It's time to FALL back into the blog!!!

As Kate recently wrote, we have had a busy summer which = MIA from Insightful Insanity.
This by no means = we were not insane!
Remember the schedule that I broke down at the beginning of the year illustrating all of the weddings, showers, etc that I were in my future?? Well, some have come and gone...while others are still on the horizon...I'm tired! Oh, and we work a lot too...

Please see last blog entry for photos of my summer as well :) And add these...

and,

Mumford & Sons show...and,
drum roll please...

Hopefully I will be part of someone else's busy schedule next year ;)

Onto the here and now!!!
In running news, Kate and I, along with 10 other friends are running the New Balance Reach the Beach Relay Race this weekend!!
http://www.rtbrelay.com/
Essentially, the 12 of us will rotate running non-stop for a grand total of 200 miles! We start at Canon Mtn, NH and run to Hampton Beach, NH.

Please stay tuned for the most amazing photo flurry next week :)

GOOD LUCK Where My Beaches At?!

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

I remember in elementary school and middle school we used to write about what we did on our summer vacation...or did we? Sometimes I think I have watched so many movies and TV shows that one way or another involved this theme (and plenty others) that I am convinced this must have happened to me. I have a terrible memory of things from my childhood. I just don't remember details the way some people do. Not sure why, but whatever. That wasn't what this post was about...far from it. It is supposed to be about my summer and what I have been up to since May 7th (the last time I posted). I'm trying really hard to come up with a good reason/excuse as to why I haven't made any attempts to write on here. Here it goes:

Right after my last post, I ran my second half marathon. 

It was...rough. I hadn't trained as much as my first half. It was hot. There were way more hills than I remembered around the lake despite the fact that I grew up there. My heel started to hurt pretty bad after mile 6. Oh and I had some killer allergies. Thankfully, I had Lisa there to help me, motivate me, and walk with me when I needed a break. I ended up finishing a minute faster than my first half. I'm not complaining.

After that, I took some more time off of running. A lot actually. I did summer things. Like this:

Road trip to DC where we ate and drank a bunch and had an awesome time. Crab feasts and Memorial Day in DC. Highly recommend it!

 

 

Red Sox game with my mom 

 

Ogunquit with Lisa and my mom 

 

 

 

Lobsters and fun in Portland with Lisa and Marcy 

 

An amazing night out with Marcy at the Quincy waterfront which lead to a really early morning for the Color Me Rad Run 

 

 

Hung out with this lovebug a lot

 

Went home and spent some time on the lake

 

 

Worked...not too hard though

 

Watched my friend's dog Jodie for a week and realized I am a one dog house for now

 

Started running more and more to prepare for Reach the Beach (September 14th and 15th)

 

And then this past weekend I did this...

 

Full. Marathon. Holy. Shit.

Heel Striking and Foot Pain

I do not have good running form. I'm aware of this and have taken steps to improve it..sorta. I really felt like I had good form for my first half marathon and didn't feel like I was in much pain while training, during the half, or the few days after. Maybe it was because I was consistent with where I was running (on a treadmill at the gym) or maybe I just was running more and that conditioned me to run better. The training for this half hasn't gone as planned. It seems like I have less time to train and when I do, I'm just not in the mood to run as long. The nice weather has helped when I run outside, but it also is a good excuse to get food/drinks on a deck somewhere. Either way, I've noticed some serious pain in my very minimal training for the half I am running this Saturday...where is this pain? All over my foot. Seriously, it seems to hurt everywhere, but if I had to localize it, I would say the main sources are my heel and my 2nd metatarsal:

and 

 

And this is how I feel every time I get a shooting pain in my foot: 

 

I ran a 5K this weekend for the Children's Museum of NH and beat my time from last year by 5+ minutes. 29:47 with a 9:36 pace. Pretty good! I felt good about it, but when I woke up yesterday I couldn't walk. My heel hurt so bad, I almost puked. It got better throughout the day, but I am terrified about the half this weekend. Lisa said that I'm probably heel-striking when I run ie: your heel lands first. This is bad. This video shows the contrast between heel strike and forefoot strike:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XrOgDCZ4GUo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

So what does a person like me do about situations like this? I research. A lot. The Internet is the most amazing and awful thing all at once when you are feeling sick or are in pain. Heel/foot pain is one thing to self diagnose, but when people go on WebMD and start seeing words like "cancer" and "life threatening" I think the site turns detrimental and a perfectly sane person can lose their minds because they think they know what is wrong. Side note: I love reading the symptoms listed on there and trying to figure out what kind of disease/disorder someone has..."craving to eat dirt, ice, paper" or "taste words when they are heard." Obviously, I didn't see any of those symptoms or results when I looked up heel pain. What I did find for potential causes:

- Plantar Fasciitis - http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/plantar-fasciitis-directory

- Heel Spurs - http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/heel-spurs-pain-causes-symptoms-treatments

- Metatarsalgia - http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/metatarsalgia

- Stress Fracture - http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/stress-fractures-symptoms

- Bursitis - http://firstaid.webmd.com/tc/bursitis-topic-overview

If I was a betting woman (which I am), I would guess that it has something to do with Plantar Fasciitis. Seems the most likely, but I'm not leaving it to chance. I've made an appointment at the Dover Foot Specialty Center just to have a professional check me out. That appointment is next Monday. I'm hoping I can still walk by then...between running the half and then waitressing on Sunday it is anyone's guess how I will be. Wish me luck...on all three!

Yep

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Rule #2: Increase the Burn! ( & cinco de mayo)

Ok friends,
I have been doing pretty good at the whole no sugar/dessert thing. I have maybe indulged once or twice on the weekend but have been keeping my week days free and clear. From the scale's reading it has helped me drop down a pound or two BUT I'm still no where near my desired goal weight...

SO...decrease calorie intake + increase calorie burn!                  

Rule #2-
Workout at least 5-6 days/week and do double sweat sessions when possible.

I love running and I love taking classes at my gym...not good at strength training workouts so I must be mindful of including them into the regime!

Classes that I take-

Body Step


Body Combat



In a typical BODYPUMP™ class, you'll perform 800 repetitions in 55 minutes! Think you can manage that on your own? Compared to a standard gym workout, it's more than four times the reps during a weight training workout an average person can achieve alone!

Dream Workout Schedule-
Mondays- 3miles before work, body pump in PM (& body combat if no AM run)
Tuesdays- run my buns off at restaurant (no eating french fries!)
Wednesdays- Body Step and Body Pump in PM
Thursdays- 3 miles pre-work, Body combat in PM (or restuarant running)
Fridays- run or rest- weather permitting
Saturdays- Morning class at gym
Sundays- Long run (5+miles)


If you dream it, it will come-



And in more fun news...
This Saturday is Cinco de Mayo!!! (See last Kate enrty for more delicious mexican drink recipes)

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/skinny-margarita-cocktail-recipes



I hope there are no more rules!!!! To be continued...

Adios Amigos!

~Marcy

M is for Margaritas

I don't know what has come over me lately, but I can't get enough of Margaritas. The restaurant, not the drink. 

http://www.margs.com/locations/dover 

Though I wouldn't kick the drink out of bed either. Wednesday nights are turning into gym/Margaritas nights. Take-out style. With Coronas and limes...

 

Calgon Take Me Away

 

Fish tacos 

 

Enchilladas 

Yum!!!The problem? I want it all the time now. The thing about loving food as much as I do is that I get on these kicks and want that specific food all the time. It has happened with meatball subs, pastrami subs, Oreos, peppermint stick ice cream, and sushi (after a terrible bout with food poisoning, I'm avoiding sushi). Since I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on Mexican food all the time, I'm researching recipes. I started with their Lime In The Coconut Margarita because I want to drink about a thousand of those right now...described as: The Mexican flavors of tequila and coconut combine into one amazing Margarita that makes you thirst for the beaches of Cancun. Yes. Please. Now.

 

http://www.gatheraustin.com/blog/index.php/3-cocktails-granita/ 

 

http://www.mylifeasamrs.com/2012/01/coconut-lime-margarita.html 

 

http://valsocal.blogspot.com/2012/02/coconut-lime-margaritas.html 

I kinda gave up after that. "Researching" recipes might have been an excuse to find new cocktails and drool over how delicious they all look. Hello weekend!

Characters At The Gym

I *LOVE* watching all the characters at Planet Fitness while I'm working out. There is terrible cell phone reception at the gym and my Pandora bites it all the time. Normally, I would just watch one of the 14 tvs that they have running, but even that gets boring sometimes. My newest favorite hobby is to observe all the weirdos (characters) while I'm running. It is a good way to pass the time while I'm banging out a 5+ mile run. Here are some of my favorites to date:

Mullet/Rat Tail and Short Shorts Man (MRT/SSM): This guy has a mullet AND a rat tail. I didn't even know that was possible. Some hybrids are meant to be. Like peanut butter and chocolate. Edamame and beer. Cheese and wine. Combos that work. This ain't one of them. 

 

like a boss

MRT/SSM also wears the shortest shorts ever. Well, maybe not ever, but every other person in the gym is always on the verge of an unsolicited nut show. Seriously, buddy, lock it up because no one wants to see your boys while you are doing sun salutations on the floor mats.

 

oh hey John Stockton...nice gams!

Jeans On The Elliptical Girl (JOTEG): What in holy hell would possess anyone to wear jeans at the gym? I. Don't. Get. It. Isn't it hot? Wouldn't there be chafing? Do you change after you leave the gym or just go about your business in your sweaty jeans...or do you have a pair of fancy sweatpants for doing your errands? 

 

not JOTEG, but she's not even wearing shoes!!!

JOTEG likes her jeans in a capri style as well. She is a bigger girl. She has some meat on her bones. Like a bear prepping for winter - meat. So the jeans were tight and there was some...issues:

 

heh

 

double heh

The jean capris were bad enough, but JOTEG's top was something else. I would describe it as "lingerie" if that wasn't insulting to all forms of lingerie. The icing on the cake was that she was on the phone 85-90% of the time she was on the elliptical. Real cool. I'm sure whatever business meeting you were having with your cats was real important and couldn't wait.

 

P.S. You look like a butthole

Roid Rage Psychopath (RRP): I'm not saying that everyone that has big muscles is on steroids. I know that working out a lot and eating a boatload of protein and following strict programs/diets can get you similar results. What I am saying is that this particular guy at my particular gym looks like he carries around a few viles of juice in his gym bag. RRP is also REALLY tan. RRP also has a lot of tattoos. RRP also appears to enjoy hair gel. A lot. In fact, he looks like a cast reject from this:

 

G.T.L

Wondering where the psychopath portion of RRP moniker comes from? Well, besides looking f'n crazy. He was also walking around the gym in between reps, cocking his imaginary gun and aiming/firing at people. You know, casual like.

Lurker McCreeperson (LM): I'm pretty sure this guy doesn't actually work out. He just is creepy. And stalker-esque. (Man, I love making up words). He sits on a machine and then just kind of eye ball harasses everyone in the gym. Sure, guys check out girls and girls check out guys...and sometimes girls check out girls and guys check out other guys, but they are subtle. LM looks like he is trying to suck your soul out of your skull with his gaze. You can feel it before you see it.

 

aaaaannnd nightmares

And now that I have searched around for "creepy stares" and "creeper dudes" for about ten minutes to get the perfect creep, I'm totally skeeved out...and late for the gym. Can't wait for tonight's characters welcome episode!

Rule #1: Decrease Vices!

The warm weather months are upon us and if I ever want to put a bathing suit on again, I need to figure out some way to start working on the way I feel about my current body...
The food journal lasted about a day and 1/4 so that obviously is not the technique for me to use in order to maintain a healthy weight and mind. So, I asked myself on the ride to work this morning, "Marcy, what DOES work for you?"

And it easily came to mind that I am really tremendous at following rules.
To the extent that it will sometimes make my SO (significant other- boyfriend just sounds stupid at 30) crazy!

SO!

I need rules! And rules for the rules!                      

I'm actually pretty good at getting to the gym or running (although, I should also increase this with future rules to come) so I thought that I would start by brainstorming all of my major food vices so that I could prioritize which rules to set in place. Thankfully this blog format has an unlimited amount of characters you can type...

*Chocolate        *Cake                    *Candy
*Muffins            *Cookies                *Did I mention cheese?
*Cheese            *Pizza
*Bread              *Misc desserts
*Wine               *Fried seafood/FF (so hard to stay away at the restaurant)
*Beer                *Coffee- I'm keeping this one for life though...

Ok, that's enough...starting to feel really ____________ (fill in the blank)
The good news is that I don't smoke cigarettes or crack cocaine, although muffins may be my crack



These vices are in no particular order- and it looks like some of them can actually be combined into a few groups- Sugar, Cheese and Sugar-Cheese Carbs :) haha

They say that you need to start with manageable and attainable goals = one vice at a time...
My plan is to begin with knocking out the sugars. I've done this before successfully so I know I can do it again. The sugars are everywhere and there is always an excuse to imbibe so I'm making the hard and fast rule that I will not eat any more sugary/desserty/pastry like foods until further notice.
For now I plan to keep the alcohol (because life sucks too much to take it away :) and keep up with my current exercise/running regime. Maybe adding to it here and there when possible.

I'll do subsequent weigh ins to see how this is working for motivation.

Wish me luck!

~M

Vacation Food Spiral

There is something about vacation that just makes you want to eat and drink. A lot. Who am I kidding. I like to eat and drink all the time, but vacations seem to compound that fact. I am pretty sure I gained close to ten pounds in Italy and have almost always come back from tropical islands with a few extra pounds from too many fruity tropical drinks with umbrellas...

 

so. tasty.

Anyway, I went to NYC this weekend and ate at least 5 bagels over the course of three days. I know people always claim that New York bagels are the best, but I never really believed it. I was wrong. Dead wrong. Those things are friggin' delicious. I want them in my life all the time. 

 

*need*

I also ate out a bunch which is never good for the wallet or the waistline. BUT if you are going to eat out in Brooklyn/NYC I recommend the following: 

 

Sea Thai Restaurant & Bistro http://www.seathainyc.com/sea/brooklyn/ 

  

http://bakehousenyc.com/ - ask for Brad

And whatever falafel place was near the Bedford L Stop. So so good. Or if you aren't in the mood to go out, find a fabulous gay man who wants to throw a cocktail party at your apartment you rented from airbnb http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/21218 and have them make little sandwiches, cheese plates, and crudites. Perfect party idea.

So I ate. And then I ate. And then I ate some more. Oh and then there were drunk chicken tenders. And by drunk chicken tenders I mean, chicken tenders that I was eating drunk. They were salty. I like salty when drunk.

I even tried *really* hard to go for a run while I was there. It was on my training schedule. I failed miserably, but my running capris and new Celtics t-shirt I bought for $11 a TJ Maxx made for an excellent set of pj's. I guess vacation isn't the place for me to attempt to be all "I'm a runner and I do it all the time." Maybe that only happens when I'm home and have nothing better to do or don't have fun absinthe/oyster bars to hang out at.

 

fancy pants oldey-timey awesome

 

on bedford avenue to boot!

I guess I just need to try harder on my next vacation to not eat or drink as much...or at the very least to get more exercise in. See ya Memorial Day Washington DC!!!