The things I must give up...

Cheese!

For one, I apparently gave up any sense of pride because I am now posting nasty sweaty photos of myself on the internet.  Oh yes.  I went there.  You will suffer the consequences.  This is the beauty that awaits my husband after I finish a grueling first-time speed workout.  I've never looked better...

Truthfully, the workout kicked my trash.  I went to the park next to my house and decided that I would sprint for about 30 seconds at full-out speed, and then walk/jog for 30 seconds.  Rinse, wash, repeat.  And that's what I did.  And let me tell you, it was not easy.  My legs felt like jello after the first two sprints.  I couldn't figure out why I was so sluggish.  My recovery time was much longer than my running time (stupid asthma was trying to make a comeback).  However, I felt a lot better when I got home and realized that the reason I was so freakin' beat was because I had been running at a 6 minute mile pace during my sprints.  Uhhh, yeah.  That's way fast for me.  Wish I could run that fast all the time...  :)

I must say, this has been a great week for me.  I've gotten FIVE workouts in, and I have another one planned for tomorrow.  I've stuck to my schedule perfectly, and I am feeling a nice sense of pride because of it.  My legs have stayed surprisingly strong considering the beating I've put them through this week.  I'm happy with that--I didn't lose all that much muscle during my break!

I've also begun a strength training program for my core and my legs.  My physical therapist recommended it to me to make me a better runner.  The core work is fantastic!  It SUCKS but it works you out so well.  I will have rocking abs in no time.  And by "no time" I mean in like two years.  But still...these are the things I look forward to.

Also, as a side note, I am cutting my hair.  I will be cutting somewhere between 7-8 inches off.  It isn't that I don't like my hair long (because right now I am actually enjoying it); it is that when I run it drives me absolutely BONKERS.  Swish, swish, swish, swish.  Back and forth across my back, acting as a nice washrag soaking up all my sweat for me.  It's seriously sick.  I can't handle having to wring my hair out after a run.  So, I am cutting off the part that hits my back.  Yep.  These are the things I must give up in order to run.  Goodbye hair.  Thanks for the memories.  You will be missed.

My hair has another 4 inches to go that you can't see in this photo.  Bye bye washrag!

I'll admit--I added this photo just so you could remember that I don't look like a sweaty she-beast all the time.  And to show you how awesome mascara is for those of us gingers with translucent eyelashes.  These are things you need to know in life.