Category Archives: 10K

The Ole Switcheroo + Last Night’s Dinner

Welp looks like I’m going to have to pull the ole switcheroo on this week’s workouts.

I went to the gym after work yesterday expecting to do my strength training.

Unfortunately, the gym had other plans.

There are 5 benches in the weight training area at my gym.

Yes, I go to my local Planet Fitness.

There were 15 people (I counted) in the weight training area when I got to the gym yesterday evening.

Clearly no room for me to lift things up and put them down.

They were, for the most part, a group of high school boys – chatting with each other the whole time, therefore making their total workout time even looonger.

Awesome.

I didn’t  want to waste my trip, so I hopped on the treadmill and banged out the 2.5 miler that was supposed to be for tonight.

Only I did not have my ipod, so the run seemed a wee bit more painful and tiring and slow.

Even so, I finished the 2.5 miles at 5.5MPH (11 min/miles), and sped up at the end as per the usual.

My plannnnn was to get up this morning and do my weight training.

Only I suck at getting up early.

**Please note that I originally started writing the excuses for not getting up, and then just decided to roll with me sucking instead.

Sooooo I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do today.  Haven’t quite figured it out yet.

I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, let’s read about what I had for dinner last night!

Last night, I made this Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake recipe.

I didn’t have/want everything on the ingredients list, so I changed it up a little and left some things out.

Anything involving cheese and pasta, and I am I-N.

Needless to say, it was obviously delish.

Add this one to the ole recipe box.

I really like the word “ole” today, huh?

Here is my rendition:

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups penne pasta
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bit-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup pasta sauce
  • 1 2/3 cups diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • grated Romano cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Cook pasta as directed on the package.

Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat.  Add chicken and basil; cook 3 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently.

Add pasta sauce and tomatoes; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Drain pasta; return to same saucepan.  Add chicken mixture; mix lightly.  Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese.  Spoon into 8-inch square baking dish.

Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and Romano cheese.  Bake 3 minutes or until cheese in melted.

Enjoy your day!

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Haaaaaaappy Monday everyone!

Yeah, we all have one.

Oh, well.

Little update on my 10K progress.

What I accomplished last week:

  • Monday – 3 miles (treadmill – 5.2MPH and a little faster at the end) – Done
  • Tuesday - 2.5 miles  (outside with work friend at a track – averaged a little less than 11-minute miles) – Done
  • Thursday – 2 miles (treadmill – finished in 20:30 – around a 10:15 mile – woo!) – Done
  • Saturday- 3.5 miles (treadmill – 5.5MPH and a little faster at the end) – Done

My last two runs felt nice and strong!

My only issue is that as the distances are getting a little longer I am getting kind of bored.

Maybe I’ll download some podcasts to listen to whilst I run.

Also, if you noticed, there was no strength training or cross training in there.

Whoops.

I’m going to try to stick those in this week.

Here is what my schedule is looking like this week:

  • Monday - strength training
  • Tuesday - 2.5 miles
  • Wednesday - Zumba
  • Thursday - 2 miles + strength training
  • Friday - rest
  • Saturday - 4 miles

I better not flake out on these strength training sessions.

And now to lift your Monday spirits, an oldy but goody:

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Goodbye Couch to 5K

Wave goodbye, everybody.

As of the end of October, I am officially done with the Couch to 5K program.

You’ve served me well, old friend.

But I’m on to bigger and better things now.

What the ducks said.

I need to go further than 3 miles.

Especially if I’m planning on signing up for the NYC Half in March.

That’s right…a friend from work and I have decided we are going to shoot for the NYC Half in about 5 months.

A.  I hope we get in.

B.  I hope I can run that far.

I mean, I know I have 5 months, but I’m coming fresh off of a 5K program.

So last week I started a 10K program.

I am going to go straight from that into a Half Marathon schedule.

(Both Hal Higdeon – click on the links above to view them on his website)

Last week, I did:

  • 2.5 miles on Tuesday
  • 2.5 miles (the 4K I ran) on Saturday

I was supposed to do 3 miles on Sunday, but I was tired, and decided to do it the following day.

This week’s plan is:

  • 3 miles on Monday (treadmill – 5.2MPH and a little faster at the end) – Done
  • 2.5 miles on Tuesday (outside with said work friend at a track – averaged a little less than 11-minute miles..so proud!) – Done
  • 2 miles on Thursday
  • 3.5 miles on Sat or Sunday

I’m excited to be starting this new program and to be running longer distances.

But I am also nervous that my body won’t be able to do it.

Very nervous, actually.

Cross your fingers for me!

Why did Betty White come up when I googled “cross your fingers”?

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