short long run

I woke up this morning and did the usual long run routine. I don't know by this distance if you could call it a long run, per se, but it's the longest I've actually run in a long time. and I'm still working up my base. so needless to say after I ate my pre-long run toast I laced up and hit the road.

it was a little chilly this morning. in the low to mid forties. soon I'm going to need to get myself a pair of those cheep little gloves. or find a pair I already own, I guess. I started thinking about winter running with snow on the ground, etc. I can't believe we're almost there.

the run was pretty good. the first four miles I felt pretty tight. I started loosening up in those last two miles. it made me feel good, even if my legs were still a little tight by the end. mile five was uphill, and I didn't even think about stopping and walking. I just plodded on. that felt good.

overall it was a good run. we'll hover around this distance for a couple weeks and then maybe push it up a little.

6 miles; baby pug tree run: west, north, east

a quickie

I did a quick run before work. I just wanted to get out there. I probably needed it more after work to relieve some stress, but I did not have time for that. so whatever. I ran through the park, up 9th south to 8th east and just ran home. nothing too major. my legs still feel tight.

I iced and then somehow tweaked my hamstring a little bit. I really don't know what I did. it kind of bugged throughout the rest of the day. oh well, what can you do?

2.5 miles; 6th east to 9th south to 8th east to my casa

confessions

okay, so I didn't go to yoga last night. if you really want to know, I was sitting at home shoving my face full of food. that's the problem with not going to the store for over a week. when you've finally made dinner after starving all day, you really can't help but eat everything in sight. and just so you know, we still haven't gone to the store yet. we're holding out until at least next week. I mean, with family parties and such we've at least got dinners covered through the weekend.

but I did go running after work again. today I wasn't as hungry. more thirsty. {how could I not be adequately hydrated after drinking fifty nalgenes at work?!} but I felt a lot stronger. my quads (well, right above my knees, is that something more specific than my quads?) still took a beating. I made sure to target that muscle group when I iced. maybe that dirt/grass trail just isn't that soft. and speaking of that path, those dead, fallen leaves were out to get me. or at least catch a ride home in my shoe. I needed some serious gaiters to avoid all the stowaways.

one of my favorite things about running the dirt paths at the park is racing the runners on the inner sidewalk. it makes me feel cool when I can run up ahead of them on the outside because I have so much more distance to cover. it doesn't really make a difference if they're old and slow. I still feel hardcore anyway. {just so you know, they're usually old and slow.}

3 miles; liberty park perimeter dirt path

almost perfection

I ran this afternoon after work. my goodness was I ever hungry. {it's never a good sign when you've pretty much eaten all the food you brought to eat for the day by 12:30pm} and my legs seemed pretty tight/sore. other than that it was a gorgeous autumn running day. you know it's perfection when you can be out there in shorts and a long-sleeve tee.

I did the outside perimeter loop at liberty. even on the softer (though let's be honest, is the grass/dirt around here really that much softer?) surface, it still felt like my legs were taking a slight beating.

you better believe I stretched and iced when I got home. I'll be doing yoga tomorrow.

3 miles; liberty park

forgot to mention. . .

about my run yesterday. see, I purposefully didn't post about it because I was going to add a PM swim to my AM run. the swim never happened because I have this cold just teetering on the verge. I figured I wouldn't overwork my body with two a days until I was in the clear--if I ever am in the clear. this thing is just sort of hovering around my head without getting better, or worse, really. slightly annoying.

anyway, I did do a three mile run in the morning. my hamstring was okay. I came home, stretched and iced. not really an eventful run, I guess. (I'm sure I would have had more details to say about it yesterday, but whatever)

in other news, I mapped out my training schedule for the marathon. I pulled it off runnersworld and it seems pretty intense. {it's the intermediate plan} I very well might die, but I want to put in a good effort towards qualifying for boston. so putting myself through pure hell might be the only way of getting there. I just have to get my body ready for pure hell first. good thing the intense training doesn't start until february.

3 miles; liberty park loop and home via 8th east

saturday run

I almost didn't go running today. good thing pete was at swimteam when I got back from the boutique because I might not have gotten out the door otherwise.

the weather had cleared up a bit, though. and I knew I had to go; I'd hate myself if I didn't.

for some reason I wanted to run up to 15th east and run along that street, but the hill getting up to 15th east didn't sound too appealing. so I did the usual run (6th east, through the park, and up to 4th south) but ran all the way to south temple instead of turning around at 4th south. I ran back along 8th east as well (with a minor emergency bathroom break at the maverik on 3rd south and 9th east. yikes.). it turned out to be a beautiful day for a run. I only got hailed on a little bit. it wasn't too cold. there was blue sky peaking out of grey clouds to the west.

my hamstring was feelin' it, though. I'm icing right now. hopefully that helps the situation.

my stomach was also feelin' it. that vegetable chili I ate for lunch was sitting a little heavy. I love my stomach.

oh, but I was in luck. when I got home pete was back. this is a good thing because I had locked myself out.

5 miles; 6th east - south temple - 8th east - 17th south

yogi

athena|tree pose, modified via waterbottle on head

thankfully I was able to go to my yoga class tonight. it was fantastic. I know my body needs this. I noticed how tight my IT bands were. and how inflexible I am. but it actually felt better than the last yoga class I took. so maybe I'm making improvements on my strength + flexibility.

chilly morning run

I woke up at seven-thirty this morning. it was still dark. I thought to myself, hey maybe I should go running. now usually I don't go running when it's dark outside. okay, I take that back. I will run in the night time darkness any day of the week. but that morning darkness? I don't know. I guess I always feel more unsettled about it.

but by the time I pulled on my running tights + jacket et cetera it was getting light outside. no worries.

I just wanted to do something quick, so I ran the usual liberty park loop. my left knee was hurting a little bit again today. I don't know if it has something to do with my IT band or a residual problem from that kayaking accident last year. (sometimes I feel it acting up) my hips kinda hurt today too. maybe it was from all that elliptical yesterday.

I think I need yoga in my life. good thing athena (my costa rican traveling partner friend) teaches a free yoga class every wednesday night. hopefully I can make it. I think it all depends on my eating situation. yes, everything in my life is dependent on and revolves around eating.

3 miles; liberty park loop

the gym

I don't know why I did it exactly, but I passed up a perfectly good autumn running day to go to the gym. maybe it was for the pure joy of jammin' to the ipod (I am strictly against this while road running. hey, a girl's got to watch out for herself). maybe it was to get my elliptical fix. maybe it was to rest my legs a bit. maybe it was just to see if my membership is still current (it is! I think it expires next month, though). regardless, I went up to steiner to do some elliptical workout fun. and what fun it was.

I decided to go for an hour. I set the machine on a lovely little cross country circuit, grabbed some health + nutrition mags, plugged in and jammed out. it was fabulous.

yesterday a little while after my run my left knee started to hurt. it was very random because the pain came out of nowhere. I could also feel my left hamstring this morning. yikes! I really should've stretched and iced yesterday. I did stretch a lot better today. still no ice, though.

5.56 elliptical distance (~530 calories burned); steiner

autumn run

well, after a week of doing THIS {okay, so it was really just two days of doing THIS, plus more days of playing in the jungle} I finally went running again. even though the oatmeal was still sitting a little heavy in my stomach (and tried to derail me of my plans) I stuck to my guns and ran the route I was planning on. nope, no running around liberty park. this time it was through liberty park. and then on to 4th south where I turned east two blocks and rome home via 8th east. one nice big loop.

I ran it pretty slowly, sure. but the route was longer than the usually loop through the park and back. my hamstring didn't really bother me. I did have a pretty random pain in my left knee about halfway through. it was in between the outside and the front the of the knee. kinda weird. but it didn't stay with me too long. or I just stopped noticing it. not sure. either way, it was a very nice run on a beautiful fall day.

I'm a slacker, though. I got home and pretty much neglected my legs. didn't stretch very well and certainly didn't ice. that will probably come back to bite me.

4 miles; 6th east to 4th south to 8th east

my run

I found out some very exciting news at work today that gave me the urge to go running. I won't divulge what that is just yet. I'm working on building suspense via the blog. I'm waiting for everything to come through and be official.

so when I got home, I did just that. went running. I've still got this cold kickin' around, but I'm overall feeling much better. almost one hundred percent. perhaps ninety-two percent healthy? plus or minus five? (I've got to account for this headache that snuck up on me this afternoon)

I did the usual three miles. you know, liberty park and all that. I ran the outside perimeter dirt path. there was a couple running a ways ahead of me that I was making significant gains on. eventually the chick ditched the guy to go run on the inside sidewalk. in my heart of hearts I wanted to pass them so badly. it was my inner kenyan coming out. and when it was just the guy, I wanted to pass him even more. but since this was my first time back out there in a while, I didn't want to push it too fast. I figured if I could just find a fast enough speed that was sustainable, I'd make my attack. I didn't. I mean, I closed the gap somewhat, but he was always just a little out of reach. I'd like to think that if I was in shape and it wasn't hot {okay, I'm going to be a little running princess for a moment. it was freaking seventy degrees outside and I'm still complaining about it being too hot. it wasn't too hot, unless you were in direct sunlight. the shade was just perfect.} that I would've been able to kick this guys trash. I really think I could have.

basically during the whole run I felt the yogurt/granola I had eaten at work. it wasn't the greatest feeling in the world. maybe I should've waited a little longer. I felt a little sluggish too. on the way home, running up 13th south to 8th east I felt pretty tired. but the rest of the way wasn't too bad.

I didn't really stretch very well when I got home. I did some and then just laid there on the floor. then I hopped in the shower so I could get dinner ready before pete got home from work.

speaking of, I wish he'd get home from his run soon so we could eat!

3 miles; liberty + 8th east

the state of affairs

I haven't been running. I've been sick. hopefully I will be on the up and up soon so I can get back into the routine. I miss the routine; it has been such great running weather as of late.

{notice: rain in the valley, snow in the mountains!}

I'm running again!

finally, a non-cleanse related post! so I'm back in action. eating. running. the whole shebang.

since it was my first run after my little sabbatical, I only did about three miles. I felt pretty good though. I could feel my right hamstring in the beginning, but by the end it loosened up. everything else was fine overall.

it was a perfect day for a run. we're transitioning into my favorite running conditions: cold. I love cold running weather. {my body shuts down in any kind of heat} I love pulling on the running tights. I love layering. I love the fact that my body warms me up sufficiently. I love feeling hardcore when everyone else stays inside or just goes to the gym. winter running can be so beautiful. I'm excited for the changes. I like fall running too. especially on days like today. chilly {enough for the tights}, the sun finally peaking out after two days of rain. I love it. it's days like today that remind me why I love to run.

3 miles; liberty loop to 8th east and back

the master cleanse: post-cleanse, day three

hurrah, I'm back! yes, the old anna jo that you all know and love is back! today I ate food, real food! and it was heaven.

I started the morning out with a bowl of grape nuts trail mix crunch cereal (of the maple nut & brown sugar variety. not as good as the original since it's sans raisins). then I made a yummy salad full of fresh veggies (red leaf lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, radishes, mushrooms, with a slice of lime to squeeze on top) to take to work, along with some cut up veggies (carrots, celery, and broccoli) and a strawberry yogurt. {I'm not taking the probiotic pills at this point, just hoping the yogurt does the trick. so far so good.} and for dinner tonight? fish! yes, you heard me. anna jo ate fish. willingly! it's all a apart of my new plan: enjoy fish. we went to red rock brewery up in park city and I had the almond crusted trout with rice, steamed carrots and a side salad.

I just can't believe the day of eating I've had. I no longer feel sick to my stomach. I no longer have a headache or sore shoulders. it's like I'm me again. and I'm loving it.

the master cleanse: post-cleanse, day two

well, today was a little better than yesterday. I'll give it that. I still have a headache and my upper body is sore. I still feel all yucky in my stomach. pete is convinced it's due to my lack of caloric intake. seriously, I'm consuming fewer calories now than I was on the juice diet. so he's forcing me to eat food even though I feel a little pukey inside. but I think it's exactly what I need. hopefully tomorrow my eating ability is a little more normal. I really don't want to be anorexic, but eating just isn't appealing right now. what's a girl to do?

here is a rundown of some things I ate today:
some cream of wheat (sweatened by none other than organic grade b maple syrup!), though I couldn't even eat all of it.

some vegetable broth (from the homemade vegetable stock I made this morning.) with a few saltine crackers. (which, btw, I found out are pure death. yeah, the saltines have high fructose corn syrup.)

orange juice. (I don't think it sits well with my stomach)

homemade vegetable soup (made with some of the aforementioned vegetable stock and more fresh veggies)

a {very tiny} piece of lemon cake. okay, I know what you're all thinking, you ate cake?! doesn't that go against everything you just did? well, yes. actually it does. the lemon cake had high fructose corn syrup in it too, but I ate it anyway. but our neighbors brought it over and it just looked so good and it was only a littly itsy-bitsy piece anyway. so I did it. all things in moderation.

the master cleanse: post-cleanse, day one

well, this day ranks as the worst day of the cleanse by far. I've had a headache and my back/shoulders/neck feel really sore. let's be honest, the orange juice is no lemonade beverage. how do they expect anybody to live off of this stuff for a whole day? I should've stuck with the lemon/syrup/pepper combo. at least it would've given me energy throughout the day. seriously. I want to die. oh, and did I mention I kinda feel like puking? I think it stems from my severe lack of food, coupled with the oj and that jamba juice I had (okay, so I could really only handle a couple of sips). no good. but now I'm home and eating saltines. real food! my mouth doesn't know what to do with it all! I've had, like, maybe seven crackers so far. I think it might be helping my energy levels. {"*gasp* food gives you energy!" --peter h.} now I just need to go drink some water or something, because I think I'm severely dehydrated.

so tomorrow I get to eat soup. I'm planning on making some fresh, homemade vegetable soup and I'm really quite looking forward to it.

say goodbye to the juice

and juicing equipment

and say hello to whole food!
{seriously, don't I look happy?
oh, it might be the fact that I feel like puking up my guts.
which actually wouldn't be much, I suppose.}

so hopefully I made the right decision in ending the cleanse when I did. this morning I woke up with very sore, achy legs. which is a sign of detox. and if you end the cleanse without flushing those mobilized toxins out, it's bad news bears. but I did eliminate this morning, for the last time, so hopefully that did the trick. I mean, I have been feeling crappy all day, but maybe it's unrelated. right? right. . .

the master cleanse: day eight

well, I guess this is the last night. I've actually gone back and forth in my mind for the past couple of days as to wether or not I should end at day eight or day ten. I mean, I know I can make it to day ten, but do I need to? should I?

if the stupid maple syrup weren't so expensive (I can't believe how much I've spent in maple syrup alone! and I'd have to go drop another twenty bucks tomorrow to continue with this thing) I'd probably do it. I'm sure there's more to flush out of me. but a lot of people do it for eight days and that's good enough. honestly, a lot of what's holding me back is the fear of-- well, the unkown. the fear of my body revolting anything but this stupid lemonade drink. when I start drinking orange juice tomorrow, and then vegetable broth and soups the next day is it going to make me feel sick? am I not going to have the sustained energy I've experienced with just the orange juice? am I going to crash and burn tomorrow? it freaks me out. maybe I'll just be anorexic for the rest of my life. {okay, we all know that is not happening!} oh yeah, and then there's the whole probiotic debate. I'm supposedly depleted of those in my system now, and all the literature I've read say I should take a probiotic supplement. pete tells me I should just eat our yogurts that have probiotic cultures. now my question is this: is the probiotic culture in my yogurt enough? do the pills have more, the needed amount I need to restore my body's natural probiotic levels? someone help me out here, I'm freaking out!

okay, phew! I just had to get all that out. {did I just detox or what?!}

speaking of detox, here are some symptoms I think I had:

sometimes I would have a general feeling of tiredness, or yuckiness, or coldness.

there was one day (that this was extremely noticeable) that I was having a hard time remembering things. mostly relating to speach. I was having a hard time trying to think of specific words or what I wanted to say in general. and then when I did think of the word(s) I was having an awfully hard time getting them out of my mouth.

last night my legs were a little achy. and I've had some random headaches.

so who knows. I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow--day one post-cleanse. I am still planning on drinking the tea tonight and doing the salt water flush in the morning. I feel that I've been drinking this bloody lemonade juice all day, which supposedly loosens up the toxins and built up crap, why not flush it all out of my system tomorrow. then I will be done with it. gone. out of my body and out of my life.

I only have one more day of drinking ocean. . .

the master cleanse: day seven

day seven. one week. who knew I could last this long?

so things are going well. it's still much of the same. people ask me if I feel cleansed. in all honesty, I don't feel much different. I know I have gotten rid of stuff in my body. I mean, I haven't eaten anything solid in seven days now and I'm still eliminating every day. so that tells me something. but I don't feel like a sparkling, shiny new version of myself or anything. I think I'll probably--hopefully--notice it when I ease myself back into regular foods. my energy levels should be up and I should feel clean. let's all hope and pray. {because if I don't, I'll be slightly irritated.}

in an attempt of normalcy, I like to put my juice in the cupboard. {I have to split the 32 oz up into two nalgenes--one big and one baby--so I have mixing room for the extra stuff. while I'm sippin' on the baby nalgene, the big one gets to wait in the cupboard.} it makes me feel like I'm just grabbin' something tasty to eat. we all know what a lie that is. but I try and trick myself into believing it every day anyway. so the juice has a home right next to the syrup, cayenne, sea salt and tea. they're all friends.

I'm still only taking in two nalgenes a day. but I have plenty of energy to sustain myself. the funny thing about this whole experiment, is that I haven't really craved food. at all. me. anna jo. not pining for food. sure I'd see something or smell something or even just think about something delicious and I'd think to myself, that would be nice. but that's it. I wouldn't dwell on it. because for the most part, I haven't even been that hungry. I even cooked today and was barely phased by it! {I did almost slip up when I took the eggplant out of the oven and the pepperjack cheese was gooey and deliscious. I had to catch myself, because without thinking I almost tried to take a nibble.} I watch cooking shows and read foodie blogs. I browse through recipes. nothing. it's truly amazing. cooking for peter tonight was fun because it took me out of my mundane juice life and into the fabulous world of cooking that I've missed so much. I even donned my apron. I've missed that.

the master cleanse: day six

yeah, I totally suck at drinking this little bevvy o' lemons. maybe I'm just in anorexia nervosa training or something, but I'm struggling to drink two of these things let alone three! seriously. it is now ten o'clock and I just barely finished my second nalgene of this stuff. it's partly due to the fact that when I get engrossed in something {sewing the cutest shirt ever} I totally forget about drinking. or maybe the fact that I'm just getting sick of this stuff. or possibly that my body is used to this deprived state and she just doesn't care anymore. like I've said before, who needs to eat?! obviously not me.

I can live all hyped up on sugar water.

well, anything else to report? basically it's still the same deal. I'm eliminating waste from my body. if you think about it, it's really kind of exciting. . . in that gross'ish sorta way.

oh, the liquid love

the master cleanse: day five

wow. day five. that's a long time without food.

so not much to report. it's been about the same as the previous four days. I still hate chugging the salt water, I still can't go anywhere until about 11 o'clock, I'm still drinking that bloody lemon beverage...

I do think I might be putting too much lemon juice in. can that be bad? I don't know. but whenever I'm measuring this stuff out after I've juiced up those lemons there's always a little bit left. so I dump that in too. I think I can taste it--too lemony. and it might be making me feel slightly sick throughout the day. too much citrus maybe? who knows. tomorrow I'll only put in the required amount and see if that affects anything.

I only drank two nalgenes again today. tomorrow I'll try for three, I swear.

I'm starting to look forward to real food again...