Here we go again...

Today I officially began my couch potato to 10K running program.  As of this week I will be running 4 days a week, instead of just 3.  I'm not sure what makes me think I can do this, as I've struggled to fit in just 3 days, but I'm committed.   I'll give it a good go.  The fact of the matter is that I am happy with the results.  I like the way I feel after I run (not during, I must stress).  I like the benefits.  So, I'm still in.  I am pleased to note that for this first week I only have to run for 25 minutes straight, I suppose this is a compromise of sorts since they are adding a day of running.  I ran today and still managed to squeak in 3 miles.  I kicked my speed up .2 miles, and for the very last 2 minutes of my run I cranked it up .8....and nearly fell off the treadmill once.  Anyway, this week will be about time, not distance (I say that now...but who am I kidding?  If I don't get in 3 miles each run I will feel like I'm moving backwards).

Anyway...no goal yet as to when I will be able to run a 10K, but....I'm guessing the end of March.

We'll see.

OH, YEAH!!!!

And today marks the day that I did my very last couch potato to 5K run.  I finished the program.  I can run a 5K in just under 40 minutes.  I'm feeling just a bit giddy right now.  Next up?  I hear they have a couch potato to 10K.  And since this last program worked so well for me, I figured I might as well give it a shot.  After all, I am now running 30 minutes without a break (5 minutes of walking bookends this 30 minutes).  At my current pace I would need to run for over 1 hour.  Ha.  Then again, in my younger more athletic years, an hour of aerobic activity didn't kill me.  But that was a quad-step class (SOOOOO MUCH FUN) and was more like learning a new dance every class.  So I'm pretty sure that EVENTUALLY I will be able to do this.  Eventually....

Lest we forget....

So my postings are becoming fewer and fewer but I want to assure you that this does not mean I have stopped running.  It means that it is the Holiday Season and I (like most of you) have got LOTS going on.  It isn't an excuse, it's an explanation.  I would like to add that all of my training the past week paid off on Black Friday.  I was wicked fast!  AND, if I were wearing a pedometer while I shopped this season, I am quite certain that I have logged MILES in Target alone.  Shopping really is good for you!  So, what you need to know is that I'm doing my very best to squeeze my runs into my day.  Well, maybe not my VERY best.  I am not so in love with running to get up early in the morning.  I know people who get up at 5am to run.  Good for you.  I will never be that person.  But, I am the person who runs at 8pm.  It's a matter of personal taste and sanity.  Mornings are just not my thing.  

On a different note, I need to give a SHOUT OUT to a friend of mine.  She will remain nameless unless she reads this post and chooses to identify herself.  She ran 10 miles (during just ONE run) this week!  Isn't that amazing?  I'm super impressed with her and want her to know that I think she's awesome.  Way to go girlie.

And with that, I'm signing off for the night.  May all your Holiday Shopping experiences be happy, bright, and aerobic.  Nothing like multi-tasking....  

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.