Where to begin? Well, first off, I got a puppy! He’s a German short-haired pointer meaning he will be a future running dog for me when I hit the trails.

I originally wanted a Vizsla since I know they are basically the number one running dog, but my family (my mom and brother) decided they wanted a pointer because it was way cuter. Whatever. Either way he is so cute. We – I – named him Dean after Dean Karnazes. He better be a runner. According to Runner’s World, German short-haired pointers are good for long, steady runs (ten miles), going fast, and running on trails. I tried to walk him the other day and he started to cry so I turned around. We walked for about five minutes. I’m sure he’ll find his calling soon.

I have been trying to get photos of my other billion animals, yet I only got three photos.
 

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As for running, it’s been going very well. Knock on wood. I have been trying to strengthen my feet and legs by wearing my Vibrams every day. I finally had the guts to wear them at school. Everyone kept saying, “Christy, those are such cool shoes! I want a pair. Are they comfortable? They look weird. What do you do with them?” As if people at school don’t think I am freak already, I’ll just add toe shoes to the mix.

Monday: I set out to run three – five miles and I ran eight or so. My foot was just a little sore, but not painful.

Tuesday: I did six hill repeats with a 15-minute warm up and I think a 15minute cool down. All together, I did about seven miles.

Wednesday: I went easy with a plan of doing five miles or so. I think I did nine miles in one hour and five minutes. I feel like a slug. In March I ran a 10k in one hour and two minutes.
Thursday: My foot was really sore so I stuck with the elliptical and weights. I ran about a mile in addition, but I didn’t really feel like running anymore so I went back to the elliptical.
Friday: I covered over nine miles in about one hour and seven minutes. I did something to my right knee while running because it gave out a few times. Then, I had a realization if I didn’t favor my right foot and just ran, my knee felt okay. I didn’t really have any foot pain either.  My ankle was hurting, but maybe that’s because my shoes were too tight. Any ideas?

A guy took a picture of me running too. I’m famous now.

One of my goals for April was to take running slow and build my endurance again, yet I barely did that. I probably went too quickly in adding mileage, but it was excruciating or anything. Wearing my Vibrams for just walking around is something I am still going to continue with because I notice they help a lot. My legs are tender from wearing them, which for me is a good thing. My foot’s pain has decreased too since I got my new shoes. It’s great. I hope I don’t jinx myself.

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In April, I gave myself four goals that included start swimming, listen to my body, take running up again slowly, and cycle more. I realized that giving myself goals each month is almost silly. I give myself goals constantly. Each week I think of something I want to achieve and I aim for it. Giving myself monthly goals is pointless for me. I don’t think I am going to type out what I want to achieve for May. Mostly I just want to run more, run farther, run faster, and do well in my trail race.

However, I did cycle more in the month of April. I cycled to the store, mail office, and my tanning salon. Yeah, I tan. Yeah, it is most likely terrible for me, but I look better with a tan. Anyway, I somewhat listened to my body. I became more conscious of my hunger and pains then acted accordingly. I did not swim more. I will when school ends though since my gym now offers swimming lessons. I can swim. I just don’t know all the fancy strokes and what not about it. I can doggy paddle and that’s about it.

Speaking of the gym, why am I overly modest when it comes to changing in the women’s locker room? Women get completely butt naked and try to have a conversation with me. I find it so odd. I don’t even know where to look when they’re asking me questions. It’s so awkward. Perhaps I’m too modest. That’s a lie. I’m a runner. I have peed in public during the day, barely behind a bush. I also do snot rockets while running and picked wedgies. I’m just not going naked and then asking my friend about the weather.

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On a final note, I plan on meeting Kara Goucher Monday since she is doing a book signing. I plan to become BFF’s with Kara and then skip to Coldstone with her. I have coupons.

That’s all that I remember that I was dying to share. I bet I left out some juicy stuff like how I wrote Coldstone because I was pissed off at  them and now I get free ice cream. Wanna hear that?

Honorable eats: 

Sweet potato

Any goals for May?

Are you modest at the gym? Any strange gym stories? 

Friday night I went to a concert and was out until midnight, but I was up and at it at seven Saturday morning. I went to a spin class at nine then did the rowing machine for ten minutes and the elliptical for twenty minutes or so.

The rowing machine is a great for cross training. You work your arms, shoulders, back, core, legs, hips, and torso. Really, you are working every major muscle group. There are so many benefits for runners and cyclists who use the rowing machine.

Saturday I decided to go to the bookstore because I wanted to buy the book Natural Running since I want to get into barefoot running. I need to do more research before I go out and buy a pair of barefoot running shoes. Long story short, I bought Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners and Born to Run.

Next week my gym is having a seminar on chi running and barefoot running. I’m super excited because I want more facts. I’ve been looking at barefoot running shoes.

So far, I am leaning towards Vibrams. I have been reading they actually help with foot injuries. Oh, and good news! My foot is starting to feel better. I’m still going to take another week off though. Just in case.

As well as hitting up the bookstore, I went to Whole Foods where I found Jimmy Fallon’s new ice cream and free samples galore. Can I just live in Whole Foods? I love that place. I spent an hour just walking around drooling over everything I wanted.

Today’s workout: one hour of a weights class, 45 minutes cycling, and 10 minutes on the elliptical.

I decided I want to create some goals for April. I believe it’s very important to set goals and that an individual should always be working towards something, whether it can be achieved in a month or a year.

1. Start swimming! I e-mailed the triathlon coach at my gym and he is willing to let me try out the master swim class for a few days to see my potential. I want to do a triathlon in the future so I need to improve my swimming skills.

2. Listen to my body. If you read ‘my story’, you know I struggle from a past eating disorder. I do not count calories for the most part, but they are unconsciously on my mind. I know I can eat 2000+ calories a day and I’m petite (5’3). I work out intensely so I need to let myself eat when I’m hungry and even when I’m not just to get in those calories. I have to fuel my body correctly and I shouldn’t worry about eating three bowls of cereal after dinner if I’m still hungry.

3. Take running up again slowly. I don’t know when I am going to begin running again because I want my injury to be fully healed before I go pounding the pavement. However, when I do run again, I will only allow myself to go so far. I cannot just knock out 14 miles and expect to be alright. This also goes with listening to my body. If my foot starts to hurt, I need to stop running and take a break.

4. Cycle more. I already do bike outdoors and in, but I want to bike more and drive less. I want to bike to the grocery store or the mall instead of driving. However, this is going to be tricky since my mother (yes, I’m 18) lets me ride my bike to certain places only if I haven’t exercised intensely already. It’s all due to the past and how I can sometimes over exercise.

Honorable eats:

Toffee bread pudding

Sweet & salty

What are your thoughts on barefoot running? Have you read Born to Run or Natural Running?

Do you have any goals for the month of April?