Week 2

Welp, week two of training for my half marathon is coming to a close! Ran another 8 miles Wednesday, today is my break, and then I have a few more lighter runs (5 miles, 6 miles, and another 5 mile) until my 9 mile run next Wednesday! So excited for another big milestone! When I look at the weeks to come, it just seems to be going by so quickly! In just a few short weeks I will be running 10 miles, than 12! Eeek!

On Saturday (1/28/12) I had my first 8 mile run. My leg muscles weren't sore one bit the next day (can you believe that?!) but my hip and knee were pretty painful to walk on. I was worried that I might have caused joint damage, but after looking up on runnersworld.com (my new best friend), I found out that the pain I was having was just muscle pain and not actual joint issues. For every problem, it seems like there are about three or four stretches for before and after you run to help you feel good. The crazy thing- they totally work! I have been running lots lately, and though I get tired during the run, I haven't been experiencing any pain afterwards. It's good, but it also means that I can do better :)

Gunna be honest- I ate like crap today! It was all going so well, and then I decided I would have a burger for dinner (not as bad for you as like a McDonalds one, but it wasn't the greatest for me either!) and then I had popcorn later! Calorie wise, my day actually was pretty great, but the fat content was up there! Saw a quote the other day "Eat clean, train dirty" and that is what I am trying to do! I feel so much better when I eat healthier and I workout so much better too!

Speaking of workout fuel- Tried some more products! So far I have had Gatorade Prime, Powerbar (the thick granola one, not the candy bar type), and Sports Gel (or Goo). So far, the winner has totally been the powerbar. I will take this on all my long runs, no doubt. I take one little chunk before I run, and then around mile 5 I eat a few more pieces with water, and then eat more either towards the end if I get tired, or after my workout for a little boost. This stuff actually works. I do feel better after I get some of it in me. The goo, nottttt good. I tried vanilla (maybe a bad choice? but there was no chocolate...) and got about halfway through the packet when I decided I had to toss it. The immediate flavor isn't so bad, but it has an aftertaste like cough medicine! I think the only way I would run faster with it is if someone was chasing behind me trying to get me to eat it!

The Lake Sammamish Half just released what snacks they will be providing. The only one I haven't tried yet are the Cliff shot blocks. Sounds intriguing...I will have to pick some of those up. I also have yet to try my Sports Beans. The half isn't providing these but I was thinking I could tuck these away to eat around mile 10. They came highly recommended, and frankly, they probably taste a lot better than a lot of these other things!

I feel like I need to put a little more effort into the gym. I am running a lot, but I think I should take advantage of the fact that this is lowering my fat % quite a bit and get doing more abs and pushups and stuff. Supposedly, these workouts will actually help increase speed and endurance even when you are just running! And I could get totally ripped ;) It's a new day tomorrow, so hopefully I can get on it!

I know I have been writing about my half a lot lately which is probably getting pretty boring for you guys (even though it just makes me excited :P)...SO....In other news:

-I received the third highest grade in my 150 student Geology class! The other two people are just a percentage or two away from me, so hopefully I can get ahead soon! I just did some extra credit soooo....basically they should fear me :P I am actually totally loving geology. I never knew I was good at this stuff, but I am! Also, just took a quiz in that class and the average was 73 (yikes) and I got a 92! Not perfect, but I was happy.
-Hist 111 (American history after the Civil War) still remains boring. The real key to the class seems to be reading, since he can only get like 10 words out in the 1hr15m class (because he talks so slowwww). Sometimes I feel like I might just die in there. The professor really is the nicest guy to talk to and get help from, but he is just so old, it's kind of like he is in slow motion. Also, he told us he was a socialist the other day. His grandpa ran on a communist party ticket, his dad was a communist, and he told us he tends to disagree with his conservative friends. The class has been a little bit less frustrating since I found that out. He is crazy.
-PolySci (american government) continues to be a nice little class. Other than all the kids thinking Ron Paul is the answer to their problems, the seem like a pretty smart bunch. All of them recognize how spending is a problem, how Obama didn't exactly fulfill 100% of his promises, etc. Some pretty good conversations in that class. The book is SUPER easy reading which I love. 40 pages is like nothing in that book. hooray!

AND FOR THE BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL
I got my apartment for next school year all figured out! It's a 4 bedroom place (each of us get our own room) and it has a nice kitchen and living room at a really decent price, across the street from where I live now! Two of the girls I am living with are in my ward and are super sweet (one is my visiting teacher, and I work with the other on the Family Home Evening committee). I don't know the third one yet, but she must be nice too :P They did warn me that every year one of their roommates gets married, so it could be dangerous...Hopefully I will be able to avoid such a dreadful institution and be a bridesmaid instead :P

...I wrote a lot of words today so bear with me!