Workout Recap: 4/26-5/02

To hold myself accountable (got a goal to reach), I will try to post weekly recaps of my workout. However, I highly doubt that anyone will be interested in reading these recaps. Not to mention, most will think I'm crazy anyway.
Last week, I finally got back to my regular work out schedule after being sick. Don't you just hate it, when something trivial as being sick, can throw you off your schedule? I do. I was soo mad, that being sick hindered me from working out. And it took days to get my strength back.
However last Monday, I was determined to get my lazy butt back into the habit of working out 5-6 times a week. Drum roll please...I succeeded. Woohoo!!! Believe me, I was completely stoked. Usually I end up falling of the wagon and come up with some sort of excuse as to why I can't work out. I'm my own worst enemy. Argh! Not this time though. Yippie! The BIG BIRTHDAY is around the corner. Eeeeks!!! That is probably the reason, why I didn't slip up. Haha. What ever works right?! Now, on to my work out breakdown


Monday  4/26:
What: Running Date with Mandy
Where: Newport Beach
Goal: Run 4 miles
Success: A big YES. Surprisingly, I had a great run that day. We ran from Newport Beach Pier to Balboa Pier to Newport Beach Pier. Round trip, it's 4 miles. However, we ended up running approximately 4.5 miles.

Tuesday 4/27:
What: Insanity DVD Week 1
Where: Home
Goal: Complete DVD 1
Success: It's not quite a yes, but also not quite a no. This was was my first day starting the Insanity DVD work outs. Boy, and they weren't kidding. It is intense. I'm in decent shape, but lets just say this first DVD whopped my butt. Most of the DVD are approximately 40 min long, but it sure feel like a full hour. This might sound gross, but I was dripping sweat after ten minutes. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the DVD workout. It was brutal. I tried to push myself. To complete the remaining 15 min. Honestly though, I just didn't have the energy nor the strength. My legs were burning. My gluts were burning. My arms was tired. I simply ran out of juice. Still happy though, since I was able to get through most of it.

Wednesday 4/28:
What: Insanity DVD Week 1
Where: Home
Goal: Complete DVD 2
Success: A BIG FAT NO!!! Unfortunately, I had to take the day off. I was too sore to move let alone do another Insanity DVD. But I did manage to take a walk. Walking is a form of fitness, right?!

Thursday 4/29:
What: Insanity DVD Week 1
Where: Home
Goal: Complete DVD 2
Success: I persevered. But boy was I still sore the Tuesday. Initially, I went to the gym and attended my spin class, but the trainer wasn't very good that day. Now, here comes a big pat on the back. Real proud of myself. Went home and actually popped in the second work out DVD.  Ugh, here I was thinking it would get easier. Nope! It was just as hard as Day 1. Silly me. Wishful thinking I guess. After the work out I felt great though.

Friday 4/30:
What: Insanity DVD Week 1
Where: Home
Goal: Complete DVD 3
Success: Of course this day wasn't any different. I was still in pain, from all my previous work outs. It was a good pain. It meant that I was pushing my body to the core. At the beginning, I had some self doubt where I could complete the entire DVD. Once again I persevered. It was hard, not going to lie. There were couple of times, where my mind said: No, I can't continue. In the end I won. I finished the workout. Yippie.

Saturday: 5/01
What: Running
Where: Neighbourhood
Goal 2-3 miles
Success: NO. I didn't work out at all. My day got all mumbled jumbled. Slept in until noon, then I ran a bunch of errands with my sister and mom. I was completely exhausted by the time I came home. Shame on me. I have nothing but excuses.

Sunday: 5/02
What: Insanity DVD Week 1
Where: Home
Goal: Complete DVD 4
Success: A definitely yes. I pushed myself so hard, by the end of the DVD I actually had to vomit. Crazy! Rarely had that happen before. Typically I want to keep Sundays my off day. However since I had to make up for the previous day, I threw out that notion.

Anyway, last weeks work out was pretty good. Of course, I had couple of moments where my laziness got the better of me ie. didn't work on Saturday. But overall I'm quite satisfied how well I preformed. Will see if I can keep it up next week. Oh, and to help me out I scheduled my workout in my calender as appointments.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Catching Up....

It's been a crazy week! I was sick for a few days and now I'm just playing catch up with everything. Don't you just hate that?! Anyway, while I enjoyed not having had to go to work, being sick is a whole other story.
Here are the few photos from my latest class assignments.

Assignment: Spring Awakening

Assignment: Picture a Canvas

Assignment: A Heart Shaped World

Assignment: Looking Back & Diptych

Left: Take Oct 2009 Right: Taken April 2010

Still have to catch up on a few assignments, I was hoping to complete my outstanding assignments this weekend, but didn't find anything that inspired me. Perhaps tomorrow. 

Sadly, on another note my running/training schedule had to take a back seat, since I was sick this week. And since I don't classify myself as one of those crazy runners, I benched myself. Still not 100%, yet, but definitely looking forward to my Monday morning run.

Blush & Running

Picture Spring, Assignment #7: Pastel Colors: Blush

Thoughts? Critiques?

On another note, I've finally gotten back into my running schedule. I'm still not quite satisfied with my other work out routine still trying to find the motivation in that (strength/core training) But I've been keeping up with my run, which is right now more important since I want to complete another Half Marathon this year. I even went on a 3 mile run/walk during my lunch break. Felt great afterward, even had enough time to eat my light lunch. From now on I will be incorporating these 3 mile run/walks in my lunch break. There is a cute little park near my work, and it's exactly 3 miles from work, to the park, and back. Hopefully, I'll be in shape and back to my HS weight, by the time the big 30 rolls around. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

It has begun...

My Half Marathon training has officially begun. Received my new running shoes over the weekend. Woohoo! I bought the Asics Gel-Keyano 15.

Although, I've never ran in Asics before, so far I have no complaints. According to Runner's World, this particular shoe received the Editer's Choice. Not only that, but I have yet to read a negative review of this shoe. I shall see. J. has been running in these for last couple years now and loves them as well. So, I'm thinking my feet should be good hands.

Since J had the day off, once I got home form work, we headed down to Newport Beach and ran an easy 4miler. I did have some minor shin splines, but was able to work through them once I found my stride.

  Taken with the iphone

Taken with my Hipstamatic Iphone app.

So, glad I purchased this app. The hipstamatic app brings back the look, the look, feel, the unpredictable beauty, and fun no of plastic toy cameras form the past.

Mind over Matter

"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!

Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder!"

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can Say I have finished. There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

The above two quotes pretty much some up how I feel about running. Initially, I picked up running to lose weight for my wedding. To help me reach that goal, I joined a running group "Snail Pacers" to help me train. Back then I could barely run a mile without having to walk, by the end of my 3month training program, I was able to finish an entire 5K race. Woohoo! Now, have I fallen in love with running? NOPE! I still HATE running!! Why not quit and pickup a different sport?! Well, it's quite simple, I've trained long and hard to reach this point in my running. Not going to throw all this hard work out the window. I might still despise and hate running. Finishing a run...the pain, the satisfaction of overcoming the desire to quite. It's quite gratifying.   Perhaps one I will come to love running, but for now I will continue my Love/Hate relationship with this sport. A sport I picked up 1.5 years ago. 

Firecracker Run continued...

More photos from the Firecracker run. There were taken from the photographer of the event. All photos from Keith Tsuji Photography. Gotta give credit, where credit is due =)

 

  

  

  

 

Firecracker 10k Run

Yesterday was our 10K run in Chinatown! Boy, was it brutal. Actually it was more so for me than for Jared. Unfortunately, I haven't been running as much and I underestimated the steep, steep, steep hills the course had. So, I had to walk some of the hills. Oh well! Will hopefully do better next time. It was a beautiful course though, but unfortunately I forgot my camera and didn't take any pictures. All the photos you see I've stolen from my sister Nita. She, her hubby and bunch of her friends ran the race as well, in honor of her 27th birthday, which happened to fall on that day. Nowadays, at least in the Mente Family her birthday gets over looked, since it's Naomi's birthday is 3days later. =)  And after the race, we all had a yummy breakfast/lunch at a dimsim restaurant. Now on to the photos:

 

Race T-shirt, they don't look to bad. Just wished it was a dry-fit shirt. 

  

 Michael Chang - US Tennis Champ opened up the race ceremonies

Dragon Dance prior to race start

 

 One of the views along the race course

 

Like I said, we had a some great views along the way. 

Downtown L.A. 

No smog, since it rained the day before.

Think Blue, that should give it away!

 

If not, I'm sure this will help =)

 

 Last but not least, we did manage to get a photo together of our First Race. 

Disneyland Half Marathon

This post is a week late. But better late than never. Labor Day weekend was the big day. I completed my first 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). I wasn't sure, if I could complete the entire race, and if my ankle would hold up. But I succeeded. I crossed that FINISH LINE!!!! Woohoo ME!!!!!! Although, I didn't meet my goal time, I'm still pleased, since it was my first half marathon. I definitely give mad props to folks who run full marathons. Not gonna lie, this half marathon was BRUTAL!! I still don't know how I was able to finish - considering I still hate running. Initially, I picked up running as goal to lose weight for my wedding, but still stuck with it, since it's a good work out. However, it doesn't mean that I have to love it. Nonetheless, I'm still damn proud of myself for completing 13.1 miles, considering I've only been running for one year. Anyway, back to the race. I was able to run straight through until mile 9. Then I had to take short walking breaks between my runs, since my right thigh kept cramping up. However, once I reached mile 11, I was determined to finish the remainder of the race running, which I did. Boy, was I glad when I saw that finish line. Well enough of my ramblings, here are some pictures. LoL, of course I had to take the opportunity to snap some pictures with some Disney characters, since the race entry fee of $120 didn't cover the cost to visit Disneyland afterward. Crazy, I know. Enjoy the pictures, I know there are a lot, but I had to post most of them. Oh, and I'll be taking a few days off from working out. I'm in pain!!! I'm soo sore, I can hardly walk. Will upload the pictures, when I get home from work. Till then....


~Delightfully,

Nina Sapphira

p.s.: If you don't want to wait till tonight to see pics, just head over to my personal blog. =)