I haven't run in months....I'm a cold-weather wuss...and not a treadmill girl. I've been looking sooo forward to spring and today was the day, baby. I'm off work, the high is 67, last night it rained, so it was a cool, wet, breezy morning. I have an iphone now and the Couch to 5k app is awesome. I loaded my songs, started the app and immediately I had a huge smile on my face. It was totally unexpected that I would feel so happy and I don't know if it was because of the perfect day or the fact that I'd lost 5 lbs. this week and I know I'm on my way back to my wardrobe and feeling GOOD. Everything is better when you look good, I don't care what anyone says. I started my warm-up to J-Lo's "Aint' it Funny", then broke into my run to "Can't Let You Go" by Fabolous. Every step I felt better, splashing through shallow puddles, seeing signs of spring w/neighbors fertilizing yards and watching birds fly overhead. It was the therapy I've been needing and I had the right songs w/just enough attitude :) The exciting part was passing by the pool and knowing the best is yet to come, not just the promise of warm days reading in the sun but being where I want to be mentally, professionally, emotionally and financially. Me, my Mizunos, polar watch, ipod and big hips got this ;)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
1st 5k..1st slump
Soo..I started running in May 2010..finally. I followed the Couch to 5k program. I got a little faster but mainly my endurance got better. I felt great mentally and physically. I managed my time more efficiently, ate healthier, drank less and made sure I had plenty of sleep. I could tell I was losing inches and I lost about 5 lbs. pretty quickly.
I ran my first 5k 7/17. I was slow..about a 15 min. mile when my best during training had been 12ish. I felt good because I did it. I was looking forward to doing more. I was soo sore and realized I needed bigger running shoes. A friend who got me running in the first place said to give myself a few days of recovery. Those days turned into more days and here I was still sore...the weather was hot as HELL..and the longer I went without running the worse I felt. Then it was even harder to get up early. I'm not great at drinking water so I knew I wasn't hydrated enough to run.
Morning runs are best for me because I get it over with and feel better all day. I sleep better and I can't talk myself out of an evening run, which is what I did when I didn't drag myself out of bed in the am..and put it off until after work. It didn't happen.
I bought new Mizunos at Fleet Feet, a size bigger with inserts. I got my new Runners mag in the mail. I signed up for another 5k 8/28...but I still wasn't back to running. I went to a Tae Bo class with Billy Blanks to benefit the flood victims in TN. That was a great 1-hour workout. About a week later I worked out on the elliptical at work. Even though I was taking the stairs at work, I could tell my fitness was on a downward spiral and my mind was going with it.
Today, a week shy of a month later, I ran again. It was 9am and around 90 degrees with 81% humidity. I started out feeling good, like I hadn't missed a day. I was happy..but not even 2 miles into it I was running out of steam. I felt better today and tried not to get down on myself because I lost some endurance. I still enjoyed thinking and listening to my songs..just me, myself and I..knowing I can continue to improve and I can get back on track in time for my next 5k. I looked forward to not feeling guilty all day because I didn't run. I enjoyed wearing my new shoes for the first time and having water actually taste GOOD when I finished. I didn't even mind my hip pain because it was a reminder that I got my fat ass out there again. I'm sure in the am I will be in even more pain..but that's ok. I'll crosstrain tomorrow and run again Thursday. I'll follow the 10k training program and get more shirts. Now I know after my 2nd 5k to keep running..no long breaks. I still have some weight to lose and goals to meet..personal records to set. :)
I ran my first 5k 7/17. I was slow..about a 15 min. mile when my best during training had been 12ish. I felt good because I did it. I was looking forward to doing more. I was soo sore and realized I needed bigger running shoes. A friend who got me running in the first place said to give myself a few days of recovery. Those days turned into more days and here I was still sore...the weather was hot as HELL..and the longer I went without running the worse I felt. Then it was even harder to get up early. I'm not great at drinking water so I knew I wasn't hydrated enough to run.
Morning runs are best for me because I get it over with and feel better all day. I sleep better and I can't talk myself out of an evening run, which is what I did when I didn't drag myself out of bed in the am..and put it off until after work. It didn't happen.
I bought new Mizunos at Fleet Feet, a size bigger with inserts. I got my new Runners mag in the mail. I signed up for another 5k 8/28...but I still wasn't back to running. I went to a Tae Bo class with Billy Blanks to benefit the flood victims in TN. That was a great 1-hour workout. About a week later I worked out on the elliptical at work. Even though I was taking the stairs at work, I could tell my fitness was on a downward spiral and my mind was going with it.
Today, a week shy of a month later, I ran again. It was 9am and around 90 degrees with 81% humidity. I started out feeling good, like I hadn't missed a day. I was happy..but not even 2 miles into it I was running out of steam. I felt better today and tried not to get down on myself because I lost some endurance. I still enjoyed thinking and listening to my songs..just me, myself and I..knowing I can continue to improve and I can get back on track in time for my next 5k. I looked forward to not feeling guilty all day because I didn't run. I enjoyed wearing my new shoes for the first time and having water actually taste GOOD when I finished. I didn't even mind my hip pain because it was a reminder that I got my fat ass out there again. I'm sure in the am I will be in even more pain..but that's ok. I'll crosstrain tomorrow and run again Thursday. I'll follow the 10k training program and get more shirts. Now I know after my 2nd 5k to keep running..no long breaks. I still have some weight to lose and goals to meet..personal records to set. :)
Friday, July 2, 2010
yes, I wrote this 4/07..and yes, I started running 5/10...lol
11 Apr 07 Wednesday
RunningWoman
Current mood: excited
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Not many people know that I've always wanted to be a runner. For as long as I can remember when I've driven past runners I've felt this envy for whatever it is that gets them out there no matter how hot or cold, early or late, sick or tired they are. I want to experience this "runner's high" and I can spot a runner's body a mile away. I remember when Oprah & Diddy ran their marathons I sat there wishing I could do that and even though I live vicariously through Oprah in a lot of ways that is one thing I actually felt like I could accomplish as well. I would usually dismiss this notion as a silly dream or "yeah right" kind of thing because in all honesty I'm the one who can almost guiltlessly skip a workout, have that piece of cheesecake or another drink, sleep in. Yes, I am pretty indulgent. I didn't share this dream with anyone really because they know the "princess" side of me and wouldn't take it seriously.
Recently though, my clock has been ticking and no, it isn't the biological one. I'm the type of person who writes goals down and I'm usually pretty good at achieving them within my timeframe. I'm realistic and recognize which ones are short-term vs long-term, so I know now I need to start working on my "by the time I'm 40" list. I have exactly 2.8 yrs.
The first day I trained with Delano a man was there doing some impossible looking crunches and he's probably in his 50s without any visible body fat. I was right when I assumed he is a runner. He told my trainer he is getting ready for the Boston Marathon and I felt that familiar pang. I started to dismiss it again thinking I've just started working out. I have time. Then I overheard one of my coworkers saying he runs marathons and it was no surprise to me because he too has that look..trim, sinewy, always with a water bottle and oozing with self-discipline. I asked him what the shortest race is that still warrants some respect and he told me about the 5k. I thought okay..within the next 2 years I want to run one. Then I remembered a friend of mine in Nashville was encouraged to run a half-marathon by a mutual friend of ours so I decided to email him. He told me to go to Fleet Feet and get some good shoes, check out runnersworld.com and find a training schedule and if I start now I can run a 5k by 7/4. Excuse me? 7/4/07? Are you kidding me? I haven't run since college unless you count a couple of sporadic attempts since then. Now this got me a little excited...I mean my trainer said do cardio on off days and my friend said hey...do some walking/running on a treadmill. He tells another friend who runs and she emails to give me some advice..this is her 4th year to run and I go to lunch with a supervisor today who says she used to run all the time. Before I know it I've had about 4 brands of running shoes recommended to me and all I can see is me running in different races..collecting cool t-shirts..chugging gatorade and throwing cups down as people cheer as I fling myself over the finish line while my son and husband look on proudly. I'm not even picturing if I'm first or last. I love my pedicures and open-toe shoes and get the warm fuzzies when someone compliments my feet but I want to come home and take off my worn to the ground Asics or New Balances and peel off my thorlo socks and have band-aids and tape hanging off my poor, blistered feet. I want those long, lean muscles in my legs and I want my ass to look no older than a 30 y/o milf's even when I'm 60..in my jeans anyway! I want the runner's high so I can feel like the world is mine and have stress feel like a distant memory. I want to pity those who can't just jog off their problems. I'm ready...bring on the energy bars and I know I hate water but I'll drink it damn it..I will find a 5k race scheduled sometime in July and I will finish it! Will I run a marathon? Mayyyyybe...after I work through the 5k, 10k, 5 & dime and a half-marathon. Like I said..I'm realistic and know short-term v long-term so I'll start running now...and then I'll shoot for a marathon by the time I'm 45.
RunningWoman
Current mood: excited
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
Not many people know that I've always wanted to be a runner. For as long as I can remember when I've driven past runners I've felt this envy for whatever it is that gets them out there no matter how hot or cold, early or late, sick or tired they are. I want to experience this "runner's high" and I can spot a runner's body a mile away. I remember when Oprah & Diddy ran their marathons I sat there wishing I could do that and even though I live vicariously through Oprah in a lot of ways that is one thing I actually felt like I could accomplish as well. I would usually dismiss this notion as a silly dream or "yeah right" kind of thing because in all honesty I'm the one who can almost guiltlessly skip a workout, have that piece of cheesecake or another drink, sleep in. Yes, I am pretty indulgent. I didn't share this dream with anyone really because they know the "princess" side of me and wouldn't take it seriously.
Recently though, my clock has been ticking and no, it isn't the biological one. I'm the type of person who writes goals down and I'm usually pretty good at achieving them within my timeframe. I'm realistic and recognize which ones are short-term vs long-term, so I know now I need to start working on my "by the time I'm 40" list. I have exactly 2.8 yrs.
The first day I trained with Delano a man was there doing some impossible looking crunches and he's probably in his 50s without any visible body fat. I was right when I assumed he is a runner. He told my trainer he is getting ready for the Boston Marathon and I felt that familiar pang. I started to dismiss it again thinking I've just started working out. I have time. Then I overheard one of my coworkers saying he runs marathons and it was no surprise to me because he too has that look..trim, sinewy, always with a water bottle and oozing with self-discipline. I asked him what the shortest race is that still warrants some respect and he told me about the 5k. I thought okay..within the next 2 years I want to run one. Then I remembered a friend of mine in Nashville was encouraged to run a half-marathon by a mutual friend of ours so I decided to email him. He told me to go to Fleet Feet and get some good shoes, check out runnersworld.com and find a training schedule and if I start now I can run a 5k by 7/4. Excuse me? 7/4/07? Are you kidding me? I haven't run since college unless you count a couple of sporadic attempts since then. Now this got me a little excited...I mean my trainer said do cardio on off days and my friend said hey...do some walking/running on a treadmill. He tells another friend who runs and she emails to give me some advice..this is her 4th year to run and I go to lunch with a supervisor today who says she used to run all the time. Before I know it I've had about 4 brands of running shoes recommended to me and all I can see is me running in different races..collecting cool t-shirts..chugging gatorade and throwing cups down as people cheer as I fling myself over the finish line while my son and husband look on proudly. I'm not even picturing if I'm first or last. I love my pedicures and open-toe shoes and get the warm fuzzies when someone compliments my feet but I want to come home and take off my worn to the ground Asics or New Balances and peel off my thorlo socks and have band-aids and tape hanging off my poor, blistered feet. I want those long, lean muscles in my legs and I want my ass to look no older than a 30 y/o milf's even when I'm 60..in my jeans anyway! I want the runner's high so I can feel like the world is mine and have stress feel like a distant memory. I want to pity those who can't just jog off their problems. I'm ready...bring on the energy bars and I know I hate water but I'll drink it damn it..I will find a 5k race scheduled sometime in July and I will finish it! Will I run a marathon? Mayyyyybe...after I work through the 5k, 10k, 5 & dime and a half-marathon. Like I said..I'm realistic and know short-term v long-term so I'll start running now...and then I'll shoot for a marathon by the time I'm 45.
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