W3W1

I did it!!! 

It was a great day to run outside.  Almost 60 out.  I prefer running on the trail because I don't focus on the time or run parts as much.  And it went really well.  It wasn't even that hard.  I really thought I was going to have to repeat week 2 but I think I am going to be able to move forward.  I did get a cramp in my side at the end of the 2nd 3 minute run but it was at the end so it didn't affect me.  And my shins are still bothering me but not enough not to do it.  I hope I don't have to buy new shoes.  I shouldn't have to.  I don't think I've put enough miles on them.  The next pair of shoes I buy I'm going to reset the global odometer on my watch so that I know exactly how many miles I've put on them. I also use custom orthotics because apparently I am a major over-pronator.  Those wear out too, but I have no idea how many miles I've put on them.  I don't want to spend another $400 on dumb orthotics.  And, it could just be that my shins are getting used to more running.  That is what I am going to go with for now.  

The back has behaved for the most part.  I took advil before I went.

Duration:  29.48

Calories: 353

Average HR: 160

Maximum HR: 208

Distance: 1.9

Walk MPH: 3.5 - 4.0

Run MPH: 5.0 - 6.2

Week 4 Complete!

Got up at 5 a.m. today to knock it out because I have plans tonight. So, it wasn't that bad! It was by far the best of my three Week 4 runs, which encourages me. Feeling okay about moving on. As a little icing on the cake, the scale finally moved. I think I'm over the plateau period, and since the running cranks up now (20 minutes at the end of week 5!) I think I'm good to go.

I start to hate it at some point and have to have this silly conversation with myself that goes something like this:

Are you having trouble breathing or something? Well, no, I'm breathing fine.
Are your legs killing you, is that it? Well, I mean, I definitely FEEL them but are they killing me? No not really I guess.
Then what is the problem here? Why do you think you need to stop? Umm, because this is hard?
Yeah shut it and keep running.

So, yay! It's Friday, I finished week 4, I had one of the best weeks ever with Sarah DESPITE the unwanted visitors in her hair, I start guitar lessons on Monday which I'm happy about, I've got fun plans with friends tonight...life is good.

Week 2 Complete (Finally!)

i. did. not. want. to run. today.

but i went anyway.  i had to - i'm already behind.  i didn't feel that great when i got out of bed this morning.  my lower back was bothering me slightly more than normal.  not sure what's up with all that but its been an issue for some time now.  i just hope that when i lose some weight it will go away.  that and the snoring.  a girl can hope, can't she?

i went to the gym tonight because it was cold and dark out by the time i went.  because i held out as long as humanly possible.  because i didn't really want to go.  i don't like running on the treadmill as much - its harder for me for some reason.  i can't go as fast and it seems like the run parts are never ending.  so i started running and my lower back immediately started hurting.  mildly disconcerting.  but it stopped bothering me after a little while.  and then my shins started hurting.  not hurting exactly, but it felt like they were pulling.  it wasn't a pleasant feeling but i kept going.  i hope i don't need to buy new shoes.  i can't imagine that i need new shoes.  

so today was much harder.  and now i'm behind on week three, which i'm hoping to cram into the rest of this week.  not sure how the 3 minute run will go but i'll just have to see.  if worse comes to worse i'll just repeat week two, although i'd rather not.

by the way, no clue why my max hr says 218.  i really don't think it got up that high.  i think the highest it got was 184.  maybe the hr thing in the treadmill messed it up.

Duration:  30:00

Calories:  305

Average HR:  140 bpm

Maximum HR:  218 bpm

Distance:  1.8 miles

Walk MPH:  3.5

Run MPH:  5.0

W4D2

This week is definitely harder! My first running interval is always the hardest too. But, it's done. And of course it felt good in a sick kind of way. And now for the super cool part...

Sarah is doing it with me! I am going to learn guitar with her and she is going to run with me. She did W1D1 today. We just kept her speed super super slow. She enjoyed it. We'll see if she can stick it out. Once the weather is good and daylight savings time returns I think she'll be fine because we'll run on Town Lake but the treadmill is pretty boring. But it was really fun today. She was proud of herself and I'm a happy mama.

I think I am going to try to start getting up super early and doing my cardio in the morning. There is just so much to do at night - cook dinner, get homework done, etc. that once we get back in the grind of school I can envision myself not getting going until really late. So contemplating a lifestyle change here. We'll see.

Here are the stats from today. HRM couldn't keep up with my dancing heart again so another ridiculous max hr number...

Max hr: 219
Avg hr: 142
In zone: 17:45
Duration: 31:23
Distance: 2.06
Calories: 217

Today was a stellar food day too, so good all around on the health front. Now tomorrow is family bday dinner for me...ribs...cake...ah well. At least today was good. Onward.

Not a Run Day

I am starting to get antsy to run more but I'm not going to do it. Gonna stick with the program for the full nine weeks. It's just that as I get more in shape, I am needing to do more to get my heart rate up/burn the calories. I did a preset on the treadmill I've done several times before that used to be pretty hard and it didn't do all that much for me. I think I'll maybe do another preset tonight. But here's what I did:

Max hr: 150
Avg hr: 126
In zone: 20:21
Duration: 30:00
Distance: 1.77
Calories: 171

Better than nothing. Worked out with George yesterday. Now that was great! Really, really good full body workout for an hour. A little sore today but not nearly as bad as I thought I would be. I think I've gotten over being obsessed with the scale which is good.

Okay, thus ends a really boring post. Back to nit picking. Literally.

Week 4, Day 1

First morning run. Got started at about 6:30. That was kind of ick but I am not going to have any other time today.

So this one is 3 minute run, 90 second walk, 5 minute run, 2.5 minute walk, rinse and repeat. My first 3 minutes was super tough, so I walked more slowly and then bumped my speed down on the subsequent runs. I think this was a good idea because I got through the rest of it pretty well. I ran for 5 minutes! Twice!

The heart definitely freaked out. I was showing 00 for awhile, and then when I checked my stats it showed my max hr as 225. Considering that is far above my actual max hr, I don't think so. But here are the flawed stats:

Max hr: 225
Avg hr: 140
In zone: 17:53
Duration: 32:30
Distance: 2.14
Calories: 216

So, my in zone is low because I was out of the zone high a lot. I am fine with that, I just don't want to be under.

After the excessive beer swilling of the last couple of days, this felt good. I'm ready to get back on track with the health thing.

W3D3 Complete!

It was a big day. Not only did I complete Week 3, but ventured away from the treadmill for the first time, ran with the dog for the first time, and attempted to carry on a conversation, briefly, while running.

Dog + Trail might have been a little much. I think I run faster when I'm not on the treadmill, so between that and trying to manage the dog, it was kind of an ordeal. But it was great! Gorgeous day, good to people watch, etc. Someone starting asking me about Pokey while I was running. "Cool dog - what kind is it?" I did my best to be civil. I think I passed. But I'm not ready to throw conversing in on a regular basis.

Here are the stats. I did the whole trail even though the Couch25k deal was only about half of it.

Max hr: 178
Avg hr: 144
In zone: 37:55
Duration: 49:15
Distance: About 3 miles
Calories: 342

I really feel great. I guess I'll bike tomorrow. I want to do something fairly rigorous but know I shouldn't run.

So, on Monday I'll be running for a full five minutes. Very cool. I know I can do it.

W2W2 - Homemade Podcast

Today Julie and I went to Central Market so that I could do my C25K. She walked Jay in the stroller (because she has a sinus infection) and I ran with Hazel. It was great. It went really well. Today was the first day I had music. I downloaded the podcasts with no music and then added my own playlist. I'm really happy with it. I made the music fade out when the guy tells you to run/walk and then it fades back in. Clare - I'll send you a link so you can download the one for Week 3 if you want to try it. It might be too "worshipy" for you, but it's the only kind of music that really works for me when I run.

I wasn't sure how Hazel was going to do because the other time I ran with her, she did great the first half but then slowed down the second half. Turns out, she did really well. The first half she was trotting at between 5.5 and 6.0 mph and the second half 5.0 to 5.5mph. I just ran at what felt natural and that ended up being closer to 6.0mph. I kept trying to slow down because it seems like it would be better to do 5.0 but it felt so slow to me. On the treadmill it doesn't seem slow. Oh well, I'll just see how it goes. Maybe when the runs get longer I'll want to go slower.

Duration: 0:30:00
Calories: 360
Average HR: 158 bpm
Maximum HR: 184 bpm
Distance: 1.8 miles
Walk MPH: 3.5 - 4.0
Run MPH: 5.0 - 6.0

W3D2

Was great. I actually ran on New Year's Day! I behaved the night before. Just wasn't in the mood to imbibe. Last night, on the other hand, was a totally different story...and I did my typical drink too much become a wreck thing and I'm pretty sure it's over with Allan. Ah well, what can you do. Onward. Anyway, the run was great. I did get a side stitch but otherwise no issues. The stats:

Max hr: 181
Avg hr: 133
In zone: 32:19
Duration: 39:50
Distance: 2.55
Calories: 239

I was the gym with Allan and he had a longer workout so I just stayed on the treadmill after I had completed the little program, hence the long time and distance.

C25k Podcasts

i just found this site (not affiliated with cool running i don't think) that has all sorts of good stuff on it: testimonies, podcasts with music and direction telling you when to walk and when to run and other assorted aides.

the whole site is dedicated to the c25k program. check it out . . .

http://www.c25k.com/

My last post as a 36 year old

Tomorrow I will be 37.

I walked today. The hrm continues to fascinate me. I did the same preset program I did on the treadmill 3 days ago but had a higher average hr and burned 20 more calories somehow. And now for the stats...

Max hr: 159
Avg hr: 138
In Zone: 21:21
Duration: 30:00
Distance: 1.77
Calories: 194

I actually burned more calories walking today than I did yesterday running. But then again, the running was only 20 minutes.

I really did not want to do this today, but figure there is a high possibility that I will not do anything tomorrow so didn't want to end up taking two days off. That would be bad. So I'm proud of myself for just doing it today.

Tonight of course there will be excessive imbibing. And I'm starving and feel like EATING. Something fried or a big burger. Yummy badness! We'll see...

W2W1

FYI: I actually did this yesterday, but am just posting it now

-------------------------------
i stayed with Jen last night so this morning we all went out for a nice little run/walk: me, hazel, and her two small children (one 4 years old and one 3 years old). it ended up not really working very well with the kids because they were really into walking hazel. so the kids went to the park and i did my program. it went well, but it was more difficult today with the 90 seconds run instead of the 60 seconds. i really didn't have any trouble with week 1. i was able to do it all, i was just more tired.

i used my watch today so i was able to see distance, pace and speed. i actually had to make sure i was running slow enough on the run parts because when i looked i would be going as fast as 5.6 or 6.0. i'm trying to keep the run parts to 5.0 right now. the good thing about not being on the treadmill is that its easier for me to walk at a faster pace. i walked from 3.5 to 3.8.

time: 0:39:45
calories: 359
average HR: 135 bpm
maximum HR: 185 bpm
distance: 2.1 miles
walk mph: 3.5
run mph: 5.0

W3W1 - woo hoo!

I did it! I am SUCH a dork but I kind of got a little weepy after the first 3 minute run because I DID IT! :) This was the first time my legs hurt. Felt it in the shins and calves and wondering if I'll be sore tomorrow. It was the legs that struggled and not the heart, which really surprised me. I thought my big challenge with this whole deal would be the cardio, but so far so good.

It's a shorter duration - the intervals totaled up to something like 17 minutes, and I cooled down for longer than 5. Here are the stats:

Max hr: 181
Avg hr: 140
In Zone: 15:00
Duration: 27:10
Distance: 1.69
Calories: 183

So this one really feels like an accomplishment. I RAN (jogged, whatever) for a quarter of a mile!

Can't do it

Supposed to start Week 3 today and I just can't. I am wiped out and think it will do more harm than good to run tonight. Up late late last night at Antone's, worked out with Lauren today, and I'm just beat.

Strength Stuff

I work out with a trainer who also happens to be one of my best friends. Basically, she destroys me once a week and has done so since July. This isn't your garden variety strength training workout. The program needs minimally 5 days of rest in between workouts - you really do work your muscles THAT hard. I say all this in response to your idea that I should do strength more often. Now, that said, I do think I am going to do the 100 push-ups thing. That should help. Anyway, I am now sitting at my desk with my arms trembling. Good times. Wore my heart rate monitor just because I was curious. Here are the stats:

Duration: 30:07
In zone: 8:18
Avg hr: 111
Max hr: 137
Calories: 125

My heart rate actually got up more than I thought it would. There is no cardio, just machines. Now, on top of this, I am going to attempt Week 3 Workout 1 tonight. We'll see how it goes!

W1W2, Begrudgingly

Well, I finally did my workout today, although it was begrudgingly. I was busy all day today and didn't make it to the gym until about 21 minutes before closing. As a result, I wasn't able to do the warmup or cooldown. Oh well. It's probably not as important on week one. Here are my stats:

time - 20:30
calories - 127.3
distance - 1.39
max hr - 174
walk mph - 3.5
run mph - 5.0

The 11th Day

11th day of exercising consistently. I'm irritated that weight isn't falling off of me in buckets. But it IS Christmas etc. so I'll assume this will happen once things like pie and stuffing aren't tempting me at every turn. It also doesn't help that I have dinner plans with people for two weeks in a row.

Just walked today, but did what I think is a very difficult 30 minute preset program on my treadmill. Here are the stats:

Max hr: 152
Avg hr: 130
In zone: 21:15
Duration: 30:03
Distance: 1.77
Calories: 175

Not bad for a slow day. I'm about to do some pushups - Allan turned me on to this -
http://hundredpushups.com/week1.html
I'm going to maybe do it. I am being a little compulsive about the exercise thing, which I don't think is a bad thing.

There will be lots of beer drinking today and tonight - Cowboys game then a show at Antone's. Ah well. In years past I would have been eating more, drinking more, and not exercising at all.

Cannot #2

Well, I was all ready to head up to the gym when my mom and sister asked what I was doing. When I told them I was headed up to the gym, they protested quite loudly. I was still running a fever this morning.

So c25k will have to wait another day. I will do W1W2 tomorrow, W1W3 on Monday, and then move into Week 2 on Wednesday.

Thus Ends Week 2

I decided to do this one on a little incline. I did the whole deal with the incline set to 1. So not much, but I felt like I wasn't really working as hard as I needed to be but didn't think bumping up the speed was a good idea. The good news is that it really did feel like a better workout. The bad news is that it did throw my heart into it's arrhythmia dance. My hrm freaked out and just showed my heart at 00 for awhile, and I can assure you that my heart was actually beating quite rapidly. So that all just means my average heart rate, time in the zone and calories burned aren't quite right but I'm not going to try to adjust. I figure this will happen with some regularity. That said, here are the not-quite-right stats. (avg hr should be higher as well as calories burned and time in zone)

Max hr 187
Avg hr 139
In zone 21:45
Duration 30:23
Distance 1.88
Calories 195

I didn't get on the scale this morning. Mostly because I wasn't at home but whatever. It's a good thing.

I think it will be too cold tomorrow to ride my bike which bums me out, so I guess I'll just walk. Monday is going to be a challenge. I start week 3 and I work out with Lauren. Yowzers. Looks like I will run for three full minutes which seems like a very long time, but I'm sure it will be fine. I'm a pretty big fan of this program so far and I trust that if I should be able to run three minutes at once, that I will be able to.

Love the Bike

I rode my bike today. If I could get a thirty minute ride in every day I would be golden! Here are the stats:

Time: 32:42
In zone: 28:38
Avg hr: 142
Max hr: 163
Calories: 221
Rode about 6 miles

So, burned more calories (kept my heart rate up better) on the bike. I'm thinking riding is a good supplement to the couch to 5k deal. I really enjoy it too. It's hard but more bearable for me. The problem is I can't just ride out of my driveway. The street I live on isn't exactly safe for riding, so I've got to load the bike up and go somewhere and it's kind of an ordeal. Riding consistently probably won't happen until daylight savings times returns. But, as long as the weather holds out, I'll ride again Sunday and then some at the end of next week when I'm off again.

After all of my exercising yesterday, I was still up a lb and a half today. Bummer. Hoping tomorrow looks better. I'm not going to have pie for dinner tonight I think. I feel great though and I've only been focused on the exercise bit for about a week and a half. My body may not show it yet but mentally I feel really good, which is just as important.