   


"Shane Martin for Time"

4 Pushes
Every 3 Minutes until Baby is born

01:10:00  or 120 Pushes


Now that Shane is about 2 months old (holy crap) I've been cleared by my doctor to start working out again and what better timing with the New Year starting.  

2012 was one of my most successful years fitness wise and I was OH SO CLOSE to achieving my half marathon goal.  This year it will be even harder to chase and achieve, but isn't that what makes goals fun?

While Baby Shane was sleeping yesterday, I sat down, thought about my diet and how I needed to make some major changes.  And continued with the follow through by planning and prepping all my meals for the rest of the week.  

Gold Star to me!

I also had some time (thanks to Reformed Fatty, who by the way isn't so Reformed anymore) to sit down and look up training programs for running and aligning them with local races.  

I WILL DO MY BEST TO COMPLETE A HALF MARATHON IN 2013. 

After all the dust has settled with the pregnancy, I gained about 20lbs.  I am very confident that if I slowly ease back into my Crossfit/Running/Paleo ways, I will lose my "baby fat" in no time.  

It feels really good to be blogging again and I wish all my lovely readers a fantastic New Year and to make 2013 the best one yet!