Furry Friday

I am loving these longer evenings due to the time change...it makes coming home from work and going out for a nice walk with Toby that.much.better. 

Yay for sun and warmer weather on the way!

Now that I've been back in Denver for almost a week, I'm back in the routine of things and hope to get my focus back here to the blog. 

With a beautiful weekend ahead here, I'm excited to run a St Patrick's Day themed 5k tomorrow with the hubs! :)

Any races on your schedule this weekend?

Week In Review

Happy Monday!

We had a snowy, snowy weekend here in Denver.  I'm not quite sure how much snow we ended up getting Saturday & Sunday - and it's still flurrying right now - but I'd say we definitely came close to hitting that foot marker.  Needless to say, it impeded the weekend activities we had been doing it all the lovely warm weather the past few weeks!

Let's see how last week went... 

Training Schedule (2.16.15 - 2.22.15) 
2.16.15 // Unplanned rest day.

2.17.15// Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred - Level 1.  I decided to just rotate the level each week - so we're back to the beginning!

2.18.15 // 30 Day Shred - Level 1.

2.19.15// 30 Day Shred - Level 1.

2.20.15//  Rest Day.

2.21.15// As we prepared for the impending snow storm, and I knew my motivation would go down greatly, I decided to take the pup for a lil walk around the neighborhood, and the hubs decided to come along too.  It was a chilly walk, but it felt good to get out and walk just over 1.5 miles so I could justify being all snuggled up on the couch.

2.22.15// (unplanned?) Rest day. Given the crazy snow fall happening outside, I had thought about doing the 30 Day Shred - as I certainly wasn't going to walk over to the gym - but ultimately chose to reallllllly veg out all day.  Thanks to my FitBit, I knew I had truly vegged given my insane lack of steps for the day.  SO, just before our yummy crock pot dinner, I opted to walk, basically circles, around our place to get in at least a mile/~2,500 steps counted for the day.  It actually got my heart rate up too, so I felt better about spending the day catching up on my DVR. ;)

Did you get any snow in your neck of the woods this weekend?  I hope your commute to work went better than mine!

And lastly, congrats to al those who ran in the Princess Half Weekend races!  I've enjoyed seeing the pics and cannot wait for   my next rundDisney weekend in September! 

Week In Review

Training Schedule (2.9.15 - 2.15.15) 
2.9.15 //  Keeping it in stride with 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels - Level 3.  I have to say that I think I like this level the most, it certainly is the one that pushes you the most, but not in some crazy way given the build up of levels 1 & 2.  It is a great sweat.

2.10.15// Another evening with Jillian and Level 3 of the 30 Day Shred.

2.11.15// I ended up having to work late due to some crazy news that came out at work, which involved my boss being laid off.  Months of speculation because truth and it was a rough day all around.  Needless to say, I didn't feel like working out by the time I got home.

2.12.15// Today was another rough day at work given the previous day.  My boss was one of a handful of people laid off, and the stress of it still fresh.  I ended up leaving worth with a crazy headache, and feeling nauseous.  So again, no workout for me.

2.13.15//  I had a half day at work today, which was lovely and allowed me to yet again enjoy the nice spring like Colorado weather.  I first ended up taking Toby for a 1.5 mile walk around the neighborhood with the hubs (who took the afternoon off as well) and then we ended up walking to pick up our dinner, and then bring it home to eat, which was another 1.32 miles walked.

2.14.15//  Today was the last of the nice weather (for now) here in Colorado.  I had intended on running my virtual 5k race today, but after a walk and play time with Toby (2.32 miles all together) I just couldn't get myself off the couch.  After a mentally draining week at work, I was spent.  We had already previously decided to have a nice low key Valentine's Day at home, and ended up getting take out from the Mellow Mushroom - their pizza is divine, but high in cals! haha

2.15.15//  After look at the weekly forecast, I KNEW I had to run my Virtual 5k today, or I was going to be stuck either out in the really cold, or on a treadmill - which I did not want!  I had decided last month that I would run some type of race each month - this month I decided to try out a Virtual 5k!

Having never done a virtual race before, I thought this would be a great way to try it out - and get a cute medal to boot!  My first virtual race, and 5k for the month, was going to be the 2015 Puppy Love Run.  I didn't find out about this race until after the first was sold out - um look at that medal! - so I am in round 2.  All this means is my medal won't ship out for another month, but that's ok.

My first virtual race!

How cute is this doggie medal?!  A dog + running = a win for me!  Like I was saying earlier, the weather was about to turn back cold, so I hit the road in 30 degree temps, which is not something I like doing.  However, given the snow in the forecast for next weekend, it was this or even WORSE. Haha  The parameters for the race were to run between 2.14 - 2.22, so today was the day to do it!  

I couldn’t really get into a good groove for this run, but made the best of it.  My first mile was slower than I would’ve wanted, and while I shouldn’t blame the cold weather, I am. =P  I prefer running in the heat any day to this winter weather.

Not the best time, but better than I was expecting.

I ended up finishing up my run/walk in under 40 minutes and just as it was starting to flurry – there was a reason to run!  Needless to say, I was looking forward to the warmth of couch for the rest of a lazy Sunday.  First Virtual 5k complete!  =)  I think I would definitely do this again, but running alone vs running with a crowd is QUITE the different feel (obviously!)

I started tracking my weight – we have the Aria scale, so it links with FitBit – and seeing a decline last week was definitely a motivator to keep up the work.  We – the hubs and I – are really starting to watch what we eat through My Fitness Pal, so hopefully we can both keep up the decline in the lbs!

Looking forward to a better work week, and healthy choices!

Week In Review

HOT DOG!  Week In Review...ON TIME!  Yahoo!  Lots of fun stuff happened last week...I'm on a role!


Training Schedule (2.2.15 - 2.8.15) 
2.2.15 // Today I did the 30 Day Shred, Level 2 video. I decided to change it up each week, since I've done them all before (though it's been awhile).  Jillian kicked my booty in a short 28 minute video - and I was feeling it!  This is proving to be great 'cross training' for me, as my abs and arms definitely feel it!

2.3.15//  Rest day.  Unplanned?  haha.  Just didn't have the time.

2.4.15//  Another round of Jillian's 30 Day Shred, Level 2.  It's amazing the sweat you can work up in such a short amount of time... ;)

2.5.15// Rest day.

2.6.15//  My boss gave me the afternoon off today for all of my fab work I've been doing and coverage over the last month for a co-worker whose been out - which was GREAT timing given the super warm temps here in Denver.  The hubs also took a half day, so we decided we would go for a run once I got home.  We decided to just do a 2 mile run...which turned into a fab 1 mile run (9:48 pace baby!) and then a mostly walked 2nd mile chatting (14:57 pace, haha).  It was nice though, to get out and run the open road in February - and just to have the afternoon off spent with my hubs. =)

I also decided to return the Forerunner 15 that I had purchased just before the WDW Half Marathon, as my husband was convinced I needed a FitBit Charge HR instead.  

My fancy new Fitbit Charge HR!

He had one prior to the whole issue last year, and got the newer version just after Christmas, and loves tracking everything.  I have to say, having used it for the weekend, it is pretty fab, and not as bulky as wearing that watch on a daily basis to track my steps.  I really wish it were more fashionable though - and I still really don't like sleeping with it (though the sleep stats are interesting!) but I'm definitely tracking myself more with things and starting to track what I eat - which is a little scary since I love food, haha, but it's been ok.  So far, so good!

2.7.15// As I said on Friday's post, we had plans to continue to take advantage of the super warm (see: 70 degrees!) temps, and check out a park in Boulder.  The hubs had sent me a link earlier in the week, but I didn't really look at it - he said it was dog friendly and we could bring Toby, so I was like sure!

We went to Chautauqua Park, which is located a few minutes from the popular Pearl Street in downtown Boulder.  This place was POPPING.  Now, given the beautiful weather, it was obviously easy to see why, but it was just great to see people out and about enjoying nature.  We had stopped to pick up bagels on our way up, and found a picnic bench to enjoy a yummy late breakfast and just bask in the sunshine.  We then made our way to the closest trail, which turned out to be a legit trail, as in hiking.

I have never really hiked in my life before, not that this was anything MAJOR, but it was a steep climb, involving mud and rocks - which I wasn't really mentally prepared for as I was just expecting a stroll through a park.  While I got over the sadness of getting my Mizuno's dirty ("they're shoes," my husband said, "it's fine!") There were tons and tons of people of all ages, shapes and sizes - some even sans shoes! - on the trail.  With every twist and turn, something new was discovered.  Toby was a bit unsure of things at first as he can be, I'm sure it was the even higher altitude! haha but really got into the higher we went.  

As if the mud wasn't bad enough, the trail soon became rocks, and when I say rocks, I mean legit ROCKS, like that was the trail.  My first thought was Toby, but he took to it like a champ - he is a Cairn Terrier after all, it's in his DNA!  The next thought was, holy hell how are we going to get down said rocks, but hey - that was a later problem.

The views as we continued to climb were beautiful.  We could even see Denver in the distance at one point!  We took a lot of pictures on our "good" camera - aka the Cannon DSLR that was my wedding present =) - so I only took a few phone snaps.  

Check out the rocky pup!  This wasn't even the worst of it.

A look up!

Action shot!

This picture doesn't even really do the muddyness justice, but my shoes need a bath!

 

Another cool thing we happened to see was a group of free climbers at one part of the trail.  These kids just started climbing vertical on the wall! I couldn't help but stare lol it was SO cool!  I don't think I could do something like that without being tethered, but it was awesome watching them.  The clouds were just moving along above them too - it was hard to capture, but it was an awesome scene.

Can you see the people making the climb?  Talk about vertical!

We ended up doing a mile up, so we had a mile back down on the same path.  Going down was so much easier (duh!) but it was treacherous going back down the one really rocky part.  There were many other dogs on the path that we encountered, including TINY dogs, to the larger types you'd expect to see hiking with their people.  We happened to encounter a tiny, tiny Pomeranian on our way down on the rock part, and I joked that if she could do it, Toby sure could!  He probably did better than I did. ;)

After our descend, we headed down to the Pearl Street to continue on our travels.  Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the 4 main blocks to Pearl Street.  While I noticed the sign, and mentioned it to the hubs, he said we'd continue on as we saw another dog in the distance and if we were told to leave, we would.  We were actually stopped by some nice bystanders that told us we really shouldn't be there with him, and that they do ticket if we would get caught - sooo our jaunt around Pearl Street was cut short - as we did not want a $100 ticket.  Boo.  It was definitely a cute area though, and we will be back (sans Toby) in the future.

2.8.15//  I knew that I wanted to keep up the active weekend, and we started the day on a 2 mile doggie walk with Toby around the neighborhood.  It is so nice having this weather - I can't wait for the real spring to be here and stick around...let alone summer time!

After a little breakfast fuel, I knew I wanted to go for a run.  I have yet to run on the track (we live next to a high school, so it's convenient) and the hubs wanted to run there, as it's better for his knees. So, off we went.  I have to say I enjoyed the track better than the treadmill, and could find it good for doing interval work, but I still just like running on the fee road the best. haha  I ended up running just over 2 miles, and then decided to run/walk the mile home (we drove as we had plans to go to the grocery store afterwards).  All and all it was a solid day - let alone weekend - working out.

A celebratory homemade Vanilla Chai after the active weekend. <3

Looking forward to more Jillian and runs this week!

How did you spend our weekend?  Do anything fun and exciting outside?

Week in Review

I am trying really hard to stick with my Week in Review posts on Monday to really hold myself accountable. (Maybe I should hold myself more accountable for my runDisney review, eh? haha  That is coming!)

Given I have big aspirations for 2015...and possibly even bigger ones for 2016...Even though I don't have anything formal yet on my running docket, I have got to keep up with my training, enough slacking! 

Training Schedule (1.26.15 - 2.1.15) 
1.26.15 //  I decided to kick it back to my girl, Jillian Michaels, and her 30 day Shred video, level 1.  I really like her videos and the fact that I don't have to leave the house, plus I work up a decent sweat in half an hour, so it's a win win!

1.27.15 // I had a lengthy chat with my runDisney BFF about upcoming plans - let's just say the Coast to Coast medal should hopefully be happening in 2015! 

1.28.15 // I ended up staying late at work, and thusly it ate into my workout time.  I didn't get home until almost 7pm, so I really didn't feel like popping on Jillian.
 
1.29.15 //  No workout.  I had better things to do!  Namely, seeing a sneak peek of the new Backstreet Boys doc, Show 'Em What You're Made Of!  I have been anxiously awaiting this, and was excited that there happened to be a screening happening close to where we live in the good ole burbs of Denver.  I have been a Backstreet Boys fan since 1997 and this film was like living the back in the glory days of boybandery.  I hope to do a formal write up about it - but I STRONGLY suggest you check it out - now available on iTunes! - as it is a REAL look behind the scenes of their last album, and a look back at the highs, and lows, of their fame.

1.30.15 //Went to the gym after work with the hubby.  I really didn't feel like it, but I made the commitment to him earlier in the day that I would go with him, and didn't want to let him down since he could've gone before I got home from work.  I ended up doing 20 minutes on the treadmill, and did a 1% incline.  I figure it's time to up the anty a bit, plus I read this was something good to do as it more so mimicked running outside - you mean the world isn't flat!?  I didn't really push myself, as I'm getting back in the swing of things.  Then I did about 10 minutes of arm workouts on the weight machine, and while the hubs was using it, I use free weights to continue to work my flabby arms! haha  Glad I went. =)

1.31.15 // A nice doggie stroll and play session with the hubs and Toby.  We knew that snow was a possibility, so we had an early morning jaunt over to the high school field to run around and let Toby get out his energy.  I hope to do this more as the weather improves (back into the 60s this week, woo Colorado!) as its being active without running, but still getting our 'steps' in...since we are all about hitting those step marks these days!

2.1.15 // 30 Day Shred - Jillian Michaels, Level 1.  I really do enjoy this.  It's quick and easy and figured I'd squeeze it in since it was snowy out and I was already gross from cleaning (does anyone else sweat from vacuuming!?)

Let's hope the streak continues this week! =D

Do you have a favorite workout video? 

Week in Review

Ok sooo I need to get back into my weekly roundups of work outs...now that the hubs is all about getting fit for himself (hello 2015!) it's a little easier for me. 

Last week I did 2 days of the 10 minute trainer workout program, something that's husband has and wanted to get back into. We ended up doing 2 different videos so it was roughly half an hour each day with the warm up and cool down.

All in all, I think it's a good series and is a quick way to get the job done, so that was a plus. It also reminded me of when I did Jillian Michael's 30 day shred last fall and what a great series THAT is. So, that will probably be coming back into the mix. 

I also retuned, for one night, to the gym to run on my beloved treadmill. :P It was....rough. Haha I just decided to take it easy in walking a quicker pace and running. I did just over 2 miles in about 35 minutes so it was something. 

Now that I'm a Coloradian, it was a warm weekend in the 60s (today was even warmer!  Too bad for working inside...) so I knew I wanted to do something outdoorsy.  My thoughts are with those back on the East Coast though...I'll be missing out on that snow day tomorrow!

Yesterday we took Toby out for a nice stroll and got to get him off leash and play some fetch at the field at the high school by out place. After some running fun, we walked to Petco to try out their self serve bathing station - that was an experience for ALL of us. Haha

Toby was not the biggest fan (I'm use to bathing him inbetween grooming appointments in a jacuzzi tub so this was very new!) but we made the best of it and he was showered in treats once he survived.  We then walked back home, so we had a nice active Sunday morning. 

With the hubs traveling the beginning of this week I plan to stick with it and stay active!

How have your 2015 active plans been going?