Week 3, Already?

Today was Day one of week three.  It's a miserable day in North Carolina, temperature wise, and precipitation wise.  I decided after doing bus duty in the frigid temps that I was going to kick it old school, and spend some time with my ever so precious dreadmill... AKA treadmill.  I was really not sure about the whole change of scenery since I was already planning on altering my workout for the new week.  I wondered if the new environment would be too much, and perhaps push me over the edge?  Or worse yet, make me walk.  I've literally been thinking and worrying about this workout all day, Would I be able to handle it?  


Before the last bus came, I stepped into the office and had a small conversation with a high school junior (our school's receptionist's daughter) about my back hurting.  Since I've been run/walking, my lower back is achy.  She (a track runner) told me that it was probably just a strain.  Then I mentioned that today I had to go a whole three minutes running without stopping, and lets just say that I'm quite impressed with her ability to hold back her laughter.  She look at me as if I was some crazy old lady who is COMPLETELY out of shape, then she realized that I was serious and corrected her response.  I find this mildly comical and somewhat depressing at the same time.  I thought my exploration of becoming a runner was something I should be proud of, not something others would find ridiculous.  So, with my bruised ego, I made dinner when I got home, popped it into the oven and then went upstairs to change.  


Once on the treadmill and plugged into my most favorite tunes with Jon Hayden's copycat version of my couch to 5K podcast, I was ready to get going.  I did my five minute warm-up, on to my 90 second run, followed by a 90 second recovery, and then I was there.  Yep, there at the three minutes of running, running without stopping.  Luckily for me, my ability to focus really well on abstract objects (thank you lamaze training) and sweet tunes being pumped into my ears I was able to run the entire interval!  Three minutes of recovery, and then I was back to running.  And now that it's said and done, it really wasn't very challenging at all.  It actually felt like my workout was easier than normal.  I did an additional 90 second run before my 5 minute cool down, just because!  Crazy right?  So I think that the dreadmill, is not quite as dreadful as I thought.   But instead,  my neighborhood hills are the dreaded road blocks in my very near future.  Being a girl who grew up in southern Louisiana, I have a special loathing for hills.  Oh sure, they're gorgeous to look at, make for interesting scenery, but they suck when it comes to exercise(biking, walking, running).  

Can you guess what my new obsessive worry will be until Friday?  Yep, will I be able to do this outside on the hills? I'm hoping the weather turns around, and I can run outside Friday.  But secretly between us, if I have to do the inside easy workout again, that'll be OK.  

Day 3 of Week 2

So I've done this for 2 weeks now.  My little Run/Walk.  Today was an interesting day for a few reasons.  First, I had a special homemade podcast/mp3 created by Jon put together with my favorite music du jour, with voiceovers telling me when to do what.  Another reason today was different was that it was barely 40 degrees when I went out for my run, and this is no small feat!  I hate cold weather.  But, I bundled up, hat, sweatshirt, and gloves and pushed on.  I was so thankful that it wasn't raining as they had predicted yesterday.  Finally, I altered my "way" of running.  I've been running as the first podcast guy suggested  heel to toe, well I did that, and it was hard.  I felt like Fred Flintstone, literally pounding the pavement.  I've done it all along for the last 2 weeks, but it's been exhausting, and probably not the most efficient way to "run".  Today I decided to try something a little different, Jon's been telling me to run on my mid-foot/forefoot, so I gave it a try.  It allowed for my pace to be a little bouncier, and it was much easier.  I'm not sure if the ease is due to the form, or the music, because it could be either or both.  :)

Yesterday, I made the most amazing Oreo cake.  It is delicious.  I had two pieces yesterday, and I'm pretty sure that by the end of today, I will have had two more pieces.  So this run, was for that cake!

I'm really looking forward to Week 3, I've got to get the "instructions" and send them on to Jon, so that he can compose the next personalized podcast/mp 3 for me.  Today while running, I noticed one dog, one cat, many buds, lots of blossoms and two robins.  But I do have one question, Dear Mother Nature, where oh where has spring gone?  Our weather people are predicting a possible flurry in the morning, I certainly hope they are wrong.  Until Wednesday, hang strong, and survive Monday and Tuesday.

Day 2 of week 2

So today was day 2 of the week two's training.  Oh my!  It was definitely my hardest day out there yet.  Haha, I know you're thinking that I've only done my little training routine for a total of 5 days.  Regardless, I'm going to attribute today's difficulties to a variety of reasons ranging from 1) junk food, 2) not enough water, and 3) hmm, I'm shy one reason... So, let's blame it on allergies.  :)  But, I did it... My legs got very very tired towards the end of the run, and my breathing was quite laborious.  Ahhhhhh, I don't know what I've gotten myself into.

So now I'm on a quest to figure out how to make this better.  I've come up with one way, and I think it'll help.  I'm going to try to have my husband make a podcast for me, using 1) my favorite music, 2) Robert's schedule of running and 3) the hubs voice over to tell me when I need to run, when I need to walk, and when I need to warm up and cool down.  I have to say, having a techie hubby has its perks.  He may spend more time with his computer than with me, but I am starting to see some of the benefits.  :-) So I've got a few good ideas for songs, 1) Cee Lo Green's Forget You, 2) B.O.B.'s Price Tag... and that's it for now.. Maybe the 3) Bruno Mars Grenade.  If you have any suggestions sent them my way!  I've got to get 30 minutes of tunes together for my new and improved Podcast by Jon Hayden.

Today I took along the Garmin to see exactly how far I was run/walking and at what type of pace.  LOL, it's certainly nothing to brag about, but here are the stats:  I went 1.97 miles, in 29:30 minutes, with an average pace of 14:59.  I'm not sure how this program is going to get me to a 5K, I'm becoming quite the skeptic.

Jon's actually talking about going with me on Sunday.  Last time I went for a run/walk with him, he ran circles around me and it did nothing for our relationship LOL.  Hopefully, he has learned what is acceptable and what is not.  Tomorrow I'm making a Scrumptious OREO cake!  I can't wait to taste it.  Maybe I'll take a picture of my cake for my blog on Sunday!  Happy Weekend everyone!! PS the rain will be here on Sunday, I wonder if it'll be a treadmill day, or an outside day.... It'll be interesting.

Day... I quit counting :) But Run/Walk #4

So, I was going to try and blog everyday, but um, life got the best of me.  So, it's been a few days, lets see what I can recap.  Saturday, Jon and I spent the day painting.  Sunday, we rewarded ourselves and went to see a movie, after that, I did my run on Sunday, and survived.  It was a cold day, so I wore a sweatshirt, with some running tights, and shorts.  Sunday I also borrowed some groovy running shorts that have many pockets, and one pocket in particular served as my iPod holder!  Such a tiny luxury, but oh it was exciting for me.  I think I'll be wearing these shorts until they fall apart.  Jon, I will be hiding them from you! :)

Monday brought back the dreaded work week.  The good news is that I'm off Friday, the bad news is that there are many days between Monday and Thursday, 4 to be exact.  Back to the good news... I've made it to Thursday!  It's been an emotionally exhausting week, and I officially decided that I will not be returning to the school I've been at for the last 2 years.  I will try to transfer internally, and I'm hoping that works out. If not, then it's time for a change, and change is not always a bad thing!

Today, was day one of Week Two of my "couch to 5K" experience.  I still have two more days to get through this week, Friday and Sunday.  I wasn't necessarily struggling with my air intake today, but mainly with the pain that was radiating from my calf/shin.  Miraculously, as I started that last 5 minute cool down, all of a sudden, I notice my legs were better.  Ironic, or just mental?  I think it's totally a mental block.  I was very unmotivated to run today, but I pushed myself out.

The next two weeks are going to be hard, as the weather people are predicting March is going to go out like a lion, lower than normal temps.  But I'll keep keeping on, and I'll let you know how it all works out.

Random Things I noticed: 
On the first day of the workout for Week One and Two, I can say I hated the music on the podcast, and can only focus on the pain and agony of running. However by day three, I can sing along to the stupid techno crap Mr. Ullrey calls music and actually grown to like it.  Mr. Ullrey and I have become quite acquainted since I get to listen to him talk his way through my workout.  He wants me to email him my thoughts... I'm not sure he'd appreciate them at this time.  So, as my mom taught me, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  

I don't actually sweat during the duration of the workout.  For me, it's the last 5 minute cool down that drenches me.  Not a bad thing considering I'm always cold.  When I walk/run or run/walk... I'm never cold after that!  It's like a free heater.

As I was running today, I thought about how delightful it would be if I lived in Az, where the weather is tolerable all year long.  In the winter, I could run after work.  In the summer, I could run before work.  NC is not conducive to any long term running for me.  Sunny weather and Warm temps is what I require! 

Day 3... Catch me if you can, oh wait, that wouldn't be hard

So on Friday, I got home actually a bit earlier than normal.  But, this was planned because I had two errands to run, before businesses close(5pm).  After picking up contacts, attempting to mail a package, I headed home.  I was able to compose close to 10 excuses for why I probably should not go out on the road and do my run.  Luckily for me, Jon was home, so I could discuss at length with him all of these excuses, and how I really didn't need to go run.  But, despite my extreme deficiency in motivation, I pulled myself up stairs, changed into my "running clothes".  I came down and assessed the time, it was close to 5:15ish, and I knew that my work out would be a good 30 minutes.  I apparently checked facebook, complained some more, watched something on TV, and then eventually I propelled myself out of the house.  Not an easy task on a Friday afternoon, but I had something to look forward to.  I was meeting up with some neighborhood friends for dinner and drinks at 6:05.  So, let's get this task done, and get to the fun stuff.

Of course, the brisk 5 minute walk was a piece of cake, I've been walking all my life, it's not all that difficult.  Usually, I'm always in a rush, so brisk isn't too challenging either.  As the run/walk cycles began I felt better, and worse at the same time.  My breathing was easier, and less laborious.  But, my pace was TURTLE slow.  I was fatigued from work, and the workout I had done two days prior.  Nonetheless, I pushed through, and made it to the 1/2 way mark.  Interestingly enough, I always think that's the hardest part, but once there at that midway point, I realize I'm wrong and the last 1/2 is equally as hard if not harder.  A friend from work gave me suggestion, that I feel really helped.  She told me to keep my head angled straight, and not up or drastically down.  This helps promote airflow to and from the lungs, ha ha.  Common sense right, but for whatever reason, I do tend to run with my head tilted a bit high.  By focusing on this I really think my breathing was improved.  I kept my pace at slow, and decided that running was challenging enough, no need to kill myself :) So, it all went quite uneventful, until I was exactly 3 houses away from my house.  On the corner of my street, and another street there's this really great sidewalk.  I enjoy using sidewalks so that I don't have to worry about cars/drivers.  But this sidewalk has it out for me.  Every single time I walk on this sidewalk, I trip on the smallest raised concrete area.  My secret fear is that the neighbors I've never met, who live right here on this corner, sit in their house and wait for my appearance, and partake in the delight of my clumsiness.  I've tried desperately to teach myself that this area is a hazard, to make myself more aware, but no matter the attempts, I am always so focused the tunes being pumped into my ears that I find myself flying through the air, and then flailing to catch myself so that I don't fall.

Dear Town Of Holly Springs,
Please send someone to fix this sidewalk, it may very well be the death of me.
Sincerely, G

When I arrived at home, having survived the run/walk, and the vicious sidewalk that is out to get me, I realized that I simply had 10 minutes to get ready for my girls night out date!! Anyone who knows me, knows 10 minutes is not ample enough time to do anything!  But, regardless, I pulled it off in 15 minutes and was dressed and in my car.  I won't mention that I felt as if I was still sweating profusely, and had to use the air conditioner full blast blowing on my face, nor the fact that my face was uncommonly red, and no I didn't use too much blush.  Heck at this rate, I may never need to use blush again... Running just gives me a nice RED glow, oh just about on every inch of my face.

I had a fabulous evening, but I was exhausted.  After working, running, rushing, and then relaxing, I felt very very tired.  Tomorrow I embark on the last run session before moving onto Week 2.  I think we'll have to have a ceremony of some sort to celebrate the completion of Week 1.  I'm curious about Week 2, so I think curiosity will get me to work out at least 2 more times.  :)

Happy Weekend everyone!!!

Day 2... No running for me today!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!  Day two... 

So, leaving for work this morning, I was already so thankful that I wouldn't have to do any exercise at the end of my day.  Yep, it's my official sit on my butt and do nothing day!  Haha, of course, I won't count the many steps I took today around my workplace, nor the "housework" that will have to be done before I go to bed tonight.  But, knowing that I don't have to head outside today, was actually a relief.  Some people exercise daily, and I have no idea how.  Really it's a very perplexing concept.  My legs feel a bit like achy jello, but despite the physical annoyance, I actually felt physically more attractive today.  Yet another perplexing concept :).  But, whatever works!  I always do feel better about myself when I'm acting like Fergie, and "working on my fitness."  My goal for the day is to eat a healthy dinner, take my vitamins (I'm the worlds worst at remembering), and getting a good nights sleep.  Friday's are usually a pretty long day, with back to back therapy sessions after lunch, run by yours truly.  I hope to have lots of energy tomorrow, and feel energized to hit the pavement again right after work.  I'm very thankful that I get to work on the same routine two more times.  I'm actually scared of the increase in the running!  I live for my weekends, and am looking forward to re-connecting with some girls from the hood tomorrow at a local tavern.  Now, I've just got to convince my husband not to eat the frozen pizza in the freezer, as I'd like to partake in that guilty pleasure, too.  Happy Friday everyone, I'm off to feed my very hungry puppy!  

Day 1 ... Can you hear me wheezing?

So, today I decided to get off of my rump, and try to run.  I am married to a die-hard runner.  He currently is injured, but still die-hard.  We've been married 15 years, and he's run for about the last 11 years, I think.  I've tried to "learn" how to run before, and have never had success.  Ok, I've only tried once, but that is trying!  Being in my frugal mindset, I search the ever famous iTunes for a trainer and stumbled upon this little jewel of a podcast.  It was called couch to 5K.  I won't pretend that I know much about this program, I don't.  I do know that it's over a course of weeks (no idea how many), and it walks you through the steps, and oh, it's free.  These three things were enough to get me to sign up, or download!

Well, Day one is completed.  All I can say is whew, that was tough.  I hope Friday is easier.  The author of the podcast suggest running Wed, Friday, and Sunday.  I'm going to give those days a try.  Let's hope rain, and cold weather do not make an appearance on those days, because I really can't see my motivation (or lack there of) pushing through those unpleasant elements.  Halfway through the 30 minute cycle of pain, a loud booming voice told me that I should feel great, and not too winded... Well I'm 5'4", and weigh in at a little over 125, and I seriously thought I'd collapse on the sidewalk.  I'm not sure who this cast is meant for, but apparently not someone who hasn't exercised in oh say, 3 months.

So, as I sit here coughing, and red in the face, I wonder if I'll ever make it in a 5K.  That' the name of the game, but we shall see.  I wonder also if my husband will come and take pictures of me as I cross that finish line, should I ever get to that point.  I also wonder if I too will be come a running freak, someone who enjoys making their heart pump at an unreasonable pace, while feeling that burning sensation that radiates out of your lungs when you're just not able to get enough oxygen.  Well, there's only one way to know, and I suppose time will tell. Until Friday!