Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Keeping Myself Accountable

Even though I don't currently have a race to train for I might as well keep documenting my runs so I can see if I ever make improvements. Tonight I ran/walked 2 miles in 30 minutes. I think because I took a break the last 5 days or so I wasn't expecting to go far or really push myself, just something nice to loosen up my muscles.

Here's the breakdown.


  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 5 minutes
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 4 minutes
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 5 minutes
  • run 2 minutes
  • cool down 2 minutes

Turkey Trot 2011 Recap

I realize this is a bit late so it's not going to be very detailed just some nice words.

The race this year was a lot more crowded than last year. I believe they said it was the fourth anual Turkey Trot so I can only foresee more people in the future. This year also had a new route/finish/start line which was nice to switch things up. I liked this route a lot better because we didn't have to run by the water as long. Although the temperature was surprisingly warm on Thanksgiving Day, the wind was definitely not. The wind bit through my clothes like my cat often does. I definitely should have remembered some nice ear-warmers or something.

My dad ran again with me this year (one of these times I will get my whole family in on this), but I like running with my dad. We crossed the start and the finish line at the exact same time so our time was exactly the same.... 48:15. That's not what I was hoping for and five minutes slower than last year, but it could gone worse. I just felt good about being active in the cold, and on a day when I planned on eating a ton. Nothing went horribly wrong and we made it to the finish line with another 3.1 miles behind us.

Thanks dad for running with me :) Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

City of Owls

I went with my friend Nicole last night to Grand Rapids for an Owl City concert at the Intersection. Owl City is Nicole's favorite band and she begged me to go with her. I like some of the band's songs, but have not listened to them in a while. I honestly didn't know what to expect and in no way did I think the show was going to be as packed as it was. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of last night because not only was Owl City a great concert, but their opening act, Day's Difference, was also pretty good. Even the venue was great. The only problem with last night was that I wasn't 5 inches taller... really being in a crowd of people when you're 5 foot 3 does not exactly give you the greatest view. Even though, we were still able to see the stage pretty well during some parts.

(the best one of Adam that I got)

The thing i love most about seeing any band in concert is the energy in the crowd. Everyone seems to be happy and having a good time. Everyone singing along to the songs like Fireflies, Hello Seattle, the encore Vanilla Twilight. I tried to get some videos but the sound didn't turn out to well; I was a little bummed.

Nicole took a lot more pictures than I did and happened to get some really cool ones...



Now I'm just ready to go to more concerts. Nicole asked me what band I would want to see live the most, but I really can't decide who I would choose.


3.1 Training Run

I told you I would do it.... 3.1 miles in 45 minutes, with like a 5 minute break in the middle because my side of my calf would not loosen up and I didn't want to pull anything or cause damage to it right before the race.

It was a little rough, but I think the first time you run longer than you have been running it's going to be challenging.

Here's the breakdown:


  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 8 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minute (mile 1 done at 13.5 minutes)
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes (another .5 mile done followed by 5 minute break)
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 2 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes
That's a total of 23 minute of walking and 22 minutes of running. Hopefully I can push a little bit harder on Thursday and finish around 43. But really whatever time I get, I finished and that's what is important.

Friday, November 18, 2011

It's not about looks

I have this reputation for pointing out attractive guys all the time (come on we all do it). Movies, bands, classes, sports teams.... it really doesn't matter, but that does not mean that just because a movie or band or team has an attractive guy in it I automatically like it.

Recently someone said to me "you only like that band because you think the singers hot." Needless to say it rubbed me the wrong way, because that is definitely not true. I listen to all sorts of music, if I like a band's sound that is why i like and listen to them. Music is a really important part of my life and I am not going to listen to music I think is crap. Looks really don't matter in quality of music, sports team or movie.... it's just an added bonus.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Run, Run, Running

Another logged run. I went to the gym thinking I was going to go on the elliptical but they were all being used, so I hopped on the treadmill instead.


I should have had Josh there to motivate me.

Anywho, here's the breakdown for anyone who cares:

  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 7 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute (the first mile was really more 13.5 minutes... every second faster counts)
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes (finished .5 mile in 2.5)
A little over 1 and a half miles logged in 22 minutes.

I will run 3 miles next time.
I will run 3 miles next time.
I will run 3 miles next time.

But seriously it's happening.

t minus 7 days.... did I say it was 7 last night too because I'm pretty sure I meant 8 haha

till next time,
S

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Forth Training Run

Short and sweet.

Just over one and a half miles in about 23 minutes. Ran a mile in 14 minutes.... pretty sure that's the fastest I've done it in quite some time (even though that still seems incredibly slow I'm sure for a lot of people)

  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 3 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 2 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute (1st mile done, water break)
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes 
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes
Longer run tomorrow or Saturday. We'll see when I have the time, can't believe I only have 7 days till the race!

It's come to my attention

... that everything I want is in the UK.
All the good stuff comes from there guys, seriously. So many good bands, clothes, youtubers, bloggers, tv shows, actors.

I feel so unpatriotic right now. I really need a job so I can go visit London during this lifetime. Why do plane tickets have to cost so much?

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Went to see Jason Derulo tonight

Hey did a show at Miller Auditorium and me and a few friends got late tickets for the grand tier. It was fun purely because it was a concert but it didn't last long. The opening act was Black Violin which was cool but at the same time and hour of that got me a little tired and not pumped up like opening acts should do to you. Still, the $12 tickets were totally worth the show.


Me and my friend Nicole had fun dancing

hello guilty pleasure song that I haven't stopped listening to for a month (I don't listen to the radio that often so it hadn't been overplayed for me yet)


Now I'm stuck doing homework till the wee hours of the morning. Luckily I have my friends on Skype to keep me company :) So glad we're all late nighters and homework procrastinators.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Third Times a Charm

aka. 3rd Turkey Trot training run or When running feels good

Today's run went off way better than I had hoped for. My legs didn't hurt so bad, my hips weren't aching for me to stop, my back felt fine, my shins did not feel like they were splitting open.... all was good. Granted running is still running and there for I still had to stop and take breaks. Sometimes when I'm running for a while I get light headed or dizzy which is never good and I always take it as a sign to slow down or stop. Today was a 2.5 mile run done in 40 minutes, not the greatest but better than last time (besides being less painful). My legs actually kept begging me to keep on going when they're usually telling me to stop.

Here's the breakdown:

Mile 1

  • walk 3 minutes (warm up)
  • run 7 minutes
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes
Mile 2
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minute 
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 2 minutes
  • walk 4 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 1 minute
Last .5 Mile
  • walk 5 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 4 minutes
That's a total of 14 minute running and 26 minutes walking. I'm hoping to at least get to where I can run 3.1 miles in 45 minutes (even though I'd really like my time to be less than that). I'd say today I would have been right on track until the last half of a mile :) Hopefully Thanksgiving will be a good running day for me.

Today's To Do List


  • Finish reading Mockingjay
  • Clean my room to find my running pants
  • Make a short Christmas list (not really asking for much this year)
  • Read some of The Help
  • Make a grocery list
  • Do load of laundry
  • Workout/Run
  • Complete a rough draft of my Family History Paper
  • Finish at least 1/3 of my Article Summary
  • Paint my nails
Now I'll leave you with this....

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Second Day Log

Wednesday night I went to the gym for another training run. It was harder than the first one. The second day of working out is always harder than the first one. I still managed to do 2 miles that took me an even more time than the last time (didn't think I could get any slower).

Here's the breakdown:


  • 5 minute warm up walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 1 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 1 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 2 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 4 minute walk
  • end of mile 1 and quick water break
  • 3 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 2 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 3 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 3 minute walk
  • 1 minute run
  • 8 minute walk
I ended up walking a lot of the time because my body was just not feeling the whole running thing. Something was really off about my stride and it threw everything else off. I have no idea what my problem was, but I only ended up doing just over 2 miles. One of these days I need to run the whole 3.1

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Music Update


I have been listening to so much Aunt Martha lately. Not only do they do a lot of great covers on their Youtube channel but their original songs are perfection.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Cross over Humor


This still cracks me up every single time. I love both of these things so much and the fact that they intersect makes me happy. 

First Documented Turkey Training "Run"

"run" aka a jogging pace

2 miles took me 33 minutes tonight. Yikes that's slow, I feel like people walk the whole thing faster than I can semi run it. I have started out by alternating running and walking because that seemed to work on previous occasions.


  • walk 5 minutes
  • run 2 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 2 minutes
  • walk 1 minute
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minute 
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 2 minutes
  • run 1 and a half minutes
  • walk 2 and a half minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 1 minute
  • walk 3 minutes
  • run 1 half minute
  • walk 3 and a half minutes


I think that's right.... it should total to 10 minutes of running time and 23 minutes of walking time.

Even though I have a ton of homework I knew I needed to find time to train and just plain get exercise. I'm just making excuses if I say I have too much homework because I still take breaks and I might as well spend one of them working out.

I just got back today from a weekend with my great grandma. I love spending time and getting to talk with her.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Signed Up

Last night my dad agreed to run the Turkey Trot with me again!
He even signed us both up. So it's official. In about 19 days I'll be out in the chill kick starting my metabolism so I can eat gilt free on the day of thanks and feasts!
Guess I better get my butt to the gym on a more regular basis this next few weeks in order to train more seriously. I've been running off and on this semester and have built up a little distance (only on the treadmill) but during the next few weeks I plan on getting up to at least running one and a half miles. If I really thought I could train well enough to do 3 in the next 3 weeks I would but I don't see that happening. I'm up to about 7 out of 30 minutes right now.... but it's a lot better than the 3 out of 30 I started doing at the beginning of the semester. The plan is to work up two more minute each time I go, keeping about a 12 minute mile pace. Not fast but fast enough for me, and probably the only way I can run any sort of distance for at least now. I'm gonna run 3 times a week and hopefully get to the gym a fourth time for some sort of strength/crosstraining exercise.

Wish me luck! If you're in TC on Thanksgiving hope to see you there :)