Skipping along

I was so happy with my w5d3 run that I decided to skip to w7 and not do anymore intervals. I have really surprised myself in the fact that I can run 25 mins, 2.2 miles at 11.3 mile pace. I feel great! Today was day 2 and I didn't fuel up long enough ahead of time and I was a little under hydrated but I managed to make it through and learned my lesson. I want everyone to know just how great a program this is and with the combination of eating right and regular exercise I am losing unwanted weight, gaining muscle and becoming the best "me" I can be.

W5D3

I was prepared to go for week 5 day 3 on Friday when I went to bed the night before. I'd figure I'd go at 8 am because it will be cooler, so 6 am wake up call was needed. 6 am rolls around after a long night of tossing and turning worrying about 20 mins of running. Ok I'll go at 10am and get 2 more hours of sleep and run in with Robert when he goes to work... 8 am comes along "Dang it! he closes and wont be going in till later, well I'm too tired anyway, I'll skip it or do it tonight" (five seconds later) "Dang it!, I work till midnight and have to get up really early the next day. Fine I'll go at 10."

10 am rolls around and I'm still quaking in my boots. "I'll just do what I can if I have to stop then I stop big deal." So I drive down to my spot, get out of the car to stretch and realize I haven't had the short walk I usually before the stretch. OK I'll walk back and forth like I'm pacing... whatever. Stretch for a few mins.

"you may begin, now" The voice says. Off I go ... "oh a twinge in my ankle, my calf is not working right, ... blah"

3 mins in my ankle is fine, my calve has calmed down but I mentally think about not being able to do it. I feel myself faltering. "WAIT A MIN!" I realize I don't feel that bad yes I am tired but I have run before tired I will get as far as I can. I think to myself " I can do this I will do this, 5 mins in and I'm fine. Here I go."

"Congratulations ... 10 mins has passed" I feel great! no cramps not out of breath, my calve is fine and I'm going strong. 15 mins, 18 mins, 20 mins! Wooo Hooo! I felt so good when I passed 20 I didn't even realize I had done it. I started my cool down like the lady said but I wanted more. I picked up the pace 2 mins into the cool down and ran for another 3 mins back to the car.

I had done it and done it without dieing! I am so proud of myself foe not psyching myself out mentally. I really found that after 3 mins I found my stride (still a 12.5 min mile I am going to work on speed soon), and my breathing pattern, and before I knew it I was going for 20 mins and 1.6 miles.

What should you take away from this? It is a mental game, once you find your groove you can go for much longer than you think. Don't put yourself in a poor mindset, believe that you can achieve any reasonable goal you put your mind to, and know your limits. If I can do this anyone who wants it enough can. I may be a lot slower than some but it about going a distance of time, once I get there I can work to improve my speed.

Cheers

The dreaded w5d3

Day 2 was hard for several reasons, I did not have my partner to cheer on, I got little and poor sleep, I ran out of water near the end, and a few other things but I did it and it felt really good. Tomorrow is the mid program test... 20 mins of running now walking. I am apprehensive but I am going to do my best and that is all I can do.

I will fill you in after wards on how I did and how I feel. wish me luck :)

Until tomorrow

Motivational Monday

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I worked Saturday, it was very busy with all the students coming back to town looking for those great deals on movies and music. Sunday the hubby and I had a nice day together getting laundry finished and lounging around the house watching some movies. Monday, back to the grind of running and working.

Today was W5D1. Catie was skeptical but we rocked it. To say it was not too bad would be an understatement. I really feel that at the end of the 5 minutes of running that we could have done at least 2 more maybe three. There was this zone that we got in to. Breathing and leg tiredness was not an issue. Day 2 will be a breeze with 8 mins to run. Friday is the big one where most people have the hardest time. 20 full minutes of running without a break. I am not going to psych myself out about the 20 mins instead I will psych myself up for achieving a huge goal. I have music playing while the c25k app runs in the background and I chatter with Catie to keep her mind off of the fact that we are running. If I can change the subject from running to who is annoying us right now; the new additions to our household; or even buggers and how they make it hard to breathe; then we run longer and are actually surprised when it is time to stop running. No, we probably wont be able to cure cancer; take over the world; or figure out what men are thinking, but it gets the job done.

I really believe in this program and if you can stick to it you will succeed even if there are small set backs and repeating a day is necessary, continue on. Find a group of people to talk to, keep a running log, try new paths, and keep on running!

Doing great, feeling... tired

Lately I have been tired during the day but not so much at night. I have been having a hard time sleeping through the night and wanting to nap during the day. Part of the not sleeping at night is the newest dog that hogs the whole bed so she will be on the floor tonight and that should make it better. I wonder if I am eating enough since I rarely hit the 1200 cal limit and wonder if I should shake up my metabolism and go to 1500 for a while.

As far as running, I completed week 4 today (yea!) by myself because I had to work early and my running partner doesn't want to get up to run at 7am which I do not blame her for. It actually was nice because it was cool and quiet no one was at the mall yet except the truck drivers so I got to listen to music and watch the birds. I have to say that it is another feeling running by yourself and those of you who do it regularly I have to ask how do you stay honest? It would be so easy to slow a bit or not get a full lap in without someone there watching you. You mush have so much dedication. Don't worry, I was honest today and really felt like I could do another interval but I kept to the program so I wouldn't hurt tomorrow. I really have a great bunch of friends who are supportive and curious about how I'm doing. Sometimes I feel as if I hog the conversation because I am so excited about the program.

Keep it coming.

It's all about the little things...

So...
I thought since I felt so good after yesterdays run that I would try another W4D2 on my in between day just to get a bit more out of it. I found out that it is all bout the little things in life that make or break you.

It started out just like any other run day, up at 8am and a banana for some fuel, running clothes on (no turning back when you are already dressed for it), play a bit on the computer, head to the mall where I start my runs. That is where the similarity ends. Instead of starting my run at 10am with Catie, I planned on going by myself. I also sat with another friend of mine till a little after noon and had nothing else to eat so as to not be running on food sitting in my stomach. Then I proceeded to change where I ran. Instead of running the parking lot loop which is flat I decided to go the 1.5 miles home which is all slightly uphill till a very large hill that even walkers cringe at. Needless to say i did not do the intervals for the full amount of time that was in the plan, it was quite a bit hotter even with the breeze, I had no one to push me to keep going, it was all uphill, and my fuel tank was empty by the time I started. I even think I did not do enough stretching before the light turned geen to get across the highway to begin my run.

It however was not a total failure because even though I did not do the intervals I a. was moving, b. tried something new and a bit more challenging, and c. I made it home without incident. I have learned that even though I want to move along more quickly I should not try to change too many things at once. Picking one thing to change to make it more challenging would have been best, but I am a learn by doing kind of person. Tomorrow I will return to my tried and true training practices and complete week 4. And yes, I still am having a great time running, something I never thought I would be able to say.

Cheers

I love C25K!

Week 4 day 2 was a breeze, but due to some extra curricular activities for Catie, she was hurting. We finished just a short distance behind where we stopped on Monday  but we finished it. She got her breathing under control which is wonderful so next time when we go a bit faster she should be good and we can let our legs do the work.  She and I have been going for time but we get about 1.5 miles under our belts during our runs, and the more running we do the farther we get, I am hoping for week 5 we get closer to 1.75 miles.

I am having so much fun with C25K I can't wait to get up and go in the morning and when the run is over I want to go back and do it again. I love C25K!

thought I might do a little off time run...

I was planning on doing a bit of running on my off day today, but boy was I wrong. I went bowling on Sunday and didn't feel it in my hips till this morning. I think it is because I worked and extra couple of hours making my day pretty long on my feet yesterday. I didn't get off till midnight and to bed till probably 1am and woke up around 7:30. I tried to go back to sleep but it just didn't happen so here I am my brain wanting to run but my body screaming "NO!". Maybe by this evening I will be a bit looser and get some time in.

Cheers

I'm lovin' it!

Life, running, my husband, my friends, my dogs... wow, I'm sure there is more.

I feel so alive right now, the new dog that was terrified of people is settling in nicely, my running is going great, and my husband is sooooooooo supportive in everything I do. He truly is my bestest friend and trusted companion and even my sole mate.  I don't know where I would be without him.

I did a silly thing yesterday. I had a desert that had 1,000 calories in it. But I did it and I own it and I'm fine with it. I won't be doing that again for a while because it sent my innards into a frenzy and I don't need that much indulgence. I loved it while eating it, but 10 mins later I was like "eh". I could have had something else smaller gotten the same satisfaction eating it but not done so bad on the numbers side of things. Lesson learned... again. yes this was the second time I splurged so badly. This morning I was up a few pounds but I know that I am gaining muscle as well so a bit of plateau is not too bad.

Thanks again for you all being there to support me and push me to succeed.

Cheers

W3D3 Complete!

I ran alone today, but that is fine because it will happen when Catie has to go back to Law school. It was really nice having the ipod coach in my ear, now I need to figure out if I can get music to play as well. I am really lucky to have started this program with someone because I may have given up by now on my own. Those of you who have done it alone, YOU ROCK!

The morning was really nice and cool with a bit of a breeze so I ran with a light jacket on to get more sweat going and to kinda get used to running in more heat because I know it will happen eventually. I am having a bit of pain in my knees while running, it is mostly on the inside of the front. I think my ankles roll inwards and that might be the problem but I can't get new shoes yet.

I am a bit worried for w4 and the longer run, but like every week before I have been worried then got through it with very few problems. It is just my nerves and not ever being able to do anything like this before.I can't say enough times how much I love this program for running and choosing to eat healthier.

Till next time, cheers.

new friends, fun times

Tomorrow is the last day of week 3 and I can't wait. I have been really busy getting my running and new work schedule to function well together. My partner and I have decided to run in the mornings while we can before she goes back to school, and after we will run together as often as possible but sadly most will be individual runs. I think we will be ok because we started together and have encouraged each other to keep going when it got tough.

I downloaded the podcast to my ipod instead of trying to look at my watch because it is getting harder to do the math in my head while focusing on my run. I really think it helped to have an extra cheerleader there to keep track of the intervals for me.

Because I needed yet another thing on my plate right now, I rescued a stray dog who you could tell wanted attention, but because of previous owners kicking, yelling, and beating her she was terrified to get close to people. My dogs have decided they like her (especially our little boy ) and I think they will help her feel at home until she can be found a suitable home that will work with her to socialize her properly.

I will report on our progress and hope to hear from you who read this. I am anxious to hear what words of wisdom or whatever you have on any topics you want to discuss. I started this to tell my story about weight loss and life changes but it can grow into a camaraderie of people getting by anyway they know how.

Cheers

I feel like a runner

Wow what a great run! Week 3 Day 1 officially in the books. To those of you that don't know I am doing the couch to 5k running plan. This week is 90 sec. jog, 90 walk, 3 min jog, 3 min walk... rinse repeat. It does not sound too hard but the jogging portion of 3 mins is double last weeks portion so my partner was a little bit weary of it. We rocked it! I feel so great afterwords that I want to keep going, but I know I need to stay on the plan so I don't get burned out or try too much and hurt myself.

Breakfast was a banana 2 hrs before the run for a bit of fuel and a bowl of instant oatmeal and a rice cake after 260 calories total.

Yesterday just for fun my husband wanted me to try on a pair of his pants to get a feeling of where I was with my measurements. I did not take measurements before I started, but there was no way I could get his 33" waits past even my thighs before I started 4.5 weeks ago. Yesterday, I got them on, buttoned, and sat comfortably in them. Now I am not ready to call them my correct size but wow, I had no idea that even though I was not losing weight I was actually losing inches. I am building muscle and losing fat at the same time so the scale says the same thing but my pants are getting looser!

I have so many supporters and cheerleaders that I would love to thank. You have made it possible for me to continue everyday especially when I am not completely up to the task. My days that start out with a run are good days.