Running Accessories

I have continued with my running (YAY ME) but I have been hard on myself for not improving quite as much I would like.  I did finally get to actually invest in some real running clothes.  I bought this cool pink shirt and some black capri pants that I am hoping will motivate me to run even more. I need running shoes too, but since they are so expensive they are on the waiting list. 

Running 2012

OK so this photo isn't me.  I am not that trim and my stride is no where near that long, but I am still running.  I have managed to only do two runs per week for the last two weeks instead of the 3-4 I want to do.  I started my 12 week program over before the holidays at a faster pace and trying to push myself to move beyond a snail's pace.  Some days I feel like I am doing better, and others like today I don't feel like I am improving at all.  Today I decided to walk on my street and run repeats on the hill that I dread so much.  The hill was brutal and it was freezing so 3 hills is all I got in.  Doesn't sound like much, but my heart and lungs were convinced otherwise.  I am also really trying to pay attention to the fuel that enters my body, again have not lost one red pound.  I am trying to keep my mind focused and see if I can make more progress.  I still have bigger things I want to do, I just have to stay committed and focused.  I admit it is hard in this dreary winter time, but I know every year June rolls around and I realize all the time I wasted.  Hopefully this year I will change my life the way I intend to instead of letting my mind win the battle.  I am strong!  I can do this!  I am also wanting to check into Crossfit or the YMCA as alternatives.

I SURVIVED MY FIRST 5K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't die and I wasn't last so all in all I consider it a success.  I don't have my time yet, but it will need improvement, but that is okay with me.  First one done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Running Update Week 11

Week 11...Just to keep me honest I am checking in. After reaching the milestone of 30 minutes continuous running I have now started the program over at a faster pace since all my body systems have now adapted. If you know me I look do not just DO something, I like to do it WELL so I will keep chugging along for now. My body is no longer in shock every time I lace up my shoes and I actually need new ones now. I also look forward to my runs again to see what I can make myself do. YAY ME!

Running Update

 UPDATE:  I have now lost count of my weeks. ...I am 9 or 10, but it really does not matter anymore because I want to continue, I will continue and I look forward to my runs even though they are still very challenging and I had a rough week of CNS fatique recently that made me think I was going to die.  

I have altered my running plan to try to increase my speed and distance.  Once I made it to run 30 minutes continuously I felt I really needed to back up and start working on intervals to get me into better shape.  I am thinking I probably won't run the 5K this weekend and that is okay because I have been running consistently for over 9 weeks and that in itself makes me happy.  I want to run the 5K when I feel most ready and I don't want it to end up being a discouraging thing instead of a positive thing because I am hard on myself.   I will keep you posted.  I am drinking water now - woohoo and eating more fruits each day so I am trying very hard to change my lifestyle.  I am really not dropping weight yet, but I am proud and happy with my progress and that is what I want.

  I am a runner now...not a fast one, but a runner!

8 Weeks DONE

28 Minutes straight baby!!!

Hello

It is hard to believe how infrequently I get to update my blog lately.  I guess life has various seasons that we go through and recently I have not had time or content to write about.  I am focusing on making some changes for myself that I hope I can stick to and will improve my quality of life.  I am on week 8 of my couch to 5k training.  I have been excited and discouraged all at the same time with this.  I ran one mile continuously this week and was really down on myself that is all I could do and that I am no faster than I am, but then I tried to pick myself up and realize I started this program running (jogging at best) 60 seconds at a time.  I guess I expect too much from myself.  I have been eating better most of the time and I have actually tried drinking water (which I hate).  With all of this I still have not lost one red pound!!  I am not doing this as a weight loss only thing, but I admit that if the pounds were dropping somehow those runs might not seem so difficult.  I still have that little voice inside my head that one day wants to complete a marathon and then I look at where I am and think she is one crazy lady.   I still think we are eating out too much.  I try to pack my lunches but I get bored with them easily and it seems like nights during the school year have so many obligations and I am so tired only about half the meal I plan actually get made.   I am trying to make it work, but blog stalking is about all I have accomplished lately. 

6 Weeks

Yesterday completed six ...count em s-i-x "6" weeks of 5K training.   Yesterday was the first time I have not completed the mission as scheduled.  I had run the last week and a half intervals on the treadmill due to timing, but yesterday was beautiful and I wanted to savor and enjoy the outside so off I went.  I probably should have prepared and drank more water, but at this point I really thought if my program says to run 25 minutes straight without stopping that my body would just do what I told it to do because it had already been surprising me.  WRONG!  First there was the dead snake...when I first say him/her in my path I wasn't entirely certain he/she was dead but my options were oncoming traffic, breaking my leg going off the road or believe it to be dead as I thought it was.  Thankfully it was dead and I just had to run over it....have I mentioned I hate snakes.  Anyway at this point I am thinking I am pretty tough and I got this baby licked.  I can see my destination where I will turn around for my halfway point and thinking it looks pretty far away.  Next thing I know I am right there in this large parking lot making my turn and about to head  back when BAM...my legs just stopped running (jogging at best really).  Stopped!  I am thinking to myself and looking down realizing I did not tell my legs they could stop, but they just did like it or not.  I walked for about a minute and was on my way back and it was then feeling really, really hard.  I felt like my legs were lead!  I could see the end in sight and my house was in full view and I thought I can do this and guess what happened - you guessed it...my legs just stopped.  Again I was confused because I thought they did what I told them to do, but I realized they had a mind of there own.  At this point I wanted to cry.  I was feeling very defeated and could not understand.  I know there were cars in both directions, hot humid weather and a wind that I had not had on the treadmill for the last week, but I still felt like I was ready.

Later I looked it up on the internet and it seems my muscles ran out of glycogen and this happens even to marathon runners and the muscles basically quit on their own to recover.  Who knew?  I guess I should have, but today I have been able to reflect and realize that even though I have not lost "one red pound" as I like to say, I have gained a lot!  I have actually stuck with this program and exercised three days a week for six weeks straight.  That is huge!  Not only that, I actually like it and look forward to it.  Even though I do breathe hard, my lungs and heart are not what has been the hardest...my muscles and legs are my sore areas.  I am proud of myself.  I want to complete this.  I am still not doing the distance that I think I need at this point, but I am happy that after this amount of time I still WANT to do it! 

Tomorrow I turn 44 years old and it is time I take time for me!  My house needs cleaning and the laundry is behind and mildew on the back of the house needs to be cleaned, but right now I need to focus on me and the rest will come.  I like this new me.

5 Weeks Done

I may not be fast, but today I finished week 5 of my training that consisted of 20 minutes of continuous running.  I had to psyche myself up because I really didn't think I could do it.  I did it on the treadmill which probably made it a little easier but I was still sweating like crazy.  My lungs and heart seem to adapted to my new life...my legs are sometimes not so sure.  I got so excited today that I ran again during my cool down because I was so happy.  I remember that sweating is a good thing :)   I will do this!

Couch to 5k

I am still hanging on and keeping up with the program.  This week consisted of 3min run 90 second walk 5 minute run and repeat.  I did this week on the treadmill because the wind was up or it was dark each time I was doing my run.  So far I highly recommend this free app for my phone.   Four weeks complete!!!  YIPPEE!!

Slow and Steady She Goes

Week 4 has begun.  Run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes.  Warm up and cool down not included in these times.  Slowly I am chugging along and trying to make progress.  Breathing today was easier than I expected and my calves burned during walking but I didn't notice it during my running (jogging).  My biggest challenge today was keeping my phone from dropping because I was using my husbands headphones since mine broke and also keeping the music what I wanted during the run.  I still found myself looking at the timer to see how much time I had left during each run, but I managed to keep my head in the game and complete each one and I was really doubting that I would be able to when I started. 

3 Weeks Complete

No this isn't me, but it was one of the few blonde running figures I could find on google so I chose her.  Three weeks down and so far I have survived.   This week consisted of 90 second run followed by 90 second walk and three minute run followed by three minute walked- both of these repeated for two rotations.  Total time is 30 minutes with warmup and cool down.  I have really been proud even though three minutes of continuous running (jogging) is not even close to where I need to be, but I am trying really hard to stay with the program and not do too much too soon.  I'll keep you posted.

RUN

Week Two

Week two and I have completed day one of three.  So far so good! 

The Bucket List - 5K

You have heard me say it before, but I truly want to run a 5K.  I have prepared for one before and something always happen and I have fallen off the wagon.  This time I want to finish this!!!  I want the bumper sticker, the t-shirt, and the proud feeling of accomplishment it will bring.  I have started my training and the hubby is even doing it too!!  I used to run years ago and I hope my muscles will eventually remember that this is not an attempt to kill them :)   I just want to stick with it and do it once and for all so please send me any words of encouragement that you see fit. My primary goal is not for weight loss, but that would be a big fat BONUS!  November 19th...I have to do this!