I need some motivation to care about my fitness.

I really feel like depression is taking over my life. Sigh. I should go back to therapy in the spring..

Well. I'll try my best to keep this blog running related. But this had to spew I suppose.

Since taking nearly a month off of running I am definitely slower. Not only that.. I put on about 7lbs over the course of the semester. I'm not really proud of that but it's time to get back on track. I registered for a race on January 8th and sadly my goal time will be 40 minutes (What I started at when I first started running last summer). It's okay. I just have to back track, work on my eating habits, incorporate some ab work in there and maybe it won't be such a bad event. :)

It just really stinks. I was running 3 miles in 35 minutes over the semester. Now today I barely got through a mile and a half in about 25 minutes. That is just really sad to my own ego.

I have to keep telling myself it'll be okay or it really won't be okay. I need to believe in myself. I need to start somewhere again. Everyone started somewhere and everyone messes up once in a while. I just had a really stressful semester and it did pay off with an overall GPA of 3.92 but now I want to spend this month thinking about myself and my health. Not my friends. Not my ex. Just me. Just me this month.

I will be the runner I want to be.

OH YEAH

About to get back into it!!

Going out on the road tonight. :)

I am also reading this book while home for the winter. So excited!

Keep a training log, seriously!

Okay. I just wanted to blog about the importance and benefits of keeping a training log.

I personally have kept a training log ever since I started running. I write down my route, distance ran, time taken, my pace, and how I felt that day. It has been so beneficial to keep a record of all of this! Last week I was feeling particularly unmotivated to do anything. I didn't want to go running, I didn't want to go to zumba.. NOTHING. I just wanted to lay down and sleep all day. Plus, I also thought that since I took off so much time from running that I was going to be a slow poke and not be able to make it my normal distance or anything.

Well, I decided to put on my shoes and go. I ran a shortened version of my route and when I got back I felt energized and alive. Then, I looked at my watch and realized it was also one of my fastest times. I went to log this into my book and realized that I was getting faster and faster. All the days I felt negatively about my runs and that I wasn't improving at all and that I was a turtle.. I looked through my log and realized how much progress I have made in just 2 months! I have cut nearly minutes off of some of my routes and I have realized how much my mood has improved right when I get back from a run.

So, if you aren't keeping a log.. You totally should! It is amazing.. especially during those down times where you feel like you're not moving anywhere (literally).

I use the training log I got with my subscription to Runners World but I also use mapmyrun.com to log all of my running based workouts. :)

I am so so bored at the office I figure I should update. I just wish they would let me go home and go back to sleep if they had nothing for me to do.

Well.. I am honestly dreading the winter months that are coming up. I went to try running on the treadmill on Wednesday and I hated it so much. I became so dizzy and disoriented and I had no motivation. I couldn't concentrate on the music I was listening to (since I don't normally listen to my iPod on the road) and I also couldn't keep my posture straight. I kept looking down at the time on the treadmill and becoming so obsessive about it. It was terrible. Plus.. there's just so many other people running around me. I'm so used to being out there alone on the road with the occasional runner passing by here and there. I felt like I was being watched and judge because I'm fat. :( I only made it 2 miles before I felt nauseous enough and fed up with it.

I want to keep running through the winter but we get snow really bad up here and it gets super cold. I don't really know what I'm going to do. It's really worrying me lately.

I am super tired as well. My sleep has been out of whack and I feel exhausted all the time. I can't wait to get out of work so that I can go eat and take a nap. It's about all I'm looking forward to doing today. Yesterday was such a long day meeting my first graders and being out in the schools again. I just wish I was a teacher fulltime already.

I have my race on Sunday but I don't feel so motivated or excited about it. Maybe because no one really donated all that much money to sponsor me and the cause. I'm still going to go and try to have a great time and possibly PR my 5k race pace but yeh. Meh. I'm hoping the excitement will come soon.

Looking into registering for the turkey trot 5k in Coney Island when I go home for Thanksgiving. We'll see how that goes.

Well.. this didn't really kill all that much time now did it? I'm so exhausted. I just wanna lay my head on the desk and fall asleeeeeeeep.

I had my first fall last night. I was about a quarter mile into my run when my sneaker got caught on a mound of dirt which sent me like a projectile forward. I scraped my knee and my elbow pretty badly. It was weird.. I sat there on the floor for a few minutes. I checked my Garmin watch to make sure it wasn't broken. I was upset that there was a hole in the elbow of my new running jacket which has cost a ton. Then I got up.. was getting ready to walk back but then I turned around and kept going. I just wanted to run and I felt like I was wasting it by just 'giving up'. It wasn't the best idea but somehow I finished my 3 mile route. :( Went to my friends room afterwards and told him I fell and he went with me to my room to patch me up.

Now I'm limping all over the place. Looks like I might be off the road for a bit.. Hopefully not too long since I have a race on Oct 17th. We'll see.. I'm considering still going to the gym and maybe just doing the elliptical and some super low impact stuff.

Going to definitely do some yoga tonight. Need to release the tension I feel in my body.. especially in my arms. Plus.. I think I need some peaceful activity after last night.

So. This has been a stressfull month for school. I have had a lot of work to do to prepare for student teaching next semester. I also had to pick up a job so that I could make some extra money and attempt to save for a car or at least for the car insurance I'll need to give my friend if we share her car.

I really need to stop overeating. Can I just put that out there? It has been really getting in the way of my ability to really lose weight. With the amount of exercise I have been doing I should be dropping pounds. But no. I keep eating so much that it never happens. :P

Anywho. I now run 3 miles consistently for my runs during the week. That's up from the 2.50 I had myself doing. I just really pushed myself to the 3 throughout this month and now it's become the norm. I'm thinking of trying to squeeze it up to 3.25 and then 3.50 and that would be my goal for October is 3.5 miles consistently. :) I do still want to work on improving my speed and I know that'll come with more fartlek and long runs.

I'm participating in a 5k on October 17th. I can't wait. I haven't felt this confident about a 5k in a while. I'm just really excited to have another bib in my collection. It's really motivational seeing all of it.

I'm also below 200lbs! I am now part of the 100s club. :)

I hope I inspire people that you can be a runner at any weight.. You just have to start really slow, push yourself, and believe.

Phew.. I finally have a few minutes to update my running blog. :) Well. I didn't really realize how much exercising I was doing until I visited my doctor last week. It's amazing that I only take off about 1-2 days of no activity at all. This has drastically changed some what I can remember when I first started working out. At first I loathed moving at all, hated running, hated the gym, hated anything that made me move too much. Now I absolutely love it and my body yearns for it. It has become such a great stress reliever. I feel myself become so much calmer after I exercise. I get a lot of my thinking done on the road when I'm running and sometimes I go into a zone where I'm not thinking about anything else except for my feet hitting the pavement and if a car is coming at me. It's something really lovely..

The other day I really surprised myself. I was on my normal route.. ya know..just trotting along there lost in my thoughts when I realized I was off my normal path. I was about a good half mile off. It made me happy because I wasn't even near tired and I was just like "Oh heck yeh more mileage!" and got dorkily excited. I've just been realizing how much faster I've been getting every single week.. The seconds dwindle down and my minutes per mile is getting lower and lower by seconds. I'm setting PR's on routes that used to take me over an hour to walk and I'm doing it in like 28 minutes. Like srsly? I'm so excited about everything in my athletic life right now. I schedule my exercises into my day no matter how much homework I have. I just need that release..

I consider myself an athlete. I may not have the body of one, but mentally.. I am there. Soon my body will be too. :)

I wish I had more money to register for races.. but that'll just have to wait until I get a job. Money really sucks right now with my laptop breaking and all. But yeh. I was hoping to do a race this month but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Jake said today that he was proud of me for keeping up with my running and getting really into it.

That meant so much to me. ♥

I went running with Jake last night for the first time since the summer. This time he said he was surprised at my pace (even though I thought it was slow) and he said that I definitely have improved since last time. :) I am so excited to finally hear it from someone else that I have improved. He also said that eventually I will be out running him. Hahaha. We were both going at very comfortably hard paces yesterday and I enjoyed the fact that he helped to push me. I did need to stop for a walk break a few times due to a side stitches from not being fully digested from dinner. >_O But eitherway I still made great time. :)

I'm also trying to add in more cross training by going to the gym and doing the elliptical and stairmaster when I can and incorporating weights and strength exercises. I'm hoping to make a lot of progress in the next couple of months. I bought a time master planner today and hopefully it will help keep me on track and allow me to actually schedule in time to exercise so that I don't panic over not having time to work or relax.

But yeh. I'm looking to enter this 5k race on Sept 25th here in Potsdam. Jake said he'd do it with me so I'm super excited about that. Races keep me on track and get me pumped.. But about my diet. Yeaaaaaah. Gotta work on getting that back on track.

I finally have a chance to update! I moved back up to college for RA training and it has just been really hectic. I am a bit relieved to finally be back and in a different environment. I feel like I keep needing a change of scenery every now and then. I really miss home.. but meh. What can I do? It's finally my senior year and I'm excited to finally be finishing the undergraduate part of my life..

I'm also glad to finally be able to run in Potsdam. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I love taking my runs around it. I'm also very happy to see how much faster I can do my old route. My old route used to take me 44 minutes to complete and now I am done with it in 29 minutes. I just love seeing progress like that.

The weight is coming off slowly.. but it is coming off. It was really nice to come back to college and have people compliment me on my weight loss. It was also very nice to fit into some jeans I left up here in college that did not previously fit.

Well enough ramblings. I'm going to go climb into my bath and then go to sleep..

I ran and completed the Brooklyn Bridge 5k yesterday without any walk breaks. That was one of my goals for the summer/running goals and I'm very glad I completed it before going back to school. :) I would have updated about it yesterday but I was super tired and just not in the mood for anything. The run was at 8:30 in the morning and I finished in 42 minutes. Not my usual 5k time or pace but I was still satisfied when taking into account how much uphill running the bridge consisted of. I knew that I should have scoped out the bridge before race day but whatev. Lol. Those uphills were all super killer. The bridge and the few was gorgeous. It was also amazing that I had NYPD officers and random bikers cheering me on. My favorite was this woman who was cheering me on at the end. She was super excited for me because I was an overweight girl who was doing the race. :) I placed somewhere like 643 out of 740. I had nearly 100 people behind me?! I don't care that there was 600+ people ahead of me. THERE WERE 100 BEHIND ME. It's good to know that I'm not last or close to last. Plus they stopped clocking in people I think a couple minutes after the hour. So there were probably more. I'm super excited. :) I hope next year to squash this race as well as do a Queens Half Marathon and be super thin by then.

I just really need to work on my emotional well-being. I have been incredibly depressed these past couple of months and I can't seem to shake the feeling at all. Running and racing and finishing make me feel great.. I love the post-run bliss but it only last so long. I wish that feeling would last all day. Towards the end of the days I find myself falling into really deep depressions and having to stay awake at night thinking and trying to sleep or thinking about him and crying myself to sleep. I really wish I was over him already. It would really make dealing with all the symptoms of my depression a lot easier. I'm starting to think that I won't ever have a life without my depression -- that it is a part of me that I will always have to live with. Blerg. Well.. this isn't the blog for feelings like this so I don't really want to focus on it right now.

I'm looking into races that are being held up by school but I'm having a hard time finding any that I close enough for me to get to without a lot of transportation. I might consider the one in Saratoga if I could find out how close the bus station is the to race site.. Hm. Maybe Jake might know. I'm also looking into races that are taking place when I'm home for turkey break and there are quite a few so I'm really looking forward to training for those and further improving myself and my running. :)

This morning took me absolutely forever to get out of bed. I am so so so sore from all the exercise I've been doing the past few days. On Monday I ran 5k, on Tuesday I didn't run but did Kettlebell exercises which absolutely killed me, and yesterday I ran 2 miles with my running group. My whole back is just like "Wtf are you doing?" Haha. I'm just blerg. I think today I'm going to only do a bit of yoga or pilates.. something extremely low impact. I think my body just needs some really good stretching and relaxing. I'm also going to go to the NBR track speed workout today where they are doings 400 repeats (Always the week I want!) but I won't run, sadly. I'll just cheer 'em on. :)

Other than that.. today looks like a good day to finally jump into working on my student teaching resume and portfolio, watching some Grey's Anatomy on the couch, and doing some crochet or knitting. Nice and easy day I believe is what my body is begging me for.

Friday I'm planning a very easy run so that I give my body enough rest for my 5k race on Sunday. I'm super excited. :)

Mmmmm. I love post-run bliss. The walk home today was just amazing. ♥ NBR, btw.

Mileage Today: 2 miles

So. I think I like my new schedule. I've cut back on the days that I run doing on Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat. I just have increased the mileage on the days that I do run. I've been doing a 2.5 miles without a problem so I think I'm going to be ready for my 5k on Sunday. :)

I keep thinking.. if I can run 3 miles at the weight I am now.. I keep thinking about how much easier it'll be when I lose the weight. I'll be so much faster and be able to do a lot more mileage. :D Today I imagined myself running at my ideal body and it really helped me to run a lot better and a lot more confidently. I didn't think of myself at the body that I'm in now that makes me so unhappy -- I saw myself how I want to be. I feel like a skinny runner trapped in a fat girls body. I've always felt like I've been trapped in this body for a long time. I've always liked exercise, being active, and being outside. I just need to get my diet under control and hopefully I'll continue to lose weight.

I'm also incorporating a lot more core exercises and strength training in general. Also doing a lot more pilates and yoga.

Well whatev. Really scatterbrained right now. Going to watch some TV.

Mileage Today: 5k -- 3.1 miles.

Nothing new to really update about except that the Brooklyn Bridge 5k is next week Sunday the 8th. I'm excited. I think I'm ready for this one. :)

Mileage Today: 5k -- 3.1 miles

Mileage This Week: 7.47 miles

Mileage This Month: 23.11 miles.

With having an entire week off when visiting my friend in Salem and going to Washington D.C with my Mom.. I think this months mileage isn't so bad. It was also a very very hot month.

Towards the middle of next month I'll be going back to school. Going to have to plan a lot of new routes and try to rack up more miles.

So yesterday I PR'ed one of my routes by a bit over a minute. I was all smiles when I finished my run last night especially because.. it was the first time I did a 2.37 mile run without having to stop at all to walk. I just paced myself differently.. didn't start out too fast.. didn't let myself get too slow and I let my mind wander and I kept pushing myself mentally, talking to myself to keep going.. It was great. I'm incredibly proud of myself and now I'm even more excited for the Brooklyn Bridge 5k on August 8th. :) I think I can do it in a better time than my previous 5k.

Today I'm taking the day off. This week I'm going to try to do every other day and mix up my workouts and add more videos/core exercise. Should be a good week. I haven't lost anymore weight but I have been feeling great.. especially on my runs.

Mileage Last Night: 2.37 miles

I forgot to update yesterday. But blerg. My run yesterday was horrible. I usually go out for my runs at like 9:30pm - 10:00pm -- because typically it's cooler then. I didn't check the weather before I went out and ended up running in nearly 100 degree weather. It was horrible. I couldn't breathe and had to cut my run short by a whole mile than I had intended. So yeh. "/

I also finally bought a brace for my shin splints in my right leg. It really helped a ton when I was running and I definitely felt the difference. I have to remember to not take it off immediately when I get back. That was the worst pain ever.. I also managed to burn my leg with the ice pack yesterday. Go figure. I never get any luck.

Mileage Today: 1.15 miles.

Mileage This Week: 7.83. (Really need to bring this number up. This was one of my lesser weeks.)

Hill death.

Tonight was 400m x 4 hill repeat night. Ick. I improved since I did this workout last time which is good. :) Things have been getting better. I notice that I pace myself a lot better, push myself more, and have been able to go further before I feel like I have to walk for a bit.

& What is it with the increase in dirty looks I've gotten lately? Is it because a fat girl is actually running and is not winded? I dunno. I feel like I have 5 heads or something because I get stared down so bad sometimes. It also makes me feel very nervous for some reason. Blerg. Whatev.

I finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma; it was a very eye opening book about the meat packing industry, feedlot animals, and corn in America. Very interesting. Has made me want to eat healthier than ever and to try to buy organic & local whenever I can (I try too, already!) So now I started reading the second installment of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Big book. Hopefully I'll be able to get through it before the semester starts again.

Mileage Today: 2 miles -- 400 x 4 hill repeats.

So. I took a week off from running last week in order to let my shin splint heal (which it didn't, of course, but it feels a lot better than it did) so that I would stop running on it. I visited my best friend ever in Salem, NY for the week and spent that time being very relaxed, enjoying the country-side and just.. yeah relaxing.

I got to pet my first ever horse! I was really excited. I'm a city girl, so things like this, really excite me! :) I also got to go tubing down a river for the first time! That was also super relaxing. I could imagine myself taking my Kindle in a giant ziplock bag and getting in a tube and just floating down the river for a few hours.. ahhh. I loved it. Every. Single. Minute. I had never been so relaxed. As much as country people love the buzz and commotion of the city.. I highly enjoy the quietness and simplicity of the country.

I also had my first driving lesson, finally. My friend let me drive his standard car and I only stalled TWICE. The first time when shifting gears for the first time, and the second when trying to go in reverse for a 3-point turn. So I guess I'm pretty good considering I didn't stall the first time trying to accelerate the car. Speaking of driving.. I've been having so many dreams about driving. Something about it just appeals to me so much even though I'm such an environmental junkie. I don't see my self wasting and guzzling gas when I can walk or use a bike.. but something is just relaxing about driving too. Considering it would be a life changing experience for me to learn how to drive is probably the reason for these dreams too.. I also NEED to learn how to drive for my student teaching placement next year. I'm a bit nervous but I'm pretty sure I'll do fine in an automatic car if I had no problems with a standard.

Well. Hopefully more running related stuff to post about soon. :)

Blerg..

I haven't updated in quite some time. I've been swamped with trying to be social, be a member of my family, spend time with said family, this stupid online geography course I'm taking, learning how to drive, and of course trying to keep to my running schedule. It has been super hard to do all these things at once. It has all been super stressful as well. I have been in a mood of depression for about 2 weeks now and I just can't seem to shake it. I am super depressed over a lot of things but I don't want to share any of it in this blog. Nonetheless, I'm trying not to let any of it get me down and hold me down from going out and running. Running.. anyway, has become a release for me.

I went for my first ever beginners run with the North Brooklyn Runners on Wednesday! I had a great time but struggled trying to do the 2 miles straight. I ended up having to walk once I got to the 1.7 mark. I'm going to try to do a lot better this week. What I enjoyed most though was being able to finally meet new people, try to rebuild a social life at home, and run in a group. It was great to be able to run with a group that encouraged me to keep going, stood at my pace and didn't leave me behind, and were sociable. I didn't bring or need my iPod. I really enjoyed it. It made the whole run go so much faster when you have people to talk to and it was a ton more enjoyable. :)

I have been having some leg/shin pain in my right leg again which is keeping me from doing what I want to do. I've taken the past 3 days off but I hope tonight will go well.

I'm visiting my best friend next week for a week in Albany. He's so proud of me for running and everything that I'm doing. I cannot wait to get out there and spend some time with him and maybe finally run together. I'm so excited over seeing him. I think seeing him will definitely boost my mood a ton and hopefully give me further motivation to keep at all this and make it through the summer. I don't want to go back to spending my entire days in bed with depression.. I want to leave that all behind,

DONE DONE DONE!!!

I ran and completed my first 5k race today at the Good Shephard Sports 11th Annual Race! I finished in 40 minutes and wasn't the last one to finish! (That was one of my fears.. but it was super fun! I stayed and cheered for the people coming in at the end). I also went with Ramses from North Brooklyn Runners (the group I'm part of) and he won a 3rd place trophy in his age group!! I was really glad to have someone there to talk to and who was super supportive of me and motivated me. He even waited around for me to cross the line! I was so happy! Hahaha! I can't wait to go running with more people from the group and meet even more members. :P I need to get me a singlet so I can represent at my next race on Thursday.

Eitherway I feel great and more motivated than ever to get in shape and continue running. I want to be able to place in my age group one day. :) I love running more than ever. I am super addicted. BWUHAHAHA. Tomorrow is strength training/video day and maybe a shortened run. I'm going to the advanced beginners run with my group on Monday but it's 3-5 miles which I don't think I can do. I'm going to try though. Ramses said the group does things at different paces. Which makes me feel good.

I just dunno what to write about super excited.

I'm home and back to running in weather and routes that I'm used to. It's great. My run yesterday felt really easy but I still have that annoying shin pain.

Tomorrow is my first 5k! I'm really really excited about it. I'm planning on icing my shin again tonight and then wrapping it tomorrow. Then I might have to take the next week off entirely and just cross-train and do strength work. Bleh. Hopefully I'll take the week off.. but knowing myself I won't and I'll make myself go out and run.

So anywho. I'll update about my first 5k tomorrow. :D

Wish I could press rewind.. and rewrite every line..

I feel like I'm falling into a deep depression. Bleh.

First 5k this Saturday.

I'm getting major butterflies in my stomach when I think about my first 5k race being this Saturday. I've been reading articles all morning on what to eat, how much to rest, what to expect on race day, etc. I just hope I do well. I know I can run at least very least 22mins straight which for me is about 2miles or so. I know I can push myself to 2.5miles straight. I know I can do it. Even if I have to take breaks to walk. I will do this!

I'm excited and I'm nervous all at the same time. This is the first time in my life that I'm doing something for myself that is completely driven by my own motivation, for myself, and where I'm only relying on me for support. I always relied on other people to support me through school and other such things and finally.. I know that the only person I can rely on to finish this race is myself. My own legs, my own lungs, my own mind, my own motivation, and my own heart will get me through this race. I know when I cross that finish line -- even if I'm last -- I'll know that I made it there all by myself. It's going to feel great.

I'm super nervous and reminding myself to take it easy with the training this week. Only easy runs this week.

Today was my hardest run ever. I'm still visiting my sister.. but running in her area has been pure hell. There are HILLS UPON HILLS OF DEATH HERE. My 5k time today was 50 minutes! I was really disappointed about that.. but then again about 70% of it was all hills. Blerg. As aggravated as I am.. I am looking at the positives of it. It should make my training back at home easier where it is mainly flat roads. So I guess this is good hill training. :) The air is just also more humid and it stays hotter longer out here.

I did some Wii Fit Yoga and strength training today. Felt really really good to spend some time doing yoga. It was super relaxing.

I'm almost done doing all that homework for the geography class that I'm taking online. I can't wait for it to be over..

I'm taking tomorrow off. My body is insanely tired and I realized during todays run that I really really need a rest day as much as I love running..

I got to run today! All is right in the world. :D

...

.. I didn't get to go running today. Broke my routine. I'm literally twitching. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. Getting up early tomorrow. Going to go on two runs.. Must make up for it.

Ugh..

Shin splints..?

I think I might have my first shin splint! I hope not, because I have a race on the 19th! My 1st ever!! I was running in NC (visiting my sister for a week and a half) and ran by the Harris Teeter and past Wendy's but when I got on the trail on my way back I think I hit a bad rock or something a weird way. I have a bit of pain.. I'm going to ice it tonight and maybe go for a walk tomorrow instead of running.. I sure hope it's not my first injury. I will be totally depressed.. =(

I also ran without my iPod today. Was a good experience. I am going to do this once a week. :) Be totally tech free!!

Hot

Went shopping yesterday with Mom. Bought a ton of stuff. Got a new bag, a pair of underarmour shorts (awesome awesome awesome no more chaffing), new running sneakers, anddddddd some good food that totally sabotaged my diet. Haha. We ran into this little street festival on 6th avenue that was going on. They had empanadas. How could I not? They were yummy. There were tons and earrings and goodies for sale. I was so tempted to get more earrings.. but I already don't have enough room for the ones I own. :[

I was also tempted to go clothes shopping. Especially at GAP. But I told myself I wouldn't buy more clothes until I'm at least another size or two smaller. I have a lot of clothes as it is and it'd be nicer to just donate what won't fit anymore and get a whole new wardrobe. As opposed to buying new clothes and then not having them fit in a few months. Not buying new clothes has been a challenge. Instead I've been treating myself to new running stuff.

My Dad gave me his Garmin GPS watch. It is pretty awesome. It tracks my time, milage, and pace. It's super helpful when I go on those spur of the moment runs and it'll give me an idea of how far I went and how long I was out there.. cause even though I like to run for enjoyment I do like to track my exercise for my dieting/weight loss reasons. It's a super neat watch.

I WAS ALSO TEMPTED TO BUY YARN! I was running by Macareen Park on my run yesterday and there was an Etsy-looking craft fair going on! I ran right past the yarn and it took a lot of me not to u-turn and go browse. Good thing I didn't have any money stuffed into my underarmour anyway. Hahaha. Mom wants me to keep emergency money and a metrocard in my secret underarmous zipper.. but I think I might carry emergency spur of the moment shopping money. HAHA. FOR SALES. Nah nah, just kidding. :P ... Or am I?

Going to North Carolina tomorrow to visit my sister and spend a week and a half there. Then I'm bringing my niece home for the summer. Hm. Should be interesting trying to run out there where it'll be even hotter. I can barely deal with the heat here since I love northern NY and the cold and Potsdam. Erg. Prolly going to have get out in the morning. Plus.. it's more trail running over there. Hopefully I'll still be able to get in decent mileage.

Okie dokie. My Mom is rushing me outta the house because she wants me to accompany her shopping.

Ew.

Todays run was ehhh.. decent. It was way hot and I felt really sluggish. What was really nice was this little old lady who was waiting for the bus. As I passed by she said "Good good good!" in a really heavy accent. It really made my run. :)

Can we talk about the rudeness of bikers on the Pulaski bridge? It's like pedestrians are in the way and they think it gives them the right to make faces, sigh, and complain when they have to slow down. God forbid you get anywhere a bit slower.. you're definitely going to get there before I do. Plus, you're supposed to dismount when you go down the bridge because of the speed etc. Whatev tho. So irritating. I can't wait for Greenpoint to stop being the 'cool' and 'hip' place to live. Ugh.

Sitting around now watching Law & Order. Going to take tomorrow off entirely. I'm tired and I really need a lazy day. Plus I need to catch up on homework for this online class that I'm taking. Boo. I don't like homework. A nap is sounding pretty good right about now..

First post!

So, I guess I should finally make my first post on this blog. I'm mainly keeping this blog for myself, to track my progress in weight loss, my love for running, and for tiny interesting tidbits of my daily life or anything cool/interesting I see on my runs.

I originally starting running for weight loss and few months ago but ever since it has become an addiction and I have become a runner. I go nearly daily and spend a lot of time reading articles about running, fitness, exercise, nutrition, and planning out my runs/making new routes. I started out weighing at 221lbs and currently I'm at 207.3. :) I suffer from depression which made it really hard for me to get the motivation to start on my journey. Running has helped me to clear my head, go somewhere else, and concentrate on my feet hitting the pavement. It has proved to be the ultimate stress reliever.

I'm 22 years old and I live in Brooklyn, NY! :D I go to school in Potsdam, NY, some 9 hours away. For the summer I'll be running at home, until I return to school at Potsdam. I'm an Early Elementary Education Major with a Minor in Geology.

My favorite running outfit is in pink! I can be seen running around my lovely neighborhood in my pink outfit (unless it's dirty!) and my pink and black running shoes. :) I love shopping and instead of spending my money on clothes like jeans and stuff I decided that until I lose at least 20lbs, I will only buy new running outfits. :P

I also like to play Wii Fit when the weather is too hot or as a nice cool down when I come back from my runs.

Did I mention I love living in North Brooklyn? I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I've lived here all myyyy life.

My best mile so far has been a 10min/mile. My average is about 12min/mile. I've signed up for my first 5k race on June 24th. I've been training for it.

Fellow runners! Feel free to add me!