February is Going to be Fun

So last week, kinda wasn't really much to talk about.  I ended up catching a bad cold the day before my birthday.  It was one of my nieces birthday presents to me, LOL.  I really kind of slacked on workouts and really everything, so I have decided to push last week behind me, and now that I think I am over the worst of it, I am going to focus on the future!

MARATHON TRAINING

What is in store for me this month?  I am going to be bumping up my training, increasing my weekly mileage and increasing my long runs each week.  If all goes as I hope I should be running my first 18 miler in over two years before the end of the month.  I just have to keep hoping the unusual mild winter we've been having in Utah keeps up!
Because if things keep going as I hope, I'll be running my 40th marathon at the end of March.
I have to say, I am beyond thrilled to finally be able to add a title to a post section on marathon training, it's been way, way too long!
You may laugh, but I actually already booked and paid for my hotel to the race, but I have not yet entered it.  (I booked at a refundable hotel.) I don't know why I keep second guessing myself, and keep worrying my work injury won't continue to leave.  But I do, and because of that is the only reason I haven't entered it yet.  However, its probably going to sell out soon, so I need to make up my mind quick!  If it is not the one in March, then I have another in April that I am already setting my sights on as well.  So we shall see:)

FITBIT COMPETITIONS

The Fitbit competitions are still awesome and fun as ever.  Although my sisters know I should be creaming them because of my morning runs.  They don't allow that to stop them or detour them from beating me many days.  I have to hand it to them, they really have been working their butts to find every spare minute they can.  They are averaging 20,000 - 30,000+ steps a day and neither of them are running right now.  Those are just in walking and daily workouts and cleaning their house and taking care of the kids.  Crazy, and kinda impressive if I must say so!
I always thought I'd be the first to hit a 40,000 step day, but with competing against those two sisters, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them figure out how to do it first and beat me to it before I get to my 18 milers:)  Heck, I haven't even hit the 30k step day yet... Maybe this will be my week???
Gotta love a little extra motivation!


CHANGING MY DIET

I am doing great on workouts, but my diet needs some work.
Although I have been (yet again) working on quitting drinking Pepsi, or at least drop it to once a week.
I have hit that point that I need to watch the diet, and increase the water intake. Especially if I want to drop a significant bit of weight before the marathon!  Fingers crossed, we'll see how it goes this week!
Truthfully, I am not going on a specific diet, I will just be watching my calories and trying to incorporate a more healthier eating approach.

NETWORKING

Ever since I came up with the idea for the Grow Your Blog, Blog Hop last June, I have been super excited for February to come!
I've put a lot of work into this idea, and even more work getting what I hope will be great post content scheduled ahead of time and ready for February, so I can spend less time writing posts and more time visiting other blogs and networking with all the others.

I had so many fabulous bloggers respond, that I had to end the sign up early and cap it at 40. So for this first time running it, I wouldn't get beyond overwhelmed not only for myself, but for others. Today is the official first day of the hop, and although today isn't my day to be spotlighted, I still wanted to bring the topic up, and let you all have a glimpse of who the fabulous participants are.

Even if you didn't sign up to participate, if you are interested in growing your blog, you can still have a little of the fun, if you'd like.  See every blogger on this list has committed to networking the entire month.  Meaning, if you visit their blog and leave a comment and a way for them to comment back on your blog, they should be doing it within 72 hours.
It's not required, but if you do comment, if you could mention you saw their blog in the hop list, and came to visit.  That would be helpful, because many of the bloggers will be keeping track of their number, and what impact this networking experience had with their blog:)
It's a bonus for them, and you because its a great way to meet new bloggers!

Here are the Fabulous February Participants:

Runaway Bridal Planner                     Heck of a Bunch

Tutus and Tennies                             Eat. Host. Run. Style

Get Fit Fiona                                     Enchanted Desert Minnie

Mommy Go Run                                  Fabulous, Fit and Fun

Bolting Butterfly                                Run Mum

Lake Shore Runner                            This Mama Runs For Cupcakes

In Lesley's Corner                              A Couple of Dashes

Fitness Mom Wine Country                 The Long and Winding Road to Wellness

From Dancing to Running                   Running With SD Mom

Ginger Rachelle                                 Life Between the Miles

Sublime Reflection                            Erica Finds

Confessions of a Mother Runner         Not Everyone's Mama

Former Fitness Flunky                       Fairy Burger

Bradley on the Run                            Run with Sole

From Ice Cream to Marathon              One Night Book Stand

Lisa Runs for Cupcakes                      Blondes Have More Run

Back of the Stampede                        Trail Run Girl

Also Ran Again                                  Faster Than Frank

Fit Momma                                        Healthy Disney Family

Just a Mom Who TRI's                         Skortaholics
A Virtual Hobby Store and Coffee Haus

So does anyone else have spring races they are gearing up for?  Or exciting news they would like to share?

Fighting a Treadmill, literally

So last Monday I tackled replacing the walking belt on my treadmill.  The guy at the support center I called, told me replacing it would fix it's sudden stopping issues.  So I ordered the $80 walking belt.
Right as I started I realized the instruction manual that came with it, didn't cover anything about replacing it.  So I was on my own.  I grabbed one of my toolboxes (yeah, I am a wedding decorator, I have 3 of them, ha ha.) and stared at it a while then began taking it apart in what seemed like the most logical way.

But I had this 1 screw, that how they got it in, in that angle to begin with, is beyond me.  But it was a bear to remove!  Literally took hours for just that one part.  Finally 2 days later, lots of bruises, a few blisters and marks that now a week later still remain on me I finished.

So I am thrilled to try it, I get on and 1.76 miles into it exactly it suddenly stops and won't start again. (Same problem.) I call the repair center, and get some girl this time.  She tells me, she is not sure why the guy told me to replace the walking belt, she is sure it's the roller thingy????
I could have picked the 200 pound machine up and thrown it out the window I was so upset, that the guy before had told me wrong!

So yeah, I was not, not a very happy person!
Instead Tuesday I did a 3 hour workout after I realized there was no fixing it... Yeah not kidding, I had pissed off energy to spend!
But if I am going to look at it, in the glass half full sense, I will say this.  All that squatting, bending and putting my back into getting the parts off.  Well it was a super hard workout.
My buns are more sore than they may have been ever.  My arms and back feel like I pushed a car a mile, they were sore for days.

As for the treadmill, I am not going to do any more to it.  I'll just buy a new one, but not this year!
I rarely use a treadmill, and frankly it was only for the days that the air quality here this month and next gets so bad, that it's unhealthy to be out running in.
I'll suffer through the cold, and on the really bad air days, I will use the stupid machine until it stops, and then wait 30 minutes until it wants to start again, to run a little more.


WEEKLY WORKOUTS

So how did my weekly workouts go?  If you remember last week I said I had a goal to do 20,000 steps each day.  If possible I wanted to try to get a 30,000 step day in.
Well....

Monday - 3,300 steps.  Yeah the battle with the treadmill ruined this, for this day.  But if you count how sore I was the next day, guess the muscles got the workout instead.

Tuesday - 26,300 steps for the day.- part of which included 5 mile run in increments on the treadmill and a total of 3 hours of double workouts.  Yeah, I really should have pushed this day for the 30k steps.... I regretted that come Thursday!  But I creamed my sister today, so that is a bonus!

Wednesday -   22,000 steps for the day.- 5.5 mile run outside. Double day workouts.

Thursday -  20,000 steps for the day, 6 mile hilly run outside.  Double day workouts.

Friday - 10,100 steps for the day.  2 mile run.  I was burned out, I probably could have pushed it, but I had a little pain in the area where I fractured my foot last summer, so decided to take it easy for the day.

Saturday - We wont even mention this:) Still had some pain in the foot, and to be honest my body was exhausted from all the double day workouts.

So, obviously I didn't hit the goal I set for the week, but that is okay.  I really should have pushed it Tuesday to hit the 30k ,but that's okay.  I will try again this week.

I actually beat my sister this week, not by much, but enough to call it a win:)  Oh yeah I totally rubbed that one in her face!

One of my other sisters also bought a Fitbit on Saturday (she wanted in on the action:)  Even after she bought it at 2:30pm, she still got in a 20,000 step day first try???  So yeah, I am thinking this weeks competition is going to be intense!  But like I already told then, BRING IT!!



ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO JOIN US

We've had an awesome amount of participants in the Grow Your Blog Hop so far.  The list is 30+ and grows a little more each day.  I am getting really excited for this event!
So if you've been thinking about joining us, Friday January 24th is the absolute last day to join the hop! (No late entry exceptions.)

If your interested in growing your blog, and participating in a fun networking opportunity then you will want to join us.  You can read through all that is expected and all of the rules and join the hop HERE.

I would like to mention that during February during the Grow Your Blog, Blog Hop.  I will be running some posts that will be all about growing your blog.  You can expect to see:

How to build a better blog, and grow.
How to blog stalk and network:)
How to grow your social media.
How to make money blogging.

I'll actually be sharing my actual tips, things I have done.  I decided to give you my true personal experience with those things.  So whether you join us in the hop, or don't have time but still want to get a little involved in growing your blog.  I have some fun things in store for February!



How did your week go?  If you workout or run, did you have some great days?
Have you ever replaced a walking belt on a treadmill, did you get as beat up as me?