no running no nothing UGHHHHHHH

July 2, 2020 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

Well, not much going on in the way of running. I’m lazy lazy lazy due to working from home since March and being less motivated to get out and even just walk.

I have attended some protests/rallies/marches and have gotten lots of steps in that way but of course, that’s not truly exercising to improve health but definitely exercise to improve our human rights.

I bought a scale finally. I’ve made it to 45 yrs old before purchasing one but if I’m serious about changing my habits to get healthy and push back on this middle aged body I suddenly have, I need to be able to watch my progress.

I have a lofty goal of losing 30 pounds through mainly getting active again through running, daily walks, and being more active in general. and being more mindful of food and what I eat and when I eat. No more snacking after 8/8:30 pm and increase my veggies intake. I already rarely eat meat and eat a big salad nearly everyday for lunch but I love cheese and eat a lot of it so I need to do a better job of balancing what I eat.

starting stats: 165 lbs; sloppy eating habits; minimal daily exercise of squats and typical stair climbing in a 2 story house; terrible at drinking water

goals: mindful and more deliberate eating habits and choices; daily exercise on a schedule/plan; increase daily water intake from zero to any amount at this point will be an improvement 😉

I really don’t know how long it will take to lose the weight but I’m not looking to go about this as a quick fix. I want to get back to being active and move my body so I don’t feel so exhausted and tired and just blah about stuff.

Next Up!

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

This blog started as a running thing and I sure haven’t been doing any running lately! I’d like to lay blame on the colder weather but the fact is that the weather is just an excuse. The fact is that I’m just not feeling it! I don’t feel like getting my gear on and heading out. I feel lazy and unfit and blahhhhhhhhhhhhh. The ridiculous thing is that I KNOW a run would help me with all of those feelings. But I can’t get my ass out the door and onto my beloved Greenway. WTF is wrong with me? I can rationalize in my head that it’s this or that or because of whatever. Excuses excuses excuses.

I plan to sign up for a series of races again for 2018 (I have been running these races since I started this running thing in 2013) which have always been a good motivator for me. I really need to make running a priority. For me and my mental health. And so I have something to blab about here in the space!

shorter days longer nights

November 3, 2017November 3, 2017 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

Well, it’s that time of year that always gets me so down. We fall back this weekend and I’m already dreading the extra strain of getting around in darkness so early in the day, when I actually have to be out and about, ya know, commuting home from work and getting my kids from after school care. In the summer, I can function almost normally because there is SO MUCH light and it’s easier and frankly, way less painful. Case in point, I walked into a fire hydrant yesterday morning and almost ran into a bicyclist on Wednesday evening (who was totally being a dick by biking on the sidewalk but still.)

My seven year old tries to help but she’s seven, a kid, and often in her own imaginative world so I don’t blame her when she doesn’t give me fair warning. I am happy to announce that I did use my seeing eye cane on Halloween night for trick or treating. GO me! I am going to have to start having it on me all the time now. I need to get over whatever is holding me back (I’m not disabled enough, not blind enough, worried about what people might think/say/do that I encounter out and about) WTF ever is my issue, I need to just.get.over.it.

Running has kind of taken a back seat. Which makes me feel depressed. Which in turn makes me not want to get out and run. Which makes me feel depressed and the cycle continues. I am planning on signing up for a series of races in 2018 which will help me in the motivational department. I already am entered into one that falls near my birthday so happy 43rd birthday to me.

so far

March 15, 2016March 15, 2016 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

I ran 22.22 miles Friday through Monday this past week. I think I need to add one more day of running per week to fit in all the miles.So I’ll be out on the road five days a week with two rest days where I can do some hip and glute work. I’m noticing just a slight tinge in my right knee that isn’t bothersome yet but I do not want it to become bothersome. I feel like this is the time to address any little nagging issues before I ramp up my mileage leading up to the marathon in June. Juggling this training with everything else is challenging but so far I’m making it all fit with nothing slipping yet. Of course, my house could be cleaner and I could use more sleep but these are not new issues.

As far as food goes, I feel like I’m eating okay, not great but not too horrible and I’ll need to get better at fueling properly as my weekly mileage increases. I just really really love my sugary sweet snacks and working in a grocery store makes it so easy to cave and buy the damn bag of jelly beans! But I am trying to make better choices when I’m craving something sweet like an orange or some dried fruit instead of those jelly beans (that are on display right in the front of the store, staring at me all day) or all the other many candy and junk food options. The best thing ever was getting a Culligan water filter installed in the breakroom. I had already broken my soda habit and now it’s pretty easy to get my water needs met without resorting to buying a bottle of water or making excuses. Water is a struggle for me because I’m not a big fan of flat, plain water. But I’m working on it.

Today’s Run: Hill Repeats

February 29, 2016 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

I wasn’t even going to brave the weather today (17° and gusty winds) but I layered up and headed out the door. After a rough first mile, running on wooden legs, I approached the hill and got down to business and started my hill repeats. And I’m so glad I got out there as I started to feel amazing after my first pass. My goal was to do three repeats at a 10 mile minute pace. And I finished with a 10:04 pace and nailed the repeats, I could have pushed through one more repeat but I ran out of time and had to head home.

I just completed an activity with Runkeeper http://runkeeper.com/activity?userId=15259197&trip=742315186

Blind Girl Runs

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016 ~ monybalony ~ Leave a comment

20160204_103153 And falls down! Dang speed bump and cobblestone road combined to bring me down. Thankfully, I didn’t break my face or anything else, just got a bit of road rash. I think it might be time for a beer. hah. Falling down, injuring myself or running into other runners is always on my mind when I’m out running or racing. It’s a lot to concentrate on and then to also concentrate on the actual running part of running. I’m just super glad I didn’t smash out my teeth or break my face.