Cytomax for the win.

Today's run:
Couch to 5K Week Four, Day Three
2.26 miles/31:07

Today's Turbo Fire workout:
Fire 30
44:55

My run today was AWESOME.  No kidding, best run I've had in a very long time.  But I'll get back to that.

Really, my whole day was pretty great.  I went to my Weight Watchers meeting this morning - even though I'm in maintenance now, and I work for the company and get the information directly from them, I really like going to the meeting that I lost weight at.  It helps keep me accountable and it's something that I really enjoy as "me" time.  Plus, it gives me an excuse to check out the amazing farmer's market in Boulder.  And by that I mean, enjoy the breakfast of champions:

These dumplings are incredible.  A Saturday morning summer tradition for me.


Then I went off to a local running store in search of cross trainers... Turbo Fire is very high impact and while I don't want to use my current running shoes for it, I can't really wear my beaten down ones either and except to still have knees when I'm done.  It was nice to go to this store though, since it is where I had my gait analyzed and was fitted for my first pair of running shoes for my first round of Couch to 5K - it brought back good memories.  While I was there, I found a fabulous top that I fell in love with (not so much in love with the price tag), and the perfect shorts for my Home Run for the Homeless 5K tomorrow...


HAHAHAHAHA!

Luckily for you (or unluckily, depending on your point of view), I have a sense of humor...


These things are terrifyingly short.  For your sake, don't zoom in on the cellulite.

I should be on America's Next Top Model.  But not for hand modeling, clearly.  For manly calf modeling.


Inspired by seeing that much leg in the morning, I came home determined to run, even if it was a little toasty outside.

I decided to drive to a nice flat path only a few minutes from my house because the hills in my neighborhood have just been awful for me lately, and while part of me says suck it up and get through them, the other part of me thinks I'm setting myself up for failure.  So we went flat today, and I think it made all the difference in the world.  And in case it sounds like I'm just whining about tiny hills... today, according to my Garmin, I had an elevation gain of 79 feet and an elevation loss of 81 feet.  Tuesday?  Elevation gain of 205 feet, elevation loss of 202.  Gross.

I also got a chance to try two new things today: Cytomax in Cool Citrus and this gem:


Now I know 2 miles really isn't that long to go without water, but it's getting hot out, and I want to get used to having water with me for long runs.  And I did pretty much polish off those 22 ounces easily. I put the Cytomax in that bottle and drank it during the run, and I swear it made a huge difference.  I didn't feel like I worked as hard, yet I burned more calories than I have in my recent runs, and at the end of the workout, even though I pushed hard through the last interval, I felt like I could have kept running.  I haven't felt like that in several runs, so I'm sold.  Cytomax is my new friend.

I also made another new friend on my run, which let's be honest, is part of why it was so awesome.  I wish I'd gotten a picture of my new friend, but it was a soaking wet chocolate Labrador who bounded towards me every time he saw me.  Which was twice.  Really - bounded.  Dragging his owner along behind him.  His owner said that he never reacts to people like this, but he really seemed to like me.  I said he obviously knew that I loved chocolate Labs.  Which I do.

Come on, how could you resist this face?!


I got home, had some lunch, and then threw myself right into Turbo Fire.  Of the three I've done so far, Fire 30 is definitely my favorite.  It's full of really fun combos, and it's a good length of time - the hour long class I did yesterday was awfully long for high intensity and high impact work.  But today's was great.  It made me sweat more than Lindsay Lohan in court.


Awkward "check out my sweaty collarbone" face.  Hot.


You really should see how badly matched I was today, though, it's splendid.  There is a reason that I mostly work out in the privacy of my own home.

The top = deep purple.  The shorts = black with orange stripes on the side.  The shoes = turquoise.  The face = inexcusable.


Somebody is going to nominate me for What Not To Wear if I keep posting things like this.  That picture also shows the cross trainers that I bought today... and that I will be taking back sometime this week.  Sad day.  I liked them okay in the store - if I was being completely honest, I'd say that I mostly bought them out of desperation.  I have really struggled to find cross trainers in stores that I can try on, versus buying them blindly online based on reviews.  I looked at Dick's, and they really only had Nike, which I've never had great luck with.  These were Asics, and since I like their running shoes, and since the woman who showed them to me assured me that they would provide great lateral stability and support for high impact movement, I trusted them.  Mistake.  Apparently "great lateral stability" and "support for high impact movement" means shaky ankles and sore soles 5 minutes into the workout.  Now accepting any and all suggestions for good cross trainers!

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