Can It Get Worse?

For real.

So, today is Friday and I wasn't sure when I'd get a chance to run. Hugh had his 9 month appointment this morning, and then I had to be home at 11 for Gus to get off the bus. I wanted to go as soon as he got home, but Monika came over with my money (for my photo shoot that I did on Sunday) and she stayed until after 12.

I decided at 12:45 that I'd just go and get it over with so I could relax for the rest of the day.

I don't know what the heck I was thinking. It was a bad idea and as soon as I pulled into the park, a fear crept over me... "Please God, don't let today be as bad as the Friday two weeks ago."

I got the boys out and loaded into the double jogger.

It was 1pm and HOT. What was I thinking?!?! Hugh started crying the minute I started and he didn't stop. Do you know how hard it is to focus on running while you're nine month old is screaming like someone is torturing him?

It was horrible. Simply horrible. 

I couldn't focus, I was exhausted before I even started. I kept trying to calm him down and he wouldn't stop crying. He was hot, I was hot. He was in desperate need of  a nap and I thought he'd nap in the stroller, but he was too hot with the hot sun beating down on him.

I ended up going so slowly. I went 1.28 miles and walker 0.80 at 23.25 min and ran 0.48 at 18:50. It was not good.

So I came home very tired, sweaty, and just overwhelmed. I'm glad I went, but I hate running with the boys. I just can't focus and I end up pushing 80 pounds... it's too much.
 

As soon as we got home, Hugh crashed. He had a flu shot and hemoglobin check today, so that could be part of his overall unhappiness. 

I will be repeating week three next week because I am not ready to run five minutes straight. I can't even run three minutes straight, so I know five isn't possible yet.

Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. I feel like it's a ridiculous notion to think that I'll be able to run a 5k next month. I pray that a good run comes my way soon, because I don't know if mentally I can handle feeling like crap after I run each time. I just get so disappointed and feel like I suck.

 This image is the one that scares the crap out of me. Oy.

And last but not least...

Exhausted

I'm going to start with a warning that this post is going to be a little on the negative side.

 
I am definitely feeling like Homer today. I just didn't have a lot of energy to run tonight and I knew I was going to be attempting W3D1 and I think I mentally built up a resistance for running tonight. Don't get me wrong, I still did it, but I was tired before I even started.

 I know that some days are going to be more difficult and challenging than others, and today was definitely one of those days. I was tired when I woke up this morning, and it stayed with me all day. I made scallops with angel hair pasta for dinner, but it didn't satisfy my hunger, and so I felt hungry after dinner. I'm sure it was better for me to run on an emptier stomach, but it didn't give me the energy that I desperately needed tonight.

Tonight it was me, Lesley, Jo, and Stacey. Lesley was on W2D3, so she and Jo went their way and Stacey and I set off to start W3D1. 

Holy Smokes.

It was a five minute warm-up followed by a 1.5 minute run, 1.5 minute walk, then 3 minute run, and 3 minute walk, repeated twice and then finish with a five minute cool down walk. 

Here's the strange part. I only ran 1.52 miles today. I've been doing 1.8 or so, and tonight I ran more than before (more at once), and yet it was a shorter distance. Maybe it's because it was only 28 minutes total versus 32?

My walking distance was 0.97 at 19:42 pace and then running distance was 0.54 at 16:44 pace. 

I will say that I did not walk any more than was in the plan. I ran for the full three minutes each time and while I felt like I was going to die, I did it and didn't give up. That's saying something, right? 

Week three was definitely hard, but I liked that it was over quickly. Lesley still had her cool down when I was finishing mine. I will say, I run and walk slowly, so that's part of why my time is what it is. But, you know what I have to keep reminding myself of? I AM RUNNING. At least I'm doing something and I'm burning calories and I'm not competing with anyone by myself.

I don't know how I'm going to run a 5k, but I guess I will just have to do it. I feel like if I had to double what I did tonight, I wouldn't make it. My calves hurt so bad and I even stretched them a lot today. Not sure what's causing them to cramp up like they are. Stacey suggested doing a warm up and then stretching and then walking.

It wasn't too bad tonight, just a little humid. The park was pretty empty, which was nice. I'm dreading October when Steve is traveling... not sure what I'll do. I think I'll probably have to run with the boys during the day. Maybe right after Gus gets home from school so I can be done with my run for the day and then let him play at the park for a little before coming home for naps.

 
I'm exhausted and my legs feel like cement. I know this is a normal feeling, because one of my tags for posts is "Legs like cement." Glad to know it's not unusual. Just got to go relax and fall asleep and then hopefully tomorrow I won't be super sore.

W2D2 C25K

 

Did I tell you that the 5k Crew keeps growing?

We met at Ocee to run last night. I was a little sore and my right calf was really tight. I should have stretched more, but the evening just came up on me and I didn't have time to do much.

Our group is growing and I love it. We have added Meaghan to run with us on Wednesday nights (she can't do Mondays or Fridays). She is thinking about doing the Color Run with us on October 19th, but isn't sure yet if she's ready for that commitment.

Everyone did week 2, but I'm on day 2 and Lesley is on day 1. The routine is the same, so we synced our phones and started at the same time. She and Jo ran together and then Stacey and Meaghan ran with me.

I felt bad because I was huffing and puffing and trying to focus on my breathing, and they were going slow (for my sake). I told them to go ahead without me and not to hold back on my account, but they said it was fine and they engaged in conversations while I did my best to breathe and stay alive.

We started right around 8 and finished at 8:35. I was really shocked to see that I head set a new personal best! Best pace and best distance! According to my C25K app, my total distance was 1.82. My walk distance was 1.26 with my walking pace at 17:34 and then my run distance was 0.56 with my average run pace at 16:03.

The app also gave me my total that I've run so far and it's 8 miles. Not too shabby!!

While we were running we talked about how hard running is on the body and how hard it is to do. Stacey shared that she had trained for a 1/2 marathon, but never had the chance to run it. She's hoping that maybe by running with us, it'll give her the push needed to train for it and really do it this time.

It's so inspiring to know that I am surrounded by people who have the drive and determination to keep runnning. My cousin Jessica is running in Michigan and training with C25K as well. She is doing it alone and yet is so determined to push through the "I can'ts" and just do it.

As much as I wasn't sure about running at night, it's now my preferred time to run. I like that I can come home and shower and just crash. It gives me time to think about my day and to just focus on me after having to focus on the boys. 

This morning I am sore. My right calf is really hurting. I've been doing stretches to help it. When I was running last night it felt like a cramp... so I don't know what I did, but as they say, sore muscles is happy pain.

So my Monday and Wednesday routine is pretty established. Not sure what will happen when Steve travels next month... but for now, it's good. I'm just trying to figure out Fridays. I don't want to skip my run because I love the two days off that the weekend provides. Not running on Friday gives too much time off between (four days). So I can't do that. 

I thought about getting up at 5:15ish and running from 5:15-6:00. It would only be once a week and would allow me to shower before getting Gus up at 6:30. I just hate getting up any earlier than I need to... and it's DARK at 5:30am. And my neighborhood is so hilly-- I like the flatness of Ocee.

I thought about going to the park to run with Hugh (I hate my single jogger though) on Fridays at 8:30am. If I had the Schwinn Tourismo that I want, I could do that on the Fridays that he doesn't have PT. However, his PT has been scheduling him on Thursdays or Fridays and for the rest of September, it's Fridays.

Another option is to go as a family to the park after dinner and run. Steve could walk with the boys and I could run. My running isn't much faster than his walk anyway. It would be good exercise for all of us, but then that makes Steve have to go and I know after a long week, he likes to just relax at home on a Friday.


My final option is to take Ned with me at 7:30pm. I don't really want to run with him, but I don't want to go alone and he's big enough that someone would (hopefully) think twice about attacking me with him next to me. 


So, I have some choices to make for sure. I'm just glad that my M/W routine is set and works well for me.

I definitely don't want to run at 5:30am.

Horrible Run

Friday morning was rough. I had asked everyone if they wanted to run with me and everyone had a reason that they couldn't. So I had a choice to make. I could stay home or find the motivation and go. 

I loaded the single jogging stroller into the car, loaded Hugh, and we headed to Ocee Park. It's now my favorite place to go and run.

We got to the park after fighting hellish traffic. I had stretched for about 20 minutes at home prior to leaving, so I felt good. I loaded Hugh into the stroller, got my music set up on my phone, and we set off.

Hugh wasn't sure what to think, but he seemed really happy. I was two cycles into my run when I noticed that my stroller was wobbly. Three cycles in and I started to hear a weird dragging sound, and when I looked, I noticed that not only did I have ONE flat tire, but I had TWO flat tires.

I had to continue, but it was brutal. Not only was it making a really horrible noise, but it was heavy and hard to push and steer. I made it around once, and stopped at my car to put Hugh back into his infant carrier and put him into the frame stroller.

He was quite unhappy to leave the jogger and head into the carrier. He screamed and screamed, and all the while, I was sweating, and tired, and sore.

I could have just called it a morning right then and there, but I decided to keep going and finish my run. Well, Hugh was not happy about my choice. I got 1/2 way around the loop and he was done. So I had to cut my run short and head back to the car as quickly as I could.

I finished by 9 and I had run just over a mile. I was exhausted from having to push Hugh and then change strollers and then deal with his screaming. It wasn't the best run, but as I drove home, I was happy that I at least tried. I am now free to relax until Monday night. 

I woke up this morning SO SORE. My arms really hurt from pushing the stroller. I guess muscle pain is a good thing because it means I'm doing something right!!

Tired!!

This morning when Steve woke me, I was in a DEEP sleep. I did NOT want to wake up. He said, "Do you want to get up and run?" I said, "NO." He then said, "Are you going to get up and run?" With that, I got up and got myself ready and headed out the door.


I used Songza today and I was so glad that I did. Not only did it save me from having to shuffle through my iPod, but there's a station specifically for exercising and the music was incredible. I didn't fastforward once and found myself really motivated to keep going because of my music.


My run wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. My calves and shins were on fire today. And if that wasn't bad enough, I found myself in desperate need of a bathroom... and I was only 1/2 way done. So instead of focusing on my surroundings and trying to enjoy my run, I was trying my best not to go while running. 


NO.
FUN.

I think I might go back to trying MWF for working out. I might run Monday and Friday and then walk on Wednesday, or do something around the house-- but going from Tuesday to Friday was almost too much time off. I weigh-in today, and I don't want to be too disappointed. 


I don't think I posted it on this blog, but my Charlotte Color Run date was announced and it's the Saturday that we're at Disney. I can't even begin to say how totally disappointed I was. Not just because I really wanted to do The Color Run, but because my dad and two cousins were going to be meeting us in Charlotte, AND Steve even said he'd maybe run it with me. 


Yes, there are other 5ks. Yes, I will keep training and will be running one this fall (that's my goal). But Charlotte was going to be special because it was going to be a meeting spot for us (me and Steve and Gus from ATL, Jes and my dad from MI and Mary from DC). Now we're trying to figure out a plan B.


I'm hoping that when my brother knows when he'll be in MI (he's in DC currently), we can find a 5k and my dad and Jes and I can do it together, and maybe Mary will be able to come up for it too. It's just hard because we can't come up to MI more than once this fall. And the main reason we're going to MI is to spend the week with Dave and the kids and Scott and his family. It'll be the first time in YEARS that we'll all be in MI at the same time for more than a day. I'm excited about it.


So... yes I ran today. I'm tired right now. It was hot today (already 70 when I started at 5:30) and I am a sweaty, stinky mess. I've got to get in the shower. Have a good weekend and I'll be back Monday or Tuesday. I haven't decided if I'm for sure doing MWF again (Monday is garbage day around here and it's GROSS to be running through the neighborhood and smelling hot garbage).

Ready for Week 3??

I didn't go for a run on Wednesday because Gus and I have been sick. I have had a headache and just felt run-down, so I decided on Wednesday that I wasn't going to do anything. We didn't go to my MOMS Club event and we stayed home and rested. It felt great.


I was ready to get back out today and thankfully, Pilar met me at the Greenway at 9am so we could go. I did week 2 again, and did the full minute and a half each cycle. I'm so proud of myself!!


So I think on Monday, I'm going to attempt week three. It's a five-minute warm up and then two repetitions of the following: jog for 1.5 minutes, walk for 1.5 minutes, jog for THREE minutes, walk for three minutes. We'll see... it's a 28 minute workout but I'm not sure about the distance. So far I've been getting about a mile and a half (1/2 way to a 5k) and it's been challenging.


I am contemplating running (alone) in the mornings when Steve gets up. It'd be like 5am and should be cool outside... and I could run without Gus (it's a lot of extra work to push a 30 pound child in a jogging stroller). Maybe just for July and August I could try it... I do LOVE running with Pilar and Christy, it's just hard with Gus sleeping until 8:30 and then by the time I get him up and dressed, it's a quick breakfast in the car while we drive the 25 minutes to the Greenway. By the time we actually start running, it's already in the mid 70s and humid. It's only going to get worse as we get into the summer.


So we'll see. I'm still waiting on Christy to give me her code to join the Y. Once I can join the Y, it'll be awesome because I can take Gus with me and go work out while he plays in the kid zone (it's supervised). Christy said she didn't know if they'd be sending out codes during the summer though, so I might have to wait until the fall. I think it's worth waiting because it's 20% and would make our monthly fee like $60. :-)


Anyway- I ran today and while I was super slow, I did it and when I finished I was glad that I did it. I'm looking forward to the zoo tomorrow and we'll get to walk around (I'll get to be active) and then we'll see what happens on Monday.