Cool front!

Woke up and it was 75 outside!!  I threw my running clothes on and hit the road. It lasted all of one hour. But man, for that one hour, it felt great!!  I hope this means more "cool" weather to come!

Sunday means a day of rest, right?

Ok, it's Sunday, and I am feeling the burn from yesterday. My arms and abs are still sore from Jazzy on Friday (curses for taking a few days off!!), and my legs....oh, my legs. Mainly my quads. If there's anyone out there thinking that this whole marathon idea wasn't crazy, please note IT IS, and it does come with a lot of pain. But no pain, no gain, right?  Or in my case, no pain, gain!  

Speaking of gain, I've been diligent with logging my meals on the My Fitness Pal app for the past few days, and I decided to log in my current weight from his morning because it actually is LOWER!  Not significant yet, but a step in the right direction. Well, did you know that the My Fitness Pal app links to the Fitbit app??  I had forgotten about that, and as soon as I logged my current weight, my Fitbit reminded me that I had lost 10 pounds!!  That's 10 lbs from when I first got my Fitbit on January, but I'll take it!!

A nice motivation for my day of rest and recovery. 

HOT!

So, I only made 6 miles today, and I struggled, I won't lie. A muscle in my butt cheek was tight (just keeping it real!), and it was aggravating me the whole time. I walked/ran the entire way, but I know it wasn't my best time at all. Going to finish my four extra miles on the treadmill when I get home.  I gotta relieve the babysitter anyway!

Jazzy

Checked in to Jazzercise at the 5:15 class with Tiffany.  She pulled the exercise ball out for strength training, and it was a killer. I'm gonna be feeling the abs tomorrow. 

Time to get real, people.....

Hi,  my name is Angelle Farrell, and I am running a marathon in three months.

I admit, I have seriously failed keeping up with this blog.  It happens.  Life happens.  But I haven't failed.  You see, I have been working my BUTT off for the past six months.  I promise.

Here's my update:

At the constant invitation of my dear friend Silvia, I joined Jazzercise in January.  I am so grateful to her for not giving up on me.  I have participated in every incentive that they have had, and I have achieved some and come really close to others.  (Jazzercise runs incentives, like make 35 classes in 40 days, and so on).  I have been to class most weeks, five and six times a week.  Some weeks less than others.  And some weeks, like during the challenges, seven days in a row.  The last incentive, my other Jazzercise friend Jackie and I attended 70 classes in 37 days.  We were one of the first teams to hit our seventy classes. 

Those of you who have been to a Jazzercise class can attest to the workouts I have endured.  Those of you who haven't, just nod and think I've been to aerobics.  It's not aerobics.  It's not even really a cardio class.  Sure, my heartbeat is raised, and I do dance.....boy, do I dance.  But it also involves a lot of strength training and toning.  It challenges me.  It pushes me.  I started with two pound weights, and I just bought a set of eight pounders because I am beast!  I have gone through two PT sessions (Jazzercise calls them Personal Touch, but it's more like a private trainer, pushing you individually to challenge yourself with things you've never seen your body do before).  Russian twists, burpees, froggers, planks, and kettle bells, to name a few.....words that were never in my vocabulary before I began.

On top of the Jazzercise, I have been running.  I ran three times a week for four weeks in May when I decided to take on this marathon journey, just prove to myself I could do it.  And I can.  I know I can.  I took the month of June off, and I began formal training in July.

It has been rough, I won't lie.  Not the running.  The running is GREAT, and I truly LOVE it and the way it makes me feel.  But two things have been major challenges for me.

1.  The weather absolutely sucks in Texas in the summertime.  It's hot.  It's humid.  And if you don't start your run at 5-6am, you'd better find a treadmill because you WILL melt.  I'm not a huge treadmill fan, and I'm aware of injury concerns because of it, but heat exhaustion is also not cool.

2.  The second challenge has been my weight.  All this exercise I have been doing and my weight has only come down about five pounds.  Honestly I haven't been on any type of diet, which I guess was my problem, but this part has truly been discouraging.  I just assumed that the increase in physical activity would automatically make me lose weight.  Not so.  A few days ago, Silvia measured me for the first time since April, and I have lost SIX inches overall.  That was encouraging....but it is time for me to step it up in what I eat because apparently exercise alone won't cut it.  And yes, I've been to the doctor and had everything checked out.  I am healthy, my thyroid is normal, and my insulin levels are in check.  I just need to shut my mouth!

Lastly, I need to continue raising funds for my charity, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Raising the funds will not only ensure my entry into the race, but it will also help PUT A STOP TO CANCER.  It's a win win!!  I already bought my plane ticket, people, so I am NOT backing out.  I am going to do this.  So, if you haven't already, donate thru my TNT today.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc15/afarrell

I promise to be more diligent with posting not only my runs but my daily workouts.  I want you to know that I am working hard, AND I want you to hold me accountable.

Because I will do this.
I promise.
For my brother's memory.
For my family.
And for me and my health.