Firsta picture from my drive today… It was absolutely gorgeous in So Cal 
Last night I was lamenting to Ben (yesI lament – whatyou don’t?) that Iafter taking a few days off for my knee’s sakewant to get faster and fitter and thinner. I told him I found a half marathon in MD that is in nine weeks…
Me: “I want to lose nine pounds and nine minutes in nine weeks!”
Ben: “Okay babe.”
Me:”Why not? I can do it! I’m sick of being realistic; I’m going to do it! I’m going to cut my half time by nine minutes and lose nine pounds in nine weeks!!!”
Ben: (watching Seinfeld re-runs) “Yeahdo it.”
The morals of this story:
- I feel like DREAMING BIG right now and even if I don’t shave a full nine pounds off the scale or my PR – I’m going to make major improvements in the next nine weeks.
- I need a new challenge
- Ben doesn’t care
Somy next race is the Dorchester Crab Run Half Marathon on April 10! I am considering using the FIRST half marathon training program. It is very difficult – especially because I only started speed work this week for the first time. ButI do think speed work is a necessary evil if I want to get faster and I think a three day a week running schedule might be a good idea right now considering my knee.
For my eats I’m sticking with my Lose the Dough goals because I think they are balancedhealthy and do-able.
This afternoon I had a big salad filled with cole slawchickpeasonionscashews and carrots. And a bagel with avocado!
Before leaving to pick up Ben I grabbed some grapes…
And a vitawater.
I had a lot of chocolate today…it started out inocently enought – with a single PB cup on the road.
Butafter dinner I also tried this chocolate candy someone brought back from Cuba. Does eating this make me a communistAdriel?
It shows a picture of a coconut on the packagebut it doesn’t taste like coconut at all. 
For dinner we went to a local Mexican place – shockerI know. I ordered a pescado wet burrito with beans and veggies. It was dee-lish! I ate about half and I’m sure my leftovers will be missing from the fridge before I get to them.
And of course obligatory chips because they should kick you out of Mexican restaurants if you refuse to partake. Kidding! If you can resist chips at a Mexican place I commend you.
I love my momand not just because she has a freezer stocked with Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandwiches 
NowI need to go to sleep because I’m fading fast. I love restaurants that give you candy or a treat when you pay the bill. ClassyI know.
I know you’d all like to chime in with questionscomments and complaints about my new crazy 9 and 9 in 9 plan. Just think of me as Lucy and this being another one of my crazy schemes!!! Anyone up for being my Ethel?
Maybe the warm CA air has gotten to my brainbut I am all over this new training and healthy eating program
I am happy. It’s been a while folksbe nice.
Ask Me Anything…
Today’s post brings me to a recent ask me anything question:
Question: How do you increase your speed when running? I’m currently running between 11-12 minute miles. I just started less than a year ago and finished my first half in October running 12:55 avg. Is speed work the only way?
Monica: First offgreat job on your first half marathon!!! That is something to be very proud of
The best way to increase speed is through speed workbut you can also better your half marathon time through building a stronger training base. After my first marathon I asked many veteran runners how I could do better next time and of course speed work was suggestedbut many people also asked about my base – how many miles a week I was runningwhat were my longs runsetc.
I think making sure your body is fully able to tackle and conquer a certain distance also helps with your time. Working on both base and speed with almost surely guarantee a PR
I’m going to start incorporating speed work in my training next week and I’ll be posting more details as I go alongso that might help give you an idea of what speed work is like. Good luck!
Firsta picture from my drive today… It was absolutely gorgeous in So Cal
Last night I was lamenting to Ben (yesI lament – whatyou don’t?) that Iafter taking a few days off for my knee’s sakewant to get faster and fitter and thinner. I told him I found a half marathon in MD that is in nine weeks…
Me: “I want to lose nine pounds and nine minutes in nine weeks!”
Ben: “Okay babe.”
Me:”Why not? I can do it! I’m sick of being realistic; I’m going to do it! I’m going to cut my half time by nine minutes and lose nine pounds in nine weeks!!!”
Ben: (watching Seinfeld re-runs) “Yeahdo it.”
The morals of this story:
Somy next race is the Dorchester Crab Run Half Marathon on April 10! I am considering using the FIRST half marathon training program. It is very difficult – especially because I only started speed work this week for the first time. ButI do think speed work is a necessary evil if I want to get faster and I think a three day a week running schedule might be a good idea right now considering my knee.
For my eats I’m sticking with my Lose the Dough goals because I think they are balancedhealthy and do-able.
This afternoon I had a big salad filled with cole slawchickpeasonionscashews and carrots. And a bagel with avocado!
Before leaving to pick up Ben I grabbed some grapes…
And a vitawater.
I had a lot of chocolate today…it started out inocently enought – with a single PB cup on the road.
Butafter dinner I also tried this chocolate candy someone brought back from Cuba. Does eating this make me a communistAdriel?
It shows a picture of a coconut on the packagebut it doesn’t taste like coconut at all.
For dinner we went to a local Mexican place – shockerI know. I ordered a pescado wet burrito with beans and veggies. It was dee-lish! I ate about half and I’m sure my leftovers will be missing from the fridge before I get to them.
And of course obligatory chips because they should kick you out of Mexican restaurants if you refuse to partake. Kidding! If you can resist chips at a Mexican place I commend you.
I love my momand not just because she has a freezer stocked with Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandwiches
NowI need to go to sleep because I’m fading fast. I love restaurants that give you candy or a treat when you pay the bill. ClassyI know.
I know you’d all like to chime in with questionscomments and complaints about my new crazy 9 and 9 in 9 plan. Just think of me as Lucy and this being another one of my crazy schemes!!! Anyone up for being my Ethel?
Maybe the warm CA air has gotten to my brainbut I am all over this new training and healthy eating program
I am happy. It’s been a while folksbe nice.
Ask Me Anything…
Today’s post brings me to a recent ask me anything question:
Question: How do you increase your speed when running? I’m currently running between 11-12 minute miles. I just started less than a year ago and finished my first half in October running 12:55 avg. Is speed work the only way?
Monica: First offgreat job on your first half marathon!!! That is something to be very proud of
The best way to increase speed is through speed workbut you can also better your half marathon time through building a stronger training base. After my first marathon I asked many veteran runners how I could do better next time and of course speed work was suggestedbut many people also asked about my base – how many miles a week I was runningwhat were my longs runsetc.
I think making sure your body is fully able to tackle and conquer a certain distance also helps with your time. Working on both base and speed with almost surely guarantee a PR
I’m going to start incorporating speed work in my training next week and I’ll be posting more details as I go alongso that might help give you an idea of what speed work is like. Good luck!