Admit it, you missed me!

Guess what? I think I'm ready to register for my very first 5K!! Don't get too excited yet, I haven't been running in quite a while (it's been so frigging hot here, and Steve's morning routine changed and I'd have to get up extra early or run with Gus mid-morning- neither were options I was willing to do). However, it's cooling off and once Steve gets back from London, we've talked about training for a 5K after dinner/before bed.

So this morning I was looking through my email and I saw something about registration opening today for the Johns Creek "Night of the Running Zombies 5K Run." I immediately got excited about it and looked at the website to see more information. Here's the cool part: it takes place at 7pm. I think it sounds so fun!

I've sent an email to a few of my friends to see if they'd be interested in joining me and hopefully some will. Lesley said she'll think about it and she said she's not up for running it, but she'd walk it. I emailed Steve to see if he wanted to do it with me and maybe we could bring Gus. I don't know if it'd be too scary for him (probably not). We can put him in the jogging stroller and he won't even notice what's going on around him.

So that's the latest. I am excited about it and hoping that at least one other person will want to run it with me. I am not ready to run the full 5K, but I know I can do the run/walk combo for sure. It might take me an hour to do it, but I know I can do it. All my training runs were over 1.5 miles and it took me about 30 minutes to do them. I'm pretty certain I can double it.

The best part of this race is you have to specify if you'll be running as a zombie or as a human. The humans start the race and two minutes later, the zombies begin (as if the zombies are chasing the humans). You're not allowed to touch anyone (thankfully) so there's no real chase happening, but it seems like a lot of fun. I will be running as a zombie. What fun is it to run as a human??? LOL

I'll keep everyone posted on things... it's less than a month away, and I've got until the 15th to register and pay the lowest registration fee. Hopefully Steve will want to do it too and we can do our first 5K together!!

Back on the Horse

There are a couple of things that happened today before/during my run. I'd like to share.


1) I woke up numerous times last night (I was literally tossing and turning) because I was trying to decide if I was actually going to get up and run or not. When I had decided that I would, indeed run, I then had to think of my route.


2) When 5:20 arrived, I was in a DEEP sleep cycle and did NOT want to wake up. This is what kept going though my head (seriously):

So I got myself up and stretched and then headed out the door. The minute I stepped outside, I felt a raindrop. I had just mustered up motivation to run (it's been over a week since my last run), so I wasn't about to go back inside. However... I had no idea that I was about to embark on a run that would be 90% in the rain.


3) I learned that I DO enjoy running in the rain. It's actually kinda nice to have the rain to cool me off while I'm sweating and hot. What I DON'T like is running in the rain for the majority of my run, and then having it stop raining and become REALLY humid and hot for the last portion of my run.


4) I chose a new route today. I didn't think it through and I never even drove it to see if it'd be do-able. I just decided to go for it. Which, normally would be great. Today, was just stupid on my part.


5) I also started (unbeknown to myself) the DREADED week four of C25K. This takes you from running three minutes, to running FIVE minutes. It felt like I was running longer than usual, but I didn't intend on doing this week yet. I wanted to do another round of week three.


6) I RAN FIVE MINUTES. I didn't stop. 

7) My new route took me out to Sargent and then it was flat for about a second and then it went downhill. It took me five minutes of running and I was still running downhill (yes, it's a MONSTER hill). So I was doing great and feeling pumped... until I had to start running uphill. The uphill part wasn't too bad on Sargent. I tuned into my sub's other entrance, and it was flat for a bit so it was good.


8) Then it stopped raining. 


9) It was ALL uphill from that point to my house.


10) I was not prepared for such an incline and so much uphill running. I'm still very out of shape and carrying a LOT of extra weight... it was really hard. I had to stop because my heart monitor watch started beeping at me (it alarms me when my heart-rate is too high). I don't want to stroke-out or have a heart-attack, so I stopped running and walked.


Now, let's be real. My walking was really no slower/faster than my running at this point. LOL. But I was able to bring my heart rate back down to a normal range.


I stopped my run at 1.35 miles and didn't finish the 5 minute cool-down. I was out of space and didn't want to go a little only to turn around.


11) I realized how much I really enjoy the Greenway for running. Running through my neighborhood will have to do until the fall when it's cooler, but once we're back in cooler temps, I fully intend on going back to running around 8/9 am at the Greenway with Gus.


Before I cut my run off short-- I was averaging a 17.45 minute mile. My fastest yet!! I believe in the running world, this is called a PB. :-)

So now I'm done and just finished eating a whole wheat bagel and some strawberries. I'm ready to get in the shower and then Gus and I have morning plans at a sunflower farm!! My parents should be here in about 10 hours or so and I'm glad my morning run is over. It's going to be a high of 103 here today!!!

A Week Off

This week I didn't run at all.


I had all intentions of running on Tuesday morning, and then on Monday, Steve found out that he had an awesome opportunity at work, but it would mean he'd have to leave here by 5:30 instead of his usual 6:15/6:30.


This would mean that I'd have to wake at 4:45 so I could be back for sure by 5:30. I have my limits. Anything with a four at the beginning... not going to happen for this chick. So instead, I didn't run.


Now before I start getting hate comments... let me say that I was active with Gus. I made sure to run around with him and I was extra careful about that I ate this week.


So let me tell you what happened. I lost another pound!


YEAH!!!


One more pound makes my total 10 pounds lost so far!!


And to remind me that I didn't run this week Steve said, "And that's without running. Imagine what it would have been if you had run!" 


Thanks dude.  :-/


Anyway, I am very proud of myself and glad that I was able to lose, especially since I didn't run.


I fully intend of running this week. I'm going to run on Monday and then again on Thursday. Maybe my dad will want to get up with me on Thursday and run. Maybe. I'm sure he has his limits too.


And to top everything off, we're in the middle of the hottest heat-wave in Atlanta! Record-breaking heat... like 105-110. CRAZY hot. So, next week it's supposed to cool off. I don't know how cool it'll be at 5:30am, but it has to be cooler than it will be at 8am.


See ya Monday. I promise.

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).

Blah.

This picture is my current motivation. I don't want to die young and I want to live a healthy, productive life. I want Gus to see that I'm active and exercising.


This morning was hard. I did NOT want to wake up. While getting up at 5:15 for a 5:30 run has so many more advantages than running at 9:00, it's still REALLY HARD to get up so early. 


I didn't want to wake up and Steve was so supportive and really pushed me/motivated me to get up and get going. As I headed out the door, I was still 1/2 asleep, which led to me not "feeling it" today.


I guess some days are good and some are bad. My knees started to hurt while I was running today, and I missed the first 1.5 minute run so it screwed up my entire morning run. I was sluggish and slow and had a lot of negative thoughts going through my head.


I've said it before, 99% of running is mental. Today wasn't a good day mentally. 


I'm now super tired and just want to crawl back into bed. Fortunately, today we have no plans and I can just loaf around if I want. I think I will. 

A Hard Run

Today was rough.

Instead of waking around 5:15 and having some time to stretch, get ready, WAKE UP... Steve's alarm woke both of us from a deep sleep at 5:30. By the time I actually knew what was going on, it was 5:35 and I needed to get out of bed.

My iPhone running band came yesterday, so I was excited to have it this morning for my run. I loaded my phone and headed out. 

I was pleasantly surprised at how cool it was when I started my warm-up. I think it was like 62 or something like that, which is so much better than 80.  :-)

I had to change my route a bit to make sure that I was getting enough distance in, but this morning it didn't matter. I was going so slow... and it's a miracle that I was able to complete the whole workout without cheating or stopping. 

I know that 99% of what I face is mental. However, my legs were like cement again and when this happens, it's so hard to push through the pain. It's days like today that I feel discouraged and upset with my weight and curse myself for not losing more and not dropping the weight faster.

But a few things happened during my run that actually made me proud of myself. First, When I got to the first 1.5 minute run, it seemed like it was over in a blink. Now, you might not think this is a big deal, but not too long ago, I was DYING trying to run 1.5 minutes. This morning, it was cake. I felt like I was just getting started and then it was time to walk.

I was able to run all morning without looking at my phone to see how much I had left to endure. This is a milestone for me. I was just running and trying to enjoy it.  ;-)

I found myself able to focus on my breathing today and it helped with keeping me going. I tried to push myself to go faster today as well. It didn't pan out too well, but I tried. It was so hard though.

I was able to get home and had a few minutes to spare before Steve had to leave. I was so worried that I'd make him late for leaving for work because I didn't get started with my run until 5:40.

I got in the shower and then laid down and I fell asleep. It was an hour of peace and tranquility and it made my whole day better. As someone who is NOT a morning person, the nap after my run and shower was the best thing ever.

When I woke up to Gus talking to himself, I decided to bite the bullet and do my weigh-in. To my utter surprise, I lost another pound! I'm now down nine pounds!! I'm very excited about it AND today was my cheat day (not calorie counting today). Not only did I not have to worry about calories at Christy's when we had a potluck lunch (always so hard), but we went to Outback to celebrate Father's Day... AND we went to DQ after for dessert!! So many good things in one day!!

I'm eager to take the weekend off and relax, and then I'll be back to running on Monday. I'll be finishing week 3 day 3, and then I'll be repeating again until I feel comfortable running three minutes. I'm scared for week 4-- it's running for 3 minutes, walking for 1.5, running for 5 minutes, walking for 2.5, running for 3 minutes, walking for 1.5 minutes, running for 5 minutes and the 5 minute cool-down.

I Did It!

Seriously.

If I had known last night that I'd be getting up at 5:15 to prepare for a run, I would have come to bed at 9:30 instead of at 11:30.

I had no intentions of running today. After all, it IS Tuesday and those of you who know me well, know that I run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. So when I woke at 5am to use the bathroom, I was certain that it was 2 or even 3 am, but it was 5.

Hmmmm.

So I crawled back into bed and ran over various thoughts, and decided to prepare myself mentally to go run. Toady was going to be the start of my new week on C25K and as eager as I was to test it out and see how it felt, it was a bit scary too. Could I really run for three straight minutes? And could I do it twice???

Steve got up at 5:20 and I took that as my cue. As he was getting into the shower, I stepped out the front door. No turning back.

It was DARK. I mean, REALLY dark. We live in a very safe place, so I wasn't worried about safety at all, but the encompassing darkness sent my senses reeling.

Today was full of a lot of firsts for me:

• First time running at 5:30am
• First time running in my neighborhood (with LOTS of hills-- versus the flat greenway)
• First time running in the dark
• First time running with music (YAY)
• First time doing week 3 of the C25K program
• First time running ALONE. COMPLETELY alone.

That's a lot of firsts for one run don't you think? 

I have to say, I love running with Pilar and Christy, but there was something wonderful about running by myself. I thoroughly enjoyed my music and letting the beat of my songs motivate me to run faster (and I do believe I ran faster today). I also didn't have to push a stroller AND a squirmy 30 pound toddler!

While I was running in the dark, a strange sense of calm came over me. I said a prayer before starting out this morning, and asked God to help make this a good run for me. There's nothing worse than a bad run and feeling like you've got legs like cement and no strength and no motivation.

Today was good. I really enjoyed myself (weird right???). I could hear my dad asking me, "Did you run today?" and having to answer him. Sometimes the pressure is a lot to deal with, but I am so grateful for all the people that keep me accountable, AND encourage and motivate me.

There's no way I'm going to do a 5K if I don't train for it. There's no way I'm going to lose weight, if I don't move my body. So getting out and actually moving isn't an option, I simply MUST stay focused and must stay determined. With family and friends taking a keen interest in my running, it's helped tremendously.

SO back to me and my run...  ;-)

I really liked this week's training. I started with the five minute walk (it's standard for every week of the program) and by the time I got to the sidewalk around the corner, I was breathing really heavy (I had to go uphill to get to the sidewalk). Then I walked downhill to Sargent road. 

Now... I had previously mapped out my run (not very well apparently), and throught if I made it all so the uphill was at the beginning, it'd be perfect to end with going downhill. Perfect logic right??

Well... my logic was correct, but my speed and timing was not so great. It took the five minute warm-up to reach Sargent and I headed toward Jones Bridge Road. I passed one runner, but other than that, the road was very empty and I was alone with the darkness. It was interesting.

The stretch along Sargent is relatively flat and even, and I was able to do my 1.5 minute run, 1.5 minute walk, and 3 minute run. I finished the run as I approached my turn and then it was uphill for a bit, but I was in the 3 minute walk part. Here's where the problem happened.

I was almost home.

So... I was 1/2 done with my run and almost home. No bueno.

I decided to turn around, and go back the way I came. Which would have been great, if it weren't for the damn hills. LOL

So I started my next 1.5 minute run and then 1.5 minute walk and I was back on Sargent for my 3 minute run. I reached the entrance to my sub and still had a 3 minute walk to complete and the 5 minute cool-down walk. I didn't think I'd have enough pavement to complete my run, and I wouldn't have, if it weren't for the damn hills.

Holy smokes. My three minute walk at the end was all uphill and what took two minutes to walk down, took the full three minutes to walk up and another two minutes of my cool-down. It was, in a word, a BITCH.

I had a downhill walk to my street, and then as my street curves to my house, there's a gradual incline. Not much if you're in a car, but when you're at the end of a run, it was almost a killer. Then the cherry on top is the steepness of my driveway. I had to mentally push myself as I took each step up my driveway-- it was rough!!

I completed just under a mile and a half and didn't skimp AT ALL on my running times. I am SO proud of myself. I was a sweaty beast when I was done, but I finished it and at 6:10 I was sitting down with Steve and enjoying a bowl of Cheerios. 

So my run for the day is done and I feel great. It's 7:14 and I've showered, I'm blogging, Gus is still sleeping, and my day has started. It's awesome.

For as hard as it was to wake at 5am to run, I'm so glad that I did. I'm definitely a fan of running without pushing the stroller and having to worry about Gus. Running this morning was "me time" and I really enjoyed being at one with myself and just taking in all the sights around me. I didn't have to talk to anyone, and I was able to just focus on my breathing.

Today I burned 451 calories. My max heart rate was 167 and my average was 126. I was "in the zone" for 25 minutes (I ran for 30). I'm impressed!

I'm eager to do nothing for the rest of the day and lounge around in my comfy clothes.

It's fine... I ran today.

:-)