N-I-N-E weeks.....

I can't believe I've been doing this for 9 weeks now.  And to be perfectly honest, if I hadn't publicly outed myself 8 weeks ago odds are very good that I would NOT be doing this anymore. My new running shoes would be buried in my shoe basket, my evenings would be spent reading or watching TV, my body would be bigger, my legs would be weaker, and I would be enjoying an all access back stage pass to every dessert table I come across (and let's face it...holiday season is here.  Bring on the dessert tables! Oi!).  But instead, despite the fact that I *really* didn't want to, I went running tonight.  Week 9.  Run for 30 minutes straight.  No breaks.  And I DID IT!  I have discovered that the first 5 minutes and last 3 minutes of a run are my most challenging.  The first 5 is my body warming up to the pace, the jiggling, the muscle aching burn....the last 3 are spent in anticipation and agony while each step gets me closer and closer to the last.  I haven't really hit the elusive "runners high" that so many of my fellow running friends speak of.  Instead I just get numb....except that I still feel my backside jiggle.  So the point is that the only reason I am still doing this is because I told you about it.    This was simultaniously the wisest and most foolish thing I could have done.  Turns out that accountability is a 2 edged sword.  Who knew?  What I do know is that I'm not running because it's fun.  I'm not running because it is therapy for me.  I'm not running because I had a piece of left-over Pumpkin Pie for lunch (okay, maybe that's not 100% true).  I'm not even running because of the health benefits.  At this moment in time, the only reason I am still running is because I publicly committed myself to it and I am too embarrassed NOT to run.  So while that might not be the BEST reason to run, today it is THE ONLY reason I ran.  And its working.  After 9 weeks, I'm still doing it.  I guess that's something.  Today, that something equaled a 40 minute 3.1 mile run on a treadmill.  Not too shabby.  When I talked about this with my uber-amazing and oh-so-insightful (sometimes) husband he passed on this little gem: When he was training for the Olympic Fencing Team (yeah, I know....freakin' amazing!) his coach told him that there is a cycle to becoming an athlete.  First you try something new.  You like it.  You do it some more.  And eventually you DON'T like it.  For most people, this is where they stop.  They don't bother to push through it.  Those that DO push through it are rewarded because eventually they not only LIKE it again, but it becomes 2nd nature to them.  Like breathing.  It just IS.  I figure that right now I am in my "I hate this and want to stop" stage.  But I'm not going to stop.  I'm going to keep doing this.  It will become 2nd nature to me.  I doubt it will ever be as easy as breathing for me, but....I can say that running for 3 minutes without stopping *IS* pretty easy for me now.  I don't even think about it (unless it's the last 3 minutes).  I just DO it. I have to believe that eventually running for 30 minutes will be like that as well.  I've just gotta give it time.  

Turkey Trot

So I had originally organized a small 5k Turkey Trot for yesterday morning.  And then my family hijacked the plan by deciding that they simply couldn't wait to leave town and elected to leave Tuesday.  However, because I was committed to running a 5K by Thanksgiving, this morning I got up and ran a 5K all by myself.  There is NOTHING like running on a quiet country road, perfect weather, visions of turkey and pie and other such trimmings to make for an amazing run.  It was the "hilliest" run I've ever done.  Up hill, down hill, up hill, up hill some more, etc.  

I have to confess that I've been struggling the past week with this running thing.  It seems that I am good for about 30 minutes and then I get bored.  I'm concerned that 30 minutes of running may be my maximum.  Which is WAY short of the 13 mile mark.  Right now the idea of running for 2 hours minimum is so beyond comprehension.  I seriously hit a wall at 30 minutes.  That's it, that's the best that I can do.  So now that I am running a 5K regularly, I'm just going to hang out here for a bit.  I think I'm just going to spend some time making my 5K faster.  The goal will be to run 5 miles by March.  I'm anticipating lots of indoor running in the future.  Although the weather has been remarkably cooperative to date, it won't stay that way.   

Anyway....the run today was excellent and worth every bite of Thanksgiving indulgence.  Hope you all enjoyed a Happy day with family and/or friends.  

Sharing Time

I just wanted to share the two things I have learned in the last week.  About running.  The hard way.

1.  Unless you have the body of a 14 yr old boy . . . wear a sports bra.  If they are all in the laundry that you haven't done in a week then either dig 'em out or go buy a new one.  Body by Victoria ain't gonna do the trick.  I promise.

2.  If you are prone to blisters use the "Band-aid Friction Block Stick"  or some other form of lubricant (why is that word so dirty?)  I have been using friction block since our second week of running.  I haven't used it the last 2 times I've run.  Now I have a giant blister.  Grrr.  I will now be using Band-Aid's blister band-aids.  I guess they are going to get my money one way or another.

Correction....

Sadly I have to make a correction.  A week ago I incorrectly logged an outside run as a 5k.  I drove it just to make sure it was 3.1 miles.  Well, turns out that when I pushed my odometer reader to record the trip I managed to switch it from MILES to KILOMETERS.  That's right.  What I thought was 3.1 miles was actually 3.1 KMs!  Cr*p!  I was very disappointed to discover this.  

So today I went for a run...outside...again.  I'm pretty sure I did a 5K today but won't know for sure until I drive it tomorrow.  It took me 45 minutes.   I walked more today then I have my past few runs.  I ran for 25 minutes straight before I took a break to walk. Running outside is *really* hard.  There are these sneaky little things called "false flats" when the road slowly and subtly inclines.  I think my entire run today was a "false flat" 'cause it took me lots longer to run the first half and then when I turned around to run home I was faster and it was SOOO much easier. Gotta love that gravity sometimes....like on a downhill.   The first half of my run my legs were burning, my breathing was heavy and I found myself considering abandoning the entire effort for the day. I was in agony. My nose was runny (a side effect from running in the cold), my glasses kept fogging up and I got a cramp on my right side.  It was not a pleasant experience.  But it was a beautiful crisp day and I was determined to do the run.  Besides, it wasn't like I could stop 1/2 way...I had to get home.

In the end, it was worth it...of course.  But I was not thinking happy thoughts during my run.  In fact, I was thinking that I don't want to do this anymore.  I really wanted to just stop and if I had been at the gym running on the treadmill, I probably would have stopped.  SIGH.  8 weeks.  When does this become a habit?  Soon.  I hope.

Starting week 8

I can't believe I've been doing this for 8 weeks.  Today I ran for 28 minutes without stopping.  It took me 38 minutes to do my 5K.  I spent my run reflecting on the experience.  I still am not in love with running.  It hurts.  Things jiggle.  A lot.  However, I find myself in a panic if I miss running.  I worry that all the hard work I've done to this point will be lost.  That I'll gain a pound overnight (not such a far-fetched idea...I swear it has happened).  That if I miss one day, it will be easier to miss another and then another and then suddenly I'm not doing ANYTHING again.  So even if I don't enjoy the act of running, I enjoy the benefits.  I dig having a program to follow so that I don't do the same thing over and over (which is what I do when I work out on the elliptical).  I like that I have goals and that there is a way of tracking my progress.  And I am completely addicted to that feeling of accomplishment.  It is a rush.  Dare I say that it does more for me then chocolate in any form?  The happy endorphins that are released when I run are so much more powerful.  I come home after a run and discover that I still have energy, that I find my family easier to deal with (I have 3 little kids and a husband...who actually counts as 2 kids so it feels like I have 5), that I've had time to think and organize my thoughts and often times come up with a solution or new motivation for a particular challenge.  I don't know if I will ever LOVE running (well, maybe 30 more pounds and a marathon from now) but from this day forward I will LOVE the benefits.  That's a good enough reason to keep going.

Bad Day Part 2 - The Electric Boogaloo

Yes, I just said "Electric Boogaloo".  It's for Ben.  Breakin' 2: The Electric Boogaloo is his favorite movie title of all time.

Ok, back to the running.  Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when Shannon posted Bad Day? Well, I think it is the W6D2 curse.  I'm not kidding.

Ben didn't finish the second 10 minute run due to a calf muscle condition he has been fighting.

Here are the lame reasons why I didn't finish the second 10 minute run:

1.  I had a bad attitude.  People were driving like idiots, I'm SWAMPED with work, my organizational system is out of whack and I have a giant mountain of laundery in my bedroom that hasn't been folded for a month. Like since before I went to visit Shannon.  Oh, and my baby was experiencing post-nap crankiness.  A recipe for disaster.

2.  My chest went all crazy and tight.  I thought my bad habits were finally catching up to me and I was having a heart attack at the age of 30.

3.  I felt like vomiting.

4.  Oh, and I had a bad attitude.

5.  And I gave up.

The moral of this story is that W6D2 is cursed and it wasn't my fault  you are your own worst enemy.

Don't defeat yourself before you even start.

Doctor's Orders....

So I went to see the doctor today to find out if there is any sort of treatment/management we can set up for my knee issues.  Turns out the doctor isn't such a big fan of running while your knee is indicating "stress".  I told her NOT doing something was NOT an option.  She told me running while my knee is having a "flare up" is NOT an option.  So we've compromised.  I can run on the days when my knee isn't swollen BUT on the days when it is swollen I have to choose an alternative activity.  Like the eliptical or recumbent bike.  I opted for the eliptical machine today.  I still did 3 miles but found that I had to work harder to get my heart rate up to the same level that it would be at if I were running....and although 7 weeks ago this would have been my preferred method of aerobic activity, today I found myself wishing I were running...OUTSIDE.  Running outside was the best thing I could have done.  I want to do it ALL the time now.  I even informed my husband that I want "night running gear" for Christmas this year.  Let's see if he remembers.

Anyway....there will be a few days when I don't get to run.  But, its good to mix things up here and there.  I'm not giving up.  I'm mixing up.  Doctor's orders!

2 Miles Baby!!!

So yes I realize that Shannon is hitting 3 miles, but I hit 2 miles tonight!!!  I bumped my running speed up by .4.   It was awesome.

Ok, that's enough for now,  I have to see who is getting sent home on The Biggest Loser!

Addendum to previous post

 In an effort to validate my run yesterday I DROVE the route I ran yesterday.  I am uber pleased to announce that, according to my cars odometer, I ran EXACTLY 3 miles!  It was still way harder then I expected it to be, but I am delighted with the fact that it was manageable.  Yay!  

A hard lesson to learn

Today was a STUNNINGLY beautiful day.  It was also Sunday though and as a general rule I tend to make this my rest day.  BUT, I didn't run yesterday and needed to run today. I ignored the tempting call of my fluffy couch and novel I'm reading and went running.   Now, despite how lovely it was outside, I walked over to the gym (the whole time thinking "maybe I should run outside today...") and climbed on the treadmill.  I started walking...and thinking....and wondering: what am I doing?  The monotony of the treadmill was gonna kill me.  So, I did what I've been avoiding for the past 4 weeks.  I went running....OUTSIDE.   After 4 weeks of "training" on a treadmill, I was prepared to be amazing.  You can imagine my surprise when after 4 minutes of jogging outside I found myself breathing heavier then I do on the treadmill, parts of my body were hurting that hadn't hurt before now, and I was struggling to get it in gear.  It was REALLY hard.  I was surprised....and disappointed.  I expected to be awesome and I was sub-par at best.  I managed to do the full workout (run 25 minutes) but I know I didn't do 3 miles.  When I got home my loving husband questioned how things went and when I told him how hard it was he replied, "Well, running on a treadmill isn't really running."  WHAT!?!?!  Why didn't anyone warn me?  Why didn't anyone mention that the treadmill was going to give me a false sense of accomplishment?  3 miles on a treadmill is WAY different then 3 miles on the road.  I'm going to try and run outside at least one day a week.  I can't run outside everyday right now because my running time is during the evening and my wonderfully over-protective husband will not let me run in the dark (even with a head lamp and reflective tape all over my clothing).  And, as I've mentioned before...I'm NOT a morning person.  So I will run outside on the days that I can.  I'm a little sad that my 3.25 miles on the treadmill was "fake".  It sort of kills the adrenaline rush of happiness and accomplishment.  But it is better to be real about this.  AND, I've gotta tell ya, the time went MUCH faster running outside and all the other people out running and biking were all so nice....they waved, nodded, said hello and smiled.  It was like I was part of some secret club.  I like that.  I like that a lot.  So....I've learned my lesson about the dangers of the treadmill and will commit to approaching my running in a different way for the next while.  Jeesh.  This is WAY hard....

20 Stinking Minutes.

Today I ran for 20 minutes without a break.

I ran an entire mile (plus) without a break.

I told my fat, out of shape, lazy, 30 yr old body where to stick it.

Take that body!!!

Ben's Shoes

I have a darling husband.  He's the BEST.  When I decided that I wanted to start running, he joined me.  Even though he really dislikes running.  Of course, he's in much better shape than I am so it hasn't been quite as challenging for him.

Ben has been running on old shoes since we began so when the sole started falling off we decided it was time for new shoes.  We took a trip to the running store so he could be fitted.  After trying on a couple pairs he found the ones he likes.  One problem . . . they're crazy looking.

For the record, I think they are awesome.  The picture doesn't quite do the neon yellow justice.

Tonight I finished W5D2.  This work out entails warmup, 8 minute run, 5 minute walk, 8 minute run, cool down. Ben has been super supportive and even though he should be ahead of me, he held back so we could be on the same schedule again.  He was so proud when I finished my two 8 minute runs.  I love having a husband that supports my crazy plans.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.....ACCOMPLISHED!

Did you hear a disturbance in the atmosphere today at approximately 6:35pm EDT?  If you did, I can explain.  It was at 6:35pm today that I did what I believed was impossible.  I RAN A 5K...and not only 3.1 miles...but 3.25 miles!  That disturbance you would have heard was me yelling and cheering and crying all at the same time when I finally finished.  It took me 45 minutes.  Of that 45 minutes, I ran 30.  25 of them straight out...and then because I was SOOO close to 3.1 miles I decided to run an additional 5 minutes.  

I've worked HARD.  And despite all of the effort, if you looked at me today you might not see the kind of person who could run a 5K, let alone who WOULD willing run one.  What you would see is a person who weighs 25 lbs less then she did when she started this, who 6 weeks ago couldn't run 90 seconds without wanting to swear, who has discovered a new sense of confidence AND who wants to do this.  And so, I think I can declare M:I:1 done.  On to M:I:2...the 10 K.  UGH!

Week 5 and Biggest Loser - SPOILER ALERT!

I love Tuesdays.  It's the first night of my new week AND it's Biggest Loser.

First: running.  Started Week 5 tonight.  I did 3 five-minute runs.  SO PROUD.  No breaks, no skimping on runs.  I seriously look forward to running and get excited to do it!  Sometimes on my day off I think about going and sneaking another run in.  However, I've read that you need the recovery days so I don't.  I have also recommitted to good ole' Weight Watchers, I haven't done so well over the last month so it is time.

Second:  Biggest Loser!  Ok, this is really bad but I have a love/hate relationship with Tracey.  I love her because her name is Tracey and she spells it the same way I do. I also like her because our beginning weight was similar.  I also identify with not being able to run a mile in the beginning.  I could do it now, but I know when I started I couldn't have done it either.

I don't like her because she's kinda sneaky and I don't love people who "play the game". Just be nice peeps.   Ben however, doesn't like Shay because he says she cries too much and she's kind of judgmental towards the other contestants effort and drive.  So, we were torn over who we thought should go home.

THIS IS THE SPOILER!  STOP READING IF YOU STILL HAVE IT ON YOUR TIVO!!!!

My favorite part of the night was the Tracey "after" segment since she got sent home.  Did you see her?!  She looks great! AND she is training for a marathon in December!  See people, there really is something to this running thing!  The Tracey's are making strides!  

Bad Day

I've been at this for 6 weeks now and I've never tampered with the program.  I've always done the run for the day the way it was intended to be done.  Today I ran for 10 minutes, walked for 3, ran for 5, walked for 3, ran for 3, walked for 2, and ran for 2.  I know...that doesn't sound so bad BUT I was supposed to run for 10, walk for 3, and then run for 10.  I broke up the last 10 minutes.  I couldn't do it....it was a bad day.  As in a terrible horrible no good very bad day.  Yeah...just call me Alexander.  But, all is not lost!  It was a bad running day, but a great day on the whole.  My mom is visiting from the West Coast.  Nothing makes the world better then M-O-M.