5K Fitness Challenge Day 9

Today, I completed Day 9 of my 5K Trainer! It was HARD! I had run the previous two days on the treadmill and I definitely need to get out on the road more often then I have in the past week. I think the fact that I live in an extremely hilly area makes it a huge a difference between running on the treadmill and running outside. I was definitely struggling at the end. I may attempt to complete the same run next time I go out just so I know I can complete it successfully and not worry about moving onto the next step right away.

I was excited though because today included 3 minute runs and I honestly believe that 3 weeks ago I never would have been able to run for 3 minutes straight. I still can't imagine running for a full 5K but I still have 5 weeks of training left to go! It's also 5 weeks until I actually run my 5K which is a little scary, especially since I'm running with people from work who have run a 5K before. I just want to be able to complete the 5K and complete my goal!

So here is what my training plan looked like today:

Todays playlist consisted of:

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together- Taylor Swift

Without You- Glee Cast

Get Right- JLO

Glam- Christina Aguliera

Just Dance- Lady Gaga

Oceans- The Format

Barely Breathing- Glee Cast

Back Here- BBMak

Only Girl In The World- Rhianna

After my run, I munched on some apple slices.

Lately I have been absolutely loving red delicious apples. I've been snacking on them constantly either with peanut butter or without. They have definitely become one of my favorite snacks and are great because they fill me up.

Finally, check out my new sweatpants I've been lounging around the house in constantly. They Say "Love Dance. All Day....All Night" I got them on Sunday at the dance convention and absolutely love them. Is there anything better then brand new sweatpants before they've been washed? They are so soft on the inside. Love, love, love!

I'm off to take a shower and then do some major cleaning around the house! Have a great day everybody!

5K Training Challenge- Day 3

Day 3's training looked liked this:

5 minute warmup walk
1 minute running/ 1.5 minute walking 8 times
5 minute cool down walk.

This workout took 30 minutes and was only made slightly difficult today because I was feeling extremely sluggish. It took everything in me to get out of bed and complete this workout.

When I finished however, my app awarded me a badge! Check out my determination badge at the bottom of the picture:

During my runs I always listen to music and it drowns out everything else. I've been known to dance during walks when I have my headphones in because I only hear my music and forget the rest of the world is going on around me. During my run today I heard a loud noise which startled me even though my headphones were blasting in my ears.

Guess that's what I get for living in the county. I'd also like to point out that I also pass cows on my run...and if I went the other direction I would pass sheep. We definitely don't have a loss of livestock near me!

I stopped to take this quick picture, but my run was mostly dominated by my playlist, not animal noises!

5K Training Challenge

Day 3 Playlist

One, Two Step- Ciara

Last Friday Night- Katy Perry

Only Girl In The World- Rhianna

What Goes Around Comes Around- Justin Timberlake

Thinking of You- Hanson

Hurricane- Something Corporate

Never Grow Up- Taylor Swift

Finally check out what I did to my arm after my run.

I went to throw my stanky clothes in the washing machine after my run and scratched my own nail up my opposite arm! Guess that's what you get for quitting biting your nails- a weapon!

I quit biting my nails on New Years Day 2011, the year after I finished college. I hated the habit but had bitten them down to stubs for as long as I could remember. I attempted to quit every new years but never quite managed to get very far, then 2 years ago I somehow managed to stop, so now I have nice long nails! I love to paint them and try out different colors and they are so much more fun then my old bitten nails. 

Have you ever completed a New Years Resolution?

This was the only one I have ever completed!

Have a great day! =)

The Start of Birthday Week

Wednesday night was the beginning of my BIRTHDAY WEEK! I have a long-standing tradition of stretching my birthday celebrations out as long as humanly possible. Of course this year it had to continue by starting a week early! 

I got out of work and headed to Waterford, CT to meet up with my best friend, Rachel for dinner and some shopping. We had a lovely meal at Olive Garden. Both of us got the never-ending pasta bowls and also enjoyed breadsticks and salad. We also both tried signature cocktails which we really enjoyed! Rachel had the Italian Margarita which she liked a lot and I chose a Venetian Sunset which had pineapple and cherry juices. It was delicious! =)

Afterwards we found a really nice man to take our picture outside the restaurant. I have a story about asking people to take your picture....but I'll get to that later!

After dinner we headed over to the Crystal Mall and poked around Christmas Tree Shop and Bed Bath and Beyond. I just HAD to purchase a few decorations....

I bought a few of those stickers for windows and mirrors. I stuck them on my bedroom mirror and my bathroom mirror. I also bought the little Hocus Pocus pumpkin which looks so cute!

My bookshelf with my birthday card from Rachel and my pumpkin!

Rachel told me that I would be getting an e-mail about my present...and so I did!

I'm so excited to now be a member of BirchBox and get the subscription...I have a sneaking suspicion that I will continue to subscribe even after my gift subscription ends =)

I also finished day 2 of my 5K Training.

Does anyone else's face get unbearably red after exercising? Mine always has even as a kid. It also turns red when I get embarrassed or really nervous. I've always hated it but unfortunately it's not something I can really change at all!

My exercise plan for day 2 started with a 5 minute walk, then 20 minutes of 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walks, followed by a 5 minute cool down. Just like with day 1, I didn't feel overly exhausted by the runs and always felt as if I could run for a longer period of time. I hope to get my next run in either tomorrow or Monday and continue on this fitness plan!

My playlist for this workout consisted of:

Loser Like Me- Glee Cast

All The Small Things-Blink 182

DJ Got Us Fallin In Love- Usher

SexyBack- Justin Timberlake

Firework- Katy Perry

If Only- Hanson

Without You- Glee Cast

Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5

The rest of my week has basically just involved working and reading, I started Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn on Thursday and wasn't able to put it down! Book review to come sometime in the near future...

For the story I promised, one of my mom's friends has a daughter who is studying abroad in Paris. She asked a stranger to take a picture of her and a friend with her iPhone and the guy ran off with her phone! So a word to the wise, be very careful who you ask to take your picture! I try to always ask someone who doesn't look like they could run away too quickly, or a family with young children since they can't get away too fast with those kids around! =)

Finally a little dash of cuteness for ya'll on this rainy Saturday night!

Enjoy your weekend!

5K Training Day 1 Playlist

A list of the tunes I listened to during my run yesterday:

5K Training Day 1 Playlist

Where’s The Love- Hanson

Who Says- Selena Gomez & The Scene

Why Not- Hilary Duff

Without you- David Guetta & Usher

When will my life Begin- Mandy Moore (Tangled Soundtrack)

What Goes Around Comes Around- Justin Timberlake

We’ve Got It Goin On- Backstreet Boys

I just realized that my Iphone must have been playing the songs in alphabetical order and randomly selected the W's to shuffle through...weird! I guess this is my W playlist!