45 minute walk

I was due for a 45 minute walk yesterday. As usual on Saturdays, the hubs worked from 9-6 which made finding the time difficult. So instead of resting today, I actually went on my walk today. Which is usually what I intend to do, but it doesn't end up happening. It was a super hot day outside and so I sweated a ton for those 45 minutes.

My run tomorrow is 2.5 miles. They only get longer from here out. Kinda freaks me out a tiny bit. But I'm hoping I'll continue to adjust to the distance. I've been trying to find a 10K, which I wanted to do after my 5K, but I can only find ones on Thanksgiving. I can't do one much earlier because I want at least 8 weeks to train, like I did with my 5K. But there aren't any very close to where I live that are after that 8 week period. And no one up here does runs after Thanksgiving really since it's snow country. There's one in December, but it's a 9 hour drive or so. But, I'm going to complete my 5K and go from there. Perhaps I'll just keep running 5K's all fall until winter hits. I can still do the 10K training program and run the 10K distance. It's just not as dramatic as doing an official 10K. If I want to make it to the Ogden half-marathon next May, I have to keep upping my distances. We'll see. That's the plan for now, but as we all know, plans change. For now, I'm keeping my eyes on my first 5K.

2.25 mile run

I did the 2.25 mile run again today. It was pretty rough! Makes me super nervous about my upcoming 2.5 mile run, whenever that is. (I'd have to look at my planner to know for sure. Probably next week. Ah!) I did another google map run. I really like running this way. Makes the scenery new everytime. This time I avoided lights, so I didn't stop at all. I think I did it in around 35 minutes or so. I never run with other people, so I don't know if I'm fast or slow. I'm sure I'm not a fast runner. At least not when I'm running 2.25 miles. I bet my 1.5 mile run was a decent pace. I'm slightly curious. But not curious enough. I'd hate to run with other people and find out I'm ridiculously slow. Ideally I'd run with someone else to find out I keep a good pace, and that would make me feel good. But for now, I'll just continue being happy running on my own. I'm happy with a run if I don't walk at all. And if I don't have to stop for lights or cars, I don't stop running. You must realize that I use the word run rather loosely. I'm not sprinting folks. A large portion of the time it's probably more of a jog. But I call it running anyway. :)

1.5 mile run

Today's run was 1.5 miles. Compared to my last run, this felt really easy. It was still a work-out, don't get me wrong. But comparatively, it was pretty nice. I think my Friday run is 2.25 again, so I've got to gear myself up for that one again. But tomorrow's a rest day, so I'll have to enjoy it as best I can. I've got one month til the 5K. Ah!

2.25 mile run

I didn't get my walk in yesterday (darn) because it was so very busy. But I was fully committed to my run today. I haven't run this far since last summer before I got pregnant. It went surprisingly well. The first mile was pretty great. But on the way back, the cloud cover left, as well as the breeze. So I melted the rest of the way home. But I still managed to do it in about 30 minutes, which includes a few short stops at red lights. So not too shabby!

Tomorrow's a rest or run/walk day. You might guess I'll probably rest. Then the day after is a 1.5 mile run. That'll feel like a piece of cake after today! I have to say that I love google mapping runs and just running local streets. It makes the runs go by so much faster. I never thought I'd enjoy running the sidewalk on busy streets, but I do!

And I'm over halfway to my 5K distance! (It's about 3.1 miles or so)

2 mile run

I was supposed to have a 2 mile run yesterday. But with the hubs working 9-6 and prepping for a birthday party last night, it didn't happen. However, I was able to get it in post-birthday party this afternoon. I google-mapped a run down a nearby street so I knew how far to go before turning around. it was nice. I was able to do it in decent time. About 26 minutes, with a few stops due to a red light and some cars. But a nice run. Since I was supposed to do my walk today, I'm going to do it tomorrow. I would otherwise be resting tomorrow. Feels like I'm always trying to play catch-up. But with 3 kids, one of them being quite needy, I suppose that's pretty normal. Next week should be a good one. Hopefully I'll be able to keep on top of things!

1.5 mile run

I had a nice run tonight. I ran along a local road and used my 1/4 mile estimate to figure out how long to run. I ran 20 minutes and did 1.5 miles. I googled it when I got home and it was pretty exact. Felt pretty good. I'm definitely enjoying running along different routes. Keeps things interesting. :)

Weigh In

I chose the rest option for today on account of my run being so late last night, and pretty tough. As promised, I did weigh in this morning. For a while I couldn't recall exactly what my weight goal was. But I'm pretty sure I remember. I have lost, but only a tiny bit. But now that I'm running more regularly and my runs are getting longer, perhaps that will help. All in good time.

20.9 lbs to go!

2 mile run

Today was my first 2 mile run in a while. Instead of doing my normal route, which is a 1/2 mile stretch run back and forth, I ran 1/4 mile and timed myself. Then I used that time to figure out an estimate for 1 mile. Then I ran that mile back. So I wasn't exact, but it was easier to get lost in the trail since I didn't have distance markers. It was nice.

I'm getting so excited about my 5K. I have a few people who have said they'll do it with me and that's such a great motivator and support. I was remembering today what first got me running last April or so. I was playing volleyball and there was a gal there with a runner's shirt from some run she did. She had a runner's body and I remember thinking that I wished I was fit like that. As we were talking about running, I said something to her about how I was not a runner. She replied with something along the lines of, "Anyone can run." For some reason it really hit me when she said that. I'm a relatively healthy person. And she was right. Anyone can run. It might take a while to get acclimated to it, and some might take more naturally to it, but anyone can do it. That's what got me running last year. I still don't quite feel like a "runner" yet, but I'm sure as I shed some more of the baby weight, I'll feel more confident in my runner-ness. :)

Speaking of weight, I'm hoping to weigh in at my in-laws tomorrow as we drop off our two older kids. It's a different scale than the one I weighed on last time, but since it's been almost a month, I'm hoping that there will be progress to speak of. We'll see. :)

Walking

I went out for my 35 minute walk today. It was ridiculously hot out. I pushed my baby in the stroller too, while the hubs played with the other two at a park by my trail. It was a nice outing, even though I was way sweatier than I should've been for just walking. But it felt good to get out and get moving.

Tomorrow I'm back to running. This time it'll be 2 miles. I'm getting closer!

It's Official

I am officially registered to run my 5K in August. No turning back now. At least not without losing 20$. No way that's happening!

I didn't get to go on my 35 min. walk today. The hubs worked all day, and when he got home it was dinner and kids to bedk, which is a 2 person job. But tomorrow's a rest or run/walk day. So I'll take today as my rest day and tomorrow I'll get my walk in. :)

I really need to weigh in soon. Need to find a scale...

Rest and a 1.75 mile run

Yesterday was a rest day, and thank goodness. I was exhausted, slept in late, then had to deal with a difficult baby all day. I was not in the mood for a run. Sometimes I'll have rough days when I'm itching to go on a run and get it all out. But yesterday was not one of those days.  I also had a girls night out at a fro-yo place. It was great. I could have stayed there all night talking. :)

This morning I went on a 1.75 mile run. It was nice. I've taken to wearing my hat like I used to to keep the sun out of my eyes. I find that it also acts as blinders (like on a horse) so that I don't see too much other than what's in front of my feet. This helps my mind to think less about where I'm at on the trail and how far I have to go. Another trick of mine is that when my breathing gets to be a bit labored, I focus solely on my breathing. Breathe in the nose, out the mouth. When I'm doing this, I don't think about the running as much, which makes it go faster. I guess I can't focus on my breathing, listen to music, and still think about how far I've run at the same time. :)

Tomorrow is a walk day. 35-60 minutes.  Should be relaxing.

Training

I did a walk/run yesterday. It was fun. I wasn't worried about distances. So I ran over to a neighborhood I'm not as familiar with and wandered around. I walked when I got tired, ran when a good song came on my mp3 player. It was fun.
I went out to do my 1.5 miles today. I had a headache and wans't able to finish. The bouncing as I ran was killing. I also had some family coming over for dinner, so I gave in and went home. Now I know that if I have a headache I had to take care of it before I run.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I'm celebrating and having a girls night out for fro-yo. Then I'm back to the daily training Friday.

1.75 mile run

Got my run in this morning. Felt good. I felt like I had a little bit of my runner's mentality that I used to get last summer when I ran. It's amazing how much effort it takes to not think about running while you're out there. But I was able to find a flow and think less about what I was doing. Makes the run go by faster.  I found that when I was in that mindset, I was looking at the ground, instead of ahead of me. When I look forward, I think I tend to think about my next mile marker, and focus on how much distance I have left. That makes the run take forever. So it was a good run today.

Tomorrow's training is to rest or run/walk. I think I'll do a run/walk.

Rest or Walk/Run

Today's training was to rest or walk/run. Here's what that is:

Walk/Run: This is a combination of running and walking, suggested for those in-between days when you want to do some running, but only some. There's nothing in the rules that suggests you have to run continuously, either in training or in the 5-K race itself. Use your own judgment. Run until you begin to feel fatigued, then walk until recovered. Run. Walk. Run. Walk. Another option for in-between days is to do some cross-training: biking, swimming or just plain walking. You get a little exercise, but not so much that you are fatigued for the next day's running workout.

I ended up doing a 35-40 minute walk. Ideally I'd like to keep Sundays for walking or resting. The 7 day training repeats each week, just with the mileage increasing slowly.

It was really relaxing going on the walk. Me and the hubs figured out my trianing for the next two weeks in conjunction with his work schedule. I'm going to be doing my daily training first thing in the morning, after I breastfeed the baby.

I'm also feeling excited since my sweet mom is also back on the treadmill. She had hip replacement a year ago and it's been great for her. I'm so excited for her to be able to get up and exercise again.

So I'd love to challenge anyone who actually reads this to pick a 5K near them and make a goal. You don't even have to run the whole thing. You can walk it! That's why most of them are called a walk/run. It's taken me such a long time to get to this point where I actually feel like I can do this and it's great. I can't wait to make progress and reach some of these goals I'm making. And the more people who are doing it with me, the better. :)

So make a goal everyone. It feels good. :)

30-60 minute walk

Today's event was a 30-60 minute walk. I wasn't home at all today, and I was thinking (incorrectly, unfortunately) that today was a rest day. It was the last day of the family reunion. I did not get my walk in. What a great beginning to my training, huh? But I'm not down about it. It was a really busy few days. Tomorrow's activity is to rest or go on a run/walk. I'll explain what that is tomorrow. I think I'll try and do it since my last two days haven't gone as planned. And on the to-do list for next week is to officially register for the 5K. Woohoo! :)

Snag

I was supposed to run a 1.5 run today. However, today was a full-blown family reunion day. I was still planning on sneaking in 20 minutes to get it done, but today was one of those days. Mostly insanity basically. I did, however, go on a hike with a baby strapped to my chest. I know I walked more than 1.5 miles, so I'm considering today a training day even though I didn't get a run in I am going to consider today's requirement fulfilled. It was a day of family insanity and I'm exhausted. Time for bed.

Rest

Today's my first rest day. There are quite a few of them. Here's what Hal Higdon has to say about resting.

"The most important day in any beginning or intermediate running program is rest. Rest days are as vital as training days. They give your muscles time to recover so you can run again. Actually, your muscles will build in strength as you rest. Without recovery days, you will not improve."

So make sure you give yourself time to rest!

Day 1

I went for my run this morning. It was nice. I was feeling super motivated. 1.5 miles isn't so bad. When I was running the trail a while back, I was always doing 2. Next week it'll bump up to 1.75 and 2 mile runs. But it's a gradual increase, so I'm sure my body will adjust. I'm very excited.

So here's a link to the plan I'm doing. It's for novice runners. It's by Hal Higdon. And if you want to find a run in your neighborhood, here's a website I used to find runs for myself so I could start making my goals. And if you're local, but not ready for a 5K August 27, there's going to be another one around the second week of September, which gives you a few more weeks to get ready. I'm going to run that one as well. Come on everyone! Let's get running!

5K

A friend shared a website with me (Thanks Elaine!) that gives training schedules for races. So I found one for a 5K. It's an 8 week program. I should have started last Sunday. But since we were camping it wouldn't have worked anyhow. So, I'm officially starting my 5K training! My 5K is on August 27th. If any locals would like to join me, even train with me, let me know! I'm all for people to run with.  I'll now be posting every day what I did for my training that day. It's an 8-week program, so I've got a lot to be accountable for. But I'm really excited. It's a nice, gradual increase in distance and I think I can handle it.

After the 5K, I want to find a 10K to do before winter sets in. Then it'll be Ogden in May. Oh yeah! And, I'm totally going to be recruiting for others to run at Ogden with me. Either relay, or half. (You can do the full if you want. But I'm going half.) The more, the merrier! Set a goal and join me!

Changes...

Well, I've had to make some changes to my current plans. I'm going to be continuing with my original exercise plans. I'm going to focus on my running for the summer and fall until the weather gets too awful for outdoor running. Then I'll be getting a gym membership so I can continue my training even when the weather gets tough. My free membership ran out, so I'm officially without gym. But me and the hubs are planning on setting me up with regular running times whenever he gets his schedule for work. I don't know how often I'll be able to weigh in and check on my progress, but I'll try to get in there every now and then so I know how I'm doing. In the meantime, I feel like I'll have to find other things to keep my focus on health and fitness. Perhaps a book on running or nutrition. I have a very tentative goal to hit the Ogden, UT marathon (to do, at most, a half) next May. But before I can do that, I have to set a smaller goal. I want to run a 5k by September or so. Then perhaps a 10k before winter sets in. So my next step is to find my 5k. Perhaps even find one of those nifty running programs that help you reach your goal in 10 weeks, or something like that. Whatever I do, I need to set some smaller goals, so I don't get swallowed up in my larger one.