Sunday Bits

I'm happy to report that we're all feeling better and back to our regular training schedule. I plan to run a 4 miler today with my daughter. I think we're actually supposed to run 6, but she's really not there yet. She's losing a bit of enthusiasm for the training, citing soreness or homework for reasons to drop off early. I haven't actually signed her up for Avenue of the Giants yet (it never fills up), so I'll give her a couple of more weeks and see if she kicks it into gear.

Speaking of the Giants, did I ever mention I'm a HUGE San Francisco Giants fan? Did I ever mention that I have a secret crush on the Giant's announcer Jon Miller? Sure, he's not much to look at, but boy, he could tell me stories all night! If you want to know where to find me in 30 years, just go to a Giants home game. I'll be one of those old ladies wearing a baseball cap with a hundred buttons, with a hand-knit Orange and Black throw over me.

Today I'm having my 3 year old niece over for a few hours. I've watched her plenty of times at sis's house, but this is the first time she's coming over solo. I'm looking forward to it. We're going to make lunch, have tea (she's into that sort of thing), and do some crafts....or "craps" as she likes to call it.

You may have noticed that my links are so totally out of date. I'm going to do my best to get those all cleaned up and updated over the next day or 2.

Hope you all have a nice Sunday.

Operation Swimsuit Week 1 Results

Weight: 128.6 (-1.4 lbs)
Fat % : 23.2 ( +.2 %)


I'm afraid my "dramatic" weight loss wasn't due to careful eating, but from a nasty stomach bug that left me eating nothing but broth, ginger ale and crackers for 2+ days (and NOT exercising). I still have to be careful with what I eat, which is helping my "sensible" eating.

I'm going to try an gentle run tonight in the pouring rain. Should be an adventure.

Quantitative Operation Swim Suit Goal

I just purchased one of those digital scales that also measures body fat. I've read that the technology for these have gotten much better over the last couple of years, and my scale boasts a .01% accuracy. I doubt that's true--but at least it gives me a ball-park.

I've never been one to be secretive about my age or weight. So where better than a blog viewed by the world to announce my present body fat % and my target goal??

The chart below lists the standard body fat recommendation for men and women (via wikipedia)

Description	Women	Men
Essential fat	10-13%	2-4%
Athletes	14–20%	6–13%
Fitness	21–24%	14–17%
Acceptable	25–31%	18–25%
Obese	32%+	25%+

I'm currently weighing 130 and have 23% body fat.

Yes, I'm at the fitness level. I think fitness level means you look decent in clothes, but questionable in a swimsuit. In the higher Athletic range--I would think you would look decent
in a swimsuit.

I don't really care about what I weigh, but I would love to get down to a 19ish body fat % (ie athletic!). That's about 4 pounds of fat, gone--and hopefully from my "problem areas".

So, here's the plan. Every Tuesday morning, I'll weigh in and post my results. I think posting my progress will help me to stay on track--Do I really want to post weight gains and more body fat? I think not!

In addition to following Hal's Half marathon training (which includes 2 days of weight training). I'm going to throw in another day of weight training.

As far as eating is concerned, I've given up candy (my biggest vice) and *trying* to eat more fruits and vegetables and less fat.

I really don't know how long this will take me--I guess it depends how hard I work. I would like to think 2 or 3 months--but realistically, it may take even longer.

Stay tuned.....

And My Next Race Is.....................

Avenue of the Giants 1/2 Marathon on May 6th.

On Monday I'll begin Hal's Intermediate 12 week half marathon program--which consists of 5 days running and 2 days of strength training. I might even bump up the strength training to 3 days depending on how the training goes.

Sis is opting out of this one. It's a 5 hour drive from where we live and she doesn't think she can manage the trip with her 2 little ones.

I'll have a new running partner for this one! My daughter has decided to give it a go. She's a fast runner when she puts her mind to it, so we probably won't be running the whole thing together--but she's already talking about getting matching outfits for the race. Somehow this soon-to-be 17 year old, wants to wear a matching running outfit with her mother. Go figure.

As far as full marathons go, I'm considering running Chicago in October!

Stay tuned!

Swim Suit Season

Not quite yet...but got to start thinking about it.

I moved a couple of weeks ago and I will have access to a community pool come May. Let's face it. It's been several years since I bought a new swimsuit, and I'm turning 40 in June, so do I want to be 40 and dumpy or 40 and able to wear a 2 piece? I'm shooting for the latter.

So Operation "Gotta-look-decent-in-a-2-piece" begins. Just for kicks I tried on a very cute suit last week and saw my ahem..."problem areas" that I'll need to address. I've got 3 months to do it. I'm beefing up my miles and strength training--(my next post, I'll announce my next race) and now I'm cutting out sugar and trying to eat more "sensibly".

Can she do it? Can't say it will be fun trying...but maybe I can just pull it off. I've got nothing better to do......