My great 4-mile run this afternoon!

Today was a beautiful Spring-like day in the Northwest. I say "Spring-like" because it felt like Spring in every sense except the calendar tells me otherwise!

I headed out in short sleeves and shorts and hit the local elementary school track. Feeling energized, I started out great and ran my first mile in 10:00! Such an improvement from my running pace of 12:00 a couple months ago.

I noticed I was feeling pretty out of breath, so I slowed it up a bit and ran the second mile closer to 10:30. Overall my pace felt strong and consistent. The last two laps I heard a runner approach and then pass me. I don't know what it was - my pride or a healthy sense of competition, but I decided I needed to pass her. So I picked it up and ended those last two laps at the 10:00 pace!

I'm particularly proud of this run given that I had not one, but TWO encounters with Jillian Michaels yesterday. In the morning I'd done 30-Day Shred (Level 1), and in the evening, I attempted (and finished!) her No More Trouble Zones workout. While I love and swear by Shred, I was looking for something new to spice things up, and this was the ticket.

Here's a recap of how I worked out last week.

Monday: Shred, Level 3
Tuesday: 25 minutes running intervals, 25 minutes ski machine, 10 minutes ab
Wednesday: Shred, Level 3
Thursday: OFF
Friday: OFF
Saturday: Shred, Level 1 (AM); No More Trouble Zones - 40 minute workout (PM)
Sunday: 4 mile run - hard!

I would've liked to have had one more cardio session, but overall I fell really good about this! For weeks now, I've consistently worked out at least 5 days a week, something I haven't done in a LONNNNGGGG time. Let's hope the scale budges for me tomorrow - I'm ready to meet my goal of 149 pounds and leave the 150's behind!

Photo credit Mee Lin Woon