Week 4 Complete

Well, I did it.  It wasn't quite as easy as Thursday, but it also wasn't as hard as Monday.  I was able to make it all the way through without stopping.  The first half was great.  The second half I started to get a little tired - more in my legs.  I'm glad Hazel is doing this with me.  She slows down the second half and that really helps me.  I can only go as fast as she goes.

When I left it was 21 degrees out and there was snow on the trail, but it was packed.  Actually, it was quite pleasant out.  It was not windy.  If it were, that might be another matter entirely.  I think I much prefer running in the cold, than the heat.  At least in the cold you can control your temperature.  I wasn't cold at all.  I wore the hat but not the gloves.  My hands were cold a little at the first but they warmed up.  

Hazel even wore her jacket.  And her dog boots.  Well, they aren't really boots.  We tried boots and they did not work.  These are basically rubber balloons that are made to go on a dog's feet.  Why bother?  Well, I don't like how it feels walking on snow and ice and I figured Hazel wouldn't either.  Also, this protects her dog paws from any salt that people have put out.  And finally, it keeps her paws from getting all wet and muddy.  I also thought it might help them stay slightly warmer.  She doesn't particularly appreciate her jacket and dog boots, but she consented to wear them.  Many people smiled at her on the trail.  

Time: 35.04

Distance: 2.4

Average HR: 152

Maximum HR: 181

Calories: 392

Yoga - holy crap

The last time I did yoga was to satisfy a PE requirement at Penn State. So, 18 years ago. Did a yoga class today. It was one of those where they keep the room really hot. For one, yoga is harder now than it was when I was 19, if you can believe that. (that's a joke) Secondly, I am fairly certain I have never, ever sweated as much as I did in that class. Holy cow. But I really liked it! I think I will try to add yoga to my various activities. Not too expensive and the class schedule makes me think I should be able to find ways to fit it in. We shall see. I'm going to wear my hrm next time - that was way more of a workout than I thought it would be!

W7D1 Done

Woke up at 1:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep so this was not at all something I wanted to do this morning. But it went okay. I ran the first five minutes a little bit slower than usual, and the last 5 minutes a little faster, and it helped to break up the run in chunks like that. My hrm never got it right after I started my cool down. I think my heart has trouble there - it has been doing really great during the runs but when I stop running I feel it. It went back and forth between 00 and 200+ for the entire last 5 minutes. Needless to say, affects the stats.

Max hr: 205
Avg hr: 146
Duration: 37:03
Distance: 2.58
Calories: 236

W4W3

I did it!

This time it wasn't a problem.  I didn't really feel like going today because I think I pulled a muscle in my upper back last night and it was bothering me today.  But it went okay.  I did run a little slower on the second 5 minute run (5.0 - 5.3) but I didn't have the trouble at the end like I did on Monday.  My calves were a little sore at the end, but I could have kept going.  Yay.

Time: 35.48

Distance: 2.4

Average HR: 154

Maximum HR: 187

Calories: 407

5K

I am going to do one February 21. A little early, but I've got other motivations for doing it. Namely, Allan really needs to do more cardio and this will get him going. So now I have a big goal! I just want to run the whole thing, even if it takes me an hour.

A Question

When is Lisa running again??

W6D3 - Sweat!

I just ran it. Sitting at desk SWEATING! 25 minutes without stopping.

Felt it in my legs and think I'll be sore tomorrow. Wanted to quit at various times but would just start playing mind games with myself -
You've run longer than this before. (somewhere past 10 miutes)
Okay, ten minutes left. You can run ten minutes. You did it two days ago.
Five minutes left. You're a huge pansy if you quit with only 5 minutes to go.
And so on and so forth.

After yesterday's cookie and mexican food fest, I needed this.

I'm annoyed at the hrm - I looked down at one point well into the run and and it was reading my hr as 55. :) So, my avg hr is falsely low and I probably burned a few more calories that these stats show.

Max hr: 187
Avg hr: 143
Duration: 37:57
Distance: 2.61
Calories: 269

Oh, and dropped my pace down a tenth of an mph after a couple of minutes. That isn't enough to really make a difference but I was struggling and it helped me mentally.

W4W2

Today I went to the gym and worked out on the machines.  I went really easy - I hardly even broke a sweat.  But since I haven't worked out in awhile, I didn't want to be too sore tomorrow.  I also walked 17 minutes when I was calibrating my foot pod.

That is all.

Walk

Well, I got up and walked this morning. I am definitely in a rut...just not wanting to DO this right now. Not gonna quit though. And I am actually kind of looking forward to the 25 minute run tomorrow. Just put the brain on auto pilot, cover the clock, and go. I know I can do it and I know I'll feel great when it's done.

In My Defense

This isn't an excuse, but I'm sure part of the reason I'm having trouble is because I'm running with 40lbs of extra weight that shouldn't be there.  I think it makes a big difference.  Or at least it looks that way on Biggest Loser when later on during competitions they make them strap back on their old weight and run with it.

W4W1

Well, I did it. Sort of. I had to stop 3/4th of the way through the second 5 minute run. I just couldn't. I had a cramp in my side and my calves were burning and it felt like forever until I was going to be over. But really, I quit somewhere between 90 -105 seconds from the end. I even prayed. feverently. I alternated between "please God" and the slightly more desperate "help God".

I did however redeem myself by picking back up and running the last 30 seconds of it. I was really tired. And hot. No more hat and mittens unless its less than 30 degrees out. It was 35 when I left. Also, no more three layers. I had to take the mittens off because my hands got so hot.

Check out how many calories I burned! Depending on how I feel, I will probably try to add a repeat run in on Sunday, since I didn't make it totally through the second 5 minute run. I really wish I had repeated Week 3 last week instead of sitting on my ass. Oh and the foot pad battery crapped out when I had 1/4 left to go so I have no idea about total distance or really speed.

Duration: 37.46

Calories: 460

Average HR: 160

Maximum HR: 193

Distance: 2.0+

W6D2 - That Pretty Much Blew

It's done. I did it. That's the good news. But dang...I did not want to run today. I didn't sleep last night, my workout with Lauren was really really hard, and my head was just not in the right place. But, I haven't been doing anything in between runs and definitely didn't want to go two full days with zero cardio, so I just forced myself to do it. It was two 10-minute intervals with a 3-minute walk in between. Nothing seemed right today - I don't like these shorts, I don't like this sports bra, my shins actually felt sore, my socks didn't feel right...ya know, one of THOSE days...whine whine whine. My heart rate stayed way up there which to me is good because I think - oh cool, burning a lot of calories.

But of course, now comes the satisfaction for having pushed through it anyway and I love that satisfaction! I think one thing I've learned this week is that I really need to do something on the non run days. I was walking. I think I'll go back to that. Somehow it makes the running easier.

So Lisa I need a post from you TODAY. Girl, even if you do W1D1 I'll cheer for you!

Need

I stalled out last week after the fail.  Can you tell me to get my ass going again?

W6D1...Kinda sucked

I had heard over and over on the C25K forum that W6D1 was really hard. It doesn't make sense. I just ran 20 minutes so why would a 5 min - 8 min- 5 min run be hard? But yes, it was hard. So note to Lisa, when you get here, be ready for it to be harder than you would think.

That said, about half way through the 8 minute run I found my groove and it was okay. On the last running interval I bumped my speed to 5 mph which is as fast as I've ever run, and I did fine. I'm glad I did that because it makes me feel like I progressed.

I took yesterday off entirely - which I don't do often. Didn't walk or anything. I think this was a good idea. I'll probably do another day off after the 25 minute run on Wednesday. Tomorrow may be a bike ride.

Didn't really want to run this morning but so glad I just got up and knocked it out so I can enjoy the rest of Saturday without that hanging over me!

Fail

I had to go to the gym today because it was so cold out.  Earlier it was zero degrees.  It did warm up to around 10, but I still thought it would be better to be inside.  Boy was I wrong.  That was miserable.  I have decided that I hate the treadmill.  Hate it!  

And I don't know if it was because of my mindset or the treadmill or what, but I couldn't complete the workout today.  I started out after the warmup with what I thought was a 5 minute run.  Half way through I wanted to kill myself.  It just took forever and my legs were sore and I really wanted to stop.  So I thought, okay, I will press on.  Then I realized that this first interval was only for 3 minutes.  I barely made it through despite the fact that I had no problem with 3 minute intervals last week.  I pressed on.  Then I got to the 5 minute run and I just couldn't make it through.  I tried.  At about the 3 minute mark I stopped.  

I probably could have completed it.  My HR wasn't that high.  The max was at 174 or so.  My legs were sore but they weren't that sore.  I attribute it to the treadmill.  It was just miserable running on it - at least for me.  The time was crawling, I was uncomfortable and I just didn't have the motivation to go on.

So like a little girl I pussed out.  I didn't even finish the time with walking.  I just stopped completely after about 13 minutes.  I will try again tomorrow.  First I'll try to do W4W1 and if I can't do that, I'll go back and repeat week 3 for the next few days.  I will definitely be running outside tomorrow.  Please let it warm up!

W5D3: The Run

I did it! Knocked out that 20 minute monster this morning! And it really wasn't monstrous at all. Felt it in my legs but pushed through. Had a lot of anxiety about it but...I did it! Ran at a nice slow pace - so covered about 1.5 miles during the 20 minutes. I'm pretty sure I've never run a mile without stopping much less a mile and a half.

Not much time to write this morning but did want to say....

I did it!

W5D2

That was pretty good. I feel ready for the 20 minute run on Thursday...I think! We shall see. Still feeling like a rockstar about all this, and blogging helps because I do not want to hop on here and say - yeah I know I was all geeked out but nevermind. That run was two 8-minute intervals with 5 minute walks in between, so lots of rest time. Stats are looking good - my average heart rate on this one was only 137. I may bump up my speed a hair for the next run.

Week 3 Complete!

YAY!!!!

Today it was a little warmer - 46 degrees.  I went without the hat and gloves, or the fleece.  I wanted to go without Hazel today to see if I was able to run faster, but when I went to leave she threw herself in front of the door.  She really wanted to go.  So I took her!!  Everything went well, but my legs got tired on the second 3 minute run.  Probably as a result of going three days in a row.  Next week will be better and I will take a day break in between.   I'm kind of scared of week 4 with the 5 minute run, but I was scared of this week and I did just fine.  So we'll see.  Hopefully Hazel will want to run for 5 minutes.  She doesn't really run.  She dog trots.  Even when she goes 6.4 mph, she is still just trotting along.  

Duration: 31.29

Calories: 331

Average HR: 147

Maximum HR: 182

Distance: 2.1

Walk MPH: 3.5 - 4.1

Run MPH: 5.0 - 6.4

W5D1 - No Sweat

Okay, lots of sweat. But this run wasn't a problem. In Week 5 you do something different every day but the podcast is the same...and listening to him give instructions for days 2 and 3 was a little unnerving. 8 minutes sounds like a long time...not to mention 20 minutes! But my head is in the right place and I think that's half the challenge. Today was three 5 minute intervals. Very satisfying. My max hr rate was right this time - 181, which I think is a good max for me. Avg was low because I forgot to stop the hrm when I took it off. So recorded at 139, I'm sure it was in the low 140s which is good too.

Feeling good. Running is doing as much for my head as it is for my body. Have I mentioned how HUNGRY I am all the time!? Good Lord! I eat all day long. Seriously. Just hungry. But I am avoiding sugar and cheap carbs - no white starchy food. Eat nuts, cheese, fruit, cottage cheese, sandwich meat. Not worrying about fats like olive oil, avocado etc, just no processed food if I can help it. All this eating and the weight is coming down. Good stuff.

W3W2

YAY!!!!

Today the temp was quite different than yesterday.  It was 30 degrees.  It was cold, but it actually didn't feel that bad.  This is what I wore:  running shorts, sweat pants, t-shirt, long sleeve mesh running shirt, light fleece, hat and mittens.  I think I could have done without either the fleece or the long sleeve shirt.  My torso got a little hot.  And my hands got hot and sweaty.   

I almost went to the gym to run on the treadmill, but when I peeked out to check the temp, it didn't seem that bad to me.   I'm glad I went on the trail.  It just makes it better.  I was tired by the end of the 2nd 3 minute run but I was kinda sad that it was over.  But glad too!  The best news is that my Max  HR only got up to 180!  I think I am making progress.  I am also able to walk and run faster, though I'm not intentionally trying to.  Well, I'm trying to walk faster, but I'm just running at the pace that feels good.  Actually, I spend alot of time trying to slow down.

Duration: 35.01

Calories: 362

Average HR: 145

Maximum HR: 180

Distance: 2.2

Walk MPH: 3.5 - 4.2

Run MPH: 5.0 - 6.4