Tis the season..

Running song of the moment: Lisztomania - Phoenix (or pretty much anything by Vampire Weekend)

I figured since it has been awhile I should post something! First - what a journey 2009 has been (just in case I forget to write again this year)

I have lost 38lbs since January. Truly amazing. It hasn't been easy at all. But fitting back into size 6 jeans this weekend has made it worth it. (I was barely in a 12 - closer to a 14) I look at old pictures of myself and I see myself but it blows my mind that was me.

I definitely feel more confident and better about myself. I remember going to meeting in my favorite navy pin stripe suit - usually with a sweater over my buttondown to take away from my inability to button my suit coat and to camoflague my rolls(ha) Last week I went to wear that suit - couldn't - even with a belt I was swimming in my pants! :)

2009 has been a rollercoaster- new things, new town, etc. I'm so thankful for rediscovering running. :) 3 months and some days until my first half marathon - I'm really excited.

My other goal for 2010 - lose about 10 more lbs (or fit into a 2/4) and complete my first triathlon. Of course I have other races I'm planning on running (5ks, marthas run 10k, and broadstreet)

So thanks to all my friends who have been on this trail with me.. And for those of you scared of running.. Try it. Walk 30 minutes 5x a week. Then start adding in short run/walk intervals.. Greatest sport - it's cheap (just add shoes and maybe a friend), you can run anywhere, and you can really clear your head :)





Happy holidays and happy running :)

These lights will inspire you..

Song of the moment: Run This Town - jay.z, Rihanna, and kanye west

So, I haven't posted anything in awhile. I ran the great race in 29:26 - 30 seconds faster than my Gatorade 5k race. Now I'm looking ahead to other races. I was inspired this past weekend to finally run a half marathon (and everything seems like a good idea when drinking some beers :)) so in march I'm running the shamrock half marathon in virginia beach!

I'm running a 4-mile race in a few weeks, maybe an 8k next month during the Philly marathon, and I will probably tackle a turkey trot :) Other than that I'm just trying to bump my mileage up each week - I did run 5 miles two weeks ago, I was proud of myself, I'm around 4mi now.

I have officially lost 31.5 pounds - I'm hoping to drop 10 more by the holidays. I think by really focusing on running will help with that. Running has been very theraputic for me - from losing my job in January to my break-up this summer. I am glad to have running back in my life!

I'm definitely running toward something new - new town (Philadelphia), new job, joining a running club out here, and a new outlook on things. I just need to meet someone who runs - haha.

I also think I am going to drop my gym membership - stick to trail running, abs at home, and free weights. The la fitness here doesn't have a pool :(

One final note - don't eat anything an hour for a run :)

I see these changes...

Song of the Moment: Run This Town - Jay-Z / Rihanna / Kanye West

WELL! I did it! I finished my first 5k in 18 months. Believe me, I was really nervous about it. I was worried I wouldn't be able to finish, I'd run slowly, lots of things. But I finished! My goal was to run 35 minutes or less...

So for a quick comparison:

On March 29, 2008 I ran in the Just A Short Run 5k, my results are as follows:

Katie Cavanaugh, 26, Pittsburgh, PA             43:48    44:37   14:23

A sad and pathetic 14:23 mile pace. Ugh!

My results today:

2504

KATIE

CAVANAUGH

PITTSBUGH

PA

F2529

27

F

0:29:56

0:31:15

1450

(my pace was a 9:36/mi)

I felt really, really, really, awesome about that. It's good to know all of my hard work paid off (btw - my time is 29:56, it's when I crossed the start - not adjusted is 31:15)

I'm just glad if anyone ever googles me - I'll have a faster time to show for myself. :) Proof that dropping 28 pounds DOES make you run faster. (Oh yeah and training for it)

So I'm super psyched about this!! :) Next race - the Great Race in September!!

Glad to have you back...

Gym Song of the Moment: Lasso - Phoenix

My gym reopened yesterday. I didn't have time (or the energy) to go back yesterday. I did a lot of thinking yesterday and decided that I could and would step foot back in LA Fitness. That jerk wasn't going to win.

So at 12:15 today, I walked back into LA Fitness in Bridgeville, sad, nervous, excited, and sorry for all those involved. I was happy to see an abundance of cars in the parking lot. I was happy to see people back working out. I was glad to be back. Although, the feelings I had in those brief 5 seconds as they scanned my member tag - as my eyes darted back to the aerobics room, the sadness that filled my body thinking about those women who were just going to workout and have some fun... my thoughts and prayers with them and their families.

I lifted uppers for about 25 minutes, it was tough - especially because I hadn't lifted in almost 3 weeks. I then did 6 minutes of planks and abs followed by a 40 minute/3.6 mile run. I'm going to feel all of this tomorrow (or in 30 minutes when I am at work)

With all of that said, LA Fitness, I am so glad you are back. It is truly a wonderful gym full of wonderful people that work there and individuals working out there...

I like you just the way you are...

Song of the moment: Shakira - She Wolf

I'm headed out for a run in a bit (although I may wait until Hell's Kitchen is over...I'm addicted to that show) Don't know why since I can't really cook!

Anyhow, just wanted to share a pretty amazing (and a bit more healthy) recipe, if you love spaghetti!

I have eaten it before - but had forgotten about it - Spaghetti Squash! It's pretty easy to cook and you can find some recipes for it, but you can actually make it into spaghetti. First, cut the squash in half (long way) THEN - scoop out the middle with the seeds (similar to a pumpkin) Drizzle some oil in the squash. Put it on a pan - face down, bake at 375 for an hour.

After it's down, take a fork and scoop the inside out - the "guts" when scooped out after being cooked looks like spaghetti. Then - you can toss some spaghetti sauce on it, a little parm if you have a problem like myself! BOOM! :) (I also had a spinach salad while I waited) When I was at Giant Eagle today, since I went for 3 things and left with a shopping cart full, I tried a new dressing - Marzetti Raspberry Cabernet Vinaigrette! (It's low fat and amazing.. and yummy) Toss in some crumbled bleu if you want or some craisins and nuts...

Avocado on some triscuits are a yummy snack too....

That's all I got. :)

It's Gettin Hot In Here...

Song for the Moment: Sweet Dreams - Beyonce

So, my gym is still closed ( :( ) I've been doing strength training at home, which hasn't been as effective, but the gyms accepting our memberships are kind of out of the way. Fortunately I have my free weights, a stability ball, and some DVDs.

Other than that - last 17 days before the wedding... I'm 8lbs short of my goal - but that was my "stretch" goal. If I lose 3 more pounds I'll be somewhere I'm pretty happy with that. :) I've lost 24lbs to date - 7% body fat (sweeeet) and have discovered a brand new wardrobe that I had. Example - I have a beautiful wool gab black suit from J.Crew that I must have been fat girl in a little coat squeezed into that sucker. I wore it when I worked in my uncle's office a few weeks ago - not only could I button the jacket (something I was unable to do pretty much as long as I can remember) but the pants were big. It was the same when I wore my navy blue pin stripe suit!

I ran last night - I waited until night since it was 90 degrees yesterday and thought that would help. Yeah, no. Throw in I have been fighting a horrid cough/cold - that heat last night did not help. But, I finished, I ran a good portion of Cochran Road this time headed up towards Washington (that evil hill) I had to walk for about 90 seconds because I was coughing up a lung ;-) I'm definitely feeling stronger on my runs.


Finally - doing a 5k on the 30th. I'm pretty psyched. :)

Sing For The Moment...

First - my thoughts go out to those families affected by the shootings at LA Fitness yesterday in Bridgeville. That's the gym I belong to and it's really scary to think that a place I considered safe and a place to relax and relieve stress - I may not be able to step foot in to. I'm sure I'm not alone..

I had a dream last night that I went there to lift and it was just awful... the whole thing was so senseless and so sad.. and so many friends and their family members had close calls last there. My friends parents had just left. My sister's friend almost went to that class but decided not to. Myself, I was getting ready to head to the gym around 730 when I decided to continue being lazy (for whatever reason) and went to make dinner instead. I had my gym shorts on and was packing up my gym bag. For whatever reason, I didn't go, and I'm so thankful for that. My friend texted me at 820 telling me not to go near the gym... that sick feeling you get in your stomach, ugh. So thankful none of my friends were hurt. So sorry for all of those there and who were involved.

For now, I'm going to go to the other LA Fitness in the area... I have to step foot in the Bridgeville one sometime to get my training log I left with my trainer last week. (Who is fortunately ok!) The next few days I'll try out that one, see how the commute is - and just do some free weights and abs at home...

I ran tonight, in the super muggy conditions that exist in Pittsburgh. Oh man. It was hard. Running up Cochran Road from Cedar was so hard. 1/2 mile up hill. Made it two minutes. Had to stop and catch my breath - then continued the trek up the hill...

It was great to clear my brain though...