Running - Training Day 8

Well, well, well... today felt much more like a success. Perhaps this every other day thing will work out after all.

Today was the second day of week three, where, after a 5 minute walk to warm up, I run for 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, then run for 3 minutes, then walk for 3 minutes, then repeat. Today, I am happy to report that I did not spit while I was breathing (although I was breathing just as hard), and I did not cry when I finished the three minutes!!!

YEA, JENNY!!!!

Also, I was able to at least pretend to converse a little bit with my running buddy, although she was really the only one talking and I was just grunting out sounds that sounded roughly like "Oh... wow... uh-huh..." and so on. I also noticed that I recovered faster. On Monday, after running the 90 seconds, I was just barely recovering by the time the 90 seconds of walking was over and I had to start running again. Today, I recovered with about 20 seconds to spare.

It is significant to note that yesterday, I got approximately 4.5 hours of sleep, and was fully awake by 3pm (the equivalent of you waking up at 3am even though you don't have to be at work til 7am). Needless to say, I was exhausted, and I seriously wondered whether I would have the energy to run at all. Also, I just got home from working a busy 12 hour shift at the hospital... again, my reserves were just about depleted, and I REALLY needed to just go home and sleep. And to top it all off, ever since that first 3 minute run on Monday, I somehow damaged my right foot. It feels like the ball of that foot is bruised, and I've had to keep walking on it every night at work.

But in spite of three valid reasons not to run today, I pushed through, and I did it anyway. The moral of this story? We all have plenty of things that keep us busy, and plenty of reasons why running or working out is simply not convenient for us, and most of the time, the reasons are valid reasons. But at the end of the day, fitness and health is as simple as making the choice to do it anyway. What things are holding you back from being healthy today? Let me encourage you to follow my example, and even though you may have plenty of valid reasons why exercise doesn't fit in your schedule today, make it fit anyway. Your body, and your heart, will thank you!

Running - Training Day 7

Well, day 7 is complete. Today was the first day of Level 3 in my C25K program. Level 3 is as follows:

5 minutes - brisk walk to warm up

90 seconds - run

90 seconds - walk
3 minutes - run

3 minutes -  walk

Repeat the above sequence so that you have run a total of 4 times: twice for 90 seconds each, and twice for 3 minutes each.

5 minutes -  walk to cool down

There was no feeling of "yea, I finished, woo-hoo!" today. It sucked today. It was hard. I mean, HARD. Like, I was breathing so hard I was spitting. Like, I literally cried when I finally finished the second 3 minute run. I don't want to do this again. Let me repeat myself:

I. DO. NOT. WANT. TO. DO. THAT. AGAIN.

It was so hard for me. It was hot, even though it was early. The humidity level was ridiculous; I might as well have been breathing in water. My head was hurting by the time I was done. There was nothing about this run that felt good, or that made me feel proud. I looked like a fat wimp. I felt like a little nerdy school kid begging the bullies to quit beating him up. I didn't finish that run with my head held high. I almost didn't finish the run at all. I felt embarrassed by how badly just 3 minutes kicked my butt. Today felt like a failure.

Why do I complain like this? Because I want to be real. Because I want you all to know that there is NOTHING glamorous about what I'm doing. Because I want you to see that I really mean it when I say if I can do it, so can you. See, I'm not one of these giggle-while-I'm-running-because-it's-just-so-much-fun skinny girls that you see at the gym and in the movies. I'm just a 32 year old, over weight mom of like a hundred kids, who's trying to get healthier. When I run, it's not pretty. In fact, it gets pretty ugly. My face looks more like something out of a book on Chinese torture techniques than something out of Runner's World magazine. I frequently make these pathetic, whimpering sounds, like a kid who's getting spanked. And I can always be found at the back of the pack, bringing up the rear, because I'm simply not fast.

But - I did it. I finished. In spite of how badly I felt like my butt was getting kicked out there, I still didn't quit.

When I got back home, the kids and I pulled out our Bibles for our daily reading. We are reading through the New Testament, one chapter each day. Today, incredibly, we were at 1 Corinthians 9. Take a look at what verses 24-25 says:

"Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes through strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

I felt like that scripture was meant for me today. My feelings of defeat are giving way to determination. It may not look pretty while I'm doing it, but by-golly, I'm gonna do it.

My next run is Wednesday.

God help me.

Running - Training Day 6 - 06/14/14

Alright, day 6 is complete, and so is Level 2 in the C25K program. Today was pretty much just as bad as yesterday, but that was probably at least partly due to the fact that I ran during the hottest part of the day, and I was in Canyon Lake where the terrain is anything but flat. There were no big hills or anything, but there were slopes big enough that I definitely knew they were there!!


On the one hand, I feel really stupid, because I'm pretty sure I was only like a half a degree away from heat stroke. But on the other hand, I'm proud that I had the determination to do it, even though it was at an inconvenient time (I was busy this morning and I'll be busy tonight, so now was pretty much the only time I could do it).


The main reason I went ahead with the run instead of excusing myself from it was because of all of you that I have heard from over the last two weeks who are telling me that my journey is inspiring you - and I am more humbled than you can know to hear that from you! So, thank you all for helping me to stay accountable!


By the way, Liz was totally awesome and completely rocked it out there, heat and all. That girl is a beast!!






Note: I am writing this on June 16th. When I first started running, I simply posted a status update to Facebook. After today's run, I decided to start blogging about my progress. I am entering my Facebook posts from each of my previous runs into a blog post here for continuity.

Running - Training Day 5 - 06/13/14

Well, day 5 is complete, and I have to say, today was significantly more difficult than yesterday. I guess I just wasn't feeling it at all. I still recovered faster than I did last week, but I did not finish with that "THIS IS SO AWESOME" feeling that I had yesterday.


I hope tomorrow isn't as bad.


The positive news is that I ran a total of 4 km in 31 minutes. The last time I mapped it, it was only 3 km, so I am improving, and that's what really matters. I have to keep looking at the positive side and not get sidetracked with the disappointments.






Note: I am writing this on June 16th. When I first started running, I simply posted a status update to Facebook. After today's run, I decided to start blogging about my progress. I am entering my Facebook posts from each of my previous runs into a blog post here for continuity.

Running - Training Day 4 - 06/12/14

Well, well, well... day 4 is complete, and so is my first day at Level 2 in the C25K program. Level 2 is as follows:


5 minutes - brisk walk to warm up
90 seconds - run
2 minutes - walk
Repeat the above run/walk interval 5 more times (so you will have run a total of 6 times)
5 minutes - walk to cool down


I decided to go ahead and try Level 2. I figured if I couldn't finish the 90 seconds, then I would just go back to the 60 second/ 90 second intervals in Level 1. Well, guess what??


I DID IT!!!!!!!


I ran longer, I recovered faster, and I controlled my breathing better than last week... and, I was 2 minutes and 15 seconds faster than I was last week! I am so excited to see this progress... this is positive proof that I AM getting stronger! I was even able to talk some during the running with my running buddy!


I can't believe I did it!! This is a huge accomplishment for me, and I feel great!!






Note: I am writing this on June 16th. When I first started running, I simply posted a status update to Facebook. After today's run, I decided to start blogging about my progress. I am entering my Facebook posts from each of my previous runs into a blog post here for continuity.

Running - Training Day 3 - 06/07/14

Day 3 is now complete, and so is my first week and my first level in the C25K program. I think today was the hardest so far. Even the first day I ran, I at least caught a second wind, but that didn't happen today. It hurt today. I'm so sore from these last few days of running, it's not even funny.


I'm debating on whether I should go ahead and try to advance to the next level next week, or if I should hang back and repeat week one again. Level 2 will have me running for 90 seconds, followed by 2 minutes of walking. I honestly don't know if I am ready to advance or not. I guess we'll see how it goes. Hopefully, I won't be so sore next week when I start again.


On a positive note, today was the first day that I've run without having my carotid arteries hurt. I know it sounds weird, but when I would run on days one and two, the arteries in my neck (both sides) would hurt. It didn't hurt so bad that I felt like crying or anything, but it hurt bad enough that I would sometimes press my hand against them for 5-10 seconds to try to stop the throbbing. Then it would occur to me how stupid it was for me to be occluding the arteries going to my brain and I would drop my hand. I was worried about having a blockage or something. But today they didn't hurt at all. I hope that doesn't mean that something broke loose and is now waiting to lodge somewhere in my brain and cause a stroke... that would be bad.


I know. I'm morbid. That's what happens to people when they work in a hospital for any length of time.








Note: I am writing this on June 16th. When I first started running, I simply posted a status update to Facebook. After today's run, I decided to start blogging about my progress. I am entering my Facebook posts from each of my previous runs into a blog post here for continuity.

Running - Training Day 2 - 06/06/14

Day 2 of Level 1 is complete. It was not any easier today, but it felt a little more manageable because I had a running buddy (other than my children), who really encouraged me. I still feel old and fat, but I am still determined to do this.


There is a vine (short video) that I saw once on Youtube called "Running for exercise vs. Running for ice cream". In the first clip, you see a young, athletic man running, but he stops, panting for breath, covered in sweat, and looks like he's about to collapse. It then cuts to a huge, morbidly obese man running for all he's worth for some ice cream. It's pretty humorous, and I laughed quite a bit when I saw it. It's so true... when I was out there running with my friend and my kiddos, I wanted to just quit. But when I'm running to something or someone, or running because I'm playing with my kids, it feels like I have more endurance.


I think what would help me most is to try to maintain a positive attitude, to shift my perspective and tell myself that my body will appreciate this one day. It just would be nice if I had some ice cream waiting for me at the end of my runs!


Oh, wait... I do have some ice cream!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!


The weird thing is, I don't even really feel like eating any today.




Note: I am writing this on June 16th. When I first started running, I simply posted a status update to Facebook. After today's run, I decided to start blogging about my progress. I am entering my Facebook posts from each of my previous runs into a blog post here for continuity.