I drank my first beer

I broke up with my 3+ year boyfriend

I cried way too many nights

I worked full-time for an entire summer

I cut my bangs

I got almost-drunk

I danced with a random guy at a club

I realized I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate

I realized all I want to do is travel

I’m going to climb Kilimanjaro in 2012

I have felt more alone in the last couple months than I have my entire life

I flew solo to see my family

I moved in with roommates

During these past couple months, I have grown, changed, and started to find the real “me.” I’m not your average 20 year  old college girl. I don’t care about Husker football, I don’t like the taste of beer, and I don’t have a group of girlfriends that I can tell anything too. I’m not pretty, skinny, funny, or anything like that. But, I do have a big heart. I would go to the end of the road for anyone. I have big dreams (most fitness related) and I realized that thats all that matters. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone by being someone I’m not. Even if that means doing everything on my own, so be it, and least I’ll know I did it. I would love to be able to pour my feelings into someone else, but right now, thats not the case. I’ll keep them inside until I  can’t anymore.

Ok, over the emotional paragraph. I’m desperately in need of a shower after work, a indoor training ride, and work again. Off to study, sleep, shower, eat; repeat.

Peace-

Working at Trader Joe’s

Volunteering at Husker Performance

16 credit hours + 3 labs

Training for a marathon

Sleep, Eating (you know the basics)

Trying to keep a social life (might of fell by the wayside…)

I’ve been a busy girl! Last Sunday it was all suppossed to be rewarded by finishing my second marathon. That didn’t happen. I DNF’ed (?) in my first race ever. The most important race ever, to me at least.

During this training I’ve been the busiest ever. Trying to be a full time student, work 2 part time jobs, and run 30+ miles a week will take a toll on your body, and your grades. My calves have felt tight for about a month now, and I have been worried about finishing for a while now. The night before the race, I was so ready to cross that finish line for the second time, even though this time i’d be solo.

When the race was about to start, I was alone, but ready. I felt awesome from mile 1-6, and then at mile 7 my legs started cramping, and my paces slowed. I saw my parents at mile 8 and that helped; but I was still in pain. I knew I would not make it 20 more miles with legs feeling like this, unless I didn’t want to walk for a few days.

I saw my parents right before the half/full split. I told them I was dropping down. The tears almost flowed at that point. I took the turn and headed to the finish line. I felt like I was moving in slow motion, like I wasn’t actually running, but imaging it in my head. I felt horrible, like a failure, a quitter; the worst feelings in the world.

I didn’t even look at my time, or smile when I was awarded a medal. I didn’t take any gatorade or fruit, I just felt defeated. I had been training for 4 months for this. All those early mornings, and staying in on Friday nights. What were the worth? Nothing, because I failed. I cried a long time on Sunday. No one could make me feel any better. I always wonder “what if”. Would I of felt good? Would I of injured myself? I’ll never know, and I think that is what tears me apart inside. And the fact that I have to face everyone who asks me how the marathon was. I need to train and finish another marathon. I need to be proud of myself. I need to feel like I can accomplish something. I need to make myself see that I’m worth something.

My day started bright and early with a 5:00 oclock wake up call. I volunteer at Husker Performance 4 days a week (sports nutrition) and Monday is my super early day. After walking around the stadium for 2 hours (being a slave to the FB players) I headed to my nutrition class, then organic chemistry class. And then I was done for the day!

I usually work Monday’s, but had the day off due to working both Saturday and Sunday for the Fearless Flyer’s premier. (I work at Trader Joe’s)

Today, has not been good eating wise. I’m definetely not loving on my body on valentines day. So far I’ve had:

a TJ sesame bagel

banana

diet dew

small apple

small banana muffin

small cookie (!)

fruit x2

I’ve been a snacking machine!!! I plan on going for a five mile run as soon as my homework is finished to run it off. hopefully.

Last week was the  big 3 5 in running miles/week and I can feel it for sure!!

Have a great valentines day everyone!

Today I only had one class, so it made for a pretty good day I also got contacted for a review with CSN. CSN has so many great products, including swingsets,  coffee makers, and kettle bells

Make sure you check them out! They have provided me with a chance to do a review for their company, my question to you is WHAT SHOULD I REVIEW!?!? Any help would be much appreciated

Tonight I have marathon training class with a 6 mile tempo run on the schedule.

Have a great night everyone!!

Our first two days were snow days, so we actually only had a three day week, but I still ended up with too much homework!

I’ve also ran 24 miles this week (need to do 1-2 miles today) and had 2 pairs of new Asics that didn’t work, so taking care of those is also on the agenda.

My organic chemistry class is already kicking my butt, and it is has already even started :/

I thought I’d do a fun little post before I start on the 87 problems I have to do later today.

1. I love random meals and hardly ever cook

2. I love Jersey Shore

3. I fall a lot when no ones watching

4. I makes lists for EVERYTHING

5. I still watch Arthur

Have a great Sunday everyone!

I just got back from my LAST run for a year with my running buddy Mr. Tom Faughn. He is deploying tomorrow and I”m gonna miss the crap out of him.

We went to HS together, but didn’t start running regularly together till last year. Here’s a year in review of all our runs. Training runs not included.

Mud Run 10k

lincoln marathon

Omaha half marathon

Market to Market relay

Swamp Stomp

Living History Farm Run

There is probably a lot more that I’m missing. With Tom I’ve gotten faster and had a great time. This next year will be very hard without him, but that’s life right?

Here’s to looking forward to a run in 2012

I just got off work at Trader Joe’s and of course I’m not tired. So what do I do? Stuff myself with Ginger cats and dried fruit. Its a problem, I know :/

Today I finally ran 7 miles with my buddy before he leaves for Iraq I’m sure gonna miss my running buddy!!

So here it is, my 11 goals for 2011

1. Lose 10-15 pounds

2. Beat 4 hours in the Lincoln Marathon

3. Do a triathlon

4. Get better at initiutive eating

5. Go on a trip

6. Start saving in my “Europe” fund

7. Get all A’s & B’s in Spring semester + fall semester

8. Make some girlfriends

9. have more FUN

10. Blog more

11. Strength train 2-3x per week

Of course there is other “smaller” goals. But, those are the big ones. Unedited of course

What are your goals for 2011??

Have a great New Years Eve!!!

I am loving break. And Christmas. And sleeping in. And, well that it hasn’t too bad of a winter so far (knock on wood)

For christmas I got a lot of fun toys!! Here’s the highlighted list:

1. GIANT bike trainer

2. NOOK color

3. rice cooker + steamer

4. FOOD processer

5. Running belt (with two water bottle holders)

6. GIFT CARDS (for movies, Panera, & the mall)

7. Running spikes for ice (which are neon green!!)

8. Hairspray (the movie)

9. Mama Mia (the movie)

10. A massage!!

11. Runner’s World Calender

There was some other small gifts thrown in, but all in all, Santa (aka Mom/Dad/Sister/Bf) were very nice this year

I’ve rode a couple times on the trainer, and it is awesome! I’m planning on riding a full review later, once I ride a few more times.

I thought since the New Years is coming up, and since I have already wrote a resolution post, I would mix it up and tell ya’ll a little bit more about myself. I may just be a college student (like the million others) but I think I’m just a wee bit different than most Midwest college girls. And here’s why:

The 10 things that make me different than other college students

1. I don’t drink

2. I am a virgin

3. I’ve never gone to a Frat party

4. I have zero girlfriends (this thing I HATE!!)

5. I’d rather go to bed early on a Friday night & get up early to go run

6. My idea of fun is being active

7. I hate fake compliments

8. I read healthy living blogs

9. I want to do the Amazing Race

10. I hate my college

There is plenty of other ones out there, but I know I’m different from most kids my age. I wake up on a Saturday and remember every detail from the night before. I don’t think of New Years Eve as a time to get wasted. I hate being lazy (most of the time). I buy groupons for new gyms; not the mall. There may be other college students out there like me, & I wish I could meet them, but I guess thats life right? Or maybe I’m just in the wrong state. I’ll never know I guess, but I guess that is what makes me ME.

How are you different?

Punch Kettlebell Gym is fairly new to Lincoln. The trainer I had today said they just opened in March. This was the first time I had heard about it, so I was a little nervous. I will start marathon training in 3 short weeks, but my strength regime has definitely fallen off the wayside. I could feel that today as I struggled (and sweated) through the 55 minute class.

I woke up at 7:55 am and had a pre-workout breakfast of a sesame bagel from TJ’s, PB, and a banana.

I then headed to the Kettlebell gym where I signed in, filled out some paperwork, and began the workout. For warm-up I did 2 minutes of jump rope, forearm stretches with these weird club things, and walking around the gym with a kettlebell. That was the easy part.

inside the gym

Then the workout started. I did a lot of squats, lunges, swinging the kettlebell, dumbbell, and lunges. I also was having some trouble with the pengilium swing where you use your hips as momentum instead of your shoulders. I think I finally mastered that, about twenty minutes later.

The kettlebell swing

The hardest part was their “treadmill” basically it was two long ropes that were heavy, and you got in a squat position and swung them, kind of like a snake-like motion. It was hard. Like really hard.

By these time (like 50 minutes in) I was drenched. The trainer was really nice, and asked about my background of running and such. He thought the workout would be easy for me, but I hardly ever strength train, so this was just a little A LOT challenging

For the end of the workout we did 4 sets of 20 seconds each of three exercises:

1. jump rope

2. Kettlebell swings

3. “treadmill” ropes

It was so hard! I can run 6 miles and feel awesome. After these 4 sets, I was dying. Holy cow! They do this 4x 20 seconds at the end of each class at Punch Kettlebell.

Supposedly this idea of high intense exercises for 20 seconds each, with 10 seconds of rest, will burn as much calories as 30 minutes running at 8 min/mile. I don’t know if this is actually true at all, but I did work up a sweat. So we will see.

All in all I loved this workout today! The groupon is good for 6 weeks (until Feb) so I plan on using it 3-4 times a week (non consecutive days) and hopefully will see an improvement in my running and maybe lose some weight. Of course I need to work on my diet too, but this has to help!

Do you think 3-4 times a week is beneficial? I would go everyday to get my money’s worth, but I know that running needs to become a priority, and to not strength train every day of the week. Opinions?

After I got back to the apartment, I scarfed down a kiwi, TJ’s honey greek yogurt + some cereal with a spoonful of PB. My dad was coming over for a bike ride, so I headed out to meet him.

The bike ride was freeeezing! When we headed out, the wind was behind us so I felt great. After the turn around (5 miles) the wind was against us, and that was when my hands, face and feet went numb! Luckily, my dad tried to be a wind breaker, but it didn’t help that much :/

All in all we did 10.25 miles in under an hour. So, not that fast, but pretty good considering my legs were a little shaky from the workout at Punch.

Now I’m just relaxing until work. I work 4-12 am, so its going to be a long day. I picked up an extra shift to get some more hours in today. I don’t work tomorrow so I’m planning on a 6 miler and then going to a christmas party

Have a great Tuesday everyone! Christmas is soo close

I am offically a 2nd semester sophomore. 3 down…oh too many to go

Now that I have 3 weeks to not study anything, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. Oh, yeah I do:

1. Run

2. X-train

3. Work at TJ’s

4. Relax

Sounds about right. This morning I went grocery shopping with my mom, at Trader Joe’s of course, and finally have a full refridgerator. I got lots of fruit, veggies, greek yogurt, bagels, sprouted bread, bagel chips, nuts, and Joe Joes for the bf.

After we got back I ran 6 miles in 53:50. Its been awhile since I ran over 4 (2 weeks maybe?) since I”ve been sick, so this felt awesome!

Came back and had a big salad with frozen veggies, hummus, bagel chips (2x), sunflower seeds, mixed nuts, and hummus. One the side I had a mini-fruit bowl. Desert was an Joe Joe.

Pre-run I had a Cashew Cookie Larabar + clementine.

I’m off to work from 3-11pm. I have tomorrow off and I can’t wait

Have  a great saturday everyone!