And if you’re like me and headed off to work, hopefully you have a smooth day too

This lovely gem that I found on Pinterest really spoke to me yesterday. It was snowy out, and still falling – I needed to get my long run in! I did not want to pound out 13 km (8 miles) on the treadmill.

Just before my boyfriend left for the gym, I looked outside. Sad face/heartbreak. It was almost a small blizzard! Bummer. So off to the gym it was!

Good news, I ran 13 km! It was long, slightly painful… But thank goodness for NHL hockey, helped keep my mind somewhat occupied!

Fact: 13 km is the farthest distance I ran (ever) before my first half marathon. I’m totally looking forward to what this year will bring! Yay for good, smart training!

Have a great Monday everyone!

I ran an awesome 8.1km out and about around the neighbourhood. I managed to keep a pretty steady, decent pace the entire time (which is a feat in itself considering all the icy patches everywhere!) I’m pretty sure my run was so awesome because of my new run crops… No? Ok… but they did make the run feel that much better!

Please excuse my post-run sweat, and my messy office...

I love my new lululemon Run: Inspire Crops!! This picture doesn’t do them justice… They are a beautiful indigo blue! Here’s a picture from the website!

Love

Head on over to scribbles & sass and check out my very first guest post! Laura was kind enough to let fill her blog with a verbal splash on my favourite addiction… lululemon! I discussed my love for the clothing and how it manages to keep me motivated in my fitness adventures!

I love Laura’s blog, scribbles & sass! Check it out! Thanks again Laura!

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

No? Bummer…

I managed to turn around (go from night shift mode, back to normal life) quite well this time. I forced myself out of bed at a decent time, but still had a lazy day. We all need some of those right? I’m looking forward to a great week!

Last week kicked ass in the fitness department. I met my goals of running 4 times, and did 3 strength training days! And… My body and the scale showed it. That is totally enough motivation to keep going!

Monday: 5km run & shoulder/back workout
Tuesday: REST
Wednesday: 6km Tempo run & leg workout
Thursday: East 3km run & arms/abs workout
Fridays: Long run 11km!
Saturday: REST
Sunday: REST

This week I’m hoping to also get in 4 runs and 3 strength training days. I got in an easy 3km yesterday, and did a shoulders/back workout. Rest day today. I keep hoping it’ll warm up enough round here for me to get in my first outside run this year… I’m such a wimp…

Has anyone done Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Trainer? What do you think of it? I’ve had quite a few friends who have been doing the program and are liking it so far. I like the idea of it, and I love that it’s online and can follow from home. I’m thinking about trying to start it next week. My main focus will be the actual workouts that the plan gives, which I think we’ll really help me keep a consistent schedule. Also, I like that a diet plan is included… I think I have some research to do!

I know I need to focus more effort and energy towards the nutritional side of things… This is definitely my weakness. I’ve been tracking well in my fitbook, but again, still have areas of improvement!

Time to power down, and relax with my man! We cooked a delicious dinner of steak & shrimp together. That was the extent of our ‘Valentine’s Day’! So yummy!

Yum! Yum!

Hope everyone had a good Valentine’s Day, whatever your plans were

♥

What do you have planned for the week? Do you try to make weekly goals for yourself? Have you heard of, or tried Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Trainer?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

Yaa... No thanks.

Ok, ok, I’m not really anti-Valentine’s Day. I would say I’m more indifferent to the whole ‘holiday’. I think my thing with Valentine’s Day is, why do we need one specific day in the year, where we’re suppose to go all crazy saying ‘I Love You’…? Shouldn’t we be doing that any day, every day, just because we want to?

My boyfriend and I share this attitude towards the day. I think I might be a ‘few in far between’ girl, that has actually been perfectly happy without getting anything for the past few years on Valentine’s Day! Last year I got my boyfriend a card, but… it wasn’t from me. It was from the cat! We had a little laugh, and that was about it

I do love candy Love Hearts though… I haven’t had them in years, but I always thinks of them on this day. They are so much better, and more fun than the little red cinnamon hearts!

Yum!

I think Valentine’s Day was always more awesome back in elementary school, when you got a sweet little card from everyone! Everyone was your Valentine for the day! Samantha, over at Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans wrote a nice post about this, and included some good rules for Valentine’s Day! Check it out!

This year, I think we’re going to go to the grocery store, get a couple steaks or some yummy fish, and cook a nice little meal at home together. Resturants are totally out of the question on this day of the year. Good luck to those who do decided to venture out!

What do you think about Valentine’s Day? Do you go all out, or with your lover would go all out? What are your plans?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

P.S. To those who read my last post, I’m feeling quite a bit better. I think I was tired, lonely and frustrated from working nights – things are not best solved when under these conditions… I took a step back and looked at the big picture, and reminded myself that this is far from bad, and that other people need the freedom to feel their own feelings too. We’re all full of happy love again

Sometimes...

Things have been up and down lately. I’m struggling. My running has been great. My eating has been better. My weight is going down. Yet, I’m struggling.

Struggling with my heart. With my love. 

We don’t usually fight, my guy and I. Sure we have the occasional spat, but that’s part of being in a relationship. Lately there’s just a been a distance. It’s the little things.

Me, frustrated, lonely, bugging him about engagements. Him, frustrated and quiet.

With all the things we say and don’t say, I feel like my heart is breaking.

Everywhere I turn people are getting engaged. Yes, I’m happy for them. But with every mention, every Facebook update… It’s a knife in my stomach.

It’s been almost 7 years. 

People say, ‘you’re young’. People say, ‘it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen’. People say a lot of things. That doesn’t mean it makes it feel any better.

*sigh*

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

“Wait for the person who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical, the kind of person who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person; wait for the person who will be your best friend, the only person who will drop everything to be with you at any time no matter what the circumstances, for the person who makes you smile like no one else and when they smile you know they need you. Wait for the person who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats and a tee shirt, but appreciates it when you get dressed up for them. And most of all, wait for the person who will put you up at the center of their universe, because that’s where you belong.”

Everything.

Happy Monday everyone! I can’t believe it’s already a new week… I swear time goes by twice as fast when I’m working nights! Good news… 4 nights down, 1 to go! I’m very much looking forward to a few days off!

My goals for this week are to be more conscious of what I’m putting in my mouth (I don’t think I made the best food choices this week…), run 4 times, including a 13km long run, and go to hot yoga at least once!

Be that girl.

I’m off to bed for now, but I’m planning on getting a good workout in this evening with the boyfriend at the gym! I hope I’m feeling this motivated after I wake up… It’s so easy to just want to stay in bed ALL DAY before going back to work! Haha

What are you doing to stay motivated today? What are your goals for this week? This month?

Did you watch the Super Bowl yesterday? Were you happy with the Giants winning? I honestly only caught bits and pieces… I really wasn’t that into it… Hockey is my sport!!

♥Krista - Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

I had the most wonderful weekend!

I had Friday-Sunday off, (and the boyfriend had the whole week off!!), so we went skiing at Sunshine on the Friday! It was my first time out this year, and it was so fun! It was pretty chilly, and a little too windy… But once you got off the chair lift and down just a little bit into the trees, it was beautiful!

Ski Date!

I use to snowboard, but I gave that up about 2 years ago. I was getting sick of falling and hurting… And I definitely wasn’t fast. My dad was convinced that since I grew up playing ringette/hockey, and could skate, that I would pick up skiing easily. Thankfully I did! (though the first time skiing was not pretty…). I’m much a much faster skier than I ever was snowboarding. I’m not out there to do tricks and stuff, I just want to keep up to the people I go with! I love skiing now! I even managed to tackle a couple easier black runs!

My boyfriend snowboards still. He took a couple face plants which I always enjoy laughing at throughout the day, the poor guy… My worst fall was when I had come to almost a complete stop, and was turning my upper body around to look for my boyfriend… Yup, I fell over while at a complete stand still… Oops.

Saturday we went out for a delicious Red Lobster dinner! Yum Then went to the City and Colour concert!! Ahh, if you haven’t ever listened to City and Colour, you have to! Dallas Green is so amazing. The concert was UNREAL! This is the second time the boyfriend and I have seen him in concert. He’s one of those performers who’s live concerts are even better than the album. I was in music heaven! 

City and Colour!

I seriously don’t have enough words to describe the awesomeness. He is a phenomenal singer. Check it out!

Last week’s workouts! I meant to post this Monday evening, but after work and then the gym, I was bagged.
Monday: Ran 5km, chest/triceps workout
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Ran 10km!!
Friday: Went skiing!
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Ran 6km, arm workout

Last week at work, I took the stairs 5 times one day. 5 TIMES! I have never taken them that many times in one day! From the lowest level where I park, to the third floor where I work, is 133 steps. I did this twice. From the lower level where the cafeteria is, it’s 98 steps. I did this 3 times. That’s a total of 66 flights, or 560 steps! It’s so much more difficult than how it sounds I swear!

It’s become almost a game for me now. What can I do while at work, that will allow me to go tackle those stairs just one more time…

This week I worked days on Monday and Tuesday, both days I took the stairs twice. I’m making a commitment to myself to take them every time I go down for my meal break on my day shifts. When I took them Tuesday, I just walked straight to the stairs, and didn’t even think about the elevator until I started heading up! Nights is a little trickier… I can take them up from the parkade, but I don’t usually ever leave the unit when working nights. Maybe I’ll try to make myself take a little break on my upcoming nights and see if I can get a couple ‘stair sessions’ in…

Today was my one day off before I start my stretch of 5 nights tomorrow. All of my day shifts were crazy busy, even more so than usual. I’m praying for a good stretch of nights… Here’s hoping!

It’s bed time! I’ll leave you with a picture of my baby cat!

Isn't she a cutie?!

What a goof ball…

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

You choose...

Today it’s my mission to choose to the right things. To choose to take the stairs all the way to the top floor where I work… To choose to go to the gym even thought I know I’ll be tired after work, and being Monday it’ll be ridiculously busy… To choose to eat as clean as I can, knowing that in the end it’ll make me feel great!

Not today...

I hope you have a fabulous Monday, and a great rest of the week!

Do you dread Monday’s? Which day of the week is hardest for you? Did you get your workout in today?!

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

The boyfriend and I went skiing today, and tomorrow we are going to a concert! But I’ll leave that for it’s own post!

I know it’s not #fitblog (or even twitter!), but I just want to share my brag for this week! Last night I went to the gym at 9pm because I just needed to get a workout in. I missed going Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday came and I just had to get my butt there. I managed to pound out an awesome 10km run!! That’s the furthest that I’ve run since my half-marathon in May!

Ok! Back to my planned post!

There are many (MANY) different running accessories out there these days… Garmins, iPods, fuel belts, water bottles, etc… But I think one can argue that the most important decision one can make when it comes to running… is what the put on their feet! Ok, ok… I know some people put nothing on their feet, but they are few and far between… (Craziness I tell you!)

That just looks painful to me...

For the past few years now, I’ve been a faithful Asics wearer. LOVE them! I started out with a cheaper, more neutral pair (I think they were Asics GT 2110 or something along those lines…). In high school, I got shin splints REALLY bad one year, probably the worst that I have ever had them. It literally took many weeks for me to be able to do things without having pain/discomfort… Later down the road, while I was in nursing school, I started running more consistently again. After awhile, I found myself feeling the wrath of shin splints all over again. After doing some research, and talking to a couple people more educated that me in the running and running shoes area, I found that not only were my old shoes just way too worn out, but completely wrong for my body mechanics!

After collecting all this new information, it was suggested that I try the Asics Gel-Nimbus model. Well, I haven’t looked back! They are a great shoe, providing comforting cushioning, and amazing shock-absorbing gel. I have found that they have been able to provide me with a more comfortable run, with the right amount of cushioning and stability. Shin splints still happen now and then, but I also have more education on how to prevent them, or help them before they get too bad (stretching and icing!!).

I love my Asics Nimbus 12's!

My first pair was the Nimbus 11′s, and I’m currently running in (and loving!) my Nimbus 12′s (they are exactly like the above picture!). Asics has recently released their Nimbus 13′s… but for some reason, I haven’t been able to get myself to purchase them yet… What if they aren’t as good as my 12′s?! I’ve been reading quite a bit about what other people (friends, bloggers, magazines) like, and I’m wondering if it’s time to try another style? I’ve heard good things about Brooks, Saucony, and Mizunos. Perhaps it’s time to visit the old Running Room, and see what they have to say! Runner’s World has a good shoe finder page that lets you put in the type of show you wear now, and gives you others shoes that are similar. I’m interested in checking some of their suggestions!

One thing I do know I need to look into now, is getting a pair of shoes that are suitable for strength training and other forms of exercise. Some people can wear the same shoes for everything and never have a problem (lucky ducks…). Others need more specifically designed shoes to help the body perform to it’s best. I’ve looked a little bit into some cross-training shoes, but in all honest my heart just hasn’t been there. I always migrate back over to the beautiful running shoes, counting out the kilometres/miles left until I can justify buying another pair! The time is near though… After some of my longer runs lately, my knees are kind of sore, and achy sometimes the next day.

What make/model of running shoe do you wear? Do you have shoes you wear just for running, and another pair for the gym? Do you have any shoe suggestions for me?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

There’s a giveaway going on over at SkinnyRunner’s blog! She’s giving away a pair of gorgeous bright pink Mizuno Wave Rider 15′s!! Check out her blog for details! Leave a comment on her blog post, tweet, or blog about it for entries!